text:
Asheville Flatiron Hotel proposal, facing council rejection, withdrawn prior to vote
ASHEVILLE — A proposal to convert downtown Asheville's historic Flatiron Building into a boutique hotel now is in doubt after a majority of City Council said they wouldn't vote for it.
The project submitted by developer Philip Woollcott for the 80-room lodging facility with restaurant and bar space ultimately was withdrawn from consideration during the May 14 meeting prior to a vote. Four members of council spoke against the effort, arguing, as did a majority of residents in attendance, that the hotel would not be the most desirable fit at the intersection of Battery Park Avenue and Wall Street.
The decision allows the project to return to council for a future meeting. That date is not yet known.
It's a blow for the proposal that was billed by Woollcott, majority building owner Russell Thomas and their development team as the best opportunity to pay for necessary upgrades to the property and install a business plan they see as most sustainable for the future.
Councilwoman Julie Mayfield said the goal for everyone in the debate on the Flatiron's future is about preserving the structure, a building she called "the spiritual center of our city." But her concerns — of parking, of displacing tenants, of the amount of existing downtown hotels — were too voluminous to ignore.
"It just cannot be that the only way for property owners and developers in downtown to make money is to build hotels or to convert buildings to hotels," she said. "If that is the only way for people in Asheville, for property owners to make money in Asheville, we are sunk. It cannot be."
► Flatiron developer: Hotel, restaurant conversion will return building to 'original glory
► 'In the shadow of more and more hotels,' Asheville's Flatiron project may launch in spring
►Answer Man John Boyle column: Hotels and a city's soul
Mayfield, who said the decision was the most difficult of her tenure on council, was joined by fellow council members Brian Haynes, Sheneika Smith and Keith Young. Only Vijay Kapoor indicated he would have voted for it, arguing he can't see how the Flatiron could afford to remain an office building for the long-term given its costly needs for new electrical, plumbing and sprinkler systems.
Mayor Esther Manheimer and Vice Mayor Gwen Wisler did not indicate how they would have voted before the proposal was pulled from the agenda. Had it been rejected on a vote, the proposal would not have been able to return to council for at least another year under city development rules.
The project has been the subject of community criticism for much of the past year. An iPetition called Save The Flatiron Building which states, "Asheville does not need another hotel," had almost 1,100 signatures and roughly 450 comments ahead of the May 14 council meeting.
It drew much of the same dissent from residents as it did in lower levels of the city planning process. At one point, a dozen residents in a row spoke against it.
Dissenters included Asheville resident and Downtown Commission member Andrew Fletcher, who said council had "ample" reasons to deny the proposal if it chose to do so. Fletcher argued that while Woollcott said the hotel would be the best solution for the Flatiron, to the city "this looks like another nail in the coffin."
"If a project comes before council that is going to directly displace locals or existing neighborhood uses and displace them for tourists, the answer should always be a simple no," he said.
Nina Tovish's question for council was simple: "Who is Asheville for?"
"Is it for tourists? Is it for hoteliers? Is it for developers?" Tovish asked. "Or is it for the people who live here, the people who work here, the people who create and play and raise families here? Is it for the small local businesses or national chain stores?"
The hotel proposal also had a number of supporters including resident and merchant Linda Stills, who spoke both in favor of historic renovations and the value of tourists to downtown merchants.
"Are you really committed to historic renovations or does it just sound good in your master plan?" Stills said.
Longtime Asheville developer Ken Jackson, whose grandfather L. B. Jackson built the Flatiron with architect Albert C. Wirth, also favored the hotel conversion plan.
The developer's attorney, Wyatt Stevens, made the pitch to council ahead of the public comment portion of the hearing. He echoed many of the same remarks he's made at lower levels of the city planning process on the benefits of the project and showcased a nearly seven-minute promotional video also played during April's Planning and Zoning Commission meeting.
"I know this project is controversial," Stevens said. "But this project makes sense. It makes business sense and it makes common sense. I would ask you do the right thing and vote in favor."
But it wouldn't be enough. Young told a packed room that "history will judge us accordingly" on development issues such as the Flatiron proposal. He said he doesn't want history to judge him personally by failing to "step up and exercising an opportunity for leadership."
Young said he understood that voting that way might disappoint some in attendance.
"In talking to people, in trying to respond, in trying to hear what the concerns were, I thought everything you had thought," he said. "Whatever we do here tonight, we're going to disappoint somebody.
"We're posed with a conundrum of trying to please everybody sometimes and that's not the way everything is always going to fall."


text:
Taylor Stitch Cotton/Linen Selvage Denim
This week's release from Taylor Stitch is for the denimheads out there. Their latest jean 14.5 oz is a hefty one in a cotton/linen mix sourced from Nihon Menpu Mills that's Made in California with a "democratic" fit that's that's tailored, but not cut off your circulation skinny.
$145,Taylor Stitch

subset: commoncrawl


text:
If you haven't made my fluff stuff yet, you've got to make it. Remember that Jello 1-2-3 layered dessert from the 80's this is like a healthier version of that. Any Sugar-Free Jello, any flavor SF Torani Syrup, any Fruit, and a little Greek Yogurt protein bang!
Shelly's Halloween Fluff Stuff
1 cup Boiling Water
1 box (4-serving size - the small one) Sugar-Free Orange Jello Mix
3 1/2 oz. Greek Yogurt (I use 2% fat, you could use 0%)
1 Tablespoon Sugar Free Torani Syrup (I used SF Vanilla)
1 1/2 cups Mango, fresh or frozen, chopped (I used frozen, defrosted)
Pour boiling water slowly over jello mix. Stir till dissolved. Set aside. Mix yogurt & syrup together till well combined. Add to Jello mixture. Beat with an electric mixer till well combined. I use this gadget.
Place in fridge for 1 hour. Set a timer. Remove from fridge and beat again for 5 minutes till fluffy. Fold in fruit. Put back in fridge and allow to set fully (about 2 hours)
If you want even more protein bang for your buck you can add a few tablespoons of your favorite protein powder to the yogurt and syrup mixture (mix well) before adding it as directed above.
You can use any fruit (fresh, frozen defrosted or canned drained), any Jello flavor, any Torani Syrup flavor. If you are not allowed fruit yet (very early post weight loss surgery peeps) you can leave it out. Some of my favs so far...
SF Orange Jello, SF Vanilla Torani, Pineapple (like a Creamsicle)
SF Black Cherry Jello, SF Black Cherry Torani, fresh Cherries
SF Lemon Jello, SF Vanilla Torani, Strawberries (Strawberry Lemonade)
SF Strawberry Jello, SF Strawberry Torani and fresh Cherries
This SF Orange, SF Vanilla Torani and frozen Mango version is the perfect Halloween orange treat and with a little squirt of sugar free whipped cream on top it looks candy corn-ish.
So when those snack sized bars start calling your name this week make up a batch of this!


text:
Dogs and cats sterilization campaign
Project date: November 2016, October 2019, December 2020
Just like in a lot of Ecuadorian cities and villages overpopulation of dogs is a big problem in Guamote. It leads to aggression towards people and other animals, garbage disposal problems with dogs searching through the litter bins, and dogs in very sad conditions roaming around looking for food…. Some dogs have owners, but in general people don't have the financial means to get veterinarian aid for their pets. Castration costs minimum (during campaigns in cities like Riobamba) $25 per animal, which is too expensive, besides that, there is also the difficulty to get with their pets to Riobamba.
The best solution is castrating and sterilizing, to prevent further propagating and to make the animals more docile. Thanks to Eva´s (Inti Sisa coordinator) big love for dogs and the good contacts she has with Diego Barrera, the head veterinarian of the PAE Ambato sterilization/castration program, Inti Sisa managed, in November 2016, to organize a free campaign for the first time in the history of Guamote. Ten American veterinarians and vet assistants, and 3 Ecuadorian veterinarians from Ambato, came two days to Guamote. We were a bit worried that people wouldn't bring their animals, because most of them didn't even know what sterilization/castration was but our expectations were exceeded. And we were absolutely stunned by the outcome. People from all over Guamote, and from further communities came to get their pets sterilized or castraded for free. In total, we managed to operate on 204 cats and dogs.
Over the last years people kept asking when we would do it again. Apart from changing these animal lives, we managed to change the mentality of people. So we planned something bigger this time. In October 2019 we organized a second, even bigger campaign: 3 days in Guamote and 2 days in Cebadas (another village at 20 minutes from Riobamba) with the same motivated team of veterinarians. The ones who were here in 2016 loved their stay so much last time and managed to convince more vets to come. This time we got a total of 430 animals spayed and neutered.
Because we still received many requests about sterilization, we organized another campaign. It wasn't as big as we would've liked because of corona, but with a team of 3 veterinarians, local youngsters that volunteered, and the help of Soul Dog Rescue, we managed to castrate and sterilize another 100 dogs! (and we still have many more dog-and cat owners on our waiting list)
Now, several months after the campaign, we still have people saying thank you and asking when we will do it again.
Alltogether, with the animals we did during a mini campaign around Christmas 2018, and all the dogs and cats that we took on several occasions to campaings in Riobamba, we managed to change the lives of roughly 700 animals. A lot, but not enough.
A new campaing was planned in April 2020, but due to measurements taken because of the COVID-19 emergency, we will have to postpone it. However, we keep raising awareness and donations. And we are optimistic that we will come back bigger and better: with new campaigns reaching yet more remote regions and even more needy animals.
Leave a Reply Cancel reply
Recent Posts
Recent Comments
Visit us
Latest news
- Homework classes during COVID-19
- Face masks to help prevent COVID-19
- Food packages during COVID-19
- School Projects
- Aflatoun teaching program
- Dogs and cats sterilization campaign
- Sewing classes in Jatunpamba
- The women foundation LA FLORCITA of Bayusihi de San Vicente (Calpi)
- Byron, our neighbour in Guamote
- The animal sterilisation project Guamote
Our reviews
- 18 reviews of Inti Sisa in Riobamba


text:
Hazrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (rahmatullahi 'alaih) once mentioned:
There are countless bounties and blessings of Allah Ta'ala upon his servants. Consider the bounty of good health – it is such a priceless bounty of Allah Ta'ala that even an entire kingdom cannot equate it in value. If a king falls extremely ill, and he is told that there is no way for him to regain his health but to sacrifice his entire kingdom, then he would definitely be prepared to do so.
Likewise, consider the bounty of food and drink. Allah Ta'ala has made the bounty of basic food and drink easily available for His servants. Imagine a person who is dying of severe thirst and there is no water available anywhere around. If such a person is offered a single glass of water in exchange of him paying one hundred thousand of the wealth he has, then in order to save his life, he will definitely be prepared to pay it.
Just as we have understood the value of good health and water, we should likewise appreciate every other favour and bounty of Allah Ta'ala. If we trivialize any bounty of Allah Ta'ala and regard it to be insignificant, then only at the time when we are deprived of this bounty will we come to understand its true worth and appreciate how valuable it is.
Allah Ta'ala, out of His infinite grace and sheer mercy, allows all people to benefit from His bounties without any charge (e.g. water, food, drink, air, etc.). We should thus ensure that we express true appreciation and gratitude to Allah Ta'ala for every favour and bounty that He blesses us with.
(Malfoozaat Hakeemul Ummat 12/108)
Source: Ihyaauddeen.co.za


text:
127 Mukundapur, E.M Bypass, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700099, India
Super Speciality Hospital
JC - 16 & 17, Sector III, Salt Lake City, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700098, India
Plot No 4/5, Block No A, Scheme L11, Dhakuria Gariahat Road, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700042, India
230, Barakhola Lane, Purba Jadavpur, Mukundapur, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700099, India
Plot no.- DG-4, Premises, 03-358, Street Number 358, DG Block, Action Area I, Newtown, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700156, India
Single Speciality Hospital
Credihealth is an online solution to all your healthcare needs. Our team of medical experts are there for you in every step of the way, from finding the right doctor and hospital to any kind of assistance. We educate and empower families to ensure that right healthcare decisions are made. With personalized advice, we are changing the face of healthcare delivery across India.
The cost of PET Scan in Kolkata starts from INR 15000 which depends on multiple factors.


text:
LAGOS, Nigeria; 7th December 2018
Nigeria's music wonder woman, Omawumi has teamed up with Falz to give fans a new love anthem titled, Hold my Baby.
Following the release of her enthralling street single, Malowa, Omawumi is set to retake the airwaves with her latest masterpiece featuring rapper, Falz.
Hold my Baby is off Omawumi's upcoming EP which will also feature her hit single, Me Ke with Kizz Daniel and other leading artistes.
The jam which features a retro feel coupled with great lyrical delivery by Falz, is a testament to the inventiveness and all-round ability of Omawumi.
Produced by Sess, 'Hold my Baby' promises to dominate the airwaves this season.
Find download link below:


text:
ELLSWORTH, Maine — Motorists who drive between Ellsworth and the towns of Clifton, Mariaville, Otis and beyond now have two miles of new road to take along their route.
A new portion of Route 180 where it intersects Route 1A in Ellsworth was opened to traffic on Monday. The new road runs along the western side of the Union River, connecting Route 1A at Vittum Road to the pre-existing section of Route 180 about a half-mile west of the dam at the southern end of Graham Lake. The new section of road was built because of structural concerns about a bridge where the highway used to cross the top of the dam.
Route 180 between Graham Lake and Route 1A in Ellsworth used to overlap with Route 179 on the eastern side of the river.
In early 2007, traffic was restricted across the bridge after a Maine Department of Transportation survey showed it was in extremely poor condition. On a scale of zero to 100, with zero being the worst, the bridge scored 28.7, DOT officials have said. A temporary single-lane bridge has spanned the dam since then.
The bridge across the top of the dam will remain open for another two weeks, until Aug. 12, according to DOT. On that date it will close, forcing motorists to access the old portion of highway on the eastern side of the dam from Route 179 and on the western side from Route 180.


text:
You may have read about the new federal dietary guidelines. In a nutshell they recommend we all eat less sugar and that teenage boys and men eat less meat. They also state that cholesterol laden foods like eggs are OK for most of us and that moderate consumption of coffee is perfectly fine – yay!
What has come to light however, is the influence of food industry lobbyists on the final recommendations. According to Marion Nestle, renowned nutrition professor and food policy expert, the guidelines are "a win for the meat, sugary drink, processed, and junk food industries."
Specifically, the federal dietary guidelines DO NOT:
- Call on everyone to eat less meat for both health and environmental reasons
- Urge people to cut drastically down on soft drinks (the primary source of added sugar in our diets)
- Adequately explain the health risks of consuming fish contaminated with mercury
Given this, the EWG took it in their hands to create a set of dietary guidelines that "serve the vested interest, not the public interest."
The 5 key recommendations in the EWG's dietary guidelines are:
- Eat more vegetables and fruits. Avoid pesticides when you can.
- Eat less meat, especially red and processed meat.
- Skip soft drinks and sugary and salty foods.
- Eat healthy and sustainable seafood that's low in mercury.
- Beware of processed foods with harmful chemicals.
Head over to EWG for more details!


text:
The establishment of the Faculty of Nursing, AL-Zaytoonah University was in the beginning of the academic year 1993 / 1994 in response to the needs of the Jordanian society to nurses at a high level of knowledge and science as well as technical skills necessary to cope with rapid changes in the health field, whether at the local level, regional or International. In 1996 the faculty was accredited according to the faculties' accreditation standards. Students enrolled in the faculty are the secondary school graduates (scientific section or nursing), students who hold a diploma in nursing or a three-year participant. (bridging program)
Graduates obtain the degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing after completing (132) credit hours taught mostly in English. The various courses in the faculty curriculum taught nursing, medical and humanitarian to help graduates to practice the nursing profession in all health sectors in Jordan and abroad
Within the pursuit of the faculty to upgrade the level of the program curriculum and the scientific research as well as the faculty members, the faculty has scholarship activities, which help lots of excellent students to complete their higher studies for master and doctoral degrees in various disciplines of nursing at several prestigious Universities in many countries, such as: United States of America, Britain, Australia and other countries.
Confirmation of the pursuit of the faculty and the faculty members to bridge the gap between faculty study and labor market requirements of trained staff capable of carrying the burden of the next stage. The faculty has established a quality assurance unit to embrace standards of academic quality in the learning environment and seeks national and international accreditation.
From the keenness of the. Faculty of Nursing to establish bonds of cooperation between the faculties of nursing in the Arab region, so it has hosted the permanent headquarters of the Arab Nursing Faculties providing a permanent home, as well as administrators represented by the Secretary-General and the administrator for the Office of the Assembly.
The faculty of Nursing continues its progress in the educational process. In 2014-2015, the Faculty of Nursing has developed a Master's Program in Clinical / Adult Nursing. In 2015/2016 a training diploma was developed in heart disease.
In 2017, the Faculty of Nursing received the Quality Assurance Certificate for its programs issued by the Higher Education Accreditation Authority and it's quality assurance as the first nursing faculty in the Kingdom to obtain this certificate.


text:
Check the ground clamp and electrode (rod) holder for correct assembly.
- Check to see that the ground cable has enough insulation removed and copper wire exposed to provide a good connection to the ground clamp.
- Check to see that the lead cable has enough insulation removed and wire exposed for good connection to the electrode (rod) holder.
- Check to see if your ground clamp is attached to the actual surface metal, which should be free of paint and rust. You should position this clamp as close to the area that you are going to weld as possible.
- Check your electric source. It is better not to use an extension cord. However, if you must use an extension cord, use a 10-gauge cord no more than 20 feet long.
- Make sure that you are using the appropriate size and type of electrode (rod) for the metal you are welding. Refer to your owner's manual for correct electrode (rod) style and size.
- Make sure you are using a 20-amp dedicated circuit. Check to make sure that you are not leaving it in the molten pool. You must hold the electrode (rod) slightly above surface, approximately 1/16". And you must keep the electrode (rod) moving at a steady pace while welding.


text:
What Is Jazz Funk Dance?
So, what is jazz funk dance? Well, as jazz and dance progresses, choreographers and, you know, just people on the street want to try to fuse things together and transform them in their own way. So jazz funk originated, um, as an expression or a fusion of hip hop and jazz coming together as 1. One of the, um, major contributors of that is Frank Hatchet. He was the King of Bop. And he, uh, fused together all these street styles and funk and African American hip hop moves into the traditional jazz technique and created his own thing. Which is, uh, very cool and innovative. And, um, a lot of people really, uh, jumped on that bandwagon, and took a million classes with Frank Hatchet. And, uh, jazz funk is a great fusion of the jazz technique. As well as funk and soul and, uh, own personal styles, just, just meshing into, into the music and how you feel the music. And that's pretty much the definition of jazz funk.


text:
The Princeton Review recently ranked UM fifth in the nation for "Great College Towns" and sixth for "Most Students From Different Backgrounds Interact" in a nation-wide ranking of colleges. UM was the only Florida school to be ranked in those categories.
"The University of Miami is indeed a diverse institution with students hailing from over 110 countries," said Dr. Pat Whitely, vice president for student affairs. "Through a variety of activities both in and out of the classroom, diversity is celebrated and recognized as one of the important values of the University of Miami."
Other categories on the review included "Academics," "Administration," "Politics" and "Quality of Life." Each category had sub-categories, each of which had both a positive and a negative section.
For example, "Professors Get High Marks" was paired with "Professors Suck All Life From Materials," and "Great Food" was paired with "Is it Food?"
Other sub-categories included: "Lots of Hard Liquor" and "Scotch and Soda: Hold the Scotch," "Birkenstock-Wearing, Tree-Hugging, Clove-Smoking Vegetarians" and "Future Rotarians and Daughters of the Revolution," and "School Runs Like Butter"and "Long Lines and Red Tape."
For the location category, schools were judged by size of the city, beauty of the campus and surrounding areas, climate and resources available to students.
"The moment I stepped on campus, I was sold," said sophomore Aimee Garcia. "I knew as soon as I saw the palm trees painted across the clear blue sky that this was the school for me."
For the diversity category, schools were judged on the percentage of non-white students enrolled and on how students from different backgrounds interact with one another.
"This campus boasts significant ethnic diversity and, in a nutshell, students say they are part of a 'receptive and diverse group,'" the review said.
According to the report, students at UM describe themselves as "high-energy, fun-loving, friendly, and outgoing" but also feel "fiercely competitive" with one another. Also, some students are described by other UM students as "arrogant, self-centered, spoiled rich kids."
The review goes on to say that sometimes life at UM feels like "a constant fashion contest" and that many students spend much of their free time "getting buff" and "working on their appearance."
Although some students believe that the diversity of UM is a result of location, meaning that most of the diversity on campus comes from the diverse population of South Florida, most find that UM strives to recruit diverse groups of people from different parts of the U.S. and in many countries throughout the world.
"Yeah, it's diverse alright," sophomore Jennifer Wright said. "I mean – hello – my roommate is from Hong Kong."
Many students take pride in the level of diversity on campus.
"I didn't come here for the diversity, but I appreciate it now that I've experienced it," junior Shelly Steele said.
"There are so many opportunities for everyone, no matter what race they are," said Camille Linton, a Jamaican-American student and member of the United Black Students.
Aside from UM, two other Florida schools, UF and FSU, were also highly ranked in several categories of the Princeton Review.
UF ranked tenth in both the "Reefer Madness" and "Dorms Like Dungeons" categories, and fifth in the "Party School" category. FSU ranked third in both the "Lots of Beer" and the "Students (Almost) Never Study" category, and first in the "This is a Library?" category.
"Can we really expect anything more?" Garcia said
The Princeton Review is currently surveying students online at survey.review.com until Feb. 10. For a complete listing of the categories and rankings of the Princeton Review, visit www.princetonreview.com/college.html.
Jaclyn Lisenby and Leigha Taber can be contacted at email@example.com and firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Monday is the 30th year anniversary of what some consider one of the greatest concerts in Jacksonville of all time.
Michael Jackson's Victory Tour traveled to 10 cities across America from July to December 1984.
Typically Jacksonville would not have stood a chance to land one of the 10 spots, but it did. In fact, not only did the tour come to Jacksonville, the Jackson brothers performed three nights straight at the Gator Bowl, the city's football stadium at the time.
If you are wondering how Jacksonville managed to pull it off, football was the catalyst. The mayor at the time, Jake Godbold, used to convince the king of pop to come to our city.
UNCUT: Mayor Jake Godbold recalls
getting Jackson to Jacksonville
Flash back five years before anyone in Jacksonville was even thinking about a Michael Jackson concert. In 1979 what the city really wanted in their stadium was for Bob Ursay, owner of the then Baltimore Colts, to bring his team to Jacksonville.
The plans were set and Ursay was on his way to Jacksonville.
Godbold had an idea to woo Ursay into bringing his team to the Florida city. The mayor surprised Ursay with a helicopter arrival to a stadium full of Jacksonvillians cheering, "We want Colts, we want Colts."
"We'll bring him down in a helicopter and tell everyone he's going to be there and say we want the colts," Godbold said. "It ended up 50,000 people showed up and 25,000 people standing outside trying to get in."
Two weeks later, Godbold had an appointment with the president to talk about Jacksonville transportation.
"So his top aids come in and he says, listen I don't want to talk about transportation and bridges, I want to know how in the hell you got 50,000 people into that stadium with cold drinks and popcorn... it went all the way around the country," one of President Ronald Reagan's aides said.
Although Ursay ended up taking the team to Indianapolis, Godbold said that the exposure is what led to another meeting with all the NFL team owners in Washington D.C. for a pitch to host the Super Bowl in Jacksonville.
Godbold had just finished his presentation with Patriots' owner Sullivan and thought this just might be Jacksonville's chance at a team.
WJXT's Sam Kouvaris happened to be sitting with Godbold during the meeting.
"I didn't introduce Sam as a reporter... I thought he might throw both of us out of the room." said Godbold.
Instead of thinking football team, Sullivan had a different idea.
"He (Sullivan) said, 'Mayor, I can't give you a Super Bowl or an NFL team, but I can give you something that's equivalent to three Super Bowl games... I have the contractual rights to a Victory Tour for Michael Jackson,'" Godbold recalled.
"It's going to be the greatest show and the biggest concert that's ever been and we'll put one on in 10 cities, only 10, and you're (Jacksonville) one of them," Sullivan said to Godbold.
"And I said, oh yeah?... Hell yeah we want it!" Godbold said.
Kouvaris remembered the day he learned Jackson was heading to north Florida.
"The funny thing is, I went to a pay phone and called Tom," Kouvaris said. "I said, 'Listen, we're not getting the Super Bowl, but Michael Jackson is going to open his tour next year in Jacksonville with three stops.' Tom was virtually speechless on the phone."
When the news hit Jacksonville, the excitement was contagious. WJXT's Tom Wills traveled to Kansas, Jackson's first stop on the tour, to show News4Jax viewers what a concert like this was all about.
This was the chance Godbold had wanted. An opportunity to bring the city together.
"One of the things we needed in Jacksonville was to have more pride in our self, to build our esteem... we needed something to spark us -- black and white, young and old -- bring us together," Godbold expressed.


text:
Africa Zone Laundry Hamper - Alpha Phi Alpha Coffin Dance Laundry Hamper A35
Africa Zone Laundry Hamper - Alpha Phi Alpha Coffin Dance Laundry Hamper A35
All of our Laundry Hampers are custom-made-to-order and handcrafted to the highest quality standards.
- Add style and personality to your laundry routine with a custom printed pop-up hamper!
- Constructed with a durable mesh material allowing air to circulate that helps eliminate moisture and odors.
- Stores flat by twisting the flexible lightweight frame into a compact shape that fits conveniently into the included storage pocket.
- This is an ideal hamper for home, college dorms, small apartments or anywhere space is limited.
Return & Warranty
- Secure payment with SSL Encryption.
- If you're not satisfied, let us know and we'll make it right.
Shipping Policies
- Orders ship within 5 to 10 business days.
- Tip: Buying 2 products or more at the same time will save you quite a lot on shipping fees.


text:
If you can't get a free or mileage-paid upgrade, would you pay cash for one? How much?
A majority of air travelers in economy class would be willing to pay extra for an upgrade to more comfortable seating, according to a new survey. The question for airlines: How can you sell upgrades effectively, finding the right price and the right timing for your sales pitch to maximize customer response?
That's the gist of a new report from the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX), a trade group of airlines, suppliers and tech companies that recently conducted a survey of 3,400 travelers from 18 countries.
A key finding: 86 percent of economy travelers who paid extra to move up to a premium economy seat said they found it so worthwhile that they would do so again on future flights. Some 60 percent of economy travelers said they would be willing to pay extra for a seat with more legroom.
Still, "Most airlines lack coherent policies on selling upgrades," says APEX CEO Joe Leader. "Many attempt to charge full fare for cabins and limit their upgrade count to a set number of passengers."
The group suggests that airlines should create individually targeted upgrade sales pitches to likely purchasers, based on a range of demographic and ticket data. "A personal traveler may be willing to spend a few hundred dollars on an upgrade versus a business traveler willing to spend over a thousand." Leader said.
Related: United 1K status matching & double points
A number of airlines are currently testing last-minute auctions of seat upgrades (like Virgin America's SeatBoost), and some are trying virtual reality sales pitches– put on a headset and take a virtual walk-arounds of premium cabins, then decide.
The report cites a company called PaxLife, a specialist in airline ancillary revenue programs, which argues that the timing of the offer and the ease of buying — preferably a one-click transaction — it are the keys to selling upgrades to passengers identified as likely buyers. PaxLife this month is rolling out a wireless in-flight entertainment system that lets an airline stream advertising directly to passengers' personal electronic devices. A system like that could offer instant upgrade purchases.
Here's an inforgraphic with some of the APEX survey findings about upgrades:
NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: United packages Economy Plus with amenities + Ride-sharing firm goes out of business + Bucket list for air travelers + Useless travel gadgets + 'Uber of the Skies' dies
Do you follow us on Twitter? It's a great way to keep up with the latest news!
Please join the 100,000+ people who read TravelSkills every month! Sign up here for one email-per-day updates!


text:
Edvergent Learning, developers of the Converge LMS, is announcing a partnership with eCreators, a certified Moodle Partner and learning solutions company servicing Australia and South East Asia.
Through this partnership, eCreators will offer Converge for customers in the Asia-Pacific region and the LMS as the destination for its content and software development solutions. Converge's main focus is K-12 and its features include:
- Friendly interface
- Responsive design, even mobile and tablet-friendly
- Simplified activity builder
- Connect resources from Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive
- Personalized learning
- Parent portal
Converge LMS is a product of Edvergent Learning, a US company based in Lexington. In addition to Converge, Edvergent also runs the eTechCampus Virtual Bookstore Program, allowing K-12 organizations to build internal library-bookstore hybrids, and iTeachDigital Training, a teacher on-boarding and continuing education service focused in technology.
eCreators provides full-scale learning solutions for companies of all sizes, from full enterprises to small businesses. With offices in Sydney, Melbourne, and Singapore, eCreators offers customers Moodle and Converge solutions, content development, training, and consulting. eCreators is the developer of Learnbook, a "highly functional" Moodle offering a specialized interface and integrated analytics and reporting. It was featured as a "Top 100 Fast Company," in Australian business magazine BRW.


text:
Coosa River Lake Associations
Lake Information
Popular Topics
Tag Archives: rtesting
December 2012 Water Testing Results
The team of LMLPA water monitors have completed their monthly assessment of the quality of Logan Martin Lake. The results of their testing is linked here.
Posted in Testing Tagged rtesting, water quality Comments Off on December 2012 Water Testing Results


text:
Los Angeles Lakers Trade Rumors: Do They Need Dwight Howard or Chris Paul More?May 13, 2011
There are a choice few topics that have dominated conversation about the Los Angeles Lakers since Kobe Bryant and his bumbling band of basketball vagabonds stumbled to a four-game sweep at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks in the second round of the 2011 NBA Playoffs:
What went wrong, and who's to blame?
Who will replace Phil Jackson as the next coach of the Lakers?
And how will general manager Mitch Kupchak retool the roster, if he in fact chooses to do so?
That last bit of chatter has led to rampant speculation that the Lakers have targeted or will go after just about every superstar set to hit the free agent market in 2012, with Dwight Howard and Chris Paul as the most prominent and intriguing names of the bunch.
Now, there's certainly plenty of reason for haters and fans alike to balk at the prospect of "Superman" or CP3 in a Purple and Gold uniform next season; after all, the current roster is still pretty darn good and could very well contend for another NBA title given some slight adjustments on the fringes.
That being said, these are the Lakers we're talking about here, a franchise with a long history of making a big splash or two in the off-season and an aging superstar with only a year or two of high-level basketball left in him, if that.
And with an unusually long off-season in store, especially with the prospect of a league-wide lockout to start out the 2011-12 season, now is as good a time as ever to speculate as to which franchise player—Dwight Howard or Chris Paul—is a bigger "need" for the Lakers.
Chris Paul
Positionally speaking, the obvious choice here is Chris Paul. The Lakers haven't had an elite-level point guard since Magic Johnson (unless you count Nick Van Exel as "elite") and were helpless to stop just about anyone at the position this past season, with Paul, Jason Kidd and J.J. Barea being the most recent culprits to expose LA's porous perimeter defense.
And, frankly speaking, the Lakers' current stable of lead guards, namely Derek Fisher and Steve Blake, just isn't cutting it. Fisher will be 37 when the 2011-12 season starts and Blake just looked lost during his first year in a Lakers jersey. All in all, the two combined to average 10.8 points and 4.9 assists per game for LA.
Chris Paul, on the other hand, trumped their production on his own, scoring 15.9 points and delivering 9.8 assists per game for the resurgent Hornets.
Paul is also headed into the final year of his contract for a franchise that is currently league-owned and will likely lose power forward David West to free agency after watching him sit on the sidelines with a season-ending knee injury from late March on.
Ever since giving his infamous toast at Carmelo Anthony's wedding this past summer, CP3 has been rumored as a shoe-in to team up with 'Melo and Amar'e Stoudemire on the New York Knicks once his deal is up.
However, the opportunity to play in LA with Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol on an instant title contender would have to be at least somewhat appealing to Paul, at least if the ring truly is the thing for arguably the best point guard in the game.
The Lakers would likely have to make some significant concessions from their roster to get Paul, beginning with Andrew Bynum and possibly roping in Lamar Odom and/or Shannon Brown in any potential deal, though the return—an established superstar just entering his prime–would be well worth it for a franchise without an heir apparent to pick up where Kobe will soon leave off.
Dwight Howard
Of course, giving up Andrew Bynum would leave a humongous hole in the middle for the Lakers who by now know all too well that playing Pau Gasol as a pivot is a serious detriment to the team's defense, if not the offense as well.
Seeing as how LA would probably have to part with Bynum in any trade for an All-NBA-caliber player, why not simply trade upside and a few years of youth for the best center the league has to offer in Dwight Howard?
At 25 years of age, Howard is only two years older than Bynum and has proven over the course of his career to be a much more durable and reliable player than the Lakers' current center. The five-time All-Star and three-time league Defensive Player of the Year has also seen an uptick in his offensive production to better match his monstrous play on the boards, thanks to some diligent work on his game during the past few off-seasons.
As such, the Lakers, should they choose to swap Bynum and about half of the rest of their roster for Howard, would receive in return a young post player who is already a dominant force in the NBA and only figures to get better.
Sound familiar?
It just so happens that this summer will mark 15 years since Shaquille O'Neal ditched Orlando for the bright lights of Los Angeles and came away with three rings to show for it.
It also just so happens that Howard as already been rumored to have expressed a desire to play in LA, for a franchise with a long and storied history of top-flight big men, from George Mikan to Wilt Chamberlain to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Shaq.
And, as would be the case of the Lakers were to land Chris Paul, they would then have in the employ an eminently talented and well-liked player to be the face of the franchise for the better part of the next decade.
When all is said and done, do the Lakers really need to make a big splash this summer? Panicky fans would say yes, but, really, if LA stood pat, they'd still have one of the better rosters in the NBA, with more than enough talent and experience to win another title next year.
Kobe himself even said so during his exit interview this week.
Then again, Kobe also characterized the 2010-11 season as "a wasted year of my life."
Which, in basketball terms, is a life that will be done with work on the hardwood sooner than later, making it incumbent upon Mitch Kupchak and his fleet of front office wiz kids to figure out something to get this team back on track next season.
Certainly, adding Chris Paul or Dwight Howard wouldn't hurt.


text:
|System: PC
|Review Rating Legend
|Dev: Arcen Games
|1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid
|4.0 - 4.4 = Great
|Pub: Arcen Games
|2.0 - 2.4 = Poor
|4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
|Release: June 2, 2009
|2.5 - 2.9 = Average
|5.0 = The Best
|Players: 1-8
|3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
|ESRB Rating: N/A
|3.5 - 3.9 = Good
In addition to metal, crystal, and energy, AI War also requires players to accumulate knowledge points, which are used to unlock upgrades. Knowledge points are gained by creating science labs, which continuously yield small numbers of points per second. To keep players from defending a single planetary system until fully upgraded, planets yield a maximum of 2,000 knowledge points each, so if players wish to continue upgrading, they'll need to do some planetary conquering. All things considered, the resource gathering and economic gameplay in AI War is simplistic, but only in so far as it is easy to grasp, allowing players to focus on the core of the game's fun: combat.
The sheer number of ships and defensive structures, which can be daunting when fully upgraded, provide players with a wide variety of tactical options with which to play. And, despite each ship and structure having detailed statistics such as armor, shields, weapon damage, firing rate, and movement speeds, AI War provides a quick Weak vs. and Strong vs. comparison to help players along. One notable gameplay element that is particularly interesting is being able to increase the power and efficiency of smaller ships that stay close to larger ships, proving that fleet diversity goes a long way in achieving victory.
While micromanagement of units is possible in AI War, it is clear that it isn't necessarily the best way of playing. Instead, AI War sacrifices what many would refer to as strategic depth for tactical depth, meaning that giving individual orders to ships may not be as effective as deciding on where to locate your fleet in conjunction with a wormhole or a set of short-range turrets. Tactics such as flanking with a smaller, faster fleet are more likely to prove helpful than issuing all your cruisers to focus on a particular target. The AI is designed to let the player rest easy during combat by ensuring that ships don't just sit idly by and be destroyed because they received a "move" order and not an "attack move" order, and it manages to do the trick.
AI War is also designed around longer-lasting games, with the shorter ones taking just about 7 hours to complete, depending on the difficulty settings, of which there are 13 grades of AI difficulty, ranging anywhere from rendering the AI comatose to making them appear to be on steroids. While this may seem rather unnecessary when compared to other RTS games and how they manage AI difficulty, for AI War it is not only justified but an important gameplay mechanic that extends the game's replayability.
It is important to note that the controls are very typical of your modern-day RTS game. Dragging is still a common way of selecting and grouping units together, a zoom feature allows players to quickly assess situations across entire planetary systems, and switching between keys, fleets, and structures can be managed using hotkeys. Conversely, there are some minor oddities that can cause frustrations. For example, the ships use wormholes to fly between planetary systems, but simply selecting a ship and clicking a wormhole doesn't get the job done. Instead, players must select their ships and then hold the left control key while clicking the right mouse button to make the ships interact with the wormhole. On top of that, holding the left control key and then left-clicking moves the player's camera to the other side of the wormhole, but not the ships. Why ships cannot move by selecting them and simply right-clicking the wormhole seems strange. Nevertheless, these types of annoyances are few and far between.
The multiplayer features of AI War also allow players to enter and leave existing games as much as they want without affecting it too much. Being able to start and finish a saved game with an entirely different team is a huge plus for AI War considering even the shortest games take close to an entire workday to complete - time that many people cannot dedicate without stopping.
AI War certainly doesn't offer the bells and whistles that come standard in most mainstream RTS games. Extras such as in-game leaderboards, matchmaking systems, chat rooms, and buddy lists are all MIA. It also won't blow you away with impressive, 3D graphics that tear a hole in the meaning of "next-gen." With that said, don't be fooled by the lack of features, as the game oozes fun and teaches us once again not to judge a game by its art design. AI War: Fleet Command provides the kind of gameplay depth rarely seen in today's mainstream RTS offerings, and it does so with one dimension tied behind its back.
Derek Hidey
CCC Freelance Writer
Game Features:


text:
In Deltona, Florida, which is a town we've never heard of, an unidentified man went into the local water office and handed the cashier an envelope with three grams of crack cocaine. A cursory glance at the internet suggests the price of a gram of crack is $75. That would mean this man dropped off $225 worth. The department didn't take it, calling the police instead, but why was this man giving them so much? He either is months in default, left his hose running for a fortnight straight because he was high or Florida water prices are through-the-roof ridic. If I had to guess, I'd say some combination of all three.
[H/T Death and Taxes]


text:
Orthopedic Surgeon Alan Hinton, MD joins Memorial Medical Group
Memorial Medical Group welcomes Alan Hinton, MD, a board-certified and fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon to its staff. Dr. Hinton joins fellow orthopedic surgeons Drs. Thomas Axelrad, Brett Cascio, Nathan Cohen, Robert Duarte, William Hubbard and Robert Moukarzel with Memorial Medical Group Orthopaedic Specialists.
A native of Lake Charles, Dr. Hinton has a degree in chemical engineering from McNeese State University. He went on to receive his medical degree from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans. His post-graduate training includes a residency in orthopedic surgery from LSU in New Orleans and a fellowship in sports medicine from the University of Pennsylvania Sports Medicine Center.
Dr. Hinton has been in private practice in Lake Charles since 1995. He specializes in orthopedic procedures, including all surgeries with knees, shoulders, ankles, hands/elbows and fractures. Dr. Alan Hinton also maintains a reputation for being a joint replacement expert, completing thousands of surgeries with an incredible success rate.
Dr. Hinton is board-certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery and has a subspecialty certification in orthopedic sports medicine. He is also a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, Arthroscopy Association of North America, Calcasieu Parish Medical Society, Louisiana State Medical Society and Louisiana Orthopedic Association.
Dr. Hinton is accepting new patients at his office located at 230 West Sale Road in Lake Charles. For more information or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Hinton, call 337.477.5252 or go to www.lcmmg.com and www.hintonorthopedics.com.


text:
Global Corruption in the Age of Technological Transparency
Never before has technology had so much potential to deliver us from bondage. We're in proverbial uncharted waters, trying to make sense of a world where modern technology has brought us closer together than ever before — and yet, it's a world where secrecy and corruption still hold sway from the shadows.
Has government corruption changed with the rise of technology? Oh, yes. At its most simplistic, the truth is this: Modern technology has made it harder than ever before to keep secrets from the electorate — whether you're a young Arab Spring protester in Tunisia or you're getting arrested on the steps of the US capitol because you're tired of money's controlling influence in politics.
We've reached a turning point, where technology has finally democratized the dissemination of information and made it both possible and morally imperative to come together to fight corruption. A recent string of huge strides forward tells us we're only barely getting started.
Without any further preamble, let's take a look at the ways that technology is delivering us from corruption — and sowing the seeds of a true, worldwide populist movement that may change the face of politics forever.
The Panama Papers
You've almost certainly heard by now about the infamous Panama Papers — a series of leaked documents that lay bare literally an entire world's worth of greed and corruption. The Panama Papers have revealed the sordid world of tax havens — used by the most elite mammals and corporations to hide their untold wealth from those pesky tax collectors.
It would be difficult to oversell the importance of this leak. Tax havens have been a thorn in the side of the true Progressive movement in this country for some time, and win or lose, certain Presidential candidates have made their abolition a cornerstone of this campaign season.
And now that technology has delivered us the truth about tax havens and Panamanian shadow banks, the gears of democracy — and justice — are turning once again. Slowly.
Thanks to the revelations brought to light by the Panama Papers and tech startup Neo Technology, world leaders everywhere are shaking in their expensive boots — or have already tucked their tails and resigned in disgrace, as was the case with Iceland's prime minister, Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson. There's even turmoil in the UK, where citizens are clamoring for Prime Minister David Cameron to do the same.
The Panama Papers will almost certainly be just the first wave of revelations concerning worldwide corruption, and the fallout will be both transformative and long-lasting. Journalists working to sift through the thousands upon thousands of pages of records promise that there are more bombshells incoming — including information that could implicate high-ranking US officials, if rumors are to be believed.
The Public As Whistleblowers
If recent events are any indication, the public — that is to say, the ordinary citizens of the world — has more power than ever before to blow the whistle on shady practices and fraud perpetrated both against, and by, the Federal government.
In fact, a particularly powerful piece of whistleblower legislation has been around since the days of Abraham Lincoln — it's literally still called the "Lincoln Law" by some folks — and it says that whistleblowers may receive protection if they wish to expose fraud against the government.
But what happens if the government is the party responsible in the first place? It turns out that's a little trickier. Whistleblowers-turned-folk-heroes like Julian Assange and Edward Snowden, responsible for Wikileaks and the mass surveillance revelations, respectively, are now forced to live their lives in hiding overseas, for fear of reprisals by the governments of the world.
Some call them patriots, others call them agitators or even traitors — but history will surely remember these men as brave freedom fighters who did the right thing, even at great personal cost.
But right now, they need to celebrate their victories in foreign embassies, far from the United States Justice Department — because the other truth to come from all this is that we have the tools, but not the will, to see true reform come to fruition. So long as men like Edward Snowden live under the long shadow of reprisals from the governments they're trying to save, the revolution cannot proceed in the Western World.
'Arab Spring' and Beyond
And yet, while the US likes to pretend it's the center of the developed world, technology-fueled reform has, if anything, been of even greater consequence elsewhere in the world.
Consider the Arab Spring — a series of both peaceful and violent demonstrations that rocked the Arab world beginning in late 2010. The Arab Spring began in Tunisia, but has now brought the fires of revolution to Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Bahrain and Syria. It was directly responsible for the Syrian Civil War, which still has the world tied in knots and on the brink of an even larger conflict.
Here, too, technology has played a significant role in fueling both dissent and reform. Influential social profiles, bloggers, and social media users had a great deal to do with raising awareness of the Arab Spring's purpose and goals, as well as the dissemination of information regarding protest events and public demonstrations. Bloggers have actually been put to death in certain parts of the world for taking part in this movement.
But is it all due to technology? The Atlantic's Jared Keller and others espouse doubts that Twitter was truly "revolutionary" during the Arab Spring, but even social media skeptics should recognize that technology surely played a not-insignificant role, even if it might have been slightly overemphasized. The truth is, in countries where media channels are either suppressed or outright owned by the government, less traditional means of communication (Twitter, blogs, etc.) have been absolutely indispensable for demonstrators with revolution in mind.
The Age of Forced Transparency
We know better, now, than to take them at their word when Presidents and would-be Presidents promise transparency. And that's why the best news to come out of the tech world in recent memory is the fact that governments will soon not have much of a choice but to be transparent. The age of forced transparency is here, and it means secrets will only become harder and harder to keep.
It also means that we'll be free once more too — even if we don't trust the people involved with government, we'll at least be able to reclaim a modicum of trust in the system itself.
And that's a very powerful thing. People want to know that their government is working for their interests — we call our politicians public servants, after all — and soon enough, we'll have the tools at our disposal to know whether they're upholding their end of the bargain — whether they like it or not.
'Democracy Spring' and Technology's Double-Edged Sword
But technology is both a gift and a terrible burden. For example: Have you heard of Democracy Spring?
You probably haven't, and it's because the mainstream media outlets in the United States have quite deliberately refused to cover it.
Democracy Spring is an ongoing series of protests in the United States that seeks to shed light on American corruption — particularly money in politics and voter disenfranchisement. The movement represents a coalition of some 100 American progressive groups, and has included the participation of non-traditional media outlets such as The Young Turks. Democracy Spring demonstrations in Washington, D.C. have resulted in as many as 1,400 arrests, including famous actress Rosario Dawson; Harvard professor Lawrence Lessig; both Ben and Jerry, of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream; and leaders of the Sierra Club, Greenpeace, the NAACP and the AFL-CIO.
American technology made this demonstration possible — it allowed us to share information and come together in common cause. It made it possible to rip the lid off American corruption and really take an honest look at the real problems facing this country — problems that have nothing to do with Muslims and "creeping sharia," Mexican immigrants, or "political correctness run amok." It's a return to the real issues and the hard truths: That America currently has no functioning democracy, and that our two major political parties are industries unto themselves, unconcerned with the travails of the working class.
But technology can also be used to silence movements such as Democracy Spring, and since America's media companies have a nasty habit of sharing CEOs and board members with some of the very same corporations being protested, there has been virtually no mainstream media coverage of the Democracy Spring demonstrations — or the hundreds of high-profile arrests.
Is technology a double-edged sword? Can it be wielded both in the name of peaceful reform and blatant corruption? Can it both empower us and cripple us?
The answer to both these questions is yes — and knowing this makes our mandate very clear. When leaders like Tom Wheeler, current chairman of the FCC, commits himself to breaking the back of America's incumbent media monopolies, we must speak out publicly in his defense. When breakout Presidential candidates become the public face for a spirit of protest and reform that has been both dormant and hungry for an entire generation, we owe it to ourselves to ask what Establishment politics have done for us lately.
And perhaps above all, we should remind ourselves that the Internet is not just some recreational bauble for killing time — it may well be the most powerful tool ever devised for bringing about true and lasting change.


text:
Rush Limbaugh shocked Americans by announcing he would be stepping back from his radio show after doctors diagnosed him with advanced lung cancer.
But Limbaugh made it clear he was not retiring and would continue on the air as best as he could.
And now Rush Limbaugh returned to his show with this mind-blowing announcement about the future.
Rush Limbaugh returned to the air after a brief break due to medical issues from his cancer diagnosis.
Right off the bat, Limbaugh wanted to reassure his audience nothing was seriously the matter and that he intended to be on the air as much as his health and treatment scheduled allowed.
"Remember that I said when I announced this cancer diagnosis that I'm gonna be here as often as I can other than the days that I have to be away for treatment and if there's any side effect or reaction to it. I have no idea yet. That is the next phase, and that's what's gonna be happening Thursday and Friday if I pass a couple of other tests. And we want to get going on that, obviously, as quickly as possible," Limbaugh explained to the audience.
Once Limbaugh got that bit of housekeeping out of the way, Rush went on to analyze the state of play in the Democrat Party.
Limbaugh pointed out that the big story in American politics right now is the implosion of the Democrat Presidential field.
By Rush's telling, the Democrats' chances to beat Trump collapsed for one simple reason – the President presided over a booming economy with a successful foreign policy that avoided new foreign wars and killed key terrorist leaders.
Since the President held a commanding advantage on the issues facing the American people, Limbaugh noted that the Democrats had to invent crises for their candidates to address.
"They are imploding for a host of reasons, but among them is they are offering solutions to problems that don't exist. They're trying to create problems that we don't have anymore because we've got Trump, because we've instituted market economics, because we have a foundation of conservatism here that is being implemented, policy after policy after policy. So they're having to invent these problems that they have, in fact, created over the years so that they can offer solutions to them," Limbaugh began.
For example, since Donald Trump's policies led to an historic economic boom, Democrats had fabricated the so-called "global warming" hoax to claim the President mismanaged the economy and to create a Trojan horse for new taxes and a Soviet-style takeover of the economy.
Candidates also tried to appeal to lifestyle liberals by spending their time on the campaign trail talking about lunatic fringe issues like transgender "rights."
Elizabeth Warren went so far as to declare she would let a 9-year-old transgender pick her secretary of education.
Limbaugh explained that Democrats were having a weird conversation amongst themselves that did not appeal to the broader electorate.
"The Democrats do not offer solutions to the people who make the country work. The Democrats offer solutions for authoritarian, elected Democrats and unelected bureaucrats and themselves. The Democrats are all about establishing a way of life for themselves, not for the people, not for the country. I mean, Democrats right now want to dump a phenomenal economic model. They want to destroy the engine that has produced the strongest economy in 50 years and maybe longer than that," Limbaugh added.
Great American Daily will keep you up to date on any new developments in this ongoing story.


text:
More on the Frostgrave Terrain build... but NO SNOW YET
up to now you have only seen the standard paved board I have created for the Frostgrave Terain boards, but with three terrain boards promised for my group to play on simultaneously I needed more playing areas, so rather than create more of the same I have created two more different types. On top of that they also needed to be interchangeable.
Oops sorry if you are just joining part 10 can be found here...
So there are two more types of boards some with paving but more ruined, other just bare ground. These were created in the same way as the originals using 2mm EVA foam embossed with a pen. The non slab areas are covered in sand and grit. Everything is painted black and then dry brushed greys.
I also tested out some wintry trees - these were just fixed into some drilled holes and can be easily removed.
The non paved areas have been drybrushed brown over the greys.
I now have nearly 30 x 12 foot square boards more than enough to create the three planned Frostgrave terrain boards.
|Part open ground part ruined
|The trees
|I can mix and match these with the original boards - there are nine ruined pieces and nine plain
I also created a couple of designs to go with the standard boards for some variety - for example this cross effect.
and this circular one...
I really cannot stress how good (and cheap) this eva foam is for threse types of builds (thanks John for coming to the rescue when I ran out)
|The embossing is all done with a biro freehand
And they all stack into a relatively small (but heavy tower
The next post will focus on statues...the ruined city will no doubt feature its heroes and heroines of the past. Fortuitously I saw a recent blog post talking about using chess pieces as statues -- inspired.
I trotted off to ebay to see what I could find.
The first goodies to arrive were these damaged metal Lord of the Rings Chess pieces - £5 inc postage
- yes they are missing some hands and weapons but they will make great statues (plus they come on their own plinths...
More on these and some others in my next post...
Until next time
Part 12 can be found here


text:
Intel addresses DPI developers. A post by Paul Stevens (pictures), Telecom Sector Marketing Director for Advantech, on Advantech NTG blog about the recent Intel Developer Forum, says:
"One key topic for discussion related to the latest innovations in processing and software technologies that are now being utilized to great effect in Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) applications. DPI is at the core of many new and emerging applications where multicore Intel processors offer a distinct advantage over their single core siblings. They maintain all the benefits of IA technology, including ease-of-programming, timely tick-tock refresh cycles and dependability. When coupled with optimized packet processing software, our Intel-based solutions enable the creation of a more scalable range of services at significantly higher bandwidths. At IDF we were able to demonstrate the improvements generated when you combine network acceleration and optimized packet processing software with Advantech's Intel platform enhancements. Along with our software partners we'll showed off a number of examples of the performance gains observed across a whole range of multi-core systems".
See "Intel Developer's Forum 2011" - here.


text:
Consulting and Pro Services
We offer expertise to help our customers in planning and strategy, customization and development, system integration, upgrades and enhancement. We understand trends and opportunities in E-Commerce, Big Data, Mobile Workforce Solutions and Analytics. Let us take your ERP to the next level of control, automation and performance.
Enterprise Applications
We can deploy, host, manage and lifecycle your applications through strategic partnerships with best in class software providers and integrators.
- IBM Websphere Solutions
- Oracle
- Hyperion
- Microsoft
- PeopleSoft
- Siebel
- Ariba
- ATG Commerce Solutions


text:
When it comes to tennis, for Caroline Wozniacki it was love (pun-intended) at first sight. Hailing from a family of former athletes (her father was a professional soccer player and her mother Anna was...
[#image: /photos/5582b09aa28d9d4e05412509]||||||
When it comes to tennis, for Caroline Wozniacki it was love (pun-intended) at first sight. Hailing from a family of former athletes (her father was a professional soccer player and her mother Anna was a pro-volleyball player), Caroline seems bound for athletic success. Born in Denmark in 1990, Caroline began taking part in sports at a very young age. She picked up the racquet after her older brother took an interest in the sport, and hasn't put it down since. Winning the 2006 Junior Championships in Wimbledon may have been her greatest accomplishment yet, but it's easy to see that this teen's can-do attitude has her well on her way to even bigger and better things. Read on as Caroline shares her thoughts with Teen Vogue on success, beauty, body image, and more!
1. Was tennis your first love?
Yes, I really loved playing tennis from the first time I held a racquet in my hand.
2. What sports do you like to play besides tennis?
I like hand ball (it's very popular in Europe), soccer, swimming, playing the piano and all kinds of different things.
3. How did it feel to win your first WTA title?
It felt really great! I've been working hard for so long and now it's paying off. To win your first WTA title... it's always a big thing.
4. Where do you see your talent taking you ten years from now?
Hopefully, I'll have achieved what I wanted with my tennis. Like everyone else playing on this level I would've like to have won a grand slam and become number one in the world, then have a family and relax afterwards!
5. Do you have to work harder to prove yourself being that you are a young athlete?
No, I think there's actually less pressure and I can just go out there and play. I have nothing to lose and think that it's a positive thing that I am young and playing on a good level.


text:
Ontario Federation of Agriculture Commentary
By Steve Brackenridge, OFA Director
Farm property taxes are not a new topic for Ontario agriculture, but they can be a complicated one. Property taxes are intended to pay for municipal services. The residential rate is set to pay for services required by households, including recreation, health and protection services. Farm families pay the residential tax rate on their homes because our families need those municipal services like everyone else.
Property taxes reflect the assessed value of a property so as property values rise, so do the property taxes. This is for simplicity as well as reflecting the notion that higher value homes consume more services.
Because unserviced farmland does not demand nor consumes a lot of municipal services, it is taxed at up to 25% of residential tax rates. Lower taxes are paid because less service is required.
The legislation recognizes this fact but also has flexibility built in so that farmland rates can be less than 25% of residential rates if the situation demands a new proportion. This built-in flexibility is key – and accommodates the situation that Ontario is currently facing where farmland values (and hence taxes) are escalating faster than for residences.
Since 2016, farm property taxes have risen by an average of 64% across Ontario, while residential rates in rural areas have been relatively flat. And the shift continues, with farmers paying a disproportionate amount of property taxes compared to the municipal services they use. In other words, the municipal tax burden has shifted to unserviced farmland and away from the residences and enterprises that actually need and use the municipal services.
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) believes some municipalities need to adjust their farm property tax rate, and that's why we've been regularly meeting with municipalities for the past two years to discuss the system.
OFA will continue to work with individual municipalities and local federations to help municipal councillors adjust to a fair farm property tax system. Higher farm taxes to pay for services that farmers (and their land) are not using is simply unfair. The legislation provides the means to correct this unfair tax burden. We are working with municipalities to make the necessary changes to ensure competitive and sustainable farms across Ontario.
For more information on the farm property tax system, visit the Piecing Together the Farmland Tax Puzzle page of the OFA website.
For more info on tax assessment, visit the OFA's resource page on Farm Property Assessment Notice Information.


text:
The British Fantasy Society Short Story Competition 2013 – Results
Allen Ashley, judge of this year's BFS Short Story Competition, reports the following:
"Thank you to everyone who took part in and supported this year's BFS Short Story Competition. The number of entries was up significantly from last year with 103 stories submitted for consideration. I read every story thoroughly and silently. I read a large percentage of the stories twice, three times or more. After much deliberation, I can now announce that the three winners are:
First place: "Pawnarchy†by Mark Huntley-James
Second place: "The Manhattan Room†by Zoe F. Gilbert
Third place: "Summertime in Paris†by S. Marcus Jones
As well as their authors winning prizes, all three of these stories will appear in a future issue of "The BFS Journalâ€.
For those of you who didn't make the top three this year, it was a hard task judging them all and many of the stories should find a suitable home elsewhere. Thank you for your patience during the judging process. You are now free to submit your story to other markets. Good luck.â€


text:
According to a new report from research firm Fiksu, which regularly tracks changes to App Store charts, Apple might be experimenting with new algorithms for iTunes and App Store rankings that incorporate user ratings. Apple previously only used the number of downloads and how fast an app was being downloaded in order to rank apps for its top charts, but Fisku thinks it has recently started incorporating user rankings:
In late July, we first began to notice apps unexpectedly shifting position without a corresponding increase or decrease in downloads. Upon closer inspection, we discovered these position changes correlated with the apps' ratings. As evidenced by the graph below, apps with ratings of 4 or more stars received a rank boost in late July and have maintained that rank throughout August. Poorly rated apps with less than 3 stars received the opposite treatment about two weeks later, dropping off precipitously in rank and staying that way. Average rated apps, between 3 and 4 stars, suffered a slight degradation in rank but have generally been less affected.
The report also notes that, in recent weeks, Apple appears to be updating App Store charts every three hours opposed to the 15 minute intervals it was using previously. Fisku speculates that the increase could be to help prevent manipulation of the app charts, noting that "three hours allows enough time to identify anomalies and remove apps before they suddenly appear at the top of the rankings."
Additionally, Apple has in the past adjusted the timeframe of rank updates during periods of extremely high volume — specifically, during the infamous holiday 'freezes'. Could it be that Apple is anticipating extraordinarily high volumes of downloads after the release of a rumored two new phones and a new iOS in September? Or is the change in the interface part of the rollout of the new algorithm — in other words, is Apple giving itself some buffer time to see how their new algorithm is affecting rank in the real world?
TechCrunch spoke with other developers and analysts keeping an eye on the App Store that have noticed additional changes including Apple taking refunds into account and "processing revenue data differently for free-to-play games." There is also some evidence that user engagement (how long & often users spend using an app) might be playing a role in rankings as well. Others noticed tweaks to search in the App Store, adding more proof that an overhaul of discovery features might be underway alongside improved rankings.
While today's report reminds us that the changes could be entirely experimental, the inclusion of user ratings into App Store charts seems like an obvious move to help improve the quality of rankings and combat tactics developers often use to sway the charts.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.


text:
Don't miss out on the latest CyclingTips updates.
The local bike shop (LBS) vs online retailers debate isn't new. It's been common knowledge for years that consumers can get cycling-related products much cheaper online than in store, but local retailers often claim that overseas retailers have an unfair advantage and that they are killing the local cycling industry.
While retailers have had to accept that the internet isn't going away and they've adapted their businesses accordingly, this doesn't mean the likes of Wiggle and Chain Reaction Cycles have been welcomed. In recent developments, an Australian distributor has withdrawn their support for the Amy Gillett Foundation due to the charity's partnership with Wiggle.
The issue of LBS vs online retailers is more complex than it might seem on the surface. It's easy to see it as a case of the LBS vs overseas (online) retailers, but the lines are beginning to blur.
Brands such as Wiggle and Chain Reaction are now hosting local sportifs, sponsoring events and partnering with charities such as the Amy Gillett Foundation (AGF) and Bicycle Network. Wiggle also offers "Service Points" providing local businesses with new business opportunities. The bottom line is that the internet retailers are now well and truly part of the local industry and cycling ecosystem.
But not everyone is welcoming of this development and there are many examples of local pushback.
CyclingTips was recently sent a press release from FE Sports, an Australian distributor of many popular brands including Garmin, Stages, Wahoo, Hincapie, Bolle, Bonk Breaker and Skratch Labs. The email was addressed to the Amy Gillett Foundation and publicly stated that FE Sports would no longer consider supporting the AGF in their upcoming budget because of the AGF's decision to partner with Wiggle.
The AGF and Bicycle Network have both partnered with Wiggle recently, leading to a significant financial contribution to their respective causes. Depending on who you ask, this could be seen as a positive move by Wiggle — they are supporting the local community and giving back to cycling in Australia. However, it's evident many in the industry don't see it this way.
I asked David Mohr, Brand Manager from FE Sports why they will no longer consider supporting the AGF (note that FE Sports has not made a financial contribution to the AGF in the past).
The email stated, "Our business is 100% aligned to Australian retailers and we support them completely. We regret what has happened and that the AGF doesn't seem to support Australian jobs, retailers or tax income for the Australian people."
"Wiggle basically takes jobs from Australians (unless you work for Australia Post). They don't pay tax in Australia (any!!). If we import even oneT-shirt we pay duty and GST. They don't do anything towards the Australian economy by employing people, paying tax, taking on staff, developing careers (unless you're in the UK) or getting people on bikes."
On the other side of the coin, David Lee, Head of Partnerships & Fundraising at the AGF, says that the foundation's agreement with Wiggle is a positive step towards their goal of improving cycling safety.
"Consumer demand is what drives the marketplace and our view is that the more that is done to help consumers feel safer when riding their bikes, or compelled to purchase a bike for those that don't ride currently because they don't think it's safe, the better it is for the entire industry. The bigger the overall pie is, the more everyone wins."
But as we see, this altruistic goal doesn't come without a minefield of politics and pushback. Bicycle Network's partnership with Wiggle has attracted similar criticism, as Max Goonan, GM of Corporate Relations from Bicycle Network told CyclingTips:
"We have been criticised [for partnering with Wiggle] — like the Amy Gillett Foundation – but we have been open and honest with all of our local partners and let them know about our Wiggle deal. We work with all retailers across the industry and will continue to do so. We support all people who support bike riding and will continue with our mission to get more people on to bikes."
"As a not-for-profit (bike/health promotion charity) we're always looking high and low for support from all types of industries. There is only so much money government has so we need to find partners who are passionate about the same things we are. We realise everyone doesn't agree with us – but that won't stop us from getting more people riding bikes – which has to be a win-win for us and the local bike industry who sell the bikes and accessories riders need."
David Lee echoed a similar sentiment, saying that the AGF had to look beyond the local industry to fund its growth.
"Outside of the organisations that have been supporters of the AGF for some time, the reality is that over many years the tangible support the AGF has received from the broader Australian retail industry has been minimal and certainly has not contributed to the growth we have been able to achieve through other means."
CyclingTips approached Wiggle to comment on their perspectives of the Australian market and why they chose to support Bicycle Network and the Amy Gillett Foundation. Adam Johnson, Australian Brand Ambassador for Wiggle said:
"Like many companies that make a living from cycling, we are always looking at ways to give something back. This is why Wiggle actively supports various initiatives throughout the world that promote improved safety or participation. We got involved with the AGF because it is an exceptional organisation doing exceptional work to reduce cycling fatalities, which is very much needed given the number of cyclists killed on Australian roads doubled last year.
"It's a great shame if others in the industry feel they can't give AGF the backing it deserves simply because we are also supporting it. We will continue to actively support cycle safety through the AGF and other great organisations like Bicycle Network and we look forward to letting more people in Australia know about AGF and Bicycle Network and their fantastic work."
It's worth putting Wiggle's size and influence into perspective. Last year when I looked at a Nielsen Report on sporting websites within Australia, Wiggle had significantly more web traffic than any other cycling website (media included, not only retail) and were in the top 50 mainstream sporting media websites in terms of visitors. They reportedly made £140.8 million in revenue in 2013 — a growth of around 70% on their 2011 figures. They've been growing at roughly the same rate since 2007.
Read the interview with former Wiggle CEO here.
Is the internet ruining the local cycling industry?
According to David Mohr from FE Sports, the growth of brands like Wiggle and Chain Reaction has served to kill off local Australian brands and retailers.
"The Wiggles of this world are on a short timeframe. Brands are now realising that if they supply to them, they become their worldwide distributor and end up ruining brands, not developing them.
"Brands into the future will be either internet or retail. Retailers give new brands and models credibility. Products that are internet only don't get traction. If there is a new item, stores show the product, understand the features, the benefits and they market it. Internet guys just get stuff and flog it — [there's] no added value.
"This is why stores are selling more and more non-internet product. [The danger is that ] they introduce consumers to [a product], then help the customer to fit it, understand it and even ride with them. Then [the customers] internet shop it as they have [lower] costs. This is why the really big guys such as Trek and Specialized develop their own product and its not available online. They need to make margin to develop products, and there isn't a viable long-term existence dealing with the UK (mainly) internet guys."
But according to Adam Johnson, Wiggle says they are helping to develop local Australian brands and extend their reach.
"It should also be noted that Wiggle is supporting the global growth of some fantastic Australian brands such as 2XU and Knog by promoting and selling their products online into global markets. And one of our key goals is to add more Australian products to our ever increasing global range."
The costs of doing business
CyclingTips spoke to Peter Bourke, the General Manager of Bicycling Industries Australia, to get the organisation's take. He said:
"We are concerned with the current uneven playing field created by the current Australian tax scheme and the 'free kick' it provides to the offshore retailers."
Peter told CyclingTips that there are a number of government-imposed costs that Australian importers incur when bringing products into Australia for sale. These include a State Employment Tax, a Super Guarantee Levy, Import duties of up to 10%, import processing fees, and a GST of 10%, to name just a few. Offshore retailers aren't required to pay any of these if the products imported are valued at less than <$1,000. Only some of the taxes apply beyond that threshold (See here for more information).
There's also a huge wage disparity between Australia, the US and the UK with minimum wages being AU$16.37, AU$7.82, and AU$11.49 per hour respectively. Lower minimum wages means more money that can be saved by overseas retailers. These savings can then be passed on to consumers.
There are also mandatory Australian Standards fees for the import of goods such as bikes, helmets, lights, baby seats, trailers, electric bikes and glasses. If you look on the internet, you'll be hard pressed to find one item that meets Australian Standards requirements.
How is the local cycling industry adapting?
According to David Mohr from FE Sports, the local cycling industry is adapting to the rise of online retailers by playing to its strengths.
"Retailers have to offer a retail experience. Many new cyclists are in the 28-50 age bracket and have come from golf and fishing. They expect the store experience to be like a pro shop, not a grotty hole. If we don't cater to this, these people will go back to golf!
How many retail golf stores do you see on the main road now? Basically none as internet and no-change retailers caused their own demise, yet pro shops do very well. I've dealt with them and they're very well organised. Stores that have or are adapting — such as The Freedom Machine in Melbourne, Planet Cycles in Brisbane, Cycles Galleria in Melbourne and Bike Society in Adelaide — know and are doing this: adapt or die!
The "good old days" of [bike shops] with stuff jammed in boxes and hanging everywhere from the roof are disappearing. How many Toyota or Ferrari dealers are grotty holes and how many are well-appointed retail experiences with knowledgeable staff?
But as mentioned earlier, it should be noted that Wiggle provides revenue-generating opportunities for participating local bike shops with their Service Points with servicing and component fitting for Wiggle-bought parts. No longer do you need to go into a shop feeling guilty about where you bought your product.
Final thoughts
Here at CyclingTips we don't see the LBS vs online retailers debate as being black and white. We are supported by the local industry as well as online retailers. You might say that we have a foot in both camps (which is true) but we've also had to adapt and this is the only way we can survive.
Online retailers have been accepted by the local industry as something they need to live with and businesses have had to adapt accordingly. But we're still a long way off overseas retailers being welcomed as part of the industry, if indeed they ever are.


text:
This section contains 3,107 words
(approx. 8 pages at 400 words per page)
Source: "The Comedy of Errors as Problem Comedy," in Rocky Mountain Review of Language & Literature, Vol. 41, No.4, 1987, pp. 230-36.
[In this excerpt, Kehler notes that Adriana and her husband, Antipholus of Ephesus, "could pass far a well-to-do modern couple headed for divorce." She points out that part of the problem in their marriage is the "inevitable imbalance of love" between them, which is worsened by Adriana's powerlessness to change the Situation.]
. . . . The specific problem Shakespeare explores through the relationship of Adriana and E. Antipholus is both timeless and peculiarly modern: can love survive marriage? C. L. Barber notes [in "Shakespearean Comedy in The Comedy of Errors"] that, unlike Plautus, Shakespeare "frequently makes the errors reveal fundamental human nature, especially human nature under the stress and tug of marriage." Considering Shakespeare's depiction of a marriage "subjected to the very unromantic strains of temperament grinding on temperament in the...
This section contains 3,107 words
(approx. 8 pages at 400 words per page)


text:
Home > Polymers & Advanced Materials > Spray Drying Equipment Market
Spray Drying Equipment market size is driven by increasing application outlook in pharmaceutical, food, and chemical industries.
Drying is dehydration process and removes all the moisture content from the product. Spray driers prevents microbial growth and led to longer product shelf life. The various spray drying equipment parts are feed pump, atomiser, air heater, air disperser, drying chamber, powder recovery system, exhaust air cleaning system and process control system.
Spray drying equipment finds strong application in dairy industry to manufacture powdered milk. Powdered milk is easy to store and overcomes seasonal milk scarcity. Milk powder is widely used in bakery, chocolates and sweets. Increase in skimmed milk powder may experience high demand due to rise in convenient food demand and hectic schedule.
Spray drying equipment is implemented to manufacture heat sensitive drugs in pharmaceutical company. Rise in geriatric population along with growing consumer spending on medicine owing to increase in various diseases are driving factors for pharmaceutical industry.
Global pharmaceutical market size is estimated to reach over USD 1.2 trillion by 2024. Growing concern for hygienic condition, preventing drug contamination and effective pressure control in pharmaceutical sector may propel spray drying equipment market size. Government initiatives towards improvement of production procedures along with technological advancement should stimulate industry growth.
The two-stage spray drying equipment, suitable for heat sensitive products and may grow significantly over the forecast timeframe. This process is used by pharmaceutical companies to restore medicines chemical composition. Increase in health consciousness and rise in spending on medicines has propelled pharmaceutical industry.
Strong application outlook in chemical sector should drive spray drying equipment market size. Global chemical market may surpass USD 5.2 trillion by 2024. The global chemical industry is highly regulated and provides high range of products. Companies provide spray drying solutions for advanced specialty chemical and bulk products.
Change in dietary intake has increased human dependence on food grains and crops, which in turn boost fertiliser market size. Global fertiliser market was estimated to cross over USD 152 billion in 2024. Spray drying equipment forms uniform size of the granule, improves flow property and prevents cohesion, thereby enhance fertiliser quality. It provides better control on flow ability, bulk density and moisture content parameters.
Spray drying equipment provides redisperability and storage stability to redisperable polymer. The global redisperable polymer market may grow significantly at over 5% owing to increase in industrial, residential and commercial construction buildings. The redisperable polymer preferably used in mortar, plastering, insulation system, flooring and tiling work. Increase in consumer preference for aesthetic values and surge in repair and renovation has boosted redisperable polymer industry growth.
North America, driven by Canada and the U.S spray drying equipment market size may witness strong growth owing to increase in powdered milk consumption, and pharmaceutical industry. Rise in healthcare facilities along with strong R&D investment in pharmaceutical sector should stimulate regional industry growth.
Europe driven by UK, France and Germany spray drying equipment market size may show remarkable growth in the dairy sector. Friesland Campina, Arla, Danone, Nestle and Lactalis are leading European dairy companies. Increase in aging population has stimulated pharmaceutical industry growth. Stringent regulations by EU on dust particle emission to reduce air pollution may drive industry growth.
Asia Pacific led by Japan, India, and China spray drying equipment may witness favourable gains over the forecast timeframe. Increase in fertilizer industry mainly in India may propel product demand. Rapid urbanisation and FDI is leading to growth in infrastructural development in China and India.
High maintenance and operation cost may hinder industry profitability, thereby affecting spray drying equipment market price trend. Increasing food encapsulation market is likely to create new avenues in the industry growth. It mainly consumes high electricity and has low thermal efficiencies. Increasing investments in R&D and innovations to find alternatives may impede industrial growth.
Global spray drying equipment market share is consolidated. The dominant players are SPX Flow, Acmefil, Changzhou Lemar, AVM Systech and Shandong Shungeng.


text:
Search Results for Tag: violence
Music keeps California teens off the streets
Richmond, a small city in Northern California just outside of San Francisco, is known for two things: rap music and gang violence, which often leads to drive-by shootings and homicides.
But on Richmond's southern edge, there's a building called the RYSE Youth Center. The center was opened to give youth a safe haven from the realities of the streets.
Twenty-year-old Xavier Polk has taken full advantage of the opportunity and introduced a free music production class where he helps teenagers develop their musical talents – and stay off the streets and out of trouble.
Listen to the report by Anne Hofmann and Aaron Mendelson in Richmond, California:
DateWednesday 06.08.2014 | 08:59
TagsCalifornia, education, gang violence, music, music production, RYSE, RYSE Youth Center, United States, violence, youth
FeedbackComments deactivated
Dancing to keep women safe
Melisa Rodrigues, a 27-year-old from Lisbon, used to work for a big international company. At some point she realized, money wasn't the key to happiness. So she quit her job, did a Master's degree in globalization and development and went to India to work for an NGO.
It was in India that she learned about the One Billion Rising movement – an annual dance event demanding an end to violence against women and girls all over the world.
Melisa realized that violence – particularly domestic violence – was a big problem in her home country, Portugal. So she organized a One Billion Rising event in a train station in Lisbon to raise awareness and help women affected by violence know they're not alone.
Listen to the report by Nádia Dinis in Lisbon:
DateTuesday 04.03.2014 | 15:48
Tagsdance, human rights, One Billion Rising, Portugal, violence, women
FeedbackComments deactivated
Committed to non-violence in East Timor
Life in Timor Leste – Asia's newest nation – has been hard for many. But the decades of violence hit the children hardest. Twenty-three year old Juliao Amaral Dos Santos knows that as well as anyone -that's why he's already spent more than half of his young life devoted to creating a safe place for other kids, working with the organization MAC Children United.
Just barley out of university now, he's already one of the nation's brightest young leaders.
Listen to the report by Emily Richmond in Dili, Timor Leste:
DateTuesday 24.09.2013 | 13:34
TagsAsia, Capoeira, children, East Timor, non-violence, violence
FeedbackComments deactivated
Keeping women safe in Cambodia
In Cambodia, violence against women is a troubling – and common – concern. Ou Ratanak, witnessed it first-hand when he was growing up. He says his uncle physically abused his aunt, but when he brought it up, he was told to mind his own business.
Now, however, he's making women's safety his business. And he's hoping to tackle the problem for future generations, by heading an organization that works with young adults to change attitudes towards sexual violence.
Listen to the report by Irwin Loy in Phnom Penh, Cambodia:
Keeping women safe in Cambodia
DateTuesday 13.08.2013 | 11:55
TagsAsia, Cambodia, human rights, violence, women
FeedbackComments deactivated
Brazilian hiphop artist promotes respect for women
Six out of 10 Brazilians know a woman who's experienced domestic violence, according to a recent survey. Hiphop artist André Luis Machados in Rio de Janeiro uses his music to get people to rethink violence against women.
Listen to the report by Naomi Conrad in Rio de Janeiro:
Brazilian hiphop artist promotes respect for women
DateFriday 21.12.2012 | 08:38
FeedbackComments deactivated
Bringing peace to Papua New Guinea
It was a single act of violence that changed 28-year-old John Wamelik's life forever. At home in a country with one of the world's most diverse populations, John is now on a mission to make Papua New Guinea a more peaceful place.
Emily Richmond has the story from Rabaul, PNG:
DateTuesday 16.10.2012 | 12:59
TagsPapua New Guinea, peace, violence, youth
FeedbackComments deactivated
Srebrenican youth tries to save her town
Milena Nikolic was born in the Bosnian town of Srebrenica, a place once known for its mineral springs and silver mines. Today the place is notorious as the scene of a massacre of 8,000 Bosnian Muslims by Serbian paramilitaries.
After leaving school, Milena became a social worker. Today she runs a youth club in her home town and tries to persuade young people not to leave. She believes the economic independence of Srebrenica can best be achieved through green tourism and organic farming. She also wants to revive the old mineral springs, but she faces resistance from the political elite.
Watch this DW video to find out more about how this young woman is trying to bring back life to a change in a town ruined by violence.
DateWednesday 06.06.2012 | 15:01
FeedbackComments deactivated


text:
Local MSP, Keith Brown, last night (Tuesday) attended a reception at Edinburgh Castle to acknowledge the winners of the Brave@Heart Awards 2016, where two local heroes received an award.
Sandy Dowell and Scott MacKay from Sauchie were among thirty-five people from blue-light services, voluntary sector rescue organisations and the public who were presented with an award by the First Minister in recognition of their exceptional acts of bravery.
Scott and Sandy had been out for a run at Gartmorn Dam when they heard cries for help from a group of children playing near the water. When they ran to help and found a six year old boy lying face down in the water, tangled in reeds, they dived in to pull him to safety before beginning CPR. The young boy was taken by ambulance to hospital where he made a full recovery.
Commenting, Keith Brown MSP said: "I was delighted to meet Scott and Sandy at the awards ceremony and have the opportunity to say thank you for their brave act which saved a young boys life – they are a credit to Clackmannanshire.
"The actions of members of the public like Scott and Sandy, and our colleagues in the emergency services, who save the lives of others is an inspiration to us all and I would like to offer my congratulations to everyone who received an award."