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Brouwer To Attend Dordt
(Friday, December 21; Sioux Center, Iowa) Grant Brouwer, a senior at Sibley Ocheyedan High School (Iowa), has announced his intention to attend Dordt College and join the Defender basketball and track and field programs.
Brouwer averaged 17.4 points per game last season while converting 37 percent of his three-point shots and he was a first-team all-conference selection at the conclusion of the season. Brouwer is averaging 18.1 points per game this season with five rebounds and 2.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game. He's scored over 1,000 career points for the Generals. He's a 6-2 guard.
"We are excited to have Grant joining this 2019 recruiting class as he has tremendous athletic ability that will benefit him out on the court and on the track next year. Grant comes from a wonderful family and program that have prepared him to be a great fit here at Dordt College and excel in all areas of life," said Dordt College basketball coach Brian Van Haaften
Brouwer was the runner-up in the high jump at the Iowa State High School Track and Field meet in 2017 and was a third place finisher in 2018. His personal best in the high jump is 6-9 and he ran the 400 meters in 52.3. He twice earned top-15 finishes at the state cross country meet.
"We are thrilled that Grant has chosen Dordt and that he will participate in track and field," said Dordt head track and field coach Craig Heynen. "Grant is an incredible athlete, and will bring a variety of options to the table for our team. He is a great high jumper, and his athletic ability will also afford the possibility of the multi event or relays. We are excited to see how he continues to develop."
Grant is the son of Jerrad and Tracee Brouwer of Sibley, Iowa. He plans to enter the pre-Physical Therapy program.
Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa, is a comprehensive Christian college rooted in the Reformed tradition. The Defender athletic program is a part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC).
U.S. News & World Report, Money Magazine, Forbes.com, Washington Monthly, and Princeton Review all list Dordt on their best colleges lists. Dordt is home to approximately 1,500 students.

subset: commoncrawl


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From the Epidavros in Peloponese, we had to reach Athens, return the car a few kilometers away from the airport to the famous Goldcar agency ( see previous article, and then take a shuttle to the terminal, all this before 7 AM in the morning. Needless to say that having forgotten to set an alarm at the right time, this trip was rock'n'roll, but we were on time to jump on the plane to Heraklion in Creta.
As for a big part of our time spent in Greece, we made the choice (and took the luxury) to rent a car in Crete especially as Thomas's dad joins us to spend 4-5 days for the second part our island stay. We take possession of the car and go to Kissamos, at the northwestern end of the island. Charming little seaside town with restaurants and bars. The beaches are not very very pretty in Kissamos but we had heard about the lagoon of Balos beach at 40 min road, people says it's the most beautiful beach in Greece. The weather on the first day isn't good, it's cloudy and very windy, so we decide to take a "day-off" and stay at the hotel as there is the pool! The next day we leave early in the morning for Balos Beach. At the end of the asphalt road a few kilometers from Kissamos, the path continues on 10km " off road track", quite feasible in a small car like a VW Up, luckily it's the car we have!
There is a toll for this off road track and it costs 1 EUR per car. At the end of the path, a parking and then you have to walk 2.5 km on a downhill to access the lagoon. This is also the most interesting part because you have a breathtaking view of the lagoon! Beautiful ! Later after the walk down while on the beach you can take a walk around the lagoon, and we discovered that there are loaves of oil all over the rocky part, no really retaining us to stay there. Also this day it was really windy, so we probably could not appreciate the place at its fair value. A bit disappointed by this place which is "the" must do of Crete.
The next day we go for a visit of the center of Chania (second city of Creta) it's one hour away from our hotel by car. The port and its Venetian lighthouse of the 17th century are nice. The center is very pleasant on foot, the market halls, shopping streets, shady squares, ...
We took the opportunity to visit the "National Museum of Greek Football" ranked well on Tripadvisor in activities to do on Chania. Free entry. In fact, it is more a personal collection of jerseys, balloons, official shoes of Greek football players but not only. We can see the jersey worn by Zidane during his headbutt in the final against Italy in 2006, the shoes of Christiano Ronaldo, jerseys of Platini, Pelé, balloons of different finals of the Euro, ... and the locally famous and original European Cup that Greece won in 2004. A good time there, with the warm welcome of the owner of the place who is none other than the president of the Greek fans.
The next day we went to another very famous beach in the western part of Crete. Elafonisso not to be confused with the island of Elafonissos in the Peloponnese that we loved! We arrived around noon because there is still 1h road to get there. Beautiful beach, but mainly privatized with sunbeds everywhere and even if we are late September, it's crowded. It's not what we expected from this place, but after an hour's drive .... We still find a creek on the left side of the bay, perfect for us to spend to rest of the afternoon.
We hit the road to Heraklion. XNUMXhXNUMX of meandering roads and incessant speed limit changes that annoyed Thomas a lot. We might receive speeding tickets from Greece in the coming years?!?
We are still on time to pick up Thomas's dad at Heraklion airport. We then continue our way together to Sisi, a small fishing port at XNUMX minutes east of Heraklion. We spend the late afternoon talking over a beer or two.
We stayed in a 5-star hotel half board (which changes much of our recent travel habits), but it's convenient because it avoids a lot of logistics, especially in the morning at breakfast. We do not necessarily intent to renew the experience because very expensive and uninteresting.
The next day, the XNUMX of us went to visit a cave very close to the hotel. A short walk before arriving at the entramce of the cave where we found a small chapel.
We visit the Vassilikis olive oil factory (the second because we visited the Governor's Mill on Corfu). Visit was in French so very easy to understand. The size of the olive oil storage tanks is very impressive, and allows the storage of XNUMX XNUMX XNUMX liters of olive oil, a lot more than the XNUMX liters produced in the factory in Corfu.
In the afternoon we visit the island of Spinalonga. Inhabited at different times by the Ottomans, the Venetians and the Greeks, it also housed persons suffering from leprosy at the beginning of the nineteenth century. Today the island is uninhabited. A beautiful fortress and ruins nice to see.
The following days are more relaxing, we enjoy spending time with Thomas's dad. We spend a few hours at the beach, visit the center of Heraklion and its beautiful Venetian fort, freshly restored. We also visit the very expensive palace ruins of Knossos, interesting but nothing more, after seeing multiple archaeological sites in Athens and the Peloponnese, we were not that impressed.
This is the end of our adventure in Crete after 9 days. We drop Thomas's dad and the car at Heraklion airport and get on a ferry boat toward ...
First of all we were lucky to reach the island of Santorini because a storm threatened Cyclades Islands at that time. Named "Xenophon", it brought a lot of wind and the temperatures dropped passing abruptly from a pleasant XNUMX celcius, to XNUMX celcius, Mmm cold !!!
We arrive in the afternoon and reach our hotel in Perissa on the less touristy (and cheaper) side of Santorini Island. The bus ride reminds us a bit of Croatia, buses full, no or little indication of lines, schedules, a little chaotic!
There is a beautiful black sand beach near the hotel and we decide to go there. 1h facing the strong wind was enough for us and we get back to our room.
The next day the weather is a little better, we go hiking on the way to the ancient Thira (another archaeological site). We only walked to the little church nestled on a vertical cliff! The view is pretty nice from there!
Then we decide to go visit the "Santorini" that we saw on the internet and on pictures. We went there in Oia village and it's beautiful. The cliffs, the white houses, the churches with blue domes, it is very pretty. It is also very busy (3-4 ferries per day in September !!!), very expensive (4.5-7 EUR for a beer, ah ahah). We hiked between Fira and Oia, a must do on the island for those who like to walk, 11km that take you between the 2 biggest points of interest of the island, with the arrival in Oia at the end of the day to see the sunset. It's just wonderful.
We still have a mixed feeling when leaving the island. We saw Santorini, but there is no crush that we had in other places in Greece.
Worse than Santorini weather, temperatures fall to 20 degrees celcius, very cloudy and a lot of wind, this time the storm is called Zorbas (or the "medicane" contraction of Mediterannée and Hurricane). It brings a lot of rain, wind, thunderstorms. This makes our stay on the island of Paros not very enjoyable, but we still rented an ATV to discover the Island between 2 rain showers. We visited typical villages like Nouassa, Paryaka, and Alika. Here are some pictures, not much because we mainly stayed around the hotel, to run some errands. We were not alone as our new furry friends kept us company. They were adorable but a bit sticky!
We leave Paros Island after 3 days and reach Athens for a night of transition before flying to Singapore ...
Top and flops
- Peloponnese: Monemvasia, Elafonissos, Naflion, Mystras, Olympia.
- Corfu for its greenery and its nice beaches!
- Greek food! just delicious! Moussaka, Stifado, Pastitsio, Stuffed Tomatoes and Eggplants, Tzatziki, Gyros, ...
- Crete and Santorini, places certainly very nice to visit, but unfortunately "rotten" by mass tourism.
- The weather in the Cyclades, we control nothing is on, but we did not expect it in Greece at the end of September!
Again savings, finally if we count all the big displacements by plane and boat in the section budget airline ticketindeed, we have allocated 5500 to 6500 EUR for the big displacements, so we have put the flights from Corfu to Athens, Athens to Heraklion as well as the inter-island ferry in this section (Heraklion, Santorini, Paros, Rafina). We track our daily expenses with the IOS app Expenditour and we export all this into a Google Drive file. All expenses of the type rental car, scooter, quad, but also accommodation, restaurants, shopping, activities ... are included in this file.
We spent 4185 EUR for 32 days on site for a total budget of 4352 EUR without counting the airline tickets and the ferry that cost us 513 EUR. He thus imputes the general budget of large displacements. 131 EUR is the average of expenses per day, and it allows to have fun to be honest, we have stayed in good hotels (sometimes luxurious and with sea and / or pool). We traveled by car hire for + 80% of our time in Greece, a significant comfort on a trip! We spent less in the Peloponnese than in any other region. The most expensive places we visited are Santorini (Oia specifically) and Athens or a beer can cost up to 6-7 EUR in tourist area!
Local beers
Here is a small list of our beer tastings in Greece:
- Mythos (of course) - The most common, we drunk it everywhere, the national beer!
- Alfa - Also very very popular one
- Ionian - Very difficult to find, we drank it only once in Corfu and it was very good
- Fix Hellas - Very common, but no pictures (ouuups a big mistake )
We also drank a lot of wine, better than in Albania, or Montenegro, however, there is still work for our Greek friends to compete with our French wines 🙂


text:
Change your FAMILY.
Change your LEGACY.
Change your WORLD.
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text:
OPINION: how student radio is driving my aspiration
By Benji Hyer, a student at Birmingham University, and a young radio presenter on BurnFM and Wizard Radio.
I have always aspired to be a broadcast journalist. With such technological advances in the industry, it is where the future of news lies.
Get The Jewish News Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories Free Sign Up
At every stage of my school career, I have strived to gain opportunities to get involved in radio or television.
After a short period of work experience at Sky News and appearances on BBC Radio 4, I was fortunate to be given a show with 'Wizard Radio', a fast-growing young adult internet station.
Since May last year, I have hosted my own two hour weekly phone-in show for the station during which I debate with the public and MPs on contemporary and controversial political topics live to thousands of listeners.
- If you want to contribute to the Jewish News student section, contact email@example.com!
I presented that from my own bedroom at home, so the prospect of university excited me greatly because now I had the chance to take advantage of multiple more opportunities to feature on radio in a real studio.
All the big names in broadcasting that I wished to emulate had to start their journey somewhere, and I guessed it was student radio, so that's where I headed.
Within the first week of university, I had acquired a slot on the University of Birmingham's 'Burn FM' station.
My vision was to present an hour-long programme called 'The Topics' on current affairs ranging from UKIP to Israel to Oscar Pistorius.
My expectations were relatively low at first, however the show was an instant success. We're only in our fifth week now, but we've already managed to reach triple digits in terms of listenership (although I'm sure my grandmother contributes to that figure by refreshing the page a hundred times), and thanks to the editors, our show's content is appealing to a wide audience.
I've recently held interviews with the university's 'Justice in Palestine Society' after our UK Parliament officially recognised Palestinian statehood, and Hong Kong students during the pro-democracy protests there.
Yet by far the most significant coup came during mid-October. BBC Newsnight and Dragons Den host Evan Davis was speaking at the university, and I managed to sneak in to the hall with a microphone and dictaphone.
As Davis was about to start his talk, I nervously approached him and requested an interview after the lecture. He kindly accepted, and I frantically began preparing questions.
We later sat down together for a good 15 minutes, and I was able to record his views of Scottish independence, the economy … and of course I asked who his favourite Dragon is!
He left in a hurry – probably off to do better things than chat with a teenager who fantasises about doing his job – but before leaving, commented in a very flattering manner that "you're like a young version of me … [and] you'll go far".
After lengthy days socialising in the 'Jewish bubble', I find it almost therapeutic to sit down at the end of the day and discuss the headlines on air with fellow politically-passionate individuals.
Hopefully, both 'Wizard Radio' and 'Burn FM' will grow further in the coming years and my involvement in both shall continue.
You can tune in to my 'Wizard Radio' show every Sunday from 2pm-4pm at www.wizardradio.co.uk/listenlive, and listen to 'The Topics' on 'Burn FM' every Tuesday from 9pm-10pm (possibly changing to a 1:30pm-2:30pm slot on Fridays) via www.burnfm.com/player or catch a recording of the show on the station's 'News' page where you can also find all programmes and full interviews to date.
Follow me on Twitter: @benjihyer
By Brigit Grant
By Jewish News


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Pamukkale is about 600 km from İstanbul. The train connections via Eskişehir is simple.
You have to take high speed train to Eskişehir, and then take daily train to Denizli. Arrival to Denizli is late, organize your accomadation in advance.
Go to Pendik train station.
Take İstanbul Ankara YHT to Eskişehir. Please also check Istanbul Konya HST as alternative.
Take Pamukkale Ekspresi (Eskişehir Denizli treni) to Denizli.
Rest in a hotel. Click for public transport, hotels around and more information about train station.
Pamukkale is 17.5 km away from Denizli city center. There are regular minibus service (every 20 minutes) from Denizli main bus station (see directions map). It takes about 20 minutes to get to Pamukkale.
Directions are given as suggestions based on personal experience and current timetables as of 2/2018. Some information may be out-of-date. Please read our disclaimer statement.


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16" Drop, 18" Strand, Quartz, Sterling NecklaceProductVariantDrop
We currently have 1 in stock.
Clear Quartz and sterling silver beaded necklace designed and hand crafted by The Mystic Jewel family artisans has a spring ring clasp at one end which can be clasped as a 16" drop necklace by putting the clasp above the third bead (shown on the right)or as an 18" single strand by putting the clasp at the very end of the strand (shown on the left). The beads are approx. 1/4" tall and 1/2" wide. The exact shape of the beads may vary slightly with each piece.


text: Tolo Home by architect Alvaro Leite Siza is a up to date residence design that sits on a steep slope in Penafiel, Portugal. It's the location's distinctive topography that dictates this residence fascinating composition of a number of particular person but interconnected volumes, which permit this design to naturally unfold alongside the rocky terrain. Three bedrooms, a shared tub, a front room, eating room, kitchen and pantry full the house's communal dwelling areas. Between these numerous elevations are an outside swimming pool and coated patios, related by a footpath and stairs main up the hillside. The outside of this contemporary residence boasts a cool, edgy attraction with its concrete facade, sharp geometric types and metallic doorways. Interiors are fairly opposite, boasting a minimal laid-again softness about them with a palate of white accented by wealthy wooden doorways, inside flooring and trim, and a floating staircase that's as practical as it's lovely. The roof of this revolutionary house is paved and accommodates a backyard with a view of the valley.


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Harvard Heart Letter
Halt heart disease with a plant-based, oil-free diet
A low-fat vegan diet appears to halt or reverse heart disease. But this strict diet may be tough to follow. A more lenient eating pattern, such as the Mediterranean diet, appears to be very beneficial and easier to follow.


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Job opening: Part-time office manager.
Wood & Nathanson, LLP is seeking a part-time office manager / paralegal. We are a criminal defense firm. Responsibilities include general office duties, record keeping, data entry, filing, correspondence, some interaction with courts and clients. Qualified candidates may also be given research and writing projects.
12-15 hours/week. $18/hour.
Send resume to David Nathanson.


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The Smart Home Kickstart Project has the goal to reduce high utility bills and improve quality of life through
Smart technology
The program is a dream come true for DeAndrea Salvador, a fifth-generation Charlottean who was inspired to get involved by memories of an elderly neighbor from her childhood fretting about how she could afford her monthly utility bill.
"Her husband at the time had a heart condition, and she was struggling to make sure he was comfortable," Salvador said. "Just looking at my community and the effect that high energy burdens had led me down the path of research."
RETI is one of the many partners and is providing support and training for the 33 households participating, as well as education for the broader community on energy-saving techniques.
For Salvador, the progress, though slow, has been rewarding to watch.
"I feel that this could be the launching point for other programs that the city of Charlotte can do around energy efficiency. These people are pioneers. There's a level of excitement that comes with that."
Lower utility bills will help participants remain in their homes and alleviate financial burdens. The Smart Home bundle included: Amazon Alexa, smart plugs, programmable thermostat, Halo smoke alarm, Amazon Prime, Smart Strip, Light Bulbs.
Read full article here


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In the absence of any evidence of which phone or better phone, we will focus on all aspects of Galaxy Note 9, which surrounds iPhone X.
In case of Galaxy Note 9, the pen has a groove. With a Bluetooth connection, you can use an accessory device to control the remote control, send commands to the media player, etc.
There are rumors that Apple is developing its own iPhone style. I hope it's as convenient as S Foam.
Battery Power:
iPhone: 2761 mAh
Galaxy Note 9: 4,000 mAh
From the first year of iPhone, Apple requires that if the battery lasts a day, it's enough. In many cases, the iPhone does not support heavy loads, especially if the network is unstable.
As a result, iPhone users without PowerBank will not be able to travel or leave their homes for a full day.
Internal Storage:
iPhone: 64 GB/256 GB
Galaxy Note 9: 128 GB/ 512 GB + SD Card Slot
Samsung has doubled the size of Apple's memory. But an American company can avoid it by investing more than $ 1,000 in gadgets.
Note 9 owners can use SD cards to increase the amount of memory while Apple customers can only pay. Someone can and is useful, but in reality, it is pure marketing.
External Connectivity:
Galaxy Note 9 connects the external display with the HDMI USB-C adapter for a few seconds. You can play a video, play a show or start a hearthstone.
Models without iPhone are so easy to get. Some adapters allow you to view images on the screen, but they are not included in the iOS device collection. For Galaxy Note 9, the adapter is added, and the phone refers to the new display as an external display, which means you can start the video and use it for other purposes.
Besides these reasons, we must also keep in mind that iPhone beat Galaxy Note 9 in the benchmark test last year.
You may also read: Samsung Galaxy X Folding Phone Specifications


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Game Credits
|Cyril Cyberpunk (1996)
|(Digital Sound Engine Kit)
|Earthworm Jim 1 & 2: The Whole Can 'O Worms (1996)
|(DSIK Audio System)
|Imperium Romanum (1996)
|(DSIK Sound System)
|In Pursuit of Greed (1996)
|(Sound System)
|Baryon (1995)
|(Music / Sound Programming)
|Rollin (1995)
|(Sound System by)
|Flying Tigers (1994)
|(Sound Programming)
|XQuest (1994)
|(Tinyplay sound code inspiration)
|Terroid (1997)
|(We would like to thank )
|Battle of the Eras (1995)
|(Special Thanks)
|DX-Ball 2 (1999)
|(Sound System (SEAL) by)
|Starcom (1997)
|(Sound System info. This program uses the DSIK sound system for WATCOM C/C++ from)
|The Worlds of Billy (1997)
|(This program uses the DSIK sound system for WATCOM C/C++ and DOS/4GW from)
Developer Biography
There is no biography on file for this developer.
[add bio]
If you have a portrait of this person, you can upload it to the MobyGames database.
Related Sites
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text:
That the US economy is hugely dependent on stimulus steroid is clear by the US automobile sales number released today for the month of September. The cash for clunkers programme ended in August and September was the first full month after the expiry of the programme. Result? Virtual across the board fall is sales number reported by the auto majors. Sales of GM and Chrysler nearly halved. General Motors sold some 156,673 vehicles in September, a slump of 45%. At Chrysler, total U.S. sales came in at 62,197, a decrease of 42%. In comparison, sales of Ford fell relatively less. A drop of only 5.1% (selling 114,655 vehicles as compared to 116,734 a year ago).
That the US economic pain is not yet over I clear from the fact that for the week ended Sept. 26, initial claims rose 17,000 to 551,000. This halted not only some minor decline seen in the previous three weeks (attributable more to technical factor like work day adjustment), but the decline was much sharper than an expectation of a mere reduction of 1,000.
Fact is, since the entire problem has been triggered by the collapse of housing market, only the stabilization of the same can possibly signal an end of the pain. However, it is quite likely that some improvement in recent numbers would not be sustainable. Consider this. In the U.S., there is an USD 8,000 first-time home buyer's tax credit and this benefit is set to expire at the end of November. Given the example of the auto market, it is quite likely that the impact will be quite negative. On top of it, the Fed is running a programme of buying USD 1.25 trillion worth of mortgage-backed securities to support the housing market. Currently they are most of the way through the program and anticipate phasing it out at some time in 2010. That would be another blow to this sector. Add to this the likely continuation of foreclosures that would add to the unsold housing stock and things look far far away from being rosy.
Time to be very cautious indeed.


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Questions For Michigan Wedding Rentals
Submitted by: Robert Reno
When interviewing potential reception rental vendors, make sure you have an idea of what you are looking for, approximate guest list, and ideal locations. The more detailed your answers, the closer they will be able to estimate your packaged price. We have below several important questions to ask companies when meeting. You can use this guideline for linens, limos, Michigan Photo Booths, china, chairs, lighting design, florists, lounge furniture, and decor.
What Questions to Ask Michigan Wedding Rentals
Find out the things the company can rent you. Majority of vendors will try to stick with one service. However, others will try to offer a variety for you to choose from. This is great, because it can save you time and money in the long run. Keep in mind, that the company might have a wider selection than what you see on their website or brochure.
How much is this going to cost me? Do you have a pricing sheet? A handful of companies try to give an all inclusive experience, while some have a few packages. The more diverse their packages, the better it is with working with your budget. It is important that the company can easily walk you through the reason for the pricing differences.
When was the last time you worked at my banquet hall? There are tons of halls in Michigan, and they are constantly being remodeled. Their perspective will play a huge role in what options they can bring to the table. You also have to consider possible problems with logistics. Reputable vendors will be able to give honest feedback on what works best with the venue. These recommendations will be based on recent clients and future booked events. Remember that there is not any one way to plan a reception, they should be on the same wave length with your vision.
Is there any charge for delivery, setup and teardown? Which packages include this? Going back to logistics, this is also very important. Not every vendor will travel a couple hours to your wedding, while others will take the ferry all the way to Mackinac Island. There is a lot of stress involved with setting up the rental equipment. Try to negotiate your package, so that take-down is also included. The last thing any bride would want is for the chiavari chair company to pick up the equipment the next day, and the hall charged you an overnight storage fee.
What are the exact times for equipment delivery and pickup? Have these times wrote out into your contract. There are many issues with events being ruined because of the wrong information. The most important element of your reception is the part that goes haywire. Your wedding has to be flawless. Just recently we were at a reception where the linen company was fifteen chair covers short. It turns out the couple made last minute changes to the head count without notifying the linen company. They drove 45 minutes during 5 o clock traffic to make sure they weren t short. Try to give your other vendors a heads up on last minute changes.
Who moves the decor between the ceremony and reception locations? You might consider this with your florist. You spent the money on the flowers; don t let them go to waste! So who s going to ensure they get to their final destination safe and sound. It never hurts to ask.
Outdoor receptions/ceremonies require tents. Does your company recommend a large tent or several smaller tents? We all know that everything has a price and different spaces require different sizes/layouts. Tents are great for the larger than life outside vibe. Tents allow your parents to invite a bunch of people that you never met or heard of before Don t forget that you have to feed all those strangers. Tents also need a small army of people to build, air-condition, decorate, and teardown. The cost ratio will be labor vs. square footage. You can stack this side by side to a banquet hall. It almost equals out to be the same in the long run.
Do you have any policies on lost or broken rentals? These policies are common, because things tend to happen. Linens are always lost or misplaced with the halls linens. Count your blessings if everything goes perfect, but expect the unexpected. Try to have your vendor give you a worst case scenario before the wedding. They should also tell you beforehand of any special requirements they might need regarding your package.
What number can I call if I need to reach your office the day of my event? You also want this person to have easy access to your information so they are completely aware of your contract details.
What is the latest I can reserve your service? Popular companies tend to be snatched up quickly. Typically busy dates are reserved over a year out. Some places managed several weddings on a single Saturday. The company should never over book the date, it is crucial they have a backup plan for emergencies.
Explain to me what happens if I cancel? We all know that a lot can change a year from now. We don t expect things to happen, but then again we don t want them to. Companies that handle 50+ clients a year run into these situations a couple times every year. The company should have no problem in walking your through the cancellation policy. Remember that these wedding companies turn down thousands of dollars in business to reserve your date.
Will I have to pay a deposit? How must is the retainer, and when do I have to put the money down? It is common practice to pay up to 50% when singing your contract to reserve the date. Also most reputable companies require final payment of the outstanding balance two weeks before your big day.
About the Author: Rob owns Encore. Besides the
their team also provides lighting design and photo booth rentals that also serve Mackinac Island. Visit the following link for more info on
Permanent Link:


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Karkaraly National Park
Karkaraly National Park (Kazakh: Қарқаралы мемлекеттік ұлттық табиғи паркі) (Russian: Каркаралинский государственный национальный природный парк) is a protected reserve and national park in the Karaganda Oblast (Karagandy Province) of Kazakhstan. The park headquarters are in the city of Karkaraly, 244 km east of Karaganda.
On March 1, 1884, the Karkaraly Forest was established. In 1889, construction began on many of the parks cordons: Bedaik, Koktobe, Ayushat, Tulkebai, Tonkurus and others. From 1910 to 1913, the House of the Forest Warden, the parks most famous building was constructed. It is known for its interesting architecture. Pre-Bolshevik Revolution, all former forest cottages were allotted to army troops, Karkaraly Cossacks, and to local people. The Kent and Karkaralinsk forest cottages were part of the Karkaralinsk forest treasury and were state property. After the October Revolution, the entire forest area became part of the state forest fund. Having undergone several administrative changes in 1947, the Karkaraly Forestry Department was organized. In the beginning of the 1990s, work began on the creation of the national park. On December 1, 1998 resolution number 1212 was passed, transforming the area into the Karkaraly National Park. The primary goal of the national park is the protection and restoration of the natural area within the park boundaries.
The total area of Karkaraly National Park is 112,120 ha. Of this 44,339.5 ha are forested. The park territory is divided into 4 areas: Mountain Forest - 25576 ha Karkaraly Forest - 23846 ha Kent Forest - 40,901 ha Baktuh – 21,797 ha The park has 22,243 hectares where all forms of economic activities are forbidden. The park has 89,877 hectares where all economic activities under strict control are allowed. Near the park are two other protected areas: Bektauata National Preserve – 500 ha Beldeutac National Preserve - 44,660 ha
In the Paleozoic Age (250-300 million years ago), this area of Kazakhstan was an inland sea. The water retreated 1.2 to 2 million years ago, when the ancient Paleozoic shield was cracked by granite. The area lifted and created the Kent and Karkaraly Mountains. The rocks and cliffs have been here ever since and for many thousands of years the untamable steppe wind and precipitation has sculpted the rocks into unique shapes.
People have lived in the Karkaraly area since ancient times. The earliest archeological finds connected with ancient people dates back to the Paleolithic (or Stone) Age. Archeological sites from the Bronze Age have been investigated more often. There are over 30 archaeological sites (from the Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age) of burial mounds and ancient settlements within the park boundaries. Some of these are the best discovered sites from these periods in Kazakhstan.
Flora and fauna[edit]
The park has over 700 species of plants and is home to 80% of all flora found in central Kazakhstan. Five plant species are listed in Kazakhstan's Red Book of protected species: Kyrgyz Birch (Betula kirghisorum SAV.-RYCZG) Smooth Sphagnum (Sphagnum teres (Schimp.) Angstr.) Thin Poppy (Papaver tenellum) Spring Pheasant's Eye (Adonis vernalis L.) Karkaraly barberry (Berberis karkaralensis Kornilova et Potapov) However, in total, there are 28 rare or disappearing kinds of flora in the park.
The forests within the park are made up of pine, birch, poplar, willow, and juniper trees. 71.3% of the wooded area in the park are pine trees. Birch forest occupies 10% of the wooded area and aspen forest take up 2%. The underbrush of the park includes Cossack's juniper, Tatar's honeysuckle, and other plants. Shrubs occupy 34% of the total area of the park. There are 87 kinds of medicinal, oil bearing and alkaloid plants in the Karkaraly Mountains. Because of drought and high winds, 2,525 hectares of the Karkaraly forest were burned by forest fires in 1997-1998. After the fire, the park worked very hard on planting new trees and restoring the forest to its original state. A nursery in the Kent mountains provided the saplings for the re-vegetation project. Fire prevention standards were implemented and the following year 164 hectares were destroyed from 18 separate fires. In 2003, only 84 hectares were burned.
There are 153 species of birds in the park. 11 of these species are in Kazakhstan's Red Book of Protected Species [1]. They are: Golden Eagle, Imperial Eagle, Steppe Eagle, Booted Eagle, Saker Falcon, Eurasian Eagle-owl, Dalmatian Pelican, Black Stork, Whooper Swan, Swan Goose, Pallas's Sandgrouse.
Of these, the Imperial Eagle, Saker Falcon, Dalmatian Pelican are protected internationally under the IUCN Red List. The park also has the Lesser Kestrel, which is protected internationally under the IUCN.
The park has 46 species of mammals, including the Wolf, Red Fox, Corsac Fox, European badger, Wild Boar, Red Deer, Siberian Roe Deer, Moose, Argali, Eurasian linx, 3 species of bat, Pallas's Cat, and many others. The argali and Pallas's Cat are protected under Kazakhstan's red book of protected species. Argali are the largest species of sheep in the world. The argali in the national park are one of six subspecies of argali living in Kazakhstan. In the Karkaraly National Nature Park the highest numbers of argali are in the Kent Mountains and in the neighboring Beldeutas Natural Reserve.
Spring: Spring in Karkaraly begins in mid-March and lasts until the end of May. During this short period the air temperature rises to an average of 15 C. Snow cover in open areas begins to melt quickly, but in shady canyons the snow may last until the end of May. When snow melts there are numerous streams and small waterfalls, as well as dry riverbeds that fill with melt water. The surrounding nature also begins to wake up: the birds and animals arrive. The primrose, tulips, and other flowers begin to arrive. In May, the trees are covered with young leaves and the forest is filled with even more birds. Within the spring months, May is the most enjoyable
Summer: In Karkaraly, summer begins in early June. The overall average air temperature for the summer months is 18 C, and in the daytime the air warms up to an average of 25 С (on hot days to 37 C). The hottest month of the year is July. Rainfall in the summer usually comes in the form of showers and thunderstorms. The beginning of summer is characterized by the abundant flowering of plants. In the middle of summer, berries begin to ripen (strawberries, stone berry, raspberry, strawberry, currant), and edible mushrooms are abundant. The summer months are considered the most comfortable time of the year to visit Karkaraly.
Autumn: Autumn is the most vivid and colorful season in the national park. It starts in mid-September and lasts until mid-November. The weather is particularly good in September, as a temperatures begin to drop. In October, there is a possibility of a freeze and there is an increase the number of cloudy days, with possible rain. In the first half of October the average daily temperature falls below 10 C. By the end of October all the migratory birds fly south. The forests in the park are saturated with colors. Many mushrooms can be found during this time of year. In late autumn, most wild animals are changing the colors of their coats and preparing for winter. In the autumn months, the most comfortable months are September and early October.
Winter: Winter in Karkaraly is cold and snowy. Negative temperatures are recorded from November to March and sustained cold weather lasts an average of 135 days. During this period, the daytime temperature does not usually rise above 0 C and nights are usually very cold. In January–February, the temperature drops to an average of – 20 to -30 C. In abnormally cold years, the temperature can drop to - 49 C. The snow cover reaches heights of 50-60 cm, and in drifts up to 1 meter or more. During the winter, locals and tourists enjoy cross-country skiing on the roads and in the forests.
Get in[edit]
Currently the only way to access Karkaraly is by road.
By Car[edit]
The city of Karkaraly is reached by road from the city of Karaganda. Karkaraly is 244km east of Karaganda. Road signs out of Karaganda are in English. The trip usually takes 2.5 to 3 hours in a car. There is only one place to purchase gas (petro) between Karaganda and Karkalaly (45 minutes into the trip, in the town of Botakara).
Taxi's can be rented near the Karaganda bus station. There is no schedule, but taxi drivers will wait until there is a full car before leaving. The price for a taxi (with full car) is approximately 1,200kzt. Taxi's usually do not have seat belts.
By Bus[edit]
Regular buses travel between Karaganda and Karkaraly. The trip costs 800kzt and will take approximately 4 hours. But times can be found at the Karaganda bus station or at the bus stations website.[1]
By Plane[edit]
There is no air access to Karkaraly. The closest airport is in Karaganda, which has regular flights to Astana, Almaty, and other national airports. Upon reaching Karaganda, you must either rent a taxi or take a bus.
By Train[edit]
There is no train access to Karkaraly. Karaganda is accessible from Astana and Almaty. Upon reaching Karaganda, you must either rent a taxi or take a bus.
Fees and Permits[edit]
Many areas of the park are off limits without a permit. Inquire at the park's headquarters, in the city of Karkaraly, about which areas you can visit. Russian or Kazakh language skills are needed, as there are currently (Feb 2011) no English speakers in the park staff.
The mountains surrounding Karkaraly are open and free to explore. If you travel by car to the hotel complex, Shaktior, you will need to pay a small fee to enter the park. Some areas of the Kent mountains, southeast of Karkaraly, are closed to tourists without purchasing a permit and using a park tour guide. Inquire at the park's headquarters about these services.
Get Around[edit]
By Foot[edit]
The mountains surround Karkaraly and many attractions are within walking distance of the town. If you wish to sleep in the hotel complex Shaktior (7km outside of town), taxis and buses can be found. If you wish to sleep at the hotel Tac Bulak, you will need to take a taxi.
If you wish to see the Kent Mountains, you will need to purchase a tour package from the park administration. They will use their transportation to guide you. Advanced notice of a week is needed for this.
Because the town is at the base of the mountains, traveling by foot is possible and a car is not needed.
By Car[edit]
Having a car will open up more possibilities but you should check with the park administration as to where you are able to go, and how much the permit for entering areas will be.
See[edit][add listing]
Do[edit][add listing]
Eat and Sleep[edit]
Karkaraly has small stores and several cafes. There are two hotels in Karkaraly. Both are basic and the cheaper rooms have communal bathrooms. The best hotel in the area is Tac Bulak, 3km outside of town, where there is always hot water and meals are included. Other options are at Shaktior, a hotel complex 7km from town.
Buy[edit][add listing]
Souvenirs are hard to come by. For the park, souvenirs can be purchased at the Nature Museum 3km outside of town. Hand-carved wooden bowls with Kazakh designs can be purchased here, but they are often out of stock.
The park administration can be contacted through their website. [2]. The park staff does not know English. They only know Russian and Kazakh.


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Wednesday, 15 May 2013 11:15
Promoting Human Rights in the debate on Climate-Induced Migration
Thursday, 11 April 2013 05:51
Report on the Status and Quality of Public Policies on Climate Change and Development in Latin America (2012)
This report analyses the present status of public policies on climate change and development in Latin America focusing on the agricultural, livestock and forestry sectors. As a result of a comparative analysis of 10 national reports conducted in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, El Salvador, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay; the Regional Report identifies and analyzes specific patterns and common characteristics from agendas and climate policies of the 10 countries related to their level of implementation, the institutional strength of organizations responsible for their implementation, integration with development policies, public participation and political support. This is the English translation of the following report published originally in Spanish.
Published in Food Security
Friday, 12 April 2013 10:50
Challenges for a Climate Compatible Development: How to strengthen agricultural, livestock and forestry public policies (2013)
This policy brief emerges from a process of analysis of the status and quality of the public policies on climate change and development in ten Latin American countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Uruguay, Colombia, El Salvador and Paraguay. It suggests that policies generated should have quality in the design, be implemented effectively, and guarantee institutional strengthening, greater awareness through social communication, and political and social support, for achieving its goals. It observes that combing integrated climate policies to sectoral and macroeconomic policies from each country is necessary. This will help to prioritize the climate agenda and include a comprehensive global and regional approach. It also emphasizes the importance of working collaboratively between public and private institutions with a multilevel approach. These recommendations look to promote the legitimacy, sustainability and real impact of policies.
Published in Food Security
Thursday, 11 April 2013 14:09
Platform publishes new policy brief on how to strengthen public policies on agriculture, livestock and forests in Latin America
Thursday, 07 March 2013 10:28
Death of Hugo Chávez gives Venezuela a choice on climate change
By Guy Edwards and Susanna Mage Regardless of one's position on el Comandante Hugo Chávez, the death of the Venezuelan president opens the door for a policy debate on a critical issue for Venezuela and the world's security: climate change. As the 2015 deadline to create a new global treaty on climate change approaches, the question for the oil-rich country looms: will Venezuela be a key architect of an ambitious and equitable deal, or will it sabotage progress?
Published in International Climate Negotiations
Sunday, 03 February 2013 07:19
Elizabeth Peredo talks about the threat of climate change for Bolivia
Wednesday, 14 November 2012 07:43
The Platform launches reports on climate change policies in 10 Latin American countries
The Latin American Platform on Climate (known by its Spanish acronym PCL) has published a report on the state and quality of public policies on climate change and development in Latin America, particularly those focused on agriculture and forestry. This report is the product of an initiative by the PCL based on 10 national reports for countries in the region (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, El Salvador, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay). All the reports, both national and regional, are available here in Spanish. An English version of the regional report only can be downloaded here.
Tuesday, 16 October 2012 07:58
High level Latin American officials and experts debate climate change policies at regional forum
More than 40 high level officials and experts from various Latin American countries met in Lima this month to debate the importance of public policies on climate change in the region, with a particular focus on the agricultural and forestry sectors, using as its basis a report prepared by the Latin American Platform on Climate.
Thursday, 28 June 2012 10:33
Payments for Environmental Services: conceptually flawed, data hungry, expensive, and inappropriate in much of the developing world
Published in Amazon
Wednesday, 25 July 2012 06:27


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While traveling about town researching for one my next projects (hint: DIY framing tutorials coming soon), I stumbled upon this number.
Bless. Their. Heart. How many people have walked past this? And missed it? Ignored it? Congrats A.C. Moore on your attempt at creativity and internal promotion. Except maybe you should stick with your pre-printed corporate signs.
I hope you can add a splash of DIY and family time into your weekend.....come back Monday for a Father's Day dinner recap and family recipe step-by-step tutorial.


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Tacoma-area Christian high school aims to bring more international students to campus
A Tacoma area Christian high school hopes to double the number of international students it attracts by partnering with a California-based company.
Evergreen Lutheran High School, located in the Summit-Waller area just outside Tacoma, announced that it would team with a company called Kitebridge, based in Palo Alto. Kitebridge specializes in recruiting and working with students from China and Korea who want to attend high school in the United States.
Kitebridge already works with two Lutheran high schools in St. Louis, and another on Long Island in New York. Evergreen will become its first West Coast school program, company spokeswoman Jo Murray said.
Currently, 17 of Evergreen's 130 students are international students.
Kitebridge students are scheduled to start the new school year at Evergreen in the fall of 2015.
Evergreen admissions director Anne Poetter said the high school has had students from Europe, Asia and Latin America over the years. But she said welcoming those students has depended on the school's ability to find local host families.
Kitebridge will house students in a nearby apartment complex, where they will be supervised by Kitebridge counselors. The company promises to provide one counselor for every four students.
In addition to academic help, the counselors also provide international students with opportunities to learn about American culture, sports and day-to-day life.
"They get a 'whole child' education," Poetter said.
She said Kitebridge interviews prospective students and their families overseas before they arrive in the United States. Application forms ask about students' educational background, knowledge of English, visa information and ability to pay tuition and expenses.
Tuition for local students at Evergreen ranges from just over $7,000 to nearly $9,000, according to the school website. There are discounts for church members and families with multiple students, and financial aid is also available. Poetter said international students pay higher tuition.
In addition to broadening the high school experience for students, Poetter said Kitebridge also brings expertise in college admissions.
Murray said Kitebridge looked at a number of schools, both Lutheran and non-Lutheran, before deciding to team with Evergreen. She said the company wanted a school that demonstrates academic rigor, strong values and leadership.
Poetter said the partnership will enhance cultural learning opportunities for Evergreen students.
"Our student body works hard to have an inclusive environment," she said.
Evergreen Lutheran High School opened in 1978. It was formerly located in DuPont and Des Moines before moving in 2013 to a new campus at 7306 Waller Road E.
"I'm so excited for our school," Poetter said. "We want to grow."


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The key to balancing your desire to be at peace with your need to achieve, perform, and earn a living is in recognizing that there's no such thing as stress; there are only people thinking stressful thoughts.
As a loyal podcast listener, Hay House would like to offer the eBook version of Wishes Fulfilled: Mastering the Art of Manifesting to you for free for a limited time to help you learn how to obtain what you truly desire. Go to www.hayhouse.com/manifest to download your free ebook today.


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Debt review process (aka debt counselling process) first became a profession in the year 2007 when the National Credit Act was first instituted. Debt Review offers individuals who get too far in debt alternative remedies to the situation from the more traditional methods of sequestration and administration.
===> Click Here if You want Us to Call You to Discuss Your Debt Counselling Options <===
While this profession isn't one that's been around a long time in South Africa, there have been many other countries like the UK and the United States that have been using it successfully for some time now.
The success of this debt review program has already been proving its worth, since from the time that it was first instituted, the process of debt review has resulted in the paying back over R 2 billion to credit providers according to the National Credit Regulator.
Whenever a consumer goes into debt review or debt counselling, their well-being is always at the heart of the matter, and it gives them a tool where they can keep their dignity intact. The ultimate goal is always to bring these individuals back into a positive standing within the credit market. This will allow them to take on debt again, but in a responsible way.
Understanding Debt Review in South Africa
The main purpose of debt review is to bring the consumer back into good standing with the credit market and to provide them with the tools that will help them to get out of debt as soon as possible.
Whenever a consumer goes into debt review, all of their valuable assets will be protected from any legal actions which the credit providers might take against them, if they have been included into the debt review process. The process of debt review is available for all individuals regardless of their status, and upon application, there will be an assessment made which will determine how bad the debt problem is.
===> Click Here if You want Us to Call You to Discuss Your Debt Review Options <===
If in the assessment by the debt counsellor it is found that the consumer has got themselves into too much debt, the creditors will be contacted by the debt counsellor in order to try and either extended the length of the credit agreement, or reduce the payments. It's not uncommon for many of these cases to result in the credit providers agreeing to reduce the interest rate on the credit as well.
This process will take all of the debt's that are included in the review and consolidate them into one payment that will be much easier for the debtor to make.
If the debt reviewer is able to come to agreement with all of the different credit providers, then there will be an application filed with the Magistrates Court in order to gain a consent order that is going to make the agreement to the debt re-arrangement and payment plan legally binding by all parties. If the debt counsellor is not able to get all of the credit providers to agree to the proposed debt re-arrangement terms, then they will take the case to court in order to get the Magistrate to provide a ruling in regards to the terms which were proposed in the plan.
It is then going to be the responsibility of the debtor to continue making monthly payments that are in line with the deal that was cut until all the balances have been paid in full, or until they get into financial situation where they are able to meet the original rates and payments of their initial credit contracts and continue with that arrangement.
When all of the obligations of the debt have been met and paid back in full under the terms of the debt review schedule, the consumer will then be issued a clearance certificate by the debt counsellor which states that the individual has been rehabilitated.
Before getting into any type of debt review, it's important that consumers request that their debt counsellor give them a complete explanation of the entire process, and what they can expect. The consumer should understand all of the aspects of the debt review before they sign on.
The Process of Debt Review
Step One
The first step is to provide the debt counsellor with all the details of your income, your bills, and your monthly budget. This is going to require a copy of your paycheck stubs, a copy of your identification, and copies of all your monthly debt statements from your creditors.
Step Two
When the debt counsellor receives all of the information, they will do an assessment in order to verify that you qualify as being over indebted. If this is deemed true, then the debt counsellor is going to set you up with a consultation visit.
There are a couple of different ways that this consultation can take place, being either a visit within our offices for a face-to-face consultation, or via the telephone.
Step Three
In the process of this consultation, the debt counsellor is going to verify all of your bills, and your current budget. They will then set up a new budget which you will need to agree upon, which will then enable them to determine the amount of money that will be available for paying back the debt. Upon completion of the process, the debt counsellor is going to explain to you all of the associated costs, and give you an interim plan for repayment. This is the moment where your application for debt review is made official with a form 17.1.
Step Four
The next step in the process is for the debt counsellor to make contact with all the credit providers and the different credit bureaus in order to make sure that the debts are valid. At this point, the credit bureaus are going to put a note on your report that you are currently undergoing debt review, and this notation is going to stay on your report until everything is completely paid off. Once it is completed however, it will be removed completely. Your debt counsellor going to attempt to make negotiations with all of the different credit providers in an attempt to get them to agree to your proposals.
Step Five
If the proposal is accepted by all of the different credit providers, then the magistrate court will be presented with a consent order to make the proposal legally binding. If any of the credit providers reject the proposal, then the debt counsellor is going to bring the case before the magistrate in order to get a decision from the court on the proposal.
Step Six
After the previous steps have been completed and everything has been agreed upon, you'll be presented with a final repayment plan by the debt counsellor which will also be provided to the Payment Distribution Agency (PDA). The end goal is to consolidate all of your debts into one single payment that will then be dispersed to the different creditors each month. The payment will be made each month until the obligations have all been fully met.
Structure of Fees, a guide.
The fee guidelines set forth for all debt counselors have been established by the NCR, and all debt counselors must stick to them. The reason for these guidelines is to provide protection for the consumers from debt counselors who would overcharge individuals that are already an under extreme burden of debt, but will still allow the counselors to make enough money to stay in business.
The Fee Guidelines for Debt Review Application and Process
1. According to the terms of Schedule 2 (2) of the National Credit Act, there will be an R50 application fee plus VAT.
2. If the application for a debt review has been rejected, then there will be an R300.00 fee accrued (not including VAT).
3. There will be a fee for the restructuring of the debt which is less than or equal to the amount of the initial installment of the plan. This will never exceed R6000 (not including VAT).
4. If the debt review requires a joint application, then the fee could be raised to R6000 (not including VAT).
5. A fee of 5% of the monthly payment amount for a period of 24 months with a max limit of R400. After the first 2 years, there will be a charge of 3% for the remainder of the contract, or until the max of R400 is reached. Both amounts do not include VAT.
6. If the applicant at any time withdraws themselves from the process of the debt review after a certain point has been reached, they will then be subject to a fee which is equal to 75% of the amount of the original restructuring fee.
7. The debt counsellor will receive a legal fee of R750 during the second month of the process. This is for the work of obtaining the consent order from the magistrate after the creditors have all agreed to the proposals set forth in the debt consolidation agreement.
8. The consumer will be responsible for paying any other legal fees that are accrued due to the court process. Proforma invoices should be able to be presented by the debt counsellor from any attorney that may be involved in the case.


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Activation of transcription factor NF-κB is elevated in several chronic inflammatory diseases and is responsible for the enhanced expression of many proinflammatory gene products.
Extracts from leaves of stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) are used as antiinflammatory remedies in rheumatoid arthritis. Standardized preparations of these extracts (IDS23) suppress cytokine production, but their mode of action remains unclear. Here we demonstrate that treatment of different cells with IDS23 potently inhibits NF-κB activation.
An inhibitory effect was observed in response to several stimuli, suggesting that IDS23 suppressed a common NF-κB pathway. Inhibition of NF-κB activation by IDS23 was not mediated by a direct modification of DNA binding, but rather by preventing degradation of its inhibitory subunit IκB-α. Our results suggests that part of the antiinflammatory effect of Urtica extract may be ascribed to its inhibitory effect on NF-κB activation.
The original text taken from a:
Riehemann, Kristina, Bert Behnke, and Klaus Schulze-Osthoff. "Plant extracts from stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), an antirheumatic remedy, inhibit the proinflammatory transcription factor NF-κB." FEBS letters 442.1 (1999): 89-94.


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A revamped version of the Nintendo 3DS with two circle pads is something that gamers have been expecting ever since the Circle Pad Pro was first revealed. After this past week's unveiling of the 3DS XL however, it immediately became apparent that those beliefs were false. Instead, gamers were likely going to have to purchase an upgraded circle pad attachment, and today Nintendo has confirmed just that — a larger version of the Circle Pad Pro to fit the super-sized gaming device.
The latest issue of Famitsu magazine features a Q&A with the Big N pertaining to the new 3DS XL, and during this interview it was confirmed that the enlarged handheld will be receiving a uniquely designed Circle Pad Pro. Aside from adding a much needed additional stick, the peripheral should also make the already gargantuan 3DS XL even bulkier, which more or less defeats the purpose of the system being "portable."
Details on the plastic add-on were not discussed any further during Famitsu's time with Nintendo's representatives, but the peripheral is confirmed for release at some point later this year. Games like Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D, Resident Evil: Revelations, and Kid Icarus: Uprising all support the Circle Pad Pro, and are just a few games that would benefit from being played on the 3DS XL's 90% larger screens.
Despite initial criticism over the 3DS XL's lack of a second built-in circle pad, the redesign really does look like a great one. Plenty of must-have titles are also en route to the 3D-enabled handheld, so the 3DS XL is looking like the best option for gamers wanting to enjoy the experience on a larger screen.
The Nintendo 3DS XL is scheduled to release in North America on August 19th for the price of $199.99.
Follow me on Twitter @TheRileyLittle.
Source: Famitsu (via Andriasang)


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We have some truly talented artists and musicians in Downtown Wilmington.
On July 22, you can experience the latest project from Kae Hock - a musician who is a significant part of the local music scene.
Here's a sample of some of his music:
Here's information about the show coming up at World Cafe Live at the Queen:
Click Here to get your tickets.
I hope you'll join me in enjoying great music produced by incredible artists.


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I felt this book started off a little slow. It was nothing different from the average chick-lit books with a Christmas twist. Set in New York the reader meets two guys trying to sort their Christmas presents. Both buy gifts from the famous Tiffany's store but things go wrong when their gifts get mixed up.
For a while I felt like nothing much was happening but around half way through the book the story really picked up pace and there were lots of twists and turns making the book really interesting. I got to a point where I thought the plot would be quite predictable but then things took an unexpected turn and I really enjoyed reading until the end.
There's not as many festive details as I would like to read in a Christmas book, but then a lot of the story takes place after New Year so that makes sense.
There are lots of very likeable characters in the book. I really enjoyed reading Rachel's story and couldn't wait for her to find out the truth about her gift.
All in all this is a sweet story perfect for Christmas, full of romantic proposals and a little touch of festive cheer.
The back page blurb:
Doesn't every girl dream of getting . . . something from Tiffany's?
It's Christmas Eve. And on 5th Avenue in New York City, two very different men are shopping for gifts for the women they love.
Gary is buying his girlfriend Rachel a charm bracelet. Partly to thank her for paying for their holiday-of-a-lifetime to New York. But mainly because he's left his Christmas shopping far too late.
Whereas Ethan's looking for something a little more special - an engagement ring for the first woman to have made him happy since he lost the love of his life.
But when the two men's shopping bags get confused, and Rachel somehow ends up with Ethan's ring, the couples' lives become intertwined. And, as Ethan tries to reunite the ring with the woman it was actually intended for, he finds it trickier than expected.
Does fate have other ideas for the couples? Or is there simply a bit of Tiffany's magic in the air ...
Title: Something From Tiffany's
Author: Melissa Hill


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"The Vietnam War a Conversation" explores the many ways Oregonians were affected by the dramatic and traumatic events of those times. In this conversation with "Think Out Loud" host Dave Miller, two Oregonians share their own stories. Dan Shea served in Vietnam as a Marine, and Kim Truong-Pham grew up in South Vietnam during the war.
The Vietnam War A Conversation
Agent Orange, exposed: How U.S. chemical warfare in Vietnam unleashed a slow-moving disaster Next Post:


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Entrepreneur Stories
Read about our fellows and the growth of their ventures as covered by the Anzisha Team.
Young entrepreneur shares lessons from running a food business in DRC
"I want young people to change their thinking and not to believe that it is better overseas, because in the DRC and Africa there are more opportunities than anywhere else," said Benedict Mundele, founder of Surprise Tropicale.
Meet the computer whizz from Togo who built his first robot at age seven
Sam Kodo was just seven when he started building his first robot that could both circumvent obstacles and interact with people. Now he is building low-cost PCs for Africa.
Thinking like a CEO: Why a 19-year-old is winning the clean energy game in Kenya
Tom Osborn has a humble manner about him, which is surprising since, at the age of 19, he has already been recognised as one of world's top young entrepreneurs.
How Africa's top young entrepreneur in 2014 is solving health problems with technology
"For me changing the world isn't about creating a new phone that the whole world buys. For me it is just about bringing positive change to the local community."
West Africans shine at 2014 Anzisha Prize Gala Awards
Nteff Alain (Cameroon), founder of Gifted Mom was announced as the grand prize winner of the 4th annual Anzisha Prize Award, receiving a $25 000 cash prize to support his social business. He leads rising tide of West African youth entrepreneurs.
What we learned at entrepreneurial boot camp
Today at African Leadership Academy, Anzisha Prize Finalists gained important insight on what it means to be a successful entrepreneurial leader. Here's a recap of the concepts they explored.
Nigerian start-up Prepclass helping university hopefuls over final hurdle
Nigerian tech start-up Prepclass was launched just over a year ago and has already created a buzz. Co-founded by Chukwuwezam Obanor, Prepclass provides a database of study content to help prepare prospective university students for their Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) exams.
How this young entrepreneur built his township cycle tour business
During the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, entrepreneurial activity flourished as South Africans prepared to host an influx of sporting fans and tourists from around the world. One of these entrepreneurs was Jeffrey Mulaudzi.
How David Mwendele is making money to fund his youth charity
Tanzanian social entrepreneur David Mwendele was born into a poor family, lived on the streets when his parents separated and was eventually taken in by an orphanage and sponsored to go to school.
How Freddie the Dreamer introduced technology in rural Tanzania
Tanzanian entrepreneur Frederick Swai says that in his rural village in the Mbeya region, "almost 90% of the youth know how to use computers", thanks to the training centre he started five years ago.
Young Ugandan creates business management app for SMEs
Ugandan Titus Mawano is the 23-year-old entrepreneur behind Ffene, an award-winning business management platform for African small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that assists with accounting, customer and inventory management.
The story of Best Ayiorwoth: Starting a microfinance business at age 19
"I never wanted to stop at that point in my education so it angered me… I would always remind myself that someday when I could, I would ensure that every girl child in my community received the best education they could."


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Have you ever dreamt of being able to make the most delicious of cakes? Have you longed to be able to decorate cakes like the ones you see from your favourite cake artists on Instagram and Facebook but then felt like it was out of your reach? Whatever your skill level, I have the perfect class to get you to where you want to be - fast. My studio is conveniently situated within an hour of both Edinburgh and Glasgow with ample parking. Don't live locally? I also offer professional online video tutorials that you can watch in the comfort of your own home. My specialist skills include clean flawless looking cakes and exceptional sugar flowers. Let me help you achieve both of these though my easy, friendly approach to teaching.
I run a wide range of modern cake classes for complete beginners, hobbyists or professionals looking for a new challenge. I teach throught the UK. My aim is to grow your confidence by teaching you the fundamentals of cake decorating so that you can apply your new skills in your own unique way. I will help you stand out from the crowd, grow your skill set and help increase your profits. If you are looking for fresh and modern cake classes then we will be the perfct match.


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In order to trigger students' thinking, this teacher posed an overarching inquiry question (which lacks a conclusive theory) to them and tasked them with formulating their own theories about the question.
Nutrition in Man
Model of Cells
19th Century Singapore
Colonial Singapore
Cells and DNA
Acids and Alkalis
Food Matters
Matter - Liquids
Heat Energy
Causes of WWI
Healthy vs. Unhealthy Food
Singapore History
Both Melvin and Ellie tasked their Secondary 1 History classes with posting questions on Chapter 3 and 4 and then choosing the inquiry question for their classes. These are the inquiry questions the classes worked on.
To view, click on the inquiry question.
- Why weren't the people in Singapore being caught when they smoked opium in the 19th to early 20th century?
- Was life tougher during the 19th and early 20th century or was life tougher during WWII?
- 1C - Was life tough under British rule?
- Was Singapore an attractive option for the poorer immigrants to come during the 19th century? Why?
- Why did Singapore become a prosperous and busy port in the 1900s?
Scientific Inquiry
Students were interested in the inquiry question: Do gummy bears float in water?
Joyce first allowed students to make their conjectures and support it with reasons. Subsequently, some gummy bears were observed to float while others sank, leading to students' ideas coming thick and fast about the structure, components and weight of the gummy bear as reasons to justify their observations.
Instead of menstruating every month, why is the uterine lining (endometrium) not sustained continuously throughout the life of a woman from puberty to menopause?
The theory formulated by Crystal, the teacher, is that it would require a lot of energy to sustain the endometrium continuously, and from an evolutionary point of view, this is not very efficient for the body.
In order to guide students towards an explanation for this question, Crystal provided guiding questions: Why do women undergo menstruation? What is the uterine lining used for? What causes the uterine lining to grow and thicken? Why can the uterus be a good environment for bacteria to grow? How can it affect the woman when microbes grow in the uterus?
Here is the KF view generated:


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I was trying to get some work done today and a picture of a young Paul Newman stopped me in my tracks. Being Sunday and feeling rather sentimental I decided to put together a collection of images from Paul's early life.
There's certain amount of sadness that comes with realizing that life moves on no matter who you are but I wanted to take the time to remember an iconic man. A man who walked his own path and to his own rhythm. There was such an ease to the way he carried and dressed himself. A great inspiration even all these years later. What does it all mean in the end? Well, for me it means to live the best life you've been given and to choose people and things in your life that really matter. Everything else is a side note.


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Gallery Forty-Two has announced plans to represent automotive artist Gary Dausch and will feature the Indianapolis-based painter in its sports and entertainment-themed gallery, SECOND FLOOR at Gallery Forty-Two. Dausch, a native of Indianapolis, is a specialty artist whose works focus exclusively on motorsports, including driver portraiture and on-track imagery of remarkably intimate and unique vantage points.
Dausch is a 1971 graduate of the University of Indianapolis and did his graduate work at Ball State University where he studied art and education. He spent 13 years in corporate communications before transitioning into the racing industry, taking on a new role as marketing director for Derrick Walker and Walker Racing. For the next 15 years he designed everything from sales materials, to uniforms, to racecar graphics.After retiring professionally in 2008, Dausch extended his personal connection with the sport by restoring racecars and developing an appreciation for the fine details of car design. With his passion for racing and art still in tow, Dausch once again combined the two by creating high-quality paintings of the cars he had been working on for years.
"That's part of the magic in what I'm doing," said Dausch. "I've actually touched these parts and I want them to look real. It's like I'm building the car as I paint."
Dausch started out painting strictly as a way to privately remember his career in racing. Now, his artwork is collected by those inside and outside of the racing industry. His work currently hangs in the homes and offices of some of sport's most well-known individuals, including drivers and teams owners.
About Gallery Forty-Two
Past and present meet to create an immersive and captivating experience in this stunning art gallery. Offering more than three thousand square-feet of gallery and event space, our new renovation honors both the legacy of historical architecture and the fine art traditions of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Gallery Forty-Two is committed to providing the discerning art collector an excellent source of artworks that combine the brilliance of inspiration with the spirit of antiquity.
About SECOND FLOOR at Galley Forty-Two
SECOND FLOOR at Gallery Forty-Two is a niche gallery offering collectors vibrant artworks that celebrate athletics and entertainment. Our contemporary collection includes original works on paper, paintings, limited edition giclées and sculptures, with approaches ranging from photo-realistic to abstract. SECOND FLOOR is committed to cultivating the intersection of sports, film, music, pop-culture and fine art.


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0333 358 3533
Jump right into the new season and look on point from head to toe in a jumpsuit from Pink Boutique! When it's all about making maximum impact with minimal effort, jumpsuits are the perfect way to slay no matter what the occasion. Channelling relaxed Sunday vibes? Keep it cool in a casual number. Jetting off to warmer climates in Summer 2019? Opt for floral jumpsuits and culotte jumpsuits to make sure you're nailing all the key trends. And of course being Pink Boutique we have all the going out jumpsuits and party jumpsuits you could ever need for looking head to toe WOAH when you want to take it up a notch.
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Greek Marinade 12/12oz
Give your dishes some authentic Greek flair with rosemary and lemon in this all-natural marinade blend! Use with poultry, on burgers, fish fillets, or as a salad dressing on your favorite greens mixed with feta and grape tomatoes.
Water, Non-GMO Expeller Pressed Canola Oil, Sea Salt, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Raw Cane Sugar, Red Wine Vinegar (with sulphur dioxide to protect color), Balsamic Vinegar, Black Pepper, Non-GMO Corn Starch, Non-GMO Maltodextrin, Natural Flavors (contains fermented origanum vulgare, Omega-3 from flaxseed & natural flavors), Granulated Garlic, Roasted Potato Flour, Non-GMO Soy Sauce Powder (fermented soybeans, wheat, maltodextrin, salt), Oregano, Granulated Onion, Celery Powder, Rosemary, Olive Oil, Lemon Juice Powder (citric acid, malic acid, lactic acid, tartaric acid, lemon oil, lemon juice, ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), maltodextrin, sodium citrate, pectin, turmeric (for color)), Citric Acid, Parsley, White Pepper, Silicon Dioxide, Thyme, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Lemon Oil.Contains Soy and Wheat.Manufactured in a facility that also processes: Crustacean Shellfish, Egg, Fish, Milk, Peanut, Soy, Tree Nut (almond, Brazil nut, cashew, Coconut, filbert (hazelnut), macadamia nut, pecan, pine nut, pistachio, walnut), and Wheat.
Last Changed: 8/2/2017


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McAfee-virustorjuntayhtiön perustaja John McAfee on etsintäkuulutettuna murhasta Belizessä. Paikallinen poliisi epäilee, että 67-vuotias McAfee murhasi maanmiehensähttp://www.iltalehti.fi/ulkomaat/2012111316321410_ul.shtml
Gregory Faullin.
McAfee, 67, is the prime suspect in a murder discovered Sunday morning in Belize. Convinced that he'll be killed if he's taken into custody for questioning, the millionaire antivirus pioneer has gone into hiding somewhere in the Central American nation, where he moved in 2008 to retire. Starting at 10:30 this morning, Belize time, he has been calling to tell me his side of the story.
McAfee blames the death of the dogs on the Belizean authorities, with whom he has been tangling for months. In April, the Gang Suppression Unit raided his property on the mainland and accused him of manufacturing methamphetamine and possessing unlicensed weapons. Those charges were dropped but McAfee believes that the government has a vendetta against him. He believes the death of his dogs was just another attempt to get him to leave the country.http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2012/11/threatlevel_1112_mcafee/
John McAfee asuu Belizessä, joka on veroparatiisi.
Belizen maine ei käsittääkseni ole kovin hyvä ja mitenkään suositeltava paikka se ei ole, koska se on varsinainen ongelma pesäke.


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Purchase this article with an account.
Tony Redmond, Margarita B. Zlatkova, David F. Garway-Heath, Roger S. Anderson; The Effect of Age on the Area of Complete Spatial Summation for Chromatic and Achromatic Stimuli. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2010;51(12):6533-6539. doi: 10.1167/iovs.10-5717.
Download citation file:
© ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)
Previously, an association between the area of complete spatial summation (Ricco's area) and age under scotopic conditions had been found. The authors sought to determine whether Ricco's area is similarly associated with age under photopic achromatic and selective S-cone conditions in peripheral vision and whether any association relates to a loss of ganglion cell density as determined by measurements of peripheral grating resolution acuity.
Achromatic spatial summation functions were plotted for 68 healthy subjects (aged 20–77 years) in four oblique meridians on a gray background field of 10 cd/m2. Similar functions were generated for the S-cone pathway (isolated using Stiles' two-color threshold method) for the same locations. Ricco's area was determined using two-phase regression analysis. Achromatic peripheral grating resolution acuity was measured at the same locations using high-contrast Gabor stimuli, as an estimate of localized functional ganglion cell density.
There was a notable decrease in overall contrast sensitivity with age for all stimulus sizes. However, there was no evidence of age-related change in Ricco's area for either achromatic (superior field, r 2 = 0.05; inferior field, r 2 = 0.0007; all P > 0.05) or chromatic (superior field, r 2 = 0.01; inferior field, r 2 = 0.006; all P > 0.05) stimuli, despite a significant decrease in peripheral grating resolution acuity with age (superior field, r 2 = 0.15; inferior field, r 2 = 0.17; both P < 0.05).
An age-related decline in functional ganglion cell density is not accompanied by a significant change in Ricco's area for achromatic or chromatic stimuli.
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Final report: A participatory method for need based capacity development projects and programmes
Research output: Book/Report › Report
title = "Final report: A participatory method for need based capacity development projects and programmes",
abstract = "The three-year research project funded by MSB applies design science, in combination with traditional scientific investigation, to develop a method to guide the planning phase of capacity development projects for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation. The method facilitates local participation and ownership as it builds on the strengths of the Logical Framework Approach (LFA), while contextualising it to suit capacity development for disaster risk management and climate change adaptation.",
keywords = "Risk, Disaster, Disaster Risk Management, Disaster Management, Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Change Adaptation, Capacity development, International Development Cooperation, Logical Framework Approach",
author = "Per Becker and Kurt Petersen and Henrik Tehler",
year = "2011",
language = "English",
volume = "1020",
publisher = "LUCRAM, Lund University",


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Reflections from Pickersgill's photographs
Photographer Eric Pickersgill's photographs (see below) from his "removed" album require no descriptions but speak to us on many levels. It is a well-known fact that our society is obsessed and addicted to their cellphones. Social media accounts for a large proportion of the time individuals spend on their phones. In fact, 18 percent of social media users can't go a few hours without checking Facebook and on average one quarter of a workday is spent browsing social media for non-work related activities (Bennett, 2014). It was also no surprise when we heard the number of selfie-related deaths have surpassed the number of shark related deaths. Many of us meet the textbook definition of "addicted".
From his photographs what struck me the most was the extent to which our addiction has impacted our lives. We spent most of our leisure time being so engaged in our devices that we are missing out on the real life events and people around us. Social media has its advantages that we can appreciate, such as providing us an inside look into the lives of our friends and allowing us to share our own personal live event. The question that we must ask ourselves is what has our "need to know attitudes" made us sacrifice? According to research, we are addicted to social media because self-disclosure is associated with activation of the reward system regions of the brain, which give us a good feeling when we are on social media. Like any other addiction, when we are not using it, we experience withdrawal symptoms (Stein, 2014).
So then what is the issue? The issue is we are missing out on all of the other stuff around us, such as real life, face-to-face conversations with friends and family and physical activities. Not only are these important to your emotional health and well-being, they also positively impact your physical health.
Pickersgill's photographs (presented below) depict individuals in social situations that are surrounded by beautiful sceneries yet remain grossly consumed in their devices that they are missing out on everyone and everything that is around them. Why we would rather be interacting to our social network via text or social media and ignoring the ones standing right beside us? Why would we rather "like" a beautiful photo of a view but fail appreciate what is physically around us? We have reached an era where it is widely acceptable to be on our phones most of the time that we are out with other people. We seem to get greater satisfaction from our virtual Internet world than the world that is physically around us.
Our obsession is a real concern and some may even go as far as to say that it is causing us to loose our in person social skills, empathy and communication skills.
While we can recognize that technology in moderation has provided us with many advantages, we may often fail to recognize the impacts of overuse and what we are giving up while being glued to our phones. We live in a world where people attribute their self worth to the number of "likes" they receive on a picture on Instagram and gain satisfaction from gaining "friends" or "followers".
What are we actually giving up when we devote so much of our time to being glued to our phones? I made a decision to limit my social media use for a week for #PutPhoneDown and find out what other things I was missing out on. Listed below are my findings and thoughts:
1) Social media is great entertainment. During long transit commutes I initially found myself bored but later found that I can be quite productive by using commute time to prepare to do lists for the day.
2) I was able to truly admire and appreciate the beauty of fall and the changing colors of the trees. It often becomes difficult to do notice the physical environment around me with my eyes glued to your phone.
3) I had a lot more free time. Since I was not checking social media as often, I was able to finish tasks much more efficiently. Given the greater free time, I had more time to reflect on my days and was even able to enjoy a nice fall day sitting outside with a book and a coffee.
4) During the week I went to a no cellphone dinner with a friend and noticed that a difference in the level of engagement we experienced in our conversations.
The most important lesson I walked away with was that by being "offline" in the internet world and being "online" in the real world, I was missing out on things that I actually enjoyed doing and that are good for me. Leisure time can be spent on much more than simply sitting somewhere nice and scrolling through my social media news feeds.
Your turn: What are you missing out on by being so consumed with social media on your device? Tell us how it goes on twitter at #PutPhoneDown!
Bennet, S. (2014). Social media addiction: Statistics and trends. Retrieved from http://www.adweek.com/socialtimes/social-media-addiction-stats/504131
Pickersgill, E. (2015). Retrieved from http://notable.ca/a-photographer-is-removing-phones-from-his-images-to-show-how-addicted-we-are/
Stein, E. (2014). Is Social Media Dependence a Mental Health Issue? Retrieved from https://www.thefix.com/content/addicted-social-media-dependence-mental-health-issue?page=all


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AS WE LANDED IN HAVANA at José Marti airport I thought of the name. As the young Ho Chi Minh had lived and worked in Paris, Jose Marti had lived and worked in New York, writing his books, dreaming about the liberation of Cuba. To the North Americans who encountered him he was a dark-eyed, short, mustached Cuban, a cook perhaps, as Ho Chi Minh was to be later in Paris. Little did they know that a century later his name would symbolize the greatest irritant to American imperialism, and that in the shadow of his giant statue the first socialist country of the Americas would celebrate its holidays. On the ride to the city I watched the political billboards which line the roadsides of Cuba. They are superior to those seen in other socialist countries, where they consist of exhortations and admonitions. Cuban agitation is romantic: it includes excerpts from the poetry of Marti; from the speeches
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Since the inauguration of Change for Children in 2005, Africa Exchange has recognized that community capacity building lies at the heart of any successful transformational development initiative. The formation of community committees to initiate, monitor and evaluate progress at each of the established Integrated Child Development Centers has proven to be essential for their survival and proper functioning.
Recognizing our need to enhance and multiply this process in surrounding communities, David Harding of Water is Life introduced us to Tear Fund Kenya to facilitate training in the establishment of Self Help Groups (SHGs) at our project sites. Organized by Mark Okello, Change for Children coordinator, trainings brought together facilitators and key project staff from each ICDC unit for comprehensive trainings in 2016 and 2017. These trainings have to date resulted in the establishment of 15 SHGs associated with our 8 program locations.
A key component of SHGs are micro saving schemes controlled by group members to reduce vulnerability and enhance resilience. Extensive research from Tear Fund in East Africa shows that SHG establishment impacts communities in the following important ways: drought mitigation, food security, household economy, women's empowerment, social development and community advocacy.
While we are still new at this, the SHG approach promises to be a foundational tool for decreasing the vulnerability of developing communities.