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On Message: What Boehner's Saying (And What He's Not) About Sequester
Earlier, we broke down a statement that President Obama has repeated about the sequester. As we continue trying to decipher the messaging war over the mandated budget cuts scheduled to kick in Friday, we now take a look at the political talking points of House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio.
House Speaker John Boehner
"You know, the president proposed the sequester, yet he's far more interested in holding campaign rallies than he is in urging his Senate Democrats to actually pass a plan. Listen, we know there are smarter ways to cut spending and to continue to grow our economy. That's why Republicans have acted twice ... to replace the sequester with what we would argue are smarter cuts." — Feb. 25
This one quote contains three favored talking points from House Republicans.
Message 1: The Sequester Was Obama's Idea
The question of whose sequester it really is has been heavily debated ever since Boehner called it "The President's Sequester" on the House floor earlier this month. The short answer is, the idea originated in the White House as a way out of what could have been an economy-crashing fight with Republicans over the debt ceiling back in the summer of 2011.
What They Aren't Saying
Republicans voted for it overwhelmingly. Without their votes, the Budget Control Act wouldn't have passed, and the sequester wouldn't exist today.
As South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, no fan of the sequester, said: "We have our fingerprints as Republicans on this proposal, on this sequestration idea. It was the president's idea, according to Bob Woodward's book. But we as the Republican Party agreed to it."
Regardless of paternity, it's easy to make the case that this is everyone's sequester now: White House idea, passed with overwhelming GOP votes, allowed to kick in only because of the failure of a bipartisan "supercommittee" and because, in the 18 months since then, compromise to replace it has been elusive. Part of the reason Boehner is working so hard to make sure everyone knows the idea originated from the White House is many House Republicans have said in no uncertain terms they want the sequester to go ahead. And polls show that if it does, Republicans will get the blame. Boehner would really prefer if it didn't turn out that way.
Message 2: House Republicans Have Twice Passed Bills To Replace The Sequester
It's true. In May they passed the Sequester Replacement Reconciliation Act, without any Democratic support. And then in December, House Republicans passed the Spending Reduction Act of 2012, also without any Democratic support. That's because these sequester replacement measures, among other things, would defund significant portions of the president's health care law — something Democrats wouldn't go for. The Democratic-controlled Senate never voted on them.
What They Aren't Saying
Both bills passed in 2012, during the 112th Congress. Remember earlier this year the huge uproar when the Hurricane Sandy relief bill died because the 112th Congress ended before the House could vote on it? Well, a lot of bills died with the start of the new Congress, and that includes those two. So there is no House-passed vehicle to avoid the sequester.
And it doesn't look like the House has any intention of voting again to replace the sequester, because there's a very big question of whether such a bill would pass. According to a recent story in Roll Call:
"Last year, the Sequester Replacement Reconciliation Act passed 218-199 in May with 16 Republicans voting against it. Then in December, the Spending Reduction Act passed by an even slimmer margin, 215-209, with 21 Republicans opposed. No Democrat supported either bill.
"More than 30 Republican members who supported the bills are no longer serving in the House because of retirement, loss of election or running for another office. And in the 113th Congress, Republicans have eight fewer seats in the House."
Message 3: The President And Democratic-Controlled Senate Must Act First
The message from Speaker Boehner and House Republicans for weeks has been: "It's up to the Senate." There are a few reasons for this message. The House may not be able to pass a sequester alternative of its own (see above). The Senate is controlled by Democrats and, as Republicans love to point out, hasn't passed a budget in quite some time. Painting the Senate as a bunch of slackers is a House GOP pastime, and this fits into that theme. If they can divert focus to the Senate, maybe no one will notice that the House GOP is struggling to say what it stands for on the sequester.
What They Aren't Saying
The Senate is scheduled to vote this week on at least two sequester avoidance bills. One comes from Democrats and includes the so-called Buffett Rule, raising taxes on the wealthiest. That's a nonstarter with Republicans. Because of the grand tradition of the filibuster in the Senate, pretty much every bill needs to meet a 60-vote procedural threshold just to get a floor vote. In this Senate, that means some Republican support is necessary — and in this case it's not likely. The other is a Republican bill, which is not expected to get Democratic support. So, House Republicans are taking a pretty safe bet that they can call on the Senate to act first, and it won't.
Technically, all bills that raise revenue have to originate in the House. Democrats are insisting that some new revenue be involved in any sequester replacement. But if a bill that originates in the Senate raises revenue, it has a "blue slip problem." There are ways around this, but given that the House GOP says it's done raising taxes, saying the solution has to start in the Senate may just be another way of saying "no more taxes."


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Amazon announced their online marketplace for wine yesterday. That's great, but there's no shortage of places on the internet to get great bargains on quality beer, wine, and spirits, especially on the cheap. That got us thinking: What do you actually need for a well put-together home bar, and how can you explore without breaking the bank?
Find Out Whether You Can Shop Online or Need to Find a Store
Most online services that sell alcohol, including Amazon's new wine marketplace, only ship to certain locations in the United States. There are detailed and sometimes confusing laws that vary by state, so make sure you look up your location before trying to shop online. If you can't order directly, find and stop into a good, well-stocked local liquor store or wine shop in your community and make friends with the staff. They'll usually accept special orders, and if you make friends with a wine buyer and tell them what you're interested in, they may order it for you (or point you to something better!)
Determine What You Need to Serve the Things You Enjoy
The next thing you need to figure out is what you enjoy drinking. If you like beer and wine, that's great—we'll discuss some services that can help you explore them a little later. Buying liquor can be a little trickier. If you have some favorite drinks you order when you go to a bar, look up their recipes and buy the spirits required to make them at home. If not, or if you're interested in experimenting, there are some basics that every home bar should have:
Whiskey (or Whisky, depending on the style you like)
If you have a bottle of each of these, you can make just about anything (we're not including mixers, bitters, and juices, of course.) There are some nuances though: For example, many drinks call for dark or spiced rum versus light and clear rum. Additionally, whiskey is a world of its own worth exploring. Irish, American, or Bourbon Whiskey offer completely different experiences from Japanese, Canadian, or Scotch Whisky, and even those are so different that only reason we grouped them like this is for spelling. We could write a whole article about this, but Chow has an excellent whiskey primer worth reading. Photo by Alper Çuğun.
Depending on what you like to drink, you could do well with a bottle of each of the above, as well as separate bottles of dark and light rum, and separate bottles of different whiskeys you enjoy. I have four different whiskeys in my bar, and I don't drink that frequently, they're all just that different. Photo by Bruno Cordioli.
Don't be afraid to experiment either—get some drinks in mind that you'd like to try at home and buy the ingredients for them. See what you like and don't. I'm a follower of the "if you wouldn't drink it straight, don't mix with it" philosophy, but that can get expensive. In general, stick with the middle of the rack unless there's something you have to have. You'll save money, and get your palate started on a good "normal" you can upgrade or downgrade from.
Shop Wisely, and Buy from Retailers that Educate As Well As Discount
If you're just getting started and don't exactly have a budget just for whiskey, you don't need to buy four bottles like I did. Look for retailers that are willing to help you learn about the spirits and drinks you buy before you buy them.
I mentioned on Twitter that indie wine retailers might be angry over Amazon Wine, but the best wine and liquor sellers will step up to the plate and start marketing themselves on their variety, their selection, and their education as well as price. Here are a few to get you started:
Caskers offers small batch, craft spirits at discount prices. If you're looking to explore all of those whiskey varieties we mentioned earlier, they're a great first stop. The bargains don't stop with whiskey though—right now Caskers has deals on small-batch tequila and gin, and I've seen vodka in the store as well. Best of all, they sell at prices that won't break the bank and are low enough to keep you from just buying whatever's in the plastic bottle at the bottom of the liquor store rack. Before you buy, you can read up on the history, flavor, and suggested uses of the bottle you're interested in. Caskers is in private beta, but use the invite code LIFEHACKER to sign up.
Amazon Marketplace is a surprising place to buy spirits, but there are dozens of retailers at Amazon selling hard-to-find liquors at great prices, and many of them do a better job of describing what you're in for before you buy than you'd get standing in front of a rack at the store wondering what's good. Plus, you can reach out to the seller before buying to get more information, or do your own research before pulling the trigger.
Club W has one of the best educational programs I've seen. When you sign up, they help you nail down your palate and the wines you'll enjoy with an interactive quiz, and before they send anything to you, you can watch short videos that describe the taste, look, and the type of foods to pair with. They are a monthly subscription service though, so keep that in mind before signing up.
Invino offers "insider" deals every week—or in some cases, every day—where limited supplies of specific wines are available at ridiculously low prices. It's a buy on-demand service, so you log in, shop around, read reviews and tasting notes, and decide what you want to buy. They tend to have some exclusives as well, and it's a great, affordable way to try new things without spending a lot of money.
We've focused on places that have great prices as well as give you a chance to learn more about what you're buying before you buy. Once you get more comfortable, wine lovers will love spots like Wine Library and its daily-deal site, Cinderella Wine, as well as Wine Woot! as spots to get great bargains. Spirit drinkers (especially Scotch lovers) can check out Love Scotch. If you don't live in a place that allows direct shipments, hit Yelp and Foursquare to see which liquor stores in your area are highly rated and well regarded. Odds are you can head there and make some friends that will help you save a few bucks (by buying Saint Brendan's Irish Cream instead of paying extra for the Bailey's brand name, for example) and educate you in the process.
Expand Your Horizons: Go to Tastings and Festivals
By now you should have a shopping list of things you want to buy, places you can shop online (or in person) to buy affordably, and even a list of drinks you want to make. Take your time and look for deals, on and offline. The next step is to expand your palate, and the best way is to try as many new and different things as possible. Check out to beer and wine festivals in your community and try something you haven't tried before. Plus, that way you can taste different things, form opinions, and talk to the people who make the beverages you're drinking.
Spirits are the same way, but keep your eyes on services like Groupon, LivingSocial, and Google Offers here: I've had great luck finding fun events like whiskey tastings and tequila tastings through them, and they're usually affordable considering you get to try a lot of things, learn from an expert, and sometimes—just sometimes—take some home with you. The more you explore, the smarter you'll buy, and the smarter you buy, the better your at home bar will be.
Title photo by Ryan Lackey.

subset: commoncrawl


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Emerging trends: Robots that assemble themselves from a sheet of paper
August 11, 2014
By Seth Borenstein The Associated Press
In what may be the birth of cheap, easy-to-make robots, researchers have created complex machines that transform themselves from little more than a sheet of paper and plastic into walking automatons.
Borrowing from the ancient Japanese art of origami, children's toys and even a touch of the "Transformers" movies, scientists and engineers at Harvard and MIT created self-assembling, paper robots. They are made out of hobby shop materials that cost about $100.
After the installation of tiny batteries and motors, a paper robot rises on four stumpy legs and starts scooting in a herky-jerky manner. It transforms from flat paper to a jitterbugging four-legged robot in just four minutes.
This small, lightweight type of robot could explore outer space and other dangerous environments, and get into cramped places for search-and-rescue missions, researchers said. But that's just the start of what may be a long-envisioned robotic revolution.
This eventually could be as technology-changing as the three-dimensional printer, said experts unconnected with the study and Harvard robotics researcher Sam Felton, who is lead author of the paper published Thursday in the journal Science.
Felton and study co-author Daniela Rus of MIT say they see a time when someone who wants a dog-walking robot would go to a store that has specialized equipment to make the device — "some sort of robo-Kinkos," Felton said.
And eventually the technology could produce more complex machines.
"In principle it will be possible to say, 'I want a robot to play chess with me,' and generate a machine that has the computational abilities to play chess with you," Rus said.
Today it costs a lot of money to build a robot, but this method is fast, cheap and specialized, Rus said.
"This is a simple, flexible and rapid design process, and a step toward the dream of realizing the vision of 24-hour robot manufacturing," Rus said.
These robots aren't quite Transformers of movie and cartoon fame. Once they assemble themselves automatically with heat-activated hinges that allow the folding, there are no more changes, Rus and Felton said.
The robots themselves start out a bit smaller than a normal 8.5-by-11-inch sheet of paper. Off-the-shelf batteries and motors are embedded at a cost of about $80. Altogether, the early machines researchers made, along with the equipment to build them, cost less than $1,000 apiece, Felton said.
The robots, which the researchers did not name, are about six inches long, six inches wide, and about two inches tall. They weigh less than three ounces. They move about two inches per second. But they can be made bigger or smaller, with some limitations, Felton said.
He said the way heating activates the hinges was inspired by the children's toy line Shrinky Dinks, which shrivel and fold when put in the oven.
Robotics pioneer Rodney Brooks, an MIT emeritus professor who wasn't part of the research, said this could be close to other momentous changes in technology, such as the first 3D printers or even 1947's ENIAC early computer.
"Lots more people will join in working on these techniques, each making incremental progress, and decades from now we'll wonder why it took so long to get where we'll then be with it," Brooks said in an email.
- GM recalls SUVs for third time
- Automation to drive investments for dimensional metrology equipment: study


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How Paramount Bookkeeping Can Help You And Your Derrimut Business
Our experienced bookkeepers work with businesses from Derrimut and all over Derrimut. We provide professional, proactive and reliable bookkeeping services and are dedicated to helping you achieve the best results in your bookkeeping.
the nature of small businesses and how demanding your schedule will be. Long days and physical demands associated with managing businesses often means that the compliance issues of GST, PAYG, Superannuation, BAS and ATO Payments don't end up getting the attention they need.
It's unfortunate that despite working hard, if your accounting isn't in order you may be making costly mistakes or missing out on entitlements and tax breaks without even knowing it. Meanwhile other businesses and professionals who fail to manage their bookkeeping correctly expose themselves to substantial fines and interest penalties.
At Paramount Bookkeeping we can take care of your bookkeeping needs. We work in a specialised role where bookkeeping is all we do. So you can be assured that it's done to a very high standard and in an ethical, honest manner.
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I had some pumpkin puree that needed to be used and I was in the mood for some texmex flavours. A while ago I made some Sweet Potatoes and Black Bean Enchiladas that I enjoyed and I thought that pumpkin would do really well in a similar dish. I decided to go with burritos rather than enchiladas this time. With the pumpkin puree already made the dish was pretty quick to make. The natural sweetness of the pumpkin went really well with the texmex spiciness. I topped the burritos with salsa, sour cream and shredded cheddar cheese.
Pumpkin and Black Bean Burritos
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 onion (chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic (chopped)
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons cumin (ground)
- 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed (or 1 1/2 cups cooked beans, from 1/2 cup dry)
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce (chopped)
- 2 tablespoons cilantro (chopped)
- 6 tortillas
- Heat the oil in a pan.
- Add the onion and saute until tender, about 3-5 minutes.
- Add the garlic and saute until fragrant, about 30-60 seconds.
- Add the chili powder, and cumin and saute for about a minute.
- Add the beans, water, oregano, salt and pepper and cook until most water has evaporated.
- Remove the beans from the heat and mash half of them with a fork.
- Mix the pumpkin puree, chipotle peppers and cilantro and warm in the microwave.
- Place some of the pumpkin mixture and some of the bean mixture and into a tortilla and wrap it.
- Top with salsa, shredded cheese, sour cream etc.
Pumpkin and Black Bean Quesadillas
Pumpkin and Black Bean Soup
Squash Chili Mole
Chipotle Butternut Squash and Black Bean Burrito Bowl
Spicy Pork Bulgogi and Beans Burrito
Butter Chicken Burritos
Sweet Potato and Black Bean Tacos with Swiss Chard Pesto
Pumpkin Chorizo and Black Bean Soup


text: Akif is a Web Designer, Developer and Educator specializing in WordPress and Expression Web. He has Published and Designed several Websites. He spends a lot of his time thinking about and sharing his knowledge of the internet, Information Technology and Web design and Development. Also he is passionate about Fashion Industry. In 2012, he started publishing Fashion related Blogs. Sizzling Magazine is one of them!


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US defense contractor pays over $5 million to ex-Abu Ghraib inmates
Settlement marks first successful effort by former prisoners to collect money in lawsuits alleging torture
WASHINGTON (AP) — A defense contractor whose subsidiary was accused in a lawsuit of conspiring to torture detainees at the infamous Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq has paid $5.28 million to 71 former inmates held there and at other US-run detention sites between 2003 and 2007.
The settlement in the case involving Engility Holdings Inc. of Chantilly, Virginia, marks the first successful effort by lawyers for former prisoners at Abu Ghraib and other detention centers to collect money from a US defense contractor in lawsuits alleging torture. Another contractor, CACI, is expected to go to trial over similar allegations this summer.
The payments were disclosed in a document that Engility filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission two months ago but which has gone essentially unnoticed.
The defendant in the lawsuit, L-3 Services Inc., now an Engility subsidiary, provided translators to the US military in Iraq. In 2006, L-3 Services had more than 6,000 translators in Iraq under a $450 million-a-year contract, an L-3 executive told an investors conference at the time.
On Tuesday, a lawyer for the ex-detainees, Baher Azmy, said that each of the 71 Iraqis received a portion of the settlement. Azmy declined to say how the money was distributed among them. He said there was an agreement to keep details of the settlement confidential.
"Private military contractors played a serious but often under-reported role in the worst abuses at Abu Ghraib," said Azmy, the legal director at the Center for Constitutional Rights. "We are pleased that this settlement provides some accountability for one of those contractors and offers some measure of justice for the victims."
Jennifer Barton, a spokeswoman for L-3 Communications, the former parent company of L-3 Services, said the company does not comment on legal matters.
Eric Ruff, Engility's director of corporate communications, said the company does not comment on matters involving litigation.
The ex-detainees filed the lawsuit in federal court in Greenbelt, Maryland, in 2008.
L-3 Services "permitted scores of its employees to participate in torturing and abusing prisoners over an extended period of time throughout Iraq," the lawsuit stated. The company "willfully failed to report L-3 employees' repeated assaults and other criminal conduct by its employees to the United States or Iraq authorities."
One inmate alleged he was subjected to mock executions by having a gun aimed at his head and the trigger pulled. Another inmate said he was slammed into a wall until he became unconscious. A third was allegedly stripped naked and threatened with rape while his hands and legs were chained and a hood was placed on his head. Another said he was forced to consume so much water that he began to vomit blood. Several of the inmates said they were raped and many of the inmates said they were beaten and kept naked for extended periods of time.
In its defense four years ago against the lawsuit, L-3 Services said lawyers for the Iraqis alleged no facts to support the conspiracy accusation. Sixty-eight of the Iraqis "do not even attempt to allege the identity of their alleged abuser" and two others provide only "vague assertions," the company said then.
A military investigation in 2004 identified 44 alleged incidents of detainee abuse at Abu Ghraib. No employee from L-3 Services was charged with a crime in investigations by the US Justice Department. Nor did the US military stop the company from working for the government.
Fifty-two of the 71 Iraqis alleged that they were imprisoned at Abu Ghraib and at other detention facilities. The other 19 Iraqis allege they were detained at detention facilities other than Abu Ghraib.
The Abu Ghraib prison scandal erupted during President George W. Bush's re-election campaign in 2004 when graphic photographs taken by soldiers at the scene were leaked to the news media. They showed naked inmates piled on top of each other in a prison cell block, inmates handcuffed to their cell bars and hooded and wired for electric shock, among other shocking scenes.
In the ensuing international uproar, Bush said the practices that had taken place at Abu Ghraib in late 2003 were "abhorrent." Some Democrats demanded that Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld resign. Eventually, 11 US soldiers were convicted of crimes including aggravated assault and taking pictures of naked Iraqi prisoners being humiliated.
Rumsfeld told Congress in 2004 that he had found a way to compensate Iraqi detainees who suffered "grievous and brutal abuse and cruelty at the hands of a few members of the United States armed forces." But the US Army subsequently has been unable to document a single US government payment for prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib.
This week, the US Army Claims Service said it has 36 claims from former detainees in Iraq, none of them related to alleged physical abuse. From the budget years 2003 to 2006, the Defense Department paid $30.9 million to Iraqi and Afghan civilians who were killed, injured, or incurred property damage due to US or coalition forces' actions during combat.
In the aftermath of Abu Ghraib, lawyers for the Iraqis filed a number of lawsuits against L-3 Services and another company, CACI International Inc. of Arlington, Virginia, but the cases were quickly hung up on an underlying question: whether defense contractors working side by side with the US military can be sued for claims arising in a war zone. The US government is immune from suits stemming from combatant activities of the military in time of war.
Courts are still sorting out whether contractors in a war zone should be accorded legal immunity from being sued, just as the government is immune.
But a turning point in the cases involving L-3 and CACI came last May. The 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia, ruled 11-3 that more facts must be developed before the appeals court could consider the defense contractor's request to dismiss the lawsuit.
In the case against CACI, four Iraqis who say they were tortured are seeking compensation from the company, which provided interrogators to the US military during the war. CACI has chosen to continue its fight against the lawsuit. Azmy said a trial is expected this summer.
In its defense four years ago against the lawsuit, L-3 said the fact that the claims in the case "cannot be brought against the government means that they also cannot be brought against L-3."
"No court in the United States has allowed aliens — detained on the battlefield or in the course of postwar occupation and military operations by the US military — to seek damages for their detention," the company told the federal court four years ago. "Yet these plaintiffs bring claims seeking money damages for their detention and treatment while in the custody of the US military in the midst of a belligerent occupation in Iraq."
Allowing the case to proceed "would require a wholly unprecedented injection of the judiciary into wartime military operations and occupation conduct against the local population, in particular the conditions of confinement and interrogation for intelligence gathering," L-3 added.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.


text: UR Medicine / Neurosurgery / Services / Conditions / Parkinson's Disease Parkinson's Disease For more information, please visit our Functional Neurosurgery Program site or Center for Neuromodulation What is Parkinson's disease? Parkinson's disease (PD or, simply, Parkinson's) is the most common form of parkinsonism, a group of motor system disorders. It is a slowly progressing, degenerative disease that is usually associated with the following symptoms, all of which result from the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells: tremor or trembling of the arms, jaw, legs, and face stiffness or rigidity of the limbs and trunk bradykinesia (slowness of movement) postural instability, or impaired balance and coordination Dopamine is a substance produced in the body which has many effects, including smooth and coordinated muscle movement. Facts about Parkinson's disease: It is incorrectly believed that Parkinson's disease disappeared after the introduction of levodopa (L-dopa) in the 1960s. In fact, about 60,000 Americans are newly diagnosed with Parkinson's disease each year, with more than 1 million Americans affected at any one time. Further, more people suffer from Parkinson's disease than multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis combined. What causes Parkinson's disease (PD)? The specific cause of PD is unknown; however, medical experts believe the symptoms are related to a chemical imbalance in the brain caused by brain-cell death. Parkinson's disease is chronic (persists over a long period of time), and progressive (symptoms grow worse over time). Although the disease may appear in younger patients (even teenagers), it usually affects people in late middle age. It is not contagious, nor is it likely passed on from generation to generation. The biggest risk factor for developing PD is advancing age. The average age for the onset of PD is 60 years. In addition, 50 percent more men are affected than women, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. However, the reason for this is unclear. Family history is another important risk factor. Individuals with a parent or sibling who are affected have approximately two times the chance of developing PD. This increased risk is most likely because of a combination of environmental and genetic factors. Environmental causes are being researched and the strong consistent findings are that rural living, exposure to well water, and exposure to agricultural pesticides and herbicides are related to PD. It is important to remember, however, that these factors do not guarantee the development of PD, nor does their absence prevent it. Having one or more close relatives with PD increases one's risk of developing the disease; however, unless there is a known genetic mutation for PD present, the increased risk is only 2 percent to 5 percent. Currently researchers believe that in most individuals the cause of PD is a combination of genetics and environmental exposure. Parkinson's Syndrome, Atypical Parkinson's, or Parkinsonism. Parkinson's disease is also called primary parkinsonism or idiopathic Parkinson's disease. (Idiopathic is the term for a disorder for which no cause has yet been identified). In the other forms of parkinsonism, either the cause is known or suspected, or the disorder occurs as a secondary effect of another primary neurological disorder that may have both primary and secondary symptoms of Parkinson's disease. These disorders, described as Parkinson's Syndrome, Atypical Parkinson's, or, simply, parkinsonism, may include the following: tumors in the brain repeated head trauma drug-induced parkinsonism - prolonged use of tranquilizing drugs, such as the phenothiazines, butyrophenones, reserpine, and the commonly used drug, metoclopramide for stomach upset. toxin-induced parkinsonism - manganese and carbon monoxide poisoning. postencephalitic parkinsonism - a viral disease that causes "sleeping sickness." striatonigral degeneration - the substantia nigra of the brain is only mildly affected, while other areas of the brain show more severe damage. parkinsonism that accompanies other neurological conditions - such as Shy-Drager syndrome (multiple system atrophy), progressive supranuclear palsy, Wilson's disease, Huntington's disease, Hallervorden-Spatz syndrome, Alzheimer's disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, olivopontocerebellar atrophy, post-traumatic encephalopathy, and dementia with Lewy bodies. What are the four primary symptoms of Parkinson's? The following are the most common symptoms of Parkinson's disease. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include: muscle rigidity - stiffness when the arm, leg, or neck is moved back and forth. resting tremor - tremor (involuntary movement from contracting muscles) that is most prominent at rest. bradykinesia - slowness in initiating movement. postural instability - poor posture and balance that may cause falls; gait or balance problems. Other symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) Symptoms of Parkinson's disease vary from patient to patient. The symptoms may appear slowly and in no particular order. Early symptoms may be subtle and may progress over many years before reaching a point where they interfere with normal daily activities. The four cardinal symptoms of PD are listed above. Other symptoms are divided into motor (movement related) and nonmotor symptoms. Motor symptoms tremor bradykinesia (slow movement) rigidity and freezing in place stooped posture shuffling gait decreased arm swing when walking difficulty rising from a chair micrographia (small, cramped handwriting) lack of facial expression slowed activities of daily living (e.g., eating, dressing, bathing, etc.) difficulty turning in bed remaining in a certain position for a long period of time Non-motor symptoms diminished sense of smell low voice volume (hypophonia) difficulty speaking (dysarthria) painful foot cramps sleep disturbance depression emotional changes (fearful and insecure) skin problems constipation drooling increased sweating urinary frequency/urgency male erectile dysfunction As the disease progresses, walking may become affected, causing the patient to stop in mid-stride or "freeze" in place, and maybe even fall over. Patients also may begin walking with a series of quick, small steps as if hurrying forward to keep balance, a practice known as festination. The symptoms of Parkinson's disease may resemble other conditions or medical problems. Always consult your physician for a diagnosis. How is Parkinson's disease diagnosed? Making an accurate diagnosis in the early stages of Parkinson's disease can be difficult, as the beginning signs and symptoms may be considered to be indications of other conditions or the effects of normal aging. For this reason, observation of the patient may be required for some time until the symptoms are consistently present. Currently, there are no blood or laboratory tests that are useful in the diagnosis of PD. Diagnosis of PD is based primarily on a medical history and thorough neurological examination. Brain scans and/or lab tests may be performed to help rule out other diseases or conditions, but brain scan generally will turn out to be normal with PD. Methods to assist with the diagnosis of PD include: neurological examination (including evaluation of symptoms and their severity) trial test of drugs - when symptoms are significant, a trial test of drugs (primarily levodopa [L-dopa]) may be used to further diagnose the presence of PD. If a patient fails to benefit from levodopa, a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease may be questionable. computed tomography scan (Also called a CT or CAT scan.) - a diagnostic imaging procedure that uses a combination of x-rays and computer technology to produce cross-sectional images (often called slices), both horizontally and vertically, of the body. A CT scan shows detailed images of any part of the body, including the bones, muscles, fat, and organs. CT scans are more detailed than general x-rays. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - a diagnostic procedure that uses a combination of large magnets, radiofrequencies, and a computer to produce detailed images of organs and structures within the body. Treatment for Parkinson's disease: Specific treatment for a Parkinson's disease will be determined by your physician based on: your age, overall health, and medical history extent of the condition type of condition your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies expectations for the course of the condition your opinion or preference With today's medicine, we have yet to find a cure for Parkinson's disease. However, based upon the severity of the symptoms and medical profile, the physician will establish an appropriate treatment protocol. Treatment for Parkinson's disease may include the following: medications surgery complementary and supportive therapies, such as diet, exercise, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy Medication for Parkinson's disease: Once the diagnosis of PD has been made, the next decision is whether a patient should receive medication, which depends on the following: the degree of functional impairment the degree of cognitive impairment ability to tolerate antiparkinsonian medication the advice of the attending physician No two patients react the same way to a given drug, therefore, it takes time and patience to find an appropriate medication and dosage to alleviate symptoms. Surgery for Parkinson's disease: Based on the severity of the condition and the medical profile, the physician may recommend surgery as one treatment option for Parkinson's disease. There are several types of surgery that may be performed that can help patients with Parkinson's disease. Most of the treatments are aimed at helping the tremor or rigidity that comes with the disease. There are three types of surgeries that may be performed for Parkinson's disease, including the following: lesion surgery (burning of tissue)- in this procedure, deep parts of the brain are targeted and small lesions are made in critical parts of the brain that help control movement. The surgery may be done while the patient is awake to help determine the exact placement of the lesion. The lesion is placed to help control, or stop, the area of the brain that is causing the tremor. deep brain stimulation (DBS)- with this type of surgery, a small electrode is placed in the critical parts of the brain that help to control movement. The electrode is attached to a small battery in the chest wall and is connected by wires that are placed under the skin. The stimulator is then turned on and interrupts the normal flow of information in the brain and can help to decrease symptoms of Parkinson's disease. neural grafting or tissue transplants- experimental research is being done to find a replacement for the part of the brain that functions improperly in Parkinson's disease. It is important to remember that surgery may help with symptoms of Parkinson's disease, but does not cure the disease or stop the progression of the disease.


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We cover Dumgoyne (Stirling)


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Breaking: Dr. Melba Ketchum's Bigfoot DNA Paper Has Been REJECTED
This just in: The Ketchum paper has been rejected by peer review journals in the U.S. Before we give you the details, here's a statement from Steven Streufert of Coalition for Reason, Science, Sanity in Bigfoot Research:
It is official, then: The Ketchum paper was REJECTED and FAILED PEER REVIEW.
No conspiracy theory can change what this means: their science is NOT sound. It failed.
- Steven Streufert
At 3AM PST this morning, Igor Burtsev, the Russian scientist who originally leaked the Bigfoot DNA results posted this shocking message informing the public that Dr. Melba Ketchum's Bigfoot DNA paper has been rejected and that it will now be sent to a Russian review journal instead:
Yes, the paper of Dr Ketchum is under reviewing. And it is worth to be published. Just the situation now remindes me the war between North and South in the beginning of USA history... There are a lot of her supporters as well as a lot of her opponents and even some enemies...
The problem is that some people absolutize the science. Unfortunately science now is too conservative. One third of the population of the USA believes in BFs existing, but academic science even does not want to recognize the problem of their existing or not, just rejecting to dicuss this question. In such a condition this subject is under discussion of the broad public. We can't wait decades when scientists start to study this problem, forest people need to be protect now, not after half a sentury, when science wakes up.
Re the paper: the reviewed journals in the US refused to publish the paper. That is why Dr Ketchum has sent it to me to arrange publishing in any Russian reviewd journal. And I showed to our genetisits and understood that it was a serious work. I gave it up to the journal, now it's under reviewing.
Anyway, I informed public about the results of the study. The public waited for this info for more than a year, a lot of rumors were spreading around. And the public has the right to know it nevertheless "science" says about it.
- Igor Burtsev


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Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Mandarin Orange Pig Pickin' Cake
Mandarin Orange Pig Pickin' Cake
How y'all liking that vintage Tupperware Cake Taker plate up there?
I know for photo styling I should have used my mama's fancy footed cake plate, but this is one of those refrigerated cakes so in the cake taker it went. This one, in that classic mustard color, dates back to the 70s of course, and has been used many, many times. I actually have two of them - one was mine from back then and the other my mama's, which she very well may have purchased at a Tupperware party at my house!
I also have the rectangular one for sheet cakes. Anybody else still have one of these oldies hanging around?
But, we're here for the cake aren't we?
I absolutely adore this cake and always have, and Mandarin Orange Cake is what we typically call this dessert in this part of The Deep South, and in many other parts of the country. In many other areas of The South however, especially in the southeast, and more particularly the Carolinas, this cake is most commonly known as Pig Pickin' Cake or Pea Pickin' Cake.
Just a quick reminder.... this is a blog, not just a "recipe site," and yes, there is a difference! I want to first thank all of you who have supported my work over the years, but if you aren't interested in the chit chat, info, photos, tips and such in a post, as always, you'll find the complete recipe text with measurements and instructions, as well as a printable document, a little bit further down the page. Just swipe or scroll down to the bottom of the post!The name pig pickin' apparently dates back many years, and comes from the regular appearance of this dessert at good ole southern barbecues, particularly in the Carolinas, where the guest of honor is a whole roasted pig.
The pig is usually cooked on an open pit, or in an enclosed grill and sometimes even an old barrel converted to a grill, where the succulent meat, once done, is then pulled, or "picked" off. Now that's your original pulled pork y'all. All the usual fare is served at a pig pickin' just as at any other southern barbecue or picnic. Goodies like baked beans, macaroni salad, potato salads, coleslaw, hush puppies and all the usual dishes, with this cake being one of the traditional desserts to finish off the feast.
Bell's Best, some of the first cookbooks I owned as a young bride in the 70s, and from where I first made this recipe, lists this cake by at least three names - Mandarin Orange Cake, Pea Pickin' Cake and Pig Pickin' Cake.
Those, however, are not the only name this cake has picked up along the way. Some other names it is known by include, Pig Cake, Pig Pickin' Good Cake, Pig Lickin' Cake, Pig Eatin' Cake, Pineapple Cake, Orange Pineapple Layer Cake, Pineapple Orange Cake, Celestial Snow Cake, Summer Cake, Sunshine Cake, Okoboji Sunrise, Better Than Sex Cake, (or if you're Paula Deen, Not Better Than Sex Cake), and of course, Mandarin Orange Cake. There may even been more, who knows!
This cake dates at least back to then, but these days, seems that folks either love it, or they think it's downright bland and are totally un-impressed with its simplicity. A lot of folks who don't know this cake from back in the day, seem to expect this to be an orange cake by virtue of its name, but it's not and really was never intended to be.
It's a cake that has mandarin oranges in the batter which mostly adds tenderness and moisture, and in its traditional form, doesn't really have a very distinct orange flavor.
You can certainly enhance it by draining the canned juices and substituting orange juice, or by adding in orange zest or extract, or even substituting more oranges for the standard pineapple in the frosting, but to be honest, this ain't orange chiffon cake y'all!
Personally, I kinda like it best the old school way myself, and, I can tell you that almost every southerner I know loves this cake in its original form.
As always, it comes with a multitude of variations, mostly in the sizes of the products or whether to drain them or not, although these days, folks are using all kinds of different flavored cake mixes, and other add-ins like cream cheese too.
Here's how to make our beloved Mandarin Orange Cake.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. I decided to make three layers and I like to use parchment when I'm making layer cakes, so I butter the bottom and sides of the pan, stick in the rounds and then butter the tops of them. You can also just butter and flour the pans of course. I also love these stainless cake pans {affil link}.
Add the cake mix, oil and 3 eggs to the mixing bowl and mix on low until well blended.
Set aside three of the mandarin oranges for a garnish in the center. I never manage to remember this one!
Actually, the whole sunshine cake theme came from some clever soul who decorated the entire edge of the top with oranges. If you want to do that, set aside about 20 or so pieces from a second drained can, and add the remaining oranges to the batter here, along with the other can and it's juices. Mix on medium for 2 minutes.
Divide the batter evenly between the cake pans and transfer to the oven. For these three layers it will take about 20 to 25 minutes.
Let the cake cool in the pan for 15 minutes.
Then you'll turn out the layers onto the rack and carefully peel off the parchment. You can find all sorts of pan liners these days, but I love the parchment rounds.
Let the layers cool completely. See the little specks of orange in there?
When you are ready to frost the cake, first mix the instant pudding with the pineapple and its juice. Make sure that you are using instant pudding and not the cook and serve variety! Some folks also like to add a little bit of the mandarin oranges in the frosting as well. I haven't done it but I'd tend to want to shred them up a bit and let them drain afterward so the frosting doesn't get too wet.
Let this mixture rest for about 5 minutes or so.
Then fold in the whipped topping.
Lay out strips of wax paper on the edge of your cake plate to protect it from getting frosting on it. I'm using the bottom of that trusty cake taker! It sure is handy when you need to refrigerate a layered cake, and there are several different brands available now. Then place the bottom layer on top of the strips and put about 3 large spoons of frosting on top.
Spread it out and repeat with the remaining two layers. Put the rest of the frosting on top and pull it down along the sides all around, then slowly pull the strips out and discard.
Voila! It's ready.
To go in the fridge y'all, not to eat!
Yes, this is the hard part.
While you can certainly eat this right away, it's not nearly as good. This cake really must be refrigerated for several hours, or really overnight. Even an extra day in the fridge only does this cake good y'all so go ahead and make it ahead by a day or two.
For more of my favorite cake recipes, visit my page on Pinterest!
Mandarin Orange Pig Pickin' Cake
- 1 box butter style yellow cake mix
- 1/3 cup vegetable or canola oil
- 3 large eggs
- 1 (11 or 15 ounce) can of mandarin oranges, undrained
- 1 (4-1/2 serving size) package of instant vanilla pudding
- 1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple, undrained
- 1 (16 ounce) carton whipped topping (like Cool Whip)
- Sprig of fresh mint, for garnish, optional
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter three 8 or 9 inch cake pans and flour or line with parchment paper; set aside.
- Add the cake mix, oil and eggs to the bowl of a mixer and mix on low until blended.
- Reserve a couple of the oranges for garnish if desired. Add the remaining oranges with their juice, blend in on low then mix on medium speed for about 2 minutes.
- Divide evenly into the three prepared cake pans and bake at 350 degrees F for about 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes back clean.
- Let cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then turn out onto a cake rack to cool completely.
- Blend together the instant pudding and crushed pineapple; set aside for 5 minutes. Gently fold in the whipped topping and spread in between the layers, frosting the sides and top of the cake.
- Garnish the top with a sprig of mint and the reserved orange segments, if desired.
- Cover and refrigerate overnight. Store any leftovers in the fridge.
While any butter style yellow cake mix will work, Duncan Hines butter recipe was the traditional cake mix used back in the 70s, and will give you the best result. Make sure you are using instant pudding and not the cook and serve variety. I actually use just a little bit less than the full 16-ounce Cool Whip. Add 1/2 teaspoon of orange extract to the batter for more orange flavor.
Although there are some brands still offering standard sized (18.25 ounce) cake mixes, the traditional Duncan Hines brands used for this cake have been reduced. To compensate, the "cake mix lady" Anne Byrn, who has multiple cookbooks with recipes based on the old box size, suggests whisking in 6 tablespoons of all-purpose flour with the cake mix, then proceed with recipes as before.
For Garnish: To garnish, use 2 cans of oranges, but set aside about 20 orange segments from one can to decorate the top of the cake. Use all of the remaining oranges and the juice from only one can in the batter. A light garnish on the top with toasted coconut and maraschino cherries is also very pretty.
Variations: Coconut is a great flavor addition to this cake. Add 3/4 cup of coconut to the cake batter, and 1/2 cup to the frosting. For a different variation, follow the layering directions on my Fresh Citrus Cake.
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Report: Syrian troops repulse rebels in Aleppo
BEIRUT (AP) — Syria's state media said Monday that government troops repulsed a rebel attack on a police school in the northern city of Aleppo, one day after President Bashar Assad called on Syrians to fight an opposition that he characterized as religious extremists.
SANA news agency said members of the "terrorist group" were killed and wounded in the late Sunday battle but did not specify the number. The government and the pro-regime media refer to rebels as terrorists.
Aleppo, Syria's largest city and a former commercial hub, has been a major front in the civil war since July, with battles often raging for control of military and security facilities such as the police school. Rebels have recently made significant advances there, in the east, and in the capital Damascus, bringing the civil war closer to the seat of Assad's power.
In his speech Sunday, Assad laid out terms for a peace plan but dismissed any chance of dialogue with "murderous criminals" who he said were responsible for nearly two years of violence. Nearly 60,000 people have died, according to a recent United Nations estimate.
Assad appeared confident and relaxed in a one-hour speech — his first public address in six months. He struck a defiant tone, ignoring international demands for him to step down and saying he is ready to hold a dialogue — but only with those "who have not betrayed Syria." He also vowed to continue the battle "as long as there is one terrorist left."
He offered a national reconciliation conference, elections and a new constitution but demanded regional and Western countries stop funding and arming rebels trying to overthrow his regime first.
Syria's opposition swiftly rejected the proposal. Those fighting to topple the regime, including rebels on the ground, have repeatedly said they will accept nothing less than the president's departure, dismissing any kind of settlement that leaves him in the picture.
The West, including the U.S. and Britain that have called on Assad to step down denounced the speech that came amid stepped-up international efforts for a peaceful way out of the Syrian conflict.
The foreign minister of Iran, one of Syria's closest allies, hailed Assad's initiative. Ali Akbar Salehi said it contains "solutions" to the conflict and outlines "a comprehensive political process which guarantees the presence of all voices in power." Salehi called on the international community to support Assad's plan to end the war in Syria.
"All regional and international partners should help the immediate resolution of the crisis and prevent its spread to the region," Salehi said in a statement that was carried by the state-run IRNA news agency Monday.
Previous diplomatic initiatives have failed to stem the bloodshed.
Syria conflict began as peaceful protests after the uprising against Assad authoritarian rule erupted in March 2011. It morphed into civil war after a brutal government crackdown on dissent. The conflict has increasingly taken sectarian overtones in the past year, with predominantly Sunni Muslim rebels fighting the ruling regime that is dominated by Alawites, an offshoot group of Shiite Islam.
Fighting continued unabated the day after Assad's address of the nation.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said rebels clashed with troops in the suburbs of Damascus, including in Daraya south of the capital. They said the army sent new reinforcements there to join in an offensive aimed at dislodging rebels from the district, located just a few kilometers (miles) from a strategic military air base west of the capital, the Observatory said.
The towns and cities around Damascus have seen relentless fighting in the past weeks, as rebels try to push through the government's heavy defenses in the capital. The regime has responded with withering counterattacks including barrages by artillery and warplanes. The Observatory also reported clashes in the eastern province of Deir el-Zour, in the central region of Homs and in the southern province of Daraa, the birthplace of the uprising in March 2011.
There were no reports on casualties in Monday's fighting. At least 80 people were killed in violence nationwide the day before, according to The Observatory's tally. The group relies on reports from activists on the ground.


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To the editor,
I am pleased to tell you that I am running for the City Council as an Independent. I look forward to coming to know you better over the coming months and sharing with you who I am and what I believe. More importantly, I look forward to hearing your thoughts and ideas on what we can do to make government work better for you.
As Alexandria continues to face unprecedented difficult challenges, I am convinced that we need leadership with a wider range of diverse expertise to keep all anchors in our sail moving in the right direction, and with all deliberate speed that is required. Further, we need a government that makes its business transparent and gives an open ear to all points of view. We do not have that now, but if you elect me as a member of City Council, I submit to you that I will be that strong and independent, but inclusive voice coming to the table with a new dimension of expertise, encouraging open dialogue.
This, in essence, is why Im running for City Council.
We are at a nearly unprecedented time in our history. The City of Alexandria has a remarkable and telling history. Today, we stand on the backs of so many whove come before us to build it. They, like us, had many voices but yet, a common purpose the best interest of Alexandria. Unfortunately, many who helped to build Alexandria can no longer afford to live here. And as these anchors leave us, so too does a part of our rich history that may never be fully reclaimed. While our historic buildings stand and even as our communities change and expand, it is our people who weave the fabric of our existence and those whove worked so hard to build this great place are needed here to continue to tell our story. To make matters worse, many people who love our city and work here cannot afford to live here. I strongly believe that those who have built Alexandria and who work today to ensure our comfortable living deserve to live here.
And to boot, we have lost more than 10,000 affordable housing units over the past five years but have a projected population growth of more than 20,000 over the next ten years. And this all comes amidst staggering highs in the unemployment rate.
I come to you with a skill set that includes a background in land use, which includes an understanding of legal standards applied when making decisions about the best way to safeguard municipal interests. I come to you with a background of advocating for the development of stronger communities fashioned around smart growth and affordable housing. I come to you as a former educator currently involved in mentoring and literacy in our City. And I come to you with a background in public policy at the local and federal level. I want to put these skills to work to represent you on our City Council.
The issues Ive raised are not rich or poor issues, Black or White issues, West End or Del Ray issues, Republican or Democratic issues. They are Alexandrias issues, because from our many parts, we form one. Ours is not a monolithic city. We have a common goal of living in a community that we can all be proud of. I am grateful for the privilege to run for elected office in such a fine City.
Alicia Hughes
Candidate for Alexandria City Council


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I also made my first all-butter apple pie crust, but only because I didn't have any organic shortening or homemade lard on hand. A tablespoon or two of lard adds a really nice flavor, but go easy because too much tastes like bacon pie. In the bad old days, I swore by a Crisco crust.
Apple Blueberry Crumb Bars
Spicy Pumpkin Pecan Raisin Muffins
100% Whole Grain No Sugar Bran Muffins
Ginger Pear Bran Muffins
Cranberry Christmas Scones
Savory Feta Cheese and Scallion Scones
White Whole Wheat Scones with Currants & Oats
Oatmeal Toasting Bread
Italian Rosemary Raisin Bread (toasted with cheddar and apricot jam)
Sometimes Lettuce Salad
And Sometimes Chocolate Cake!


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World Vision's Elda Spaho writes about child protection and the programs World Vision supports in Albania that help abused and abandoned children. Read Catherine's story and the poem she wrote to her absent mother.
* * *
I first learned of Catherine's story through a standard report. "Abnormal behavior" was observed, it said. Catherine did not want to stay with the children of her age group. Instead, she liked to stay with adults.
Before the organization's staff could discuss the case and follow-up, the police announced her disappearance. "[The] father admitted that he had used violence," read the report. "The child left home again in January for two days."
Today, the "case" stands before me. She is a 12-year-old girl with shining eyes, a small face, and a dense head of wavy hair. She is a beautiful and curious child. She asks what will happen with things she tells me.
I explain that I will write a story for adults in the hope that, after reading it, they will treat children better.
This is Catherine's story: She was abandoned by her mother and abused by her father. Even so, she longs to be loved by them. She came to the center where she now lives, the SOS Children's Village, almost a year ago. Before, she had bounced between child protection units, shelters, and the home of her grandmother.
Over the past 12 years, Catherine's mother has never asked for her children. There have been no letters or phone calls for Catherine. Ironically, Catherine's mother is the cause of her father's aggression. "The main cause of the violence was the fact that the girl refuses to say any bad words about her mother. And only Catherine is abused, not her sisters," says Arnita Ponari, a social worker from SOS Children's Village.
To understand the natural bond between mother and child, even when the relationship is not reciprocated, one just needs to meet Catherine. Although she doesn't remember her mother, she recently wrote her a poem:
Mother's heart is welling
8 March is coming,
I feel her, hear her
When laughing, crying
All mothers have the same heart.
Cases like Catherine's are common in Albania. Children are abused or neglected by their parents; they are orphans or extremely poor. Other children are beaten when they don't obey. According to a recent UNICEF study, 52% of Albanian children are subject to violence.
Often, cases are reported by neighbors, civil societies, schools, or even by the minor herself to the Child Protection Unit (CPU). Once the report is made, a CPU employee visits the family to evaluate the situation.
If the parents do not recognize that there is a problem or have no desire to change their behavior, the child is removed. The initial separation is designed to last only a few days, with the hope that the parents would realize the gravity of the situation.
While the child is away, the adults continue to address the root causes of the violence; sometimes, the cause is the father's unemployment or lack of money. In such cases, stress is often discharged to the children or wife. Usually, the commission seeks help from local authorities to provide a modest job or other economic assistance for the family. If parents request the return of their child, the children return home.
Many evenings, the children's discussions drift to their parents. They try to explain. They try to understand. They cry.
This is what Catherine and her roommate do. They share their bedroom and their concerns. "We talk about our stories, remember our families, and then feel so much sadness," she says. "The next day we go out and play, just to keep our mind out of that."
Even in their games, the idea of family is central. "We play house and each of us takes the role of mom, dad, sister, or brother," says Catherine. "Mom cooks and cares for the children. Dad goes to work. The brothers and sisters play happily," she narrates. "I wish my daddy could change! I wish he hits me no more! Then, I can return home."
Her father has yet to visit her. "Nobody stops him," says the social worker.
The best solution is that children wouldn't need to be removed from their homes — and Albanian parents would respect their children. Otherwise, even when they become part of a child protection system, children will continue to be sad. They will continue to write poems for moms they never had, moms they simply imagine, and they will continue to play house, trying to forget what their house was like. This is how children like Catherine cope.
* * *
World Vision began working in Albania in 1999, providing relief operations in response to the Kosovo refugee crisis.
World Vision is committed to partnering with the people of Albania to improve their lives and help enact sustainable solutions for the future of their children. World Vision's child sponsorship program plays a vital role in this partnership, with donors from the United States sponsoring more than 12,200 girls and boys.
World Vision also operates other programs that benefit communities in Albania. Highlights include meeting the psychosocial and economic needs of children living and working on the streets; enabling more than 8,000 children to attend life-changing summer camps; and training parents on positive child-rearing practices.
Consider sponsoring a child in Albania today. Your ongoing support will help provide a child and his or her family and community with life-saving basics, including protection from exploitation, abuse, and neglect.


text:
Terms and conditions
NERI KARRA's website(s) and related services are made available to you in accordance
with the following Terms and Conditions of Trading for Retailers. Please, read
carefully before placing any orders on www.nerikarra.com and e-shop.nerikarra.com.
We recommend you should keep a copy of the T&C for future reference.
Interpretation: In these Terms and Conditions of Trading for Retailers (the "Agreement"), unless the context otherwise requires: "Products" means the NERI KARRA's range of Products.
"Shop Premises" means any of the addresses at which the Customer is
operating the business described above approved by NERI KARRA's for so long as such Shop Premises remain approved by NERI KARRA and such other Shop Premises as may be approved in writing from time to time by NERI KARRA. For the avoidance of doubt , nothing in this definition shall extend to any website addresses or any websites from which the Customer trades.
Agreement to sell: During the continuance of this Agreement NERI KARRA may sell and the customer shall purchase such quantities of the Products as may be ordered by the Customer from time to time.
Inspection: NERI KARRA shall be entitled during normal working hours to enter the Shop Premises of the Customer for the purpose of inspecting such Shop Premises and ensuring that it complies with the Standards (as referred to below) or any other instructions or directions which may have been given to the Customer by NERI KARRA pursuant to this Agreement.
No Precedence: Whilst NERI KARRA agrees to take all such steps as may reasonably be required to fulfill its obligations under this Agreement in the normal course, NERI KARRA shall not be obliged to give the Customer any priority over any other customer of NERI KARRA with regard to the supply or delivery of the Products.
Availability of Stock: NERI KARRA shall use reasonable endeavors to maintain stocks of the Products sufficient to fulfil its obligations under this agreement. NERI KARRA seeks to stock the entire range of Products at its premises but individual items may go out of stock. Save where there are any manufacturing problems, stock is likely to be available within two weeks of being out of stock. If an item of stock is not available to be delivered to the Customer, the Customer should reorder such items from NERI KARRA.
Delivery Times: NERI KARRA shall use reasonable endeavors to deliver
Products by the date if any set out on the relevant order but the time of
delivery shall not be of the essence and if, despite those endeavors, NERI
KARRA is unable to fulfil any delivery of the Products on the date specified, NERI KARRA shall not be in breach of this Agreement nor shall it have any liability to the Customer.
Errors in Delivery: The Customer shall, within three days of the arrival of each delivery of the Products at its premises, notify NERI KARRA in writing of any defect by reason of which the Customer alleges that the
Products delivered are not in accordance with the relevant order and which should be apparent on reasonable inspection.
Assumption of Correct Delivery: If the Customer fails to give notice as provided in this Agreement, and/or signs any delivery note confirming correct delivery then save for any defects which are not apparent on
reasonable inspection, the Products are conclusively presumed in all respects to be in accordance with the relevant order, and the Customer to have accepted the delivery of the Products in question and NERI KARRA shall have no liability
whatsoever therefore.
Remedy of Errors Made in Delivery: If the Customer rejects any delivery of the Products which are not in accordance with the relevant order,
subject to the terms of this Agreement NERI KARRA within ten days of being requested to do so in writing by the Customer shall supply replacement Products which are in accordance with the relevant order and NERI KARRA shall not be in
breach of this Agreement nor have any liability to the Customer.
Forecasting: The Customer is not required to supply estimated orders in advance.
NERI KARRA's Pricing Strategy: Subject to the following
provisions of this clause, the Price for Products shall be calculated in
accordance with NERI KARRA's pricing strategy in force at the date of the relevant order. NERI KARRA shall be entitled to increase the price for the Products to cover extra expenses incurred as a result of the Customer's instructions or lack of instructions.
Price Increases: NERI KARRA shall be entitled to increase its prices for
the Products at least once per year, or more frequently if NERI KARRA, in its sole discretion considers the same to be justified by any material increase in the prices of raw materials used in the manufacture of the Products or their packaging, and NERI KARRA shall promptly notify the Customer of any such increase.
Price Excludes VAT, Packing, Carriage and Insurance: Unless
otherwise expressly stated in writing, all prices are exclusive of VAT which
shall be charged where appropriate at the rate prevailing at the relevant tax point and exclusive of costs of packaging, carriage and insurance which shall be added to the price.
Charge of Late Payment: The Customer shall pay NERI KARRA in
advance on a pro-forma basis in respect to the Customer's first three orders of NERI KARRA e's Products. Thereafter in respect to subsequent orders the Customer shall make payment in full within fourteen days of the date of the relevant invoice. Interest at the annual rate of five percent over the base
rate of the __________________* will be charged on a daily basis on all monies outstanding after the due date until the actual date of payment (both before and after judgement).
Notification of Errors on Invoice: The Customer shall notify NERI KARRA in writing of any error in an invoice within three days of the date of the relevant invoice otherwise the invoice is deemed to be correct in all respects.
Method of Payment: Payments should be made by
__________________*, payments should be made to __________________*, for the
account of NERI KARRA, account number __________________* and an email sent to
NERI KARRA to __________________* confirming that a __________________* payment
has been made and setting out the details of it. Subject to prior agreement by NERI KARRA, payments may also be made by cheques. Cheques must be made payable to " NERI KARRA" and crossed "Account Payee only".
Withdrawal of Account Facility: NERI KARRA may withdraw the Customer's account facility at any time.
Suspension of Supplies on Overdue Accounts: If any sum due under
this Agreement is not paid by its due date, the Customer's account is in
arrears and/or the Customer has exceeded its credit limit as agreed with Pomegranate, Pomegranate may suspend deliveries of the Products until all sums due and outstanding have been received by Pomegranate from the Customer or deliver part but not all of any orders received from the Customer as Pomegranate may deem appropriate.
*This information will be provided at a later stage with the launch of the NK e-shop.
Customer takes Risk in the Products on Delivery: Risk in the Products shall pass to the Customer immediately on delivery to the
Customer or into custody on the Customer's behalf whichever is the sooner.
Retention of Title: Notwithstanding delivery and the passing of risk, property in and title to the Products shall remain in NERI KARRA until NERI KARRA has received payment of the full price of (a) all Products the subject of the relevant order and (b) all other Products supplied by NERI KARRA to the Customer under any other order or contract whatsoever.
Proper Storage: The Customer shall keep the Products properly stored,
protected and insured and separate from all or any other products whether belonging to NERI KARRA, the Customer or any third party.
Power to Revoke: NERI KARRA shall be entitled at any time forthwith to
revoke the Customer's power to deal with the Products and such power shall automatically cease if the Customer shall commit or be subject to any of the events set out in this Agreement.
Upon Termination: Upon termination of the Customer's power to deal with the Products, the Customer shall place the Products at the disposal of NERI KARRA and NERI KARRA and its servants and agents are hereby
irrevocably authorised without the need for consent of any third party but using only such force as may be necessary, to enter upon any premises of the Customer or any third party for the purpose of removing the Products.
Protection for Commercial Secrets: Each party shall keep and procure to be kept secret and confidential all secret or confidential information
belonging to the other party disclosed as a result of the relationship of the parties hereunder and shall not use or disclose the same save as envisaged in this Agreement or as required by law. Where disclosure is made to any employee, consultant or agent, it shall be done subject to obligations equivalent to those set out in this clause and each party shall be responsible to the other party in respect of any disclosure or use of such secret or confidential information by a person to whom disclosure is made.
Public Domain: The obligations of confidentiality in this clause shall
not extend to any matter which is in or becomes part of the public domain otherwise than by reason of a breach of the obligations of confidentiality in this Agreement or which either party can show was in its written records prior to the date of disclosure of the same by the other party under this Agreement or which it receives from a third party independently entitled to disclose it.
Reimbursement or Replacement: NERI KARRA shall make good at its option by reimbursement of the whole or part of the price which has been paid (and, where relevant, as a deduction from any part of the price remaining
unpaid) or by replacement, any failure by the Products to correspond with the relevant order at the time of delivery; provided that:
Time Limit: Any failure to correspond with the relevant order is
notified in writing to NERI KARRA within three days from the date of delivery;
Unpaid Monies: NERI KARRA shall be under no liability until any monies
due from the Customer under the relevant order have been paid in full;
Inspection of Defective Products: Any Products alleged to be
defective or otherwise not in conformity with the order are promptly made available to NERI KARRA for inspection and, if so required by NERI KARRA, are promptly returned by the Customer to NERI KARRA for inspection. Save as set out in this clause the Customer shall have no right to return any Products to NERI KARRA.
Liability Excludes Loss or Damage to Customer: NERI KARRA shall not be liable to the Customer in contract tort (including without limitation negligence) and/or breach of statutory duty for any loss or damage
which the Customer may suffer by reason of any act, omission, neglect or default (including negligence) in the performance of this Agreement by NERI KARRA its servants or agents, in a sum which is greater than the price of the defective or non-conforming Products.
Liability Excludes Consequential Loss: NERI KARRA shall not be
liable to the Customer in contract tort (including without limitation
negligence) and/or breach of statutory duty for any loss of profits or any indirect or consequential (including economic) loss of any kind which the Customer may suffer by reason of any act, omission, neglect or default (including negligence) in the performance of this Agreement by NERI KARRA its servants or agents.
Standards of Shop Premises: In order to be approved Shop Premises pursuant to this Agreement, the Customer shall at all times comply with the standards set out in this clause as may be varied by NERI KARRA from time to time and notified to the Customer in writing.
Approval is Non-Extendable: In order to be approved Shop Premises for the Products, the Customer shall not display, sell or advertise the Products at any premises other than the approved Shop Premises without the prior written consent of NERI KARRA.
Approval is Non-Transferable: NERI KARRA shall be entitled at any time forthwith to revoke approved Shop Premises status should ownership of the Customer alter or the appearance of the Shop Premises whether internally or externally, materially alter or the management of the Shop
Premises alter.
Staff Trained in NERI KARRA's Products: The Customer shall
employ sufficient and suitable personnel to promote and sell the Products and shall ensure that those personnel are properly trained (a) for the purposes of such promotion and selling and (b) to demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the Products as reasonably expected by NERI KARRA.
Correct Display of Products: The Customer shall comply with all reasonable instructions and/or directions given by NERI KARRA from
time to time relating to display of the Products at the Shop Premises and shall not include the Products in the Customer's catalogue nor shall any Products be displayed or offered to be sold on the Customer's website (nor shall they be represented as if they were available for sale on the Customer's website) or offer the Products for sale other than through the Shop Premises without the prior written consent of NERI KARRA.
Pristine Presentation of the Products: The Customer shall not make any modification of the Products or their packaging or alter, remove or tamper with any marks, numbers or other means of identification used on or in relation to the Products.
Use of the Term "Approved NERI KARRA Stockist": The Customer may describe itself as an Approved NERI KARRA Stockist in relation to the Products sold by it in accordance with this Agreement and in accordance with any other written or other instructions it may receive from NERI KARRA from time to time in relation thereto.
Minimum Range Held in Stock: For the avoidance of doubt there is no minimum range of Products that must be held in stock by the Customer.
Minimum Turnover: For the avoidance of doubt there is no minimum annual purchase requirement.
Non-Acquisition of Rights, Title, or Interest in NERI KARRA: The Customer will not make any representation or do any act or omit to do anything which may be
taken as to indicate that it has any right title or interest in or to the ownership or use of the NERI KARRA name and/or logo except under the provisions of this Agreement and acknowledges that nothing contained in this Agreement shall give the Customer any right title or interest in or to the NERI KARRA
name and/or logo save as granted hereby.
Control of the Use of the NERI KARRA Corporate Image: The use of the NERI KARRA name and logo by the Customer shall at all times be in keeping with the standards set by NERI KARRA and as advised by NERI KARRA to the Customer in writing and the Customer shall seek to maintain the distinctiveness and
reputation of the NERI KARRA name and logo as determined by NERI KARRA and the Customer shall forthwith cease any use not consistent therewith as NERI KARRA
may require and direct.
Non-Confusion of NERI KARRA's Corporate Image with the Customer s Corporate Image: The Customer shall not use the NERI KARRA name and/or logo as part of any corporate business or trading name or style of the Customer including any online
presence. The Customer shall not use the whole or part of NERI KARRA name and/or logo as part of any social media account (including but not limited to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest, etc.). There shall be only one NERI KARRA account per social media which will be managed centrally by NERI KARRA.
Legal Labels: NERI KARRA shall be responsible for ensuring that labeling of the Products complies with the applicable regulations on labeling.
Location of the Products: NERI KARRA's representatives shall be available to advise the Customer on the display of the Products and any promotional materials relating to the Products to ensure ease of access and consistency of the NERI KARRA brand.
The NERI KARRA Website: Reference to NERI KARRA's website address may be displayed and promoted in the area designated for the Products.
In-Store Events: Representatives of NERI KARRA will provide reasonable help and advice to the Customer for in-store events that the Customer may organize that involve NERI KARRA's Products. From time to time a representative of NERI KARRA may be available to co-host in-store events with the Customer in circumstances where the Products
comprise the main purpose of such events. In these circumstances whilst NERI KARRA will use its reasonable endeavors to procure that the in-store event takes place on the agreed date, NERI KARRA shall have no liability whatsoever in respect of such event and/or if the event fails to take place for whatever reason. Further NERI KARRA does not in any way guarantee any outcome and/or increased sales as a result of in-store events. The Customer shall be entirely responsible for in-store events including but not limited to all and any costs and expenses in relation thereto.
Duration: This Agreement shall continue in force until terminated in accordance with this Agreement and/or the provisions of this Agreement more generally.
Entitlement to Terminate Forthwith: Either party shall be
entitled forthwith to terminate this Agreement by serving notice in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Furthermore, for the avoidance of doubt, either party shall be entitled forthwith to terminate this Agreement by written notice to the other if:
Breach of Agreement: The other party commits any continuing
or material breach of any of the provisions of this Agreement and, in the case of such a breach which is capable of remedy, fails to remedy the same within thirty days after receipt of a written notice giving full particulars of the breach and requiring it to be remedied;
Financial Difficulties: The other suffers any of the following
namely the passing of a resolution or the presentation of a petition for
winding-up, bankruptcy or for the appointment of an administrator, the
appointment of a receiver and/or manager or administrative receiver over the whole or any part of that other's undertaking and assets, the making of a proposal for a voluntary arrangement within the relevant insolvency acts or of a proposal for any other composition scheme or arrangement with or the calling by
the other of any meeting of its creditors generally, the levying of execution or distress or diligence on any of its assets, the failure to pay its proper debts as and when due and anything analogous to any of the foregoing under the law of the jurisdiction where the other party is established.
Right to Terminate upon Change of Control: NERI KARRA may terminate this Agreement forthwith by giving written notice to the Customer if the Customer undergoes a change of control and "control" means ownership of more than half the capital, business or assets of or the power to exercise more than half the voting rights of or the power to appoint more than half the members of the Board of Directors of or the right to manage the affairs of a party and a "change" shall take place where some person other than the person or persons enjoying such control at the date of this Agreement,
acquire it, whether alone or acting in concert with others.
Protection of Rights: The rights to terminate this Agreement given by this clause shall not prejudice any other right or remedy of either party in respect of the breach concerned (if any) or any other breach.
Effect of Termination: Upon termination of this Agreement for
any reason, the Customer shall forthwith cease to hold itself out as having approved Shop Premises status and shall withdraw any advertisements, leaflets, stickers or promotional material describing itself as a stockist of NERI KARRA's Products. The Customer shall forthwith have no right to use the NERI KARRA name and logo in conjunction with the Products and shall comply with all directions given by NERI KARRA relating to the removal of such material from
display at the Customer's premises. NERI KARRA shall have the right during normal business hours to enter the Customer's premises for the purpose of removing any advertising, leaflets, stickers or promotional material remaining
on display at the Customer's premises following the expiry of any notice given pursuant to this Agreement. NERI KARRA shall have the right but not the obligation to buy back any stock of Products held by the Customer upon the date
of termination.
Continuation of Confidentiality Agreement: Upon the termination
of this Agreement for any reason, subject as otherwise provided in this
Agreement including the confidentiality obligations above which shall remain in full force and effect with respect to any rights or obligations which have accrued prior to termination, neither party shall have any further obligations
under this Agreement.
Agreement is Non-Transferable: This Agreement is personal to the Customer, and the Customer may not, without the prior written agreement of NERI KARRA, assign, mortgage, charge or dispose of any of its rights hereunder, or sub-contract or otherwise delegate any of its obligations under this Agreement.
Limit of Agreement: Nothing in this Agreement shall create, or be deemed to create, a partnership or the relationship of principal and
agent between the parties.
Extent of Agreement: This Agreement contains the entire
Agreement between the parties with respect to its subject matter, supersedes all previous agreements and understandings between the parties, and may not be modified except by an instrument in writing agreed by the parties.
Effect of Invalid or Unenforceable Provisions: If any provision of this Agreement is found to be invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the other provisions of this Agreement which shall remain in full force and effect.
Effect of Waivers Given: Any waiver by either party of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not be considered as a waiver of any subsequent breach of the same or any other provision.
Effect of Factors Beyond Reasonable Control: Neither party shall have any liability for any failure to perform or for any delay in the performance (other than as to payment) of any of its obligations under the Agreement caused by any factor beyond its reasonable control.
Serving of Notices: All notices under this Agreement shall be in writing and may be served upon the parties by sending the notice by post
addressed to the other party at the address given above or at such other
addresses as that party shall from time to time by notice in writing give to the other party for the purpose of service of notices hereunder or by email sent to the email address as that party shall from time to time give the other party and every such notice shall be deemed to have been served if served by post at the expiration of three days after dispatch of the same and in providing service it shall be sufficient to show in the case of a letter that that the same was duly addressed prepaid and posted in the manner aforesaid or if served
by email notice shall be deemed to have been served on the next normal business day of the recipient following dispatch. Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays shall not in any event be treated as a day on which service is effected, and
service shall be deemed to take place on the next normal business day of the recipient thereafter.
There are None: For the avoidance of doubt save as expressly provided
herein nothing in this Agreement shall confer on any third party any benefit or the right to enforce any provision of this Agreement.
Law and Jurisdiction: This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in all respects in accordance with the laws of
__________________*. All disputes arising out of or relating to this Agreement
shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the __________________* and
the parties irrevocable submit thereto.
*This information will be provided at a later stage with the launch of the NK e-shop.