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Billy Kohout of Grimm Jack Interview
Date: January 3, 2016
Interviewer: Olivier
Sleaze Roxx: Grimm Jack have been around for more than 30 years although the band did have a 20 year absence or so. Can you give me a little history of the band?
Billy Kohout: Yeah. We had a little bit of a hiatus but during that time, I had taken over the reigns and it actually was in existence for a while but it kind of shifted gears in members so I was really for some of the time the only original member. You know, the original line-up had taken a hiatus for quite some time. To get that line-up together was in true Spinal Tap form [laughs]. There had been a lot of bad blood that had transpired so I figured that 20 years had gone by and it seemed like a good time [laughs].
Sleaze Roxx: How did it get to the point that there was so much bad blood between the members?
Billy Kohout: In typical rock and roll fashion I think. You know, we were doing so much work in such a little amount of time and it was the decadence of the '80s so there was that whole lifestyle involved. We were showcasing with a major record company at the time. We were touring. There was too much going on and not enough oversight to kind of monitor what we were doing. And we kind of self-destructed from the inside out. In true rock and roll fashion, there is always a woman involved.
Sleaze Roxx: [Laughs]
Billy Kohout: So that had a little something we will say to do with it [laughs] and you know, it kind of became just me. It was me and Tommy. Tommy Lestat I think was the last standing member and then he jumped. I just kind of took it over from there. There are actually a bunch of songs that were recorded if you go on the reverb site or the reverbnation site. They are listed and [they are] a little different than the original Grimm Jack stuff but similar. It's still me singing and you know, I was writing. But coming back to this point, this is something that I didn't expect because five years ago when we put this together, I was contacted by Jim to do a project with him. It was him and the bass player G.G., and I heard some of the stuff that he did with a solo project that he had going on called Charming Bastards. I wasn't really knocked out about it enough to make me part of that thing but I had not spoken with Jimmie in a while so it intrigued me to sit down with him and listen to some music and kind of rekindle that relationship. Within half an hour, we started talking about Grimm Jack and I said, "Why don't we just start by playing some old Grimm Jack songs?" Man, I love those songs. We had such a great time playing them and writing them and recording them. And relatively fast, it was like "Let's get the original line-up — try to get it back together." Within a few days, we met at a local pub that was kind of central to everybody and after a little bit of drinking, [we] decided to give it a shot and five years later, here it is you know? We have a couple of videos out. We have a new record that is doing great. It's just awesome. I feel like, it is, you know, it's like reuniting with the long lost family and I am happier now than I think that I have been in my whole career. Every minute with those guys is just magic.
Sleaze Roxx: Cool! For the new album 'Thick As Thieves' and the prior EP 'Damned,' are the songs dating back from a long time ago or are they newer songs that you guys have come up with in the last five years?
Billy Kohout: That actually — when we first got together as this line-up that you see on those two releases that you spoke of, the first rehearsal, the riff from "Damned" came about and that was pretty much collaborated on at that first rehearsal we had. It was pretty magical. Yeah man, I mean it just came out. That was like a harbinger of what was to come. All of those songs — nothing is rehashed. It is all brand new material. We are already working on another follow up record. There are about six songs – no, five songs — I think at this point that might make the cut. We're trying to figure out what song to do for the next video off this record 'cause you know, I love this record! This one is a good one [laughs].
Sleaze Roxx: Yeah. It is definitely a good one. Is there any timing on when the next album would be released?
Billy Kohout: You know, I think that there is a lot of life left in this ['Thick As Thieves' album]. We are going to start getting into the recording process early in the year. Obviously, there is going to be another video if it continues with the success it is so far bringing us. We'll do another video. I am not in a big rush to put out another release yet. I think that we have not really scratched the surface of getting this one out there. The "Rotten To The Core" video is getting a lot of action. There is some talk — we have somebody working with us as a publicist/promoter kind of thing and there is some European talk about using some of the material — TV, commercials, things. I think that there is a lot of life left so you know we are going to push it out and try to get it heard and played as much as we can. Probably by the end of next year? Maybe at the end of next year, I'd like to think that we will have another record out. You might see a leak of one or two songs like we did with the 'Damned' EP to keep it a little interesting.
Sleaze Roxx: Speaking of the 'Damned' EP, why did you guys think of releasing a three song EP? Was that to test the waters?
Billy Kohout: In today's day and age, I think it's unfortunately not the record — I call it a record. I still call it a record. I come from the old school. I still picture myself with a 12″ inch vinyl sitting in my bedroom as a kid you know.
Sleaze Roxx: [Laughs]
Billy Kohout: You remember that right? That's what it was all about.
Sleaze Roxx: For sure!
Billy Kohout: In today's day and age, I think that it's the single so we decided to release those three and to be quite honest with you, the record was supposed to follow that up within a six to eight month period. It was going to be in less than a year. It was going to be in that same year but I had subsequently got into a very bad auto accident that almost really took me out. I am very fortunate that I am not in a wheelchair or dead. I got hit head on. A kid swerved into my lane and hit me head on — really crushed me. I've got neck and back issues. I am out of a neck surgery nine months so that's still healing and getting back.
Sleaze Roxx: Wow!
Billy Kohout: I am going to be OK but it was a five year process from accident to now as I speak. In February, it will be five years. During that time, the record was underway and I was in real bad shape. You know, they medicate you and put you on lots of narcotics. That took a real nasty turn so I had my issues with that. You know, the pain with the pills, and then the drinking gets way out of control. I am sober eight months and thank God — by the grace of God — I am still here because that takes you down a path that you don't see coming. At least I didn't! I survived the '80s man [laughs]!
Sleaze Roxx: {Laughs] Yes and you survived your accident.
Billy Kohout: Yeah. I survived the physical accident and my doctors almost took me out. I mean I was close. The people around me — friends and family — saw it. I did not want to deal with it. Thank God my brothers in Grimm Jack stuck behind me. They were patient. So three years later, the record came out and I have to take the brunt of the stall on that. I was just having difficult times. I was mentally, emotionally and spiritually bankrupt. It was a very dark time for me. I am doing great [now]. I am on the other side of that line. Those demons are under control. I've been trying to help out some people that have been having those problems 'cause it's very difficult to do it on your own.
Sleaze Roxx: For sure. Well, that's great. Congratulations. In terms of the line-up for Grimm Jack, there is one new face with bassist G.G. Zencarten. Did you guys try to get one of your former bassists in the line-up?
Billy Kohout: Yeah… Just let me think. Grimm Jack has had a slew of bassists over the years but the guy I really wanted — the guy I should say we would have preferred — really wasn't an option for numerous reasons. But the reason why G.G. was in the picture and stayed in the picture was during this 20 year hiatus, he had been playing with Jimmie Mack and uh, diligently for 20 years. There is a ton of material and brotherhood that has developed there. I met G.G. five years ago when we had that impromptu meeting with just myself, Jimmie and G.G. before Grimm Jack really reunited. And I fell in love with him — his attitude, his heart… He is very easy to work with and get along with. His desire and his hunger to be in the band, to be in Grimm Jack, was you know, a very strong thing to say "I'm sorry because you're not the original guy." As far as I am concerned, he's earned his blood. He's the guy for the job and I would not change it for anything.
Sleaze Roxx: You had mentioned that there was a guy that you had in mind so now I am intrigued. Who was it and how come he wasn't able to play?
Billy Kohout: Well, the original guy that was on from the beginning was Scott [Bittner] — but let's just say the original guy when I was on board. Its inception wasn't with me in the very beginning. The first two years, it was a different singer — a whole different band. Well, a whole different feel! That original bass player was Scott Bittner and he went on to do a band called Mr. Nasty and he's got his own thing Heatless Devils. He was not available to commit to what we needed to. The bass player that was on the 'Jailhouse Tattoo' Grimm Jack record kind of launched into a bigger space and was Paul Vassa. And again it's availability and I think that there would have been a lot of clashing of personalities. I mean, I had played with Paul in one of my projects called Rooster. Paul played with me for about a year. I'm not going to say it ended poorly but I really kind of lost the contact and closeness with him.
You know what I think? I think as you get older, you just gravitate to your comfort zone and if it's not close in proximity or convenient or maybe you lose a little bit of the magic or love for it. G.G. had that and considering that he comes an hour and a half away to be there, he's showing me something big time there. It wasn't a real difficult choice to make. You know what it is man? It really kind of fell together in such a perfect format that it didn't need to be tweaked. The only thing that needed to be tweaked was us shaking the rust off because it had been so many years since we had played as a unit and played full-time again. We all kind of dabbled in what we do bit it changed form a bit. Definitely not as much as we used to when we were out there hitting the pavement and we had the bus and we were touring. So it does take a little bit to you know, to shake the rust off.
Sleaze Roxx: Speaking of 'Thick As Thieves' — it has a real retro feel to it which is understandable given that the band has been around for 30 years but what are your thoughts on the record and how it compares to albums today and yesterday?
Billy Kohout: I think that particular record — when I was actually part of the recording process with it — it kind of has a bittersweet feel to me because I had a difficult time with it mentally. I was going through a lot. In retrospect when I look back at it now, and listen to it with a completely clean year, I think it's one of — when I say one of — I think it's the best thing I've recorded so far and there has been a lot of records that I have done. I love it. I think that it can stand up to anything that's out there today or for that fact yesterday. I say that as an outside listener. What I try to do as an artist is get done with the job; do the best you can with the production, the writing, the performance; and then, go back to it and listen to it as a fan. What I love about the record as a music fan point of view is I love the movement on it. It's like a great book every chapter. It takes you to another place but it's cohesive enough that you are still in the confines of those two covers from beginning to end. You know, it's got a lot of movement. It's got a lot of different personality within each song.
And it does have the retro feel but that's kind of the way it comes out. We don't necessarily go in there and say, "We are going to do a retro record." We went in there and said, "We are just going to make a Grimm Jack record" but we didn't really know what the Grimm Jack sound was other than plugging the guitars, getting in the room and just coming up with whatever came out and kind of moulding it. You know, a lot of the songs kind of solidified and come out of the air. You have to be open enough to take that and funnel it down from the universe so to speak right [laughs]? Let it do its thing without kind of manipulating it too much. I think that if you can achieve that with five guys in a room, you have something real special going on. And yeah, I think it is retro because it's where we all grew up. We all grew up in that '70s / '80s so you are not going to deviate too much from that sound. I think it holds up. I think you're going to hear that record ten years down the line, twenty years down the line, and it is still going to sound fresh in terms of what it is. It might not be the flavour of the day but Grimm Jack was never the flavour of the day. We were always considered an underdog — not because we were not a good band — but we were always that band that held on to what we believed in. We never changed to the flavour of the day and you know, 3o years later, that's still working. You know, that 'Jailhouse Tattoo' record, somebody told me that it was on e-bay for $68!
Sleaze Roxx: Wow!
Billy Kohout: It's a collector's item.
Sleaze Roxx: What you guys have to do is re-release it. That's what you have to do.
Billy Kohout: Yeah, yeah, yeah [laughs]. Hey! Get me a good write-up, some press [laughs].
Sleaze Roxx: [Laughs] How did you guys come up with the title 'Thick As Thieves?'
Billy Kohout: We were having a really tough time with — that whole… We finally got the record done, the physical recording and the engineering and working on the mastering, and now we had the whole artwork thing to contend with. There were limited pictures. We just had a limited amount of stuff to use. We got all that together and everybody was happy with the visual but we had no title. And that becomes a pain in the ass man! You come up — nobody likes anything and you start fighting. Tommy actually said 'Thick As Thieves' and he had brought that up. I don't even think that he realizes how many years ago that he had brought that up. We were talking about a name change like many years ago and that was one of the names. Everybody looked at each other and said, "'Thick As Thieves' — that's crazy man!" Because you have 'Jailhouse Tattoo' then 'Partners In Crime' [laughs]. Part of the crime accessory after the fact. 'Thick As Thieves' — it fits right in with the whole theme so you know, we were kind of cool with that. And 'Thick As Thieves' man, it's sort of like blood brothers. We're in it. What that little cliche means is very close to where Grimm Jack is as a band. We're all in it through the muck and the mare.
Sleaze Roxx: [Laughs] Just prior to Christmas, you released a Christmas song and in this day of political correctness, I mean it's sort of a slap in the face. I mean you are not saying "Happy Holidays" or anything like that. What made you decide to release the Christmas song?
Billy Kohout: Well, "Christmas Song" has actually been around for quite some time. I think the first time that it came out — I am going to try to really remember when… We release it on occasion. I am trying, I am trying to get you some factual evidence because I am usually…
Sleaze Roxx: [Laughs] That's cool!
Billy Kohout: …because I hate to be in the wrong. What I am doing right now is — oh, my God! Look at that! I am looking at some cassettes that I have kicking around here in my studio. [Laughs] There's a 'Jailhouse Tattoo' cassette! It's still wrapped up. It's probably worth some money!
Sleaze Roxx: [Laughs]
Billy Kohout: Here we go — the 'Christmas Tape.' I guess that it is a white cassette tape. I am trying to see if I got a date on this. I actually don't but it's pretty cool though. I think that this was released sometime in 1989 so I think that it was pre-'Jailhouse Tattoo.' It was a different song — a little Grimm Jack trivia for you. It was a song called "Crush On You" that Jimme Mack had written. It would be the original line-up that was only in inception for about a year with the other singer [Robin DesForges] and a different bass player [Sean O'Neill]. He came up with the idea to do a Christmas song — a novelty idea in '88. I was just on board three or four months. We started playing it in the clubs. We got cassettes made up and we would throw them out. There was a radio station over in Hartford, Connecticut that got the cassette somewhere and they were playing it for five or six years in a row. They would play it right around the holidays. So it's been around for a long time!
You know, you brought up a really good comment about being politically correct in that whole — you know, in today's arena — God forbid that you say the wrong word! As a musician, an artist and an entertainer, and if you find offence in what I say or what I do, my response is "Fuck yourself!"
Sleaze Roxx: [Laughs]
Billy Kohout: …because you shouldn't take it that serious. It's music. In your constitutional right of freedom of expression, if I am not harming you, threatening you in a way, you really have no right to tell me what I can say is politically correct or not. I don't even like that word and I think that the country and the world in general is taking a real wrong bend with that phrase. I have never really thought of that "Merry Christmas." You know, I am more… I think you even mentioned it because you picked up the Christmas video and you put it on your site [on Sleaze Roxx's Facebook page] and I think that my tagline on that was that "Grimm Jack would like to wish you a Merry Christmas." But I celebrate it and it doesn't have a necessarily religious connotation to it for me but you can take it whatever way that you would like but it is part of that date. Merry Christmas! To me, it's family and love and joy and food and getting together and peace. But I also say, whatever holiday that you celebrate, may it be filled with love, happiness and joy so if you take offence in anything that I say, you have bigger problems than what that sing is about.
Sleaze Roxx: [Laughs]
Billy Kohout: So enjoy it and you don't even have to think about that. Just enjoy it. It's music. You should just get a laugh about it because it's not even supposed to be taken seriously. If you see the video, that's definitely the silly side of what we do. Jimmie is one of the funniest guys that I have known. He's very slapstick. He is the king of the one liners and he's got that cheesy, you know, humour. So it is fitting that is where that song came from. It's been doing well since its inception so that says a lot.
Sleaze Roxx: I just got a couple more questions for you. Are there any chances of Grimm Jack touring outside the New York area?
Billy Kohout: Absolutely! It really is just on what comes down the pike and whether it is going to be feasible but you know, we keep options open for everything. I am really looking to take it across the pond. I think that the Europe market is probably as ready as it's gonna be for us so we have a lot of lines out there. Like I said, we have a new guy that's working with us and a lot of the efforts are concentrated in Europe right now. So outside of the States or even outside of the New York area, definitely! I think that there is going to be something happening with that soon.
Sleaze Roxx: Last question for you — what are your three all-time favorite albums and why?
Billy Kohout: My personal ones… Well, I am going to have to go… I am going to go with the reason why I play. It's a personal thing for me. It does not really reflect too much on the music that comes out of me but my first real show was Ted Nugent at Madison Square Garden in 1978. I was front row centre. AC/DC opened up for him and I was already a big Nugent fan so what came over me… AC/DC first of all, that was with Bon Scott. I think that was the first time that they were doing a North American tour so I had no idea who they were. I was blown out. Bon Scott is still one of my favorite top frontmen ever. Still sorely missed today. But when I saw Nugent, something completely changed. At that moment, I said, "That's what I want to do." So that 'Double Live Gonzo' record is something very close to my heart. I can't say that I have a top three but i will tell you that my musical love goes from Ted Nugent to Billie Holiday to Tony Bennett so there is a lot of stuff. But I am just going to say that I'll bring it to that first AC/DC record and that 'Double Live Gonzo' record. There are so many that it is hard for me to put my thumbprint on it. But that's what got me to do what I do.
Grimm Jack – Rotten to the Core
Opening song on the Grimm Jack's Thick As Thieves CD. Hard Rock, Glam and New York City…never a bad combination. Available at CDBaby, Amazon, Ebay, iTunes …


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SheEO Incubation Program Graduates First Cohort of Women Entrepreneurs
Years ago Vicki Saunders received over 300 applications for her venture capital fund, but just four of those came from women-led startups. The low number was enough to urge Saunders to create the SheEO (like "CEO") $250,000 prize for the best business idea by a young woman under 30.
Ten years later Saunders met Kaela Bree, and along with a third cofounder named Abigail Slater, the three entrepreneurs launched SheEO's new incubation program. It's focused on guiding women-led ventures "on their own terms."
"I know that in the last ten years or so I've had a lot of women come to me for advice and young women are asking very different questions than young men are, generally," Saunders told Techvibes. "What's missing is a place where lots of women can get together and talk about how they can really lead their businesses the way they want to lead their businesses, and get connected to an amazing network of women who can help them be successful."
SheEO is actually the first women's incubator program ever that is focused on social ventures. This week it wrapped up it's first cohort of 10 women-led ventures at Ryerson University. The SheEO program is partly presented by the university and is hosted at Ryerson's Digital Media Zone (DMZ).
The program involves 10 young women entrepreneurs who are mentored by 10 established women entrepreneur "angels" from the private sector. Each mentor donated $5,000 each to create a $50,000 prize for the winner of the first SheEO cohort. At the conclusion of the program the cohort actually determines amongst each other how the funds will be divided. Their businesses range from fashion to high tech.
Saunders, a serial entrepreneur and mentor with the likes of The Next 36 program, felt women often struggled with issues that weren't always addressed in traditional incubator settings, like boldness, fear, networking and work-life balance. In that sense cohort members are encouraged to "achieve greatness on your own terms, in a way that can help you thrive personally and professionally."
The program was partly funded by the provincial government while the network of successful women "angels" contributed the prize money. But will it be difficult to unveil new cohorts if Saunders always has to convince ten new angels to write cheques?
Actually, no convincing was required. Sixty women applied to be one of 10 angels for this cohort, and Saunders already has a wait-list of successful women who want to mentor the next cohort.
"One of the concepts that is emerging out of the market place is this concept of 'impact investing,' looking at financial returns as well as social/environmental returns," said Saunders. "So I have a lot of women in my network who have worked really hard in their lives, made it often against incredible odds and they've got to a certain point where they would love to help the next generation but they don't know where to find them."
The mentors are not the only ones interested in helping future cohorts: after the success that Ryerson experienced hosting the first cohort, Saunders received interest from two other Canadian universities to leverage their alumni networks for a cohort.
One interesting part of SheEO is its move away from the STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and math) and towards social startups. A current emphasis on STEM graduates often unintentionally excludes women, who are under-represented in entrepreneurship. SheEO advocates a "women for women" approach, provides aspiring female entrepreneurs with coaching, resources and women role models.
After a successful first cohort, Saunders indicated that the cofounders intend on rolling the program out to other locations. Saunders said she's received global interest from people in New York, San Francisco and London as some of the initial cities where SheEO could produce a new cohort.
Regardless of location the message will remain the same: women interested in participating in the program will be encouraged to find their own style of leadership through a personal approach, rather than a rigid, pre-defined formula.
"Everyone's leadership style is different, people ambitions are different and if you can start from that place you can gain a lot more success trying to see what you're good at, who you are and what you're trying to create as opposed to trying to fit into someone else's model of how you're supposed to do things," said Saunders.

subset: commoncrawl


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Nikolai Gogol burning the second volume of 'Dead Souls.' Source: Press image
For whom the handbell tolls
February, 1852. The writer Nikolai Gogol lies dying. He strains to pull the half dozen leeches off his nose, but his hands are too firmly tied to the bed. Meanwhile, the quack doctors treating him prepare another boiling hot bath and send for more pitchers of ice water to dunk over his head. It is a sad end for a true great of Russian literature, whose success and fame could not save him from a sense of failure and a morbid fear of death that plagued his last days.
Gogol was already a celebrity when he returned to Russia in 1848 after more than 10 years in Europe. He had gained popular success with works such as "The Government Inspector," "The Nose," "The Overcoat" and the first part of "Dead Souls." This was a man who wrote the first works of Russian surrealism and the grotesque and was so important to the future development of Russian literature that there is a quote, which some attribute to Dostoyevsky and others to Turgenev, stating, "We all came out of Gogol's overcoat."
Despite his success, Gogol had unfulfilled literary ambitions. He was deeply drawn to the land of the great Dante and the literary legacy of the Renaissance, and tried to create his own "Divine Comedy." Gogol was frustrated that he had only managed to recreate "Inferno" in the first part of "Dead Souls," so he decided to write his own "Purgatorio" and "Paradiso" in the second volume. He was determined that the continuation of his "poem" would present characters with virtue and integrity – a moral example for his Russian audience. Up till then, Gogol's readership had largely seen his work as outrageous comedies, apparently missing the deep pathos of the human condition that lay behind the odd humor and absurd characters.
…By the autumn of 1851, Gogol had settled in Moscow at a house owned by his friend Count Alexander Tolstoy. He had a close circle of acquaintances, including the philosopher Aleksei Khomyakov and the poet Nikolai Yazykov. Khomyakov was married to Yazykov's sister Catherine, a smart, kind and caring woman. However, Gogol did not get long to enjoy his close-knit friendship group before tragedy struck: Catherine died in January, 1852, barely three days after getting sick with typhus. She was just 35.
Gogol was devastated by Catherine's death. Gripped by a fear of his own mortality, he sank into a deep depression and turned to religion for salvation. His spiritual adviser was an ultra-orthodox priest called Father Matvei Konstantinovsky, who viewed writing as the devil's work. Perhaps unsurprisingly, then, Gogol declared the second volume of "Dead Souls" a failure and burned it, along with many other manuscripts. Visitors to Moscow can go to his house on Nikitsky Boulevard and imagine the frenzied writer carrying out this destructive act there.
A month later, Gogol decided to fast for Maslenitsa, a week-long feast before Orthodox Lent where people usually gorge themselves before giving up dairy products. It was a step too far for a man who was borderline obsessed with food, and he couldn't hold out. When he broke the fast his physical and mental state deteriorated so severely that his doctors saw no choice but to prescribe leeches and boiling baths in an attempt to snap him out of it. The treatment was a stunning failure, and the writer died on February 21, 1852, at the age of 42.
Legend has it that Gogol was prone to spells of lethargy and was paranoid that he would be mistaken for dead during one of these spells and buried alive. According to rumor, he wanted his coffin to have an air hole and a rope leading to a handbell at the surface so he could ring for help if he woke up in a grave. There was no such final twist to Gogol's story, however, and he was buried peacefully at the Danilov Monastery cemetery.
Champagne and oysters
Anton Chekhov's death on July 2, 1904, has become the stuff of literary folklore. The famous writer was staying at the spa town of Badenweiler, Germany, where he was being treated for tuberculosis by Dr. Schwohrer, a specialist in lung disease. At two o'clock that morning, Chekhov – who was a trained physician himself – asked his wife, Olga Knipper, to summon the doctor for his final moments. She went to the two Russian students in the adjoining room and asked them to fetch the doctor right away because her husband was delirious.
As soon as Schwohrer entered, Chekhov declared, "Ich sterbe" – "I'm dying." The doctor administered him an injection of camphor to try to accelerate his pulse, but it had no effect, so he called for a bottle of oxygen. "What for?" Chekhov asked. "It's pointless. By the time they bring it, I'll be dead." Schwohrer realized that his patient really was on the brink of death and telephoned for a bottle of the best champagne. "How many glasses?" the attendant asked. "Three glasses," the doctor shouted. "And hurry, do you hear?"
Olga poured her husband a glass of the finest Moet, which he took with the remark, "It's been a long time since I drank champagne." He finished his drink, lay down on his side and stopped breathing. "It's over," Schwohrer said. Olga would recall that moment in her memoirs, writing, "There were no human voices, no everyday sounds. There was only beauty, peace and the grandeur of death."
As Chekhov had died abroad, his body needed to be taken to Moscow. To protect it from the summer heat, his coffin was loaded onto a freight train for transporting oysters. What might have seemed like a neat solution bemused some friends and relatives waiting in Moscow and offended others. Then, when a military band waiting at the station struck up a funeral march, the gathered mourners assumed that the authorities had decided to pay homage to the great playwright. After all, his last play, "The Cherry Orchard," had been a stunning success at the Moscow Art Theatre just a few months earlier. Another ripple of shock and surprise spread through the crowd when they realized that the military music was actually for General Keller, whose coffin had arrived on another train, following his death in Manchuria.
Although some were outraged at the events surrounding the funeral, Chekhov himself would surely have appreciated his tragicomic sendoff. It was a fitting end for someone whose literature is filled with the irony lurking around every corner in our lives.
Alexander Pushkin and Mikhail Lermontov
Alexander Blok and Nikolai Gumilev
Sergey Esenin and Vladimir Mayakovsky
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If you're a 21st-century business, the buying preferences of Millennials (also known as Gen Y, born between 1981-1996, according to the Pew Research Center) are most likely known to you.
Millennials, by this point, are well-known for preferring to invest in experiences over traditional purchases. They initiated the sharing economy, as a result of being debt-burdened by expensive university degrees, while delaying home-buying, marriage and parenthood that were the traditional adult milestones of earlier generations.
But how much do you know about the shopping habits of Generation Z (also known as Gen Z, iGen or Homelanders, born after 1997)… whose 2020 purchasing power has been estimated at over 140 billion dollars?
The fact is, Gen Z, are not parting with their cash in the same ways as Gen Y, and their distinct characteristics and preferences, and these deserve and demand to be acknowledged in turn.
For one thing, as identified by cloud-based CRM company Salesforce, Gen Z are less willing to pay extra for higher customer service. It's important, but not so important to the Zs as it is to the Millennials.
For another, Gen Z are MORE demanding than Millennials when it comes to true innovation. Gen Y definitely supports products that are unique, disruptive and break the mould – but Gen Z has an even higher standard of what that looks like. Again, unsurprising – these are the guys who grew up with YouTube and Netflix and can't remember a time before smart devices and the internet, whereas older members of Gen Y can still remember pre-cellular phones and analogue video players.
Also… cynical Gen Z individuals don't trust brands easily. They can smell hype and manipulation a mile away. Just because your company SAYS it does something or has a worthy mission, doesn't mean they'll believe you that quickly. Earning their trust as customers means the value you say you offer had better be demonstrable in practice. Because Gen Z are more cynical pragmatists than idealistic optimists, like their Millennial predecessors.
Having said that, Gen Z take Millennials' social concern to a whole new level. To win Gen Z loyalty as customers, a brand will rise and fall on its integrity, its willingness to support diversity and in approaching its potential generation Z clients as individuals, and not, as Millennials prefer, as a creative tribe.
More consuming differences include Gen Z's frugal, budget-conscious mindset, their opting for in-store over online purchases (so they can be sure they're buying a value-for-money product) and their preference for influencers who are 'real' people, not necessarily celebrities.
A final thought on Gen Z consumers: getting to the point. When it comes to selling to these digital natives, it's even more important than it is for Millennial customers. Gen Z's attention span is 8 seconds (versus Millennials' 12 seconds), so elaborate, glossy ad campaigns are less likely to engage them.
To re-cap: understanding how Gen Z want you to interact with them – whether you are a service or product provider, or their educator, mentor or employer – will be key if you want to engage effectively with this enterprising and independent generation.


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3 eggs
1 pkg. Splenda
dash salt
pinch cream of tartar
3 T cream cheese
Preheat oven to 300. Separate the eggs and add
Splenda, salt and cream cheese to the yolks. Whisk this mixture
together. In a separate bowl, whip egg whites and cream of tartar
until stiff. Using a spatula, gradually fold the yolk mixture into
the white mixture, being careful not to break down the whites. Spray
a cookie sheet with Pam and spoon the mixture onto the sheet, making
6 mounds. Flatten each just a little. Bake about 35 minutes. Let them
cool on sheet for few minutes, then remove to rack and cool.
Sherry's Wasa Like Low Carb
Note: Total: 39 carbs
Makes 60 bite-size crackers @ .3 carb ea.
1 cup wheat bran
2 tbsp oat flour
3 tbsp Designer whey powder
1 tbsp sesame seeds
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups water
Preheat oven to 350 and spray cookie sheet WELL. Mix
ingredients and pour onto sheet. Spread (this is very watery. Try to
get the bran mixture distributed evenly). Bake 10 min, remove sheet
from oven, score crackers, and return to oven. Bake 15 min. more.
Turn oven off and let sheet sit in oven 1 hour. Remove sheet from
oven, and turn oven on to 250. With spatula, turn crackers over, and
return to oven for 10-15 min. Turn oven off and let sheet sit in oven
1 hour. (Letting crackers sit in oven while it's off helps them to
dry out).
White Bread
Note: Total: 12 carbs , 10 slices @ 1 NET
3/4 cup whey protein
1/8 cup "Just Whites" egg white powder
1 Tbsp baking powder
1 pkt splenda
1/8 t salt
1/4 cup heavy cream
3 large eggs
1/8 cup water
3 Tbsp olive oil
Preheat oven 400. Oil a Pyrex loaf pan. Mix all dry
ingredients. Add wet ingredients and mix with hand mixer for one
minute. Pour into loaf and bake 15-20 min.
I got 10 slices at a little more than 1 carb each by
cutting the loaf in half crosswise; then standing each piece on end
and slicing into 5 regular bread size slices. I've been told that you
can substitute 1/8 cup gluten plus 1 tsp baking powder for the egg
white powder, but I haven't tried it yet.
Low Carb Recipe Search
Chamber of Commerce on the Web Member


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G3 adds to sales, marketing team
X-treme Fun Sales will oversee Rocky Mountain region for Vancouver-based ski brand.
Get access to everything we publish when you sign up for Outside+.
Vancouver, B.C. – G3, manufacturer of industry-leading gear for backcountry skiing, recently added new sales representation in the Rocky Mountain territory, as well as expanded marketing support in its Vancouver headquarters.
The new Rocky Mountain sales team, X-treme Fun Sales, comprised of Brett and Kathleen Fishman and Christian Knight, brings 19 years of experience in outdoor retail sales. Headquartered in Boulder, Colo., X-treme Fun Sales has Knight stationed in the Wasatch to more fully service its territory.
In the marketing arena, G3 hired Jamie Bond from Doglotion Media to manage many of the company's marketing initiatives, including online marketing efforts.
Working in concert with G3's PR agency, Verde PR & Consulting, Bond will help tie together athlete and partner initiatives with online and print marketing efforts to send a strong, comprehensive brand message to consumers, retailers and industry professionals. New product videos, an increased presence on ski forums and social networking sites, and additional web content are all areas where Bond will be focused.
Bond comes to G3 with a decade of experience in online marketing for ski industry brands, resorts and operators such as Whistler-Blackcomb and VentureWeb. Additionally, he owns and manages Doglotion Media, Inc, an action sports marketing boutique and ski web magazine www.DogLotion.com.
About G3
Based in Vancouver, B.C., G3 Genuine Guide Gear is manufacturer of industry-leading gear for backcountry skiing. It has been making avalanche safety equipment since 1995. The G3 product line includes skis, alpine-touring and telemark ski bindings, climbing skins, avalanche shovels, probes and other ski accessories. G3 was founded on the principle that gear built for backcountry guides should be manufactured to the highest standards, which has helped the company gain a reputation as an industry innovator. For more information, visit www.genuineguidegear.com or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/genuineguidegear.


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—↓Click icon below to see list of rallies.
Don't see your rally? Submit your rally location here.
Fields with * are required: your name, city, and email. All other fields are optional. Anything you enter as Rally Location and Phone number will be publicly viewable on our Rally Map and Location.


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My Man Godfrey
|List Price:
|You Save:
|$1.88 (21% Off)
DVD Features:
- Art Director Charles Hall
- Rated: Not Rated
- Run Time: 1 hours, 33 minutes
- Video: Black & White
- Released: July 30, 2002
- Originally Released: 1936
- Label: Alpha Video
- Encoding: Region 0 (Worldwide)
- Packaging: Keep Case
- Aspect Ratio: Full Frame - 1.33
Performers, Cast and Crew:
|William Powell & Carole Lombard
|Alice Brady, Gail Patrick, Jean Dixon, Eugene Pallette, Alan Mowbray, Mischa Auer, Pat Flaherty & Robert Light
|Directed by
|Gregory La Cava
|Edited by
|Ted J. Kent & Russell F. Schoengarth
|Screenplay by
|Morrie Ryskind & Eric Hatch
|Art Direction by
|Charles D. Hall
|Produced by
|Charles R. Rogers
|Director of Photography:
|Ted Tetzlaff
|Executive Production by
|Charles R. Rogers
Entertainment Reviews:
Description by OLDIES.com:
This madcap satire is a landmark comedy, with witty dialogue, suspenseful comic twists, and a refreshingly irreverent style. William Powell is the erudite butler Godfrey who is paired with Carole Lombard as Irene Bullock. The wealthy and beautiful heiress discovers him sleeping in the city dump during a society scavenger hunt, and decides he would make the perfect butler. Unbeknownst to her, this new "butler" Godfrey is even wealthier than she, and has a few lessons to teach her eccentric family. Irene's formidable father Alexander, already overwhelmed by the colorful crew of family members in his midst, is mortified by the prospect of having another oddball in his home. While Godfrey sets out to teach the Bullock family that money isn't everything, Irene decides that Godfrey would not only make the ideal butler, but the ideal husband as well. This Depression-era comedy offers full-force escapism, an energetic cast, and sophisticated social commentary - it's a romantic romp with a taut script and impeccable comic timing.
Product Description:
Plot Synopsis:
Production Notes:
- MY MAN GODFREY was added to the Library of Congress National Film Registry in 1999.
- Academy Award Nominations: 7, including Best Director, Best Actor--William Powell, Best Actress--Carole Lombard, Best Screenplay.
Movie Lovers' Ratings & Reviews:
Based on 33361 ratings.
Bubbly, delightful, delicious. Five star rating is not high enough to describe "My Man Godfrey." If you are feeling down and need a movie to bring you up, this is the one to see.
A comedy in the truest sense of the word. Gene Pallette is delightful as Mr. Bullock, the husband/father/ringmaster of his home, trying to maintain a patina of sanity in a household gone bonkers. William Powell, in the title role, is the film's anchor; and his understated performance adds much weight and credibility to the film. Carole Lombard is incredible as the spoiled rich girl who learns a life's worth of lessons from her personal reclaimation project. The entire cast brings this film to life. (Mischa Auer is a riot!) A MY MAN GODFREY will keep you laughing (and thinking) with every viewing.
I am only twenty-four years old but I love classic movies. I own over fifty classic movies and I am still searching for more. I am absolutely in love with My Man Godfrey. I actually have three DVD's of this movie because I tend to watch it so much. I would highly recommend it to anyone that loves classical movies as well.
This is one of those fast paced movies that you will thorougly enjoy! And - you will watch over and over again.
One of my very favorites! Thank you!
Similar Products
Product Info
- Sales Rank: 16,156
- Shipping Weight: 0.25/lbs (approx)
- International Shipping: 1 item


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Stacking rack pallets and collapsible box pallets are both cost-effective storage solutions for businesses in Ankleshwar.
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About Old Mondoro Bushcamp
Hidden deep in the Lower Zambezi National Park, Old Mondoro is small and traditional – with plenty of subtle creature comforts.
Owned and operated by the Cumings family, the camp has long been renowned for exceptional guiding in a truly peaceful area of the park. In such experienced hands, this is a place where the wildlife comes first – so don't be surprised to have an impromptu night drive if leopard are spotted during dinner.
With just four reed-enclosed chalets, intimacy here is guaranteed. Looking out over the water – the Zambezi or a natural lagoon – from waist-high walls, the chalets are as close to nature as possible.
Canvas flaps can be rolled down at night should you wish, and discreet electric lighting is on hand, but foregoing these "luxuries" simply enhances the connection with the bush. Few would begrudge the permanent hot water, though – especially if you choose to take a bath under the trees.
The open layout of the camp allows wildlife to roam through unhindered. And as elephants are partial to the overhanging winterthorn trees, you may well have to let them finish browsing before returning from a hearty lunch to your chalet. That's the deal at Old Mondoro – and it's very much a bonus.
- Accommodation
- 4 bush chalets
- Children
- Best for 12+
- Open
- 01 May to 14 Nov
4WD Safari
Boat trip
Guided walking safari
Night drive
Safaris visiting Old Mondoro Bushcamp
Just ideas, we'll always tailor-make a trip for you
Crawshay's Zebra Safari
10 days • 4 locations • 1 country
This superb safari combines two of Zambia's best national parks, the South Luangwa and the Lower Zambezi. The camps are small and high quality with excellent safari guides.
Visiting Lower Zambezi, South Luangwa
US$9,570 - US$13,530 per person
Slender Mongoose Safari
5 days • 2 locations • 1 country
A detailed exploration of Lower Zambezi from two top-notch sister camps, each in a prime location in the national park. Expect a high level of care, first-class guiding and superb wildlife.
Visiting Lower Zambezi
US$6,080 - US$8,070 per person
Traveller reviews of Old Mondoro Bushcamp
118 real, un-edited reviews from Expert Africa's travellers.
Arrived 18 Jul 2023, 2 nights
"Old Mondoro Bushcamp review"
Arrived 24 Jun 2023, 3 nights
"Old Mondoro Bushcamp review"
Arrived 7 May 2023, 3 nights
"Old Mondoro Bushcamp review"
Arrived 19 Oct 2022, 3 nights
"Old Mondoro Bushcamp review"
Arrived 23 Oct 2022, 3 nights
"Old Mondoro Bushcamp review"
Arrived 31 Oct 2022, 6 nights
"We couldn't fault it!"
Arrived 20 Sep 2022, 4 nights
"45 Wild Dogs including puppies"
Arrived 21 Sep 2022, 4 nights
"Old Mondoro Bushcamp review"
Arrived 24 Sep 2022, 5 nights
"Old Mondoro Bushcamp review"
Arrived 30 Aug 2022, 4 nights
"Old Mondoro Bushcamp review"
Expert Africa's gallery
When we travel we take lots of photos ourselves to give you a real and un-edited view of the safaris. See our 76 pictures and 1 videos of Old Mondoro Bushcamp to get the candid view.View gallery
Our travellers' wildlife sightings from Old Mondoro Bushcamp
Click an animal to see our traveller's success in sighting them.
How we work this out.
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Old Mondoro Bushcamp's location
Look closer at the environment and surroundings of Old Mondoro Bushcamp.
When to go to Lower Zambezi National Park
Our month by month guide: What it's like to visit Old Mondoro Bushcamp in Lower Zambezi National Park
Zambia in January
At the peak of Zambia's rainy season, you can expect heavy rainfall for a few hours most days, with sunny spells in between. Temperatures remain high, reaching over 30ºC, with high humidity. The rainfall is yet to make a significant difference to the Victoria Falls, and the flow of water here remains low. The landscapes are green and lush and the air crystal clear, but with the abundance of water the wildlife disperses, and the thick bush can restrict sightings. It severely limits walking safaris too. Migrant birds boost the species count at this time.
With seasonal rivers in flood and dirt roads and airstrips unusable, many camps in Zambia become inaccessible, and close. Only a few lodges in the central Kafue and the South Luangwa remain open. Few people visit in January, so the parks are incredibly quiet and the camps charge their lowest rates.
- Peak of rainy season: hot & humid, with rain for a few hours most days
- Majority of camps closed throughout the month
- Bush incredibly green & lush, with clear air – great for photography
- Big game dispersed & thick bush makes sightings difficult
- Very few visitors: the cheapest time to visit
Our view
This is not a great time to visit
Weather in January
Zambia in February
February remains in the heart of the rainy season, with dramatic thunderstorms delivering a few hours of rain most days, interspersed with clear sunny skies. There is still an abundance of water in the environment, dispersing game and closing camps. With the thick bush, game viewing is limited and walking safaris restricted, but the swollen rivers allow some activities that would be unavailable in the dry season, such as boat trips on the Luangwa River.
After a couple of months of rain, water will once more be making its way to the Zambezi River, and the flow of water over the Victoria Falls will start to pick up.
Visitor numbers and costs at the few open camps remain low.
- Peak of rainy season: hot & humid with rain for a few hours most days
- Most camps closed throughout the month
- Bush lush & green: good for photography but poor for game viewing
- Very few visitors, & the cheapest time to visit
- Water levels at Victoria Falls still low, but starting to pick up
Our view
This is not a great time to visit
Weather in February
Zambia in March
March is the last month of the rainy season in Zambia, and there are still heavy downpours most days. Water levels are at their highest making it difficult to get around the country. Temperatures still reach over 30ºC most days, too, with the rain causing high levels of humidity.
Many camps remain closed, and the thick bush limits game viewing and walking safaris. However, many animals are raising young at this time of year, with predators taking advantage of the easy prey, so sightings can be incredible, if sporadic. Wild dogs in the South Luangwa are particularly active at this time of year. With clear air and increasingly frequent blue skies as a backdrop, photography can be spectacular. The birding remains excellent as thousands of birds prepare for their winter migration.
- Peak of rainy season, hot & humid, with rain for a few hours most days
- Majority of camps closed throughout the month
- Bush remains green & lush: good for photography but poor game viewing
- High abundance of animals with young
- Very few visitors, & the cheapest time to visit
Our view
This is not a great time to visit
Weather in March
Zambia in April
As the rains change from intense downpours to lighter and sporadic showers, April is very much a transitionary period in Zambia. The landscape remains exceptionally green and lush, with sparse viewing of larger wildlife.
Although camps start to reopen in April, most remain closed, and others that were open at the start of the year may shut to prepare for the coming dry season. This is the first month of the year when it's possible to visit the Lower Zambezi.
The Zambezi River will be at its highest level with the Victoria Falls in full flow, but with huge amounts of spray kicked up views of the waterfall are often obscured.
- Tail end of the rainy season; hot & humid with light rain most days
- Some camps reopen; possible to visit the Lower Zambezi
- Bush still green & lush: good for photography; poor for game viewing
- Victoria Falls in full flow but with poor views
- Very few visitors, & the cheapest time to visit
Our view
This is not a great time to visit
Weather in April
Zambia in May
May is typically the first month of the dry season. While there is the chance of an odd shower, the majority of days are clear and sunny. As winter approaches, temperatures start to drop, with most days reaching highs of around 26ºC.
As the landscape dries out, access to the parks improves, and all but the most remote bushcamps reopen. After five months of rain there is still a lot of standing water, but despite the thick bush May marks a distinct improvement in game viewing, and clear air is a continuing bonus for photographers.
The end of the month can be a popular time for visitors, taking advantage of typically good weather, improved game viewing, and the last of the low-season rates offered by the camps.
- Start of the dry season in a typical year, with mostly clear & sunny
- Majority of camps open
- Bush still green & lush, with clear air for photographers
- Game viewing starts to improve
- Last month of low rates at the camps
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in May
Zambia in June
Zambia sees virtually no rainfall in June, with a strong chance of sunny days throughout. The humidity drops dramatically and, as winter approaches, temperatures reduce, falling to around 10ºC at night but still warming to 25ºC during the day.
The landscape remains lush but the bush starts to die back significantly, improving visibility for game viewing and walking safaris. All the camps in the South Luangwa and Lower Zambezi are open by the start of June. While some have a 'shoulder season', others start charging their highest rates.
The water coming over the Victoria Falls starts to recede, reducing the mist and spray kicked up, providing better views of the waterfall itself.
- Reliably sunny days, but dropping temperatures, especially at night.
- All camps in the South Luangwa, southern Kafue & Lower Zambezi open
- Wildlife viewing continuing to improve
- Increased visibility & cool weather perfect for walking safaris.
- Viewing of the Victoria Falls at its best
Our view
A very good time to visit
Weather in June
Zambia in July
As the dry season continues, vegetation and long grasses have mostly died back and water starts to become scarce. Wildlife starts to cluster around the major sources of water and the game viewing approaches its best.
July is the first month of winter, and while daytime temperatures are in the 20s Celsius, temperatures at night can drop to single digits. Early morning and late evening drives in open vehicles are particularly cold, and blankets and hot water bottles are often provided.
Visitor numbers increase significantly and space at popular/small camps can get tight. Nearly all properties are now charging their highest rates. Even floodwaters on northern Kafue's Busanga Plains have now receded, and all camps in Zambia are open.
- Warm, dry days; cold, crisp nights
- Significantly improved game viewing
- Walking safaris are unrestricted by vegetation, with good temperatures
- Approaching peak season, so significant increase in costs
- Northern Kafue now accessible
Our view
A very good time to visit
Weather in July
Zambia in August
By August, the vegetation has died back and wildlife is now congregating around the remaining water sources, providing excellent game viewing. With virtually no chance of rain you are almost guaranteed sunny days, although dust and smoke in the air means a visible haze starts to appear on the horizon.
Temperatures can drop below 5ºC at night but climb to the 20s Celsius during the day. Jackets and gloves are recommended for morning and evening drives. This is one of the most popular – and most expensive – months to travel. European school holidays have little impact on travel within Zambia, but they do increase international flight costs, and all camps are charging their highest rates.
- Very dry with warm days but cold nights
- Excellent wildlife viewing, as animals congregate around water holes.
- Haze developing on the horizon, potentially affecting photographs
- Cool temperatures & clear sightlines: ideal for walking safaris
- Peak season: camps & flights at their most expensive
Our view
Fantastic: the very best time to visit
Weather in August
Zambia in September
September is the most popular, and arguably the best, time of year to travel. Rain is almost unheard of so humidity is low, and temperatures are starting to climb. Morning drives are more comfortable, with daytime temperatures normally in the low 30s Celsius.
Water is scarce, so wildlife clusters around the few remaining sources. Game viewing is very nearly at its best, with a good chance of seeing interactions between species. Camps are charging their highest rates and are at their busiest, with popular camps often fully booked more than a year in advance.
A significant haze sometimes appears on the horizon, impacting on landscape views and affecting photography. Depending on the rainfall in the wet season, the Victoria Falls can start looking dry, with more cliff face than waterfall on show.
- Dry hot days with clear skies, & warm nights
- One of the best months for wildlife viewing
- Dust & smoke creates a haze over the landscape
- Peak season: camps are expensive & often full
- Victoria Falls starting to look dry
Our view
Fantastic: the very best time to visit
Weather in September
Zambia in October
As the dry season peaks, the landscape in October is brown and barren, with little ground-level vegetation, though the promise of rain may bring the occasional shower. Temperatures can be uncomfortably hot, reaching over 40ºC in the daytime and rarely dropping below 20ºC at night. This is particularly challenging on walking safaris and in camps without air conditioning.
A thick haze on the horizon sometimes turns photographic backgrounds grey-brown rather than sky-blue. The lack of water sees hippos and crocodiles cram themselves into the few remaining shallow rivers, with other wildlife carefully skirting around them in order to drink. Game viewing is at its absolute best, and you're most likely to see hunts in October.
On the Zambian side, stretches of the Victoria Falls become a dry cliff face.
- The best month for wildlife viewing
- Very hot both night & day, with little chance of rain
- Air can be very hazy with dust & smoke, so not great for photography
- Victoria Falls largely dry on Zambian side
- Camps less busy & some start to drop their rates
Our view
A very good time to visit
Weather in October
Zambia in November
November typically marks the end of the dry season. Although the timing of the rains is always uncertain, temperatures remain reliably high and the humidity builds as the rains approach.
While you may avoid the rains in the first week of November, it's not unusual to see some spectacularly heavy thunderstorms, followed by an explosion of green growth. Wildlife disperses rapidly after the rains, no longer restricted to limited waterholes closely monitored by predators. However, Kasanka's bat migration is at its peak, and wildebeest gather on Liuwa Plains.
Many remote camps close, and those that remain open significantly drop their rates. The initial rains have little impact on the Victoria Falls, but do significantly reduce the atmospheric haze.
- Typically the start of the wet season; very hot and humid
- Increased chance of heavy rain as the month progresses
- Greatly diminished game viewing once the rains arrive
- Bat migration in Kasanka, and wildebeest migration in Liuwa
- Camp rates lower, & visitor numbers reduced
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in November
Zambia in December
December is typically the first month in Zambia's rainy season, with heavy thunderstorms most days interspersed by sunny spells. Temperatures start to fall, but still reach over 30ºC in the daytime, with high levels of humidity.
As the rainfall increases it brings plentiful water into the landscape, encouraging the growth of thick green vegetation. Wildlife remains in the national parks and sightings are possible, but overall game viewing is poor. Access to the parks becomes problematic and all but a handful of camps around the entrance to the South Luangwa and the centre of Kafue national parks close. Those that do remain open charge their lowest rates and are very quiet.
The rain removes any smoke and dust from the air, returning the sky to a dazzling blue that is great for photographers.
- Start of rainy season, with hot, humid & wet days
- Poor game viewing as wildlife disperses & bush thickens
- Majority of camps close; others charge their lowest rates
- Landscape green with blue skies; photographic opportunities improve
- Victoria Falls still dry
Our view
This is not a great time to visit
Weather in December
Other areas in Zambia
Zambia fact file
Useful information and advice to help you prepare for a trip including Old Mondoro Bushcamp
Other lodges in Lower Zambezi National Park
Alternative places to stay in this same area.
Chongwe River Camp
A blend of the stylish and traditional in a most picturesque site in the Zambezi Valley, Chongwe River Camp offers an excellent safari experience and real value for money.
Chiawa Camp
One of Zambia's top safari camps, Chiawa is family owned and run, offering superb service and a flexible approach from a location well inside the Lower Zambezi National Park.
Sausage Tree Camp
Sausage Tree is a high-quality safari camp offering a luxurious stay and excellent personal service deep inside Zambia's Lower Zambezi National Park.
Potato Bush Camp
Potato Bush is located right in the heart of the Lower Zambezi National Park, with privately guided activities taking you on game drives, walks, boat trips and canoeing.
Anabezi Luxury Camp
Anabezi Luxury Tented Camp offers a high degree of understated luxury in a very lovely, quiet part of the Lower Zambezi with outstanding wildlife.
Opened in 2015, Amanzi is an intimate and rustic yet luxury camp in a very quiet area of the Lower Zambezi, with plenty of wildlife and good birding.
Kutali Camp
Kutali Fly-Camp offers the opportunity to experience the wilderness of Zambia's Lower Zambezi National Park, in this simple fly-camp located on Kulefu Island.
Chongwe River House
Chongwe River House is a stylish four-bedroom house designed for the exclusive use of families and small groups, affording the ultimate in flexibility on safari.
Kasaka River Lodge
Kasaka River Lodge is a relatively simple, family-friendly camp. It's outside the Lower Zambezi National Park and, with a recent change of ownership for the better, it offers a great-value safari destination.
Chula Island Camp
Chula Island Camp offers the opportunity to experience the wilderness of Zambia's Lower Zambezi National Park, in this simple fly-camp located in a natal mahogany grove on a small island on the Zambezi River.
Tafara Springs
Tarafa Springs offers the opportunity to experience the wilderness of the Lower Zambezi National Park, in this rustic bushcamp located next to the main Zambezi escarpment.
A chic safari spot, luxurious Lolelbezi is the Lower Zambezi's newest camp and offers a mix of walking, canoeing and game drives led by excellent guides.


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DO NOT MAIL YOUR BALLOT! Learn where you can safely drop it off …
Don't dally! Take time to fill in your ballot – and take it to a ballot drop-off box.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Because all ballots must be received by 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 6, to be counted – postmarks don't count – Multnomah County Elections Division officials advise you to take your ballot personally to one of their secure drop-off sites.
There are lots of reasons not to vote in this year. You may not feel strongly about either mayoral candidate – or presidential candidate, for that matter. But, there are initiatives on the ballot which, if approved, will take cash out of your pocket.
So, your vote really does count right here, in the various important local elections.
Some folks whine about "dirty campaigning" or offensively derisive commercials. Others say they're "sick of politics" or that "their vote doesn't make any difference" in these races.
But, you owe it to other outer East Portland folks to vote!
Here's why: If every registered East Portlander cast their ballot – it would be the citizens here, in our part of town, who elect Portland's next mayor or commissioner, and not someone living downtown or on the west side! Those who are elected next Tuesday will have a direct voice on how billions of your tax dollars are spent.
If you're having trouble sorting out whether to vote for a candidate or measure, some suggest looking to see who is endorsing them – or taking sides "for" or "against" an issue. Are your values in line with the endorsers? If so, this may help you quickly decide how to vote.
> Or, read how the candidates responded to questions about outer East Portland issues when they appeared in Gateway a couple of weeks ago: CLICK HERE.
> Or, take a look at how Mayoral candidates responded to our East Portland business community when they debated last month: CLICK HERE.
STOP! If you mail your ballot now, it probably won't be counted! Instead, take it to this secure, ballot drop box – at in the back of the parking lot of Midland Library, 805 S.E. 122nd Avenue, a block south of SE Stark Street – or at any other Multnomah County Library branch.
Official drop-off sites
If you don't want to drive over to the Multnomah County Elections Office on the north side of SE Belmont, between SE 10th Avenue and 11th Avenue, or south on SE 11th Avenue (on the east, or driver's side) – just drive to your local library, instead.
A couple of 24-hour ballot drop sites and additional ballot drop-off boxes are located in all 17 Multnomah County Libraries, including one for outer East Portland residents at Midland Library, 805 SE 122nd Avenue. (Box location: parking lot).
Or, East County readers may want to use one of these libraries (during regular hours):
- Fairview-Columbia: 1520 NE Village Street, Fairview
- Gresham: 385 NW Miller Street, Gresham
- Rockwood: 17917 SE Stark Street
And, East Portland readers will find ballot boxes at these libraries (during regular hours):
- Belmont: 1038 SE 39th Avenue
- Gregory Heights: 7921 NE Sandy Boulevard
- Holgate: 7905 SE Holgate Boulevard
- Hollywood: 4040 NE Tillamook Street
- Sellwood-Moreland: 7860 SE 13th Avenue
- Woodstock: 6008 S.E. 49th Avenue
Ballot drop boxes are official and secure places for voters to deposit ballots for receipt at the Multnomah County Elections Division. Boxes are emptied as needed, and then one last time promptly at 8:00 p.m. on Election Night.
© 2012 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News


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Attendance up at Vikings training camp
MANKATO, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings say about 69,000 football fans attended training camp in Mankato this year.
The Vikings said good-bye to local fans after the team's last practice in Mankato Wednesday — at least until next year. Just before camp opened, the Vikings signed an agreement with Minnesota State University to host training camp through 2015.
Vikings sales and marketing coordinator C.J. Rugh says attendance at this year's camp topped last year when an estimated 52,000 fans watched the team practice.
The Free Press reports training camp generates about $5 million each year for the Mankato area economy.


text: On the surface, the women's Burton Baker 2-In-1 Glove might seem like just another awesome glove. Look deeper, and you'll see that it's actually an awesome glove that happens to love riding in the absolute crappiest conditions. A potent shot of Thermacore insulation combined with a fleece lining serves up mouthwatering heat. DRYRIDE 2L fabric and the extra waterproof DRYRIDE Membrane 2.0 offering a refreshingly dry finish. Too warm or still cold? Control your climate with the hidden, dual-function heater / vent pocket which is built to accommodate a disposable hand warmer. Text and manage your music with the Screen Grab® palm and its stealth touchscreen control across all ten fingers.


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Sheilina Henry Promoted to President of Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
Celebrating Our People – employees, guests, suppliers, and neighbors – has always been the heart of our company's culture, driven each day by our founding Principles & Beliefs, which include treating
each individual as we would want to be treated.
We believe that creating exceptional guest experiences begins with providing a positive, supportive work environment that welcomes individual differences and allows employees to grow and have fun. We focus on developing genuine, emotional guest connections
through friendly service and high-quality food.
We embrace the communities we serve, from feeding first responders to supporting worthy causes, especially in the Tampa Bay area of Florida, home to our Restaurant Support Center.
In 1999, we created a Trust to help Team Members in times of personal hardship. All contributions to the Trust are voluntary, employee-funded, and are not solicited from suppliers, customers, or friends. Because of the incredible generosity and caring nature of our Team Members, the Trust is able to make meaningful disbursements to Our People who experience very difficult, and often catastrophic issues, in their lives.
Employee Experience
Providing outstanding dining experiences begins with creating a positive and inclusive workplace where employees can take pride in their work, have fun and thrive.
Quality Dining Experiences
Serving high quality, safe food and friendly hospitality in a clean, welcoming environment is the foundation of our restaurants' success.
Diversity & Inclusion
We believe in the uniqueness of Our People, celebrating the different qualities, perspectives and experiences that each person offers.
Guest Service
We strive to deliver exceptional, welcoming service to every guest, treating every individual with the utmost respect.
Community Engagement
From feeding first responders to supporting worthy causes, we embrace and support the communities we serve.
Guest Experience
Our restaurants offer a space for Bringing People Together with the help of Team Members, who provide memorable experiences. This commitment has been the foundation of the company's success and continues to be our pleasure today.
Our passion for exceeding expectations starts with friendly, welcoming service that treats each guest with the utmost respect. Delivering on this promise extends to serving only the highest quality, safest food available in a clean, inviting atmosphere.
Each restaurant Team Member, regardless of role, receives robust training and support. This instruction, based on position, includes proper cooking techniques, responsible beverage service, food quality expectations, cleanliness, and excellence in guest care. Team Members also complete recertification courses each year in key areas of the business to ensure clear direction and expectations.
Bringing People Together
We embrace the uniqueness of Our People, celebrating the different qualities, perspectives, and experiences that each Team Member, supplier, and guest brings to the table.
We are proud to nurture an inclusive, service-focused culture, founded on respecting and valuing every person, regardless of differences, including but not limited to gender, race, ethnic origin, religion, sexual orientation, ability, or age.
This commitment has led Bloomin' Brands to be recognized on Newsweek's "America's Greatest Workplaces for Women 2023" list and named to the Forbes list of "America's Best Employers for Diversity" for the fifth consecutive year in 2023.
Welcoming and valuing everyone is vital to fortifying the emotional ties that bind our diverse, unique culture. We focus on fostering a positive environment where employees can take pride in their work, have fun, thrive, and just as importantly, be themselves.
This commitment, part of the Principles & Beliefs that have guided our actions since opening our very first restaurant, set the stage for creating memorable guest experiences and lasting relationships with our business partners.
We embrace the power of diverse viewpoints, personal differences, and life experiences in creating a stronger culture for all.
To bring this to life, we train employees on the concept of unconscious bias and the importance of treating each person equally and with great respect. This approach includes understanding how personal perceptions can influence engagement with guests.
External guest measurements help us ensure we fulfill our promise.
Board of Directors Leadership
The Board of Directors provides oversight to the company's Chief Executive Officer and Executive Leadership Team on certain strategic matters that impact the long-term value of the enterprise.
The Board is comprised of ten members, nine of whom are independent, with a mix of industry and large company experience. Board Members are elected by stockholders and are responsible for ensuring accountability for the company's long-term strategies and performance.
Corporate Governance Guidelines have been established to assist the Board in serving the best interests of the company and its stockholders. Through quarterly meetings and the activities of various committees, the Board advises the company's senior leaders. In 2019, Bloomin' Brands was recognized by Women on Boards for being a leader in gender diversity among Fortune 1000 companies.
The company also maintains an ethics and compliance program to help ensure appropriate standards of business conduct and ethics. This includes an ethics and compliance hotline that allows for anonymous reporting.


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Well, after another bout of laryngitis, I seem to finally be back to normal, more or less. Almost lost my voice yesterday at the end of Bible Club.
Please be praying for this coming week. A group from Colorado arrives soon and will be helping with two Vacation Bible Schools here in Chihuahua, one at a local church and the other at the Brickyard with me. Please lift them up in your prayers each morning to have the strength for each day, for unity on the team, and for the love of Christ to cross the language barrier.
Pray for me too. The heat has been killing me! This VBS is my last week of classes. Pray for God's Word to go forth unimpeded as He strengthens me for the task.
Another urgent prayer request is for Linda and Beto from the Brickyard. Beto has had problems with alcohol and depression for two years now and is not growing as a Christian. This week they fought (about her not taking care of their house, etc.) and Linda took the girls and left him. I have no way of reaching her, no phone number, etc. Please pray that the Lord would bring her back, so we can help her work through this difficult time in her marriage.
Thank you for your prayers. This is a bittersweet time for me, wrapping things up and "finishing the course", yet realizing I'm leaving in less than a month and may not see many of these people again. Pray that they would see Christ's love. Thanks for laboring together with me via your prayers.
In Christ, Allison


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Fearless Baking has a number of great recipes that I've tried so far and this one is no exception.
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 pound (2 sticks) soft unsalted butter
8 tablespoons (1/2 cup) shortening
3 cups granulated sugar
6 large eggs
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
1 cup whole milk
Thick Lemon Glaze
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 cups powdered sugar
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Butter a Bundt or tube pan or spray thoroughly with nonstick cooking spray.
- Sift the flour, baking powder and salt together.
- Cream the butter, shortening and granulated sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat on medium speed until it looks creamy and forms fluff large clumps, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- Add the eggs, one at a time, beating for 30 seconds after adding each egg. Add the lemon juice and lemon zest, mixing just to incorporate.
- Decrease the speed to low and alternately add the flour and milk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Incorporate each addition before adding the next one. Mix until combined and uniform. Use a rubber spatula to scrape the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
- Bake for 1 hour and 50 minutes but begin checking the cake after 1 hour and 35 minutes. The cake is done as soon as a toothpick inserted in the center comes out free of batter but with a crumb or two of cake clinging to it.
- Cool the cake in the pan for 15 minutes. Run a small spatula or knife to loosen the cake from the sides and center tube of the pan. Invert the cake onto a wire rack or serving plate and re-invert right-side up.
- Glaze: Put the melted butter, lemon juice, salt and powdered sugar in a medium bowl and stir together until the glaze looks smooth and the ingredients are blended. Spoon about two thirds of the glaze over the top of the warm cake, using a small metal spatula to spread it evenly over the top. Spread the remaining glaze over the sides and in the center hole of the cake. Cool cake thoroughly before slicing and serving.


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Yesterday was the best Mother's Day ever, so far, in my almost 12 year history of being a mom. No one puked, bled, or threw a tantrum! That probably comes with the blessing of growth, and you know what? I'll take it.
It is likely just the mood I am in, but I am feeling especially pensive today. I am also feeling lazy, tired, not hungry, and my feet are cold. But I want to focus on the pensive feeling. The peering into my brain, the doubts, the questions, and the trying to be patient with myself feelings. These feelings all stem from this change in circumstances that I am going through with my schooling being finished, the Bar exam looming in front of me, and the aftermath of it all. Will I pass the first time? I hope so. But, it is no guarantee.
What about my writing projects? Do I lay those aside or keep plowing through? I don't like to read what I write. To see my words on a page and thrown back at me is difficult. But here I am, revisiting the idea that I had three years ago when I knew, KNEW that I needed to write a book and submit it to a publisher. I didn't listen, exactly to that prompting. I hemmed and hawed and wrote "Trailer Life" instead. But now I think it is time to start working again. To pull it out, brush it off, and put forth something I can be happy with. I guess this is the time when I need to take that leap of faith and plug my nose while I jump in with both feet. Quash the nagging little voice in my head that tells me I am incompetent, that I can't do it, and that I have no business even trying.
Eh. Today is a great day. A great day to mull around with my ideas, not do laundry, and not workout. Tomorrow will be an even better day, because tomorrow I will work. It begins.
Did I mention I took a 2.5 hour nap this MORNING? The cows ate my trees and I was tired, so off I went! It was great. Did not help me at all get anything done. But oh, how I must have needed the sleep!


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Phase 1: Concept Workshop — Oslo, Norway
We believe the first step in branding is to discover the meaning behind an organization. This happens before any design begins. And we can't do this without listening, learning and collaborating with the people who live and breathe the values of the organization, in this case the free knowledge movement!
Great design starts with understanding. Our workshop method is one of our most valuable assets in co-creating "concepts" that represent who you are. This helps us navigate the process towards a design that not only captures the meaning of the movement, but also works as a tool to help you nourish, enhance, and grow your communities.
This is why last week we hosted 2 out of 6 workshops at our offices in Oslo where over 30 community members from 16 nations came together to help us understand who you are as a group but also as inspiring individuals.
A valuable insight we gained from not only the workshops but conversations around the dinner table was that whilst you define yourself as an open and inclusive community, there is also a deep desire to guard and protect. We see this as an important quality and tension and we are interested in learning more.
As part of the workshops we hosted a seminar combined with a tour of the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet. We had Astrid from Wikimedia Norway talking about the work with the Sami culture, Anna from Wikimedia Argentina highlighting the importance of human rights in the way we portray history and Gitit from Wikimedia Israel discussing collaborations across Hebrew and Arabic Wikipedia. We had Kjersti Løken Stavrum from PEN talking about the importance of context and Kjetil Thorsen from Snøhetta sharing examples of how design can empower cultures and social democracy.
We want to thank all the participants that joined in on our concept workshop in Oslo, challenged us, and shared their experience and knowledge with us!
Next up is our online workshops and workshops in India. We are excited to meet more community members and continue to learn more about the movement.
— Snøhetta


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Gwynne Dyer
The winner of the recent election in Italy was a mythical beast called "Grillosconi". That is bad news for Italy, for the single European currency, the euro, and even for the future of the European Union. Not that "Grillosconi" will ever form a coherent government in Italy. The problem is that he — or rather, they — will prevent anybody else from doing that either.
The newer part of this hybrid beast is Beppe Grillo, a former stand-up comedian who is essentially an anti-politician. His blog boils with bile against Italy's entire political class, and his public appearances are angry, foul-mouthed, arm-waving rants against the whole system.
Raging against Italy's privileged, corrupt and dysfunctional political class is a perfectly reasonable thing to do, but Grillo's Five Star Movement, which in just a few years grew from nothing to take a quarter of the national vote in last Sunday's election, has nothing useful to put in its place. Just "throw the bums out", and the democratic power of the internet will solve all of Italy's problems.
"We want to destroy everything," Grillo said in a recent interview with the BBC. "But not rebuild with the same old rubble. We have new ideas." We have heard this sort of talk in Europe before, always from people who turned out to be totalitarians of some sort, whether Communist or fascist. It should not be necessary for Italy to go through all that again.
The older part of the beast is Silvio Berlusconi, the former cruise-ship crooner and billionaire media magnate (he's the richest man in Italy) whose cynical populism has dominated Italian politics for the past 20 years. For more than half of that time he has been the prime minister, and even when he's out of power he dominates the political stage.
Berlusconi is 76 now, but he still manages to generate constant sex scandals. (His "bunga bunga" parties are notorious, and he currently faces charges in connection with an under-age prostitute.) He has been fighting charges or appealing against convictions for corruption for the whole time he has been in politics, and keeps changing the criminal law to avoid doing jail time. Yet a large number of Italians go on voting for him.
Their devotion is even more inexplicable when you recall that Italy has been in steady economic decline for most of Berlusconi's two decades as the country's dominant political figure. The Italian economy is smaller than it was 12 years ago, over a third of the under-25s are unemployed, and the state auditor estimates that 60 billion euros is stolen from the national budget by corrupt politicians every year.
So 29 per cent of Italians voted for Silvio Berlusconi's party in the election last weekend, and 25 per cent voted for Beppe Grillo's. More than half of Italy's voters preferred some part of the "Grillosconi" monster to more serious politicians who talked about fixing the economy, tackling the budget deficit, fighting organised crime, and reforming the country's badly broken justice system.
The result is political paralysis: no party or group of parties is able to form a stable government, and there will probably be another election within a year. (Only one Italian government in the past seven decades has served out its full five-year term.) But why should we believe that that will produce a better outcome? Grillo confidently predicts that his Five Star Movement will win a majority next time round, and he may well be right.
Meanwhile, the Italian economy continues to decay, and the government goes on spending money it does not have. One number says it all: about 70,000 Italian public officials are given cars with chauffeurs. (In Britain, the number is 300.) The risk grows that Italy will need a financial bail-out so massive that it causes a collapse of the euro.
Why so many Italians put up with this kind of thing passes understanding. But so does the fact that so many of those who are infuriated by it turn to a clown like Grillo, who offers salvation in the form of a web-based direct democracy. The crisis will therefore continue indefinitely.
Gwynne Dyer is an independent journalist based in London.


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Kosovo Motorway Project Team has opened an additional 11 km length of the highway to Kosovo citizens' use on 22 December 2017. Together with this new segment, the total length of the highway that is opened to public reached to 37 km!
Kosovo Motorway Project, 65 km dual carriageway motorway, is a part of the Southeast Europe Core Road Network in which it is referred to as Route 6. The project is linking Kosovo's capital city Pristina to Hani i Elezit on Macedonian border. Upon its completion, the motorway is expected to have significant strategic and economic benefits; accordingly, Kosovo will be connected to Skopje and will have access to Corridor 10, facilitating its trade with the rest of the world. Furthermore; the economic benefits will not be limited to Kosovo. The motorway is part of a European network of roads and is expected to contribute to economic integration throughout the region.
ENKA Bechtel JV (BEJV ) has been awarded Design and Construction of Route 6 Pristine Hani i Elezit Motorway Project in July 2014. The Project consists of the construction of a 4 lane Motorway from the south of Prishtina (Kosovo's Capital City) to Hani i Elezit (on the Kosovo and Macedonia border). The 65 km Motorway will serve as the centerpiece of Kosovo's national transport system; it will pass through both government and private land and is scheduled to be completed by December 2018.
The project scope includes 13 bridges (7,920 m), 19 overpasses, 18 underpasses, 240 box and pipe culverts, 19 million m3 excavation, 10 million m3 earth and rock fill, 540K m3 concrete, 740K m3 subbase & CTB, 595K ton asphalt and 170 km guardrail.
Together with 11 km new segment which was opened on 22 December 2017; totally 37 km has been served to Kosovo citizens' use. Until this opening section, 8.9 million m3 excavation, 5.4 million m3 fill, 110K m3 concrete, 468K m3 subbase and CTB, 355K ton asphalt, 110km guardrail has been completed.
As of December 2017, 80% of construction works, 6 bridges with a total length of 630 m, 16 overpasses, 15 underpasses, 209 box and pipe culverts, 15.8 million m3 excavation, 8.6 million m3 fill, 254K m3 concrete, 590K m3 subbase & CTB, 433K ton asphalt and 125 km guardrail have been completed throughout the project. Over 16 million man-hours have been worked. A total number of 3.829 personnel has been employed at peak, which included 13 different country citizens such as Kosovo, Turkey, Albania, Romania, Macedonia, United States etc. in which Kosovo citizens have a weight of almost 80%.
ENKA's focus together with Bechtel for the future is to complete the works on time with maximum satisfaction of the Government of Kosovo without compromising safety and quality.


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Nestlé Plans to Plunder 1.1M Gallons a Day from Florida Natural Springs
Colors and shapes of underwater world / Moment Open / Getty Images
Nestlé Waters' proposal to take 1.1 million gallons per day from Ginnie Springs has drawn a backlash from conservationists who say the food giant wants to take publicly owned water and sell it back to the public, as the Guardian reported.
Conservationists fear that if Nestlé's plans go through, there will be considerably less water in Ginnie Springs, which sits in the Santa Fe River and serves as a home for several species of turtles that nest on the river's banks. Environmental groups say the river is too fragile to serve Nestlé's interests since it is already labeled as "in recovery" by the Suwannee River water management district after years of over pumping, as the Guardian reported.
Residents have also criticized the business practice that allows for taxpayer money to restore the spring, while allowing Nestlé to take water out. The Florida Water Resources Act declared that all the water in springs, rivers and lakes is the property of the state, not the landowners, but it never set a price on water. That means, Nestlé will be able to take the state's water, but not pay the state for it, according to the Gainesville Sun.
"[W]e have an ethical issue with our state putting large sums of money into conservation practices and recharge projects on the Santa Fe River and then, at the same time, counteracting this action by fomenting the free extraction of a publicly owned natural resource by a for-profit company," wrote Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson and Jim Tatum, from the conservation group Our Santa Fe River, in a column for the Gainesville Sun. "Essentially, taxpayers are funding replenishment of the aquifer and then allowing Nestlé to take it out and sell it back to us."
That bizarre marketplace has residents teaming up with conservationists to ask the Suwannee River Water Management District to deny renewing Nestlé's permit.
"Ginnie Springs is one of Florida's treasures. It's loved by locals and travelers alike," Julienne Wallace wrote in creating a change.org petition, as the Gainesville Sun reported. "Nestlé is known for destroying places like Ginnie Springs and its breaking our hearts! PLEASE DON'T GIVE NESTLÉ THE PERMIT TO TAKE WATER FROM GINNIE SPRINGS!!!"
The current permit holder, Seven Springs, has never drawn more than 260,000 gallons per day, but Nestlé has invested heavily in a new bottling plant so it can draw as much water as possible. Nestlé insists that that drawing 1.1 million gallons of water per day is only .05% of the total daily volume there, according to WTSP News in Tampa.
"Springwater is a rapidly renewable resource when managed correctly. Nestlé Waters North America is committed to the highest level of sustainable spring water management at all of the springs we manage," Nestlé Waters North America said in a written statement posted on its website. "We have worked to be a good neighbor in Florida for decades. Our commitment goes beyond just caring about the water. We value our relationships with Florida residents and community leaders, and always strive to create shared value within the communities where we operate."
That argument did not hold much water with Malwitz-Jipson who said to the Guardian, "The Santa Fe River is already in decline [and] there's not enough water coming out of the aquifer itself to recharge these lovely, amazing springs that are iconic and culturally valued and important for natural systems and habitats.
"It's impossible to withdraw millions of gallons of water and not have an impact. If you take any amount of water out of a glass you will always have less."
She also pointed to the threat the permit will pose to wildlife. "Few places on Earth have as many turtle species living together and about a quarter of all North American freshwater turtle species inhabit this small river system. A big threat to this diversity is habitat degradation, which will happen with reduced flows," she said to the Guardian.
- Did Nestlé Use the Shutdown for Good PR? - EcoWatch
- Settlement Ends Nestlé's Expired 'Zombie' Permit to Siphon Water ...
- Nestlé's Plastic Initiative Called 'Greenwashing' by Greenpeace ...


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Crack Cocaine
Crack cocaine is the purified rock form of cocaine that is smoked rather than inhaled.
Because crack cocaine is smoked, the vapours reach the lungs faster and gets to the brain instantly intensifying the 'rush'.
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