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HARTSVILLE, S.C. – Shequanta McGee and Brittany Miller shared game-high honors with 14 points apiece as Mount Olive overcame slow starts in each half for a 62-51 win over Coker in Conference Carolinas women's basketball Wednesday at Hartsville, S.C. Lotta Aaltonen (Rauma, Finland) and Henna Koponen (Vantaa, Finland) led Coker with 10 points apiece and both players recorded double-doubles for the Cobras. Helen Moore added a double-double for Mount Olive.
Coker (2-9 overall, 1-5 Conference Carolinas) built an early 6-1 lead and held Mount Olive (5-6, 4-2) without a field goal for more than six minutes into the game. Miller's short baseline jumper with 13:56 left in the first half accounted for Mount Olive's first field goal of the game and also gave the Trojans their first lead at 7-6. Coker regained the lead on a steal and a pair of baskets by AG Stanciauskaite (Silute, Lithuania) as the lead changed hands five times in five minutes.
Megan Thomas' (Creeskill, N.J) basket with 7:45 left in the half broke a 15-15 tie and put Coker back on top, but Mount Olive came back with six unanswered points to take the lead for the remainder of the half. After the Cobras pulled within a point, Meaghan Vanderhorst connected on a pair of three-pointers during a 10-0 Mount Olive run to give the Trojans their biggest lead of the half at 31-20 with 3:05 remaining. But Thomas hit a jumper with 90 seconds left to end Mount Olive's run and found Stanciauskaite underneath the basket in the final minute as Coker closed within 31-24 at the half.
Both teams shot under 40 percent in the first half and no player had more than six points in the first 20 minutes.
Coker limited Mount Olive to five points in the first eight-plus minutes of the second half as Koponen's basket pulled the Cobras within 36-33. But Mount Olive's full-court press led to a 6-0 run in a span of 58 seconds and Miller's first three-pointer of the season pushed the lead back to double digits at 47-35 with 9:05 left in the contest.
Joanna Tyndall's (Dunn, N.C.) basket with 6:17 remaining brought the margin back to single digits, but Miller hit another three-pointer for Mount Olive and McGee's floater with 3:48 left to play gave the Trojans their biggest lead at 55-41. Coker got as close as nine points in the final 90 seconds, but Mount Olive went on to build the lead back to 14.
Coker outrebounded Mount Olive 42-31 as Aaltonen pulled down a game-high 14 rebounds and Koponen added 10 boards. But the Cobras committed 26 turnovers and were 20-for-61 from the floor (32.8 percent).
Moore finished with 11 points and a season-high 12 rebounds for Mount Olive. Vanderhorst added 10 points, four rebounds and three assists. Andrea Jones led all players with four assists. The Trojans were held to 37.3 percent shooting (22-for-59), but were 12-for-14 from the free throw line.
Coker returns to action Saturday as the Cobras travel to Banner Elk, N.C., to take on Lees-McRae in a Conference Carolinas match-up. Tip-off is 2 p.m. Mount Olive travels to Due West, S.C., Saturday at 2 p.m. in Conference Carolinas action.


text:
Eminem - 3 A.M. [HD Music Video Trailer]
The music video trailer for 3 a.m., the third track to be released from Eminems forthcoming album, Relapse
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Of course I would think this is cool, please watch the video and give it a "thumbs up" on YouTube. Each view means another pound of pork for the food banks!
Ohio hog farmers have been actively involved in the fight against hunger for years, donating more than 750,000 meals of nutritious pork to Ohio foodbanks since 2009.
This Easter, the Ohio Pork Producers Council (OPPC) is making it easy for everyone to do their part to make sure that no child, adult or senior in Ohio goes without the basic necessity of food.
OPPC would like to celebrate "The Year of the Farmer," along with generous supporters like the Ohio Corn Marketing Program, Farm Credit Mid-America and many Ohio hog farmers and businesses. OPPC has committed to honoring "The Year of the Farmer" in the state of Ohio. Each time someone visits Ohio's hog farmers on YouTube to watch this fun "Pork from Fork to Farm" video, OPPC and its partners will donate one pound of ground pork to Ohio's foodbanks.
"We can't say enough about what this support means to the hungry people our foodbanks serve," said Lisa Hamler-Fugitt, executive director of the Ohio Association of Foodbanks. "By taking a few moments to view this video, you will be helping us to provide Ohio-raised, Ohio-produced pork to people in need, some of the most protein-packed food we are able to provide all year. Plus, you will be supporting our state's outstanding agriculture industry—the people who work hard to feed all of us, every day."
Thanks to the donations from Farm Credit Services of Mid-America, the Ohio Corn Marketing Program, and many other farmers and businesses, OPPC can provide up to 35,000 pounds of ground pork to foodbanks in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Toledo.
OPPC is proud to continue its commitment to fighting hunger in Ohio and encourages other agricultural leaders and everyday Ohioans to join them.
Take action against hunger with just one click by viewing the video today.


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The red-hot University of Maryland men's basketball team won its sixth straight game tonight, defeating Duke (at Duke) 85-77. Two staight wins against the Blue Devils? Back-to-back wins over Carolina and Duke? It doesn't get much better than that.
Unfortunately, I missed most of the game because of work, and ESPN experienced technical difficulties during the home stretch. But the box score tells the story. We outrebounded and outshot the Dukies. In fact, we shot 52 percent on Duke's home floor, before the Cameron crazies. I assume the high percentage was the result, in part, of our 25 assists, 12 of them dished out by freshman Greivis Vasquez. Coach K has got to be hating his team's defense tonight.
Vasquez nearly had a triple double in his first game at Cameron (13 points, 9 rebounds, and the 12 assists). The suddenly alive Mike Jones scored a game-high 25 points, including 4 for 5 shooting from three point land, and team MVP D.J. Stawberry contribued 17 points and his usual stellar defense.
If Maryland can win a few games in the ACC tournament, we may get a good enough seed in the NCAAs to make some noise. But the Terps have already made my year.
UPDATE: Average points by Duke opponents this year = 59; points by Maryland last night = 85. Average field goal percentage by Duke opponents = 40.9; Maryland's percentage last night = 52.4. Average three point shooting percentage by Duke opponents = 29.7; Maryland's percentage last night = 53.8.
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text:
|Jepson Flora Project: Jepson Interchange
previous taxon |
next taxon
Jepson Interchange (more information)
©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
Annual to tree
Leaves basal or cauline, alternate to whorled, simple to compound
Inflorescence: 1° inflorescence a head, each resembling a flower, 1many, generally arrayed in cymes, generally subtended by ± calyx-like involucre; flowers 1many per head
Flowers bisexual, unisexual, or sterile, ± small, of several types; calyx 0 or modified into pappus of bristles, scales, or awns, which is generally persistent in fruit; corolla radial or bilateral (rarely 0), lobes generally (0)45; stamens 45, anthers generally fused into cylinder around style, often appendaged at tips, bases, or both, filaments generally free, generally attached to corolla near throat; pistil 1, ovary inferior, 1-chambered, 1-seeded, style 1, branches 2, generally hair-tufted at tip, stigmas 2, generally on inside of style branches
Fruit: achene, cylindric to ovoid, generally deciduous with pappus attached
Genera in family: ± 1300 genera, 21,000 species (largest family of dicots): worldwide. Largest family in CA. Also see tribal key to CA genera: Strother 1997 Madroño 44(1):128. See glossary p. 25 for illustrations of general family characteristics.
Perennial from ± woody caudex or shrub (rarely annual)
Leaves alternate or opposite, simple, veiny, generally resinous-dotted
Inflorescence: heads discoid, generally clustered; involucre cylindric to bell-shaped; phyllaries overlapping, strongly nerved; receptacle generally flat, chaff 0
Flowers: corollas cylindric, ± white or tinged red; anther bases rounded or slightly cordate, tips ovate; style branches long, club-shaped, tips rounded
Fruit 10-ribbed, generally cylindric, hairy; pappus generally of many, generally scabrous bristles
Etymology: (John Brickell, early botanist in Georgia)
Reference: [King & Robinson 1987 Monogr Syst Bot Missouri Bot Gard 22:220224]
Shrub 24 dm
Stems much-branched, zigzag, glandular-puberulent
Leaves alternate, subsessile, 12 cm, ovate, leathery, prominently toothed or entire, scabrous, generally glandular-puberulent
Inflorescence: heads 1315 mm, solitary; involucre bell-shaped; phyllaries 2633, overlapping to subequal; outer lance-ovate, ± entire to dentate, inner linear, 413-nerved, greenish, generally minutely scabrous, tips erect
Flowers 4055
Fruit 4 mm
Ecology: Rocky places
Elevation: < 1500 m.
Bioregional distribution: Desert
Distribution outside California: n Baja California
Perhaps same as B. atractyloides.


text: Keep bathroom items neat and accessible with cubbyhole shelves for large items and surgical jars for small toiletries and accessories. The jars, available at medical-supply stores, have easy-to-grab stainless-steel lids. Each of the shelves is made from five pieces of 3/4-inch-thick plywood. The top, bottom, and two sides are each 12 inches by 9 inches; the back is a 12-inch square. The top, bottom, and sides are mitered along the ends, glued together, and secured with 1 1/2-inch finishing nails. If carpentry isn't your cup of tea, you may want to avoid mitering. Instead, have the lumberyard cut the boards for the box's top and bottom to be 10 1/2 inches by 9 inches, and the sides 12 inches by 9 inches. Glue the ends of the bottom and top boards to the inside edges of the side boards, and secure with finishing nails. Glue on the back, and secure with more finishing nails. Sand, prime, and paint the wood. Screw the finished shelves right into the wall through the back (centering them on a stud), and cover the screws with paint.


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I've always been drawn to color but I've never been the type to wear it from head to toe. Wearing color as a detail in my outfits is more my speed.
For me, adding the right accessories can totally transform any look from boring to chic. The other day I was getting ready to go to a meeting and was feeling a little underwhelmed with my outfit. I wanted to wear something bright or neon but I was afraid of overdoing it. Luckily, I had picked up these adorable floral brooches the week before at J.Crew. They were on sale, always a score!
Blouse: Madewell | Jeans: Current/Elliot | Pin: J.Crew | Heels: Jil Sander | Clutch: Balenciaga
These outfit-changing pins were definitely worth $4!
More Ways to Get Glamour:
Get the latest fashion updates via Twitter on @glamour_fashion
Check out our chic Tumblr!
Read Glamour magazine on your iPad—print subscribers, it's now part of your subscription plan!
Like freebies? Enter the latest Glamour sweepstakes!
Sign up for our fashion and beauty newsletters to get easy style tips (it'll make your inbox 10x sexier, we promise).
And, did you know you can read glamour.com on your smart phone?! It's the ultimate boredom buster.


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#HootSuite Offers Choice of URL Shorteners ~ From Libya to Liechtenstein
New Shortener Address
At HootSuite, we often find our dashboard playing a role in the midst of world affairs; from the Egyptian revolution to earthquakes in Japan, the use of social media has proven to be a key communication tool in times of crisis.
Civil unrest continues in North Africa, and as we follow the developments, we also hear concerns that using the common Top Level Domain suffix reserved for Libya (.Ly) tacitly supports the current governing regime. We acknowledge these concerns and can assure you that your data is safe and not contributing to nefarious activities.
Meet Owl.Li
To best meet your needs and mitigate your concerns about perception, HootSuite announces 2 new options for URL shortening: Owl.li and Htl.li. The new domains (hailing from Liechtenstein) work the same way as Ow.ly and Ht.ly including tracking clicks for statistical analysis, plus, like Ht.ly, Htl.li offers the social bar to encourage your audience to share your content.
You can begin using Owl.li or Htl.li immediately – here are 3 ways to set it up in the dashboard:
- Choose on-the-fly via the pull down menu under the compose window (see above)
- Set as your default choice by choosing Settings, then Preferences, then selecting in URL Prefs tab
- Customize your feeds with chosen domain when adding an RSS/Atom URL
.Ly Traffic Report
We've mapped out the relationship between the Libyan domain name servers and the rest of the Internet in an infographic to help clear up any confusion about how data travels from servers to your screen.
* The .Ly domain suffix is ultimately controlled by ICANN who can revoke access from the Libyan government and assume a caretaker role if needed
* Our root name servers are hosted in North America, and the only way your data would pass through a Libyan server is if you lived in Libya
* HootSuite pays a very small fee (less than $50/yr) for the registration which means there is no significant material contribution to the government
Little About Liechtenstein
This small, wealthy and land-locked country doesn't make the news much. Revered for mountainous beauty, this tax haven has more registered companies than people and is a political mix of "a parliamentary democracy mixed with that of constitutional monarchy." (Wikipedia)
Any Liechtensteinian HootSuite fans in this small (and apparently rentable) country? We've got a #Hootkit to mail to your Liechtenstein postal address.
Short and Custom
Aside from the aforementioned choices, HootSuite offers custom/vanity URL shortening services. Using a unique domain is a great way to increase brand awareness while still utilizing powerful analytics.
Pro users can choose to purchase this option in Settings > Preferences > URL and following the instructions. Enterprise customers should contact their Account Executive or complete the form at: hootsuite.com/enterprise.
Seeking more knowledge about short URLs? Visit these HootSuite resources:
More info about Owly and Htly: https://blog.hootsuite.com/htly-owly/
Tips for choosing a short domain: https://blog.hootsuite.com/short-url-owly/
Info sheet about URLs: https://blog.hootsuite.com/library/working-with-urls-info-sheet/
Further Reading
Curious for more? Consider reviewing these articles for more about Libyan domain names:
- Libyan Spider Network: Recent events in Libya and their temporal impact on .ly domain names
- Wall Street Journal: Here's an Unlike.ly Tale: Gadhafi Does Swimming.ly on the Internet – Libya's Widely Used Web Suffix Makes a Long Story Short for Obama, Others
- Page.ly blog: The Libyan revolution and the potential affect on page.ly #libya
- CNN: Why Libya can't shut down bit.ly
Credit: Thanks to Dustin Borek (@dborek) at Invoke Media (@invoke) for designing the infographic.


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Harvester Coed-Y-Gores
Circle Way East, Llanedeyrn, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, CF23 9PD 029 2054 9866
Circle Way East, Llanedeyrn, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, CF23 9PD 029 2054 9866
With our gift cards, you can treat friends and family to a Harvester any time they fancy.
Just choose your amount, from £5 to £200, and whether you want it to be delivered via email or text message. Then the lucky person just needs to show their mobile to spend it.
Gift cards received and redeemed by text message or email can be loaded with a value of up to £200.
You can also buy our gift cards in person at any Harvester.
Buying for business? Call 0121 498 7098 to talk to someone in our gift-card team.
This voucher code entitles you to an extra £5 on any Harvester online gift card purchase of £25 or more. To redeem your code simply visit https://www.harvestergiftcards.co.uk/ and enter code BLACKFRIDAYGIFT. This offer is valid until Monday 26th November 2018. This offer is not available in store and can only be purchased online. Subject to availability and can't be combined with any other offer. No cash alternative is available. Promote is Mitchells & Butlers Retail Ltd trading as Harvester.


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I've been publishing erotic fiction for over 15 years, but "Invitation to Lunch," my maiden erotic memoir that appears in Ageless Erotica, is one is one of the most satisfying pieces I've ever written.
Why? Because it has given me the chance to tell the truth about enjoyable sex between two 50-something people who've been married for 27 years.
On the face of it, what's the big deal? All memoirs describe real experiences. Yet a careful look at the portrayal of sexuality in our culture shows that positive descriptions of mature sexuality are extremely rare. I've been hesitant to try it myself. Without question, Ageless Erotica will help redress that lack.
However, I believe the impact of this book is even more revolutionary. By busting apart the myths about sexuality for older people, we question the stereotypes that hinder us at every age. Writing erotica is all about steamy images and sensibilities, so I consider it a professional duty to pay attention to the media's presentation of sex. I see three major "acceptable," but limiting, ways to discuss sexuality today.
- The most ubiquitous: idealized visual images of gorgeous models and actors in advertisements, Hollywood movies and pornography. These images are invariably tied to consumption of some sort—buy this product and be satisfied like these demi-gods, if only for the moment. How many 20-year-olds can claim to experience the air-brushed, contrived, and absurdly short encounters so familiar in the visual media? Even in my supposed nubile prime, I felt compelled to compare myself to Hollywood perfection and came up lacking.
- The "scientific" journalistic report, which tends to focus on social and physical problems, neuroses and diseases. The focus here tends to be on promiscuity in the young and sexual boredom or dysfunction for older married couples.While we're all curious about the latest sex survey or specialist's view of "normal" sexuality, quantitative and expert measures can never capture the complexity of our unique personal experience.
- Erotica and erotic romance, an extremely popular genre. Yet the majority of these stories are fantasies, standing in stark contrast to what we do in our ordinary lives. While there are hardly any positive images of older people enjoying erotic pleasure in this mix, the sad truth is that there are few positive, realistic images for anyone of any age. Erotic stories can be arousing, but there are limitations to consuming someone else's ideas of what is sexy. Aren't the most powerful sexual experiences fearlessly created from the heat of our own passion and imagination?
Every time someone has the courage to reveal her genuine experience of sexuality in a way that breaks out of safe cliché, she opens the door for others to speak out and look within to define their own truths. There's potential for release from all kinds of damaging assumptions about what sex is for real people.
If you don't have to look like Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt to have a great sex life, what other lies are restricting us from owning our potential? Do married couples have to grow bored with each other? Must sexy feelings fade after menopause? Is passionate love beyond our reach after 30? Is dewy innocence really sexier than knowing who you are and exactly what you want in bed? Indeed, since we all hope to live long, rewarding lives, what could be more encouraging than reassurance from wise, experienced lovers that great pleasure lies ahead for as long as we desire it?
In "Invitation to Lunch," the couple—my husband and I—play out the woman's fantasy of being watched while they make love. It's probably no surprise that an erotic writer is attracted to the forbidden fantasies of her sexuality being seen and accepted by others. I realize now that this is what Ageless Erotica means to me: seeing and celebrating the honest erotic experiences of all lovers whatever their age, appearance or sexual preference. Let the new sexual revolution begin!


text:
Please see below a list of
Spaniel (Clumber)
breeders which matched your search criteria. Select a name to view the full details.
For further information on the breed chosen please refer to the
Breed Standard. Before searching for a puppy please consult the
Breed Club
websites for important information on the breed. Beware of claims that puppies are a rare or exclusive colour and often on sale at inflated prices. Often these colours are not correct, not recognised in the breed and should be considered highly undesirable.
Please note, not all breeders advertising on the Find A Puppy service are members of the Assured Breeder Scheme.
The Kennel Club, at this time, makes no warranty as to the quality or fitness of any puppies offered for sale. We cannot accept responsibility for any transaction between purchaser and vendor arising from publication of the listing. We would strongly recommend that new owners select an Assured Breeder from the puppy lists on the Find a Puppy service to help ensure the best chance of finding a healthy puppy and having a rewarding dog-owning experience. This information is published with the kind permission of the breeder(s). The information is for use by prospective puppy purchasers only and should not be reproduced in any manner electronically or otherwise for any purpose whatsoever without the express consent and authorisation of the breeder(s) concerned.
Copyright © The Kennel Club Limited 2019. The unauthorised reproduction of text and images is strictly prohibited.


text:
Adrian Dantley is among the three best basketball players (along with Elgin Baylor and Dave Bing) ever produced by Washington, D.C., and the best high school player our area has seen in the past 50 years. As a pro, Dantley average 24.4 points per game over a 15 year career. He stands 25th on the NBA's all-time points scored list.
Dantley scored most of his field goals from the low post. He accomplished this despite standing 6'5 and weighing 208 pounds. Charles Barkley (21st on the all-time list) scored a few hundred more points as a low post player at about the same height. But he weighed 252 pounds.
When last I heard of Dantley, he was the interim head coach of the Denver Nuggets, standing in for George Karl. But now comes word that he's out of basketball and working as a crossing guard in Silver Spring, Maryland for $14,000 a year.
But this isn't the story of a financially ruined athlete. Nor, from what appears, did Dantley take the job for the health insurance, as has been suggested.
According to the Washington Post, Dantley is still wealthy. He took the job to fill his time and to help kids.
Dantley says that during his seven months as a crossing guard he has saved two lives and twice nearly been hit by a car. It seems that in the age of cell phones and texting, a crossing guard's lot is not an easy one. Dantley reports that 70 percent of the passing cars are "on their telephone or on their Blackberry."
As a fellow pensioner, I can appreciate AD's desire to find a worthwhile activity with which to help fill his day. For me, blogging serves that function. It saves no lives, but the work is less dangerous.


text:
Function Keypad Left and Right with Buttons for Triton 8100, 9100, 9700 Refurbished
Function keypad that can be used for either right or left.
Model(s): Triton 8100, 9100, 9700
ATMTrader Service and Repair Team
ATM Tech Team
Our highly skilled and manufacture certified ATM technicians are only one phone call away! Please call 1-855-286-2286 ext. 4. If an error code is present, please look at the ATM Error Codes page for more information. Remember to visit ATM Repair Zone for a complete pricing sheet.
Our Refurbished ATM Parts
ATMTrader's repair program offers unmatched convenience and reliability. When you repair, reuse, and recycle, you'll save on cash! Our ATM technicians have been certified by the leading manufacturers. Better yet, we back all of our repairs with a 90 day complete coverage warranty.
About ATMTrader
ATMTrader is the leading ecommerce platform for the ATM community to purchase brand new and refurbished ATM machines and ATM parts. When you're in need of an ATM mainboard, ATM dispenser, or an ATM keypad, new ones are expensive. We provide a great selection on certified refurbished ATM parts to keep your ATM running. Whether you lease an ATM machine or buy an ATM machine, ATMTrader has the largest online selection of new and refurbished ATM parts, from EMV upgrade kits to ATM wireless modem. And if you're in the market to buy or sell ATM routes, visit our ATM Portfolios section.
|ATM Model(s)
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(Even When You're Not In Labor)
I'm going out on a limb here, but I would estimate that approximately half (and honestly, probably even more) of the women that come into the hospital to be seen during their pregnancies probably didn't even need to be there.
And yet, after every false alarm or every test checked out with no real for concern, you will never see a labor and delivery nurse admonish a patient or tell them not to be so quick to come in. Because as every OB nurse knows, for every 10 patients who come in and are sent home, there is one who really needed to be there.
When in doubt, head in — that's our motto. Pregnancy symptoms can be confusing and especially for first-time moms, it can be difficult to discern if a symptom is "normal" or if it warrants further investigation.
What are some instances during pregnancy that mean you need to pay a visit to your local labor and delivery ward?
Any heavy bleeding during pregnancy, and especially during your second and third trimesters, needs to be checked out right away. It could be a sign of a very serious condition called placental abruption, in which the placenta can tear away from the uterine wall. An abruption causes severe pain and heavy bleeding, so you would definitely know that something was seriously wrong. Smaller instances of bleeding that are unaccompanied by pain may have a less serious cause and you could simply give your pregnancy provider a call to see if he or she would like you to come in to be seen.
Decreased movement of the baby
I will admit that even as a nurse, I was horrible with doing those "kick counts" or anything along those lines; it's not always easy to remember or keep track of. But I do believe that as mothers, we subconsciously keep track of our baby's movements inside of us. We come to recognize our little one's pattern for moving and grooving. Some mothers have an active nighttime baby, others know the baby will also start flipping after their morning smoothie. Bottom line: If you suspect that your baby isn't moving as much as he or she normally does or especially if you aren't feeling any movement at all, get yourself to the hospital. It's rare, but I have seen a mother lose a baby only a few weeks before delivery and the lack of movement was the only sign that something was wrong.
Is that normal pregnancy discharge or your water leaking? Could it be — gasp — that you actually peed your pants? It can be hard to tell, but all three are real possibilities that labor and delivery nurses see every day. But because it can be so hard to discern the difference (although I will issue this warning — women can get a lot of increased discharge, especially in the last few weeks of pregnancy), it's important to get checked out if you aren't near your due date yet and suspect you may be leaking. I've seen more women than I can count who came in hesitantly, afraid that they may have just leaked urine, who ended up with their water breaking months before their actual due dates. It happens.
Contractions before your due date
This one can be a toughie, because Braxton-Hicks can happen all of the way through the third trimester and tend to intensify with each pregnancy. I contracted consistently from 27 weeks on with my third baby and if I had rushed in to the hospital with every one, I certainly would have felt foolish. However, if you aren't sure if your contractions are Braxton-Hicks and they meet the following criteria, it's probably best to be evaluated: They are occurring before you're 37 weeks, they are regular and occurring every 2 to 3 minutes and they increase in intensity when you stand up or walk. Regular, painful contractions before your due date could be a sign of premature labor or they can serve to "wear out" your baby before she's ready to make her arrival.
Something doesn't feel right
I end with this one, because I do feel like it's one of the most important things that we can do as mothers; we need to learn to trust our intuition. When a mother comes in to the hospital or when a mother is in labor and utters these words: "I don't know what it is, but something just isn't right," you had better believe I pay attention. Mothers know when something isn't right and even if you can't put your finger on it, trust yourself, your body and your baby. You are your own best health advocate.
More on pregnancy
Why pregnancy is not a time for pampering
The scoop on pregnancy discharge
Why pregnancy rates are at an all-time low


text:
7x5ft Milky Way Celestial Backdrops, Night Sky Forest Tree Photography Backdrops Photo Background Studio Props
Made of Polyester Fabric . Size: 7x5ft (220x150cm). Manchine Wash,No Crease.Backdrop only! Backdrop with Top Pole Pocket.Indoor shooting;wedding, party, birthday party, festivals, video, TV live, event or home, newborns, children and product photography.
Weight (lbs.):0.8
Ships To
Additional Item
Continental United States
This product usually ships in 4 business days and should be delivered in 10 business days.
Shop worry free! If you're not 100% happy with your purchase, you can exchange or return this item within 14 days of receiving it.


text:
Hello! I was just chatting with Rob the other day about a manual transmission refurbishment. He asked me how my steering shaft and rack were doing one year after purchase, so I figured I'd share here.
Steering shaft: Excellent. He told me we'd kind of experiment with the one he sent me, he added some rubber into it, which I believe most modern cars have. It's supposed to dampen the vibration and I was slightly concerned it might make the steering numb like so many new cars. Not the case. That little bit of rubber actually does a great job of insulating you from all the irritating little vibrations these cars are prone to have, especially on the highways. But it doesn't decrease steering feel or make it feel like you're driving a toy, you still have that responsive feedback, and you still have road feel, just without the juddering.
The rack: mine was an original 81 which had developed a bit of play in it, and apparently it was also a bit stiff if that makes any sense. I know it was stiff because turning became much easier with Rob's rack in the car. Night and day, and my steering was much more accurate! The only irritation is the steering being slightly off center, but that's because my alignment guy did it by hand with no computers... The rack installation was fairly easy some annoyance dealing with the bushings in there, but that can't really be helped. Rob tells me this thing is designed to never have to come back out of the car again. He claims to have never had to rebuild one of his own units. I've only had the thing for a year, so I can't attest to that, but I'm perfectly cool with installing a part that I won't have to worry about at least for a long time.
Basically, one year with both, and both are working as designed and have made an already smooth ride even smoother. (Other things that have helped over the years - Ed Uding's outriggers and boxed control arms)
I know other vendors have similar products out there, this is just my experience with Rob's!


text:
Monthly Siren Test This Saturday, June 4
The monthly test of the Vanderbilt outdoor warning sirens will be Saturday, June 4, immediately following the test of the Metro Nashville sirens at noon.
The Metro sirens are tested on the first Saturday of each month. The Vanderbilt University sirens are tested immediately following the test of the Metro sirens to allow individuals to be able to hear and distinguish the Metro sirens from the VU sirens by both location and distinctive alert tone.
During tests, the sirens typically sound for only 15-30 seconds; during an actual alert, the sirens sound for three minutes.
The test of the Vanderbilt siren system is preceded by an announcement stating "This is a test of the Vanderbilt Severe Weather Sirens. This is ONLY a test." Because voice announcements do not carry as far as the siren wail, the announcements may not be audible in all locations prior to the test.
To listen to a sound sample of Vanderbilt 's outdoor warning sirens or for more information regarding the Vanderbilt Severe Weather Warning System, go to http://emergency.vanderbilt.edu/plans/weather_warningsystem.htm.


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Censors blocked the word "jasmine" after overseas
dissident-run news website Boxun and
Chinese Twitter users broadcast calls on February 19 to mobilize street
protests modeled on recent unrest in the
"Reports that Chinese police are detaining and harassing bloggers
and activists are deeply concerning," said
Hong Kong-based Chinese Human Rights Defenders said Ran Yunfei, a Sichuan-based political writer and blogger, was taken by police on February 20 and formally detained on suspicion of "subversion of state power" on February 24, according to an official notice sent to his wife. Other overseas groups said police detained Ran on February 20. CPJ could not independently confirm the nature of the charges. Hong Kong University-based China Media Project reported Thursday that Ran had been charged with the less serious "inciting subversion of state power," citing local online reports.
Conflicting information was available about other detentions, which included lawyers and democracy activists, according to the groups and international news reports. At least two others were detained after transmitting information about the Jasmine Revolution online, according to overseas rights groups:
- Chinese Human Rights Defenders said police in Harbin detained Liang Haiyi on February 19 and formally arrested her on suspicion of "subversion of state power" on February 21. The Independent Chinese PEN Center reported her name as Jiang Haiyi and identified her as a "netizen" or Internet user. The center said she was suspected of "inciting subversion." "She only reposted someone else's writings on the Chinese Internet," a lawyer familiar with the case told AP.
- The Independent Chinese PEN Center and the New York-based Human Rights in China said Jiangsu police detained Hua Chunhui on February 21 on suspicion of "inciting subversion of state power." Chinese Human Rights Defenders said Hua was an insurance manager who had transmitted details of the Jasmine Revolution using his Twitter account.
Other writers were harassed and reported heavy surveillance. Shanghai-based writer and activist Feng Zhenghu said police were guarding his house and turning back visitors saying, "Today is a sensitive day," in a Tuesday update to his Twitter account. Feng has been harassed in the past for publishing a bulletin on human rights abuses.
Business networking platform LinkedIn said it had been
blocked in parts of
The severity of the crackdown contrasted with the largely irreverent tone of the online debate. "The thing about this 'Jasmine Revolution' performance art, taking it seriously was bound to fail. But authorities did," one Twitter post said, according to a Global Voices Online translation. "This weekend's banned word list contains things like 'plum blossom revolution,' 'peony revolution,' 'azalea revolution,' 'sunflower seed coup,'" another read. Chinese bloggers often adopt informal code words to refer to banned content, according to CPJ research.


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New Units Produced (2011)
LUPA Goal
LCA Goal
% Progress Towards LCA Goal
*Although new affordable housing goals under LUPA (Comp Plan) and LCA (Livable Communities eligibility) cover the same time period for the same kind of units, the Met Council established generally different goals for cities. For most cities, the LCA goal is set at 65% of the LUPA goal. Some larger cities or those with access to more resource have LCA goals closer to or equal to LUPA goals. Unlike pre-2010 goals, the 2011-2020 goals do not create separate sub-goals for rental and ownership housing units. More information.
New Units Produced
2010 LCA Goals
% Progress Towards 2010 Goals
Metropolitan Council Housing Performance Score
Out of 100 (100 = highest)
2011: 73
Housing Performance Score is generated by the Metropolitan Council's Guidelines for Priority Funding For Housing Performance.
2010 Housing Performance Scores (PDF - 45 KB)
All Metro Communities
2009 Housing Performance Scores (PDF - 27 KB)
All Metro Communities
2008 Housing Performance Scores (PDF - 138 KB)
All Metro Communities
Units affordable at 50% or less of Regional Family Median Income
Total Housing Units
% Affordable
Households at 50% or less of Regional Median Family Income with Housing Problems
Total Households at 50% or less of Regional Family Median Income
% with Problems
Note: The median family income for the Twin Cities was $65,800 in 2000 (or $32,900 at 50% of median).
Housing affordability numbers are adjusted by family size. Housing affordability matches the number of persons in a family to units with different numbers of bedrooms (e.g. a 4-person family is matched to 2 bedroom units). Income limits to affordable housing costs are also adjusted higher for larger families (greater than 4 people) and lower for smaller families (less than 4 people).
Housing problems are defined as household cost burden greater than 30% of income and/or overcrowding (more than 1 person per room) and/or without complete kitchen and plumbing facilities.
An interview was conducted with an official from Edina's planning or community development department in Spring of 2006, shortly after the Metropolitan Council's calculations for affordable housing need numbers were made public. A summary of key issues addressed in the interview is below:
According to the Met Council's recent report on "Determining Affordable Housing Need in the Twin Cites," Edina's affordable housing need number is 212 units for 2010-2020. Our source felt that these goals were high and not feasible. Our source identified the following problems and obstacles to meeting these goals: high land costs and lack of available land. The new affordable housing goals do not make a distinction between affordable rental and affordable for-sale housing, and our source felt that more rental housing would result. Our source felt that the new goals are lower than Edina's LCA goals. Edina is not sure if it will use the need number established in the Met Council's report as the affordable housing target in its comprehensive plan update.
Edina does not keep a database tracking the supply of low- and moderate-income housing. It has used the following programs to develop and facilitate the development of affordable housing: non-profits (the East Edina Housing Foundation) and CDBG funding for maintenance. We also asked our source about Edina's use of some specific policies and programs. The results are summarized below:
PUD with smaller lots or density bonus
Zoning variances for low-mod housing
Density bonuses
Expedited zoning & approval for low-mod
Adjusted fees for low-mod housing
Adjusted lot sizes for low-mod housing
Allow accessory apartments
Set asides for low-moderate housing (i.e., inclusionary zoning)
Low Income Housing Tax Credits
Local tax abatement for low-mod housing
Incentives for new construction technologies
Manufactured homes
Tax Increment Financing (TIF)
Mortgage Revenue bonds
Edina has not solicited proposals from the local HRA or other developers for building low- and moderate-income housing. It has acted as a proposer or developer of low- and moderate-income housing. Our source indicated that Edina does not have any transit-oriented development opportunities. Our source was not sure if additional funding would allow Edina to accomplish its affordable housing goals.
Obstacles and Challenges
Our source felt that the cost of land and taxes discourage or prevent adding to the supply of low-and moderate income housing. We also asked our source about some specific local practices and if they limit the development of low- and moderate-income housing. The results are summarized below:
Challenge Name
Lot size requirements
Restricted amount of land zoned for multi-family housing
Local requirements for building materials
Subdivision regulations requiring high quality materials or wide street paving
Permitting processes and fees
Local limits on the use of manufactured housing (e.g., mobile homes)
Building codes hat require updated code enforcement with any rehabilitation
Prohibition on accessory apartment units
Our source reported that Edina has very little undeveloped land that is zoned residential and allows ten or more units per acre. Our source was not sure what is needed for Edina to accomplish affordable housing goals, but noted that the City Council plans to review and implement some recommendations from a task force report on housing in Edina.


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WDP75- BL Avanti Scratch & Dent Water Dispenser With Night Light On and Off Switch
- 5 gallon bottle capacity
- Energy Star efficiency
- Hot and cold water dispenser
- Reviews
- Description
- Specifications
- Benefits
- Resources
- Videos
This product is classified as a "Scratch & Dent" product. Scratch & Dent products are fully functional items that operate the same as a brand new appliance, but will have varying degrees of external cosmetic damage, ranging from minor to severe. We are unable to provide additional photos or details about the specific damage on the unit and make no warranty or guarantee as to the condition of the product you may receive. These products are sold "As Is", but are covered by a 90-day warranty.Avanti WDP75 Water Dispenser
The Avanti WDP75 Water Dispenser is the best water dispenser on the market! Energy efficient, contemporary, and child resistant, the WDP75 comes with every possible modern convenience like
- Energy Star rating
- Hot and cold water dispensing
- Convenient storage compartment
Safety Features
The WDP75 has a unique feature of a LED night light that will allow you to see whether the water is on or off when it's dark. Even more, there's a child safety guard that keeps the kids form accessing hot water unsupervised.
Storage Compartment
Enjoy the convenience of a dry storage compartment. The storage compartment allows you to store drinks and supplies underneath your water bottle and faucet in a very handy place.
Special Features Include
- Adjustable thermostat
- Durable construction
- Push button faucets
- Removable drip tray
- 5 gallon compatible water size
- Child resistant hot water tap
- LED night light
More Benefits
The design of this unit include adjustable front legs and individual stainless steel reservoirs for the hot and cold water. These features ensure easy movement and pure water. It also includes aremovable drip tray and hot and cold power switch to save reduce energy usage.
Complementary Design
This Avanti water cooler is styled in the contemporary fashion and features a clean, white finish to flatter any home or office setting.
- Model: WDP75-BL
- Product Type: Scratch & Dent Water Cooler and Dispenser
- Product Dimensions: L: 14.75" x W: 12.75" x H: 38.50"
- Product Weight: 37.00 lbs.
- Product Color: White
- Application: Easily dispenses hot and cold water for your home or office and provides additonal beverage storage
- Warranty: 90-day warranty
- Voltage: 110 volts
- Frequency: 60 Hz
- Type: Bottled Water Dispenser
- Water Temperature: Hot & Cold
- Compressor: Yes
- Thermoelectric: No
- Product Construction: Plastic
- Finish: White
- Hot Water Thermostat: Yes
- Hot Water Thermostat Temperature Range: Energy saving mode: 122-140°F; Normal mode: 194°F
- Cold Water Thermostat: Yes
- Cold Water Thermostat Temperature Range: 41-50°F
- Faucet Type: Push button
- Energy Star Rated: Yes
- Drip Tray Type: Removable drip tray
- Compatible Bottle Sizes: 5 gallons
- Built-In Filtration System: No
- Safety Features: Child Resistant Hot Water Tap
- Includes Bottle Cover: No
- Child safety lock for worry free use
- Compact to fit in any home or office
- Energy star rating for efficiency
- Hot and cold water adjustable thermostat
- Includes an extra compartment for additional storage as needed
- On/off cold and hot water switch for out-of-town savings
What is a Scratch and Dent Appliance at Air & Water?


text:
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Author: Myth & Legend
Story: Just to Make You Smile
Part: Just to Make You Smile
Rating: Everyone
Setting: Pre-HBP
Status: Completed
Reviews: 44
Words: 6,069
Updated: January 3, 2005, 6:43am
Just to Make You Smile
Author's Note: This is a little late for Christmas, but perhaps it'll cheer up those post-Holiday blues. This piece accompanies "Just A Little Smudged" which is best read first. A hot chocolate while you read it has also been suggested as you read it. Happy Holidays everyone!
"Open your eyes and you'll soon see,
The stone floor of the dormitory was cold beneath Harry's feet as he climbed grudgingly out of bed. Beyond the windowpane the sky looked leaden with the storms of winter. The trees of the Forbidden Forest were already bending in supplication before the icy wind. Clouds like that meant snow, and when you got snow you got Weasleys that just couldn't sit still.
For so many years now he had witnessed the fervour that overcame the red-headed family as December approached. It was like pressure building up in a very small space, and as soon as the snow started to fall that pressure was released in a frenzy of snowball fights and snowman construction. This year, without the twins, Harry wondered if the first snow would be treated in a more civilised manner. He shook his head ruefully, knowing that Ron and Ginny would celebrate the first snow of winter with their usual jubilation.
He drew the curtains around his bed and began to get changed, squashing the vain voice inside his head that mourned his ever-skinny frame. There were more important things in life than how you looked. Like being awake and aware for double Potions.
He pulled his robes on and put on two pairs of socks to keep his feet warm. He was tempted to wrap his scarf around his neck, but Snape would never allow that. The dungeons might be freezing, but incurring the Professor's wrath was more than Harry could bear today.
Neville began to stir, his snores getting louder before he woke himself up. He looked blearily at Harry, then at the time.
'No!' he moaned softly. 'It's Monday! How can it be Monday already?'
'That's how weeks work, Neville. Sunday comes before Monday, and breakfast comes before Potions.' Harry smiled to take a bit of the sarcasm out of his remark. 'Come on, three hours and it'll be over.'
'Are you going to wake Ron up?' Neville asked, getting out of bed and fluffing up his pillows before straightening the quilt.
Harry pulled a face and cautiously moved the hangings aside on his friend's bed. Ron was slept sprawled across the mattress, the quilt twisted around his body and his arms embracing the pillow.
'Tragic.' Dean laughed as he and Seamus came back from the bathroom.
'Hey, some of the girls thing "tragic" is cute,' Seamus said, waving his finger at his friend.
'If that's cute then why hasn't the lovely Miss Granger nabbed him for herself yet?' Dean asked, glancing at Ron to make sure he wasn't waking up.
'She's too shy,' Harry said, surprising his room mates, 'and Ron's just oblivious!'
He reached out and shook his friend's shoulder, shaking his head in disbelief when Ron groaned and hid his head under the pillow. 'Come on. Breakfast in ten minutes.'
'That's nine minutes of sleep then, isn't it?' Ron smiled lazily and snuggled down into his bed covers, before opening his eyes and sitting bolt upright. 'Hey look at that!' He pointed out of the window to the rolling clouds. 'It's going to snow!'
Dean looked up from packing his bag and Seamus stopped looking for his hat. Both boys peered out of the window, lending their own professional judgement to Ron's statement. 'No, that looks like rain.' Seamus decided.
'It could be snow. It looks quite black. Whatever it is it's going to be bad.'
'I think snow,' Neville said, opening the window and leaning out. 'It's cold enough for the greenhouses to be all steamed up but still frosty on the outside.'
Harry shook his head and ignored the conversation. Quite frankly he didn't care if a monsoon was coming. Winter had never been his favourite season. When he was younger the cupboard was cold, and Christmas had always been a non-event until he came to Hogwarts. Even now he preferred to sit back and watch those around him have fun. To them Christmas was more than just another day. It was a celebration of family. Religion seemed secondary, as though the most sacred thing was to be with those you cared for at Christmas time.
He shook the thoughts away. Christmas was weeks away, whereas breakfast was now. 'I'll meet you in the Great Hall, Ron.'
'All right, save me some bacon!'
'Okay, don't be long!'
He took the steps down two at a time, his bag weighing heavy on his shoulder as his footsteps were muffled by the rugs on the common room floor. A couple of first years ran passed. They only seemed to come up to his elbow, and he shook his head in disbelief. Had he ever been that short?
Crookshanks wound around his feet and Harry picked the ginger monster up, giving him a quick hug. If the cat wanted attention it meant Hermione wasn't down yet. After a minute or so of rumbling purrs from the feline, Harry put him down in the chair, tickling the cat's ears and looking at his robes in disgust.
'You look like some kind of horrible carpet,' a soft voice said, laughter evident in its tones.
'Thanks, you look nice too.' Harry grinned at Ginny, who had just trotted down the stairs.
'Stand still,' she ordered, waving her wand at him and saying 'Repellus!' Like magic the cat hair drifted off of him and onto the floor, leaving his robes free of slicks of orange fur.
He smiled his thanks and held the portrait open for her, allowing her to climb through first before following. The corridors were alive with people, bustling towards breakfast. The staircases swung in their ponderous, random way, switching and changing at a moment's notice. For a second he thought he'd lost Ginny in the crowd, but a tug on his sleeve caught his attention and he allowed her to drag him towards a relatively empty corridor and down toward the Great Hall.
'You think it's going to snow, don't you?' he asked, noticing the flush on her cheeks and the light in her eyes. It was like a fever. He wouldn't go so far as to call it a sickness, but there was something strange about the irrational excitement a bit of weather could cause.
'Well look at it!' She lifted a hand towards the enchanted ceiling and Harry looked up to see the thick clouds rolling in. 'Isn't it wonderful?' Ginny sighed.
'I should have stayed in bed.'
The rapturous expression on Ginny's face died, and she fixed him with a calculating stare. 'I don't understand how you don't like snow. This is the best part of the year!'
'It's winter. It's wet and cold and horrible.'
'You're a Scrooge.'
Harry was about to protest when he frowned instead. 'How do you know about Scrooge? Since when have you read Charles Dickens? That's more of a Hermione kind of thing.'
Ginny had the grace to look guilty and Harry crossed his arms, not caring that they were blocking the entrance to the Great Hall. 'Has Hermione been calling me a Scrooge?'
'No, no, not really. She just said that even she liked this kind of weather. Look, come here, I'll show you.'
She grabbed his hand and pulled him away from breakfast. His own fingers curled around hers comfortably, but he didn't let himself dwell on the thought of how well his hand fit into hers. 'Hang on! What about breakfast?'
'Forget breakfast; this is more important.'
Harry spluttered indignantly. 'It's all right for you to say. You haven't got double Potions and Divination this morning, have you?'
'You've got the afternoon off!' Ginny laughed, 'You can eat then!'
She pulled him towards the front door, letting go of his hand to pull it open and stepped out into the blustery wind. The last skeletal leaves of autumn rattled on the stone steps, crunching under Harry's feet as he followed her out.
'Right, what do you want to show me?'
'Shut your eyes and breathe in through your nose.' She followed her own instructions, a beatific smile fixed on her face. Harry tried very hard not to notice the fact that her deep inhalation drew attention to her breasts, and shut his eyes hurriedly when he found himself looking. Ron's sister and your friend. He told himself firmly in the privacy of his own head. Don't do anything that'll get you slapped or punched. Like ogling her curves.
'What can you smell?' Ginny demanded. Harry took a hesitant breath in through his nose and tried not to sneeze. The wind was bitingly cold and his nostrils stung from the chill. Other than that he couldn't sense much except a faint, sharp smell.
'Not a lot.'
'Oh come on. That's the smell of snow!'
'Oh for Merlin's sake. What is it with Weasleys and snow? It's just frozen rain!'
Ginny opened her eyes and scowled at him before moving to sit on the steps. After a moment Harry sat down beside her, noticing that she was shivering. He had thought of putting his scarf on himself, but instead he dug it out of his bag and wrapped it carefully around Ginny's neck. She smiled weakly and murmured her thanks.
'Sorry I snapped at you. I just don't like winter much,' Harry apologised, rubbing his palms together and trying to keep warm.
'Don't worry about it. I mean, I know you don't like it. It's just that it makes you the odd one, not me. A lot of people love snow, because it means so much. It means playing with siblings and mulled wine by the fire afterwards. It's just fun, and it's so beautiful. I mean, look at it now. Everything looks dead. There are no leaves on the trees, the plants look dead and the sky's the colour of ditch water. It all looks so dirty, but when it snows it's like the world's been cleaned and covered in cotton wool. It makes it seem like nothing can ever go wrong again.'
'It's just cold and wet. You walk in it, and it seems dry, and it's only when your socks are soaked in ice water that you realise how much of a mistake you've made. It collects on tree branches and falls on your head. I suppose it looks nice, but that's about it,' Harry muttered.
'I tell you what,' Ginny said, curling up tighter and shifting a bit closer to his body for warmth. 'Give me this year, just this one winter, to show you what it can be like. If you still hate it after that, after the end of this week even, I promise I'll never bother you with it again.'
Harry looked down into her upturned face. Her face was white, and the tip of her nose and cheeks were going red in the cold. The wind was dextrously undoing her plait and tendrils of her hair whipped around, tickling his nose. Despite the fact that she was an advertisement for why winter was a pain in the backside he felt inclined to give it a go. She might be sitting there shivering, looking like she was about to catch hypothermia and entirely at the mercy of the elements, but he knew if he said yes she'd smile. He enjoyed making Ginny smile, although he'd yet to work out why.
'I suppose I can, but all winter, that sounds like a lot of snow exposure…'
'Just this week then?'
He rolled his eyes and shook his head. He could sense that he was going to regret agreeing to this. Nothing could make him like the December weather. 'Fine.'
Ginny smiled and stood up, holding out her hands and pulling him to his feet. 'Right. I promise, by Friday you'll think winter is the best season of the year.' She glanced at the time and shook her head in astonishment. 'I have to get to lessons. I'll meet you in the common room later, and don't you try and escape from me, Harry Potter!'
He watched her go, her feet slipping over the smooth floor of the entrance hall before she disappeared upstairs. With a sigh of resignation he followed in her footsteps, diverging from her path to go down to the dungeons. As the shadows loomed and the walls radiated the cold he tried to calm the butterflies in his stomach. It was becoming a recurring symptom of being around Ginny for more than a few seconds. He'd only felt like it once before, and he didn't particularly like the comparison, but he'd felt like that last year, with Cho Chang.
It started off with the dry mouth and the sweaty palms (now numb with the cold), then the butterflies began and if you were really unlucky the pitch of your voice went all over the place. He turned the corner and joined the back of the queue for class, ignoring the questioning looks of Ron and Hermione. He got the strange feeling that he had a bit of a stupid smile on his face, but he wasn't really concentrating. Instead he was thinking of a pair of lips, not very far from his own. He could have just bent his head and kissed her.
Maybe that would have made her smile.
By the end of Potions his mood had taken a truly foul turn. Snape had been on top form, sneering at the Gryffindors with all his usual malice. Then, he had done the unthinkable. He'd given Hermione detention.
'I can't believe he did that!' Ron gasped for the third time in a minute. 'Hermione in detention. She's never had a detention, has she?'
'If she has she was a bit sly about it. I've never noticed.'
'She would've said she'd been in the library though, wouldn't she?' Ron pointed out, climbing the stairs and pausing for breath. 'Do we really have to go to Divination? I mean what did we take it for anyway? We could have chosen not to!'
'I think you said, "It'll be the easiest lesson ever. She laps up lies!" Besides, we only have her once a week now. Firenze is all right.'
'But Harry, Hermione's got detention tonight. All because Snape said she wasn't organised!'
'Except that she was, wasn't she?' Harry commented, taking a deep breath and continuing the harrowing climb. 'She would have finished well in time if she hadn't helped you out. You were too busy looking at Lavender. You'd never have finished the potion by the end of the lesson. Face it, Ron, she did it for you.'
There was a moment of uncomfortable silence and Harry looked back to see his friend climbing wordlessly, his eyes fixed firmly on the stairs beneath his feet. The tips of his ears were red, as though he were embarrassed by his thoughts, but in a moment he asked, 'Do you think she meant anything by it?'
'How do you mean?' Harry asked, grinning to himself. He knew what Ron was going on about, but he wanted to hear the words.
'Do you think she was just doing it as a friend, or, or was she trying to say something else?'
Harry stopped climbing and turned to give his friend a matter-of-fact look. 'Why are you asking me?'
'She's your best friend!'
'You're the one who fancies her!' Harry laughed aloud at the look of terror on Ron's face.
'You don't know that.'
'Not denying it, are you?'
'Harry, can you be serious for just one minute?' Ron said crossly, lowering his voice as they reached the top of the tower, where the other Gryffindors stood waiting. 'Did it mean something, or not?'
'I think you'll have to ask Hermione yourself. I have no idea, but somehow I don't think she'd have given me her nicely prepared roots if I'd been – distracted by the pleasant view.'
Ron shook his head wordlessly and followed Seamus up the ladder. Harry waited until everyone else had gone up and drew in a deep breath. He needed some fresh air before he immersed himself in the perfume filled world of Divination. The air in the corridor was cold, and once again he caught the sharp, cool scent of winter. Abruptly he remembered his promise to Ginny and shook his head to himself. It was all right for him to tease Ron so mercilessly, but he couldn't bring himself to look into his own emotions. All he'd been able to surmise as he slaved over a hot cauldron was that he enjoyed Ginny's company. Although whether he liked her company enough to brave a snow storm still remained to be seen.
'Mr Potter, will you be joining us today?' Professor Trelawney's misty voice asked, and he hurried up the ladder, taking his seat by Ron, who gave him an odd look. The heat was stifling, and the rapid change from the freezing dungeons made Harry feel almost sick. He leant back in his chair and swallowed hard, fixing his gaze outside the window, on the distant mountains.
'What's wrong with you?' Ron asked quietly, as soon as the Professor left them to reading their bird entrails in peace.
'Feel ill,' Harry mumbled.
'No, just this bloody room.'
Ron squinted into the bowl, trying to see the future in the pile of goo. 'Missing breakfast probably didn't help. I've got a scone in my bag if you want it.' He pulled out the small, sweet cake and handed it to Harry, who tried to eat it discreetly. 'What made you miss breakfast?'
'Your sister.'
Ron looked up sharply, only to smile when Harry shook his head. 'She's fine, Ron. She wants to teach me to like snow.'
'That sounds like a girl trick.'
'A what?'
'A girl trick. They try and get you to like the things they like, so they can spend more time with you.'
'Is that why you've been trying to get Hermione to support the Chudley Cannons?'
'No!' Ron hissed then smothered a small smile. 'That's a guy trick, that's totally different.'
'Aha, so you admit it!'
'Shut up, Harry, and read your entrails.'
Ron refused to comments further on his emotional frame of mind when it came to Hermione, despite Harry asking repeatedly throughout the lesson. It was only as they stood up to go that Ron looked out of the window and gave a yelp of excitement.
Harry followed his gaze and groaned quietly. The snow was falling softly. Tiny white flakes danced on the wind, catching in crevasses and tangling in the grass. It wouldn't take long until the grounds were covered in a blanket of white.
Ron half ran back to the common room. He dumped his bag on the sofa and was about to sprint to the window when Harry saw him pause. Following his friend's line of sight he smiled to see Hermione sitting at the table, working furiously on some homework.
His smile only strengthened when he saw that Ron had forgotten all about the snow. His gaze was fixed intensely on the girl at the table. Abruptly the red haired youth shook himself out of it and turned to collapse on the sofa.
'Aren't you going outside?' Harry asked curiously, dropping his bag and rummaging around for his books.
'Well, I don't think Hermione's going to come with me, and I know you won't. I'll go later.'
Harry raised an eyebrow, but didn't comment any further, turning his eyes towards his textbooks instead. Maybe if he looked busy he wouldn't be forced outside by Ginny.
The afternoon slipped away and dinner was a brief respite from the tedium of work. Hermione declined to join them, saying she had too much work to do. Harry was impressed when, having just eaten his dinner as quickly as he could, Ron gathered up some food and took it back to her. It seemed that, with girls, little things made all the difference. The smile Hermione gave Ron was radiant, and Ron's ears glowed for a good ten minutes afterwards. They played chess and talked quietly, leaving Hermione to her work. Ginny had only rushed passed twice. Both times she had grinned and told him that she'd be only one more hour.
He settled back into the sofa, keeping half an eye on Ron as the boy wandered over to talk to Hermione. There was no way he was going to complain. If Ginny forgot about it entirely then he'd be relieved. He grimaced silently, realising that it wasn't completely true. If Ginny forgot he had the strange feeling that he'd remind her, just so he could be in her company for a while longer.
A sudden commotion caught his attention ad he looked at Hermione's desk. Ron had upset her inkpot, and the essay she had been working on meticulously for hours was soaked with ink. Ron looked terrified, but Hermione looked strangely calm.
'Don't worry about it, Ron. It's just a little smudged, that's all. I'll see what I can do when I get back from detention.'
Ron stuttered in disbelief. She walked passed with a gentle smile and opened the portrait hole. Ron shared a look of confusion with Harry and collapsed on the sofa.
'You do realise if it was anyone else who'd ruined her essay she'd have killed them, right?'
The portrait hole closed with a soft 'snick' and Ron nodded mutely, his face pale.
'You know what? I think that means something.' Harry added, picking up his book again.
'I – I – I have an idea.' An expression of happiness blossomed on Ron's face. 'Can I borrow your Invisibility Cloak?'
'What for?' Seeing the expression on Ron's face Harry sighed and nodded. 'Don't do anything stupid.'
'Would I ever do that?' Ron asked before sprinting out of the common room. He came back moments later, the Invisibility Cloak folded neatly under his arm.
With great care he lifted the soggy parchment from the table where Hermione had left it, and turned to go.
'Wish me luck, and I don't know when I'll be back.'
'Good luck.' Harry smiled as his friend departed, whistling softly. He wasn't going to interfere with whatever plans Ron had. He just hoped it worked; he didn't want to have to help pick up the inevitable pieces if it went wrong.
The portrait hole opened again, and he looked up, expecting Ron to have forgotten something. Instead Ginny trudged in wearily.
'Are you ok?'
'Yes,' she said, 'just all worked out for the day, that's all. Are you going to come out in the snow like you promised?'
Harry glanced out of the window into the darkness. The sun had set hours ago. As if seeing his argument coming Ginny shook her head and smiled. 'Hagrid's put torches around the lake, and we've always got our wands. Please, Harry?'
'Let me get my scarf then.'
'Actually.' She reached up and unwrapped the scarf from around her neck. 'This is yours, remember? I sort of ran off with it, sorry.'
'Don't worry, if it's been keeping you warm all day then it's been put to good use.' He smiled and took it from her, wrapping it around his own neck. She was already halfway out the portrait hole and he had to rush to keep up, the scent of her tickling his nose from his scarf.
She'd crammed a woolly hat on her head and had another one in her hands. 'You'll need this.' She stuffed it on his head and took hold of his hand in her own mittened palm. He moved his hair out of his eyes and hoped she wasn't about to accost him with a pair of earmuffs.
'So how exactly are you going to make me love the snow?' he asked as he followed her at a more sedate pace. She had already pulled the doors open and he shuddered in the freezing wind that swept into the hallway. It'll make her happy. A voice in his head said encouragingly.
'Come on, Harry!'
He stepped out into the winter air and narrowed his eyes, burying his face in his scarf. He breathed in deeply and wondered why the clean, feminine smell was so appealing. He'd never really got close enough to Ginny to actually notice her perfume. Besides, smelling people you weren't intimate with could definitely be considered weird. Harry found himself wondering what it would be like to be intimate with the young woman in front of him. Not really intimate, but just a little. He looked down at where her gloved hand still held onto his and realised that, to some people, that alone would make it seem like they were a couple.
Ginny was looking at him with an expression of confusion on her face. He suddenly wondered if she was waiting for him to say something. 'It's cold.'
'Yes, Harry, that's because it has to be zero degrees centigrade for snow to work. Of course it's cold!'
'Aren't you freezing? Ron'd say it's brass monkeys out here! Mind you, he's probably around somewhere.'
'Of course he is. When has a Weasley ever been able to resist weather like this? And if you'll notice all the other people out here you'll realise it's not at all weird.'
He looked around and noticed that half of the school seemed to be out on the lawns, building snowmen and making snowballs. Seamus was hiding behind a tree, no doubt waiting to get a snowball down poor Lavender's top. Dean lay on his back in the thin layer of white, waving his arms and legs. Harry thought he looked like an utter prat.
'If nothing else you should like snow because other people like it.' She bent to the ground, scooped up a load of powdery white flakes and started packing it together.
'You're not going to throw that at me are you?' Harry asked, watching her. She was humming a Christmas song. Harry realised the first words were "Oh, the weather outside is frightful," and wished he could be back in the common room by the fire.
'What if this is for you?'
'I'll be forced to retaliate, and I'm not wearing gloves.'
'Wimp.' Ginny grinned mischievously and tossed the snowball up and down in her hand.
'Pardon?' Harry asked, raising an eyebrow. 'Did you just call me a wimp?'
'Definitely.' With deft aim she threw the snowball, which exploded on his shoulder, showering him with ice.
He blew snowflakes out of his face and gave her a look. Her laughter stopped abruptly and she paled. 'Harry, what are you… No, Harry, no!' She laughed again and turned to run, but the massive snowball he had scooped from the ground hit her in the back of the head. A large chunk of ice slipped down her robes and she shrieked, arching her spine away from the chilling contact.
Harry chuckled. 'See? Snow is horrible!'
'Ridiculous,' Ginny declared, pulling a face and turning to face him. 'You're having fun already.'
'That doesn't mean I like it.'
'Fine, come on then.' She beckoned for him to follow her, and with a thrill of apprehension he realised she was leading him towards the Forbidden Forest.
'Why are we going in here?' he asked curiously. She smiled peacefully and his stomach twisted in little knots.
'Are you scared?'
'Cautious is more like it.' He took his wand out of his pocket and was about to light the wand tip when Ginny held up her hand.
'Shut your eyes.'
He looked at her as if she was mad, but she rolled her eyes and shook her head. 'Please, I'll lead you. Trust me?'
He kept his wand tight in his hand but did as he was told. He heard a soft rustling and frowned in confusion before her warm fingers wrapped around his own. She'd taken off her gloves and now led him gently. Once in a while she called out instructions, warning him of obstacles in his path.
After a few minutes walking she spoke up again. 'Do you remember what the forest looks like?'
'Yes, all right, Harry, but can you remember how horrid it is?'
'Yes,' Harry replied, thinking of Aragog, and Centaurs, and things that drank Unicorn's blood.
'Well, open your eyes.'
He did as he was told and looked around in surprise. The tall spires of the pines were coated in clumps of white. All around them the soft patter of snow falling to the ground in clumps could be heard. It was serene and peaceful. The crisp, clear scent mingled with the more heady perfume of the trees. This forest was far from forbidding; it looked like a whole new world.
'And just to make you feel a bit better, we're still near Hagrid's hut, see?' She pointed out the squat little building, it's windows glowing ruddily, before she sat down on the ground and began to trace idle patterns on the sugar coated earth.
Harry joined her, his fingers gliding through the snow. This was better. Here he could be detached from the world. It felt like he was a million miles from anywhere. It would have been nice to sit here alone, but with Ginny it was even better. She seemed to understand that sometimes talking wasn't a good idea. She didn't chatter like Parvati, or giggle like Lavender. She meant every word she said, and she laughed like she meant it.
What more could you want?
'I wish we had some Butterbeer,' Ginny murmured. 'It's all this needs really, something nice and warm to drink.'
'We'll have to stock up next time we're in Hogsmeade. There's a visit this weekend,' Harry reminded her, lying back in the snow and looking up at the distant sky. The trees rose all around him, thrusting their branches to the heavens. It was sad, in a way, that they'd never reach their goal.
'Are you all right?' Ginny asked quietly as she followed his actions and lay next to him, her arms behind her head. A bit of her hair brushed against his cheek and he picked it up, placing it back close to its owner. 'You seem more brooding than usual.'
'You make me sound like Krum.'
'He wasn't brooding, he was just a grouch.'
'What's the difference?' Harry asked, propping himself up on an elbow and looking down at her face.
Her cheeks were red from the wind and the cold, and her nose was slightly runny. She sniffed and reached into her pocket for a tissue before saying, 'At least brooding suggests a thought process. Grouchy is just nasty.' Absently she reached up and brushed a bit of hair out of his eyes. Part of him was shocked at the closeness the gesture implied, but the thrill of her touch overwhelmed the moment of doubt.
'I'm fine.' Harry winced as his voice cracked horribly, and cleared his throat as Ginny tried to smother a laugh. 'It's the cold.'
'Yeah, right.'
'It is.' Harry stuck his tongue out childishly and lay down again with a grin on his face. 'Look, I'm sorry for being a bit fussy about the snow.'
'What?' Ginny asked, her voice laced with amazement. 'Are you telling me that I've convinced you to like winter in just an hour?'
'No, well, not really. I like this kind of snow. Quiet and relaxing and not touching me too much. The occasional snow ball fight is ok, but I don't think I'll ever be the kind of person to play in it very much.'
'You don't need to play in it. You just need to appreciate it. The same goes with every day of your life, really. If you can't appreciate it in some small way then it's a day wasted, and you can never get that time back.' Ginny laughed quietly. 'That's one of Mum's beliefs, but it really helps. If you've had what feels like the worst day of your life find something that made the day worthwhile. It'll make it all seem a bit better.'
'Does it work?'
He turned to look at her and found that she was looking at him. She smiled again, but this time it was gentle and there was a trace of sadness in her eyes. 'Well, it worked today. This is my worthwhile thing.'
'Being in the snow?'
'Perhaps.' She paused and bit her lip before ploughing on in a hurry. 'But I think that spending time with you is probably the more worthwhile part.'
Harry felt the butterflies thrash around in his stomach. When Hermione was in a philosophical mood she tended to talk about moments. She said that sometimes, there is a space of time where it is so obvious that a choice has to be made, that something must be said, or not said, that your whole body can feel it.
'It's made my day worthwhile spending some of it with you, too.'
Ginny blushed and looked away quickly, her face showing signs of confusion. Harry reached out and took her hands, which were rapidly growing cold, and sat up so he could look at her properly. She did the same and Harry had to smile at the dazzling white snowflakes that had caught in her hair. 'I don't suppose you want to make Saturday worthwhile too, and come to Hogsmeade with me?' Harry asked quietly.
His heart thumped in his chest. Please don't let me have misjudged something. Please don't let her say no.
'With Ron and Hermione?' Ginny asked.
Harry winced slightly and took a deep breath. It was now, or never. 'More just with me, but you don't have to if you don't want to. I mean…'
'I'd love too.'
Harry blinked and then blew out a sigh of relief.
'But there's one condition.'
'You have to build just one snowman with me.'
Harry narrowed his eyes for a moment, considering the proposition. All in all it seemed a small price to pay for spending his Saturday with her.
As soon as he agreed she leapt to her feet and began gathering up snow. Harry followed suit, pushing the snow towards a big pile in the middle. It was a bit thin on the ground between the trees, but underneath the wide-spread boughs there were small drifts, which were put to good use.
Harry bent to collect some snow from the base of a tree and as he stood up something caught his eye. There, engraved on the trunk were some initials, carved into a crude love heart shape.
His heart thudded for a moment in his chest, before he pushed the thought aside. It was coincidence. There must have been thousands of students at Hogwarts over the years with his parents' initials. It could be Lucy Emmerson and Joe Peterson or Leanne Edgecombe and Joshua Perkins. It could have been anyone.
'Harry, what's wrong?'
'Nothing. What are you doing?' He laughed as he saw Ginny picking out a pair of roughly round spectacles in the snowman's face. She had already sacrificed her scarf in order to keep the iceman warm. Without a second thought he removed his own and wrapped it snuggly around her neck.
She looked up at him and for the second time that day he found her lips close to his. This time he didn't hesitate. He bent his head slightly and brushed his lips against hers. They were cold, but warmed rapidly under his own and he stroked his fingers along her jaw, holding her face gently as though she were made of glass.
When they broke apart they stood in silence for a few moments and Harry grinned to himself. The kiss had made him light-headed, but he didn't fail to notice that the smile on Ginny's lips was unrivalled. Without another thought he bent his head to kiss her again.
Just to make her smile.
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Immunological and Molecular Analysis in Elderly and Young Adults in Response to Pneumococcal Polysaccharides 4 and 14
Abstract (Summary)Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major human pathogen in both developing and developed countries. Studies indicate that the age related incidence of pneumococcal bacteremia mainly occurs at the extreme ends of age. Mortality from bacteremic pneumonia increases with age and is 3-5x higher in elderly than young adults. S. pneumoniae is the most common organism isolated from elderly patients with pneumonia. The present pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide vaccine is based on the observation that antibodies against the capsule protect against disease by enhancing phagocytosis. Since polysaccharides are T-independent type 2 (TI-2) antigens this vaccine has poor efficacy in groups at highest risk for pneumococcal infection. Vaccine efficacy studies in elderly suggest that despite normal antibody levels, the elderly exhibit decreased vaccine efficacy. Furthermore, data from aged mice in response to TI-2 antigens demonstrate a decline in antibody affinity, fine specificity, and a general loss of protective immunity is associated with molecular changes in variable gene family usage. We hypothesized that the reduced efficacy of the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine in the elderly results from altered variable gene family usage. We investigated the overall immune response in young and elderly adults in response to pneumococcal polysaccharides. Specifically we focused on both the quantitative and qualitative changes in the immune response on molecular and functional levels. Correlations were determined between variable gene usage, functional activity, antibody avidity, and antibody concentration as a function of age.
Bibliographical Information:
School:University of Toledo Health Science Campus
School Location:USA - Ohio
Source Type:Master's Thesis
Keywords:streptococcus pneunomiae polysaccharide immunoglobulin gene usage heavy chain elderly adults serotype 4 and 14
Date of Publication:01/01/2005


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Neil Maccormack is one of the most talented artists out there. He's a constant feature and award-winner on digital art websites, has been published several times in Ballistic's awesome EXPOSÉ series of art books and has also done work in games, movies and advertising.
His most recent work in games was for Japanese dev Applibot.
That image up top is his re-imagining of Mos Eisley, from Star Wars. The Hammerhead droid is a nice touch!
You can see more of Neil's awesome work at his personal site and CGHub page.
To see the larger pics in all their glory (or, if they're big enough, so you can save them as wallpaper), click on the "expand" button in the bottom-right corner.
Fine Art is a celebration of the work of video game artists, showcasing the best of both their professional and personal portfolios. If you're in the business and have some concept, environment, promotional or character art you'd like to share, drop us a line!


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Some of America's largest teen fashion retailers have been abandoned by young customers and investors alike. Can social media give them a chance of survival?
Very little has gone right for teen fashion retailers in the last few years. Youth unemployment remains elevated, putting sales under pressure and compelling retailers to offer steep discounts. Competition has also heated up, with a group of fashion-forward companies like Forever 21, H&M, and Uniqlo winning market share from brands that were once wildly popular.
Among the worst hit is Aeropostale, which some investors have essentially left for dead, with the stock down 66 percent over the last 12 months as of early May.


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Israel News - Stay Informed, Pray Informed
Over the past two weeks at least 13 Jewish motorists traversing the highways of Judea and Samaria (the "West Bank") have had their vehicles carjacked and their lives threatened by Palestinian assailants.
Most of the victims have been female Jewish drivers, who have reported being forced off the road or otherwise stopped and approached by young Palestinian Arab men wielding knives.
One women told Israel's Ynet news portal that one evening last week she stopped on the side of the road to fasten her seatbelt when another car quickly pulled over in front of her. Within second, the occupants of the other car, young Palestinian men, had opened both of her front doors and were forcing the woman out of her vehicle.
"They pushed me forcibly, but I held to the steering wheel and engaged the car horn as many times as possible," said the victim. "Someone sat in the driver set and forced me out, but the seatbelt was still partially around me. They tried to start driving and were dragging me on the road for several meters before I freed myself."
Another female victim recounted that after being forced off the road a week and a half ago she quickly tried to call her husband. But a young Arab man smashed the driver side window, snatched her cellphone and yelled, "Do you want to die?"
A similar thing happened to an off-duty female police officer late Sunday night, leading to the arrest of one of the carjackers.
Police believe the 23-year-old assailant is part of a gang that is actively targeting female Jewish drivers. With little to fear from Palestinian Authority police, the thieves are able to make good money scrapping and selling stolen Israeli vehicles.
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by Jim Harris
"Welcome to Philadelphia: Can You Spare Any Change?" Signs bearing this slogan will be going up at all the major entrances to Philly just as soon as the city can come up with enough money to manufacture them. This catchy slogan beat out several others under consideration, including, "Baby Needs a New Pair of Shoes" and "Your Money Or Your Life."
It's no secret; the city is seriously broke and desperately looking for new ways to raise cash. As you may have noticed, dog license fees have risen dramatically over the past few years, as has the cost of bribing traffic court judges. Also, homeowners are now being charged a monthly "storm water management fee" for the rain that falls on their houses.
Then of course there's the property tax which, they say, has become unfairly apportioned since men in three-cornered hats on horseback last calculated it. The city thus launched a reassessment program called AVATAR ("All Voters Are Taxed And Retaxed"), which was carried out by radio-controlled drones with cameras launched from a command center in City Hall Tower.
As a result, about a quarter of the city's property owners will be paying significantly more in taxes, but that's still not enough to get the government out of hock. Therefore, after consulting with my personal money guru, "Fiscal Cliff" (last name withheld), I have come up with the following foolproof ways of raising money. I offer them to our impoverished municipality, free of charge, as a public service.
• Requiring licenses for pet birds, fish, ant farms and houseplants would raise an additional $20 million. Doping city workers could SAVE $20 million. Doping worked for Lance Armstrong and his USPS team, why not use it to make municipal employees more cost-efficient? Dope the letter carriers too. Then we could keep Saturday deliveries AND add Sundays to boot.
• Last year, the school district spent around $14,000 per child in district-run schools. Why not just give each student $10,000 to attend a private school. They'd get a better education, and it's $4,000 cheaper. It's a win-win situation.
• Instead of mandating costly jail terms for a variety of crimes, just levy fines. First degree murder, $50,000; jaywalking, $99.50, etc. Then people could decide beforehand if they have enough money to murder someone, jaywalk or whatever. Bottom line, you get either less crime or more money. Another win-win situation.
• The city has already taxed vices like alcohol and tobacco to the max, and most recently, folks balked when the mayor proposed taxing sugary drinks, so maybe it's time to start taxing some virtues. For instance, how about a tax on paying your taxes? Since the city seems uninterested in chasing down tax evaders, why not just re-tax the upstanding citizens who have already proven that they're good for the money?
• A happy tax. Everyone in the city would receive a robo-call from the Mayor, saying, "If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands and press five." So they press five and BAM — 2% of their bank account is automatically transferred to the city coffers. It's only fair. Why should anyone be happy while others are sad? Aren't we all supposed to believe in equality?
• According to the city's director of aging, Philadelphia's senior population is growing by leaps and bounds, but no one is passing on to the Great Beyond. Everyone is working so hard to stay young that they're collecting pensions for many decades after retiring, and it's overtaxing the system. Everyone should be encouraged to age appropriately. Anyone who is found to be not aging should be given a few good pokes with an electric cattle prod to get them back on the fast track to Paradise.
By implementing even some of these modest proposals, I believe our city can create enough revenue to fund all those vital city services for years to come. You're welcome, Philadelphia.


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Lessons on Governance from Bangladesh's Garment Industry
One year ago today, in the outskirts of Bangladesh's capital city, an eight-story garment factory collapsed of its own weight, killing 1,130 young workers and injuring thousands more. The ghastly photos of bodies trapped in the Rana Plaza wreckage provoked outrage in the wealthy world, targeted largely at global retailers who purchased garments there. North American and European consumers called for measures to ensure safe conditions and humane treatment for Bangladeshi garment workers, mostly young women from poor families in remote rural areas. Many called for a boycott of the big-box retailers and of the Bangladeshi products they sell.
I had just moved from Bangladesh to Europe at the time, and my advice to friends who asked was: "Go ahead and buy those skinny jeans or that tank top if you want. It's the right thing to do for Bangladesh and its young workers."
The garment industry in Bangladesh is both a driver, and reflection, of a remarkable social transformation in a country long considered a poverty-ridden basket case. Employment in the industry rose rapidly over the past three decades, with women comprising an estimated 80 percent of garment workers (Figure 1). Public investment in basic education and family planning, combined with private investment in manufacturing (mostly garments) fueled a massive influx of women into the labor force, giving them an important measure of economic emancipation and contributing to rising growth rates and sustained development in Bangladesh (Figure 2). As a result, the share of Bangladeshis in poverty dropped from nearly 60 percent in 1990 to around 30 percent today.
This progress has occurred in an environment deemed among the most corrupt in the world. Indeed the country ranked dead last in Transparency International's global Corruption Perception Index in 2005, and has crawled up to only around the 25th percentile today. I experienced this first hand as the World Bank's Country Director for Bangladesh from 2009 to 2013, as I dealt with the country's highest-profile corruption scandal of that time.
I received the news of the collapse of Rana Plaza with a mix of horror and a sense of inevitability. After all, similar events happen every week in Bangladesh: buildings fall over, ferries sink, and dangling wires electrocute passersby. This is the cumulative, corrosive effect of pervasive corruption, and it is the poor who suffer from it disproportionately.
Global retailers can have an important influence on the behavior of Bangladeshi industries, but their reach into the country's governance is limited. International reaction put the spotlight on these retailers and let Government largely off the hook for this tragedy. Where was the global outrage over Government's cumulative corruption and lack of accountability?
In the months following the Rana Plaza disaster, I thought often about what I learned in trying to tackle corruption in Bangladesh. Here are five lessons I took away:
Lesson 1 – Hold governments accountable. Time and again in Bangladesh, government failed to enforce building codes and curb unlicensed construction in unsafe areas. We saw failure to enforce workplace health and safety standards for access, crowding, lighting, ventilation, working hours, bathroom breaks, and minimum wage. Governments need to be held accountable for the enforcement of national laws. While donors such as the World Bank rightly insist on this within the scope of their own operations, more can be done to build citizens' capacity to hold their governments accountable.
Lesson 2 – Take a public stand. Sometimes it seemed like the global community could not influence events in Bangladesh. But when confronted with evidence of corruption, the World Bank took a public stand. As the face of the Bank, I became daily headline news for months—even without making statements to the press. My notoriety proved hugely important to the people of Bangladesh. I was stopped in the streets by entrepreneurs, rickshaw drivers, and even beggars. In a system perceived as too corrupt to change, I gave hope to a weary populace. Most wanted a photo of me with their children, so that the next generation would remember the stand we took against corruption—and one day find the voice to demand accountable government too.
Lesson 3 – Stay engaged. Ultimately, the Bank decided to cancel this particular project. But before that, we came close to walking away from Bangladesh altogether. That would have been a mistake. If the global community walks away when confronted with rampant corruption, we steal hope from hard-working people, and let the corrupt forces triumph. Staying engaged has some risks, but we have a formidable toolbox to prevent and detect corrupt practices, and we must deploy it to the extent possible. We must also recognize that we cannot eliminate the risk of corruption, and must accept and manage some level of risk in order to reap the benefits of transformational projects. To walk away is to walk away from the fundamental development challenge we are meant to address.
Lesson 4 – Support the good guys. By this, I mean the men and women—often ministers and civil servants—who work every day to better their society within a crushingly corrupt system. These are individuals who maintain high standards of integrity and a deep commitment to improving the lives of the poor and marginalized. For decades, the Bank has supported them in achieving some remarkable development results in Bangladesh—getting poor children into school, electrifying rural households, promoting female entrepreneurship—even as major corruption scandals headlined the news.
Lesson 5 – Build transparent systems. The best way to deter and detect corruption is by creating transparent systems which citizens can use to demand accountability. In 2005, the World Bank Group began supporting Labor Counselors in garment factories in Bangladesh's export processing zones. By creating a transparent system for monitoring worker safety and benefits requirements, the payment of mandatory wages rose from 30 to 94 percent, and working environment compliance rose from 25 to 96 percent by 2010. This represents real and measurable improvements in the lives of Bangladeshi garment workers, and is just one of many examples of transparent systems that work for people.
These are lessons that I now carry into other countries and other circumstances. If we implement them, I believe we will effect long term change in some of the world's most corrupt environments, and we will help the world's poor speak with a louder voice. That is a fitting tribute to those who died at Rana Plaza one year ago.
Oh, and go ahead and buy those Bangladeshi garments, please. Boycotting only hurts the young woman behind the sewing machine. She may appear weak and helpless, but she is economically independent, she is a powerful social force, and she is the best hope for long-run development in Bangladesh.
For some reason hard to
For some reason hard to understand, Western public opinion find it appealing to blame multinational corporations and foreign vested interests for the tragedies of the developing countries. It is as if this public opinion not even considers that those local governments must be made accountable, and that their primary role should be to take care of their citizens (not taking advantage of them).
This perspective drastically changes when someone comes to live and work in poor countries, and they realise that the commonplaces are often not true.
Western media could indeed portrait another image of these situations, and demand a better response from local Governments to the pain and sufferings of their people, instead of repeatedly pointing at rich countries as the source of all evil.
Bravo Ellen. Great story. I
Bravo Ellen. Great story. I couldn't agree more about the part of not walking away but staying engaged even more and supporting the "good guys". You will remember a similar fight we carried about decentralizing power and taking the government (&services) to the people. When that work was starts, Bangladesh was arguably among the most centralized countries in the world. But things did change - and systemically - ever so slowly and incrementally. Your five lessons apply as much to local governance as to garment industry.
Thank you very much for your
Thank you very much for your strong writing. Alas, if my country prime minister had a chance to see this powerful words who is more efficient to hide his crooks from the law.


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Citrus Hotels Bengaluru
Make your business or leisure trip in Bangalore the most incredible by choosing to stay at Citrus Hotels. The moment you enter, you are welcomed to a world of modern luxury coupled with blubbliness and flawless service. With a perfect blend of luxury, style, comfort and service, Citrus Hotels, Bellandur is an ideal choice for both business and leisure travelers. Located just few minutes away from the IT hub, Citrus hotel welcomes you to a new world of hospitality. All rooms are crafted with utmost care to meet the needs of every traveller. From a single lady traveller to family travellers, each room is equipped with modern business services and facilities, exceeds the expectations of any discerning traveller promising a truly memorable stay.
Superior Room
With fully customized digital bedside to the magnificent bathroom which create an experience of a private spa once stepped under the rain shower, each of the superior rooms are crafted with intelligence.
Deluxe Room
Equipped with plush beds, cozy duvet, a working table with complimentary WiFi, the Deluxe rooms hold a modern residential ambience filled with freshness and large floor-ceiling windows.
Richly appointed with chic and stylish decor perfectly coupled with vibrant colors, Chambers offer an accommodation beyond imagination.
Suite Room
500sq-ft spacious rooms with separate living and sleeping spaces allow these suites to magnificently fulfill the needs of both leisure and business travelers. With rich tones and picture-perfect views, the suite rooms are a perfect choice for an ultimate indulgence.
A 24 hours coffee shop paired with multi-cuisine restaurant serves authentic Mediterranean cuisine along with the local South Indian.
- 24 Hour Front Desk
- 24-Hour Room Service
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