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HIV-HCV Care at Mount Sinai
As highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) has improved and extended the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C virus (HCV) and the liver disease that it can cause has become an increasing problem. HCV co-infection is responsible for a five-fold increase in hospitalizations and has become a leading cause of complications and mortality in HIV-infected individuals. Liver diseases resulting from HCV infection are responsible for 50 percent of all deaths of people living with HIV/AIDS in the U.S.
As a leader in care of those affected by HIV and liver diseases, Mount Sinai has exceptional resources for patients co-infected with both HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV). Mount Sinai physicians and researchers have published numerous scientific studies that have made major contributions to our understanding of HIV as well as to the development of treatment and prevention strategies.
Historically Mount Sinai has been a leader in the study and care of liver diseases:
- Hans Popper, known as the father of hepatology (the study of the liver) was a Mount Sinai physician.
- Mount Sinai performed the first liver transplant in New York State.
- Mount Sinai is the only hospital in New York with a division devoted exclusively to the treatment of liver diseases
Mount Sinai's HIV and liver disease experts work together in a variety of settings to provide integrated care for co-infected patients.
HIV and liver disease specialists, mental health providers, and social workers provide coordinated care. When it is necessary, liver transplant and liver cancer teams, are brought in to provide essential expertise and services.
Mount Sinai infectious disease and liver disease doctors also conduct clinical research for HIV and hepatitis C co-infection. These studies offer patients access to experimental treatments not yet available elsewhere.


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Friday 25 January
|Incilius (1)
The golden toad has not been seen since 1989, and is believed to be extinct (1). This toad displays extreme sexual dimorphism; males are a brilliant orange colour but females are dark and mottled with yellow-edged red blotches. Females also tend to be slightly larger than males. In juveniles, however, the sexes cannot be determined as they are very similar (2).
Very little is known of the natural history of this species (2). It is active in the day, and breeding is confined to a short space of time between April and June during the rainy season (2). Huge numbers of golden toads once gathered at temporary pools of water, and as the males outnumbered females by 8:1, competition for females was fierce. Once a male forms a bond with a female, the pair are said to be in 'amplexus'; the male clasps the female tightly with his forearms around her back until they mate. During this time the male may face harassment from non-paired males trying to gain access to the female (2). Females produce 200 to 400 eggs, after hatching the larvae remain in the pool for about five weeks before metamorphosis into the terrestrial form occurs. It is thought that this toad feeds on small invertebrates, and may live underground at certain times of the year (2).
This species was known from a small area of undisturbed montane cloud forest in northern Costa Rica, Central America. This region has been designated as the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve (2).
The golden toad inhabits wet montane forest at 2,000 to 2,100 metres above sea level (2).
The population of golden toads underwent a massive crash in 1987 (2). A few individuals were found up until 1989, but the species has not been seen since then (2). Twenty out of 50 species of frogs and toads (anurans) occurring within a 30 kilometres squared area in Monteverde disappeared after synchronous population crashes in 1987, and have shown no sign of recovery (4). The area is pristine and free of direct human influences (5), a number of reasons have been proposed to explain the decline, including fungal disease, and climatic changes (4) (6).
The probable extinction of the golden toad reflects the current worldwide decline in amphibian populations. The more subtle effects of human activities on the world's ecosystems such as the build-up of pollutants, the decrease in atmospheric ozone, and changing weather patterns are beginning to take their toll. Amphibians may be our first and only early warning that these effects are starting to reach catastrophic levels (7), and may be the first sign of impending ecosystem crashes (6). In 1991, the Species Survival Commission of the IUCN established the Declining Amphibian Populations Task Force (DAPTF), which later merged into the Amphibian Specialist Group, which aims to raise money and promote research into the global amphibian decline (7).
For more information on global amphibian declines see:
Authenticated (28/07/03) by Andrew Gray, Curator of Herpetology, University of Manchester.
Image credit
© Michael & Patricia Fogden
Sue Fogden
Fogden Wildlife Photographs
Flat 1
78 High Street
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 1876 580 777
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Rhine & Rhône Revealed with 1 Night in Marseille (Northbound) 2021
Rhine & Rhône Revealed with 1 Night in Marseille (Northbound) 2021
Operator: Avalon Waterways
Ship: Poetry II
Starts: Marseille, France on Mon, Apr 26, 2021
Ends: Amsterdam, Netherlands on Tue, May 11, 2021
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*Book a select 2020 Avalon Europe or Mekong river cruise (excluding 2020 Oberammergau) and get the standard prepaid cruise gratuities included for the full length of the cruise portion of the vacation. Booking must be made, under deposit and discount applied between January 1 and December 31, 2020 for travel commencing between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020. Combinable with other current promotions. Applies to new 2020 bookings only. Must mention promotion code ENSGRAT20. Offer reliant on space availability. Not applicable to groups or custom tours. Full cancellation penalties will apply. Additional restrictions may apply; see Travel Terms & Conditions for details. May be withdrawn at any time.
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Immerse yourself in French and German culture on this fabulous European river cruise vacation along the Rhône, Saône, and Rhine Rivers. Begin with an overnight in captivating Marseille, and relax along the remarkably blue water of the Mediterranean Sea. Embark on the Rhône River to Arles, France—famous for inspiring the paintings of Van Gogh and the site of its 1st-century Roman Amphitheater. Take a guided walk in Tournon, a medieval treasure beautifully nestled among vineyards. Lyon is a showcase of medieval and Renaissance architecture. Disembark and travel to Beaune, visit the Hôtel Dieu charity hospital before proceeding to Basel, Switzerland, to board your Rhine River cruise vessel. Your first stop is Breisach, the gateway to Germany's Black Forest, well known for Black Forest ham, cherry cake, and cuckoo clocks. In Strasbourg, France, stroll through the picturesque La Petite France district. Sail through the dramatic Rhine Gorge, the most beautiful view of the Rhine River. A stay in Holland's popular, modern capital of Amsterdam is the perfect way to end this sensational European river cruise. The best way to see the treasures of this 700-year-old city is on a canal cruise along the elegant Grachten lined with homes dating back to the city's "Golden Age."
- Day 1MARSEILLE, FRANCEMon, Apr 26, 2021Welcome to Marseille. Enjoy free time to explore this vibrant city.
- Day 2MARSEILLE–PORT ST. LOUIS (EMBARKATION)Tue, Apr 27, 2021Spectacular Seascapes of the Mediterranean CoastJoin your expert Local Guide for an included sightseeing before joining a motorcoach transfer to board your Avalon Suite Ship.OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN ARLES(B,D)
- Day 3ARLESWed, Apr 28, 2021Inspiring Sights and Avant-Garde Lights Visit the Adventure Center for today's activities with your Adventure Host.ACTIVE Grab a Nordic walking stick for a hike with your Adventure Host. CLASSIC Enjoy a Guided Walking Tour of Arles—the captivating city of the Provence region. You'll visit the Roman Amphitheater in this visually stunning city.Consider a Guided Optional Excursion to the Carrières de Lumières (Cathedral of Images) a unique experience of art, sound, and light in the old quarries of Val d'Enfer.Take free time to stop in Le Café Van Gogh for a glass of wine, before sailing to Avignon. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AVIGNON(B,L,D)
- Day 4AVIGNONThu, Apr 29, 2021The City of Popes in Picturesque Provence CLASSIC Take a Guided Sightseeing Tour of the fortress city of Avignon—with its ramparts encircling the city—and a visit to the amazing Palace of the Popes.Guided Optional Excursions include a visit to the ancient Roman aqueduct of Pont du Gard, or a trip to the famed wine cellars of Châteauneuf-du-Pape for a true taste of the Rhône wine region. Explore Avignon on your own for the city's art and culture, theatre, and museums. Be sure to snap photos of the captivating countryside, historic monuments, and the medieval Pont Saint-Bénézet. Later, enjoy onboard live entertainment. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AVIGNON(B,L,D)
- Day 5VIVIERSFri, Apr 30, 2021World History in a Charming French Country VillageEnjoy a leisurely morning sail to Viviers. CLASSIC Explore the pale-stone buildings of Viviers on a late afternoon Guided Walking Tour of this charming village. You'll see its Romanesque cathedral and Old Town with a mix of historical Christian, Roman, and medieval influences.EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO TOURNON(B,L,D)
- Day 6TOURNONSat, May 01, 2021A Rendezvous with Castle Views and VineyardsJoin your Adventure Host for today's special activities.CLASSIC Take a morning Guided Walking Tour to explore Tournon—one of France's oldest medieval cities. See its 16th-century castle, and Roman ruins between the Rhône River and the granite slopes of the Hermitage. In the late morning cruise to Vienne VIENNERoman and Middle Age History CLASSIC Join a Guided Walking Tour of Vienne and discover this charming little town surrounded by steep hills.Enjoy live entertainment while sailing to Lyon. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN LYON(B,L,D)
- Day 7LYONSun, May 02, 2021Adventures in Food and Wine in the Gastronomy Capital of France CLASSIC Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour to survey Lyon from Fourvière Hill with its numerous churches. You'll also explore the Old Town with its maze of medieval alleyways, and the lively cafés, monuments, and famed fountain of Place des Terreaux.Spend free time riding a bike through Lyon's town squares, over bridges, and along the banks where the Rhône and Saône rivers meet. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO TOURNUS(B,L,D)
- Day 8TOURNUS–ST. JEAN DE LOSNEMon, May 03, 2021Wine and Cheese on the Stunning Saône Consider a Guided Optional Excursion to a Chardonnay wine cellar, or to the Castle of Cormatin. Alternatively enjoy a leisurely cruising morning along the majestic Saône River on your way to St. Jean de Losne.DISCOVERY Later, enjoy a delicious Cheese Tasting on board your ship.Enjoy live entertainment on board this evening. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN ST. JEAN DE LOSNE(B,L,D)
- Day 9ST. JEAN DE LOSNE (DISEMBARKATION)–BEAUNE–BASEL, SWITZERLAND (EMBARKATION)Tue, May 04, 2021Drive to Beaune and transfer to Basel CLASSIC Visit the Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital in Beaune, built in 1443, today home of the Van der Weyden's painting of the Last Judgment and is one of France's architectural highlights.This afternoon, travel by motorcoach to Basel to board your Rhine river cruise.EVENING CRUISE TO BREISACH(B,D)
- Day 10BREISACH, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO BLACK FORESTWed, May 05, 2021German Winemaking and the Beautiful Black Forest Visit the Adventure Center for today's activities with your Adventure Host.DISCOVERY Join a full-day Guided Tour to the magical Black Forest to experience the Vogtsbauernhof open-air-museum, visit an authentic water mill, and see a traditional butter-making demonstration, OR:DISCOVERY Visit to Badischer Winzerkeller, the largest German wine producer in Europe. Learn about German winemaking in the vineyards of Baden, and enjoy a wine tasting. You may choose to join a Guided Optional Excursion to visit the charming village of Colmar in the morning, with its half-timbered medieval and early renaissance buildings. EVENING CRUISE TO STRASBOURG(B,L,D)
- Day 11STRASBOURG, FRANCEThu, May 06, 2021A Grand Cathedral and La Petite France CLASSIC Join a City Sightseeing Tour, including Strasbourg's Gothic, stained-glass cathedral with its celebrated ancient murals and astronomical clock, as well as the magical La Petite France District.Choose a Guided Optional Excursion to the historic Maginot Line—the pre-WWII defensive designed to protect the eastern border of France, or visit Alsace's wine country today.Alternatively, take some free time in Strasbourg to visit a museum, or stroll across the city center.EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO LUDWIGSHAFEN(B,L,D)
- Day 12MAINZ, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO HEIDELBERGFri, May 07, 2021Castle Walls and the World's Biggest Wine BarrelCLASSIC Enjoy a Guided Tour to Heidelberg Castle to see the ruins of the magnificent renaissance treasure towering above the city, and its famed Great Vat, the "World's Largest Wine Barrel," OR: ACTIVE Join your Avalon Adventure Host for a Hike up Philosophers' Way for an inspiring view of the city below, OR:CLASSIC Enjoy a Guided City Walk including a visit to the Gutenberg Museum to see the captivating history of printing.Enjoy live entertainment on board your ship this evening.OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN MAINZ(B,L,D)
- Day 13RÜDESHEIM–RHINE GORGESat, May 08, 2021Eat, Drink, and Be Merry in Wine CountryDISCOVERY Take a Guided Tour of the incredible Mechanical Music Museum for a one-of-a-kind instrumental experience; based on your departure enjoy a local special treat, OR:ACTIVE Enjoy a hike with your Avalon Adventure Host through the picturesque vineyards of Rüdesheim. Relax on the Sky Deck for an afternoon cruise through the spectacular Rhine Gorge to Koblenz. Sail past the legendary rock of The Lorelei—where the siren of mythology sang songs to lure ill-fated sailors. KOBLENZTravel Through 2000 Years of Monumental History Enjoy free time in Koblenz before a relaxing evening on board with dinner and live entertainment. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN KOBLENZ(B,L,D)
- Day 14COLOGNESun, May 09, 2021Prost! Celebrate in the Rhineland Join your Adventure Host for today's special activities.CLASSIC Take a Guided City Walk of Cologne—with its soaring twin-steepled gothic cathedral, OR:DISCOVERY Choose a Guided Walking Tour of Cologne's important Jewish heritage sites.Spend free time over a glass of Kölsch pale lager—locally brewed for over 100 years! AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO AMSTERDAM(B,L,D)
- Day 15AMSTERDAM, HOLLANDMon, May 10, 2021Canals of Colorful Amsterdam CLASSIC Explore the iconic waterways of Amsterdam on a Guided Canal Cruise past stately homes of Amsterdam's "Golden Age." During tulip season, you may take a Guided Optional Excursion to Keukenhof gardens—with more than seven million tulips, daffodils and hyacinths, as well as other bulbs, planted each year. Outside of tulip season, join a Guided Optional Excursion to Zaanse Schans to see historic windmills and charming Dutch houses. You may also choose an Optional Biking Tour to discover the countryside.OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AMSTERDAM(B,L,D)
- Day 16AMSTERDAM (DISEMBARKATION)Tue, May 11, 2021Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
Countries Visited
OR Call Us For a Free Quote 1-800-342-0019
- In the event of technical or water level issues, it may be necessary to operate the itinerary by motorcoach or alter the program, including hotel overnight when necessary.
- Guided Tours, Optional Excursions, activities, sailing and docking schedules may be contingent on weather conditions or other issues outside of our control and could therefore be subject to change at any time.
- Please check visa requirements with your local consulate(s); responsibility for obtaining visas rests with the traveler.
Accommodation Information
Port charges:
Gratuities to Local Guides & Excursion Drivers are included on Avalon portion only.
Avalon offers the opportunity for solo travelers to sail with no single supplement (subject to availability).
Please call for single accommodation price. Triples not available.
Additional accommodations before or after your tour may be available.
All prices per person based on double occupancy. Cruise price based on Category E in a deluxe outside stateroom on Indigo Deck. See below for upgrade pricing.
Hygiene and Safety Protocols for Avalon Waterways
Today's world has changed, but what remains certain is Avalon Waterways' commitment to guest safety, comfort and peace-of-mind while traveling with us. To that end, Avalon Waterways has established a worldwide Assurance program, with enhanced on-trip protocols and procedures, to ensure the health – and happiness – of guests throughout their travels with us.
It all starts with Avalon Waterways' Global Health & Safety Team, dedicated to ensuring that cleanliness of all operations exceeds today's travel standards—from start to finish. The following areas address Avalon Waterways' commitment to providing a safe and clean environment for guests.
New embarkation procedures to offer guests a safe start to their journey, including:
- Social distancing throughout embarkation
- Mandatory health screening, including touch-free temperature-check, for all guests and crew
- Luggage disinfection prior to onboarding (with crew wearing gloves and masks)
In addition to Avalon Waterways' Open-Air staterooms, the air in the ships is not circulated between staterooms; only within an individual stateroom and mixed with fresh, outside air.
New social distancing guidelines for guests throughout their Avalon cruise include:
- Reducing ship capacity as required for more space on board per guest
- Introducing more dining venues for more dining space per person
- Crew wearing masks for the duration of the cruise during any guest interaction
- Providing masks for guests to wear during any event where social proximity could become an issue, including disembarkation for excursions and safety drills
- Adjusting ratio of guides and coaches for excursions, as required
- Electrostatic disinfecting systems
- UV disinfecting systems
Reducing risk with hands-free service, including:
- More hand-sanitizing stations throughout the ship
- Required use of hand-sanitizing stations when leaving the ship, returning to the ship and entering dining venues as well as entering each public/common space
- Self-serve stations, including buffets, drinks, specialty coffees and snacks have been replaced with crew service
- All buffets (breakfast and lunch) replaced by a full range of á la carte menu choices
- Hourly (or more frequent) disinfection of all public areas
Enhanced cleaning procedures throughout each ship, including these additional steps that go above-and-beyond Avalon's already strict procedures:
- Deep disinfection of each stateroom between cruises, including:
- Use of disinfectants and cleaning materials that meet the highest standards
- Soft goods in each stateroom (mattress, sofa, window coverings, chairs, etc.) disinfected between cruises
- Disinfection of all dining areas between meals
- Disinfection of all shared items like umbrellas, bicycles and other Adventure Center items
- Disinfection of all goods prior to loading on the ship
- Ongoing crew training in protective equipment use and hygiene
Ensuring a healthy crew, including:
- Medical certificate required prior to start of contract
- Daily temperature checks
- Social distancing in crew living quarters
- Regular health screenings
OR Call Us For a Free Quote 1-800-342-0019
Ship Information
Life on Board
Questions & Answers
Question: Will the day-by-day itinerary change?
Question: In what language is the river cruise conducted?
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It was my second trip with Avalon, everything was great as it was for the Daube cruise. Highly recommend them.
Trip was GREAT! WEre somewhat disappointed that high speed train from Arle to AIX was cancelled ( did not happen).
I would have liked a better description of the land tours. For instance -Eat your way around Paris should have stated it was a walking tour.
Reasoning related to my rating on price - is associated to the cruise and how Avalone handled the last cruise of the season and closing the boat- with not having or refilling standard items, for example the last two days shampoos and soap were not refilled - lucky us we brought our own. No cocktail napkins - the staff had to pass appetizers and apologize for not having any napkins, the final dinner menu was not up to par with the rest of the week- I had the vegetarian dish pasta with cheese and broccoli Au gratin- basic Macaroni and Cheese for dinner and there was one floret of broccoli. If Avalone does not want guests on the boat on the last day of the cruise they should transfer guests to hotels sooner- our entire group would have preferred to go to Cannes one day earlier and pay for our own dinner.
We did two Avalon River cruises back to back that was actually listed as one program. After one week on Avalon's Poetry II we traveled via high speed train to Avalon's Tapestry II and did another week on a different cruise. Avalon did a great job coordinating all aspects of both weeks and the transfer itself between boats. The itineraries for both weeks were interesting and informative.
Hi Helga, I wanted to let you know about our travel experiences while they are still fresh in our minds. The cruise was wonderful! The cruse director (Gusta) did an outstanding job. She had everything well arranged and we couldn't have asked for a better planner. The scenery was great, the meals were wonderful, and the daily provided tours were very well staffed with really good leaders. There were two items that fell short of our expectations. This was the first time that we purchased the travel package including air travel. I probably will not ever do this again. We did it in part because Pat and I were covering the expenses for our four additional family members and the cost to round trip looked good. In actual fact it was more expensive that we had expected because we purchased reserve seating for all four legs of the round trip, which then greatly increased the cost (more than 25% additional cost). Even more troubling was the very poor scheduling of the flights, which included a five plus hour layover in Montreal on both the going and returning flights. This made for a 24 hour day of flying. A second disappointment was our stay in Paris at the Hotel du Collectionneur which was rated as five star, but did not come close to meeting five star. Luggage for one family member's room and for our room was not delivered to the correct rooms. Instead we received someone else's luggage. The female Avalon representative did not seem at all concerned and after an hour and a half of waiting we returned to the Avalon desk and fortunately met the individual who had our luggage and we had their luggage (no help from Avalon). One of our rooms had unit dose coffee, but no coffee maker. That same room did not have hot water for a shower. The location of the hotel was also a problem in that there were very limited restaurants (especially on Sunday) within walking distance from the hotel and eating at the hotel was far more expensive than we were prepared for. On our first night at the hotel a very loud late night party took place in the courtyard of the hotel. The party lasted until 3:00 or 4:00 am. Neither of the Avalon representatives were helpful and both appear noticeable bored by their assignment which was totally opposite to the welcoming representatives in Nice and Cannes. Overall the travel experience was wonderful and we will be in contract with you soon about travels in 2019. Thanks you, Tom & Pat
The 2018 Avalon Rhone Cruise Tour with stops in Monaco and Paris which we took in early May 2018 was outstanding, on par (maybe even a little better) than the Rhine Cruise we also took through Avalon in fall 2016. I especially enjoyed the scheduled tours of Avignon, Lyon, and Vivenne, and clearly the optional tour of Versailles was phenomenal, on par with an Italy land tour we had previously taken with Insight that included a 3-hour tour of the Vatican. The Poetry II Cruise Ship was great (outstanding food, beverages, and the rooms were efficient and very clean), and the crew was very competent and pleasant. Spent time with both the Ship Hotel director and the cruise director and really enjoyed getting to see how professional they both were - very customer focused.
The Intercontinental Carlton Hotel in Cannes was very nice, but the air conditioning was not working for the hotel. Our room was on the backside of the hotel with strong afternoon sun and jack-hammer work being done outside until 7pm. No facilities for free coffee/tea in the room. The breakfast buffet and sea-side room were great! The Avalon cabin was very well arranged and pleasing.
My second river cruise with Avalon and I loved this one as much as the first.
Avalon is well organized and the staff is exceptional. The guides were knowledgable and helpful.
The river cruise consultant was exceptionally helpful in putting out vacation trip together. Would certainly recommend her to others and use her as an agent again.
We had a great trip. All went off without a hitch! I had never taken a tour like this and we didn't know what to expect. We were very pleasantly surprised. Avalon Waterways was superb!
Agent was great as was Avalon Waterways! Can't wait till our next trip!
The ships staff were one of the best I have ever seen.
everything was great - river cruise was excellent Thank you


text:
DETROIT (AP) — The first report by Detroit's emergency manager declares that the city is broke and at risk of running completely out of money — a financial meltdown that could mean employees don't get paid, retirees lose their pensions and residents endure even deeper cuts in municipal services.
If Detroit cannot avert disaster by reducing its debt payments, the only remaining option appears to be bankruptcy, a threat that looms large over Kevyn Orr's urgent efforts to make deals with creditors and debt holders. Orr says he will have to seek concessions from those groups to keep the Motor City afloat.
"On a cash-flow basis, we don't have it. We're broke," Orr said Monday at a news conference. He said the city can make payroll through the rest of the year, but that some other bills and obligations are not being paid or are being deferred.
"We can't continue to do what we've been doing," he said. "It's probably a little worse than I expected. It's severe. I mean it's dire."
In March 2012, Detroit borrowed $80 million from Bank of America to avoid running out of money. But the outlook has not improved in the last year.
Orr's "first attention has got to be turned to making sure he has enough money to pay the bills he has coming in," said James McTevia, president of McTevia and Associates, a Detroit-area turnaround firm. "If I'm a creditor getting paid for my current goods and services, I'm going to be more apt to work out on something I'm owed."
Orr, a Washington-based turnaround expert and bankruptcy attorney, was selected by Gov. Rick Snyder to oversee Detroit's finances. In his report, Orr described the city's operations as "dysfunctional and wasteful after years of budgetary restrictions, mismanagement, crippling operational practices and, in some cases, indifference or corruption."
"Outdated policies, work practices, procedures and systems must be improved consistent with best practices of 21st century government," Orr wrote. "A well-run city will promote cost savings and better customer service and will encourage private investment and a return of residents."
Detroit's net cash position — the amount of money in the bank after bills are paid — was a negative $162 million as of April 26. The budget deficit that a few months ago was believed to be about $327 million could reach $386 million before July 1.
The city also owes more than $400 million, including $124 million for public improvement projects. Its long-term debt tops $14 billion.
Orr avoids using the word "bankruptcy" in the 41-page report to the state treasurer and said Monday that he believes it won't be necessary. He expects to have a clearer picture about the path ahead in six to eight weeks.
"I think we can avoid bankruptcy if people move forward in good faith," Orr said. "It's going to be hard. I don't expect anybody to say OK. I expect there to be some give and take. If we can't, we have to look at everything."
Snyder agreed that bankruptcy wasn't inevitable.
"There's a whole process you go through, and the process includes trying to work with people to not have that happen," the governor said.
City officials in Stockton, Calif., sought Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection after tentative agreements with some of the city's unions failed to provide enough financial relief. The community was still unable to pay its bills or make payroll, and City Manager Bob Deis said further cuts required court intervention.
"Bankruptcy is not a desirable option unless it's the absolute last option you have," Deis said. "Bankruptcy is not the disease. Bankruptcy is the chemotherapy for the disease."
Bankruptcy protection allowed Stockton to wipe out $8 million to $9 million in annual retiree health care costs and freeze $13 million in yearly debt payments for later renegotiation.
Orr may choose to go before a bankruptcy judge "when he gets his back against the wall and he can't meet payroll," McTevia said.
"He can default on payments to pension funds. He will try to sit down and negotiate with the pension funds: 'We can do this out of court or we can do this in court.' The same thing with bond holders. It will take years for Detroit to ever pay its bonds, and they need to be negotiated," McTevia said.
The bulk of the city's revenue comes from property and business taxes. But Detroit's population dropped by 250,000 between 2000 and 2010. And outside of downtown and a few other areas, business growth virtually is nil.
"My gut feeling is that taxes are going to have to be raised at some time," possibly a temporary surcharge on businesses to keep the city afloat, McTevia added.
A Chapter 9 bankruptcy filing would also mean even more spending cuts, according to Wayne State Law School professor Peter Henning.
Bing says his administration has cut about $350 million in wages and benefits. Dozens of jobs have been cut or left unfilled.
"Services never improve after a bankruptcy," Henning said. "I read through Orr's report. The emphasis is really on the cost-cutting and the restructuring. Rarely does that improve services in the short run. In the short run, city services are going to suffer."


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Atlanta-based producer Jermaine Dupri is now taking action in a lawsuit filed against him by SunTrust Bank several weeks ago. According to AllHipHop.com, Dupri recently filed a counterclaim against the bank, which is currently seeking nearly $2 million from the So So Def Records owner.
In his counterclaim, Dupri states that SunTrust failed to fulfill a number of payment arrangements the two parties previously agreed upon.
Among the arrangements was one that would have allowed the bank to pull money from Dupri's EMI publishing royalties as loan repayment for his taxes. According to the Atlanta beatsmith, SunTrust failed to do so and as a result he was penalized by the government.
Dupri also claims that loan documents were never made available for review to his legal team and that he never received the closing papers for his loan agreement with SunTrust.
Last month, it was revealed that SunTrust would be suing Dupri for a sum of $1.9 million due to a loan he defaulted on. As a result, the producer could possibly lose various properties, including his home, due to the lawsuit.
In 2011, Dupri faced a similar legal issue when he was sued by an Atlanta woman for missed child support payments. That particular lawsuit shortly followed news that the So So Def leader narrowly avoided foreclosure on his Atlanta home.
RELATED: Jermaine Dupri Being Sued By Bank, May Lose Songs & Studio


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An encounter today on the shared footpath/bicycle caused a bicyclist who had no bell. We did not hear him coming from behind. I asked him where his bell was. He said he didn't need one as it didn't fit on his bars.
Well here is what you need under the ACT Road Rules:
258 Equipment on a bicycle
A person must not ride a bicycle that does not have:
(a) at least 1 effective brake; and
(b) a bell, horn, or similar warning device, in working order.
Offence provision.


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This Academy Award winner threw on a brunette wig last week and got up on stage at a strip club. Danced down to her panties and then gave a lap dance to her boyfriend. They then got up and left. This for sure will be revealed. She is getting a little kinky these days. Good for her.
Renée Zellweger
Source: http://www.crazydaysandnights.net


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The Three Little Pigs
Fairytales, Games and Activities
There are three pigs who decide to build three different houses. Two pigs build their houses with less quality building materials than the third who uses bricks. A wolf, who wants to eat the pigs, blows down the houses made by two of the pigs, but can't blow down the third.


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SoCal girls who vanished during sleepover found safe
RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- A pair of missing girls set off a widespread and well-publicized search across Southern California, but it ended quietly as police found them within blocks of each other and close to their hometown.Police said they found Raylynn Bolt, 12, and Diana Tourdot, 14, in San Bernardino on Monday night, about 15 miles from Diana's home in Riverside, where they vanished from a sleepover Saturday.
They were apparently unharmed.
"From what we could tell, they appeared to be OK," said Lt. Dario Robinson of the San Bernardino Police Department, whose officers found one girl at a city park and the other on a nearby street waiting with a good Samaritan.
"We came across one, and talking to her and piecing it together, she led us to the other one," Robinson said.
Robinson did not know why the girls had come to San Bernardino and didn't know of anyone the pair were seeking or staying with.
The girls were turned over to Riverside detectives, who were interviewing them before they were returned to their parents, Riverside police Sgt. David Amador said in a statement.
Riverside police would also handle any medical examination of the girls, Robinson said.
Family members and police using bloodhounds had searched for the girls after they vanished and concluded they had most likely run away while spending the night at Diana's home.
"Unfortunately I think these two girls just got into a little bit of trouble," Bolt said.
He said the family gets along fine, playing video games and doing other activities together.
People had reported seeing the pair together near a city plaza on Sunday, Amador said earlier.


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Now, if you thought the spiders were creepy, then this is positively chilling! It seems that Jack the Ripper himself may have walked the same pavements as you and I, back in the 1880s. Indeed, if Montague John Druitt was the true Ripper, then he probably drank in The Princess of Wales (he was in the hockey team that was based there), and definitely trudged up and down the hill to catch trains from the station to Charing Cross… Although he traveled First Class, unlike the lowly Bugle…
I'd never made the connection with Blackheath before, but the interweb is positively packed to the gills with Ripper info, supposition, and conspiracy. Now, it is quite possible that this man had nothing to do with the murders in Whitechapel, but either way, a fascinating picture develops of a rather tragic, short life spent in Blackheath.
It seems that Druitt (a lawyer by education) decided to embark upon a teaching career, and joined a boarding school in Blackheath in 1880. When I discovered this, I was certain that the school in question just had to be the gothic missionary school that towers over Blackheath station… But no, the school was at 9 Eliot Place, (just past the Hare and Billet pub, see googlemap). The road is now residential, but then was home to several schools.
Druitt's father died of a heart attack in 1885, and three years later his mother committed suicide. He was dismissed from the school for some "serious trouble", but it exactly what remains a mystery. His body was found floating in the Thames on December 31st 1888.
One of the police reports implied that there was additional evidence against him that could not be brought to light, and that he was "sexually insane", which (apparently) was a Victorian euphemism for homosexuality.


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"Dance: A Moving Canvas" is program that seeks to expand dance audiences in Chicago by enabling participants to deepen their understanding of the choreographic process. Three choreographers were chosen by jury to develop work for the program. CAR Dance Researcher Victoria Bradford spoke with one of them, Raphaelle Ziemba, a choreographer and member of Cerqua Rivera Dance Theater, about her experience with the jurying and choreographic processes.
I developed my proposal for "Dance: A Moving Canvas" out of my ongoing research into the process of perception, and how that process impacts our awareness of our own bodies. This research stems from my interest in phenomenology—the structure of consciousness during experience. Specifically, I am exploring the body's physical response—how it moves—during experiences.
My proposal for "Dance: A Moving Canvas" included strategies to engage the audience through participation in the creative process. I was excited to see how my previous research involving non-dancers would extend to engaging a non-dance-experienced audience. My goal was to create a work that provided a safe place for the audience to network their individual experiences.
I developed movement exercises to encourage my dancers to deepen awareness of their consciousness, their bodies and each other. I wanted to empower the dancers to see themselves as more than "artworks" or objects to be perceived. These exercises were designed to break through established patterns in order for the dancers to be able to move as their true selves.
My research into phenomenology led to a connection with color by way of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's Theory of Colours. Goethe believed color was a result of the interaction of light, darkness and shadow. By exploring the different ways we see color—the natural variations of light throughout the day, our spatial relationship to a colored object, artificial lighting (or lack thereof), and the bodies surrounding the colored object—I began to focus my research into structures for movement.
The choreography itself took shape as a modular composition. It consisted of five color-related sections, each of which comprised smaller sections. I specifically designed the work so that sections could be reordered to give the audience easy access into the creative process. I wanted to give them the tools to structure the piece as they saw fit and to think about their own process of perception.
In the end, I felt the audience possessed a sense of agency. They played with the structure of the dance, gave direction to the musician and were excited to get close and personal with my dancers. The evening became a collective work that challenged our perceptions and encouraged us to expand our experiences with art.
Raphaelle Ziemba grew up in Oak Park, Illinois and began her training at the Academy of Movement and Music. From 1995-98, she attended Interlochen Arts Academy where she continued to perform and choreograph, in 2002 she graduated from SUNY Purchase with a BFA in dance performance. In May of 2013 she received her Masters of Arts in arts education from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Ziemba has worked with Instruments of Music, Concert Dance, Inc., The Civic Ballet, Tyego Dance, Hedwig Dances, Corpo, Chicago Opera Theater, Sarasota Opera Theater, The Lira Ensemble ,and apprenticed with River North Dance Chicago. Currently, Ziemba is the associate artistic director, outreach instructor, resident choreographer and company member of Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre. She performs and choreographs for MOMENTA, and is a performance artist with A House Unbuilt.
On this track:
Raphaelle Ziemba, Choreographer
Laura Chiuve, Dancer
Rachel Cortes, Dancer
Andrea Deline, Dancer
Rachel Pike, Dancer
Becky Mikos, Dancer
James Sanders, Violin
Zac Whittenburg, Moderator
"Singletrack" is CAR's Artist Story for Chicago performers in which songwriters, bands, playwrights, actors and writers discuss the creation of a recorded work alongside audio or video clips of the performance. To submit your song for consideration, please email our researchers.


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Lovers, parents, colleagues, friends
come out before St. Patty's Ends
Strangers, besties, acquaintances
Caffe Vivaldi I recommend
to hear songs of life and love
enjoy thyself and get free hugs
I promise this you won't regret
and wear your green, don't forget!
Caffe Vivaldi- TONIGHT!
32 Jones St
9:30pm, no cover!
Opening is the very talented Brandon Harris, so don't be late!


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Check showtimes to see when Amanpour is on CNN where you are. Or watch online.
By Mick Krever, CNN
It is hard to imagine – a three-year-old girl being raped. It is even harder to fathom the rapists being children themselves.
But in South Africa, not only is this crime shockingly common, it may be on the rise.
45% of rapes reported to the police in South Africa are child rapes, and 50% of South Africa's children will be abused before the age of 18, according to South Africa's Tears Foundation and the Medical Research Council.
For over a decade, photographer Mariella Furrer has worked to document these crimes with powerful photos and accompanying narratives.
She has compiled her work into a nearly 700-page book, "My Piece of Sky."
Click here to see Furrer's photos in large format
"Most child sexual abuse is unreported," she told CNN's Christiane Amanpour on Tuesday. "The most important thing about this body of work really is to try to get people to speak out about their abuse – to have the courage to speak out about it, because there's a lot of shame and guilt attached to it."
The opening page of her book quotes the great American poet and author Maya Angelou: "There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you."
Furrer has a personal connection to her work; she herself was abused as a young child in Kenya.
"I was five years old," she said. "I was molested by a stranger, a tourist – I think it was some white man in a little caravan. And he touched me."
"But it felt good. It felt good, and that filled me with guilt, and remorse. And it impacted me in so many ways that I wasn't really aware of at the time, growing up."
Life is always stranger than fiction, and some of the stories captured in her book defy belief.
In one photo, Furrer captured a young girl – she appears to be about three or four – in a nightgown trying to leave a room. The photo's explanation tells us that she is attempting "to flee a doctor's room before a medical forensic examination."
The girl's nine-year-old relative admitting to playing "sexual games" with her, and he was himself later discovered to have been sexually abused.
"Every day they wake up they are reminded through either a scar on them or a tattoo that dad has put on them – you know, saying 'Daddy loves you,' or things like that," Furrer said.
Child sexual abuse is particularly prevalent in South Africa, but it is a global problem, Furrer said.
"It transcends any social, economic, and racial boundaries. And it's everywhere."
One of the most shocking revelations of Furrer's work is that it is that the abuse is not just a case of adults taking advantage of vulnerable children, but indeed children abusing other children.
In another photo, a nine-year-old boy is shown in the back of a car, being driven to meet with a police social worker.
He was allegedly "gang raped and beaten with metal pipes and sticks by his 'friend,' two eight-year olds, three eleven-year olds and a thirteen-year old."
They then tied him to a tree and left him there over night. The boy "never disclosed what happened," so his perpetrators never went to trial, the book says.
"As we don't speak out the perpetrator will continue," Furrer said.
To her own surprise, Furrer told Amanpour that she discovered that she could find humanity in the perpetrators of these horrific crimes.
"When I was working with the police and these children coming in I was like, my goodness, if anyone comes in now I will kill them myself."
That changed, she explained, when she started working with the offenders.
"I don't feel affection for them, but I, I could see the different facets of each personality."
"And one in particular I remember was a perpetrator from Namibia, who would have been a friend. You know, he was witty, intelligent, funny – and he abused children."
The problem is that the potential perpetrators are not being identified, and helped.
"If there is a problem, and they're sent to counselling and taught appropriate sexual behavior, there will not be a problem. It's that we're not catching these children in time."
With such shocking statistics, it is easy to say that South African authorities are failing at their job to contain the problem.
When it comes to the police that Furrer worked with, at least, she said that this is not the case.
"The police that I worked with are so dedicated to the protection of children. I mean, to the extent that they're going through divorces, they're working overtime."
One her favorite police officers, she said, was "Stroppie" Grobbelaar, pictured here.
"He is in the police search and rescue unit – dog unit," she explained. "And we've spent about a month at this point searching for a little girl who went missing, and was last seen walking hand-in-hand with an unknown man. Every evening after the search he would come back to this mother."
In the end, the girl was never found.
"I have post-traumatic-stress disorder, I suffer from depression," she said.
"It's extraordinary the impact of carrying other people's stories with you. And there's a great difficulty for me to release these stories because I feel they've been given to me and they are very sacred. So it's difficult to let them go."
Yeah, Africa does kinda suck.
Maybe don't go there.
u are an ignorant in the highest grade, people of your type believe that Africa is a country and not a continent. wake up!
I wonder are the Indians there raped too?
Shocking... Scary... Depressing... a wake up call... These children need help – the offended as well as the offender.
What the world needs is a 3rd world war, a couple of earthquakes and tsunamis. We need to kill of half of the population because we are getting nowhere. It's a complete disaster out there. And if God does not exist, which is a possibility, then all the undeserved pain and suffering on earth is for nothing. So again, get a gun and go around and kill a few people so Earth can breed again.
The problem is partly due to the mis-judgement of de Klerk when he terminated Apartheid. Yes the laws were wrong but instead of making them right, he just scrapped them.. thus the country became a lawless place. Lesson to learn: When transitioning, firstly reinforce the rule of law so that transition can be orderly. Orderliness is the basis of civilization.
I do not agree. This abuse did not come about because of the end of apartheid; it existed before apartheid ended and indeed has its origins in the breakdown of families during the apartheid era. It's a long road to healing, with victims of one generation becoming perpetrators in the next. Not all of Africa is like this–indeed at this scale it is a uniquely South African problem. At least now that apartheid has ended, at least the problem is coming more to light and being addressed.
John, Bulls$#@t. It became a lawless state when the ANC took power and have no care in the world but their own, deep pockets. The President, his family and friends, they are the ones in charge and run the country only for themselves (becoming a dictatorship like in Zimbabwe). Year in, year out the government make promises but never succeed. Yes, they always condemn these brutal acts of lawlessness but hardly do you hear them doing anything about it. Local NGO's and good people from the community are doing the true Hero's work of helping these victims. The Madiba magic is gone, forever, which only lasted for the first 2 years after the end of Apartheid. It is becoming a country of survival. I give it 5 years, should the ANC with their Grade 5 student for a President get another term in office (by voters they like to keep uneducated so they can manipulate them with their lies) the country will start to burn again like in the apartheid years. This time it will be different, very different........ Oh, for those who do not know. South Africa is a country, the country at the very bottom of the Africa continent and NO the possibility for us to know somebody in Nairobi Kenya or Lagos Nigeria is zero percent because it is totally different countries few thousand miles away.
This kind of thing is only happening in the really poor parts of South Africa where rape, murder and crime are a second nature to these kids poverty has driven them to having to become men from extremely young ages and fend for themselves . So please dont be in shock the world is a cruel place we all know it just dont stereotype when it comes to South Africa because this kinda thing happens all over the world !
This Children realy need help o .
it's hard to believe this kind of demonic thing .
What du you expect.
Their leader...Jacob Zuma..
sets the example.
So please do not be in shock the world is a cruel place we all know it just do not stereotype when it comes to South Africa because this kinda thing happens all over the world! http://www.fuoye.edu.ng
This happens right here in America also.
Are u looking for a suger mummy or daddy please call this line 08132333771 please be mAture.
The days are evil, the rapture of d saint are at hand. Let no man deceive u dat d world is going to be a better place, for d word of God must surely come to pass. D world hav not seen anything yet, dis just d beginning of d story. 2tim 3 v1. This know also, that in d last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be loves of their own selves etc. Dis evil is not only happening in south Africa, it 's happening all over d world, including America. Ejimaco
I need this published, so others will know that they are not alone.
I believe when we are silent, it is the worse that one can do for his/her self. I was physically abused by my older sister as a 6 year old child. She would beat me until I was knocked out cold. This happened many times. One time she slapped my face so hard that I passed right out with a bleeding nose on the ground. Many people would stand and look on.
I didn't realize that I had many problems growing up until joining the Canadian military, in 1995 with the Canadian Military Engineer Basic Training 9501. I witnessed a beating that was very severe in Chilliwack, BC; 2 big 220 pound men beating on a 150 pound person. I had a very hard time dealing with the memory of that, because it recalled the same feelings I felt when I was beaten up by my sister. I am still trying very hard to this day to recover from trauma; having frequent nightmares, and there never seems to be an ending to it all.
Sinh Lam Chiem
capitol punishment should be required for any adult who rapes a child. Its a choice that is never done in self defense. No one in the public world who loves child innocence respect child rapists. Our children will always be at risk. Child rapists don't change and rape is hard enough to prove. Even prison people hate them. Child rape ties to military rapes as well. Powerful Rich Child Rapists have no records and fear no law. Death to child rapists would end the number of missing children world-wide and unless your Sandusky' s wife ( who is like ALL child rapist wives and people in society who look away) you would see how Capital Punishment is the most humanitarian act for the world!
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Belgium: Lawmakers Move to Ban Burqas Worn in Public
In a reflection of growing anxiety in Europe over the use of Islamic symbols, a committee of Belgian lawmakers voted Wednesday to ban the wearing of burqas in public, paving the way for the first clampdown of its kind on the Continent. The proposal, which will be put to the full Parliament after the Easter break, highlights the political sensitivity of Islamic dress for European politicians grappling with the challenges of integrating its expanding Muslim population. It came in the midst of debates in France and the Netherlands over the wearing of head scarves or veils, and followed a referendum vote in Switzerland against building minarets.
Analysts noted that in Belgium, where the sight of women wearing burqas is relatively rare, the measure would have a limited practical impact, though it could prove politically symbolic.
"This is a very strong signal that is being sent to Islamists," the French-speaking liberal deputy Denis Ducarme said, adding that he was "proud that Belgium would be the first country in Europe which dares to legislate on this sensitive matter."
The bill could mean a ban being imposed on wearing burqas, or full-length garments that prevent women being identified, in streets, public gardens and sports grounds or buildings "meant for public use."
Exceptions would be possible for some festivities if the municipal authorities decide to grant them, and those breaking the law could face small fines or imprisonment for between one and seven days.
The unanimity with which the measure was approved by the home affairs committee suggests strong cross-party support when the measure is discussed by the full Parliament of Belgium, a predominantly Roman Catholic country.
The vice president of the Muslim Executive of Belgium, Isabelle Praile, criticized the move as an infringement of civil liberties.
"Will it be the Islamic veil tomorrow and the Sikh turban the day after?" she said, according to the Belga news agency. "I am against the imposition of such clothing, but also against banning it."
Caroline Sagesser, a social policy expert at the Université Libre de Bruxelles, said the move was more significant politically than in terms of social impact.
"Since there are so few burqas in Belgium, it is highly symbolic and is to appease public opinion," she said.
Ironically, some of the most likely offenders against any new law could be wealthy visitors from the Gulf states staying in the city's luxury hotels and visiting its most exclusive stores, she added.
Ms. Sagesser said that the more salient issue in Belgium, over the wearing of veils or head scarves in schools, rests with the tier of government devolved to the different linguistic communities in Belgium. That removes it from the authority of the Belgian federal Parliament.
In Dutch-speaking Flanders, wearing of head scarves by pupils is banned in public schools but not private ones.
It was assumed that the law prevented teachers both in Flanders and French-speaking Wallonia from wearing head scarves, though a recent ruling in Charleroi permitted a mathematics teacher to continue to wear a simple veil, Ms. Sagesser said.
"This is something the public feels strongly about, and we have the impression that, in France, they were able to take some tougher measures. But we are failing to tackle the real issue of integration which is a socio-economic one," she added.
But even in Belgium the picture is mixed; in June last year, Mahinur Özdemir became the first lawmaker to be sworn into the Brussels regional Parliament wearing a hijab, or Islamic head scarf.
Across the European Union the pattern is not uniform, either. Britain has no laws against Islamic dress, for example.
On Tuesday, France's top administrative body, the State Council, advised the government that there were no legal grounds for a complete ban on the wearing of full-face veils in public — a proposal a panel of French legislators has endorsed — but added that the burqa could be outlawed in some places for security reasons.
France, where secularism is an important element of public life, passed a law in 2004 banning the wearing of head scarves or any other conspicuous religious symbols in state schools.
In the Netherlands several possible measures on the wearing of veils have been discussed, including measures that would ban the garments for teachers and civil servants.
By STEPHEN CASTLE
Published: March 31, 2010
Related News
- Saudi Arabia: release of women's rights advocates
- Hijab-less Iranian women arrested while protesting compulsory cover-up
- British-Iranian prisoner of conscience Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe faces fresh criminal proceedings
- A Statement from Homa's Family, in Light of New Details on Her Arrest


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ANTAL–#66 Two-Speed Aluminum Self-Tailing Winch
This item is no longer available.
#66 Two-Speed Aluminum Self-Tailing Winch
|Activation Method
|9 15/16"
|Drum Material
|Anodized Aluminum
|10 13/16"
|Power Ratio
18:1 in First Gear
65.6:1 in Second Gear
|Two Speed
|Warranty Details
|Three Years
|36.3 Pounds
Product Overview
Antal's new self-tailing winches with spring loaded self-tailing disk adapt automatically to even the thinnest lines and, if overloading occurs, they release the line to avoid excess force on the self-tailing arm. The base, machined by the CNC process (produced with no cast components, is lighter and stronger than normal castings. Easy removal of the drum from the winch makes maintenance a simple affair. Vertical knurling on the drum delivers a secure horizontal grip, but allows the rope to run vertically upward without excess friction for maximum efficiency. The self-tailing arm has 30 positions. AISI 316 stainless steel central rod and roller bearings, bronze gears, hard black anodized drum or chrome-plated bronze drum. First gear provides quick and powerful operation, and you simply wind in the opposite direction for maximum power in second gear. The recovery speed, shown in the table, is the length of line recovered with one complete revolution of the handle. Three-year warranty.
- Drum Material: Aluminum
- Power Ratio 1st: 18.0
- Power Ratio 2nd: 65.6
- Drum Diameter: 5-3/4""
- Base Diameter: 9-15/16"
- Height: 10-13/16"
- Weight: 36.3 lb.
The West Advisor articles have answered boaters' questions and provided solutions to boating problems for more than 20 years. West Marine has compiled one of the Web's most comprehensive collections of technical boating information articles.


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- Focus on Funds
When Investors Pull Money from Inverse Funds, It's Time to Worry
- Order Reprints
- Print Article
The flow of money into inverse exchange-traded products -- things that go up when stocks go down -- versus the trend in the S&P 500 (SPY) leaves two possibilities.
Either traders of these products use sophisticated strategies that require ramping up their hedges in good times. Or they're extraordinarily bad at timing the market, and fail to realize it.
You don't need to know the answer. What's useful to know is that a dropoff in money flows into inverse funds tends to coincide with weak periods for stocks. Here's Ned Davis Research strategists Neil Leeson and Loren Flath unpacking the trend in a chart since late 2008, asking whether it's "dumb money" driving the activity in these products:
Their answer:
It appears that small investors and institutions (these funds are not the likely first choice for larger institutions) have often gotten the market direction, or the timing of when to hedge their portfolios wrong. I am not sure if we can classify this as "dumb money," but if the trend continues as expressed in this analysis, we will have a stronger case.
If you think you can bet -- and it is "betting" -- with the inverse funds themselves, Leeson and Flath note that the "real" ETF traders lately go to
ProShares Ultra VIX Short-Term Futures ETF
), the high-octane volatility fund that is familiar to readers of this blog. Buyer beware: This one is down 70% on the year. It tracks volatility futures, not the
CBOE Volatility Index
, and its loss is nearly three times the VIX index's 25% drop this year. (Last week's big winners, they note: were highly leveraged precious-metals bear funds:
, rising more than 30% apiece.)
Buying when the fast money stops playing in its favorite exchange-traded sandbox is a subject we covered
in the print edition of Barron's over a year ago
, with the help of
TrimTabs Investment Research.
For the more active sort of investor:
Tuning a stock portfolio to when bearish assets flee appears to work well in at least some cases. A possible strategy: A $100 investment in the
(SPY) at the start of '07 that's been switched to a short position each time bearish fund flows suffer a negative five-day moving average would have turned into more than $145 as of mid-March (excluding transaction costs), according to TrimTabs. That compares with roughly $110 (including reinvested dividends) for the S&P 500 fund's total return over the same period. Last year's trend kept largely to pattern.


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If any of you read blogs regularly, you might have heard about the new guidelines that the FTC has put in place that requires bloggers to disclose any freebies or payments received in return for a review or post. Even if you haven't heard of this, I thought it would be a great opportunity in the spirit of full disclosure to explain how I make the Big Bucks (and this is obviously a Big Joke) and what it means to you the reader!
First things first.
I blog because I love to share information with other moms and I thrive on the creative outlet it provides me. If I was doing this for the money, I would be in the wrong line of work. Seriously.
It takes me hours upon hours each week to make Tiny Oranges a site that is worth your time reading (and I know how busy you are!) So, I do need to generate some income to support the overhead it takes to keep up my blog.
How I make money.
The first way is through selling advertising space. You will find advertisers (I call them Sponsors) in my left column (under Sponsors) and in the Our Picks directory by category (right column). Sponsors often come to me, and I choose companies that I feel are a good fit for my readers. I want my site to also be a great resource for you and I strive to do this through my Sponsors.
The second way is through affiliate programs. Many companies have affiliate programs that allow me to link to their website and if someone clicks through to them from my site and buys something, I get a small piece. Sort of like a commission. These are programs I seek out because I personally love the company and would blog about it anyway. Totally seamless to you. As an example, if you were doing some shopping on Amazon, and clicked through from a banner on my site like this…
…this would be an example of an affiliate. I might have banners, tiles or links to affiliate programs on my site. If I do a post about something and I am a part of their affiliate program, I will tell you in the post at the bottom.
One important thing to note is that I never get paid for a review or giveaway (for now!). I also never say anything I don't believe to be true. All posts are my honest opinion.
However companies often do contact me and offer to send me a product for review. I screen these pretty carefully and if it is something that looks interesting or helpful to me, I will accept the product, which can be called a "freebie" because I don't pay for it. It makes it easier for me to blog about if I can talk about it firsthand. When this is the case, I will tell you in the post I received the product for review.
And, a bunch of stuff I blog about just because I love it, and the company might not even know.
I also do not receive payments for the giveaways. The giveaways are something that the companies decide they want to giveaway. Some companies are Sponsors, many are not. I love doing the giveaways as I love giving you guys the opportunity to win great stuff!
Here is the bottom line: if you love (or even just like) my blog, anytime you support a company on my site (as a result of your own decision to support them), it helps me to continue doing my blog. If you buy a product or partake in a service and have the opportunity to tell them you found them on Tiny Oranges, it helps me. Or, if you see a company (like Amazon above) on my site and are planning on doing some shopping, if you remember to click through to the site from Tiny Oranges, it helps me.
Thanks to all of you for reading, for your friendship, and for your support! I hope to be able to continue to blog for a long time to come. Just so everything is crystal clear, you will start seeing more notes at the end of the posts so you know if the company is a Sponsor, affiliate, or provided something for review.
If you have any questions or comments, please comment below or drop me an email at firstname.lastname@example.com! You can check out my disclosure policy HERE.
Have a fabulous weekend everyone! Are you ready for Christmas??? Can you believe it is already here?!


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Single-Family Home
Plan 1296
About the Home
For the convenience of single floor living with all the amenities you need, look no further than Ryan Homes' Plan 1296. As you enter the foyer of this 3 bedroom, 2 bath home, you'll know you've arrived in something special! The secondary bedroom wing features two large bedrooms and a convenient hall bath, while a service area from the garage leads to a huge laundry room and arrival area that banishes clutter. But the heart of this home is the living area -- large and inviting, and running the entire rear of the home, its open-concept design keeps it airy and filled with light. The kitchen features a large island with room for seating, while a cozy eating area provides space for sit-down meals. Off the main living area but given privacy by a small recessed space, the owner's bedroom is large and accommodating while still feeling tucked away, and features a private bath and a truly amazing walk-in closet.


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Once upon a time there was a lady named Samantha who spent lots of time on her super curly hair. She would straighten it, then curl it. She wears pony tails and messy buns and braids, all in an effort to tame her locks.
One day, Samantha decides she wants a hair cut, but, living in a rural town, there is no where to get a hair cut, short of driving "to town". So, as she is not a child known for her patience, she cuts it herself.
It looks great. Brave girl.


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baby clothes sale
It's so hard to part with these adorable little outfits that used to fit Israel, do you
remember him being so small. I don't. I can't believe he ever fit into these, or even
more, were too big for him! The plaid one on the bottom is my favorite, it has the cutest
snap button back.
I'd love to see these go to some sweet baby boys out there so here you go. If you're
interested, email me, I'm happy to ship these as well.
Please give them a good home, they're all clean and nearly new.
Other Stories
7 comments:
Adorable clothes! I am trying for baby #2 I'll email you if it happens hehe :) Those shoes are too cute!ReplyDelete
These are pretty sweet.ReplyDelete
Love the jacket especially.
Good luck selling them!
Where did you get your baby clothes?ReplyDelete
I love them!
Oh how I wish I knew if I was having a boy or girl now so I could buy these cute little outfits! How gorgeous! Where did you buy them?ReplyDelete
Jess-mostly from the Gap but they're from a variety of places. Congrats on your baby!ReplyDelete
So adorable...It's so sad that they outgrow their little clothes so quickly.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousDecember 28, 2010
Oh my goodness, that's so precious, it hurts. I have two precious little boys and I yearn for them to be that little again. Want them to be that little and squishy. Feel like I can smell Baby Magic when I see those cute clothes so adorably laid out on the floor.ReplyDelete
Thank you for your comments, I love hearing from you!
Questions, comments or sponsorship inquires, please contact me via the 'contact' link.


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Solo Adventures Together
Experience more on a Just You escorted tour
Our tours aren't just for single people - they're for anyone who wants to travel solo.
So if you want to experience a new destination in good company or feel it's time to do something that's just for you and you don't want to travel with your partner or friend, a Just You tour will be perfect. See why we are the Solo traveller specialist.
We love to share our passion for travel and take you on unforgettable journeys. Whether it's the new friends you make or the places you visit, we know a Just You tour leaves a lasting impression.
What a wonderful world
There are so many reasons people to choose to travel solo, and for more than 10 years, we've loved creating incredible adventures around the globe for our travellers. We know that travelling solo is a liberating experience and we believe what makes your journey so memorable is the people you meet along the way. Just You gives you the freedom to explore, meet new people and see new places.
Expect the very best
There is so much included in a Just You tour. Overseas transfers, accommodation in a room of your own, breakfast on all tours and amazing Tour Managers are a given. We also include excursions to fascinating must-see sights as well as fabulous hidden gems, to ensure you enjoy the very best of a touring vacation.
There's also the flexibility to tailor your trip to suit you, with a selection of unforgettable additional excursions. What's more, you can secure your tour for as little as $350.
Amazing new offers
We now offer even more award-winning adventures across the globe and the selection of brand new tours means we can now take you to all five continents.
We're even offering protected deposits when you book a Just You tour, so if you are unable to take your Just You trip, rather than lose your deposit, we'll keep it safe for you to use against a future tour.
What Just You customers are saying
"I have just returned from a wonderful tour at the Hotel Mijas. Fellow guests were wonderful company. Our Tour Manager Clare was really good and the Local Guide was very interesting, telling us about the Alhambra Palace in Granada."
Mrs Helen Martyn - Just You customer
"The Tour Manager was better than any I've met before - cheerful and knowledgeable. Every place visited was a delight and the company too could not have been better."
Miss Watson - Just You customer
Walking in Tuscany
"A most enjoyable tour and a beautiful location. Excellent accommodation and good excursions. Very friendly and competent Tour Manager Alison sat with us at mealtimes. She spoke with people at all tables and was available at all times."
Mrs Cecile Covill - Just You customer
Italy's Cilento Coast Spa Escape