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The 2014 outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease in West Africa has taken a horrible human toll. Although the outbreak originated in rural Guinea, it has hit hardest in Liberia and Sierra Leone, in part because it has reached urban areas in these two countries, a factor that distinguishes this outbreak from previous episodes elsewhere. ... 更多显示 As of September 10, 2014, there had been 2,281 recorded deaths out of 4,614 suspected or confirmed cases of Ebola. Experts fear that the true numbers may be two to four times larger, due to underreporting. Misery and suffering have been intense, especially in Liberia where doctors have had to turning patients away for lack of space in Ebola treatment centers. Inevitably, before the outbreak is contained the human impacts will increase considerably over these numbers. Epidemiological estimates are acknowledged as highly uncertain and are not the subject of this note. What is certain is that limiting the human cost will require significant financial resources and a concerted partnership between international partners and the affected countries. Particularly in Liberia and Sierra Leone, government capacity is already overrun and the epidemic is impacting macroeconomic activity and budgetary resources. This note informs the response to the epidemic by estimating these macroeconomic and fiscal effects. Any such exercise is necessarily highly imprecise due to limited data and many uncertain factors, but it is still necessary in order to plan the economic assistance that must accompany the immediate humanitarian response. The goal is to help affected countries to recover and return to the robust economic growth they had experienced until the offset of this crisis. 更少显示
工作文件 90748 2014年9月17日
Nonseparable household models outline the links between agricultural production and household consumption, yet empirical extensions to investigate the effect of production on dietary diversity and diet composition are limited. ... 更多显示 Although a significant literature has investigated the calorie-income elasticity abstracting from production, this paper provides an empirical application of the nonseparable household model linking the effect of exogenous variation in planting season production decisions via climate variability on household dietary diversity. Using exogenous variation in degree days, rainfall, and agricultural capital stocks as instruments, the effect of production on household dietary diversity at harvest is estimated. The empirical specifications estimate production effects on dietary diversity using both agricultural revenue and crop production diversity. Significant effects of agricultural revenue and crop production diversity on dietary diversity are estimated. The dietary diversity-production elasticities imply that a 10 percent increase in agricultural revenue or crop diversity results in a 1.8 percent or 2.4 percent increase in dietary diversity, respectively. These results illustrate that agricultural income growth or increased crop diversity may not be sufficient to ensure improved dietary diversity. Increases in agricultural revenue do change diet composition. Estimates of the effect of agricultural income on share of calories by food groups indicate relatively large changes in diet composition. On average, a 10 percent increase in agricultural revenue makes households 7.2 percent more likely to consume vegetables and 3.5 percent more likely to consume fish, and increases the share of tubers consumed by 5.2 percent. 更少显示
Dillon, Andrew; McGee, Kevin; Oseni, Gbemisola
This paper seeks to provide evidence on the extent of household vulnerability to exogenous economic shocks in the Pacific region and consider policy options that help to manage this risk. ... 更多显示 Characteristics of the region such as remoteness, small size, dispersion, and urbanizing populations lead to pronounced vulnerabilities. The paper presents macroeconomic and distributional analysis and complements it with results of a micro-simulation model customized for this work based on a model used previously by the World Bank to analyze the impacts of the Food and Fuel Price Crisis. The results of micro-simulations serve to highlight the very high levels of economic vulnerability faced in the region. Impacts of economic shocks are not confined to well-off individuals, but have major impacts on the poor. Even moderate shocks are likely to push sizeable fractions of the population below the poverty line. The shocks considered are not worst case scenarios, but those that can and have occurred frequently. The results show that households are hard hit by increases in oil prices, especially in remote islands where freight costs are higher, while countries on aggregate, and individual households, are exposed to volatility in the prices of the one or two imported food commodities that they depend on. Livelihoods are also often driven by external demand. In particular, many poor households in countries like Papua New Guinea have livelihood strategies centered on cash crops. The results point to the importance of helping households of the Pacific to manage the risk inherent in their lives while prudently using macroeconomic tools at the disposal of the government. 更少显示
Cororaton, Caesar B.; Knight, David S.
Market integration is key to ensuring sufficient and stable food supplies. This paper assesses the impediments to market integration in Central and Eastern Africa for three food staples: maize, rice, and sorghum. ... 更多显示 The paper uses a large database on monthly consumer prices for 150 towns in 13 African countries and detailed data on the length and quality of roads linking the towns. The analysis finds a substantial effect of distance and share of paved road on the level of market integration, as measured by relative prices. Furthermore, the paper evaluates the additional domestic and cross-border impediments to market integration in the region and represents them on a regional map. The analysis finds heterogeneous levels of domestic market integration across countries and significant "border effects" for the majority of contiguous countries in the sample, which reveal that markets are more integrated within than between countries. Countries that are members of the same regional trade agreement have substantially "thinner" borders with other members. Finally, the analysis shows that countries with less integrated domestic markets and "thicker" borders with their neighbors also have a higher prevalence of food insufficiency. These findings support policy efforts in tackling domestic and border impediments to transactions such as reforming customs, simplifying nontariff measures, addressing corruption, improving the quality of roads, and deepening regional trade agreements. 更少显示
Brenton, Paul; Portugal-Perez, Alberto; Regolo, Julie
When prices spike in international grain markets, national governments often reduce the extent to which that spike affects their domestic food markets. ... 更多显示 Those actions exacerbate the price spike and international welfare transfer associated with the terms of trade change. Several recent analyses have assessed the extent to which those policies contributed to the 2006-08 international price rise, but only by focusing on one commodity or using a back-of-the-envelope method. This paper provides a more comprehensive analysis that uses a global economywide model that is able to take account of the interactions between markets for farm products that are closely related in production or consumption. The model is able to estimate the impacts of those insulating policies on grain prices and on the grain trade and economic welfare of various countries. The results support the conclusion from earlier studies that there is a need for stronger World Trade Organization disciplines on export restrictions. 更少显示
Jensen, Hans G; Anderson, Kym
This study uses household models based on detailed expenditure and agricultural production data from 31 developing countries to assess the impacts of changes in global food prices on poverty in individual countries and for the world as a whole. ... 更多显示 The analysis finds that food price increases unrelated to productivity changes in developing countries raise poverty in the short run in all but a few countries with broadly-distributed agricultural resources. This result is primarily because the poor spend large shares of their incomes on food and many poor farmers are net buyers of food. In the longer run, two other important factors come into play: poor workers are likely to benefit from increases in wage rates for unskilled workers from higher food prices, and poor farmers are likely to benefit from higher agricultural profits as they raise their output. As a result, higher food prices appear to lower global poverty in the long run. 更少显示
Ivanic, Maros; Martin, Will
There is increasing interest in improving hand washing in low- and middle-income countries. The validity of rapid hand washing measures was evaluated by comparing them to hand washing behavior measured during five-hour structured observations. ... 更多显示 Hand washing was measured in the impact evaluation of the global scaling up hand washing project, carried out by the water and sanitation program (WSP) in Peru, Senegal, and Vietnam. Global scaling up hand washing tested the effects of at-scale implementation of hand washing promotion on various outcomes, including behavior and health, in four countries, Peru, Senegal, Tanzania, and Vietnam using cluster-randomized controlled trial designs. Structured observations were carried out among a subset of households participating in end line surveys in each country. Regression was used to model the relationship between the rapid hand washing measure and the probability that hands were washed during the observed event, accounting for the repeated nature of structured observation data. This multi-country analysis of the validity of rapid hand washing measures confirms the utility of observing hand washing materials at the places where people wash hands, at the times most necessary for washing them (after fecal contact and before food preparation). The findings described reinforce the global imperative of improving hand washing behavior for prevention of the leading causes of death in young children. 更少显示
联合国开发计划署水与卫生计划 90744 2014年8月1日
Ram, Pavani K.; Sahli, Michelle W.; Arnold, Benjamin; Colford, John M.; Chase, Claire; Briceno, Bertha; Orsola-Vidal, Alexandra; Gertler, Paul
Hand washing with soap has been shown to reduce diarrhea and respiratory disease, the two leading causes of childhood deaths in low- and middle-income settings. ... 更多显示 Global scaling up hand washing was initiated in 2006 by the water and sanitation program (WSP) in Peru, Senegal, Tanzania, and Vietnam. The hand washing promotion interventions deployed in the global scaling up countries were developed using a framework known as focus, opportunity, ability, and motivation (FOAM). A hand washing promotion intervention can only result in improved health or other downstream benefits if it results in increased hand washing behavior. In the impact evaluation of global scaling up hand washing, hand washing is measured using self-reports, rapid observations, and structured observations, recognizing that each method provides useful insights into awareness about hand washing, the availability of materials necessary for hand washing, and the practice of washing hands at critical times. Specifically, with respect to the FOAM framework, this report addresses constructs within the focus, opportunity, and ability domains. The goal of this report is to describe hand washing behavior of households included in the project impact evaluation, as measured during the baseline surveys conducted in Peru, Senegal, and Vietnam. The baseline surveys of global scaling up hand washing indicate opportunities to improve hand washing behavior in all of the countries where interventions are being tested. In the future, correlations can be described between measures and relationship with disease risk and other hygiene behaviors in the home, including sanitation and household water treatment. 更少显示
联合国开发计划署水与卫生计划 90745 2014年8月1日
Ram, Pavani K.; Briceno, Bertha; Chase, Claire; Arnold, Ben; Colford, John M.; Gertler, Paul; Orsola-Vidal, Alexandra
Some of the headings included in this issues of the Development Economics Prospects Group (DECPG) weekly global economic newsletter are as follows: five developing-country central banks increased policy rates in July, outweighing rate cuts in other countries; concerns about the second largest bank in Portugal did not change global risk perceptions; and consumers are experiencing lower domestic food price inflation across most developing regions since the start of the year. ... 更多显示 更少显示
电子刊物 90014 2014年7月25日
Ratings for the Agro-Pastoral Recovery Project for Central African Republic were as follows: outcomes were not applicable, risk to development outcome was not applicable, Bank performance was satisfactory, and Borrower performance was moderately unsatisfactory. ... 更多显示 The main lesson learned is the importance of Banks fast response in a situation of conflict and violence, building on the experience outlined in the World Development Report of 2011 on security and development. In particular, the possibility of leveraging key United Nations capacities and greater access to preserve human capital and prevent further deterioration of conditions in CAR, with potentially vast implications for the Central African sub-region, is paramount. Weak institutional capacity causes important delays in implementation that are difficult to be addressed on time especially while implementing an emergency operation in a fragile and post-conflict country. Institutional capacity within MARD is extremely weak and in spite of a strong support from the Bank team who used a problem solving approach, readiness for implementation suffered great delays. Large and active consultations allowed completion of key activities in the seeds sector: (i) preparation and signing of an Arrete for the registration of varieties; (ii) preparation and signing of an office memorandum for the regulation of commercial seeds; (iii) signed an office memorandum creating the national committee for the review of the seed legislation; (iv) preparation and validation of a seed legislation on November 27, 2012 with the key actors, and submission for approval to the Commission of the Presidency in December 2012. 更少显示
The objective of the Agriculture Competitiveness Project for Moldova is to enhance the competitiveness of the agro food sector by supporting the modernization of the food safety management system, facilitating market access for farmers, and mainstreaming agro-environmental and sustainable land management practices. ... 更多显示 It is proposed to trigger OP/BP4.11, Physical Cultural Resources, as the project will support the rehabilitation of the building of the country's Food Safety Agency (FSA), which is listed on the Moldovan National Registry of State-Protected Monuments. OP/BP 4.11 was not triggered at the time of project preparation because the decision of the Government of Moldova to house the FSA in this particular building came in 2013, during project implementation. An additional changes relates to the substitution from the project of the Chisinau Airport Boarder Inspection Point (BIP), with one located at the Giurgiulesti border crossing point with Romania. Finally, other minor amendments to the description of activities and definition of the FSA under the Financing Agreement are proposed, to reflect a recent change in the status of the FSA, which became an autonomous state agency reporting directly to the Prime-Minister's office and is no longer subordinated to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry. The implementation arrangements remain unchanged. 更少显示
This paper reviews key issues in the 'cash versus food' debate, including as they relate to political economy, theory, evidence, and practice. ... 更多显示 In doing so, it benefited from a new generation of 12 impact evaluations deliberately comparing alternative transfer modalities. Findings show that differences in effectiveness vary by indicator, although they tend to be moderate on average. In some cases differences are more marked (i.e., food consumption and calorie availability), but in most instances they are not statistically significant. In general, transfers' performance and their difference seem a function of the organic and fluid interactions among factors like the profile and 'initial conditions' of beneficiaries, the capacity of local markets, and program objectives and design. Costs associated with cash transfers and vouchers tend to be substantially lower relative to food. Yet methods for cost-effectiveness analysis vary and need to be more standardized and nuanced. The reviewed evaluations are helping to shift the debate from one shaped by ideology, political economy and 'inference' of evidence to one centering on robust and context-specific results. 更少显示
工作文件(编号系列) 89502 2014年7月1日
Gentilini, Ugo
Private sugar processors in Andhra Pradesh, India use an unusual form of vertical coordination. They issue 'permits' to selected cane growers a few weeks before harvest. ... 更多显示 These permits specify the amount of cane to be delivered during a narrow time period. This article investigates why processors create uncertainty among farmers using ex post permits instead of ex ante production contracts. The theoretical model predicts that ex post permits are more profitable than ex ante contracts or the spot market under existing government regulations in the sugar sector, which include a binding price floor for cane and the designation of a reserve area for each processor wherein it has a legal monopsony for cane. The use of ex post permits creates competition among farmers to increase cane quality, which increases processor profits and farmer costs. Empirical analysis supports the hypothesis that farmers operating in private factory areas have higher unit production costs than do their counterparts who patronize cooperatives. 更少显示
Patlolla, Sandhyarani; Goodhue, Rachael E.; Sexton, Richard J.
This study seeks to examine how National Rural Livelihoods Mission or NRLM may be leveraged to improve food and nutrition security (FNS) in tribal areas, preferably in a manner that would enhance the effectiveness of the program's core livelihoods focus. ... 更多显示 More broadly, the objective is to strengthen the capacity of the Government of India (GoI) to deliver (or support) effective FNS interventions in tribal and backward areas (TABAs). As such, the study aims to do the following: develop the evidence base on those constraints which STs face with regard to achieving food security and favorable nutritional outcomes; examine approaches which have been used to address issues of poor nutrition elsewhere in India or abroad to identify interventions that could be effective in tribal areas; and Recommend models for improving FNS in tribal areas within the context of NRLM. The primary focus of this work is operationally oriented toward identifying entry points for NRLM to address tribal malnutrition as it expands into states with larger tribal communities, particularly Jharkhand and Odisha. 更少显示
Singh, Varun; Sen, Soham; Chatterjee, Meera
This paper revisits the extent of seasonality in African livelihoods, which has disappeared from Africa's development debate. Through econometric analysis of monthly food price series across 100 locations in three countries during 2000-12, it is shown that seasonal movements in maize wholesale prices explain 20 (Tanzania, Uganda) to 40 (Malawi) percent of their monthly volatility. ... 更多显示 Monthly maize peak prices are on average 30 (Tanzania, Uganda) to 50 (Malawi) percent higher than their monthly troughs and two to three times higher than the seasonal gaps observed for white maize at the South African Futures Exchange. Furthermore, household food consumption is found to inversely track food prices in each country, decreasing when staple prices increase and increasing when they decline. Clearly, (excess) seasonality in African food markets and consumption persists, necessitating policy attention. 更少显示
Kaminski, Jonathan; Christiaensen, Luc; Gilbert, Christopher L.
This paper uses resource-based cereal equivalent measures to explore the evolution of China's demand and supply for food. Although demand for food calories is probably close to its peak level in China, the ongoing dietary shift to animal-based foods, induced by income growth, is likely to impose considerable pressure on agricultural resources. ... 更多显示 Estimating the relationship between income growth and food demand with data from a wide range of countries, China's demand growth appears to have been broadly similar to the global trend. On the supply side, output of food depends strongly on the productivity growth associated with income growth and on the country's agricultural land endowment, with China appearing to be an out-performer. The analyses of income-consumption-production dynamics suggest that China's current income level falls in the range where consumption growth outstrips production growth, but that the gap is likely to begin to decline as China's population growth and dietary transition slow down. Continued agricultural productivity growth through further investment in research and development, and expansion in farm size and increased mechanization, as well as sustainable management of agricultural resources, are vital for ensuring that it is primarily China that will feed China in the 21st century. 更少显示
Fukase, Emiko; Martin, Will
The purpose of this paper is to provide forward-looking recommendations for linking agriculture and nutrition by looking back over the 40 years since both nutrition and rural development began at the Bank in 1973. ... 更多显示 This paper sets out to explore whether what is currently being suggested has been attempted in the past; in what circumstances, with what sort of support or commitment, by what actors, and with what results. Throughout, the World Bank is a case study set within the larger development aid architecture due to its role as one of the largest actors in agriculture and nutrition investments in developing countries around the nutrition initially was housed in the Population department (1972-75), and then moved to Agriculture and Rural Development (1975-79). Since 1979 it has been housed with health and other human development world. The initial motivation was to showcase the depth of historical resources available in the World Bank Group Archives, and to demonstrate how they can be used to inform current practice. Several lessons learned primarily from the World Bank experience are applicable to the Bank's current commitment to nutrition-sensitive agriculture, as well as to the development community at large, that is tackling the same agenda. 更少显示
工作文件(编号系列) 88740 2014年6月1日
Hoberg, Yurie Tanimichi; Herforth, Anna; Gutestam, Monika; Kramer-Smyth, Jeanne; Htenas, Aira; Shankar, Srilatha
采购计划 88670 2014年5月14日
India has been successful in developing agriculture in its fertile northern belt, resulting in an abundance of grain. Unfortunately, its ability to store it has lagged behind. ... 更多显示 Today, India has neither the capacity nor facilities to store grain safely, leading to excessive losses through exposure, deterioration and pests. Poor inventory management has only added to the problem. In response, the Government of Punjab, India's leading agricultural state, turned to International Finance Corporation (IFC) to structure a pilot public-private partnership to address this issue. The resulting concession the first of its kind in India at the state level was awarded in May 2010. 更少显示
简介 68392 2014年5月6日
This issue of the Food Price Watch newsletter includes the following topics of interest: price trends, domestic price trends, and food prices and food riots. ... 更多显示 Findings indicated that the International prices of food increased by 4% during January and April 2014, putting an end to the declining trend of food prices sustained since August 2012. Prices of wheat and maize sharply increased during that period due to growing weather concerns and mounting import demand. Despite favorable prospects for cereals supplies, several uncertainties hang over the near future, some exerting upward pressures on prices, such as weather in the United States and, more globally, El Niño, and a hypothetical escalation of geopolitical tensions in Ukraine and others exerting downward pressures on export prices, such as the releases of public stockpiles of rice in Thailand. Domestic prices of food generally stabilized across regions, marked by seasonal trends and availabilities from previous harvests. In some places, conflicts, public procurement policies, and transport costs had important effects on domestic prices. 更少显示
电子刊物 88389 2014年5月1日
|The economic impact of the 2014 Ebola epidemic : short and medium term estimates for Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone (英文) 更多显示
|Agricultural production, dietary diversity, and climate variability (英文) 更多显示
|The impact of exogenous shocks on households in the Pacific : a micro-simulation analysis (英文) 更多显示
|Food prices, road infrastructure, and market integration in Central and Eastern Africa (英文) 更多显示
|Grain price spikes and beggar-thy-neighbor policy responses : a global economywide analysis (英文) 更多显示
|Short- and long-run impacts of food price changes on poverty (英文) 更多显示
|Validity of rapid measures of hand washing behavior : an analysis of data from multiple impact evaluations in the global scaling up hand washing project (英文) 更多显示
|Analysis of hand washing behaviors measured in baseline impact evaluation surveys : findings from Peru, Senegal, and Vietnam (英文) 更多显示
|DECPG weekly global economic (英文) 更多显示
|Central African Republic - Agro-Pastoral Recovery Project (英文) 更多显示
|Moldova - Agriculture Competitiveness Project : restructuring (英文) 更多显示
|Our daily bread : what is the evidence on comparing cash versus food transfers? (英文) 更多显示
|Managing quantity, quality, and timing in Indian cane sugar production : ex post marketing permits or ex ante production contracts ? (英文) 更多显示
|India - Food security and nutrition in tribal areas (英文) 更多显示
|The end of seasonality ? new insights from Sub-Saharan Africa (英文) 更多显示
|Who will feed China in the 21st century ? income growth and food demand and supply in China (英文) 更多显示
|Learning from World Bank history : agriculture and food-based approaches for addressing malnutrition (英文) 更多显示
|Vietnam - Cao Bang Livestock Competitiveness and Food Saftey Project : procurement plan (英文,越语) 更多显示
|India - Punjab silos : India : silos en Punjab (西班牙语) 更多显示
|英文, 葡萄牙语, 俄语
|Food price watch (英文) 更多显示


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Weston-super-Mare People has all the Chinese Restaurants in Weston-super-Mare listed, many with reviews and star ratings; select one of the local Chinese Restaurants from the list below for local authentic Chinese food, Chinese cuisine and Chinese buffet in Weston-super-Mare - be sure to return to Weston-super-Mare People and leave a review.
Why not list your Weston-super-Mare Chinese Restaurant business on Weston-super-Mare People ?
There are 5 businesses
Sort by:
84 Regent Street
Visited this restaurant while on holiday during the week when they offered their a la carte menu, this is the same as the buffet menu but you order what you want and then they cook it fresh for you, if you want more you can order...
18-20 Regent Street
This is a great place for Chinese Buffet food in classy surroundings.
You can either eat as much as you like at lunchtime (12pm-3pm) and choose from 30 Chinese dishes for only £5.00 or go along in the evening.
84 Regent Street
Excellent value, recently refurbished, great food.
36 Boulevard
I have to agree with Matt on this, Saigon is a very lovely restaurant that's been in Westonsupermare for years, the staff are really friendly the food is lovely, if you're ever passin the Boulevard and are in need of a boost, this...
35-39 St James Street
My wife and I regularly attend the Sea Palace, James Street, Weston super Mare. I simply love the food, it is SUPERB to say the least. This is a colourful Chinese Restaurant, serves from a large selection on the menus. A quick...
Our X-Mas menu is now available, Please contact us for a copy, available dates etc. We are a small country pub who are willing to discuss your specific needs and help make it memorable.
Terms: Please phone to arrange information exchange and confirm dates. A Deposit will be required when booking.
Contact: 01761 250366
Valid until: Saturday, November 15 2014
We are pleased to offer Battered Cod and Chips, on Wednesdays, Lasagne, Plus our Gravy's, so come enjoy a Roast. Add to that a Battered mushroom starter and a Flourless Chocolate cake for dessert.
Terms: Kitchen Open Noon to 2.30pm and 6.00pm to 8.30pm, best to phone for your second visit. Please phone if you have concerns of menu item, or your own tolerance levels, so that you enjoy a meal out.
Contact: 01761 250366
Valid until: Tuesday, September 30 2014
We have warm and friendly bar night and look forward to welcoming you.
Contact Brenda: 01935 410648
or Marion: 01305 889596
We have warm and friendly bar night and look forward to welcoming you.
Contact Brenda: 01935 410648
or Marion: 01305 889596
Contact: 01934 316828
Valid until: Friday, May 26 2017

subset: commoncrawl


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Contact Information
Lindsey Touchette
Director of Alumni Relations & Annual Giving
Phone: 239-590-1016
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Claire Gorman
Student Director
Year: Senior
Major: BS Bioengineering
Where are you from?
Reading, PA
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I decided to attend FGCU because of its growing, yet high quality, engineering program and phenomenal faculty.
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Categories > Books > Harry Potter > Shades of Gray
Chapter 19: The Drakyn11 Reviews
Author: Shadow Rebirth
Beta Reader: StormyBabe1988
Rating: T/PG-13
Warnings: Death, blood and gore, language, spoilers
Chapter WC: 3,878
Story WC: 98,098
First Written: December 4, 2008
Last Edited: January 24, 2009
Posted: January 27, 2009
Summary: Harry has a dark secret: He isn't a wizard. But that certainly doesn't mean he can't do magic. Unfortunately, it also means that in the face of fanatical governments and enraged demigods, Voldemort is going to be the least of his problems. AU, Gray!Harry, foreign school, vampires, werewolves, politics, no pairings.
This chapter has not yet been beta'd.
Shades of Gray
Chapter 19
The Drakyn
Harry's incredulous gaze took in the unusual dark purple skin and pure black eyes that belonged to the only drakyn he knew, the teen he'd met at Damion's Memorial Ball on Cohibeo Mors Mortis Day: Ty Kadundor. The other teen met his expression with a wide, amused grin.
"Hello again, Blake. I was wondering when I'd be seeing you."
"Ty?" Harry questioned, his voice clearly relaying his disbelief. "What are you doing here? Er, I mean, I thought drakyns never left their city, Malu— uh...?"
"Malauak," Ty offered. "And yes, that's true. I'm attending Silvermoor this year as a third year exchange student however. My father set it up so that I can get a better...feel...for the political climate of the Magical World."
Harry's eyes widened as he read between the lines of what Ty was saying. The drakyns clearly knew that the Magical World was on the edge of a massive conflict and they wanted an insider's view of what was going on. It also spoke very highly of Ty's magical ability that his father was sending him into a potential war zone when many other parents were pulling their children out.
The mage hesitated, unsure of what to say. Finally he settled on a simple nod.
"It is...good to see you again. I hope we'll be able to speak more later."
Ty's grin widened further, revealing teeth that were black and stone-like, like razor-sharp chips of obsidian. "Indeed," the drakyn mused. "I hope that I have some classes with you. If you'll excuse me, I need to go find an empty room with the rest of the third years. Good day, Blake."
Blake stared as the purple-skinned teen strode off through an arch on the bottom floor and disappeared. Then he shook his head and proceeded out of the building.
Ty found Harry again that night at dinner. Harry's other friends were surprised—and more than a little awed—to find a drakyn at the school. Throughout the meal Harry noticed numerous other students craning their necks to get a good view as well. Once the shock of meeting a purple-skinned and black eyed, toothed, and clawed person was over, it actually got quite amusing. Harry noticed a few of the professors grinning with merriment as well.
"Have you been out of Malauak often?" Ryan asked curiously.
Ty nodded. "My father has frequently taken me with him when he visits various countries. My mother comes along sometimes, mainly to various social functions, but she prefers to stay in Malauak like most drakyns. Personally," he added with a smirk, "I think that most of them just don't know how to adapt to the world, so they just continue living the way they always have, tucked away in their own little world."
"So you're used to being out in the world?" Zahra questioned. "Do you enjoy traveling?"
"Certainly," Ty said with decisive nod. "Though whether that's because of my experiences or just my personality, I couldn't tell you. Though I—"
The drakyn's words cut off abruptly. Harry followed his gaze across the table and saw that a group of three fayeries—fourth years, Harry thought—were walking over to their table. Their eyes were only on Ty. Harry glanced at the drakyn, expecting to find annoyance, but saw only calm, blank acceptance there.
The tallest of the fayeries, a male with short hair and a pointed nose, bowed to Ty as they stopped in front of the table. "It is an honor to have you at our school, Lord Drakyn," he said.
Ty smiled politely, but just widely enough to reveal his teeth. "And an honor to be here, Sir Fayerie. I am Ty Kadundor, son of Ambassador Apalala Kadundor."
"Ah," the fayerie commented, his eyes widening slightly at the revelation. "I assume you are here just for the year, then?"
"Perhaps," Ty mused. "I suppose it depends on the people." His smile widened, as though he was laughing at some private joke and he turned to Harry with amusement dancing in his dark eyes. "What do you think, Blake? Are there some interesting people here? Personally, I get bored easily, so it's always good to have interesting people around.
Both Harry and the fayerie were caught off guard by Ty's strange attitude. The fayerie's mouth dropped open in shock and Harry was left struggling to find a way to answer Ty's question without making it sound like he was completely and utterly confused—which he was.
"Uh, yeah, there are," the dark haired mage managed to say. "Hyperactive vampires, moody dark elves, and all."
"I just know there's a story behind that," Ty said with a laugh. His smile was infectious and soon Harry, as well as those of his friends who knew Aetius and Ciar, were grinning too.
The fayerie, however, was not amused. He looked to be caught between annoyance and confusion, but instead of questioning Ty, he began to stare at Harry. Not one to ever back down, Harry shifted his gaze onto the older student and met him stare for stare.
"Mind clueing us in on what's going on?" came Ryan's amused voice in his mind.
Harry resisted the temptation to look over at his werewolf friend. "I would if I had any idea myself," he answered with equal humor.
"It almost seems like a power struggle between Ty and that fayerie to me," Ryan continued after a moment. "But not quite...Hmm, I wonder..."
To Harry's rather great satisfaction, the fayerie was the first one to break eye contact. The pale haired young man shifted his gaze back to Ty while frowning thoughtfully.
"I'd...Like to speak to you later, privately," he said to the purple-skinned teen.
Once again Ty smiled politely at the fayerie. "Of course," he murmured. "Later."
The sharp sound of boots clicking on stone filled the room as Ambrosios Noctis, Lord of the Noctis clan, paced back and forth. His sensitive nose twitched a few times, agitated by the rather stale air, but he paid it no mind.
The room around him was large and made completely from stone. Around the room were seven, life-sized, stone statues depicting warriors dressed in ancient clothing. Ambrosios paused before one of the statues and stared at the jewel around its neck. He reached out to touch it, but pulled back when energy crackled out of the jewel, protecting it.
"Lord Noctis," came a gravely voice
Ambrosios glanced over his shoulder and squarely met the eyes of the older mage behind him. "Master Kyrylo," he greeted. He turned fully to face him. "How did it go?"
A scowl flashed across Kyrylo's face. "As well as can be expected when dealing with wizards," he answered, sneering. "They fell for it hook, line, and sinker. They still know nothing about the Magical World, but rather believe us to be a powerful, muggle-hating, wizard faction. 'Lord' Voldemort is now in our hands to do with as we wish and he has no idea what our true plans are."
Ambrosios turned back to the statue before him, staring at the jewel once more. "Good," he murmured. "As always, their ignorance will be their undoing. And we shall finally have what was once ours again."
"Lord Noctis..." Kyrylo hesitated, "What...what about those in the Magical World who disagree with our stance? We already know that they are aware of our actions. What will we do if they attempt to stop us?"
"They know nothing of our plans," Ambrosios replied with a dismissive gesture. "All they know is that we are starting to take action, but not what those actions are. So long as there are no traitors to the Magical World, we shall be fine."
Kyrylo nodded jerkily. He started to turn away, but threw one last glance at the elder vampire lord, whose gaze was glued to the shining jewel. With a shake of his head, Kyrylo disappeared into the shadows.
On the day that classes started, Harry immediately noticed a tension in the air that hadn't been there the year before. Everyone was on edge, just waiting for something—anything—to happen. To Harry, it felt as though the school had become a tank of gasoline that would be blown up by even the slightest spark.
It was a bad beginning to an even worse year.
As Harry slumped into his usual seat in Magical Theory that morning, he wondered why he always seemed to get caught up in so much drama. He never looked for trouble—hell, he often went out of his way to avoid it—but it always managed to find him regardless.
"Morning, morning!" Professor Brenton said as she stood in front of the class. "Welcome to yet another year!" She was surprisingly chipper and since Harry highly doubted that she was unaware of the tense, almost hostile atmosphere of the school, she was probably going out of her way to act as though nothing was wrong.
The blonde haired mage began a long speech about the beginning of the year before finally moving onto what they'd be covering subject wise.
"We'll be delving more into history and culture than theory this year," she told them. "As a matter of fact, we're going to start off with the creation of Atlantis and in a few weeks will take a trip to the city itself. After that—"
Professor Brenton continued on for some time, but Harry had stopped listening. "Atlantis?" he hissed to Ryan, who was sitting next to him. It was more of a demand for an explanation than a question.
"It's the oldest and largest city in the magical world," the werewolf whispered back while rolling his eyes. "I'm surprised no one's ever mentioned it you before."
"I might have heard of it mentioned in passing," Harry agreed, "But...I mean, it's actually a city, not just ruins?"
Ryan gave him a strange look. "Of course it's a city. I know several people who live there, though I've never been there myself. It's supposed to be a fucking awesome place, since it's underwater and all. It's gotta have some pretty cool wards on it too..."
Harry leaned back in his seat and focused his gaze on the ceiling. So Atlantis was not only a real place, but still a functioning city? The very thought of an underwater city was intriguing.
The young mage drifted through the rest of the class without paying much more than cursory attention. His awareness finally came back into focus as he left his friends to head to his next class. He had his fist Death Magic class next, so he definitely needed to be paying attention.
When Harry stepped into the classroom, he was surprised to find Ty already there. The dark skinned gave him a surprised and curious look before beckoning him over.
"I though you were a second year?" Ty inquired.
Harry shrugged. "I am," he replied, "But I was moved up into this class due to my...experience...in Soul Magic."
As Ty opened his mouth to reply, the door in the back of the classroom opened abruptly.
"Good morning," Ciar said as he smoothly walked inside. He dumped a notebook onto his desk, but didn't sit down. Instead he turned to survey the upperclassmen—and single second year—before him. "I am Erebus Ciar, your Death Magic professor. Before we begin, I would like to make one thing infinitely clear: If you fear death, leave now. About thirty percent of the total fatalities at this school each year are due to this class.
"If you plan on goofing around, please leave now as well. We will be quite literally working with death and a single misstep could be fatal. There's a reason why this class is only offered once you've taken two years of Soul Magic. Of course, this also means that if I feel that you are endangering the lives of other students, I reserve the right to kick you out myself."
Ciar lapsed into silence for several minutes. The class shifted uncomfortably under the weight of his gaze, but no one left.
"Good," Ciar said shortly. "For the first three months of this class we will be solely studying theory and I don't want to hear a single complaint about it."
The dark elf turned to the board and began to lecture without another word on his dark warning. Harry exchanged a glance with Ty before turning all of his attention onto Ciar. He had a feeling that this class was going to be different from the ones he'd had last year.
Harry was making his way back towards his room that night when out of nowhere a hand shot out, grabbed his shoulder, and knocked him into the wall. Harry stumbled, shocked by the sudden attack. He didn't even get the chance to turn around however, before the fourth year fayerie that'd been speaking to Ty the night before brushed by him.
"Watch where you're going, kid," he sneered.
Harry stood staring after the fayerie long after the other student had disappeared. Honestly, he was more than a bit confused. He was sure that he'd never done anything to the older boy to piss him off.
Despite his history with his cousin, in Hogwarts Harry had never really been subject to bullying. It hadn't been because of his celebrity status—though undoubtedly that had played a part in it—but rather because he just wasn't the sort of person open to bullying. He kept to himself, for the most part, and didn't have many interactions with anyone outside his circle of friends. Even on the occasions when the school had turned against him, it had been the entire school and no one had ever confronted him directly.
The rivalry Harry had had with Draco Malfoy couldn't be called bulling either, as it'd been more of a mutual dislike. Plus Malfoy had run from almost any sign of a physical confrontation. That had been a small source of annoyance for Harry when he'd been younger and for more quickly to anger; he would have liked to be able to take his frustrations out in a fight with someone other than Voldemort.
When Harry had come to Silvermoor this same situation had transferred over. While he had just a small circle of friends, his friends had large networks of other friends, most of whom he'd never even met. Ryan in particular seemed to already be scouting out a group of submissive werewolves.
Because of all this, Harry wasn't entirely sure how to react to suddenly being bullied, even when the bullying was so mild. And that was if it was bullying at all. It was rather egocentric of him to think that the fayerie was acting the way he was just because of Harry—especially when Harry had only met him once before. Maybe the fayerie was just having a bad day. It wouldn't be surprising, considering the tense atmosphere of the Academy that day.
Despite his inner debate, Harry's feet felt abnormally heavy as he walked back to his room.
"We've got the proof we were looking for, Albus."
Dumbledore glanced up from his paperwork, a surprised look on his face. He didn't look delighted, though Moody hadn't been excepting that, but instead just grim.
Moody released an inaudibly sigh. "The new Minister of Magic is definitely under Voldemort's power. The Death Eaters have effectively taken over the Ministry."
"If we have proof then we have to present it to the public," McGonagall all but demanded. She was standing behind Moody, worriedly wringing her hands. "This could be a perfect opportunity to strike a blow at You-Know-Who."
Dumbledore sighed heavily and sat back in his seat. "I'm afraid not, Minerva," he said tiredly. "Something like that is exactly what Voldemort would be waiting for. He could use it to denounce me and pull me from my position of power like Fudge did. My position in the Ministry is shaky as it is and I can't risk loosing it if Voldemort is in power."
"We can't just sit back and do nothing!" Minerva hissed.
"And we won't," Dumbledore promised. "We just have to be very careful in our approach. Voldemort will undoubtedly slowly introduce laws against muggleborns so that the public doesn't grow suspicious and we will fight him at every turn. I shall also get in touch with all of my government contacts around the world, tell them what we have learned, and see what support we can gather abroad."
"So this is turning into a political war?" Moody snorted. "You won't have much need me then."
"On the contrary, Alastor," Dumbledore replied. The twinkle had returned to his eye, though it was far dimmer than usual. "I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to come out of retirement and take your place as an Auror once again—or, rather, as an Auror trainer. If there's one thing we definitely can't allow, it's for Voldemort to sink his claws into the next generation of Aurors."
Moody released a defeated sigh. "I don't like it," he grunted, "But I have to agree. That bastard's corruption is going far enough as it is..." With a scoff, he turned around and began to walk out of the office. "Whatever. I'm going to back to Headquarters for the night."
McGonagall stared at the closed door for several moments after Moody left before turning back to Dumbledore. She had an indecisive expression on her face, as though she wanted to say something, so the wizened headmaster wanted patiently for her to gather her wits.
"Albus..." she said finally, "Have...Have you heard anything else about Harry?"
Dumbledore's shoulders drooped noticeably as he cast his memory back to what had happened earlier that summer. He still couldn't believe that Harry had subdued him so easily; it shouldn't have been possible. Standing there, frozen and waiting for someone to come along and find him had been the most helpless Dumbledore had felt in a number of decades. Harry still had the Elder Wand too, though he doubted that the boy knew what it was.
"No, Minerva," Dumbledore sighed. "I'm afraid that he has disappeared without a trace once again. However, the...incident...does prove what we had previously thought: That Harry was not captured by Voldemort. Let's count that as a good sign, hmm? Now, we should get back work; the new semester begins in just a few weeks and there is still much to be done."
"...Yes, Albus."
"I have a special announcement!" Aetius declared rather gleefully at the beginning of Harry's transfiguration class. It was already the second week of the semester, but the blond haired vampire's energy had yet to diminish. "Today we're going to have a very special test. I originally planned to do this a week ago, but it took a little while to set up..."
Harry resisted the urge to gulp nervously. Whenever Aetius had a grin like that bad things happened. Very, very bad things.
Following the first few days Harry had found it surprisingly easy to slip back into the school day monotony—not that anything at Silvermoor could ever truly be called monotonous. He didn't run into the Fourth Year fayerie again, though he didn't know if Ty and the fayerie talked again either. Thus of course, it was only now that something unexpected—and quite worrying, if Harry was to be honest—happened.
Aetius swiftly made his way to the door, literally skipping. "This way, children! Follow me!"
The class hesitantly got up and followed Aetius out into the hall. The professor took them to a small door in the back of the building that led into a tiny room. In fact, the only thing that the room contained was a single trap door. Without pause, Aetius pulled the trap door open with a flick of his finger and began to climb down the ladder inside.
Darkness met the class at the bottom of the ladder. Harry could feel a chilly wind blowing through...wherever they where. Suddenly he had a feeling that they weren't in a small space any more.
"Everyone here?" came Aetius' amused voice as they all began to whisper amongst themselves. "Good. Then let the games begin, ne?"
Abruptly dozens of lights flared into existence. Harry winced, surprised, but that surprise quickly changed into shock as his eyes adjusted to the sudden brightness.
They were standing in a massive cavern. The walls stretched upwards into darkness for what seemed like forever even though the ladder hadn't been very long—magic, Harry reminded himself. On top of that, before them was a maze with stone walls more that ten feet tall. There were numerous entrances laid out before them; one for each student, perhaps.
"This," Aetius said with a sweeping gesture, "Is one of Silvermoor Academy's specialized training rooms: The Forgotten Labyrinth. An interesting tidbit to know is that a trial in a wizarding game called the 'Triwizard Tournament' is based off an earlier version of the Labyrinth, but that's not important right now. All you need to know is that the Labyrinth is filled with various enchantments, creatures, and wards.
"Each of you will choose when entrance and follow it to its end. The main goal is just to make it through, but the first person to the end will receive 100 points extra credit. So, I'd suggest that you move quickly! I should also mention that the Labyrinth is spelled so that you'll never run into any of your classmates. Now, each of you choose an entrance and on my word we'll get started!"
Twitching slightly, Harry followed Senka and Damion as they walked over to the maze. Merlin, it was like the Triwizard Tournament all over again. Except, knowing Aetius, there would be something different about it; some sort of a trick involved. If the vampire included something about a golden cup, Harry would throttle him, professor or not.
"You okay Senka?" Damion murmured quietly. When Harry glanced at the two from the corner of his eye, he noticed that the Italian boy was shifting uncomfortably. "Should you be doing something like this, so soon after you were injured?"
Senka chuckled. "I'll be fine, Damion," she replied in an equally soft voice. "I'm already completely healed, trust me."
The long haired vampire nodded, though he didn't look convinced. He looked guilty—and rightfully so. Harry momentarily felt a surge of irrational anger, but he stuffed it down before it could show. Damion was just as much of a victim in this as Senka was, in a way: He'd basically been shoved into a war between his father and his friends.
Harry stared into the darkness of the Forgotten Labyrinth, unable to look at his friends any longer. He couldn't even begin to imagine how Damion must feel, especially since he'd never known his own parents.
"Ready everyone?" Aetius called, still grinning gleefully. In that moment Harry wanted to punch him, he really did. "Then go!"
In accompaniment to Aetius' words the bright lights that hung over the maze flared up once. Harry instantly dashed forward, intent on loosing his troubles in the Labyrinth. A good fight could solve almost anything.
A/N: I'm so sorry for how long this chapter took! I was insanely busy over the holidays and recently some other projects have gotten in the way as well. This chapter ended up being a bit of a transition chapter anyway. The next one will definitely have a whole lot more action and substance in it.
I have to say that it was pretty amusing to see that 90 percent of people thought that the "mystery person" was going to be Luna. (I will say however that she's definitely going to show up later and play an important role!) My favorite guess however, had to be Piers Polkiss! That definitely would have been amusing. But no, Ty is actually one of the least likely people to show up at Silvermoor because 99 percent of magical beings have never even seen a drakyn, despite their long lifespan.
On a similar note, in only a few chapters the Wizarding World is going to begin to play a prominent role in the story. That'll probably happen once everything with Atlantis is over. At this point what's happening in the Wizarding World is a very similar situation to what happened in the seventh book though, obviously, it's a bit different because Dumbledore is still alive.
And finally, Kyrylo—the mage who was with Ambrosios in this chapter—was briefly introduced in chapter 15, if you don't remember. He's not even close to being a major character, though he does play a part in the plot. Over all, you don't really need to remember him.
Thanks for all your reviews! More info on this story can be found at www(DOT)groups(DOT)yahoo(DOT)com/group/ShadowRebirthFanfiction. This includes a few comics that I did for the story when I was procrastinating...
All men dream but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity; but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes to make it possible. -T.E. Lawrence


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Scott Spits
Online sports editor for The Age. Began his full-time career at The Age as an online sports reporter in 1999 before joining Sportal as the Deputy Editor of the AFL-Telstra online network in 2002. Rejoined the online desk at The Age in 2006. Has covered the Sydney Olympics, numerous Australian Open tennis tournaments and several AFL grand finals. Reads the back page first. Hack golfer. Wannabe tennis star.
Alleged assault in Flemington mounting yard: Spring Carnival turns ugly
Patrick Bartley and Scott Spits The VRC Oaks Day meeting at Flemington was marred by an ugly mounting yard incident when a strapper was allegedly assaulted by a stablehand.
Live coverage: Derby Day at Flemington
Scott Spits Hello and welcome to our rolling coverage of the much-awaited Derby Day meeting at Flemington.
Oaks Day 2013: live coverage
Edited by Will Brodie and Scott Spits Thousands of well-dressed patrons are expected to flock to Flemington for 'Ladies Day', featuring the staying classic for three-year-old fillies.
Live coverage: Emirates Stakes Day
Scott Spits Join us for rolling coverage of the final day of the Melbourne Cup carnival, including the running of the group 1 Emirates Stakes over 1600 metres.
Emirates Stakes Day: News and Results
Edited by Scott Spits The latest news and results on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, Emirates Stakes Day at Flemington.
Breakfast with the Stars
Will Brodie and Scott Spits A wrap of the news from morning trackwork as the best horses converge on Melbourne for the best races of the spring carnival.
Americain wins the 150th Melbourne Cup
Scott Spits French raider Americain has won the 150th Melbourne Cup.


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Precisely styled garage-rock combos The Hives and The Donnasthe first from Sweden, the second from Californiadont command the mainstream market share they once did. (Then again, neither do the Strokes, and they had one of their T-shirts featured throughout most of Transformers.) On last falls The Black and White Album, the Hives responded to the threat of imminent irrelevance by souping up their sound with beats from Pharrell Williams, among other sonic sweeteners; the result, for better or for worse, sounded very much like a Hives album. The Donnas strategy on last years so-so Bitchin was less complicated: They put a big leather-pants-wrapped butt on the CDs cover. (You know what they say about desperate times.) That said, the Hives and the Donnas remain two of rocks most dependably energetic live acts. Get em to play their old stuff tonight and youll go home happyand sweaty.
Fri., March 7, 8 p.m., 2008


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Weekly Roundup - September 25, 2013
Did you miss your Supreme Court news this week? Let our Weekly Roundup help. (To stay on top of the latest Supreme Court happenings, follow ISCOTUS on Twitter.)
Professor Carolyn Shapiro explains the Roberts' Court's pro-business reputation and points out a few business cases to watch this Term
When can an online threat be prosecuted? The Supreme Court may be deciding soon
Dead link citations are a big problem in law - even in Supreme Court opinions. Adam Liptak has the story
Discover the stories behind famous plaintiffs like Brown, Miranda, and Windsor
Learn more about Justice Kennedy, the notorious swing vote of the Supreme Court
Plaintiff in iconic school speech case starts tour
The Department of Justice asks the Supreme Court to review Hobby Lobby's contraception mandate case
Will the Supreme Court hear another case about the Affordable Care Act?
How did Justices Kagan and Scalia become hunting buddies?
"Baby Veronica" transferred to adoptive parents


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The Division of Bioethics has three primary activities: • Consultation with families, healthcare providers, researchers and policymakers on care practices and policies• Education of students, staff, faculty and community• Scholarship on ethical issues related to pediatric healthcare and research
The division comprises the faculty of the Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics at Seattle Children's. We coordinate the Clinical Bioethics Consult Service, advising families and clinicians about ethical issues in healthcare decisions. Faculty are members of the Seattle Children's Ethics Committee and the Institutional Review Board (IRB). As part of the Institute for Translational Health Sciences, faculty are also involved with the Research Bioethics Consult Service, which provides advice to researchers, research participants and institutional review boards.
We host an annual conference focused on current ethical controversies in pediatrics, and we sponsor three case-based ethics Grand Rounds each year. Additional ongoing educational activities include seminars, discussions and interdisciplinary rounds for pediatric residents, nurses and social workers. Our fellowship program trains individuals for academic careers in pediatric bioethics and can be done concurrently with clinical training in a subspecialty including academic work toward a master's degree through the UW Bioethics and Humanities Department.
Faculty scholarship examines ethical issues surrounding disabilities, genetics, global health and public health; it explores the uniquely pediatric challenges of parent-provider communication, adolescent decision-making and decision-making for children without families. We approach these issues through conceptual analysis, empirical research, and policy development.
Bioethics, Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine
Academic Title: Professor and Chief, Division of Bioethics; Professor, Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine, Department of Pediatrics; Adjunct Professor, Department of Bioethics and Humanities, University of Washington School of Medicine
Benjamin S. Wilfond, MD, is the director of the Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics at Seattle Children's Hospital and professor and chief of the Division of Bioethics in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Washington School of ... cont.
Emergency Medicine, Bioethics
On staff since October 1990
Title: Director of Education Treuman Katz Center for Ped ... cont
Title: Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics
Bioethics, Pediatrics-Inpatient
On staff since September 2005
Senior communications specialist
We're part of a multisite research project to establish best practices for explaining various healthcare research methods to the general public. Our innovative approach is to use easy-to-digest comics and videos to explain complex topics such as randomization, informed consent and variation in medical decisions. The goal is to convey these concepts in ways the general public can understand so patients and families considering whether to participate in a medical research study can make informed decisions.
Seattle Children's provides healthcare without regard to race, color, religion (creed), sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin (ancestry) or disability. Financial assistance for medically necessary services is based on family income and hospital resources and is provided to children under age 21 whose primary residence is in Washington, Alaska, Montana or Idaho.
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Understanding your IP position
Having a good grasp of your intellectual property is paramount for a project to be commercially successful.
Over the past five years we've worked with many organisations commercialising technology: from guys in garages to Fortune 100 companies, and from venture-backed start-ups to publicly funded research institutes. We've seen triumphant successes and dismal failures. Surprisingly for such a diverse data set, the starting point of both successful and unsuccessful commercialisation is remarkably consistent: it all starts by understanding your intellectual property (IP) position.
IP (in its broadest sense, not just patents but also confidential information, copyright, trademarks, know-how – all the IP rights) is fundamental to successful commercialisation. Despite this, many New Zealand organisations see IP as a secondary or even tertiary consideration. For example, companies will generally have a fixed asset register listing cars, desks and LCD monitors, but few have any record, let alone active management, of potentially high-value IP such as trade secrets, copyright, trademarks or inventions.
So what should New Zealand companies do? The solution is twofold.
Firstly, increase awareness and understanding of IP. You can't make effective decisions about your intellectual property or leverage its value if you don't understand what it is, how it works and which role it plays in your industry. Ask: how much innovation or IP do we have? How much are we creating on a daily basis? Is it being used? If it's not being used, what is happening to it? What is our true spend on IP protection? Are we generating revenue or value from that IP?
Addressing these questions helps management take a measured view of how the business manages and utilises IP. If the conclusion is 'We don't', then you need to connect to an advisor who can help answer these questions and develop a robust and commercially orientated, IP strategy for you.
Secondly, when your organisation does develop a great idea, invests in new R&D, files a patent or acquires a company it is critical to objectively assess the IP position of that idea, R&D, potential patent or company.
Assessing IP position provides three key insights.
Firstly, are you likely to receive broad and strong IP protection? This directly impacts on both the commercial potential of the idea and the commercialisation options available.
Secondly, do you have Freedom to Operate (FTO)? In other words are you likely to be sued if you use this technology? Unfortunately having your own patent does not automatically mean you have FTO – you can infringe someone else even if you have a patent on your technology.
In the third instance, does your IP provide invaluable market intelligence? Does it reveal the state of technology development in your market or industry – who is doing what, when were they doing it and where are they now?
It should generate a list of people working on what you are working on. These are your potential competitors, collaborators, strategic partners, co-developers, licensees and licensors. Easily available, such research would otherwise cost thousands of dollars and weeks of googling.
The combination of these factors provides critical early insights into whether a project is likely to be commercially successful. This leaves you better prepared to make a host of decisions – a strong IP position justifies greater investment, more aggressive expansion plans, more extensive protection and it makes strategies like licensing or IP sale viable. Conversely, a weak IP position might prompt you to redirect R&D, take a different strategy or even discontinue the initiative altogether to focus on other projects.
And a final word: in both cases it's critical to seek independent and commercially relevant advice. In practice (and logically) this means your IP strategy should not be defined by the person filing your patents or trade marks.
If there's one lesson, it's this: IP is a critical business asset. Managing it properly is a prerequisite for every aspiring business.
Paul Adams is the CEO of EverEdge IP, New Zealand's largest and most successful private sector technology and IP commercialisation firm. EverEdge IP won both the NZ International Business Award for Best Commercialisation of IP 2012 and Outstanding IP Leader Award 2012, China
Great article! Thanks so much for this Paul.
I particularly like the diagram. Gets the point across.
Nice piece of writing. I'd like to hear more about FTO… I think a lot of these points could be expanded into articles in their own right. It's such an information-dense area.
Talk about a sales pitch! I hope you paid idealog for the priviledge.
And how much value have you actually delivered to your clients? I'd be interested to know.
Here you go Trent, links to stories on how EverEdge IP has delivered value to its clients below, given you've expressed quite an interest in the topic. And in response to your first comment, Business Plan is our advertorial section.
Nice article, the Crushpak guys are an interesting case to keep an eye on too.
Thanks for the positive and negative comments - all feedback appreciated!
Kaleb - I'll try to include FTO in a future column.


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Not Sold Online any more. But I found some in my local store!
Just an FYI - The Intel Pentium B980 is a dual core processor for entry-level laptops.
Last edited by tam837; 11-27-2012 at 06:36 AM..
From the picture, this one looks like the mouse buttons are embedded within the trackpad instead of separate buttons. If so, that's disappointing as that would be a show stopper for me. I want to be efficient as possible with the trackpad and mouse, so I prefer separate buttons like my current laptop.
Anyone know if this is a 64 bit or 32 bit system? I would like to install my last remaining window 7 64bit system builder into this. I need my windows media center for recording TV show. Anyone who has this please give your review on it. I would very much appreciate it since the only reviewer in the OD website said they had a problem with updates.
This is YMMV for the coupon. OP please change title as coupon excludes technology.
(CD06) Your order has not met the qualifying total of $175.00 for coupon 182715056 This may be the result of certain product exclusions. Your current qualifying amount is .00. Please add more qualified products to your Shopping Cart or remove this coupon from your Shopping Cart. Thank you.
Last edited by Thiago; 11-28-2012 at 03:06 AM.. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
Windows 8 boots faster because Windows 8 misrepresents the facts. When you "Shutdown." Windows 8 actually hibernates instead of shutting down for real; and you can get the same effect by enabling hibernation on Windows 7.
Essentially in Windows 8 (out of the box) if you hit "Shutdown" then it logs the user out and then "hibernates" the kernel, the registry, services, drivers, and all other "system" level processes.
The computer is then ordered to power off (just like hibernate). When you turn the machine back on, a notice appears on the screen which reads "Resuming from Hibernation" and it loads the Hibernation file into active memory.
Fast Startup is essentially Hibernation without a logged in user.
Windows 8's boot times with Fast Startup enabled is very competitive to Windows 7's boot times using Hibernation (instead of "Shutdown"). It is also very comparable too as Windows 8 doesn't truly shutdown in the traditional sense.
If you boot Windows 8 without Fast Startup enabled then the boot times are very similar to Windows 7's boot times.
As I said, Windows 8 misrepresents the facts. It isn't faster, it is just pushing Hibernation in a new deceptive way in order to appear faster.
● Start Menu has been removed. Here's how the Start Menu was superior to the Start Screen:
- No full-screen requirement, it doesn't disturb your workflow and gets out of the way quickly
- Had quick access to shutdown commands
- Special folders 1 click away and expandable
- Expandable Recent documents
- Start Menu jump lists for pinning documents associated with that program
- Frequently used programs list
- Neatly organized All Programs list by folders
- Does not cover the Taskbar and the notification area
- Search results are in a single unified list of Programs, Files and Settings for easy up/down keyboard navigation but still neatly categorized
- Context menu options of our choice not present in Start screen. Whatever limited context menu actions Start Screen has are at the bottom of the screen which means more movement between the tile and the bottom actions
- No context menu options available at all for settings and files on the Start screen
- Launch multiple apps quickly by holding down Shift (Classic Start Menu of 9x and Classic Shell has this feature)
- Less items fit on the screen at a time due to the large size which means more scrolling unnecessarily for keyboard and mouse users
- The hot corner has poor discoverability
● Built-in (Microsoft provided) DVD playback in Windows Media Player will not be available on the Windows 8 platform even with addition of the Media Center Pack
● Device Manager no longer shows Non-Plug and Play Drivers/hidden devices. The "Devmgr_Show_NonPresent_Devices=1' environment variable has no effect.
● Applications can no longer programmatically configure, change or query file associations or set themselves during installation as the default for a file type or protocol!
● Explorer metadata/property handler for media files is removed which means the Details pane won't show those nice properties
● Many commands are missing on the Ribbon which were there on Explorer command bar like Compatibility Files, View Remote Printers etc and others for special folders and namespace extensions. They just forgot to add these to these commands!
● Reduced productivity: The menu bar in Windows Explorer has been removed and replaced with the unproductive Ribbon interface. Keyboard usability of the Ribbon is poor because in a menu, the first letter of any menu command or Alt+keyboard combination key is easier to read sequentially as it is placed in a row either horizontally or vertically. Mouse usability of the Ribbon and discoverability of commands is also poor, because unlike in a menu, where you can switch from one menu to another without clicking again, the Ribbon tabs do not activate unless you click again. The File menu also showed context menu commands but the File button on the Ribbon does not show these. Commands in the menu can be static (always available) irrespective of the location you are at in Explorer or they can be contextual like the File menu. In contrast, commands on the Ribbon are all contextual meaning you have to navigate to a certain location to use that Ribbon command.
● The ability to boot directly to the desktop and not load the Metro components in memory is not there. Items in various startup locations (Registry, startup folder etc) are all loaded with a delay of few seconds with no way to load them instantly.
● The Lock screen is the place where you can now display custom background instead of the Logon screen, but unlike the Logon screen, there seems to be no way to programmatically change or cycle through a group of images for the Lock screen background. It must be set manually by the user from PC settings on the Start screen.
● The "Unblock" button previously available on the file properties dialog for unblocking downloaded files (removing the NTFS Alternate Data Stream from the downloaded file) has been removed.
● Running Internet Explorer purely in 64-bit mode is not possible unless Enhanced Protected Mode is enabled which disables all addons. Otherwise, 64-bit IE10 opens 32-bit tabs.
● Search option to use natural language search has been removed.
● Mouse control panel option to allow or disallow themes to change mouse pointers is removed from the GUI.
● File operations like Rename, Delete can no longer be undone for UAC-protected locations
● Security Essentials settings for configuring default actions or real-time protection have been removed. (Security Essentials is now built-in as Windows Defender)
● In a dual boot scenario, the ability to directly boot into another OS besides Windows 8 is slowed down because the new Windows 8 boot shell/loader reboots to load the other operating system
● Windows Update settings for showing notifications and allowing all users to install updates have been removed. Windows Update no longer notifies with a balloon notification that there are new updates available.
● Sound events for 'Exit Windows', 'Windows Logon' and 'Windows Logoff' are removed
● People Near Me P2P API is removed
● WinHelp has been completely discontinued. No download will be available.
● MSConfig's Startup tab has been killed and replaced by the Task Manager's Startup tab that doesn't have the 'Location' column which was useful for example to know if the process started from HKCU or HKLM.
● Previous Versions for Shadow Copies is removed. The half-baked replacement is the File History feature which is only for certain file types (documents, music, videos and pictures) in Libraries, desktop and browser favorites. Previous Versions worked for any generic file type in any folder. File History does not even support EFS-encrypted files! File History is supposed to replace both "Previous Versions for Shadow Copies" as well as "Windows Backup and Restore" and it doesn't do 100% of either of the features it "replaces".
● Advanced Appearance settings which let you adjust colors, sizes and fonts are removed
● Explorer copy engine issue: Folder conflict prompt when merging/overwriting folders is removed. Explorer silently merges subfolders in a copy operation, you cannot choose entire subfolders to skip or overwrite
● Explorer status bar removes the ability to show important details. It is now a private undocumented control (DirectUI) so it also doesn't allow Explorer addons like Classic Shell to show information like free disk space, total size of items without selection, computer zone, infotip information as it could on a standard status bar control.
● Explorer: Ability to enable both Details pane and Preview pane simultaneously in Explorer for display of file metadata as well as preview, or, Details pane to be always shown and only the Preview pane toggled is gone
● Flip 3D is gone
● Chkdsk when run at startup does not display any information about file system repairs besides % complete. The screen with scanning and correction details is gone when Chkdsk runs at startup and replaced by just a % complete.
● Pen and Touch Input Desktop features no longer included. Some buttons ('num', 'sym' and 'web) are removed from the Handwriting input panel and UI changes to it require more clicks for example to switch from handwriting to keyboard, or access the editing commands (join, split, delete). It is now touch-friendly but no longer stylus-friendly.
● Network Map feature and some network profile management UI from Network and Sharing Center is missing
● Memory addresses and other technical information has been removed from the Windows 8 bug check screen (BSOD)
● The new Task Manager is missing many features of the old one. (New Task Manager bugs and issues)
● View Available Networks (VAN) UI has been crippled with access to the most important dialog: the Network's Status removed. The VAN UI now covers the notification area icons unnecessarily and the Metro look is out of place on the Aero desktop
● The AutoPlay dialog removes the option to always open a particular program based on the file type
● The Open With dialog breaks the NoInternetOpenWith and NoFileAssociate Group Policies and browsing for a program with the redesigned Open With dialog requires three clicks instead of just one.
● The Windows Error Reporting dialog for reporting/debugging crashes does not save the state of "View details"
● Wireless NICs no longer have in-box drivers for hosted/virtual Wi-Fi whose virtual adapter used to be automatically enabled on Windows 7
● Windows CardSpace is not installed even after installing .NET 3.0/3.5
● The keyboard shortcut for Windows Mobility Center has been removed. Previously, Win+X brought it up, now it brings up the power user context menu.
● Windows DVD Maker is removed
● Windows Briefcase
● Windows Gadget Platform is intact but no gadgets to download as the online Gadget Gallery was killed for Windows Vista and Windows 7 users as well.
● Some remoting apps that use mirror drivers or some features of mirror drivers for remoting scenarios, accessibility, or desktop duplication may no longer be supported due to the changes required to be made to Desktop Window Manager.
● Some Audio Compression Manager (ACM) components are broken resulting in ACM-based apps being unable to do format conversion.
● Windows Backup and Restore is deprecated. Although the feature is still intact, shell integration of Backup features is removed.
● The command line tools, DiskPart.exe, DiskRAID.exe, and the Disk Management GUI are being deprecated and replaced by the WMIv2-based Windows Storage Management API with the Storage PowerShell command line utility. Dynamic Disks are being deprecated as part of this transition. (GUI for Disk Management deprecated and replaced by command line? - way to go!)
● Subsystem for UNIX-based applications is deprecated
● Some Transactional NTFS (TxF) APIs like savepoints, secondary RM, miniversion and roll forward
* [ ] Enable 64-Bit Mode is missing from IE10 on an x64 system. All rendering is done in 32 bit mode, regardless of whether you start the 64 bit IE10 (see
Why is IE10 CP 64 Bit starting 32 bit processes for browsing?)
* The ability to completely deconfigure UAC and run with administrator privileges full time has been removed.
* Use of color fringing precompensation in font rendering in IE10 has gone missing since the DP, meaning fonts look fuzzier and more color-fringed on some monitors.
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Categories > Celebrities > Fall Out Boy > The World You Loved, Forever Gone
Any Romantic Fairytale0 Reviews
When Elise comes home to Chicago from France, where she studied, she finds the world she left has changed, and finds her best friend is in a band now
"And remember when I got in a huge fight with that total idiot Cassie?" I said, laughing.
"Who doesn't? That was the most hilarious thing, you two getting in a huge cat fight in the middle of the hall! Oh, good times," he said, wiping tears of laughter from his face.
"She had it coming. Besides, she was making fun of my best friend. How could I not have a sudden urge to finally beat her up?" I said defensively while laughing.
"If you hadn't done it, I'm sure someone else would've. But I laughed really hard when I saw that you gave her a black eye and a bloody nose while you only got like one bruise on your arm," he said, laughing even harder.
"Like I said, she had it coming," I said, laughing. There was a pause in the conversation when we were just laying there in silence.
"So how did you end up getting a ride from Andy?" Pete asked.
"Well I thought he looked hot so I said, hey there, hottie have a girlfriend?" I said, faking serious.
"Seriously?" Pete said, sitting up and staring at me.
"No. We accidentally bumped into each other and he kept walking with me and helping me until we got to the parking lot, when I realized that I had no car. So he offered to give me a ride and asked if I wanted to get something to eat. I said sure and you know the rest. But the look on your face when you thought I actually said he was hot. Priceless," I said, laughing at him.
"You had me worried there. I was wondering how any girl could find him hot," he said, laughing too. Then he did something unexpected. He looked over at me and kissed me. I sat there for a second as my mind registered what had happened. He took advantage of that and kissed me again.
"Pete? Patrick's here!!" we heard his sister calling up the stairs. We both sat up, still close, as Patrick walked in the room.
"Hey Pete, can we talk about-" Patrick started to say as he walked in. He saw me and stopped. "Oh, nevermind. You two are probably busy. I'll just leave," he said, turning red. Pete looked like he was all for Patrick's suggestion.
"No, it's fine Patrick. We weren't really doing anything," I said, moving away from Pete and trying not to shake too much from nerves. I didn't want to talk about what had just happened with Pete.
"No, I'll just...go," he mumbled, stumbling out the door. He closed the door behind him. Pete moved closer and started to kiss me again, but I put two fingers to his lips.
"Pete, stop," I said. He did what I said, staying dangerously close. "What are we doing?"
"Elise, I should have said something earlier. It took you leaving for me to realize how much I like you. Will you..." he trailed off. "Look, I know this sounds so cliche, but will you go out with me?" I smiled in the semi-darkness of his room at dusk, and remembered how much I wanted to be his girlfriend when we were in junior high. I didn't know how well it would work out, but I knew I had wanted this before. I could just stir up those emotions again, right? He was waiting nervously, so I just kissed him as an answer.
"I'll take that as a yes," he said, smiling.


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The legend of Erotikill, or female Vampire as it is most commonly titled has grown through the years to rival the very story of Dracula himself. Franco's seductive vampire masterpiece has been released in dozens of versions and under dozens of titles throughout the years. This uncut German print leaves nothing to the imagination ans is absolutely not for the bashful or weak of heart.
Lina Romay
Jack Taylor
Monica Swin
Jess Franck


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Rituals is a brand I hear very little about and also know very little about but after doing a bit of reading I found that it concentrates mainly on body products, doesn't test on animals and is inspired by nature- which sounds a little like The Body Shop really.
They have stores through out Europe but I have only ever been to the one in St Pancras Station however John Lewis does also stock their products.
When I had some time to kill at the station I picked up a lipstick in La Vie en Rose, at the time I thought it was similar to Mac Viva Glam Gaga but in fact it is a little darker.
The Rituals website claims that this product is 'Comfortable and creamy' and it is just that! A light formula which is moisturising and a buildable pigmentation. I think this is one of the better quality lipsticks in my collection although it doesn't last very long due to how light weight it is.
(winter is drying my lips out so much! It was not the lipsticks fault, I had just applied)
I actually quite like the packaging, black and classes nothing too fancy. I also love that on the lipstick itself it has the brand name molded in.
At £11.50 it isn't cheap but actually I think I would pay it again as you do get 4g.
Would I recommend it?
I really like the feel of this lipstick and the colour so yes I would recommend it. The range only includes 11 shades which is a little disappointing but I would love to try a few more. This is a great product for anyone looking for a moisturising lipstick.
What have you tried from Rituals?


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Watches Store Directory
Aaron Faber Gallery666 Fifth Ave., nr. 53rd St.; 212-586-8411; aaronfaber.com
These masters of the hard-to-find usually have a strong selection of styles from companies like Rolex, Patek and Omega in stock. One recent find: a two-tone mint-condition Rolex from the thirties ($7,350).
Around the Clock in Soho54 Macdougal St., nr. Houston St.; 212-475-3820
Everyone will find something to love in this quirky neighborhood shop. A pre-owned IWC Chrono piece will run you as much as $2,500, but a British military watch will set you back a mere $395.
Asprey723 Fifth Avenue, at 56th St.; 212-688-1811; asprey.com
At Asprey, they love all things 1890s. The No. 8 Collection takes the retro look and applies some modern technology; one of the models can be wound just once a week. For classicists, the No. 8 Rectangular Automatic ($8,900) is a lean watch that oozes class.
Bloomingdale's1000 Third Ave., at 59th St.; 212-705-2000; bloomingdales.com
This bustling department store is pushing fancier brands than it used to-Coach and Burberry are edging out Guess and Fossil-so prices now top out at $2,100.
Bulgari730 Fifth Ave., at 57th St.; 212-315-9000; bulgari.com
For eye-grabbing timepieces, look no further. With diamond and pearl detailing, Bulgari watches demand to be noticed. The understated Amphiteatro (from $5,800) makes an elegant wedding-day choice.
Cartier653 Fifth Ave., at 52nd St.; 212-753-0111; cartier.com
In certain rarefied circles, a Cartier watch is as compulsory as an Hermès tie or an Armani suit. The classic leather-strapped men's tank starts at $1,850; the sporty Roadster style runs from $3,800.
Cellini509 Madison Ave., nr. 53rd St., (various locations); 212-888-0505
Cellini is known for its world-class selection of handcrafted watches. For $4,400, you can get a Panerai Luminor Marina automatic; a rectangular steel Parmigiani Kalpa will set you back $17,000.
Central Watch Band Stand, Ltd.Grand Central Terminal; 212-685-1689; centralwatch.com
This tiny shop (more of a stall, really), filled with vintage Rolex, Cartier, and Gruen watches ($275-$4,000), isn't easy to find-it's in a corridor of Grand Central, next to the entrance to Track 38-but you'll find that it's well worth the effort to get there.
David Yurman729 Madison Ave., at 64th St.; 212-752-4255 ; davidyurman.com
Yurman may be best known for his fabulous women's watches, but his men's watches are just as eye-catching (from $1,800 to $15,000).
Fendi755 Madison Ave., nr. 65th St.; 800-336-3469; fendi.com
Classic Italian elegance on your wrist. The Zucca chronograph comes rimmed in bold stainless steel (from $595), while the Grand Tonneau, with its rounded oblong dial in shiny black, blue, or gray ($695), lives up to its laudatory title.
Fortunoff681 Fifth Ave., nr. 54th St., second fl.; 212-758-6660; fortunoff.com
This jewelry-and-silver emporium is a great place to browse for high-end European watches-Movado, Concord (the Saratoga starts at $1,890), TAG Heuer, and other top makers. The selection of timepieces is so massive, it takes up an entire floor of the shop.
Fossil530 Fifth Ave., at 44th St. (various locations); 212-997-3978; fossil.com
Fossil has been selling traditional, reasonably priced American watches ($39-$295) for more than twenty years. All are water-resistant to depths you'll probably never experience and come with an eleven-year warranty just in case you do.
Kenjo40 W. 57th St., nr. Fifth Ave., (various locations); 212-333-7220
These stores carry high-end, design-forward watches, like models from the Dubey & Schaldenbrand line with tonneau faces and oversize numerals ($3,000 and up). Other big sellers include Omega and IWC.
Lord & Taylor424 Fifth Ave., at 39th St.; first fl.; 212-391-3344; lordandtaylor.com
Among the mirrored columns at this dependable department store, you'll find dozens of men's watches from affordable lines like Fossil, Kenneth Cole, and DKNY ($65-$195).
Louis Vuitton1 E. 57th St., at Fifth Ave., 116 Greene St., nr. Prince St.; 866-884-8866; vuitton.com
Vuitton's Tambour watch collection hews to the classic LV palette: sand-colored dials, yellow second hands, and tan leather straps ($2,000 and up). The Tourbillon justifies its enormous price tag ($200,000) by using the Earth's gravity to keep ultraprecise time.
From the Winter 2014 New York Wedding Guide
- Alice Kwartler
445 Park Avenue New York, NY 10022 ; Tel: 212-752-3590 ; www.alicekwartler.com
EVERYTHING FOR THE BRIDE: Antique, estate and signed Engagement and Wedding rings. Huge collection of cufflinks and stud sets. Beautiful and distinctive gifts in antique sterling and crystal. Bridal Registry. Personal attention.
- Amanda Keidan Jewelry
Tel: 310-392-9514 ; www.amandakeidan.com
For the last twelve years, Amanda Keidan has combined her diamond and metal-smithing knowledge, with the visions and aspirations of her clients, to create exclusive privately commissioned engagement rings to those seeking exquisite and sophisticated design.
- David Alan Jewelry
By Appointment New York, NY ; Tel: 212-382-1410 ; www.davidalanjewelry.com
Modern stylings, impeccable Old-World craftsmanship and secret details yield strikingly elegant designs making David Alan's jewelry irresistible! David Alan's patience and deep understanding of clients' needs make the custom jewelry creation process unmatched.
- David Levy Diamonds & Fine Jewels, Inc.
36 West 47th St, Suite 903 New York City - By Appointment Only ; Tel: 212-398-8952 ; www.diamondmatchmaker.com
Third-generation jeweler buys rough diamonds overseas and cutters polish them in the on-premises factory, taking out the middleman to help you save on price. Custom-designing rings are a specialty.
263A West 19th Street New York, NY 10011 ; Tel: 212-366-4888 ; dvvs.com
DVVS features extraordinary designer jewelry as well as their own designs and limitless custom-made possibilities. Whether yours is a vintage look, classic or ultra-contemporary, the warm and friendly shop will inspire you.
- Faye Kim Designs
190 Main Street Westport, CT 06880 ; Tel: 203-226-3511 ; fayekimdesigns.com
Simple. Elegant. Timeless. Beautifully handcrafted collection of fine jewelry and custom designs for women of discerning taste. Work one on one with Faye Kim to create the perfect piece for your special day!
- Forevermark
300 First Stamford Place Stamford, CT 06902 ; Tel: 203-388-3550 ; forevermarkdiamond.com
Forevermark is a diamond brand from the De Beers group of companies. Each Forevermark diamond is inscribed with a promise that is it beautiful, rare and responsibly sourced.
- Greenwich Jewelers
64 Trinity Place New York, NY 10006 ; Tel: 212-964-7592 ; www.greenwichjewelers.com
Independent jewelry store with fantastic selection of designer engagement rings & wedding bands. 35 years of custom design experience using ethnical gems, conflict-free Canadian diamonds, recycled metals. Expert, on-site jewelers repair/restyle antique and heirloom jewelry.
- Lauren B. Jewelry
580 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10036 ; Tel: 212-391-0633 ; www.laurenbjewelry.com
Custom engagement ring and wedding band designs with a flair for elegant handcrafted micro pave creations. Visit our NYC store to choose from a dazzling collection of both classic & contemporary rings. We also carry an impressive selection of diamond bridal jewelry for your special wedding day; all gently priced.
- McTeigue & McClelland
608 Fifth Avenue, Suite 405 New York, NY ; Tel: 800-956-2826 ; mc2jewels.com
Combining talents, 4th generation jeweler Walter McTeigue and designer Tim McClelland strive to make the most beautiful jewelry imaginable. Emphasizing fresh, innovative design, exceptional gemstones and superior workmanship, our skilled artisans handcraft each jewel.
- The Diamond Co.
62 West 47th Street New York, NY 10036 ; Tel: 212-819-0336 ; www.thediamondco.com
The Diamond Co. is a third generation jewelry manufacturer specializing in Engagement rings, Weddings bands, Necklaces, and Earrings. Platinum wedding bands are priced from $200 and platinum diamond eternity bands from $800.
- Wedding Ring Originals
608 Fifth Avenue, Suite 509 New York, NY 10020 ; Tel: 212-751-3940 or 800-522-1175 ; www.weddingrings.com
Since 1953, with factory on premises, offering a huge selection of engagement and wedding rings in styles from modern to vintage-inspired. Complete selection of alternative metals for men also available. Prices upon request.


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Very tasty and good for holiday gift giving- followed the recipe exactly except I used whole almonds- easier to eat.
Vanilla-Spice Nuts
ConniefromPA Posted: 12/22/10
DiscoMom Posted: 12/22/10
These nuts are DELICIOUS! I made them for my holiday goody plates this year and they were the perfect addition. Just enough sweetness, spice and heat (I did the red pepper option) and very easy to make. Yum!
AmyDTT Posted: 01/17/11
These are fantastic!
Marchia Posted: 12/19/10
This was so easy and tasty. Next time I will try the red pepper flakes for a spicy change. Just make sure to follow the recipe and turn the nuts half way through cooking to break them apart.
MelanieRBW Posted: 03/07/11
Delicious glazed nuts! I cut the salt in half, though, because I prefer a sweeter-tasting nut and a full teaspoon of salt is too much. These nuts can also be made using Splenda in place of sugar. They are slightly less crunchy but still very flavorful and delicious, and perfect for my non-sugar-eating family members. Like other reviewers, I have tried subbing walnuts for macadamia nuts and whole almonds for sliced. I recommend sliced because they have a crisper texture when glazed, but the walnut substitution seems fine. Just half almonds and half pecans works well, too. Macadamias are so expensive.
Lessss Posted: 12/31/10
Very good! Sweet, spicy and easy. Used all whole nuts that I had on hand (almonds, pecans and walnuts). Had them at my Christmas Eve party and had several requests for the recipe. Great snack for me at work - not much added sugar and no added fat. Thanks!
BaileySmith Posted: 01/25/13
I have made this 4-5 times, everyone loves it. The cardamom gives the unique test.
olivettepointe Posted: 12/02/13
Super easy and delicious. I used garam masala instead of combining the recipe's separate ingredients. Served at a cocktail party and guests loved them.


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American demands making crop too expensive
The vegan favorite, quinoa, is now a luxury for those that once held it as a staple of their diets.
According to The Guardian, quinoa, once a cheap, affordable meal for villagers in Peru, is now too expensive for them due to high demand in western countries.
Aside from rendering locals the inability to eat this vegetable, the export of quinoa has caused the depletion of Peruvian water sources.
The cause of quinoa's high demand quinoa is its low fat and healthy dietary qualities, very popular with vegetarians.
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