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Betvictor Review & Free Bet
On the long list of independently owned UK based sports betting site, BetVictor are probably one of the names held with the highest regard. The company has been around for over 60 years at this point and was founded back in 1946 by Victor's granddad, William Chandler. Victor's father who was also called Victor passed away in 1974, the business was then handed down to the grandson Victor and it is he who has taken the business to new heights and pushed it to become the titan in the online gambling scene, that we all know of today.
Website – Layout & Interface:
The format that BetVictor has chosen to display their sportsbook in, oozes sophistication and looks and feels incredibly premium at the same time. They have kept their overall layout quite similar to that what you would expect from a sportsbook but there are a couple of noticeable differences which we will cover.
To begin with, in the top left-hand corner, you will notice the BetVictor logo and on the right of this is a menu that allows you to move freely between the sports section, casino and offers. Further along, on the right, is where customers can login or signup if you haven't created an account yet.
Running horizontally across the homepage is a menu with links to the in-play, football, football, horses, virtuals and dogs; it is also worth noting that BetVictor also place big events on here too, which will help save some time in the long run.
Down the left-hand side of the page is a section for sign up offers, featured links, popular pages and, of course, the inclusive list of sports that BetVictor provides to their players, listed neatly in an A-Z format. On the other side of the page is your own unique, individual bet slip. This will populate with your potential earnings, as you progressive add bets to it. Underneath the bet slip is a popular bets section, so if you feel as though you aren't sure where to stick your money, why not check what other players are betting on?
BetVictor provides their customers with a modest amount of sports that will surely spark even a sports betting veterans attention and sports such as American Football, Badminton, Aussie Rules, Baseball, Basketball, Cricket, Boxing, Cycling, Entertainment, Darts, Football, Formula 1, Golf, Gaelic Football, Greyhounds, Hurling, Horse Racing, Ice Hockey, Poker, MMA, Politics, Rugby League, Rugby Union, Speedway, Snooker, Tennis, Table Tennis, Volleyball and Virtual Sports.
We were particularly interested in what BetVictor were offering to their players with regards to betting markets but after inspection, it became clear that they were offering a high standard of markets and favourites such as Both Teams to Score, Home/Away/Home, Goal in Both Halves, Correct Score, Match Result and plenty of others.
Welcome Bonus & Promotions:
Becoming a BetVictor customer certainly has its perks and one of those would be acquiring their welcome bonus that entitles players of up to £40 of free stuff. To become eligible for this, all you need to do is credit your account with £10 and bet it on markets where the odds are 2.0 or greater.
Once you have completed your welcome bonus, BetVictor has outlined a few other promotions that are up for grabs, such as best odds guaranteed on UK and Irish horse racing, a cash refund if your horse doesn't run, best odds on your 5 folds or higher, money back if one of your 5 folds or higher loses by one selection and a whole host of other promotions that are directed at other sections of BetVictor.
In-Play Betting:
If you are a huge fan of live sports betting, you will be happy to know that BetVictor has one of the best in-play consoles out there. It is incredibly simple to use and before you know it, you could be betting during the most cutting edge moments of sports like Tennis, Baseball, Cricket, Basketball, Futsal, Football and many more.
If its football you will be primarily interested in, you will find some of your favourite betting markets, ranging from Half-Time/Full-Time, Correct Score, Both Teams to Score, Match Result, Total Goals, Draw No Bet, Asian Handicap, 1st Goal and hundreds of others.
Mobile & Tablet:
If you are like millions of other sports bettors, who enjoy the luxury of online sports betting but don't always like to be confined to an office chair; then you will certainly be pleased to know that BetVictor have your interests covered with their mobile betting application. This can be downloaded on both iPhone and Android, so head over to the Apple app store or download it from the website. The application is great addition to the BetVictor's portfolio and more or less everything from the desktop version of the site can be found right in the palms of your hands.
Payment Methods:
Customers can add and withdraw funds from their BetVictor account by using numerous different methods, these range from banking practises like cards such as Visa, MasterCard and Bank Transfers, to the increasingly popular e-wallets, such as Paysafecard, Webmoney, Skrill, Neteller and many more. For the full list, you can review this on the website.
Customer Support:
One thing in particular that we liked about BetVictor was their support staff, not only were they incredibly knowledgeable of products and services but they were also extremely polite and worked around the clock to deliver a high quality service. The team can be contacted by either phone or live chat and there is even a detailed FAQ on the website that you can read before getting in touch.
Visiting a site like BetVictor isn't something we get to do all the time as you can really tell that they have gone above and beyond that that is required of them to provide a high quality sports book to their loyal player base. Their products such as their markets and in-play console are one of the best out there and new players can rejoice at the sight of a decent welcome bonus, for once! If you are interested in signing up and checking BetVictor out for yourself, click on the link below to create your own account today.


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Discover a new world from darkest Wales: Weather presenter Sian Lloyd gets a telescope-glimpse of space
By Sian Lloyd For The Mail On Sunday
As a weather presenter, I've spent most of my career looking up to the skies, but I've never really spent much time exploring what lies far beyond.
But that changed when I was given the opportunity to visit the 45,000-acre Elan Valley Estate in Mid Wales.
In 2015, it became the first privately owned land to be granted International Dark Sky Park status, which means it is protected against light pollution.
To witness the skies in glorious detail, Sian made use of a £400 Skywatcher 250P DS telescope, mounted on a £1,000 Skywatcher NEQ6 Synscan, pictured
Showing me around was Richard Poole, of the site's owners Dwr Cymru (Welsh Water), and Nick Busby, chairman of the Usk Astronomical Society, who is a lifelong astro-photographer.
Even in big cities, the moon, planets and brighter constellations are all often visible to the naked eye. But move to more rural and darker skies and you open up new worlds of possibilities.
In a place such as Elan Valley, you can see much of the Milky Way, and on clear nights you can even make out bright nebulae – gas and dust clouds.
Come armed with even basic binoculars and you'll spot the rings of Saturn, the moons of Jupiter and the Milky Way in stunning detail.
Clearly, though, these things are best explored with a telescope. We used a £400 Skywatcher 250P DS telescope, mounted on a £1,000 Skywatcher NEQ6 Synscan. With this equipment, we were able to see the heavens in all their glory.
Our first stop was the Great Orion Nebula, right in the middle of Orion's Sword. The detail was truly exquisite.
In a place such as Elan Valley, you can see much of the Milky Way, and on clear nights you can even make out bright nebulae, pictured
We also saw the Perseus cluster, which shone like perfectly shaped diamonds in the sky.
But my highlight was the Beehive cluster or Praesepe, in the constellation of Cancer. Through the telescope, it was magical to see how each star's gases and age altered their appearance and brightness.
What intrigued me most was when Nick explained that if I came back a few months later, I'd have a completely different viewing experience.
The seasons all have different constellations in the evening because of the Earth moving around the Sun.
In winter months, you tend to see brighter constellations such as Orion, Taurus and Gemini, while in summer the Milky Way is much more pronounced and we can see the centre of the galaxy in Sagittarius as well as magnificent constellations such as Cygnus.
Come armed with even basic binoculars and you'll spot the rings of Saturn, the moons of Jupiter, pictured, and the Milky Way in stunning detail
Perhaps understandably, I also overestimated the impact of weather.
Periods of high pressure when the jet stream moves away from the UK bring out the clearest nights, but Nick explained that rain need not dampen the experience – he has even shown audiences storms on Jupiter in wet weather before.
All told, stargazing was truly magnificent. Not only was I able to admire parts of space that were a mystery to me, but I came to realise the experience is also much more accessible.
It was an absolute treat – and I cannot imagine a better place to enjoy it than in rugged Mid Wales.

subset: commoncrawl


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The Greenville Zoo will be hosting its annual Boo in the Zoo, a family friendly event for children ages 12 and under. This Halloween event is not scary, featuring trick-or-treating and a haunted house.
This year's Boo in the Zoo is running two weekends, Friday, October 18th through Sunday, October 20th and Friday, October 25th through Sunday, October 27th.
Kids and adults alike are encouraged to come in their favorite Halloween costumes and enjoy the fun filled evening! While dressing up is not required, it is one of the most fun parts of the evening! The Greenville Zoo will be supplying special Boo in the Zoo treat bags for each child. For safety reasons, guests are asked not to bring plastic pumpkins, Halloween bags or sacks.
Fun booths will be set up all throughout the zoo for children to stop and get treats in their Boo at the Zoo bags! Children can visit these safe, friendly booths without having to worrying about being scared. Parents do not have to worry – the kids get all treats and no tricks!
Not Very Scary House
Boo in the Zoo also boasts a haunted house for the children to walk through! This not very scary house has each room filled with kid friendly themes. Most are even story book characters your children will recognize!
The Reptile House
The Reptile House will be open for Boo in the Zoo! It is a great place to see the spooky snakes and creepy crawlers! Children love The Reptile House so be sure to stop in while you are Trick-or-treating.
Boo Hours:
Fridays 5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Saturdays 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Sundays 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Non-Member Adults: $3
Non-Member Children: $6
Member Adults: Free
Member Children: $5
Approximately 3,600 children and adults attend Boo in the Zoo each night, making this event one of Greenville's most popular Halloween attractions! Rated one of the best tourist attractions in South Carolina, the Greenville Zoo is the most visited family facility in that region of the state.
The visitors also can enjoy a children's playground, picnic areas, walking paths and a lot of open space. The Greenville Zoo is open seven days a week, except on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Hours of operation are 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. with gates closing at 5 p.m.
Please note: to prepare for this event, the Zoo may be closing early on the evenings of Boo in the Zoo. For more information, visit www.greenvillezoo.org or find them on Facebook! The Greenville Zoo is located at 150 Cleveland Park Drive, Greenville, SC 29601. Their phone number is (864)-467-4300.
Written by Dan Hamilton on .


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With six phases of election already over and Lok Sabha elections moving to a grand finale, Congress irascibility has been rising with its frequent complaints to the Election Commission as if to keep the inevitable from happening. In its latest salvo against BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, it accused him of filing his nomination papers from Varanasi on a day when "polling was being held" and "holding a road show to influence voters.
There is palpable sense of frustration and fear in highfalutin mother-son duo managing Congress affairs about power slipping out of their hands once the May 16 results are out.
Never have flag-bearers of Nehru dynasty been so rattled as they are today. With Modi juggernaut rolling inexorably muckraking and abuse seems to be the weapon of choice. Union steel minister Beni Prasad Verma calling Narendra Modi an 'animal' while addressing party workers in Gonda in Uttar Pradesh and saying "he needs to be taught a lesson" are pointers to defeatism percolating to the rank and file of Congress.
Be that as it may, never before has a prime minister been forced to deny a wave as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh did when he claimed soon after casting his vote in Guwahati, "Modi wave is a creation of the media. I don't think the country as a whole is struck by any Modi wave."
If proof is needed, Varanasi presented plenty of it last Thursday when a sea of humanity gathered in the sizzling sun to see Modi coming to file his nomination.
"Na bhuto na bhavishyati" (never witnessed before and never would be in future), said BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad when asked by the media to comment on the never-ending sea of humanity. Senior television journalist Barkha Dutt, no novice to major electoral battles, was truly impressed wondering if "Namo wave" had turned into tsunami of sorts.
The Modi juggernaut is truly mindboggling. The sea of humanity waiting to see Modi on a day when temperature soared to 43 degrees C had to be seen to be believed. For three hours, despite the heat, Varanasi danced, cheered, and showered rose petals on Modi as he rode on an open truck in the biggest road-show ever. The sweltering heat was forgotten as hundreds and thousands lined the 2-km journey with conch shells and slogans renting the air in support of Modi.
Modi himself was awed by the human wave of support. "I feel as if the BJP has not sent me here...but Ma Ganga has summoned me. I pray for strength so that I can serve this city," Modi said before he filed his nomination papers. And this legacy of Varanasi welcoming Modi wholeheartedly was certainly not good news for the defeatist Congress.
Varanasi is no ordinary city. It's a city of holy of holies. It is a city soon to be a game changer; a city to be remembered for giving India a "development" prime minister in the 21st century for changing India's destiny and infusing hope for change.
When Modi paid floral tributes to the statue of Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya (an educationist known for his role in independence movement and Hindu nationalism) it was time for brazen political venality as hordes of Samajwadi Party workers descended to wash the statue with Gangajal.
"Shameful that those who washed the statute are the very same people who gave freedom to terrorists," lamented Ravi Shankar Prasad on the merchants of divisive politics.
There is more to it than meets the eye. The upsurge in emotion is not merely a sign of anti incumbency wave rising to overthrow Congress but it is a positive indicator that reiterates Modi as a persona; a leader India has been waiting for, and now come to deliver.


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In relation to lasting investing in your IRA, diversification is usually cited being a precious way to aid steer clear of the chance of overweighting your IRA money in Anybody asset class. Given that the declaring goes, watch out of putting your eggs in...
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June_July, 2004 Contest: What does the outside of your home look like?
Congratulations to our contest winner!
Mike Silvia of Medford, MA
Stately, elegant and "buttoned up" are some of the terms used by passersby to describe our home. We hear these descriptions repeatedly, several times a day, since our home is on a street with a lot of foot traffic. Whether we're tending to the garden, making general repairs or just enjoying our yard, nearly everyone passing our home throws compliments or words of encouragement our way.
I never really thought of our home as elegant or stately; however, the improvements we've made have generated quite a bit of attention in our city–particularly since the house sat uninhabited for over 20 years. We tried to make sure that any improvements we made were sensitive to the 1920s architecture. We've kept upgrades fairly simple and tried to fix, rather than replace, what was already there. We've also put a lot of effort into "framing" our relatively modest home with a combination of gardens, shrubs and stones.
I don't know if our home is truly elegant, stately or "buttoned up," but the overall effect created by the warm hue on the clapboards, the crisp white trim and the naturally casual flow of the landscaping certainly make me feel good when I pull into the driveway after a long day at work.


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The 'Facebook generation', although a loathsome term considering the connotations that come with it, does represent a change in society that has reflected over considerable aspects of life. As well as relationships, past times and activities, business is now ruled over by social media, its connectivity and simplicity being a key tool of both the marketing and sales of any product.
Concerning contractors, whether they work in IT, or are Oil & Gas workers for example, insurance is hardly a product that screams 'buy me', if you pardon the expression. Because limited company professionals are busy, self-employed professionals, the rigmarole of lengthy insurance premium settlements and product purchasing would simply not fit into their schedule, and because of this, insurers and brokers have adhered to society's whim, and have tapped into the 'Facebook generation'.
Twitter plays a large part in the selling of contractor insurance, advertising of products and awareness aid sales and in turn ensures contractor protection.
Contract reviews are certainly a service that applies only for contractors, thus raising awareness within the wrong communities would be a useless process. Social media acts as a way in which useful updates and information can be channelled to the right people.
The IR35 legislation is something that is very important to contractors, and social media has proved to be very important when spreading the word or even 'scare mongering' as some are accused of. Even HMRC have jumped on the bandwagon, their Twitter account having over 31,000 followers.
Qdos Contractor is a trading style of Qdos Broker & Underwriting Services Ltd
Qdos Broker & Underwriting Services Ltd trading as Qdos Underwriting - Registered in England No. 6012716
Qdos Broker & Underwriting Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Firm Reference Number: 460886)
Terms of Website Use | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | Terms of Business
All Rights Reserved. Web Design by Herdl


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Blog Number 1 - The three reasons I picked up a camera!
My very first blog.......
The three reasons I picked up a camera, and indeed why I continue to pick it up:
Child No.1, No.2 and No.3! I got my first iPhone the year I was pregnant with my first and I think I used up all my storage in the first three months of her life. I still struggle with storage because I take so many videos and photos of my three and keep forgetting to upload them to the computer. Every special school awards assembly or dance concert I'm busily trying to decide which photos I can delete to make enough room. Without doubt there is always the random selfies my girls have taken of themselves, little hidden gems for me to find weeks later.
When my last was born I wanted some beautiful newborn photos of him, like the ones I was continually seeing in my Facebook newsfeed. Unfortunately due to financial reasons and wanting to take 12 months off from work, those types of images were not an option. So I thought I would just try and take some myself and 18 months later I've almost finished a course in Photography and started my own little business so I can indulge in my newfound passion. I still have so much to learn but that doesn't scare me, just invigorates me more than any other learning has in my life.
My three children have gotten very used to me pulling my camera out now and they know how happy it makes me. They also know they can ask for any bribe to pose for me and I'm likely to grant it! If nothing else I now have some wonderful photos of my three which I can cherish when they have grown and moved from my side.
I have a 4 year old at my side now asking for some painting and attention so I better go before her demands get more dramatic.
Next blog coming soon.......
Cheers and Smile xoxo
Keywords: first
No comments posted.
January February March April May June July August September October November December


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New Post on Buzzfeed is Sure to Make Me Rich...
Wednesday, September 11, 2013 at 10:42AM
Dave Rich, that is...
Ugh. Anyways, check out the new trilogy of short films I made with friends this past week, easily viewable through this convenient Buzzfeed post I wrote right here!
Or just watch them all right here:
Akron, OH September 2013 Trilogy from philip swift on Vimeo.


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(L-OS15612) OS Engine MAX 55AX (40K) with E-3070 Silencer
Imported into the UK by Ripmax Ltd SRP £164.99
Designed to combine maximum power with razor sharp throttle response in the smallest possible crankcase, the 55AX has the same mounting dimensions as the popular 46AX, but an increase in power to 1.75PS.
The dramatic AX fin styling is used for optimum cooling and the rearward angled needle on the carb makes adjustments safer. The new 40K carb and also helps increase the horsepower over the previous 40J model. Perfect for sport, scale and aerobatic models.


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help pleaseeeeeee cant open anything on my pc
Page 1 of 1
- n%j4everBeginner
OS : windows xp
Posts : 2
Rubies : 3091
Likes : 0
Yesterday i was on my pc and sudently this thing pop out and said i handed a virus called Bankerfox.a & win32/nuqel.e i tried everything that's online but my friend recommend me this site so i need help urgent plz.. i dont know how to take this virus off help me its called Bankerfox.a & win32/nuqel.e every program i try to use wont open and the virus on my right bottom corner that is telling me i got a virus says stay unprotected or protect wen i click protect it takes me to this site -removed- but i think its not safe but plz help me i got windows xp plzzzzzz help me and thank u
- BelahzurSite Admin
OS : 7 Home Premium x64
Posts : 34948
Rubies : 218335
Likes : 18
Download OTL by OldTimer to your Desktop.
- Close all windows and double click OTL.exe
- Click Run Scan and let the program run uninterrupted
- It will produce two logs for you, one will pop up - OTL.txt, the other will be saved on your Desktop - Extras.txt. Post both logs in this thread.
- You may need to use two posts to get it all.
Site Admin / Security Administrator
Virus Removal ~ OS Support ~ Have we helped you? Help us! ~ GeekChat
- Please PM me if I fail to respond within 24hrs.
- n%j4everBeginner
OS : windows xp
Posts : 2
Rubies : 3091
Likes : 0
thanks i dont kinow wat i did but my pc is running with no problems thank by the way
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Proud Tower Two to stretch in Sunshine
ARCADIA, Calif. - Proud Tower Too, the upset winner of the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita on Dec. 26, will attempt to win the longest race of his career in the $1 million Sunshine Millions Classic on Jan. 28.
Trainer Sal Gonzalez confirmed on Friday that Proud Tower Too would run in the Sunshine Millions Classic for California-breds and Florida-breds at 1 1/8 miles instead of the $300,000 Sunshine Millions Sprint at six furlongs at Gulfstream Park.
Owned by Tricar Stables, Proud Tower Too has won 5 of 16 starts and $349,014. To date, his longest victory has come in the On Trust Handicap for California-breds at 7 1/2 furlongs at Hollywood Park on Dec. 4. Last April, he finished eighth in the Snow Chief Stakes for statebred 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles at Hollywood Park.
Gonzalez is hoping that Proud Tower Too's bloodlines will help with the added distance of the Sunshine Millions Classic. A full brother of his, Proud Tower, won three stakes, including the 2000 California Cup Juvenile at 1 1/16 miles.
"His brother won over a mile and a sixteenth," Gonzalez said. "He's training forwardly, and he looks good. I think he has a chance to perform well."
In the Malibu Stakes, Proud Tower Too led throughout, scoring a 20-1 upset with a one-length win. Wednesday, Proud Tower Too worked a mile in 1:40 at Hollywood Park under jockey David Cohen.
Cohen, who earned his first Grade 1 win in the Malibu, is optimistic that Proud Tower Too can get a longer trip.
"I don't see why not," he said. "He's not a horse that has the personality of just a sprinter. He should have an easier lead this time. We'll get out there and see how long he lasts."
The Sunshine Millions Classic is the richest event in the eight-race series, which features four stakes at Gulfstream Park and four at Santa Anita on the same day.
One leading contender for the Classic is Lava Man, winner of the Hollywood Gold Cup last July.
Giacomo drills seven furlongs
Giacomo, the 2005 Kentucky Derby winner, worked seven furlongs in 1:26.40 on Friday at Hollywood Park, his eighth workout since returning to training last fall.
Giacomo worked alone after a lengthy pre-workout jog and had the fastest of three timed workouts at the distance. The seven furlongs was the longest that Giacomo has worked since he resumed training following surgery to have bone chips removed from an ankle and knee last June.
Trainer John Shirreffs said that Giacomo became tired in the final furlong of Friday's workout.
"It was like his second six-furlong work: He was okay, but not real strong at the end," Shirreffs said. "He galloped out well."
Giacomo has worked weekly since Nov. 23. Unraced since finishing seventh in the Belmont Stakes in June, Giacomo could return to racing in late January or early February. The $300,000 Strub Stakes at 1 1/8 miles for 4-year-olds on Feb. 4 is a possibility, or an allowance race.
"It becomes a question of what the options are," Shirreffs said. "I'm just trying to prepare the horse for his next race."
Folklore looks odds-on
Folklore, the winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and two other major stakes last year, will be a heavy favorite when she makes her 2006 debut in Monday's $150,000 Santa Ynez Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.
Owned by Bob and Beverly Lewis and trained by D. Wayne Lukas, Folklore drew post 4 in a field of six. She will be coupled with Dance Daily, who finished sixth in the Blue Norther Stakes here on Jan. 1.
Aside from Folklore, the only other filly in the field who has placed in a stakes is Tallullah Lula, who was a well-beaten third behind Balance in the Sharp Cat Stakes on Nov. 27. Her trainer, Bob Baffert, said earlier this week that it would take "an act of God" to beat Folklore.
Folklore is the leading candidate to be named champion 2-year-old filly of 2005. A winner of 4 of 7 starts and $927,500, the speedy Folklore won the Grade 2 Adirondack Stakes at Saratoga last summer and the Grade 1 Matron Stakes by 14 lengths at Belmont Park in September.
Hectic workout tab on Friday
Because of expected wet weather on the weekend, there were 205 recorded works at Santa Anita and 155 at Hollywood Park on Friday.
At Santa Anita, the millionaire mares Valentine Dancer and Dream of Summer worked in preparation for Sunshine Millions races. Valentine Dancer breezed six furlongs in 1:13.60. She is being pointed for the $500,000 Filly and Mare Turf at Santa Anita. Dream of Summer, who worked seven furlongs 1:26.80, will start in the $500,000 Distaff at Gulfstream Park.
Moscow Burning, the 2004 California-bred horse of the year, worked six furlongs in 1:16.40, preparing for the Filly and Mare Turf.
At Hollywood Park, Balance worked three furlongs in 37.40 seconds, while Texcess worked six furlongs in 1:13.80. Texcess is a candidate for the Sunshine Millions Classic but has been entered in the Barretts January mixed sale on Jan. 23-24.
Stewards suspend trainer Duncan
Leonard Duncan, the trainer best known for winning the 1999 Malibu Stakes with Love That Red and his work with early-season 2-year-olds, has been suspended, Santa Anita stewards announced Friday.
According to a ruling released by stewards Scott Chaney, George Slender, and Tom Ward, Duncan was suspended for failing "to abide by a signed financial agreement."
Duncan, 45, has not a starter in Southern California since Nov. 13. He has since relocated to the New Mexico circuit.
Super Strut may come right back
Super Strut, the winner of Friday's first race, could make a quick turnaround in the $500,000 Sunshine Millions Turf at Gulfstream Park, trainer Craig Dollase said.
In Friday's $70,800 optional claimer at 1 1/8 miles on turf, Super Strut stalked the pace to early stretch and held off a late run from Masarin to win by a neck in 1:48.20.
Super Strut ended a four-race losing streak in Friday's race.
"I wish the Sunshine Millions was here," Dollase said. "He really has an affinity for this course."


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The main reason why smokers switch to electronic cigarettes is to be able to find a tool that will aid them in their goal to quit smoking. For some, they simply want to have a healthier alternative to traditional tobacco products.
However, those are not the only motivating factors for the switch. There are many users who simply can no longer afford sustaining their smoking habit, so they look for a more economical way, and e-cigs are it.
According to financial experts, millions of dollars are saved every year simply by having smokers replace their traditional cigarettes with the electronic version.
There is the inescapable fact that cigarettes are expensive. Today, the average selling price per pack of cigarettes is $6.15. That is definitely a huge leap from the $1.76 per pack price two decades ago. On top of the production cost inherent in these cigarettes, there are also bound to be taxes imposed by the state on these products. And tobacco taxes are not constant, since they change every year. Therefore, you can also expect the cost of cigarettes to increase every year.
But those are not the only costs related to smoking that smokers have to worry about. Health maintenance costs will also increase, since they will spend money on preventive measures that will protect them from nicotine- or tobacco-induced illnesses. Those who succumb to illnesses caused by cigarette smoking and cigarette smoke, as a whole, will also find themselves spending thousands of dollars on hospital bills, doctors' fees, and medications.
Switching to electronic cigarettes will result to savings. Naturally, the amount of savings will depend on several factors, including the brand, design, and type of the electronic cigarettes. Are they disposable or are they rechargeable? Disposable e-cigs tend to cost more, since they are more convenient to use.
Let us take a look at a smoker living in New York City who makes it a habit to smoke one pack of cigarettes in a day. On average, one pack of cigarettes cost $13. In one year, his total spending on cigarettes will reach $5000.
When he decided to switch to e-cigs, he chose a starter kit, which costs as low as $10 and as much as $200. Let us presume that he chose one that is rechargeable, opting to refill the e-liquid himself. One refill of e-liquid is equivalent to 10 days' worth of one-pack-per-day smoking, and it will cost only around $8, as opposed to the $60+ for 10 packs of cigarettes, with 1 pack consumed daily. We're looking at more than $50 savings every 10 days. That's almost $200 savings per month, and $2400 in one year.
Considering how studies show that US smokers spend $2250 every year on cigarettes, the $2400 savings is nothing to scoff at.52-year-old Jim Craig from Salt Lake City had been smoking since he was 18 years old. The moment he felt overwhelmed by the amount of money he has been throwing away on cigarettes, he was jolted into reality and sought the aid of electronic cigarettes.
Craig estimates his monthly spending on cigarettes to reach $200. Once he started vaping e-cigs, his monthly spending has been reduced to only $45. His only investment? An e-cig starter kit. He even had the smart idea of opening an account in the bank where the money he would have spent on traditional cigarettes now go.
But there are some doubts cast on the ability of this cost-savings aspect to last for a long time. With the way many state governments are increasing the taxes, penalties, surcharges and other fees are tightening legislation regarding the use and sale of these e-cigs, something is bound to give along the way. The states of Minnesota and North Carolina have actually imposed taxes on e-cigs and e-liquid. If you are hoping to be able to save money by choosing e-cigs over traditional cigarettes, the best time to make the switch is now. Take advantage of the period where tax considerations are still underway.
Perhaps you know of other financial benefits of making the switch. Share them with other people today!


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Job Details
Fort Lauderdale
Partners with business units/divisions in delivering Corporate and Divisional HR policies and programs.
Join a leading HR group consulting with management and employees on HR practices and procedures. Manage employee relations issues and conduct investigations in support of corporate ethics and values. Participate in company-wide programs and initiatives (e.g., manpower planning, salary/bonus/stock review, organizational change, performance management, and training assessment).
Job duties are varied and complex utilizing independent judgment. May have project lead role. Key skills and abilities include coaching, influencing, facilitation, presentation, communication, process development, analysis, and problem solving. Ability to travel. 5 years generalist experience and BA/BS degree. Experience in an HR specialty a plus.
Oracle is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability and protected veterans status or any other characteristic protected by law.
Achieve staffing objectives by Identifying, screening & presenting internal prospects aligned with product dev.
Advantage YOU: * Oracle Internal Talent Advisory role focuses on raising awareness around internal career mobility opportunities, providing support and coaching to employees seeking to move internally, assisting managers with identifying and qualifying internal candidates, and supporting both employees and hiring managers through the transfer offer process.
Key Qualifications:
3 years of recruiting experience.
Strong recruiting aptitude and knowledge
Strong organizational, communication, and project management skills
Develop strategies to drive increased levels of offer acceptance from offer to onboard
Ability to work with many levels of internal leadership.
Executive presence and an ability to serve as the Internal Placement Talent Adviser
Ability to successfully run programs and key deliverables with flexibility under constantly changing conditions.
Ability to create and effectively deliver power point presentations.
Excellent client relationship, networking, and partnering skills at all levels of an organization.
Proactive and resourceful. Self-motivated.
BA/BS degree or equivalent preferred.
Detailed Description:
The Talent Advisor partners with management in the identification, qualification & facilitation of Oracle s internal talent for NA Product Development Managers
As an Oracle internal talent advisor you will expedite internal staffing needs via internal posting to ensure open positions are filled with high caliber talent to meet current and future needs. Manage the full recruiting life cycle within assigned Oracle division(s).
Job duties are varied and complex utilizing independent judgment. ITA may have project lead role. Internal Talent Advisor may demonstrate record of measurable success in a fast paced, high volume environment. . Experience in a variety of sourcing methodologies and able to develop strategic recruiting programs. 3 years recruiting experience in a high technology or agency environment. BA/BS degree.
Oracle is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability and protected veterans status or any other characteristic protected by law.
*Human Resources
Internal Talent Advisor
United States
Requisition ID:
Company info


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Charlie is in Uganda! Read All About it!
Click for past updates ~ February 1, 2010 ~ February 2, 2010 ~ February 4, 2010~ February 5, 2010 ~ February 7, 2010 ~ February 10, 2010 ~ February 11, 2010a ~ February 11, 2010b ~ February 13, 2010 ~ February 14, 2010 ~ February 17, 2010 ~ February 20, 2010 ~ February 22, 2010 ~ February 26, 2010
First of all it is good to be back in the USA...even with the cold and snow. My first morning back and I had to do some snow blowing!
I have had a number of emails while in Uganda. So many in fact that hotmail told me I had exceeded the number I was allowed to send each day. So I have had to restrict the number of responses that I made. I now have 366 emails to answer. So it may be a while before I can answer all the emails.
HELPING ChildrenUP
Some of you have been asking about helping. Obviously, money to the ChildrenUP cause is always welcome and appreciated. But there are ways to help besides cash donations. I am willing to give talks to schools, churches, civic organizations, libraries, or just meet with people in their homes. I am somewhat restricted to the Chicago-land area, but I am willing to travel several hours away if needed. Part of our mission is to just educate people about northern Uganda. I have specific programs for younger children that are gentler and more participatory.
On my last day in Uganda, I was able to visit a Ugandan Montessori school in Entebbe. It was founded with the assistance of Tony and Carolyn Kambich of Deerfield, Illinois. I had met Tony and Carolyn when they made a presentation to ChildrenUP earlier this year. The Victoria Montessori School is an amazing place. In a country where many schools have over 100 children in a class and rote learning is the only method of instruction, this was indeed a delightful surprise. My own grandchildren go to a Montessori school in Cincinnati, so I had an idea of what I would see. The Head Mistress is an enthusiastic woman named Christine. We visited classes of younger children through the 7th grade. The layout of classrooms is exactly that of my own grandchildren in Ohio. The teachers are enthusiastic and caring. The campus of buildings is well organized and well kept with a new addition being built. During a class break, I was pleased to see children running around, playing soccer..... and filling the playground filled with swings, slides, see-saws, a jungle gym, and a spinning seats much like a tilt-a-whirl. It was an amazing place. I was additionally pleased to find out that the students did exceptionally well on the grade 7 leaving exams, which determines the high school education they can receive.
In the evening, Christine came with her husband Joseph and we had a delightful time together. Joseph is a fellow Rotarian and we were able to talk about Rotary projects that have been taking place in this part of Uganda. Afterwards they were gracious enough to take me to the airport.
Winding Down
Things are winding down. This morning I took a taxi from Kampala to Entebbe. Originally the place I stay at was filled. So I booked another for $45 a night.... extravagant by my standards. Then on the way to Entebbe my favorite place called and said they had a cancellation. So for $10 a night I have a room and share a public toilet. It is OK with me.
Another Quarry
Last night a friend of my daughters wanted to show me a place where women from the north earn a living. This was my second quarry visit since I have been here. The women are widows, some suffering from HIV/AIDS. They were very happy to see us. They had been told that an American was visiting and wanted to buy some of their paper beads necklaces. When it is raining or at night when they cannot work in the quarry, they make the necklaces, hoping to earn extra money. Buying directly from the women cuts out the middleman. When they work in the quarry, they hit the stone with metal hammers until they get it down to the size of gravel. For this they earn about 4 cents for every jerry can they fill. Though they make more money from the paper beads, it is not a steady income.
One of the amazing things about these women and poor people in Uganda in general is the happiness they can still exude. They were happy to see us. They were also excited to hear me say "Iri Ma Ber" or "How are you" in the local language.
The Three Sisters Update
As we wait for the Rotary to decide how to best take care of the 3 abandoned sisters, we ChildrenUP have sent $100 for their immediate needs. And sending the funds is an African experience, which I have learned.... Money can be sent via mobile phone.
Tomorrow I hope to visit a Montessori school in Entebbe founded by Tony and Carol Kambich from Deerfield, Illinois. Earlier this year they came and spoke to ChildrenUP. I am excited to go and see their operation.
My flight is at 10:55 tomorrow night. I have a layover in Amsterdam and should arrive in Chicago in the early afternoon on Wednesday. The cold and snow will actually feel good.
First, I am happy to report that our mentors have checked up on our 8 secondary students. They report that all of the students are adapting well to their new life-style. At Gulu High School we have two boys and two girls. Even thought they are from various villages they have bonded as ChildrenUP students. I was particularly pleased in the report that the two girls had appeared rather shy when we first met them. They seem to have found support in each other and were very open with the mentor, Jennifer.
At St. Joseph Layibi School, we have two boys. Although quite different personalities, they seem to enjoy knowing each other and are mutually supportive. The young lady at Sacred Heart has made friends with other students, as has the boy at Sir Samuel Baker School.
I would like to reminisce a bit about my first trip to Uganda in 2005. Sir Winston Churchill called it "The Pearl of Africa". Except for the northeast region of the country, it is a lush land. Tropical fruits grow wild. The mango season in particular is overflowing with fruit. People have a hard time selling the fruit since it is so readily available to anyone. The melons, oranges, lemons, pineapple are easily found.
In the southwestern part of the country we found Lake Bunyonyi. It is an idyllic setting. A large lake, free of hippos and crocodiles, dotted with islands. The ride in a dugout canoe is an experience as the water is lapping right at the canoe's edge. i never sat more still in my life. I think my favorite memory is seeing school children going to school by dugout. Early in the morning there are many dugout canoes traveling toward the school island.
Uganda has a wealth of wildlife. Each of the parks have various animal species. Elephants, giraffes, lions, antelope, hyena, warthogs, water buffalo, monitor lizards, hippopotami are all here. We saw a fair number of lion sightings, males, females and cubs in various settings. There was a time when we were in a SUV following a running male lion right ahead of us, with another male running right alongside of the car.
But my favorite experience has to be mountain gorilla trekking. There are three families of mountain gorillas in the Virunga Mountains that are accustomed to humans, even though they are still very wild. Only 8 people a day are taken to see each of the families. Trackers are far ahead of us. Since they know where the gorillas were the day before, they follow the scat and broken twigs to their new location less than a kilometer from the previous day. They radio back their co-ordinates to our guides. There are no trails. The guides have to use machetes. When we finally arrived there was a family of 13 gorillas. The silverback male, three adult females, and the rest were at various ages including a 2 week old. I cannot impress on you how very close we were to the gorillas. The closest were right at my feet. The farthest was the silver back and he could not have been more than 50 feet from us. That is a memory that I will always hold.
Uganda is made up of a series of tribes. The only one that Americans are probably familiar are the Batwa... or as we call them Pygmies. One of the university students whom we are supporting will be going to the Batwa in order to do research on their sanitary conditions and how it may affect their health. The reason for the study is that the Batwa are hunter-gatherers who lived in the forest until recently. In order to stop the encroachment on the gorilla habitat, the government has moved onto villages. This has not been a natural adjustment for them and as a result some problems have occurred.
In the north we work with the Acholi tribe whose native language is Lwo. Interestingly it is also the first language of Barack Obama's father in Kenya, since he was a Lwo speaker as well. The people are generally very poor. Most are subsistence farmers. After having been forced into camps for over twenty years, due to the war, they are now reclaiming the land. This is not an easy job since the elderly have either died or are too weak to work. The younger generation has no knowledge of farming. And the land has gone wild after 20 years. Amazingly, even facing these odds, I have found the people patient, warm and friendly. I am constantly amazed at how the children find joy with the simplest of homemade toys and games.
This is the story of 3 Ugandan sisters, aged 10,8 and 6 years old. A member of the Gulu Rotary whom I have known for three years, said that he wanted me to meet two university students. The women are junior partners to Rotary.
As they were working on a project helping people in distress, they had come upon the three girls. Their story is heart breaking. The father of the two oldest girls died a while back. The man they suspect to be the father of the third girl does not claim responsibility for fathering her.
The mother, faced with poverty and wanting a better life, abandoned the children. They were left in the care of an elderly grandmother. The grandmother did her best to care for the children. In October she passed away. As is the custom she was buried right in the mud hut compund where there are some other family graves.
The girls have absolutely no way to take care of themselves. There is no adult who is there for them. They live in the grandmother's mud hut, which is slowly falling apart. The thatch on the roof is partly open to the sky and needs to be fixed. The mud construction where there should be a door has deteriorated. An old piece of cloth hangs there. When I went inside the hut, I found a mattress on the floor that the three share. Clothes are disorganized, some hanging on a string. For water, there is a broken ceramic pot. There is no means of making a light. The parafin lamp has long ago run out of parafin. When darkness comes at 7:15 each night the girls are left in darkness. A traditional mud hut means of cooking is a very small clay stove. The rains through the thatch have ruined the stove. The toilet facility is made of bricks over a pit latrine. It has no door for privacy. The girls place some jerry cans in front of the door for some privacy....but not much. The place to shower is a brick walled enclosure about 4 feet high. They simply splash themselves from a basin of water. Again, there is not much privacy.
The single greatest worry is for the girl's safety. Anyone could take easy advantage of them. They cannot lock themselves up for the night in the hut. If they need to use the facilities at night, they are vulnerable. Luckily their health has been good, since they have no access to medical care.
The university women have been asking the local rotary for donations so they can provide food to the girls. But it is not a regularly maintained schedule. The women say that particularly during exam times at the university they have a difficult time getting away.
While we were there the women were able to find a maternal uncle to come. I think that my presence as an American is the only reason he came from his village. He says that he has his own family and other orphans he helps and cannot help these girls. Since the grandmother's death, this was the first time he had come back to see the girls. It was obvious that there was not any affection between the girls and himself. In Ugandan culture it is important in these situations to have an adult family member present as documentation that we are not taking advantage of the children. It has been all documented on video.
A happy note: We asked the children to show us how they amuse themselves, There is a swing on a sapling that looks like it should not hold them. There are some traditional African games using seed pods in a series of indentations in the ground. They are very proficient at these games.
Before our departure, we asked the oldest what would be her greatest hope. She simply stated that to have someone to take care of her and her sisters and to have food. We left on motorcycle and went to town to supper. Just after we entered the restaurant, an incredible downpour occurred. All I could think of was the open thatch roof and their bedding. The floor of their mud hut will turn back into mud.
This is the dry season. In northern Uganda there is a long dry season followed by a major rain season then a short dry and short wet. Last year the short rain season never came. It caused havoc on agriculture. Climate change?
This season does not end until the middle of March, and there are fears it might last longer. When you drive through the landscape it is as if the landscape is just begging for water. Every thing is dry. Most types of trees have lost the majority of leaves. The harvests plants are dry stalks. And everything is covered in a red dust. And the heat is constant until the sun goes down. Then the people can relax.
Every day, the people try to sweep away the dust from the homesteads. And in Gulu there is a water shortage. All water comes from wells, called boreholes. Even in a hotel the same occurs. The hotel sends a pick up truck filled with empty jerry cans to fill. When returned the jerry cans are lugged into a large container and then electrically pumped to the rooftop to create the pressure for our water needs. It is a labor-intensive procedure.
I had not realized it, but the entire time I have been in Gulu, one friend or another has escorted me. Today I had to go to the see the bursars of four high schools to set up future fee payments.
I suddenly realized that I was on my own. I'd jump on the back of a motorcycle and ask for Sir Samuel Baker School. Off we would go through small farm paths, by mud hut homesteads, I just hoped that the driver understood my American accent. Sometimes he did not. One time today we landed up at another school, but the one we were looking for was not too far away. But it does take a bit of faith that everything will work out.
That is also the fun and adventure of being here.
There are many illnesses due to tropical diseases in Uganda. The most common is malaria (yes, I am on preventive medication). Today, I just received an email from our university student in Kampala. She is with our other student who is evidently suffering greatly in this episode. He has been admitted to a medical clinic and he is on some sort of medical drip. This is Monday and I will not be in Kampala until Thursday night.
I am so glad that Nancy is there for Moses. They are both far from home. And though ChildrenUP is working in the north with the people of the Acholi tribe, Moses is from the southeastern part of the country and a member of a different tribe. When Nancy had a problem last year with Western Union, Moses had come to her aid. Though they are not close friends, they have been there for each other.
Getting Ugandan Children Into Secondary School
A Few Basic Facts About Ugandan Education
Primary School goes until grade seven which they call P7. It is free education, though there are some small costs associated with it. The small costs are enough to prevent students from going to school. There are a small number of private primary schools.
At the end of P7, students take a Leaving Exam. The scores on these Leaving Exams determine if they are eligible for a secondary school. When the students take the exam, they must list their first and second choices for secondary school. If a child has done well, he/she is very anxious to learn if they made the cut off list for the school of their first choice. If they have not, then they must see if they made their second choice. If accepted the student then goes to the school with his official Primary school papers to get an admissions letter to the secondary school. Getting this admission letter can cost between 5 to 10 dollars, money that many students do not have.
Secondary Schools are generally boarding schools. The costs are absolutely beyond what most Ugandans can afford. In round numbers, we are talking about one thousand dollars per year.
Selecting Students to Enter Secondary School
ChildrenUP selected 8 students to sponsor for Secondary School. They are all from peasant families of subsistence farmers, or children destitute for one reason or another. They are also children who have done extremely well on the P7 Leaving Exam. The method that we used to choose these students relied on the extremely professional work of Okot Ambrose the Dean of Humanities and Education at Gulu University and his incredible team of educators. Before the Leaving exams they interviewed 14 needy students who showed promise. Since we were not able to fund all 14, we had to have a cut off which was done strictly by the grades they received on the exams.
With Allan, a secondary teacher, I was able to go to the primary schools where the 8 students were located. Since they had all finished school, younger siblings and neighbors of the children were sent to fetch the children to come to school. In the process we met some of the parents and we visited some of the home sites. Many lived an hour or more away from the town of Gulu. After the initial interview, they were told to report to a hotel lobby in Gulu on Friday at 9 a.m.
Meeting in the Hotel Lobby The first student arrived at 8 a.m. with her mother and infant brother. The first arrivals were given a sheet of paper and some markers and asked if they could draw a picture that expressed something in their lives that they could share with people in the U.S. The last arrivals came in around 11 a.m. They arrived on bicycles, walking and on the top of trucks loaded down with produce and people. But they all made it. Allan asked two of the fathers to go with him in the market and they would buy the larger more expensive supplies that the students would need. Each of the 4 secondary schools has a list of supplies that the students need. Things that would never cross our minds in the United States: Mattresses, large metal boxes to hold their personal belongings, bags of cement, Machetes on a long arm to cut grasses, straw brooms, bedding, uniforms, sanitary pads, shoes, irons, toilet paper, etc. The fathers brought in the first three items. Then each parent was given an allowance to buy all the smaller items and they were told to bring back the receipts, which they all did. One child had no parent or guardian; the other parents took him under their wing, even though they did not know the child. This is the child with the alcoholic grandmother as his sole guardian.
I think that the strangest item were the bags of cement…. This goes under the guise of …school development… literally. The bags are used to build new classrooms.
While the parents were busy buying the odds and ends, our team went to two banks where we had to pay for the school fees for the first term. After all the paper work had been filled out we returned to the hotel to await the parents. The students must present the bank slip in order to be allowed into the school on the first day.
The Hotel Shop
The owner of the hotel was incredibly gracious as we turned his hotel lobby in what looked like a shop, piled with mattresses, metal boxes, cement, etc. We had to check that everyone had everything they needed to be successful on the first day of school…… But I was baffled as to how these children and parents could possibly take all these items back home. Some had friends of family in town. But some had to bring everything back to the villages. Those with bicycles, tied on the cement etc. piled high on the bicycles… others on motorcycles. The most intense was the girl and her mother who had arrived early in the day. They used two motorcycles. She is the only one going to the one secondary school, which is demanding more than the other schools. It was incredible to see the mother and child with the bag of cement and the mattress on the one motorcycle, and the girl on the other with the box and all sort of sundry items.
The first day of school is Monday then 15th. But they do not really expect to start teaching and learning until March 1! The same applies to universities. They announce an opening day, and there is almost no one around for a week or two. Our students were told to make sure that they are on the 16th. Our staff, Allan and Jennifer will go check on Wednesday to make sure they are there!
A Long Fulfilling Day
We started at 8 and we did not finish until 5. At one point in the day, we had some extra time and made a video of each child talking about himself. Then each of the parents or guardians got up and said a few words. Ambrose explained that it was good to have this documentation, as there had been abuses of children getting sponsorships in the past with other organizations. It is a way to show transparency. No one could question that these children were deserving and needy.
At 7 o'clock our team met at a restaurant to review the day and just enjoy each other's company.
Good News,
Thanks to the generosity of a donor and the ease of communicating on the internet, we are able to send Patrick to Secondary school next year and we are able to get him out of a bad home situation. While we were interviewing him we asked what he hoped that this good luck would do for him. His answer is that eventually he would be able to help his younger brother and sister.
Since he did not have an admission paper, we drove him back into Gulu. But the school refused to give him the papers because there were other papers he needed to present to get the admission. Luckily we found out that he had left them with a relative in Gulu. Alan went around town with him to get it all straightened out.
Tomorrow it will be wonderful to get all 8 students in one room with some of their parents. They will probably all either walk here or use a bicycle. It is hard for me to imagine how this works since some of the places are an hour away by car. I am sure that shopping day will bring more stories.
Heat... I thought it was unbearably hot when I arrived...and today has them all beat. I knew we were in trouble at 8 a.m. when I stepped outside.
Family Compounds... There are usually at least three mud huts. The first is for the parents and any children still being nursed. A second is for the children. A third is the kitchen. Then there are some storage grainaries and perhaps a pen for a larger animal. Chickens, ducks and even a pig wander about.
A restaurant experience... Last night I went into a small restaurant and asked for fresh fish. The waitress said it came with posho, a bland starch made from maize. It was a good thing that's what I wanted, it was the only thing they had that night.
Walking.. One of the nasty things the British gave this country was driving on the wrong side of the road. That I understand. What has been occurring to me is that also affects their walking patterns. When you pass someone you are also walking on the left side. I've caused quite a bit of confusion. I think I have it down now.
Streets... Actually, sidewalks are almost non-existent. You walk in the street most of the time. That means negotiating other pedestrians, bicycles, the speeding motorcycles, cars buses and large lorries. And just try to negotiate walking through a traffic circle, with everything moving in the wrong direction!
Burning Scrub lands... In this area of Uganda, there is a lot of land that just can be described as scrub. They are constantly burning patches of it. Smoke is everywhere. When I asked for the answer, it is not unlike our prairie burns in the Midwest. They burn the scrub in order to let fresh plants come up and that in turn is fodder for chickens, pigs and goats..... Lots of goats.
Two more 7th graders
Ronaldo was displeased with his Leaving Exam grade, even though it was still very good. The head teacher sat with us and was very effusive about Ronaldo. He loves soccer and is pleased with his name association with the soccer world. Evidently the reason that he did not do as well as he did on the mock exam is that he had not been eating. As a complete orphan living on the generosity of others in the village, he had only been having one skimpy meal a day the week of the exam. I do not know how Ronaldo lost his parents. In Ugandan culture another relative usually takes in the child In this case a clan member watches over him even though he is not a blood relation. . His guardian was with him at the time we met. Ronaldo is very shy and the situation he just found himself made him uncomfortable. When I did get him on video, he was able to speak to the camera clearly. Ronaldo thinks that he would like to go into some field of medicine. The headmaster had asked another orphan who was very high scoring to come along. Alan, my translator handled the situation well, suggesting other avenues of support, explaining that we were rather limited in the number we could help.
I had to tell Lillian that that was my granddaughter's name. Of all the students with whom we spoke, Lillian was the most capable of speaking to every point on her own. She is the most self confident of the students we met and the highest scoring female student in the district. The head teacher said that of all the girls that she had taught over the years she was the most committed to her studies. She lives with her mother. The father has never been in the picture. She is the second oldest of 6 children. She thinks that she would like to go into medicine and perhaps teach at a university.
Originally ChildrenUP thought that we could only promise a sponsorship for two students. Thanks to the generosity of donors we were able to get the number up to 6 before I left. Since I have been here we realized that another 7th could be squeezed in. We had a list of 14 economically stressed and very capable students. We just cannot do it all. But it hurts at times. I know especially of one case where an orphan lives with a grandmother who is always drunk and I believe abusive. Yet grade-wise he would have been the next one on the list because his grades were so high. The needs are so very great. Resources will never be enough.
A Few Basic Facts…
Ugandan Primary school, which is almost free, ends at grade 7. The students take a Leaving Exam which determines how well they have done and whether they will even be accepted into a secondary school. The students must list their first and second choices of school on the exam. When the results are published, the schools pick their choices according to the grades the students have received. If they did not make the school of their first choice, they then must apply to the school of their second choice. There is a basically 2 week period in which students and schools find out the grades. Then the scramble begins. Add to this fact that the secondary schools are expensive beyond the reach of most Ugandans.
ChildrenUP has decided to put its major effort in securing a secondary schooling for extremely poor students who are high performing in their Leaving Exams. We have been very ably assisted by Okot Ambrose, Odama Stephen from Gulu University's department of Education and the researchers Alan and Jennifer. Though I have been here for two weeks, a number of health complications occurred with Ambrose and needed to be handled. The other delay has been the nature of the educational process. But yesterday I was able to go with Alan to very remote villages in northern Uganda and we found five of the students.
Pabbo Primary with Simon One and Consy
We hired a car and driver for the day and traveled over an hour to Pabbo Primary. Having arrived unannounced we let the head teacher know that we were there to talk to two students who had recently graduated from Pabbo. Siblings were sent home to fetch the students. When the finally arrived we sat under a tree with the head teacher, Simon and his dad, Consy was alone. Consy's father was working his farm a long distance away and her mother had taken another daughter to the hospital. Simon is the eldest in a family of 5, two other brothers and 2 sisters. Both parents are peasants which means that they are subsistence farmers . The only way they can earn any money is to sell surplus crops at a trading center. Consy comes from a family of 8 she is the oldest. Both students have been accepted to good schools because they have scored very high on the national exam. As a side note, when I asked to take a video Simon's father buttoned up his shirt to cover some rather major scars on his chest.
It should be noted what a huge change of life this will mean for these young people. They have lived their lives in family mud hut compounds. They have grown up knowing only their family and neighbors. Now they will be going near Gulu city to a boarding school. They will live in dormitories where the bunks are three levels and there will be hundreds of people they have never known. They will have shoes to wear for the first time in their lives. They will sleep on a mattress for the first time, instead of a straw mat on the ground. They will not be doing farm labor except on term holidays when they return home. Parents are allowed to visit only on one day a term. ChildrenUP will provide a mentor who will visit them once a month and more frequently the first month.
Keyo School with Simon Two and Vicky
We had sent word ahead for these young people to meet us and they were waiting with their fathers. In fact, Vicky's father had ridden a bicycle into town and when he heard that we were coming quickly rode his bike back an hour and a half, to be with his daughter. Vicky is from a family of 8 and she is the second oldest. Simon Two was the highest performing student in this part of northern Uganda. The two fathers were incredibly proud of their children. They were beside themselves at their good fortune. They never dreamed that their child could ever get into a high school. But the children had studied hard and had done well. I wish that I had had my camera rolling at the very end, because Simon in his simple 7th grade manner gave a very sincere and very heartfelt thanks to us for the opportunity. It was quite moving.
Alan spoke the local language a good part of the time, since the parents do not know English. He did speak to the student in English. I had brought a Code of Conduct with us for the students. I had given it ahead of time to Alan. We did not give it to the kids. Alan was liked what we had written, but he put it Acholi terms. He was masterful and eloquent in telling the students to work hard and not to squander the opportunity. He also addressed the parents and told them what their responsibility should be to helping their students. He also told the students that they going to be models for the rest of their primary school. The fact that they could get a sponsor should make others strive for high achievement. Later Alan told me that for these village schools, word would spread like wild fire once we left.
I had also brought a form of information about the children. How do you write down an address, when they live three kilometers from a main road, turn at the dying mango tree and follow the path by the big rock. The only directions that are meaningful are their name, the primary school they went to and then you hope someone at the school knows them and can lead you to them.
Bucaro School and Francis
The first two schools were in the same direction out of Gulu. We returned for lunch and then headed an hour out of twon in the opposite direction to find Bucaro School. It was recess time and our car was immediately enveloped by children. The head teacher found two of Francis' sisters and they got in the car with us. I cannot believe that they walk to school each day. The car headed back 2 or 3 kilometers down the road. The girls directed us down a very small side road. The road degenerated into a foot path that the car straddled. It was easily another 2 kilometers on the path.
When we arrived at the family compound, the family was astonished to see a car coming into their compound. At the time they were busy trimming cassava plants and getting them ready for storage. The father was not there as he was in a village trying to sell surplus farm products. Mother did most of the talking with Alan and his grandfather and other siblings were there as well.
Back in the states when ChildrenUP read about Francis, one thing had puzzled us. He had graduated from P7 a year earlier and yet he was on our list. We were wondering why Ambrose had included him. Since he did not have the funds to go to secondary school, he had repeated 7th grade to improve his learning. Having done very well on the exam this year, he went to the school of his choice to at least get the admission letter. But without the equivalent of five dollars, he could not even get the admission letter. I gave him the five dollars so that today he can go and get the letter.
Now what?
We will meet with two more students today. Friday we meet with all of them in town and we need to do a major shopping. Though ChildrenUP is supplying the funds for the students to get their necessities, I will not go shopping with them, but through our intermediaries. If they see an American shopping the prices will escalate quickly. Monday I have to go to the four high schools of their choice and talk with school administrators to make sure all is in order.
Two Stories…. Last evening I had supper with two young men. These are their stories. . .
Geoffrey's Story.
When he was in 4th grade he slept in a mud hut with three younger siblings. One night he awoke to the sounds of the rebels attacking and that his mother's hut was being burnt and that they had captured her. He was able to get his siblings out into the bush and they hid for two days. His mother was raped and the next day was forced to call for her children. He realized that this was a rebel trick and did not respond to his mother's call. When they felt the rebels were gone they went back only to find that the rebels had killed their mother.
He was able to find his way to an IDP camp. This is a camp for internally displaced person. At one point he was with a number of boys his own age when the rebels attacked. He was one of the few to have escaped. Geoffrey has never been with the LRA rebels, but his life has definitely been affected by the war. Geoffrey is in his last semester at Gulu University and is getting a degree in Informational Technology.
Peter's Story. . .
Peter was in school when he was 15 years old. The school was attacked by the LRA rebels. He was captured and tied onto a line of rope. The abductees were then marched in a line. If one person faltered, the entire line was beaten. After a year with the rebels he managed to escape. I feel that there is more to his story, but for now that is what he has shared. Not having funds for university, Peter now lives with his mother, He has become involved in politics and is working hard with some other young people in their twenties to try to encourage children in rural area to go to Primary school. It is difficult since most of the parents have not been to school and do not realize the worth of an education. Peter and his friends gather basic supplies for the children. They walk through the bush finding the families and children. Few of these young people have only their feet as a mode of transport. But they are trying to make a difference.
I met an interesting man yesterday. Arthur Serota. He and Ambrose and Stephen know each other. He was a lawyer interested in peace and reconciliation. He has spent years in Zimbabwe and South Africa but has been involved in northern Uganda for the past 6 years. He has offices in Washington D.C. as well as here. He spends 5 to 6 months a year here.
He was pleased to hear what we were doing and that we were doing it with Ambrose. His organization is at www.endchildsoldiering.org Originally he was interested in helping kids coming home from life with the rebels. Now he is interested in helping kids get a secondary education. He is sponsoring 111 in secondary school. But he says his organization started small. He has an office in a room at Cusco..an organization that has helped war affected children.
He has an interesting point of view on girl education. He says that girls who have a secondary education are much less likely to get HIV.AIDS. But foundations will not support education on this basis, because there has been no research done. The Gates foundation spends millions on AIDS in Africa, but yet will not work on the educational aspect.
He has partnered with Gulu University in trying to get research going and now they have partnered with Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. So the research on the project is in its initial stages. It will take years for this to have any possible effect, but he takes the long view.
When I was in Gulu in 2008, I went to a Rotary meeting and met a young man, David Martin Aliker. Then last year I had David and a young American, Kevin speak to Rotary and to a group of friends at the Knights of Columbus Hall. They spoke of BOSCO, an initiative by the Catholic Archdiocese in Uganda to bring internet and solar power to rural areas of northern Uganda.
Since I knew I would have a day without much to do, I contacted David about seeing one of the sights with him. What I did not realize that Pabbo village is an hour away by motorcycle over a wide dirt road whose surface could be described as a washboard... or mini speed bumps a foot apart.....for an hour! Add to that the fact that this is the dry season and the red clay dust is swirling all around. The worst case is when we were passed or approached by a bus or large truck. The dust raised was so thick that momentarily all vision was lost. A true Ugandan experience. I later found out that this dirt road starts in South Africa and travels up the continent!
When we did arrive at Pabbo there were about 10 students ranging in age from about 16 to 22 years old. They were there to take a 15 minute test on the computer. There is only one functional computer at the site so they individually take turns. One student gave me a tutorial on what they are doing. It is interesting that they are interested in social media....email, facebook, twitter, etc as well as searching google and wikipedia.
While David was giving individuals a test, the rest talked with me outside. Then two of the young men took me on a long walk through the Pabbo IDP camp. IDP stands for Internally Displaced Persons Camp. During the 22 year war, the Ugandan government took 1.8 million people and put them in these camps so that rebels could not abduct child soldiers. It did not work. It did have numerous ill effects of removing the people from their farms and sources of work and livelihoods. From reports I had heard I thought that the government had closed the IDP;s in the past year. There are still a lot of people in Pabbo.
As we walked through the camp the children came running to see this white man in their midst. I had a video camera. to the delight of the children they could see themselves when I replayed the images.
There were women sitting along the main path with small patches of cloth and small pile of various grains they were willing to sell. The area is know for rice growing and there are local rice and maize mills. We then approached a market area. The perimeter is surrounded by small shops, no more than 5 foot square. The doors are open and the businessmen sitting outside. Meanwhile in the large open square, women sit under large trees, selling all manner of food stuffs. Though I could identify, dried fish, okra, tomatoes and tamarind.... the other food stuffs were unknown to me. Though there is a green leafy vegetable that I have eaten.
But two main ideas struck me. The one lad who led me through the village is named Jems. Jems finished high school two years ago. He is charismatic, eloquent and a born leader. He just does not have the money to go to university and is not able to find work. The sadness is that here is a potentially strong personality, who could make a difference for northern Uganda, but that for the lack of finances will not be able to go forward as he would hope.
The other thing that struck me was the fact in that in the group of 10 students, two were girls. They had just finished high school. The thing that is remarkable about these young ladies, is that the role of women in village society is relegated to taking care of the home, the children and selling the produce they grow. For a girl, and her family, to be able to break the mould is impressive. But again... can it go beyond the simple knowledge of how to use the internet?
When we left I braced myself for another trip on the road...
The Ugandan government has set up Laroo School for war affected children. These are children who were abducted as soldiers and sex slaves during a 22 year rebel insurgency that has only recently come to an end. Many of these children have not only seen people killed, but have been forced to kill people, even close relatives. The terror that has been left on the minds of these children is incredible.
Of the 30,000 children abducted some have been able to escape. Needless to say, there are enormous psychological scars. When they return, they may not be able to find any relatives that might care for them.
There had been a center set up in Gulu, CUSCO, to handle these children as they appeared in Gulu. Now that the war has slowed down in northern Uganda the center has been closed.
Laroo School helps children for three years before trying to relocate them in society. There are three learning tracts: 1) accelerated learning 2) vocational and 3) early childhood. When we visited the Primary Grade Leaving Exam results had just been published. None of the students had received a "1", the top score. But most did score a "2". This is an icredible achievement for children who have gone through so much. And it is sad to think that there is an early childhood section. Many of the girls who have been able to escape have done so with a child, as a result of "forced" marriages in the bush or simply rapes. The children have only known a difficult life.
There is a short book "Aboke Girls" which I read in the states. It is very short. Sad and heroic. It deals with a large abduction and the heroics of one woman who was able to make a difference.
Some side notes: I have visited Gulu Secondary School anad Sacred Heart Secondary School. We will be supporting children at both of these institutions. I have been able to get video footage of both places. I will write more at length about these schools as we set up programs with the children.
As one person wrote to me, please feel free to spread trhese stories around. Thank you for reading,
Dear Supporters,
This email will be a collection of random observations. I have not written for a while since electricity has been off for a couple of days. So no internet and no possibility of recharging my batteries for electronics. Plus, there is no cold water. You need to take a lot of deep breaths when traveling around Uganda.
My purpose of helping kids has gotten off to a slow start. The main person who is helping me has had a number of complications with health, luggage arrival at the airport, etc. We did have an organization meeting on Saturday. Two education professors from Gulu University are helping us lead this effort. They are Ambrose Okot and Stephen Odama. The two researchers who have helped are Allan who teaches geography in high school and Jennifer who teaches English at the Primary level. They are four very dedicated individuals. They are very professional and caring. I could not have hoped for a better team.
Someone had suggested that I stay at a hotel where I would be comfortable since it was up to Western standards.... It was along with the price. It was also a bit far from where I wanted to be in town. A friend then suggested another hotel for about a quarter of the price. It is quite fine and includes a breakfast of hard-boiled egg, toast, jam, OJ, banana and Tea. The room is on the fourth floor with no elevator.... but given the electricity problems I doubt I would use an elevator if there was one.
Speaking of food... in 2008 I had great difficulty with the diet. For some reason, I am doing much better this time, I have found places to eat that are closer to my palette. Lunch is the hardest since they generally do not go in for small meals, like a sandwich. I have found a couple of options. And my wife will not believe this but yesterday I actually did without lunch. For supper I have eaten fresh tilapia, which is locally caught and larger than the ones we see in the U.S. I had a wonderfully spicy chicken and rice dish. Fish and Chicken and Beef are all served in a broth that is like a soup. This is then put on the rice. This will satisfy my daughter who says my travel emails always include food!
This is the dry season. The red dirt is whipped up by the winds and is blown all around. At the end of the day when I return to my room, the floor of the shower is covered in red colored water.
Gulu is the largest town in the northern part of Uganda and was the center of the war for about 22 years. Only recently has peace returned. But the effect of the war with the rebels is still here. The main part of town is about 4 blocks wide and 8 blocks long. Most of the structures are one or two stories. It is a cacophony of sounds, smells, with the chaos of pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles {known as Boda.bodas}, cars, truck and buses. This does not include the chickens, ducks and very large long horn cattle that roam the streets.
The basic mode of travel is walking. For somewhat long distances you have to take a boda.boda. In Gulu they are safe. In Kampala it is a very dangerous ride. The professors with whom I am working have a car, so that makes life very nice indeed. Outside of the center of town are a large assortment of mud hut area. They are not organized by roads or even what could be called lanes. I have not yet tried to negotiate these areas without a local.
One of the difficulties is language. The local language is Luo. Anyone who has been to primary school can speak English, the national language. I have tried to learn some basic expressions. When asked how to say ...Good morning... as an example, it is ICOO.... but I found that the person helping me only had an oral knowledge of his own language and could not figure out how to spell the sound.
More later,


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The Columbia Journal of Race and Law launched this week, at a time when the "post-racialism" heralded after the election of President Obama has yet to be realized, according to the journal's editor-in-chief.
When it comes to laws governing Native Americans, there are often many more questions than answers. Tribal, state, and federal government regulations often get entangled when trying to sort out who has jurisdiction over what. Out of such complexity comes opportunity, in the form of a tricky question that is the basis of this year's National Native American Law Students Association Moot Court Competition, which will be held Feb. 25-26 at Columbia Law School.
The Human Rights Institute (HRI) of Columbia Law School will co-host a groundbreaking conference on gender, sexuality and women's rights issues that will bring together leading scholars and advocates from over 20 countries in North, South, Central America and the Caribbean.
Columbia Law School Professor Tim Wu has been named senior advisor to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for consumer protection and competition issues that affect the Internet and mobile markets.
The Google settlement calls for creation of a Book Rights Registry, which would license authors' rights to digitize books and make them available, unless an author opts out. The registry, a form of a collective management organization (CMO), would make licensing more cost-effective and eliminate the need to seek copyright clearance on a work-by-work basis. Even if the settlement is not approved, some people argue that Congress should create a copyright exception or a compulsory license to enable the creation of a digital library, with a CMO to represent authors' and publishers' interests. How CMOs work and whether they are the best solution for the large-scale exploitation of copyrighted works was the topic Jat the annual symposium of the Kernochan Center for Law, Media, and the Arts at Columbia Law School.
On Friday, Feb. 4, 2011, two esteemed graduates will be awarded the Medal for Excellence, the Law Schools highest honor. Max W. Berger 71 is a renowned civil litigator and the founding partner of Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossmann. Stephen H. Case 68 is the managing director and general counsel of Emerald Development Managers, a venture capital and private equity firm. The awards will be presented during the Law Schools Winter Luncheon, which will begin at noon in the Grand Ballroom of The Waldorf=Astoria (301 Park Avenue, New York, N.Y.).
The Vale Columbia Center on Sustainable International Investment has released two e-books on foreign direct investment and multinational enterprises in emerging markets.
Two Law School teams have advanced to the finals of the worlds largest international moot court competitions, the Philip C. Jessup International Moot Court Competition and the European Law Moot Court Competition.
The $14 trillion national debt pales in comparison to what may lie ahead, says Professor Michael Graetz. He said left unchecked, the debt could balloon to $20 trillion in nine years. "This really threatens the U.S. standard of living, it threatens the dollar as a world currency."
The Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia Law School has drafted a model ordinance that municipalities in New York can use to regulate the construction of wind energy systems. The ordinance would govern all new commercial wind energy facilities and includes provisions regarding permits, approvals, oversight, and operations.
The Columbia Journal of Race and Law launched this week, at a time when the "post-racialism" heralded after the election of President Obama has yet to be realized, according to the journal's editor-in-chief.
The Obama administration said today that it would not defend in court the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the 15-year-old federal law that defines marriage as between a man and a woman. The Justice Department had previously defended the law, but said it had determined in a pair of cases in the federal appeals court in New York that it was no longer constitutional.
Columbia Law School awarded its highest honor, the Medal for Excellence, to Max W. Berger '71 and Stephen H. Case '68. The presentation took place during the annual Winter Luncheon on Friday, Feb. 4 at the Waldorf=Astoria, where nearly 400 guests celebrated the honorees' distinguished careers, as well as their longtime commitment to the Law School.


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There have been some cracking horror games over the years, some that would make you cower behind the sofa, and some that would make you exclaim "I've had scarier times on the toilet!".
This bonus episode of The GodisaGeek.com Vault is a selection of chillers which fall firmly into the first category. Be warned, there are a few gentle spoilers in this list, so if you haven't played the games, GodisaGeek.com might recommend just reading the title.
Glad to see Fatal Frame on the list. I love that series.
I really hope they go multi-platform again ,( esp after what Nintendo did with FF 4.)
Fatal Frame deserves a mention purely for the vids of that guy on youtube screaming and crying! :-D


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Nicola Wood is a director in Progression's corporate and commercial team, specialising in commercial property.
Originally from Ulverston, Nicola left Cumbria to qualify and work in London for a number of years before returning to live in the Lake District in 2012. Following qualification, Nicola worked for a year in property finance before moving to the commercial property group of a leading City firm for eight years.
At Progression, Nicola works almost exclusively on commercial transactions, including freehold and leasehold sales and purchases, business lettings and renewals (acting for landlord or tenant) and development.
Nicola is predominantly based at Progression's Windermere office, but can also see clients at the firm's other regional offices.


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The High Museum of Art has announced the final installment in its series of "American Encounters" exhibition collaborations with the Louvre, Arkansas' Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and the Chicago and Paris-based Terra Foundation for American Art.
"The Simple Pleasures of Still Life, " the fourth exhibit in the four-year project, will run at the High from Sept. 26, 2015 to Jan. 31, 2016. The intimate show will focus on how late 18th- and early 19th-century American artists adapted European still-life tradition to the taste, character and experience of their younger country.
Among the artists represented will be De Scott Evans, Martin Johnson Heade, Joseph Biays Ord, William Sydney Mount and Raphaelle Peale, with trompe l'oeil paintings by John Haberle, William Michael Harnett and George Cope.
"Each individual painting, intimately scaled and packed with lush imagery rife with symbolic and historical meaning, invites close observation and tells the story of a young nation finding its voice," said High American art curator Stephanie Mayer Heydt, who curated this "American Encounters" installment.
The High will supplement the touring show with four paintings drawn from its American art collection, including works by William Mason Brown, Joseph Decker and John Frederick Peto.
Meanwhile, the series' third exhibit, "American Encounters: Anglo-American Portraiture in an Era of Revolution," featuring three George Washington portraits and more, continues at the High through Jan. 18. 1280 Peachtree St., Atlanta. www.high.org.


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