text:
Tonga Population: 106,513NO VISITORS FROM HERE YET!
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|Tonga - unique among Pacific nations - never completely lost its indigenous governance. The archipelagos of "The Friendly Islands" were united into a Polynesian kingdom in 1845. Tonga became a constitutional monarchy in 1875 and a British protectorate in 1900; it withdrew from the protectorate and joined the Commonwealth of Nations in 1970. Tonga remains the only monarchy in the Pacific.
Archipelago of 169 islands (36 inhabited)
|Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
|Geographic coordinates:
| total: 747 sq km
land: 717 sq km
water: 30 sq km
Size comparison: four times the size of Washington, DC
|Land Boundaries:
|0 km
|419 km
|Maritime claims:
| territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
|tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December)
|mostly flat islands with limestone bedrock formed from uplifted coral formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic rock
|Elevation extremes:
|Natural resources:
|fish, arable land
|Land use:
| agricultural land: 43.1% arable land 22.2%; permanent crops 15.3%; permanent pasture 5.6% forest: 12.5%
other: 44.4% (2011 est.)
|Irrigated land:
|0 sq km (2012)
|Natural hazards:
|cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity on Fonuafo'ou volcanism: moderate volcanic activity; Fonualei (elev. 180 m) has shown frequent activity in recent years, while Niuafo'ou (elev. 260 m), which last erupted in 1985, has forced evacuations; other historically active volcanoes include Late and Tofua
|Current Environment Issues:
|deforestation results as more and more land is being cleared for agriculture and settlement; some damage to coral reefs from starfish and indiscriminate coral and shell collectors; overhunting threatens native sea turtle populations
|International Environment Agreements:
| party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
|^Back to Top
| noun: Tongan(s)
adjective: Tongan
|Ethnic groups:
|Tongan 96.6%, part-Tongan 1.7%, other 1.7%, unspecified 0.03% (2006 est.)
|English and Tongan 87%, Tongan (official) 10.7%, English (official) 1.2%, other 1.1%, unspecified 0.03% (2006 est.)
|Protestant 64.9% (includes Free Wesleyan Church 37.3%, Free Church of Tonga 11.4%, Church of Tonga 7.2%, Tokaikolo Christian Church 2.6%, Assembly of God 2.3%, Seventh Day Adventist 2.2%, Constitutional Church of Tonga 0.9%, Anglican 0.8% and Full Gospel Church 0.2%), Mormon 16.8%, Roman Catholic 15.6%, other 1.1%, none 0.03%, unspecified 1.7% (2006 est.)
|106,513 (July 2016 est.)
|Age structure:
| 0-14 years: 34.47% (male 18,656/female 18,061)
15-24 years: 19.57% (male 10,671/female 10,169)
25-54 years: 33.92% (male 18,045/female 18,080)
55-64 years: 5.7% (male 3,000/female 3,072)
65 years and over: 6.35% (male 3,064/female 3,695) (2016 est.)
|Dependency ratios:
| total dependency ratio: 74.3%
youth dependency ratio: 64.1%
elderly dependency ratio: 10.2%
potential support ratio: 9.8% (2015 est.)
|Median age:
| total: 22.6 years
male: 22.2 years
female: 23.1 years (2016 est.)
|Population growth rate:
|-0.01% (2016 est.)
|Birth rate:
|22.6 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)
|Death rate:
|4.9 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)
|Net migration rate:
|-17.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)
| urban population: 23.7% of total population (2015)
rate of urbanization: 0.71% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
|Major urban areas - population:
|Sex ratio:
| at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2016 est.)
|Mother's mean age at first birth:
|24.9 note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 (2012 est.)
|Maternal mortality rate:
|124 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
|Infant mortality rate:
| total: 11.6 deaths/1,000 live births male: 12 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)
|Life expectancy at birth:
| total population: 76.2 years male: 74.7 years
female: 77.8 years (2016 est.)
|Total fertility rate:
|3.18 children born/woman (2016 est.)
|Health expenditures:
|5.2% of GDP (2014)
|Physicians density:
|0.56 physicians/1,000 population (2010)
|Hospital bed density:
|2.6 beds/1,000 population (2010)
|Drinking water source:
| improved:
urban: 99.7% of population
rural: 99.6% of population
total: 99.6% of population
urban: 0.3% of population
rural: 0.4% of population
total: 0.4% of population (2015 est.)
|Sanitation facility access:
| improved:
urban: 97.6% of population
rural: 89% of population
total: 91% of population
urban: 2.4% of population
rural: 11% of population
total: 9% of population (2015 est.)
|HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
|HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
|HIV/AIDS - deaths:
|Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
|41.1% (2014)
|Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
|1.9% (2012)
| definition: can read and write Tongan and/or English
total population: 99.4%
male: 99.3%
female: 99.4% (2015 est.)
|^Back to Top
|Country name:
| conventional long form: Kingdom of Tonga
conventional short form: Tonga
local long form: Pule'anga Tonga
local short form: Tonga
former: Friendly Islands
etymology: "tonga" means "south" in the Tongan language and refers to the country's geographic position in relation to central Polynesia
|Government type:
|constitutional monarchy
| name: Nuku'alofa
geographic coordinates: 21 08 S, 175 12 W
time difference: UTC+13 (18 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
|Administrative divisions:
|5 island divisions; 'Eua, Ha'apai, Ongo Niua, Tongatapu, Vava'u
|4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate)
|National holiday:
|King's Official Birthday, 4 July (1959); Constitution Day (National Day), 4 November (1875)
|adopted 4 November 1875, revised 1988; amended many times, last in 2014 (2016)
|Legal system:
|English common law
|21 years of age; universal
|Executive branch:
| chief of state: King TUPOU VI (since 18 March 2012); note - on 18 March 2012, King George TUPOU V died and his brother, Crown Prince TUPOUTO'A Lavaka, assumed the throne as TUPOU VI
head of government: Prime Minister 'Akilisi POHIVA (since 30 December 2014)
cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the monarch elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister and deputy prime minister indirectly elected by the Legislative Assembly and appointed by the monarch; election last held on 21 December 2010 (next to be held in November 2014)
election results: 'Akilisi POHIVA (Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands) elected prime minister by parliament on 29 December 2014; vote - 15 of 26 votes
note: a Privy Council advises the monarch
|Legislative branch:
| description: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea (26 seats; 17 people's representatives directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 9 indirectly elected by hereditary leaders; members serve 3-year terms)
elections: last held on 27 November 2014 (next to be held in 2017)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 9, noble's representatives 9, independent 8
|Judicial branch:
| highest court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and a number of judges determined by the monarch); note - appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are brought before the King in Privy Council, the monarch's advisory organ that has both judicial and legislative powers judge selection and term of office: judge appointments and tenures made by the King in Privy Council, judge appointments subject to consent of the Legislative Assembly
subordinate courts: Supreme Court; Magistrate's Courts; Land Courts
|Political parties and leaders:
|Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands [Samuela 'Akilisi POHIVA] People's Democratic Party or PDP [Tesina FUKO] Sustainable Nation-Building Party [Sione FONUA] Tonga Democratic Labor Party Tonga Human Rights and Democracy Movement or THRDM
|Political pressure groups and leaders:
|Human Rights and Democracy Movement Tonga or HRDMT [Rev. Simote VEA, chairman] Public Servant's Association [Finau TUTONE]
|International organization participation:
|ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
|National symbol(s):
|red cross on white field, arms equal length; national colors: red, white
|National anthem:
| name: "Ko e fasi `o e tu"i `o e `Otu Tonga" (Song of the King of the Tonga Islands)
lyrics/music: Uelingatoni Ngu TUPOUMALOHI/Karl Gustavus SCHMITT
note: in use since 1875; more commonly known as "Fasi Fakafonua" (National Song)
|Diplomatic representation in the US:
| chief of mission: Ambassador Mahe'uli'uli Sandhurst TUPOUNIUA (since 10 September 2013)
chancery: 250 E. 51st Street, New York, NY, 10022
telephone: [1] (917) 369-1025
consulate(s) general: San Francisco
|Diplomatic representation from the US:
|the US does not have an embassy in Tonga; the US Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tonga
|^Back to Top
Tonga has a small, open, island economy and is the last constitutional monarchy among the Pacific Island countries. It has a narrow export base in agricultural goods. Squash, vanilla beans, and yams are the main crops. Agricultural exports, including fish, make up two-thirds of total exports. Tourism is the second-largest source of hard currency earnings following remittances. Tonga had 45,000 visitors in 2013. The country must import a high proportion of its food, mainly from New Zealand. The country remains dependent on external aid and remittances from overseas Tongans to offset its trade deficit. The government is emphasizing the development of the private sector, encouraging investment, and is committing increased funds for healthcare and education. Tonga's English-speaking and educated workforce offer a viable labor market, and the tropical climate provides fertile soil. Renewable energy and deep sea mining also offer opportunities for investment. Tonga has a reasonably sound basic infrastructure and well developed social services. The government faces high unemployment among the young, moderate inflation, pressures for democratic reform, and rising civil service expenditures.
|GDP (purchasing power parity):
| GDP (purchasing power parity): $557 million (2016 est.) $542.2 million (2015 est.) $524.3 million (2014 est.)
note: data are in 2016 dollars
|GDP (official exchange rate):
|GDP (official exchange rate): $430 million (2015 est.)
|GDP - real growth rate:
|2.7% (2016 est.) 3.4% (2015 est.) 2.9% (2014 est.)
|GDP - per capita (PPP):
| GDP - per capita (PPP): $5,300 (2016 est.) $5,200 (2015 est.) $5,000 (2014 est.)
note: data are in 2016 dollars
|GDP - composition, by end use:
| household consumption: 78.6%
government consumption: 21.4%
investment in fixed capital: 41.3%
investment in inventories: -0.1%
exports of goods and services: 19%
imports of goods and services: -60.2% (2016 est.)
|GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
| household consumption: 78.6%
government consumption: 21.4%
investment in fixed capital: 41.3%
investment in inventories: -0.1%
exports of goods and services: 19%
imports of goods and services: -60.2% (2016 est.)
|Agriculture - products:
|squash, coconuts, copra, bananas, vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee, sweet potatoes, cassava, taro and kava
|tourism, construction, fishing
|Industrial production growth rate:
|6% (2016 est.)
|Labor force:
|33,800 (2011 est.)
|Labor force - by occupation:
| agriculture: 27.5%
industry: 27.5%
services: 2,006% (2006 est.)
|Unemployment rate:
|1.1% (2011 est.) 1.1% (2006)
|Population below poverty line:
|24% (FY03/04 est.)
|Household income or consumption by percentage share:
| lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
| revenues: $132.7 million
expenditures: $132.7 million (2016 est.)
|Taxes and other revenues:
|30.9% of GDP (2016 est.)
|Public debt:
|45.1% of GDP (2013) 46.5% of GDP (2012)
|Fiscal year:
|1 July - 30 June
|Inflation rate (consumer prices):
|Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.2% (2016 est.) -1% (2015 est.)
|Current account balance:
|-$33 million (2016 est.) -$34 million (2015 est.)
|$35 million (2016 est.) $30.6 million (2015 est.)
|Exports - commodities:
|squash, fish, vanilla beans, root crops
|Exports - partners:
|Japan 16%, US 15.4%, Fiji 12.8%, NZ 12.5%, South Korea 11%, Samoa 10.7%, Australia 7.5%, American Samoa 6.8% (2015)
|$288.2 million (2016 est.) $263 million (2015 est.)
|Imports - commodities:
|foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, chemicals
|Imports - partners:
|Fiji 37.7%, NZ 21.2%, China 14.2%, US 6.4%, Australia 4.5% (2015)
|Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
|$180.7 million (31 December 2016 est.) $156.1 million (31 December 2015 est.)
|Debt - external:
|$233.1 million (31 December 2016 est.) $206.2 million (31 December 2015 est.)
|Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
|$117.2 million (31 December 2016 est.) $110.2 million (31 December 2015 est.)
|Market value of publicly traded shares:
|Exchange rates:
|pa'anga (TOP) per US dollar - 2.26 (2016 est.) 2.106 (2015 est.) 2.106 (2014 est.) 1.847 (2013 est.) 1.72 (2012 est.)
|^Back to Top
|Electricity - production:
|50 million kWh (2014 est.)
|Electricity - consumption:
|46.5 million kWh (2014 est.)
|Electricity - exports:
|0 kWh (2013)
|Electricity - imports:
|0 kWh (2013 est.)
|Electricity - installed generating capacity:
|17,000 kW (2014 est.)
|Electricity - from fossil fuels:
|100% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
|Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
|0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
|Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
|0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
|Electricity - from other renewable sources:
|0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
|Crude oil - production:
|0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
|Crude oil - exports:
|0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
|Crude oil - imports:
|0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
|Crude oil - proved reserves:
|0 bbl (1 January 2010 es)
|Refined petroleum products - production:
|0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
|Refined petroleum products - consumption:
|1,500 bbl/day (2014 est.)
|Refined petroleum products - exports:
|0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
|Refined petroleum products - imports:
|1,457 bbl/day (2013 est.)
|Natural gas - production:
|0 cu m (2013 est.)
|Natural gas - consumption:
|0 cu m (2013 est.)
|Natural gas - exports:
|0 cu m (2013 est.)
|Natural gas - imports:
|0 cu m (2013 est.)
|Natural gas - proved reserves:
|0 cu m (1 January 2014 es)
|Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
|200,000 Mt (2013 est.)
|^Back to Top
|Cellular Phones in use:
|total: 70,000 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 66 (July 2015 est.)
|Telephone system:
| general assessment: competition between Tonga Telecommunications Corporation (TCC) and Digicel Tonga Limited is accelerating expansion of telecommunications; both parties provide high speed Internet, mobile telephone networks, and international telecom services; Digicel also
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity about 80 telephones per 100 persons; fully automatic switched network
international: country code - 676; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2015)
|Broadcast media:
|1 state-owned TV station and 3 privately owned TV stations; satellite and cable TV services are available; 1 state-owned and 3 privately owned radio stations; Radio Australia broadcasts available via satellite (2015)
|Internet country code:
|Internet users:
|total: 48,000 percent of population: 45% (July 2015 est.)
|^Back to Top
|6 (2013)
|Airports (paved runways):
| total 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2013)
|Airports (unpaved runways):
| total 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2013)
| total 680 km
paved: 184 km
unpaved: 496 km (2011)
|Merchant marine:
| total 7
by type: cargo 4, carrier 1, passenger/cargo 2
foreign-owned: 2 (Australia 1, UK 1) (2010)
|Ports and terminals:
|major seaport(s): Nuku'alofa, Neiafu, Pangai
|^Back to Top
|Military branches:
|Tonga Defense Services (TDS): Land Force (Royal Guard), Maritime Force (includes Royal Marines, Air Wing) (2013)
|Military service age and obligation:
|16 years of age for voluntary enlistment (with parental consent); no conscription; the king retains the right to call up "all those capable of bearing arms" in wartime (2012)
|^Back to Top
|Transnational Issues
|Disputes - International:
|^Back to Top
Back to Flag Counter Overview
Source: CIA - The World Factbook


text:
Grade Level: 6th – 8th grade
Subject Matter: Life Science
National Standards: NS.5-8.1, NS.5-8.3
Red, blue and purple flowers with large petals, one of each color for each student. Red roses and purple or blue irises are ideal.
Ziploc bags, one for each student
Hammers, one for each pair of students
Clear plastic cups, four for each student
Teaspoons, one for each student
Empty white Styrofoam egg cartons, one for each student
Droppers, one for each pair of students
Bottle of vinegar
Baking soda
pH scale: a scale used to measure the acidity or basicity of a solution.
Acid: a chemical compound that usually tastes sour and measures less than 7 on the pH scale.
Base: a chemical compound that usually tastes bitter and measures between 8 and 14 on the pH scale.
Hydrogen: a colorless gas.
Molecule: the smallest unit of a substance that can exist independently.
Prep: Make the baking soda solution in advance of class by mixing two cups of water with one teaspoon of baking soda. Place solution in small plastic cups, one cup of solution for each student.
1. Begin the lesson by having the students watch the Science Friday video, "Beauty Scans." Have students track the different colors of the flowers in the video, and have them name the flower colors that they have observed themselves. Discuss with students why they think flowers come in so many colors, and where the colors come from.
2. Tell students they will perform an experiment to find out where flower colors come from. They will begin by extracting petal juice for each of the colored flowers. Can they think of a method of extracting petal juice from the flowers?
3. Hand out a red flower to students, and instruct them to remove five petals from the flower, tear the petals into small pieces, and place them in a Ziploc bag. Squeeze the air out of the bag and seal it.
4. Have students lay the bag of petals on a flat surface and carefully use the hammer to smash the petals in the bag without ripping the bag. Students should keep hammering until all the petals are smashed into a pulp.
5. Have students open the bag, add five teaspoons of water, and then close the bag. Instruct students to use their fingers and thumbs to rub and squish the petals until the water turns the color of the petals.
6. Have students pour the petal juice into a clear plastic cup, and squeeze the petal pulp until all the juice comes out of the pulp. Then discard the pulp.
7. Have students repeat steps 3-6 for the blue and purple flowers, so that they make three separate samples of the petal juice for each of the three flowers.
8. Hand out an empty white Styrofoam egg carton to each student.
9. Have students use a dropper to place one teaspoon of the red petal juice into one well of the egg carton. Then tell students that they should add a few drops of vinegar to the red petal juice. What do they think will happen?
10. Have students add the drops of vinegar until they observe a color change. Students can compare the color to the original color in the petal juice cup. What new color was made? What flowers exist with this color? Why do they think this color change took place?
11. Have students repeat steps 9-10 for the blue and purple petal juice. Can they predict what colors the petal juice will change into?
12. Hand out a small cup of baking soda solution to each student. Tell students that they will perform the same experiment, using a mixture of baking soda and water. What do they predict will happen to each petal juice color? What do they know about baking soda?
13. Have students repeat steps 9-10, adding the baking soda solution instead of vinegar to each of the two other petal juice colors. What new colors are produced? Why do they think that the petal juice changed colors when the solution was added?
Colored molecules known as pigments give flower petals their colors. Each color molecule of a pigment has a specific molecular structure. Any change in the molecular structure of the color molecule can cause a big change in the color.
• How does the color of a flower assist with its reproduction?
• Why would some flowers change color throughout their lifecycle?
• Why do leaves change color in autumn?
Have students experiment by adding different types of acidic solutions (lemon juice, orange juice, etc.) to their petal juice, or by varying the amount of baking soda in the baking soda solution. Students can maintain a chart demonstrating the colors resulting from each type of solution added.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Office of Children's Issues
Government of Ethiopia Plans Major Slow-Down in Adoption Processing
March 9, 2011
Citing the need to work on quality and focus on more important strategic issues, the Government of Ethiopia's Ministry of Women, Children, and Youth Affairs (MOWCYA) will reduce to a maximum of five the number of adoption cases it processes per day, effective March 10, 2011. Under Ethiopian adoption procedures, MOWCYA approves every match between prospective adoptive parents and an Ethiopian child before that case can be forwarded for a court hearing. The U.S. Embassy is working with Ethiopian government officials and adoption agencies to learn more about this change in procedures. We will continue to share information as it becomes available.
Given MOWCYA's current caseload, the U.S. Embassy anticipates that this change could result in an overall decline in case processing of some 90 percent. If this change is implemented as proposed, we expect, that parents who have begun the process of adopting from Ethiopia but have not yet been matched with a child could experience significant delays. It is not clear if this change in procedures would have any significant impact on cases in which MOWCYA has already approved matches.
Prospective adoptive parents should remain in close contact with their adoption service provider to obtain updates on individual cases.
The Embassy's Adoptions Unit can be reached at email@example.com.
Please continue to monitor http://adoption.state.gov/ for updated information as it becomes available.
Ethics, Transparency, Support
~ What All Adoptions Deserve.


text:
Quirarte entered the season as the Matadors' Sunday starter ... had a season-long 8.2 inning outing on Apr. 1 vs. Cal State Fullerton ... had a season-high seven punch outs vs. UC Santa Barbara on Apr. 29 ... from Feb. 24 to Mar. 20, surrendered just one earned run over seven appearances and nine innings, striking out 12 ... struck out the first three batters he faced against Texas Tech on Mar. 3 ... tossed a scoreless inning against UC Irvine on May 20 ... tallied first win of the year against UNLV on Jan. 28 ... earned a victory after 6.1 shutout innings against Loyola Marymount on Mar. 20.
Quirarte appeared in 18 games for the Matadors, making 13 starts ... vs. Nevada on Feb. 4, tossed six scoreless innings, scattering two hits and striking out three in a win ... struck out seven on Feb. 11 vs. New Orleans, part of a six inning effort in which he surrendered just two earned runs ... pitched a four-hit, complete game shut out Apr. 30 at UC Santa Barbara ... pitched 7.1 innings vs. UC Irvine on May 20, allowing just one earned run on five hits and notching three strikeouts ... earned his fourth win of the season vs. UC Davis on May 7, allowing just one earned run in a six inning effort ... finished the year with a 4.50 ERA.
Quirarte played for two seasons at Hueneme and Oxnard High Schools in Oxnard, Calif. ... earned three all-league honors, two all-county awards and was named team MVP twice ... Oxnard High won the league championship in 2004 and 2005, as well as the 2004 state title ... averaged over .400 for three straight seasons ... graduated from Oxnard HS in 2005 with a 3.1 grade point average.
Born December 20, 1986 in Ventura, Calif. ... parents are Antonia and Roberto Quirarte ... has two sisters, Laura and Jackie and three brothers, Bobee, Angel and Erik ... was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in 2005 .... also recruited by Arizona State, Loyola Marymount, UCLA and UC Irvine ... favorites include the Los Angeles Dodgers, the TV show "Family Guy" and the movie "Office Space" ... favorite website is baseballamerica.com ... major is undecided.


text:
The tour bus driver involved in a crash that injured dozens on a Southern California freeway made "an unsafe lane change" and struck a car before overturning in a ditch, the CHP said on Friday.
The casino-bound bus clipped a Hyundai Elantra, then overcorrected to the right in the 10 a.m. crash on the Foothill (210) Freeway near the San Gabriel (605) Freeway about 20 miles east of Los Angeles in Irwindale, Calif., said California Highway Patrol Officer Elizabeth Van Valkenburgh.
NBC4 I-Team:Tour Bus Company Had Mutiple Safety Violations
The bus driver, Jinquan Yang, 55, of Alhambra, was properly licensed and was not charged in the crash, the CHP said. The driver of the Elantra was not injured.
At least 50 people were injured when the casino-bound tour bus skidded through a chain-link fence and down a dirt embankment, where it came to a rest on its right between the freeway and railroad tracks.
A large contingent of emergency responders converged with firefighters tending to people on green, yellow and red triage tarps. The color-coded tarps indicate severity of injuries, with red being the most severe.
Of the 55 injured, 52 were bus passengers. The other three people injured were from other vehicles that were involved in the collision.
A majority of the injuries were minor. Some were moderate and a few suffered major injuries. All were adults, ages 60 to 80.
The crash shut down eastbound lanes for hours.
The 2003 Van Hool bus was operated by Da Zhen Travel Agency out of Monterey Park.
It was headed to the San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino in Highland, about 40 miles away from the scene of the crash.
Da Zhen received a "satisfactory" rating during its last major review by federal inspectors, in 2010, according to U.S. Department of Transportation records.
Those records report that in the past two years, the company had no crashes among its nine buses. Two of its buses were cited for speeding in Arizona in February, while another was cited for "following too close" in May in Nevada.
Overall, the buses performed relatively well in mechanical inspections, failing just two of 30 over the past two years, according to the records. That 7 percent rate was significantly below the national average.
A schedule provided by the casino shows that Da Zhen runs 14 trips each day to San Manuel from various cities in Los Angeles County.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
More Southern California Stories:


text:
I always wondered if OPI was worth the price tag but this shade and another gorgeous metallic shade (Designer de-better) have convince me that it may be. At least the sparkly shades.
They dry fast and last a full week on my fingers with a base coat and top coat.
I picked it up with Syen in a buy two get one free deal. Usual price is
Edit: Whoops ladies, it seems I made a mistake. We paid HKD$88 per bottle with the deal, it's usually HKD$132 in Mannings. However Nicole OPI is about HKD$80 in Sasa and if you look in Bonjour you can score bottles for HKD$68 or less (welcome to HK pricing)


text:
Story highlights
- The incident occurs in a crowded, well-known tourist area
- The people are kidnapped when they leave an electronics shop
- Security forces at checkpoints around the city are on high alert
Three foreigners were kidnapped in Yemen's capital Friday, two Interior Ministry officials told CNN.
The incident occurred in the center of Sanaa, in Tahrir Square, a crowded and well-known tourist destination.
Three gunmen and one driver were waiting for the foreigners to leave an electronics shop. As they come out, the gunmen forced them into a four-wheel-drive vehicle and fled.
The foreigners didn't appear to be tourists.
"As of now, the government does not know who stands behind the kidnapping, but is doing all in its ability to set them free," one of the officials said.
The foreigners' whereabouts are unknown. Security forces at checkpoints surrounding the city are on high alert.
The officials were not authorized to talk to the media. The Interior Ministry refused to officially comment on the kidnapping when contacted by CNN.


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(CNN) -- As one of the nation's leading fertility experts, Dr. Jamie Grifo is barraged with phone calls requesting advice. He thought he'd heard it all until a few weeks ago when callers started asking him a completely new question.
"They want to know when to have sex to have a baby on November 11," says Grifo, program director of the New York University Fertility Center. "11-11-11 - people really want that birth date for their baby."
Grifo's answer: A woman who conceives February 18 will have a November 11 due date, provided she has a regular 28-day cycle. But of course conception is not an advanced science. Since cycles vary and most pregnancies aren't exactly 40 weeks, conceiving a child anytime in the next week or two could get the coveted 11-11-11 digits for your little one. Valentine's Day sex, for example, could very well land you a baby on November 11.
The next chance for a birth date with six numbers all the same? November 11, 2111. You'll be dead by then.
Conception myths or facts: Dirty movies, laptops and sweet potatoes
Whether you're aiming for 11-11-11 or not, you can increase your chances of conceiving by having sex on your most fertile days of the month -- this conception calendar will help determine those days. Beyond that, you should separate fact from fiction when it comes to conception. Does dad need to trade in his tighty whities for briefs to keep sperm in tiptop shape? If mom has an orgasm, will that help sperm reach egg? Are certain sexual positions conducive to conception?
These are all questions Polly Blitzer has been asking herself repeatedly.
Married for more than two years, Blitzer and her husband started trying to get pregnant last summer, but so far no luck. In the meantime, she's 35, not getting any younger and her friends are having babies left and right.
"I feel like I should have a house account at Ralph Lauren for all the monogrammed onesies I send every month," says Blitzer, editor-in-chief of beautyblitz.com.
Her sister-in-law told her to eat sweet potatoes to "make your womb plush." A friend told her to have her husband watch sexy movies as they help produce more sperm. A stranger on an airplane even handed Blitzer her baby, advising that playing with a wee one would help Blitzer's eggs "drop." Another magazine editor told Blitzer, who lives in New York City, to go see an acupuncturist in Chinatown because "he got everyone at Conde Nast pregnant." And in what Blitzer described as the "weirdest" piece of advice, her housekeeper urged her to put her legs up against the wall for half an hour after having sex.
So which of these is right? In honor of, 11-11-11, here are 11 popular conceptions about conception.
1. Myth: Sweet potatoes make a womb "plush."
There are no studies showing sweet potatoes do any such thing, says Dr. Carlene Elsner, a fertility specialist with Reproductive Biology Associates in Atlanta.
Speaking of diet, it does help to keep to a healthy weight. Both anorexic women and obese women are more likely to have fertility problems.
2. Myth: Watching porn increases a man's sperm count.
This one makes Elsner laugh.
"It may increase his interest in having sex, but it's not going to increase his sperm count," she says.
3. Worth trying: Take vitamins for more plentiful, speedier sperm
Several studies show antioxidant vitamins make sperm strong and prosperous. The Mayo Clinic has more on keeping the boys healthy.
4. Myth: Sexual position matters
There's an old wives' tale that the missionary position will get the sperm closer to the cervix and hence closer to the egg, but it's just not true, Grifo says.
5. Worth trying: Staying horizontal helps
Staying horizontal after sex might help, since it allows more semen to stay in the vagina, according to the experts at babycenter.com. However, this doesn't mean you'll fail to conceive if you jump out of bed immediately after having sex.
"With millions of sperm in every ejaculation, there should be plenty of sperm in your vagina even if you get up right away," according to the group's website.
6. Worth trying: Get the laptop off dad's lap
In his seminal (pun intended) paper "Increase in scrotal temperature in laptop computer users," Dr. Yefim Sheynkin found that men who use laptops on their laps had higher scrotal temperatures.
This is bad. The reason testicles hang outside the body is that sperm work best when stored 2 to 4 degrees centigrade cooler than core body temperature.
Using a lap pad between dad and the computer won't bring the temperature down, according to a study out this month in Fertility and Sterility by Sheynkin and his colleagues at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Sheynkin's suggestion: Men should put the laptop on the table, or at the very least use it on the lap for limited periods of time.
7. Worth trying: Boxers instead of briefs
Briefs may have the same warming effect as laptops. For some men, it doesn't matter what they wear. But if a man's sperm aren't behaving up to par, it might be worth making the switch to boxers, says Dr. Shari Brasner, an assistant clinical professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive science at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City.
8. Myth: Past use of birth control pills makes it tough to get pregnant
Several studies have shown past use of the pill doesn't hurt a woman's chances of getting pregnant.
Doctors do advise going off the pill about three months before you want to conceive. "By three months, 90% of women are back to ovulating," Brasner says.
9. Myth: You can't get pregnant while nursing
While breastfeeding may make you less likely to get pregnant, it can still happen, Brasner says.
10. Worth trying: Acupuncture can help make you fertile
Some studies -- but not all -- show acupuncture might help infertile women. Even if it doesn't, it couldn't hurt.
11. Myth: If a woman has an orgasm, she's more likely to get pregnant
"Whether a woman has an orgasm doesn't seem to matter," Grifo says. He adds that some studies show it matters for other animals, but no study shows it's true for humans. "The jury is still out on this one, but there's enough evidence for me to say an orgasm is not required for conception," he says. "So don't let that stress you out."
As for Blitzer, she's going to the doctor next month for what she calls a "state of the uterus" exam. In the meantime, she got a puppy in hopes that feeling more maternal will increase her fertility. She knows it's a myth, but she's trying it anyway.
CNN's Sabriya Rice and Jennifer Bixler contributed to this report.


text: May 8, 2014 at 11:57 AM Toxics: State should step in when federal government falls short Posted by Letters Coordinator I was pleased to see The Seattle Times express concern about our nation's outdated and inadequate chemical laws ["Congress must not undo state toxics regulations," Opinion, April 27]. I too am concerned. As a cancer survivor and a mother of young children, I am troubled by what toxics do to our health. And I… More Comments | More in Toxics | Topics: Emily Cousins, health, Toxic Substances Control Act


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(Warning: this site
is not updated)
The ITUs 1999
World Telecommunication Development Report forecasts that
revenue from mobile services will overtake revenues from fixed
line services around the year 2004. In fact, the number of
mobile subscribers has already overtaken the number of fixed
subscribers in many industrialized and developing
countries. But in
the rush towards what has been called the mobile information
society, the sector is facing a number of growing pains. Although an increasing
share of voice traffic is being routed from fixed to mobile
networks and vice-versa, the issue of establishing
rates and regulation for interconnection between these
networks is still a contentious one. Rates vary
considerably across ITU Member States. Commercial rates range
from zero in some countries to as much as US$ 0.62 per minute
in others. Even
in relatively liberalized economies, rates for mobile
interconnection are often well above costs. The European Union has
recently launched an investigation into the high termination
rates being charged by mobile operators.
Many countries, including India, Morocco and the UK, have
taken regulatory action to bring fixed-mobile interconnection
rates in line with costs. However, there is
little in the way of research or international benchmarking to
assist countries in their costing exercises. No consensus has been
reached on the costing methodology to be used. In many
developing countries, the lack of resources and regulatory
expertise can hinder efforts at cost-orientation.
Resources Website- including country
case studies, links to regulatory information, on-line
reports and data
(International Mobile Telecommunications)
Reforming the
International Accounting Rate System
(Global Mobile Personal Communications by Satellite)


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A Treasury Department investigation has been initiated against nearly two dozen former high-ranking US officials, many who continue to hold elite positions of power in media and policy circles or private industry, for their active support and financial ties to an Iranian dissident group, the People's Mujahedin of Iran (or MEK), that is listed by the State Department as a 'terror organization'.
Those under investigation represent a bipartisan group including former Democratic governors Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania and Howard Dean of Vermont; former Republican Homeland Security Advisor to George W. Bush, Fran Townsend, Bush's Attorney General, Michael Mukasey, and former UN ambassador John Bolton; former Republican Mayor of New York, Rudolph Guiliani; and ex-FBI Director Louis Freeh and former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Hugh Shelton, among others.
Due to a ruling by the Supreme Court in 2010 that affirmed a DOJ interpretation of the 'material support' statute, The MEK's listing as a terror organization makes it illegal to coordinate with, provide assistance to, or take payment from the group.
"What is particularly repellent about all of this," Glenn Greenwald recently wrote about the situation, "Is not the supreme hypocrisy and self-interested provincialism" of these former officials. That's par for the course. The real problem, he argues
... is that there are large numbers of people — almost always Muslims — who have been prosecuted and are now in prison for providing "material support" to Terrorist groups for doing far less than Fran Townsend and her fellow cast of bipartisan ex-officials have done with and on behalf of MEK. In fact, the U.S. Government has been (under the administration in which Townsend worked) and still is (under the administration Rendell supports) continuously prosecuting Muslims for providing "material support" for Terrorist groups based on their pure speech, all while Fran Townsend, Ed Rendell and company have said nothing or, worse, supported the legal interpretations that justified these prosecutions.
* * *
MSNBC reports today:
The investigation, being conducted by the Treasury Department, is focused on whether the former officials may have received funding, directly or indirectly, from the People's Mujahedin of Iran, or MEK, thereby violating longstanding federal law barring financial dealings with terrorist groups. The sources, all of whom spoke on condition of anonymity, said that speaking fees given to the former officials total hundreds of thousands of dollars.
"This is about finding out where the money is coming from," an Obama administration official familiar with the probe said. "This has been a source of enormous concern for a long time now. You have to ask the question, whether this is a prima facie case of material support for terrorism."
Freeh and Shelton are among 40 former senior U.S. government officials who have participated in a public lobbying campaign – including appearing at overseas conferences and speaking at public rallies – aimed at persuading the U.S. government to remove the MEK from the terror list.
* * *
Greenwald, who has followed the story closely, wrote earlier this week:
[The Supreme Court ruling in Holder v. Humanitarian Law (pdf)] was one of the most severe erosions of free speech rights in decades because, as Justice Breyer (joined by Ginsberg and Sotomayor) pointed out in dissent, "all the activities" at issue, which the DOJ's interpretation would criminalize, "involve the communication and advocacy of political ideas and lawful means of achieving political ends." The dissent added that the DOJ's broad interpretation of the statute "gravely and without adequate justification injure[s] interests of the kind the First Amendment protects." As Georgetown Law Professor David Cole, who represented the plaintiffs, explained, this was literally "the first time ever" that "the Supreme Court has ruled that the First Amendment permits the criminalization of pure speech advocating lawful, nonviolent activity." Thus, "the court rule[d] that speech advocating only lawful, nonviolent activity can be made a crime, and that any coordination with a blacklisted group can land a citizen in prison for 15 years." Then-Solicitor-General Elena Kagan argued the winning Obama DOJ position before the Court.
Whatever one's views are on this ruling, it is now binding law. To advocate on behalf of a designated Terrorist group constitutes the felony of "providing material support" if that advocacy is coordinated with the group.
And he notes the hypocrisy, referencing a previous post where he highlighted the many muslims who have been charged under the statute:
- A Staten Island satellite TV salesman in 2009 was sentenced to five years in federal prison merely for including a Hezbollah TV channel as part of the satellite package he sold to customers;
- a Massachusetts resident, Tarek Mehanna, is being prosecuted now "for posting pro-jihadist material on the internet";
- a 24-year-old Pakistani legal resident living in Virginia, Jubair Ahmad, was indicted last September for uploading a 5-minute video to YouTube that was highly critical of U.S. actions in the Muslim world, an allegedly criminal act simply because prosecutors claim he discussed the video in advance with the son of a leader of a designated Terrorist organization (Lashkar-e-Tayyiba);
- a Saudi Arabian graduate student, Sami Omar al-Hussayen, was prosecuted simply for maintaining a website with links "to groups that praised suicide bombings in Chechnya and in Israel" and "jihadist" sites that solicited donations for extremist groups (he was ultimately acquitted); and,
- last July, a 22-year-old former Penn State student and son of an instructor at the school, Emerson Winfield Begolly, was indicted for — in the FBI's words — "repeatedly using the Internet to promote violent jihad against Americans" by posting comments on a "jihadist" Internet forum including "a comment online that praised the shootings" at a Marine Corps base, action which former Obama lawyer Marty Lederman said "does not at first glance appear to be different from the sort of advocacy of unlawful conduct that is entitled to substantial First Amendment protection."
Now, he writes, "we have the most well-connected national security and military officials in Washington doing far more than all of that right out in the open — they're receiving large payments from a Terrorist group, meeting with its leaders, attending their meetings, and then advocating for them in very public forums; Howard Dean, after getting paid by the group, actually called for MEK's leader to be recognized as the legitimate President of Iran – and so far none have been prosecuted or even indicted. The Treasury Department investigation must at least scare them."
* * *
Talking Points Memo adds:
TPM reached out to nearly two dozen high-profile speakers from past pro-MEK events, many of whom have acknowledged being paid, and who have advocated for taking the Iranian opposition group Mujahideen-e Khalq taken off the State Department's list of terrorist organizations. Most didn't respond. Those who did, like former Attorney General Michael Mukasey, had no comment. And those we managed to get on the phone didn't have much to say either.
"I don't plan to comment on any of that," former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean told TPM. "It's unfortunate because there's been a lot of misinformation in the mainstream media out there. When the blogs start repeating Iranian propaganda, we've got a problem."
It's never been entirely clear who actually pays for the speeches, which are typically arranged through speaking agencies. Rendell told the New York Times he was under the impression that his speaking fees came from Iranian-American supporters of the MEK and not the group itself. That is in line with what TPM was told by an organizer of an August 2011 rally outside the State Department. "Some of them are paid, some of them aren't," Hamid Azimi told TPM, adding that people wouldn't even be asking about the payments if MEK wasn't on the list.
It is illegal for Americans to do business with designated terrorist groups or, thanks to a recent Supreme Court decision, advocate for positions in coordination with such organizations. The Treasury Department isn't commenting on the probe.
# # #


text:
The genus Heuchera ( /ˈhjuːkɨrə/) includes at least 50 species of herbaceous perennial plants in the family Saxifragaceae, all native to North America. Common names include alumroot and coral bells. They have palmately lobed leaves on long petioles, and a thick, woody rootstock. The genus was named after Johann Heinrich von Heucher (1677–1746), an 18th century German physician.
Alumroot species grow in varied habitats, so some species look quite different from one another, and have varying preferences regarding temperature, soil, and other natural factors. H. maxima is found on the Channel Islands of California, where it grows on rocky, windy, saline-washed ocean shores. H. sanguinea, called coral bells because of its terra cotta-colored flowers, can be found in the warm, dry canyons of Arizona. Gardeners and horticulturists have developed a multitude of hybrids between various Heuchera species. There is an extensive array of blossom sizes, shapes, and colors, foliage types, and geographic tolerances.


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|General Car Chat Lounge Discussion Forum relating to nonspecific Ford Focus models, car purchasing, auto industry news and any car talk.
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The Ford Focus - General History and Information
Ford Focus - General History and Information
The Ford Focus was originally launched in 1998 in Europe, launched in 2000 in North America and 2002 in Australia. Since its launch in 1998 the first generation Focus has won over 60 awards including 13 Car of the Year awards in both Europe and North America and, more recently, the best family car ever (Autocar UK 2003). The Focus was on Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list for five consecutive years between 2000 and 2004. Motor Trend magazine had also given the Focus favorable reviews, writing comments like "As entry-level sedans go, few can touch Ford's Focus on the fun-to-drive front".
North American Market
It was introduced in 1999 as a 2000 model year as a replacement for the Ford Escort and the Mercury Tracer. It received a revamp for the 2005 model year, and the second generation was introduced for the 2008 model year. Sales in the United States for calendar-year 2007 comprised 173,213 units making it the #3 best selling domestic nameplate car (behind the Chevrolet Impala and Cobalt), #9 best selling car of all cars and #16 best selling vehicle, according to Reuters Top-20 U.S. Sales Scorecard.
The first generation Focus was sold in sedan, 3-door and 5-door hatchbacks, and wagon configurations. The second generation Focus was released in sedan and coupe versions, dropping the hatchback and wagon versions.
International Market
It was launched in 1998 in Europe and 2002 in Australia. Since then, it has become the United Kingdom's best selling car, following in the success of its predecessor, the Escort. In 2001 and 2002, the Focus was the world's best selling car. A new version of the Focus (Mk II) was launched in Europe in January 2005 and a face lifted version in January 2008.
In Europe, South America and South Africa, the Focus replaced the Ford Escort. In Australia, New Zealand and Japan, it replaced the Ford Laser.
Focus Manufacturing
Presently, Ford uses the Wayne Stamping & Assembly facility for the manufacturing of the Focus. It is located in Wayne, Michigan. The other former facility is located in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. The plant in Wayne currently builds all varieties of the car. The Mexican plant used to build the ZX3/ZX5/FocusSVT hatchbacks prior to consolidation of production in Michigan in 2006. That cleared the way to assemble the Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ in Hermosillo.
Internationally, the Ford Focus is manufactured in Saarlouis, Germany; Setubal, Portugal; Valencia, Spain; Santa Rosa, Laguna, Philippines; General Pacheco, Argentina; Chongqing, China; Vsevolozhsk, Russia; Pretoria, South Africa; Chungli, Taiwan.
Focus Reliability
In the US spec models, despite a series of major recalls early in the car's life, reliability has steadily been improving. The Focus received a Consumers Digest Best Buy Rating for 2005, an award that takes numerous factors into consideration, including reliability and recall history, although Lemon-Aid still described it as "glitch ridden" up until at least 2004.
Focus Marketing
After 2005, the North American version was sold in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Latin American countries, while the newer European version was available in other worldwide markets. The European Focus II replaced the older model Focus in Mexico by early 2007. Unlike previous small Fords in the North American market, including the Pinto, the Escort, no Mercury version was sold.
Overall Sales and History
Despite its radical styling (the hatchback version in particular), and some controversial safety recalls in North America, the car has been a sales success across the globe, even in the United States, where Ford has traditionally failed to successfully sell its European models. It was elected Car of the Year in 1999. The Focus won the North American Car of the Year award for 2000.
The Focus, unlike the Escort, was never offered in a panel van body style in the U.S.; however, a commercial Focus is available in Europe.
First Generation (2000-2007)
2000-2004 Ford Focus
2000-2004 Ford Focus ZX3
2002-2004 Ford Focus ZX5
2000-2004 Ford Focus Sedan
2000-2004 Ford Focus Wagon
Information - 2000 through 2004 Ford Focus
The Focus was introduced in North America in 1999 as a 2000 model, initially as a 3-door hatchback (ZX3), 4 -door sedan (ZX4) and 5-door wagon (ZXW). A 5-door hatchback (ZX5) version was introduced for the 2002 model year.
The cars featured subtle styling differences from the European versions:
2005-2007 Ford Focus
2005-2007 Ford Focus ZX3
2005-2007 Ford Focus ZX5
2005-2007 Ford Focus Sedan
2005-2007 Ford Focus Wagon
Information - 2005 through 2007 Ford Focus
Changes for 2005 model year included a restyling that's more in line with the corporate face, an updated interior, new stereos, and new model designations. The SVT is gone, replaced by the ZX4 ST; the Focus wagon is now the ZXW; and a new 136 horsepower, lower-emissions 2.0-litre replaces both the 110 hp and 130 hp 2.0-litre engines of 2004.
First Generation Vehicle Data and Specifications
Second Generation (2008-2010)
Ford Focus Coupe
Ford Focus Sedan
Information - 2008 through 2010 Ford Focus
For the 2008 model year, the Focus was completely restyled, including Ford's signature bar grill design. It was unveiled at the 2007 North American International Auto Show. A 2-door coupe is offered for the first time in addition to a 4-door sedan. 3-door and 5-door hatchbacks as well as the wagon were dropped. The interior was drastically redesigned, implementing Ford's "Ice Blue" lighting for the first time. It also featured a message center on the top of the dashboard, which displays radio information.
According to Design Head Lon Zaback, the new Focus "appears to be a little bit shorter and have shorter overhangs. It has a much more sporty appearance because of some of the proportional things we did with it." New features include ambient lighting, new seats, brushed aluminum dashboards, and the new Ford Sync to integrate electronics into the automobile.
The Microsoft designed Sync technology allows Bluetooth connectivity with enabled phones, MP3 player hookups, and voice activation for both calling on Bluetooth synced phone as well as voice-activated browsing of media players, as well as other features for phone connectivity and will also be fully upgradable. Sync is optional equipment on the 2008 Focus SE with an MSRP of $395. It is standard equipment on the 2008 Focus SES.
Optional ambient lighting in the Focus uses LEDs placed in the front and rear foot wells and the cup holders. "The driver or front-seat passenger can choose from seven different colors - red, blue, aqua, purple, white, green and yellow - by cycling through a dash-mounted switch." Standard equipment will include a tire pressure monitoring system.
The 2.3 L Duratec engine is discontinued for the redesign, leaving only the 2.0 L Duratec 20 engine. Power is increased in the 2.0 L engine, up to 140 hp (104 kW) from 136 hp (101 kW), along with other changes to increase fuel efficiency. The chassis was lightened and stiffened and overall weight is decreased by 30 lbs from the previous model. Highway mileage is rated at 35 mpg using the new 2008 EPA standards.
Like many compact cars, demand for the Focus has increased because of high gasoline prices in 2008. The Focus currently takes 7.6 percent of the U.S. small car market. To meet this increasing demand, Ford increased output for 2008 by 30%.
Second Generation Vehicle Data and Specifications
Ford Focus 'Statement' Editions
Ford released various limited edition Ford Focus models with 'added extras' only available on these models. Below is a general description of the statement editions that were available from 2000 through 2003.
As for production numbers, the latest information states as follows:
Sony Xplod Edition (2000 Ford Focus SE Sedan) - 7001 units
- one of which was given away in a contest.
Kona Edition (2000 Ford Focus ZX3) - 5000 units
- 50% in "Dirt" color, 35% CD Silver, 15% Rainforest Green
- 60% Automatic Transmission, 40% Manual Transmission
Street Edition (2001 Ford Focus SE Sedan and Wagon) - 7500 units
- 85% were sedans (6375 units)
- 15% were wagons (1125 units)
S2 Edition (2001 Ford Focus ZX3) - 3350 units
MACH Audio Edition (2002 Ford Focus ZTS Sedan) - 6000 units
Centennial Edition (2003 Ford Focus ZTS Sedan) - ???? units
Sony Xplod Edition (2000 Ford Focus SE Sedan)
News Article - February 10, 2000 - Sony Xplod Focus - CLICK HERE
Extras with the Sony Xplod Edition
Kona Edition (2000 Ford Focus ZX3)
News Article - January 6, 2000 - Kona Edition Focus - CLICK HERE
Extras with the Kona Edition
Street Edition (2001 Ford Focus SE Sedan and Wagon)
News Article - October 6, 2000 - Street Edition Focus - CLICK HERE
Extras with the Street Edition
S2 Edition (2001 Ford Focus ZX3)
News Article - April 12, 2001 - S2 Edition Focus - CLICK HERE
Extras with the S2 Edition
MACH Audio Edition (2002 Ford Focus ZTS Sedan)
News Article - March 27, 2002 - Limited Edition Focus Mach Audio ZTS Sedan - CLICK HERE
Extras with the MACH Audio Edition
Centennial Edition (2003 Ford Focus ZTS Sedan)
News Article - Centennial Edition Focus Released - CLICK HERE
Extras with the Centennial Edition
Performance Versions
SVT "Special Vehicles Team" Focus
SVT Focus - 3-Door
SVT Focus - 5-Door
News Article - March 1, 2001 - SVT Focus - CLICK HERE
Information - 2002 through 2004 SVT Focus
In late 2001, Ford's in-house performance group, known as Special Vehicle Team (SVT), introduced the SVT Focus, essentially a renamed European ST170 Focus, to the United States and Canadian markets for the 2002 model year. Ford billed the SVT Focus as the sportiest offering of the Focus to date. Cosmetically, the exterior included unique front and rear bumpers, side skirts, fog lamps, rear spoiler, rear diffuser and 17" alloy wheels wearing fairly sticky "Y" rated 215/45R17 tires from Continental. The car featured a thoroughly reworked version of the 2.0 liter Zetec engine available in other Focus models. Developed in concert with Cosworth, this engine featured many advanced technologies. Included were a special aluminum cylinder head with enlarged intake ports, high compression pistons and forged connecting rods, piston oil squirters, solenoid operated variable camshaft timing on the intake cam, dual stage intake manifold, and a 4-2-1 tubular exhaust header.
These additions, coupled with an increased 10.2:1 compression ratio, bumped horsepower from 130 to 170 while still achieving good fuel economy and low emissions. Ford went to German manufacturer Getrag to provide a six-speed manual transmission which is shared with the Mini Cooper S. This transmission was a twin layshaft design and included a dual mass flywheel to eliminate vibration. Other changes to complete the package included sharper steering through an increased boost ratio in the steering rack, larger disc brakes on all four corners and stiffened suspension with larger anti-roll bars. Inside the car was offered with several leather bits including seats, and steering wheel. The shifter knob, emergency-brake handle, and their respective boots are also in black leather. Options included a powered glass sunroof, 8 speaker Audiophile sound system with 8" sub-woofer, a cold weather package with heated seats, traction control, a 115V block heater, and heated side mirrors and, for 2003 and 2004 models, HID xenon headlamps.
In 2003 the SVT was offered in the 5-door bodystyle and an all new European Appearance Package for 3-doors only. It included all available options plus full leather Recaro seats and 15 spoke dark argent colored wheels. The exterior was available in two new colors, Screamin' Yellow and Competition Orange. The only option the 5-door did not include were the sideskirts. In 2004, its final year of production, the Euro package was available in the 5-door model as well. Also the 5 spoke wheels were no longer available and a 6 spoke design was the replacement.
Production numbers for the SVT Focus
Rarest models (by year):
2002: CD Silver with Red Inserts (513 of 4,788 total produced that year)
2003: 5-Door Black with Blue Inserts 53 of 2,173 total 5-Door models produced that year)
2004: 5-Door Infra Red Euro (29 of 1,079 total 5-Door models produced that year)
Total Production Numbers:
2002: 4,788 units
2003: 6,158
2004: 3,057
Overall Total SVTF's Built for 2002-2004: 14, 003 units
2005 Roush Focus
Information - Roush Focus
The Roush Focus came with several packages as follows:
Owner Option Package
- Owners can customize which extras they want from below.
Stage 1 Package
- this package includes as standard equipment the items below.
Stage 2 Package
- this package includes as standard equipment the items below.
2004-2005 Saleen Focus S121 N20
Information - 2005 Saleen Focus S121 N20
Tuner Saleen modified the Mark II USA Focus into the S121 and N2O performance cars. The S121 includes a 150 hp (112 kW) Duratec 2.0l I4 engine with improved suspension, custom body kit, custom graphics, tire and wheel package, customized interior components, and optional upgraded brakes. The performance boost to the factory Duratec 2.0l I4 engine was achieved by replacing the factory paper air filter with a more freely flowing re-useable air cleaner and by replacing the restrictive factory exhaust with a cat back exhaust system. The N20 offers the same base engine and other improvements along with a factory installed nitrous oxide system that offers a 75 hp boost bringing the N2O to 225 hp The S121/N2O are sold as new at many Ford dealers. There were 200 S121/N2O's produced by Saleen in 2005.
The N20 Package includes the following extras/additions.
2009 Saleen Racecraft Focus RC2
Information - 2009 Saleen Racecraft Focus RC2
Saleen is primarily associated with its Mustang lineup, but the American tuner has been known to dabble in everything from mid-engine exotics to humble hatches. Back in 2004, they launched the N2O Focus, complete with a body kit, suspension upgrades, a sporty interior, and a 75-shot nitrous system (sorta). Saleen ended up selling only a handful of cars, and eventually resulted in a $700,000 fine from the California Air Resources Board for altering emissions control systems in the car. Despite the letdown of the N2O, Saleen is launching another version of the Focus, dubbed the RC2, under the budget-friendly Racecraft brand.
Based on the Ford Focus coupe, the RC2 features subtle exterior styling changes including a new front fascia, mesh grille, side skirts, rear spoiler, and 18-inch wheels. The suspension is upgraded with stiffer springs, shocks and larger sway bars, and larger brakes are fitted up front. Horsepower is bumped by approximately 15 with a dual-tipped exhaust system and cold air intake. Production will start in the first quarter of 2009 and will be relatively affordable at under $20,000. Will this next generation Saleen Focus have more success than the previous version? We think it's got a pretty good chance. Check out the galleries below to compare the Saleen N2O and RC2.
Information - 2005 through 2007 Ford Focus ZX4 ST
The North American SVT Focus was discontinued in 2004. Its replacement is the ZX4 ST sedan, which has a 2.3 litre, 151 hp (113 kW) (154 ft-lb (209 N-m) (SAE) Torque) Duratec driving a 5 speed manual transmission (MTX-75 which is the same transmission as previously used with the 2000 on up Zetec engines except with a higher differential ratio) with reverse lock-out. While horsepower is down from the SVT acceleration is only slightly affected, due to the larger differential ratio. The 2005 ST had the same dampers and stabilizer bars that the SVT used, but with significantly softer springs. The ST has a unique interior and 16" wheels. It is also equipped with a spoiler, color-keyed fascia, and 4-wheel anti-lock disk brakes. Handling balance is roughly the same as that of the SVT but has a milder ride due to the softer springs and generates less grip due to the narrower 205/50R16 all season tires. The 2005 ST included everything from the SES package with additional options such as heated seats, heated mirrors, full leather interior, sun/moonroof, and the Audiophile package controlled by a Blaupunkt headunit. 2007 was the final year for the 2.3L engine in the Focus. For the 2006 and 2007 ST's the suspension geometry was changed in an effort to provide a softer ride.
Street Appearance Package (SAP)
Information - Street Appearance Package (SAP)
In 2006, Ford introduced the Street Appearance Package to spice up the aging Ford Focus design. This included two unique front and rear fascia choices. The front fascia included integrated fog lamps and side markers while the rear offered a rear diffuser in addition to a large rally spoiler. This option was priced at $1295 U.S.D.
Ford Focus by Model Year (Changes, Additions, Etc.)
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Last edited by S2; 12-17-2008 at 07:22 PM.
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Ebonite Announces Partnership With Folds Of Honor Foundation
HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. – Responding to the call to honor American servicemen and women, the Ebonite brand is partnering with Folds of Honor Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization that provides educational scholarships for the families of military members who have been killed or wounded in service to our country. Ebonite kick-started the relationship at International Bowl Expo with a $10,000 donation and announced plans to create special Folds of Honor bowling products and to help lead the charge for Patriot Bowling Day, currently in the planning stages for early 2014.
"Bowlers are fiercely patriotic and passionate about honoring our troops and, as one of the oldest bowling companies in America, Ebonite wants to ensure their legacy is not left behind," said Ed Gallagher, Ebonite brand manager. "We stand with Folds of Honor and we're inviting the bowling community to join us."
Ebonite and Folds of Honor first worked together in early 2013 to promote the first ever Patriot Bowling Cup held during the 48th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas. Raising more than $50,000 for Folds of Honor, country music stars Lee Brice, Craig Morgan, Morgan Frazier, Parmalee, Ray Scott, Jared Ashley and outdoor personality Laura Schara hit the lanes at The Orleans Hotel and Casino. The celebrities, along with Folds of Honor scholarship recipients, served as team captains of sponsored teams.
"Ebonite was thrilled to participate at this inaugural event, meet the founders of Folds of Honor and especially the scholarship recipients who were sharing their personal stories and those of their loved ones," said Gallagher. "You don't meet these incredible people and not get involved. Their mission is inspiring and it empowered all of us that we can really make a difference by using the sport we love to Bowl It Forward."
Since 2007, Folds of Honor has awarded more than 3,800 immediate and future-use educational scholarships. There are more than one million dependents of fallen and wounded military service men and women from the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts alone and 87 percent do not qualify for federal scholarship assistance. Events including Patriot Bowling Day, Patriot Range Day and Patriot Golf Day, held annually at golf courses across the nation over Labor Day weekend, have raised more than $25 million since 2007.
About the Folds of Honor Foundation
Folds of Honor Foundation was founded in May 2007 by Major Dan Rooney, a former F-16 Fighter Pilot in the Oklahoma Air National Guard, PGA Professional and USGA member. A decorated military pilot in the Oklahoma Air National Guard, Major Rooney has served three combat tours in Iraq. It was after his second tour, while a passenger on a commercial flight, that Major Rooney witnessed an event that would profoundly change his life. As the plane landed, the pilot announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, we have an American hero on board – Corporal Brock Bucklin. And his twin brother, Corporal Brad Bucklin, is accompanying him home from Iraq. As a sign of respect, please remain seated while Corporal Bucklin's family receives him in his final homecoming." Major Rooney watched through the window of the plane as the flag-draped casket was lowered. He saw a family waiting for Brock, and a little four-year old boy waiting for his father. This tragic homecoming inspired Major Rooney to create the Folds of Honor Foundation.
About Ebonite
Ebonite, founded in 1905, is a leading bowling manufacturer based in Hopkinsville, Ky. The brand includes balls, bags and accessories distributed nationally and internationally to retail through bowling pro shops. Ebonite leads the industry in bowling coaching initiatives through camps, instructional videos and bowler education. Connect with the brand online at www.ebonite.com or @EboniteBowling and #bowlitforward on Twitter.


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Events for September 11, 2017
11:30 am
The Magic Mirror: Business as Your Soul's Journey {daytime format}
A year long training in spiritual practices to raise your frequency to help your business, your clients, and your life! Mondays 11:30am-1:30pm starting Monday, May 1st (reserve your space at tickets link below) or Mondays 6:30-8:30pm starting Monday, September 11th (click here to sign up for this date) _______________________________________ Are you a healer? Do you […]Find out more »


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Twin County athletes earned player of the year awards in three of the four spring sports as Mountain Empire District post-season honors were handed down recently.
Galax took top honors in both boys' and girls' soccer and Grayson County had the top softball player. Fort Chiswell was the only other school to crack the player of the year list, earning top honors in baseball after ending Grayson County's 18-year run of district championships.
No stats are available for Grayson County softball, but Kayla Spurlin was the Blue Devils' leadoff hitter, their ace in the pitching circle and also played some solid second base in earning the MED softball player of the year award. She was also a first-team pitcher on an A-list dominated by Blue Devils, who swept the districts' regular season and tournament championships.
Including Spurlin, Grayson County filled six of the 12 first-team spots and also gathered the coach of the year award, by Tim Hollingsworth. Also named to the first team were first baseman Autumn Pierce, second baseman Taylor Hale, third baseman Traci Crigger and outfielders Jessica Caudill and Lakyn Park.
Four other Blue Devils landed on the second team: catcher Catherine Vaughan, third baseman Jamie Adams and outfielders Natasha Moore and Kim Parsons.
Shortstop Channing Russell and outfielder Caitlin Porter were first-team picks for Galax. Russell, a sophomore, batted .292 with four doubles and Porter was a .216 hitter. Pitcher Grace Wilson, first baseman Drew Cardwell and utility player Haley Reynolds were second-teamers.
Honorable mention picks were Jordan Hensley, India Bourne, Brandi Goad, Nicole Grubb and Emily Higgins of Grayson County and Galax's Harley Brewer, Jill Bartlett and Christy Osborne.
Vivian Reyes of Galax was the district's girls' soccer player of the year, and Jose Martinez of the Maroon Tide took home top boys' honors.
Joining Reyes on the fist team for season and tournament champ Galax were Helen Espinoza, Maegan Madrigal, Chantasy Cottrell, Abbi Ponce, Sonia Solis and Patricia Reyes.
Martinez helped lead the Maroon Tide boys to the regular season and tournament titles and a runner-up showing in the Region C tournament. Joining Martinez on the first team were Juan Moreno, Edu Rojas and Tyler Bowen.
Grayson County was represented on the first team by Adam Wyatt and Austin Bunn.
Second team picks were Dustin Peters, Chris Meier and Mario Ruiz of Grayson County and Miguel Lopez, Simo Lagerspetz and Juan Hernandez of Galax.
On the honorable mention list were Fabricio Reyes, Omar Ramirez, Seth Criner and Jose Rojas of Galax and Grayson County's Matthew Groves and Ethan Liddle.
Fort Chiswell took home the district's baseball player of the year award for the second straight year, this time by senior second baseman Hody Viars, as the Pioneers reached the state tournament for the first time ever. Derek Jackson was named the coach of the year award.
Six Twin County players earned first-team status, including Travis Cockerham, Travis Garvey, Brock Cox and Michael Bond of Galax. Cockerham was 2-3 with a team-low 3.44 ERA on the mound and batted .394 with five doubles, two home runs and 17 RBIs. Garvey, a first baseman, led the team with a .400 average, four home runs and 28 RBIs. Cox batted .338 with five triples as the Tide's third baseman, and all-MED designated hitter Bond hit .375 with six doubles, a pair of homers and 25 RBIs.
On the first team for Grayson County, shortstop Tyler Rutherford batted a team-best .409, scored 27 runs, drove in 19 and stole 23 bases. A first-team outfielder, Zack Hill hit .333 on the year with 16 RBIs and 23 runs scored.
Grayson's Nick Perkins (pitcher), Jared Salts (second base) and Jake Blizzard (outfield) were second-team choices, as was Galax's Kyle Schaeffer (outfield).
First team
Pitcher – Travis Cockerham (soph., Galax), Michael Dunford (sr., Fort Chiswell); catcher – Colton Ayers (soph., Fort Chiswell); first base – Travis Garvey (soph., Galax); second base – Hody Viars (sr., Fort Chiswell); third base – Brock Cox (jr., Galax); shortstop – Tyler Rutherford (jr., Grayson County); outfield – Jay Wilson (Narrows), Zack Hill (sr., Grayson County), Parker Mabe (sr., Fort Chiswell); designated hitter – Michael Bond (soph., Galax); utility – Jake Craft (Narrows).
Player of the year
Hody Viars, Fort Chiswell
Coach of the year
Derek Jackson, Fort Chiswell
Second team
Pitcher – Nick Perkins (Grayson County), Ty Kirby (Fort Chiswell); catcher – Cody Blessing (Bland County); first base – Gabe Ayers (Fort Chiswell); second base – Jared Salts (Grayson County); third base – Caleb Johnston (Narrows); shortstop – Mark Martin (Narrows); outfield – Kyle Schaeffer (Galax), Jake Blizzard (Grayson County), Josh Underwood (Fort Chiswell); designated hitter – Jason Lambert (Bland County); utility – Michael Perdue (Narrows).
Honorable mention
Cory Mabry (Fort Chiswell), Dakota Hunter (Fort Chiswell), Alex Taylor (Narrows), Shane Cummings (Galax), Willie DeBoard (Grayson County), Bubba Bowen (Grayson County), Brent Graham (Grayson County), Dustin Leonard (Grayson County), Josh Blevins (Bland County), Dylan Kidd (Bland County), Raymond Greene (Bland County), Miller (Bland County), Greg Williams (Galax), Eddie Hanks (Galax), Jacob Woodel (Galax).
First team
Pitcher – Kayla Spurlin (sr., Grayson County), Amber Chrisley (fr., Fort Chiswell); catcher – Laurel Hankins (sr., Bland County); first base – Autumn Pierce (jr., Grayson County); second base – Taylor Hale (soph., Grayson County); third base – Traci Crigger (sr., Grayson County); shortstop – Channing Russell (soph., Galax); outfield – Jessica Caudill (sr., Grayson County), Lakyn Park (soph., Grayson County), Caitlin Porter (soph., Galax); designated hitter – Abby Davis (jr., Narrows); utility – Kelly Thomas (jr., Fort Chiswell).
Player of the year
Kayla Spurlin, Grayson County
Coach of the year
Tim Hollingsworth, Grayson County
Second team
Lindsey Hylton (soph., Bland County), Grace Wilson (soph., Galax); catcher – Catherine Vaughan (jr., Grayson County); first base – Drew Cardwell (sr., Galax); second base – Kristen Hylton (soph., Bland County); third base – Jamie Adams (soph., Grayson County); shortstop – Jessie Blessing (soph., Bland County); outfield – Katie Tate (jr., Bland County), Natasha Moore (soph., Grayson County), Kimberly Parsons (sr., Grayson County); designated hitter – Katie Burnett (fr., Fort Chiswell); utility – Haley Reynolds (soph., Galax).
Honorable mention
Jordan Hensley (Grayson County), Morgan Delby (Fort Chiswell), Harley Brewer (Galax), Nicole Lewis (Bland County), India Bourne (Grayson County), Brandi Goad (Grayson County), Chelsea Glasscock (Fort Chiswell), Nicole Grubb (Grayson County), Emily Higgins (Grayson County), Jill Bartlett (Galax), Emily Blair (Fort Chiswell), Christy Osborne (Galax).
First team
Jose Martinez (Galax), Gavin Burnett (Fort Chiswell), Cody Hollie (Narrows), Adam Wyatt (Grayson County), Joe Brescia (Bland County), Juan Moreno (Galax), Lee Price (Fort Chiswell), Nathan Cowley (Narrows), Tyler Harless (Bland County), Brianna Ogden (Narrows), Sal Calo (Fort Chiswell), Edu Rojas (Galax), Austin Bunn (Grayson County), Alex Reed (Narrows), Jared Musick (Bland County), Tyler Bowen (Galax).
Player of the year
Jose Martinez, Galax
Coach of the year
George Bishop, Fort Chiswell
Second team
Josh Herron (Fort Chiswell), Dustin Peters (Grayson County), Zach Moses (Bland County), Zeke Snider (Narrows), Miguel Lopez (Galax), Chase Havens (Bland County), Chris Meier (Grayson County), Rebecca Aldridge (Narrows), Zane Gregory (Fort Chiswell), Simo Lagerspetz (Galax), Shane Linkous (Bland County), Ryan Collins (Narrows), Mario Ruiz (Grayson County), Guiseppe Calo (Fort Chiswell), Juan Hernandez (Galax), Taylor Gleason (Fort Chiswell).
Honorable mention
Fabricio Reyes (Galax), Omar Ramirez (Galax), Seth Criner (Galax), Jose Rojas (Galax), Matthew Groves (Grayson County), Ethan Liddle (Grayson County), Ben Morrison (Narrows), Sierra Ogden (Narrows), Dakota Douglas (Narrows), Brad Bryson (Narrows), Jake Taylor (Narrows), Cody Akers (Fort Chiswell), Dillon Capron (Fort Chiswell), Seth Carico (Fort Chiswell), Steven Quackenbush (Fort Chiswell), T.J. Spencer (Fort Chiswell), Avery Dalton (Fort Chiswell), Storm Reynolds (Fort Chiswell), Tanner Mabe (Fort Chiswell), Jason Grubb (Fort Chiswell), Casey Underwood (Fort Chiswell).
First team
Vivian Reyes (Galax), Jessi Perry (Bland County), Helen Espinoza (Galax), Hannah Cox (Bland County), Maegan Madrigal (Galax), Taylor Burton (Bland County), Chantasy Cottrell (Galax), Erin Rose (Bland County), Abbi Ponce (Galax), Allison Babbitt (Bland County), Sonia Solis (Galax), Patricia Reyes (Galax).
Player of the year
Vivian Reyes, Galax
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Triathlon Sprint/Olympic Challenges
If you don't know your race date yet, please select a date that you estimate will be close to your race date. When you solidify your race date—or if you need to change it—simply email us and we can make the change.
If your race date doesn't allow for the full training cycle, please still enter your race date; your emails will correspond. If you need guidance on tweaking your plan, please email us or ask your coach on the Facebook page.
Step Two: Your training program will officially begin on:
Mark this date in your calendar so you're ready to go! Also, please note that this start date does NOT include any pre-program Holding Plans.
Note: You'll receive a confirmation and welcome email, as well as program-wide emails prior to your program starting. Your weekly training emails will arrive the same day as your race day; if you're racing on a Saturday, you'll receive your emails on Saturdays (Ditto for Fridays, Thursdays, etc.). That said, ALL training programs begin on Mondays. If you are racing on a weekday, let us know and we can help tweak the final week of your plan.


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On my workshops and in my seminars, I stress the importance of looking for pictures within pictures – as well as envisioning the end-result. Here's one such example from today's workshop shoot.
Directly above is my out-of-the-camera shot. I created the opening image for this post simply by cropping in on the two horses on the left and then by applying the Midnight filter in Nik Color Efex Pro – which is part of the Nik Collection by Google . . . which is on sale for a super savings!
Take a close look at your images and think about digital darkroom possibilities. You'll may be surprised at what you find and what you see.
I call this shot "Midnight Run."
Explore the light,
This post sponsored by x-rite. X-Rite is the global leader in color science and technology. The Company develops, manufactures, markets and supports innovative color solutions through measurement systems, software, color standards and services.
Check out these cool x-rite products:
Passport Color Checker


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An easy way to make your hair look chic is by wearing this soft, faux leather wire headband.
Byrd Bands are the most versatile accessory you'll ever own and the most comfortable headband you'll ever wear. No headaches because it molds to each persons head shape with no squeezing.
There are endless ways to style it as a headband: twist the ends, wear it like a turban, with a rosette, around a ponytail, bend and wear it anyway you'd like. It comfortably molds to fit your head and stays in place without squeezing and no headaches! Don't want to wear it as a headband? Byrd Bands can be shaped into a bracelet, choker or ascot. The options are endless. Made with a durable yet soft wire and available in a variety of colors and patterns.
Byrd Bands are 2" wide and available in 3 lengths:
32" for adults
28" for kids
24" for infants
Wholesale available.
Need a headband in a special color? Convo me for a custom listing.
1-2 weeks
I'll do my best to meet these shipping estimates, but can't guarantee them. Actual delivery time will depend on the shipping method you choose.
Buyers are responsible for any customs and import taxes that may apply. I'm not responsible for delays due to customs.
Just contact me within: 5 days of delivery
Ship items back to me within: 14 days of delivery
But please contact me if you have any problems with your order.
Because of the nature of these items, unless they arrive damaged or defective, I can't accept returns for:
Buyers are responsible for return shipping costs. If the item is not returned in its original condition, the buyer is responsible for any loss in value.