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Faced with the daunting task of raising thousands of dollars to take five kids to the Forensics National Tournament in Indianapolis this summer, I have spent the last several weeks enconsced in fundraising activities such as sending kids out in their professional business attire to solicit (beg) for donations, running concession stands, and supporting parents who held a giant yard sale – all typical fundraising activities.
Then I got a phone call and found out my team and I had been volunteered to join forces with another team and head up the first ever McTeacher's night in our town.
"You signed us up for what?!? I asked.
"Working at McDonalds!!" my former friend answered a little too gleefully. "We make 20% of all total sales for the time we work. It's a great fundraiser!"
I spent my entire day yesterday dreading my shift. I put myself through college waiting tables, and to be totally honest, I was NOT looking forward to returning to the food service industry. But I gotta tell you, working the drive thru is fun despite the fact that I kept getting in trouble because I slowed down the line. I ended up knowing way too many drive thru customers and I had to at least say hi! It's a small town.
Did you know drive thru's have a timer that tracks the average number of seconds it takes to get a vehicle through? I had no idea. I didn't do much to help the crew's averages, in fact, I probably would have gotten fired for being a bit too chatty.
But I did get to say hi to our vet, a gal from my husband's office, a teacher I used to work with, two teachers I currently work with, former and current students, you get the picture. I even handed one of them my phone to take this shot which severely impacted our times, but we had a good laugh – people were not expecting to see me in the drive thru!
I did some fascinating people watching which is a fun exercise in terms of character development. I never would have considered the drive thru as a good people watching place – who knew? You get to see inside people's cars which is like a little window into their world. The best (or worst) was the lady (thankfully in the passenger seat) who had clearly just left a casino and had her cigarette and cocktail in hand. Apparently she needed some nuggets to go with her drink. I think I'd agree that a drink could definitely make them go down a little easier.
There was the angry grandma who was not so happy to get her "happy" meals for the also not so happy grandkids in the back seat. Another family had their dog in the bed of their truck. It was his first time ever to experience a drive thru, so we had to share a moment together. He was pretty excited about the whole experience.
You could also tell the weather has been nice by the somewhat shocking number of men who were beet red sunburned. Apparently they don't keep sun screen in their trucks, but I was surprised to find that a ton of people keep cigarettes in their vehicles! I clearly live in a secluded tobacco-free high school world because I had no idea how many people smoke in their cars. My 17 year old supervisor assured me that actually most people do in fact smoke in their cars and her wealth of experience in drive thru's has provided solid evidence for reaching that conclusion.
The only bad part of the experience was that it reminded me of my age. The drive thru people are in charge of filling the drinks. This is fine but the screen that shows all the drinks is way up high which means we had to crank our necks all the way back to see it. Then, being just a wee bit competitive I kept having to look at the little second counter to see how we were doing which seriously crinked my neck.
Unfortunately, McTeacher Night might end up with McChiropractor afternoon.


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Learn how to create state-of-the-art Web sites using modern CSS3 and HTML5 techniques. Take your existing HTML skills to the next level and start building sites like the pros. If you want to survive and excel in the fast-paced world of Web publishing, you're going to need to keep up with ever-evolving standards. The new standard for Web developers is to use CSS3 and HTML5.
CSS3 and HTML5 not only make it easier for you to build and manage large Web sites, these powerful languages can also give you more precise control over the appearance of every page you build. Almost every Web development tool--including Dreamweaver, Microsoft Expressions Web, and Visual Web Developer--offer support for CSS3 and HTML5.
This course will provide you with the foundation you'll need to master two critical and fast-growing new Web languages. If you're a Web developer, why not begin your transition to CSS3 and HTML5 today?
With over 100 published books to his name, award-winning author Alan Simpson is widely regarded as a computer and Internet guru. His books have been published throughout the world in over a dozen languages. Alan is a seasoned veteran of the computer industry, and his books and online courses cover virtually all aspects of the computer industry, including Web development, operating systems, word processing, spreadsheets, databases, programming, networking, and security.
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Here are the winners of the Panoramio monthly Contest for December 2008 edition. Those photos were uploaded in December and voted in January. The sponsor ATP (Mike Chean) will contact the winners via e-mail during the next 30 days in order to send the prizes.
First Prize of Scenery category
taken in United Kindgom by Nick Weall
First Prize of Heritage category
taken in Russia by Nikitin_Sergey
First Prize of Travel category
taken in Switzerland by Racz (Shaman) Peter
First Prize of Unusual Location category
taken in Greece by givrgos10
Full list of winners


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With Joe Flacco getting a new contract completed with the Baltimore Ravens early this offseason, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan became next in line on the list of young quarterbacks looking to cash in with a big second contract.
Ryan is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent following the upcoming season but it's unlikely he will ever reach free agency. While the process of getting a new deal done has been slow so far, Atlanta Falcons General Manager Thomas Dimitroff has no doubts a deal with ultimately get done to keep Ryan in Atlanta.
Dimitroff addressed where discussions stand with Ryan during an appearance on Late Hits with Alex Marvez and James Miller on Sirius XM radio.
"Right now there's nothing new on the contract," Dimitroff said. "Understand that he will be here. We will get this done and we would prefer to have this done sooner than later."
Dimitroff clearly stated a deal with Ryan was not a top priority in the lead-up to the NFL Draft at the end of April. Now that the draft is in the rear-view mirror, the Falcons can turn their attentions back toward getting their franchise quarterback locked up for the forseeable future.
"We have a very good working relationship with CAA (and Ryan's agent Tom Condon) and I'm confident that this will, when the time is right, move expeditiously to get his done," Dimitroff said.
Flacco earned a six-year, $120 million deal with the Ravens. With only one playoff win under his belt and Flacco already with a Super Bowl ring, it would seem difficult for Ryan's contract to rise to the same level as Flacco's deal. Ryan will get paid big money. It just seems to be a matter of time.


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China Should Provide Country's 140,000 AIDS Orphans With HIV/AIDS Information, Financial Assistance, UNICEF Says
There are an estimated 140,000 children in China who have lost one or both parents to AIDS-related illnesses, according to figures released Sunday by UNICEF China, the South China Morning Post reports. The organization also called on China to increase financial assistance provided to AIDS orphans in the country, according to the Morning Post. Ken Legins, chief of HIV/AIDS for UNICEF China, said the figures are unofficial and were gathered with the help of institutions in the country. Official figures provided by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention in 2005 showed that 76,000 children in China had lost at least one parent to AIDS-related illnesses and that the number was expected to rise to 260,000 by 2010. Zhang Lei, a consultant for UNICEF, said there are about 500,000 children in China who have been orphaned by the disease, are HIV-positive or are living in households with at least one HIV-positive parent.
Official government figures show that about 8,000 AIDS orphans in China receive some type of government assistance. Legins called on the government to provide information to children, such as educating them about HIV/AIDS and prevention methods. The agency also is encouraging communities to care for children affected by AIDS rather than placing them in orphanages. It is important to "go talk to the kids and try to figure out how you need to provide the services, skills and information to them," Legins said. He said one of the primary reasons communities refuse to care for children orphaned by AIDS is because "they don't have the correct information about how [HIV] is transmitted," adding, "You need to educate the community." According to Chung To -- founder of Hong Kong's Chi Heng Foundation, which has assisted children affected by HIV/AIDS in several mainland provinces -- the central Chinese government is "more supportive" of HIV/AIDS prevention efforts, but "local governments are not very consistent" (Savadove, South China Morning Post, 7/9).


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Bonnie Goldman
On My Mind
Time for a Change
January 28, 2010
Fourteen years ago, I joined an online startup effort called TheBody.com with a simple goal: to build a Web site that would serve people living with HIV/AIDS and those who care about them.
At the time, I was mourning the death of my brother from AIDS. As his caretaker, I had learned an amazing amount about accessing state-of-the-art medical information (without the Web!).
Building TheBody.com was an opportunity to not only help others affected by HIV, but it was also a chance to begin healing from my brother's tragic death.
HIV/AIDS Travel Ban Finally, Officially Over
January 4, 2010
The ban on travel or immigration to the U.S. by people living with HIV/AIDS is officially over today. It was an ugly law that had been in place since 1987 and caused countless humiliations. Most students applying for visas to study in the U.S. could not get a visa if they were HIV positive. People from overseas who had the opportunity to work in the U.S. were denied work visas if they were HIV positive. Tourists and businessmen and women were denied visas because of their HIV status.
We will never know all the distress this ban caused at U.S. consulates and borders as men and women with HIV innocently acknowledged their illness only to have their visa application rejected or be denied entry into the U.S. Every person in the U.S. applying for a green card had to be tested for HIV. Today that requirement is no longer necessary.
Frequent Cervical Cancer Screenings Are Still Important for Women With HIV
November 24, 2009
You may have seen that newly revised recommendations were announced by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists regarding cervical cancer screening. These revised recommendations call for less-frequent cervical cancer screening: a Pap smear once every two years for women between the ages of 21 and 30, and once every three years for women 30 and up who have had three consecutive negative test results.
It's important to note that the recommendations do not apply to HIV-positive women. Women with HIV are a noted exception, and that's because many studies have indicated that HIV-positive women are at greater risk than HIV-negative women for HPV-16 and HPV-18, the two strains of human papillomavirus (HPV) that cause most cases of cervical cancer. In addition, HPV infection in HIV-positive women is more likely to progress to cervical cancer.
South Africa Leadership Wakes Up to HIV/AIDS
November 6, 2009
In other recent good news, South African President Jacob Zuma finally broke definitively with South Africa's former government when he said in a speech, "Knowledge will help us to confront denialism and the stigma attached to the disease." He also discussed the vast numbers of people in South Africa who are dying of HIV/AIDS-related causes.
The lead activist organization in South Africa, the Treatment Action Campaign, called the speech "one of the most important speeches in the history of AIDS in South Africa." In his speech, Zuma detailed how he would address HIV/AIDS in South Africa:
Signs of Change: Ryan White Reauthorization, Travel Ban Removal
November 5, 2009
People in the HIV/AIDS community could be forgiven for thinking that, despite the election of Barack Obama, they still did not have a close friend in the White House.
After all, despite all the recent cacophony about health care reform, HIV/AIDS has not been mentioned. In fact, apart from Obama's widely praised selection in February 2009 of Jeffrey Crowley, M.P.H., to lead the Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP), and the subsequent commencement in August of a series of ONAP community meetings throughout the U.S. (and establishment of the energetic AIDS.gov office and Web site), there's been little direct comment about HIV/AIDS by President Obama since he came into office.
This has been somewhat disconcerting, given the long silence about domestic HIV throughout the entire eight years of the Bush administration, and given the devastation occurring in Obama's new backyard of Washington, D.C., where up to 3 percent of residents are estimated to have HIV.
New Era for Syringe Exchange Programs! No More Abstinence-Only Education!
July 29, 2009
A new era has dawned in HIV/AIDS. For years, public health experts, health care providers and researchers have been pleading with the U.S. government to remove the federal ban on funding for needle exchange programs and to accelerate the growth of these programs across the U.S.
They wanted this done for one simple reason: Syringe exchange programs can save lives. They can be an important component in reducing the spread of blood-borne infectious diseases -- including HIV and hepatitis -- among injection drug users.
According to many studies, these programs do not encourage drug use, contrary to what many conservatives say. Instead, they encourage the humanitarian treatment of people who have a substance abuse problem. Syringe exchange programs not only help provide clean needles, they provide access to health care for a population that doesn't ordinarily access health services.
Thoughts on NY State Senator Thomas Duane's Impassioned Speech on Behalf of People Living With HIV
July 22, 2009
I was somewhat active in the HIV activist organization ACT UP in the early 1990s. I witnessed ACT UP's continually inventive, passionate activism in packed weekly meetings at Cooper Union in the East Village in New York City. At these meetings, deeply committed people came up with ways to rectify injustices. Every week, a new series of actions were planned. It was inspiring to be involved, particularly because many of our actions had the intended effect.
I was brought back to those times this month by none other than New York State Senator Thomas Duane -- New York's first openly HIV-positive, and first openly gay, state senator. A recent video of a speech he gave on the floor of the Senate is being passed around the Internet. When I began watching it, I was immediately mesmerized. In it, Duane tries to convince New York's State Senate not to kill a bill meant to help low-income people living with HIV. The bill states that people who are living with symptomatic HIV or AIDS, and who are receiving housing assistance or an emergency shelter allowance, will not be required to pay more than 30 percent of their income in rent and utilities.
Copyright © 2009 Body Health Resources Corporation. All rights reserved.
On My Mind
Bonnie Goldman
Bonnie Goldman was TheBody.com's editorial director from its founding in 1995 until January 2010. Previously she was a book editor, journalist and HIV/AIDS activist.
Subscribe to Bonnie's Blog:
Recent Posts:
January 28, 2010 - Time for a Change
January 4, 2010 - HIV/AIDS Travel Ban Finally, Officially Over
November 24, 2009 - Frequent Cervical Cancer Screenings Are Still Important for Women With HIV
November 6, 2009 - South Africa Leadership Wakes Up to HIV/AIDS
November 5, 2009 - Signs of Change: Ryan White Reauthorization, Travel Ban Removal
A Brief Disclaimer:
The opinions expressed by TheBody.com's bloggers are entirely their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of TheBody.com itself.


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TMZ has learned Britney Spears can't drive with her kids in the car.
The move was made after a court hearing today, during which Mark Vincent Kaplan, K-Fed's lawyer, officially informed the judge that Brit blew a red light with her kiddies in the car last week.
We're told Commish Gordon issued the sealed order, as stipulated by lawyers for several of the issues.
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Snip the end of Anna's Honey Cinnamon Flavored Honey Stix to release a rich, delectable treat. Made with pure honey and all natural cinnamon spice, Anna's cinnamon honey sticks are a healthy, fat free indulgence. These straws of luxurious honey are great on their own, sipped straight from the package. Also try drizzling over baked goods or add a touch to your tea. Treat yourself to a healthy snack with Anna's Honey Cinnamon Honey Stix.
Washington State's premiere honey company, Anna's Honey produces five varieties of gourmet raw honey featuring flavors derived from Pacific Northwest floral plants.
The original company, Anna's Gourmet, founded by Arlene Page in 1980, was named after Arlene's great grandmother who settled in the Kittitas Valley region of Washington State during the 1880's. Anna's Honey products contain no artificial preservatives or additives. We use only farm fresh, hive-ripened, 100% pure US Grade A raw honey.
At Anna's Honey, pure honey is filtered at 200 microns which lets the natural pollens come through to give you a rich, smooth texture. With over 30 years of experience, Anna's Honey believes that leaving the bee parts and wax remnants in the honey is detrimental to the purity of the product. The wax capping serves as a protective barrier from impurities getting into the honey while in the hive. So, during production the wax capping is removed and melted down for beeswax.
Anna's honey is carefully tested for purity and retains low moisture for a thicker consistency. Anna's Honey uses this process to give you a richer, creamier, and satisfying natural honey.
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They are a delicious snack that perks me up until my next meal or adds delicious flavor to my tea.
I'm happy with these honey-cinnamon sticks. The quality is much better than the over pasteurized products of other suppliers.
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Graduate Students
We'll help you discover who you are and how to find the right career. No matter what your dream, the CEC can help you pursue it.
Our rich services and resources include individual career coaching, career workshops and programs, online job and internship listings, career fairs and recruiting events, and much more.
No matter where you are on your career path or what your discipline, the CEC is here to help with the next steps in your career journey.
Whether you're just starting out, facing a mid-career transition or just ready for the next big step, the CEC will advise and guide you o make informed and meaningful career decisions.
As Simmons alumnae/i a full range of career services is available to you, including individual career coaching, job listings, networking, and other resources.
We routinely work with employers across a range of industries to help meet their recruitment needs. We stand ready to help connect you to the wealth of talent at Simmons.
From online job boards, career fairs, on-campus information sessions, and more, the Career Education Center provides a variety of recruiting options to allow you to connect with our students and alumni.
We partner with faculty and staff in the vital work of supporting and guiding both undergraduate and graduate students in their career development.
In addition to being a resource for students, the CEC is a resource for faculty and staff, too. Learn how the CEC can assist you by providing career coaching, in-classroom workshops, and more.
The transition from college to career is a giant step in your student's life. The Career Education Center is here to support your student so that she makes informed and meaningful career decisions, both now and in the future.
The CEC serves as the main career resource for all Simmons undergraduates. We welcome you to learn about who we are and the array of services we offer students.
Attending college is an adventure of self-discovery, and at Simmons we want your investment to yield a lifelong return. Simmons provides an environment that empowers young women to be leaders in their profession — and to lead meaningful lives.
The Career Education Center (CEC) will help you discover who you are and how to find the career that is right for you. No matter what your dream, the CEC can help you pursue it. Whether you are deciding on a major or career, looking for an internship, considering graduate school, or beginning your first professional job search, the CEC is here to help you prepare for your life's work. The CEC takes its commitment to students seriously, helping you discover your passion and how to link that passion to lifelong purpose, honoring the Simmons promise to put you first. And, our services are available to you throughout your lifetime.
As you embark on your undergraduate studies, and at any point in your time at Simmons, the CEC can make a difference. Throughout this section you will find rich resources to help you as you set out on your adventure of self-discovery.
The STEPS Career Development Plan provides a four-year action plan for you to follow to help you acquire knowledge about yourself, career paths, and academic and career opportunities. By following the STEPS Plan you will be prepared for the college-to-career transition when you graduate, and for your career management well beyond. Check out the STEPS Plan here.
The CEC provides individual career coaching to address any of your career concerns. You can learn more about Career Coaching here.
To make an appointment to meet with a career coach, simply call the CEC at 617-521-2488 or visit us. We are located in the Center for Student Success on the Ground Floor of the Lefavour Building.
Have a brief question? Need your resume or cover letter reviewed? We also hold Weekly Drop-In Hours. You can stop by for a 15-minute drop-in session with a career coach. Drop-in hours are offered Mondays through Thursdays, 2:00-3:30 PM, at the CEC (during the academic year only)
For resume reviews, we suggest you first review the information in Write a Resume and look at some sample resumes to get started.
The CEC's Career Toolkit can assist you in all aspects of your career planning. If you are unsure of your career direction, want to discover your strengths and interests, need help with your job search, need to learn how to network, get ready for that big interview, or apply to grad school — it's all there! You will find all the resources you need to begin your career preparation in the Career Toolkit.
The CEC offers a range of career-related events throughout the academic year. Our Workshops & Programs include workshops on resumes and cover letters, professional networking tools such as LinkedIn, mock interviews, and more. Employer and Recruiting Events include both on- and off-campus career fairs, employer information sessions, networking sessions, alumnae/i career panels, on-campus interviewing, and more.
Vsit the Career Events page or check out the list of upcoming career events on the Career Events and Programs.
The CEC maintains Handshake, the primary Simmons database for full-time jobs, internships, part-time work, fellowships, and some volunteer opportunities. Learn more about Handshake here and register here.
For student employment, including work-study jobs as well as general on-campus employment for all students, along with off-campus work-study opportunities, visit Student Employment, overseen by Benefits & Payroll.
Additional job and internship listings can be found via the Career Resources page.
Looking for a quick burst of info on a specific career-related topic, such as "Career Fair Success" or "Top 10 Interview Mistakes"? Then check out the short videos available through CareerSpots.
The CEC website also provides access to webinars on career-related topics as they become available, delivered by experts across a range of subjects. For instance, if you want information on getting into graduate school, check out the webinar on "Gaining Admission to Graduate School".
In addition to the wealth of resources available to you on this site, the CEC also collaborates with the Beatley Library on the development and maintenance of in-depth career resources. This includes both the print collection available at Beatley and extensive online resources, many of which are focused on specific fields of employment and career topics. Visit the Career Resources section of the library site to explore the full breadth and depth of the career guides available.
The Career Education Center is located on the Academic Campus (300 The Fenway) in the Center for Student Success (CSS). The CSS is on the Ground Floor of the Lefavour Building. For directions and maps, click here.
The CEC helps students with all aspects of career planning and job search strategy. We provide career coaching through scheduled one-on-one appointments and during drop-in hours, when students can come in without an appointment to get answers to quick questions. For more information on career coaching click here. For a full list of CEC services provided for undergraduates visit the CEC Services page.
You can begin using the CEC anytime in your first year at Simmons.
Students should use the CEC as their needs dictate, but it's never too early to get started. Look over the STEPS Career Development Plan timeline for the list of suggested career activities by year.
You can call 617-521-2488 or stop by the CEC office in the Center for Student Success on the Ground Floor of the Lefavour Building, and one of our Peer Career Assistants will help you schedule an appointment.
Yes. The CEC has Drop-in Hours when you can ask and get answers to quick questions. These are 15-minute meetings that are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Check the CEC hours for the drop-in schedule.
You can use the CEC as often as you'd like during your time at Simmons. A student may schedule one appointment per week during the school year, but can come to Drop-in Hours as often as needed each week.
Absolutely! We have a variety of assessments to help you discover your values, interests, personality type, and skills. We'll meet with you to discuss what's important to you and make suggestions to help you with deciding on a major or starting your career exploration.
You can meet with a career coach to explore your options. You can also check out your options online by reviewing "What can I do with a major in…?", or visit our research guides on the library's Career Resources by Discipline pages.
You can make an appointment with a CEC career coach or stop by during Drop-in Hours. We strongly suggest that you review the information on the Career Toolkit Write a Resume page first and look at some samples to help you get started.
Yes. Visit the Pursue an Internship page in the Career Toolkit for more information about internships. You can also meet with a career coach to discuss strategy and update your resume and cover letter. Check out Handshake for internship postings. Check out the library's career resources on internships. And remember to ask faculty for recommendations as well — most academic departments have a designated internship coordinator.
Yes. The CEC staff teaches a career preparation course, Humanities 370 which is a requirement for English, History, Modern Languages, Philosophy, and WGST majors who enroll in the 370 internship course for their major. The CEC also teaches career related skill-building workshops that are open to all students. See the CEC Events Calendar for upcoming workshops.
There are several things you can do, including reviewing the Job Search Checklist and making an appointment with a career coach to discuss your job search strategy, get started on your resume, or conduct a practice interview. For full information visit the Manage Your Job Search page in the Career Toolkit.
The CEC maintains an updated calendar of events. We also advertise on the campus MDS screens and our own social media sites, among other outlets. Become a fan of the CEC on Facebook or follow us on Twitter or Instagram and get regular updates there as well.
The CEC sponsors on-campus career fairs, recruiting events, and employer information tables and sessions throughout the academic year. We also list numerous off-campus events of interest to Simmons students, including those we produce in partnership with other area colleges. See the Career Events page for more info.
Work-study and other general employment on-campus job listings are available via Student Employment maintained by Benefits & Payroll. You will also need to contact the Simmons Financial Services office about related requirements in order to do a work-study job on- or off-campus.
The STEPS Plan (STEPS = Steps To Explore Prepare Succeed) is the CEC's four-year timeline of suggested career planning and development steps for Simmons undergraduates. Learn more here.


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photo by Jennifer Hess
This was a bitch to find this year, and I finally grabbed a six of it only yesterday.
Back in 2008. Hope everyone has a great Christmas and a happy new year!
It's hard to find because we're all hoarding it here in SF. 🙂
Seriously, glad you could finally get some. It's the best vintage I can recall — too good to miss.
Yay, you found some! D & I have been thinking of you each time we see it, all up and down the aisles…actually spilling into the aisles, yes, as we trip over the piles of holiday beer with our arms holding great bins of it. 😉 Happy drinking & Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas to you as well!
Is that beer available on the East Coast? I've never seen it.
is Merry Christmas a beer and if so what category? who brews it and can it be found in southwest Florida? anybody know? would like to try it.


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European Commission
[Check Against Delivery]
Maria Damanaki
European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries
The EU's Maritime and Fisheries Policy: Putting Portugal on the Path to Growth
Conference "Portugal: Path to Growth and Jobs" Lisbon, 11 April 2014
President Cavaco Silva, President Barroso, Ministers, fellow Commissioners, ladies and gentlemen of the audience,
Like my colleagues, I too am delighted to be here with you.
This city can be truly called the European Atlantic capital, and this country a truly maritime nation. Your national strategy states that Portugal has "returned to the sea" and made of the seas and of oceans "a national goal". Well done. This is a smart move for the economy.
Traditionally the seas and oceans have given us food and transport, but today they can give us pharmaceuticals… minerals… and possibly infinite energy – on one condition. Our exploitation must be responsible. Our methods must be safe. Our progress must be systematic, cautious, and fair.
In one word, we have to be smart; smarter than we have ever been.
This is the idea behind the EU's Blue Growth strategy. We want the maritime dimension to be a strong arm of President Barroso's strategy for growth. Portugal knows all this. It not only embraces Blue Growth but is a driving force behind it.
So, what happens now? Beyond the nice words on growth and sustainability, how does the EU plan to help?
It's simple: by gearing its financial support directly and explicitly towards the sea.
The Atlantic Strategy and its Action Plan is our latest achievmenet. Europe is ready to concentrate regional structural funding on a number of maritime priorities, from shipping safety and ports to renewable energies and marine biotechnologies. This country is ideally placed to benefit from it.
Also, the new Maritime and Fisheries Fund should support maritime clustering, marine knowledge or the conversion away from fisheries. For instance we shall support fishermen who start taking care of NATURA 2000 sites or marine protected areas. Or pilot projects, like the one in Algarve and Gulf of Cadiz on trans-boundary Maritime Spatial Planning. Or studies on bathymetry and geology like the ones carried out by the Instituto Portugués do Mar e da Atmosfera. Except the 71 million euros for this kind of initiatives, the research programme has another 145 million earmarked for Blue Growth, with a particular focus on the Atlantic for this year.
Meanwhile the transatlantic research alliance with the United States and Canada will tackle urgent problems such as ocean acidification – and here again Portugal plays a key role.
And let us not forget the overseas regions of Portugal that have always paid the price of their remoteness. But now we have increased by more than 150% the funds that compensate for the additional costs incurred in production and marketing. We also co-finance their projects by 35% more than other European regions.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Europe is also making its fishing smarter. The number of stocks fished sustainably went up to 25 last year, 27 this year, and probably 31 next year. Five years ago? Only five.
When we fish outside the EU, we are equally bound by scientifically-set limits. I can't deny that this means some sacrifices right now, but stable and abundant fish stocks will more than compensate for the short-term pain. Sustainability is the only thing that guarantees us social and economic welfare in the long run.
This transition toward sustainable fishing requires adequate support for fishermen, fish farmers and coastal communities. The total EU amount for fisheries and aquaculture is more than 7.5 billion. This new money will help Portugal to develop a sustainable seafood industry - from the net to plate.
We are ready to support investment to make boats safer and more energy efficient, and to make gear more selective. In the previous exercise, the Portuguese vessel Lucimar got 265.000€ from the EU in order to buy energy-smart machines, modern equipment and safety systems. But now we turn to small-scale fishermen and local communities so important for employment and social cohesion. The small vessels get up to 75% of the costs covered if they modernise. Also we are helping young people to enter the fisherman's profession, and fish-farmers to extend to new species or simply reach out to new markets.
We are helping producer organisations to focus on product quality and traceability. The Fund also opens up plenty of opportunities for start-ups to seek technical expertise or get vocational training.
Sometimes even a modest amount can go a long way. Here in Portugal someone had the brilliant idea to use crab shell for the medical and bio-medical industry. With just 12.000€ we let them recover a biological resource that is otherwise discarded. Innovation is the name of the game here.
Except the coastal economy, other sectors such as transport, shipping, energy and tourism would be supported by other European Funds. For instance, you can draw from all existing funds to develop ecotourism or you can make it possible for business to invest on renewable ocean energies and aquaculture together. And so on. If you do, I guarantee you won't regret it.
Portugal really has all it takes to succeed, and now is the time to make a head start. Europe is ready to help. We are providing guidelines and money so that you can in turn build for your people a future of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth from the sea.
Thank you.
Side Bar


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Yesterday we reported that Windows Phone 7 would not receive an Xbox release this week. As it turns out, the information we received was slightly incomplete. The oft-requested Cut the Rope as finally arrived on Windows Phone 7 and is fully compatible with WP8. Instead of Chillingo, this version comes from the original developer, Zeptolab UK.
A bit of Cut the Rope history: way back in 2011, Windows Phone Central ran a contest in which we asked readers which mobile games they would like to see ported to our OS as Xbox Live titles. One of the runner-up suggestions was Cut the Rope. Now that the game has finally arrived, it has the honor of being the first from our readers' ten most-wanted games to appear on Windows Phone. Let's hope more will follow!
Although Cut the Rope has been conspicuous in its absence, we've actually had a very good substitute for about a year now: MaxNick's Spider Jack. That game is a clone of Cut the Rope but stars a spider who eats flies. At last Windows Phone players can experience the original and better known game, though they won't find a whole lot different in this one.
The premise of Cut the Rope is simple. A little creature called Om Nom arrives on the player's doorstep. The thing craves candy and it's your job to give it to him. In each level, a candy hands from one or more pieces of rope. You'll need to cut the ropes in the right order to make it swing into Om Nom's mouth. Levels also have three stars to collect by making the candy swing through them. With 300 levels and some fairly unique Achievements (compared to Spider Jack), this one should keep players busy for a while.
Cut the Rope costs $.99 and there is
a free trial no trial for some reason. Get the full game here on the Windows Phone Store.


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GoPro HERO3 Video/Audio Package
The GoPro HERO3 Video/Audio Package has all the accessories needed to help best capture any footage. The HERO3 skeleton housing is equipped with open side panels that provide access to the HERO3 cable connection points. It can be used for live-feed video, charging while recording, keeping the camera cool during shoots and more. While the tripod mount allows fast attachment to any standard tripod.
The Combo Cable connects to your HERO3 or HERO3+ camera's USB port. It supports composite video out, 1/8" (3.5 mm) mic input and USB connectivity. The 3.5mm Mic Adapter is only compatible with the GoPro HERO3 or HERO3+ camera, allowing you to connect any external 3.5mm microphone to your HERO3 or HERO3+ camera. And the HDMI cable supports Full HD, smooth playback of all video and photo on any large HDTV screen.


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Art Shows Galore!
Hey everyone!
So after taking a little break from shows since my 3 person show at Phone Booth Gallery, I'm back and with 3 shows!! Well, the Adventure Time show has left us after it's short lifespan at Gallery 1988 (WEST), but if you missed out on the show, the work is still available for purchase and viewing on their site. As a shameless plug, here's my piece from the show.
A little backstory of my piece.
I LOOOOOVE Adventure Time. Lemme tell ya. It took me a season or 2 in to realize what a unique treasure this show really is so I missed the boat early on but, hot damn is this show mathematical. I did my piece on Magic Man partly because I figured 95% of the show would be dedicated to Finn and Jake (which is all fine and dandy) but I think the strength of the show lies with all of the smaller characters. Magic Man is a really small character but he is one of my favorites for sure. I remember when I saw the episode that introduced him like it was yesterday. While watching the show as any normal person would, I remember my jaw literally dropping when he flipped that adorable little bird inside out and it sloppily bounced away. It completely caught me off guard and I just about died laughing. Call me sick and twisted, but I love a good rug pull and this got me pretty good. He's such a jerk and I love him for it.
So this piece is a poster I designed for his magic show at the Grand Hall of Wizardry.
Next up is the 30th Anniversary Show for Ghostbuster. This piece was a challenge because I just couldn't figure out what I wanted to do. Well that's a lie. I knew what I wanted to do, but I couldn't narrow the style down. I think I got it and I think you'll like it! It's a traveling show and It's kicking off in NY, then Chicago, then LA and finally down to SD for Comicon. (are you going? I am! See you there!) Here's more details about the show. Check out the awesome debut prints from my pals Joshua Budich and Anthony Petrie! These dudes are no joke.
Lastly Gallery 1988 is having their 10 year anniversary show this week. I first heard of the gallery back in 2007 when they had their crazy 4 cult show and I've been hooked. I always wanted to show with them and then one day I sent in a few pieces I made specifically to submit and behold, I was accepted not only to crazy 4 cult but a handful of other shows that year as well! I was beside myself. I had no experience with galleries and they invited me into their family. I've met many of my close friends and favorite artists thanks to the gallery and I have to say it has changed my life and I owe a lot of my happiness to Jensen and Katie. (Thanks guys!) I've been so last minute with stuff lately because I'm trying to do it all with work, life and art shows but this 10 year show is a very personal show for me because I was such a fan first that I couldn't not pay some respect to the gallery.
I chose 3 movies and did very minimal pieces that I'm pretty sure you'll guess, because you're smart. That's all I can really say for now because I'm working off of 3 hours of sleep today. Thanks for reading this if you made it this far.


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- This fund invests primarily in Asian high yield bonds.
- The fund is subject to investment, emerging markets, foreign currency, credit rating and RMB currency risk, the risks of investing in securitised or structured debt instruments and mortgages-related securities. This fund may invest in bonds or debt securities which may be subject to credit, liquidity, counterparty and market risks. The fund will invest in non-investment grade bonds and unrated securities which may be subject to greater credit and liquidity risks, and may be more volatile than higher rated securities. The fund may invest in onshore China fixed income securities directly through the Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor ("QFII") scheme and may incur losses due to limited investment opportunities, illiquidity of the onshore China fixed income securities, and/or delay or disruption in execution of trades or in settlement of trades. The fund may invest in equity linked notes which may subject to the default risk of the structurer of the note. The fund may invest in credit linked notes which may subject to the default risk of the structurer of the note.
- This fund can invest in derivative instruments which may involve additional risks (For example, leverage may cause greater volatility).
- Dividend of certain share classes, at the Board's discretion, may be 1) paid out of gross income, i.e. the fund may pay dividend effectively out of capital; or 2) paid directly out of capital where the net income generated by the fund is insufficient to pay a distribution as declared. This will represent a return or withdrawal of part of the amount they originally invested or from any capital gains attributable to the original investment. This may result in an immediate decrease in the fund's NAV per share.
- Investors may suffer substantial loss of their investments in the fund. Investor should not invest in the fund solely based on the information provided in this document and should read the prospectus (including potential risks involved) for details.
Fidelity Funds - Asian High Yield Fund A-MDIST-HKD
- Price date: 23/04/2019
- Morningstar rating: 4 out of 5 stars
- Risk rating+: 3
Fund details
Investment objective
This fund seeks a high level of current income and capital appreciation by investing primarily in highyielding sub investment grade securities of issuers, or in high-yielding securities of sub investment grade issuers, all having their principal business activities in the Asian region. This fund will suit those investors seeking high income and capital appreciation and who are prepared to accept the risks associated with this type of investment. The type of debt securities in which the fund will primarily invest will be subject to high risk and will not be required to meet a minimum rating standard. Not all securities will be rated for creditworthiness by an internationally recognized rating agency. The fund may invest its net assets directly in onshore China fixed income securities listed or traded on exchanges in China. Portfolio Information: Such onshore China fixed income securities are listed or traded on exchanges in China such as the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchange, and are issued by a variety of issuers such as government, quasi-government, banks, financial institutions or other corporate entities established or incorporated in China or corporate entities whose commercial activities are mainly carried out in China.
|Fund details as of
|31 Mar 2019
|Denominated currency
|Fund launch date
|02 Apr 2007
|Class launch date
|18 Aug 2010
|Class launch price
|Fund size
|40,266.22 million
|ICE BofAML AsianDr HYCorpCst BH TR EUR
|Morningstar BenchMark
|Markit iBoxx Asian USD High Yield Bond TR USD
|Morningstar Category
|Asia High Yield Bond
|Bloomberg ticker
|PhoneXpress code
Fund manager
(Start date)
Bryan Collins
(01 Oct 2009)
Peter Khan
(01 Jan 2019)
|Sale Charges
|Up to 3.50%
|Annual management fee
|Up to 1.00%
There are other fees and charges for the fund and please refer to the prospectus for details.
|3 years standard deviation
As of 31/03/2019
|Risk rating
As of 28/02/2019
- FF - Asia Pacific Strategic Income Fund A-ACC-USD
- FF - Asia Pacific Strategic Income Fund A-MCDIST(G)-USD
- FF - Asia Pacific Strategic Income Fund A-MINCOME(G)-USD
- FF - Asian High Yield Fund A-ACC-Euro
- FF - Asian High Yield Fund A-ACC-USD
- FF - Asian High Yield Fund A-MDIST-USD
- FF - Asian High Yield Fund A-MINCOME(G)-USD
- FF - Asian High Yield Fund A-MINCOME-USD
Data Source: Morningstar Asia Limited. The Morningstar sourced information is provided to investor(s) for reference purposes only. All fund prices quoted are calculated as at the latest valuation date. The performance information (%) in the chart and table may have slight variances due to factors such as rounding, or charting methodology used.
Past performance information is not indicative of future performance. Investors may not get back the full amount invested. Calculation of performance is based on the NAV-to-NAV for the stated period, with dividend reinvested, in denominated currency. These figures show by how much the share class increased or decreased in value during the stated period. Where no past performance is shown there was insufficient data available in that period to calculate performance.
Performance has been calculated in the "Denominated currency" set out in the "About this fund" section in the "Fund details" tab, including ongoing charges and excluding subscription fee and redemption fee you may have to pay.
Payments of dividends out of capital will only be made to seek to maintain a stable payment per share but the payment per share is not fixed. Dividend yield of the fund does not represent the return of the fund, and past dividend yield does not represent future dividend yield. The dividends are not guaranteed.
Fund risk ratings shown are calculated based on information as of #{hkweb.fundDetailService.getMaxRetailFundsRiskLevelAsOfDate}. Risk ratings are 1 = Low risk, 2 = Low to Medium risk, 3 = Medium risk, 4 = Medium to High risk, 5 = High risk. Fund risk ratings are generally reviewed on a semi-annual basis.
For more details on Fund risk ratings and its calculation methodology, please refer to the overview.
The fund risk rating is sourced from a methodology developed by Morningstar Investment Management Asia Limited and its affiliates. The fund risk rating is provided to investor(s) for reference purposes only.
Since launch date to the end of launch year.
Source: Fidelity.
The name of the fund is not indicative of the fund's performance and return.