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deTerra Terms and Conditions - Consumer
Got a craving for some insight into those all important terms and conditions? Good news: you've come to the right place!
The deTerra terms below are perfect if you are a consumer, so feel free to get reading. However, for all business purchases or for goods purchased in the course of trade, check out our trade terms and conditions page.
To get the lowdown on our cracking competitions - don't worry, the rules are simple! - please visit the competition terms and conditions page.
In this Agreement:
the "Agreement" means the Terms and Conditions set out below; "you" or the "Customer" means any person who places an Order with deTerra (either as an individual consumer or in the course of trade/business); "Order" means any request or Order to purchase the Goods; the "Parties" refers to the Customer and deTerra; the "Goods" means any item sold or supplied by deTerra; "Installation" means the process of fitting the Goods supplied by deTerra; "Property" means property in the possession of the Customer; and "deTerra" "deterra-kitchens.co.uk" "we" or "the company" means the company operating under the deTerra trading name (Direct Online Services LTD), which is registered in England and Wales with company number 06006619. Direct Online Service Ltd's registered office address is Brearley Court, Baird Road, Quedgeley, Gloucestershire, GL2 2AF, United Kingdom.
Online Ordering Process: The Facts
Online ordering can seem a bit scary, so we understand that customers may need some extra reassurance.
Please feel safe in the knowledge that ordering online with deTerra is extremely secure. We work with Geotrust to provide 256-bit encryption on all confidential information processed on our server. A TLS connection is used.
Ordering online is quick and easy. Simply add items to the basket and follow the instructions given; these will lead you through the ordering process. When it's time for payment, the presence of SSL means that you can feel secure in the knowledge that communications (such as card numbers) between your browser and this website are private and protected. We do not store card details. Once an order is placed the relevant card details are destroyed in an irrevocable and untraceable format.
On placing an order with deTerra (www.deterra-kitchens.co.uk), you consent to our terms of sale. This also constitutes an offer to buy goods. Once the order has been received by us we will send an acknowledgement of this via electronic mail. We will then contact you again to confirm acceptance of the order once price and availability of the ordered goods has been verified. A contract will be made between the 'customer' and 'deterra-kitchens.co.uk', after which the order will be put into production. At this point, any changes or amendments can only be made within one working day, after which additional costs will ensue. A VAT Invoice will be sent via email once the order has been dispatched.
In the unlikely event that the goods ordered are no longer available or there is a pricing mistake, we will advise accordingly. Should this occur, no contract will be forged between us.
Items will be charged at the price displayed on our product pages on the date the order is placed. All prices are inclusive of VAT. Errors and omissions are excepted. In the event of any unexpected price change, we will contact you and ask if you wish to proceed.
Please note: we run regular sales and promotions. If an end date for a sale is advertised this date is not explicit, and we reserve the right to extend the sale at our discretion.
The risk in the goods shall pass to the customer on delivery and title shall pass upon receipt by us of payment in full and cleared funds.
As stipulated by the Consumer Rights Act 2015, customers who are consumers (i.e. individuals ordering for private use rather than in the course of trade - please click here for our trade terms and conditions) have the right to return standard sized goods that have not been subject to any additional services (such as pre-oiling).
In accordance with the Consumer Rights Act 2015, consumers are able to cancel the purchase contract for any item(s) within fourteen calendar days. This fourteen calendar day period commences on the day after the day on which item(s) are delivered.
Any and all cancellation requests must be made within the seven working day timeframe. Customer returns must be agreed by both parties before the goods are returned. The customer is responsible for ensuring that the cancellation request has reached deTerra. If the customer has made a cancellation request and does not receive a confirmation of receipt in the allotted time, he/she must contact deTerra immediately.
Once the cancellation request has been received and agreed, deTerra will arrange to collect the items (the whole order) and give a full refund. The customer will be responsible for any collection costs, except in instances where the supplied goods are deemed to be faulty, or if goods have been supplied in error by the seller or misdescribed).
The collection charge will be equal to or greater than £50, and this will be confirmed by deTerra when arranging collection. Please note that deTerra are under no obligation to offer a collection service in the instance of cancellation. Under no circumstances will said collection fees be waived. If the customer prefers, he/she may arrange transportation independently at his/her own cost. The customer will be responsible for all costs involved in transporting all goods back to the address specified by deTerra. Customer returns must be agreed in writing or by electronic mail by both parties before the goods are returned. Any refunds for returned items will be processed within 14 days (from notice of cancellation, or in the case where goods are to be returned, within 14 days of receipt of the goods in suitable condition).
Please note that - as stipulated by The Consumer Rights Act 2015 - if your goods are faulty you have 30 days to request a full refund.
The exception to this right of cancellation for consumers is bespoke items.
Customers may cancel the purchase contract for any goods that have been subject to bespoke works by www.deterra-kitchens.co.uk, provided that the request is made within one working day of the order being placed. The consumer waives the right to cancel an order for bespoke goods after this time. Such goods include - but are not limited to - those that are subject to fabrication and the hand-finished service for all items (this applies to all painted items - such as doors - whether the colour chosen is a standard or bespoke shade; all doors are individually selected, batch matched and then painted to order). Orders for items that have been subject to our pre-assembly service are also deemed 'bespoke' (as all cabinets are built to order) and may not be cancelled.
The aforementioned right of cancellation applies strictly to consumers and not to anybody ordering goods in the course of a business or trade. We reserve the right to recover any amount, up to the full contract price, in cases where the value of the returned goods has been diminished as a result of unreasonable care.
To make a cancellation, please use the text suggested in the 'model cancellation' form below:
To Direct Online Services LTD,
Returns Department, Brearley Court, Baird Road, Waterwells, Quedgeley, Gloucestershire, GL2 2AF
Fax: 0845 22 22 688 Email:
[I / We]* hereby give notice that [I / We]* cancel [my / our contract]* of [sale of the following goods / For Supply of the following service]*, Ordered on [Insert Order Date Here]*,
[Name of consumer(s)]
[Order Number of consumer(s)]
[Address of consumer(s)]
[Signature of consumer(s)]
*Delete as appropriate.
Provided that deTerra are notified within two working days of the customer's discovery of any faults or defects, and provided that customers take all reasonable measures to ensure that the affected items do not deteriorate further, we will exchange or repair such. Please note that Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays are not classed as working days.
deTerra do not accept any responsibility for defects arising from accidental damage, misuse, non-adherence to our installation and aftercare instructions, other negligent actions by the customer/installers appointed by the customer, or reasonable wear and tear. For further information on what constitutes a fault or defect, and for further information regarding our liability to you, please see the "Essentials" and "Our Liability" sections below.
Cancellation or Return Requests
All cancellation/return requests must be made in writing via electronic mail within the stated timeframe. All return items should be carefully repackaged as originally supplied if possible (for example, shrink-wrapped and factory packaged worktops should be returned unopened).
deTerra strive to offer a great service to our valued customers. If a complaint is made we will do our best to respond decisively within one working day. During busy periods our response time might be extended to five working days (please be advised that Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays are not classed as working days). Please be assured that your complaint will be handled fairly and in absolute confidence.
Terms of Delivery
We're pretty fond of our in-house delivery service, so most orders get sent out with our own teams. Since they don't cover all of the UK, we sometimes use external couriers so we can make sure our deliveries reach as far and wide as possible. Our terms and conditions are listed below so you can make sure you're happy before you place your order.
deTerra Delivery
Deliveries with the deTerra fleet will be made by a two man team who will carry the goods to a ground floor room of the customer's choosing. The customer will be given a three hour timeslot but should there be a delay due to instances outside of our control - like heavy or unforeseen traffic - we cannot accept any responsibility.
Please note that it is the customer's responsibility to ensure that there is a clear passageway from the entrance of the property to the ground floor room of choice. Both the delivery team and the items must fit safely at all times (please bear in mind that the items can be quite large on occasion!). If there are any obstructions and these can be moved, it is the customer's responsibility to undertake the necessary action. However, if there are obstructions in place and these cannot be removed, the delivery team are entitled to leave the goods at the nearest, safest, and most easily accessible point. Do also bear in mind that the delivery team will be carrying worktops from outside into the property, and for health and safety reasons their shoes cannot be removed; therefore, if there are floorings or carpet which will need to be protected, suitable coverings should be laid by the customer prior to the arrival of the delivery team. If the thoroughfare is not clear and any part of the customer's property or possessions is damaged as a result of this insufficient/unclear access (including the flooring), deTerra cannot accept any responsibility. Should a customer believe that damage has been inflicted upon any part of his/her property, it is the customer's responsibility to alert deTerra via electronic mail within two working days.
The delivery note must be signed on receipt. This item is a legal document and constitutes the only admissible proof that delivery has been made to you without any loss or damage.
All goods must be inspected in the presence of the delivery driver and any loss or damage recorded clearly on the delivery note. If there is any damage, confirmation must be sent in writing via electronic mail to deTerra within two days of receipt (Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holiday are not classed as working days). Claims for loss or damage cannot be made after this time and if these guidelines are not adhered to. Once the delivery note has been signed, responsibility for the goods transfers to the customer and thus any subsequent loss, destruction of and damage to the goods. Once received, we recommend that the entirety of orders are checked by the customer. In the event that one or more items are missing, please report this to us at the earliest convenience, and within seven days of receipt.
Should there be a failed delivery due to the customer not being present at the property on the scheduled delivery date, the customer will be liable for any charges incurred for the return and re-delivery of their items. Please note that if a 'Free Delivery' promotion applies to the order, this will only be applicable for the first delivery attempt; subsequent deliveries will be charged at the full rate.
Accessory Delivery Service
This is a signed for, external one man courier service with different timeslot options for the customer to choose from (next day, next day pre-noon, next day pre-10am etc).
Someone must be present at the property during the allotted time slot to receive the delivery. If delivery is unsuccessful due to the customer not being at the property on the scheduled delivery date, the customer is liable for all costs, charges and fees incurred in returning or storing the undelivered shipment.
The delivery note must be signed on receipt. This item is a legal document and constitutes the only admissible proof that delivery has been made to you without any loss or damage.
All goods must be inspected in the presence of the delivery driver and any loss or damage recorded clearly on the delivery note. If there is any damage, confirmation must be sent in writing via electronic mail to deTerra within two days of receipt (Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holiday are not classed as working days). Claims for loss or damage cannot be made after this time and if these guidelines are not adhered to. Once the delivery note has been signed, responsibility for the goods transfers to the customer and thus any subsequent loss, destruction of and damage to the goods.
Change to Delivery Date
We must be informed of any requested delivery date changes at least five working days in advance, where an order contains kitchen cabinets. Once items have been assembled, delivery must be made to the customers' address within 28 days or additional fees will be charged to the customer. For smaller items, the final cut-off point for changes to delivery date is 12:00 noon prior to the working day of despatch (i.e. 12:00 noon on Friday morning if the goods are to be delivered on Monday).
It is the customer's responsibility to make contact with deTerra to rearrange delivery within this time-period. This request must be made in writing via electronic mail. For a delivery date change to be deemed successful, the customer must receive confirmation that the request has been received by deTerra. Should the customer fail to receive confirmation of new delivery date from deTerra, he/she should assume that the original delivery date stands.
deTerra will make every effort to re-arrange delivery if the customer requests a date change, but cannot guarantee this.
If the customer does not rearrange delivery with deTerra before the specified cut-off point, the customer bears the full responsibility of any delay or surcharges caused by an unsuccessful delivery attempt.
If a figure is given - either on this website or via any other medium - regarding the number of orders that have been delivered, this may concern the total number of orders delivered by the limited company (rather than the deTerra brand).
Fabrication Service
Contracts that involve our fabrication service cannot be cancelled.
If a customer is interested in using this service, deTerra will compose a formal quotation outlining the proposed fabrication. Once this quotation has been accepted by the customer and confirmed, an order can be placed and payment processed. Once payment has been processed a contract the customer accepts our terms of sale and a contract is created between the customer and deTerra.
The customer's requirements will have been discussed and a diagram will be created accordingly. This will be sent via electronic mail. The worktops will be prepared but no machining will be completed until the customer responds via electronic mail to confirm the suitability of the diagram. The customer accepts full responsibility for ensuring that the dimensions and materials quoted within this diagram are correct for the intended use. deTerra can accept no liability if any information contained within the diagram is found to be incorrect after customer confirmation has been received.
The fabrication lead-time quoted by deTerra at the start of the order will not apply until diagram confirmation is supplied by the customer. Please note that it is the customer's responsibility to supply the necessary confirmation in a timely fashion. Should confirmation not be received within a reasonable period of time, deTerra reserve the right to delay delivery.
No changes can be made to the order once the diagram has been confirmed by the customer. However, should an error be noticed by the customer after this cut-off point, the customer should make contact with deTerra urgently. We will consider any amendment requests but can make no guarantee that these will be accommodated.
Cancellation of Bespoke Orders
Once a contract has been created bespoke cutting orders cannot be cancelled. This applies even if the goods have not yet been despatched. At deTerra's discretion, in certain circumstances we may allow a cancellation however this will only be considered if the goods have not yet been subject to any bespoke works. We make no guarantee to consider any such requests. In the event of an agreed cancellation, deTerra will refund the order in full but reserve the right to charge an amount (no less than £50.00) in recompense for aspects of the service that have already been completed. deTerra reserve the right to offer or withdraw this option.
It must also be noted that the consumer's statutory right of cancellation does not apply to orders that are painted, built to order (via our pre-assembly service), made to measure or in any way cut or altered to your requirements.
Delivery of Bespoke Orders
deTerra will make all reasonable endeavours to deliver any bespoke items within the time-frame quoted at point of order. However, due to the custom manufacturing process of any goods made specifically to the customer's required size or thickness, the lead time for bespoke items may be delayed slightly and time shall not be of the essence in respect of any specified delivery or installation dates. As such we recommend that all of our customers allow an additional 28 days in the event of any unforeseen delays.
This extended lead-time does not affect items altered in our fabrication service; this relates to bespoke manufactured items only (such as extra thick or extra wide items that are clearly labelled as "bespoke").
Fabrication Orders: Returns
deTerra will arrange to repair or replace items in the unlikely event that fabricated or custom goods are found not to have been produced to the agreed specification (please note that this condition is subject to the provisions set out in the previous 'Returns' section). deTerra may need to collect said items in order to carry out repairs, should these be necessary. This work will be completed as soon as is practicable.
Please note that all works have a + / - 3 millimetre tolerance.
Payments for your deTerra kitchen can be made via credit card, debit card or Paypal. If you'd like to pay by cheque, these must be made payable to Direct Online Services for the full amount with the applicable order number clearly printed on the rear; corresponding orders will not be delivered until the cheque has cleared. Unfortunately cash payments can only be accepted for orders totalling £500 or less (including any delivery costs).
Receiving Your Goods
deTerra will make every effort to supply orders in a timely, accurate fashion. However on rare occasions - due to matters out of our control such as poor handling in transit or extreme weather - the entire order may not arrive in the intended condition on the initial agreed delivery date. As such, we strongly recommend that the hiring of trades is not completed until the goods have arrived satisfactorily. We would also recommend leaving any fittings in their existing positions until receipt of all items. deTerra cannot accept responsibility for any fees or losses caused by deliveries that are not delivered on the initial date but still delivered within a reasonable time-frame. Should a delay in delivery occur - which is very unlikely - we will do everything possible to rectify any issues as quickly as possible.
deTerra advises that all goods should be checked carefully on arrival and any damage reported immediately (please see our 'Cancellations' section for more information on our returns procedure). Any works that are carried out involving any of the goods received - such as cutting, oiling, or any processes that alter the item from its original condition - constitutes acceptance of these products. Any defects or faults reported after the event of successful delivery (i.e. after the delivery note has been signed for) will be deemed to have been caused by the customer. deTerra cannot accept responsibility for any fault or damage caused by negligent installation or treatment (such as a failure to comply with our installation and aftercare guidance). The customer will bear the responsibility for such occurrences.
If an issue arises after a product has been received, please contact deTerra immediately. Do not attempt to fix the problem yourself. We will be unable to accept a return of items if alterations have been made without seeking our consent. Furthermore if goods have been altered without prior consent this may invalidate the manufacturer's warranty.
It should be noted that deTerra do not agree to contract terms stating that 'time is of the essence'.
Manufacturing Tolerances
A manufacturing tolerance of +/-2mm applies to solid wood staves. Additionally, due to natural timber variations, the stave width of our full stave worktops can vary by +/-10mm, and the stave width of our deluxe worktops can vary by +/-5mm. Due to the manufacturing tolerances mentioned, each complete worktop may include one stave of a reduced width at one edge (in order to adhere to the advertised worktop width).
deTerra advise strongly that customers inform us at the point of order if worktops are to be joined end-to-end, if a worktop is being matched to another worktop, or a previous purchase; this is so that we can attempt to match the worktops as closely as possible.
We inspect all items carefully during the manufacturing process, paying particular attention to natural imperfections. The vast majority of all such imperfections are removed from the surface of our solid wood worktops, excepting those that are absolutely necessary to retain the character and integrity of the timber. Small natural imperfections are therefore deemed acceptable and the customer agrees that minor shakes and small sound knots - those which do not affect the performance of the worktop - are acceptable and do not constitute faults or defects. Occasionally a larger natural imperfection may be visible on the underside of the worktop; the customer agrees that these shall not constitute faults or defects so long as structural rigidity is unaffected.
deTerra will always attempt to colour match goods ordered on a multiple basis. However, wood is a natural material and we cannot guarantee replication of colour from piece to piece. We also cannot guarantee the colour accuracy of certain goods. This is due to the organic nature of the solid wood products we supply and the nature of the image reproduction process.
deTerra employ rigorous and detailed procedures to reduce the moisture content of the timber before manufacture. We accept the cost of this in order to improve quality. However gradual movement of the timber due to natural contraction and expansion cannot be prevented. Small cracks may appear after installation (a few millimetres in width). The customer agrees that this is acceptable as a standard condition of timber and does not constitute a fault or defect. Any movement is a natural characteristic and the customer accepts that this does not constitute a fault or defect. The customer also accepts that any minor cracks do not constitute faults or defects (these can be filled easily with a wax filler if necessary).
It should be noted that stave widths, colours, lengths and appearance can vary from timber to timber (and piece to piece). Any supplied imagery or sample products should therefore be treated as approximate.
The customer will receive considerable documentation from deTerra regarding installation and maintenance, and agrees that any deviation from or failure to adhere to these guidelines constitutes full acceptance of responsibility for any subsequent faults or defects.
The deTerra installation/maintenance documents contain various important guidelines, including:
- Advice on finishing: solid wood worktops should be finished with Rustins Danish Oil.
- Overhang: maximum unsupported overhang recommended for a 620mm wide worktop is 200mm. For a larger worktop, please calculate the measurement on a pro-rata basis [i.e. a 960mm worktop is approximately 55% larger than a 620mm worktop, and thus the recommended maximum unsupported overhang is 110mm). If a larger overhang is required, please consult us. We may recommend the utilisation of a suitable support leg(s).
deTerra can accept no responsibility for product issues when products have been installed or maintained incorrectly, oiled too infrequently, or generally mishandled.
If you have purchased painted doors and would like to re-finish these in future, please note that our recommended option is Farrow & Ball's Exterior Eggshell collection. All references to Farrow & Ball paint on the deTerra Kitchens website refer to this specific paint type.
It should be noted that all goods that are supplied unfinished (sanded or otherwise) need to be treated with a suitable sealant prior to installation or warranty will be void.
All items except kitchen units (carcases only) are provided with a full 6 month manufacturer's warranty (this includes worktops, doors, plinths, and accessories).
Solid wood kitchen carcases purchased from deTerra come with full 5 year manufacturer's warranty.
In the unlikely event that problems occur with any aspect of your cabinet(s) within 5 years of the purchase date, we will arrange a convenient time to inspect the goods. If the part in question is deemed defective (provided that the goods have not been installed/maintained incorrectly/not in adherence with our installation/maintenance guidelines, or subject to any maltreatment) we will organise a replacement part, free of charge.
For all other items, in the unlikely event of a defect in manufacturing or raw material, we will replace the faulty item/part (this will be assessed on a case by case basis). Please consult our returns section for more information on replacements.
Our Liability
Consumers have legal rights in relation to goods that are faulty or not as described. If you would like advice on such, please contact your local Citizens' Advice Bureau or Trading Standards office.
If you are a consumer, the following warranty is in addition to your statutory rights. Your legal rights are not affected by these terms and conditions.
We warrant that on delivery the goods you have ordered shall:
- be free from material defects in material, design and workmanship; and
- conform in all material respects with the agreed specification
You accept that for the purposes of this section, natural imperfections, cracks resulting from organic expansion and contraction, and small variations in the colour and size of the goods shall not be non-conformities or material defects due to the nature of the goods, being goods manufactured from natural timber. Equally you agree that you shall treat all images and samples provided to you by us as relative guides only, as stave widths, lengths, colours and appearance can vary from one item to the next. Natural products cannot be replicated uniformly, and as a result we offer a sale by description service, and not sale by sample. You agree that you have read and understood the "Essential Information" section above.
If you confirm, in writing, within 24 hours of delivery and prior to installation (in the case of non-conformities or defects apparent on reasonably careful visual inspection) and otherwise within 24 hours of discovery (in the case of latent non-conformities or defects) that some or all of the goods we have supplied do not comply with the warranty detailed above and we are given a reasonable opportunity to examine the goods and (if asked to do so) you return the goods to us at your cost (for the avoidance of doubt, if the goods are found to be faulty or defective then such costs shall be reimbursed), then we shall (at our option) make repairs to or replace the defective goods, or refund the price of the defective goods, subject to the following.
We shall not be liable for the goods' failure to comply with the warranty set out above if any of the following are applicable:
- if you make any further use of such goods after giving notice of a defect;
- if the defect arises as a result of us following any drawing, design or specification supplied by you;
- if the defect arises because you did not adhere to our installation and aftercare instructions and good trade practices as to the storage, installation, use and maintenance of the goods;
- if the defect arises as a result of fair wear and tear, wilful damage, negligence, or abnormal storage or working conditions;
- if you have altered or repaired such goods without our written consent; or
- if the goods differ from the agreed specification as a result of changes made to ensure they comply with applicable statutory or regulatory requirements.
Nothing in these terms shall limit or exclude our liability for:
- death or personal injury caused by our negligence, or the negligence of our employees, agents or subcontractors (as applicable);
- breach of the terms implied by section 12 of the Sale of Goods Act 1979;
- fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation; or
- any matter in respect of which it would be unlawful for us to exclude or restrict liability.
Subject to this:
- under absolutely no circumstances will we be liable to you, whether in contract, tort (including negligence), breach of statutory duty, or otherwise, for any indirect or consequential loss arising under or in connection with these terms and conditions; and
- as we are supplying the goods to you for domestic and private use, you agree not to use the goods for any commercial, business, or re-sale purpose. Furthermore we shall have no liability to you for any profit loss, loss of business, business interruption, or loss of business opportunity.
Force majeure
deTerra will not be liable for any failure or delay in performing our obligations under these terms and conditions to the extent that such failure or delay is caused by any event beyond our reasonable control, including: strikes, lock-outs or other industrial disputes (whether involving its own workforce or a third party's), failure of energy sources or transport network, acts of God, war, terrorism, riot, civil commotion, interference by civil or military authorities, national or international calamity, armed conflict, malicious damage, breakdown of plant or machinery, nuclear, chemical or biological contamination, sonic boom, explosions, collapse of building structures, fires, floods, storms, earthquakes, loss at sea, epidemics or similar events, natural disasters or extreme adverse weather conditions, or default of suppliers or subcontractors.
A waiver of any right or remedy under these terms and conditions is only effective if detailed in writing and shall not be deemed a waiver of any subsequent breach or default. No failure or delay by a party to exercise any right or remedy stipulated under these terms and conditions or by law shall constitute a waiver of that or any other right or remedy, nor shall it inhibit or restrict the further exercise of that or any other right or remedy. No single or partial exercise of such right or remedy shall prohibit or restrict the further exercise of that or any other right or remedy.
If any court or competent authority finds that any provision of these terms and conditions (or part of any provision) is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that provision or part-provision shall, to the extent required, be deemed to be excluded. The validity and enforceability of the other provisions of these terms and conditions shall not be affected.
Governing law and jurisdiction
These terms and conditions, and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them or their subject matter or formation (including non-contractual disputes or claims), shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of England and Wales and the parties irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.
Privacy and Security
For our privacy terms and conditions, along with security and unsubscribe information, please view our privacy page.
Cookie Policy
Our site uses cookies to keep track of your shopping cart and as an identifying tool, so that your information can be retrieved without you having to re-enter it each time you visit our site. These cookies also help to improve our service, or ensure that we advertise products that may be relevant to you - based upon items that you may have visited on our website. Don't worry, we only use carefully selected advertising partners! Any information we collect may be used to improve our services, such as how user friendly our website's design is.
If users would like to remove their information from the deTerra database, the following options are available:
Visit the contact page to send us an email.


text:
A crash at the Gran Turismo Polonia involving a Koenigsegg CCX injured 19 people, four of them seriously, who were watching the start of the rally race. The cars were on their way to Poznan after leaving from Gdansk.
The Gran Turismo Polonia allows owners of exotics to race about on public streets and private tracks throughout Europe.
The driver of the car itself is okay but the car itself is wrecked, according to Lukasz, who sent in the tip:
The car was registered in Sweden. The driver, Morten N. lost control of the car shortly after launching it from the start line. The car then spun and hit the curb ending up hitting a group of spectators.
The yellow CCX, seen here leaving Gdansk, is believed to have been the one involved in the crash:
We'll update you as we have more information.
UPDATE: Lukasz has sent in some more information:
From the relation of the eye witness and police it looks like an evident error of the driver.
The accident took place on a 400m straight road just after the start line, the road was closed for the public by the organisators and the spectators were dissociated by the barriers. The accident happened around 16:00 CET. The car struggled to stay in the straight line just after he launched from the start line. The driver lost control of the car and hit a curb and the barriers at big speed.
All the injured people were taken to the hospital. The driver, has been interrogated by the police, he was sober when the accident happened.
The Gran Turismo Polonia is an event held in Poland every year around summer when you can see the fastest and most exotic cars. This year there were 175 participants, mostly Ferraris, Porsche, Lamborghini, McLaren, Audi etc. This years edition is the 9th.
The eye witness say, that the driver probably wanted to impress the crowd. He accelarated really hard from the start line. He wanted to show off but unfortunately he lost control of the car, started to spin and eventually hit the curb, the barrier and ended up on the shoulder. Because the car has a low front it basically made all the crowd fly in the air. People were flying all over the place. The speed was so high that people had no chance to move away and escape.
Police investigation will explain if its the drivers fault and if the organisators are also guilty for not sufficient security for the audience during the event.
Lukasz also shot this video of the car right before the accident, and it doesn't appear as if the driver knew what he was doing:
H/t to Lukasz, Brian, and Ian!

subset: commoncrawl


text: Updated 2016 There is no mistaking that the Maldives' beaches and resorts are among the most beautiful and luxurious in the world. There is also no mistaking that you are paying handsomely for every bit of fun you have on the tiny islands that support these luxury bungalows. The Maldives is perfect for resort enthusiasts or those who don't care about the size of the price tag on their vacation.


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Fishguard and neighbouring Goodwick are said to have derived their names from the Vikings, who were frequent visitors to this part of the coast. The sheltered harbour at Lower Town was a bustling little cargo port with a fishing industry which made it famous from Elizabethan times for its herrings. The local people were widely known as Sgadan Abergwaun (Fishguard herrings) and the local comprehensive school still features the herring in its badge.
In 1797 came the famous French invasion of Fishguard, the bicentenary of which was celebrated with such success last year. The invasion was repelled according to legend, by the amazonian Jemima Nicholas and other red flannel-clad local ladies who were mistaken by the French in the distance for reinforcement troops. A spectacular tapestry now commemorates the event.


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Jump to navigation Jump to search
Stella is an adaptation of the Stella comedy troupe's (Michael Ian Black, Michael Showalter, and David Wain) stage show and short films. The series takes a peak in the lives of the three seemingly puerile men, who play themselves, always dressed in suits, living together in a New York apartment, and appearing to have no real jobs.
Season 1[edit]
- Michael Ian Black: Do it, do it, do it auld maid!
- Libby Green: David, do you know my husband, Edward Norton?
- David: Not personally, but I'm a fan!
- Micheal Ian Black: Hey here's a compromise, instead of listening to funkROCK, why don't we listen to FUNKrock.
- Libby: So the unit has 3,000 sq. feet, three beds, three baths, and a nursery.
- David: Oh, well, we wouldn't be needing a nursery.
- Michael Ian Black: Actually Michael might, because he's kind of a cry baby.
- Michael: I am not a cry baby!
- Michael Ian Black: Then why are you about to cry?
- Michael: Michael, can we please discuss this out on the terrace?
- David Wain: How's the soup, Mike?
- Michael Ian Black: It's good.
- David Wain: Yeah, you won't be saying that after I kill you.
"Office Party"[edit]
- Michael Ian Black: America is the greatest country in the world. Think of all the great things that have come from America...
- Michael Showalter: Rugby.
- David Wain: Chicken tikka masala.
- Michael Ian Black: Chinese people.
- Michael Showalter: ASS!
- David Wain: [in a British accent] Harry Potter.
- Michael Ian Black: Rubber balls and liquor.
- Michael Showalter: Then I say something.
- Michael Ian Black: I take my coffee the same way I take my women: Strong. Black. And proud.
- Michael Showalter: Today's global economy waits for no man.
- Michael Ian Black: Interconnectivity... Synergy...
- Michael Showalter: Synchronicity... Zenyatta Mondatta...
- Michael Ian Black: The Dream of the Blue Turtles...
- Michael Showalter: Simon and Garfunkel's Greatest Hits.
"Coffee Shop"[edit]
- Julie: [talking to Richard] But somebody once told me that sometimes you have to know when to move on.
- Michael Showalter: It was me. I told you.
"Paper Route"[edit]
- Michael Ian Black: Nothing, I, uh, thought I saw a potato..
- Michael Showalter: No, no. It ain't goin' down like that, ese.
"Meeting Girls"[edit]
- Michael Ian Black: How did you get past security without a boarding pass?
- David Wain: I know, it's weird.
- David Wain: You remind me of fast food.
- Woman: [giggling] Oh, why's that?
- David Wain: Cause I wanna take you out.
- Woman: [flattered, giggling] Oh, haha.
- David Wain: ..And then I wanna eat you in my car.
- Michael Ian Black: I'm gonna go rub one out and call it a night.
- Michael Showalter: I like your tat.
- Jemma: Thanks, I did it myself.
- Michael Showalter: Really?
- Jemma: I like pain.
- Michael Showalter: I like cookies.
- Michael Showalter: Why are you pointing the gun at me, David? I'm trying to help you!
- David: I know, it's weird..
- David: Sho's a real turkey, right here.
- Michael Showalter: I am not a turkey, David.
- David: I'm just-
- Michael Showalter: I AM NOT A TURKEY!
- David: Michael, it was just a joke.
- Michael Showalter: [crying] It didn't seem very funny..
- Michael Ian Black: What are we going to do?
- David: Call Marcus!
- Michael Ian Black: Yeah, call Marcus.
- Michael Showalter: Who's Marcus?
- Michael Ian Black: I don't know.
- David: I know I can hunt but can Mike hunt? And Mike hunt?
- Mountain Man: Of course.
- David: No, no, no. But you say it.
- Mountain Man: Mike hunt. What are you guys laughing at? All I said was "Mike hunt." Now what's so funny about Mike hunt?
- Michael Showalter: I'm cold.
- Michael Ian Black: I'm hungry.
- David: I'm David. [Makes fart sound]
- Michael Ian Black: I don't think I'm overstating anything when I say that I'm really mad at Jane Burroughs.
- David: We can just make another copy.
- Michael Ian Black: Oh, no you don't. You start doing that, the next thing you know you got Chinese bootleggers selling these things on the streets of Chow Ming for a nickel and a corn dog.
- Michael Showalter: That's what I was about to say.
- David: What's the first thing you see when you open a book?
- Michael Showalter: The inscription.
- David: Yes! How about "To Marcus"?
- Michael Ian Black: Yeah, yeah. "To Marcus."
- Michael Showalter: Who's Marcus? Guys, who the hell is Marcus?
- Michael Ian Black: I know, I don't know.
- Michael Ian Black: You'll never get away with this Jane. What happens when we tell everyone what you've done?
- Jane: Do not make me laugh. I am Jane Burroughs, the darling of the literary establishment. And who are you? Three buffoons.
- Michael Showalter: Oh yeah? Well this balloon is going to kick your ass, right now.
- Jane: David?
- David: Yes, Jane?
- Jane: Please, call me Jane.
(Note that this exact dialog, with different names, is spoken between the characters Henry and Beth, played by Janeane Garofalo, in the film Wet Hot American Summer, which was also written by Wain and Showalter).
- David Wain: Stupid question but, what is a book?
- Jane: Oh my gosh, it's a baby deer!
- David Wain: What? Where?
- [The guys turn around while Jane runs away]
- David Wain: Hey, you guys, she's gone.
- Michael Showalter: There was no baby deer.
- Michael Ian Black: Do you mean the entire time she was talking about the baby deer, she was lying?
- Michael Showalter: Yes. I'm afraid so.
- David Wain: She's brilliant.
- Michael Ian Black: I'm gonna look one more time for that baby deer.
- David: Michael!
- Michael Showalter: I just threw..our novel in the fireplace and that was wrong of me and I'll be the first person to admit it..
- Michael Ian Black: I didn't even know we had a fireplace.
- Michael Ian Black: Do I have wood? Yeah. I've got so much wood I should be a forest right now.
- Michael Showalter: Only three things in this world are green Stacy. Plants, money, and jealousy. We're doing pretty well on the first two, but it seems like you got the market cornered on the third one.
- Jennifer: Oh yeah? What about frogs huh? Frogs are green.
- Michael Showalter; Not brown frogs. They're not green.
- Michael Ian Black: Out of our way girls. It's asparagus season.
- Mr. McDoogle: Gentlemen, I am Mr. McDoogle from the bank. I'm here for the money you owe us.
- Michael Showalter: Mr. McDoogle, we don't have this money.
- Mr. McDoogle: Ah.
- Michael Showalter: WE DON'T HAVE YOUR MONEY...Mr. McDoogle.
- Michael Showalter: Hey, you guys, look! A shooting star. Make a wish.
- Michael Ian Black: I wish we had our apartment back.
- Michael Showalter: I wish we had our apartment back.
- David Wain: I wish I was dry-humping Maggie.
- All Three: CANDY!
- Michael Ian Black: Son of a bitch, get off the candy!
"Amusement Park"[edit]
- David Wain: Let's go to an amusement park...in our minds...
- Michael Showalter: David went to Juliard, Michael. He's a classical violinist!
- David: And I'm a classical pianist!
- Michael Ian Black: You're a classical dick, is what you are!


text:
It Is All About BTC, LTC, ETH, ZEC mining as well as other alternative crypto currencies
GCoin (GCN) – a fairer distribution for all. There was a mission in mind when this project was started many months ago. To bring a coin to the landscape that would be easy and fair for everyone to participate in and earn coins, not just those who had expensive mining equipment or big dollars to trade. We hate the unfair advantage in the crypto sphere that always seems to be limited to just those "in the know" when it comes to crypto currencies. The vast majority of the "real world" seems a bit slow to catch onto this inevitable and wondrous technology we call crypto currencies. We believe a large part of that is the point of entry being a bit out of reach for most, whether it be financially unable or because of technical inabilities.
This is why GCoin was created with a completely new and unique distribution method that would break this point of entry down so that anybody in the world could participate and start getting involved in this crypto revolution. The first and foremost goal right now is to spread GCoin as wide as possible and to bring in as many newcomers to crypto as we can. Over the coming weeks and months, this is the primary focus and hope for GCoin. For the long term health of GCoin and its steadily growing community, this is much more important than getting on an exchange during our first few weeks. GCoin is here for the long term. No interest in activities that pave the road for fast returns.
– http://www.gcoin.us/
Block Explorer:
– http://www.gcoinchain.info/
Coin Specifications
– Windows
Source Code:
– at GitHub
Mining Pools:
– http://184.108.40.206/
– http://www.newgcoinpool.com/
– http://www.gcoinpool.com/


text:
Chaplain's Corner
Short essays written for the La Jolla Veteran's Hospital newsletter in La Jolla, California
Only God knows what the state of the world will be by the time this "Chaplain's Corner" is published. So, my spiritual reflection is really dated as of the state of the world at the writing of this article (the second week of April, 2013). News sources report an unusually high awareness among Americans of the current threat of a nuclear war crisis incited by the extreme bellicose threats and actions of North Korean leaders. Words such as "represents threat," "public pessimism" and that "Americans are listening are now being heard worldwide." Such reports also indicate that a poll across all demographic groups in the United States, is that if the North's neighbor, South Korea, is attacked, the United States should respond militarily. How close is the nuclear annihilation clock to ticking to '0?' As of this writing, very close.
All this brings to my mind the words of the psalmist: "All too long have I dwelt with those who hate peace. When I speak of peace, they are ready for war." In other words, peace is precious; it is a treasure. This reflection bespeaks the necessity for all of us at all times to preserve peace and to work and hope to bring about peace. Peace is one of the fundamental teachings of most of the world's religious traditions. An example is Thich Nhat Hanh, the Vietnamese Buddhist Zen master, who, since the Vietnam War, has worked tirelessly for peace. He pointed out that "Many people think excitement is happiness. . . . But when you are excited you are not peaceful. True happiness is based on peace. Mahatma Gandhi points out that "An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind." Christ told his followers: "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called sons of God." (Mt 5: 9).
Becoming sons of God does not happen automatically. We must be peacemakers and be committed to continue to be committed to this task throughout our lives. It is in this that we find our blessedness; in this we grow into the likeness of the God of peace. Interestingly, a 20th Century scientist, Albert Einstein, points out a pathway to peace: "Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding." Our Holy Church Father St. Isaac of Syria, writing centuries before, tells us that such a road to peace can be traveled, but we must first begin with understanding of ourselves. St. Isaac links the acquisition of peace to humility. He writes of ". . .the peace that is born of humility. . .the man who has reached the knowledge of the extent of his own weakness has reached perfect humility."
i http://politicalticker.bl...
ii A Short Breviary for Religious and Laity. (1962) Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press.
iii Thich Nhat Hanh. (2007). The Art of Power. NY: Harper-Collins.
iv http://www.goodreads.com/...
v http://www.goodreads.com/...
vi Holy Transfiguration Monastery. (ed., trans.). (2011). The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian (revised, 2nd edition). Boston, MA: Holy Transfiguration Monastery.
Visit Fr. Morelli's Facebook page.
V. Rev. Fr. George Morelli Ph.D. is a licensed Clinical Psychologist and Marriage and Family Therapist.
Fr. Morelli is the Coordinator of the Chaplaincy and Pastoral Counseling Ministry of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese and Religion Coordinator (and Antiochian Archdiocesan Liaison) of the Orthodox Christian Association of Medicine, Psychology and Religion.
Fr. Morelli is a Senior Fellow at the Sophia Institute, an independent Orthodox Advanced Research Association and Philanthropic Foundation housed at Columbia University and Union Theological Seminary in New York City that serves as a gathering force for contemporary Orthodox scholars, theologians, spiritual teachers, and ethicists.
Fr. Morelli serves on the Executive Board of the San Diego Cognitive Behavior Therapy Consortium (SDCBTC)
Fr. Morelli serves as Assistant Pastor of St. George's Antiochian Orthodox Church, San Diego, California.
Fr. Morelli is the author of:


text:
NOTE: It was brought to our attention that some may confuse this site to be affiliated with, or sanctioned by, its namesake, and/or IC Places Inc. TO BE CLEAR ==> THIS SITE IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH, OR SANCTIONED BY, STEVEN SAMBLIS, IC PLACES, INC., IMAGINATION TV, OR ANY ENTITY LEGALLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE ABOVE REFERENCED PARTIES ! Please see full disclosure here. This site is in association with the network of sites owned and operated by Friends of IC Punch Media. Not quite sure how anyone could misunderstand such, but hopefully the above text made that clear.
Here's an idea...
Mr. Samblis... instead of wasting energy attacking the messenger... attack the issues !
Why does the CEO hide
behind bogus aliases ?
mrighttrade, dotd ,zurich, Bzippy, FLWright , SunTzueyes, HouseSmith, CVeradero, QueFine, and of late KHudson.
Is he avoiding SEC scrutiny ?
So he cannot be held accountable for his statements?
Many believe Mr. Samblis uses these aliases to pump the stock... isn't that stock manipulation by deception ?
The story behind this site:
We were alerted that this domain name was available by someone unknown to us via an email. Mr. Samblis previously held the rights to his namesake domain address, and we couldn't believe he would let it lapse. Given that we own and maintain a series of sites we thought it would be a good idea to purchase the domain address and use it to drive traffic to our other sites. So we did. We initially constructed what we thought was a flattering graphical slideshow featuring Mr. Samblis and other pictures that could be found around the web, and on Google Images.
Not too long after doing such we were contacted by Mr. Samblis and he ordered us to take down the site, stating that the pictures we were displaying were not public domain pictures and that they were his copyrited pictures. You can follow the chain of emails exchanged linked below (notice the "easy read" link also). Also as the email illustrate, there later became a time in which Mr. Samblis authorized the pictures to be used, then shortly thereafter ordered them removed again. After all the nastiness from Mr. Samblis... the site is now the way you see it. It's a shame Mr. Samblis exhibited such arrogance and let his ego overcome his common sense. This was a nice site before Mr. Samblis initiated the series of events that deteriorated the situation into what you see today.
Also, you will notice within the chain of emails that there was a time in which a deal was struck that would have returned the domain name to Mr. Samblis. But once again Mr. Samblis created a situation in which he caused the deal to be cancelled. He all but had the domain back when he went on a public message board and called us "dirtbag" and "squatter". Not the way to consummate a deal that was all but complete.
You may wonder why the email links are broken up like they are. The reason is, Mr. Samblis would delete certain passages from the emails as he responded to them individually. It was necessary to reconstruct the series of events by capturing several chains of emails. However, just notice the dates in which the emails were written and you will be able to follow the conversation (or read the "easy read" compilation)
Also, although its not been widely published, there is another string of emails where, in spite of Mr. Samblis's childish actions, he was given the opportunity to reconstruct the deal, however it required him to publically apologize to us on the same public message board he attacked us on. We are still waiting for the apology. He has however since made a monetary offer that was larger than the amount agreed to before his attack on us... however we turned that down because the apology was not published.
This is the exchange with Samblis over the domain names.
---> Mr. Samblis is now threatning legal actions if we don't remove his emails.
See the details here.
Easy to read email chain here (everything together)
NEW ==> Samblis unsuccesful at taking over our sites - details here.
Even Newer ==> Samblis wanting a second bite at the apple - details here.
6/1/2016 - Samblis loses AGAIN ! Details HERE.
Why this picture ?
Company CEO, Steven Samblis
Note: This picture is the only one we could find that was in the public domain. Steven Samblis notified Friends that we could not use any of the pictures (after he had previously given us authorization (here), that could be found around the web (Google Images) for use on this site. This picture was first obtained from the following link on Investors Hub here . However, Mr. Samblis has been busy trying to erase his past, and has successfully had most of the links deleted. BUT... as they say, once on the Internet - ALWAYS on the Internet. A reader provided Friends with this original link from Arrests.org. And, if those are unsuccessful, here is the captured page.
Perhaps in the future Mr. Samblis may see the merits of allowing us to use some more flattering pictures that he states are copywrited. Till then, this is all we could find that he couldn't lay claim to.
Read about the history of this photo here.


text:
Technov8 brauchte ein neues Logo Design und hat einen Wettbewerb auf 99designs gestartet.
Aus 300 Designs von 89 Designern wurde eine Gewinner gewählt.
Cinemigo is a new Social Movie News and Review website.
We need a smart and simple logo for our new website.
Cinemigo is a new social movienews and review website. People can come to our site, post their reviews of the newest releases and post links to interesting movie releated news.
We also help people find "Movie Buddies" intheir local area, somebody to go and see the latest releases with.
Cinema + Amigo = Cinemigo
We need something that's Smart, Simple,Hip and Fun, for our site. If you can somehow get across the "Cinema"or "Movie" and "Friends" aspect of the site that wouldbe great.
We need logo that can be usedwith the Cinemigo name on the website, and that can be used on its own or withthe company URL (http://www.cinemigo.com) for branding, i.e. tee-shirts, mugs etc.
We don't have any requirements oncolour or font style, use whatever you like. Feel free to add a tagline, ifyou can think of one.
- Logo should be in vector format, such as Adobe Illustrator
- We'd also like some 'ready to go' images at suitable sizes thatwe can use immediately on the website.
- Lots of different colours
Finden Sie heraus, wie ein Designwettbewerb funktioniert, oder lernen Sie mehr über unsere Logo-Design-Angebote.


text:
Serving Central MN For Over 100 Years... We Never Forget We're Working for YouSytek, Your Full-Service Telephone, Internet & Marketing Agency, Backed by the Upsala Telephone Company.
We are positioned to serve our customers as a turnkey solution for all business and residential communication needs. From offering local residents high-speed internet, to providing professional web design services to businesses across the state, we thrive on meeting your communication needs.
Serving Central Minnesota for more than 100 years, our company was originally established to increase and diversify the services - local and long distance telephone - to our current area. But since then our business has grown, providing us with a larger service area and allowing us to expand upon the services we offer.
We still consider ourselves a local company and will always provide local service. We stand behind all that we offer, including:
- Directory Services
- Telephone Services - Local & Long Distance
- Key System Services
- Internet Services - Dial-Up & High-Speed
- Website Services - Design, Hosting, SEO, Custom Programming, Maintenance, etc.
- Online Visibility Services
- Graphic Design - Logo, Stationary & Print Design
- And More!
Whether you're moving to the area and are in need of internet service, or are operating a business and in need of new materials for improved marketing, Sytek can help.
A Little More About Our Marketing Department...
In today's fast-paced world, businesses need to be innovative in getting their names out there and known more than ever. Whether you need a website designed, assistance with branding or a brochure created, we offer all the services you'll need.
While some marketing firms only work with the "big-dogs", at Sytek we know the need for great graphic design and outstanding website development is the same across the board. Whether your company is large or small, we want you to succeed and be able to have a professional image that complements your business.
Contact Us for more information about all that we offer.


text:
Right before Labor Day, I recommended sustainably produced Pinot Grigio from Mezzacarona to you as a great option for a reasonably priced crowd pleaser for your weekend celebrations. Mezzacarona is not an organic wine, but the Italian vineyard where it is made practices many sustainable wine growing and production techniques.
There are many, many vineyards like Mezzacarona that farm sustainably, sometimes even organically, but they don't put that information on the bottles? Why? One reason is because the majority of consumers aren't interested in organic or "green" wines. A 2010 study done by UCLA found that although the quality of wine made from organic grapes was often considered better than comparable wine made from conventionally grown grapes, eco-labels can cause the price of a bottle of wine to plummet.
Bottles of wine labeled "made from organically grown grapes" were priced 7 percent lower than conventionally produced wines. However, wines that were made with organically grown grapes but didn't carry any type of eco-label at all "commanded a 13 percent higher price than conventionally produced wines of the same varietal, appellation and year."
It seems that while our culture has accepted that organically grown produce or meat from sustainably, humanely raised animals is going to cost more, we haven't embraced the same concept for wines.
Part of the problem might have to do with USDA organic certification. For a wine to earn that label, it can't contain added sulfites. Sulfites are helpful in preserving wine. It's generally believed in the wine world that sulfites are necessary for wines that are going to be held onto for years. Since the USDA certification has only been around for about a decade, not enough time has passed yet for that belief to be tested thoroughly.
However, wines grown using organic or sustainable methods, but not with USDA organic certification, can have added sulfites in them. Consumers might not understand the difference and think that any wine that has some sort of green labeling on it won't have added sulfites. Therefore, the eco-friendly labels can be confusing.
Once you understand that sustainable and USDA certified organic are not the same thing when it comes to wine, it makes sense to seek out sustainably produced wines because the quality is generally going to be good and the production methods are going to be healthier for you and the Earth. How can you tell if a wine is sustainably produced if the bottle isn't labeled as such? You have to do your research.
Check out the website of any wine that you are interested in. The information isn't always easy to find. Sometimes a winery website will have a link to a sustainability statement or a green practices page right on the homepage. Other times, you'll need to dig down into the pages where production methods are discussed or the vineyards are described. Sometimes, searching for the term "sustainability" along with the vineyards name from a search engine will take you directly to the right page.
Another way to find out if wines are sustainably produced is to visit local wineries and ask. I find saying something like "I know that you aren't certified organic, and I'm okay with that, but I was wondering what sustainable practices you've put in place in your vineyards" is a great way to start the conversation. Asking only "Are you certified organic?" can put the person you're asking in a defensive position because he may think that you're only concerned about the certification and not the sustainability of the process.
When you do find good wines that are made sustainably but not labeled as such, share the information with your friends by serving the wine and sharing the wine's sustainability story in person or via social networking sites. If there's a lot of confusion among consumers about organic or eco-friendly wine, it can only help to have those of us who love to drink sustainably produced wines helping to educate our friends.
Do you have a favorite wine that is produced sustainably, but you wouldn't know it by looking at the label? What is it? I'm always looking for new ones.
Related wine stories on MNN:
- 8 eco-friendly East Coast wineries [Photo gallery]
- What is a green wine [Infographic]


text:
jmsgs necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 556 diseños de 142 diseñadores freelance.
Due to a company merger we need to tie together our diverse business units using a common logo theme and style. We are a printing company with other potential work for good designers.
The company was formed when a company called Valonia merged with a company called Markit Graphics to form a company called VMG.
Each company has brands that target a specific market for printed products. Clients within those markets recognise each brand as a specialist in its field.
There are two tasks:
1. The first task is to create a fresh new logo for MG and its business units as the current logo is dated.
2. The second task is to create a fresh new logo for VMG and its business units where the V is linked graphically but is not identical to the new MG logo in step 1 reflecting the fact that the two companies have merged.
The jpeg of current version MG logo which needs refreshing is attached
Our customers come from a variety of industry segments and purchase custom designed and printed components.
• This is a family of 3 brands: MG (the parent brand), MG Industrial, and MG Electronics where the business unit i.e. Industrial or Electronics is captured in the tag line as a subset of the parent brand MG (See current logo which we feel is outdated attached)
• Must be clean, striking, strong, bold
• For use on a website, direct email campaigns, catalogs, brochures, trade shows
• With our without design elements (e.g. background oval shape)
• We want to retain the dark to mid blue colour palette
• NOTE: Unlike the current logo we do not want Markit Graphics mentioned in the tagline
• This is a family of 3 brands VMG (parent brand) , with two business units, VMG tagline print group, VMG tagline Automotive
• In this brand the V must link to the MG brand in part 1 above yet be different as it represents one of the two companies that have merged.
• Must be clean, striking, strong bold
• For use on a website, direct email campaigns, catalogs, brochures, trade shows
• With our without design elements
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


text: This year I thought I would go to the EAS meeting instead of Heartland as it is closer. I noticed you have to be a member to attend. Is this just their way of getting some extra money? I don't think Heartland has that restriction. Anyone know what the membership cost?


text:
mattwick necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 106 diseños de 22 diseñadores freelance.
NextClose.com is a group of individuals set on changing the way people think about real estate. We are creating a website to help home buyers and sellers save thousands of dollars on their real estate transactions. We are ambitious and excited. We love what the web has done in other industries to improve outcome, i.e. 99designs, and we are fired up to do the same for real estate.
Help us save people money, save people time, and change an industry. We look forward to all the creative designs! The winner is likely be offered an opportunity to develop a web design for an additional fee.
Our target audience is any home buyer/seller looking to save money on their next real estate transaction.
The link below is a set of logos that we like. These are just to be used as a reference and to give you designers an idea of how we envision the NextClose.com logo.
The logo should:
- include the entire word "NextClose.com"
- the word "Next" and "Close" should be a different color to make them stand apart
- logo should be relevant to the industry, i.e. portray some idea of a home such as a key, door, window, saving money, etc.
What my ratings mean?!:
1-2 Stars: the design is great, its just not the direction we are looking for at nextclose.com
3 Stars: this design is great and its certainly headed in the right direction, a few small tweaks could turn a 3 star to a 4 star
4 Stars: this design is outstanding and only needs a few small tweaks to be in the winner's circle
5 Stars: these 5 star designs are in the running for the win without any changes needed. I am looking forward to seeing more of these :)
**Winner will deliver the winning illustrator design file.
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


text:
|Department of Magical Transportation
|Organisation information
Regulates transportation services of wizarding Britain
British Wizarding Government
The Department of Magical Transportation is responsible for various aspects of magical transport. Madam Edgecombe was an employee of this department.
It is located on the sixth level of the Ministry of Magic and includes the following offices:
Floo Network AuthorityEdit
The Floo Network Authority is responsible for setting up and maintaining the network. They also regulate the distribution of Floo powder.
The network is composed of the fireplaces of all the wizarding buildings, which are interconnected, and it allows the user, or "passenger", to transport themselves to any other fireplace on the network.
The Floo Network is subject to intense scrutiny by the Ministry. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry's fireplaces were at one time closely monitored for any "questionable activity."
The Floo Network may sometimes temporarily set up a connection between a wizarding building and a Muggle building. One such temporary connection was put in place between 4 Privet Drive and The Burrow.
Broom Regulatory ControlEdit
The Broom Regulatory Control has the authority to determine what factors allow an individual to use and ride a broom. If a broom has been determined to be dangerous or tampered with to cause damage, this office will confiscate the broom.
Portkey OfficeEdit
The Portkey Office regulates and authorizes objects that are turned into portkeys as well as the network in which they are used. This would be slightly similar to the Floo Network Authority.
During the Quidditch World Cup, the Portkey Office was involved in regulating the thousands of portkeys used to bring witches and wizards to the game.
Apparition Test CentreEdit
The Apparition Test Centre grants Apparition licences to qualified witches and wizards. One must be 17 to obtain such a licence. Licensure is required to prevent the likelihood of splinching. One is usually taught and tested by a qualified Ministry employee, such as is the case at Hogwarts. One such educator in the skill of Apparition was Wilkie Twycross. However, in the case of Side-Along Apparition, the accomplice does not require a licence provided they are taken by a licensed wizard.
Behind the scenesEdit
- It is unknown if the Knight Bus is regulated by this department.
- The seal of this department features a Biohazard symbol, maybe in a nod to the dangers entailing each of the four types of transportation (broomstick, Floo powder, Apparition and Portkey.


text:
Off-Site Exhibition
Standing as a monument to the beauty and elegance of engineering, the Golden Gate Bridge has occupied a key role in the arts, from Hollywood cinema and painting to photography and literature. Its color and design play with the Bay's ever-changing weather—the rolling fog giving the bridge an otherworldly romantic presence as the orange towers appear and disappear.
In celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge, The Port of Oakland and Oakland International Airport (OAK) present Spanning the Bay, a juried exhibition of artwork exploring trade and tourism in the Bay Area. Organized by the Oakland Museum of California, with jurors from the Richmond Art Center, the Bedford Gallery, and the Berkeley Art Center, the exhibit runs at OAK from May 25 through September 7, 2012.
The show features work by: Kanna Aoki, Suzy Barnard, Joseph Blum, Nicholas Bohac, Andreina Davila, Susan Friedman, Emanuela Harris-Sinta, Allyson Hollingsworth, Hughen/Starkweather, Henrik Kam, Mike Kimball, Sheila Newbery, Camilla Newhagen, Eben Ostby, Brenda Quan, Lena V. Reynoso, Lance Rivers, Robin Rome, Gail Tarantino, Peter Tonningsen and Lisa Levine (Artist Team), Stephen C. Wagner, and John Wehrle.


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By Jonathan Kimak
This might not be a big seller for Christmas, but it is possible that this could be the next furby or tickle-me-elmo. But then again it could just be something neat that only does modest sales.
The toy is Kota the Triceratops robot. It's large enough for a young kid to sit on and has 11 different movements and reacts to touch and sound. It isn't mobile and that may or may not be a good thing if you think of the balancing skills of some toddlers.
It will wag its tail and even play some adventure music if it's in the mood. But don't take my word for it, check out the video of Kota in action after the jump.
[ Robots Rule ] VIA [ Engadget ]


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2 more Japanese confirmed dead in Algeria crisis
TOKYO (AP) — Two more Japanese citizens have been confirmed to have died during a hostage crisis last week in Algeria, the Japanese government confirmed, bringing the total number to nine. One Japanese worker remains missing.
The victims worked for a Japanese engineering company, JGC Corp., at a natural gas plant in the Sahara Desert. Seven other Japanese workers for the company survived the hostage-taking.
Islamist militants seized the gas field and held scores of foreigners from a number of countries hostage for four days until Algerian special forces stormed the plant Saturday. Algeria's prime minister has said that at least 37 hostages and 29 militants were killed.
"Using violence is not forgivable whatever the cause," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Wednesday evening after confirming that officials found the bodies of the two Japanese among a group of unidentified victims. "We strongly condemn terrorist activities."
"It is extremely regrettable," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters Thursday.
Japanese news reports said a government airplane carrying the seven survivors and nine bodies is scheduled to return to Japan as early as Friday morning.
Mitsunobu Fuchida, the older brother of a victim, arrived at Haneda airport on Thursday morning to await the return of his brother's body.
"I just want to see him. I want to see him quickly," he said.
Authorities said they were unable to confirm the status of one missing Japanese national, as well as four foreign employees of JGC.
At a news conference early Thursday, JGC spokesman Takeshi Endo said recovery efforts for the missing continue.
"Our company will do all it can to ascertain the status of these five people," Endo said.


text: Just curious if any of you have experience with the kit built printers. I'm getting ready to buy one for my classroom but am hoping to hear reviews from y'all! Pics, parts made, etc would be awesome too. I'm pretty settled on the Mendelmax 1.5 I was hoping to get in on the beta testing of the 2.0, but my school budget just won't cut it. As it is, I'm going to have to buy the frame kit now and then wait until the next school year for my new budget to buy all of the electronics. One of my main questions is how hard, if at all possible, is it to export a model from Sketchup to the printer? What specific software is required? All right. Lets see your printers!


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Vintage Check and Leather Ziparound Wallet
€390.00 €390.00
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- A slender ziparound wallet in our archival Vintage check, opening to smooth Italian-tanned leather.
- 19 x 9cm/7.5 x 3.5in
- Outer: 75% thermoplastic polyurethane, 25% cotton
- Inner: 100% calf leather
- Lining: 100% polyamide
- Ziparound closure
- Six card slots
- Two slip pockets, one zip coin pocket
- Hand-painted edges
- Imported
Item 80151261


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Cold Spring Harbor, NY -- When an animal gets too hot or too cold, or feels pangs of hunger or thirst, it tends to relocate - to where it's cooler or hotter, or to the nearest place where food or water can be found. But what about vegetative life? What can a plant do under similar circumstances?
Plants can't change the climate and they can't uproot themselves to move to a more favorable spot. Yet they do respond successfully to changes in environmental conditions in diverse ways, many of which involve modifications of the way they grow and develop.
Plant biologists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) have now discovered at the genetic level how one species of grass plant responds to the challenge to growth posed by shade. Central to this work is the team's identification of the role played by a gene called grassy tillers1, or gt1, whose expression, they confirmed, is controlled by light signaling.
The discovery of gt1's role is full of implication, for it occurs in maize, one of the world's most important food crops, and the genetic trick it performs, which results in changing the plant's shape, suggests how maize's ancestor in the grass family was domesticated by people in Mexico and Central America thousands of years ago. The discovery also suggests a present-day strategy for improving yield in switchgrass, a biofuel source.
In maize - or corn, as it is commonly referred to in North America - it has long been known at the level of effects, but not causes, how an unimpressive grass plant called teosinte was improved upon genetically through trial and error to become a prime source of food for the human race. As anyone who has seen a corn field knows, modern maize plants grow in close proximity, in long rows, and tend to produce robust, branchless stalks which yield one or two large ears apiece.
"The domestication of maize from its wild ancestor teosinte resulted in a striking modification of the plant's architecture, and this fact provided a starting point for our work," says CSHL Professor David Jackson, who led the research team which also included scientists from Cornell University; the University of Wisconsin, Madison; North Carolina State University; the University of California, San Diego and Pioneer Hi-Bred. The team's findings appear today online ahead of print in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
One can plainly see that maize plants produce very few lateral branches at their base. The sparseness of tillers, as these branches are called by plant biologists, is the first clue: plants with many lateral branches don't tend to grow well in close proximity, for their branches and leaves tend to throw any close neighbors into shade, thus limiting access to sunlight, their common prime energy source. By severely limiting its lateral branching, maize is able to redirect its energy to the primary shoot, which grows taller and escapes the shade.
"It is actually human selection that has done this," explains Jackson. "Although maize plants produce tiller buds, the nascent branches fail to grow out, which results in the plant's familiar dominant central stalk." The team knew that maize plants in which gt1 is mutated generate several tillers and additional ear branches; this suggested that gt1 expression is normally associated with the suppression of tiller growth. This was confirmed in tests in which gt1 expression was measured in plants grown in the laboratory equivalent of shade.
Another maize gene called teosinte branched1, or tb1, is also known to regulate tiller bud growth and lateral branching in maize, and to be active in response to internal signals indicating the presence of shade. The next question was whether the two genes act in a common pathway, or separately. The expression of each was measured when the other was experimentally inactivated. "We found that gt1 doesn't get activated unless tb1 is active; but that tb1 can act without gt1," says Jackson. "Taken together, our experiments indicated that the two genes are indeed part of a common pathway, in which gt1 is downstream of tb1 - it is not expressed until after tb1 is expressed."
Knowing that ancestral teosinte is a highly branched and tillered plant, the team tested the hypothesis that it was the gt1 gene that was specifically (if unwittingly) selected by ancient agriculturalists in their trial-and-error attempts to domesticate a wild grass to produce a new source of food. By sequencing gt1 from diverse lines of modern maize and wild teosinte, "we obtained significant evidence that gt1 was selected during domestication," according to Jackson.
"Tillering is an important trait in the grass family, and by modifying tiller production agriculturalists have increased yield in grasses such as maize and rice. Understanding the molecular mechanisms behind that modification may now provide us with a means to increase biomass production in switchgrass or other potential biofuel crops," Jackson adds.
"grassy tillers1 promotes apical dominance in maize and responds to shade signals in the grasses" appears online ahead of print in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences August 1, 2011. The authors are: Clinton J. Whipple, Tesfamichael H. Kebrom, Allison L. Weber, Fang Yang, Darren Hall, Robert Meeley, Robert Schmidt, John Doebley, Thomas P. Brutnell and David P. Jackson. The paper can be accessed online at: www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1102819108
This research was supported by generous grants provided by the National Science Foundation and the US Department of Agriculture.
About CSHL
Founded in 1890, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) has shaped contemporary biomedical research and education with programs in cancer, neuroscience, plant biology and quantitative biology. CSHL is ranked number one in the world by Thomson Reuters for impact of its research in molecular biology and genetics. The Laboratory has been home to eight Nobel Prize winners. Today, CSHL's multidisciplinary scientific community is more than 400 scientists strong and its Meetings & Courses program hosts more than 8,000 scientists from around the world each year. Tens of thousands more benefit from the research, reviews, and ideas published in journals and books distributed internationally by CSHL Press. The Laboratory's education arm also includes a graduate school and programs for undergraduates as well as middle and high school students and teachers. CSHL is a private, not-for-profit institution on the north shore of Long Island.


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OAKLAND — The tragic life of James Page, a one-time boxing world champion known more recently for his criminal escapades, emerged in an Oakland courtroom Tuesday as he received a relatively light seven-year prison sentence for a string of bank robberies.
As Page, dressed in yellow prison garb, apologized softly to the bank tellers he menaced during the 2013 robbery spree, his attorney detailed how boxing gave him an escape from a troubled childhood but left him brain-damaged.
Adding to the poignant scene, the judge in the case noted on Tuesday that an error made by a Georgia court in a previous sentencing kept Page in prison four years longer than he should have been there, taking away what might have been his last shot at continuing his boxing career.
Boxing was his only job and when it was gone, "it destroyed him," Ellen Leonida, his public defender, said.
"He had a profound existential crisis," Leonida said. "He spun out of control."
New court papers filed before Tuesday's sentencing hearing paint a grim picture of Page's childhood and reveal for the first time the extent of damage to his brain from decades of boxing.
His family's home in Pittsburg was a den for heroin addicts, where his mother, other relatives and a revolving door of men openly used drugs in front of him and other children, the court papers stated.
His brother, two cousins and an uncle were murdered and most of his 16 maternal aunts and uncles struggled with drugs, according to court papers.
As a teenager and adult, Page himself ¿struggled with cocaine, alcohol, and marijuana.
Page's boxing career began at age 8, when older boys in his hometown of Pittsburg would pay him to fight other children, according to court papers. He turned pro at 19 and in 1998 knocked out Russian Andrei Pestriaev in Paris to win the World Boxing Association welterweight title.
But boxing had its price for Page. After losing his world championship title, Page was arrested for robbing Atlanta banks and sentenced to 11 years in federal prison.
He attempted a comeback in 2012 after his release but lost his first match.
In court papers, Leonida called the loss a "humiliating defeat" for Page, who realized "he would never again be able to box professionally."
"The loss of his vocation plunged him into a depression," Leonida wrote.
During his career, Page was knocked out or dazed on numerous occasions, including his final fight in 2012, when he saw "stars," court papers show.
The injuries have impaired his memory and basic cognitive processes such as reasoning, problem solving, planning and execution, according to Leonida and a neurologist who evaluated Page in 2013.
"I know it was wrong," Page told the court Tuesday. "With the pressures of life out there and my ego, I decided to take things in my own hands and make poor choices. I made a mistake, a mistake I take responsibility for."
Page had faced up to 20 years in prison as part of his plea deal for the East Bay robberies, but a lighter sentence was handed down in part because of the boxing-related injuries, his difficult childhood and the mistake made by a Georgia court in 2001.
Judge Jeffrey White acknowledged Tuesday that a federal court in Georgia misinterpreted one of Page's prior misdemeanor convictions as a felony, which resulted in a longer prison sentence.
Instead of being released when he was 35 — an age at which some boxers could still make an impact in the ring — Page was imprisoned until he was 39.
Four months after his last defeat, Page started robbing East Bay banks, taking more than $20,000 in eight heists in Pleasanton, Oakley, Emeryville, Lafayette, Walnut Creek and Antioch between March and early June.
At the end of the hearing, Page's mother, Pamela Page, stood up to thank White: "I want to thank you, your honor, for helping save my son."
David DeBolt covers breaking news. Contact him in Richmond at 510-262-2728. Follow him at Twitter.com/daviddebolt.


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The Houston Dash have received American defender Whitney Engen, Mexican midfielder Teresa Noyola and Canadian forward Melissa Tancredi as allocated national team players ahead of the 2014 NWSL season, the league announced today. The players are the first to be added to the Dash's roster.
Per league rules, the players' salaries will be subsidized by their respective home federation. From Jan. 3-6, the NWSL will have a league-wide "trade period" during which all NWSL teams may make trades. However, teams will not be allowed to waive players currently on their roster until after the NWSL Expansion Draft.
"We're excited to begin building our franchise with stars from the various national teams," said Dash managing director Brian Ching. "We look forward to having them anchor our club both on the field and in our Houston community."
Whitney Engen, 26, has earned 10 caps for the U.S. women's national team and currently plays as a defender for Tyresö FF in Damallsvenskan. She will remain with the Swedish club until their run in the UEFA Women's Champions League is complete. Tyresö is currently in the quarterfinals of the competition, set to face Neulengbach of Austria in late March.
The Torrance, Calif. native played college soccer at the University of North Carolina and spent three years playing in various leagues in the U.S. with a loan spell at Tyresö. Engen signed with English club Liverpool Ladies FC in the FA Women's Super League for the 2013 season, winning the league before returning to Sweden in the fall of 2013 in time for Tyresö's Champions League campaign.
Teresa Noyola, 23, is an attacking midfielder who has earned 10 caps for the Mexico women's national team. Noyola spent a year in the Netherlands playing for ADO Den Haag before returning to the U.S. in 2013 for the NWSL's inaugural season. She was allocated to the Seattle Reign and traded to FC Kansas City midway through the year. Noyola played in 18 games between the two teams, scoring one goal and adding one assist.
The Mexico City native moved with her family to Palo Alto, Calif. at a young age and eventually played college soccer at Stanford University. She led the Cardinal to a national championship in 2011 and was awarded the Hermann Trophy as the best female college soccer player in the nation.. Noyola played in United States national team programs until she was 20, when she joined the Mexico national team.
Melissa Tancredi, 32, has made 88 appearances for the Canada women's national team. She is a veteran of two World Cups and two Olympics, including London 2012 where she scored four goals en route to a bronze medal for Canada. The Ancaster, Ontario, native played college soccer at Notre Dame University from 2000-2004, earning All-American accolades in 2003 and 2004. She played professionally for several teams in the U.S., most recently appearing for Swedish club Dalsjöfors GolF in 2012. Tancredi sat out in 2013 to attend chiropractor school.
Season tickets are on sale now for the Dash's inaugural season. To purchase a package or for more information on 2014 season tickets, fans can click here or call 713-276-GOAL.
Whitney Engen
Position: Defender
International: USA
Date of Birth: November 28, 1987
Birthplace: Torrance, California
Height: 5'8"
Previous club: Tyresö FF (Sweden)
How acquired: via allocation on January 3, 2014
Twitter: Follow @whitneyengen
Teresa Noyola
Position: Midfielder
International: Mexico
Date of Birth: April 5, 1990
Birthplace: Mexico City, Mexico
Height: 5'3"
Previous club: FC Kansas City
How acquired: via allocation on January 3, 2014
Twitter: Follow @TeresaNoyola
Melissa Tancredi
Position: Forward
International: Canada
Date of Birth: December 27, 1981
Birthplace: Ancaster, Ontario, Canada
Height: 5'9"
Previous club: Dalsjöfors GolF (Sweden)
How acquired: via allocation on January 3, 2014
Twitter: Follow @MelTancredi14


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PHNOM PENH, (IRIN) - Donors pledged the largest aid package in Cambodian history this week while at the same time scolding the country for failing to implement various reforms.
Donors pledged US$1.1 billion in aid for this year - up from last year's $950 million - during a two-day conference ending on 3 June. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen insisted his government would use the funds effectively, calling reform a "life-or-death issue for Cambodia".
But rights groups say donors should take a tougher stance to weed out corruption; the country was last year ranked the world's 22nd most corrupt by Transparency International.
Activists say much of last year's money has been diverted from the projects they were intended for, such as schools, roads and hospitals.
"The onus for protecting donor aid falls squarely at the door of the donors themselves," said Ou Virak, head of the Phnom Penh-based Cambodian Centre for Human Rights.
Donors needed to do more to make sure their aid was put to good use, he added.
The World Bank is also unconvinced there has been adequate progress. "It is important for the government to take the lead in aligning resources to development priorities," Annette Dixon, country director for the World Bank, said at the conference.
The Bank said the Cambodian government had to be more transparent with its public finances and handling of natural resources after allegations that foreign oil companies paid bribes for oil exploration deals in the Gulf of Thailand, off Cambodia's southwest coast.
Last summer, Carol Rodley, US ambassador to Cambodia, said Cambodia lost about $500 million to corruption each year, a remark the government condemned as "politically motivated".
"It's normal that these donor countries raise this issue of corruption," Phay Siphan, a government spokesman, told IRIN. "The new anti-corruption law will reduce those improper activities."
Some lawmakers have praised the anti-corruption law, passed in March, which requires government and military officers to disclose their wealth to an anti-corruption body.
But critics say the law was passed hastily and that it contains disturbing amendments, including prison time for whistleblowers.
Various drafts of the law lingered in the National Assembly, the lower house, for 15 years before the bill suddenly went to the floor in March.
Despite the prime minister's assurances, Cambodian officials have in recent months issued increasingly bold warnings to donor governments and the UN, complaining of interference in internal matters when they urge officials to clean up corruption, halt arbitrary land evictions and curtail defamation lawsuits against opposition lawmakers.
In March, Cambodian foreign minister Hor Namhong threatened to have UN country head Douglas Broderick expelled after Broderick had requested the government spend more time drafting the anti-corruption law. The foreign minister called this an "unacceptable interference in the internal affairs of Cambodia" in a letter to Broderick. The UN has stayed silent on the issue.
Cambodian officials claim the country has been transformed from a war-torn pariah state to a politically stable destination for tourists and investors.
But activists say that is not enough. "The aid situation has done pretty well in infrastructure," Donald Jameson, a former US embassy official in Phnom Penh, told IRIN by telephone from Washington DC. "But there is very little being done about the quality of education, healthcare or corruption in the judiciary."
About one-third of Cambodians still live on $1 a day or less, according to government statistics.
Playing the China card
Some analysts contend that China, Cambodia's largest donor, is shaking things up by increasing the size of its aid packages each year, with few conditions. Cambodia now makes more decisions in the interests of China, observers say.
In December, Cambodia deported 20 Uighur refugees from Xingjian, a province in northwest China. The UN and US condemned the decision, claiming it was against international refugee law.
After the expulsion, China awarded $1.2 billion in aid and soft loans to Cambodia.
Thursday, June 03, 2010
CAMBODIA: Donors pledge $1 billion but criticise corruption
PHNOM PENH, (IRIN) - Donors pledged the largest aid package in Cambodian history this week while at the same time scolding the country for failing to implement various reforms.
Posted by jeyjomnou at 11:05 AM


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Police on Friday asked for the public's help to find the attacker of a 57-year-old good Samaritan who died after he was assaulted while he tried to protect a young child at a Hollywood McDonald's, officials said.
Gabriel Ortega was at a restaurant on the 1400 block of Vine Street abound 9:30 p.m. on June 18 when he saw a man yelling at a 3-year-old boy.
The attacker reportedly clenched his fist and walked toward the child. Ortega then stepped in front of the child to act as a shield and told the attacker to leave the child alone, police said.
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"Mr. Ortega, good Samaritan, trying to protect this child from this assailant stepped in front of him to prevent the perceived assault on the child, and (he) was assaulted by the assailant," LAPD Detective Steven Katz said.
The man then started punching Ortega before running away, officials said.
"The child was there with his family, but Mr. Ortega took it upon himself to prevent this aggressive action to the child," Katz said.
Ortega checked himself into the hospital for headaches and nausea on June 21, three days after the attack. He died July 14 as a result of his injures from the fight, and the coroner said his cause of death was blunt force trauma.
"There's a lot of crimes out here, but just for him to be brave enough to save a child, you know, some people would just let it happen," Hollywood resident Alia Muhammad said.
A sketch of the attacker was expected to be released next week. Anyone with information should called LAPD detectives at 213-382-9470.
Correction: An earlier version of this article stated Ortega was attacked July 14. Ortega was attacked June 18 and died July 14.