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Tenet 1: Confidentiality – Open for Comment
Clients and consumers of speech-to-text services have the right to privacy and confidentiality. This first section of the ATSP Code of Professional Conduct establishes guidelines regarding how information disclosed during an assignment should be treated with respect to outside parties. A non-exhaustive list of illustrative behaviors is available in this section, along with special exceptions.
The first section of the ATSP Code of Professional Conduct is now available for public comment here .
Accessible versions of the ATSP Code of Conduct are available by request. Please contact [email protected]
Please leave comments on this working draft in the comments section of the post below. Or contact us at [email protected] Thank you for reading and providing input!
What is the ATSP Code of Professional Conduct?
ATSP's Code of Professional Conduct is a foundational set of standards designed to promote professionalism and integrity in the delivery of speech-to-text services.
Why Do We Need a Code of Professional Conduct?
Having clear professional standards is important in any occupation or field. The ATSP Code of Professional Conduct unifies existing professional standards and serves as an educational guide for members of the speech-to-text community.
How Was It Designed?
The Code of Professional Conduct was drafted by a volunteer Ethics and Standards Committee, reviewed by outside subject matter specialists, and then revised by the ATSP Board. The working draft is now available for public comment.
How Will It Benefit Service Providers?
As Transcribers and Captionists know, many incidents and situations that occur on the job do not fall into black and white categories. The ATSP Code of Professional Conduct serves as a resource for speech-to-text providers working in the field. It is not designed to address every possible scenario, nor does it take the place of critical thinking and rational problem solving. Rather, it helps to define the basic ethical principles on which our field is founded, and it provides illustrative examples to help guide providers in their professional decision making.
How Will It Benefit Agencies, Companies, and Offices?
Service coordinators and supervisors may refer to this document when designing or revising the in-house policies that govern their offices, agencies, and companies. Employers will be able to vet their own policies with this Code to promote increased consumer confidence. When challenging situations arise, the ATSP Code serves as a resource for working with employees to determine the best course of action and development.
How Will It Benefit Consumers and Clients?
By establishing a reliable set of expectations, the ATSP Code of Conduct serves as a powerful resource for clients and consumers when advocating for high standards of excellence in the speech-to-text services they receive.
How Will It Be Released?
Over the next five weeks, the ATSP Board will be releasing the working draft of the Code of Professional Conduct one section at a time via the ATSP blog. We look forward to your comments and input!
In the future, the ATSP Code of Professional Conduct will be available publically on ATSP's website. We may also explore other channels of distribution.
Where Can I Find It?
The first section is available as a downloadable PDF.
Who May Provide Comment?
You do not need to be a member of ATSP to provide comment on this working draft. Any member of the speech-to-text community may provide comment, including service providers, service coordinators, agency owners, disability services officials, clients, and consumers. Please share this information with your colleagues.
How Can I Provide Feedback?
As members of ATSP and as members of the speech-to-text community, your feedback is vital to the completion of this document! The attached PDF includes a purpose statement, some practical definitions, and ATSP's first professional tenet: Confidentiality.
As you review this first section, please consider the following questions:
- -What is clear or unclear?
- -What is missing or incomplete?
- -What questions does this document raise?
Then provide us with your feedback one of two ways:
- By posting a public comment at the bottom of this blog entry
- By sending us your feedback privately via email at [email protected]
How Will My Feedback Be Used?
After all of the sections have been posted, and public comment has concluded, the ATSP Board will review the feedback we have received and will begin the final steps toward publishing these standards. That may involve soliciting additional feedback/clarification, significant or minor revision, or a Board vote for approval. So as not to stifle conversation, the ATSP Board will refrain from replying to individual comments during the period of public comment.


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Burundi / Prosecutor requests life imprisonment for journalist charged with terrorism
PARIS, France, May 9, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ — A prosecutor in the eastern city of Cankuzo yesterday requested life imprisonment for journalist Hassan Ruvakuki and 22 other people who are charged with "participating in acts of terrorism" by a new rebel group operating in the east of the country.
A reporter for Bonesha FM and the Swahili service of Radio France Internationale, Ruvakuki has been held since 28 November, after interviewing an alleged member of the rebel group, which is reportedly based in neighbouring Tanzania.
During yesterday's hearing in Cankuzo, lawyers representing 14 of the defendants, including Ruvakuki, refused to enter pleas, reiterating their position that the trial violates procedural rules and the most basic defence rights. The other nine defendants pleaded not guilty. Despite these flagrant irregularities, the court said it would proceed with the trial and adjourned until 20 June.
"It has already been demonstrated that this court is neither competent nor impartial, so the request for life sentences is just further evidence that the trial is a travesty orchestrated by the government," Reporters Without Borders said. "After more than five months in detention and the occasional grotesque hearing, Ruvakuki's hopes of an impartial and independent hearing have been dashed. The reputation of Burundi's justice system is at stake. It needs to ignore the political directives and hold a proper trial.
"Despite protests from the defence lawyers, Ruvakuki's employers, NGOs and bodies such as the Paris Bar Association, the Burundian authorities continue to turn a deaf ear to all the calls for a fair trial. If necessary, the legal battle will taken to the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights."
An appeal court in the central city of Gitega on 28 February rejected a defence petition challenging the impartiality of the judges in Cankuzo and calling for the trial to be transferred to a different city. This decision was never notified to the defendants, as the defence lawyers pointed out during yesterday's hearing.
In a letter to justice minister Pascal Barandaqiye on 27 March (linked article in French: http://en.rsf.org/burundi-prosecutor-requests-life-09-05-2012,42587.html), the deputy president of the Paris Bar Association condemned the "serious violation of defence rights" and called for "urgent measures to be taken so that Hassan Ruvakuki can be guaranteed the right to a fair trial before an independent and impartial court."
The failure to notify the defendants about the appeal court's decision was publicly condemned by the defence lawyers on 17 April. Ruvakuki's lawyer, Onésime Kabayabaya, said: "As long as the situation is not resolved, there will be no progress." The supreme court's spokesman told him the case was not urgent and would take the normal course.
More information about Hassan Ruvakuki:
SOURCE Reporters without Borders (RSF)
In Sudan, journalist detained; newspapers confiscated
NEW YORK, May 9, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Sudanese security services must immediately release journalist Faisal Mohamed Saleh, who was arrested at his home today after facing two weeks of harassment, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
The National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) arrested Saleh, a columnist who contributes to several independent and opposition publications, from his home in Khartoum and took him to an unknown location, according to news reports and Faisal al-Baqri, the general coordinator of the group Journalists for Human Rights in Sudan, who spoke to CPJ. The NISS has not disclosed Saleh's health, condition, or whereabouts and has denied him access to his family or a lawyer, al-Baqri said.
Saleh has been a frequent critic of the government's human rights and press freedom record, according to news reports. On April 25, the NISS summoned Saleh for questioning after he made critical comments in an Al-Jazeera interview in regard to President Omar al-Bashir, according to a letter the journalist wrote that was published by the news website Sudanese Online on Monday. The NISS also warned Saleh to be cautious when speaking to the foreign media, the letter said.
"The Sudanese security forces appear to have targeted Faisal Mohamed Saleh because of his critical journalism," said Mohamed Abdel Dayem, CPJ's Middle East and North Africa program coordinator. "Authorities should release Saleh immediately and stop harassing him."
In his letter, Saleh also said that the NISS demanded he come into the office every day for interviews. He said he balked when some of the scheduled interrogations never took place. He was arrested today, news reports said.
In a separate development, the NISS confiscated the entire print run of the independent daily Al-Tayar yesterday, according to news reports. It is unclear why Al-Tayar's issues were confiscated, but the newspaper has been targeted in the past, according to CPJ research. In February, the NISS confiscated its entire print run and suspended the daily on charges of "jeopardizing national security."
On April 24, NISS agents confiscated the entire print run of the pro-opposition weekly Al-Midan,which has also been frequently targeted by the NISS, CPJ research shows.News accounts reported that the paper ran a cover picturing displaced people in Darfur, a subject that has been deemed taboo by the government, according to news reports.
In the past, authorities in Sudan have censored publications in advance by dispatching NISS agents to the newsrooms, but are now resorting to a new strategy in which they confiscate publications after they are printed, thus forcing newspapers to incur heavy financial losses, CPJ research shows.
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
Nigeria / Daily abuses suffered by Nigeria's journalists
PARIS, France, May 7, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Following World Press Freedom Day on May 3, Reporters Without Borders takes a look at the breaches of freedom of news and information in Nigeria during the first quarter of 2012, turning the spotlight on one of the most dangerous countries in Africa for journalists. For the first time, it has included the Islamist militia Boko Haram in its latest list of Predators of Freedom of Information, just published (http://en.rsf.org/nigeria-boko-haram-02-05-2012,42487.html).
The press freedom organization outlines all breaches of freedom of information recorded between 24 December and 24 March. It highlights the almost daily arrests and assault of journalists and the obstruction of access to, and distribution of, information, and describes the insidious atmosphere in which journalists have to carry out their work.
During the period in question, Reporters Without Borders recorded: the murder of one journalist, the killing of another with no proof that it was linked to the victim's work, nine assaults, seven arrests, three journalists threatened, four instances of seizure of equipment or deletion of files, three cases of access to information being cut off, three court cases against journalists and news organisations, the closure of a press centre and a media outlet's premises vandalised.
The report also covers disturbances in April when there were bomb attacks on the offices of two newspapers, in Abuja and Kaduna (http://en.rsf.org/nigeria-government-urged-to-protect-media-27-04-2012,42384.html)
Whether these abuses – obstruction of information and control of the government's image, or gratuitous violence and threats – were carried out by the government or private organizations using armed groups, they confirm the authorities' desire to silence journalists who try to report on the instability now gripping the country.
Nigeria embodies a paradox. On the one hand, it is a country where freedom of news and information is effective so far as the pluralism and vitality of the media are concerned, and on the other, it has one of Africa's worst records for infringements of press freedom and a worrying level of danger for journalists.
Murder, threats and violence
Since 14 March, when it became known that talks were taking place between Boko Haram and the government, the freelance journalist Ahmad Salkida has received several anonymous telephone threats. The reporter, who has covered the activities of Boko Haram for several years, was accused among other things of being a member of the Islamist group and of being the instigator of the talks. He was also told that he and the group "are not supposed to exist". The next day, he was followed by a white Lagos-registered 4×4 for several hours in Abuja.
In July last year he was forced to move away from the northern city of Maiduguri after receiving threats from people claiming to belong to Boko Haram. The threats followed the publication in the magazine Blueprint of an article he wrote on the Islamist group's first suicide bomber.
On 11 March, Boko Haram threatened to take action against three newspapers, National Accord, Vanguard and Tribune, in a tele-conference in Maiduguri, capital of Borno state. The group said the newspapers attributed statements to the group which were not made by its members and showed bias against it in their reports. It said they portrayed the group in a negative light while praising government forces.
On 9 March, Boko Haram had threatened to "take care of" any journalist that misrepresented its views in an article. The Nigerian Tribune and Vanguard Newspapers were among those mentioned specifically by the group's spokesman, Abul Qaqa.
On 13 February, six journalists from the New Nigerian, Blueprint, Aminiya, Voice of Nigeria, Hausa Service and the Nigerian Standard, and a Nigerian Television Authority cameraman were attacked by a dozen unidentified assailants in Katami village in the Silame local government area of Sokoto State, where they were covering the election campaign of the All Nigeria Peoples Party's candidate for the state governorship, Alhaji Yusha'u Ahmed. The bus in which they were travelling was attacked by men armed with machetes, knives, cutlasses and sticks.
On 7 February, Akinola Ariyo, a photojournalist for the New Nigerian, was threatened by an officer who aimed his weapon at him and ordered him to leave while he was accompanying a group of people trying to negotiate the reopening of the press centre at Murtala Mohammed airport in Lagos, closed by the airport authorities in early February.
On 1 February, three security guards assaulted Hassan Adebayo, marketing executive with the Port Harcourt newspaper Daily Trust and Sani Musa, the driver of the company's distribution vehicle, as the pair were delivering copies of that day's edition to vendors in the area. The attackers, in a white Toyota Hilux with the registration number RV 96 AO1, first attacked the driver, who managed to escape, then vandalised the vehicle, smashing its side mirrors.
On 20 January, Enenche Godwin Akogwu, 31, the Kano correspondent of Channels TV, was shot dead while trying to cover Boko Haram suicide bombings, which killed at least 185 people earlier that day. The journalist was interviewing victims outside the Farm central police station, which was a target of one of the attacks, when an unidentified gunman fired several shots at him.
The body of radio reporter Nansok Silas, who worked for Highland FM, was found on 19 January in a stream under a bridge on the Zaramagada-Rayfield road, 200 metres from a military checkpoint, in Jos, northeast of Abuja. Nothing of value was taken from him and colleagues suspect he was the victim of a targeted murder, but the cause of death and possible motive are still unknown.
Originally from the Langtang North area in Plateau state, he had worked for Highland FM for three years and hosted a programme called "Highland Profile". He had not received any threats. Reporters Without Borders has called on the authorities to carry out a thorough investigation and to do their utmost to shed light on his death, and to consider the possibility that it was linked to his work.
On 3 January, the Kano office of the Daily Trust was invaded by vandals who tried to smash up the premises and assault staff. Only one person involved in the failed attempt was arrested. He was charged with criminal conspiracy, assault, criminal trespass and mischief by fire.
Obstructing access to information and controlling the state's image
There was glaring evidence during the first quarter of 2012 of the Nigerian authorities' desire to control the country's image and monitor what the media publish or broadcast.
The government demonstrated its resolve to hide the real extent of the population's demonstrations of dissatisfaction, as well as the threat presented by Boko Haram.
It seems as if the obstruction of access to information, seizures of newspaper print runs and equipment, as well as threats and lawsuits against journalists are aimed at allowing the government to play down its own weakness and the difficulties faced by the country,
On 13 March, police and troops manhandled several journalists covering a visit to Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, by the first lady, Patience Jonathan. Dare Fasuba, of The Vanguard, Akinwale Aboluade of The Punch, Gbenro Adesina of The News/PM NEWS, and Sola Adeyemo of Compass Newspapers were prevented from entering Lekan Salami Stadium, while others such as Bisi Oladele of The Nation were beaten when they tried to exercise their right to cover the event.
A few days earlier, Jude Obiemenyego, a journalist with the newspaper Zion Nationale, was arrested by an officer of the State Security Service, for having exposed a case of corruption involving the ex-wife of the former government of Delta State. He was arrested in the woman's office and threatened with a gun before being taken to police headquarters where he was held for several days. Since his release, he has received telephone death threats from unidentified callers.
On 7 March, an unidentified journalist was assaulted by police officers deployed to break up protests by youths at the Stubb Creek oilfield in the southern state of Akwa Ibom. The journalist fled to escape further violence.
On 23 February, Misbahu Bashir, a reporter for the Daily Trust, was refused access to the headquarters of the Aguryi Ironsi brigade in Abuja and was forced to stay in his car for three hours by soldiers outside the building. The journalist was seeking information about the arrest by brigade troops of 99 passengers travelling in a truck that had been stopped on the Kaduna-Abuja highway.
He said he was detained after asking to see the brigade commander instead of the public relations officer, a captain, with whom he had originally requested a meeting.
The reporter was allowed to leave after he was made to write down his name, address and vehicle registration number.
On 18 February, Iyatse Joshua, of the radio station City FM, was arrested by Lagos police while he was covering a procession organized by human rights activists and organizations in remembrance of those killed by security forces a during the week-long nationwide strike and mass protest against the abolition in January of fuel subsidies. He and a number of activists were taken to the offices of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad. All were released several hours later on the orders of the chief of police.
On 14 February, Suleiman Isah, a reporter with the Daily Champion, was barred from entering the Niger State government headquarters by members of the State Security Service, despite having appropriate accreditation. The security officers threatened him before he was allowed to leave the premises.
Earlier, a Voice of America reporter was manhandled by security men in similar circumstances outside the Justice Idris Legbo Conference Centre, a few metres from the government building.
On 13 February, journalists from The Nation, ThisDay, The Punch, The Guardian and Nigerian Tribune were forced to leave by soldiers posted at the entrance to a hospital next door to the government headquarters in the northern city of Kaduna. They were reporting on an attack by some of the governor's guards on an information ministry official, whom they mistook for a member of Boko Haram.
On 9 February, Isa Sa'idu, the Kaduna bureau chief of the Daily Trust, was threatened by Lieutenant-Colonel Abubakar Edun, spokesman of the army's First Mechanised Division, for having reported that soldiers had manhandled journalists trying to cover the bombing of a division barracks in Kaduna on 7 February. His equipment was seized.
On the same day at the same location, Umar Uthman a cameraman with the private station African Independent Television and a colleague from government-run Katuna State Television both had their cameras confiscated.
On 7 February, agents of the State Security Service raided the offices of the Nigerian Television Authority in Abuja in search of video recordings that showed members of Boko Haram nominated to take part in talks with the government. The cassettes were taken away by the agents, who said they were acting on government orders.
On 5 February, the French journalist Jérémie Drieu, a reporter for the channel TF1, and a local colleague Ahmad Salkida, were arrested by soldiers in the city of Jos in Plateau State. They were forced to show all the material they had filmed before being forced to pack and leave the state at nightfall. They were apprehended when it emerged that a documentary on which they were working would be critical of the government.
On 4 February, the press centre at Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, opened 30 years ago, was closed by the Nigerian authorities on the orders of the head of the protocol department attached to the airport's presidential wing, Alofabi Oduniyi. He was reported to have accused journalists accredited to the centre of writing articles that were negative and prejudicial to the interests of the president. More than 60 journalists have been prevented from recovering their equipment locked inside the centre.
Martins Ayola, general director of the station Adaba FM, which broadcasts in Ondo State, said there was a price on the head of some of its senior staff for broadcasting critical programmes and they were being hunted by contract killers. One of the station's programmes, "Oja-Oro", was ordered off air by the Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation for allegedly trying to turn listeners against the governor, Olusegun Mimiko.
On 1 February, Kayode Akinmade, the commissioner for information and strategy, launched a petition against the programme that succeeded "Oja-Oro", entitled "Ela Oro", alleging it was broadcasting negative perceptions of the government.
Also on 1 February, Goke Famadewa, a journalist for The Punch newspaper, was manhandled by police attached to the Lagos office of Shell Nigeria. The journalist, who was reporting on a dispute inside the company, was beaten up for taking photographs of the premises. The police officers deleted all his photos before releasing him after two hours.
On 25 January, newspaper vendors Okwudili Nnadi, Tochukwu Onuigbo, Ugwu Stephen and Martha Agbedo – who had her five-month-old baby with her – were arrested by state police in Nsukka, in Enugu state. All copies of newspapers in their possession were seized based on the argument that they stirred up popular unrest because they contained photos of the victims of Boko Haram attacks. They were released after several hours but they were unable to recover the confiscated copies.
Again on 25 January, Stanley Mijah, a journalist for The Scope published in Adamawa State, was indicted by a court in Yola for having in his possession sensitive articles which, if published, might disturb public order.
Abdullahi Adamu Kanoma, a journalist with Zamfara State Radio, was charged with criminal conspiracy, inciting public disturbance, illegal assembly and mischief by fire. He was arrested while on his way to the police headquarters to interview the commissioner after the fuel price protests of recent months. He was approached by police officers and told his name was a list of people to be arrested for taking part in the marches. His trial began on 6 February before the Zamfara State Sharia court.
Problems persist in April, two more suspicious deaths
Before April ended with the twin newspaper bombings in Abuja and Kaduna, there were two suspicious deaths of journalists. Reporters Without Borders is unable to determine whether they were linked to the victims' work.
On 16 April, Chuks Ogu, a journalist with the station Independent Television, was shot dead by a gunman who burst into the apartment of a couple whose wedding he had been filming and opened fire. The circumstances of the murder are still unclear and it is not know whether the journalist was the target or simply an innocent victim.
On 3 April, the body of Ibrahim Muhammed, a film editor with the commercial TV station African Independent Television, was found in a pool of blood in his apartment in Kaduna. According to his family, he had been followed home on two occasions by unidentified people. An investigation was opened on 4 April, but there have been no serious efforts to find those responsible.
Reporters without Borders (RSF)

subset: commoncrawl


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Investment company Advent intends to sell its Germany perfumery chain Douglas: interested buyers will be notified in the upcoming weeks.
Goal: 3 billion euro
Advent is covering several bases as it is not only looking for a possible sale. The group is also preparing an IPO, in case no one is interested in buying Douglas, to be completed in the fall.
According to Advent, Douglas will generate a 2.5 - 2.6 billion euro turnover in the current fiscal year (which is until the end of September), while its EBITDA should reach 300 million euro, compared to 270 million euro last year. These numbers back Advent's belief it should be able to get 3 billion euro in a possible transaction.
The investment firm only want to get rid of the perfumery chain Douglas, not of the company with the same name which also contains book chain Thalia and fashion chain Appelrath Cüpper.


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Seattle School District Volunteer and Chaperone Screening
Thank you for volunteering! The following screening steps must be completed before volunteering. Please click on each of the links and return the completed forms to Eckstein's main office at least one week before the you are scheduled to volunteer. The forms must be resubmitted each school year. If you haven't lived in Washington State for more than three years, we can provide you with a link to Verified Volunteers for background check purposes. If you already submitted these forms to another SPS school, please contact Julia Detering at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Return all completed forms to Eckstein's main office
Morning Safety Support
Time commitment: 15 - 20 minutes
Needed: Help manage students and traffic in the morning
Learn more >>
Lunchtime Hall Parents/Climbing Room: Help create a safe environment for all students by increasing the adult presence in the school building and provide an indoor option for students in the rock climbing room during lunches.
Time commitment: 90 minutes weekly or every other week
Needed: Four volunteers needed each day of the week
Learn More >>
Tutors: Work one-on-one with individual students who need a little extra support to do their best work. No experience needed!
Time commitment: One hour/week or more, depending on your schedule
Needed: Many tutors are needed each day between 8:45 am and 3:15 pm.
Packs for Kids: Work with a team of volunteers to put together and distribute food bags for Eckstein students enrolled in the Packs for Kids weekend food support program.
Time commitment: 2 hours once or twice a month
Needed: Four volunteers on Thursday evenings and two on Friday afternoons
Landscape Committee: Work with a team of volunteers in the courtyard gardens and other special landscaping projects throughout the year.
Time commitment: Flexible, depending on your availability
Needed: Many hands makes light work, so the more volunteers the better!
Staff Appreciation Events: Help with setup, serve or bring food or beverages in support of Eckstein teaches and staff on one of several staff appreciation days throughout the year.
Time commitment: Flexible, depending on your availability
Needed: Three volunteers to help set up, many volunteers to bring food
Eckstein Annual Campaign: Be a part of the committee that coordinates the school's primary academic fundraiser, the Eckstein Annual Campaign.
Time commitment: Flexible, depending on your availability
Needed: Four additional committee members needed
PTSA: Join Eckstein's PTSA to build partnerships between families and the school. We wrok together so that every student can meet his or her potential. We encourage everyone to join the PTSA. The more members we have, the larger our voice. We are always looking for PTSA volunteers. This is a great way to be involved at Eckstein. In the Spring, we look for PTSA Board and Chair positions. For more information about how you can get involved with PTSA or any PTSA position, visit the PTSA page by clicking the link to the left.
Time commitment: Varies, depending on the position and your availability
Needed: General PTSA Members & Volunteers. Contact Elida Moran, PTSA president, at email@example.com for more information.
To volunteer, contact Julia Detering at firstname.lastname@example.com


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Asplundh Field House (Men's and Women's Basketball, Women's Volleyball)2775 Buck Road
Bryn Athyn, PA 19009
The Asplundh Field House is the home of Lion Athletics and houses the men's and women's basketball, women's volleyball and some of the Athletic Department offices. The 60,000 square foot Asplundh Field House, built in 1960, underwent extensive renovation and addition in the late 1990s. The facility now includes two gymnasiums, a wrestling room, a fitness center with aerobic and strength-training equipment, a dance studio, and classroom facilities.
General Ronald K. Nelson Field (Field Hockey, Men's and Women's Soccer, Men's and Women's Lacrosse)3002 Cairnwood Road
Bryn Athyn, PA 19009
Completed in December 2016, General Ronald K. Nelson Field is the home of the Bryn Athyn College field hockey, men and women's soccer, and men and women's lacrosse programs. The Field was constructed with FieldTurf's high-performing Elite Monofilament system. This playing surface is of the highest quality, and its installation is a reflection of the commitment that Bryn Athyn College has to enhance their NCAA Division III programs. The move from grass to synthetic turf is thanks to a generous gift of $1.3 million from a group of donors, and the new surface puts Bryn Athyn College on a level playing field with their opponents in terms of start dates, challenges with weather conditions, and recruiting.
Jungé Ice Hockey Rink (Men's Ice Hockey)3002 Cairnwood Road Bryn Athyn, PA 19009
Jungé Ice Rink and Pavilion is named in honor of long-time board member James F. Jungé. Located adjacent to the Social Center, Jungé Pavilion provides facilities for ice-skating during the winter season and an athletic arena and events facility during the remainder of the year. Our rink is unusual in that it is open to the air, which allows our athletes to play in hockey with the crisp winter wind blowing across the ice.
Gladish Tennis Courts (Men's and Women's Tennis)2795 Buck Road
Bryn Athyn, PA 19009
The Richard R. Gladish Tennis Courts are home to both our men's and women's tennis teams. The facility offers six courts for practice and games, and are located near the Asplundh Field House to provide easy access to locker rooms and staff offices.
Philmont Country Club (Men's Golf)301 Tomlinson Road Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006
Championship golf facilities designed by world-renowned golf course architects William S. Flynn and Willie Park.
The North Course has hosted many prestigious events including the Nike Tour (now the Nationwide Tour) in the mid-90s and local qualifiers for the US Open and US Amateur. It is a true classic with tree-lined fairways and firm, fast greens.
From the Pennsylvania Turnpike
Exit at Willow Grove (exit 343) and take a right off the ramp (North Rte 611). Take the first right off 611 onto Mill Road. (Mill Road will become Warminster Road when you cross York Road). After about 2 miles, turn right on Byberry Road. After about 3 miles, turn right on Huntingdon Pike (South Rte 232). At the second light, turn left onto Tomlinson Road. Continue straight and take a right on to Buck Road. The Asplundh Field house is located on the left-hand side.
From Interstate 95
Take Woodhaven Road exit (exit 35, West Rte 63) and proceed to the end of Woodhaven Road. Take a right off the access road (Evans St.) to go West on Byberry Road. After about 6 miles, turn left on Huntingdon Pike (South Rte 232). At the first light, turn left onto College Drive. At the second light, turn left onto Tomlinson Road. Continue straight and take a right on to Buck Road. The Asplundh Field house is located on the left-hand side.


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Cumbrian NHS staff and Carlisle parkrunners who suggested a national celebration of the 70th birthday of the NHS went running with Dame Kelly Holmes on Saturday.
The event in Tonbridge launched a national celebratory parkrun which will be held across the UK on Saturday 9 June.
The idea came from Nicola Jackson and Kate Holliday who work for NHS North Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group. They have been working with NHS England and parkrun UK to develop the idea and were invited to the national launch in Tonbridge in Kent on Saturday – the home parkrun for Dame Kelly Holmes, who trained as a nursing assistant.
The event saw more than 600 people – many in fancy dress – take part in a 5km parkrun.
Nicola, a children's commissioner, said: "It's been fantastic to see an idea come to life. We know at Carlisle parkrun the impact being part of the parkrun community can have on people's health, fitness and wellbeing.
"When we thought about creating a celebration of the NHS we never thought we would be running with Dame Kelly Holmes!
"It was a fabulous experience and there was such warmth and enthusiasm among the parkrunners in Tonbridge at the weekend.
Nicola and Kate were joined by Helen Cupac from Carlisle parkrun at the event in Kent.
Nicola added: "We know on the 9th of June we are planning a huge celebration at Carlisle parkrun and we want to see that enthusiasm spread right across the UK. Already more than a 130 parkrun events have signed up to take part and we can't wait to see this grow."
Hundreds of parkruns take place in parks and open spaces across England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales every Saturday morning. The community-led events are designed for people of all ages and abilities – including walkers.
#NHS70parkrun will encourage new participants, including NHS staff and volunteers, to come along to their local parkrun to recognise the contribution of the National Health Service to the health of the nation.
You can find out more about the NHS70 parkrun on 9 June here:
Ian Dodge, NHS England's National Director of Strategy and Innovation, said: "With more than half of adults in England currently overweight or obese, it is vital that people find time in their busy lives to get more active. In the year the NHS turns 70, taking part in this special edition of parkrun is one way to get fitter, feel better and deliver a welcome birthday present for the health service too."
Chrissie Wellington, Global Head of Health and Wellbeing at parkrun, said: "We are passionate about using parkrun to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals and the communities in which they live, and the physical activity element is just the start. Friendship, community cohesion, access to open space, fresh air and skill development through volunteering are just some of the ways that participation in parkrun can have a positive impact on health and happiness."
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In its sixth season, Game Of Thrones has finally outpaced the events of George R.R. Martin's books and there are promising signs that this uncoupling of the novels and series will make the TV show an even leaner, nimbler beast.
Yet, there are also troubling hints as to how far the Emmy-winning hit will go to pander to fans - hints not as ominous as, say, a three-eyed raven, but worrisome nonetheless (spoilers ahead for those who have not seen the latest episode).
Granted, it is still early days and much of the two episodes so far has been spent picking up narrative strands dropped many moons ago and reintroducing characters such as Bran, scion of the decimated Stark clan, who was missing in action for all of Season 5.
For anyone but die-hard fans, this can be disorienting. You probably remember Bran, but who is Dolorous Edd again? There is even a segment on the official recap show After The Thrones, called Who The F**k Was That?, to reintroduce some of the more obscure of the show's 150 or so named characters.
With storytelling on such an epic scale (and no helpful appendices to flip to like in the books), a little trimming helps and the show's writers have done this with great success in previous seasons, which displayed a wonderfully economical narrative compared with the occasionally overwritten novels.
They are continuing to do this by apparently sidelining, at least for now, the entire subplot of the kingdom of Dorne. This has prompted an outcry from fans of the books but, in the series, Dorne's Sand Snakes were responsible for some of the hammiest acting in the cast, so it is a relief to have them out of sight for a bit.
Having Ellaria Sand kill Prince Doran also reinforces the distinctly feminist slant of the new season, which is teeing up a string of newly ascendant female characters including Sansa Stark, Cersei Lannister and Yara Greyjoy.
The writers could take the nip and tuck a little further. The baffling fate of Arya Stark is another subplot that needs to be reined in soon or it may risk becoming tedious, especially with her vengeance quest put on hold for so long.
Finally, there is the matter of Jon Snow. After going to the trouble of dropping those clues about his parentage, there was never any real doubt that the show would resurrect him as it finally did in the last episode, to the delight of many.
HBO (StarHub TV Channel 601)
Monday, 9am, with an encore at 9pm Also on HBO On Demand & HBO GO on StarHub Go
3.5/5 stars
Discovery Channel (StarHub TV Channel 422, Singtel TV Channel 202)
Wednesday, 10pm
4/5 stars
But the series overplayed its hand, stringing viewers along for almost a year and, when the reveal finally came, cheapening it further. Did we need quite so many shots cutting to or lingering on his body in these first two episodes? When he finally gasps to life, all that signposting makes it a little hollow.
The braver move would have been to leave him dead. This was the sort of boldness that made the Red Wedding and other instances where key beloved characters were slaughtered as impactful as they were.
In the sixth season of a show that has become one of the most important dramas for HBO, the stakes have changed, however, and "fan service" is more important than ever.
This is why long-running series, such as The Walking Dead, often lose their edge. The zombie drama resorted to cheap theatrics such as pretending to kill Glenn, a major character, recently, only to bring him back. One hopes Game Of Thrones will avoid this trap.
Performing fan service of a different kind is the 10th season of the iconic science programme MythBusters, capping 14 years of offbeat experiments testing various myths and hypotheses.
This final season is a love letter to loyal viewers who, in Episode 1, get a behind-the-scenes look at how each idea is brainstormed, safety-tested and executed.
It was always going to be hard to top the series' all-time bests - such as the episode where it tested the theory that Jack and Rose could have both survived on that wooden board in the movie Titanic, or the breathtaking look inside a sinking car which confirmed every nightmare you had about that scenario.
But the show gives it a good try, with a few of those large and delightfully pointless explosions that have become de rigueur, along with an exploration of the mundane (can duct tape be used to lift a car?) and an inquiry into Hollywood physics (can you disarm someone with a gun using a whip like Indiana Jones?).
Falling ratings and competition from similar shows online dealt the death blow to the series and more's the pity. With science education falling by the wayside or being trumped by ideology in the United States and elsewhere, this earnest and joyous celebration of curiosity and the scientific method will be sorely missed.


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Throwback Thursday time!!!! This week's game is in my opinion, one of the greatest video games ever Mortal Kombat.
The first time I saw this game was at the local arcade in my city. People was crowded around the machine playing if you wanted to play next you had to put a quarter on the screen.
When Mortal Kombat I and Mortal Kombat II were released for Sega Genesis the games were flagged because of the violence. The game had been released with no blood when you hit your opponent, in order to have blood in your game, you had to use the infamous "Blood cheat." Out of all the codes for games back in the day I will always remember this one "A,B,A,C,A,B,B" then you hear scorpion says…..GET OVER HERE.
The series has grown over the years and I enjoyed the storylines and the recent version that came out on the PS4. The fatalities are awesome and very detailed, and the game is STILL fun to play with your friends. On the new version, me and my friends online played for hours battling each other, what is cool about the PS4 version you can watch as your friends battle. It was so competitive seeing who would be the "King/Queen of the Hill" and many of us who played the original still trying to remember the moves of our favorite characters.
Please click below to view some of the RETRO GAMING WEDNESDAY gameplay, from Militia League Gaming. Every Wednesday they stream the best throwback games!


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The End of the World again?
I am writing this article on Sept 20, 2017. If you are reading this article after Sept 23, 2017, then I am right again! The world did not end. I knew it! You can tell me later how smart I am! Ok. Just kidding.
In case you are not aware, the latest date for the end of the world is/was Sept 23, 2017. On this date there will be an alignment of the sun, moon, and certain stars that have led some to believe that Revelation 12 is being fulfilled. First off, let me say that Revelation 12 has nothing to do with astronomical features.
Secondly, when it comes to the issue of the Second Coming of Christ, the focus of the New Testament is not the timing of Jesus' return; nor even, the signs that indicate that His return is near. Instead, the New Testament is far more concerned with: "However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8). That is, will we be ready when He returns? So, we must ask ourselves: are we being faithful?; so that, if Christ were to return at this moment, will He find us doing the work of the Kingdom for which we have been assigned?
So, when is Jesus going to return? Well, I can't actually tell you or I would have to. . . .
Let me just say that the Bible is far more concerned with the mission of God's people in building His Kingdom. In fact, I would say that the message of the New Testament is clear: the return of Jesus is awaiting the faithfulness of God's people in accomplishing His mission. Once we have completed such, by His grace, then Christ will return.
The New Testament provides three interrelated reasons for the delay in Jesus' return. First, the delay in the return of Christ derives from the mercy of God, who is waiting for all men to be saved. In 2 Peter, Peter provides an explanation as to the delay in Christ's return. Apparently, some skeptics were mocking the Christians because Christ had not returned. Peter replies, "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance" (2 Pet 3:9). Thus, in His infinite mercy, God has determined that the climax of the Kingdom of God will occur when the nations have been redeemed.
A second reason found in the New Testament for the delay in the return of Christ is that God is awaiting the fullness of the suffering of the people of God. This might not come across as good news to the Church, but the Scriptures indicate that Christ will not return until the suffering of God's people is completed. In Revelation 6, we see the souls of those who have been martyred for the kingdom of God crying out to God, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, wilt Thou refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" (Rev 6:10). The answer to their prayers comes in the next verse: "And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, should be completed also" (Rev 6:11). That is, Jesus will not return until all those who have been killed for the gospel have been killed.
The third reason found in the New Testament for the delay in Christ's return is that Christ is awaiting the holiness of God's people. Second Peter also notes that, "the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, on account of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat" (2 Pet 3:10-12). This is of great importance. Instead of focusing on the newspapers and the signs of times, the Bible exhorts us to live godly lives! In fact, Peter says that the return of Christ is not only awaiting the holiness of His people, but that such holiness among the people of God may even 'hasten' (or quicken) the day of His return!
Now, if the readiness of the people of God is understood as their doing the work of the Kingdom of God, then it should not be surprising that the New Testament asserts that the return of Christ is awaiting holiness of the people of God, the conversion of the nations, and the full number of martyrs. These three elements go hand in hand with the return of Christ. After all, the holiness of the people of God, cannot be separated from the faithful proclamation of the Kingdom of God, which will result in both the conversion of the nations and the full number of martyrs! Once all this has been completed, Christ will return!
Note: If the world really did end on Sept 23, 2017, please disregard this article!
Note: I discuss these issues in much greater detail in chapter 9 of my book Understanding Eschatology (which is just a fancy word meaning "the end times")—available on Amazon.com
January 2020


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This little illustration is an original painting made with watercolour, ink and pencil on card. The paper size is 17.5 x 12cm.
About this drawing: I have been drawing guinea pigs (and sometimes other creatures) as part of my 'Daily Guinea' project which has proved very popular. People enjoy seeing the little faces I create each day both on my social media pages and on this website - and I absolutely love painting them! I initially started making a little drawing every day as it seemed that there was more and more paperwork to do and some days I wasn't managing to do any drawing at all. Making one little illustration a day made me feel like I had achieved something creative and lifted my spirits. I receive messages from all over the world saying the drawings are lifting spirits across the globe too, which is just lovely!
This picture is currently unframed and I carefully pack it and will post it to you in a hard envelope.
This are a one off illustration so once it's gone - it's gone...


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Home > Quality and Safety Overview > Hospitals > Bronson Battle Creek Hospital > Patient Survey Results
Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) is a national survey that asks patients about their experiences during a recent hospital stay. The results below compare Bronson Battle Creek Hospital to other hospitals.
View More Details
1/1/2017 to 12/31/2017
Reviewed by Corporate Communications on December 03, 2018
Have you experienced Bronson Positivity? Share your story now.
Share your Positivity
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Carrie and Chris chose the always beautiful Sherwood Country Club for their summer nuptials. Their color scheme of taupe, ivory, white and green added to the majestic surrounding mountains to provide an elegant backdrop for their sweet vows. This wedding was a family affair, and I was so honored to be a part of their special day.
Photography by Susan Bordelon Photography
© Deanna Nash Events | 310.993.1018 | email@example.com


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Distil Networks protects your online applications and data including PHI, application performance, and unique content. Distil understands the importance of protecting healthcare data and maintaining compliance with worldwide security standards.
Bad Bot Report 2019: The Bot Arms Race Continues
In the 2019 Bad Bot Report you'll learn what bad bots do, the business behind them, and the tell-tale signs you have a bot problem.
Cyber Security Threat Series: Healthcare eBook
Learn how top healthcare IT professionals protect their websites from these attacks by downloading the Healthcare eBook from the leader in web security, Distil Networks.
Distil for Healthcare Websites | Data Sheet
Cybercriminals use bad bots to steal medical records and sell on the dark web, where they can fetch $500 per record. Learn more about healthcare data security here.
Why Bots Pose an Increasing Challenge to Healthcare Organizations
A hacker can use a bot to access accounts and find test results; financial information such as bills; payments made through debit, credit or health savings accounts and more.
Fast & Simplified Deployment Using Distil Connector
For those reluctant to redirect DNS, or deploy a reverse proxy, Distil Connector is the perfect alternative—a lightweight integration of JavaScript code that deploys in minutes.
Q&A: Upholding Security Standards in the Healthcare Industry
We chat with Chris Nelson (Director of Security, Distil Networks) regarding the issues faced by healthcare organizations, both big and small.
What Healthcare CISOs Should Know
Cyber Security Threat Series: Web Scraping eBook
If you have a website, its content has been scraped by bots. What are web scraping bots and how are they potentially damaging? Protect yourself today!
2018 Bad Bot Report
The year bots went mainstream. What makes this report unique is its focus on bad bot activity at the application layer (layer 7 of the OSI model).
Bot Defense: Insights Into Basic and Advanced Techniques for Thwarting Automated Threats
David Monahan, Research Director from EMA, describes the growing bot issues in this whitepaper. Find out why bots are a huge threat and how to prevent them here!
Distil Networks Analyst Managed Service | Data Sheet
Distil Networks Analyst Managed Service provide another defense layer. Offload the responsibility of defending against automated site & API attacks to our team of expert team of IT security analysts.
Bot Defense for API Security Data Sheet
APIs lack basic capabilities to detect and prevent to automated attacks. Learn how to protect APIs with Bot Defense.
Eight Takeaways from Gartner IT Security and Risk Summit
Web scraping, bot mitigation and API security were on the tip of analyst's tongues at Gartner IT Security Risk Summit 2017.
Enterprise Security Weekly – Rami Essaid, Distill Networks
Rami Essaid, Co-Founder of Distil Networks advises enterprise companies around the world, focusing on embracing the cloud to improve scalability and reliability.
Is Web Scraping Illegal? Depends on What the Meaning of the Word Is Is.
Depending on who you ask, web scraping can be loved or hated. Startups love it because it's a cheap and powerful way to gather data without the need for partnerships.
Cyber Security Threat Series: Account Takeover eBook
Bots have been evolving and can now take over many of your online accounts. Find out how it happens and how to prevent here in this comprehensive ebook.
Buyers Guide: Ten Essential Capabilities of a Bot Defense Solution
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10 Ways Bad Bots Hurt Your Website Security | White Paper
Bad bots that scrape your website can hurt your business. Knowing how to stop web scraping, content theft, data mining and price scraping is important for website security.
Distil Secure CDN Datasheet
Together with best-in-class bot defense, the Distil Secure CDN improves your website's performance by serving traffic through 25 global locations.
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One of Tines core interests is to understand what it means to relate to us
selves and to each other in ways that support deepening of belonging,
freedom, authenticity and aliveness.
She has been working with clients and participants on her workshops to
support deeper contact to their inner resources and sense of self
connection for over 30 years.
Tine has developed a solid and integrated understanding of what we do to make us selves and each other miserable, and how we stop these patterns and move our relations into more peace, fulfilment, safer connectedness and deeper belonging.
Tine has the ability to work with a wide range of situations using coaching-skills integrated with her Body Oriented psychotherapy background. She meets people on a relaxed equal level and is seeing each individual as a unique person with unique needs for being met.
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Freshwater fishkeepers often say "Someday I will set up a saltwater tank. They are so much prettier." Are they right?
Let's have a contest. I will be the judge. Are saltwater fish more colorful than freshwater?
I'll rate the fish from 1 to 5. Five is the best score, the prettiest a fish can be.
Let's start with a red fish:
Freshwater fish, the Red Velvet Swordtail.
I'll give the Red Sword 5 points.
The saltwater red fish, the Coris Wrasse:
I will give the Coris Wrasse 4 points so the score is Freshwater 5, Saltwater 4.
Wait a minute, the Wrasse grows up and loses his red color!
A beautiful fish but not red! I give it 2 points. The score is Freshwater 5, Salt 2.
Let's look at a White fish:
The freshwater entry is the albino Corydoras Catfish.
This catfish does not look like this in the natural state. Albinos do not survive long in nature. I'll give it 3 points.
I can't think of a white Saltwater fish. Zero points for the Salties!
The score now. Freshwater 8. Saltwater 2.
How about a yellow fish?
Here's the freshwater Gold Barb.
Not bad. I would say 2 points for them.
Here's the saltwater yellow fish, the Yellow Tang.
Wow, that's a FIVE for sure. That makes the score 10 to 7 for the Freshies.
Oh, wait a second, there is a last-second entry for the freshwater team!
The Electric Yellow Labidochromis. An African Cichlid.
That's worth four points at least. The score is getting wider.
It's Freshwater 12. Saltwater 7.
On to Blue.
Freshwater has Blue Platies and Blue Gouramis but the bluest is the Electric Blue African Cichlid.
I'll give it two points because the female is not very Blue. (sorry, ladies)
Here's a saltwater Blue Damsel.
That's an easy 5 points for the Salt team.
The score is now Fresh 14, Salt 12.
Green fish are the next category. I thought there would be more green fish. They could hide among plants. From an evolutionary standpoint I think green would be a good color to be.
Here's a freshwater green fish.
That looks like 4 points.
And, in the ocean, here is the Green Chromis.
I'll give the Chromis 2 points.
The score is now Freshwater 18. Salt 14.
Hang on! Time-out! A penalty has been assessed against the freshwater team. The Green Tetra is a genetically modified fish. Cheater!!!!4 points are taken from the Freshies.
The score is now tied 14-14.
Let's look at Orange fish.
The Sunset Platy.
I like these Platies and give them 3 points for orangeness.
Here's a saltwater Flame Angelfish.
Almost all orange except the stripes. That's a beautiful fish worth 4 points to the Saltwater team.
The Salties pull ahead 18-17!!!
Black fish are next.
Here's the Black Molly in a tank with a black background.
Here's another Black Molly.
That's the blackest fish in the world. 5 points for the freshwaters.
The saltwater entry is the Domino Damsel.
That's four points for the salt. The score is tied 22-22.. oh wait here's an adult Domino Damsel.
The damsel only gets 2 points.
Freshies are back on top 22-20.
The last category is multi-colored fish.
Here is a group of Discus.
Since these are all modified by captive breeding I'll give them 3 points.
Freshwater 25-20.
The final entry for saltwater is the Mandarin fish.
Fantastic, that's five points!!! I wish I could give it a ten.
The score is TIED 25-25!!!
How can I break this tie??
How about the ugliest fish??
4 points?
That is just as ugly. 4 points for the Salt team.
Still 29-29.
OK, one last chance to solve this issue.
I decided to do a Google Image search.
Freshwater fish.
…and the Google Image search for Saltwater fish.
And the winner is …… Saltwater … by one point.
I'll admit the saltwater fish are more colorful, but just barely. If you have a freshwater tank don't be jealous.
97.5% of the Earth's water is saltwater. 0.3% of the water is in freshwater lakes and rivers. The rest is groundwater, snow, and glaciers.
Photos for this post are from the Internet and are not mine at all. I usually use my own in this blog. I appreciate the use of these photos and hope that I have not offended anyone by using their pictures.


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Following a successful 'Pop Up Produce Market' trial at The Levee last year, Council has now entered into an agreement with Slow Food Hunter Valley (SFHV) to hold regular markets in The Shared Zone. The markets will be held on the first and third Thursday of each month, starting this Thursday 6 April from 3.00pm.
Last year's successful trial demonstrated that regular markets, offering seasonal local produce, would help drive visitation to the space and provide customers with the opportunity to shop for fresh local produce.
Council's Coordinator City and Visitor Economy Martin Payne says, 'The fact that we have entered into an agreement is really good news for Council, for SFHV and for Maitland residents. Activation of The Levee through initiatives such as markets features prominently in recent community surveys, rating highly as an item that will further transform The Levee into the city's premier lifestyle precinct.'
The markets will trade between 3.00pm and 7.00pm during summer, autumn and spring and 1.00pm to 5.00pm in winter.
'Following a review of last year's trial it was agreed that trading in the afternoon would benefit producers and customers. These trading hours will also encourage people to visit The Levee later in the day and stay longer, subsequently contributing to Central Maitland's growing night time economy,' added Mr Payne.
The first of these markets launches on Thursday 6 April at 3.00pm in The Levee Shared Zone between Bourke and Bulwer streets. It's anticipated that this market will feature up to ten local producers selling a range of fruit and vegetables, meats, organic foods and more.


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Christine Lagarde: Europe Needs Banking Union Quickly
Christine Lagarde, the head of the International Monetary Fund, called on European leaders to establish a banking union as soon as possible in an effort to put the European economic crisis behind them, Reuters reports.
Lagarde compared the European Union to a ship that has had a spell in rough waters, claiming that while many parts of the boat have been completed successfully, some parts of the vessel still needed to be worked on. She also urged leaders to make haste, arguing that a banking union is a fundamental step toward long-term stability in the eurozone.
The holdup has been driven by key differences between eurozone countries on how exactly the banking union should be established. France has prioritized being able to keep its own rule system in place over its banks, while Germany is afraid that it will bear financial responsibility for bank failures in other countries.
Michael Barnier, the chief of financial services for the EU, announced a plan in July by which a 55-billion euro common fund would be created. In addition, the European Commission would have the final say on what banks to shut down and when to close them. According to Reuters, Barnier hopes that a meeting between key financial players in top European countries next week at Vilnius, Lithuania, will facilitate progress toward a banking union.
Already, the European Stability Mechanism, the region's 500-billion euro firewall fund, has been granted oversight of banks that apply for emergency funding. In June, countries consented to devoting 60 billion euros from the fund toward direct recapitalization of banks in the eurozone. Further progress for bank supervision is already underway, with key steps to be voted on by the European Parliament at Tuesday's meeting.
Angela Merkel, Germany's chancellor, has already tightened her stance against a possible banking union on account of upcoming German elections. In Germany, the issue is quite contentious, as it is seen as a way for money to be diverted out of the country and into other eurozone countries in the form of further bank bailouts.
It is unclear whether news of the banking union will be seen as a sign of an economic recovery in the eurozone. While economic data continued to skew positive over the past few weeks, many are still skeptical of using the word "recovery," citing persistently high unemployment rates, especially among youth and in southern European countries like Spain and Greece.
Though the banking union would certainly help bring stability to some of the euro area's weaker economies, it may place too much strain on the financial systems of the eurozone's stronger economies, and the fact that officials such as Lagarde are pushing for its implementation shows that there may yet still be turbulent seas in Europe's future.
Don't Miss: Do Gun Manufacturers Still Love Politicians?


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A four-day garden event, featuring 60 unique plant and garden vendors, including 10 inspiring display gardens and a towering floral centerpiece. Experience children's events and activities and daily seminars presented by industry pros.
3333 Bear Street, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
#scpspringgardenshow #athomeinthegarden
Vendors: Please send an email to email@example.com
Located on Level 1 in the Crate and Barrel/Macy's Home Store wing.
Find new additions for your plant collection or fresh accents for your garden from vendors specializing in sought-after, rare and popular varieties.
Find inspiration for your garden from the amazing display gardens presented by leading landscape designers
Experience four days of interactive seminars and hands-on classes, from creating succulent centerpieces, preparing the soil for planting to cooking with herbs from the garden.
Four chefs from South Coast Plaza will demonstrate signature recipes, share cooking tips and share samples of the delicious dishes they prepare.
Enjoy complimentary children's events and crafts.
Located on Level 3, Crate and Barrel Home Store Wing.
In celebration of the Spring Garden Show, South Coast Plaza offers a special gift with purchase.


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Hautala: 'more vocal on human rights in Ethiopia'
Donors should be much more active in raising the issue of restrictions on human rights in Ethiopia, says Heidi Hautala, Finland's Development Minister on her return from Addis Ababa.
Development Today is a subscription-based online journal. To subscribe click here.
If you are already a subscriber to Development Today please log in.
Would you like to know more about Development Today? Click here.


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Mark Borax
P.O. Box 623
Putney, VT 05346
Soul Level Astrology Sessions
To arrange a phone session, email Mark via the link below. (New England clients are welcome to see Mark in person.) Be sure to include the month, day, year, place and time (AM/PM) of your birth. Please include your phone number.
If exact birth time is unknown, Mark can make special arrangements to produce your chart.
All data is kept confidential — we do not share our lists. Readings are usually scheduled for Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, East Coast daytime. Single sessions are ninety minutes. To learn about extended sessions, download Mark's brochure below.
Payment, which must be secured in advance of the session, can be made via PayPal, and is nonrefundable.
Email Mark to Request a Reading
Download a 2009 brochure explaining Soul Level sessions in depth
Book Signings
Mark is available for a limited number of in-person speaking engagements and book signings. Email Mark to Request a Personal Appearance


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New Blogs!
Thanks for coming to The Neighborhood Crime Map for issues about crime prevention, neighborhood watch, community policing and more, but we have had so much success that we needed to move to a different URL. If you have not already been redirected to the new site, click here to go to crimeprevention.crimereports.com
Don't Hesitate, Always Call Police
The burglary described below actually happened as described—I did it! But it could've been prevented.
Getting In
I drove past security and parked, walked unnoticed to a side entrance, picked the lock, and was in the stairwell, all within a few minutes. I went to the 15th floor, slowly opened the door to the hallway and heard nothing. The silence encouraged me. Stepping into the hallway, I saw no one.
Feeling the wealth around me in the deep plush carpeting and beautifully colored wallpaper, I knew there was a great "score" on this floor, but where?
Which condo do I "work"? Because end dwellings are larger and more costly than those in the middle, those were my primary targets.
First, I went to my right. With my right ear pressed against the door and a clear view down the hall, I heard people inside (a hollow door amplifies sound).
Quickly walking to the other end of the hall, I stopped to adjust the picks in my sport coat. Doing that, I broke my stride, tripped and smashed into an apartment door. The door opened and a sweet, elderly lady said, "Hi."
I responded, "Hello. Wait, you're not Joan."
"I know that." she answered. "The question is, who are you?"
I went into my act and introduced myself. Giving a phony name, I used the address of the building next door. "Joan lives there, same apartment, 15-B. Gee, I made a mistake, wrong building. Sorry to disturb you."
Politely she responded, "Young man, you look thirsty, Would you like a cold drink?" She invited me in to meet her husband. I learned that, like myself, they were from New York City and we had a great conversation. After an hour, I thanked the couple for the iced coffee and Danish pastry and left.
Fifteen minutes later, still in the same building and just two floors above that sweet, elderly couple, I was picking the locks of Condo 17-B.
It was an okay score, about $10,000. It went like clockwork—the jewelry was in the master bedroom waiting for me.
Getting Out
As I left the condo, I heard the elevator doors open. Out stepped a young man who apparently had just finished playing tennis. This could be a problem. My only way out now was the elevator because using the stairs would look odd.
We exchanged greetings and then he challenged me, "What are you doing here? Who are you visiting? Once again, my routine; phony name and address of the building next door. "Gee, I made a mistake, wrong building. Hope you enjoyed your tennis. Have a nice day!"
I had two options after entering the elevator: ride down a few floors, get off and re-enter the stairwell to exit the building or stay on the elevator all the way down and face the doorman on the way out.
My instincts told me the young man did not buy my act and with lock picks and stolen jewelry in my pockets, I had to get away from that building as quickly as possible. Meeting the police that day was not on my agenda, so I stayed in the elevator.
As I walked past the doorman, he called to me. I was tense and ready for any confrontation. "What?" I barked at him, hoping to intimidate him.
"Sir, it's getting hot out there," he said. "You're going to be uncomfortable in that sport coat."
I thanked him for his concern, exhaled and left smiling.
Don't Hesitate to Call the Police
People who hesitated, or were reluctant to call police, enabled me to remain prosperous and free for years.
Most people don't call police because they don't heed their instincts. They rely on logic to guide their actions. Residents who are not sure a crime is being committed do not want to look foolish when the police arrive. Sadly, others don't want to get involved.
As a successful thief, I used those hesitations to my advantage. You see, getting in and out of the building as fast as possible and not being challenged is key to a successful burglary, and their hesitation made it possible.
Follow your instincts! Strangers should not be roaming your hallways. Always call police immediately. They will not laugh or reprimand you if the stranger is an honest person with a valid reason for being there.
Contrary to what most people believe, your home does not begin at your front door. Your home extends to your surroundings; the hallway, the lobby, the pool and the parking area. Be on guard for that well-dressed, quick-talking stranger who seems to belong, but isn't familiar.
There is always a phone close by, use it! The combination of you, your telephone, and law enforcement will help prevent crime in and around your home.
George Feder is a former master jewel thief and former America's Most Wanted Correspondent. Visit GeorgeFeder.com or follow him on Twitter (@GeorgeFeder) to go inside the criminal mind and get tips on how you can stay safe.
Search your neighborhood crime map at CrimeReports.com
Don't Be a Bystander
Last week, outside of a homecoming dance held at Richmond High School, in Richmond, Calif., a 15-year-old girl was gang raped and sexually assaulted for over 2 hours by a handful of young men while onlookers watched. It was not until one student overheard others bragging about it at the dance that the police were called to the scene. When they arrived, they found the young woman half-naked near a picnic table, less than a block from the entrance to the school dance. (source)
Five suspects have now been charged in the rape and beating of the girl. But what is more astounding is that roughly 12-20 people (according to accounts) witnessed the gang rape over the 2-hour span and did absolutely nothing about it. In fact, some took pictures with their cell phones.
"She was raped, beaten, robbed and dehumanized by several suspects who were obviously OK enough with it to behave that way in each other's presence. What makes it even more disturbing is the presence of others. People came by, saw what was happening and failed to report it." — Richmond Police Lt. Mark Gagan (source)
The Bystander Effect
Some psychologists ascribe the behavior of the onlookers to "The Bystander Effect." According to studies, individuals are less likely to intervene in an emergency/crisis if there are other people around:
"When something unusual happens, we look to others to figure out how we should react. If we see other people doing nothing, we usually conclude that nothing should be done. The problem occurs when everybody assumes the same thing, a phenomenon that psychologists call 'pluralistic ignorance.'" (source)
That makes us all sound like mindless animals, doesn't it? Unfortunately, many studies have found that this is the case, more often than not.
Stand Up. Say Something. Call 911.
It took over 2 hours for someone to call police to the rescue of this teen girl. In the recent case of Phillip Garrido, all his neighbors thought he was creepy and probably up to something illegal. But because no one was willing to push the matter, Jaycee Duggard was imprisoned in his backyard for 18 years.
We might think it is uncomfortable to intervene in a domestic dispute. Or we might think that someone else will call 911. We may even fear for our own safety if we witness the victimization of another. But studies have shown that when people know about the Bystander Effect, they are less likely to sit idly by while someone else is in trouble.
So consider this your education. Don't be a victim of the Bystander Effect. When you see someone in trouble, being assaulted or victimized; stand up, say something, and call the police. You may prevent this type of atrocious act from happing to another teen girl outside a high-school dance.
For other perspectives on this case:
Rape: America's Least Reported Crime
Bystanders No More: Teaching Kids to Respond to Violent Crime
Friend of Gang Rape Victim Blasts School Officials Over Safety
Richmond High Rape—What Do We Do With This?
Search your neighborhood crime map at CrimeReports.com
Crime Prevention Insights from a Former Jewel Thief
George Feder was the "Houdini of Jewel Thieves" through the 60s and 70s until he was caught by the FBI and received a 15-year prison sentence. Now he works with law enforcement and is an advocate for crime prevention. Feder has the inside track to the criminal mind and can tell you exactly what a burglar looks for when they are looking to break into your residence.
The video below shows Feder demonstrating how he used to break into apartments. As he goes through his process, he offers subtle hints as to what you can do to make your home an unattractive target for other burglars.
Feder will also soon be contributing his experience and passion for crime prevention to this very blog. Look for his posts soon. In the mean time you can visit his website and follow him on Twitter and Facebook.
Search your neighborhood crime map at CrimeReports.com
Halloween Safety Myths
For good reason, Halloween strikes fear into the hearts of parents everywhere. Not only is there the threat of ghosts and ghouls, but it's the one night of the year when we send our children out to wander the streets of our cities and towns to beg candy from complete strangers. Which is, pretty much, the exact opposite of what we try and teach them the other 364 days of the year.
Halloween also has a reputation for being a night, more than others, when children are preyed upon by twisted individuals who what to poison their candy and kidnap them. It's easy to see how these fears have arisen. Given the creepiness of the holiday along with the anonymity of costumed adults, walks in the dark, and bags full of candy from strangers, it's not surprising that parents have put barriers in place to prevent crime against their children on this night.
However, two specific fears have been allowed to fester in the minds of concerned parents for years, but have no actual basis in reality. In order to truly keep your children safe on Halloween, its best to dispel the myths and deal with the real threats of the holiday.
Poison Candy
For years, news media and community groups have counseled parents to vigorously inspect their children's candy for razor blades, pins, or poison. (As well, shortly after 9/11 parents were told to inspect candy for Anthrax.) But you will be hard pressed to find a single case of Halloween candy poisoning, let alone candy laced with razor blades or pins. In fact, there has never been a recorded case of mass Halloween candy poisoning.
There was a case in 1974, where a father slipped a cyanide-laced Pixie stick into his son's trick-or-treating bag. The son died, but the father was found guilty of murder and executed for his crime. So, according to precedent, Halloween candy from strangers is statistically safer than candy from family and friends. (For more on this myth, click here.)
Child Molesters
In general, most people are afraid of sex offenders and for good reason. Sex offender residency laws are popular precisely because no one wants to associate with a known rapist or raise their children next door to a child molester. However, there is a sense that child molesters pose a greater threat on Halloween than on any other day of the year. Maybe it's the hordes of children knocking on neighborhood doors that gets us thinking about sex offenders in the area, but in reality sex crimes against children have never increased on Halloween. Actually, sex crimes against children are traditionally higher during summer months, and tend to decrease as the weather gets cooler.
Real Threats
By no means is Halloween the safest holiday of the year or the most crime free. Children are still at risk for getting lost or injuring themselves while walking around a dark neighborhood in a cumbersome costume. Make sure that your children are accompanied by an adult at all times—preferably with a flashlight. Also, make sure your children know basic traffic safety rules. Besides preventing them from eating too much candy, the best thing you can do for your children on Halloween is to be with them and make sure they have fun.
Search your neighborhood crime map at CrimeReports.com
Halloween Safety Tips
Late last week I posted on Halloween safety myths about poison candy and sex offenders, but now that all-hallows'-eve is approaching, it might also be good to go over some basic Halloween safety tips that will help you and your children have a fun time this Saturday night.
Set Clear Rules
As parents it's important to set clear rules and expectations for your children on Halloween night.
- Set a clear curfew
- Agree on a trick-or-treating route so you will know where your children are
- Know what parties and places your children will be
Halloween seems to be the one time of year that good kids think it's okay to do bad things. Talk to your children about the consequences of vandalism, graffiti, theft, or destruction of property. Smashing pumpkins, stealing candy from smaller children, egging houses/cars, and other destructive acts may seem harmless to inexperienced kids, but they could have far-reaching consequences, emotionally for the victims and legally for the perpetrators. Keep your children out of trouble by clearly letting them know about the consequences of their actions.
It's fun to dress up on Halloween, but some costumes can present safety hazards if they are overly cumbersome, awkward, or restrict a child's vision. These costumes can present a tripping hazard or prevent children from seeing well enough to avoid dangerous objects in the dark. No child wants to sprain an ankle on Halloween and go home early without collecting all the candy booty they can. As well, make sure that any props (fake knives, swords, sticks, etc.) the children carry are soft or pliable enough to not cause injury if they are fallen upon.
Because so many children and families will be out in the dark on Halloween night, basic safety tips are even more important.
- Make sure younger children are always accompanied by an adult or teenaged sibling with a flashlight
- Look both ways before you cross the street
- Wear reflective clothing or carry a glow stick to alert drivers to your presence
Overall, it's simply important to make sure that you and your children exercise good judgment and follow basic safe guidelines, so you can all have a good time.
Search your neighborhood crime map at CrimeReports.com
Domestic Violence Statistics Not Low Enough
According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, 552, 000 females, age 12 and older, experienced non-fatal violence from an intimate partner in 2008. In 2007, 1,640 females were killed by an intimate partner, making up 70% of all intimate partner homicides. And although the numbers of women killed by an intimate partner has declined in the last decade, I don't know anyone who thinks these numbers are low enough.
To make things worse, the reach of domestic violence goes beyond the immediate victim. The Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that 38% of victims of domestic violence had children under the age of 12 living in the home. And of those children in the home, it is estimated that 60% directly witnessed the violence. (See full statistics from the BJS here.)
Societal Impediments
For some reason, our society, and many others across the globe, have an aversion to interfering in domestic violence incidents. Some people feel that it's a family matter or that they have no business getting into a fight between spouses or family members. This attitude has even been reflected in law enforcement practice, waiting for a battered woman to press charges against an abuser before taking any legal action. But perhaps things are changing with a new program created by the Baltimore Police Department.
A New Way to Fight Domestic Violence
The Baltimore PD has created a new Family Crime Unit designed specifically to intervene in domestic violence situations early, before these situations descalate into serious injury or death. According to Peter Hermann, of the Baltimore Sun, the new unit has been modeled after the homicide division, in order to more aggressively act on domestic violence incidents and prevent further violence before it happens. And the unit is already seeing some success. For example, this year, Baltimore has only seen 4 domestic killings, as opposed to 13-14 in years previous. And this success comes at a time when the economy is down, traditionally a time when domestic violence rises. (Read about the extent of the program here.)
Their approach to domestic violence is something that needs to be modeled in other law enforcement agencies across the county. Domestic violence is NOT just a family matter. It affects us all. Be aware of the issues and become an active citizen in favor of a smarter, more aggressive domestic violence response unit for you local law enforcement agency.
Search your neighborhood crime map at CrimeReports.com


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Get the global experts on your team
What they are
Flies can affect animals in a number of ways. They can be an irritant, can transmit infection, including parasitic worms, and at their worst can be fatal.
Flies can be parasitic in both their young and adult stages. Notably in the UK, blow flies, including Lucilia sericata, lay their eggs on the fleece of sheep or hair of other animals. The first stage larvae migrate onto the surface of the animal's skin, initially feeding off the surface layers, but feeding off deeper tissue and blood as they grow and moult. They cause affected animals considerable suffering and illness.
Other fly species such as Stomoxys calcitrans, the stable fly, are only parasitic when adult. They piece the host animal's skin and feed off their blood.
The main consequence of parasitism by biting flies is fly worry. Fly worry is the action an animal takes to avoid the flies' presence and attempts to feed. This includes moving into shade, stamping and tail switching but can also be an attempt to escape, which can lead to injury. Over time fly worry can cause a drop in production as animals spend less time feeding and lose weight.
How to control flies
The best way to control flies is through the use of insecticides. These come in a variety of forms including pour-ons, sprays, powders, injections and drops.
However, to treat the problem effectively it is important to identify the specific species of fly. This is because not all drugs are effective for all flies.
In order to identify the species, you will need to remove a fly or larva from your animal. We recommend you do this under guidance from your vet.
We identify fly species
We can identify the fly species you removed from your animal.
Our test kits include instructions on how take a sample, a guide to help you interpret the results and advice on what to do next.
As soon as we've completed the test we'll get in touch and let you know what the results are.


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So it is so far and my pack for the pig feed production I provide to you.There are three buildings to be installed with ge.
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There will be no passable pack as some settings do not go with the factory script.
If you need help, please feel free to contact us.


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Apr 19 Wed
Springfield Kickoff Fundraiser Volunteer Tickets
Wednesday, April 19, 2017 at 05:30 PM
Our Springfield campaign kick off at Hickory Hills Country Club, 3909 E Cherry Street, Springfield, MO 65809 is on Wednesday, April 19th, and we hope you will join us there!
Campaign leaders including New Approach Missouri board member Chip Sheppard, campaign spokesman Jack Cardetti, Campaign Manager John Payne, patient and retired member of law enforcement Peter Loughead, patient advocate Ashley Markum, and New Approach Missouri Advisory Board member and retired pediatrician Dr. Fred Hamburg will all speak. They will discuss the dire need for patient access in Missouri, documented benefits of cannabis for patients, the benefits of a new medical cannabis industry created by and for Missourians, and our strategy for making all of that a reality in 2018.
Appetizers will be provided, and drink tickets will be available for purchase.
The club needs a headcount 48 hours in advance, so ticket prices will increase on Monday, April 17. Purchase your ticket today to avoid missing out. This page is specifically for volunteers who have turned in signatures and are therefore eligible for discounted tickets. All other supporters should contribute for the event here. We hope to see you there!
3909 E Cherry St
Springfield, MO 65809
United States
Google map and directions