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A template for stream parser listeners. Note that the declarations (attlistdecl, elementdecl, etc) are trivially processed; REXML doesn't yet handle doctype entity declarations, so you have to parse them out yourself.
If a doctype includes an ATTLIST declaration, it will cause this method to be called. The content is the declaration itself, unparsed. EG, <!ATTLIST el attr CDATA #REQUIRED> will come to this method as "el attr CDATA #REQUIRED". This is the same for all of the .*decl methods.
# File rexml/streamlistener.rb, line 50 def attlistdecl element_name, attributes, raw_content end
Called when <![CDATA[ … ]]> is encountered in a document. @p content "…"
# File rexml/streamlistener.rb, line 82 def cdata content end
Called when a comment is encountered. @p comment The content of the comment
# File rexml/streamlistener.rb, line 32 def comment comment end
Handles a doctype declaration. Any attributes of the doctype which are not supplied will be nil. # EG, <!DOCTYPE me PUBLIC "foo" "bar"> @p name the name of the doctype; EG, "me" @p pub_sys "PUBLIC", "SYSTEM", or nil. EG, "PUBLIC" @p long_name the supplied long name, or nil. EG, "foo" @p uri the uri of the doctype, or nil. EG, "bar"
# File rexml/streamlistener.rb, line 40 def doctype name, pub_sys, long_name, uri end
Called when the doctype is done
# File rexml/streamlistener.rb, line 43 def doctype_end end
# File rexml/streamlistener.rb, line 53 def elementdecl content end
Called when %foo; is encountered in a doctype declaration. @p content "foo"
# File rexml/streamlistener.rb, line 78 def entity content end
<!ENTITY …> The argument passed to this method is an array of the entity declaration. It can be in a number of formats, but in general it returns (example, result):
<!ENTITY % YN '"Yes"'> ["%", "YN", "'\"Yes\"'", "\""] <!ENTITY % YN 'Yes'> ["%", "YN", "'Yes'", "s"] <!ENTITY WhatHeSaid "He said %YN;"> ["WhatHeSaid", "\"He said %YN;\"", "YN"] <!ENTITY open-hatch SYSTEM "http://www.textuality.com/boilerplate/OpenHatch.xml"> ["open-hatch", "SYSTEM", "\"http://www.textuality.com/boilerplate/OpenHatch.xml\""] <!ENTITY open-hatch PUBLIC "-//Textuality//TEXT Standard open-hatch boilerplate//EN" "http://www.textuality.com/boilerplate/OpenHatch.xml"> ["open-hatch", "PUBLIC", "\"-//Textuality//TEXT Standard open-hatch boilerplate//EN\"", "\"http://www.textuality.com/boilerplate/OpenHatch.xml\""] <!ENTITY hatch-pic SYSTEM "../grafix/OpenHatch.gif" NDATA gif> ["hatch-pic", "SYSTEM", "\"../grafix/OpenHatch.gif\"", "\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNDATA gif", "gif"]
# File rexml/streamlistener.rb, line 71 def entitydecl content end
Called when an instruction is encountered. EG: <?xsl sheet='foo'?> @p name the instruction name; in the example, "xsl" @p instruction the rest of the instruction. In the example, "sheet='foo'"
# File rexml/streamlistener.rb, line 28 def instruction name, instruction end
# File rexml/streamlistener.rb, line 74 def notationdecl content end
Called when the end tag is reached. In the case of <tag/>, #tag_end will be called immidiately after #tag_start @p the name of the tag
# File rexml/streamlistener.rb, line 18 def tag_end name end
Called when a tag is encountered. @p name the tag name @p attrs an array of arrays of attribute/value pairs, suitable for use with assoc or rassoc. IE, <tag attr1="value1" attr2="value2"> will result in #tag_start( "tag", # [["attr1","value1"],])
# File rexml/streamlistener.rb, line 13 def tag_start name, attrs end
Called when text is encountered in the document @p text the text content.
# File rexml/streamlistener.rb, line 22 def text text end
Called when an XML PI is encountered in the document. EG: <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf"?> @p version the version attribute value. EG, "1.0" @p encoding the encoding attribute value, or nil. EG, "utf" @p standalone the standalone attribute value, or nil. EG, nil
# File rexml/streamlistener.rb, line 89 def xmldecl version, encoding, standalone end
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One must stop over in Ouarzazate before entering Southern Morocco. You will discover the ancestral wonders in cinemascope as you pan or zoom the town.
Ouarzazate was built in 1928 and is now, among other things, the starting point for trips into Southern Morocco. However this stopover town is now a destination in its own right. The recently restored Taourirt kasbah proves this point. Unesco has recognized this district with its ochre adobe buildings as a World Heritage of Humanity Site.The stucco decoration and the painted cedar ceilings in two magnificent rooms are particularly noteworthy.
Ouarzazate has been unfailingly linked with cinema since 1984. Its climate, geographical situation and economic conditions have encouraged film studios to locate there. The sets of films such as Lawrence of Arabia and Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra or the Sheltering Sky and Gladiator can be visited.
You can't leave Ouarzazate without visiting the Tiffoultoute kasbah and the Ait Benhaddou ksar. These remarkable examples of traditional architecture give a foretaste of the famous Route of the 1000 kasbahs. The view from the impressive ksar (fort, plural ksour), which has been recognized by Unesco as a World Heritage Humanity Site, is a magnificent panorama of the palm grove, the reg (stony desert) and the Atlas mountains.
A boomtown, Ouarzazate, with its film industry and heritage, is a resort in its own right: a restful stopping place.
No matter which road you take from Ouarzazate, you will come upon marvels of Southern Morocco. Enjoy the adventure and meet the unspoiled people and their culture.
The Dadès Valley runs from Ouarzazate to Boumaine. It is dry and lined with kasbahs and unique fortified villages. From time to time, you must leave the road and discover traditional Berber adobe houses. Take a cool break at the Skoura palm grove. After leaving Tinghir you arrive at the magnificent Todra Gorge. It narrows as its faces tower higher and higher (up to 300m) above your head. A trail, passing through the Dadès Gorge, leads to Boumalne. Depending on the lighting the rocks seem to be red, pink or mauve. The Sahro djebel (mountain) is situated south of Boumalne where one can observe some of the 150 varieties of birds already spotted in the Valley of the Birds.
By continuing your trip along the Dadès, you pass through the rose country, El Kelaât M'Gouna, where rose water, so vital for complexions, is made. In May, the rose has the place of honour in a three-day festival held throughout the area. Further on, the Dadès Gorge opens up and then the Todra Gorge whose cliffs can be 300m high.
The Drâa Valley extending for almost 200km towards the South irrigates a narrow oasis where dates and henna grow. The Tissergate ksar (fort), one of the ksour (forts) which line the valley, houses a museum of arts and traditions in which many everyday articles and Berber craftwork are exhibited.
M'Hamid is the starting point for trips into the Sahara. Two high dunes in Tinfou give a foretaste of the desert. For the real thing continue west from Tinfou to the Chigaga dunes which extend for 150km. One of which can reach a height of 150m.
Kasbahs, oases, desert... All the elements of the Deep South are gathered here.
Need vacation ideas?

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Hi there
Just wanted some help with my M1A pickup. Love the samples people have done with it and want it to work well with my guitar too.
When playing through a DI into PA sound system, sound guys always ask if I can turn it up (normally I start around volume 7 with little signal going to the system). However when I turn it all the way to 10 the signal clips and my sound is distorting.
I also tried using the pickup through a midi interface for recording (M-Audio Fast track). A similar issue occurs where little to no signal goes through until the gain on the midi box is maxed out. At this point I start getting a distorted signal as well.
I have replaced the battery with improvement but still has same issue. Went to the local music store where I purchased the pickup and used it through a Marshall acoustic amp. It sounded excellent through there.
Is there any settings on the desk or DI I need to make the pickup work effectively or do I need to run it through an amplifier for it to sound good?
Any help is much appreciated.


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Eleven-year-old Delphine has it together. Even though her mother, Cecile, abandoned her and her younger sisters, Vonetta and Fern, seven years ago. Even though her father and Big Ma will send them from Brooklyn to Oakland, California, to stay with Cecile for the summer. And even though Delphine will have to take care of her sisters, as usual, and learn the truth about the missing pieces of the past.
When the girls arrive in Oakland in the summer of 1968, Cecile wants nothing to do with them. She makes them eat Chinese takeout dinners, forbids them to enter her kitchen, and never explains the strange visitors with Afros and black berets who knock on her door. Rather than spend time with them, Cecile sends Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern to a summer camp sponsored by a revolutionary group, the Black Panthers, where the girls get a radical new education.
Set during one of the most tumultuous years in recent American history, one crazy summer is the heartbreaking, funny tale of three girls in search of the mother who abandoned them—an unforgettable story told by a distinguished author of books for children and teens, Rita Williams-Garcia.
Praise For…
"Delphine is the pitch-perfect older sister, wise beyond her years, an expert at handling her siblings...while the girls are caught up in the difficulties of adults, their resilience is celebrated and energetically told with writing that snaps off the page"
-Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"Regimented, responsible, strong-willed Delphine narrates in an unforgettable voice, but each of the sisters emerges as a distinct, memorable character, whose hard-won, tenuous connections with their mother build to an aching, triumphant conclusion."
-Booklist (starred review)
"The setting and time period are as vividly realized as the characters, and readers will want to know more about Delphine and her sisters after they return to Brooklyn..."
-Horn Book (starred review)
"Emotionally challenging and beautifully written, this book immerses readers in a time and place and raises difficult questions of cultural and ethnic identity and personal responsibility. With memorable characters (all three girls have engaging, strong voices) and a powerful story, this is a book well worth reading and rereading."
-School Library Journal (starred review)
"Delphine's growing awareness of injustice on a personal and universal level is smoothly woven into the story in poetic language that will stimulate and move readers."
-Publishers Weekly
"In One Crazy Summer Williams-Garcia presents a child's-eye view of the Black Panther movement within a powerful and affecting story of sisterhood and motherhood.
-Monica Edinger, The New York Times


text:
2013 China Tours > Grand China & Yangtze Cruise > Tour Itinerary
17 Day Grand China & Yangtze Cruise (2013)
Tour Itinerary
Your exotic journey to China begins as you board China's national airline, Air China non-stop flight bound for Beijing. En route, cross the International Dateline and lose a day. You'll recover this day on your return trip. (IM)
Board Air China non-stop flight to Beijing
Air China Flight Schedule
Arrive in Beijing in the late afternoon. Meet your local representative and transfer to your hotel in the heart of Beijing. Your hotel is conveniently located near the Chang An Avenue, along which are Beijing's major shopping malls, upscale restaurants, and tourist attractions. Relax and enjoy the evening in China's historic and vibrant capital city. Marriott Beijing City Wall
Bird Nest, the main venue of 2008 Summer Olympics
After a hearty breakfast and a tour briefing, you visit the Tiananmen Square. At 100 acres, it is the world's largest public square, flanked by an assortment of historical buildings, huge museums and Communist monuments, including Mao's Mausoleum. One visitor has written, "An army could be massed, and all the kites in the world could fly." You roam the Square; and walk through the Gate of Heavenly Peace, under the famed portrait of Chairman Mao, to enter the Forbidden City, the symbolic center of the Chinese universe and a lasing monument of dynastic China, from which 24 emperors of the Ming and the Qing Dynasties ruled the Middle Kingdom for nearly 500 years (1420-1911).
The Forbidden City, also known as Palace Museum
Visit old Beijing's Hutong on pedi-cabs
Completed in 1420, the Forbidden City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the world's largest palace complex and China's most magnificent imperial architecture, consisting of many buildings with 9,999 rooms, on a 250-acre compound, protected by a 20-foot-wide moat and a 32-foot-high wall. Now known as the Palace Museum, the Forbidden City was the exclusive domain of the imperial court and dignitaries where outside visitors were forbidden for 5 centuries. Here you will explore the imperial treasures in the grand palaces and pavilions, exquisite courtyards and gardens in what was once the residence of China's rulers.
Afterwards, join our Culture InSites™ Program for a rickshaw ride along Old Beijing's Hutongs (narrow ancient alleys) to discover the sights and sounds of local Beijing life in these traditional Chinese neighborhoods. See the locals as they go about their daily activities; and tour the maze-like alleyways and courtyard houses before it's gone forever. Highlights include visits to a traditional courtyard home, to a local market, and a leisure walk along the ""Lotus Lane"" lined with bars, restaurants and tea houses. This unique tour features a delicious lunch served at a local family home with a Chinese dumpling-making demonstration.
Return to your hotel for some free time in the afternoon. In the evening, we are gathering for a welcome dinner of a specially prepared meal of Beijing Duck, cooked to crispy perfection. (B,L,SD)
A memorable day awaits with an excursion to the Sacred Way of Ming Tombs and the Great Wall of China at the less-visited Mutianyu section.
The Sacred Way of Ming Tombs
The Great Wall of China at Mutianyu section
After breakfast, you take a drive to the northwest of Beijing to visit the Sacred Way of Ming Tombs, regarded as China's finest example of imperial tomb architecture. Situated in a peaceful valley, the site was chosen by the Ming emperors as their burial place for its auspicious Fengshui alignment—a ridge of mountains to the north cradles the tombs on three sides, opening to the south and protecting the dead from the evil spirits carried on the north wind. Here you will walk along the elegant Sacred Way that leads to the tombs. Beginning with a grand marble gateway more than 400 years old, the long avenue is lined with 36 massive stone sculptures of officials, lions, elephants, camels and mythical beasts.
Lunch stop at a local jade workshop, afterwards, you take a scenic drive through the countryside and mountains to reach China's most renowned monument—the Great Wall. Since the Great Wall is the single greatest attraction of China travel, we take you to the less-visited and more original Mutianyu section and try to avoid other sections which are the most accessible and consequently the most crowded.
The wall was begun in the 5th century BC to keep out foreign invaders. Construction continued for centuries, eventually linking up the walls of the former independent kingdoms. The Great Wall meanders through China's northern mountain ranges from the Yellow Sea to the Gobi Desert—a distance of over 3500 miles! Chairman Mao once said "You haven't walked on the Wall, you haven't been a good Chinese".
And today, you'll not only visit the Great Wall, but experience it in more ways than one—Learning some of the fascinating history and legend of this engineering marvel, riding a gondola up to the highest point for panoramic views of this ancient edifice, exploring its impressive watchtowers, ramparts, carriageways at your own pace, or, hoping on a toboggan for an exciting ride down the curvy path. Today is a highlight of your China trip. (B,L,D)
In the morning, you visit the Temple of Heaven, the largest temple complexes in China and a paradigm of Chinese architectural balance and symbolism. One key element in China's architectural genius was the blending of the monumental with the delicate, and the Temple of Heaven is perhaps the finest expression of this mixing of near opposite.
Hall of Supreme Harmony, Temple of Heaven
The Summer Palace for Empress Dowager Cixi
During each winter solstice, the Ming and Qing emperors would perform rites and make sacrifices to Heaven praying for good harvest for their empire. The most striking edifice is the Hall of Prayer of Good Harvests, which according to the emperor's Fengshui masters, is the exact point where heaven and Earth met. Built in 1420 (without the use of a single nail), this masterpiece of Ming architecture, features triple eaves, dramatically carved marble balustrades, and gorgeous glazed azure roof that symbolizes the color of heaven. This 120-foot-high structure is fixed by four inner pillars represent the seasons, and two sets of 12 columns denote the months and the traditional Chinese division of a day.
Time permits, you take a photo stop at the Bird Nest and visit the exterior portion of this huge complex—the main stadium of 2008 Beijing Olympics. In the afternoon, you tour the idyllic Summer Palace, once the summer retreat and playground for the imperial family and royal court during the late Qing Dynasty. Considered the finest Chinese imperial garden, the Summer Palace spans over 700 acres with breathtaking views, temples, pavilions, palaces and halls including the lavishly painted "Long Corridor". It is most associated, however, with the Empress Dowager Cixi who paid for the extravagant Marble Boat with funds meant for the modernization of the Imperial Navy. Weather permitting you enjoy a dragon boat ride across the picturesque Kunming Lake.
Later, transfer to the airport for a flight to Xian to experience the historical side of your China trip. Located in the Yellow River Basin in China's heartland, Xian is one of the birthplaces of civilization. It has seen 3,100 years of development and 11 dynasties, giving it equal fame with Athens, Rome and Cairo as one of the four major ancient civilization capitals. Xian reached its peak during the Tang Dynasty at 10th century with a population of one million and is rich with cultural and historical significances. Sheraton Xian North City (B,L,IM)
Today's excursion will take you to modern China's greatest archaeological discovery—The Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses, which silently guarded the tomb of China's First Emperor for over 2,200 years. In 1974, a local farmer uncovered the first of three massive earth and timber vaults, while digging a well. The extensive excavation, still in progress, has yielded over 6000 life-sized terra cotta warriors, each individually sculpted, with the physical characteristics of the humans they were modeled after. Archers, infantrymen, horses and bronze chariots have also been unearthed, but it's only a fraction of the total buried there to protect the tomb of the first Qin emperor. A Circle Vision documentary is available on site. Lunch at a local restaurant and see a noodle making demonstration.
6,000 Terra-cotta warriors and horses
Tang Dynasty stage show
Today's Culture InSites Program will offer you a rare opportunity to witness a real rural life at a typical village in central China. You visit a Yao Dong (Literally an arched tunnel)—a typical cave dwellings that stretches across six provinces in north central China. The Yao Dong is caves dug into mountainsides with a signature arched front. Usually, one family unit consists of three arched openings, and the units are interconnected inside. The center cave can be termed the living room, which includes a stovetop cooking area. The two side caves are sleeping quarters. Outside of the cities of this region, some 90% of the rural population lives in yaodongs. Time permitting, you'll also enjoy a chance to shop for ancient Chinese furniture or paintings.
Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907), traditionally regarded as the golden age of China, was a time of patricians and intellectuals, Buddhist monks and Taoist priests, poetry and music, song and dance—a period of peace and exceptional creativity lasting 300 years. This evening, you attend a feast of culinary and cultural delights with a special Dumpling (dim sum) banquet followed by a fascinating Tang Dynasty stage show. Indulge yourself in this remarkable show and reinvent your China dream with a travel back in time to the world of China's Golden Age, then come back to the present with a greater understanding of this amazing time. (B,L,SD)
This morning, tour the Wild Goose Pagoda, a Tang Dynasty landmark. This seven-story pagoda was initially constructed in 652 AD to house the Buddhist sutras brought back from India by the monk, Xuan Zang, who later translated them into Chinese. His pilgrimage to India is immortalized in the Chinese classic—The Journey to the West.
Wild Goose Pagoda, a Tang landmark
Guilin's inspiring sceneries
Later, you take a relaxing walk to the heart of the city to visit its fascinating Muslim quarter. In the center of Xian, visible everywhere from the surrounding city walls, are the city's two Ming Dynasty treasures—Bell and Drum Towers. Built in 1384, the Bell Tower, in which a great bell once rang at dawn, is a classic example of Ming architecture. It consists of a triple-eaved, two storey wooden pavilion resting on a square brick platform nine meters high, pierced by four archways. Across the square from the Bell Tower is the rectangular Drum Tower, where a drum was beaten daily at sundown. First erected in 1380, the Drum Tower has become the gateway to Xian's old Muslim quarter and its historical mosque.
Founded in 742, the Great Mosque is the focus of the more than 30,000 Chinese Muslims (Hui) of Xian, whose beards and white caps distinguish them from Han Chinese. Stand in four beautiful courtyards of ancient trees, ornate arches and stone steles, the Mosque is the center of life for the Muslim community - the descendants of the merchants that ferried the religion into China along the ancient Silk Road. The backstreets surrounding the mosque is the charming Muslim Quarter hosting the city's most fascinating night market, with its winding streets, low houses, narrow lanes, excellent ethnic cuisine, and resident Hui community. Tour the lovely and unusual area with bustling stalls and enjoy some of the best street food in China!
In the late afternoon, you fly to Guilin and indulge yourself in China's most amazing natural landscapes. Guilin, literally means Osmanthus Forrest, is celebrated for its picturesque karst limestone pinnacles and meandering Li River. An old Chinese saying describes Guilin's landscape as the best scenery under heaven. Its misty limestone peaks rise as suddenly from the earth as trees in a forest, and surrounding the city like mountains floating in an imaginary sea. Meet your local representative and transfer to your hotel in the heart of the city. Your hotel is located on a riverside avenue of the sweet-scented cassia trees and overlooks the Li River. It's a place for relaxation and also offers a perfect escapade after one week of group travel. Sheraton Guilin Hotel (B,L,IM)
This part of the country encompasses China's most famous scenic landscapes. Before discovering the best treasures Guilin has to offer, we take an off-the-beaten-path hiking tour to Long Sheng's spectacular Dragon Spine Rice Terraces.
Long Sheng's Dragon Spine Rice Terraces
Over the centuries, the Zhuang and Yao minorities have sculpted 2,000 feet peaks with remarkable step-like terraces for growing rice in the hilly areas of Southwest China. This transformation over time has created landscapes of utility as well as immense beauty. In Spring, when the terraces are full of water, they resemble irregular silver ladders; and in autumn, when the rice ripens, the mountains turn into golden waves.
Visit the unique culture of local minorities and their villages where life has remained unchanged for thousands of years. We are able to hike between the villages following tiny stone paths carved out by the local people. This memorable journey is rarely included in the conventional itinerary. (B,L,D)
A beautiful day waits! After breakfast, you take a scenic ride through the countryside, passing lush green fields and rice paddies, to reach the Bamboo River pier, where you embark on a memorable cruise down the picturesque Li River. The 40-mile trip has countless twists and turns and the scenery is reminiscent of classical Chinese landscapes—bamboo groves, sleepy villages, fishermen on bamboo rafts, cormorants, water buffalo, soaring karst pinnacles and mist shrouded peaks... your cruise concludes at Yangshuo, a rural town, amidst a haunting and surreal setting.
Cruise the Li River and soak in its natural beauty
Guilin's landmark Li River and limestone peaks
Time permitting you will have free time to explore this fascinating town on your own, followed by a tour on tuk-tuk to visit local farmers' fields and homes. Yangshuo's landscape of limestone hills, rice fields and lazy rivers is the very image of rural China, and ride on a tuk-tuk through this much-painted landscape provides a great way to experience the dramatic countryside, ancient villages and bustling local markets in a very intimate way.
Traveling back to Guilin in the late afternoon, en route, we will make photo stop to shoot signature sceneries of the countryside. (B,L,D)
If time permits, you will tour the Reed Flute Cave, nature's subterranean wonder filled with stalactites and stalagmites. Its name comes from the verdant reeds growing outside that are used to make flutes. The grand chamber known as the Crystal Palace, is an awesome spectacle. Afterwards, you are transferred to the airport for a short flight to the mountain city of Chongqing. With a population of over 30 million, Chongqing is the gateway to China's most populous Sichuan (Literally, Four Rivers) Province and also home to China's most notable Sichuan cuisine. During WWII, Chongqing was China's wartime capital. U.S. General Stillwell was the Commander of the US Forces here and the "Flying Tigers" was also based in Chongqing.
The Reed Flute Cave, Guilin
Visit Giant Panda at Chongqing Zoo
Enjoy an opportunity to see the Giant Pandas at Chongqing Zoo. Whenever China dispatches its animal ambassadors to zoos around the world, they have usually started their life in Sichuan Province where eighty percent of the world's 1,000 remaining giant panda reside. Giant Panda is officially considered "National Treasure" by Chinese government and is often used to cultivate relationships with other countries with "Panda Diplomacy". This zoo offers a wonderful chance to get face-to-face with China's gentle giants. Later, you visit Chongqing's Old Town. This is one of China's most naturally preserved, active old towns. Explore Ming and Qing dynasty courtyard homes; rarely included in conventional itineraries, this old quarter is unforgettable.
No visit is complete without a meal in a local Sichuan restaurant. The cuisine is spicy, and peppercorns and chilies abound, but often in a surprisingly subtle way. Whether it's hotpot, meat or a vegetable dish, your mouth will water and your taste buds tingle with delight. After dinner, board your luxurious cruise ship for the memorable 3-night cruise down the Yangtze River. Settle into your outside balcony cabin and check out the numerous amenities on board. The Yangtze River originates on the Tibetan Plateau and traverses a distance of 3900 miles before flowing into the East China Sea, near Shanghai. It is the third longest river in the world, after the Amazon and the Nile. With over 700 tributaries, the Yangtze River has been the lifeline and major commercial thoroughfare in China for millennia. Victoria Anna (B,L,D)
From your private balcony, you watch the great Yangtze flow lazily to the east. Your ship docks at Shibaozhai (Stone Treasure Stronghold), a rural river town, for an included shore excursion to the 400-year-old, 12-story wooden pagoda, known as the Shibaozhai Temple. This colorful structure, built without nails, hugs one side of the Jade Seal Hill. Its tall yellow entrance gate is decorated with lions and dragons and etched with an inscription inviting the visitors to climb the ladder and ascend into a "Little Fairyland". Legend has that there was a small hole in the temple wall from which enough rice trickled to feed the monks, thus the name, Stone Treasure. However, when the monks became greedy and thought they could get more rice if they make the hole bigger, the treasure dried up.
Qutang Gorge, the shortest and narrowest of 3 Gorges
Your cruise continues in the afternoon and enters Qutang Gorge—the shortest, narrowest and probably the most fascinating of the three, noted for its fantastic scenery resembling an elegant Chinese painted scroll. Dinner tonight is Captain's welcome banquet. (B,L,D)
Another day of incredible views awaits you upon entering Wu Gorge. The softly layered peaks form a surreal backdrop as the ship courses through the rugged canyons. So sheer are the cliffs that it is said the sun rarely penetrates. Wu Gorge, celebrated for its twelve misty peaks soaring above, has been the inspiration of Chinese painters and poets throughout the centuries. The most famous is Goddess Peak, which resembles the figure of a maiden kneeling in front of a pillar. She is believed to be the embodiment of Yao Ji, the 23rd daughter of the Queen Mother of the West. Yao Ji, accompanied by 11 fairy handmaidens, was sent to oversee the Jade Pool of the Western Heaven, and end up staying there to protect the boats from the dangerous rapids. These 12 maidens became the 12 sentinel peaks of Wu Gorge.
Cruise the Shennon Stream on peapod boat
Twelve misty peaks of Wu Gorges
You then change to the peapod boat for a trip up the crystal-clear Shennong Stream to experience the excitement and awe of bygone days of river travel in China. Notice the ruins of the ancient plank road along the cliff face as well as the coffins of the Ba people suspended from the cliffs above. The contrasting heights of these gorges and the narrowness of the river make this area one of the most dramatic scenes in the world. Tonight you have a dinner featuring local cuisine and enjoy onboard entertainment. (B,L,D)
Your memorable cruise continues as you enter the spectacular Xiling Gorge. Choose your vantage point as the ship transits the five stage shiplocks, the largest shiplock in the world. Your cruiser makes a brief stop at Sandouping, the site of modern China's most ambitious engineering project – the construction of the Three Gorges Dam and Hydroelectric Power Plant. View the current phase of this 17 year project. When completed, the dam will be 610 feet high and over a mile wide. The hydroelectrical power plant will be driven by the world's largest turbines and have the generating capacity of 18 nuclear power plants. A reservoir 372 miles long will be created, with the end result of displacing 1.5 million people, submerging 1000s of their towns and villages and wiping out numerous archaeological sites. Whole cities have been relocated, precious topsoil brought to higher elevations and centuries-old lifestyles altered forever.
Enter Xiling Gorge
Visit the Three Gorges Dam construction sites
Disembark at Yichang, the terminus of your memorable Yangtze cruise, you board a flight to Shanghai, China's vibrant financial and artistic center. Shanghai, literally means "above the sea", is China's largest and most dynamic city, with a population of 18 million. In the 13th century it became a minor county seat and so it remained until the mid-19th century when British commercial ambitions led to war with China. The ensuing Treaty of Nanking allowed the British to trade freely from certain ports including Shanghai. The city soon became an outpost of glamour, high living, and ultimately decadence. In the 1930s, Shanghai is renowned as "the Pearl of the East". Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel and enjoy the evening at leisure. Marriott Shanghai City Center (B,L,D)
Some places are forever associated with a single landmark and in the case of Shanghai it is surely the Bund. After breakfast, you take a leisure walk along the waterfront promenade of the Bund. The Bund was at the heart of colonial shanghai, flanked on one side by the Huangpu River and on the other by the hotels, banks, offices, and clubs that were the grandiose symbols of western commercial power. See the ships and barges on the Huangpu River, en route to the sea or going upstream to the interior of China. The modernistic Oriental Pearl TV tower looms in the background redefining the skyline.
Bund, the symbol of Shanghai
Shanghai's new skyline
In 1949, the communist took over and Shanghai was stripped of its grandeur. In 1990, the Pudong area across the river from the Bund was declared as a special economic zone, and a revival started for the city. Today we take you to futurist Pudong New Developing Area. Transformed from once fertile farmland, this new area is rapidly becoming the symbol of modern China with its clusters of shinning metal and glass skyscrapers of world class hotels, international financial institutions, and commercial centers towered above the Huangpu River. Later you visit to the 88th floor of the Jinmao Tower, the third tallest building in China. At 1,380 feet, it is the world's fifth tallest building, as well as home to the world's tallest hotel - the Grand Hyatt Shanghai. From its lofty platform, you enjoy a stunning view of Shanghai.
Afterwards, you visit People's Square and tour the famed Shanghai Museum, an unique and inspiring piece of architecture, home to more than 120,000 cultural relics of ancient China, including a priceless collection of jade, bronze, ceramics, paintings, furniture, etc. After dinner, you attend an unforgettable performance of the Shanghai Acrobats.
Later, we drop you at the Xin Tian Di for a leisure and romantic night. Literally means "New Heaven Earth", it is Shanghai's trendiest lifestyle destination. This 2-block complex of high-end restaurants (some of Shanghai's best), bars, shops, and entertainment facilities, mostly lodged in refurbished traditional Shanghainese shikumen (stone-frame) housing, is the first phase of the Taiping Qiao Project, an urban renewal project. Busloads of domestic Chinese tourists traipse through in the evenings, Western visitors feel like they've never left home, and hip young Shanghainese flood here to enjoy the good life they feel they're due. (B,L,D)
In the morning you travel by motor-coach to Suzhou, which is often referred, by the Chinese, as the "Venice of the East". Suzhou is a 2,500-year-old city renowned the world over for its traditional gardens, ancient canals and silk production. In 1997 Suzhou's classic garden was designated an UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Pavilion of Watching the Moon, Master of Net Garden
Canals, arched bridges, and cobbled lanes at Tongli
The construction of the Grand Canal in the 7th century created a means whereby silk, the prized commodity from this region could be transported to the Northern capital, Beijing, a distance of over 600 miles. With prosperity came prestige as merchants and artisans plied their trade. During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Suzhou flourished as a place of refinement, drawing an influx of scholars and merchants, who built themselves numerous elegant gardens.
The Chinese garden developed as a synthesis of two concepts linked in Taoist philosophy - scenery and serenity: the contemplation of nature in isolated meditation led to enlightenment. Therefore, the educated and wealthy built natural-looking retreats for themselves with an urban environment. The garden creates poetic and painterly concepts, and aims to improve on nature in creating a picture that looks natural but is in fact entirely artificial. For this the Chinese garden designer used four main elements: rocks, water, plants, and architecture.
Upon arrival, you visit the Garden of the Master of Fishing Nets, and experience all of the elements of a classical Chinese garden. It is said that the Master of the Nets Garden was named after one of its owners - a retired official who wished to become an accomplished fisherman. Dating to 1140, it is considered by many, the finest of all Suzhou's gardens. Although exceptional small, it succeeds, with great subtlety, in introducing every element considered crucial to the classical Chinese garden. It includes a central lake, discreet connecting corridors, pavilions with miniature courtyards, screens, delicate latticework, and above all, points which "frame a view", as if looking at a perfectly balanced photograph. The best known building is the "Pavilion for Watching the Moon", from where the moon can be viewed in a mirror, in the water, and in the sky.
Later, you tour the Silk Spinning Mill, where you will learn how silk is created from the mulberry-munching silkworms to produce thread and fine cloth. Afterwards, you travel to Tongli, a pretty little water town typical of the region. Tongli gives visitors a good idea of what Suzhou must have been like in its heyday. Reminiscent of scenes from traditional Chinese paintings, it is complete with canals, arched stone bridges, cobbled lanes, and tile-roofed wooden houses. Visit a courtyard mansion to learn about the lavish life style of its residents. Then, learn about traditional Chinese wedding customs at a local folklore museum. Take an exciting ride on a gondola and experience the charm of Tongli's waterways. You will have free time to browse and buy some local specialties along Old Street, which is lined with Ming style homes and storefronts. In the late afternoon, you travel by motor coach to Shanghai and enjoy your evening at leisure. (B,L,D)
Enjoy a full day at leisure to explore this magnificent city on your own.
Nanjing Road, bargain shoppers' paradise
You will be provided with a specially prepared orientation list. Stroll through the Old Shanghai bazaar, shop at Nanjing Road's emporiums, or enjoy a nostalgic evening performance by the renowned senior citizen's Jazz band at the Peace Hotel. (B)
Bid farewell to Shanghai as you board the Maglev, the world's fastest magnetic levitation train, for your trip to the Pudong International Airport. The Maglev travels at a speed of 287mph and covers the 20 mile distance in less than 8 minutes! * Maglev train ride is only available to Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG) and does not work for flight schedule to New York. (B)
Take maglev train to Pudong International Airport
Air China Flight Schedule


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Gun Debate: How Did We Reach This Point?
To The Reader's Forum:
I have, I think, studied the debate about guns from several angles, and have reached the conclusion that any solution that would make our society more safe and secure is going to be extremely difficult for several reasons:
1: The increasing militancy of the gun lobby (read manufacturers) and its front organizations. Coupled with that is the fear of the power of those organizations (seriously overstated and overestimated).
2: The vast numbers of firearms (some 300 million or so) floating around this country.
3: The Second Amendment to the Constitution and the confusing wording therein. There are many who think – and say – that the Second Amendment trumps the whole rest of the Constitution. I would suggest that they have it backward, and that the rest of the Constitution; the other nine amendments of the Bill of Rights, and the Preamble, trump the Second Amendment in any argument about defining "domestic tranquility, (promotion of)the general welfare, establish justice, and (securing) the Blessings of Liberty"
I am not amused by people describing themselves as in favor of the Second Amendment. As long as it is a part of the Constitution, every American ought to be in favor of it. With the caveat that they should also be just as much in favor of the rest of the Constitution.
4: The pervasive and unthinking culture of the worship of guns. How did we reach this point as a society? It has come to be a religion on the part of many. How did they come to view an AR-15 or an AK-47 as a thing of beauty instead of the ugly beast that it really is? When nobody remains who bows down to the graven image of an assault rifle, maybe we can have some meaningful changes in laws – and feelings about these deadly things.
Sam Alessi
Scottsdale, Ariz.


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Apparent tax bill snafu raises eyebrows but won't affect Marshall, levy
MARSHALL – An 11th-hour amendment to the Legislature's $2 billion tax increase bill signed in May reportedly contained an apparent error that has some city officials in Minnesota scrambling, a news release from Watchdog.org said.
A provision of the amendment contained an error that wasn't caught by lawmakers and dozens of lobbyists representing cities and counties. The apparent mistake allowed millions of dollars in debt to be added to the total amount available to levy, which is used by many local governments to calculate the 3 percent maximum property tax increase for 2014 operating budgets, the release said.
The allowable amount available for cities and counties to levy to calculate property taxes appeared to be much higher than, in many cases, what was anticipated – the exact opposite of what the Legislature apparently intended, the release said.
Gary Carlson, a lobbyist for the League of Minnesota Cities, said he doesn't know where the error came from, but that it came up "very late in the process and up to that point there was really no discussion of it. Whenever you throw out language like that quickly toward the end of the session, people try to read it and figure out what it means, but there's not always the luxury of time to figure it all out."
Carlson accepted some of the blame for the error.
Marshall Mayor Bob Byrnes said if any cities would be affected by the snafu, it would larger, suburban cities.
"In order to take advantage of this apparent error would mean a city would have to issue debt in a fairly short period of time," Byrnes said. "It would allow cities to increase their levy if they take on additional debt. If there were a voter-approved referendum for a new swimming pool or a new public facility, that would be excluded; we didn't have that."
Byrnes said the vast majority of debt the city of Marshall is dealing with is for street improvements that are paid for by assessments to the benefiting properties.
He called the error a non-issue for Marshall and said it will not affect the city's levy-setting procedure next month.
"For a community like Marshall, the impact of the levy limits, coupled with an increase in Local Government Aid would mean our total tax levy would remain the same," said Byrnes. "Other sources of revenue would increase, so the impact on taxpayers in 2014 would be less. That's what we anticipated all along.


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The Forest Is Closed
The cost of admission may be going up
After driving nine hours to Taos, New Mexico, I was shocked to see a sign reading, "THE FOREST IS CLOSED," ...
After driving nine hours to Taos, New Mexico, I was shocked to see a sign reading, "THE FOREST IS CLOSED," hanging over a band of pink tape blocking a trail. Thinking it was a joke or a temporary closure of a single trail, I kept driving up the Taos Ski Valley to run up Wheeler Peak, the highest point in New Mexico.
More pink tape blocked streamside pullouts, and I saw the dreaded "CLOSED" signs at other trailheads. At the Wheeler Peak trailhead, my worst fear was confirmed. "FOREST ACCESS PROHIBITED...National Forest CLOSED To All Use ... No camping, no hiking, no biking, no horseback riding, no Jeeping, no ATVs, no motorcycles, no running ... Extreme Fire Danger."
Just then, it started to rain.
As I checked into a room for the night, I asked the clerk where I could go for a run. She suggested I could run on the road past the end of their fence for about a half-mile, or back down the road to the town for an almost three-mile loop. I just smiled. She said state parks and everything in the Carson National Forest, including the ski area, was off limits. A $5000 fine could be imposed on trespassers. She said government had run out of money fighting the fires in Los Alamos, and land was closed to all users. Then she offered to sell me a $5 ticket to go run a mountain on private property across the road. I smiled more.


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Terrific war documentary about a couple of outposts in the Korengal Valley in Afghanistan (aka The Deadliest Place on Earth) and US troops operating there.
It's not blood and guts or Saving Private Ryan but it's real and it's powerful (in my opinion).
Might be your one chance to catch it for free if you have National Geographic Channel/


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iHerb Customer Reviews
Savings of: $4.41 (25% off)
Good but can be better as well!
Posted by Supplementsdiy on Nov 17, 2013
This is definitely one of the better digestive enzymes. Enzymes are needed in every metabolic function in our body. Even the minerals and vitamins required enzymes to work. When we unprocessed, uncooked raw food, the enzymes in the food will naturally help to break down the food and leaving little work for our stomach to break it. However, when we eat processed or cooked food, all the enzymes are dead and our body will need a lot of enzymes to finish the work. Our pancreas (main enzyme producer) will have to work hard to produce the enzymes and even divert the enzymes needed for other bodily function. Even wonder why we feel so sleepy, sluggish and having energy crash after a heavy processed or cooked meal, this is the reason why! You will notice that this is not same when you eat a lot of raw fruits and vegetables instead. When your body has to divert the enzymes for production for food, it actually compromises your physical and mental energy, immune system, stamina and etc! Taking digestive enzymes helps to make your food nutrients bioavailable for absorption, reduce food allergies, reduce stomach discomfort, loose stools, bloating etc and takes stress off your pancreas. It is believed that we can only produce a limited amount of enzymes in our life and you certainly don't want to exhaust it in on your food. The less you use, the healthier, longer your life. Studies have shown that almost everyone over 50 has enlarged pancreas due to overstressed! For those who don't know about enzymes products, it is considered a low strength digestive blend.. It also contains a few specialised enzymes (other than just protease, lipase, amylase) to digest the more common food. The caps are vegetarian, very small and easy to swallow. This product also contains multiple strains of protease, lipase, cellulase and amylase. This is because different enzymes function between pH value range. It is to ensure that you can enjoy food across different digestive organs (eg stomach is acidic, small intestine is mild alkaline). The best way to take this is to take it 5 min before eating to allow the capsules to dissolve first or uncap and take it just before eating. Generally, I find the dosage is more suitable for a light meal or quick snack. For heavier meal, you probably want to be taking a medium-high strength digestive blend As for price, this product is quite expensive. The company Enzymedica is the best enzymes producer. The products are very trustworthy and are of high quality but it's also much more expensive. The supplements contain no fillers, binders or flow agents. You can try Now Foods or Doctor's Best brand if you want cheaper but high strength and quality enzymes products. Check out my page for more reviews!
So thankful!
Posted by Reviewer2305787 on Oct 16, 2009
This enzyme product has helped my digestion amazingly. Had problems with IBS. Very pleased and now on my 2nd bottle.
Great lower potency digestive enzymes
Posted by Reviewer1103521 on May 08, 2010
I am very glad that Enzymedica developed this product! This is a great lower potency digestive enzyme product for sensitive or perhaps younger individuals. Same great quality as Digest or Digest Gold only lower potency. Thanks for carrying this product Iherb!
Among the best
Posted by Reviewer2059750 on Oct 29, 2009
Super effective. Aids in digestion and absorption of nutrients from meals and supplements. Our family notices negative impacts whenever we run out.
Great product!
Posted by Reviewer2124092 on Dec 22, 2009
This is an awesome product, I often exp bloating and digestion pain after eating rich foods but when I take this I don't!
These have changed my LIFE!
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For years I've stuggled with digestive and bowel problems and these have changed my life! They assist with my digestion and bowels and I have more energy and feel better. I'm carrying them in my purse and take them with every meal along with my probiotics! So grateful to have had such an astounding breakthrough...
Works well.
Posted by Reviewer1806652 on Jun 13, 2009
Excellent product, digestion much improved since taking these.
These enzymes are excellent!
Posted by Reviewer2357101 on Oct 29, 2010
They are effective as well as inexpensive. They also don't contain the extras that most supplements have to package the contents into gel caps. I really appreciate a clean product. Janis Ihrig
Very mild
Posted by Reviewer2692541 on Jan 24, 2013
Don't help a lot after a heavy meal. I prefered "Nature's Answer, Daily Digestive Enzyme" which helped me a lot, in a matter of minutes.
Posted by Reviewer1533600 on Jun 17, 2014
These little buggers are cheap and effective. I have tried many different types of enzymes and brands, but these are the best. Their Digest Gold also really works with fatty meals. I have suffered a lot of digest upset with my gallbladder removal and these have helped tremendously. I have less acid reflux, liver pain, and cramping. Highly recommended!


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Well, it's that time of the year again for me... time for some oolongs and puerhs. I'm kicking it off this year with some gaoshan before I get into some roastier stuff.
My question is: how many of you do cold overnight brews with your oolongs and puerhs? It's a cool (no pun intended) idea to me and I'd like to try it. I read some info on it by using the search feature and it said after you get to about 2 minute steeps or more you can start doing overnight brews... does this include lighter oolongs?
Also, with very well crafted yanchas and puerhs I have heard steepings can go on for weeks... I'm assuming that's with super long steeps after the first few days. Are you using boiling water and just letting it sit for all day or overnight?
Thanks for any help... I'm a little caffeine sensitive with oolongs so info on this would be good for me to have to get the most out of my tea.


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Spa & Pamper Hotels in Scotland & Yorkshire
Spa and pamper experience at Crerar Hotels….
Crerar Hotels have a collection of hotels that offer spa and pamper experiences across Scotland and in Yorkshire. Right here you can book spa and pamper breaks and enquire about spa and pamper days, which are perfect for many occasions. Whether you are looking for a girly spa getaway with friends or a romantic spa break for two, then we have something that gives most spa goers what they seek for that rejuvenation boost.
Our spas are in some of the most stunning locations across the UK, and that's what makes a spa or pamper break with Crerar Hotels quite special. Our country locations are ideal for guests interested in outdoor pursuits, and following this al fresco activity with a spa or pamper experience can be just the right balance of exertion and rejuvenation.
A spa or pamper break at any one of the Crerar Hotels can be taken over one, two or three nights and we have specially tailored spa inclusive breaks with a treatment for everyone.
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- Elemis product range
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I agree with Bill. The flavor and texture that fresh yeast brings is palpable.
I've heard this said enough times to start to believe it. What I'm trying to understand is why this would be the case if the amount used is properly converted between forms. Why would a different delivery vehicle for the same organism yield a different flavor?Craig
ADY, due to the presence of damaged yeast cells provides a little softening to the dough, but nothing else to the finished bread. Tom Lehmann/The Dough Doctor
I've no opinion on this issue as the last time I used CY was to try and make some apricot wine at the age of 12 (science experiment!). However, this is what the San Francisco Baking Institute has to say:http://www.sfbi.com/fresh_yeast_vs_instant_yeast.html
The second sentence sums it all up for me: "One baker even told us that when he switched from dry yeast to fresh yeast, the flavor of his bread improved. We would like to dispel the myth..."Was this baker lying? According to SFBI he was delusional because in their opinion fresh yeast is the same as IDY/ADY. There are those who say DOP San Marzanos are the same as US grown plum tomatoes - no difference in taste. Some people even say powdered garlic tastes the same as fresh. I say make your own judgement, because your experience may be different from what people are telling you.
Chau,I'm sure that you have seen this post before, but Cook's Illustrated concluded that there was more gas production during fermentation using cake yeast than the dry forms: Reply 8 at http://www.pizzamaking.com/forum/index.php/topic,14060.msg141140/topicseen.html#msg141140. Peter
Norma, I am sure there are members who will disagree with me, but you can propagate that CY in a starter like form. This way you can have access to the same organisms whenever you need them. I have been doing this for awhile now with seemingly consistent results. All you have to do is to make a 50/50 mixture of flour and water and then add your CY. Maintain it like you would a starter and the same yeast organisms should just replicate themselves. By doing this, you don't have to keep buying fresh yeast. That or divide the block into multiple pieces, double wrap, vacuum seal, and freeze. CY will last for a very long time in the freezer.Chau
Now that is interesting. The article states that different strains of S. cerevisiae are used to make the different types of yeast. I've never seen that in print before. Have you seen this written any place else?http://www.cooksillustrated.com/tastetests/overview.asp?docid=9814
Aren't there more dead cells per gram of fresh yeast than for the pelletized versions? Performance aside, could this be adding a perceptible flavor that the pelletized form doesn't have?
but I recall that according to Professor Raymond Calvel in his book The Taste of Bread, you need at least 2.5% fresh yeast to taste it in a finished bread. He did not give a corresponding percent for ADY or IDY.


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Secretary Clinton travels to Iraq and Kuwait today.
Secretary Clinton arrived in Baghdad, Iraq, today, her first trip to Iraq as Secretary of State. While in Baghdad, Secretary Clinton will meet with Prime Minister al-Maliki, President Talibani, Deputy President al-Hashimi, Foreign Minister Zebari, and other senior leaders in the Government of Iraq. They will discuss issues of common concern including security, stability operations and assistance.
Secretary Clinton will also meet with Ambassador Christopher Hill and Multinational Force-Iraq Commander Odierno to discuss the Administration's new direction and change of mission for U.S. forces in Iraq and hold a roundtable with Iraqi women.
The Secretary will also participate in a town hall with Iraqi citizens who work day in and day out with Provincial Reconstruction Teams, to hear from and discuss with them what they are achieving as well as issues facing the Iraqi people. Secretary Clinton will depart later today for Kuwait.
Helen in Pennsylvania writes:
I am so proud to see Hillary Clinton going to Iraq. Iraq needs to know that we are not going to just abandon them now.
Sarah in Illinois writes:
This trip is a great surprise for all those following the great work of the SOS.
I am proud of everything she is doing! I trust Secretary Clinton, Ambassador Hill, President Obama and the whole team to get us out of Iraq safely and secure.
Peter in Illinois writes:
Mornin' Madame Secretary Clinton,
Keep Moving Forward, there are many good things to accomplish during the next 8 years,like setting an example of Honest Due Diligence for Discovery.
Have a Great Day,
Peter L.
Rosemary in New Jersey writes:
Dear Hillary, If I look in the dictionary at the word "unflagging" I think I will see your pretty picture there!
*unflagging support for the Iraqi people;
*unflagging support for women and children;
*unflagging dedication and loyalty to the American people;
*unflagging energy in addressing you new job.
You are a role model and an inspiration. I have never seen anyone like you, and I am your age. You make our generation look young -- which is great since I still feel young, and you look fabulous!
Stay safe, be well.


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Peter, is this the article?http://www.aaccnet.org/publications/cc/backissues/1960/Documents/chem37_573.pdfThat link should work.
Cookbooks are directed to ordinary people, and publishers won't let authors publish books that call for ingredients that ordinary consumers cannot find at their local supermarkets.
I will be making my first pizza with AT bromated in about an hour. Oven is pre-heating right now. Fingers crossed.Mine are 58% hydration. 2% of each salt, sugar and oil.
I also agree,excellent stuff! I ordered 2 Bags(5lbs each) of AT flour,one bromated,the other not.They made some of the best pies I ever eaten.I plan to order a 50 lb bag eventually.Im using Bouncer and sometimes KABF,but I really love the AT.
I'm sorry, and I hate to be contrary, but I've used both AT bleached and bromated and KASL, and I'd be hard pressed to tell them apart. I use KASL now, just because I've had lung cancer once already and would just as soon not have to deal with that again if I can help it. I'd put my KASL pies up against anyones AT pies for handling, workability, oven-spring or flavor. Just sayin'
From a performance standpoint, Steve's (Ev's) experience with the All Trumps bromated flour seems to mirror that of Tom Lehmann, as discussed in the following PMQ Think Tank thread started by one of our members (franko9752): http://thinktank.pmq.com/viewtopic.php?p=78733#p78733.Peter


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Paul has an advertising on a web-site for "Freedom" it says something like "Do the right thing and support America" and buy Freedom.
I'm sure Paul isn't that dumb and that it probably was some brainless marketing fool who put that up. But, shilling a charity song on a web-site is very insensitive - it's up there with kicking people in wheelchairs and rummaging through the ground zero site for watches, coin, and other valuables. I would think that Paul would have enough sense not to do that and be man enough to admit he messed up. Rather than send letters to McDonalds about their beef (and worrying that Abe Labourel Junior will be the next Denny Kile and die in his sleep of natural causes), i think Paul should focus on cleaning up his own web-site.
I still think McCartney and a lot of other celebrities were duped into raising all that money and then being accountable and responsible for where it was spent. O'Reilly is right. Anybody that profits in any way from the tragedy (and that includes McCartney implicitly promoting songs from the new album at the tragedy event)....is wrong, wrong, wrong. I think Paul should look to clean up his own house before critizing others.


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Moderator: Mike
mommasturn wrote:Very nice to read,
How nice to read that someone so sought after by so many girls, was so in love with a girl who could just be natural with out makeup. (Kinda weird how he went the opposite direction the second time around.)
It gives us regular gals hope that our daughters won't have to feel they need to be madeup stick figures to be happy in life.
Of course they had the resources to spend a few weeks/months relaxing off on their own, a luxury that most of us do not know. If I could go off with my family for a month I could be wonderfully relaxed and grounded too.
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Debates of April 1st, 2009
House of Commons Hansard #38 of the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was human.
- Question Period
- Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs
- The Economy
- First Nations Education System
- Status of Women
- Royal Canadian Air Force
- Patro Le Prévost
- Parkinson's Awareness Month
- Women in Afghanistan
- Royal Netherlands Army
- Pauktuutit
- Nunavut
- B.C. Economy
- The Conservative Government
- Royal 22nd Regiment
- New Brunswick Varsity Reds
- Liberal Party of Canada
- Employment Insurance
- International Monetary Fund
- Air Canada
- Goods and Services Tax
- Afghanistan
- Automotive Industry
- Employment Insurance
- Taxation
- Afghanistan
- Airport Security
- Justice
- Canadian Security Intelligence Service
- Afghanistan
- The Environment
- Employment Insurance
- Air Canada
- Goods and Services Tax
- Citizenship and Immigration
- Montreal Airport Authority
- Finance
- The Environment
- Infrastructure
- Climate Change Accountability Act
- Points of Order
- Canadian Human Rights Tribunal
- Interparliamentary Delegations
- Committees of the House
- Federal Courts Act
- Criminal Code
- Income Tax Act
- Petitions
- Questions Passed as Orders for Returns
- Motions for Papers
- Points of Order
- Energy Efficiency Act
- Criminal Code
2:05 p.m.
The Speaker Peter Milliken
It being Wednesday, we will now have the singing of the national anthem led by the hon. member for Don Valley East.
[Members sang the national anthem]
Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs
Statements By Members
April 1st, 2009 / 2:05 p.m.
Terence Young Oakville, ON
Mr. Speaker, today, on Parliament Hill, we are honoured by the presence of the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs from across Canada, the national voice for fire services. Many of them have travelled great distances to inform members of Parliament of the successes and challenges of the courageous men and women who, when called upon, put their lives on the line to protect our homes and businesses and save lives.
Firefighters increasingly face new dangers, such as new building materials that burn hotter and faster, grow ops with hydro bypasses and meth labs.
Of 108,000 firefighters in Canada, 80,000 in smaller, rural and remote communities are unpaid volunteers. Firefighters demonstrate the pioneer spirit of community that allowed our settlers to battle the dangers of isolation and extreme weather to build this nation.
We salute all of the brave men and women who fight fires from Labrador to Oakville, Ontario, British Columbia and Yukon for their dedication in the greatest tradition of public service and sacrifice.
First Nations Education System
Statements By Members
2:05 p.m.
Marc Lemay Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
Mr. Speaker, it is time for the federal government to review its policy, which puts a 2% limit on the indexing of financing for first nations post-secondary education programs.
Furthermore, not only is post-secondary education under funded, but so is the entire first nations education system. Primary and secondary level programs are also suffering, because their respective funding is not being indexed to the cost of living. The fact that the number of students has increased since 1996 is not helping the situation. This has resulted in the loss of several million dollars over 13 years and the situation cannot continue.
I will be presenting a petition today on behalf of Quebec first nation people who are calling on the government to take action on this. The first nations education system is facing a crisis. It is time for the government to do something about it.
Status of Women
Statements By Members
2:05 p.m.
Judy Wasylycia-Leis Winnipeg North, MB
Mr. Speaker, who among us was not horrified by the revelations brought to the House by the member for New Westminster—Coquitlam about the Karzai Afghan regime's plans to subordinate and subjugate women? Not only is this deeply disturbing in terms of human rights but also in terms of the lost potential it represents.
By all accounts, when women are empowered, communities can overcome even the worst conditions. As has been said, the rising of the women is the rising of the human race.
I saw this firsthand in Bangladesh on a trip sponsored by Results Canada. I saw with my own eyes how a few dollars in aid can empower women to lift themselves and their families up out of enormous poverty. I saw women at the heart of the microcredit movement building sustainable economic futures.
I thank Chris Dendys and Katy Kydd Wright with Results Canada for leading us on this journey and showing us that poverty can be solved one step at a time when women are empowered to tackle basic issues like clean water, sanitation and TB prevention.
I also thank the member for New Westminster—Coquitlam for her tireless work in this place, empowering women and fighting for a sustainable, peaceful future. I wish her well on her new journey.
Royal Canadian Air Force
Statements By Members
2:05 p.m.
Brian Storseth Westlock—St. Paul, AB
Mr. Speaker, 85 years ago today, a royal proclamation gave birth to the Royal Canadian Air Force. In its history of excellence, the men, women and machines of the RCAF have chased the wailing winds and topped the sun swept summits with easy grace in the cause of freedom and justice.
Whether in the swirling skies over London, the dark deadly nights over Berlin, the training airfields of the prairies, the hostile skies of Korea, facing off against the Warsaw Pact in Europe, intercepting potential intruders near North American skies or while dazzling millions of fans with the Snowbirds, our Air Force has been on the job, around the clock, around the world for 85 years.
I am proud to represent an integral part of that history in the fighter squadrons and support organizations of 4 Wing Cold Lake and Edmonton Garrison's 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron.
Today I salute the dedication of the men and women of today's Canadian Air Force and the courage and sacrifice of those who preceded them. They have truly taken Canada Per ardua ad astra, through adversity to the stars.
Patro Le Prévost
Statements By Members
2:05 p.m.
Justin Trudeau Papineau, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Patro Le Prévost, a community organization located in the heart of my riding of Papineau, is celebrating this year its 100th anniversary.
Over the year, numerous activities will be held to celebrate this momentous occasion. For example, starting on April 15, the citizens and friends of Papineau will be invited to take part in the 2009 cultural exhibition "Art over the years".
The Patro is continuing a long tradition, guided by history and compassion. It welcomes on average nearly 1,000 people per day from all generations and all social and cultural backgrounds.
I want to congratulate the Patro and acknowledge its 100th anniversary. More than just a pool, a library and a series of gymnasiums, the Patro is the epicentre of our community.
An organization like the Patro Le Prévost cannot be successful without the outstanding support of its volunteers, whose efforts and encouragement I salute today.
To the volunteers and to the Patro, we say thanks and happy 100th anniversary.
Parkinson's Awareness Month
Statements By Members
2:10 p.m.
Patrick Brown Barrie, ON
Mr. Speaker, today marks the launch of Parkinson's Awareness Month across Canada. Over 100,000 Canadians are living with Parkinson's disease today. It is chronic, progressive and results in increasing disability that dramatically impacts individuals, families and communities everywhere in Canada.
Parkinson Society Canada works to educate parliamentarians and policymakers about the needs of Canadians living with brain conditions like Parkinson's. The organization is committed to positioning the brain as a priority health, social and economic issue in Canada, one that warrants increased research and policy investments.
As we launch Parkinson's Awareness Month, I encourage every member of Parliament to think about their constituents living with Parkinson's. This insidious disease affects men and women of every age and they are relying on our leadership to help them live with the highest quality and most productive lives they can.
Finally, I want to pay special tribute to Greg McGinnis of the Barrie Parkinson's Association who has done so much in my region to raise funds and awareness for this important cause.
Women in Afghanistan
Statements By Members
2:10 p.m.
Nicole Demers Laval, QC
Mr. Speaker, a controversial new law in Afghanistan would allow men to rape their wives. This law, which was passed to please the Shia minority, would also prevent women from leaving the house without their husband's permission and would do away with their right to have custody of their children in the event of a separation or divorce. This practice has been condemned since 1993 by the UN High Commission for Human Rights, and this new legislation has been criticized by Afghan women parliamentarians and a UN agency for women.
The Conservative government likes to boast that Canada is in Afghanistan to defend women's right to equality and education. It is inconceivable that the government should do nothing to condemn and correct this injustice. This is a serious setback for women in Afghanistan.
The Conservative government should have the courage to stand up in this House and condemn this aberration and send a strong message to the Afghan government that this law violates its obligations regarding women's rights.
Royal Netherlands Army
Statements By Members
2:10 p.m.
Rick Dykstra St. Catharines, ON
Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honour Mr. Albert Hartkamp and retired major, Frans Rondel, of the Royal Netherlands Army from the Thank You Canada and Allied Forces group.
The group helps to ensure that the legacy of Canadian and allied forces in the liberation of the Netherlands never fades and that those who lost their lives are never forgotten.
As the son of two immigrants from the Netherlands who both lived through the second world war, it is an honour to recognize these men.
Along with their yearly commemorative events, they are also organizing a special 65th anniversary ceremony for 2010. This special event will incorporate veterans and dignitaries and will be attended by thousands of Canadian students.
The Thank You Canada and Allied Forces group is ensuring that Canadian and Dutch youth will know the shared experiences of sacrifices made.
So, as they organize a big "thank you" to all Canadian veterans, I call on all members of the House to recognize the great work they do in organizing their tribute to remember those who gave their lives for our democracy.
Statements By Members
2:10 p.m.
Anita Neville Winnipeg South Centre, MB
Mr. Speaker, today marks the 25th anniversary of Pauktuutit, the Inuit Women's Association.
Pauktuutit has worked tirelessly to address a broad range of health and social issues of concern to women in the north. Issues include the elimination of violence and abuse against Inuit women and children, housing, education, and economic development. It is to be congratulated for its success in advocating for Inuit women.
However, today also is the 10th anniversary of Nunavut.
Nunavut, which means "our land" in Inuktitut, has much to offer the world, with its panoramic landscapes, beautiful people and strong cultural traditions.
However, it is a community that continues to face many social challenges. These challenges must be addressed and the federal government must be there to ensure that the people of Nunavut have every opportunity for success.
Statements By Members
2:15 p.m.
Merv Tweed Brandon—Souris, MB
Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to stand before the House today to commemorate the creation of a new territory.
Today we celebrate the 10th anniversary of Nunavut. This is an occasion to reflect on the hard work and dedication of many people, on the many accomplishments that have been made and the many more that will follow.
Nunavut is vast in size, rich with resources, and has grown rapidly in the last 10 years. Our government and this Prime Minister are committed to ensuring the growth and success of Nunavut and the north.
This government recognizes the importance of the north like no other government has done before. Nunavut is well represented through the hard work of the Minister of Health, and this government has committed over $200 million over two years to social housing, $87 million toward a high-Arctic research station, continued growth in federal health transfers, and much more.
Nunavummiut and all Canadians should be proud of a territory that so perfectly represents the true north strong and free.
B.C. Economy
Statements By Members
2:15 p.m.
Alex Atamanenko British Columbia Southern Interior, BC
Mr. Speaker, the policies of the B.C. government have had a devastating impact on my province over the past eight years. Hospitals have been closed, emergency room service reduced and ambulance service cut back.
Rural communities have been especially hit hard. Seniors have been shifted around from community to community, often with tragic consequences. Our medical services plan is contracted out to an American corporation, and a once-profitable BC Rail has been sold off to the private sector.
According to Rafe Mair, a former Socred cabinet minister, the Campbell energy plan will mean the end of BC Hydro and the end of hundreds of rivers.
I call the last eight years in B.C. "an experiment": less government, privatization and deregulation, all part of the global corporate agenda.
Rafe Mair has given his support to Carole James and the NDP in the upcoming provincial election. I urge all citizens of B.C., regardless of political stripe, who wish to stop the systematic devastation of our province to vote NDP on May 12.
Yes, we can.
The Conservative Government
Statements By Members
2:15 p.m.
Jacques Gourde Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC
Mr. Speaker, we have confidence in Quebeckers. Our government is working for the future of all Quebeckers no matter where they live in the province. We hear from them daily that at least the Conservatives deliver the goods and they urge us to continue doing so.
While the Bloc Québécois is busy voting against everything in Ottawa, our government is working to develop Quebec and build its future. Unlike the Bloc, our government does not feel the need to scare Quebec, to divide it in order to better control it, to mislead it or tell it lies morning, noon and night. Our government is working on building, not tearing down. We are looking to the future, not to the past.
Yes, we, the Quebec Conservatives, have confidence in Quebeckers. We are truly there to serve them. On behalf of the Quebec Conservatives, I have a clear message for the Bloc: recess is over.
Royal 22nd Regiment
Statements By Members
2:15 p.m.
Claude Bachand Saint-Jean, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Royal 22nd Regiment is on its way to Afghanistan. It will take over from the Royal Canadian Regiment, which has completed its tour. I had the honour and privilege of training with its members in 2001, then accompanying them to Bosnia. I would like to commend these troops on their professionalism and skill. Quebec can be proud of this regiment. These men and women are completely committed to their mission. Their work and dedication are beyond reproach.
While the Bloc opposes prolonging this mission, it has never doubted these soldiers' bravery. I know that this deployment is hard on their friends and family members, but the cause is noble. I would like to join my Bloc Québécois colleagues and the family and friends of these courageous soldiers in wishing them good luck in their mission.
We admire them. Our hearts are with them. See them soon.


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Flute World
America's #1 flute specialty house since 1983.
Angels from the Realms of Glory by Henry SmartArranged for 6 C Flutes by Ann Cameron PearceIncludes score and partsA favorite hymn is arranged in an especially majestic style that fully explores the tonalities of the flute choir. The different versions of the tune are introduced by a fanfare. A soft legato quartet section follows the grand hymn rendition and then there is the accented and ornamented treatment of this carol that leads to its glorious conclusion. Optional handchimes during the last third of the piece provide an "angelic" effect. This is scored for 6 C flutes with the addition of piccolo, alto, bass and flute 2, 3, & 4 with optional divisi parts.


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The Latest Businessweek Answers That All-Important Post-Election Question: Just How Horribly Will Obama Age in the Next Four Years?
With Newsweek going out of print in 2013, the question of which magazine will carry on the tradition of headline-grabbing covers must be asked.
Bloomberg Businessweek has already emerged as a potential answer, with last week's provocative global warming wrapper, and this week's "four years later" photoshop by Justin Metz.
Will Obama really age that much in four short years? History suggests he might (see left, click to enlarge).
But the cover is less of a prediction and more of an illustration of what the kinds of difficulties the president faces might do to his facade.
"The opposition remains considerable, and no matter how successful he is, the hardest job in the world will take its toll," the magazine says.
The real question, therefore, must be: "In four years, will Lena Dunham still want to bounce quarters off the president's butt?"
(BTW, if Romney would have won, Businessweek was ready to go with this cover:)


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Heresy on 406 ELTsAugust 18, 2010 by Bruce Landsberg
The news cycle continues regarding the crash involving former Alaska Senator Ted Stevens and several others. There have been numerous newspaper remembrances of the other big Alaska crash in 1972 that resulted in the loss of Congressman Hale Boggs and Rep. Nick Begich. That aircraft was never found and Congress mandated that all aircraft henceforth should be equipped with Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs).
The concept of having someone search for a crash immediately after an automatically-activated device signaled the impact's location was seductive. However, the technology was certainly not ready for prime time as the devices often did not go off when needed but were pretty good at notifying the authorities of numerous hard landings that did not require rescue teams. The number of actual saves – where someone was still alive and found purely as a result of the ELT is reputed to be very small. You'll remember the Steve Fossett search where the aircraft was equipped with a required ELT (not sure which model) that failed to activate. The high number of failed and false activations is evidence that perhaps a totally different approach is needed.
Ironically, in this accident the ELT (reported to be a new 406 mhz model but that is speculative) failed to activate! Had there been personal locator beacons (PLB) aboard (and the passengers briefed on their use) it is quite plausible that the rescue would have come much sooner.
ADS-B is in the offing and would have given an immediate location of the crash site and yet, the public law as written, will not be allowed as a substitute for the 406 devices. The FAA is really pushing ADS-B since the entire ATC system will depend on it in a few years. Hmmm- seems like we'd want to provide incentive to equip yet Congress appears unwilling to allow pilots to use a far superior technology that has much broader application and is more cost effective. I'm obviously missing something.
Personally, I'd rather see pilots invest in airbags that really do work (disclosure – AmSafe, the airbag manufacturer, is a corporate sponsor of ASF safety seminars but this endorsement was unsolicited) and carry PLBs than depend the uncertainty of a hard-mounted 406 unit working as it was supposed to. The engineering is not so easy, as the record has proven – snap off the antenna as is known to happen occasionally in accidents and you're toast. Additionally, a distinction should be made between Part 91 and Part 135/121 operations such that if I choose to fly without search and rescue (SAR) approved gear, that is my choice.
My friends in the search and rescue community will consider these views worthy of tar and feathers but Congressional mandates, often well intentioned, sometimes lead down the road to tar and feathers anyway.
Bruce Landsberg
Senior Safety Advisor, Air Safety Institute
ASI Online Safety Courses | ASI Safety Quiz | Support the AOPA Foundation


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Posts Tagged 'vinnie favale'
[Update] @HowardStern Just Started Using Twitter, but he's Already a Pro: Here's Why
February 10, 2011 1 comment
[Update: @HowardStern is enjoying Twitter so much, he talked today about how he plans to experiment with a talk show on Twitter after having fun quizzing @Alyssa_Milano. Pretty impressive tech innovation for a guy who still uses Lotus Notes.]
Last week, Howard Stern (@howardstern) finally broke down and decided to start tweeting at the urging of his colleagues and friends. So far, he's doing everything right and his success is something anyone can learn from even if they're not the "King of all Media."
- Be Authentic: Stern tweets himself. He doesn't have his publicist or agent or staff tweet for him. In an interview with Piers Morgan today (another celebrity who understands Twitter), he emphatically rejected the idea of having someone else tweet for him. Authenticity is what makes Twitter successful. It's why people have been flocking (excuse the pun) there since 2007. In an age of glimmering fakery, they're looking for real contact with people they find compelling. Stern's first tweets were backstage before an appearance on the David Letterman show where he even posted a photo of himself sitting in the make-up chair flanked by Stern Show fixtures Vinnie Favale and Ralph Cirella.
- Have Something to Say: The traditional paradigm of mass media was that one must constantly publish to stay in front of the audience one has built. That relentless pressure to produce on deadline is often met at the expense of quality. In the era of social media, I fervently believe that you don't need to force yourself to come up with something to say for the sake of saying something. If you're scheduling tweets (especially repeats of your previous tweets) you're likely doing something wrong. Stern tweets when he has time and feels inclined. That's perfectly fine – unlike a newspaper, magazine, cable TV package, or Sirius radio – it costs nothing to remain a follower of the @howardstern twitter feed when he's not tweeting (just as it costs nothing to follow the RSS feed of a blog or virtually any other form of publishing online).
- Trust Your Instincts: One of the main factors that kept Stern from trying Twitter was the relentless criticism he's subject to being a controversial figure of his notoriety. Fortunately he discovered the satisfying feeling that comes with blocking someone from interacting with you. That's not to say that one should block out all negative comments. You know when a criticism is authentic and constructive – so trust yourself and block out all of the carping that doesn't add quality insight to your life.
- Engage Your Audience as the Real You: This applies for multinational companies just as it does individuals. It doesn't matter if you have dozens of Twitter followers or millions – you're not making the best use of the medium if you're not connecting on a one-on-one basis with people. That's not to say that you have to reply to every tweet fired off to you, but at the very least you have the chance to respond to the ones you find interesting. Another way celebrities can provide their millions of followers a simulated personal connection is by letting them see interactions with their friends (which usually include other celebrities that followers are interested in). So @howardstern converses with @johnstamos – and we get a voyeuristic glimpse into the lives of these two personalities. Stern also had fun with a challenge to his audience; offering to post a photo he'd just shot of his model wife Beth Ostrosky Stern with his smartphone if he reached 100,000 followers by "cocktail hour."
- Use it for Real-Time Group Experiences: Twitter is terrible for communicating complex messages; by design it sacrifices the ability to apply nuance/depth for flexibility/brevity. This allows it to be an ideal vehicle for communicating with many people in real-time about a shared interest. Case in point: the Superbowl. For my money, the tweets about the Superbowl halftime show (most of which mocked the over-the-top Black Eyed Peas performance with references to Tron and Demolition Man) were far more interesting than the actual show itself. Stern launched a few snarky tweets during the Superbowl and by his own admission he had a great time.
- "give give give give give give give give give give give give give give give give give give give give give give give THEN ASK! Period!": To quote sommelier and social media pro Gary Vaynerchuk (@garyvee), you can't just promote yourself and ask things of your audience. You have to provide them with value – and not only that, but you have to provide them with comparatively more value than what you're asking for. As Stern demonstrates – it's not until his 49th tweet that he finally promotes himself.
Here's to hoping Stern convinces his parents to start a "@ShitBenSternSays" Twitter account.
"...and you shall have no pie."As my parents tell it, when I was an infant my first word wasn't a word - it was an entire sentence. Very little has changed.
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About the Author: Anna Whittington serves at U.S. Embassy Astana in Kazakhstan.
It's not on the map. Even our local driver got lost among the identical blocks of Soviet-era apartments. No, this shelter for victims of human trafficking is hidden -- much like the crime itself -- to the outside world and provides a safe-haven for the women who have been held in sexual slavery.
Yet when we arrived, we were greeted warmly by Nina, the director of the nongovernmental organization (NGO) that operates the shelter, which is currently funded by a foreign embassy and the local government. The shelter provides key rehabilitative services, such as legal aid, psychological therapy, and vocational training.
Throughout our discussion, Nina shared her concerns on the challenges facing Kazakhstan in its anti-trafficking efforts, based on the "3P" paradigm of protection, prevention, and prosecution as outlined in the UN's international standards to combat modern slavery. Nina highlighted that the use of ineffective methods of victim identification and the insufficient enforcement of existing laws as two primary challenges. In addition, she described a cooperative program through which the NGO works with local police to run occasional training programs that teach law enforcement officers to identify human trafficking victims more effectively.
However, she noted that there is high turnover in the police ranks, which limits the continuity and effectiveness of these training programs. While the NGO has successfully helped rehabilitate victims, the NGO remains dependent on law enforcement's ability to effectively identify victims. In order to continue combating trafficking in Kazakhstan, Nina suggested more regular training programs partnered with greater public awareness campaigns to address current police limitations as two possible ways to confront the challenges in Kazakhstan. Nina added that, even with such limitations, a shelter in every region of Kazakhstan is much-needed. Besides these capacity hindrances, she noted that systemic problems with corruption and inadequate social consciousness of the issue created obstacles to eliminating trafficking.
While human trafficking continues to be a scourge against men, women, and children in Kazakhstan and throughout the world, there has clearly been global progress with more human trafficking victims transforming into human trafficking survivors. This progress was clearly on display as Nina proudly took us to the window to show off the small, colorful garden that shelter residents had cultivated. She also proudly passed around a photo album of shelter activities: young women preparing food in the kitchen, hiking in the mountains, and styling each other's hair. Shelter residents also participated in "photo-therapy." The album she showed us was full of photographs of nature. Following the formal part of our interview, Nina took us into another small room to meet three young women from Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. They smiled amusedly (but appreciatively) when I ventured a few words in Uzbek.
Nina led us to the kitchen, and we continued our conversation with shelter staff over tea and baked goods -- chocolate-filled pastries -- prepared by shelter residents. As we chatted, one young woman, a native of Osh, Kyrgyzstan, quietly slipped in from the other room. Shy at first, she opened up considerably when our interpreter translated a few of our questions from Russian into Kazakh, mutually understandable with Kyrgyz, and she eagerly told us a bit more about herself and her family as we shared tea and treats.
Our visit to the shelter confirmed Kazakhstan's human trafficking challenges, while also showcasing the progress it is making with key partnerships between government and civil society. Today, these partnerships are leading more men, women, and children from a life of hidden victimization to one of survival, promise, and freedom.
Kazakhstan was placed on Tier 2 Watch List in the Department of State's 2010 TIP Report, because the government did not demonstrate significant efforts to identify and assist foreign victims or victims of forced labor and did not vigorously prosecute, convict, or criminally punish any officials for government complicity, including local officials complicit in the use of forced labor during the annual cotton harvest.Learn more about the TIP Report, Tier Placements, and U.S. efforts to combat trafficking around the world.