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{Today's Letters}
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Today's Letters: Dear Mr. Loerke, recently you figured out how to send emoticons on your iPhone. So far you've texted me pictures of a dude flexing his muscles, sleep Zzz's, an airplane, and a turd. Reason #271 why boy roommates are awesome. Dear Whole30, t-minus 3 days until I curl up in a ball and eat my last package of Sour Patch Kids. Here's to a much needed detox. Dear Unfinished Books, currently there are 4 of you sitting on my desk. Thanks for the subtle reminder to spend an afternoon in the hammock. Dear Husband, you know those Carhartt's you wear with the holes in the pockets? They make me wanna poke my fingers in them. Just sayin.
Have any of you ever done the Whole30? I'll give you three fist pumps and a leg kick in exchange for your best advise on how not to bang my head on the wall when I'm craving dessert.
20 comments:
- Han said...
Mr J told me about the emoticons on my iPhone - we send stupid ones or sweet ones like a picture of eyes, followed by a heart and then a finger pointing down (towards the reader of the message).
Whole30 looks terrifying lol. Go you though! Keep us posted in how it goes.
I tried to go gluten free for a little while but it was so hard so I ended up doing it part time otherwise I'd have starved I think lol
- March 27, 2012 at 8:48 AM
- kate said...
Okay, Whole30, I'm intrigued. I tried starting the Whole Living Detox but realized I'd *maybe* be getting 1000 calories a day the first week, starvation no thanks. So really, let us know how it goes. I'd be up for trying. April seems like kind of a good month to try it out.
- March 27, 2012 at 9:34 AM
I did Whole 30 starting January 12th...it was really challenging but awesome! Learned a lot about self-control, freedom, and planning ahead! The internet has tons of great recipes...and there's good for you stuff that will taste like dessert. Google "fudge babies," they are all natural and taste like cookie dough :)
- March 27, 2012 at 9:41 AM
- Mindy said...
You are going to feel amazing. Did this and have been eating paleo for a while now. Im not going to lie the first week was rough. I had lots of headaches. But now I feel amazing! Good Luck!
- March 27, 2012 at 9:49 AM
How do you send emoticons?! I had no idea my phone could do such a thing! Good luck with Whole30 - mega fist pumps from me for doing it.
- March 27, 2012 at 10:24 AM
- Emily L said...
I'm thinking about doing Whole30 too! Did you buy the success guide? Or are you doing it based on their online guidelines?
- March 27, 2012 at 2:23 PM
- LeeAnn said...
I LOVED the whole 30. It didn't "change my life" but I did find out I had a dairy allergy that was causing my horrible acne that I lived with for years. I've completed two of them and follow the paleo lifestyle pretty tightly. Please please look at the blog everyday paleo, it is awesome, and most of her recipes are good for the Whole 30. Good luck!
- March 27, 2012 at 2:46 PM
- coco plum said...
emily i have done the half 15... twice :( sugar is the hardest for me and i cave all the time. my hubs and i are doing this april 1 as well. would love to exchange recipes and form a support group. my fav recipe sites are paleomg, health bent (try the lasagna) and the foodee.
- March 27, 2012 at 2:51 PM
- MLM said...
I'm a couple weeks into the Whole30 and my only cheat is 1/2 and 1/2 in my coffee..I cannot drink it black haha.
Anyway, when I crave dessert I drink peppermint tea (Trader Joe's has CandyCane tea which is the bomb) or any other type of fruity or minty tea. I also like Plantation Mint. Needless to say I have been drinking a ton of tea lately as I miss my post-dinner chocolate ;)
- March 27, 2012 at 4:35 PM
- Julia said...
I've been eating "Whole30 Style" about 80-90% of the time since the beginning of January. My skin is clearer, I'm sleeping better, I've lost weight, and I've been able to reduce my asthma medicine from twice a day to once. I still feel like I could get more benefits from it, so I'm starting a real Whole30 on April 1, too.
When I'm wanting something kind of desserty, I have some frozen blueberries with coconut milk on top. Yum! Definitely check out theclothesmakethegirl.com and health-bent.com for recipes, too.
I love your blog, by the way! (I usually just lurk, but I had to chime in about the Whole30.)
- March 27, 2012 at 5:04 PM
- Doodlerah said...
This intriges me completely. Also it scared the processed refined chemicals right outta me! I think that I'm going to try this after Texas Ranger's opening weekend...BOX SEATS..heck yeah! I may need to be locked in a room for a week or four. I like my sugars. Also Velveta is my first white trash love. SIGH.
- March 27, 2012 at 5:54 PM
- Today's Letters said...
em, a friend is letting me borrow her success guide.
coco plum, absolutely! thanks for the website recs!
mlm, thanks for the tea suggestion. will be buying some before the weekend!
julia, thanks for commenting. no longer a lurker :) appreciate the website suggestions as well. will def give them a look!
doodlerah, my mom eats cheez whiz like it's her job. no shame in the velveta. ps, behind 3rd plate has the best nachos!
so grateful that many of you are starting the whole30 on april 1st! let's share recipes etc. lord knows we'll all be pulling our hair out at some point! xoxo
- March 27, 2012 at 6:08 PM
- Lindsey said...
Taking a walk around the neighborhood with my man & my puppy dog right after dinner usually helps fend off my dessert cravings. It also has so many other benefits, too (looking at our neighbors cute yards, connecting after a day at work, etc).
Good luck with the Whole30...I try to eat low sugar and non processed foods, but love oatmeal, rice, beans, and fruit too much to do this...
- March 27, 2012 at 8:15 PM
- Meg said...
My friend has done that same diet twice. All I have to say is barf. Mama needs her coffee.
- March 28, 2012 at 9:16 AM
- lindsay said...
Em, can you eat Larabars on Whole 30? They have no processed ingredients and all have less than 9 things in them. Apple pie is the bestest flavor with only raisins, almonds, cinnamon, dates, and apples. Good Luck!
- March 28, 2012 at 9:59 AM
- Today's Letters said...
linds, i'm almost positive you can eat larabars for the whole30. i ate my weight in them when i was eating raw a few years ago! apple pie and cherry are my two faves. the coconut is good every once in a while too : )
- March 28, 2012 at 10:09 AM
- Alli said...
I'm a total site lurker, but love that you're doing this! I've been eating paleo (which is what the Whole30 is based on, Dallas and Melissa used to be crossfit/paleo before branching off) for almost 4 years. I love it!
But no Larabars... too much sugar and it qualifies as "processed food"! The hardest thing to get your body used to is being off sugar. My best advice is if you're craving sweets, check in with yourself and see if you are actually hungry/thirsty (ie would some sliced deli turkey and veggies satisfy this craving?) If so, have that. If not, its either habit or emotion making you want some dessert. So do something else that will cue an endorphin release: walk around the block, make out with your Mr., etc. The peppermint tea trick works pretty well too! (Cinnamon tea too, try Bengal Spice by Celestial Seasonings)
Good luck, hope you love it!
- March 28, 2012 at 1:23 PM
- Bear & Aimee Murphy said...
Check out NomNom Paleo for some awesome recipes. The Green Sliders are to die for! I also love the "fake" mashed potatoes using cauliflower.
- March 28, 2012 at 2:50 PM
- She~ said...
I spy with my little eye a great blog, I think we could eat and listen to music together based on your itunes/recipe post haha. I am on day 2 of whole30 so I found this blog to add recipes to my pinterest board of whole30/paleo recipes! I think the more info sharing the better. Best wishes to all who are taking "time apart" with sugar.-worst-break-up-ever! I miss my cereal the most! Keep up the Great work!
- April 17, 2012 at 10:41 AM
- Today's Letters said...
she~congrats on starting the whole30! i'll continue to post updates and recipes through the end of the month. feel free to share any good ones you discover as well! xoxo
- April 17, 2012 at 11:54 AM


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My old college roommate put up a pretty nice video about biking, being a man and what it's like to ride in Reno. It's a pretty cool video and worth a watch.
He has a few other funny videos at his blog here.
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subset: commoncrawl


text: The Indian Tribal Governments Team within the Government & Regulatory Affairs Practice Group has issued a special edition of the Tribal Business Journal for winter 2011, discussing the mid-term elections, changes in the Congress, and likely impacts on Indian law and policy. The special edition features a Q&A session with Doc Hastings (R-WA), the Chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources, concerning his vision and priorities for the coming year and his views on key tribal issues. A review of the historic accomplishments of the 111th Congress is included, as well as a spotlight on the Claims Resolution Act of 2010, settling several lawsuits Indian tribes maintained against the federal government. President Obama signed these settlements into law on December 8, 2010.


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- Page 1 Onkyo TX-NR709 Review
- Page 2 Features Review
- Page 3 Operation Review
- Page 4 Peformance and Verdict Review
If we're being candid, the jump-up in quality between the TX-NR609 and NR709 isn't huge – there's perhaps a bit more brawn behind action scenes but fundamentally the pair share the same sonic DNA. But that's not a bad thing. There are excellent levels of detail, masterful orchestration of fast-paced action scenes and astonishing power, but it's all delivered with a smoothness that won't leave you wincing when the volume's up high.
The Onkyo's prowess is clear when playing The Dark Knight on Blu-ray. The DTS HD Master Audio is a test for even the best amps with its brutal fight scenes and car chases, but the Onkyo takes it all in its stride. It relishes in the opening bank robbery, teasing out all the top-end detail as the robbers zip down wires and twiddle with safes but then snapping into life in a heartbeat with a taut, punchy gunshot or a bus smacking through a wall. It's an electrifying listen.
The thrilling high-speed chase through the streets of Gotham is our next port of call, and here's where the Onkyo really raises hell. The roar of truck engines is forceful and visceral, shuddering through your body as if you were stood on the sidewalk. Bazooka blasts, crashing cars and explosions possess impressive depth and solidity in the low frequencies, while high frequencies are crisp and effects move round the room quickly and smoothly.
It doesn't neglect its dialogue duties either. Voices are beautifully handled, nailing all the nuances from the gruff texture of Batman's voice up to Rachel's feminine tones. It also sheds light on little details we hadn't noticed before, like the extra depth added to the Joker's voice after he lifts his mask in the opening scene.
If there's a downside to the Onkyo's performance then it's not quite as comfortable with music playback as movies, with receivers from Marantz, NAD and Denon offering a slightly more refined and insightful sound. There weren't as many 'shiver down the spine' moments with our favourite tracks as we'd like. But the TX-NR709's musical prowess is still impressive, giving tunes room to breathe, keeping pace with uptempo rhythms and providing a pleasing balance across the frequency range.
The TX-NR709 is expensive but certainly won't leave you feeling short-changed. Abundant connections will keep you futureproofed for ages, there's a wealth of features on board and its performance with movies is first rate. There are more musical amps out there but on the whole you'd have to be pretty fussy not to be impressed by this marvellous receiver.
Trusted Score
Score in detail
Performance 9
Features 10
Value 9
Sound Quality 9
Design 8
Unlike other sites, we thoroughly test every product we review. We use industry standard tests in order to compare features properly. We'll always tell you what we find. We never, ever accept money to review a product. Tell us what you think - send your emails to the Editor.


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PFL has a second component where healthcare workers will receive training in reciting poetry. They will use the materials developed on the Poetry Out Loud website for teaching the recitation of poetry. This is primarily intended for activities directors and their staff, but we have also had success in working with Certified Nurse Assistants/Aides (CNAs) in training them to use poetry as a communication tool.
"Over the last few months with the poetry project I have been able to come out of my shell. I am not a person that does public speaking. I remember speech class in high school and how much I hated it. Having this opportunity has really helped me to get out and do more things with the residents and speaking in front of people. That is something I would always shy away from. Having been given the opportunity to do it I feel I can do it and I am getting better and it is possible and each poetry session I run I feel myself getting more confident and more excited. I can't wait to next week's poetry session and what is that going to bring. It has been very meaningful to me.
I have been reciting the poems so much at home in order to memorize them, that my children have been learning the poems and saying them along with me. That has been fun to see how my kids react to the poems."
-Joelin Mueller, Activities Director, Valley VNA Senior Services, Appleton Wisconsin


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General Manager
Michael is passionate about making Village life the vibrant and diverse environment that on-campus living ought to be. He is a seasoned Melbourne local, and knows the Village like the back of his hand. Michael oversees all operations at RMIT Village to ensure that your stay is comfortable, safe and above all, fun.
Village Manager
Sean is the man you'll see out and about, meeting new residents and making sure that Village life is a well-oiled machine! He is responsible for managing the permanent staff members at the Village, and making sure that your questions are answered, your lights are on, your parties are fun and your study is uninterrupted. Come to Sean if you've got any questions, or if you just want to chat with a friendly face!
Residential Life Duty Manager
Kimberley is in charge of all those fun activities you will be attending at RMIT Village! You will see her around meeting residents, running the events and she hand picks your team of friendly RAs to make your experience here as memorable as possible! She always up for a quick chat!
Administration and Contracting Coordinator
Aviva is in charge of the nitty-gritty details of your contract at the Village. If you're a newbie you've probably received an email or two from her! She is here to answer any and all of your questions regarding your contract, so if you need to know something come and say hello!
Facilities Manager
If it's broken, damaged or simply not working, contact David via the Fix-it-Request and he will arrange for a maintenance officer or contractor to attend and fix. It is his job to maintain the property at RMIT Village and ensure you are living in a clean comfortable and safe environment.
Village Accountant
Gary is the resident-bean-counter! He has 18 years-experience in accounting and finance within various industries in Melbourne and China. Come to Gary for any financial assistance you may need, or just stop by to say hi!
Evening Duty Manager
Adrian is your man for all after-hours questions or concerns. Lost your room key? No worries, he is on during the late evening in the unlikely event of an emergency or if you just need someone to chat to. You'll get to know Adrian well over your stay here, so make sure you come and say hello!
Property Services Coordinator
If it's broken, damaged or simply not working, contact Martin via the Fix-it-Request. it is his job to maintain the property at RMIT Village and ensure you are living in a clean, comfortable and safe environment.
Duty Manager


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As a DBA, no matter where you work, there will come a time that you will need to deploy changes to multiple databases at a time. If you are lucky, it will be the same change, multiple times.
For me, I work for a software company where we host our clients data in separate databases. So when there is a code change that affects the database, these changes need to be propagated to multiple databases. For some of you reading this, you may have the time and patience to go through and run these scripts against each and every database. For the rest of us, I have a couple simple ways to push out changes that will hopefully be helpful to you, like they were me.
One way is with the old reliable cursor. If you're not familiar with how to write a cursor for iterating through multiple databases, or at all, just follow along.
In this example, we host databases for car dealerships, and we want to add a column called Color to the Cars table in every one of our client databases. We have a table, clients, in our Dealership database, that lists all of our clients and the name of their database. First thing we want to do is to write our query for adding our column to the table. Just to keep it simple, we will make color a free text, or nvarchar column for this example.
So we come up with this script:
ALTER TABLE CARS ADD [Color] NVARCHAR(50) NOT NULL
Now that we know what we want to do to each database, we need to come up with a query to pull that list of databases that we need to update. For our example, we will use the following SELECT statement:
SELECT DBName FROM Clients
Since we will have a "USE" statement in our script to switch from database to database, we will use a string variable that we will set to our script that starts with the use statement and execute that. At the beginning of the script, we will declare our variable that we will use for our database name, sql statement, and the variable for the cursor itself. Here is our cursor for our example:
DECLARE DBName VARCHAR(50)
DECLARE dbnames CURSOR FOR
SELECT DBName FROM Clients
OPEN dbnames
FETCH NEXT FROM dbnames INTO @DBName
SET @SQL = 'USE ' + @DBName + '
ALTER TABLE CARS ADD [Color] NVARCHAR(50) NOT NULL'
FETCH NEXT FROM dbnames INTO @DBName
CLOSE dbnames
DEALLOCATE dbnames
This has been an easy tool for me to deploy database changes to multiple client databases. The nice thing is for the cursor itself, you can keep reusing the cursor itself just by changing the alteration script inside the cursor to do whatever task you want to do.
This handy tool has saved me a lot of time in my current position, but the more complicated of a change you are looking to make, the more temperamental this style can be. For instance, if you want to create a function, you can not do it in a cursor because you can't start a "CREATE FUNCTION" script with a "USE" command. It has to start with "CREATE FUNCTION". This can also be temperamental when you are trying to create a table and load data, because these scripts tend to get a little more fussy about running in a cursor like our example. To make these types of changes, we need to explore other options for running these scripts like SSIS and Powershell.
Tomorrow, I will bring you Part 2. We will go over how to do the same change in SSIS using variables in conjunction with connection string expressions.


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The benefits of e-marking
According to Ofqual, over two-thirds of school leaver exam scripts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are marked on-screen. The popularity of e-marking (on-screen marking) is not just in the UK either. From the Caribbean Islands to Australia, e-marking continues to grow in popularity. RM Assessor was used in over 150 countries to mark over 13 million exam scripts in 2015.
The driving forces behind this growth range from the want to become more efficient, to the need for better examiner moderation.
Download this infographic to learn the benefits exam boards and accreditation bodies stand to gain by implementing e-marking.


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Opportunities abound for pharmacists
Today's perspective
It's June, and you employers know what that means. New pharmacy graduates are joining the profession, bringing fresh ideas and boundless enthusiasm to our practice sites.
This year, we have what is likely history's largest group of new pharmacists sitting for boards, starting residencies, and looking for their place in pharmacy. For them, the MTM profiles in this issue of Pharmacy Today have special meaning, for they show the diversity of positions and places where pharmacists can create professional homes.
A psychiatric pharmacist certified by the Board of Pharmacy Specialties, Jose A. Rey, MS, PharmD, BCPP, is well known for his services to law enforcement personnel in south Florida (page 42). He shares with them his special expertise about the effects of medications and drugs of abuse on people's behavior. Rey is also a pharmacy professor and residency director, one who makes sure that the next generation of pharmacists will have the drive and love of the profession that have made his career so successful.
In the Health-System Edition (page HSE 2, available online at to readers of the National Edition), the Many Faces of MTM profile illustrates a nontraditional career path: linking the clinical literature with health information technology through editorial and drug literature–evaluation activities. The pharmacists at Truven Health Analytics in Denver have found professional happiness through their work with the Micromedex 360 Care Insights Suite and other products that pharmacists and health professionals rely on everyday.
To our new colleagues—or any pharmacists who are looking for a path forward in the profession—read these articles and use your imagination. You never know what's out there until you look, and sometimes what you find will exceed your greatest expectations.
Enjoy your June Today!


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Book Review: The Damnable Legacy of A Minister's Wife
Book Review by Shannon Konoske
In G. Elizabeth Kretchmer's first novel, The Damnable Legacy of A Minister's Wife, Kretchmer weaves a tangled, complicated narrative between three vastly different characters. She has chosen to narrate the story through the perspective of a woman named Beth who has died of cancer and is attempting from the afterlife to forge connections between members of her separated family in need of salvation. Beth is caught between the world of the living and somewhere in the afterlife, causing the point of view to dance interestingly between what feels like third person (because we are observing from the outside with Beth), and what it actually is—first person, as we receive Beth's thoughts interspersed throughout the scenes she observes. The effect is that the reader experiences the story as if she is watching everything unfold from behind a window with Beth there to narrate the events and provide insight. This makes for an original and intriguing reading experience.
In terms of Beth's plan, the expectation at first is that it will be carried out predictably. In the first pages of the novel, Beth reveals to the reader that she intends to bring her husband Ryan, her friend's adopted granddaughter Frankie, and Frankie's biological mother together. The assumption then is that it will all come to fruition just as she lays it out. However, as the novel progresses the story takes unexpected twists that keep it exciting and move everything forward at a steady, exhilarating pace. Frankie must battle uncontrollable life circumstances, Ryan and Lynn fight Mt. Denali's elements and their consciences, and Beth struggles with her own motives and her solitude in the afterlife.
As for the characters themselves, Kretchmer again surprises. In the beginning they come across as being predictable—the hardened emotionally detached female adventurist, the grieving widower, the misunderstood teen from a bad home. Then, Kretchmer describes the men, with their sculpted athletic forms and their attractive features, and causes some brief worry about characters that are possibly too perfect. But Kretchmer pleasantly surprises with every chapter, adding new layers to her characters that make them complicated, deep, and often frustrating—in short, human. Beth, a minister's wife, struggles with her own faith in God, her plan, and her placement in the afterlife. The minister himself has strayed from God and becomes angry and cynical. Characters who are seemingly perfect or simple quickly become multi-layered and unpredictable.
In her first novel, Kretchmer has undertaken the crafting of a complicated, intriguing storyline and done so admirably. She takes her readers on a journey of love, loss, and self-discovery. In the end, rather than tying it predictably together with a pretty bow, she gives only what is necessary—a sense of hope, the most these characters can ask for.
Want to read more? Visit G. Elizabeth Kretchmer's website


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Story time
One year during my annual Carmel Art Festival event I was looking for a spot in one of my usual haunts, an old marina at the end of the peninsula on Moss Landing. The place is always chock full of boats, mostly old tugs, sailboats and shrimpers being worked on in various stages. I come here every year as my fall back, I may not always get rocks right but I feel pretty confident in painting boats. So I get there at 6:30, gray overcast skies and a light marine layer wafting through the sail masts. It's too early for the marina to be open but you can slip between the fence and get to the water easy enough. With coffee in hand I'm standing there trying to figure out which boat to paint and this guy appears from nowhere... kind of a combination boat hand and serial killer. He walks up to me and gives me this look like "Not only have I not showered this year but I'm going to dice you up and use you for chum." I was a tad unnerved, nobody around, it could have been the end for me, but no, he kept walking. Just sort of scowled and scuffled on down the dock to the boat that was evidently his apartment. Since he didn't kill me on the spot I figured I was good for a couple more hours and set up on the sea wall to paint. 2 hours and change later the tide had dropped and here comes Charles Manson again, though he takes the stairs off the dock to the now showing sand since the tide had dropped. He walks out about 15 feet and digs a hole out with his heel and then whistles. From his boat I see movement, something orange pops it's head out. It was a cat. Not your run of the mill cat but a wide beat up puma looking thing that most dogs would avoid. The cat runs down the dock to the sand and finds the newly dug hole and pees in it. It was a very tender moment between a serial killer deckhand and his puma. Just goes to show you can't always tell about people.


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Wrinkly cougars and snowy beards
Kevin Niederman
I moved to Lincoln for three reasons. It snows here. Women are here. Also, my fake sister went to school here.
Back home in California, snow is hard to come by. There's an investment necessary in order to be at an area in which frozen water falls from the sky.
I lived about four hours away from Lake Tahoe, so the feat was definitely doable, but I wanted to be in the thick of it all. I wanted to trudge through blizzards to get to class. I wanted my nose chilled red and my beard tinged white.
So I looked at Andrews, and guess what? Union is like $10,000 a year cheaper. So I came here.
Little did I realize that, in Lincoln, snow happens, but it's just as likely that the next day will be a hundred degrees and my dramatic trudging would be reduced to an effortless stroll wearing an unbuttoned Hawaiian dress shirt and capris while I watch my winter wonderland melt away.
Life hasn't been much better in the woman front either.
It's true that there are women here, practically countless. They outnumber the guys threefold. And yet, a combination of my extreme pickiness and lack of searching has left me womanless.
It's not all that bad being single, but it isn't all that bad not being single, either. Back home I went to a junior college, and the local crop wasn't something I was all too ready to harvest. I'm a Christian, so I wasn't really looking for the satanist, cocaine-fueled, fifty-six year-olds available to me.
Alternatively, I'm also probably not a good fit with the type who only ever listens to Christian music and consults the Bible before crossing the street or breathing.
I want a happy medium. Half old, heroin-using cannibal, half turtleneck-wearing Amish woman.
Is it too much to ask for an outgoing, strong-willed, financially competent, short-haired woman who can go to church and laugh at a Holocaust joke to just show up and miraculously not already be in a relationship or do meth?
It might be. But I'm still hoping.
So that leaves my fake sister. She's great. And that's why I really love Lincoln.
At the time I moved here, Chelsea was the only person I knew, and that's where my fun would be had.
But over time, I've met more people. People who act, think, and talk like I do, about what I do. People who disagree and tell me I'm dumb, both when I am dumb and otherwise. People who watch cartoons with me. People who eat with me. People who feed me when I can't eat. People who are interested in who I am, and invested in who I'm becoming.
People are what make this place something I won't willingly leave.
Kevin Niederman is a junior nursing major hailing from Santa Rosa CA, about an hour north of San Francisco. He enjoys cartoons, hats, and driving ridiculous distances for food that has the potential of being amazing.


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David Wilson – stopwar.org via Global Research March 27, 2011
"[Depleted uranium tipped missiles] fit the description of a dirty bomb in every way… I would say that it is the perfect weapon for killing lots of people." Marion Falk, chemical physicist (retd), Lawrence Livermore Lab, California, USA
In the first 24 hours of the Libyan attack, US B-2s dropped forty-five 2,000-pound bombs. These massive bombs, along with the Cruise missiles launched from British and French planes and ships, all contained depleted uranium (DU) warheads.
DU is the waste product from the process of enriching uranium ore. It is used in nuclear weapons and reactors. Because it is a very heavy substance, 1.7 times denser than lead, it is highly valued by the military for its ability to punch through armored vehicles and buildings. When a weapon made with a DU tip strikes a solid object like the side of a tank, it goes straight through it, then erupts in a burning cloud of vapor. The vapor settles as dust, which is not only poisonous, but also radioactive.
An impacting DU missile burns at 10,000 degrees C. When it strikes a target, 30% fragments into shrapnel. The remaining 70% vaporises into three highly-toxic oxides, including uranium oxide. This black dust remains suspended in the air and, according to wind and weather, can travel over great distances. If you think Iraq and Libya are far away, remember that radiation from Chernobyl reached Wales.
Particles less than 5 microns in diameter are easily inhaled and may remain in the lungs or other organs for years. Internalized DU can cause kidney damage, cancers of the lung and bone, skin disorders, neurocognitive disorders, chromosome damage, immune deficiency syndromes and rare kidney and bowel diseases. Pregnant women exposed to DU may give birth to infants with genetic defects. Once the dust has vaporised, don't expect the problem to go away soon. As an alpha particle emitter, DU has a half life of 4.5 billion years.
In the 'shock and awe' attack on Iraq, more than 1,500 bombs and missiles were dropped on Baghdad alone. Seymour Hersh has claimed that the US Third Marine Aircraft Wing alone dropped more than "five hundred thousand tons of ordnance". All of it DU-tipped.
Al Jazeera reported that invading US forces fired two hundred tons of radioactive material into buildings, homes, streets and gardens of Baghdad. A reporter from the Christian Science Monitor took a Geiger counter to parts of the city that had been subjected to heavy shelling by US troops. He found radiation levels 1,000 to 1,900 times higher than normal in residential areas. With its population of 26 million, the US dropped a one-ton bomb for every 52 Iraqi citizens or 40 pounds of explosives per person.
William Hague has said that we are in Libya " to protect civilians and civilian-populated areas".You don't have to look far for who and what are being 'protected'.
In that first 24 hours the 'Allies' 'expended' £100 million on DU-tipped ordnance. The European Union's arms control report said member states issued licences in 2009 for the sale of £293.2 million worth of weapons and weapons systems to Libya. Britain issued arms firms licences for the sale of £21.7 million worth of weaponry to Libya and were also paid by Colonel Gadaffi to send the SAS to train his 32nd Brigade.
For the next 4.5 billion years, I'll bet that William Hague will not be holidaying in North Africa.
A note on sources
The military and the politicians are very shy about the uses of depleted uranium, but we know that DU is or has been used in the following ordnance. The list is not exhaustive:
- M919 25mm ammunition used in the Bradley Fighting Vehicle141
- PGU-14 30mm ammunition used by the A-10 Thunderbolt II
- M900 105mm tank round used by the US Army and Marine Corps
- M829A1 / M829A2 120mm ammunition used by the M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank
- Tomahawk cruise missiles
- GBU-28 'Bunker Buster'
- CHARM 3 APFSDS L27 ammunition in use with the British Army
- The 5000 lb BLU-122/B A/B penetrator
- The 4700 lb BLU-113 A/B penetrator
The only evidence of a move away from DU usage is the MK149 20mm ammunition, previously used by the US Navy's Phalanx Anti-Ship Missile Defense System, which has been replaced by a non-DU version with a Tungsten penetrator.
The UK Ministry of Defence and US Dept of Defence are careful how they refer to DU and prefer not to answer questions about its use. But in those 'official' documents we have been able to view it is clear that DU is commended for its excellent penetrating qualities and we must assume that what is considered of military value is going to be used especially when the political spokespeople for the military are keen to deny that DU has any harmful affects on human beings.
If it is harmless and effective why not use it? Thus the UK Defence Secretary, Liam Fox, in correspondence with Bill Wilson (no relation), a member of the Scottish Parliament in February 2011 said:
"The UK does not support resolutions that presuppose DU is harmful… The Government's policy remains that DU can be used within weapons; it is not prohibited under current or likely future international agreements. UK armed forces use DU munitions in accordance with international humanitarian law. It would be quite wrong to deny our serving personnel a legitimate capability."
Liam Fox is repeating the views of earlier UK Defence Secretaries. This is an excerpt from then Defence Secretary, Des Brown's letter to Tony Benn, dated 21 April 2008
"In conclusion, our view remains that DU can be legitimately used within weapons and that it would be quite wrong for the UK Government to deny our troops a legitimate capability that provides the best possible protection for them during armed conflicts."
My view is that we have to assume that DU remains in use in the ordnance listed above and that the list is likely to be incomplete. Since we are being told, when we're told anything, that DU is not dangerous and is an effective tool for warfare why would they not continue its use?. So long as that is the official opinion from the military and the politicians we must take it at face value and force them to confirm with evidence that we are wrong and DU is no longer used.
I would love to be proved wrong as would, even more so, the people who are under bombardment. The military and politicians give us every reason to suppose the worst.
When you check through official documents on weaponry in both the US and UK you will find few references to DU usage, they prefer to talk about 'enhancements' and 'design modifications' to 'improve penetrations' as here:
"The Air Force is improving capability to attack hardened and/or deeply buried targets during adverse environmental conditions. The performance of the current 4,700-lb BLU-113, used on the GBU-28 GPS/laser-guided bomb, is being greatly enhanced through the design modification of the BLU-122 warhead, improving its penetration, lethality, and survivability. This modification will increase the number of deeply buried targets held at risk. In addition, some existing targets held at risk will require fewer weapons, therefore reducing the number of missions necessary to defeat a target."
However, the Washington-based think-tank Global Security provides a rare history of military uses of depleted uranium


text: The swamp is just lovely this time of year so when Isabelle and her parents were looking for a lazy afternoon they knew just the place to go! On our Cajun Bayou Tour you can enjoy Mr Torres' wonderful stories; after a lifetime living on the bayou as an alligator hunter and a fur trapper, he has plenty! See wildlife, plants, and enjoy the peacefulness of the louisiana swamp on this slow, relaxed cruise through the bayou. Call 1-888-223-2093 for reservations or visit our reservations page.


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National Energy Board
MacKenzie Gas Project, Volumes 1 and 2
I was contracted by McAra Printing to design and produce a comprehensive document for the National Energy Board (NEB)—two volumes in both English and French, for the MacKenzie Gas Project, Reasons for Decision.
I was required to work with design comps that had been produced by an agency which had completed initial sample design covers and spreads, and the supporting maps and graphics. By the time I started on the project, NEB 's content for the book, after several rewrites, was structured differently from the nature of the original layout and designs.
Over a five week period, I guided NEB through the redesign required to accommodate actual content and photography. I sourced the photography from imagery provided by NEB and did extensive photo-retouching to make them print acceptable. I also built additional graphs and maps, as required.
To streamline the process, I became McAra's lead project manager, dealing directly with NEB, while keeping McAra's account director in the loop.
In this time, I produced the complete layouts for both English and French versions of the 78-page Volume 1, and the English version of the 310-page Volume 2.


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EU Reaches Deal to Cap Mobile Roaming Charges
European lawmakers this week approved a deal that would put a cap on how much travelers could rack up in mobile roaming charges.
The deal, approved Tuesday night by the Council of Ministers, would go into effect on July 1. It still needs to be approved by the European Parliament as a whole, however.
As first outlined last summer by the European Commission, a 1MB download would cost no more than 70 cents by July 1, 45 cents by July 2013, and 20 cents by July 2014. At this point, there is no price ceiling for data use.
As for calls and texts, a one-minute call would cost no more than 29 cents by July 1 and 19 cents by July 2014, down from the current 35 cents. The price of a text could not exceed 9 cents by July 1 and 6 cents by July 2014, down from 11 cents.
By July 2014, meanwhile, wireless carriers in Europe would have to let customers purchase voice, text, and data roaming services separately while retaining their domestic service and phone number. "Each time the customer crosses a border, his or her phone will switch to the network of the roaming provider which they have chosen, without any further action on their part," the European Commission said today.
Mobile operators without their own networks will have the right to purchase wholesale access to rival networks in order to provide roaming services.
"Consumers are fed up with being ripped off by high roaming charges," Neelie Kroes, European Commission vice president for the digital agenda, said in a statement. "The new roaming deal gives us a long-term structural solution, with lower prices, more choice and a new smart approach for data and Internet browsing. The benefits will be felt in time for the summer break - and by summer 2014, people can shop around for the best deal."
In the U.S., the Federal Communications Commission last year handed down rules that will require wireless carriers to offer "reasonable" data roaming rates. About a month later, Verizon sued, arguing that the FCC did not have the authority to establish such restrictions.
In October, meanwhile, the FCC and wireless trade group CTIA announced that wireless providers have agreed to start sending all wireless users alerts if they are about to incur overage charges on voice, data, text messages, and international roaming.
For more from Chloe, follow her on Twitter @ChloeAlbanesius.


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Colin Trevorrow made some weird, boring indie movie about time travel that made $4M, so off the back of that, he got hired to do a remake of Jurassic Park with a bigger dinosaur and less interesting characters. It was aight. He then got hired to direct Star Wars IX. Lucasfilm released a statement yesterday saying he's not directing Star Wars IX anymore.
Lucasfilm and Colin Trevorrow have mutually chosen to part ways on Star Wars: Episode IX. Colin has been a wonderful collaborator throughout the development process but we have all come to the conclusion that our visions for the project differ. We wish Colin the best and will be sharing more information about the film soon.
Man, I wonder what happened?
Sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that script issues have continued to be a sore spot throughout Episode IX's development, with Trevorrow having repeated stabs at multiple drafts. In August, Jack Thorne, the British scribe who wrote the upcoming Julia Roberts-Jacob Tremblay movie Wonder, was tapped to work on the script.
Ah, "script issues". It probably has nothing to do with the fact that the movie he made while waiting to make Star Wars IX was batshit lunacy that got savaged so bad by critics the only way you can see it is if you follow it into the shadow realm. Kathleen Kennedy is not here for that nonsense. I guess "the script was bad" is better than saying all that. Deadline says Rian Johnson will probably take it over after he finishes Star Wars VIII, but Disney will suck the tit of this Star Wars cash cow until the sun burns out, so Trevorrow has plenty of time to make another one. Maybe they'll hit him up for Admiral Ackbar's standalone origin film or a movie about Chewbacca's cousin. No worries.


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RADFORD, Va. (WTVR) - The explosion happened the Grede Radford Foundry early Sunday morning when one of the furnaces blew up and then the rubber roofing caught on fire.
The Roanoke Times reports there was a piece of metal that went through the roof and that the building was engulfed in flames by the time firefighters arrived. The fire was out by 2:17 a.m.
Lee Simpkins, the Radford Fire Chief, told the Roanoke Times that the blast might have been caused by moisture getting under molten rock, but he says it is too soon to tell.
Ten people were inside at the time, but no one was hurt.


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Jeffrey Russ of Rochester in New York and Olivia Rotondo of Durham in New Hampshire were identified as the two people who died at the Electric Zoo festival in New York.
Russ, part of the 2012 graduating class at Syracuse University, went to the festival with 23 members of his Syracuse fraternity class and friends from Rochester, his father John Russ said.
"He was a very good son," John Russ told the New York Times.
Jeffrey's aunt, Patty Fanto-Holdaway, said he wanted to run his own sports blog after he had majored in information technology at Syracuse. Russ fell ill after seeing Avicii, his favorite artist, she said, adding that the cause of his death is unclear.
Russ posted on Twitter a photo at the festival on August 30 with the hashtags #GroupTherapy and #ezoo. Part of his Twitter bio was that Avicii saved his life, and that he was in a "State of Trance" in Rochester.
Some family members told Rochester-based WHEC that Russ wasn't planning to go to the concert. He originally traveled to New York City to see the Syracuse vs. Penn State football game, they said.
Rotondo, 20, was studying communication at the University of New Hampshire and lived in Durham, according to her Facebook page. On Twitter she expressed excitement for the festival, despite booking a hotel in Chinatown that she called "the scariest place on earth."
University officials "were greatly saddened to learn of the recent death of Olivia Rotondo, a junior from Rhode Island," said Erika Mantz, director of the university's media relations, in a statement. "We extend our deepest sympathies to her family and friends during this difficult time, and are focused on providing support and resources to our campus community."
Any students in need of counseling should visit the counseling center or call the 24-hour hotline at 603-862-2090.
Police said that both deaths were "non suspicious" and consistent with drug use. The drug in question was likely MDMA, nicknamed Molly, officials said in a statement.
Related: Electric Zoo Overdose Aftermath: The Rave Scene's Image
Molly is different from Ecstasy in that it is a white powder or crystal while Ecstasy is used to describe the pill or capsule form of MDMA, according to Columbia University's Health Department. Molly is often considered the purer form of MDMA, meaning that "many users believe that molly contains more MDMA and less filler compared to ecstasy pills," according to the university.
"Comparing the two forms of MDMA, however, is very difficult because there are no regulations or quality control over the actual content in these illegal substances," it adds.
Russ went into respiratory arrest about 3:10 a.m. August 31 and was taken to Harlem Hospital by an ambulance. He was pronounced dead at 3:21 a.m. Rotondo was taken to the Metropolitan Hospital at 8:45 p.m. on August 31 and pronounced dead about 45 minutes later.
The founders of the festival released a statement on September 1: "The founders of Electric Zoo send our deepest condolences to the families of the two people who passed away this weekend."
"Because there is nothing more important to us than our patrons, we have decided in consultation with the New York City Parks Department that there will be no show today," they said.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg's office said in a statement that "serious health risks" prompted the cancellation.
"During the first two days of the Electric Zoo music festival, two concert-goers have died and at least four others became critically ill and have been placed in intensive care at area hospitals," the office said in the statement. "Definitive causes of death have not yet been determined, however, both appear to have involved the drug MDMA (ecstasy, or molly). The Electric Zoo organizers have worked with City officials to reduce health risks at this event, but in view of these occurrences, the safest course is to cancel the remaining day of the event."
The Electric Zoo festival was held over Labor Day weekend at Randalls Island, which is between Manhattan and Queens and below the Bronx. More than 100,000 people attended last year.
Festival organizers said people would receive refunds based on what type of passes they had (Sunday passes receive a 100 percent refund, 2 day Friday/Sunday passes receive a 50 percent refund, and 2-day Friday/Saturday/Sunday passes receive a 33 percent refund). Those who need a refund should go here or call 888-512-SHOW for more information.
Follow @ETBreakingNews for breaking news from around the world.
Central Park EZoo: After Electric Zoo's Third Day is Canceled, People Go to Central Park


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Q: Where are America's remaining wild horses and burros?
A: Today, wild horses and burros can be found primarily on government-designated Herd Management Areas (HMAs) in ten western states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Wyoming. Six states have already lost their entire wild horse populations.
Q: Is there an overpopulation of wild horses on public lands?
A: Wild horses comprise a minute fraction of grazing animals on public lands, where they are outnumbered by cattle at least 50 to 1. The 1971 Act states that, in a given area, a certain amount of vegetation may be eaten as forage. Only when that amount is exceeded are there too many animals. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has overwhelmingly favored cattle in setting "appropriate" wild horse population levels, resulting in indiscriminate removal of horses and burros from public lands. From over 2 million in 1900, our wild horse population has dwindled to fewer than 75,000. For more information, please check The Numbers.
Q: Aren't wild horses suffering from drought and starvation out on the range?
A: Mismanagement is at the root of most of these problems. Despite federal protection, wild horses have been relegated to the most inhospitable areas of the range. Still, they have adapted and survived; most horses rounded up by the BLM are well-fed and healthy. However, public land fencing often prevents horses from accessing scarce natural water sources and disrupts their widespread grazing patterns. In such instances, better in-the-wild management is the answer, rather than costly and traumatic round-ups. See our Study in Mismanagement.
Q: Are wild horses responsible for overgrazing on public lands?
A: The main cause of degradation of public lands is livestock use, not wild horses. Cows graze within a mile of water, while wild horses are highly mobile, grazing from five to ten miles from water, at higher elevations, on steeper slopes, and in more rugged terrain. A congressionally-mandated study by the National Academy of Sciences found that, in one year, livestock consumed 70% of grazing resources on public lands, while wild horses and burros consumed less than 5%. Click here to learn more about wild horses and the ecosystem.
Q: Is it true that wild horse herds double in size every five years?
A: In its 1982 study, the National Academy of Sciences found "annual rates of increase of 10% or less" in wild horse populations, a far cry from the 20% increase relied upon by the BLM to justify its removal program. Ironically, in areas where higher-than-normal population growth rates do exist, it is the BLM's own management policies that are causing the problem. According to a 2013 National Academy of Sciences report: • "Management practices are facilitating high rates of population growth.…Thus, population growth rate could be increased by removals through compensatory population growth from decreased competition for forage. As a result, the number of animals processed through holding facilities is probably increased by management.'
Q. Do wild horses have any natural predators?
Wild horses do have predators, primarily in the form of mountain lions. In 2004 for instance, only 1 out of 28 foals survived in Montana's Pryor Mountain area. Such low survival rate was mostly due to mountain lion predation. Unfortunately, in many areas, predators that could help keep wild horse herds in check are eradicated via hunting and by government programs that kill predators for the benefit of ranchers.
Q: Aren't wild horses a non-native species?
A: Wild horses are a reintroduced native wildlife species. Paleontological evidence shows that wild horses evolved on the North American continent over the course of some 1.6 million years. How they disappeared 11 to 13 thousand years ago, if in fact they actually ever became extinct here, is a mystery. When Cortez landed in Mexico in 1519, he brought horses from Spain. Others followed. From these reintroduced animals came the great numbers of wild horses that eventually changed the culture of the Plains Indians. The Spanish horses soon adapted to the same ecological niche their native relatives had once thrived in. Long before the early settlers pioneered the West, they were here as a reintroduced, fully adapted wildlife species, 3 million strong. For more information, please read our Historical Overview.
Q: But isn't the modern horse species a different one from the one that disappeared so long ago?
A: Most of those early differing species were genetically equivalent. Modern molecular biology, using mitochondrial DNA analysis, has shown that the genetic equivalent of Equus caballus emerged, diverged as a species, about 1.6 million years ago, disappearing from the North American continent presumably 11 to 13 thousand years ago. Even more recent molecular work has shown that the very latest the modern horse could possibly have diverged was about 300,000 years ago. For a detailed review of these recent findings, please explore Wild Horses as Native North American Wildlife.
Q: How are wild horses different from domestic horses?
A: The result of five hundred years of natural selection, the American wild horse distinguishes itself from domesticated horses by both its morphology and its behavior. Natural selection has preserved the hardy traits of the horses that shaped the American West: a 1998 Kansas State University study found that wild horses are far less affected by bone disease than their domestic counterparts; wild horses also distinguish themselves by the remarkable hardness of their hooves. In addition, a University of Kentucky study has shown that, despite intense culling, wild horse herds are still genetically far more diverse than any breed of domestic horse. Some herds such as Utah's Sulphur Spring herd are a direct link to the primitive Iberian horse and have been recognized by geneticists as a resource of "truly unique and irreplaceable genotypes, a zoological treasure." These horses retain many traits of the endangered Sorraia breed, including triple dorsal stripes, zebra striped legs, and chest barring.
Q: What about burros?
A: Wild burros' situation is even more precarious than that of their wild horse cousins. Descendants of the burros used by miners as pack animals in the 1800s can still be found in Nevada, Arizona and California, where they share their habitat with bighorn sheep, a highly-prized game species that outnumbers them at least 16 to 1 on public lands. Under pressure from the hunting lobby, BLM consistently removes burros from their legally allocated range to increase the number of available bighorn hunting tags; BLM has set the population target for burros at less than 3,000 nationally. Meanwhile, the National Park Service has a zero wild burro policy: burros found on lands managed by that agency are routinely shot in an eradication program labeled "direct reduction." For more information, please visit our Burro page, and for an eye-witness account of a burro round-up, please visit our Witness Reports page.
Q: Why do wild horses have to be managed at all?
Wild horses and burros today llive under conditions that are far from natural. They are confined within Herd Management Areas that create artificial habitat boundaries and often cut of the animals' historic seasona migratory routes. They live on land that is shared by multiple uses, including livestock grazing, and in areas where natural predators like mountain lions are eradicated by hunters and by a government program that kills predators for the benefit of ranchers. Under these conditions, some form of management is necessary, but the BLM's roundup and removal approach is not only inhumane, but also it is completely unsustainable and has brought the program to the brink of fiscal collapse.
Q: How should wild horses be managed?
AWHC supports the use of the PZP immunocontraceptive vaccine on mares to humanely reduce population growth rates. The vaccine can be delivered remotely via darting, or by hand injection after horses have been humanely gathered via bait trapping. The vaccine creates an immune response that prevents fertilization, and has no effect on fetuses when given to pregnant mares. The PZP vaccine does not impact the reproductive hormones that drive natural behaviors. It is reversible been proven safe, effective and humane over nearly three decades of use in numerous wildlife species, including wild horses.
Q: Why not just geld the stallions and spay the mares?
Unlike the PZP vaccine, surgical sterilization woudl take the wild out of wild horses by destroying the wild free-roaming behaviors that distinguish wild horses from their domestic counterparts. The National Academy of Sciences concluded that "A potential disadvantage of both surgical and chemical castration is loss of testosterone and consequent reduction in or complete loss of male-type behaviors necessary for maintenance of social organization, band integrity, and expression of a natural behavior repertoire.' In addition, it warned that spaying mares (surgically removing their ovaries) -- a procedure that is rarely done in domestic mares -- was dangerous: "The possibility that ovariectomy may be followed by prolonged bleeding or peritoneal infection makes it inadvisable for field application."


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Kapok Hotel is an independent boutique hotel — locally-owned and perfectly located, just outside the capital city of Port-of-Spain in Trinidad
Conceived as a family restaurant in 1964, Kapok is now a 94-room hotel with 2 restaurants and 7 event spaces. All within safe, walking distance to the Queen's Park Savannah — home to Trinidad's famous Carnival — along with other major attractions like The Magnificent Seven, the Emperor Valley Zoo and the Botanical Gardens.
Hotel Services
We offer the following services to all our guests (click below):
+ WiFi
We offer complimentary high speed Wi-Fi internet throughout the entire hotel.
+ AAdvantage Miles
The American Airlines AAdvantage Program is the largest and most popular loyalty program in the world. Miles gained while staying at the Kapok Hotel can be accumulated and redeemed on American Airlines and participating airlines to almost 950 destinations worldwide.
+ Lobby & Snack Shop
Our Lobby and Snack Shop are open to guests 24 hours a day.
+ Check-in & Check-out
Check-in time is from 3:00pm. Should you arrive early, we will be happy to store your bags for you.
Check-out time is 12 noon. Please contact our front desk should you require a late check-out.
+ Room Service
Room service is available daily from 7am - 10pm.
+ Transportation & Parking
We have partnered with an independent taxi service. Requests can be made at the Front Desk. Public transportation (buses and private taxis) is available conveniently in front of the hotel. Complimentary parking for guests and visitors is also provided.
+ Guest Computer Station
A self-service desk is located in the lobby with High Speed Internet Access.
+ Swimming Pool & Sun Deck
Outdoor swimming pool and sun deck available to hotel guests from 6am - 10pm.
+ Exercise Room
Facility includes treadmills, an elliptical machine, stationary bicycles, weights and more. Open daily, 6am - 10pm.
+ Laundry and Dry Cleaning Services
There is a self-service laundromat (2nd floor). The hotel also offers laundry and dry cleaning services.
+ Housekeeping
Our staff will service your room daily. Please contact Front Desk with any special needs.
Room Amenities
Each of our rooms comes fully outfitted with a wide range of features:
Complimentary Wi-Fi
iPod Docking Station
LCD/HD Television with Cable
Coffee Maker
In-room Safe
Clock Radio
Hair Dryer
Iron & Ironing Board
Cosmetic Mirror
We offer a smoke-free environment in all of our rooms. Visit Rooms page
The Queen's Park Savannah by day, the twinkling lights of the capital city of Port-of-Spain by night.
Tiki Village puts you in the treetops, serving up one of the most breath-taking panoramic views in Trinidad. This paired with the restaurant's famous Asian/Polynesian cuisine makes Tiki Village a real feast for your senses. KAVA's eclectic menu features Artisan brick oven pizzas, gourmet burgers, pastas, salads, steaks and much more. The bar's impressive wine selection can be served by the glass or by the bottle. KAVA offers a variety of world-renowned beers and their bartenders are ready to delight your taste buds with trendy cocktails to suit your mood. Seating is available either indoors or outdoors in the patio. Visit Eat & Drink page


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Dwayne Tyrone Williams was ordered to serve 80 hours of community service by a Bridgetown magistrate yesterday after pleading guilty to five offences.
Williams, who resides at 3rd Avenue Waterhall Land, Eagle Hall, St Michael appeared in the District 'A' Traffic Court before Magistrate Graveney Bannister to answer to one drug and four traffic charges.
Besides having a small amount of cannabis in his possession, Williams admitted that he failed to comply with a traffic sign, and had inefficient brakes, no bell or registration number on the bicycle he was riding on October 8.
The court heard that police saw when Williams rode along Bank Hall road and went through a red light. The officers pursued and caught up with him. While they were informing him of the traffic violation he had just committed, Williams began trembling and fidgeting with one of his pants pockets.
He was subjected to a search which revealed the marijuana in a small transparent bag. When police checked the bicycle, they realised it carried no number plate or bell, and the brakes were not working properly.
Magistrate Bannister ordered Williams to return to court on December 7.


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On this incredible trekking adventure, spend 13 challenging days traversing rhododendron forests, isolated hamlets, and mountain villages. For six to seven hours a day, follow the trails of this challenging circuit on and around one of the world's highest mountains while encountering temples, monasteries, and breathtaking landscapes. Led by expert guides and assisted by support staff throughout, you'll be greeted by locals who offer a fascinating glimpse of traditional rural life and majestic views few ever experience.
Arrive in Kathmandu at any time.
Travel to Besi Sahar and then on to Syange via local bus. From Syange, head out on a short trek to Jagat and take in the beautiful hot springs along the way.
Begin 11 days of challenging trekking in one of the highest mountain ranges on Earth. Experience stunning Alpine pastures, forests of rhododendron, temples, rural villages and local people, waterfalls, glaciers, and some of the most spectacular mountain scenery known to man.
For almost 2 weeks, we immerse ourselves into the spectacular mountain wilderness of the Annapurna Range. At 8,091m (26,545ft) Annapurna 1 is one of the highest mountains in the world. Its surrounding sister mountains are equally imposing, creating magnificent panoramas from any view point. Throughout the trek we come across isolated mountain communities, each observing different ancestral customs and traditions, resulting in not only a visually superb expedition but also a culturally rich one. Amid the rugged mountain scenery, we meet warm and welcoming locals herding yaks and goats on grassy pastures, and visit their monasteries and temples. Along the way, we see waterfalls of melted snow, cross icy rivers, broad plains, and high mountain passes and reward ourselves with a soak in natural hot springs (you've earned this!). The trekking is challenging, averaging 6-7 hrs a day, often at high altitudes. The highest point we reach, occurring on Day 9, is the 5,416m (17,769ft) Thorung Pass.
Given the dangers of altitude sickness, it is imperative that we take at least 3 days to ascend to this height. A couple of days are also allowed for rest and acclimatisation.
Trek from Bagarchhap to Chame (2,670m, 8,760ft).
Trek from Chame to Pisang (3,300m,10,827ft).
Trek from Pisang to Manang (3,540m, 11,614ft).
Enjoy a rest day at Manang.
Trek from Manang to Yak Kharta (4,018m, 13,182ft).
Trek from Yak Kharka to Phedi (4,450m, 14,600ft).
Trek from Phedi to Muktinath (3,800m, 12,467ft).
Take a local bus to Kalopani and view the contrasting yellow hills against green farmland of the valley floor. View the Kali Gandaki, home to the deepest canyons.
Cross a suspension bridge and switchback across the river. Spend 3-4 hours trekking through waterfalls, bridges, varieties of trees, and small communities to reach Tatopani. Settle into your homestay for the night in Narchyang Village, located on the opposite side of Tatopani.
Climb a stairway of stone steps and cross a suspension bridge. Reach a mesmerizing view of ascending levels of teahouses and lodges with the mountains surrounding. Today's hike will be 4-5 hours.
Today trek from Sikha to Ghorepani (2,785m, 9,137ft). View local villages, teahouses, and settlements along the uphill route.
Enjoy an early morning excursion to Poon Hill. Then venture through Poonhill to Ramghai, enjoying spectacular views of the Annapurna range along the way. Cross through forests, streams, and bridges to reach the final destination, Birethanti.
Take a short hike from Birethanti to Nayapul where our bus will be waiting to take us to Pokhara. Rest and take a well-deserved shower in this lakeside resort town.
Return to Kathmandu.
We travel back to Kathmandu where the rest of the day is free for shopping, sightseeing, or relaxing in one of the many rooftop cafés.
Depart at any time.
Trusted by travellers since 1979
We guarantee to beat any price
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Trip Name: Annapurna Circuit Trek
Duration: 18 Days
From Price: ₤799
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An enterprise document management system from M-Files
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Workflows: M-Files automated workflows streamline common business processes (like contract approvals, controlled content, invoicing, etc.) so you can stay productive and ensure compliance. M-Files automatically monitors each step of the workflow process and sends a notification when there's something that needs to be handled. It's simple, quick, and built in to M-Files.
Document Templates: Eliminate unnecessary recreation of documents with M-Files document templates. Quickly create a template that will fill in information automatically for commonly used documents.
Permissions: Metadata-driven permissions: a revolutionary approach providing unprecedented power and flexibility for user access control management.
Co-Author: Simultaneously edit shared documents with co-authoring in M-Files. Check a document out in M-Files and send the co-authoring link to co-workers, work groups and external collaborators to seamlessly edit a single document.
Offline: Accessing important information and documents no matter where you are is vital. M-Files offline availability allows you to view, edit and save documents even without access to WiFi or a network connection.
Scan & OCR: Scan documents and automatically make them searchable with OCR technology built right into M-Files.
Annotations: Annotations and redlining capabilities enable any M-Files user to add comments to a document without modifying the original file.
Compliance: Tracking quality and compliance processes and verifying completion can be extremely time consuming. Maintain regulatory compliance and ensure product quality consistency with M-Files.
Ratio of reviewers by sector.
|Health Care
|Information & Recording
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20 Times Miley Cyrus Was a Good Role Model
Everyone is quick to hate on Miley Cyrus. Whether it's her twerking, her bizarre music videos, or her love of nudity and marijuana, it's fair to say that she makes a lot of people uncomfortable. It's no wonder that plenty of people out there like to slam the former child star and paint her as a spoiled, reckless brat.
But not so fast! Miley Cyrus may be outrageous, but she's also learned to embrace her role model status, even doing (dare we say it) GOOD for the world! Yes, Miley Cyrus is actually making a difference in this universe!
Not only does she work with dozens of charities, giving her time, her money, her name, and even her body to help people less fortunate than she is (a.k.a. nearly everyone), she also started her own foundation to help people in need. Here's a list of things Miley Cyrus has done that prove she's actually a good role model.
Miley went behind the camera to team up with Instagram on a campaign to support transgender, trans, genderqueer and gender non-conforming people. The social justice campaign features photos (taken by Cyrus) of people across the gender spectrum to promote awareness and acceptance. A dozen people were chosen to be featured in the pictures, which will live on Instagram under the #InstaPride hashtag. The effort is a part of her Happy Hippie Foundation.
Source: Time
Cyrus single-handedly founded the Happy Hippie Foundation to rally young people to fight injustice facing homeless youth, LGBT youth, and other vulnerable populations. To help raise funds and awareness, she's enlisted the help of people like Joan Jett and Ariana Grande to perform Backyard Sessions, which allow people on Facebook to donate to her organization.Source: Rolling Stone
When Miley won Video of the Year at the 2014 MTV VMAs for "Wrecking Ball", she brought Jesse, a homeless kid she had met while volunteering, as her date. She allowed him to make an emotional speech about being homeless, which helped raise over $200,000 in one night for My Friend's Place. Afterward, she took him on a dinner date.Source: Hollywood Life
When she was 18, Cyrus took two trips to Haiti with the Starkey Hearing Foundation to help fit and distribute over 400 Haitians who needed hearing aids. After the trip, Cyrus tweeted: "This second mission to Haiti was just as impactful to me as the first one. I grew up around music and couldn't imagine what it would be like for my siblings and me, if we couldn't hear the magic of music."Source: The Daily Mail


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So You've Been Deferred… Now What?
Ed note: On December 24th, we'll be airing a radio show that discusses next steps for students who have been deferred. Tune in to Getting In: A College Coach Conversation for even more guidance on how to respond to a deferral.
Whether you were deferred from your first choice school or one of your safeties, receiving a deferral can feel worse than an outright rejection. You want to hold out hope that you'll be accepted come spring, but you can't help but feel you should simply move on and accept the inevitable. In a few days' time, when your feelings aren't so raw and you can think about your remaining college options with a bit more clarity, follow the steps below to improve your chances of acceptance after being deferred.
Step 1: Reevaluate Your College List


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DSEU România
Helping small and medium-sized enterprises generate incremental revenue by expanding their businesses across Europe, at a fraction of traditional costs by leveraging digital marketing as an alternative growth strategy.
The group volunteers to help businesses by providing free education, information events, strategy examples, guidelines, templates, networking opportunities, research and a reasonable amount of support in creating an expansion strategy at very little to no cost. Over the next four years, the group is set to help roughly a hundred thousand of the 20 Million registered businesses across Europe to expand and create on average 20 additional jobs per company.
While the Digital Sunrise team is made up entirely of volunteers, team members are seeing personal benefits from gaining experience, improving their reputations and growing their own respective businesses. Digital Sunrise Europe is currently a consortium of independent businesses and will form its own legal entity by the end of October 2012.


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Time Perception
Design of a game to detect ADHD in young children, based on concepts of time perception
The aim of this project is to research the design of a game to detect Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in young children, based on among others concepts of time perception. Correctly classifying young children (4-8 years) is difficult because of problems with distraction, understanding questions, and potential Hawthorne effects. An interactive game conversely creates an engaging setting where the child can be monitored unobtrusively. The game that was designed consists of 6 mini-games embedded in a story line and includes fantasy elements to enhance motivation. Each of the mini-games focuses on a different aspect of time perception, including planning, inhibition, and delayed rewards, and additionally measures a variety of metrics such as speed, number of clicks, and eye gaze data. A clinical trial with 136 children shows this method to be effective (78% correctly classified) and serious games to be viable tools to support the clinical assessment.
Timo's Avontuur
This research project is a collaboration between two universities and an industry partner to combine a research through design approach with clinical expertise and testing. The result is a game that can be used to support ADHD diagnosis, as well as the diagnosis of other learning impairments, called Timo's Avontuur. It forms a proof of concept and body of knowledge on how to design diagnostic games.
University of Genoa (IT), Kempenhaeghe Center of Neurological Learning Disabilities
Possible funding from: Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctorate (EMJD) in Interactive and Cognitive Environments (ICE)), which is funded via the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) of the European Commission under EMJD ICE FPA nº 2010-0012.
Related Publications
Peijnenborgh, J. C., Hurks, P. P., Aldenkamp, A. P., van der Spek, E. D., Rauterberg, G. W. M., Vles, J. S., & Hendriksen, J. G. (2016). A study on the validity of a computer-based game to assess cognitive processes, reward mechanisms, and time perception in children aged 4-8 years. JMIR serious games, 4(2).
Gongsook, P. (2016). Interactive diagnostic game for time perception: Timo's adventure game (Doctoral dissertation, Technische Univeristeit Eindhoven).
Gongsook, P., Peijnenborgh, J., Van Der Spek, E., Hu, J., Bellotti, F., Berta, R., ... & Hendriksen, J. (2014, July). Designing a serious game as a diagnostic tool. In International Conference on Games and Learning Alliance (pp. 63-72). Springer International Publishing.
Langereis, G., Hu, J., Gongsook, P., & Rauterberg, M. (2012). Perceptual and computational time models in game design for time orientation in learning disabilities. In E-Learning and Games for Training, Education, Health and Sports (pp. 183-188). Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
Gongsook, P. (2012, September). Time simulator in virtual reality for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. In International Conference on Entertainment Computing (pp. 490-493). Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
Gongsook, P., Hu, J., Bellotti, F., & Rauterberg, M. (2012). A virtual reality based time simulator game for children with ADHD. In 2nd International Conference on Applied and Theoretical Information Systems Research (ATISR), Taipei, Taiwan.


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Tapua is returning to Billy's, and if you joined us for our 25th Anniversary Celebration, you know what your in for! Escape to Billy's at the Beach on Wednesday June 27th from 5-8PM for a special night of Polynesian entertainment, featuring traditional live music, hula dancers, and a sunset torch lighting ceremony.
Seating nearest the action will go quickly; call (949) 722-1100 to book your visit or click here to reserve via OpenTable.


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In a recent email from a self-proclaimed "fellow photo-geezer", whose site I visit almost daily, the geezer wrote:
.... the majority of my 'audience' never spends more time on the images than to identify the subject matter. Sad, but true.
That observation is, arguably, "sad, but true". However, in a real sense, it is a phenomenon predicated upon the medium of photography's primary characteristic - its ability to render realistic representations of the real world - hence elevating the depicted referent, in the eyes of most viewers, as the raison d'etre for the making of a picture.
iMo, in the case of snapshots, the depicted referent is, in fact, both the reason for the making of a picture and for holding a viewer's interest in that picture. That notion, together with the fact that snapshots are the most commonly made type of pictures, accounts for the subject matter centered attitude of most viewers of pictures.
However, my "fellow photo-geezer" is not engaged in making snapshots. His picture making intentions are more concerned (or so it seems to me) with the making of pictures which exhibit an artistic sensibility. That is, iMo, pictures which are not dependent upon subject matter / the depicted referent for exhibiting artistic merit, but rather upon sensory properties - shape, line, value, color space, etc. - which are organized to create unity, balance, imbalance, movement, stasis, serenity, agitation, etc. All of which is implemented to evoke an emotional / sensory response in the eye and sensibilities of a viewer.
A response which can be, and most often is, totally independent of the depicted referent in a picture. A visual phenomenon which is capable of creating a beautiful picture even though a depicted referent is not a thing of conventional beauty.


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Wiltshire Adoption Reunion Registry
Adopted.com is proud to offer a country-wide Adoption Reunion Registry for England, where you can meet by mutual consent whether you've accessed your adoption records or not. From Plymouth to Leeds and everywhere in between, if both parties want to meet then you can find each other on Adopted.com! In England, those over the age of 18 have access to their original birth records. Those who were adopted prior to November 12, 1975 are required to attend a counseling session with an approved adoption adviser beforehand. For those who know their birth details, you can order a copy of your original birth certificate from the General Register Office. Those who need birth details to request their birth certificate must first fill in an application for Birth certificate Information Before Adoption (BIBA). For adoptions outside England or Wales you need to contact the General Register Office where you were adopted.
Members Currently Searching Within Wiltshire
1. Pauldurcan1958 :I was born paul durcan 21st sept 1958 crumpsall manchester birth mother maureen durcan worked at millgate / long gate hotel
2. Wendynurse12 :i am looking for adoptive grandparents or siblings my name is wendy nurse daughter of pauline campbelle grandaughter of margrette and harold cambelle birth mother mary anne kerr from scotland had connections with manchester mums date of birth was 2 10 1952 pauline anne kerr widnes cheshire
3. Davidgeorgemasterman :Searching birth cert name Richard Mark' born 1 November 1961' the haven yateley. Mother Mary Ramsey McGregor McMillan' Father unknown. Fostered and later adopted house Gidley Way Horspath Oxfordshire.
4. Davidjamescunningham :My partner is searching for his mother' Christine Robertson. . His farthers name was Alan Cunningham. I was born in ipswich ' on the ' 04/05/1978 to Christine Robertson and Alan.Cunningham.. .
5. Alimac33 :Birth name is Gary/Garry Mark Bolt
6. JoannaRoulson :I am deaf
Customer service on here is second to none!


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Applied Science Work-related portfolio
The Work-related Portfolio accounts for 50% of the marks for this specification.
Summary of assessment of Applied Science
Standard procedures
Many industries use standard procedures to ensure that results are of good quality and reliable, often to meet legal requirements for quality control.
Students of all abilities can take pleasure in mastering a skill so that it is repeatable and reliable. Typically standard procedures will be carried out and assessed in a single lesson.
Suitability test
In commerce or industry it is often necessary to decide a suitable material to use for a specified purpose, a suitable procedure leading a desired outcome, or a suitable device to use for a purpose. Understanding the context enables a practitioner to clarify the criteria that define 'suitability'. They can then devise an investigation that will reveal how well the criteria are met.
Conducting a suitability test requires students to bring together science knowledge and understanding, practical competency and an understanding of the work-related context. They can demonstrate the ability to test the suitability of a material, procedure or a device for a particular purpose in any of the three Applied modules chosen.
These tests will require a more extended time allocation than the Standard Procedures.
Work-related report
This task provides an opportunity for students to research authentic contexts in which science is applied. At the core of their report is a description of the nature of the work carried out. They focus on specific aspects of workplace practice, and make links to relevant scientific knowledge from any of the six Applied modules.
Writing this report requires several skills associated with scientific communication:
- collecting information and acknowledging sources;
- structuring a report appropriately;
- making effective use of visual material to convey information and ideas.
The specification is available on the OCR website. You will also find details of OCR training there.


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Politics & Government
Clinton pledges more U.S. support for troubled Somalia
NAIROBI, Kenya — Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pledged Thursday to send more help to Somalia's besieged interim government to prevent radical Islamist militias from turning that troubled country into "a future haven for global terrorism."
Speaking on the second day of her seven-nation African tour, Clinton said the Obama administration would "expand and extend" its support for Somalia, without offering specifics. She hinted, however, that a recent U.S shipment of some 40 tons of weapons and ammunition to the Somali government had helped stave off an offensive by the well-armed radical group al Shabaab, which U.S. officials say is linked to al Qaida.
"Very early in the administration I made the decision, which the president supported, to accelerate and provide aid to the (Somali government) when it was in a very difficult position," Clinton said after talks with the Somali president, Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed. "And we are very pleased that, under President Sheik Sharif's leadership, (it) is in a much stronger position now."
Clinton met Ahmed in Nairobi, the capital of neighboring Kenya, because Somalia is considered too dangerous for most Western officials to enter. In April, when U.S. Rep. Donald Payne, D-N.J., visited the battle-scarred capital, Mogadishu, insurgents fired mortar rounds near his plane as it left the country. Payne and his delegation were unharmed.
U.S. officials allege that al Shabaab, from the Arabic word for "youth," is fueled by militants and money from foreign countries, and aims to establish a beachhead for al Qaida in volatile East Africa. The FBI is investigating whether as many as 20 Somali-Americans disappeared from the Minneapolis, Minn., area to join al Shabaab, and police in Australia said earlier this week that they'd arrested four men with al Shabaab connections for allegedly plotting a domestic terrorist attack.
"If al Shabaab were to obtain a haven in Somalia, which could then attract al Qaida and other terrorist actors, it would be a threat to the United States," Clinton said.
She also threatened to "take action," without elaborating, against the Red Sea country of Eritrea for allegedly funneling weapons and supplies to the militants. Eritrea, which views Ahmed's government as a client of its blood enemy, Ethiopia, has denied the allegations.
Ahmed, a boyish-looking former schoolteacher who met Clinton in a dark suit and embroidered cap, led a coalition of Islamic courts, including al Shabaab, that briefly ruled Mogadishu in 2006. After he became president the militants swiftly turned on him, accusing him of being a puppet of Western countries, including the United States, which is Ahmed's main financier.
Clinton called the government "the best hope we've had in quite some time" for stability in Somalia, which has been beset by civil war for 18 years.
"U.S. support is very important to us," Ahmed said, rejecting the militants' criticisms. "The U.S., because it is a superpower, has the responsibility to move us out of the current crisis."
The conflict has created a humanitarian disaster as grave as any in the world. Nearly 300,000 Somalis have fled to overcrowded camps and urban neighborhoods in Kenya while 1.3 million more are refugees in their own land, living in makeshift shelters and huts across the country, the United Nations says.
Clinton said the U.S. government would continue to send humanitarian assistance and medical supplies for the roughly 40 percent of Somalis who need urgent help as they struggle through drought, disease and the never-ending war.
On Africa visit, Clinton won't shy away from thorny issues
Moderate Islamist sworn in as Somalia's new president
Jihadists find global Somali communities ripe for recruiting
Follow Africa news from McClatchy at Shashank Bengali's blog: Somewhere in Africa.


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BROCKTON, Mass. ---- The Massasoit baseball team earned the No. 2 seed and will face No. 3 Quinsigamond CC on Friday at 7:30 PM in the opening round of the NJCAA Region 21 Division III baseball tournament at Trinity Stadium hosted by Northern Essex CC.
Friday – May 11th
Game 1: 4:00pm Trinity Stadium #1 Northern Essex vs #4 Holyoke
Game 2: 7:30pm Trinity Stadium #2 Massasoit vs #3 Quinsigamond
Saturday – May 12th
Game 3: 1:00pm Loser Game 1 vs Loser Game 2
(Eaton Field- 70 Low St. Newburyport, MA - Located behind the school)
Game 4: 2:00pm Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2 Trinity Stadium
Game 5: 6:00pm Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4 Trinity Stadium
Sunday – May 13th
Game 6: 2:00pm Winner of Game 4 vs Winner of Game 5 Trinity Stadium
Game 7: If Necessary following Game 6
Massasoit turned on the jets down the stretch of the regular season, playing seven games in five days, posting a 5-2 record during that stretch. The Warriors captured victories in 11 of their last 13 contests, finishing 16-11 overall and 12-3 against Region 21 divisional opponents.
The Warriors boast a team batting average of .321 for the season with five student-athletes hitting .333 or better on the season. Preston Rankin leads the team with a .364 batting average and .524 on-base percentage.
Fellow sophomore Luke Lewando (Brockton) has hit .360 for the season, followed by freshman Jonathan O'Donnell (Hull) at .353 and Nick Andrews (Raynham) at .350.
Andrews tops the team in RBI (33), runs (37) and extra-base hits (13), while manning shortstop for the Warriors. O'Donnell has knocked in 29 runs, while Luis Ramirez (.333 batting average) and Ricky Sherlock (12 extra-base hits, 22 RBI) have been major contributors on offense.
On the mound, Massasoit has four pitchers who have logged more than 20 innings on the season. Freshman Luke DiTondo (Marshfield) has been a workhorse, leading the team in innings pitched (36) and strikeouts (41), posting a 2-1 record and an even 4.00 ERA.
Righty Nick Steele of Dartmouth, sports a 3-1 record, fanning 26 in 31.1 innings. Southpaws Lewando has struck out 20 to just five walks in 27 innings and Matt McGrath (Braintree) has 17 strikeouts in 20.2 innings.
Head coach Tom Frizzell, in his 28th season leading the Warriors, has reached the Region 21 Tournament every season during his hall of fame tenure. Under his watch, Massasoit has captured the regional title eight times with the last one coming in 2007.
The Warriors went 2-1 against the Quinsigamond Wyverns, splitting a doubleheader, before claiming the regular season finale in Worcester.
The Wyverns enter the tournament winners of five of their last six games, with the lone loss coming to the Warriors.
Quinsigamond is led by ace Jordan Weber, who went 6-1 with a 1.51 ERA, fanning 57 in 41.2 innings. The lefty topped the region in wins, strikeouts and finished second in ERA.
Sophomore Bryce Melanson has been solid for the Wyverns, posting a 4.55 ERA in 29.2 innings.
As a team, Quinsigamond is hitting .284 for the season, with the duo of Nick Martin and Ryan Sanderson leading the charge.
Martin owns a .429 batting average, with 16 of his 30 hits going for extra bases, tallying 21 RBI and 12 stolen bases. He has also scored a team-best 26 runs and slugging at an impressive .786 clip.
Sanderson has hit .375 for the season, knocking in 22 and scored 17 runs. He has clubbed 10 extra-base hits and swiped eight steals.


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Our exceptional preschool program provides every opportunity to prepare your child for a positive start to their schooling years.
Our educators deliver a well-designed balance of child-initiated and teacher-led activities. While still focusing on attentive care and play-based learning, our educators will foster your child's natural desire to engage with educational programs for life.
Our specifically designed School Readiness program prepares your child for the transition to school, helping your child to feel confident that they will be able to adapt to the new school environment socially, emotionally and mentally before they even arrive. This program teaches the children a variety of literacy and numeracy skills, including;
Our program is designed to not only help prepare your child for a smoother transition to school, but also equip them with lifelong skills and a love of learning.
We invite you to visit our child care centre and meet our team of educators. Book a tour or join our waitlist and our team will be in touch!
Give your child the best possible start in life.


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High winds have battered Calderdale today, leaving a trail of destruction.
These images were sent to us by Steve Winstanley. The force of the wind ripped up a tree between Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd.
Burnley Road was closed this morning because of falling roof tiles and debris at the former Walkley Clog factory.
A tree was also blocking Halifax Road in Shelf, causing chaos for motorists.
In Brighouse, a family had a lucky escape as a tree came crashing down behind their house.
Read more here


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Please Stop Calling Them Autism Breakthroughs
Broken: My Road to Recovery
How Far We've Come
Two Autism Diagnoses in Three YearsOn April 19th we took our youngest son, Eli to the same doctor that had diagnosed his older brother with autism three years ago. This time it was Eli's turn to be observed, asked a couple of questions and put through a series of play tasks before diagnosing him with a lifetime disability of autism spectrum disorder.
Contentment is for Cows
Accepting Autism
I never want Owen to feel that his autism is something that needs to be hidden. I wasted a lot of time and energy trying to fix him or disguise his disability because of my inability to accept his diagnosis. Acceptance helped me let go of my expectations of what our life should be and embrace what are lives are really like today.
The Importance of Date Night
Two weeks after my first child was born, the phone calls, well wishers and Facebook posts had tapered off. I was contentedly marveling at this little being that we had created. Then my husband says, "What do you think about having a date night Saturday?" The music in my head stopped abruptly, I sat up in the chair and squeezed Owen a little tighter, a date night, already? My mind started racing with excuses, "I can't go, I can't leave him."
Why Autism Makes Me a Better Mom
My life leading up to Owen's diagnosis was a series of events. Life seemed to just happen to me; most of the time it felt as though I was just along for the ride. I didn't put much thought into the why's or how's of life. I took for granted that the next step would be mapped out for me.
The Miracle of Life
... and the hell that is pregnancy.
The Fine Art of Social Skills
Pain is a motivator. I watch Owen struggle with some of the smallest things that his two year old brother does with ease and it hurts my heart.
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The Waterproof and Iris Scan Equipped Samsung Note7/
From Yahoo! Tech
Samsung helped launch the big-screen smartphone craze with its original Galaxy Note, and now the company is hoping to take the category to a new level with its new Galaxy Note 7.
Available for pre-order Aug. 3 and on sale Aug. 19, the Note 7 is essentially a mash-up of the best features of Samsung's Galaxy S7 and last year's Galaxy Note 5.
If you're wondering why the Note 7 — which is the follow-up to the Note 5 — isn't called the Note 6, the simple answer is this: Samsung wanted to better match the Note's naming convention with the S7. That's it.
The same but different
Overall, the Note 7 doesn't look all that different from the Note 5. Its aluminum body is narrower than the Note 5's, but only by 0.1 inches. Still, that's enough to make the phone more comfortable to hold than its predecessor. The Note 7's curved front and back panels further improve grip. Samsung also managed to cut the Note 7's weight from 6.03 ounces to 5.96 ounces, though chances are you probably won't notice the difference.


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A powerful and scalable ERP solution that covers all business operations in your company – CRM, Sales, Purchasing, Stock Control, Manufacturing, Service and Repair, Project Management, and Job Costing
SAP HANA is a real-time, in-memory platform that enables companies to process 'big data' in their ERP application, at the same time support operational reporting, advanced analytics and predictive modelling.
A single point of contact for all of your infrastructure requirements for SAP Business One, HANA & Cloud.
Related Links:
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Industry 4.0 and Compatible ERP Software
CDG Grant for ERP Investment
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SAP Business One SQL vs HANA
SAP Business One HANA Free Trial
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SAP Business One On-premise vs Cloud
Webinar – SAP Business One Project-based Solutions
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Inecom wins 2 awards at SAP 2019 Innovation Summit, Bangkok
Top 5 Tips when implementing an ERP solution
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Selecting the right ERP Solution
5 Reasons for replacing your legacy system – Mobile App
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SAP Business One HANA Free Trial
CDG Grant for ERP Investment
Join us at our Upcoming Events or we can setup a personalized demo for your company's requirements.
"Inecom had a well-defined system implementation methodology, as well as a very strong track record. We are delighted to say that the project came in on time and on schedule and quickly began to deliver real business benefits."
-Albert Choo, Finance Manager
"GET THINGS DONE is one of the Core Values of our company, which Inecom continually executes in a professional and efficient way."
-Wee Yeak Ing, Financial Controller
"The whole process of ERP implementation with Inecom was quite smooth. We implemented the system within our time frame. After the implementation, the support response time from Inecom is very good as well."
-Fu Shou Jeen, Finance Director