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Is everybody feeling a little sleepy and sun-drained? Take a load off, and look at these vintage farm photos from the Library of Congress.
It's the day after the 4th, and everybody's probably feeling a little sleepy and sun-drained. So perhaps now isn't the time for us to post an in-depth interview on the science of rotting hay. Maybe you're not up for an 86-step instructional diagram on how to construct a wind-powered field irrigator. And, though it's hard for us to believe, you might not even want to hear about the rise in fatal farm injuries (we'll save that discussion for another day).
No, this is a mellow summer Friday. If you're anything like us, you'd rather look at old-timer farm photos than do any heavy lifting with your brain. Please enjoy these vintage beauties, culled from the vast archives of the Library of Congress.
1. Farm auction in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Auction was given in English and German.
2. Car-powered goat shearing in Kimball County, Texas. Workers were paid seven cents a goat.
3. Farmer on a sugar cane cooperative, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico.
4. Winner of the 4th of July Greased Pig competition in Vale, Oregon.
5. Hired hands eating watermelon, Jasper County, Iowa.
6. Goat carriages in Central Park (technically not a farm photo, but c'mon people. GOATS.)
7. Smoking and hauling in Dresher, Pennsylvania.
8. Wheat combine pulled by 20 mules, Walla Walla, Washington.
9. Picking peppers for sale at farmer's market, Falls Creek, Pennsylvania.
10. Tobacco farmers sleeping before auction, Durham, North Carolina.
Source: Library of Congress


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University of Calgary in Qatar - Doha, Qatar. Photo by John Gulka.
The University of Calgary in Qatar (UCQ) is the first overseas branch campus of the University of Calgary. UCQ's mandate is to deliver the same excellence in nursing education and research success as that of the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Calgary. Since 2007 UCQ has been a proud participant in the Qatar National Vision 2030 by educating the future nurse leaders to take their places at the forefront of Qatar's world class health care system.
The education at UCQ is identical in both quality and standards to the nursing program in Calgary. Courses completed in Qatar are recognized by programs at the Calgary campus, and by other post-secondary institutions in the same manner as those offered on the main campus.
The constant emphasis on excellence in education, by both the University of Calgary in Qatar and the State of Qatar, ensures the degrees awarded through UCQ are equal to the highest standard of nursing degrees offered anywhere in the world.
The programs we offer are:
As of one of Canada's leading universities, University of Calgary is a comprehensive research institution supporting over 100 academic programs and 80 research centres, inspiring discovery, creativity and innovations across all disciplines with a particular focus on health and wellness. The University of Calgary has a clear strategic direction - Eyes High - to become one of Canada's top five research universities by 2016, grounded in innovating learning and teaching and fully integrated with the community.
The University of Calgary is honoured to have been chosen by the State of Qatar to bring its Nursing program to Qatar.
Learn more about the University of Calgary.
See our Code of Conduct.
Copyright University of Calgary in Qatar © 2017

subset: commoncrawl


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Today I want to thank so many members of the IP Community that assisted in raising money and visibility for Brianna Sharp. Sadly, I must inform you that she died at 6:12 Saturday morning. When we began this journey last August, we knew the odds would be long in curing her of a cancer that takes 90% of its young victims within twelve months. Studying the various forms of treatments left little hope, as there just isn't enough money to conduct the proper level of research, and these children succumb too quickly for long-term studies. However, when I asked you to help, it was offered without hesitation. That was perhaps the most amazing thing for me. No one refused to help and I made sure that the offer was given without any demands and there would be anonymity. She is gone now but the caring that you exhibited remains. I want to thank TMCnet, Telecom Reseller, Channel Vision, Phone+, Skyline Event Services - Cleveland, the Olympic Team members, Dara Torres, Broadvox and many others for their contributions and time. None of us knew Brianna Sharp, but all of us are better because of her.
Brianna faced her life with continued optimism and strength that was beyond her 12 years of age. She wanted to live but accepted her fate in the last few months by wanting her family and friends to be happy. I watched this video documenting her battle and for the first time appreciated how she faced this adversity. http://www.wciu.com/video.php?assetID=10000071. I am including it for you as it may be the first time most of you will have seen her and heard her young and determined voice.
Brianna will be buried on Wednesday, July 29th. She will be missed and then her life will be celebrated.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00am at St. Raphael Church, 1215 Modaff Road, Naperville, Illinois. In lieu of flowers, donations in Brianna's name can be made the following organizations:
St. Jude Children's Hospital https://shop.stjude.org/GiftCatalog/express-donation.do?fnl=don_sin&plt=STJGENLKALSAC1000002 or Chicago Children's Memorial Hospital https://secure.childrensmemorial.org/friends/foundation/donations.asp.
Today's recipe comes from that great Catholic city that knows how to morn death and celebrate a life. Over the weekend, I made Chicken and Andouille Étouffée. My journey to New Orleans for food was natural for me, as I wanted to cook something that would bring me closer to such a special child.


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2010 Mercedes-Benz S-Class information
In 2010 Mercedes-Benz S-Class was released in 6 different versions, 1 of which are in a body "Sedan".
At the time, according to the manufacturer's recommendations, the cheapest modification 2010 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S400 Hybrid 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl gas/electric hybrid 7A) with a Automatic gearbox should do its future owner of $87950.On the other side - the most expensive modification - 2010 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S65 AMG 4dr Sedan (6.0L 12cyl Turbo 5A) with an Automatic transmission and MSRP $201150 manufacturer.
Did you know that: the earliest Mercedes-Benz S-Class, which you can find information on our website has been released in 1994.
The largest displacement, designed for models Mercedes-Benz S-Class in 2010 - 6.2 liters.
Did you know that: The most expensive modification of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, according to the manufacturer's recommendations - S65 AMG 4dr Sedan (6.0L 12cyl Turbo 5A) - $201150.
For models of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class in 2010 were used the following colors in the color of body: Barolo Red Metallic, Black, Capri Blue Metallic, Diamond White Metallic, Flint Grey Metallic, Iridium Silver Metallic, Jade Green Metallic, Majestic Black Metallic, Palladium Silver Metallic.
Most of all modifications Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2010 weighs S65 AMG 4dr Sedan (6.0L 12cyl Turbo 5A) - 5061 Lbs.


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Thursday, January 21, 2016
So, I Think I'll Paint a Few Dwarves...
It's a bit of a sickness. That is over nine pounds (over 4 kilos, not, unfortunately pounds sterling) of dwarves! There are also an extra twenty of Prince Uther's lads you can't see because I added them into the box with the original set. For those of you that visit regularly, you may remember I got my core Undead army back from a friend to whom I gave it years ago. I had to buy a few things, but the core was quickly established. On the other hand, my Chaos army was often acquired one model at a time. Both methods have advantages, but after getting a horde of dwarves in one box, I can say that was awesome! My preferred eBay method has always been to buy units when I can.
Again, I KNOW some of you were probably bidding on the same auctions. Again, I'll apologize for the looting, but it was too good an opportunity to replace nearly all of the dwarf army I used to own in one afternoon. The good news is I am done buying for now (until I need artillery, but I'm going to paint some units first). I need to grab a few more dwarf characters, but they seem plentiful.
7 comments:
I just did much the same thing with a (chittering) horde of Jes Goodwin Skaven! Not this many models, but all at once its a bit intimidating!ReplyDelete
Why apologise? Someone was going to win them so why not you? Besides, you'll do a cracking job painting them and we'll all get to revel in your eye candy. Don't you dare bid on old-skool Empire stuff though or I might change my tune :-)ReplyDeleteReplies
LOL... I already have an Empire army, but they are early 4th edition (see the Empire LABEL to the right) so you are safe :). Besides, after the dwarf invasion, I have decided not to buy anything else for a while until I get some of what I have painted. I still have undead and chaos to add to my existing armies and a pile of Bretonnians to paint!Delete
That's alright then! Actually my Empire are also a large extent from the same wonderful Perry vintage. Very much like your paint jobs on them, especially the halberds...Delete
Nice haul, enough to keep you busy for a while at any rate. Looking forward to see the results of your forthcoming labours.ReplyDelete


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Ok, if I hadn't made this myself, I never would have known it was gluten-free! To be honest, most gluten-free recipes have a distinct taste or at least a different texture than non-gluten-free recipes. This by far is one of the best dishes of chicken and dumplings I have ever eaten! It is also dairy-free, so it did not leave me feeling so full and heavy like other chicken and dumpling dishes I've eaten. It is completely from scratch, but super easy.
UPDATE: Due to several comments regarding the dumplings falling apart, I have added some changes to the recipe. Hope it helps!
Gluten-free Chicken and Dumplings
- 2 large chicken breasts
- 1 cup chopped carrots
- 1/2 cup diced celery
- 1 onion diced
- salt & pepper
- 7 cups chicken broth
- 3/4 cup brown rice flour
- 1/2 cup tapioca flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 3 tablespoons shortening
- 1/2 cup almond milk
Cover the bottom of a large crock pot with the vegetables. Place the chicken on top of the vegetables and season with salt and pepper. Pour the chicken broth over the chicken. Cook on low for 6 hours.
After 6 hours, remove the chicken and turn the crock pot onto high.
UPDATE: Turn the crock pot on HIGH approximately 30 minutes prior to adding the dumplings. When testing the recipe again (a couple of times) I found that if I turned the pot on high after cooking for 5 – 5.5 hours (leaving the chicken in), the soup was then hot enough to cook the dumplings quicker once dropped in. Go ahead and remove the chicken after the crock pot has been on high for 30 minutes. You definitely want to make sure the chicken is fully cooked before removing.
To make the dumplings, stir together the dry ingredients. Cut the shortening into the dry mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. This is easiest with a pastry cutter, but a fork will also work. Add the almond milk and stir until it forms a thick dough. You can add additional almond milk if your dough is too stiff to mix.
Drop dough by the tablespoon into the soup. Cook on high for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until the dumplings are not doughy.
UPDATE: Be sure to not stir the soup after dropping the dumplings in. Stirring will cause the dumplings to fall apart. I know this is difficult, but DO NOT STIR. If some of the dumplings have not been fully immersed, use a fork or spoon to gently press down into the soup.
While the dumplings are cooking, shred the chicken with two forks. When the dumplings have about a half hour left of cooking time, add the chicken back into the soup and stir.
This dish is so yummy! I took a chance and tested it out on our small group from church. It got rave reviews, and the crock pot was practically licked clean. I really wish I would have gotten a picture of it, but I didn't, so you'll have to use your imagination! 🙂
We will definitely be making this again!


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You know what? I don't like not getting my way. I'm sure you don't either, but you're too ashamed to say it. I probably would be afraid to say it out loud, to be perfectly honest, but this blog lets me write whatever I want on it. So yeah, I like it when things go my way, hate on that all you want.
But just like the classic Stones song says: You can't always get what you want.
Ain't that da truth!
This evening I didn't get what I wanted. And it made me mad. Livid would be an appropriate word for this instance. And this mood didn't go away. In fact, this mood still lingers a little bit, even though it happened HOURS ago.
Which is why I am here, writing to you lovely people. Because I need to vent. And work it out in my head that I will not get this. Even though I deserve it and it isn't fair and it hurts, I don't get it and I'll be okay without it. It still sucks, okay?
I don't even know if I'm going to post this blog. I don't want everyone to think that I'm a spoiled brat and I'm mad that Daddy won't give me money to go to Hawaii for spring break. No, I'm upset about something that costs nothing but something that I passionately love. Something that is so a part of me that I could not see me without it. Something about me that has been looked over and pushed aside for most of my life.
So I have a right to be angry, correct? I think so.
I'll be okay, really. I just need to be a little annoyed for now. I'm human. I'm a very passionate person.
So shoot me.
I hope you don't hate me after reading this.
x0x0 Deux


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Is your smartphone, tablet or other techie gadget getting more airtime/attention than God? Is social media driving a wedge between you and your heavenly Father? Are those pesky notifications becoming an irritation to the Holy Spirit?
I hate to admit this but I am guilty as charged though I am actively working on this (I took a hiatus from social media recently). If you are like me, you did not start out that way. You loved the Lord and wanted to spend all your time with Him. Yet, here we are, trapped by advances in technology and a fast-paced life that is becoming very dependent on it. Whilst technology, mobile devices, and the Internet were designed to be a blessing, in some cases, they have become the very thing that draws us away from God. The outcome is technologically advanced yet spiritually backward, lukewarm, non-praying, weak and quite frankly, backslidden saints (sorry, but let's be real here). The sad truth is we don't even realise it. Why? Because this has been a subtle yet negative change over time.
Technology: blessing or curse?
Perhaps you still cannot relate to what I have said so far or don't see what the problem is. If so, why not read the following and see if you can relate to any of these scenarios:
- You find yourself glancing at your phone during prayer/worship/quiet times/service, check out what's new in your inbox, WhatsApp, Facebook, etc. Whilst you may not have intentionally done this, as at times, I have innocently picked up the phone to use my notes App to record what I felt the Holy Spirit was saying, to play a song or even check out a different version of a Scripture using a Bible App. But darn you notifications! You catch my attention and I succumb. Alas, I get sucked in. Later on, I catch myself and repent, asking the Holy Spirit to remind me of what He was trying to tell me. Oh dear.
- In the middle of worship or prayer, your phone rings. You apologise to God, ask to be excused and quickly handle the call, as it could be urgent. It could be a response to your latest job interview or an agency calling you for work – something you have been praying about. And so you pick up the 'No Caller ID' or unrecognisable number only to find it is the 'PPI lot' calling or some company telling you about the car accident you never had – the one you need to claim for. Arrrggghhh!
- You promised to spend time with God today. But before you do, you click on your favourite social media App just to see what is happening. The next thing you know, 2-3 hours have gone by and all you have accomplished is watching funny videos or photos of 'friends'. Determined to spend time with God, you repent and then start. Later, you wake up after nodding off, missing the opportunity to converse with God or read your Bible. You feel guilty but tomorrow, being another day, you plan to do a better job. Except that you fall into a similar trap. And so the cycle continues.
- You lose your smartphone or mobile device and your world comes to an end or feels like it has just turned upside down. But you lose your Bible and you say, 'hey-ho', shrug it off and at some point, get a new one.
Prayer: Oh Lord, help us from this madness that strives to put a wedge between us and You.
Drifting away….slowly
There comes a time we have to accept the fact that the more we become preoccupied or distracted this way, not just with technology, gadgets, and the Internet but our busy lives, the more we will find ourselves drifting away from God.
And so, we need to be proactive about this. For some of us, we need drastic action like I had to do, lest we spend our lives distant and disengaged from God. When that happens, our relationship with Him becomes questionable. I don't know about you but whilst in 'distracted' mode, I struggle to hear His voice and I feel weaker as a Christian. In this state, we become susceptible to all sorts. We are also prone to making foolish decisions and poor choices because He is no longer directing our steps.
Remaining connected (or should I say logged in) with God
There are so many ways to remain connected with God. And it is not always about getting on your knees, putting your hands together and bowing your head. Nor is it always about spending hours praying (though great to do). Rather, it is about engaging your heart and mind, turning it heavenward regardless of how busy/distracting your day may be and maintaining this 24×7.
"How can I do this?" You ask, especially with so much demanding our attention. My answer: It is a 'heart & mind thing'. It's about keeping Him at the forefront of your mind every moment of the day, just as you would do when you are in love. It really is that simple.
In closing
I believe God wants full-time custody of His children NOT weekend visits. Though this may seem to apply to our Sunday pilgrimage to church, it also applies to every waking moment of our lives. So take a step towards God by making one simple change today. It does not have to be huge but one simple change can make a huge difference to your relationship with Him.
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Pam and I paid a visit to the Bellingham ITEK Energy manufacturing facility September 23rd and had a nice visit with founder John Flanagan and a tour of the plant with engineers Dean Van Vleet and Eric Schueler. Today they announced state certification of the product as made-in-Washington, so they are on their way to introducing their mono-crystalline PV module to the local market and beyond. The factory is equipped with two assembly lines, so that output can grow with demand. Puget Sound Solar is offering this new panel and is providing quotes now for systems that incorporate the 240 watt model.
ITEK has a plan in the works to also manufacture an inverter to complete the system; watch here for an announcement of availability.


text: On Mon, Jul 30, 2007 at 07:51:45AM -0500, Les Mikesell wrote: > Axel Thimm wrote: > > >Maybe the original draft will be picked up by other projects to > >signal their mode of collaboration, let's see. It certainly was in > >thge spirit of the existing 3rd party repos. > > Maybe you should cut them a little slack considering that they are not > so experienced as the rest of you... Experienced in what? Hidden agendas and politics? I'm not experienced in that really. Please check the epel list where these topics were discussed over *months* and often revealed their political background instead of a "lack of experience". > >Furthermore there have been many quotes in IRC and mail of various > >current EPEL steering members that they "aim higher" than the existing > >repos or see EPEL as the only repo long term and the like. > > As long as there are policies about what can be in a repo or who can put > it there, there can never be just one repo. Everyone should understand > that by now. > > >On the positive side one must say that Max Spevack was interested in a > >collaboration between EPEL and the rest of the world, but he's not > >forcing it onto the EPEL people. > > I've never quite understood why you don't just give the packages > different names if they already exist in the disto-supported repo but > there might be some reason to want your version instead (or besides). First of all there is no distro supported repo in this context, we're talking about 3rd party repos. Next, what use would it be to give a different name? E.g. xemacs vs xemacs-myrepo? The two packages would conflict so xemacs-myrepo has to either Conflict: or Obsolete:/Provide: with the standard name, and the end result is a worse setup than having the proper name since there will be no way back to the unadorned name unless the xemacs package starts obsoleting/providing the alternate name as well. So there is no real improvement in obfuscating names. And I didn't even mention dependent packages that would break with perl-Bar-myrepo and libfoo-devel-myrepo instead of perl-Bar and libfoo-devel. ATM we'll just live and let live, and there will not be any one-side effort to rectify any compatibility issues EPEL created. It's their mess, they'll have to clean it up. -- Axel.Thimm at ATrpms.net -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: application/pgp-signature Size: 189 bytes Desc: not available URL: <http://lists.centos.org/pipermail/centos/attachments/20070730/7349af6b/attachment.sig>


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Lagrange Military College
Lagrange College in Franklin County, Alabama (now Colbert, County, Alabama), was known as the West Point of the South. Young men from all over the country came here for a military education. In March, 1862, the 35th Alabama Infantry Regiment was formed at the school. The majority of the officer corps and a good deal of the enlisted men came from the student body. A lot of local farmers also enlisted with the regiment.
The regiment would go on to see action at the battles of Baton Rouge, Port Hudson, Corinth, Champions Hill, Jackson and throughout the Atlanta Campaign. Company B would march into Tennessee with General Hood with only twenty-one men.
At Franklin, the 35th Alabama Regiment served under General Scott, William Loring's Division and Alexander Peter Stewart's Corps. They would advance on the far right near the Carnton Plantation and charged the Osage Orange abates in front of the Federal breastworks.
Captain Samuel D. Stewart led these men. The boy was from near Mobile, Alabama and was only 21 years old. Stewart was elated at the thought of charging across two miles of open fields and hitting the Federal lines. He may have just been trying to keep his men's spirits up. Most men knew that few of them would come out of this battle unscathed.
Captain Samuel D. Stewart
Stewart said, "With this open field, we'll be able to see who gets the farthest. I know Company B will not be behind and will continue to hold their high standing in the regiment."
The regiment marched to within seventy-five yards of the Federal line before the enemy infantry opened fire. The men charged forward and reaching the Osage Orange found that they couldn't fight their way through the man made barrier.
Captain Stewart was right there with his men, hacking at the tree limbs with his sword. A bullet soon struck him in the abdomen, he crashed forward into the abatis and rolled out on the ground. His men thought he was dead, but he soon rose again only to have his left ear shot off. He was carried back to the McGavock House where he suffered tremendously. Some reports state he had four bullet wounds. He would die sometime during the night.
Of the twenty-one men who went into action at Franklin, four would be killed, thirteen wounded and out of action, two would be slightly wounded and only two came out unscathed. Besides Captain Stewart, Fourth Sergeant Tom Peebles, Private William Bradley and Color Bearer Robert Wheeler would die.
Joseph Thompson and Richard D. Beaumont would both be wounded by the same cannonball. Joe Thompson would have his leg amputated at the field hospital near the McGavock House. Second Sergeant Daniel Downs and Private's William Woodford, James O. Murphy, A. Waddy Mosely, and J.P. Cooper would all be wounded. Steve Harmon would make it on to Nashville where he would be captured. The rest of the company present at Franklin haven't been identified yet.
Joe Thompson wrote following the war how the entire town of Franklin within four miles of the battlefield had opened their doors and taken in the wounded. He had nothing but the highest compliments for the people of Franklin, Tennessee.
Today, Lagrange College no longer exists. On April 28, 1863, the Federal Army under Colonel Florence M. Cornyn burned the college down. The brave color bearer Robert Wheeler would be brought home to Tuscumbia, Alabama where he rests in Oakwood Cemetery, not far from the grave of Brigadier General James Deshler. Captain Samuel Stewart still rests today in the McGavock Confederate Cemetery in Franklin, Tennessee.
Grave of Captain Samuel D. Stewart


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- Case report
- Open Access
- Open Peer Review
Clinically mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion associated with Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection
© Yuan et al. 2016
- Received: 9 December 2015
- Accepted: 10 May 2016
- Published: 26 May 2016
Clinically mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion (MERS) is a clinico-radiological syndrome characterized by transient mild symptoms of encephalopathy and a reversible lesion in the splenium of the corpus callosum on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). It is often triggered by infection. The common pathogens of MERS are viruses, especially influenza virus. However, Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M.pneumoniae) are relatively rare pathogens for MERS.
Case presentation
Here we report two paediatric cases of M.pneumoniae infection-induced MERS. The diagnosis of M.pneumoniae infection was established based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and specific serum antibodies (IgM). Both of the two patients presented with mild encephalopathy manifestations and recovered completely within a few days. The initial MRI showed a lesion in the central portion of the splenium of the corpus callosum, which completely resolved on the seventh and eighth day after admission for case 1 and case 2. Lumbar puncture was performed in both patients, which revealed no pleocytosis. In case 1, the patient had hyponatremia, peripheral facial nerve paralysis, and rash. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first MERS case associated with peripheral nerve damage. In case 2, interleukin-6(IL-6) was moderately increased in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). It suggested that IL-6 may play a role in the pathogenesis of M.pneumoniae-induced MERS.
Our study enriches the available information on the pathogens of MERS and provides valuable data for better understanding of this syndrome.
- Mycoplasma pneumoniae
- Corpus callosum
- Encephalopathy
Clinically mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion (MERS) is a clinico-radiological syndrome, which was first reported by Tada et al. in 2004 [1] and further enriched by Takanashi et al [2]. The most common clinical feature is a neurological dysfunction, including delirious behavior, consciousness disturbance, and seizures, all of which recover completely within 1 month [2]. Typical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of MERS include damage to the splenium of the corpus callosum in the acute phase, and sometimes damage spread to the whole corpus callosum and adjacent white matter. The corpus callosum connects the two cerebral hemispheres, and the splenium is located in the corpus callosum backend. The high-signal lesions are typically symmetrical and notable without enhancement on T2- and diffusion-weighted sequences, especially on the diffusion-weighted sequence. Lesions on the MRI images often disappear in 1 week or a few weeks [1, 2].
MERS may affect adults and children. Its pathogenesis is not clear and often triggered by infection. The most common pathogen is influenza virus A and B, and others include rotavirus, measles virus, adenovirus, Streptococcus, and Escherichia coli [3]. Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M.pneumoniae) infection-related MERS is rare [4–6], and MERS has not been previously mentioned in the literature among M.pneumoniae-related central nervous system (CNS) dysfunction [7]. Here, we report 2 cases of M.pneumoniae infection-induced MERS to enrich the available information on the pathogens of MERS and the pathogenic spectrum of M.pneumoniae-related CNS dysfunction.
Case presentation
Case 1
A 9-year-old male patient was admitted to the hospital because of fever for 2 days, and headache, vomiting, mouth drooping on the right side, and rash for 1 day. Physical examination showed a body temperature of 38.7 °C and otherwise normal vital signs. Red maculopapular rashes that faded under pressure were scattered all over the body. Neurological examination showed poor mental status and obvious lethargy. Cranial nerve examination revealed mouth drooping on the right side, incomplete eyelid closure and shallow nasolabial sulcus on the left side because of the left peripheral facial paralysis, which is known to be associated with M.pneumoniae infection. Meningeal irritation and bilateral Babinski's signs were negative.
After admission, treatment included acyclovir (10 mg/kg 8 hourly) for herpes viruses infection before the M.pneumoniae infection was confirmed, mannitol (5 ml/kg 8 hourly) for reduction of intracranial pressure, dexamethasone(0.4 mg/kg/d) for reduction of facial nerve swelling, and methycobal (1000 mg/d) for facial nerve paralysis. After M.pneumoniae infection was confirmed, azithromycin (10 mg/kg/day) was administered for 5 days. The symptoms improved significantly. Two days after admission, the patient no longer had lethargy, headache, vomiting, and had normal body temperature. Four days after admission, the patient showed improvement in mouth drooping on the right side, incomplete eyelid closure, and stabilization of the rash. Seven days after admission, his serum sodium was 135 mmol/L and his EEG was normal. Re-examination of the cranial MRI, he had normal MRI signals in the corpus callosum (Fig. 1c, d). Ten days after admission, the patient was discharged with excellent mental status, no obvious mouth drooping, substantially restored ability to close the left eyelid, and no rash.
Case 2
A 12-year-old male patient was admitted to the hospital because of fever for 6 days, and headache, dizziness, vomiting, and cough for 4 days. Physical examination showed a body temperature of 38 °C and otherwise normal vital signs. The breath sound in the right lower lung was low. Neurological examination showed poor mental status and obvious lethargy. Cranial nerve examination did not reveal abnormal findings. Meningeal irritation and bilateral Babinski's signs were negative.
After admission, acyclovir (10 mg/kg 8 hourly) was used for herpes viruses infection. After M. pneumoniae infection was confirmed, azithromycin (10 mg/kg/day) was administered for 5 days. Mannitol (5 ml/kg 8 hourly) was used to decrease the intracranial pressure. Two days after admission, the patient showed an improvement in disturbed consciousness and reduced headaches, dizziness, and vomiting. Three days after admission, the patient had normal mental status, normal body temperature, and apparent cough relief. Eight days after admission, the patient was discharged with excellent mental status, no obvious cough, normal EEG findings, and no abnormal MRI signals in the corpus callosum (Fig. 2c, d).
MERS is characterized by acute mild symptoms of encephalopathy occurring during an acute inflammatory disease process. Brain MRIs show characteristic changes in the corpus callosum, and recovery occurs without special treatment. MERS is divided into type 1 (damage limited to the splenium of the corpus callosum on MR images) and type 2 (damage spread to the entire corpus callosum or adjacent white matter or both) [8]. Type 1 MERS is more common.
Pathogens of MERS in the literature
No. of patients
Pathogens of MERS (no. of patients)
Hoshino et al. [9]
Influenza (53), rotavirus (18), mumps virus (6), HHV-6 (3), bacterial infection (5)
Takanashi [2]
Unknown (22), influenza A/B (6/4), mumps virus (4), adenovirus (3), rotavirus (3), streptococcus (3), Escherichia coli (3)
Tada et al [1]
Unknown (10), influenza A (1), adenovirus (1), mumps virus (1), VZV virus (1)
Ka A et al. [11]
Unknown (3), influenza B (1), adenovirus (1), CMV virus (1), Salmonella (1)
Bulakbasi et al. [15]
Influenza A (5)
Ganapathy et al. [16]
Influenza B (2)
Takanashi et al. [14]
Kawasaki desease (4)
The pathogenesis of MERS remains unclear. Possible mechanisms include transient intramyelinic edema, interstitial axonal edema, and inflammatory infiltration due to a myelin specific neurotoxin released by the pathogen [1, 2, 11], thus resulting in the transiently reduced diffusion seen on MRI. Takanashi et al. [12] suggested that the process of MERS may involve hyponatremia. Hyponatremia reduces the intracellular osmotic pressure in the splenium of the corpus callosum to facilitate free water entry, leading to transient cerebral edema. In the present study, the early serum sodium level was 127 mmol/L in case 1 and normal in case 2. In addition, the serum sodium level in the case of type 2 MERS reported by Zhao et al. [6] was also within the normal range. It suggests the possible but not essential involvement of hyponatremia in the pathogenesis of M.pneumoniae-induced MERS. Some other investigators have suggested the involvement of cytokines. Mori et al. [13] found that the CSF level of IL-6 increased significantly in a child with rotavirus-related MERS, while serum level of interleukin-1β, IL-6, interleukin-8, and tumor necrosis factor-α also increased in MERS children with Kawasaki disease [14], suggesting that the pathogenesis of MERS may involve the activation of the immune system. In the present study, IL-6 was moderately increased in the CSF of patient 2, but was not assessed in the serum and CSF of patient 1. Accordingly, we speculate that IL-6 may be involved in M.pneumoniae-induced MERS, but verification of more cases is needed.
MERS, especially type 2 MERS, should be distinguished from other leukoencephalopathies such as acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome (RPLS), and hereditary leukoencephalopathy. In particular, ADEM has clinical manifestations similar to those of MERS during its early stage. However, their MRI findings are different. In ADEM, lesions are distributed asymmetrically and most obvious in the T2-weighted sequence; diffusion is not restricted; enhancement can be observed after use of contrast agents, and the corpus callosum is less likely involved. On the contrary, in MERS, the corpus callosum is often involved symmetrically; the white matter damage is also symmetrical, and diffusion is significantly restricted without enhancement [11]. Through differential diagnosis, MERS can be diagnosed in a timely and precise manner to avoid overtreatment.
In conclusion, we reported two paediatric cases of type I MERS with coinciding M. pneumoniae detection. Our study enriches the available information on the pathogens of MERS and provides valuable data for better understanding of this syndrome. Recognizing this syndrome early in children can avoid overtreatment and provide reassurance about the good prognosis of the disease.
ADEM, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis; CNS, central nervous system; CSF, cerebrospinal fluid; EEG, electroencephalogram; IL-6, interleukin-6; MERS, clinically mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; PCR, polymerase chain reaction; RPLS, reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome.
The authors would like to thank Mrs Yan Cheng for excellent technical support.
Availability of data and materials
All the data supporting our findings are contained within this article.
Authors' contributions
Gao F, Xia ZZ and Jiang PF contributed to the study design, and Yuan ZF drafted the manuscript. Yu YL, Xu L and Mao SS helped to draft the manuscript. Shen J helped to draft the manuscript and helped to treat the patients. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interests.
Both patients' parents provided written informed consent for the publication of the case report and any accompanying images. A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor of this journal.
The study was conducted in accordance with Declaration of Helsinki and ethically approved by the Ethics Committee of the Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine.
Financial support
This study was supported from the Grants of the Natural Science Fundation of Zhejiang Province (LY14H090007), the Zhejiang Health Bureau Fund (2014KYA126) and the Population and Family planning fund of Zhejiang Province (2014kyb335).
Open AccessThis article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.
Authors' Affiliations
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It should be noted that we have not listened to every 2007 release - there are thousands. These recordings represent the best the publisher and staff of Stereomojo have enountered in 2007. Unlike other such lists, recording quality and sonics play a large part in our awards. Full, in depth reviews of all of these (and many more) will be published when we add our Music Reviews section in the coming weeks as part of our completely redesigned website. The new Stereomojo will include many new features and much improved navigation and readability. Several of our loyal readers will be asked to Beta test the new site before publication. If you have any suggestions or requests, please write us right away. We listen to our readers!
Best Sound 2007
If we had to pick one recording that was the most outstanding and significant it would be this one. 100 Khz, 24-bit resolution from a regular Redbook CD. This is not a SACD and requires no special player or decoding. JVC has upped the ante with their latest generation mastering process, surpassing their XRCD24 technology.The sound quality of these 16 selections from various artists from Winston Ma's FIM label is stunning with no digital artifacts. Even smoother and less edgy than SACD with a sound that rivals great vinyl recordings on a good turntable. This is simply the best sound available on regular CD. We can't wait to hear future releases. Read our review here.
Best Classical
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra follows the success of the London Symphony by issuing their own house recordings. It follows their inagural Mahler 3rd from 2006. The sound and Haitink's performance are both first rate. Available in CD, SACD or download.
Dallas Wind Symphony - Jerry Junkin, conductor
Mary Preston, organ
Reference Recording RR-112
A sonic spectacular akin to Reference Recording's popular Pomp & Pipes releases. Huge dynamics and lots of floor shaking 20Hz woofer workout bass. But it's much more than just a demo disk. The musical selections and musicianship is top notch and it's not all pure bombast, there is a lot of beauty here, too. HDCD is alive and well at RR and better than ever.
Music by David Maslanka
Dallas Wind Symphony — JERRY JUNKIN
So you think no good classical music has been written since 1800? We think this proves that wonderful composers are still with us. The music has an old heart but a contemporary spirit and is full of beauty, power and huge dynamic leaps. Perhaps this is what Rimsky-Korsakov might sound like if he was composing today.The Grammy's got this one right as it is nominated for Best Engineered Album.
Donald Runnicles/Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
An album of works by Britten, Davies, Elgar, MacMillan, and Turnage
The album opens and closes with Edward Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance March Nos. 1 and 4, among the most beloved and famous of all British compositions and reflective of Britain's love for formal ceremonies and colorful ritual. With the other four works on this disc – Mark-Anthony Turnage's Three Screaming Popes; Sir Peter Maxwell Davis's An Orkney Wedding, with Sunrise featuring bagpiper Scott Long; James MacMillan's Britannia; and Benjamin Britten's Sinfonia da Requiem, Op. 20 – this recording presents a microcosm of the vigor of contemporary music emanating from Britain. Telarc's sound keeps getting better and better. Available in CD or SACD.
Beethoven Piano Sonatas, Vol. II
Hyperion Records CDA67605
If you are not familiar with this Canadian pianist, you should be. She is considered one of the foremost interpreters and performers of Bach ever.
However, her genius does not stop with Johann which is made very evident in this 2007 release of Beethoven's best sonatas. Angela was Gramophone's Artist of the Year in 2006 and Queen Elizabeth recently made her an Officer of the British Empire. She simply does not sound like anyone else and her technique, especially her tone and control of inner voicings is unmatched. She brings a freshness to the old masters while maintaining a deep respect for traditional interpretations. If you are a fan of classical piano, you MUST hear her.
Hyperion's sonics are are exemplary and it helps that Angela plays the incredible Fazioli piano.
Verve - Catalog # 00602517448261
Herbie is not only a master jazz pianist, he has a unique ability to bring together groups of individual musicians to create something much greater than the sum of their parts. Jazz has always been about collaboration, but Hancock takes it to a new artistic level with the songs of Joni Mitchell. This is actually a much better album than Joni's own "Shine" which was released the same day. Herbie brought in Wayne Shorter (saxs), Dave Holland (bass), Vinnie Colaiuta (drums) to lay the foundation of unique instrumental colors, textures and chord voicings for the jazz combo cuts and for the vocalists Norah Jones (perhaps her best performance on Court and Spark), Corinne Bailey Rae, Tina Turner and Leonard Cohen and Joni herself on "Tea Leaf Prophecy". While the songs here will sound familiar, Herbie has recontexturalized all of them, recasting them in new frameworks, arrangements and chord progressions. Like Angela Hewitt, he plays the Fazioli. Perhaps his Masterpiece - so far.
Stereophile #STPH018-2
Excerpt from James Darby's coming full review
I'm not a big fan of the Ornette Coleman school of free jazz. I have listened to it, studied it and played it in my jazz studies in college.
Free Jazz is not illegal downloads of Miles Davis records, rather it is a style of jazz where there is no preconceived or arranged structure or ideas. No chord charts. No tune. No nothing. A jazz ensemble just starts out with someone's musical idea, riff, or sometimes, just a noise. From there it's just pure improvisation, with the goal of each member of playing off each other's ideas and hopefully coming up with something musical. At best it can be intriguing and listenable or at worst (which is most of the time) a cacophony of harsh, discordant, pretentious noise. What we have here is neither cacophonous or pretentious, just some rather accomplished, but not superstar, musicians having fun with different riffs, grooves, styles and even brief melodies. Sure there is some meandering while they try to come together in one mind, but there is no grandstanding or some effete sax player trying to prove how many ugly noises he can elicit from his horn. There are tone clusters, but they are not the central focus and the guys mostly try to stay somewhere close to a common key signature, something that true free jazz eschews. They also have the excellent taste of keeping their explorations to around ten minutes per tune. Moods range from dreamy to slammin' rock and cookin' jazz. Dan Florino plays several guitar-type instruments from acoustic and electric guitar to a lotar (Morrocan guitar) and ukulele. Chris Jones handles the bass (fretless of course) duties while Mark Flyn rattles the drums which are tuned more for rock than they are jazz. For the most part, the guys stay within themselves except for moments like Bob Reina at about 7:30 into the first cut where he commits as many clams (flubs) as clean notes for a few moments. Reina is clearly the jello that serves as the binding agent for the quartet and does a good job in doing so.
If there is a star here, it has to be Stereophile editor John Atkinson's recording. He produces perhaps the liveliest "live" sound to be found anywhere. Bear in mind that he had no more idea where the music was going than the players - loud or soft, fast or slow or who make take the lead or drop out completely at any moment. Managing uncompressed or limited, ungated levels like this is nearly impossible in a live concert session. There are a few noticeable pot twiddles, but his manipulation never gets in the way. The vast dynamic swings he captures are incredible and nothing ever gets buried or too spotlighted. If you want to see if free jazz might be something you'd like to explore, this is the perfect place to start.
Telarc CD-83662
Cuban born and protege of Dizzy Gillespie, Arturo defected to become one of this country's great treasures. He now teaches at Miami University in Florida and has opened a latin jazz club on the international playground South Beach called, amazingly enough, Rumba Palace. Now in his late 50's, he shows no sign of losing his pyrotechnic, stratospheric, lightening chops and deep understanding of what makes jazz, and this case, latin music so great. Backed by an all latin small big band (nine players that sound like 30) this collection is smokin' hot. That is, when it's not being beautifully lyrical and sensitive. Telarc has captured yet another great jazz hero along with McCoy Tyner and dave Brubeck, among others.They have also captured the fire and sonic heart and soul of this music. In a long line of great recordings, Sandoval has gone home and produced a recording that may be his finest.
Pra Records 1701163
All audiophiles know Joe Sample. His recordings like Carmel and Rainbow Seeker were early Mofi selections. Randy and Joe go way back to the Crusader's days when they scored a hit with "Street life". This album is the culmination of years of friendship and musical kinship. Randy's jazzy, gospel inflected, smooth and sassy just has to be heard. She doesn't indulge in Maria Carey fits of melissma, she has nothing to prove. She's much more like Diana Reeves blended with a little Nina Simone and Ella.She's smooth, but this ain't no vapid smooth jazz junk, just two excellent, brilliant musicians in their prime having a great time. There are classics here like "But Beautiful" and the best rendition of "When I Need You" ever - including the original by Leo Sayer, but there are also tunes like "See Line Woman" and "Love Town" that are so sexy they make Sade seem like Karen Carpenter. Sample comes up with some of the most unique grooves and hooks we've heard. Consummate taste rules the day. If you have an affection for female vocals, this is one you should check out. The audio quality is far above average as well.
Label: Sub Pop. Catalog number: SP 705
Sure. You know this came out on CD, but did you know it's also available on vinyl? For 13 bucks brand new? That's the version we reviewed before this became the huge hit that it did.What we have here is an indie rock LP that real adults just might be able to enjoy. There are real melodies and harmonies and the lead singer, James Mercer, can actually sing! On pitch and everything. This is not some teen angst, filled with rage against everything effort. You won't want to go to your local high school and shoot it up if you listen.You may just discover that there is some real talent out in rock land. Of course, if you are a devoted chamber music enthusiast, this still might not appeal to you, but if you like a little more fuzz guitar and studio effects, you owe it to yourself to at least listen. Of course, the LP smokes the CD.
Peacefrog Records
Okay. This is not a 2007 release. It was released in the UK as "Beyond the Infinite" in '06. But imagine this: take some Crosby, Stills Nash & Young, throw in some Steely Dan (and a whole lot of warmth), Brian Wilson and the Beachboys minus the surfing style, garnish with a smidge of America, Sting and Joni Mitchell and you have this amazingly fresh, gorgeous recording. It was recorded on the same analog mixing board as "Dark Side of the Moon" and it was available in a two-LP edition. Good luck finding one.This is not 70's retro at all. It uses some tasty electronica along with lush strings at times and 5 part vocal harmony. Again, the lead singer has a real voice and can use it very musically and thus real adults will like this.
Manhattan Records
This should more accurately be named "Celtic Women" because there are actually six Gaelic lasses featured on this disc - five of whom sing like angels and one who sets fire to a violin with her incredible technique and musicality. The women prove that melodies can actually be sung on pitch as they all show the propensity to nail each syllable in the dead center of the pitch, and over an extreme range to boot. And it's not accomplished through electronic pitch correction in a studio - they do it in live concert as well as I witnessed when they appeared locally. They are backed by a huge cast of orchestra and chorus that includes a large array of percussion instruments with liberal use of enormous bass drums that will tax any subwoofers. The music is lush, beautiful, fun and up lifting. If you love female vocals like we do, this is a must listen.
Shout Factory
If you have read any of our shootouts, you will see that there are many Jennifer Warnes fans at Stereomojo as her songs are frequently used as reference music.
The original release of Famous Blue Raincoat twenty years ago was an immediate audiophile favorite, particularly on LP. Not only because of the outstanding sonics, but because the music was hypnotic as well. Warnes interprets the songs of master song writer Leonard Cohen in breathtaking style.This new addition is completely redone and re-mastered by Paul Grumman who did the original. The updated CD sonics are superb. This deluxe new reissue contains four previously unreleased songs and a 24-page booklet with rare photos from Warnes' personal collection.


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The latest figures on immigration to -- and from --
Case in point:
It's enough to make you wonder if Brother Huckabee is undertaking another presidential campaign or just taking a stroll down memory lane. Consider his promise to seal our southern border to keep all those illegals out -- even if the border now seems to be sealing itself. News item: "During the first six months of the current fiscal year, the number of apprehensions of immigrants coming illegally across the southwest border -- a strong indicator of efforts to cross the border illegally -- was 28 percent lower than in the prior year, the
Other signs of the changing times along the border:
"The influx of young and unaccompanied minors from
"A clear sign of substantial change arrived three years ago this spring, when Pew reported that, after four decades of a steady inflow of illegal Mexican immigrants into the U.S., the influx had begun to reverse -- that is, more Mexicans were returning to
Here are some other details about immigration to this country that may have escaped the attention of our presidential campaigners:
"In 2013,
Recommended reading: "Diversity Explosion," a new book by
My immediate reaction: So what? Because, despite all the fearmongers, it's not the color or class or ethnic identity of Americans that holds all of us together but an idea. After centuries of colonial rule, that idea crystallized into a single phrase in the Declaration of Independence: "... that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness." Each of us in our own, free American way.
As one patchwork nation succeeded another on these shores, the American Idea became clearer, stronger, more pervasive -- till it came to be the creed that makes this nation exceptional.
It is not
No matter what we or our children and grandchildren and their children may look like, it is the American Idea that endures. And continues to attract new Americans from the rest of the world. May they keep coming, and may the American Idea stay bright, like a sign shining in the middle of a dark night. One that says: This Way to Freedom.
Comment by clicking here.
Paul Greenberg is the Pulitzer-winning editorial page editor of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.


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Thursday, August 23, 2012
The Dentist (1932)
The pre-coder The Dentist is about as close as Hollywood ever got to Dada. W. C. Fields wrote and starred in this late Mack Sennett talkie about a dentist who would rather be creating havoc on the golf-course than torturing his hapless patients. Running at just over 20 minutes you get good value with a lot more than a laugh a minute.
No ifs and buts, Fields was a misanthrope and a misogynist. Cruel, base, and egotistical, he lays brutal sway over all and sundry, family or stranger, friend or foe.
Liker most dentists of the period, his surgery is part of his home. We find him at breakfast being served by his adult daughter. No wife in sight. We get standard gags about his lost glasses being on his head and the morning paper hidden under his arse. Fields' side-winder voice delivery hooking you every time.
Wandering into the kitchen to show his daughter an article in the newspaper, Fields gets her attention by patting her back-side while she is bending over looking into the ice-box, and discovers she is in love with the ice-man – she thinks the pats are from the beau. He doesn't approve and a running gag will be his attempts to lock her away. More strange and disquieting of course are the forbidden yet overt sexual undertones. TV censors seem to have missed this when they cut a later less unsettling albeit more obvious sexual sequence involving an unorthodox extraction procedure that is more about penetration.
Fields wants to get in a round of golf before his first appointment. On the golf-course he of course is hopeless, makes crazy interpretations of the rules, and in a fit of piqué throws his caddy after his golf-bag into a lake, after having knocked out another golfer from a shot hit with deliberate negligence, and then complaining when the victim's knocked-out dentures get in the way of a put!
Back in the surgery, we witness a cavalcade of patient abuse and withering one-liners. A dizzy wailing broad with a toothache displays her legs and ample behind – more than once – as she bends over to show Fields where a dog bit her on the leg. The dentist's drill – sounding more like pneumatic road equipment – is deployed with careless abandon. Teeth are spat out and ducks released from a capacious beard – the owner's mouth found only after the use of a stethoscope. An extraction from a female patient with rather long legs becomes an extended 'dry-hump' as the pliers do their difficult work, with one of her high heels ending up stuck in one of Fields' trouser pockets.
Penetration, pain, sadomasochism, biting, stomping, sex, contempt, incompetence, demolition, more sex, and farcical characterisations. Bunuel and Dali eat your hearts out!
Posted by Tony D'Ambra at 1:36 AM
Labels: mack sennett, pre-code, the dentist, w c fields
Friday, August 10, 2012
The Miracle of Morgans Creek (1944)
Small town 40s America. Picket fences, porches, and quiet tree-lined streets. Places with names like Bedford Falls and Morgans Creek. Wise mothers, irascible strict fathers with hearts of gold, dizzy older sisters on the cusp of womanhood, spunky older-than-their-years younger sisters, and nerdy suitors. Movie-houses and jalopies. Record-stores and dances at the country-club. Thoroughly integrated foreigners (but no black faces).
Myth or reality? A dream or the place where we would have wanted to grow-up? Fantasy or fact? Either way, Preston Sturges stood ready to lampoon. Most say savagely, I say gently. We all say brilliantly.
Fast-paced, witty, over-the-top, irreverent, and a barrel of laughs. What else do you want from a comedy? Audiences in 1944 must have been more than satisfied: The Miracle of Morgans Creek was the biggest grossing movie of the year.
The scenario for 1944 was a humdinger. Trudy Kockenlocker – love that name! – connives to get her nerdy suitor Norval – yes! - to fool her Dad so that she can attend a dance party for local servicemen leaving for the war - without him and borrow his car! – while he sits out a triple-feature at the movies. She gets drunk on spiked lemonade, hits her head on a ceiling lamp during some wild dancing, and turns up at 8am outside the theatre. She remembers little of what went on until the early hours – except getting married to a GI whose name sounded like Ratzkiwatzki? Later she learns she is pregnant. Breen from the Hays Office, who by all accounts was sympathetic, let it through, though changes were needed to get a suitable rating; such as Trudy being married before consummation, and that it all happened after a bump on the head.
The story is nicely framed as a flashback, with a canny segue featuring the State Governor and 'The Boss', two characters reprised from Sturges' 1940 film about political corruption, The Great McGinty (which earned Sturges his only Oscar for the screenplay). The action kicks off from the first frame as two old guys frantically enter the local newspaper office yelling to hold the presses. They scramble for a phone and ring the State Governor with a BIG story – we don't find out what the fuss is about until the end. The titles appear with the old fellas yelling and gesticulating madly regardless. "I started the whole thing…"
We are soon introduced to the Kockenlocker ménage. A happy wacky household you would love as your neighbours. Trudy, her grumpy old widower Dad who is the town cop, and 14yo sister Emmy. Trudy works in a record-store and is still a 'minor' – under 21 in those days. Officer Kockenlocker is played by Sturges regular William Demarest; the role is his metier, melding perfect timing with pratfalls and exquisite lines like "Tell your sister the house ain't paid for, will you?" to Emmy, when the house starts a-trembling as upstairs in her excitement Trudy kicks up a storm getting ready for the fateful dance. Emmy retorts: "She knows that, Papa. You tell her every day." Diana Lynn is perfectly cast as Emmy. Precocious and cute as a button, she shines and shines. Betty Hutton is great as Trudy, imparting a fresh dizzy innocence to the shenanigans. Her tipsy inebriation when she turns up late at the movie theatre after that night of hanky-panky is a comic delight, and Eddie Bracken as the put-upon Norval is the perfect foil.
Norval's car is the worse-for-wear after Trudy's night on the tiles:
- You've been drinking
- Who's been drinking? I never had a drink in my life! How dare you insinuate I've been drinking?
- You certainly don't get what you've got on lemonade.
- I certainly did.
- All right.
- What have you been using on my car, a pickaxe?
- Is this your car? I was wondering where I found this old jalopy.
Norval, the prototypical nerd is an orphan who boards with a local lawyer and his wife. He has been sweet on Trudy since they were little kids and works in a bank to "get rich and to buy her things someday". With the pregnancy a reality to be dealt with, wily Emmy hatches a scheme to wangle Norval into what he wants anyway: marrying Trudy and making the coming confinement legit. Suffice to say nothing goes to plan.
Sturges started the picture with only a handful of pages from the uncompleted script, writing at night for the next day's shooting, and did not have the ending until the eleventh hour. The result is a truly engaging story with razor wit, deft characterisations, and frantically funny sight gags, with just enough slapstick to hold off any resistance from the viewer. He satirizes everything and everyone, from opportunistic politicians to marriage, motherhood, and romance. Even the army and the war don't escape. A newspaper headline screams "Hitler Demands a Recount" after the 'miracle' is revealed, and a new caring policy for MPs uses 'psycholology' (sic) to handle wayward men in uniform.
Sturges may pillory his characters but deep down he has a soft affection for them. Decency is rewarded and only hypocrisy and cant punished. There is a wonderful scene at the end at the local fire station where the town worthies are discussing Norval's fate – he is in the local jail – don't ask! It turns into a melee after Kockenlocker snr tries unsuccessfully to take a swipe at the local bank president, who is responsible for Norval's arrest. This sequence, like other crowded scenes in the film, is shot in medium close-up, giving it all an hysterical urgency. Emmy disturbs proceedings by telling her Dad a certain event is imminent! All rush for the staircase down to the garage, but Kockenlocker snr takes the fast way down the firemen's pole. Inexplicably he stalls once he hits the ground – what is he waiting for? Waiting for the bank president – so he can bop him!
The framing scenes are beautifully handled with the situation in the Governor's office becoming ever more chaotic as the news unfolds and lackeys begin to fill the room – again tightly framed by the camera. The lightning-fast repartee of the Governor and his chief aide are brilliantly delivered in long takes. Brian Donlevy as Governor McGinty and Akim Tamiroff as "The Boss" are an awesome comic team:
- You mean he's [Norval] still in jail, you dumb blockhead?
- Yes.
- Well, get him out.
- But how can I, Mr. Governor, with all those charges against him?
- By dropping those charges, you dumb cluck. You wealhead!
- Now, get me that banker on the phone.
- His charter is cancelled!
- And the justice of the peace!
- His license is revoked and his motel is condemned…
- There's only one thing more, Mr. Governor, the marriage.
- What's the matter with her marriage?
- She's married to Norval Jones. She always has been.
- The guy married them, didn't he?
- The boy signed his right name, didn't he?
- But he gave his name as Ratzkiwatzki.
- He was trying to say Jones. He stuttered.
- What are you looking for, needles in a haystack?
- Then how about the first Ratzkiwatzki?
- He's annulled.
- Who annulled him?
- The judge, who do you suppose?
- Retroactive. Get Judge Mendoza on the phone.
- I'm getting it.
- He's out of the picture.
- He was never in it.
- Get me those guys on the phone.
- Who do they think they are, anyway? Hello, Mendoza.
All's well that ends well…
Posted by Tony D'Ambra at 7:06 PM
Labels: preston sturges, the miracle of morgans creek, us
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The Australian government's plans for higher education reform have been rejected by the senate.
In a scathing report on the reforms proposed by education minister Brendan Nelson, a senate committee describes the policy and its legislation as "unconscionable in almost every respect".
The report says the bills, which have passed through the House of Representatives, should be rejected outright. If the senate agrees to debate the legislation, the committee says they would require substantial amendments and redrafting.
Describing the policy package as a disastrous failure, the committee says that for those seeking radical deregulation of the sector, the principal act provides the opposite of what they asked for.
The report says: "It allows a massive increase in regulation of universities' activities and accords to the minister unprecedented powers to intrude into their affairs and decisions."
Dr Nelson is now attempting to negotiate a compromise with four independent senators and the Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee, which is also opposed to the plan.
Although the AVCC welcomed the senate's report, it added that senators should debate the higher education legislation this year.
"More than two years of discussion and debate have culminated in this report," AVCC president Deryck Schreuder said. "It is now time to move forwards and reach a resolution on Australian higher education."
The AVCC met the minister to set out the amendments it believes are necessary. According to Professor Schreuder, vice-chancellor of the University of Western Australia, Dr Nelson's statement that he was prepared to "remove every unnecessarily intrusive requirement" being imposed on universities indicated that the government was prepared to negotiate.
The senate report accuses the government of diminishing the role and status of universities through heavy-handed regulation.
"These bills will initiate a regime which will shift costs to students. It will stifle student choice and impose a heavy burden on families. These bills will deepen inequities in society and undermine economic and social prosperity," it says.
Alan Gilbert, vice-chancellor of Melbourne University, also attacked the legislation. Although he is one of the strongest supporters of top-up fees, Professor Gilbert described the power given to the minister in the bill to ban courses of which he disapproves as "downright dangerous".
He said the move would give the government the sort of prerogatives normally associated with authoritarian regimes that fear strong, independent universities and "feel the need to curtail academic freedom".
"If that is the outcome of the Nelson reform agenda, Australian higher education, sadly, will be better off without it," he said. "The reform is indeed vital and long overdue. But reform of the kind proposed is downright dangerous."
The senate established the select committee to consider the proposed reforms last September. As well as receiving almost 500 submissions, the committee held meetings across the country and heard from 150witnesses.
The report says that the evidence from the witnesses and the submissions reveals desperation among universities. This was indicated in most cases by vice-chancellors who faced a humiliating trade-off between gaining additional money and maintaining control of their own affairs.
It says: "The promise of increased funding is dangled before their eyes, but they are aware that the cost is subservience to bureaucratic control.
"An impression was gained that the more optimistic vice-chancellors believed that something would be worked out in time for the bill to pass the senate: that the minister could be appealed to that good sense would prevail," it adds.
But the committee clearly believes this is unlikely. It warns that adoption of the legislation would introduce a "brave new world" of compliant institutions stripped of their autonomy and academic freedom.


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Admission Information
Complete the Online Application for Admission to Hinds Community College. Be sure to write MLT or Medical Laboratory Technology for FIELD OF STUDY. Incomplete applications may not be considered. ACT scores and high school transcripts should be sent at the same time or as soon as available. Transfer students will need to send official transcripts with the latest grade information.
Admission decisions will begin in the spring semester and continue until the first day of class in August or until the maximum number of 20 students are accepted. Application for this program should be sent to Hinds Community College Office of Admissions at the following address:
Hinds Community College
Nursing/Allied Health Center
1750 Chadwick Drive
Jackson, MS 39204-3490
For further information, call the Office of Admissions and Records at 601.376.4810 or 601.857.3212.
In addition to the general admission requirements, the MLT Program has specific program admission requirements as follows:
- Application for Admission to Hinds Community College.
- Application for Selection to the Medical Laboratory Technology Program.
- Validation of high school graduation by official high school transcript or high school equivalency transcript (GED®, HiSET®, or TASC).
- 4. Official transcripts from all colleges attended, except Hinds Community College.
- ACT composite score of 18 (15, if taken prior to October 1989).
- Applicant must be eligible to take College Algebra (MAT 1313) and English Composition I (ENG 1113) as determined by the Hinds Community College mandatory Testing and Placement procedure.
- Overall GPA of 2.5 on transferable college credits or GPA of 2.5 on high school work (if no transferable college credits are available).
- Science courses taken prior to admission must have been completed with a "C" or above and within five years of entering the first MLT class (Effective July 1, 2012).
- Math courses taken prior and after admission to the program must have a grade of "C" or above.
Process for Selection
- Preference will be given to applicants who complete the application procedure by Match 31.
- Individuals who have submitted all required admission documents by the specified deadline will be considered for program admission based on a rating scale that includes: ACT Composite Score; ACT sub-scores; previous certificates/degrees and GPA.
- Applicants not selected for a class may reapply for subsequent classes by submitting a new Application for Selection to the Medical Laboratory Technology Program.
Selection Ranking Criteria
ACT Ranking
ACT Composite or Sub-score Taken before 10/89* Points Taken after 10/89
- 17 or less 0 points 14 or less
- 18-19 1 point 15-16
- 20-21 2 points 17-18
- 22-23 3 points 19-20
- 24-25 4 points 21-22
- 26-27 5 points 23-24
- 28-29 6 points 25-26
- 30 or greater 7 points 27 or greater
*Note: Applicants testing before October 1989 must retake the ACT to obtain the reading sub-score.
If rating discrimination is required for applicants who have the same rating score, program admission will be based on the composite ACT. If further discrimination is needed the ACT sub-scores in reading will be utilized.
Certificate/Degree Ranking
CERTIFICATE / DEGREE (Can only receive credit for highest degree)
Phlebotomy Certificate
1 point
Health Related Technical Certificate 1 point
Associate Degree 2 points
Bachelor Degree 3 points
Masters Degree 4 points
GPA Calculation for Ranking
The GPA used in the ranking process will be calculated from either the high school transcript or 12 hours of the MLT core curriculum depending if the candidate has college coursework.
GPA - used for HS or 12 hours MLT core
2 points
4 points
6 points
8 points
10 points
Medical Laboratory Technology Program of Study
Please Note
- Science courses no older than 5 years of entering the first Medical Laboratory Technology course.
- Submitting information to other Hinds Community College locations will delay the processing of the applicant's file.
- The applicant must submit a College Approved Health Form, completed and signed by a physician, confirming that he/she is of good health and possesses the required physical abilities to function satisfactorily within the program and occupation. Drug screening and a criminal background check will be required as part of the physical exam.
- In order to progress in the MLT program, a grade of C or better is required in all MLT and general academic courses.
- All MLT students must be CPR certified by the American Heart Association Healthcare Provider Program before entering clinical training. Classes are offered at the Nursing/Allied Health Center.


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Naua is a cursive or connective syllabic alphabet invented to write Kala. Naua is a decorative script for Kala and is adapted from Ajan, which was originally created around 2002 and inspired by Nüshu.
Notable features
- Type of writing system: quasi-featural as the shapes of the consonants and vowel diacritics are meant to relay phonetic information. For instance, all sounds pronounced with the lips ("labial" sounds) have some element in common.
- Direction of writing: vertically in columns running left to right.
- Number of symbols: 14 consonant syllables and 9 basic diacritics that can be combined in numerous ways.
- "Naua" means 'rope; to tie' in Kala and refers to the appearance of the script and its resemblance to a rope, or thread.
Where ~ appears, it indicates free variation between phonemes.
* Old version can be found: Frathwiki
Naua brush strokes
Naua writing method
- The graphemes for pa and ka.
- Combining these renders pak.
- Adding a koli, or "tail" renders paka.
- Diacritic marks for /e/ and /o/ render peko /ˈpeː.ko/.
- Marks the labialization of /p/; /ˈpʷaː.ki/
- Shows the palatalization of /k/ and demonstrates two diacritics on one glyph; /ˈpaː.kʲo/, pakyo.
- The nasalization mark is shown on the ka syllable to render /ˈpun.ka/ or /ˈpuŋ.ka/, punka.
- The nasalization mark is shown on the initial glyph and demonstrates two diacritics on one glyph; /ˈᵐpoː.ka/, mpoka.
Naua Kasi
The conventional link between glyphs does not always occur. There are eight constructions which use the koli to link glyphs that do not fit together in the standard way. When writing a word that begins with a vowel glyph that is followed by a na or nya, a koli is used instead of the zero consonant symbol. This is the only occasion that a koli will be marked with a vowel diacritic.
Naua numerals
Higher numbers in Naua
In large numbers, elements are combined from largest to smallest, and zeros are implied [see example "302" above].


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Family Finances: Settling a Brokerage Firm Dispute
- Alan Lavine and Gail Liberman
We particularly have been skeptical about the NASD, which handles more than 90 percent of the securities-related arbitration cases filed. The NASD is a non-profit organization that represents the nation's brokers, so how likely are they to rule in favor of us?
But as NASD arbitration complaints hit record numbers--up 23 percent in August over the prior year--- attorneys lately have been telling us that the odds tend to favor consumers who file arbitration claims with the NASD.
"Most people will tell you that the perception that we were a forum for securities firms and not investor friendly has certainly gone away," agrees Linda Fienberg, president of NASD Dispute Resolution. "Of claims that go to arbitration, investors prevail between 52 percent and 60 percent of the time." Exactly how well investors do within those parameters varies by the year, she says.
What is arbitration?
Arbitration is a way of having disputes between two or more parties settled by impartial persons who are knowledgeable in securities industry disputes. Arbitrators must obey certain laws when they settle disputes.
The bottom line: When you agree to arbitration, you generally give up your right to go to court. "If you bring an arbitration claim and get a result you're not satisfied with, you can move to vacate the arbitration complaint in the appropriate state or federal court," Fienberg told us. "But the window is very narrow, and it happens very rarely. You have to show arbitrator misconduct or bias or total failure to comply with or value the law."
In arbitration, don't expect the kind of large damage awards you might receive if you were able to take your claim to court.
Fienberg says it averages six months to settle an NASD arbitration dispute that is heard by a single arbitrator without a hearing. For more complicated disputes, the average period is one and one-half years. You can get the specifics about filing a claim at www.nasdadr.com. Or, you can get a guide and forms by writing NASD Dispute Resolution, One Liberty Plaza, 165 Broadway, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10006.After you file your claim, you might expect a response from the brokerage firm's lawyer. That is followed by a discovery period where you must supply the broker with all the information they request.
After discovery, you go to arbitration. Thirty days after your arbitration hearing, the arbitrators make a decision.
"If you believe you have a loss caused by your broker, consider filing an arbitration claim," suggests Mark McNair, a former Securities and Exchange Commission attorney and editor of the SecuritiesSleuth.com. "Don't mislead yourself, the process isn't easy."
If you plan to file an arbitration claim, McNair advises hiring a lawyer. The reason: The brokerage firm will have legal representation. You will be at a disadvantage if you try and do it yourself.
There are some important issues to consider when filing a complaint with the NASD.
You must pay a non-refundable arbitration filing fee, plus a hearing session fee. Currently, Fienberg says, filing fees range from $25 to $600. A hearing deposit fee ranges from $25 to $1,200.
Claims under $25,000 are heard by a single arbitrator on paper without a hearing. Claims of $25,000 to $50,000 are heard by a single arbitrator with a hearing unless the investor asks for three arbitrators. For claims over $50,000, the presumption is three arbitrators will handle the case, although the parties can elect one. If you have a small claim, it's cheaper to use one arbitrator, McNair notes.
Beware. The General Accounting Office has raised concerns about the fact that many NASD settlements go uncollected. Fienberg says that whether you get paid largely depends on whether the firm is still in business--much as it would in a court case. "If an existing member firm does not pay in 30 days, the NASD will bring a proceeding to suspend a firm from doing business until it does pay," she said, so compliance is close to 100 percent. But the NASD has no such power once the company has filed bankruptcy.
"At the beginning of the case, we check all NASD records," she stressed. "If the individual or business is no longer in business, we notify the claimant. At that point, the claimant can ask for a default proceeding, take his or her case to court or do nothing."
To avoid such issues, she advises, carefully review the background of any broker at www.NASDR.com--before entering into a relationship with him or her. Also, check references.
"Check your statements every month," she adds. "If there is a transaction you don't recall directing, contact the broker. If you get no satisfaction, complain to the branch manager or compliance department. Do not sit on your rights. Act immediately."
Have a small claim? You might consider mediation, which is less formal and less costly than an arbitration action. However, it also is non-binding.
Alan Lavine and Gail Liberman are husband and wife columnist and authors of The Complete Idiot's Guide To Making Money With Mutual Funds, (Alpha Books).
To read more columns, please visit the column archive.


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"Grace does not destroy nature, but elevates it and consecrates it to God." Thomas Merton
Seaward waits, poised,
gently rising and falling,
by the concrete pier
ready for our cruise;
the polished bowsprite,
jutting in defiance,
fills my heart
with an undefined dread.
Underway at last on the calm Sausalito channel
we strike sail, ropes winching
the mainsail tight, the foresail stretched
catching freshening breezes pushing up
from the foggy Golden Gate;
but I see only
watery desolation:
no familiar, solid road
no bright guiding line,
no golden prize
as we speed across
the dark, green desert.
The wind, no longer a breeze,
becomes a cold gale, flailing our faces,
making us hurry into windbreakers and hoods,
and when I turn my tingling cheeks
towards the shrouded city, suddenly
out far and in deep, I see
pelicans soaring and plunging to the kill,
ducks skimming low over the sea like fighter squadrons,
and sea-lions spying on us at water level,
their dog-sly eyes following our every move.
Warfare fills this place
as species battle species, and
Darwin writes all the rules.
On this voyage of discovery
we are like school-children gaping in wonder
at colorful plastic buckets of bay water
revealing sea-worms, and spider-crabs,
preying on tiny krill delicately inching
over fronds of firm sea lettuce.
So the bay is not a desert;
life pours over it,
on it, and under it,
claiming at every level
of this moist, roiling world
its birthright,
and we are unwitting participants in this struggle
tossed high and low in our powerful, winged schooner,
gliding lightly, scooning swiftly on our voyage
through the turbid, turbulent waters,
through the violent,
living bay.
(22 July 2010)


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Hong Kong's Hu Yun continued his roller-coaster performance and stormed into Men's Singles quarter-final after beating Nguyen Tien Minh of Vietnam in the round-of-16 battle at Badminton Asia Championships 2012 in China, on Thursday, April 19.
The World Number 21 Yun, who is 12th seeded shuttler in the tournament, played remarkable badminton against the seventh seed Tien Minh, who has been positioned at number 10 in world rankings.
Yun, who has been playing remarkable game in the whole tournament, continued his hunting at the pre-quarter-final stage and ousted Tien Minh in three-set contest.
On the other hand Tien Minh played well but failed to dictate the pace against his lower ranked shuttler and crashed out without putting up a strong impact.
Yun played tremendous game in opening set as he did not let Tien Minh to take charge of rallies at any stage and remained close in the first half.
After the one-minute interval, Yun continued playing positive badminton and remained equal to his higher ranked Vietnamese opponent.
The score was 21-21 when Yun showed his class and wrapped up two consecutive points to bag the set with a thrilling 23-21 score on the board.
It was a different story in the second set when Tien Minh showed his brilliance and took over the control from his lower ranked challenger. He played aggressive badminton and took a sensational lead until the mid-game break.
After the interval, Yun tried to bridge the gap but failed to dominate the pace of rallies this time and lost the set with a completely one-sided manner by a 5-21 score on the board.
In the deciding set, both men showed their superb skills and remained close on the board in the opening half.
After the break, Yun played with precision and did not let his higher ranked opponent to take control of the game.
The 12th seed Yun remained on track in the entire game and took it impressively with a 21-17 margin on the board.
The Hong Kong shuttler won the contest in three games of 63 minutes with a remarkable margin of 23-21, 5-21 and 21-17.


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Hello and happy Friday! We have a colour challenge over at the CAS-ual Fridays challenge blog today. We would love to see you use green on your card. It just happens to be St Patricks day tomorrow!
For my card, I stamped the flowers and leaves from the "Peace and Comfort" stamp set with versamark ink and white heat embossed them. Then I used a combination of Catherine Pooler Inks and Kaleidacolor Caribbean sea ink pad to sponge colour all over my card panel. I flicked some water and gold Heidi Swapp color spray over the top. My sentiment is from the "Bold Wishes" stamp set.
If you would like the chance to win a $25 voucher to the CAS-ual Fridays shop, all you have to do is make a card with the colour green and link it up on the challenge blog here. Michele will double the prize to $50 if you use CAS-ual Fridays stamps as the main focus of your card!
Thanks for looking and have a great weekend!


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The 2019 Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank Group will be held from 11-14 June 2019, in Malabo, Republic of Equatorial Guinea. Find out more
The 2019 Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank Group will be held from 11-14 June 2019, in Malabo, Republic of Equatorial Guinea. Find out more
The African Development Bank was an associate sponsor of the 13th Annual Conference of the Africa Venture Capital Association (AVCA) that took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, April 25-27, 2016. The AVCA annual conference is the largest African private equity (PE) gathering globally. More than 400 participants representing the industry attended the conference, including African private equity and venture capital firms, institutional investors, foundations, international development institutions and global professional services firms.
This year's conference focused on the theme "Championing Private Investment in Africa", in line with AVCA's efforts to contribute to the development and expansion of private equity investing in Africa through sharing of experiences, knowledge and relevant data.
The three-day gathering was designed to provide a unique opportunity for networking and sharing information such as trends and lessons learned, as well as debating on approaches and best practices to address PE investment opportunities and challenges on the continent. The main topics debated at the event included: (i) The State of Private Equity in Africa, (ii) Powering Africa's Infrastructure, Energy and Renewable Sectors, (iii) Beyond the Bottom Line: Investing Sustainably in Africa, and (iv) Successful PE Exits: Developing Capital Markets and Other Exit Routes in Africa.
The Bank's sponsorship of the AVCA event is part of its efforts to contribute to the development of the PE market through partnerships, which facilitate the consolidation and dissemination of information, best practices and benchmarking of Africa PE performance with the rest of the world. This is in turn expected to contribute to better understanding of the market and attract additional and new capital (local & international) to the market. As an associate sponsor, an exhibition stand was given to the Bank to showcase its products and services in the equity sector in particular as well as its private sector activities in general. The Bank was also given the opportunity at the gala dinner to deliver a speech highlighting its support to AVCA and projected a film about the Bank's activities in private equity.
In her statement at the gala dinner, Amira Elmissiry, Chief Equity and Catalytic Investment Officer, underscored the Bank's support to AVCA and stated that "as a major investor in Equity Funds in Africa, we are proud to say that in the last few years AVCA's annual meetings have been and will continue to be the foremost event for the Bank and its business in this space.". There has been a paradigm shift towards the Bank's portfolio construction, focusing on alignment to the Bank's High 5s agenda.
Stella Kilonzo, Manager in charge of Financial Markets in the Bank, presented the AfDB's activities in the panel "Successful PE Exits: Developing Capital Markets and Other Exit Routes in Africa" and emphasized the Bank's convening power to impact on the African agenda in driving Africa's financial sector development. Of the Bank's US $1.1 billion committed portfolio of equity investments, 64% is in the divestment stage. AfDB understands that successful exits are a function of sound investment and portfolio management policies and solid financial sector ecosystem built into the investment's long-term strategy.
During the session "Powering Africa's Infrastructure, Energy and Renewable Sectors", Alassane Ba, Acting CEO, Africa 50, emphasized the importance of infrastructure development in Africa and stated that "in the value chain of infrastructure finance, the time spent to prepare suitable documentations to prove the bankability of projects is the longest. This segment is the least financed given its high risk profile. Therefore the role of the DFIs [development finance institutions] is to shorten the project development cycle from seven years in average to three years and to de-risk the financing of the projects. This is the raison d'être of Africa50."
The African Development Bank is one of the largest private equity investors in Africa with the most diversified portfolio, knowledge of the markets and potential impact on improved governance in the targeted countries for investment. From the feedback of the participants, the Bank's and other DFIs' role in promoting PE on the continent was emphasized as critical to providing comfort to other private and commercial investors as well as to the development of a critical mass of local and regional fund managers and PE fund management capacity on the continent.
Being the two major players in the private equity industry on the continent, dedicated solely to Africa, the AfDB and AVCA are working together to ensure the activities, lessons learned and best practices are disseminated to the African and international communities. As a result of the Bank's sponsorship and active participation in the event, it is expected that a strong signal is being sent to the industry worldwide on the meaningful positive results observed in the market. The Bank strongly favours private equity investment as the basis of growth and continues to strengthen its partnership with AVCA as the complement institution to reach its triple bottom line objective: profit, people, planet – commercially viable financing for inclusive and green growth.


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Carthage Halal Food Featured
- font size decrease font size increase font size
Authors: EatingInTranslation
The name of a city that was burned and razed more than 2,000 years ago is not one I ever expected to see on a going concern. The food, which at a glance seemed no different from that of many other halal carts, is not specific to the proprietor's homeland, he confirmed. (I didn't try it; not oversalted, let's hope.)
"Carthage," the cart man explained, is an homage to the ancient city, which in his home country (You've named it, yes?) is still a point of pride. Indeed, a dining buddy informed me, a suburb of the current capital shares the name. The styling of that capital "C" evokes the flag that flies above it.
Carthage Halal Food
Guy R. Brewer Blvd. near Liberty Ave., Jamaica, Queens
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#785 Marc Rich
Fortune: self made
Source: commodities
Net Worth: $1.5 bil
Country Of Citizenship: United States
Residence: Meggen , Switzerland, Europe & Russia
Industry: Oil/Gas
Marital Status: divorced, 2 children
Education: New York University, Drop Out
Dropped out of NYU to work on Wall Street, took job in mail room of Philipp Brothers. Met long-term partner Pincus Green; built Phibro into world's largest commodities firm. Created spot oil market 1968, founded Marc Rich & Co. 1973. Fled to Europe 1983 after being indicted for manipulating U.S. oil system, trading Iranian crude during 1980s hostage crisis, evading $50 million in taxes. Pardoned by President Clinton 2001. Claims to have renounced U.S. citizenship, holds Spanish passport; received honorary degree from Bar-Ilan U. in Israel earlier this year.
Distribution of Billionaires by ResidenceDiameter of disc reflects size of fortune. The red disc indicates Marc Rich
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text:
Buy Livadia Property Larnaca Reduced 20,000 euros - Two Bedroom Semi Detached House for Sale Price €160,000
Buy this Livadia property in Larnaca reduced by 20,000 euros located in a residential area 5 minutes drive north of Larnaca town and the International Airport, at 2 km distance of the nearest beaches. All amenities at walking distance and easy access to the main traffic routes.
This 2 bed semi detached Livadia property is on a plot with 3 houses has a covered area of 126 m2 and a garden of 128 m2. Ground floor: Entrance, living/dining room, open kitchen, guest WC. First floor: 2 bedrooms, main bathroom. Click here to read full details buy this Livadia property for sale in Larnaca.
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PHI @ OTT - 14:19 of the Third PeriodNHL.com @NHLdotcom
At 14:19 of the third period in the Flyers/Senators game, video review supported the referee's call on the ice that Chris Neil's stick was above the height of the crossbar when he deflected the puck into the net. According to Rule 60.5 "An apparent goal scored by an attacking player who strikes the puck with his stick carried above the height of the crossbar of the goal frame shall not be allowed. The determining factor is where the puck makes contact with the stick." No goal Ottawa.


text:
[NEW EXAM DUMPS RELEASED] Braindump2go Helps Get Citrix 1Y0-253 Certification Easily By Latest 1Y0-253 Exam Dumps
Braindump2go Guarantees Your Citrix 1Y0-253 Exam 100% Success with Our Unique Official 1Y0-253 Exam Questions Resources! Braindump2go's 1Y0-253 Braindumps are Developed by Experiences IT Certifications Professionals Working in Today's Prospering Companies and Data Centers! Braindump2go 1Y0-253 Exam Dumps are Checked by Our Experts Team every day to ensure you have the Latest Updated Exam Dumps!
Vendor: Citrix
Exam Code: 1Y0-253
Exam Name: Implementing Citrix NetScaler 10.5 for App and Desktop Solutions


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Why Digital Talent Doesn't Want To Work At Your Company from Aaron Shapiro.
Digital talent won't want to work at your company if:
- Every element of their work will be pored over by multiple layers of bureaucracy.
- Mediocre is good enough.
- Trial and error is condemned.
- Your company is structured so it takes a lifetime to get to the top, and as such there are no digital experts in company-wide leadership positions.
- Your offices are cold, impersonal and downright stodgy.


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Westcoast Cloud's proposition is shaped around maximising your cloud business. We make it simple for you to license the full range of Microsoft products through the Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) programme, whilst also making available a range of additional cloud services that complement the Microsoft product portfolio.
CSP enables you to go beyond just selling licences and gives you the opportunity to be more involved in your customer's business. You have the opportunity to own customer relationships end to end; from solutions, to support, to billing – leading to you having a constant recurring revenue stream.
As a Westcoast CSP partner we aim to maximise your cloud business by:
- Increasing your Microsoft seat count
- Expanding your recurring revenues and margin opportunities
- Providing unrivalled support in order to help you deploy, deliver and manage cloud-based solutions
We are passionate about delivering excellence and we'll ensure we are always on hand to help you take your cloud business to the stars. We will hand hold you through our six stage on-boarding process outlined below, devised to help you take full advantage of your cloud opportunity.