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These Patient Information Leaflets (PILs) are specially written by the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD).
The BAD has been awarded The Information Standard certification for the process it employs to develop information products aimed at the general public, which include PILs, Sun Awareness Campaign materials, and other information products.
The BAD shall hold responsibility for the accuracy of the information published, and neither the scheme operator nor the scheme owner shall have any responsibility for costs, losses, or direct or indirect damages or costs arising from inaccuracy of information or omissions in information published on the website on behalf of the BAD.
Please note:
Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is a growth of the cells from the inner lining of blood vessels. It is linked to infection with Human Herpes virus type 8 (Kaposi sarcoma herpes virus, HHV8), and impairment of the immune system. It is named after Dr Moritz Kaposi, a Hungarian dermatologist, who first described it in 1872. 'Sarcoma' (from ancient Greek 'flesh') means a cancerous growth of the soft tissues under the skin and is present in other organs. Kaposi's sarcoma is actually not a cancer, but rather a tissue-overgrowth.
Kaposi's sarcoma can be mild, only affecting the skin, or more extensive with involvement of lymph nodes and internal organs such as the lungs or digestive system, in which case it may be fatal.
When a wound heals, it leaves a scar. A keloid (also called a keloid scar) is the name given to a scar that overgrows and becomes larger than the original wound. It is not uncommon for a scar to become slightly thick and raised. This is called a hypertrophic scar. Unlike hypertrophic scars, keloids:
KA is a relatively common, rapidly growing skin lesion that usually develops on sun-exposed skin. It arises from skin cells that surround the hair follicle. Early diagnosis is needed to differentiate a keratoacanthoma from a skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) as, unlike an SCC, a keratoacanthoma is benign.
Keratosis pilaris (KP) is a very common and may be present in half the population. It is a completely harmless skin condition. It affects 50-70% of adolescents and approximately 40% of adults. Its name gives some idea of what it is; 'keratosis' means that there is too much keratin, which makes up the tough horny outer layer of the skin, while 'pilaris' comes from the Latin for hair (pilus). In keratosis pilaris, many small (1 to 2 mm across) horny plugs can be seen blocking the hair follicles on the upper and outer parts of the arms and thighs. This can look like goose bumps but feels slightly rough. Keratosis pilaris appears when extra keratin accumulates in the hair follicles. This usually starts in childhood and becomes more obvious during adolescence and in adulthood. For reasons not fully understood the condition seems to be better in the summer than in the winter perhaps because in winter the skin often gets dry while in summer the sweat makes it less dry. Keratosis pilaris may be associated with ichthyosis vulgaris and atopic eczema, however this may be coincidental.
Latex is a milky sap from plants like the tropical rubber tree. It contains a mixture of water, sugar and proteins. The sap is collected by drilling into the tree and used to make rubber items such as household gloves and medical gloves, shoes, tyres, balloons and condoms. During the manufacturing process chemicals such as accelerators are added to harden it and the rubber item is heated then finally rinsed. The finished item, in addition to latex, may contain residual added (non-latex) proteins and chemicals and these can also cause allergic reactions.
Lentigo maligna is one type of the earliest stage of a skin cancer called melanoma.
The word 'melanoma' comes from the Greek word 'melas', meaning black. Melanin is the dark pigment that gives the skin its natural colour and is made in the skin by pigment cells called melanocytes. After our skin is exposed to sunlight, the melanocytes make more melanin, and so the skin becomes darker.
Melanocytes may grow together in harmless groups or clusters, which are known as moles. Most people have between 10 and 50 moles and often they are darker than the surrounding skin.
Melanomas can arise in or near to a mole, but can also appear on skin that looks quite normal. They develop when the skin pigment cells (melanocytes) become cancerous and multiply in an uncontrolled way. They can then invade the skin around them and may also spread to other areas such as the lymph nodes, liver and lungs.
Lentigo maligna is a type of melanoma called 'in situ' melanoma. 'In situ' means that the cancer cells have not had the opportunity to spread anywhere else in the body. There are cancer cells in the top layer of the skin (the epidermis) but they are all contained in the area in which they began to develop. They have not started to spread or grow ('invade') into deeper layers of theskin. This is why some doctors call in situ cancers 'pre-cancer'.
Lentigo maligna is a slow growing condition which can take years to develop. It appears in skin that has had a lot of sun exposure, usually the face, neck or upper arms.
Lentigo maligna can be cured with surgery. However, if the whole area is not removed completely with the appropriate surgery, some may develop into an invasive melanoma. It is therefore important to have it removed with a rim of normal skin (an adequate surgical margin). There are also preventative measures which can be taken (see below) that will further lower the risk of recurrence in the future.
Lichen planopilaris is a type of scarring hair loss that occurs when a relatively common skin disease, known as lichen planus, affects areas of skin where there is hair. Lichen planopilaris destroys the hair follicle and then replaces it with scarring. It is between 2 and 5 times more common in women than it is in men and is seen mostly in Caucasian adults, with the commonest age of onset being in the mid-40s.
Lichen planus is a fairly common (0.2-1% of the population worldwide), itchy, non-infectious rash that usually occurs in adults over the age of 40. In dermatology, the word 'lichen' means small bumps on the skin and 'planus' means 'flat', so the name comes from a description of the rash's appearance.
Lichen sclerosus is a chronic inflammatory skin condition which can affect any part of the skin, but it most often affects the genital skin (vulva) and the skin around the anus. It can start in childhood - or adulthood (usually after the menopause) and affect girls or women of any age.
Lichen sclerosus is a chronic inflammatory skin condition which can affect any part of the skin, but in men is most often seen on the foreskin and tip of the penis. It can affect boys or men of any age.
In some people, lichen sclerosus also affects the skin elsewhere on the body, where it can cause whitish patches of skin, but usually no discomfort.
The term 'lichen' is Latin and means a plant, a moss covering trees. Lichen simplex describes a response of the skin to being repeatedly scratched or rubbed over a long period of time (also called lichen simplex chronicus). A plaque (thickened area of skin) of rough skin forms, with increased markings and sometimes little bumps around hair follicles. There may be only one plaque of lichen simplex or many plaques.
Lichen simplex can affect any age group, but is most common in adults and unusual in children.
Linear IgA disease is a very rare blistering condition of the skin in adults. A similar condition affecting children is known as Chronic Bullous Disease of Childhood (CBDC).
The condition is called 'Linear IgA disease' because a type of protein called immunoglobulin A (IgA) can be seen deposited under the outer layer of the skin (the epidermis) in a line (linear) when a small sample of skin biopsy is prepared specially and examined under the microscope.
Melanocytic naevi are pigmented moles. The word 'melanocytic' means that they are made up of the cells (melanocytes) which produce the dark pigment (melanin) that gives the skin its colour. Melanocytes clustered together form naevi. This type of moles vary in colour in different skin tones and they are easier to see on pink skins.
Some moles are present at birth or appear within first two years of life are known as congenital melanocytic naevi. Most develop during childhood and early adult life and are consequently called acquired melanocytic naevi. The number of moles increase up to the age of 30-40. Thereafter, the number of naevi tend to decrease. New moles appearing in adulthood need to be monitored and checked if growing or changing. Moles can be found anywhere on the skin, including on the hands and feet, genitals, eyes and scalp.
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer, which arises from the pigment cells (melanocytes) in the skin. In a melanoma skin cancer the melanocytes become malignant and multiply excessively. One of the most important causes of melanoma is exposure to too much ultraviolet light in sunlight. The use of artificial sources of ultraviolet light, such as sunbeds, also increases the risk of getting a melanoma.
Melanocytes make a brown/black pigment (known as melanin), and often the first sign of a melanoma developing is a previous mole changing in colour or a new brown/black lesion developing. Most frequently there is darkening in colour but occasionally there is loss of pigmentation with pale areas or red areas developing. This melanoma on the skin is known as the primary melanoma.
Melanoma is considered to be the most serious type of skin cancer because it is more likely to spread (metastasise) from the skin to other parts of the body than other types of skin cancer. If melanoma has spread to other parts of the body, those deposits are known as secondary melanoma (secondaries/metastases).
Stage 1 melanomas are present in the skin only and have not spread elsewhere in the body.
Stage 2 is considered a thick melanoma present in the skin only.
In around 20% of patients diagnosed with melanoma, the melanoma spreads to the lymph nodes. This is classed as stage 3 melanoma.
Lymph nodes, or lymph glands, are found in our lymphatic system which is part of the body's immune system. The (skin) lymphatics are tiny channels in the skin, which move lymph fluid around the body to the lymph nodes in the groin, under the arms (arm pits) and in the neck. As part of the immune system, the lymph fluid can carry bacteria and even cancer cells with it. Once contained within the lymph nodes, the immune system attempts to destroy them. If the immune system fails to destroy such cancer cells they can grow within the lymph nodes creating a lump. However, the lymph nodes can also swell for other reasons such as infection (e.g. when we have a sore throat there may be swollen glands in the neck).
When the melanoma has spread beyond the primary site and the local lymph nodes to other areas in the body, it is known as stage 4 melanoma. Stage 4 melanoma is a form of secondary melanoma where melanoma has spread to distant lymph nodes (glands) or internal organs such as the liver, lungs bones and brain (distant metastases).
Melanoma in situ is the very earliest stage of a skin cancer called melanoma. 'In situ' is Latin for 'in space'. It means that the cancer cells have not had the opportunity to spread to anywhere else in the body.
About 7,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with melanoma each year. The word 'melanoma' comes from the Greek word 'melas', meaning black. Melanin is the pigment that gives the skin its natural colour. Melanin is made in the skin by pigment cells called melanocytes. After our skin is exposed to sunlight, the melanocytes make more melanin, and so the skin becomes darker.
Melanocytes sometimes grow together in harmless groups or clusters, which are known as moles. Most people have between 10 and 50 moles and often they are darker than the surrounding skin.
Melanomas can arise in or near to a mole but can also appear on skin that looks normal. They develop when the skin pigment cells (melanocytes) become cancerous and multiply in an uncontrolled way. They can then invade the skin around them and may also spread to other areas such as the lymph nodes, liver and lungs.
In melanoma in situ, cancer cells are confined to the top layer of the skin (the epidermis) and are all contained in the area in which they began to develop. They have not started to spread or grow into deeper layers of the skin and have not become invasive. The outlook is excellent.This is because there are no blood or lymphatic channels in the top layer of the skin via which the abnormal cells can spread. Some doctors call in situ cancers 'pre-cancer'.
Melanoma in situcan be cured if it is cut out (excised) completely. However, if not removed with appropriate surgery, it can develop into an invasive cancer. This is why it is important to have melanoma in situ removed with a small rim of normal skin (an adequate surgical margin) and to know about preventative measures you can take which will lower your risk of another melanoma in the future.
Melasma, also called 'chloasma' and 'pregnancy mask', is a common skin condition of adults in which brown or greyish patches of pigmentation (colour) develop, usually on the face. The name comes from melas, the Greek word for black, or cholas, from the word green-ish. It is more common in women, particularly during pregnancy (when up to 50% of women may be affected). Sometimes men may also be affected. Melasma is more common in people of colour and those who tan very quickly but can occur to anyone.
Melasma usually becomes more noticeable in the summer and improves during the winter months.It is not an infection; therefore, it is not contagious, and it is not due to an allergy. It is not cancerous and will not develop into skin cancer.
Mepacrine (an unlicensed drug in the UK of which there are many) was introduced as a treatment for malaria and for certain other tropical infections. It is one of several antimalarial drugs that have been found to also have anti-inflammatory properties, which can help some skin conditions.
Methotrexate is known as a disease-modifying drug or DMARD. It slows the production of new cells by the body's immune system (the body's immune defence system) and reduces inflammation. It was first used to treat certain types of cancer and was discovered to be an effective treatment for skin and joint diseases when used at lower doses.
Mohs micrographic surgery is a specialised surgical method for removing certain types of skin cancer. It was first developed by Dr Frederic Mohs in the 1930s.
Traditionally, operations for treating skin cancer surgically have involved removal of the area affected by the skin cancer together with an area of healthy unaffected skin around and below the skin cancer in order to ensure that the entire cancer has been completely removed with suitable margins of excision. Once removed, the skin is sent to the laboratory for examination by a pathologist (a doctor who specialises in medical diagnosis by looking at the cells with a microscope) to confirm whether the operation has been successful or not. It usually takes about 2 weeks for pathology report to become available. If the report shows that the skin cancer has not been fully removed, a further procedure may be necessary.
During the procedure of Mohs micrographic surgery, the skin cancer is removed a thin layer at a time with a small margin of healthy skin surrounding it. Each layer is immediately checked under the microscope by either the surgeon or a pathologist. The layer of skin is examined in horizontal sections. A further layer is taken from any areas in which the tumour remains until all of the skin cancer has been fully removed. The advantage of removing the skin layer by layer in this way is that as little healthy skin around the skin cancer is removed, which keeps the wound as small as possible. Secondly, your dermatological surgeon can be almost certain that the skin cancer is fully removed on the day of the procedure.
Molluscum contagiosum is caused by a pox virus. It can spread to others if the spots are in direct contact with someone else or they share the same item such as a towel. The spots usually appear a few weeks later. They are more common and extensive in people who have eczema. Sometimes people whose immune system is suppressed for any reason, such as by HIV infection or through taking immunosuppressive treatments may develop large numbers of molluscum spots, but most people with molluscum contagiosum are generally in good health.
Morphoea is a rare skin disorder/ disease / complaint where areas of skin become much thicker and firmer than normal. It is sometimes called 'localised scleroderma.' This term originates from two words 'sklero' meaning 'hard' and 'derma' meaning skin. It should not be confused with systemic sclerosis which is a different disease that affects internal organs and the blood circulation as well as the skin. Morphoea usually affects a few small areas of the skin. Very rarely, it can occur over larger areas of the body in a form called 'generalised morphoea.'
MMP is the most up-to-date term for this condition. Other names include cicatricial pemphigoid, oral pemphigoid and ocular pemphigoid.
MMP is an uncommon blistering condition which most frequently affects the lining of the mouth and gums. Other moist surfaces of the body (known as mucous membranes) can also be affected, and these include the surface layers of the eyes, the inside of the nose, the throat and the genitalia. The skin is sometimes affected by a few scattered blisters. MMP usually starts in middle and old age. Although it is not usually a serious condition in the mouth, the diagnosis of any type of MMP is important as it will alert your specialist to the possibility that the condition may involve your eyes, even if you have no symptoms. Eye involvement (known as ocular cicatricial pemphigoid or ocular MMP) does not occur in all people with MMP, but is potentially serious as it may cause scarring and affect your eyesight. Scarring may also affect the throat and the genitalia, and may be very serious if the larynx is affected.
Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is a medicine that is mainly used to stop the body from rejecting a transplanted organ (e.g. kidney, heart and liver). MMF can also be used to treat skin conditions. It reduces the action of the body's own defence system (the immune system) and is one of a group of drugs known as immunosuppressive agents. It is used in certain skin conditions in which the immune system loses control and begins to act against the body.
Mycosis fungoides is a type of cutaneous or skin lymphoma. It is the commonest of a group of conditions known as cutaneous T-cell lymphomas. Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas are cancers that affect the skin and are caused by uncontrolled growth of the T-cell lymphocytes in the skin. T cell lymphocytes are white blood cells that can be found all over the body and in the blood stream.
Mycosis fungoides is a rare condition. Each year in the UK, approximately 450 people are newly diagnosed with mycosis fungoides. Most affected people live a normal life span.
Mycosis fungoides can occur at any age but it most often starts between the ages of 50 and 70 years.
Necrobiosis lipoidica is an uncommon inflammatory condition in which shiny, red-brown or yellowish patches develop in the skin, usually in young adults and in early middle age. The condition is most commonly seen in conjunction with diabetes - both the insulin-dependent and non-insulin-dependent types.
'Pruritus' is the medical term for itching. 'Prurigo' is a related word, which describes the changes that appear in the skin after it has itched and been scratched for a long time. In nodular prurigo these changes take the form of firm very itchy bumps (nodules) on the skin's surface. These can resolve when the person stops scratching the area, although in many cases this can be very difficult without proper and sometimes prolonged treatment.
Omalizumab is a drug that has been specially designed to mimic normal human molecules, and for this reason is classified as a biologic drug. It interferes with natural antibodies called IgEs in the body and prevents them from causing histamine release from certain cells.
Lichen planus is an inflammatory condition of the skin but can also affect the mouth (oral lichen planus). Oral lichen planus may occur on its own or in combination with lichen planus of the skin, nails or genitals. It is thought to affect 1 to 2% per cent of the population, and typically it affects women after the age of 40 years. Oral lichen planus can occur in men but children are rarely affected.
Your body produces corticosteroids naturally, on a daily basis. Without them it would not be possible to survive. Corticosteroids are produced in the cortex of the adrenal glands (hence the 'cortico-' part of the name). The ones used most often in medical treatment (prednisolone and dexamethasone) are not exactly the same as the ones produced in the body. It is convenient to refer to them just as 'corticosteroids' or 'steroids', but you should be aware that they are different from the type of steroids (anabolic steroids) used for body building.
The word 'oral' means that the steroids are taken in tablet form by mouth. Oral treatment with corticosteroids is also known as 'oral cortisone therapy' or 'systemic steroid therapy'.


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Miss TransWorld SURF Kyra Santoro Photo Shoot And Video
We didn't waste any time in putting Miss TransWorld SURF 2012 Kyra Santoro to work. The gorgeous 19-year old brunette from Calabasas, California recently did a photo shoot for a Kicker commercial that will be running during the Volcom Pipe Pro, as well as the Kill Bill style shoot we did with her here at TransWorld SURF headquarters. Named after the famous right point in Queensland, Australia, we couldn't be more stoked on our new Miss TransWorld SURF!
Follow Kyra at instagram.com/kyrasantoroxx

subset: commoncrawl


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GRAND JUNCTION — "Hwwwwwaaaaaaaahhh."
It's an annoying sound, described as a screech, a hiss or a nasally shriek. And it's being heard much more often these days from the backyards of Denver to the pasture lands around Cortez.
It is the sound of an avian interloper, the Eurasian collared dove. This bad bird has found its way northwest from the Bahamas and made itself at home across the United States.
It has invaded Colorado and, besides irritating humans with its noise, it bullies other birds. It has become so pervasive that some birders worry it might eventually muscle out other species like the common mourning dove.
"It is noisy and obnoxious," said William Kaempfer, a vice chancellor and provost at the University of Colorado and one of the state's pre-eminent birders.
The first Eurasian collared dove spotted by ornithologists in Colorado was in Rocky Ford in 1996. In the latest Audubon Christmas Bird Count, there were close to 19,000 in the state. They have now populated all 64 counties in Colorado. Fort Collins, with 3,177 collared doves, showed the highest concentration of the birds in the nation last year.
"It's pretty astounding to look at the distribution we have," said Lynn Wickersham, the Durango-based state coordinator for the Colorado Breeding Bird Atlas project.
Because the collared dove resembles the soothing mourning dove, people confuse the two and wonder if the gentle doves they have known for a lifetime have turned into the flying equivalent of fingernails on a chalkboard.
Some comments taken from bird-watching blogs: "What is wrong with these birds?" "They sound like they are puking." "They sound like dinosaurs." "They are the most irritating bird in the world."
Collared doves originated in the Indian subcontinent and migrated to Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries. From there, they got a boat ride to a new world.
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology relates, under "cool facts" about the birds, that the Eurasian collared dove was loosed on this continent in the 1970s after several of the birds escaped from a pet shop in the Bahamas during a burglary. The shop owner then released the remainder of the approximately 50 doves from his shop.
They soon turned up in Florida. The birds began hopscotching their way north and west across the country. They appear to skip over some areas and settle into others where they can be the bullies of bird feeders.
Besides the shrieking sound they make while in flight — likely a warning call or an attention-getter for mating — and their coarse, staccato "kuk KOO kuk" cooing, collared doves can be distinguished from mourning doves in other ways. They have a dark "collar" on their necks; they are chunkier; and their tails are squared off rather than pointed like a mourning dove's.
Mourning doves, with their soothing trademark "cooaHOO coo coo" sound, have smudges on their cheeks rather than collars. They like to build their nests close to, or even in, human habitations. Their nests have been found in patio flower pots and in the curve of front-door wreaths.
According to the Cornell Lab, mourning doves can store more than 17,000 seeds at a time in an enlarged area of their esophagus.
For those who hate having the gentle cooing of the mourning doves drowned out by the squawking clunky cooing of collared doves, there might be good news.
Studies done so far don't show that the invasive birds are running out or killing off the mourning doves, even though there are many anecdotal accounts of the collared doves chasing mourning doves and even blue jays from feeders. They also have been seen attacking and killing finches.
"I am not convinced the Eurasian collared dove will always be here with us," Kaempfer said. "Sometimes birds appear and have big booms in population and then they disappear."
Cooper's hawks, which are expert avian hunters, and human hunters may help. Cooper's hawks are showing up more often in Colorado subdivisions, where they seem to favor swooping on and killing collared doves.
Also, there is no bag limit on how many Eurasian collared doves a hunter can bring down. While those on birder websites call the doves "super annoying," the opinions on hunting blogs are quite different.
"They are good eatin'," wrote one hunter. "Better 'n chicken."
"Mmmm-mmm," wrote another. "Dove 'n' dumplings."
Nancy Lofholm: 970-256-1957, email@example.com or twitter.com/nlofholm


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happy new year 2012 to all the guys and girls out there!
Another try to keep the stone of invention rolling in this community and prevent it from getting only a support forum. So I would be glad to get your feedback, ideas for improvement and anything you´d like to comment or ask.
I'll publish a way to (almost) double your scanresult.
This is meant to do fast scans, as scans of facial expressions. So, if you are interested in getting data as precise as possible: Ignore it!
In my strange test setup ( see attachment 1), I was able to get ALL the shown data (about 180° - see attachment 2) of a 10cm plaster bust with a SINGLE scan, using one cam and one projector. I used DAVIDs standard settings (here: frequencies: 7, shifts: 6 @ a pattern holding time of 148 ms). Means, the total scan lasted about 1.8 sec.
You´ll need some tinkering and some DAVID-addon.
But for nothing is easy, I'll leave you with a riddle today...
Tomorrow more....


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MS stops hacked hardware accessing Xbox Live
Tweaked DVD drive? No thanks
Microsoft has begun booting owners of modified-firmware Xbox 360 games consoles off of its Xbox Live online service, an array of postings on fan forums have revealed.
Microsoft's message to Xbox 360 hackers who log on to Xbox Live
The move appears to centre on users who've patched their consoles' firmware to allow the built-in DVD drive to read games on non pre-recorded media. They argue it's to allow them to play back-up copies - Microsoft is presumably motivated to stop people playing unauthorised copies of games, many if not all of which are not back-ups made by folk who've paid for the title they've duplicated for their personal use.
A posting on Microsoft's own Gamerscore website reveals the move was prompted by the launch of the Halo 3 public beta this week. The software giant, it emerged, has a "no tolerance policy towards inappropriate behavior like hacking or cheating".
Xbox 360 owners who have tweaked their machines "will not have their account automatically banned from LIVE, but they will no longer be able to access the service from the console they modified", Microsoft said.


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Safe Haven Icons
Learn how Norwex makes your home a Safe Haven
Sure, paper towels are handy, but at what cost? Most are made from virgin tree fiber and used only once—definitely not a sustainable solution. Plus, one is often not enough for many jobs, and some brands are even bleached with harmful chlorinated compounds—not good for your family or the environment.
Our super-absorbent Norwex Microfiber Counter Cloths quickly tackle spills and messes much more sustainably. Made from 50% recycled materials, they dry fast and you can use them multiple times before laundering. Best of all, they look great in their stylish Counter Cloth Box, where they're always ready when you need one.
• Norwex Microfiber has the ability to remove up to 99% of bacteria from a surface with only water when following the proper care and use instructions.
• Earth friendly—each set of three Counter Cloths is made from 50% recycled materials and constructed of 1.3 recycled plastic bottles (500 ml).
• Save money and protect the environment by reducing paper towel consumption
• Unique new weave absorbs spills fast.
• Quick-drying so they're ready to use again soon.
• The BacLock* in the cloth—our micro silver antibacterial agent—goes to work to self-purify and inhibit odors from bacteria, mold and mildew growth within the cloth within 24 hours so that it is ready to use again.
• Set of three so you'll always have one handy
• Each cloth is half the size of a full-size paper towel.
• Both sets of colors fit any décor and also look great together!
• Up to 12 Counter Cloths fold for easy storage in the Counter Cloth Box, so they're always convenient when you need them.
Safe Haven Icons
Learn how Norwex makes your home a Safe Haven


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Through my personal LibraryThing account, where I keep track of books I have read, I started requesting Early Reviewer books. The first one I forgot to read - it got put in a pile and there it remains. The second Early Reviewer book I requested, I made a commitment to read:
Published by Orca Book Publishers, Inferno is a satisfying read about Dante, a lesbian teenager whose first love moves away and does not keep in touch. As Dante rebels in school and at home, she claims her sexuality and finds friendship. It seems so many good books with gay themes are about boys - this has a wonderful female lead.
If you actually post reviews on LibraryThing of the Early Reviewer books, chances are greater you will receive another. And, yes, I got another book by Orca Book Publishers. This one is called Leftovers, and I will read it when I am done with Alex-Award winner Finding Nouf. And I will post a review to LibraryThing, and then request another Early Reviewer book. I think I can keep up with about one a month - don't you? Do you participate in Early Reviewers? Do you read the books you request?


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Wright Explores 'First Great Charity Rainmaker' for History News Network
In a new piece penned for the History News Network, Dr. Robert Wright, Augustana's Nef Chair of Political Economy, explores how Massachusetts politician Edward Everett became one of America's first great charity rainmakers.
Augustana Choir Set to Tour Italy and Germany
Departing on Friday, Jan. 6, the Augustana Choir and director Dr.Paul Nesheim will travel to Italy and Germany for a two-week tour. Stops on the tour include Berlin, Genthin, Potsdam, Weimar, Erfurt, Eisenach, Leipzig and Wittenberg, Germany; Rome, Italy; and Vatican City.
Announcing Augustana Faculty Promotions and Tenure
Following meetings by the Augustana Board of Trustees earlier this month, a number of faculty members have been approved for tenure and/or promotions.
Revolutionizing the Job Search Process
Most of us — millennials, especially — want more than "just a job." We want a position that aligns with who we are. A role that will offer meaning, purpose and fulfillment. Meet senior Alex Guggenberger, the force behind Jobiki, a revolutionary new job search tool
Lessons in Peacemaking: AU Seniors Reflect on Peace Scholar Experience
Jasmin Fosheim (Pierre, South Dakota) and Rahiwa Mussa (Ababa, Ethiopia) share their experiences as Peace Scholars. The application period for the 2017 Peace Scholarship is now open. Application deadline is Tuesday, Jan. 31. Learn more and apply today.
Behind the New Genetic Counseling Graduate Program
As members of the inaugural class for Augustana's Master of Science in Genetic Counseling, Austin Huber (Selby, South Dakota) and Maija Rannikko (Duluth, Minnesota) have the opportunity to help shape this groundbreaking program for South Dakota and the region. With classes taught by professors and genetic counseling professionals — and coursework including clinical work and research — there's no wonder this new program has already received national recognition.
Nursing Students Present Research Findings
Augustana nursing students presented their research findings on Friday morning inside the Froiland Science Complex as part of their "Perspectives in Professional Nursing" course.
Augustana Senior Named Schwarzman Scholar
Augustana senior Kofi Gunu, a political science and economics double major from Tamale, Ghana, has been named a 2018 Schwarzman Scholar, a prestigious honor that will support his master's degree study at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China.
In the News: Safety Director Discusses Campus Security
Following Monday's attack at Ohio State University, Augustana Director of Campus Safety Rick Tupper talked with KELO News about campus security measures in place at AU.
In the News: Augustana Professor Reflects on Castro's Death
Dr. Corey Conover, an associate professor of history at Augustana who specializes in Latin American history, spoke with KSFY news about the impact of Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castro's death.


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I've recently purchased the madsonic app via google play and am noticing something strange. I did a search but was unable to see this issue listed. I am running app version 5.6.
For nearly all songs in my collection, Album / Track title information is not displayed on my car headunit. Some mp3s actually do show title information, and I can't identify what is different. When using other mp3 playback clients, album and song title information works flawlessly. The "subsonic" app (on which I assume this one is loosely based) also has the same problem. Track duration works (didn't in subsonic.)
I am using an LG G3 with a JVC KW-HDR81BT headunit. I've heard somewhere that there might be something about different BT profiles in use on various hardware which can have an effect. I have checked and I am currently running the most recent firmware offered by the manufacturer of my stereo (dated 2012.)
I reviewed the transcoding settings of my madsonic server installation, and thought perhaps adding -map_metadata 0 to the line would improve the situation, but it does not. Track / Album title information is available when viewing my library on my phone via the app.
This problem affects files of type ogg, flac and mp3.
Can anyone point me in the right direction to resolve this issue?


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Melinda's Fire Roasted Habanero & Garlic Sauce
Another world renowned sauce from Melinda's with an exceptional balance of heat & flavor. Ingredients include roasted red habanero peppers, fresh carrots, roasted garlic, onions, lime juice, vinegar & salt.
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Kerry, in Paris, continues Mideast peace push
PARIS (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry held a second day of talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Paris on Thursday, as he continues to press for an agreement on framework for an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal.
A day after a more than two-hour meeting, Kerry and Abbas sat down for another two-hour, closed-door session, the State Department said.
They are working to define the framework for negotiators as they seek to forge a comprehensive settlement to the conflict.
US Secretary of State John Kerry, left, looks on as Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh makes a statement about the ongoing humanitarian crisis and violence in Syria on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014, in Paris. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci)
The Israelis and Palestinians agreed to resume long-stalled talks last summer with a nine-month target for a peace deal. But there have been few tangible signs of progress as the May expiration of that period looms, and so the goal has been scaled back to getting consensus on an outline for negotiations.
There was no immediate comment on any results from Kerry's two days of meetings in the French capital, although a senior Palestinian official reiterated his side's stance ahead of the meeting in a statement published on Thursday by the official Palestinian news agency WAFA.
"We will not accept any agreement, whether a framework or a final deal, unless it includes the firm Palestinian and Arab positions that are based on international resolutions," said Nabil Abu Rdeneh, a top aide to Abbas. He repeated demands that east Jerusalem must be the capital of a future Palestinian state whose borders are based in the 1967 lines, that Israeli settlements are illegal, that Palestinian prisoners must be released and that there must be a "just solution" to the issue of Palestinian refugees.
Abu Rdeneh also restated Palestinian opposition to recognizing Israel as Sa Jewish state, which is a key Israeli demand.
On Wednesday, State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said the Obama administration was concerned by recent derogatory comments about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by the chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat and that Kerry would be raising the matter with Abbas.
"We've said all along that it's important to create a positive atmosphere around these discussions, that personal attacks, quite frankly, are unhelpful," she told reporters. The secretary will make clear that these kinds of comments are disappointing, that they are unhelpful, especially coming from someone involved in the negotiations, indeed the lead negotiator."
US Secretary of State John Kerry, left, meets with Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh about the ongoing humanitarian crisis and violence in Syria on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014, in Paris. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci)
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HILLSBOROUGH – Hillsborough Board of Commissioners candidate, Jenn Weaver says she's ready to tackle development issues so that the best interests of the individual and the town are protected.
"Those are the most difficult decisions that the Board has to make, because we have to balance our need to bring more balance to our tax base—bringing more businesses in to balance out our residential weight that's being born there," Weaver says.
WCHL's Ran Northam spoke with Weaver about her seeking election to the Board of Commissioners and how she believes she'll best serve you.
***Listen to the Interview***
Three candidates are contending for two seats on the Board of Commissioners.
Weaver says she will focus on functionality of the development if elected.
"That idea of connectivity is really important to me, and I see that as something the whole town values," Weaver says. "People want to be able to get from one place to another in a safe and efficient way."
Between now and Election Day, we'll be previewing each of the candidates one-on-one.
For more on Weaver, click here.


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House of Commons Hansard #90 of the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was refugees.
Safe Streets and Communities ActGovernment Orders
1:45 p.m.
Some hon. members
Safe Streets and Communities ActGovernment Orders
1:45 p.m.
The Acting Speaker Conservative Bruce Stanton
There is no consent in that respect and, of course, members are not obliged to do that, as ministers would be.
The hon. member for St. John's East has the floor.
Safe Streets and Communities ActGovernment Orders
1:45 p.m.
Jack Harris NDP St. John's East, NL
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for raising that point of order. As the Speaker has ruled, in the absence of unanimous consent it cannot be tabled. I note that the refusal to give unanimous consent came from the other side. This is a report of an officer of the House, the Parliamentary Budget Officer, whose job it is to assist parliamentarians find out the costs of government programs.
To table a report of that nature in the House would add to the debate, as the member said, but it has been refused. I do not really understand why. Is it that the Conservatives do not like the figures, that they do not like the truth, that they do not like the evidence? Do they not want to hear what the Parliamentary Budget Officer has to say?
One of the outcomes of the Parliamentary Budget Officer's exercise was to discover that the government did not have any figures. The only figures produced by the government when it was asked about the costs of the bill was that there was no federal cost and that it did not know what the provincial costs would be. Therefore, the Parliamentary Budget Officer asked recently if the government had any figures now. It said it did not.
We are imposing measures that will have consequences for provincial governments and the Government of Canada. They are measurable. The increased cost as a result of the bill, only for conditional sentences, would come from the larger number of hearings the parole board would have to hold. The government knew the number of hearings and the average cost per hearing. If we multiply one by the other we come up with $8 million. It is not rocket science, but based on actual projections of the number of cases for each of these different offences.
It was a bit tedious, but for the last year in which reports were available, that is, 2008, Statistics Canada could find the exact number of people convicted of these particular offences during that year. The numbers were there, and the number of people who would actually be convicted and go to jail was extrapolated from that. All of these figures came out. However, we had someone on the other side saying that the Parliamentary Budget Officer had not been right yet. I guess there is a big difference between the $750 million the Parliamentary Budget Officer came up with as the five-year cost of this provision and the government's figure, which is, "We do not know". The government's figure was, "We do not know" and the Parliamentary Budget Officer's figure was $750 million over five years. That is the nature of this debate about the costs to Canadians of just one measure in the entire Bill C-10.
The government members do not want the Parliamentary Budget Officer's information and report to be tabled before the House, I guess because it is a bit of an embarrassment. It is not as if the amount of money over five years, the $750 million, is going to break Canada. I am not suggesting that. However, if it is a difference between $750 million and "We do not know", then that tells us something about what goes on over there when they are deciding to bring forward legislation.
They do not even bother to figure it out themselves, and they are the ones who seem to be interested in talking about parties' fitness to govern. Is that something we should be wondering about in terms of their fitness to govern here? Are these the fiscal managers, the people who tout themselves as the great fiscal managers of Canada, the ones whom Canadians should have faith in to run the country because they are so good at fiscal management?
We have a contrast here. The Parliamentary Budget Officer, who was appointed by the Prime Minister to advise parliamentarians on these issues, did a report at the request of a member of Parliament and said it was going to cost $750 million over five years. That is just one measure in this huge bill.
The government says "We do not know." It has never bothered to try to find out, although it did claim it was going to cost the federal government nothing. The Parliamentary Budget Officer says it is going to cost the federal government $40 million over five years in additional expenses and it is going to cost the provinces another $710 million, or something in that range. The government is saying that it is going to cost it nothing, and it does not know what it is going to cost the provinces. It did not even try to figure it out.
This is what we are faced with in dealing with a government that is arrogant and out of touch with the realities of Canadian life.
Safe Streets and Communities ActGovernment Orders
1:50 p.m.
Paul Calandra Conservative Oak Ridges—Markham, ON
It is so arrogant to put criminals in jail—
Safe Streets and Communities ActGovernment Orders
1:50 p.m.
Jack Harris NDP St. John's East, NL
It is out of touch with the consequences of what it is doing, whether it is fiscally, or—
Safe Streets and Communities ActGovernment Orders
1:50 p.m.
Paul Calandra Conservative Oak Ridges—Markham, ON
Breaking the law puts them in jail. That is arrogant.
Safe Streets and Communities ActGovernment Orders
1:50 p.m.
Some hon. members
Oh, oh!
Safe Streets and Communities ActGovernment Orders
1:50 p.m.
The Acting Speaker Conservative Bruce Stanton
Order. I would ask again that hon. members recognize the hon. member for—
Order, order. The hon. member for Oak Ridges—Markham will come to order.
The hon. member for St. John's East has the floor.
Safe Streets and Communities ActGovernment Orders
1:50 p.m.
Jack Harris NDP St. John's East, NL
Mr. Speaker, I am encouraged by the number of members now showing up to listen to my speech. I thank the members for the compliments on the speech. One hon. member said that he was suffering from insomnia. I guess it is better to suffer from insomnia than to fall asleep on the job. I thank him for his attention.
It is disturbing to know the enormous expense that comes with the bill. The Minister of Justice and the Prime Minister have from time to time said so what, that is the nature of the Constitution. They say that they have the responsibility for passing the criminal law and that the provinces have the responsibility for the administration of justice. If that is their constitutional responsibility, they say that they are prepared to let them take their responsibility and they will take theirs. However, that belies the nature of our Confederation. We have a country that depends on federal-provincial co-operation, or at least respect, at least consultation on matters like the cost.
The minister talked about how the government consulted. I do not deny that some provinces sought some of the measures that are in the bill but there is not unanimity among the provinces on the bill. Some are opposed and some are in favour. However, I think all are concerned that they would need to bear some of the additional costs that are associated with the bill.
The minister says that the government has increased its contributions to the provinces through transfer payments in the last year or so but they were not increased specifically to deal with this proposed legislation. There was no consultation on the cost of it. The Government of Canada did not say that it had some changes that would cost a considerable amount of money for some provinces in terms of additional incarceration costs. The provinces would need to build more prisons to keep more people housed in jails and that would cost some money. However, the federal government did not make the provinces aware of that. It did not give them an implementation schedule or say that it was prepared to consider ameliorating some of that cost. We did not hear that.
What we hear is that the government does not even know the costs. It is not even going to look at what the costs would be. It is not going to consult on the burden of the costs. It is just going to go ahead and say that it is the federal government's job to pass criminal law and that it is the provinces job to pay the costs of incarcerating people, the prosecutorial costs, the legal aid that is generated by the new provisions and the extra amount of trials that there would be to deal with the mandatory minimums. That would all fall on the heads of the provinces and the federal government would let them look after it because, after all, it is their constitutional responsibility.
There is a nice intellectual argument that, yes, we can divide sections 92(a) and 92(b) in the Constitution, but the reality is that the Confederation of Canada involves a partnership and that partnership needs to be respected. The dignity and role of the provinces must be acknowledged and respected in terms of that imposition. I used the term "downloading" once and someone suggested that was wrong because the provinces had those responsibilities in the first place. However, if it is not downloading, it is creating new costs for the provinces that are not there now. The federal government is creating these costs because it would increase the number of people who end up in jail.
Someone opposite said that all the government was trying to do was put criminals in jail. If that is all it is trying to do, I could still argue on how long offenders will be put in jail. We could argue about whether jail was the best place for some of them or whether a rehabilitation program would make our communities safer. The assumption from members opposite seems to be just to put criminals in jail.
If the members on that side just want to put criminals in jail and want us to agree with them, that would not be much of a debate because that is not our responsibility as members of Parliament. Our responsibility is to examine the laws to see whether they will actually work and whether this is a bill to make streets safer or a bill that will result in more crimes, more criminals and more victims. That is our concern about the other side.
Foreign AffairsStatements By Members
1:55 p.m.
Mark Adler Conservative York Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, a month ago, I stood in the House to bring attention to the anti-democratic practices currently ongoing in Russia. Twice in the last three months, election fraud has been strongly alleged in the Russian federation, once in the Duma elections on December 4 and, most recently, this past Sunday in the Russian presidential elections.
Our Minister of Foreign Affairs recently noted with concern the identification of procedural irregularities that tainted the vote in nearly one-third of the polling stations. An observer for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe stated:
There was no real competition and abuse of government resources ensured that the ultimate winner of the election was never in doubt
As the Prime Minister of Canada has said:
...one of the human rights we treasure most is the right to freedom of expression. Without it, there can be no democracy, no free press, no freedom of enterprise...and no free exchange of ideas, the universal catalyst for human progress.
I hope all members of the House will stand with me today and urge the Russian authorities to respect the rights of their citizens to demonstrate peacefully and for both sides to refrain from the use of violence.
Status of WomenStatements By Members
1:55 p.m.
Sadia Groguhé NDP Saint-Lambert, QC
Mr. Speaker, International Women's Day is just two days away. I would like to take this opportunity to draw the attention of the House to the many abuses suffered by women in general, and refugee women in particular.
Around the world, women are victims of all manner of violence, particularly sexual violence used as a weapon of war.
In the 21st century, there should be no need to use terms such as "rape capital of the world" or "most dangerous place in the world to be a woman". Women are forced to flee their countries to preserve their dignity.
Every year, Canada offers hope for a better life to persecuted women. We are known for being welcoming, compassionate and caring, values that we demonstrate by welcoming women who are victims of persecution. My heart goes out to refugee women who are victims of spousal abuse and who are excluded from our protection because of the narrow definition of the word "refugee".
I hope that March 8, 2012, will inspire us to think about how we can better protect those women.
Freedom of SpeechStatements By Members
2 p.m.
Leon Benoit Conservative Vegreville—Wainwright, AB
Mr. Speaker, universities in Canada are often thought of as the bastions of free speech and expression. Certainly they are the last places where censorship should occur. I wish this were true, but sadly, it is not.
When it comes to some of the most sensitive issues, such as pro-life issues, many universities are exactly the opposite.
For example, when students at Ottawa's Carleton University put up a pro-life display, some students found the photos offensive and complained. I expect that most Canadians would find such photos offensive but that was the point the group was making: that abortion and particularly late stage abortion is offensive.
What is of concern is how the university reacted. It demanded that the group remove its display and then charged the students when they refused.
Similar censorship has occurred at universities in Toronto, Calgary, Fredericton and, most recently, Victoria where students are banned from carrying out pro-life activities and were forced to apologize to groups that were offended by their display.
I call on all universities to truly become places where students and society can count on free speech and free expression being allowed and, in fact, encouraged.
South AfricaStatements By Members
2 p.m.
Irwin Cotler Liberal Mount Royal, QC
Mr. Speaker, I recently returned from a very moving and memorable trip to South Africa, which included a reunion with the leaders of the anti-apartheid movement and lawyers for Mandela, and meetings with government, parliamentary and civil society leaders, at an important constitutional moment, the 100th anniversary of the ANC. I have tabled a motion to remove our presumptively inadmissible visa policy and the 15th anniversary of the inspiring South African constitution that has drawn on our Charter of Rights and Freedoms whose 30th anniversary we will soon be celebrating; and where we have been the beneficiaries of this symbiotic constitutional relationship, as when I introduced the national justice initiative against racism and hate as justice minister; and where South African initiatives in areas of women's rights, freedom of expression and hate speech have inspired our own.
I am sure all colleagues will join me in extending best wishes to the ANC and to South Africa on these milestone anniversaries.
Decoration for BraveryStatements By Members
March 6th, 2012 / 2 p.m.
Merv Tweed Conservative Brandon—Souris, MB
Mr. Speaker, on June 8, 2009, Ms. Lana Mae Krieser of Brandon, Manitoba, rescued an 11-year-old boy who was electrocuted during a school trip.
While hiking, the boy and his friend had noticed something in the bush that piqued their interest and went off the main trail. After finding a dead deer, the boys were about to return to the main trail when one boy slipped on the wet grass, fell on the ground and came into contact with a live hydro wire. His friend ran to get help.
When Ms. Krieser arrived on the scene, she found the young boy in convulsions and a small brush fire burning close by. Without any concern for her own safety, Ms. Krieser pulled the young boy off the live wire, electrocuting herself in the process. Despite knowing the risks involved in moving a victim while he was still in contact with the power line, her selfless actions saved this boy's life.
It is with pride that I share with the House that Ms. Krieser was recently awarded the Governor General's Decoration for Bravery for her courageous act. I wish to recognize Lana Mae in the House as her actions are an example for us all to follow.
VolunteerismStatements By Members
2 p.m.
Jean Rousseau NDP Compton—Stanstead, QC
Mr. Speaker, on February 21 I had the honour of attending the Eastern Townships' Gala du Mérite organized by the Sherbrooke newspaper, La Tribune. Among the honourees were a professor from Bishop's University, a young farmer from Bury, an athlete from Coaticook and several other deserving individuals and volunteers.
In rural settings, volunteerism is crucial to the survival of leisure activities, culture and sometimes even the communities themselves. This was clearly demonstrated the day after the gala, when I visited a small village of 768 residents, Saint-Isidore-de-Clifton. I received a very warm welcome and had the pleasure of speaking with elected officials, elementary students, business people, ordinary residents and volunteers. I was quite moved by the vitality of such a small village.
Furthermore, it is not the only municipality in my region that depends on its volunteers. The town of East Angus was created on March 14, 1912, and, thus, will be celebrating its centennial next week. The celebration will last for the rest of 2012. These festivities would not be possible without the hard work of dedicated volunteers. I would like to congratulate them on their courage, their tenacity and their pride, and I wish East Angus another 100 years of prosperity and community spirit.
Long live the volunteers in my riding.
Status of WomenStatements By Members
2:05 p.m.
Joyce Bateman Conservative Winnipeg South Centre, MB
Mr. Speaker, this week, we are celebrating women in Canada and around the world.
Yesterday I attended the very first conference organized for International Women's Day by the Viscount Alexander French immersion school in my riding of Winnipeg South Centre.
The goal of the conference was to prepare young girls and boys for the world of work by introducing them to women in professions they are interested in.
It was my great pleasure to speak to the young people about my work as a member of Canada's Parliament. I was very impressed by their questions and the quality of their French.
I hope this is the start of a tradition, because I am sure that many of the young people I met are the leaders of tomorrow.
Oreo CookieStatements By Members
2:05 p.m.
Joe Daniel Conservative Don Valley East, ON
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 100th birthday of one of the world's most recognizable cookies, the Oreo.
Manufactured by Kraft Canada, whose headquarters are located in my riding, the Oreo is sold in more than 100 countries around the world.
On March 6, 1912, the Oreo was born and today, 100 years later, dozens of countries are celebrating.
The popularity of the Oreo is evident from the 25 million Facebook friends the Oreo has, 900,000 of whom are Canadian.
In 2011, global Oreo sales hit the $2 billion mark. Over one billion Oreos were made here in Canada alone.
I congratulate Dino Bianco, president of Kraft Canada, the management and employees for their hard work and dedication to the Oreo.
I hope all hon. members will join me in wishing the Oreo a happy 100th birthday. "Mr. Christie, you make good cookies".
Status of WomenStatements By Members
2:05 p.m.
Chris Charlton NDP Hamilton Mountain, ON
Mr. Speaker, on the eve of International Women's Day, I want to give a shout out to the Hamilton and District Labour Council which will once again host the Norma Berti women's breakfast to celebrate International Women's Day.
Each year we get together to celebrate the successes of women and girls in challenging stereotypes and in breaking down barriers to their full equality, but we also remind ourselves of the battles yet to be won.
Globally, women and girls continue to face violations of their basic human rights. In too many parts of the world women die because they cannot access safe and legal abortions or even information on family planning. Girls are prevented from going to school. Crimes of sexual violence continue with horrific impunity.
In Canada too, women are losing ground. The Conservatives continue to attack women's equality rights. They have cut funding to organizations like Status of Women, Sisters in Spirit, and groups that help newcomers. They have failed to invest in child care and affordable housing. They ignore pay equity rights.
That is why in Hamilton we celebrate International Women's Day by committing to fight on. We know that all women deserve fairness, affordability, opportunity, equal pay for work of equal value, a decent standard of living, and the freedom to live without fear.
Laurent DubreuilStatements By Members
2:05 p.m.
Jacques Gourde Conservative Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC
Mr. Speaker, in Quebec there are young athletes who are passionate about their sport and dedicated to their training.
This deep passion for speed skating and the desire to excel have put Lévis's Laurent Dubreuil on the podium and in the history books.
Laurent Dubreuil mastered the balance and speed needed to become the very first Quebecker to win the world junior title for 500-metre long track speed skating this past weekend, in Obihiro, Japan.
Laurent has become a positive role model that many passionate young athletes can identify with, a model—
Laurent DubreuilStatements By Members
2:05 p.m.
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
The hon. member for Vancouver Kingsway.
Charlie Sang Now QuanStatements By Members
2:10 p.m.
Chungsen Leung Conservative Willowdale, ON
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life of Charlie Sang Now Quan who was one of Canada's last surviving head-tax payers. Charlie Quan passed away peacefully on February 23 at the age of 105.
At 16 years of age, Charlie was forced to pay a $500 head tax to enter Canada simply because he was Chinese. Throughout his life, he dedicated himself to speaking out against the racist policy that was later expanded under the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1923 which banned all Chinese immigration into Canada.
For years, Charlie sought recognition from the Government of Canada for the humiliation caused by the head tax. Finally in 2006, Charlie witnessed the Prime Minister issue a historic official apology to all head-tax payers in the House of Commons. Charlie and other head-tax payers finally had their dignity restored.
Despite all the difficulties he faced in his life as an immigrant, Charlie was a proud Canadian. On behalf of all Canadians, I thank him for his contribution to the building of our pluralistic society.
Junior Canadian RangersStatements By Members
2:10 p.m.
Judy Foote Liberal Random—Burin—St. George's, NL
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honour a group of youth from the town of Gaultois in my riding of Random—Burin—St. George's.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Junior Canadian Rangers in Gaultois, an isolated community with a population of 180. While the Gaultois Junior Rangers are comprised of just 12 youth, their commitment and enthusiasm is second to none. The dedicated youth who join this organization learn skills that equip them to become responsible in the outdoors. Many of them become members of first responder organizations, either as volunteers or professionals.
In rural Canada, the Canadian Rangers are known for their expertise in search and rescue operations and as a valuable asset to local law enforcement. The Junior Rangers program provides many young men and women in rural Canada with exposure to the adult organization.
I ask all members to join me in showing our admiration for all youth who are members of this exemplary organization and in congratulating the Gaultois Junior Canadian Rangers on the occasion of their 10th anniversary.
Status of WomenStatements By Members
2:10 p.m.
Susan Truppe Conservative London North Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Minister for Status of Women has launched International Women's Week by announcing this year's theme, "Strong Women, Strong Canada – Women in Rural, Remote and Northern Communities: Key to Canada's Economic Prosperity".
To support this theme, the minister today announced government support for new projects to support women living in communities outside Canada's urban centres. These projects will help reduce violence against women and girls and increase their economic security. We believe women's safety goes hand in hand with their economic security, and the economy remains our government's number one priority.
I encourage all Canadians to play their part so we can deliver on the goal of strong women and a strong Canada.
The Conservative GovernmentStatements By Members
2:10 p.m.
Mathieu Ravignat NDP Pontiac, QC
Mr. Speaker, gala dinners, golf tournaments and Caribbean cruises are but a few examples of the lavish gifts that Royal LePage gave public servants to try to coax them into granting the company a billion dollar contract. What is next—champagne and caviar?
The Conservatives were elected on a promise that they would put an end to the scandals. But all we hear about is election fraud with a distinctly Conservative flavour, the in and out scandal and the robocall scandal. That is not what Canadians expect from their government. Canadians want leadership. They want a responsible and trustworthy government that addresses Canadians' real priorities, such as the environment, old age security, health, employment insurance and the status of persons with disabilities.
Canadians can count on the NDP's leadership. The New Democrats can put an end to the scandals of the Conservatives and their predecessors.
Canada-United Arab Emirates RelationsStatements By Members
2:10 p.m.
Rob Clarke Conservative Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK
Mr. Speaker, yesterday His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al Nahyan, the foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates, completed a two day visit to Ottawa. The successful visit was a strong signal of the warming relations between the two countries and reciprocated the generous hospitality extended by the sheikh to the Minister of Foreign Affairs last fall.
During their meetings, the two ministers discussed a wide range of issues, including shared concerns about the humanitarian situation in Syria and regional peace and security, as well as opportunities to expand person-to-person ties between our two countries. The productive trip also resulted in yesterday's announcement of negotiations on a joint nuclear co-operation agreement, which would create business opportunities for Canada's nuclear industry and create jobs in both countries.
The United Arab Emirates is a strategic ally and valued commercial partner for Canada and our biggest trading partner in that region. This is a welcome step forward in boosting exchanges of all types and a sign that our bilateral relations are getting even stronger.


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The Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS) has recognized the University of Rochester with its Honor Award in the society's 2013 Green Star Awards competition. The award highlights the work of the University's Horticulture and Grounds Department at the Mount Hope Campus and was given in the University/College category. Winners were honored during the society's October 2013 Awards Dinner in Louisville, Ky.
The Green Star Awards program brings national recognition to grounds maintained with a high degree of excellence, complementing other national landscape award programs that recognize outstanding landscape design and construction.
The 20-plus acre University of Rochester Mount Hope Campus is less than one mile north of River Campus and includes the Patrick Barry House, former nursery offices, the packing house and three former Barry households. Ellwanger and Barry Nurseries in Rochesterconsidered one of the most extensive nurseries in the world in the late 1800sdonated a portion of their property to the University in the mid-1900s.
The Patrick Barry House grounds include many trees and shrubs from the Ellwanger & Barry era, in addition to perennial and formal rose gardens.
The University's Department of Horticulture and Grounds works to provide an aesthetically pleasing and safe environment and pursues these goals with sustainable practices in mind. Thresholds are established for weeds and other pests, with the intent of limiting the use of chemicals. Challenges to this can be deer, insect and disease pressure on roses, and invasive weeds in planting beds. Higher mowing heights, mulch, hand weeding and sanitation are methods employed to help achieve these goals.
Founded in 1911, PGMS is an individual membership society of grounds professionals dedicated to advancing the grounds management profession through education and professional development.


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By Alaina Sullivan
Traditional risotto calls for Arborio rice or one of its short-grained cousins; I decided to try it with barley. Risotto-style barley has a more toothsome bite than the rice-based versions, but the process is the same—a ritual of stirring, adding liquid, more stirring, adding more liquid until the consistency turns rich and creamy. The cooking process requires a bit of a watchful eye – a few too many minutes on the stovetop and the grain might get overcooked (you want it to retain a slight crunch). I prepared the barley according to the directions for "Simple Risotto" How to Cook Everything. I folded in a trio of cooked mushrooms (cremini, shitake and portabella), added fresh thyme to complement their earthiness, and finished off the dish with grated manchego to give it that classic creaminess.


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The Sepia Saturday prompt this week is one of several photographs on the National Library of Scotland's Flickr photostream depicting Scottish soldiers, complete with kilts and khaki Balmoral bonnets, in the midst of New Year celebrations somewhere on the Western Front during the Great War. Outside a wooden hut, presumably their billet, carrying bagpipes, a drum, bottles and kegs, presumably containing alcohol, and even a football, they are probably far enough away from the front lines that they can enjoy their festivities without too much interference from "the Hun."
My own contribution (a recent eBay purchase) likewise shows a group of thirteen military men in front of a wooden hut, but there are few clues in the photograph itself as to the date, event or location.
The reverse of this postcard format photograph, however, reveals a great deal more. Apart from the address, a brief message and a date (January 31st 1942), there is a purple frank which indicates that it was posted from Stalag XXID/9. A series of 18th Century forts in and around Poznan, Poland (Posen was used during the German occupations), together with several labour camps in the surrounding countryside, were used to house prisoners of war (POWs) by the Germans during WW2 and collectively referred to as Stalag XXID.
William Leonard Ball (1914-1945)
Courtesy of Anthony Ball
William Leonard Ball (pictured above) is the "Bill" who wishes Mrs JC Robertson of Ashford Common "all the best" on the back of the postcard, and he is the soldier third from right in the back row of the group, his cap peak partially obscuring his face. His nephew Tony Ball very kindly sent me some background information. Bill was with the Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey) when ...
... he was captured by the Germans on the retreat back to Dunkirk on the 13th June 1940 and spent the rest of the war as a POW in two camps, Stalag XXID, and Stalag VIIIB. When the war was nearing its end the Germans marched all the POW's [including Bill] across Germany on what was called the "Great March or Death March." On the 29th April 1945 the marching POW's sighted the Yanks and were liberated.
The bulk of Bill's incarceration appears to have been at Stalag XXID. Although the central camp was housed in Fort Rauch, on the east bank of the River Warthe, several other forts were used, and there were numerous other work camps operating at various times during Stalag XXID's existence.
The Prisoner of War, April 1943, Vol. 1 No. 12, p. 9
Courtesy of Jim Wicketts & WWII Memories.co.uk
I've not been able to determine the location of Work Camp 9, denoted by the franking on the postcard, but there are references to it (and a photograph) in the April 1943 edition of The Prisoner of War, the official journal of the Prisoners of War Department of the Red Cross and St. John War Organisation in London. One of the occupants writes in a letter home, obviously passing under the censorial eyes of the German authorities:
To Morayshire B.R.C.
Stalag XXID/9. 16.1.43.
"Our spirits here are very high; everybody has a nice smile for his neighbour, but should the Red Cross cease to exist I am afraid it would be a very different story. We occasionally hear of negotiations that have to be made so that you can send us food and clothing, and I assure you everyone appreciates it."
Stalags XXID (Poznan) & VIIIB (Teschen), western and southern Poland
Courtesy of Stalag Luft I Online by Mary Smith and Barbara Freer
Like Bill Ball, Alan Forster of the 1st Battalion Tyneside Scottish (Black Watch) was a POW at Stalag XXID from 1940 to 1944. He was moved to Stalag VIIIB in southern Poland, where he worked on a coal mine before being forced to march westwards through Bohemia to Regensburg in Bavaria in the early months of 1945, ahead of the Soviet advance.
British POW working party and German guards, near Fort Rauch, Posen
probably c. taken early 1942, Courtesy of Bill Forster
Bill Forster has transcribed his uncle's diaries and these are available on the BBC web pages, WW2 People's War. They are well worth a read, as they give a good feel for the harsh conditions in the working parties at Stalag VIIIB and on the bitterly cold Long March.
He records day by day what at the time seemed most important: food (or the lack of it), the weather, work, Red Cross parcels, letters received from his fiancee, "Bunty" Hancock, and his family ....
A column of British POW's, April 1945
from The War Behind The Wire, by Patrick Wilson (Leo Cooper, 2000)
Courtesy of The Pegasus Archive
Once the trek west began he records the places they stopped, the distance covered, the night's billet, rumours, etc. There are references to bombing raids and occasional atrocities committed by the guards to keep the column of prisoners moving away from the advancing troops of the Red Army.Alan Forster describes the moment of liberation, which must have been very similar to the experience of Bill Ball and many thousands of other POWs:
Monday April 30
This is the Day!! I shall remember this anniversary all the rest of my life for this morning the Americans arrived to free us. The time was 8.30 ... it is now 7.15 pm & I can't yet quite realise just what's happened to me. We have eaten as we liked, bacon, eggs, milk - all those things which we've starved for in 5 long years. It's more than strange to be able to walk around the fields a free man, to do what one likes without a guard's interference - oh to do everything one wishes, only stopped by one's sense of right & justice.
Lancaster B Mark III carrying liberated British POWS back to the UK, prepares to take off from Lubeck, Germany
Courtesy of Imperial War Museums
From Regensburg Bill Ball's group boarded trains which took them through southern Germany to Juvincourt airfield in north-eastern France. There the ex-Prisoners of War waited to board Lancaster bombers for the flight home, part of the evacuation exercise termed "Operation Exodus."
Clichy Northern Cemetery, Hauts-de-Seine, France
Courtesy of Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Lancaster Bomber 111, serial number RF230-JI-B, one of ten bombers from 514 Squadron commenced the return flight to Waterbeach, England from Juvincourt in France at 12.15 hrs on the 9th May 1945. Not long after take-off the plane crashed into a wooded area 2 miles east-south-east of Roye-Amy and was destroyed by fire, killing all on board. William Leonard Ball and all the other 24 passengers and 6 crew are buried at Clichy Northern Cemetery, on the northern edge of Paris.
Group of POWs at Stalag XXID, Working Camp 9
Bill Ball standing 2nd from left, back row
Courtesy of Anthony Ball
Returning to the postcard group portrait taken at Stalag XXID/9, and armed with a fuller understanding of the conditions prevalent in the camps, it's possible to interpolate further information about the subjects, and more specifically on the day the portrait was taken. A further two group portraits (above and below) include Bill Ball, and were presumably taken on the same occasion.
Group of POWs at Stalag XXID, Working Camp 9
Courtesy of Anthony Ball and The Pegasus Archive
Reports from inmates (see POW Stories) and Red Cross officials indicate that these uniforms, a motley assemblage of tunics, greatcoats and caps, were supplied somewhat sporadically by the Red Cross and German authorities. It is intimated that these group portrait sessions were taken by visiting photographers by arrangement with the camp officials as a PR/propaganda exercise to show how "well" the POWs were being treated. This is from Private George Charlton at Stalag VIIIB/344:
The Germans photographed us and sent the photo home to show that we were still alive.Sapper Tom Carpenter was at Stalag XIB:
It was about this time that a civilian photographer appeared at our compound. We were each given a board and in turn, our photos were taken with a few details - name, rank and number ... How long before the Red Cross people, family and friends at home would have to wait before notifications of this new status we had no idea, but at least we were now on record as a being.Both extracts are courtesy of The Pegasus Archive.
Bill Ball (right) and friend, snow under foot, wearing Polish greatcoats at an unidentified POW camp, undated
Courtesy of Anthony Ball and The Pegasus Archive
For me, the poignancy attached to this photographic artefact lies mainly in the fact that it originated, unlike the vast majority of portraits that we see, in such an extraordinary situation, the likes of which most of us are never likely to fully appreciate, let alone experience. Many of our family members who endured such hardships such as service in the front line trenches of the Great War, or internment in POW camps in the Second World War, rarely talked about their experiences, except to fellow servicemen or inmates, and these photographs may be all that we have left. The task of extrapolating the experiences of others - such as the reminiscences on The Pegasus Archive, WWII Memories and the BBC's WW2 People's War - into an authentic story for our own family members is not an easy one, but it is important if we are to understand what made them the people we knew.


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WASHINGTON — The FBI is taking charge in the criminal investigation of the explosions at the Boston Marathon.
The announcement came Monday night at a news conference in Boston whose participants included Richard DesLauriers, the agent in charge of the FBI in Boston.
Also on Monday night, the FBI said it had set up a phone line for members of the public to call with information about the explosions to contact the law enforcement agency. The call-in number is 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324),.
"No piece of information or detail is too small," the FBI said in urging the public to respond.
The FBI said it is seeking information, visual images or details regarding the explosions along the marathon route and elsewhere.
Earlier Monday, Attorney General Eric Holder directed the full resources of the Justice Department be deployed to investigate the bombs that exploded at the near the marathon's finish line.
A department official said Holder had spoken with FBI Director Robert Mueller and with Carmen Ortiz, the U.S. attorney for Massachusetts. The official said Ortiz's office was coordinating the department's response with the FBI and other federal, state and local law enforcement authorities.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because she was not authorized to speak on the record.
Two bombs exploded, killing three people and injuring many others. A senior U.S. intelligence official said two other explosive devices were found nearby.
Local & State
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Maine Crime
Kennebec Journal Feb. 22 police log
Nation & World
'Empire' producers cut Smollett from season's last episodes
Oversight committee report details flaws in Maine's child protection system


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Cartier W10072R6 Mens Watch Midsize Must 21 Stainless Steel and 18K Gold
Cartier W10072R6 Watch Details:
Model # SKU W10072R6
Mens Cartier Midsize Must 21 Stainless Steel and 18K Gold.
Brushed steel case is presented on the signature brushed steel bracelet with full 18K gold bars.
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Anti-reflective,Scratch resistant sapphire crystal.
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Water resistant to 30 meters.
Case is 31mm diameter, 6mm thick.
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There are a growing number of accounting software applications for today's small business. Some are designed for specific industries (e.g., construction or professional services), while others are tailored for specific business sizes, with varying levels of functionality. In addition, buyers will need to consider what deployment model and integration method is most cost-effective for their company.
Given all this, it can be tricky for small businesses to identify the right accounting software for their needs. We developed this guide to help buyers understand exactly what these products offer, so they can select the solution that is the best fit.
Here's what we'll cover:
Common Reasons Small Businesses Seek Accounting Solutions
Common Features of Small Business Accounting Software
Pricing: Web-Based vs. On-Premise
Key Considerations for Small Businesses
Thousands of small businesses contact us every year looking for help selecting the accounting solution best suited to them. Some of these buyers are just getting started, while others are looking to replace an outdated or problematic system.
Small businesses most commonly purchase an accounting system because they are:
There are several different applications for buyers to choose from, which can be purchased either as a standalone application or along with other related applications, as part of an integrated software suite (more on this below). Make sure the system you purchase covers all the functionality you're going to need.
Here are some of the most common small-business accounting applications:
|Best for...
|Accounts payable / accounts receivable (AP/AR)
|The fundamental bookkeeping application, which tracks what is owed to a company by its customers (accounts receivable) as well as what the company owes its suppliers, also known as its liabilities (accounts payable).
|All small businesses (especially those without a dedicated bookkeeper); this is an essential accounting function.
|Financial reporting
|Reporting applications allow businesses to export data from their accounting system in a structured manner that communicates financial history as well as financial projections. Some may include compliance-related functionality for government or industry audits (e.g., in banking and financial services).
|Any small business with seasonal or otherwise dynamic cash flow that needs to be tracked closely. Also, businesses that need to provide financial reports to stakeholders or to regulatory institutions for compliance.
|Budgeting & forecasting
|Budgeting applications allow small businesses to model potential financial outcomes and to compare actual profit and loss to planned budgets, which helps with decision-making about workforce, spending and growth. Some systems have dashboards that display information visually.
|Small businesses that are currently growing or considering expanding.
|Fixed asset accounting
|Fixed asset applications focus on tracking assets that aren't easily converted to cash: For a small business, assets will typically be "tangible," such as land, buildings or equipment. These applications calculate the value of such assets over time, allowing for depreciation due to wear and tear.
|Small businesses with substantial tangible assets, or any business that, for tax purposes, may benefit from reporting depreciations to assets.
Most small businesses will want to consider cloud-based accounting solutions. Because these systems are hosted online by the vendor, they eliminate the need for you to have a dedicated IT team for managing and maintaining your own server. Conversely, an "on-premise" deployment means the software is hosted locally, on your company's own servers (which you are responsible for maintaining).
Choosing a Web-based system drastically reduces upfront investment and installation costs. In addition, these systems typically offer monthly subscription pricing, which makes them scale well for fast-growing companies that need to add additional user licenses or features down the road. On-premise systems, on the other hand, come with a steeper, one-time fee to use the software in perpetuity.
At present, some businesses may still see savings with an on-premise system, especially if they already have the necessary hardware to host the software on-site. While on-premise solutions usually require purchasing an expensive perpetual license up front, this may still be the cheaper option if you use the same system over an extended period of time. However, keep in mind that with on-premise solutions, you might also pay additionally for upgrades, customizations and maintenance.
Our recent report shows that the great majority of accounting buyers are undetermined about whether they want Web-based or on-premise deployment. Among those with a preference, buyers are split approximately 50-50. According to experts, these preferences may soon change, as Web-based accounting programs become more widely available and as on-premise options are no longer supported. This change will likely mirror preferences in other software markets, where Web-based systems are more popular and have surpassed preferences for on-premise.
With so many options and feature sets to choose from, selecting the right accounting solution can quickly become an overwhelming task. To narrow things down, here are three key factors for small businesses to keep in mind while evaluating different products:
Best-of-breed vs. integrated suite options. Because accounting encompasses so many functions, from fund accounting to billing and invoicing, many entry-level products are actually "best-of-breed" solutions. This means they focus on only one of the core applications listed in the table above. "Integrated suites," meaning solutions combining multiple applications in one software package (often billed as "professional" or "enterprise" editions), have much greater functionality, but are also are much more expensive.
So before you begin shopping, start with a clear assessment of exactly which functions you need. The "Best for..." column in the chart above provides recommendations as to which applications are best for which types of businesses.
Automation capabilities. Many small businesses we speak with say they're replacing their accounting system in order to reduce the inaccuracies that come with manual entry and to automate more of their processes. Small businesses should pay particular attention to the degree of automation that a system provides as they evaluate accounting software for small business. If your company is growing, it's especially important to track everything in a system that can verify entries for accuracy and automate recurring functions to ensure that nothing slips through the cracks.
Integration with other programs. While small businesses may not have as many integration requirements as larger companies, your accounting software's ability to sync with other programs could still be a factor. Consider whether your desired accounting system can integrate with any of your company's current stand-alone applications—for example, if you have a payroll system designed to support small businesses, or a retail point-of-sale (POS) system that will need to integrate with restaurant accounting software functionality.
Moreover, integration with banking institutions and credit cards can make it much easier to keep track of your company financials in real-time. Accounting software can sync with your online accounts automatically, so you don't have to enter transaction information manually.
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OPEC today announced it will cut daily oil production by 2.2 million barrels, a response to the shrinking price of gas. And how did the market respond to the news? Crude is down.
OPEC President Chekib Kheli told reporters "I hope we surprised you. If you're not surprised we need to do something about it." Be careful what you wish for President Kheli. The big surprise is the energy markets don't seem to care with crude prices dropping 4.5% to $41.64 a barrel. So no need to trade-in your Excursion yet.
The drop in production is, in the eyes of the market, not large enough to counterbalance the decrease in energy use by a recession-weary populace. Gas prices may continue to rise slightly after January 1st when the change becomes effective, but the economy is still so bad people aren't using as much black gold as before. We're trying to process if this is good or bad news. H/T to Jason for the tip!
Photo: ALI AL-SAADI/AFP/Getty Images


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Opinion: Democrats'5 responses to the State of the Union show internal division
EDITOR'S NOTE: Boris Epshteyn formerly served as a Senior Advisor to the Trump Campaign and served in the White House as Special Assistant to The President and Assistant Communications Director for Surrogate Operations.
WASHINGTON (Sinclair Broadcast Group) - Historically, the party not in the White House used to give a single rebuttal to the State of the Union.
This year, the Democrats gave five, that's right, five different responses to President Trump's address.
Among them was a speech by Congressman Joe Kennedy III, which was the official rebuttal. We also heard from Sen. Bernie Sanders representing the progressive wing of the Democrats. There was a Spanish version of the rebuttal given by Elizabeth Guzman. She is a freshman delegate in Virginia's House of Delegates. Former Congresswoman Donna Edwards of Maryland spoke on behalf of the Working Families Party. And then there was Congresswoman Maxine Waters representing, well, herself.
Make no mistake about it, not being able to come together behind one rebuttal to the State of the Union is bad for Democrats. I also thought it was a bad idea for Republicans to have multiple responses in the past. It means that the party is divided. The Democrats do not seem to have a common message except for opposing the president because he apparently offends their sensibilities.
Congresswoman Waters stood out for her over-the-top rhetoric in blasting the president's speech. She was especially appalled that the president dared to call on Americans to set aside their differences and come together. In a ridiculous moment, even for her, Maxine Waters called for a parental guidance to appear on television every time the president comes on.
Here is the bottom line: Democrats definitely want to remain a viable political party. To achieve that, they are going to need a better common message than being against the president across the board and opposing unity.