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Photo By: Bruce Barton/Town Crier
Ellen Clark of Los Altos is the organizer of the Run for Zimbabwe Orphans & Fair, scheduled March 24 this year.
Ellen Clark radiates positive energy and enthusiasm for helping children locally and half a world away.
The Los Altos resident and retired physical education teacher does just that with her longstanding pet project, the Run for Zimbabwe Orphans & Fair. In its 14th year, the event is scheduled noon to 4 p.m. March 24 at St. Joseph Catholic School, 1120 Miramonte Ave., Mountain View.
The "run" component features races for participants of all ages, while the "fair" includes food, live music and art and cultural exhibits.
Proceeds benefit the Makumbi Children's Home in Zimbabwe for orphaned children. Clark founded her own nonprofit group, the Sustainable Living Foundation, to support the event and Gardens for Paraguay, which sustains poor neighborhoods in that country.
"We've made our mission a lot more concrete this year," Clark said, wearing this year's official event T-shirt that celebrates the zebra. "Our mission is to inspire kids to keep fit, create beautiful art and help others. It's a kid-friendly mission statement."
Clark's event helps children locally and globally. Her passion for Zimbabwe, in particular, was inspired by her son Will's experience there as a member of the Peace Corps. Will reported home about the rampant poverty, disease and huge number of orphaned children, prompting his mother to take action.
Now every member of the Clark family is involved in the foundation. Ellen serves as president, Will is vice president, husband Bill is chief financial officer, daughter Kristen is cultural director, daughter Teresa is secretary and son-in-law Dave Ruminski is technology director.
Clark involves like-minded, philanthropic students as ambassadors for the day. This year's ambassadors include Megha Agarwal, a junior at St. Francis High School; Jade Perry and Carol Deng, Los Altos High seniors; Tenashe Choto, a sophomore at Mountain View High; and Jose Martinez of Foothill College.
Agarwal oversees the promotions. She said proceeds help Makumbi children with basic necessities like food, clothes and educational material.
"I'm proud to announce that last year, we brought in a grand total of $32,700, and we hope to match and exceed that amount this year," Agarwal said.
This year's event includes another shoe drive – 2,000 pairs were collected last year – and Clark is adding a book drive.
"We're collecting the best books (donated) – up to 40 pounds," Clark said of the drive, the proceeds of which will be shipped to the orphanage.
A little money goes a long way to help the orphans, Clark said.
"You only need $50 to clothe, feed and house one child for one year," she said.
"The Sustainable Living Foundation wants to make it easy to get involved, despite age, economic status or cultural background," Agarwal wrote in a promotional flier. "Whether you're interested in donating outgrown shoes, volunteering at a booth, making a simple donation or just running, there's something for everyone."
For more information or to register, volunteer or contribute, visit www.zimbabweparaguay.net.


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Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago is a parliamentary democracy governed by a prime minister and a bicameral legislature. Parliament also elects a president, whose office is largely ceremonial but with some appointive power. In the 2002 general elections, which observers considered free and fair, Prime Minister Patrick Manning's People's National Movement (PNM) secured a 20 to 16 seat victory over the United National Congress (UNC), breaking an 18 to 18 tie in Parliament and ending a 9-month parliamentary stalemate. The judiciary is independent.
The Ministry of National Security oversees the police service, prison service, and the defense force, rendering them responsive to civilian authority. The police service maintains internal security. The defense force is responsible for external security but also has certain domestic security responsibilities. An independent body, the Police Service Commission, makes hiring and firing decisions in the police service, and the Ministry had little direct influence over changes in senior positions. While the civilian authorities maintained effective control of the security forces, some members of the security forces committed human rights abuses.
Oil and natural gas production and related downstream petrochemical industries, including ammonia and methanol production, comprised the foundation of the market-based economy. The country's population was approximately 1.3 million. The service sector was the largest employer, although the industrial and construction sectors also were significant. Real Gross Domestic Product grew at 6.2 percent, while inflation was 4.75 percent. Wages generally did not keep pace with inflation. Favorable energy prices contributed to the overall well being of the economy.
The Government generally respected the human rights of its citizens; however, there were problems in some areas. There were police killings during apprehension and deaths of persons while in custody, poor prison conditions, and reports of police and guard abuse of prisoners. Violence against women remained a problem.
Section 1 Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom From:
a. Arbitrary or Unlawful Deprivation of Life
There were no politically motivated killings by the Government and its agents; however, 21 persons died during the year while in police custody or at the hands of police. Excessive use of force continued to be a concern.
On January 24, a police officer shot two unarmed men during an altercation at a Carnival party. One of the men died instantly, while the other man fled. In June, a Magistrate's Court charged the officer with manslaughter and released him on bail pending a trial.
On April 2, police shot and killed Galene Bonadie with an assault rifle. Bonadie reportedly was involved in a verbal altercation with police when an officer shot her in the head at close range. The Director of Public Prosecutions ordered an inquest into the incident, and the Homicide Bureau interviewed four policemen and six eyewitnesses. A trial was underway at year's end.
On June 13, Noel Stanley died in police custody after he was apprehended for alleged possession of marijuana. Stanley died in the emergency room 3 hours after his arrest. A postmortem found signs of beating and strangulation. The Homicide Bureau investigated the incident, and a final disposition was pending at year's end.
There were no developments in the 2003 case of Gideon Edwards, who was killed by police, or the 2003 case of Shaun McLeod, who died while in police custody.
b. Disappearance
There were no reports of politically motivated disappearances.
Criminal kidnappings continued to be a problem, with 165 reported incidents at year's end. Citizens especially were concerned with kidnappings for ransom, 28 of which occurred during the year; however, this total represented a considerable reduction from the 51 reported incidents in 2003.
c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
The Constitution prohibits such practices; however, there were credible reports of police and prison personnel mistreating citizens in incidents that involved beating and sexual abuse.
In April, Camille Mitchell claimed that she suffered a miscarriage as a result of police mistreatment during a search of her home. Mitchell was involved in a physical altercation with her cousin when the officer allegedly slapped her and slammed her into a chair.
Also in April, a Golden Grove Remand Center inmate claimed that prison guards beat him with a hose and sexually assaulted him with a wooden baton. The prisoner sued five officers and the Office of the Attorney General. The Commissioner of Prisons conducted an investigation and submitted a report to the Minister of National Security. Additional investigations were ongoing at year's end.
In June, Noel Stanley died in police custody after police officers allegedly severely beat him (see Section 1.a.).
In July, Danesh Mahabir sued police officials for assault and battery and unlawful detention that occurred in November 2003. During the incident, police allegedly knocked Mahabir to the ground, kicked him in the ribs, beat him with a baton, and slammed his hands in a car door. The suit was ongoing at year's end.
Prison conditions were harsh. Overcrowding was severe, particularly at the Port of Spain Prison, which held approximately 900 prisoners, although designed to hold only 250 inmates when it was built in 1812. Amnesty International (AI) reported that one cellblock held 114 prisoners in 10 feet by 10 feet cells, with upwards of 14 prisoners per cell.
Conditions were extremely unsanitary. Illnesses such as tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, conjunctivitis, and scabies spread easily. Waste for one cellblock was disposed of within 5 feet of the meal preparation area, and there were reports of insects infesting the entire facility. During the year, AI reported that conditions amounted to "cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment."
Conditions at the maximum-security prison in Arouca and the Golden Grove Remand Center also were poor. On two separate occasions, judges declined to sentence elderly convicts to prison terms, citing the risk of death due to unsanitary conditions and inadequate medical facilities.
The maximum security prison had an intended capacity of 2,400 persons but, due to a faulty sewage system and inadequate electronic security, held only 800 prisoners and did little to relieve the overcrowding in the detention system.
There was a separate prison facility for women, and conditions generally met international standards. The Youth Training Center held children between the ages of 15 and 19. Younger children were sent to the Boy's Industrial School.
Pretrial detainees were held separately from convicted prisoners, although they could be in the remand section of the same facilities as convicted prisoners.
The Government permitted prison visits by independent human rights observers, but the Ministry of National Security must approve each visit. Following prison visits during the year, members of the Criminal Bar Association threatened legal action if the Government did not take steps to improve prison conditions.
d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention
The Constitution prohibits arbitrary arrest and detention, and the Government generally observed these prohibitions.
The national police force is divided into 9 countrywide divisions, including 17 specialized branches, and had approximately 7,000 members. The Police Service Commission, upon consultation with the Prime Minister, appoints a Commissioner of Police to oversee the police force. Municipal police under the jurisdiction of 14 regional administrative bodies supplement the national service. A Special Crime Fighting Unit, composed of police and Defense Force personnel, conducted joint operations to combat violent crime, kidnappings for ransom, and other security issues.
Police corruption continued to be a problem. On at least two occasions during the year, police were apprehended with drugs, guns, and grenades and in connection with other illicit activities. An independent body, the Police Complaints Authority, received complaints about the conduct of police officers, monitored the investigation of complaints, and determined disciplinary measures where appropriate, including dismissal. However, Police Service Commission restrictions limited the authority's ability to dismiss police officers, and a large backlog of outstanding complaints eroded the public's confidence in this organization. Recent governments identified a need for reform because the commission inhibits how the commissioner and his senior staff may discipline offending officers operationally.
A police officer may arrest a person either based on a warrant issued or authorized by a magistrate or without a warrant when the officer witnesses commission of the alleged offense. For less serious offenses, the authorities typically brought the accused before a magistrate by way of a summons, requiring the accused to appear within 48 hours, at which time the accused could enter a plea. For more serious offenses, when the accused was brought before the court, the magistrate proceeded with a preliminary inquiry or, alternatively, committed the accused to prison on remand or allowed the accused to post bail until the inquiry. In practice, serious offenders also were charged within 48 hours following arrest.
The court may, and customarily did, grant bail to any person charged with any offense other than murder, treason, piracy, hijacking, or for any other offense for which death was the penalty fixed by law. In cases in which bail was refused, magistrates advised the accused of their right to an attorney and, with few exceptions, allowed them access to an attorney once they were in custody and prior to any interrogation. Police have the authority, under the Summary Courts Act, to grant bail to individuals charged with summary offenses. Detainees were granted prompt access to a lawyer and to family members.
The Minister of National Security may authorize preventive detention in order to prevent actions prejudicial to public safety, public order, or national defense, and the Minister must state the grounds for the detention. There were no reports that the authorities abused this procedure.
Lengthy pretrial detention, which resulted from heavy court backlogs and an inefficient judiciary system, continued to be a problem. On average, criminal indictees waited 19 months before going to trial, and some inmates had not seen an attorney for 3 years or more. In July, the Fourth Criminal Court acquitted Nicholas John and Keino Lewis of murder after they had spent 7 years in jail awaiting trial. In July, two men sued the Attorney General for false imprisonment and malicious prosecution after spending more than a year in prison on charges for which they later were acquitted. As of July, more than 17,000 matters remained outstanding before the courts, dating from 1998. Courts handled an average of 35 to 60 matters per day and 11,434 cases per year.
e. Denial of Fair Public Trial
The Constitution provides for an independent judiciary, and the Government generally respected this provision in practice. The judiciary provided citizens with a fair judicial process, albeit at a slow pace due to backlogs and inefficiencies. In a speech opening the annual law term, Chief Justice Satnarine Sharma described dilapidated court buildings unfit for proceedings, archaic rules, an antiquated court reporting system, poor caseload management, and slow, expensive, and inequitable access to justice.
The judiciary is divided into a Supreme Court of Judicature and the Magistracy. The Supreme Court is composed of the Court of Appeal and the High Court; the Magistracy includes the summary courts and the petty civil courts.
All criminal proceedings commence with the filing of a complaint in the summary court. Magistrates try minor offenses. For more serious offenses, the magistrate must conduct a preliminary inquiry. If there is sufficient evidence to support the charge, the accused is committed to stand trial before a judge and jury of the High Court. All civil matters are heard by the High Court. Both civil and criminal appeals may be filed with the local court of appeal and ultimately to the Privy Council in London.
The Constitution provides for the right to a fair trial, and an independent judiciary generally enforced this right. All criminal defendants have the right to an attorney and are considered innocent until proven guilty. In practice, the courts sometimes appointed attorneys for indigent persons charged with indictable offenses (serious crimes). The law requires the provision of an attorney to a person accused of murder. An indigent person may refuse to accept an assigned attorney for cause and may obtain a replacement.
There were no reports of political prisoners.
f. Arbitrary Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence
The law prohibits such actions, and the Government generally respected these prohibitions in practice.
Section 2 Respect for Civil Liberties, Including:
a. Freedom of Speech and Press
The Constitution provides for freedom of speech and of the press, and the Government generally respected these rights in practice and did not restrict academic freedom. An independent press, an effective judiciary, and a functioning democratic political system combined to ensure freedom of speech and of the press.
A Board of Film Censors is authorized to ban films that it considers to be against public order and decency or contrary to the public interest. This includes films that it believes may be controversial in matters of religion or race, or that contain seditious propaganda. In practice, films rarely were banned.
The Government did not restrict access to the Internet.
b. Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association
The Constitution provides for freedom of assembly and association, and the Government generally respected these rights in practice.
c. Freedom of Religion
The Constitution provides for freedom of religion, and the Government generally respected this right in practice.
There was no official state religion and the Government did not subsidize any particular religion. The Government limited the number of foreign missionaries allowed to enter the country to 30 per denomination. Missionaries must meet standard requirements for an entry visa, must represent a registered religious group, and may not remain in the country for more than 3 years at a time.
For a more detailed discussion, see the 2004 International Religious Freedom Report.
d. Freedom of Movement Within the Country, Foreign Travel, Emigration, and Repatriation
The Constitution provides for these rights, and the Government generally respected them in practice.
The Constitution prohibits forced exile, and it was not used.
In 2000, the Government acceded to the 1951 U.N. Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol, but the Government still had not passed legislation to implement obligations accepted under the Convention. The Government cooperated with the office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other humanitarian organizations in assisting refugees and asylum seekers. The Government placed asylum seekers in the care of a local nongovernmental organization (NGO) pending resolution of their cases, which were reviewed by the office of the UNHCR. Until Parliament approves the legislation, the Ministry of National Security's Immigration Division handled any requests for asylum on a case-by-case basis.
During the year, 13 individuals (6 Liberians, 5 Haitians, 1 Bangladeshi, and 1 Rwandan) requested asylum, and their applications were pending at year's end.
Section 3 Respect for Political Rights: The Right of Citizens to Change Their Government
The Constitution provides citizens with the right to change their government peacefully, and citizens exercised this right in practice through periodic, free, and fair elections held on the basis of universal suffrage. Citizens could freely choose and change the laws and officials that govern them. The most recent national election was held in October 2002, and observers found it to be generally free and fair.
The two major political parties were the PNM (primarily but not exclusively Afro-Trinidadian) and the UNC (primarily but not exclusively Indo-Trinidadian). Voters in the 2002 national elections supported the PNM, which retained control of the Government. The PNM has held power continuously since independence in 1962, with the exception of 1986-91 (National Alliance for Reconstruction) and 1995-2001 (UNC). The PNM's dominance was not due to government restrictions on the political opposition.
According to Transparency International, the perception of corruption in the country increased each year since 2001. During the year, the courts heard a case that implicated members of the then-governing UNC in embezzlement and bid rigging on the Piarco Airport expansion project. The proceedings were still ongoing at year's end.
The Freedom of Information Act provides for public access to government documents upon application. The Integrity in Public Life Act mandates that government figures publicly disclose their assets each year to an Integrity Commission. In 2002, former Prime Minister Panday was arraigned in Magistrate's Court under this Act in connection with alleged corruption that occurred during his tenure as Prime Minister.
There were 21 women in the 66-seat legislature; there were 6 women in the cabinet.
Both major political parties reached out to voters from relatively small ethnic groups, and members of these groups occupied significant positions in the Government. There were 6 members of minorities in the 66-seat legislature. There was one member of a minority in the cabinet.
Section 4 Governmental Attitude Regarding International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Violations of Human Rights
A number of domestic and international human rights groups generally operated without government restriction, investigating and publishing their findings on human rights cases. Government officials generally were cooperative and responsive to their views.
Section 5 Discrimination, Societal Abuses, and Trafficking in Persons
The Government generally respected in practice the constitutional provisions for fundamental human rights and freedoms for all without discrimination based on race, origin, color, religion, or sex.
Abuse of women continued to be a significant problem. Local NGOs estimated that abuse affected 20 to 25 percent of women, although there were no reliable statistics available. There was increased media coverage of domestic abuse cases and signs of a shift in public opinion, which previously had held that such cases were a private matter. The Domestic Violence Act provides for penalties, including fines and imprisonment, for spousal abuse. Police were somewhat responsive to reports of domestic violence, but NGOs reported a need for further reforms. The Government operated a 24-hour hotline for victims of rape, domestic violence, or other violence against women, which received calls and referred victims to shelters, counseling, or other assistance. The police service reorganized its community police unit, which had been trained especially to deal with crimes against women, attaching its members to regular units to train other officers and expand its reach.
Rape was illegal and punishable by life imprisonment, although the courts often issued significantly shorter sentences. Murder, rape, and other crimes against women were reported frequently, but NGOs estimated that many sexual crimes went unreported. Police generally were responsive to reports of rape; however, there also were many complaints of police insensitivity in dealing with rape victims.
Two government ministries, operating independently, directed the NGOs that ran most of the country's social programs addressing domestic violence, including eight shelters for battered women. A rape crisis center offered counseling for rape victims on a voluntary basis.
Prostitution is illegal, and the authorities continued to monitor and pursue prosecutions against persons charged with soliciting for the purpose of prostitution.
There are no laws specifically pertaining to sexual harassment, although related laws could be applied. Most cases of sexual harassment in the workplace went unreported.
Many women held positions in business, the professions, and government. Nevertheless, men still tended to hold most senior positions. There was no law or regulation requiring equal pay for equal work, and pay discrepancies existed. Women had equal inheritance rights, including after divorce or separation from their spouses. Women's attendance in primary and secondary school was equal to that of men's.
The Division of Gender Affairs in the Ministry of Community Development, Culture, and Gender Affairs was responsible for protecting women's rights in all aspects of government and legislation. Several active women's rights groups also existed, including the Women's Federation and Working Women for Social Progress.
A lack of funds and expanding social needs challenged the Government's ability to carry out its commitment to protect children's rights and welfare. Education was free, compulsory, and universal up to age 12. The Ministry of Education estimated that 89 percent of school age children attended school. Public education was available through age 20, and most students achieved the equivalent of a high school diploma. Some parts of the public school system failed to meet the needs of the school age population due to overcrowding, substandard physical facilities, and occasional classroom violence. The Government committed resources to building new facilities and expanded access to free secondary education.
Medical care for children was widely available, and both girls and boys enjoyed equal access.
The Domestic Violence Act provides protection for children abused at home. Abused children removed from the home were placed with relatives, government institutions, or NGOs.
The law establishes the upper age in the definition of a child at 18 years of age, abolishes corporal punishment for children under 18, and prohibits sentencing a person under 18 to prison.
Trafficking in Persons
The law does not specifically prohibit trafficking in persons; however, there were no reports that persons were trafficked to, from, or within the country. In the event of trafficking, perpetrators can be prosecuted under several related laws, with penalties ranging from 7 years' to life imprisonment. There were no prosecutions during the year. The Government had not designated a specific agency to combat trafficking in persons, and it sponsored no public awareness campaigns to address this issue during the year. Domestic NGOs handled the care and oversight of trafficking victims.
Persons with Disabilities
There was no discrimination against persons with disabilities in employment, education, access to health care, or in the provision of other state services. No legislation specifically enumerates or protects the rights of persons with disabilities or mandates the provision of access to buildings or services. The lack of access to transportation, buildings, and sidewalks was a major obstacle for persons with disabilities. The Government provided some public assistance and partial funding to a variety of NGOs, which, in turn, provided direct services to members or clients with disabilities.
The Office of the Prime Minister's Social Services Delivery Unit is responsible for addressing the concerns of the disabled community. In August, this agency held a consultation conference with members of the disabled community and other stakeholders to review the Government's National Policy on Persons with Disabilities.
National/Racial/Ethnic Minorities
Various ethnic and religious groups lived together peacefully, generally respecting one another's beliefs and practices. However, at times, racial tensions appeared between Afro Trinidadians and Indo-Trinidadians, each of which make up approximately 40 percent of the population. Indo-Trinidadians and persons of European, Middle Eastern, or Asian descent dominated the private sector. Indo-Trinidadians predominated in agriculture as well. Afro-Trinidadians were employed heavily in the civil service, police, and armed forces. Some Indo-Trinidadians asserted that they were excluded from equal representation in the civil service due to racial discrimination. Some Indo-Trinidadians also denounced the use of the Trinity Cross as the nation's highest award, claiming that its Christian motif was not representative of a multi-religious society.
Indigenous People
A very small group of the population identified themselves as descendants of the original Amerindian population of the country. The Government effectively protected their civil and political rights, and they were not subject to discrimination.
Section 6 Worker Rights
a. The Right of Association
The Industrial Relations Act (IRA) provides that all workers, including those in state-owned enterprises, may form and join unions of their own choosing without prior authorization. The IRA provides for the mandatory recognition of a trade union when it represents 51 percent or more of the workers in a specified bargaining unit. An estimated 18 percent of the work force was organized in approximately 25 active unions. Most unions were independent of government or political party control, although the Sugar Workers' Union historically was allied with the UNC.
A union also may bring a request for enforcement to the Industrial Court, which may order employers who are found guilty of anti-union activities to reinstate workers and pay compensation, or impose other penalties including imprisonment
b. The Right to Organize and Bargain Collectively
The law allowed unions to conduct their activities without interference, to participate in collective bargaining, and to strike, and the Government protected these rights in practice. However, employees in "essential services," such as police and teachers, do not have the right to strike. These employees negotiated with the Government's Chief Personnel Officer to resolve labor disputes. There are several export processing zones (EPZs). The same labor laws applied in the EPZs as in the rest of the country.
There were significant legal strikes during the year.
The Labor Relations Act prohibits retaliation against strikers and provides for grievance procedures through the Industrial Court. This court consisted of government, business, and labor representatives, and most observers considered it to be impartial.
c. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor
The law does not specifically prohibit forced or compulsory labor, including by children; however, there were no reports that such practices occurred.
d. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment
The minimum legal age for workers is 12 years. Children from 12 to 14 years of age may work only in family businesses. Children under the age of 18 legally may work only during daylight hours, with the exception of 16- to 18-year-olds, who may work at night in sugar factories. The Ministry of Labor and Small and Micro Enterprise Development and the Social Services Delivery Unit of the Office of the Prime Minister are responsible for enforcing child labor provisions. Enforcement was not consistent because there was no comprehensive government policy on child labor, and there were no specific systematic mechanisms for receiving, investigating, and addressing child labor complaints.
There was no organized exploitation of child labor, but a 2002 UNICEF study estimated that 1.2 percent of children from 5 to 14 years of age were engaged in paid work, and that 0.3 percent were engaged in unpaid work for someone other than a family member.
The Government ratified ILO Convention 182 on elimination of the worst forms of child labor in April 2003; however, it had yet to enact the relevant enabling legislation by year's end. In August, the Government held the inaugural meeting of the National Steering Committee on the Prevention and Elimination of Child Labour. The Committee was tasked with developing a comprehensive National Policy on child labor.
e. Acceptable Conditions of Work
The national minimum wage is $1.33 (TT$8.00) per hour, which did not provide a decent standard of living for a worker and family. Actual wages varied considerably among industries, and most workers earned more than the minimum wage. The Ministry of Labor enforced minimum wage regulations.
The Minimum Wages Act establishes a 40-hour workweek, time and a half pay for the first 4 hours of overtime on a workday, double pay for the next 4 hours, and triple pay thereafter. For holidays and days off, the act provides for double pay for the first 8 hours and triple pay thereafter. Daily rest periods and paid annual leave formed part of most employment agreements.
The Factories and Ordinance Bill sets requirements for health and safety standards in certain industries and provides for inspections to monitor and enforce compliance. The IRA protects workers who file complaints with the Ministry of Labor regarding illegal or hazardous working conditions. If it is determined upon inspection that hazardous conditions exist in the workplace, the worker is absolved for refusing to comply with an order that would have placed him or her in danger.

subset: commoncrawl


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Steve Conan Trustrum wrote:Sorry for not popping by to say anything for such a long time.
Everything is still in the works but has been slowed to a crawl by a number of things that have seen Misfit Studios overall put on a back burner for the moment, not the least of which is preparing to get married next month. I expect to be able to put a LOT more of my time back into Misfit Studios once I'm hitched. The first step will be converting over the more important 2e content, starting with Better Mousetrap, our main rules supplement.
Congrats on getting married!


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Recycle and Compost
Start Today! Then Recycle & Compost Everyday
The Blue Bin
It's easy! Glass, Aluminum, Paper and most Plastics can go right into the Blue Recycing Bins throughout campus. Acceptable recycling materials include:
- Metal: Aluminum cans, aluminum foil and trays (ball foil up to softball size), caps and lids from bottles, jars and steel (tin) cans
- Plastic Except those labeled "compostable." No plastic bags, wrappers or Styrofoam
- Bottles (leave caps on), coffee cup lids, containers and clamshells, cups and plates (plastic only, no styrofoam)
- Paper (Clean, dry and unsoiled)
- Computer and office paper, envelopes (windows okay), junk mail and magazines, newspapers
- Packing or kraft paper, phonebooks, sticky notes,
- Glass bottles and jars
The Green Bin
Any food, paper products, napkins, and a lot of other items can be composted! It's really amazing. Just add these to the Green Compost Bins throughout campus. Acceptable Green Waste Materials Include:
- Food Scraps (Anything that used to be alive)
- Bread, grains and pasta, fruit (pits and shells too)
- Coffee grounds with paper filter, tea and tea bags
- Dairy, Eggshells and eggs
- Leftovers and spoiled food, Meat (including bones), Seafood (including shellfish)
- Vegetables
- Food Soiled Paper
- Coffee filters
- Greasy pizza boxes, paper take-out boxes and containers (metal handle OK)
- Paper cups and plates, Paper ice cream containers
- Paper bags, napkins, tissues and towel
- Waxy paper milk and juice cartons (no foil liner, plastic spout OK)


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time for 2nd chances
Resident Critic
This could be Dangerous!
Because I got high
A figure clad in armor.
I feel like the year 2001 was an odd year in gaming. One of the first time where you really felt like the end of an era and the beginning of a new one was coming. Sony was gearing up to release the successor to the smash hit PlayStation and if you looked around the gaming scene, it seemed like every company was jumping ship to get on board what the PS2 could do. Square had released their PS1 swan song FFIX even though they would still support the PS1 with
You know the drill by now...
Lunar: The Silver Star Story,
Blah blah blah Top 100 blah blah blah too many good games to list. Blah blah blah, games that weren't good enough for my list but still excellent nonetheless.
So I did my Top 100 last year, and this year, I'm focusing on a few entries that didn't make the cut for one reason or another. I'll start off by saying that most of the games mentioned in this blog series are all worth playing, they simply just haven't enraptured me enough to place them on my List. I started with Demon's Souls, and i have about 24 more entries to go. I know I said it would be like four or five, but giving myself some time to think about it made me realize how many great games I
So as many people know, last year I did my Top 100 Games list, but as usual, there were a lot of games I loved that just didn't make the mark for one reason or another. I didn't really want to make a thread about it though, and figured the Blog would suit it better because there is likely only five or six games I wish to highlight here. I also feel annoyed I never use the Blog feature as much since it feels like a better platform for these types of discussions. In addition to these blogs, I do plan


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If Chris Nolan can save Batman from Joel Schumacher, surely he can save Superman from Bryan Singer -- Warner Bros. is counting on it.
The studio has asked Nolan to serve as "godfather" to its latest attempt to bring the Man of Steel to the silver screen, reported Deadline Hollywood.
"It would definitely not be a follow up to Superman Returns," a source told the website.
More important is that Nolan has conceived an idea for "Batman 3" and his brother Jonah, who penned "The Dark Knight," is at work on the script.
"Superman Returns" took in more than $390 million, but left most folks completely underwhelmed and almost entirely indifferent to a sequel.
Here are a couple of the major problems that Superman faces: 1) he's too damn powerful -- how many people can scare up some kryptonite? 2) his origin story is lacking any oomph -- yeah, his parents put him in a pod and launched him into space before his home planet exploded. But it's not as though the memory of that event haunted or inspired him. And 3) he's too much of a Boy Scout. Wholesome people are boring.
Supes joins the ranks of Spider-Man and Daredevil among heroes getting a movie makeover, a trend made more bizarre by the short wait between versions. Why can't studios let us have a few years to forget about Brandon Routh, Tobey Maguire and Ben Affleck?
Still, Nolan's touch could be just what The Last Son of Krypton needs.


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The outing was smaller than in recent years but the competition was as keen as ever. The IAWM-sponsored 2008 Mitchum Crock moved this year to Heartland Crossing in Camby, Indiana.
When the heat and humidity cleared, it was the team of Chip Timmons '96, Dave Orr '92, and Tim Rickard '08 who won the outing.
After golf and a BBQ dinner, IAWM president Daryl Johnson '82 welcomed the group and introduced head football coach Erik Raeburn and President Pat White to the group. Coach Raeburn talked enthusiastically about the coming year and President White echoed those remarks.
Dave Reed '89 and Hugh Vandivier '91, both members of the IAWM board, conducted the always popular raffle.
The proceeds fund the IAWM's operations for the coming year. Many thanks to Lee Clark '73 and his committee for another fine event.
For more photos, click here.


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We make some version of this smoke-scented crisp all summer long. We start with strawberries (and often rhubarb) in May. In late June we use peaches. In July and August we use local blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries. As summer segues into fall, we make crisps with apples and pears.
Step 1: Pick through the blueberries, removing any stems, leaves, or bruised berries. Wash as needed. Place the berries in a large nonreactive mixing bowl. Add 1/4 cup of the flour, the granulated sugar, lemon zest, and lemon juice and gently toss to mix. Spoon the blueberry mixture into the cast iron skillet.
Step 2: Place the gingersnap crumbs, brown sugar, and the remaining 1/2 cup of flour in a food processor fitted with the metal blade and process to a coarse powder. Add the butter and salt and pulse the processor until the mixture is coarse and crumbly. Do not overprocess. Spoon the topping over the blueberry filling.
Step 3: Set up the grill for indirect grilling and preheat to medium-high (400 degrees).
Step 4: When ready to cook, place the skillet with the blueberries in the center of the hot grate, away from the heat, and cover the grill. Toss the wood chips on the coals. Cook the crisp until the filling is bubbling and the topping is browned, about 40 minutes. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.
Variation: For an outrageously delicious variation, replace half of the blueberries (3 cups) with diced ripe peaches.
Steven Raichlen, a national barbecue treasure and author of The Barbecue! Bible, How to Grill, and other books in the Barbecue! Bible series, embarks on a quest to find the […]Read More →


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Unfortunately the Spring tooling we have in JDeveloper 11.1.2 and PS5 contains a bug where it will try to access the network for a .dtd in order to validate the xml files. If you are running the HTTP Analyzer you might see something like the following:
This is fine if you have a network connection, if annoying, but with a timeout of 5 minutes in some cases it can be really annoying if you are trying to work where you cannot see the internet as a whole.
We are going to use a feature of the HTTP Analyzer to use a recording of this response to pretend to be the service in question. For of all we need a log file that contains the response in question, so select the message and press the save button:
Then we have to create a Tape Rule which allows the analyzer to respond using messages from a log file in response to request to a particular URL:
You need to set up the rule as follows, note the reference URL is not part of the definition; but can be used to validate the rule filter settings.
And you should be good to go, next time you start up JDeveloper start the HTTP Analyzer first, and you should see that the messages are being provided by the tape rule rather than the network.
We don't have a handy way to start the analyzer when the tool does; so you have to be careful not to have any open editors. But for some cases this is going to be a useful workaround.


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Family Fun Festival
It's S'More Fun with the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts!
Girls and their families are invited to participate in this free Welcome Week event.
Create and eat your own edible fire Make and fly paper airplanes while learning about travel destinations Fashion a bracelet out of recyclable materials Learn about the Sundown Sing-Along, Museum of Science Overnights, Animal Tracks, Funky Fabrication, Kitty Tales and more! Bring a friend!
When: Thursday, Oct 21, 6 to 8 p.m.
(Note: This is an early release day for Framingham Elementary.)
Program Level: All levels or Juliettes in grades K-12
Category: Outdoor Adventures Camp, Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math, Creative Arts Location: Robinson Elementary School Cafeteria, 245 East St., Mansfield
Cost: Free for Scouts, Leaders & adults.


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Da-Pressed Coffee Cart
- Expired
- Southeast Portland
- Food Stands, Coffee & Tea
The coffee cart that charms you, warms your heart, and takes care of your mind, body, and caffeinated soul.Hot days are comin', Portlanders, and you know what that means: iced coffees, lazily walking through farmer's markets, and even a spontaneous hula-hooping session or two. Well guess what? We've got hula-hoops, we've got coffee, we even have those tasty vegan, raw-food balls with coconut and splendid fruits that are chewy and delicious. Wait: coffee, vegan super-food balls, and hula hoops? Where are these modern marvels, you ask? At DaPressed! The coffee cart that charms ya', warms your heart, and takes care of your mind, body, and caffeinated soul.
Tasha and Evan began their maiden coffee voyage at a Moab music festival where they picked up fifteen pounds of beans on the way and sold French- pressed cups to friends and hung-over festival goers alike. With such plentiful success and demand for their cups, they left with a mission and a vision: DaPressed, festival coffee in a cart. Two years later, you can find them on Belmont slinging brew from their very own roast. But wait! Walking through the Montavilla or OHSU farmer's market on a sunny afternoon with a hankering for raw food? There they are! Whip out your Scoutmob app and enjoy a fresh cup with the sunshine.
Menu Highlights:
Holy Kakow Mocha, 12 oz $3.50
French Press, 12 oz $2.50
Peacock Lane Smoothie, 16 oz $4.00
Green Ball! $1
Tuesday - Sunday, 8:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.


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Yuma County Arizona, 2010
From the Instar series
Website – ChristopherColville.com
Christopher Colville was born in 1974 in Tucson Arizona. After receiving his BFA in Anthropology and Photography from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri and MFA in Photography from the University of New Mexico, he returned home to the Sonoran Desert and is currently living in Phoenix, where he is a visiting Assistant Professor at Arizona State University. Christopher's work has been included in both national and international publications as well as recent solo and group exhibitions at the Griffin Museum of Photography, Rayko Photo Center, The center for Photography at Woodstock and the 2012 Noorderlicht Photo festival. Recent awards include the Humble Art Foundations 2009 New Photography Grant, an Arizona Commission on the Arts Artist Project Grant, a Public Art Commission from the Phoenix Commission on the Arts as well as an artist fellowship through the American Scandinavian Foundation.


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Discover the principles of DNA electrophoresis and how this technique is used in forensics, paternity testing and genetic testing. Suggested for teachers who have taken the Heredity and Genetics endorsement class or other courses from Genetic Science Learning Center.
What's in the Genes Toolbox?
This kit includes an electrophoresis chamber and power supply, dye samples to simulate DNA, complete instructions and sample scenarios.
Teaching Toolboxes include revelant curriculum tied to Utah State Core Curriculum Standards.


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|String Quartets from 27 countries, 31 US states!
Thank you to all who submitted their works for string quartet to our International Composition Competition! The evaluation process is now in progress, and we want to express our admiration and gratitude to all of you for your creativity and enthusiasm! Our mailbox has been full every day, and while we can not disclose the composers' names, we are happy to share the list of participating countries: USA, Greece, UK, Italy, Mexico, Hungary, Austria, South Korea, China, Canada, Bulgaria, Georgia, Norway, Germany, Turkey, Japan, Australia, Armenia, Finland, Poland, France, Croatia, Uruguay, Brazil, Belgium, Finland, The Netherlands, and Spain! In the USA, 31 states are represented: Texas, Minnesota, Connecticut, Virginia, California, Louisiana, New Mexico, Missouri, New York, Colorado, Michigan, Washington, Oklahoma, Indiana, Oregon, Illinois, Kentucky, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Vermont, Ohio, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Maryland, North Carolina, Maine, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Iowa, and, of course, our home state - Massachusetts! Thank you to all participants; and please come back soon for more competition updates, or connect at the Competition Page on Facebook!


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Height 6'3" / Weight: 305 lbs.
Age: 27 / Experience: 5
College: Maine
2012 Contract Status: Signed through 2012
2011 Analysis: When I hear pundits complain about the Jets defensive line and their inability to pressure on the QB, that's my barometer for their understanding of Rex's defense. Defensive linemen in the Jets scheme aren't primarily used to pressure, they are used to contain ... specifically the run. Once the run is contained, it sets up those chops-licking pass rush situations on third downs that Rex loves so much. Mike DeVito might not pressure the QB -- over his career he has just 1.5 sacks -- but to overlook his contribution to this team would be a foolish mistake. He's just as much a part of the defensive success as anyone. DeVito struggled to stay healthy in 2011, and that might be a concern for him going forward. Still, his role and his contributions can't be understated.
2012 Outlook: As important as DeVito has been to this team, and as much as Rex likes his contributions, if the Jets are hard-pressed for cap space, especially with a crop of young DL behind DeVito, they might consider cutting his salary in 2012 to make room for some other players. Personally I think the Jets will find a way to keep him part of this team in 2012, unless they are afraid his injuries will keep more off the field than on it.
Random Thought: 3.3 years is the average career for an NFL player. DeVito has played five years and has done so as an undrafted player, no small feat. I do worry that he might be starting to break down, and the Jets will have to take that into consideration this year, and going forward.


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Celebrating illustration, design, cartoon and comic art of the mid-20th century.
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Alex Ross' dark side
For approximately ten years, from the mid-forties to the mid-fifties, Alex Ross had a steady gig doing covers for Good Housekeeping magazine. That's an awful lot of cute kid paintings! One can imagine that an illustrator might become typecast by potential clients when one is so well known for doing such specific subject matter. but that didn't stop the good folks at Collier's from hiring Ross to illustrate their Nero Wolfe detective series.
And Ross did not disappoint: not only did he push the boundaries of his style by developing a more graphic, expressionistic approach, but he did not shy away from the kind of lurid, pulpy imagery that fans of the genre love. This facet of his work places Ross in my mind right up there with the always excellent James R. Bingham.
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Ant links to check out
"The latest edition of Linnaeus' Legacy is up at Greg Laden's Blog. This month's keywords: Not, a third of it is in Latin, now you get it for free, dahlias, something about the way, littlest sauropodomorph, martini, can of worms, Jocko, finches on mescaline, wench, tricks, oriole, parrots, bucket full of gasoline, extinction"
- Species compensation maintains abundance and raid rates of African swarm-raiding army ants in rainforest fragments
"Our study demonstrates that habitat fragmentation may have a differential effect on two ecologically highly similar keystone species. Moreover, it shows that species compensation might help in maintaining an important ecosystem function (i.e. raiding by swarm-raiding army ants) in fragmented tropical rainforests."
"According to research findings published in the journal Current Biology on Jan. 8, hydrocarbons on the outside cuticle of fertile ants form 'a particular chemical signature blend.' A cocktail that an ant apparently can't deny, cover up, or lie about and which brands a cheater much like the red "A" on the bosom of Hester Prynne in Nathaniel Hawthorne's 'The Scarlet Letter.'"
- Evolution of the Neotropical ant genus Linepithema by Alex Wild


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New Mexico Doctor of Physical Therapy Schools | DPT Schools
Potential Benefits of Doctor of Physical Therapy Schools – DPT Schools
Doctor of physical therapy schools typically award a DPT degree, or a doctor of physical therapy, which is required for those wishing to become physical therapists. If you're a caring person who seeks to help others recover from injuries and surgeries, deal with chronic conditions and ailments, and prevent future health problems, then DPT schools may be a great option for you. Plus, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects a 34% increase in the number of physical therapists for the years 2014 to 2024.[i] Therefore, this may be a perfect time to earn your doctorate of physical therapy degree! Earning your DPT degree on-campus could help you develop the potential skills necessary to enhance your career through hands on experience and in person training from your professors. Read on to learn more about DPT schools and find one that may be a great fit for you.
Doctor of Physical Therapy Schools: DPT School Basics
A doctor of physical therapy, or DPT, is the standard degree for those wishing to become a physical therapist and earn licensure. In fact, to create a standard of education and allow physical therapists to be recognized as health care professionals, masters of physical therapy degrees are no longer available. [ii]
DPT programs seek to provide students with the skills and knowledge to provide rehabilitative and preventative care to patients so they can remain active throughout their lives and recover from injuries. Students who have earned their bachelors or masters in physical therapy could expect to complete their program with 3 years of full time study. However, some doctor of physical therapy schools may offer a six or seven year program where students could earn both a bachelors degree and a DPT. Program lengths vary by school.
your DPT degree on-campus may have many benefits, especially for such a hands-on profession as physical therapy. Some courses may require working with human cadavers or performing other exercises that may not translate well to online settings. Plus, the social interaction and face-to-face communication with both your professors and classmates may be more intimate in an actual classroom, rather than through online video and discussions. This may help you solve problems in real time and work as a team.
Did You Know?
Hacky-sack started as a form of physical therapy when John Stalberger was introduced to the simple footbag in 1972. Immediately, he was stunned at how it worked as therapy for his injured knee.
Admission Requirements for DPT Schools
Most doctor of physical therapy schools require applicants to have earned a bachelors degree or a masters degree in physical therapy. Some DPT programs, may also require prospective students to have taken specific courses while earning those degrees, which may include topics like physiology, anatomy, and biology. Application requirements vary by school, so be sure to read program descriptions carefully and contact DPT schools through their listing for details.
The application process for DPT schools is a bit different than other graduate programs. Many doctor of physical therapy schools accept applications only through the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS). This helps schools and prospective students conduct the application process more efficiently. The PTCAS allows students to upload their complete application and official transcripts to the PTCAS website for many schools to view. Because schools may have different application requirements, the PTCAS also allows applicants to attach a number of other items, which may include references, GRE scores, TOEFL scores, and signed PT observation hours.
Doctor of Physical Therapy Schools: Common Coursework
To earn a DPT degree, students are typically required to complete coursework, lab study, and at least 30 hours of clinical work. Clinical work seeks to provide students with supervised, hands-on experience as physical therapists, and could be easier through an on campus program.[iii] Coursework often includes taking science courses and those focused on the human body. These courses may include, but are not limited to:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Kinesiology
- Human Anatomy
- Exercise Physiology
- Orthopedic Pathophysiology for Physical Therapists
- Biomechanics
Programs vary, so inquire with your preferred DPT schools for details.
Accreditation for Doctor of Physical Therapy Programs
While there are a number of regional accreditations for DPT programs, the most important national accreditation may be the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). That's because graduation from a CAPTE-accredited program is required to sit for the physical therapist licensing exam.[iv] This could therefore be an important consideration when choosing your DPT program. Accreditation ensures programs meet the increasingly high demands of the medical field and of the public.[v] It also helps foster an environment that encourages physical therapists to continue learning new techniques and practices throughout their career.
Potential Benefits of Earning Your DPT Degree
To practice as a physical therapist, you will need to earn a DPT degree from one of many accredited doctor of physical therapy schools and be licensed.[vi] This is arguably one of the biggest reasons students seek to attend DPT schools. Graduation from a CAPTE-accredited DPT degree program may ensure you have an understanding of physical therapy and the various tasks physical therapists perform.
Requirements to Earn Your Physical Therapy License
Licensing requirements vary state to state. However, in addition to having earned a DPT degree, all require you pass the National Physical Therapy Examination, which is administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy.[vii] For a national license, you must also be at least 18 years old and submit an online registration.[viii]
Individual states may have additional requirements. These could include, but aren't limited to, providing fingerprints, completing a criminal background check, and taking a law exam. Some states may also require a minimum age of 21 years, as opposed to 18. Check with your local state board for specific licensing requirements.[ix]
Physical Therapist Careers
The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts a dramatic increase in the number of physical therapists in the coming years. In fact, for the years 2014 to 2024, there is expected to be a potential 34% change in employment in this field. The baby boomer generation is likely to attempt to remain active as they age, which may require additional physical therapy services. It is also expected that more surgeries could be outpatient surgeries with patients later relying on physical therapists for rehab.i Why not start your journey to a potential physical therapy career today?
Find the Perfect Doctor of Physical Therapy School for You
You can begin your search for great DPT schools right here. Click on any of the sponsored listings on this page to learn more about individual doctorate of physical therapy degree programs. This may include specific courses, admission requirements, and faculty. You can also filter your search by location. When you're ready, request more information to find a perfect doctor of physical therapy school for you!
Sources:[i]bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physical-therapists.htm#tab-6 | [ii]apta.org/PTEducation/Overview/ |[iii]bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physical-therapists.htm#tab-4 |[iv]capteonline.org/WhatWeDo/ImportanceofAccreditation/|[v]capteonline.org/WhatWeDo/ImportanceofAccreditation |[vi]bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physical-therapists.htm#tab-4 |[vii]bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physical-therapists.htm#tab-4 |[viii]fsbpt.org/SecondaryPages/ExamCandidates/NationalExam(NPTE)/EligibilityRequirements.aspx | [ix]bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physical-therapists.htm#tab-4
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Hi, I have lost the powersupply of my E-MU proteus MPS.
Can somebody help me for the electr. diagram/circuit of the powersupply? Or other info?
On the photo of the original powersupply is listed only: Out CT 18V AC 1,5 amp.
But there are going three wires in the synths. Two to the on/of switch and one directly to the bottom of the print (probably the 'ground'?).
So I am wondering, what kind of AC transformer do I need? Probably a dual- trafo, but......2 x 18 V or 2 x 9 volt?
Interesting: the Proteus FX uses a singel 9 V AC powersupply.
Thanks for helping!


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File this under fun.
During the production phase of the Nokia Lumia 920, the hardworking folks who put together these remarkable devices quickly test out the camera, checking for colors and whether or not it even works. Sometimes though, they forget to delete the samples. Such is the case with Ryan J.'s phone, which still had a few photos and even a video clip on board.
Head past the break and catch a quick glimpse at the people behind your new toy.


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Water Damage Restoration Mount White offers 24 hours emergency response. Certified Carpet Flood Damage Specialist. We Fix Damaged Carpets Fast. Call on 1800307658 for instant booking.
Water Damage Restoration Mount White
If the carpet at your home has been damaged by the terrible broken floods or the damaged water pipes you can count on us to restore the life of your carpet. Whatever be the reason of your carpets getting and rugs getting doused with sewage-contaminated floodwater then your choices are limited to discarding it for health and safety reasons or it's best to opt to hire a professional flood cleanup company like magic cleaning services. If you have doubts about the flooding source, it's best to assume the water on the carpet is not clean and the carpet may contain hazardous substances or organisms. Don't think twice, just call us right away and allow our experienced staff to begin the carpet restoration process.
Follow these steps before our experienced staff members reach there to minimize further damage:
- If the flood has led to a broken pipe turn off the main water channel knob as quickly as possible.
- Unplug and remove electrical devices that may overrun with water. Do this only if it's safe.
- Don't walk on wet carpets as walking on the wet areas may further worsen the damage and push water further down the floor underneath it.
- Raise the level of the furniture so that flood water does not seep in. Raise the curtains and tie them up if possible.
- Source the dry areas in your house and keep them in mind for when our restoration staff arrives you can instruct them to move things to the dry area.
- Don't try to vacuum water as you might tend to electrocute yourself in the process.
- If the flood water damage is mixed with sewage do not turn on fans or air conditioning as this might aggravate the damage.
Services offered for flood damage carpet cleaning services Mount White by Magic cleaning Service Company
The water damage specialists at Mount White Flood Damage Carpet Restoration make optimum use of the latest technology and use customized chemicals to restore the life back to your flooded carpet to make it sparkling clean. Our flood carpet cleaning services include the following:
- Cleaning wet carpets
- Drying flooded carpet
- Emergency carpet cleaning
- Steam carpet cleaning Mount White
- Re-stretching and repairing of wet carpet
- Carpet and fabric protection
Other than the general carpet cleaning Mount White service we can also have hands on experience in upholstery and curtain cleaning which you can opt with carpet cleaning deals Mount White and avail the offer along with a complete comprehensive flood damage carpet restoration service. While restoring the damaged carpet due to the flood we work to remove waste water and unhealthy particles from carpets, curtains, upholstery and other fabric surfaces that are damaged around your property.
Carpet Flood Restoration Mount White
Your carpet is one of the most common things prone to accidents and emergencies. Flood and water damage is one of those emergencies need to be treated as soon as possible. An early and immediate treatment on flooded carpet can save your hundreds of dollars. Whether your carpets have endured flood or leaked pipes or backed sewer, such situations can lead to heavy and irreversible damage. But our team of professionals give you immediate services and do the best job in carpet flood restoration Mount White.
Method used to deep clean Flood damaged Carpet Mount White
We have a dedicated team of water removal experts at Magic cleaning service Mount White who uses state- of the -art industrial-strength carpet cleaning methods and tools to guarantee your flood damaged carpet is potentially free from spoilage and is restored safely from the wrath it faced during the floods.
Deodorizing and disinfecting: Our dedicated flood damage carpet cleaning service Mount White deodorizes and disinfects the flooded damaged wet carpet and repairs wet carpet using customized cleaning solutions. Depending on the installation of your carpet we may remove the carpet for deep cleaning and then reinstall it later after a thorough cleaning.
If in case the flooding is minimal and you choose to tackle the problem yourself, below mentioned are few tips which will allow you to handle the task with ease.
- Use a wet/dry vacuum system
- Make use of a dehumidifier to remove moisture
Lastly, you need to vacuum the carpet after it is thoroughly dry. If a musty smell persists you can sprinkle a bit of baking soda over the carpet. You need to work on it with a sponge mop and leave the baking soda treatment overnight. The process ends once you vacuum the baking soda out thoroughly the following day.
Carpet Restoration process Mount White
At Magic cleaning service we employ multiple flood water damage restorers to speed up the restoration process. It's a team effort where in one member of our staff starts by removing water by means of water extraction machines while the other members begin moving all valuables and furniture to dry areas as instructed by the family. Yet, another member starts the drying and dehumidifying process.
It's simply not enough to remove the visible water from a flood damaged home as the moisture that remains may develop bacteria causing germs and mold. Therefore drying and dehumidifying your flood water damaged home is a necessity.
We at magic cleaning services make optimum use of special tools to find and dampen the water dry from the hidden pockets of water underneath floor boards or between walls that may otherwise remain undetected.
So what are you waiting for? Call us now to restore the life of your flood damaged carpet. We are available for any kind of emergency carpet cleaning and have the bandwidth, experience and expertise that is needed to restore your carpet sparkling clean after it has been damaged from floods
Look no further and hire the best carpet restoration service providers Mount White now!
Our dedicated staffs of professional has hands on experience and expertise to continue with ease the restoration process and continue to monitor every day until it is complete. Drying and dehumidifying machines are moved as well when required.
We as a whole focus on restoring the look and feel of your house rather than just focussing on just the odour alone or removing the water from the damaged carpets of your home.
"Superb Experience"
Hygienic Water Damage Sydney Service
Location: Mount White, NSW Australia


text: The sea bath lies abandoned on a late autumn afternoon, with the sun setting. Walking from the odl town of Dragoer (Dragør), a fishermans village located some 15-16 km. south of Copenhagen, you will find the beach meadows (you might notice the geese) and the path to the sea bath. I have taken another panorama of the same location in the december cold.


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In trading on Tuesday, shares of Reitmans, Ltd. (TSX: RET-A.TO) were yielding above the 3% mark based on its quarterly dividend (annualized to $0.20), with the stock changing hands as low as $6.62 on the day. Dividends are particularly important for investors to consider, because historically speaking dividends have provided a considerable share of the stock market's total return.In general, dividend amounts are not always predictable and tend to follow the ups and downs of profitability at each company. In the case of Reitmans, Ltd., looking at the history chart for RET.A below can help in judging whether the most recent dividend is likely to continue, and in turn whether it is a reasonable expectation to expect a 3% annual yield.
Click here to find out which 9 other Canadian dividend stocks just recently went ''on sale'' and crossed into new yield territory »


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Compare cheap flights from Cagayan De Oro to Ashgabat
When is the cheapest time to fly to Ashgabat?
Flights to Ashgabat
Turkmenistan Airlines, the national carrier of Turkmenistan, has its headquarters in this city. It also offers flights from and to Ashgabat to various places overseas. Other airlines with direct flights here include Lufthansa, China Southern Airlines, Uzbekistan Airways, Turkish Airlines and fly dubai. Upon reaching the city, moving everywhere is also very easy with the presence of buses as the main mode of public transportation. The buses are organized well. Thus, it is a lot more convenient to take them.
Learning from Ashgabat's Museums
Take a look at all of Ashgabat's Museums; you might want to spend a week or so. To start with, you can check out the Turkmen Fine Arts Museum with various paintings and other impressive works of arts made by famous Turkmens. You can also check out the Turkmen Carpet Museum and enjoy the delight brought about by bright and colorful woven fabrics.
If you want to go historical, the Ashgabat National Museum has everything that you need. They also have interesting artifacts for you to see and learn from. Large mosques can also be found all over the city once you are done with the museums. Again, Islam is the dominant religion of the country. Hence, you will find lots of architecturally magnificent mosques.
You don't have to see these places in pictures only. Book cheap flights via Skiddoo now and enjoy everything that this city has to offer.
Temperature average in April
Rainfall average in April
30.9 mm
Cheapest time to fly to Ashgabat (ASB)
All prices refer to return flights to Ashgabat and include taxes and charges.
Our experiences customer support team is there to help you every step of the way.
With the Skiddoo Price Promise, if you find a cheaper price online we'll match it!
Popular flights to Ashgabat
- Flights from Manila to Ashgabat
- Flights from Cebu to Ashgabat
- Flights from Davao to Ashgabat
- Flights from Clark to Ashgabat
- Flights from Iloilo to Ashgabat
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- Flights from Kalibo to Ashgabat
- Flights from Cagayan De Oro to Ashgabat
- Flights from Tacloban to Ashgabat
- Flights from Tagbilaran to Ashgabat


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However late this week I've had someone whisper a possible destination to me. I know this may sound confusing to many, but to those who have picked up on some of this metaphorical pacing of corridors here at The Hedge & have written (as you do!) to let me know you are concerned, breathe a little easier. I'm hoping that this time next week my train will be pulling into a very familiar station. I know it sounds like code, but trust me on this & send me positive thoughts through the Bloggie Universe.
In the meantime I'm going to leave you with some Weekend Thoughts, an idea I've so blatantly knicked from one of my Bloggie heroes, the amazing Branford aka Uncle Beefy.
- Do I really need another pair of divine shoes from here, you bet I do!
- I admit to shedding a tear last night when Catherine Willows said goodbye here.
- Food & wine snobs invading the Hills on a weekend are driving me CRAZY!!
- Was it wrong to buy 3 identicals of these this week in 3 different colours & prints just 'cos the fit was FANTASTIC!
- I need to be careful Twitter doesn't usurp my first love.
- I still wonder what happened to Manhattan Transfer.
- Pinning is not a way of life.
- This is, & always will be, my favourite restaurant.
- I love my best friend more today than ever - 22 years of never, ever letting me down xx
- Does Bach's 10 Siciliano (Sonata for Flute and Harpischord n° 2) sound bloody good played on a bandonéon here - you bet it does, & I'm not afraid to argue the point!
- It is a very good thing that MOTH understood early in our relationship that to get me to agree to anything, he needs to plant the seed & walk away. I eventually come around.
- I would sell all the kids to black market slave traders for one of these.
It's the weekend dear Hedgies, so go enjoy!


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ComScore has been awarded the business after a competitive pitch against five other research specialists, including incumbent Nielsen. Picking up the business builds on comScore winning contracts to handle the national online metrics in Holland and Spain.
Established in February 2010 to provide a common, credible measure for advertisers online, the initial three year contract with Nielsen was hotly contested by some in the industry who believed comScore had stronger credentials, particularly in the US.
ComScore's pending appointment follows an industry consultation last year to establish a consensus on requirements for the years ahead.
Industry backers, including bodies, the Association of Online Publishers (AOP) and the Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB), are believed to have favoured comScore for its ability to measure all devices and locations, including mobile, while building on the basics of reach and frequency and providing greater customer training and educational support to the industry.
Dr Magid Abraham, president and chief executive of comScore, said he was "delighted" at winning the contract, calling it "recognition of our commitment to the region" and "continued investment and innovation in digital audience measurement".
He added: "Following our selection in Spain and the Netherlands, comScore will be the official online audience currency in three of the largest digital advertising markets in Europe, which collectively represent €1.7 billion ($2.2 billion) in display advertising."
For the remainder of 2012, UKOM will continue to develop its current product with Nielsen, including the assessment of the new hybrid measurement system.
At its launch, UKOM was widely welcomed for its ability to enable seamless cross-media planning and was lauded as a significant step for online advertising as it looked to expand display and video advertising alongside the ever-growing search market.
More than 70 media owners and agencies are full subscribers to UKOM, and governing bodies include the Institute of Practitioners in Advertisers (IPA) and the Incorporated Society of British Advertisers (ISBA).
Bob Wootton, director of Media Affairs at ISBA, said: "Advertisers need measurement that makes sense and is easier to compare across other marketing channels. We're excited to see the new measurement capabilities that comScore will deliver in 2013."
Follow Arif Durrani on Twitter @DurraniMix


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Davis can be strange and eerie at night. When murders of black crows fly overhead, thieves scurry about, and unless the fog rolls in, you can see stars. It can feel like Davis is the setting for a scary movie. Some people refer to night time as "dark time."
Once night comes along, the little bugs come out.
You run into these little critters scuttling all over Campus at night, as well as some spots Downtown. As evening falls, you may be in search of entertainment (especially in the summer when evening brings a drop in temperature) or somewhere that's still open to grab a bite to eat. This page is a place to assemble information about things that happen and things to do during night time, and, really, anything else related to the night. Most businesses in Davis close fairly early, so, whether you're in dire need of caffeine while pulling an all-nighter for tomorrow's exam, meandering around after last call, or simply bored out of your gourd, it's important that we all know what's open late and what our options are!
See also Events Board, Date Ideas, Bars, Gambling, Adventures, Davis Wish List, All-Nighters, 18 and Older and Study Spots.
Note that some restaurants have slightly different hours during summer.
Restaurants open past 10pm every night
- Applebee's - 1am Friday and Saturday, otherwise 11pm
- Burgers and Brew - 'til midnight Sunday through Wednesday, and 3am Thursday through Saturday
- Crepeville - 'til 11pm (but the kitchen closes at 10:30!)
- Cultivé Frozen Yogurt - open until 11pm daily
- Davis Graduate - Full Menu 'til Midnight (Mon-Sat)
- IHOP - 4am Wednesday through Saturday, otherwise midnight
- Open Rice Kitchen -3am Thursday-Saturday, otherwise midnight
- Quickly - Covell location closed; on-campus opening promised soon
- Redrum Burger - 'til Midnight every night
- Taqueria El Burrito - Sun-Mon until 11pm. Tues-Wed until 12am. Thu-Sat until 3am.
- Teabo Café -'til 2 am every night
- Woodstock's Pizza - Mon-Wed 1am. Thu-Sat 2am. Sun 12am.
- Yakitori Yuchan - 'til 11pm on Sun, Tues-Wed, and 1am on Thurs-Sat
- Yolo Berry Yogurt - open until 11:30 Sun- Thursday, 12am Friday and Saturday
- Wingstop - 'til Midnight every night
Restaurants past 10pm Some nights
- Bistro 33 - food 'til midnight Thursday through Saturday, College Night Thursdays bar open 'til 2am, otherwise 'til 10pm, open for breakfast Sat-Sun 8am
- Caffe Italia - 11pm Friday and Saturday
- The Hotdogger - until midnight Tuesdays, until 2am on Thursdays and Fridays
- Hunan - 10:30pm Friday through Saturday, otherwise till 9:30pm
- Original Steve's - 'til 11pm Friday and Saturday, otherwise till 10pm
- Red 88 Noodle Bar - open till 3am Wednesdays Nights-Saturday Nights.
- Round Table Pizza - 'til 10:30 on Fri-Sat., otherwise 10pm (Delivery only until 9:30pm!)
- Tako Korean BBQ Tacos - 'til 3am Thursday through Saturday
- Thai Canteen - 'til 2am Tuesday through Saturday, 10pm Sunday and Monday
Fast food past 10pm
- Baskin Robbins - 11pm on Friday and Saturday
- Burger King - 'til 1am drive-thu/till 12am dine-in Fri-Sat, otherwise midnight drive-thru/11pm dine-in
- Carl's Jr. - (East Covell Boulevard location) 11pm
- Del Taco - 24hr Drive-thru
- In-N-Out - 1:30am on Friday and Saturday, otherwise 1am
- The Inconvenient Store - snack shop, open till midnight every night
- Jack in the Box - 24hr Drive-thru, 3am dine-in
- McDonald's - (Chiles Rd. location) 'til 11pm, drive-thru open 24 hours
- Ohana Hawaiian BBQ - **Open until midnight every night during summer** Sat- Wed 'til midnight; Thur& Fri 'til 1 am
- Taco Bell - 'til 1am
Delivery past 10pm
- Lamppost Pizza - Fri and Sat until 10:30pm (530) 758-1111
- Original Steve's - 'til 11pm Friday and Saturday, otherwise 'til 10pm (530) 758-2800
- Pizza Guys - 10am to Midnight Fri. and Sat., otherwise 10am to 11pm (530) 758-8888
- Woodstock's Pizza - Mon-Wed 1am. Thu-Sat 2am. Sun 12am. (530) 757-2525
- Domino's Pizza - 12amSun-Thurs 10:00am-2:00am, Fri-Sat 10:00 am-3:00am
Places to study past 10pm
- 24 Hour Reading Room
- Mishka's - 11pm
- Red 88 Noodle Bar - perfect place to study on Sunday-Tuesday nights
- Study Parties - 24 hours
- Temple Coffee Roasters - 11 pm (located on G and 3rd St, Davis)
Outside Davis Late-night
If all the restaurants in Davis are closed, you can still go outside Davis. But where to go...? Here's some ideas
(See also: Bars and avoid the taboos.)
- Irish Pub & Coffee House - (Winters) Friday and Saturday night
Food outside Davis past 10pm
Interesting Fast Food Joints
- Sonic - (Woodland) Open till 2am
- Adalberto's Mexican Foods - (Sacramento) - 24hr
- Carolina's Mexican Food - (Sacramento) - 24 hr
- IHOP - (Dixon) 24hr - Study friendly
- Denny's - (Dixon) 24hr - Study friendly
- Denny's - (West Sacramento) 24hr - Study friendly
- Denny's - (Woodland) 24hr - Study friendly
- Original Mel's Diner - (Vacaville) 24 hours - Not too study friendly
- Baldo's Mexican Food - (Vacaville) 24 hours
Get cultured!
- Catch a show at the Mondavi Center! Tickets are half off for students, plus the facility is amazing.
Random things to do past 10pm
- Arboretum - 24 hours
- Big People's Park - 24 hours (not officially, but it's a park!)
- Rocknasium - Mon.-Fri. 'til 11pm
- MU Games Area - Open 'til 2am Friday and Saturday night, Sunday through Thursday 12am
- Find a house show
- Wander around The Green Belt
- Walk between campus & G Street (btwn 2nd & 3rd) without using 2nd & 3rd...
- Poker - 24 hours
Any 24 Hour convenience store (e.g.: AM/PM,
Longs DrugsCVS, Fast and Sleazy)
- Sex
Watch the Game - Sports Bars
- The Graduate - 'til 2am
- Joey B's - (Sacramento)
- Sidelines - (Sacramento)
- G Street WunderBar
Haunted Houses
- FearOverload Haunted House - Open late on October nights.
- Woodland Corn Maze - Haunted Maze Friday and Saturday Nights in October
- MU 'til 12am Friday and Saturday night, Sunday through Thursday 11pm
- G St. Wunderbar - 'til 2am
- The Graduate - 'til 2am
Table Tennis
see Pool Tables
Video Games
- G St. Wunderbar - 'til 2am
- The Graduate - 'til 2am
- MU Games Area - Open 'til 1am Thu-Sat, midnight Mon-Wed, 11pm Sunday
- Original Steve's - 'til 11pm Thursday through Saturday, otherwise till 10pm
- MU Games Area - Open 'til 1am Thu-Sat, midnight Mon-Wed, 11pm Sunday (not really DDR, it's actually Pump It Up).
DDR stands for Dance Dance Revolution. It's very amusing video game to watch.
Air hockey
- MU Games Area - Open 'til 1am Thu-Sat, midnight Mon-Wed, 11pm Sunday
- The Graduate - 'til 2am
also see Trivia Nights
- Sophia's - Tuesdays, 9:30pm
- Streets of London Pub - (Sacramento) Sunday
- Bonn Lair - (Sacramento) Sunday
- Bistro 33 - "Pub Quiz" Mondays 8:30pm
- Woodstock's Pizza - Thursdays, arrive at 8:30pm, begins at 9:00pm
- G Street WunderBar - Monday
Almost all Casinos are open all night long, and most card rooms are at least open till 2am. See Gambling
See Gyms.
Movies & Video Stores
Video Stores
See Video Stores
Free Movies
International Film Series at International House
Theatres with Late Films
There are mainstream movie theaters in Sacramento that have shows at late as 10:40, but that's only about 20 minutes later than Davis shows films. However, there are a lot more movies playing late out there. Perhaps the best option is to rent a movie for now. Unless someone has better information....
- Crest Theater - (Sacramento) Occasional weekend films at 11pm and midnight. See the Crest Theater home page.
- Century Sacramento 6 Drive-In - has second moving showing around 1130pm.
Go to the Mondavi Center
- Catch a show at the Mondavi Center. Tickets are half off for students.
(see also Dancing)
DJ (Pop / Hip-hop Dancing)
- Woodstock's Tuesday night - Drum and Bass, Jungle, and much more.
- The Graduate - Wednesdays-18 & Over. Thursdays-21 & Over
- KetMoRee - Thursday, Friday, Saturday nights. Video DJing on Thursday nights.
- G Street WunderBar
Salsa Dancing
- The Graduate - Tuesday night
- Club 21 (Sacramento) - Friday night
- Avalon (Sacramento) - Saturday night
- Harlow's (Sacramento) - Sunday night
Country Dancing
- The Graduate - Friday, Saturday and Monday Nights
Swing Dancing
- http://daviswiki.org/Davis_Swing_Dancers — Lessons and free dancing every Monday night while school is in session.
- www.sactownswing.com
- MidtownStomp.com — Live bands($10) about twice a month (DJ'd nights are $6), free beginning lessons included
Erotic Dancing
- The Graduate - All-Male Revue on Occasion.
Live Music
- Catch a show at the Mondavi Center. Tickets are half off for students.
- 194 Chem - DMS shows can also be held here if the CoHo is already booked or if they just feel like being "lecture core" for a night.
- CoHo - DMS shows are regularly held here
- Delta of Venus — Every other Monday: Open Mic Night, Thursday & Friday: Down at The Delta (folk music hosted by Michael Leahy. Occasional touring rock bands and miscellany.
- Froggy's - Wednesday Night
- G Street Pub - Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday Nights
- Palms Playhouse (Winters) - Nightly
- Sophia's - Thursday, Friday and Saturday Nights (April-October)
- Sudwerk - guitar player is on the patio on Friday's during dinner
- Occasionally: Soga's, Delta of Venus,
- G Street Pub - Tuesday night
- Irish Pub & Coffee House - (Winters) Friday and Saturday night
- Woodstock's Pizza - Wednesday night at 9:00pm.
Open Mic Night
- Delta of Venus - Every other Monday, call in the morning to get on the list.
- G Street Pub - Tuesday night
- Borders - First Friday of the month
- Sudwerk - (please fill in day)
- Bistro 33 - Open Night for Poetry and Music every 2nd and 4th Tuesday
- Birdstrike Theatre- Live Comedy Improv every other Friday night during the school year
- Historic City Hall Comedy Club- Tuesday Night - first and third of each month
Happy Hour
This guide was originally prepared by jr for the November 2004 King Hall Advocate, and has grown substantially since then.


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"Hoarders" television personality and Clutter Cleaner owner Matt Paxton met this week with ServiceMaster Clean and Restore franchisees and staff at the ServiceMaster Training Academy to discuss their newly formed partnership and examine hoarding, which has been officially listed as a mental disorder by the American Psychiatric Association.
"Hoarders" TV personality and Clutter Cleaner owner Matt Paxton met this week with ServiceMaster reps.
(Submitted Photo)
Paxton and Clutter Cleaner recently partnered with Memphis-based The ServiceMaster Co.'s Clean and Restore divisions to expand the reach of specialized hoarding and estate cleaning services on a national scale. Between 5 million and 14 million people in the U.S. are compulsive hoarders.
"For hoarders, it really is not about stuff. Hoarding is an emotional disorder that manifests itself out as trash. A hoarder is generally a very caring person," said Paxton, who offered training and insight to help attendees better understand the mindset of hoarders. "For the past seven years, we've traveled the country, cleaning thousands of houses and helping families."
As the TV show "Hoarders" grew in popularity over the past six years and awareness of hoarding increased, Richmond, Va.-based Clutter Cleaner began fielding more job inquiries, reaching more than 1,000 requests per month that it could not handle due to its size. So Paxton began searching for a partner with an established network to help more people in need.
"One of the things that we are always looking for are service expansion opportunities, ways to identify new customers," said Bobby Lewis, ServiceMaster vice president of innovation and project management. "Our partnership with Clutter Cleaner is a co-branded, co-marketed deal because we see strength in both brands. Matt brings more than eight years of experience dealing with hoarders, and we see this as a growing segment and an opportunity to more effectively service those people."
Lewis feels the partnership differentiates itself from other services due to a focus on helping the person get help with their problem. Clutter Cleaner takes each customer through a checklist to examine their hoarding and figure out ways to break the habit before the job is submitted to ServiceMaster.
"Our approach is to get to know the hoarders and their families, and then tailoring solutions around their emotions and not their stuff," said Paxton, who spends 10 to 20 hours with families before cleanup begins. "There's no way to cure hoarding just by taking the stuff out of the house. If you don't get therapy of some kind and you don't deal with the mental side of it in some way, the house absolutely will fill back up."
Clients are guided to local therapists, social workers and adult protective agencies to help address their disorder.
"There's always a reason the hoarding starts. Usually something tragic happens as a trigger, such as depression or grief from loss of a job or family member, some sort of abuse, or divorce," Paxton said. "I've never really met a bad hoarder. They are usually good people that something bad has happened to. Every hoarder starts out with a normal, clean house and a happy life."
He is seeing the problem of hoarding advance as technology increases, with people able to stay shut in their homes while consuming more and more online and through television.
There are hoarders of all ages and backgrounds, and they save everything from papers, tools, clothes, antiques, collectibles, food, and other items from everyday life to animals, animal feces, trash and dirt, creating dangerously unsanitary living conditions.
Hoarders are classified from Level 1 to Level 5, with Level 5 often including extreme depression leading to major structural damage of their homes like severe mold, odors, bugs and cobwebs, and entire floors and rooms being blocked off. A Level 5 hoarder struggles with daily tasks such as eating, sleeping and using the restroom.
"When I started Clutter Cleaner seven years ago, the average duration to fill a house was 20 years, and it's now probably 10 to 12 years," said Paxton, who appeared on roughly 60 of the 80-plus episodes of the popular TV show during its six-year run, which ended earlier this year. The show is now in syndication and is just debuting in some countries.
A couple of memorably extreme jobs for Paxton included removing 18,000 used and recycled adult diapers from one home and removing 300 cats from one 1,800-square-foot home.
A typical clean-up cost of a compulsive hoarder's home is estimated to average between $12,000 and $18,000, and Paxton explained that, overall, very little of the stuff is actually thrown away, with most being donated, sold or recycled.
ServiceMaster Restore currently has more than 1,000 franchisees, and Lewis expects that number to grow thanks to the new partnership.
"We are already seeing interest because of the partnership," he said. "We have a plan over the next three years to certify and train 150 of our franchisees, and the idea is to be operating in partnership with Clutter Cleaner in 150 markets over three years."
ServiceMaster is also making an investment this year to put some of its products on retail shelves, and as part of the new agreement Paxton will serve as a spokesman.
Both sides hope that a potential new TV show, being pitched now by Paxton, could help to widen the footprint of the partnership even further in the next couple of years.
Copyright 1995 -
by The Daily News Publishing Co. Inc. - All Rights Reserved


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Sunday, April 12, 2009
What To Bring for Dessert: Key Lime Squares
Last week, my younger brother asked me to make lemons squares for our family's Easter dinner. It is not everyday this man asks me for something, so I was happy to oblige. Truth be told, I have some residual guilt issues from when we were kids. He is six years younger than me, which is a lifetime when you're under the age of fifteen. Of course, like any little brother, we thought of him as a bit of a pest and a baby. He was always several steps behind following my sister and I around on his bike. Of course, my parents expected that we "watch" him and my dad threatened that we better be nice to our brother because one day he would take care of us. Ha! As if. Of course, we highly doubted that the little ankle biter could one day be in a position to help us outside of the times we conscripted him for spa mud mask nights and to do our household chores.
These days, my brother and I get along quite well. There are no more mud masks but he still does do the occasion household chore. (He shovelled the snow off our driveway during the winter when we were out of town. Yeah, he's a pretty good brother.)
I came across a bag of key limes and decided to modify the recipe a little. Key limes are tiny, tart limes made famous by that fluffy, cloud-like pie of the same name. Key limes are not the easiest to juice especially if you have large, clumsy hands, but a reamer with a pointed end and some patience will help. Of course, my intentions were good but as I juiced lime after tiny lime, I cursed my brother underneath my breath. It took about half an hour to juice enough limes for these squares, but based on the rave reviews I had last night, they were worth it. These key lime bars are smooth, tangy, sweet and crumbly. A perfect ending to a great meal.
Key Lime Squares
1 1/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
4 tbsp butter, melted
1/4c icing sugar
1 tsp lime zest
1/2c + 2 tbsp key lime juice
1 can condensed milk
2 egg yolks
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 8" square baking pan. Place a sheet of parchment paper on the bottom of the pan allowing for a two inch over hang on both sides. (This will facilitate removing the squares from the pan for serving later.)
2. Mix the cookie crumbs, icing sugar, lime zest & melted butter. Mix well and pour mixture (bit by bit) into the prepared pan. Press down firmly and evenly including about half an inch to an inch on the sides. (I have found that I don't use all the crumbs and I prefer less crust to more.)
3. Bake for approximately fifteen minutes until golden. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack for at least half an hour or entirely cool.
4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. To make the filling, whisk the egg yolks and condensed milk together until fully incorporated. Add key lime juice and mix well.
5. Carefully pour mixture onto cooled crust, smooth surface with an offset spatula and bake for 20-25 minutes until the filling is set.
6. Remove from oven and cool on wire rack. When completely cool, refrigerate until ready to serve.
7. To serve, lift both side of parchment and carefully pull the dessert away from the baking dish. Set on a sturdy cutting board and cut into squares and serve.
14 comments:
- Christina Kim said...
What a lovely modification! Key limes have such a lovely flavor, I bet these taste so good!!!!
- April 12, 2009 at 7:17 PM
Am so gonna make this when the weather warms up. Did u try zapping the limes for 20sec in the microwave before juicing? May help.
On your recommendation, scoped out Sanko..what a fun store and so happy to find sushi grade fish and sea urchisn(umi??). Any yes, microplane @ T. Phong is a bit cheaper. Also went for dinner at "New Sky" across the road...my god, great food and great prices, plus free soup and dessert!
- April 12, 2009 at 10:48 PM
- Dimah said...
That looks amazing! thank you so much for the recipe.
- April 13, 2009 at 7:05 AM
- Hungry Gal said...
@ Christina
Thanks! They tasted mouth-puckering amazing.
@ Chris
Glad you made your way to Sanko. I love that place. I could spend hours there. Tap Phong is great but I think Sanko has great Japanese ceramics and pottery - if you're into that sort of thing... If you really want good sushi - you should check out Zen Sushi (www.zenjapaneserestaurant.com) on the other side of town... authentic and simply amazing. The udon noodle soup has the best umami flavour I have ever had. (BTW Sea urchin = uni and I love that, too)
@ Dimah
Thanks for dropping by. I love your blog BTW - with your delicious, mouth-watering treats.
- April 13, 2009 at 9:16 AM
- Pearl said...
hi there! i found your blog through foodgawker... couldn't resist once i saw that photo of the key lime squares! my goodness - what a lucky brother :)
- April 13, 2009 at 9:50 AM
My family and I are Key West Conchs through and through and I'm so happy to see that someone understands that when something has "Key Lime" in the title they should actually have key limes in them.
These look amazing and I'm sure they taste amazing. Am definitely trying them soon!
- April 13, 2009 at 1:21 PM
- Hungry Gal said...
@ Pearl
thanks for dropping by and saying hi.
@ Nicole
When I was a wee one, I didn't know that there were "key limes" were different from other limes. But these little orbs are so distinctive that once you try them, there is no mistaking it for a regular lime. You are forever changed :)
- April 13, 2009 at 7:40 PM
Perfect timing! I went grocery shopping right after I read your blog and there in the produce aisle where bags of key limes! The recipe looks easy enough to try with kids. Sofia likes lemons so she should like key limes or "baby green lemons" as she's been calling them.
- April 13, 2009 at 9:18 PM
- Hungry Gal said...
@ Linda
The recipe is really easy. The only thing is I would reduce the key lime juice because these were really tangy... maybe for a child's palate - I would reduce the amount of lime juice by at least two tablespoons... Add a little, taste, and add more as necessary.
- April 14, 2009 at 9:05 AM
- Kevin said...
A garlic press works great for juicing key limes.
- April 14, 2009 at 10:12 AM
- Hungry Gal said...
@ Kevin
Thanks for stopping by.
Funny you should mention that... I was thinking a garlic press would be do the job... if only I had one. :)
- April 15, 2009 at 7:00 PM
- Justin Schwartz said...
yum. you "came across a bag of key limes"! I can never find those in my local supermarket.
- April 16, 2009 at 2:00 PM
- Pearl said...
thanks for visiting my blog :) quick question: if you don't have a blender.. what appliance do you use to make nut butter? i tried using my mini food processor and it froze up.
- April 19, 2009 at 6:07 AM
- Hungry Gal said...
@ Justin
What can I say? I kept my eyes open and they were just there.
@ Pearl
I have 2 food processors - a mini one for light jobs and a heavy duty 12-cup one. It makes swift work of nuts.
- April 19, 2009 at 12:33 PM