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Saturday, September 3, 2011
I'm trying to perfect the art of making people uncomfortable.
It's all, oh hello, I swear I care very deeply about your life, let's engage in small talk for an amount of time that we will both find painfully long but we don't know how to end it without seeming rude and so we talk and talk about stupid shit that neither of us cares about until one of us pretends to get a phone call or hears our moms calling us for dinner or (ideally) one of our kids starts acting like an asshole and we can blame it all on them.
Hate small talk. And interaction with the general public.
I thought that my hate of small talk could not be stronger than it's previous level of: FIRE: THOUSAND BURNING SUNS (which is the level of hate directly above FIRE: BURNING PEE). But then I had twins (one not alive, one critically ill) which made me fat and I don't have time to work out and also I love shoving pie/chex mix/nutella into my pie hole* and basically I am fat so people have been asking me the most idiotic things, like, "when will your blog be funny again**" and/or "when are you due?"
I know what you're thinking. You're thinking we've been over this, ad nauseam, enough already. (You may also be thinking that a sensible diet and a moderate amount of exercise would keep my ass from expanding to the size of 275 Cinnabons arranged in large circles.) But I like to drive a point so far into the ground that people just start to agree with me to get me to shut up so here we are. Talking about how fat I am. Again.
I've got a point (ish) and that point is that I'm practicing my response to people. Instead of my normal, "I'm not...it's OK" response, I'm thinking of saying whatever pops into my feeble wittle mind and it goes a little something like this:
Could you be more specific? I mean, don't take that as an unwillingness to share. I love sharing. For example? I was due for highlights three months ago, so...May 20? And actually I just dyed my hair because my regrowth was 4 inches long and no matter how many times I sang "I'm bringing regrowth back (yeah) you other boys don't know how to act" it just didn't catch on.
Oh. That's not what you meant. Gotcha. My period is due on September 29. I've been couponing lately which is awesome because I am, like, soooo stocked up on tampons and I seriously just dare my period to come early or late or whatever because I've got pantyliners to burn and I will wear one every day for 10 days before and after I'm due BECAUSE I GOT A REALLY GOOD DEAL ON TAMPONS AND PANTYLINERS AND I DON'T CARE WHO KNOWS IT! TAKE THAT MENSTRUATION!
What's that? You're pointing...at my vagina? Oh, yes! You're right! I am due for a pap smear...oh shit! I was due in July! But, you know, I am trying to decide which gynecologist I want to see since my old one told me that one of my twins had a huge brain and that I should go in the waiting room and wait until he had time to explain what that meant. Because I waited 40 minutes for my appointment because he is behind and now he is REALLY behind and if you would just stop crying, asshole, and go wait so that all these other eager vaginas can be checked out then that.would.be.super.
And then my other doctor was the one who delivered my stillborn baby and my really sick baby and I don't know, something about going there to take my clothes off and show my 'beave just feels awkward, ya know? You don't want to whip our your beave and feel awkward. I prefer to feel awesome when I whip out my beave....and I almost always do, I mean, it's not like I have some problem of feeling awkward or whatever when I whip out my 'beave....
Oh, you mean, am I expecting a baby? Why yes! Yes I am! I am expecting my baby to come home any time now. Or, you know, on or after today*** because she's been in the hospital since she was born eight months ago and she's got to come home sometime, right?! BWAHAHAHAHAHA! You are hilar. We should really talk like this more often. I have to go, someone in this room is acting like an asshole and it isn't my kid so it's either you or me. Can you say toss-up? TOSS UP! HA!
*I am conflicted over the use of Pie Hole. I rarely eat pie. I can't decide if I should say, for example, "I was shoving nutella into my pie hole" or if I should say, "I was shoving nutella into my nutella hole." The latter makes more sense to me. But everyone else just uses Pie Hole without abandon and I am a follower, not a leader. The internal termoil is almost too much to bear.
**My favorite question, by far. Probably never is the answer but keep reading just to see! And keep me updated on my non-funny-ness because that really helps me bring the comedy. Nothing makes you feel amusing like a backhanded compliment!
***Not entirely true. It will not be today. But it will definitely be AFTER today so hopefully that provides the information you so desperately ask for every.single.day.
One Year Ago: I Seem To Have Gotten My Apetite Back
Two Years Ago: And So Now I Call Her Stinkfinger
Three Years Ago: 14 Weeks Plus Bonus Freakout
45 comments:
- clearness said...
I'm really amazed at how you are keeping up the funny here on your blog. Lots of love and prayers for you and the whole family.
- September 3, 2011 at 2:01 PM
- kharris said...
Hang in there kiddo. We don't need you to be funny for us. You write whatever your little heart desires. She'll get home soon and one day 35 years from now she'll be reading all these blogs about herself in amazement at her wonderful Mama. And I am with ya on the Nutella. Deelicious. I shove it into my Nutella hole whenever I get the chance >:)
- September 3, 2011 at 2:04 PM
- M said...
Keep going Jen! We love reading anything you've got for us. If theres a day between or a year between your posts, I will be reading them as will hundreds of others. And keep treating yourself to pie and nutella. You deserve junk food right now. Jen your one of the strongest people I know, your in my prayers!
- September 3, 2011 at 2:09 PM
- Cara said...
You are more of an admiration to me than you will ever know.
Love you and your beautiful girlies! (and I mean your daughters, not your boobs:) (but I'm sure they are beautiful too:) - September 3, 2011 at 2:21 PM
- HereWeGoAJen said...
I hate small talk too. I suggest moving about every year and a half. This is the technique I have used and it works really well for avoiding small talk because you never run into people you haven't seen in years.
People are assholes. You are awesome. - September 3, 2011 at 2:47 PM
- Mrs. Higrens said...
To expand on "HereWeGOAJen"'s comment: People are also stupid.
And your awesomeness is beyond exceptional. Especially when you are shoving nutella into your combination pie/nutella hole.
Word Verification: drogity. "People were talking some drogity shit about my not being funny anymore. Assholes." - September 3, 2011 at 3:19 PM
- Cheryl said...
I am officially adopting the use of "beave" instead of "cooch." You will be credited at each uttering.
- September 3, 2011 at 3:32 PM
- Kate said...
Fwiw "Guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommend that women begin Pap test screening at age 21, be screened every 2 years through age 30, and then be screened every 3 years as long as their last three test results have been normal" so you can probably stop thinking about that one right now.
- September 3, 2011 at 4:12 PM
- Superstar said...
These are the people I refer to as SMFers. That would be Stupid Mother Fu... well, you get the rest. And when you are in contact with an inordinate number on any given day, it is referred to as an SMFer day.
You, my online friend, have had far more than your fair share of SMFer days. If I could, I'd walk around with you with a roll of duct tape to shut these people up as they open their mouths, just so you wouldn't have to deal with it.
Next time someone asks if you're pg, ask them when THEIR due date is. See how they like it. Jerks. - September 3, 2011 at 4:12 PM
- MaryBeth said...
For the record I find you hilarious! I even laugh out loud....while I'm reading at work. Then I read your funny blog out loud to whoever is around me. You take a stressful situation and tell us about it in a really funny way!! So tell those jerks it IS funny so screw you! :)
- September 3, 2011 at 4:25 PM
- Amelia said...
- September 3, 2011 at 4:41 PM
- SherilinR said...
i think you should call it your nutella hole, cuz i don't like pie either. i'm going to call mine a potato/cheese hole cuz that's what i like to cram into mine. and eventually if you keep cramming the food in, people will stop asking if you're pregnant, cuz your fat will get jiggly & that doesn't look so much like baby fat as just regular ole, run of the mill fat. trust me, i know about these things.
- September 3, 2011 at 5:06 PM
- Amy said...
Good lord. People have got to be the biggest bunch of effing asstards (is that a word?) imaginable. You are awesome and I am sure that anything you might say to people asking you these disgusting questions is well-deserved. Please know that total strangers continue to love your blog and experience a squeal of delight whenever you have the chance to update - regardless what the topic is. You make bazillions of people laugh, cry, broaden their minds, empathize, and (hopefully) think twice before saying stupid shit. Many, many continued wishes for a streak of awesome to come your way.
- September 3, 2011 at 5:08 PM
- areyoukiddingme said...
You're far funnier than I would be in your shoes.
I also hate small talk, but I am supremely good at making people uncomfortable by answering their questions truthfully. It's awesome. You should actually throw those answers out and laugh at how fast people run away.
I was recently on a whitewater rafting trip, and our boat was filled with a bunch of children aged 16 and younger. So when we saw 2 beavers on the Snake River, and were unable to make any kind of lewd comment, my head almost exploded. - September 3, 2011 at 5:11 PM
- Greta said...
You are most definitely still funny or at least you are on the blog ;).
At some point, things have to get better. Right??? - September 3, 2011 at 5:36 PM
- ks said...
I too hate small talk! I would love to ZING people more often in the manner you speak! Lol! I don't know who is saying what but Jen even through all you go through you still have a way of making my hubby and I chuckle!
I hope Ainsley is getting on track to come home! We pray for you and your family often. All my best to you! - September 3, 2011 at 6:21 PM
- Skywaitress said...
I think you definitely need to give one of those responses to the next jerk who asks if you're due. Or any other asstastic question for that matter. They deserve it.
Stupid people ::kicks some shins for ya:: - September 3, 2011 at 7:12 PM
- Alisha said...
I just came upon your blog while looking for "twins blogs." I'm sorry about your story and I hope you little one comes home very soon.
You have an incredible talent for writing, oh my gosh. I've never laughed so hard as I have at this most recent blog--so much so, I shared it with my husband :)
Just had to share how great your blog is. - September 3, 2011 at 9:25 PM
- ABLynch said...
Honestly, that's not fair. You're not giving chex mix its fair share. Sure, Nutella is amazing, but Chex Mix, is... well... Chex Mix! And now I have an overwhelming urge to mix nutella the chex mix and bake it into a pie. It could work....
All kidding aside, I think you're pretty great! - September 3, 2011 at 9:29 PM
- Crazy Sister said...
People suck. And I'm in Nutella Rehab. And you make me laugh ALL the time when I know I really shouldn't. And today I was late for church because of Sudden Onset Explosive Menstruation, and I just felt like I could share that here, because you feel like a safe zone.
Thankyou. - September 4, 2011 at 4:51 AM
- Jaci said...
If someone doesn't chuckle while reading your blog, they are full of the burning pee kind of stoopid.
- September 4, 2011 at 9:54 AM
- alison said...
I love you and I promise to never engage in small talk with you as I hate it myself. Though not with the fire of a thousand suns, more like the flicker of a wee candle. But still. Not my favorite.
- September 4, 2011 at 1:06 PM
- The NKF said...
Small talk is the worst. Especially talk about the weather and about where places are located (if the person you are talking to has no reason to ever need to go to the place they so desperately want the exact longitude and latitude of).
I'm sorry you have to go above and beyond small talk to deal with annoying and hurtful questions.
Like a previous poster, I have begun answering people's nosy questions about future children (and their continued non-existence) with excruciating detail. Let me tell you about my blood filled cyst! Hey, where are you going? - September 4, 2011 at 3:57 PM
- eggsinarow said...
So. I really don't have anything to say because my head hurts. Really. Perhaps people asking said questions are confused and think a blog is code word fir "not really happening" and thus feel yOu should be writing a more interesting, less drama filled....book? I don't really want to deal with that kind of stupidity.
Oh and I Love you. - September 4, 2011 at 4:45 PM
- Sally said...
PLEASE start saying "nutella hole." that is awesome.
- September 4, 2011 at 5:17 PM
- JoyAndSorrow said...
Sending hugs and hoping you aren't being to hard on yourself. I'm fat too. - Fatter from the grief than I am from carrying twins. I don't have the ENERGY to be funny. Grieving is hard freaking work. If anyone doesn't understand that, they can shove it in their piehole! Or another choice orifice.
- September 4, 2011 at 8:02 PM
- Gurlee said...
Wtf is wrong with people? I can. Not. Believe. One would ask about when you will be funny again. For reals? I check your blog religiously because I want to know how your family is. in addition, you always make me laugh because you are a hysterical blogger despite your pain. I do hope that Ainsley is well, Oliva too.
We call it nugget hole in my house. Nugget acts as an umbrella and catches whatever you shove at it. - September 5, 2011 at 1:43 AM
- lori said...
i don't understand people.
nutella rocks.
i can't utter beave out loud, but i still think it's funny. i lack maturity and have not moved beyond who-ha.
the person who asked when you were going to be funny again...they need a swift kick in someplace less cushy and more tender than their ass.
i think of you and yours often and wish-hope for all of the insanity to end and your sweet girl to come home. - September 5, 2011 at 10:28 AM
- cgarbow said...
Jen, sending lots of prayers for your littlest baby to come home soon!!!
- September 5, 2011 at 11:36 AM
- JenM said...
People are asses, Nutella is awesome, and I love you :-)
- September 5, 2011 at 8:33 PM
- Rob and Sara plus 1 plus 1 more said...
People are asses. And I think you are hilarious. In fact, your blog is almost always funnier than my blog and I haven't been through all that you've been through. You actually inspire me daily to keep my head out of my ass and enjoy life despite all the crap that its dealt me and my family in the last year. Some people don't know humor. I like Nutella Hole, mine would be a Brownie Hole. Or an Ice Cream Hole.
- September 6, 2011 at 8:26 AM
- Rob and Sara plus 1 plus 1 more said...
Or Sun Chips Hole. Or Chocolate Chips Hole.
- September 6, 2011 at 8:27 AM
- eeny meany said...
I hope you read Hyperbole and a Half and have seen her awesome comic about the painfulness of small talk.
http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/03/awkward-situation-survival-guide.html - September 6, 2011 at 10:24 AM
- eeny meany said...
I really meant this one...
http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/09/four-levels-of-social-entrapment.html - September 6, 2011 at 10:27 AM
- kimbosue said...
Nutella rocks. You should totally say Nutella-hole. I think it would catch on. I have a Nutella-hole myself.
You are awesome.
People are assholes.
The End. - September 6, 2011 at 10:59 AM
- Carrie said...
I hid inside a rack of child's clothing in Target once(I'm a very short person, I know this based on how often people pat the top of my head)to avoid an awkward conversation with my ex boyfriends Mom. And I liked her.
Recently I was eating potato chips with such enthusiasm that I bit my own finger. Again for good measure, I bit my own finger. - September 6, 2011 at 11:04 AM
- Rob and Sara plus 1 plus 1 more said...
Or Whatever My Kid Didn't Eat Hole
- September 6, 2011 at 5:14 PM
- Ado said...
Fuck funny. You are hiliarious even when you're being maudlin - and I love you and your blog.
I love people who hate small talk and have the balls to say they hate it. Before I got married I was living in Ireland and they had a shower for me and all of these women were sitting around yattering for hours about brands of washer/dryers and shit. I came home crying, I was so freaking bored - stupefied - that all they could talk about was washer/dryers. It took so much energy for me to seem interested I nearly dropped dead of exhaustion from blinking. (-:
I LOVE your blog. LOVE it. You are an awesome writer. I will probably think of you tomorrow when i'm out interacting with the general public somewhere...resenting it...(-: - September 6, 2011 at 9:18 PM
- Joy said...
Small talk sucks. I walk really fast as if I'm in a huge hurry and quickly wave to people I don't wish to talk to. Maybe it's rude, but I'd rather just avoid the samll talk. Besides, I figure if I keep walking that way, my ginormous butt will get smaller! Hang in there girl!
- September 7, 2011 at 8:29 AM
- Caroline said...
Hi--you're unbelievable, and every word you write is appreciated.
Many hugs from somebody who you've never met and who found you half-randomly on the blogosphere. (And sorry if that sounds creepy, 'cause I really didn't mean it that way.)
~caroline - September 7, 2011 at 10:53 AM
- Sarah said...
People are assholes, ignore them or have fun making them horribly uncomfortable. I fully believe that idiots should be made to suffer under the weight of their stupidity.
- September 7, 2011 at 5:42 PM
- Janine said...
Hi! I don't know you in real life but going by the lovely photos in your previous post you are just gorgeous.....nothing else :).
- September 8, 2011 at 2:37 AM
- Parsing Nonsense said...
Why would anyone want to be a jerk to you? You're fantastic! I'm so glad I know about those tampons though. If there's an apocalypse and I need feminine products, Imma totally hit you up, m'kay?
- September 14, 2011 at 5:49 PM
- Shannon said...
Seriously made me laugh out loud. Several times. Whoever has been a jerk to you is a moron. I happen to think you're awesome!
- September 22, 2011 at 1:38 PM
- Sarah said...
You are my favourite. Whatever you do (or don't) write is always good.
- September 26, 2011 at 7:20 PM


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Those familiar with borough president Marty Markowitz will likely not be surprised by the fact that he recently rapped with Wu-Tang Clan member GZA. The two appeared together at Brooklyn Borough Hall yesterday to co-announce the lineup for the 2012 Northside Festival. In true Markowitz fashion, the borough president kicked-off the announcement with a ridiculous gimmick or in his words, "my take on the first verse" of GZA's "Liquid Swords."
Then he busted this out:
"Through cyclones or typhoons, I represent Brooklyn from midnight to high noon. I don't waste ink, I think, I drop 'fuggedaboutits' faster than you blink."
For those unfamiliar, Northside Festival is an eight day festival of music, film and entrepreneurial speakers with successful startup businesses. The festival this year is headlined by GZA.
As for GZA, he went on to say that while most people associate Wu-Tang with Staten Island, he actually is a native of Brooklyn. When asked if GZA would consider adopting Markowitz into the Clan, GZA quickly answered: "Marty Wu." GZA went on to say that after Markowitz's performance he is "ready to sign him," concluding by simply stating, "collabo."
Mac Miller, Wiz Khalifa - Wiz Khalifa, Mac Miller Announce Under The Influence Of Music Tour Dates | The Ramones See The Ramones First Ever One-Sheet |


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Rochester City Ballet has a permanent home, a new partnership with Syracuse University and a big ambition-to tour throughout the region and eventually the nation.
In the past year the company has made strides toward its goal of touring, becoming a partner in SU's arts leadership program. The ballet also is working on long-term funding strategies that will support its goal and is rewriting its strategic plans.
The partnership with SU is an important milestone on the road to becoming a touring company, said Katherine Rogala, RCB chairwoman. The company will get to perform for Syracuse audiences in February, but more importantly it will have a weeklong residency there, Rogala said.
"We get to have a residency there for a week, which is totally new to us," she said. "Then we will also be able to start work on a touring model based on that experience in Syracuse and use it for a regional tour in 2013-2014."
The program will focus on new work from artistic director Jamey Leverett, who debuted the work titled "4Play" at Nazareth College of Rochester.
The relationship with SU will be twofold, said Katherine Ertsgaard, RCB executive director. The ballet company also will be an inaugural partner in the university's Janklow Arts Leadership Program. The program aims to provide training, leadership development and mentorship to students through partnerships with area arts organizations.
"We'll be able to develop our touring model along with the leadership we'll be providing as we look to embark on a greater expansion through the region," she said.
As the company becomes more regional, Ertsgaard said, it looks to establish similar permanent relationships.
"Our concept of being a regional organization is to be vital to the communities that we are going to," Ertsgaard said. "We don't want just a one-off performance and then leave."
To establish this regional presence, RCB will have to change its funding streams, Rogala said. The organization has been working to create more long-term funding relationships with donors, even launching a new marketing strategy to better articulate its long-term vision to potential donors.
The ballet company reported revenue of $738,222 in the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2011, with $432,661 in contributions and grants and $231,305 in program service revenue.
The organization would need to grow in other ways to reach the regional goals, Rogala said. The company lists 11 dancers and seven apprentices-making it on the smaller scale, Rogala noted-and would need to take on more as it toured regionally.
"We're seeing ourselves as on a journey, and part of the mission of where we want to end up means we need to grow," Rogala said. "It's all part of a process."
To make sure that process is moving smoothly, the organization is taking a look at its strategic plans and updating them, Rogala said.
This summer the organization purchased the studios at 1326 University Ave. that it had been leasing since March 2004. The former warehouse, renovated into a modern dance facility and office space, was purchased for $1.3 million with the help of some state funding.
State Sen. James Alesi, R-Perinton, helped RCB secure a $250,000 grant used as a down payment, with the rest of the funding coming through a private mortgage.
The purchase also makes RCB a landlord to the three tenants: CORE Education and Consulting Solutions Inc., Callan-Harris Physical Therapy and the Timothy M. Draper Center for Dance Education, which is RCB's affiliated training school.
The permanent home gives the company a bit more freedom with the space and the ability to adapt and reconfigure office space as needed, Ertsgaard said.
"This is really the culmination of our dream to have a permanent home for ballet in the Rochester community," she said.
As RCB looks to expand outward, there is more work to do at home, Ertsgaard said. The organization is celebrating its 25th anniversary and in celebration has a range of community-centered activities, many of which will be free to the public.
The company will be strengthening its relationship with other local arts organizations, such as performing its 14th consecutive season of "The Nutcracker" with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra Inc. RCB has planned another collaboration with the RPO in February, on a new work combining a composition from Principal Pops Composer Jeff Tyzik and choreography from Leverett.
RCB also will expand its slate of community programming, widening an in-studio open rehearsal series that allows people to watch dancers and speak with Leverett. These events are being offered for free this year.
"Now that we have a permanent home, people know that we're here to stay and provide the community a real ballet company," Ertsgaard said. "I think this will really be an important part of the arts and cultural makeup for a vital arts city."
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The parents of 15-year-old Sasha Rodriguez, who died of an ecstasy overdose after attending a rave, have filed a claim against the management of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
The parents are seeking $5 million in damages from the Coliseum Commission.
The claim, filed Dec. 23 with both the city and county of Los Angeles, is a necessary step before suing in court. The claim says the commission, a joint state, city and county board, did not fulfill its "duties and was negligent in creating and/or allowing others to create a dangerous condition of public property" during the two-day Electric Daisy Carnival rave at the Coliseum in June.
Sasha Rodriguez, a high school student and drill team member from Atwater Village, was able to get into the event despite the 16-and-over age requirement advertised by Los Angeles-based Insomniac Events, the producer of the rave. Those under 16 needed a parent or guardian to attend, according to the event's website. Sasha attended with friends; her parents have said they did not know she was going to a rave.
She died days after falling into a coma after attending the rave.
The Coliseum "knew, or should have known, that the rave would attract, promote, encourage, facilitate and enable widespread illegal and illicit activity, including but not limited to the possession, sale and consumption of illicit drugs," the claim says.
The Coliseum Commission also "knew, or should have known, that the rave would attract minors under the age of majority yet it failed to enforce such minimum age requirement," the claim said.
Patrick Lynch, general manager of the Coliseum, said in an e-mail Thursday that he was out of the office and unaware of the claim, and so was unable to comment.
In November, in a controversial vote, the commission lifted its moratorium on raves -- all-night dance parties featuring electronic music. A month later, it voted to require rave promoters to come before the panel at least 60 days in advance of an event for approval.
"We're going to limit whatever abuses take place," Commissioner David Israel said at the December meeting.
The Electric Daisy Carnival rave, which drew 185,000 people over two days, resulted in 120 people being taken to local hospitals, mostly for drug intoxication. Coliseum managers said there were no major problems at subsequent raves Aug. 21 and Oct. 23, which attracted 6,000 and 22,000 people, respectively. A New Year's Eve rave, Together as One, at the Sports Arena resulted in 25 arrests and 17 hospitalizations.
All three raves that took place after the June event had been scheduled before the rave moratorium enacted after the teen's death.
The L.A. Memorial Coliseum and Sports Arena relies on raves for 28% of its revenue, according to a consultant report filed to the commission in July.
Commissioners said they were not driven by the bottom line when they voted to continue holding raves at the public facility. Some expressed worry that raves would be forced into unregulated "back alleys" if no longer allowed at the Coliseum or Sports Arena.
Israel said commissioners weighed both public safety and free-speech concerns, and said recommendations from the county Department of Public Health would be enacted to ensure safety and reduce risk at future events. Among the recommendations: strictly enforcing an 18-and-over age limit, adding security and drug searches, and hiring medical staff to work at the raves.
Another publicly owned facility took a different approach. The state-run Cow Palace in Daly City, south of San Francisco, banned raves in November, citing numerous drug and alcohol overdoses at recent events, including two deaths following a rave in May.
On Dec. 22, Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco) introduced a bill to ban raves at publicly owned venues. Ma cited a study that found many teenagers attending raves use "club drugs" such as ecstasy, GHB, methamphetamine and LSD.
Rave promoters denounced the legislation as heavy-handed.
Steven Archer, a lawyer representing Sasha's parents, Grace Rodriguez and Leonard Contreras, said the claim does not seek any injunction that would ask a judge to stop raves at the facility.
"However, one of the collateral results of a successful lawsuit may be a change in policy of the Coliseum Commission to further control or limit raves," Archer said. "It's not our goal to limit them but when the Coliseum Commission is called upon to pay monetary damages to this family for what happened to their daughter, maybe by hitting them in the pocketbook, the Coliseum Commission will have its eyes opened."


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The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast and Mozambique, which surrounds it on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. The name Malawi comes from the Maravi, one of the original Bantu tribes to inhabit the area.
Malawi was first settled during the 10th century and remained under native rule until 1891 when it was colonized by the British, who ruled the country until 1964. Upon gaining independence it became a single-party state under the presidency of Hastings Banda, who remained president until 1994, when he was ousted from power. Bingu Mutharika, elected in 2004, is the current president, and as of 2008, Malawi has a democratic, multi-party government. Malawi has a small military force that includes an army, a navy and an air wing. Malawi's foreign policy is pro-Western and includes positive diplomatic relations with most countries and participation in several international organizations.
Malawi is among the world's least developed and most densely populated countries. The economy is heavily based in agriculture, with a largely rural population. The Malawian government depends heavily on outside aid to meet development needs, although this need has decreased since 2000. The Malawian government faces challenges in growing the economy, improving education, health care and the environmental protection and becoming financially independent. Malawi has several programs developed since 2005 that focus on these issues.
Malawi has a low life expectancy and high infant mortality. There is a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS, which is a drain on the labor force and government expenditures, and is expected to have a significant impact on gross domestic product by 2010. There is a diverse population of native peoples, Asians and Europeans, with several languages spoken and an array of religious beliefs. Although there was tribal conflict in the past, by 2008 it had diminished considerably and the concept of a Malawian nationality had begun to form. Malawi has a culture combining native and colonial aspects, including sports, art, dance and music.
Malawi Profile
Area: 118,484 sq. km. (45,747 sq. mi.); land the size of Pennsylvania, with a lake the size of Vermont.
Cities: Capital--Lilongwe. Other cities--Blantyre (the commercial capital), Zomba, Mzuzu.
Terrain: Plateaus, highlands, and valleys. Lake Malawi (formerly referred to as Lake Nyasa) comprises about 20% of total area.
Climate: Predominately subtropical.
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Malawian(s).
Population (2011 est.): 15,879,252.
Annual population growth rate (2011): 2.8%.
Ethnic groups: Chewa, Nyanja, Tumbuka, Yao, Lomwe, Sena, Tonga, Ngoni, Ngonde, Asian, European.
Religions: Protestant 55%, Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 20%, indigenous beliefs 3%, other 2%.
Languages: English (official), Chichewa (official), regional dialects, i.e., Chitumbuka, Chiyao, Chilomwe.
Education: Years compulsory--none. Enrollment (2010)--primary, 91%. Literacy--74%.
Health: Infant mortality rate (2011)--81 deaths/1,000 live births. Life expectancy at birth (2011 est.)--52 years.
Type: Multi-party democracy.
Independence: July 6, 1964.
Constitution: May 18, 1995.
Branches: Executive--president (chief of state and head of government), first and second vice presidents, cabinet. Legislative--unicameral National Assembly (193 members). Although the Malawian constitution provides for a Senate, in practice the legislative branch's upper house has never been called into session. Judicial--High Court, Supreme Court of Appeal, subordinate Magistrate Courts.
Administrative subdivisions: 28 districts.
Political parties: Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, ruling party), United Democratic Front (UDF), Malawi Congress Party (MCP), Alliance for Democracy (AFORD), Malawi Forum for Development (MAFUNDE), Maravi People's Party (MPP), New Rainbow Coalition (NARC), New Republican Party (NRP), People's Progressive Movement (PPM), People's Transformation Party (PETRA), Republican Party (RP), Congress for National Unity (CONU), and the People's Party. MCP and UDF are the two main opposition parties in parliament.
Suffrage: Universal at 18 years of age.
Central government budget (2011-2012): $2 billion (MK 304 billion).
GDP (2011 est.): $5.7 billion.
Annual real GDP growth rate (2011): 4.6%.
Per capita GNI (2010 est.): Approx. $330.
Avg. inflation rate (2011): 7.5%.
Natural resources: Limestone, uranium, coal, bauxite, phosphates, graphite, granite, black granite, vermilite, aquamarine, tourmaline, rubies, sapphires, rare earths.
Agriculture (approx. 31% of GDP): Products--tobacco, sugar, cotton, tea, corn, potatoes, cassava (tapioca), sorghum, coffee, rice, groundnuts. Arable land--38%, of which 59% is cultivated.
Industry (21% of GDP): Types--tea, tobacco, sugar, sawmill products, cement, uranium, and consumer goods.
Trade (2009 est.): Exports--$964 million: tobacco, tea, uranium, sugar, coffee, peanuts, wood products. Partners--U.S., U.K., South Africa, Zimbabwe, Germany, Egypt, Japan. Imports--$1.67 billion: food, petroleum products, semimanufactured goods, consumer goods, transportation equipment. Partners--South Africa, China, India, France, Zimbabwe, Japan, U.S., U.K., Germany.
Fiscal year: July 1-June 30.
Malawi Geography
Malawi is situated in southeastern Africa. The Great Rift Valley traverses the country from north to south. In this deep trough lies Lake Malawi, the third-largest lake in Africa, comprising about 20% of Malawi's area. The Shire River flows from the south end of the lake and joins the Zambezi River 400 kilometers (250 mi.) farther south in Mozambique. East and west of the Rift Valley, the land forms high plateaus, generally between 900 and 1,200 meters (3,000-4,000 ft.) above sea level. In the north, the Nyika Uplands rise as high as 2,600 meters (8,500 ft.); south of the lake lie the Shire Highlands, with an elevation of 600-1,600 meters (2,000-5,000 ft.), rising to Mts. Zomba and Mulanje, 2,130 and 3,048 meters (7,000 and 10,000 ft.). In the extreme south, the elevation is only 60-90 meters (200-300 ft.) above sea level.
Malawi is one of sub-Saharan Africa's most densely populated countries. The population of Lilongwe--Malawi's capital since 1971--of 674,000 makes it the largest city in the country (Malawi population and housing census). All government ministries and the parliament are located in Lilongwe. Blantyre remains Malawi's major commercial center with a population of 661,000. Malawi's president resides in Lilongwe. The Supreme Court is seated in Blantyre.
Malawi's climate is generally subtropical. A rainy season runs from November through April. There is little to no rainfall throughout most of the country from May to October. It is hot and humid from October to April along the lake and in the Lower Shire Valley. Lilongwe is also hot and humid during those months, albeit far less than in the south. The rest of the country is warm during those months. From June through August, the lake areas and far south are comfortably warm, but the rest of Malawi can be chilly at night, with temperatures ranging from 5o-14oC (41o-57oF).
Malawi People
Malawi derives its name from the Maravi, a Bantu people who came from the southern Congo about 600 years ago. On reaching the area north of Lake Malawi, the Maravi divided. One branch, the ancestors of the present-day Chewas, moved south to the west bank of the lake. The other, the ancestors of the Nyanjas, moved down the east bank to the southern part of the country.
By AD 1500, the two divisions of the tribe had established a kingdom stretching from north of the present-day city of Nkhotakota to the Zambezi River in the south, and from Lake Malawi in the east to the Luangwa River in Zambia in the west.
Migrations and tribal conflicts precluded the formation of a cohesive Malawian society until the turn of the 20th century. Although regional distinctions and rivalries persist, ethnic and tribal distinctions have diminished as the concept of a Malawian nationality has taken hold. Despite some clear differences, no significant friction currently exists between tribal groups. Predominately a rural people, Malawians are generally conservative and traditionally nonviolent.
The Chewas constitute 90% of the population of the central region; the Nyanja tribe predominates in the south and the Tumbuka in the north. In addition, significant numbers of the Tongas live in the north; Ngonis--an offshoot of the Zulus who came from South Africa in the early 1800s--live in the lower northern and lower central regions; and the Yao, who are mostly Muslim, live along the southeastern border with Mozambique. Approximately 50% of the population lives in the southern region.
Malawi History
Hominid remains and stone implements have been identified in Malawi dating back more than 1 million years, and early humans inhabited the vicinity of Lake Malawi 50,000 to 60,000 years ago. Human remains at a site dated about 8000 BC show physical characteristics similar to peoples living today in the Horn of Africa. At another site, dated 1500 BC, the remains possess features resembling Negro and Bushman people.
Although the Portuguese reached the area in the 16th century, the first significant Western contact was the arrival of David Livingstone along the shore of Lake Malawi in 1859. Subsequently, Scottish Presbyterian churches established missions in Malawi. One of their objectives was to end the slave trade to the Persian Gulf that continued to the end of the 19th century. In 1878, a number of traders, mostly from Glasgow, formed the African Lakes Company to supply goods and services to the missionaries. Other missionaries, traders, hunters, and planters soon followed.
In 1883, a consul of the British Government was accredited to the "Kings and Chiefs of Central Africa," and in 1891, the British established the Nyasaland Protectorate (Nyasa is the Yao word for "lake"). Although the British remained in control during the first half of the 1900s, this period was marked by a number of unsuccessful Malawian attempts to obtain independence. A growing European and U.S.-educated African elite became increasingly vocal and politically active--first through associations, and after 1944, through the Nyasaland African Congress (NAC).
During the 1950s, pressure for independence increased when Nyasaland was joined with Northern and Southern Rhodesia in 1953 to form the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. In July 1958, Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda returned to the country after a long absence in the United States (where he had obtained his medical degree at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1937), the United Kingdom (where he practiced medicine), and Ghana. He assumed leadership of the NAC, which later became the Malawi Congress Party (MCP). In 1959, Banda was sent to Gwelo Prison for his political activities but was released in 1960 to participate in a constitutional conference in London.
On April 15, 1961, the MCP won an overwhelming victory in elections for a new Legislative Council. It also gained an important role in the new Executive Council and ruled Nyasaland in all but name a year later. In a second constitutional conference in London in November 1962, the British Government agreed to give Nyasaland self-governing status the following year.
Banda became Prime Minister on February 1, 1963, although the British still controlled Malawi's financial, security, and judicial systems. A new constitution took effect in May 1963, providing for virtually complete internal self-government. The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland was dissolved on December 31, 1963, and Malawi became a fully independent member of the Commonwealth (formerly the British Commonwealth) on July 6, 1964. Two years later, Malawi adopted a new constitution and became a one-party state with Banda as its first president.
In 1970 Banda was declared President for Life of the MCP. After fully consolidating his power, Banda was named President for Life of Malawi itself in 1971. The paramilitary wing of the MCP, the Young Pioneers, helped keep Malawi under authoritarian control until the 1990s. Increasing domestic unrest and pressure from Malawian churches and from the international community led to a referendum on the continuation of the one-party state. On June 14, 1993, the people of Malawi voted overwhelmingly in favor of multiparty democracy. Free and fair national elections were held on May 17, 1994.
Bakili Muluzi, leader of the United Democratic Front (UDF), was elected President in 1994. The UDF won 82 of the 177 seats in the National Assembly and formed a coalition government with the Alliance for Democracy (AFORD). That coalition disbanded in June 1996, but some of its members remained in the government. The President was referred to as Dr. Muluzi, having received an honorary degree at Lincoln University in Missouri in 1995. Malawi's newly written constitution (1995) eliminated special powers previously reserved for the Malawi Congress Party. Accelerated economic liberalization and structural reform accompanied the political transition. When Malawi held its second democratic elections on June 15, 1999, Muluzi was reelected to serve a second 5-year term as President, despite an MCP-AFORD alliance that ran a joint slate against the UDF.
Malawi underwent its first transition between democratically elected presidents in May 2004, when the UDF's presidential candidate Bingu wa Mutharika defeated MCP candidate John Tembo and Gwanda Chakuamba, who was backed by a grouping of opposition parties. European Union and Commonwealth observers said although the election passed peacefully, they were concerned about "serious inadequacies" in the poll. The UDF did not win a majority of seats in parliament, as it had done in 1994 and 1999 elections. Through the successful maneuvering of party chairperson and former President Muluzi, the party secured a majority by forming a "government of national unity" with several opposition parties. President Mutharika left the UDF on February 5, 2005, citing differences with the party leadership, particularly over his anti-corruption campaign. He formed the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) shortly thereafter, attracting a number of UDF and independent members of parliament (MPs) to his new party.
On May 19, 2009, President Mutharika was reelected to a second 5-year term, defeating MCP candidate Tembo. Former President Muluzi attempted to run as a candidate as well, but was barred by constitutional term limits. Mutharika's DPP won a majority in parliament, and the number of women in parliament increased from 25 to 40. The May 19 elections were marked by high voter turnout, and international and domestic observers agreed that the elections were generally free and fair.
Malawi Politics
The Government of Malawi has been a multiparty democracy since 1994. Under the 1995 constitution, the president, who is both chief of state and head of the government, is chosen through universal direct suffrage every 5 years. Malawi has a vice president who is elected with the president. The president has the option of appointing a second vice president, who must be from a different party. The members of the presidentially appointed cabinet can be drawn from either within or outside of the legislature. Malawi's National Assembly has 193 seats, all directly elected to serve 5-year terms. The constitution also provides for a second house, a Senate of 80 seats, but to date no action has been taken to create the Senate. The Senate was intended to provide representation for traditional leaders and the different geographical districts, as well as various special interest groups, such as women, youth, and the disabled.
The constitution provides for an independent judiciary. Malawi's judicial system, based on the English model, is made up of magisterial lower courts, a high court, a Supreme Court of Appeal, and a constitutional court. Local government is carried out in 28 districts within three regions administered by regional administrators and district commissioners who are appointed by the central government. Constitutionally mandated local elections are to be held 1 year after presidential and parliamentary elections. The first local elections in the multiparty era took place in on November 21, 2000, and the UDF party won 70% of the seats. The second round of local elections, originally scheduled for May 2005, were never held. Local elections were again scheduled for May 2010, but these elections have been indefinitely postponed as well.
Principal Government Officials
President--Bingu wa Mutharika
Vice President--Joyce Banda
The First Lady and National Coordinator for Maternal, Infant and Child Health, HIV/Nutrition/Malaria and Tuberculosis--Callista Mutharika
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation--Arthur Peter Mutharika
Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Environment--Goodall Gondwe
Minister of Education, Science and Technology--George Thapatula Chaponda
Minister of Finance and Development Planning--Ken Lipenga
Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development--Peter Mwanza
Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs--Ephraim Mganda Chiume
Minister of Transport and Public Infrastructure--Mahommed Sidik Mia
Minister of Local Government and Rural Development--Henry Mussa
Minister of Information and Civic Education--Patricia Kaliati
Minister of Industry and Trade--John Bande
Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development--Yunnus Mussa
Minister of Home Affairs and National Defence--Aaron Sangala
Minister of Gender, Child and Community Development--Reen Kachere
Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Culture--Daniel Symphoriana Liwimbi
Minister of Labor--Lucious Kanyumba
Minister of Youth Development and Welfare--Symon Vuwa Kaunda
Minister of Health--Jean Kalilani
Malawi maintains an embassy in the United States at 1029 Vermont Avenue, NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005 (tel. 202-721-0270; fax 202-721-0288). Malawi's Permanent Mission to the United Nations is located at 866 UN Plaza, Suite 486, New York, NY 10017 (tel.: 212-317-8738/8718; fax: 212-317-8729; e-mail: email@example.com or email@example.com). Malawi also maintains an honorary consulate in Los Angeles at 44970 Via Renaissance, Temecula, California 92590 (office number, 951-676-2476; fax number, 951-676-1568; and e-mail, email@example.com).
Malawi Economy
Malawi is a landlocked, densely populated country. Its economy is heavily dependent on agriculture, with tobacco, tea, and sugar as its most important export crops. Traditionally, Malawi has been self-sufficient in its staple food, maize (corn), and during the 1980s exported substantial quantities to its drought-stricken neighbors. Agriculture represents 31% of GDP and represents about 80% of all exports. Nearly 90% of the population engages in subsistence farming. Smallholder farmers produce a variety of crops, including maize, beans, rice, cassava, tobacco, and groundnuts (peanuts). The agricultural sector contributes approximately 64% to the total income for the rural population, 65% of manufacturing sector's raw materials, and approximately 87% of total employment. Financial wealth is generally concentrated in the hands of a small elite. Malawi's manufacturing industries are situated around the city of Blantyre. Recent years have seen increased activity in Malawi's historically undeveloped minerals sector. A major uranium mine that opened in 2009 in the north of the country is contributing significantly to export earnings and overall GDP. A full bankable feasibility study began in late 2009 on what is projected to be a similarly significant niobium deposit in central Malawi.
Malawi's economic reliance on the export of agricultural commodities leaves it vulnerable to external shocks such as declining terms of trade and drought. Labor costs are low, but high transport costs, which can amount to 50% of the price of imports and exports, constitute an impediment to economic development and trade. A shortage of skilled labor; bureaucratic red tape; corruption; and inadequate and deteriorating transportation, electricity, water, and telecommunications infrastructure further hinder economic development in Malawi. However, recent government initiatives targeting improvements in the road infrastructure, together with private sector participation in telecommunications, have improved basic infrastructure.
Malawi has undertaken economic structural adjustment programs supported by the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and other donors since 1981. Broad reform objectives include stimulation of private sector activity and participation through the elimination of price controls and industrial licensing, liberalization of trade and foreign exchange, rationalization of taxes, privatization of state-owned enterprises, and civil service reform. In August 2005 the IMF approved a Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) for Malawi. In August 2006 Malawi successfully reached the completion point under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative, resulting in debt relief from multilateral and Paris Club creditors. Over $2 billion in debt has since been canceled, enabling the government to increase expenditures for development.
Economic growth had been brisk, with real GDP rising by 7.6% in 2009 and 7.1% in 2010. Real GDP growth for 2011 was 4.6% (CIA World Factbook). The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) continues to downgrade forecasts of real GDP growth, from 5.3% for 2011 to 4.3% for 2012. Inflation has been largely under control since 2003, averaging 10% in that year and 7.4% in 2010. Discount and commercial lending rates have declined from 40%-45% in 2003 to 25.3% currently.
After holding the Kwacha's rate against the dollar fixed for 5 years, since late 2009 the government has allowed some adjustment to the exchange rate. In December 2010 the Kwacha had depreciated to 150.8 to the U.S. dollar. In August 2011 the Kwacha depreciated to 165 to the U.S. dollar. The government is expected to allow further controlled depreciation in 2012. Fiscal management under the Mutharika administration has kept the macroeconomic environment relatively stable over the past 5 years. However, the lack of a competitive real exchange rate and resulting imbalances recently have caused a pronounced and chronic foreign exchange shortfall, leading to supply shortages of most imported goods (fuel, construction materials, and other raw materials not available in Malawi). The Kwacha is still generally considered to be overvalued, and with imports still heavily outweighing exports the country continues to suffer from a severe shortage of foreign exchange.
Malawi has bilateral trade agreements with its two major trading partners, South Africa and Zimbabwe, both of which allow duty-free entry of Malawian products into their countries. Malawi is a member of two regional trade organizations, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Malawi Foreign Relations
Malawi has continued the pro-Western foreign policy established by former President Banda. It maintains good diplomatic relations with principal Western countries. Malawi's close relations with South Africa throughout the apartheid era strained its relations with other African nations. Following the collapse of apartheid in 1994, Malawi developed, and currently maintains, diplomatic relations with all African countries.
Between 1985 and 1995, Malawi accommodated more than a million refugees from Mozambique. The refugee crisis placed a substantial strain on Malawi's economy but also drew significant inflows of international assistance. The accommodation and eventual repatriation of the Mozambicans is considered a major success by international organizations. In 1996, Malawi received a number of Rwandan and Congolese refugees seeking asylum. The government did not turn away refugees, but it did invoke the principle of "first country of asylum." Under this principle, refugees who requested asylum in another country first, or who had the opportunity to do so, would not subsequently be granted asylum in Malawi. There were no reports of the forcible repatriation of refugees.
Recently Malawi's relationship with Mozambique has become strained. An impasse in 2010 over the use of the Zambezi River for waterborne trade and a stalled electrical grid interconnector agreement highlight the challenges inherent to this important relationship. Use of the rail line to Nacala in eastern Mozambique is limited by the poor condition of the track, old and inadequate rolling stock and engines, and inferior port facilities at Nacala. There has been a recent resurgence of interest in the development of the Nacala corridor. The Brazilian company Vale has invested in efforts to export coal from the Moatize/Tete region in western Mozambique through Malawi to Nacala. The Nacala corridor project involves mutual benefits to Mozambique and Malawi, and it could improve the strained relationship between the two countries and contribute to stronger regional economic integration.
Important bilateral donors, in addition to the U.S., include Canada, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Multilateral donors include the World Bank, the IMF, the European Union, the African Development Bank, and United Nations organizations.
Malawi continues to work to strengthen its relationships with other nations that are not historical bilateral donors. These nations include Cuba, India, Iran, and the People's Republic of China. Efforts at building these relationships have included high-level visits and the exchange of ambassadors.
Malawi is a member of the following international organizations: UN and some of its specialized and related agencies (i.e., UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO), IMF, World Bank, Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Berne Convention, Universal Copyright Convention, African Union, Cotonou Agreement, African Development Bank (AFDB), Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA), Nonaligned Movement, G-77, and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Malawi Additionalal Political Information
The transition from a one-party state to a multi-party democracy significantly strengthened the already cordial bilateral relationship between the U.S. and Malawi. Significant numbers of Malawians study in the United States. The United States has a Peace Corps program, President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) program, and Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) program, as well as Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Agency for International Development (USAID) missions in Malawi.
U.S. and Malawian views on the necessity of economic and political stability in southern Africa generally coincide. Through a pragmatic assessment of its own national interests and foreign policy objectives, Malawi advocates peaceful solutions to the region's problems through negotiation. Malawi works to achieve these objectives in the United Nations, African Union, COMESA, and SADC. Malawi was the first southern African nation to receive peacekeeping training under the U.S.-sponsored African Crisis Response Force Initiative (ACRI) and has joined ACRI's successor, the African Contingency Operations Training Assistance (ACOTA) program. The Malawi Defense Force (MDF) maintains an active slate of military-to-military engagement programs with the U.S. The two countries nurture a lively dialogue through resident diplomatic representatives and periodic visits by senior officials.
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
The United States has a substantial foreign assistance program in Malawi. The U.S. Government provided approximately $145 million in development assistance to Malawi in FY 2010 under USAID's Country Strategic Plan (CSP). The primary focus of U.S. Government development assistance is to promote the social and economic development of Malawi, decrease the country's dependence on humanitarian assistance, and increase its ability to make positive contributions to the global community. U.S. Government cooperation revolves around five broad areas, including: health, education, economic growth, democracy and governance, and humanitarian assistance. USAID/Malawi works in partnership with the Government of Malawi, nongovernmental organizations, community-based groups, faith-based organizations, other U.S. Government agencies--including the Centers for Disease Control, Peace Corps, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation--foundations, and private companies.
USAID's economic growth activities in Malawi aim to increase the productivity and competitiveness of the agricultural sector as the basis for broad-based economic growth. These efforts are intended to increase incomes and reduce food insecurity. Activities include provision of training and technical assistance to increase farmers' productivity, improving access to export markets and financial services for small and medium-sized businesses, acceleration of private sector development, and promotion of biodiversity.
In the democracy and governance field, USAID support has focused on reducing corruption, improving fiscal management, supporting election processes, and strengthening the role of civil society. In 2011, USAID programs promoted good governance, rule of law, and political competition. Most of these activities build on the 2006-2008 Millennium Challenge Corporation Threshold Country Program, and were to be aligned with the MCC Compact signed in 2011. USAID programming also provided support to Malawi's efforts to combat trafficking in persons, money laundering, and gender bias. USAID supports a Financial Services Volunteer Corps (FSVC) program for Malawi's banking system.
USAID health programs promote the health and well-being of Malawians through investing in strategic, high-quality health initiatives that support Malawi's health development goals. The programs aim to improve access to quality health care, encourage the development of strong health policies, planning, and management, and strengthen the overall health care system. Focus areas include malaria, HIV/AIDS, maternal and child health, tuberculosis, family planning and reproductive health, strengthening supply chain management, and strengthening the human resource base across the health sector.
In the education sector, USAID-supported activities improve quality and access to basic education for thousands of Malawian children. Specific activities include teacher training and professional development, strengthening the role and participation of community groups in the education process, promoting nationwide interactive radio education, supporting decentralization in the education sector, and strengthening the government's ability to draft and adopt key policy reforms. In addition, USAID supports much of the analytical work that is used in national education sector planning documents and reforms.
In the humanitarian assistance field, USAID provides Malawi with timely and accurate information on food security conditions in the country. The U.S. Government provides funding to address the underlying causes of hunger and works to improve the Government of Malawi's ability to respond to disasters.
The United States is the largest contributor to the World Food Program (WFP) in Malawi, providing over $100 million in food and other emergency assistance through WFP since early 2002. USAID has coordinated requests to the U.S. Government for humanitarian assistance, and WFP has handled the logistics of import and distribution.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services
The Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) operates two programs within Malawi: Global AIDS Program (GAP) and Malawi Malaria Program (MMP).
The CDC GAP office started in November 2001 with an emphasis on establishing long-term working relationships with the Malawi Government, the National AIDS Commission (NAC), the Ministry of Health (MOH) and other institutions involved in the national response to HIV/AIDS. The major areas of focus include helping Malawi understand the burden of HIV infection and AIDS disease trends in the country, preventing new infections, caring for individuals with HIV infection and treating AIDS patients with Highly Active Anti Retroviral Treatment (HAART). CDC is using the GAP program not only to respond to HIV/AIDS, but also as a platform for rebuilding national capacities to improve health outcomes in general.
The CDC MMP, funded by the President's Malaria Initiative (PMI), jointly administered by USAID and CDC, has evolved to provide more support to the national prevention and control program. CDC MMP has supported the work of the National Malaria Control Program in developing the country strategic plan for Roll Back Malaria (RBM), developing the national "Malaria Policy," developing guidelines for the management of the insecticide-treated net (ITN) program, and participating in other national program activities.
Peace Corps
The first Peace Corps volunteers arrived in Malawi in 1963. Under the conservative Banda regime, the program was suspended for several years due to the "nonconformist" role of some volunteers but was restored in 1978. Since that time, the program has developed a close working relationship with the Government of Malawi. In total, over 2,200 Americans have served as Peace Corps volunteers in Malawi. Currently, there are about 140 volunteers working in health (including HIV/AIDS), education, and environment programs.
President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)
An interagency effort to implement the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) began in 2006. Through 2010, Malawi had received more than $200 million in financial and technical resources from the United States. Programs supporting prevention, treatment, care, and support for the health system are implemented by USAID, HHS/CDC, Peace Corps, and the Department of Defense, with the Department of State serving in a coordinating role for the whole U.S. Government effort.
In 2009, Malawi became the first nation to sign a PEPFAR Partnership Framework. This 5-year joint strategic plan for cooperation between the U.S. Government, the Government of Malawi, and other partners will combat HIV/AIDS in Malawi through service delivery, policy reform, and coordinated financial and in-kind commitments. In 2010, Malawi was selected to be one of eight new Global Health Initiative (GHI) Plus countries. Through GHI, PEPFAR will help Malawi improve health outcomes by integrating and coordinating health programs to promote a more sustainable system of care.
Through the efforts of the PEPFAR program, Malawi reduced the risk of HIV transmission to more than 30,000 children born to HIV-positive women. Because of the program, 1.7 million Malawians now know their HIV status. As of June 2010, PEPFAR supported the Global Fund in the financing of anti-retroviral treatment for more than 225,000 people. New partnerships in 2012 will focus on healthcare workforce development, improvements in access to quality care including the integration of services for Antiretroviral Treatment (ART), Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT), and Maternal and Child Health (MCH) services to Malawian women, and maintaining a commitment to reducing the vulnerabilities of children.
Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC)
Energy is a major constraint to economic development in Malawi. With an installed capacity of only 286 MW and an electrification rate of approximately 9% (about 1% to 3% in rural areas), Malawi's power sector falls behind most of its peers in sub-Saharan Africa. In April 2011, the MCC and Malawi signed a $350.7 million Compact focused on revamping Malawi's inadequate and unreliable electrical power sector. The project would implement power sector reform and improvement, including electrical grid infrastructure development with a focus on promoting private sector investment in new power generation. The MCC estimates that the Compact Program would result in $3.1 billion in income benefit to Malawi over the next 25 years. MCC further estimates that 5.9 million Malawians would benefit from increased employment income and business profit during this period. In July 2011, the MCC placed an operational hold on the Compact due to concerns over negative trends in political and economic governance following violent demonstrations throughout Malawi on July 20 and 21.
Principal U.S. Officials
Ambassador--Jeanine E. Jackson
Deputy Chief of Mission--Lisa A. Vickers
USAID Mission Director--Douglass Arbuckle
Peace Corps Director--Kevin Novotny
Centers for Disease Control Director--Sundeep Gupta
The U.S. Embassy in Malawi is situated in the diplomatic enclave adjacent to Lilongwe's City Center section. The address is American Embassy, P.O. Box 30016, Lilongwe 3, Malawi (tel. +265- (0)1 773 166/342/367; fax +265- (0)1 772-471).
1. Southern Region | 2. Northern Region | 3. Central Region |
1. Lilongwe 646,750 2. Blantyre 584,877 3. Zomba 80,932 4. Kasungu 42,555 5. Mangochi 40,236 6. Karonga 34,207 7. Salima 30,052 8. Nkhotakota 24,865 9. Liwonde 22,469 10. Nsanje 21,774 11. Rumphi 20,727 | 12. Mzimba 19,308 13. Balaka 18,902 14. Mchinji 18,305 15. Mulanje 16,483 16. Dedza 15,608 17. Luchenza 11,939 18. Nkhata Bay 11,721 19. Monkey Bay 11,619 20. Mwanza 11,379 21. Mponela 11,222 22. Ntcheu 10,445 | 23. Chitipa 8,824 24. Ntchisi 7,918 25. Chikwawa 6,987 26. Thyolo 5,775 27. Dowa 5,565 28. Livingstonia 5,552 29. Chipoka 4,346 30. Phalombe 2,663 31. Chiradzulu 1,580 32. Machinga 1,418 |


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BOSTON – A group of human resource executives from five Massachusetts biotechnology companies gathered Tuesday to brainstorm how to better prepare military veterans for jobs in the sector, according to the Boston Business Journal.
Biogen Idec, Covidien, Fresenius Medical Care, Pfizer and Vertex Pharmaceuticals all participated in the session, which also included government agencies, educational institutions and industry groups to test ideas that would help veterans coming to the civilian labor force fill the needs of the industry in positions across the spectrum, including operations, human resources and finance.
The program is expected to be piloted starting in June through workshops with 20 to 25 veterans, with larger programs to follow.
Tuesday, March 21
Thursday, March 23
Wednesday, March 22


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The Monkeysphere project's goal is to extend OpenPGP's web of trust to new areas of the Internet to help us securely identify each other while we work online. Specifically, monkeysphere currently offers a framework to leverage the OpenPGP web of trust for OpenSSH authentication. In other words, it allows you to use secure shell as you normally do, but to identify yourself and the servers you administer or connect to with your OpenPGP keys. OpenPGP keys are tracked via GnuPG, and monkeysphere manages the known_hosts and authorized_keys files used by OpenSSH for authentication, checking them for cryptographic validity.
License | Verified by | Verified on | Notes |
GPLv3orlater | Kelly Hopkins | 28 April 2010 |
Leaders and contributors
Contact(s) | Role |
Daniel Kahn Gillmor | Maintainer |
Jameson Graef Rollins | Maintainer |
Micah Anderson | Maintainer |
Resources and communication
Audience | Resource type | URI |
Developer | Download | http://web.monkeysphere.info/download/ |
Developer | Homepage | http://web.monkeysphere.info/community/ |
Help | Homepage | http://web.monkeysphere.info/news/ |
Bug Tracking | Bug Tracking | https://labs.riseup.net/code/projects/monkeysphere/issues |
Software prerequisites
This entry (in part or in whole) was last reviewed on 18 February 2017.
Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the page "GNU Free Documentation License".
The copyright and license notices on this page only apply to the text on this page. Any software or copyright-licenses or other similar notices described in this text has its own copyright notice and license, which can usually be found in the distribution or license text itself.


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The Best Email Subject Line For Teleprospecting I've Seen Yet.
Sales Prospecting Perspectives
The best email subject line I've seen in my career came through my Inbox this week. Brad G, one of our inside sales reps shared an email he had received from a prospect praising his persistence in prospecting him. We call it "polite persistence" here at AG and I was very proud that the prospect not only responded to Brad, but took the time to compliment his approach and work ethic. Love to see that. As I was closing out the email I glanced at the subject line that Brad had sent to the prospect. It read " Attention: Jim - Final Follow up". or "do I know Pete"? Next he uses Jim's name.
Ten reasons to blog – even if nobody reads it
grow - Practical Marketing Solutions
. Building an engaged community through a business blog can be extremely difficult — sometimes impossible. Look at companies like General Electric who do an amazing job with their blog and yet have almost no "community or comments at all. There must be some good business reason they do it, right? . There better be. Do your competitors have a blog? This is valuable real estate!
A Simple B2B Marketing Framework
Everything Technology Marketing
We often discuss in this blog how B2B marketing is becoming more complex, and how to manage this complexity. Marketing is getting involved in many more areas that touch the customer along the buying process, multiplied by a dizzying variety of new tactics, online communications and engagement platforms. 3) Sales Enablement – At this point your sales team is actively engaged with the prospect.
11 B2B Marketing Predictions for 2011
Buzz Marketing for Technology
Around this time last year I wrote about the 10 B2B Marketing Predictions for 2010 and while I would say 7 out of 10 have already materialized and the others are on their way. So that begs the question – what's on the horizon specifically for B2B Marketers next year? Here are 11 concrete ways I think the environment in which B2B Marketers operate will evolve in 2011. Enjoy! Basically.2% Tweet This!
5 Pillars of Marketing Automation Success
Ensure Your B2B Marketing Clients Get the Best Results
More Trending
7 Mistakes To Avoid In Your Next Webinar Invitation
The Point
I've written a number of times in this space about how to maximize response from email Webinar invitations. The campaign below from Parallels , a Swiss-based software company, provides a handy illustration of those techniques by displaying what key mistakes to avoid. For example: 1. Sell the offer, not the product. Lead with compelling benefits, not just facts. Use images wisely. See #1 above.
How PR and Social Media Can Work Together
Social media and PR would seem to be natural allies. Both are primarily focused on brand awareness, credibility building and image enhancement. Both are critical tools for dealing with bad news or crisis situations. Both require relationships with influential people in one's industry to be effective. And both rely on the ability to tell an interesting story. Since many (most?) Share this on Bebo.
Improve Service with a Customer Touch Point Map
B2B Marketing Traction
Tweet. Have you ever bought a product or service where you were excited about your decision to buy (maybe after a rigorous buying process), only to be very disappointed by the delivery? It happens all the time. Could that describe your level of service to your customers? Make sure you provide an excellent customer eperience by doing a customer touch point analysis. "What's that?"
Want a Bigger Marketing Budget? Send Less Leads to Sales
B2B Lead Generation Blog
If your 2011 marketing budget is tighter than you want it to be, trying giving sales less leads. According to Marketing Sherpa's just-released 2011 B2B Marketing Benchmark Report , a whopping 80 percent of the 935 respondents said they pass unqualified leads along to sales. That's a costly mistake. Let me explain why: For every 100 raw leads, only 4 to 7 are ready to buy.
B2B Marketing Trends for 2016
25 B2B marketing thought leaders answer the question "What do you expect to B2B marketers to be doing more of or differently in 2016?" The results are amazing insights around content marketing, achieving business results, alignment, employee advocacy, new technologies, customer experience and more.
Best of 2010 – 13 Twitter Tips for Increasing Engagement
2010 in Review! We're posting the best articles from the year to help you get 2011 off to the right start! original on increasing engagement posted October 18, 2010) A major frustration for people trying out Twitter for the first time is figuring out how to get anyone to respond. They set up their Twitter account, tweet a few times and wonder why no one responds. Comment on their updates.
How Do You Define a Quality Sales Opportunity?
Sales Prospecting Perspectives
During my years as an Inside Sales rep, I've always appreciated working with the young hungry territory reps willing to talk to anyone "with a pulse". While I could appreciate that work ethic and the tenacity that hungrier reps displayed, I usually found that passing over anything lukewarm usually resulted in a lead that didn't go anywhere.and generally I was cold calling back into that company months later. On the other side of the coin, I struggled when passing leads to the veteran sales folks who wanted every opportunity completely teed up. Should you pass them anyone who wants to talk?
A fascinating "hardcore" B2B social media success
grow - Practical Marketing Solutions
With many companies now engaged in social media marketing strategies for nearly two years or more, success stories are starting to emerge, even in the difficult marketing world of industrial B2B. I discovered a great success story to share with you through a masters thesis being developed by Haakon Jenson of Norway. BACKGROUND. Limited marketing budget and employee resources. STRATEGY. ACTIONS. >
Is Traditional B2B Marketing Dead?
Everything Technology Marketing
Earlier this week, I was on a panel at the WIT event "The Intersection of Marketing & Technology" in McLean, VA. One of the discussions was about the dramatic changes happening in B2B marketing today and what the future will hold. The question "Is traditional B2B marketing dead?" ignited a lively discussion. I think we are experiencing nothing short of a major disruption in marketing today.
Flip My Funnel - Guide To B2B Account Based Marketing
As modern B2B marketers, we have been lucky enough to witness some of the most dramatic shifts in marketing strategies and technologies.
The 4 C's of B2B Marketing
Buzz Marketing for Technology
We've all heard about the four P's of marketing. Product. Price. Placement. Promotion. The four P's were created mainly to describe the ideal "marketing mix. The term "marketing mix became popularized after Neil H. Borden published his 1964 article, Concept of the Marketing Mix. Connection – connecting with the audience you wish to attract. Digg this!
The 39 Social Media Tools I'll Use Today
delicious b2bmarketing
I don't feel the need to experiment with every new piece of software that emerges from its chrysalis, but I do feel a responsibility to you and my clients to have some idea of what's out there and what's worthwhile. Also, at my social media speaking engagements hither and yon I'm often asked what tools I use. Twitter Tweetdeck I use Tweetdeck for serious twitter sessions.
Four Must-Have Metrics for Marketing Measurement
Customer Experience Matrix
Summary: Four critical metrics tell you most of what you need to show the value of your marketing efforts and to optimize your results. And, here's a funny picture. There's still time to sign up for my October 7 Webinar on stage-based marketing measurement (sponsored by Marketo and hosted by the American Marketing Association ). Marketing ROI. Inputs: marketing costs and marketing-related revenue.
17 Examples of Great Presentation Design
Last week we shared 10 rules to help instantly improve your presentations. While readers mostly agreed with the rules, they requested some examples of well-designed slides, so Dan and I did some digging. We gathered some of the best examples of slides and presentation design to help provide a clear picture of what great presentation design is and isn't. Sample Slides Based on Food, Inc.
Lead Generation Checklist
You spend a lot of time, energy, and money doing lead generation to capture leads but it's how you manage them that makes the difference between success and failure.
Seven Ways to Use Social Media for Business
Though business use of social media is rapidly increasing, many executives remain skeptical of its value. A more recent study reported by Forbes stated that while "60% (of small businesses surveyed) credit social media with positively impacting their businesses…(only) 36% have attracted new business as a result of their social media efforts.. Get ideas for product development.
Report: Blogs Are An Important Part Of The Marketing Mix
B2B Marketing Insider
The proof is in folks: blogs are an important part of the marketing mix, according to Technorati's recent "State of the Blogosphere" report. And even though bloggers stated feeling that they aren't treated with the same respect as
How to Calculate Social Marketing ROI
Paul Gillin
This is a draft of chapter 10 of Social Marketing to the Business Customer by Paul Gillin and Eric Schwartzman. This chapter focuses on how to calculate ROI of social media and Internet marketing programs in general. I'm particularly interested in your feedback on this chapter because it presents some new ideas I've been playing with about how to calculate the ROI of almost anything.
Can Marketing Really be a Revenue Engine?
Digital Body Language
It's a key question in today's business environment - can marketing really be a revenue engine, or is this current energy around marketing driving revenue just a fad that will blow over. I was truly honored to host a panel at Dreamforce to discuss that question with three of the very best in the field. Revenue Performance Management marketing analysis marketing dashboards Revenue Engine
How to Leverage Content Marketing to Power Your B2B Marketing Automation Funnel
Generate more leads. Better leads. Engage customers, increase upsells, boost revenue and save precious time -- these are the benefits of marketing automation. And content fuels it all.
The Anatomy Of A Sales Discovery Call
Sales Prospecting Perspectives
Last week I wrote about the need for sales executives to go into their meetings with a plan of attack. I wrote out a quick anatomy of a sales call, but it was very vague. Realistically, each meeting you have has a different desired outcome depending on what stage of the sales process you are at. It is with that in mind that I decided to write out what I think is the anatomy of several key sales' stages. What should you be looking for as your prospect gets farther and farther down the line to ensure that you find closed business at the end of the funnel? You could meet up for sushi (good!)
The five elements of a perfect blog post
grow - Practical Marketing Solutions
"How do I create the perfect blog post?. That question by a young student stopped me in my tracks. After all, is there such a thing? I had to dig deep on this question and turned to the qualities of my favorite bloggers to find some common themes. They seem to fit for me — leave a comment and let me know how they land on you! Hoist a hearty headline. It has to be short and impactful.
Top-10 B2B Marketing Topics of 2010
Everything Technology Marketing
With 2010 coming to an end, it is time for a quick review of the most popular B2B marketing posts on the Everything Technology Marketing blog. The 10 Most Popular Blog Posts (by number of re-tweets) 1 - 5 Steps to B2B Marketing Success (100) 2 - The Brave New World of B2B Marketing - Are You Ready? (98) 98) 3 - Is Traditional B2B Marketing Dead? (87) See you in 2011
Facebook Advertising Tricks for B2B Marketers
Buzz Marketing for Technology
If I could offer you a billboard in the middle of Times Square for little to no cost for you to advertise your company would you do it? One of the great things about the Facebook is that it provides you access to a large audience of over 550 Million people worldwide at a very low cost so why not take advantage of it. Trick 1) Place specific Job Titles into the Likes and Interest field. Tweet This!
The B2B Demand Gen Marketing Playbook
To build integrated, data-driven programs, demand gen marketers need diverse, compelling content at every stage of the buyer's journey.
5 Corporate B2B Blogs That You Should Copy
Anything Goes Marketing
The importance of blogs in your B2B marketing mix can't be overlooked. Blogs are too important in keeping customers and future customers informed about your industry, your products and your company, driving people to your website, and generating leads. A recent study by Hubspot found that those companies that use blogs generate 67% more leads than those that don't. However, anyone that can open a.
Don't Fix Your Marketing Process
Customer Experience Matrix
Summary: In a constantly changing world, flexibility is more important than optimization. Marketers need people, processes and technology that allow them to react quickly to new opportunities. The always-insightful Adam Needles is running a series of blog posts this week that summarize the "real state" of B2B demand generation. So far, his main points have been that the role of B2B marketing has expanded to cover the entire buying cycle from initial lead generation through closed deals and that new technology must be accompanied by changes in people, process and content to have an impact.
Buyer Personas: Where (and How!) to Start | B2Bbloggers.com - B2B.
How And Why You Need To Create Buyer Personas So That Your B2B Marketing Is For Someone And Not Everyone - Including A Buyer Persona Worksheet For You


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By NEMS Daily Journal
IUKA – A mother and daughter who each pleaded guilty last week to manslaughter charges in the 2009 death of a Burnsville man were sentenced in Tishomingo County Circuit Court today.
Linda Holt and Terri Sparks each drew 20-year sentences for the death of John R. Holt, Linda Holt's father-in-law.
Judge Paul S. Funderburk sentenced Linda Holt to serve the full 20 years in prison, the maximum under state law for manslaughter. Sparks was sentenced to 20 years in prison, with 12 years suspended and eight years to serve. Each was assessed a $1,000 fee, $100 fine to the victims compensation fund and $200 to the district attorney's office.
Sparks' sentence is to run consecutive to a 10-year sentence she is serving on a prior charge in Alcorn County, the judge said.
Read more in Tuesday's NEMS Daily Journal newspaper.


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Cardinal manager Mike Matheny thinks Lance Lynn need to lighten up
Mon, 22 Jul 2013 20:02:42 GMT —
The St. Louis Cardinals want Lance Lynn to gain better control of more than just his pitch assortment. They're trying to help him channel his emotions, too.
The right-hander has been a huge bottom-line success story, making the All-Star team his first year in the rotation and winning 11 games prior to the break again this year.
During the drought Lynn is going through right now, the frustration shows all too well.
Lynn (11-5) has lost four of his last five starts and has allowed 10 runs in 9 1-3 innings his last two times out.
Manager Mike Matheny met with the 26-year-old pitcher the day after watching the shoulders sag, the pace drag and the complaints pile up about broken-bat dribblers, seeing-eye hits and mistakes on defense.


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Scientist John Gribbin in Hatfield for book talk
PUBLISHED: 15:14 29 March 2012
ONE of Britain's most acclaimed scientists will be speaking in Hatfield this evening (Thursday).
John Gribbin will be talking about his new book on the extraordinary physicist, Erwin Schrödinger, at the Central Resources Library, New Barnfield, from 7.15pm tonight (Thursday, March 29).
Tickets cost £5 (£2.50 for concessions) and can be booked over the phone on 01707 281533.
More information can be found at www.hertsdirect.org/libraries under LitFest 12.


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Our dental treats help clean your cat's teeth by using their natural chewing action to wipe away tartar buildup from the surface of teeth.
We use a natural formula with added vitamins, minerals, taurine and chlorophyll for optimum cat health.
Each treat is only 1.25 calories and they contain no artificial flavors or preservatives.
With a fusion of their favorite flavors, your cat will never get tired of treat time. Choose from Ocean Fish & Tempting Tuna and Savory Salmon & Oven-Roasted Chicken.
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ATTENTION: As with any edible product, monitor your cat to ensure the treat is adequately chewed. Gulping any item can be harmful or even fatal to a cat.
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Nice to meet you! I look forward to getting to know you, too.
Hi, Carol:
Good for you for taking up the blogging challenge!
Belated thanks, Carol, for your comment and your interest in Gertrude Stein and WW2, which also fascinates me. The radical differences between Germany and France concerning the survival of Jewish people: In France, three quarters of Jews survived, most of them like Gertrude and Alice, in the country, helped by friends and neighbors and French officials who quietly ignored the German edits... Some of this is found in the excellent study by Charles Glass, Americans in Paris: Life and Death under the Nazi Occupation.
Glad to be friends on She Writes!
Hi, Carol. I transferred by husband's pet store blog from blogger to WP. If you want to see how the transfer went, I post both links below. Compare by date to see how it looks. I had a few formatting issues and a few photos that weren't pulled in, but it really wasn't bad, and very simple to do.
Good luck,
Hey, Carol. I like your new blog. Did you try to import your blogger blog to WordPress. It's pretty easy.
Good luck,
Susan Bearman
Hello Carol!
Thank you so much for joining my group Blooming Late!
I saw your blog link in your profile and am really impressed by how much you tell about yourself.
Please , if you havent already done so, introduce to yourself in our To Kick It off discussion area also let us know about your writing accomplishments and goals. And please don't forget to list your blog in OUR GROUPS BLOGS page to the left of the group main page so everyone can see your blog!
We have a wonderful group of women that are a great support, encouragement and inspiration for your writing and I am so glad your among them.
So glad you are here, WELCOME to the group!
Samantha Stacia
"Authors are the ones who create entire new genres based on their own, and their readers', interests." Brooke Warner explains the importance of hybrid books and how to publish them: http://bit.ly/2axSg75…
See More© 2017 Created by Kamy Wicoff. Powered by


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25 year old man treated with Revision Rhinoplasty
A 25 year old male underwent a closed revision rhinoplasty with an ear cartilage graft for dorsal augmentation, alar rim grafts and crushed cartilage grafts to the nasal tip. The grafts were obtained from the right ear.
By uploading this photo, Andres Bustillo, MD, FACS has agreed with RealSelf.com policy that they've secured proper patient consent.


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Extremely vibrant nose, with frisky struck match and grapefruit citrus, lemon pith and chalky, crushed-quartz minerals. Really lively. The oak sits perfectly amid a palate that is built on fruit weight and surging acidity. Lemon and peach flavors punch the finish deep, with a sherbet-like afterburn. Drink now. 94 points, Nick Stock (jamessuckling.com).
Arguably New Zealand's most famous wine region owing to international demand for Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough is also the largest wine producing region in the country, comprising 79% of New Zealand's total wine production. Modern winemaking commenced in Marlborough in the 1970s and from tiny beginnings, the vineyard area has rapidly expanded now encompassing 23,600 hectares. Marlborough is located on the east coast of the South Island, with mountains to the west creating a rain shadow, making it one of the driest and sunniest regions in New Zealand. There are three sub regions in Marlborough, the largest being the Wairau Valley, where most plantings are concentrated on free draining alluvial soils. Viticulture has also spread to the cooler Awatere Valley, also on free draining stony loams and vineyards are also situated in the cooler southern valleys with its silt, gravel and clay soils. The soils across all three regions all have relatively low fertility to help curb the vigour of Sauvignon Blanc vines that dominate Marlborough. Although the region built its reputation on crisp, distinctively pungent unoaked Sauvignon Blanc, there is an increasing trend towards more complex barrel-ferment styles. Light-bodied, fruit driven Pinot Noir is also successful.


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Knock, KnockRebus brain teasers use words or letters in interesting orientations to represent common phrases.What's the three-word rebus phrase suggested by the words below?
door, door door What Next?
See another brain teaser just like this one... Or, just get a random brain teaser If you become a registered user you can vote on this brain teaser, keep track of which ones you have seen, and even make your own. Comments
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Give us a call to get our secret deals 1-800-468-3578
Property Location
Located in Kiev, Express hotel is minutes from The National Museum of Medicine and Taras Shevchenko University Astronomical Observatory. This hotel is within close proximity of A.V. Fomin Botanical Garden and Chopin Monument.
Make yourself at home in one of the 143 air-conditioned rooms featuring refrigerators. Rooms have private balconies. Complimentary wireless Internet access keeps you connected, and satellite programming is available for your entertainment.
Enjoy a meal at a restaurant, or stay in and take advantage of the hotel's 24-hour room service. Quench your thirst with your favorite drink at a bar/lounge.
Business, Other Amenities
Featured amenities include a 24-hour front desk and laundry facilities. Event facilities at this hotel consist of conference space and meeting rooms. A roundtrip airport shuttle is provided for a surcharge (available on request).


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Honors RAP, located in Smith Hall, is a challenging and supportive co-educational living-learning community open to all honors-qualified students, of all majors, both freshmen and continuing students. In fact,continuing students are encouraged and have the opportunity to become student leaders within Honors RAP, helping shape the program according to their own needs and visions.
By becoming part of the Honors RAP community, you will surround yourself with other bright, highly motivated students, enjoy small seminar-style classes, and have the opportunity to work closely with Honors faculty. Through its classes and its extra-curricular activities, Honors RAP seeks to integrate the diverse disciplines of the College of Arts and Sciences with the opportunities and challenges of real world experiences. In short, we aspire to offer the best educational experience possible to qualified CU undergraduates.
If you are honors-qualified, we invite you to join our community.


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Using the "offers from" options you can filter merchants from regions which are most common in our database: the UK, Germany, Austria and Poland.
If a checkbox near a flag is selected, offers from merchants from that particular region will be displayed, otherwise they will not be visible.
If you select offers from "all regions", all offers from all merchants will be displayed. These incude offers from merchants in countries not listed here.
Weight: 15kg Max. Resilience: 100kg Resistance: manual
resistance adjustable compact construction
2 hydraulic damper User weight: max. 80kg Dimensions (LxWxH) 47x33x22cm
Training computer with 6 functions User weight: max. 110kg Dimensions (LxWxH) 95x80x155cm
Dimensions (LxWxH) 90x34x15 - 25cm


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Learn about upcoming events across the organization at the local, regional, and national level including Premium member webinars and other virtual events. View upcoming or past events or choose the calendar view above. Some events may allow for online registration and ticket purchase. Click the event name to view more details. Interested in the 45th ALPFA Annual Convention and Career Fair? RSVP Today to stay informed about news and event updates.
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