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The condemned man sat shackled in the prison visiting room, listening to his lawyers talk about a way out--one way left to prove his innocence.
Ronald Jones, convicted of the rape and murder of a young mother, insisted he hadn't done it. Now, after four years on death row, an improved DNA test might finally clear him.
Dick Cunningham, one of his lawyers, cautioned there would be no turning back. "This is the whole ballgame," he advised Jones. "If there's any chance you did this, it's going to prove it beyond a shadow of a doubt."
Jones was adamant.
"I want the testing done," he said. "It's not me."
Ronald Jones was hardly the first death row inmate to protest his innocence. But what is striking, even shocking, in Illinois is how frequently such claims have turned out to be true.
In the last dozen years, while 12 men have been executed, 12 others once condemned to die have been exonerated--three this year. Some were cleared with new trials. Some had their convictions overturned in appeals. Some had DNA prove their innocence. And some, incredibly enough, had student journalists help set them free.
This statistic may be more dramatic than those in other states, but it mirrors a national trend. Since 1973, 81 men and one woman sentenced to death have been freed, nearly half of them since 1990, according to Richard Dieter, director of the Death Penalty Information Center in Washington. He believes more investigations by lawyers and journalists and increased use of DNA testing are partly responsible.
The wrongful convictions are shifting the national debate over the death penalty. Traditionally, the argument has been over its morality. Now the question is how often we condemn the innocent.
In July, Cook County State's Attorney Richard Devine asked the state Supreme Court to delay the executions of three inmates who claim police coerced them into confessing.
This year, Dieter says, lawmakers in at least 10 states proposed imposing a moratorium on executions or abolishing them. "Illinois made temporarily halting the death penalty a legitimate issue," he says. "The momentum has picked up."
Twelve wrongful convictions do not mean Illinois, with 158 death row inmates, has a bigger problem than other states, says Larry Marshall, a Northwestern University law professor who has been involved in 10 of the cases. But, he says, they do mean "we're doing a better job of detecting them."
Even so, he says, the 12 could easily have gone to the death chamber. Their salvation depended on coincidence, good timing and good fortune.
Consider Gary Gauger, freed because his pleas for help happened to reach the right desk.
Or Darby Tillis and Perry Cobb, released because a stranger happened to read about their case in a legal newspaper.
Or Ronald Jones, saved from lethal injection because old DNA evidence, which often gets lost or destroyed, happened to be sitting in brown envelopes in a file drawer for eight years.
"You can call it luck," Marshall says. "You can call it the hand of God. You can call it fortuity, serendipity. What it's not, is the system working."
The facts were stacked against Ronald Jones.
He was a homeless, alcoholic panhandler. His IQ was around 80. Worse, he had confessed to the 1985 murder of Debra Smith, though he later recanted, saying he made up a story so police would stop beating him.
Dick Cunningham and his co-counsel, Gary Prichard, studied the stacks of legal records for any mistakes, any issue that hadn't been rejected in earlier appeals.
There wasn't much. A bid to throw out the confession had failed. The detectives who interrogated Jones had no history of abuse.
But there was science.
A DNA test Jones took in 1989 had been inconclusive, but more precise methods of testing were now available.
Prosecutors opposed the test, however, saying it essentially would be retrying the case. The trial judge agreed.
"What issue could possibly be resolved by DNA testing?" asked Cook County Circuit Judge John Morrissey.
Jones, after all, had signed a statement saying he had offered Smith $10 to have sex, they had intercourse in an abandoned motel, and when he refused to pay her, she pulled a knife. They struggled and he stabbed her. Sure, he recanted at the trial, but why should anyone believe him now?
Jones' lawyers insisted the confession didn't fit the crime. There was no evidence that Smith, a 28-year-old mother of three, was a prostitute. Jones had a burglary and robbery record, but no history of soliciting prostitutes.
A DNA test, the defense argued, could prove conclusively whether the semen recovered from the victim belonged to Jones.
"Save arguments like that for the press," the judge said. "They love it. I don't."
Finally, in 1997, after more than two years of arguments, the Illinois Supreme Court granted permission for DNA testing. Ronald Jones' fate rested in a few envelopes stashed in a file cabinet in the court clerk's office. The evidence was shipped to a forensic expert in California, who first made sure there was enough material to analyze. There was.
Three weeks later, Cunningham had his answer. He phoned Jones.
"I said, 'Are you sitting down?' " he recalls.
The DNA testing had excluded Jones.
His life was spared, but his freedom proved elusive.
A computer check found that years ago Jones, now 50, had walked away from a work release camp in Tennessee, where he had been serving five years for robbery.
Soon he was behind bars again, this time in Tennessee.
Cunningham's work goes on. He has nine more clients on death row.
In Illinois, a condemned man spends an average of 13 years awaiting execution. That time helped save 12 men. Investigators unearthed new evidence. Witnesses changed their stories. DNA testing became more sophisticated.
There has been no DNA case in Illinois more shocking than the Ford Heights Four, in which two men were sentenced to death and two others to virtual life in prison for a gang rape and double murder.
They spent up to 18 years behind bars before DNA tests exonerated them in 1996. At that time, three other men confessed to the crime. The Ford Heights Four recently won a $36-million settlement from the county.
None of this would have happened without David Protess, a Northwestern journalism professor, and some of his students, whose investigation led the state's chief witness to change his story.
In the wake of the case, Illinois passed a law giving death row inmates a right to DNA testing in cases where identity is an issue and test results could potentially prove innocence. Its sponsor was Ed Petka, a state senator and former prosecutor who put seven men on death row.
"It's an idea whose time has come," he says. "I can't see anyone who should be objecting."
But only New York and Illinois have such laws. In 33 states, new evidence can't be introduced in a criminal case more than six months after the final judgment in state court, says Barry Scheck, co-director of the Innocence Project at the Cardozo School of Law in New York.
DNA testing has exonerated 64 inmates in the United States and Canada, including nine who were on death row in this country, Scheck says. In cases the Innocence Project handled, more than two-thirds tested had results in their favor.
But in 70% of the cases in which inmates ask for help, Scheck says, evidence that would help determine innocence is claimed to be lost or destroyed, though sometimes it turns up later.
Even when there is evidence, the wrongly convicted need something else: a champion. That's been true in all the Illinois cases.
"These people are alive . . . for the most part because they've been lucky enough to find somebody in their family or somebody in their community who's willing to fight for them," Marshall says.
That's what saved Gary Gauger.
Gary Gauger's own words helped put him on death row.
His twin sister's persistence helped set him free.
Gauger, now 47, was convicted of the 1993 murders of his parents, Morris and Ruth, on their farm in Richmond, Ill. He says he was sleeping when their throats were slashed, 26 feet from where he lay.
There was no sign of robbery; dozens of guns and thousands of dollars were left in the house. There was no forced entry. And there was no eyewitness or physical evidence to tie Gauger to the crime, though he says police told him they had a weapon and bloody fingerprints.
"I asked them if they could lie," he recalls. "They said, no, they would lose their jobs. And I'm believing them. . . . I was naive. My parents had been killed. I wanted to help."
Gauger was questioned nonstop for 18 hours without a lawyer; the interrogation was not recorded.
McHenry County sheriff's police were suspicious of the ponytailed organic farmer who appeared strangely mellow for a grief-stricken son, tending to his tomato plants as investigators scoured the scene.
But what doomed Gauger were his statements.
He says late in the interrogation police asked him to hypothetically describe how he might have slashed his parents' throats. And he did.
Police said Gauger blurted out that he had killed his parents.
Gauger says he was so exhausted he began thinking he might have done so in a blackout, even saying it at one point, but then repeatedly insisting he didn't believe he had committed the crime.
"I thought as soon as somebody impartial looks at this, they'll see what a sham it is," he now says. He was wrong.
Before sentencing, his twin, Ginger Gauger-Blossom, defiantly told the court the murderer was still at large. She also spoke of her regret that her parents' desire for her brother to take over the farm someday would never be realized.
"Prosecution and a misguided attempt at justice has destroyed their dream," she said. "All of my dreams are gone also, with the exception of one: that the truth comes out and Gary is released."
Determined to make that happen, she mailed scores of letters to TV magazine shows, begging them to investigate. She urged her brother to do the same.
"I would scream at him," she recalls. "I'd say, 'Gary, you can't give up!' "
Their pleas were finally answered when Larry Marshall took the case and won Gauger's freedom in 1996. Gauger spent 3 1/2 years in prison, including nine months on death row.
Last fall there was a startling epilogue. A member of the Outlaws motorcycle gang described in court how he and an accomplice killed the couple in a robbery, making off with $15 to buy breakfast. He also testified that a wound on Mrs. Gauger's head linked to her son's knife at trial was, in fact, a mark from the butt of one of the killers' guns.
Gauger is planning a civil suit, but Jim Sotos, a lawyer hired to represent the police, says there was no police misconduct. As for Gauger, he says: "I don't think he was treated unfairly at all."
Hollywood likes to portray the wronged man as a Jimmy Stewart-like good guy caught in a Hitchcock-like web of coincidence.
In real life, the accused usually isn't so saintly.
About half the defendants in the 12 Illinois death row cases had already been in trouble with the law, Marshall says. In most wrongful-conviction cases, he added, the accused are members of minority groups or have personality quirks that arouse suspicion.
Another recurring problem, he says, is that the defendants are often represented by lawyers who are overworked, over their heads or underfunded.
Marshall lists several warning signs common to wrongful convictions:
* Confessions in which the suspect parrots police assertions and provides no details of the crime.
* Reliance on testimony of jailhouse snitches, who are notoriously unreliable.
* Single witnesses, who are frequently believed by juries but are frequently wrong.
One inmate released from death row in February had been convicted largely on the basis of an eyewitness who was wrong about many facts of the case.
But ferreting out the truth can be difficult.
Consider Anthony Porter, who once was two days away from execution during his 17 years in prison for a double murder.
Marshall helped craft an appeal last year based on Porter's IQ of 51, not on his persistent claims of innocence.
Then, last winter, Protess, the Northwestern journalism professor, came to the rescue again. His students and an investigator gathered evidence that showed Porter had been wrongly convicted. As a result of their work, key witnesses recanted their testimony and a Milwaukee man videotaped a confession to the murders after his estranged wife identified him as the killer.
Porter is now a free man but, at 44, he has no job or money. He lives with his mother.
The fates of Darby Tillis and Perry Cobb turned on two people.
The first was the government's key witness, who claimed she drove the getaway car the night they robbed and murdered two people at a hot dog stand in 1977. Her testimony sent them to death row.
The second was a stranger to Tillis and Cobb, a young lawyer who happened to read about their case and came forward with startling news. His testimony cleared them.
Tillis and Cobb were tried five times. Three trials ended with hung juries and a fourth brought the death penalty, which was thrown out on appeal. Finally, after spending nine years behind bars, about half of them on death row, the men were acquitted in their only non-jury trial.
Their case, perhaps more than any, illustrates how a single stroke of luck can free condemned men.
Prosecutors built their case around two witnesses--the woman who said she drove the getaway car and a bartender who was 75 feet from the place where the murders occurred. At the first trial, he said he saw two men for five seconds and couldn't identify them. At the third trial, he made a positive identification.
The turning point came when Michael Falconer read a story in the Chicago Lawyer about the case. Falconer recognized the name of the government's star witness; he'd worked with her years earlier at a factory job.
He remembered she once told him she and her boyfriend--the same man she testified she had dropped off before the crime was committed--had planned to rob a restaurant but that something went wrong and someone was shot.
By the time he testified, Falconer was a Lake County prosecutor. A prosecutor testifying for the defense in a high-profile murder case was not a popular move. But he did.
At the final trial in 1987, Judge Thomas Hett said he believed the state's witness was a liar and Falconer was telling the truth. But Hett's acquittal fell short of proclaiming their innocence.
"There is evidence pointing to the defendants' guilt," he said, "but there is just as much evidence discrediting a large part of such incriminating evidence. As much as I do not want to say these words, I must. The defendants are not guilty of all charges."
The murders remain unsolved.
But 22 years later, Tillis and Cobb still are trying to clear their names. In July, they made an appeal to a state board, seeking a pardon from the governor.
"I feel like I've been branded for life," Tillis, 55, told the board. "I feel that the system has something they owe me."
At 57, Cobb says he has been unable to get his life back on track. "All these days I have been off death row," he says, "death row has not been off me."
No new execution dates have been set in Illinois, but the clock is running.
Each week, letters from death row, about half from Illinois, arrive in Larry Marshall's office. He says he turns down 99% of the pleas for help because he doesn't have enough resources.
Marshall is confident more death row inmates will walk free, but when it comes to deciding which case to investigate, he is less certain.
"All we hope for," he says, "is God's help to guide our hand to take the right one."


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A joint list of Likud and Jewish Home would win 37 seats, a TNS poll for Walla! News conducted Tuesday determined.
The survey, which used a representative sample of 500 respondents aged 18 and over, featured two scenarios: the first if Jewish Home and Likud were to run together for March elections for the 20th Knesset, and the second if not.
According to the poll, the two parties would receive more mandates separately - 24 for Likud and 16 for Jewish Home - but fear of Labor-Hatnua's strength could still push the parties together.
Although a joint list seems unlikely, there are Likud officials pushing for such an union in order to prevent a government led by Labor joint heads Yitzhak Herzog and Tzipi Livni - a coalition they fear current Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu may join.
A union between Jewish Home and Likud would also be beneficial to Shas and Yisrael Beytenu.
As the parties stand now Avigdor Liberman's party would win six seats. However, if Likud were to join with Jewish Home, that number bumps up to 8.
Similarly, Aryeh Deri's Shas party would see a jump from 8, if Likud and Jewish Home ran separately, to 9 if they ran together - the best poll figure Shas has seen in months.
Interestingly, numbers remain the same for the Center and Left parties no matter if Likud and Jewish Home run together or not.
Labor-Hatnua maintains 25 seats - one less than in Walla! News' previous survey. That mandate seems to have moved to Yair Lapid's Yesh Atid party, which came in with nine seats.
Moshe Kahlon's Kulanu party remained stable with eight seats, as did Meretz with 5. The figure is a slight disappointment for Meretz Chairwoman Zehava Gal-On, who expected a rise in the polls after her party's primaries on Monday.
Additionally, Eli Yishai's hareidi alternative Yachad - Ha'am Itanu did not pass the threshold.
Final decisions of party lists are due before the Central Election Committee in 10 days.
Political considerations
Respondents were also questioned about the Israeli Air Force's attack on Hezbollah in Syria earlier this week.
A clear majority of respondents, 63.5%, believed the attack was carried out for relevant security reasons. About 23.4% of respondents argued that the decision to attack had been politically motivated, while 13% answered they did not know.
Even among voters of different parties, most believed the attacks had been carried out out of a security necessity.
However, among the respondents who stated they would vote for Labor-Hatnua, a higher rate, 38.5%, said that the attack had been based on political considerations.
Ya'alon supported as Defense Minister
The survey also examined public opinion regarding the right candidate for the role of Defense Minister in the next Knesset.
Current Minister Moshe Ya'alon (Likud) received a majority of the vote with 36.2% support. In second place - with a wide margin - is Major General Amos Yadlin at 15.1%. Yadlin just joined Labor-Hatnua with the intention of becoming Minister of Defense in their government.
Behind them were Jewish Home Chairman Naftali Bennett at 12.1% and Major General Yoav Galant with 11% support.
When looking at votes from different parties, an interesting picture emerges. While 63.3% of Likud voters prefer to see Ya'alon continue as Defense Minister, 51.4% of Labor-Hatnua voters prefer Yadlin.
Opinions are noticeably divided in Jewish Home, where 37.1% of voters say that despite serious difference of opinion during Operation Protective Edge, Ya'alon should continue as Defense Minister. However, 40.7% of Jewish Home voters say he should be replaced with Bennett.

subset: commoncrawl


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Build Your Own Bloody Mary: La Cita.
Imagine, if you will, a bloody mary oasis hidden within a towering group of concrete skyscrapers, masked behind a dark, red-tinted authentic Latin salsa bar where you are but one person on a patio full of bloody mary imbibers. It's Sunday. And your heart is beating for this blessed drink. Last night's activities have left you in dire need of a restorative, yet cheap, cocktail. The funds are low and your mind is cloudy, so in search of the ultimate bloody mary breakfast combination, you come here: La Cita. Six dollars gets you a nearly full pint glass of vodka with ice and lime garnish. The rest is up to you. Shrimp, bacon, pepperjack cheese cubes and an assortment of pickled items are but a few of the garnishes available to be skewered upon your foot long bamboo stake. Add a variety of hot sauces, horseradish, Worcestershire, garlic and other seasonings to your choice of straight up Campbell's, Clamato or, my favorite, the Port O' Call bloody mary mix and you have yourself a perfectly custom bloody mary meal.
Now since it is nearly impossible to rate the taste of such a custom made drink, I will base my rating on the bloody mary bar itself. The availability of multiple tomato bases combined with the wide assortment of garnishes and a nice heavy pour of vodka provide La Cita withCelery Stalks.
La Cita Sunday Bloody Sunday 2pm – 9pm 336 South Hill Street, Los Angeles, California 90013. T: (213) 687-7111.
[wpgmza id="44"]


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Shangri-La Climb
Following the partnership between the Ardent Entertainment Division and the Go Foundation, we have chosen to sponsor four of our office athletes to take part in The Shangri-La Climb and Dine!
Four lucky participants to make the dash up 37 flights and 630 steps of Sydney's Shangri-La Hotel to raise funds for the Go Foundation's Public School Scholarship Program. With a cap of 200 competitors, the fastest runners are expected to make it to the top in just under four minutes. Once on level 37, climbers will enjoy breakfast at Altitude with spectacular views of the city.
The GO Foundation exists to empower young Indigenous Australians, giving them a brighter future with access to quality education and an ecosystem of support with cultural mentoring at the centre.
Our team, known as the Pinsetters, are training for the event which will be held on the 29th October 2017. The Pinsetters will be represented by: Alex Deakin, GM of Marketing, Jessica D'Souza, learning and development lead, Emma Ding, Senior Commercial Analyst & Scott Lewis, Technician at Kingpin Harbourside. The team have been training hard, working out the best plan of attack at the many steps by Milsons Point and inside the support office building, level by level.
If you want to get involved and sponsor our team, you can do so by clicking here!
Check out some of the team in action training for the big event below and make sure to check back in after the event to see how what record breaking time the Pinsetters set!


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Welcome to GreenRiters, a website dedicated to providing advice and resources for writing scientific manuscripts.
If you are a researcher, you probably have heard many times that publication in a reputable, peer-reviewed journal should be a major goal of your study.
I was one of you. When I heard this statement in the first year of my Ph.D. program, I thought it could only happen in my dream. I had never studied in the U.S. before; I had no training in English academic writing; I had no clue what peer-review process was like. The funny thing (at least making me laugh now) is that despite a lack of knowledge, I never stopped trying. I submitted my first final paper to a journal, and of course, was brutally rejected. I did the same thing in the next couple of semesters and got the same results. Right before I nearly made to the "blacklist" of several journals, I realized that I got to really learn and understand how to develop a publishable manuscript.
There are many ways to learn about publishing. My previous experience was not completely a waste of time; it allowed me to figure out what worked and what didn't. The learning also came from regular meetings and discussion with my adviser and research supervisor, collaborating with professors and other Ph.D. students, reading published studies, and collecting useful templates and examples.
My first single-authored manuscript, adapted from the final project of a course, was published in 2005. In the following year, I had another three papers published. Meanwhile, I was invited to join the Editorial Board of a peer-reviewed journal. I was quite honored, as a doctoral student.
Over the past 10+ years, I have authored or co-authored over 30 peer-reviewed articles with 1300+ citations. I've also served as a reviewer for dozens of peer-reviewed journals.
My journey is not smooth. There are quite a few mistakes that I hope I had not made and some moments that I hope someone could tell me what to do. The fact is very few graduate schools offer systematic training on how to get published in peer-reviewed journals, let alone on how to deal with the self-doubt and emotional distress after rejections, how to manage writing time, how to communicate with your co-authors and editors, etc.
I am hoping my blog website "GreenRiters" offers you a little light when you are searching for your path of getting your scientific work published.
My background and experience are in social science, public health, and health services. If your research area is in life science, engineering, or others, some posts may not be completely applicable. But I am sure you will still find something that you would enjoy reading.
I promise, my posts won't be boring…. at least I will try. I know you don't need another textbook to read.


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So from now on I will be doing monthly haul posts. I have got myself a bag which all my polishes from the first of the month will go into and then at the end of the month I'll take my pictures and do the post. Organisation and a system, I like it!
So first off I did a little blog sale which actually paid for quite a few of these pretties so a lot of these don't count right??!!
I'll go left to right:
Nerdlacquer Nebula: I am so greedy. I acutally have a part used bottle of this which one of my amazing polish friends gave me but can't bring myself to use it because I don't want to use it up so when the chance came up to buy another one I took it!
Candy Lacquer Candies and Sprinkles: I got this as an extra with the Crows Toes, it was a lovely surprise and very pretty.
Crows Toes Cheshire: I saw someone post a picture of this and I fell in love, it took a bit of searching but now it's all mine.
Smitten Polishes: my first ones!
KIKO Holographics: 401, 400, 402, 399
OPI Germany collection: Initially I didn't want any of these, then I saw Scrangies swatches!
Now, on to my second swap with a wonderful Brazilian polish friend - look at these!
And look at these beautiful frankens! Gorgeous aren't they!
And look! Isn't he cute! He was hiding in my package.
As was he:
And this little guy too - what a wonderful and thoughful package - thank you so much Tami.
This is a beautiful lipstick, there was a lipgloss too but it's in one of my handbags already!
Then because my nails are so curvy I thought an XL Stamper would help - I'll let you know if it makes a difference. This came from Llarowe
And some stamping plates - the new Bundle Monster set - I love all of these!
A couple more from Llarowes new range
I am so excited by this - finally something to store my plates in - I will do a seperate post about this - it's so cool!
So, all in all a great polish month. It'll be quieter next month but there's already a few things to add to the post so let's see what I get.


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If you are a keen Wildlife lover and really love to spot creatures in their natural habitat then a Local Quickies excursion is for you. Although we do not see all animals on every tour here are a few snaps from December 2016 so you can see what is out and about here, and many more we will feature in upcoming blogs!
While taking a zip line tour Captain Quickie spotted a beautiful Boa while driving through the jungle road, and being a reptile expert he just couldn't help but bond with this marvelous animal before letting it go on its way. Our lucky guests were so enthralled!
Also Sailor Patrick and Nephew of Captain Quickie attracted a beautiful Locus and gave him a ride back to land!
You will see Iguanas of all shapes and sizes in many places near the ocean and in the jungle here, they like to sunbathe on rocks and sand!
Floating down the Lazy River you never know if a Heron or Kingfisher will peacefully be fishing next to you.
A very rare find was a Tarantula in the Maya Village, he was just making his way from one side of the jungle across the path to the other. We think this is an aphonopelma anita hoffmanni but if you know we would love to hear!
So these are a few, but not at all limited to the things you can safely see in their natural environment here! Next blog we go underwater!


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Brown-Baggin' Monday - Cajun Ham Salad
Call me boring, but I am the type of person that doesn't need much variety for my lunches. Really I'm just looking for substance and convenience. Something that will only take me a few minutes to prepare in the morning so I can get on with my day. I will also admit most of the time I buy a weeks worth of lean cuisine or smart ones and that's my lunch. After thinking about it, for a 5 day work week, buying a smart one for each day would cost me roughly $10.50. I felt like I could do better with my money by making something that's just as easy to take and by far better tasting (not that there is anything wrong with frozen meals). So for around $6 (including the bread) I was able to make enough of this awesome Cajun Ham Salad to get me through the week. If you're looking to spice up your lunch...literally...be sure to give this a try! Don't like the heat?? Just take out the sriracha and cayenne pepper and try something else...be creative!


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Join Startup Soirée and School of Food for our Food Entrepreneur Demo Day on Tuesday, November 10th at 6:30pm at the Pixilated HQ
Learn about 5 emerging food businesses in Baltimore and provide feedback on their product, pitch, and packaging (brand). The crowd (you!) will vote on your favorite in each category, and the winner of demo day will walk away with a prize — 1-on-1 time with buyers from major anchor institutions.
**food & drink provided by our featured participants, included in your ticket price.
School of Food is not a one size fits all business training program; it's made to order based on your needs. Find the tools for on the job success online and in person. Our personalized curriculum takes current and future food biz owners on a trip that starts with the basics (defining a mission, writing a pitch), moves into the nitty gritty (financial forecasting, quickbooks, health code info) and ends with all the fun stuff you need to know when going to market (branding, distribution, winning at negotiation).
Our Featured Food Entrepreneurs:
- Nutreatious / Gundalow Juice -
Gundalow is a Baltimore based company that brings you delicious cold-pressed juices. Our juices are only made with fruits and vegetables; there are no added sugars, preservatives or caffeine. We believe in fueling your ambitions and therefore we are devoted to bringing you delicious, convenient, and nutritious juice.
At Nutreatious, we are passionate about all things cooking and kitchen. Through our personal chef, catering and kitchen organization services, our clients are able to spend their time doing more of the things they love without sacrificing excellent meals.
- Diamondback Brewery -
Diamondback Brewing Co. is a craft beer company based out of Baltimore, Maryland. Diamondback was founded in Fall of 2014 by local Baltimore boys. In the pursuit of our craft, we aim to find the perfect balance between drinkability and uncompromised flavor. Our mission is to bring great beer to great people, and sacrifice nothing along the way. Even the boldest of our beers are brewed with the desire to be appreciated by all drinkers alike.
- Tessamae's -
As the mother of three athletic boys, Tesse had to figure out a way to get them to eat their veggies while staying healthy. Because serving a dressing full of artificial ingredients was not an option, she created and perfected her own all-natural recipe. When her oldest son, Greg, realized how great it was, he said, "Mom, let's go into business together and make this for the world!" As Tessemae's All Natural grows its product line around the globe, the commitment to healthy eating and healthy living remains the core of the company's mission.
- Tenth Harvest -
Tenth Harvest is a boutique importer and distributor of wine, beer and spirits. We buy direct from small farmers around the world, currently in Italy, France, Oregon and Washington state. Our customers are restaurants and retailers in Maryland and Washington DC, small businesses who invest in the highest quality products and knowledgeable staff. Our primary focus is wine: an agricultural product, hand-crafted by farmers who use sustainable, organic and biodynamic farming practices. Our audience is the educated consumer who desires sustainably sourced products, and most of all enjoys the pleasure of good food and wine.
- 2am Bakery -
2AM Bakery "Where the Dough Rises" is a small Wholesale Shop that has been in operation for the last 7 years in some form. Its mission is to provide the consumer with an unforgettable confectionery experience. One of the Founders, Gregory Carpenter (Shamsuddin Abdul Mateen), was released from incarceration in 1994 after serving twenty years. In 1996, he had the opportunity to make make the pilgrimage to Mecca. While on pilgrimage he met Mikal Abdul Mateen (Co-Founder) who was studying abroad at the time. They began talking, realizing they both shared a love for cooking and baking, and agreed to open a bakery together some day. Years later, 2AM Bakery was formed. They chose the name 2AM Bakery because Mikal is "Abdul Mateen" and Greg adopted the name "Abdul Mateen," thus you have 2AM Bakery "Where the Dough Rises."
- Elaine's Brown Sugar -
Elaine's Brown Sugar was started in 2011 by Daryl (DJ) Flood when the craving for delicious treats and the passion for baking became one, and after following the foot steps of those before. We take pride in using high quality ingredients and local products, so that every bite is of pure perfection. Originally from the Washington, DC while on a trip to Baltimore, DJ realized that there weren't a place to get a great quick salad or certain types of specialty baked goods. Utilizing recipes passed down from DJ's grandmother Elaine, they stepped out on Faith to form Elaine's Brown Sugar...


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Broadcast Date: 2017-04-08
In this segment, we focus on the West African country of Nigeria. Dr. Adeniyi Ojutiku and Rev John Pofi on AfrobeatRadio to discuss issues of political stability and religious freedoms in (the restive Northern part of) Nigeria following a hearing of the US congressional Sub Committee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations on March 28, 2017.
For those who may not know, Nigeria is on the Atlantic coast, bordering Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in the north. Its coast in the south lies on the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean. Nigeria is a federal republic, although many challenge that. It is also officially a democratic secular country; many also challenge this. Modern-day Nigeria has been the site of numerous kingdoms and tribal states over the millennia. A multinational state, as it is inhabited by over 500 ethnic groups. It is often referred to as the "Giant of Africa", the most populous country in Africa and the seventh most populous country in the world, with roughly 200 million inhabitants. Nigeria has one of the largest populations of youth in the world.
The modern state originated from British colonial rule beginning in the 19th century, and the merging of the Southern Nigeria Protectorate and Northern Nigeria Protectorate in 1914. The British set up administrative and legal structures whilst practising indirect rule through traditional chiefdoms. Nigeria became a formally independent federation in 1960, and plunged into a civil war from 1967 to 1970. It has since alternated between democratically elected civilian governments and military dictatorships, until it achieved a stable democracy in 1999, with the 2011 presidential elections considered to be reasonably free and fair. In May 29, 2015, president Mamudu Buhari a former general and one time military ruler was inaugurated as president.
Dr. Adeniyi Ojutiku is a US based Nigerian resident in North Carolina. A retired academic, he is co founder of Lift Up Now Foundation, a USA registered NGO engaged in developing and disseminating frameworks for sustainable political and democratic governance. He was appointed Gov. Pat MacCrory to represent North Carolina on the Southern Regional Education Board.
Rev Pofi. Rev Pofi was former National chairman of the political and social affairs of the Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN.) He is also the owner co founder of John Pofi Foundation, a Foundation focused on Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) in nigeria due to the Boko Haram terrorist activities and other ethnic and communal conflicts.
HOST: Wuyi Jacobs
PRODUCERS: Wuyi Jacobs, Dennis Kabatto and Ayo Osinibi.
AfrobeatRadio airs live Saturdays from 6:00 to 7:00 PM EST. on WBAI 99.5 FM NYC Pacifica Radio & streams live @ www.wbai.org
Artist: Oumou Sangaré | Track: Yere Faga | Album: Mogoya.
Artist: Layori | Track: Iwa Lewa.


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IT's integration labors just never end, do they?
No sooner does IT catch a breath from integrating all those SaaS apps and the drive toward Big Data than a new challenge comes along: integrating the mobile market.
IDC recently wrote a piece calling the mobile market "the new normal." But here's the funny thing about this new normal: The research firm looked at European enterprises, talking to more than 400 CIOs, IT managers and business decision makers and found 48 percent of those surveyed don't have a strategy for it.
There are actually two major data and integration challenges with mobile devices that IT will need to address.https://o1.qnsr.com/log/p.gif?;n=203;c=204663295;s=11915;x=7936;f=201904081034270;u=j;z=TIMESTAMP;a=20410779;e=i
The first is obvious, and it's the most talked about issue: the mobile work force. That's nothing new. I wrote about that for TechRepublic back in 2001, when the hot mobile devices were laptops, Palms and BlackBerrys.
What's new here is the volume, not just in terms of the types of devices, but how many there are and how many different people have them. Mobile strategy used to be about executives and, if you were really cutting edge, a few salespeople.
But that's changing. Recent research by Google found that in six countries, more than 50 percent of the population owned smartphones. In seven additional countries — including the U.S. — more than 40 percent of the population owns smartphones.
And I'm not going to even look up the statistics on laptop use. Suffice it to say, if my mom is even using a laptop (all 12 pounds of it!), laptop adoption has to be hovering near ubiquitous.
So, IT will have to find a way to support data for more workers and more mobile devices, and that means CIOs will also have to look at supporting adoption for a wider variety of applications, too.
That's not going to be easy, since even the vendors seem to have been caught unawares on this trend.
Julie Craig, who writes about application management for data management consulting and services firm EMA, pointed this out in a recent post.
"Management of mobile endpoints — phones or tablets — is a weak link for most Application Management products, with vendors just starting to provide instrumentation for mobile endpoints," Craig stated.
Craig sees major problems ahead when it comes to application management and four major technology trends: mobile, Big Data, cloud and integration.
"From an Application Management perspective, you have to scratch your head and ask yourself how companies are monitoring and managing these complex interactions," she writes. "And from my conversations with end users, I can tell you that most are doing it at a very superficial level."
What she sees happening right now is a "manual triage" approach that is just not going to cut it.
"Companies attempting to manage complex use cases in this way will likely experience an escalation in the number of 'undiagnosed problems' that are never solved, and which repeat at intermittent intervals," she adds.
As I mentioned earlier, that's just one part of the data and integration problem IT faces as companies move toward a mobile strategy. In my next post, I'll talk about the second piece: the mobile customer.


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NCI Drug Dictionary
The NCI Drug Dictionary contains technical definitions and synonyms for drugs/agents used to treat patients with cancer or conditions related to cancer. Each drug entry includes links to check for clinical trials listed in NCI's List of Cancer Clinical Trials.
- sargramostim
A recombinant therapeutic agent which is chemically identical to or similar to endogenous human GM-CSF. Binding to specific cell surface receptors, sargramostim modulates the proliferation and differentiation of a variety of hematopoietic progenitor cells with some specificity towards stimulation of leukocyte production and may reverse treatment-induced neutropenias. This agent also promotes antigen presentation, up-regulates antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), and increases interleukin-2-mediated lymphokine-activated killer cell function; it may also augment host antitumoral immunity. Check for active clinical trials using this agent. (NCI Thesaurus)
Synonym: 23-L-leucine colony-stimulating factor 2
colony stimulating factor 2
granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor
US brand name: Leukine
Abbreviation: GM CSF
rhu GM-CFS
Code name: DRG-0012


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Whitley Bay earn first away win since October
Whitley Bay ended a run of three consecutive defeats with a hard earned victory in their derby against Newcastle Benfield at Sam Smith's Park.
Coming into the game just three points off the bottom of the table, a win was vital to keep them out of the unfamiliar territory of the relegation zone.
And to the relief of the travelling fans that is exactly what they achieved.
However, with both of the bottom two sides also winning, Bay still have a lot to do to ensure their first division safety.
Whitley gave a debut to striker Paul Kane, recently signed from South Shields, while captain Michael Laws returned to the line-up after missing the midweek defeat to Norton and Stockton.
Chris Youldon, a former Benfield player, was prominent in Bay's early attacks, firing over from a Sam Norris cross and then drilling a shot just wide after dispossessing Benfield's Kieran Wrightson.
Dan Taylor twice had good chances for the hosts but his first attempt was blocked then a few minutes later he blazed the ball high over the bar.
Andy Jennison got down well to block an effort from prolific striker Paul Brayson before Matthew Cornish wasted a good chance for the home side.
A promising move for Whitley Bay was ended when Alex Kempster was brought down a yard outside the penalty area.
But then in first half stoppage time Whitley broke the deadlock with a somewhat fortuitous goal. A shot from Michael Bell took a deflection off Benfield defender Tony Lancaster and fell kindly for Youldon to poke the ball past Grainger with the keeper wrong-footed.
Whitley started the second half strongly and after just 90 seconds a cross from the right by Norris was put behind for a corner by Scorgie at full stretch.
Five minutes later, Bell burst through on goal but his shot was blocked and the ball fell for Kempster whose attempted lob to the back post was intercepted.
Whitley doubled their lead ten minutes into the half with a well constructed goal. Kane received possession midway inside the Benfield half and quickly played the ball from the congested midfield into space on the right edge of the 18-yard box where Norris advanced before striking the ball on the half volley across Grainger and into the far corner of the net.
Whitley were well in control and had opportunities to extend their lead.
Man of the match Youldon shrugged off a challenge before playing the ball through to Kempster who was only denied by a fine save from Grainger.
Two minutes later Kempster drove a shot into the side-netting, but then with 20 minutes remaining, Benfield were thrown a lifeline when a cross from Michael Riley ended up in the Bay net after Richard Flynn miscued his attempted clearance.
It was backs to the wall for the visitors in the next few minutes and it looked as if Benfield might have drawn level when a ball played in from the right by Riley caused confusion in the defence, and in the scramble that followed Brayson almost poked it over the line with the home side appealing for a goal as Laws rescued Whitley with a vital clearance.
Substitute Jack Foalle shot wide in the closing stages and the youngster then set up Youldon but his effort was deflected off target.
The increasingly heavy pitch was took its toll on both sides and while Benfield huffed and puffed in search of an equaliser, Whitley deservedly held on to claim all three points and their first away win since October.
Whitley Bay: Jennison, Gibson, McDonald, Anderson, Laws, Flynn, Norris, Bell, Kane (Foalle 63), Youldon, Kempster. Subs not used: Shanks, Lumsden, Hughes, McFarlane.


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I had the opportunity to travel to Haiti with my church to help rebuild an orphanage that was destroyed by the earthquake. There is much poverty that was there before the quake and now there is great destruction that the people have to deal with. While there I was able to do some street photography which is in this gallery.Read More
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[...its the luck of the Irish mate..]
Beard: Unorthodox - Blitz 1 Black (NEW)
Ears: Mandala - Steking Ears Ver. 2
Hair: Damselfly - Frank @ TMD
Hairbase: Unorthodox - Godd Hair Base Noir (NEW)
Top: ::K:: Spring Cardigan Homme Moss @ TMD
Pants: sharp by [ZD] - Eric Rripped Chinos Sand @ Men Only Monthly
Shoes: .::ILLI::.. Sean w/ HUD
Bird: Grizzly Creek - Cutthroat Finch Perching (gift)
Book: Serenity Style - Leprechaun Story @ Luck of the Irish Gacha Fair
Decor: Serenity Style - Lucky Leprechaun @ Luck of the Irish Gacha Fair
Light: Serenity Style - Light Clover @ Luck of the Irish Gacha Fair
Location: Frisland
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"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." ~ Margaret Mead
When I first read about Knitted Knockers I admit to wincing—kind of a throwback to the bad old days of slang terms for breasts. But by the time I finished reading about the amazing project of Barbara Demorest of Bellingham, Washington I was over it.
It's impossible to go to her website at http://www.knittedknockers.org/ and not come away with admiration and maybe a little energy to make Margaret Mead's observation real in your world.
Here's enough about Knitted Knockers to get you started – either inspired or even better – helping – starting with the need:
- There are over 50,000 mastectomies in the United States alone each year. Breast cancer affects 1 out of every 8 women in their lifetime.
- Knitted Knockers are special handmade breast prosthesis for women who have undergone mastectomies or other procedures to the breast.
- Traditional breast prosthetics are usually expensive, heavy, sweaty, and uncomfortable. They typically require special bras or camisoles with pockets and can't be worn for weeks after surgery.
- Knitted Knockers on the other hand are soft, comfortable, beautiful, and when placed in a regular bra they take the shape and feel of a real breast.
- Knitted knockers can be adjusted to fill the gap for breasts that are uneven and easily adapted for those going through reconstruction by simply removing some of the stuffing.
- Special volunteer knitters provide these free to any one requesting them.
While writing this blog I found a website that outlines "how to" information to start your own volunteer project. Here's the website:
It doesn't have to be Knitted Knockers (although they need help and serve women throughout the U.S). We also know that giving of our time and talent volunteering to help someone else or assisting in a worthy cause increases our own well being.


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Fab Friday at Suda
Join us for Fab Friday - at Süda
The East Side's hottest spot!
Have a cocktail, enjoy the company of other men and make new friends at Fab Friday, this month at Süda. Hang out at the trendy bar inside or relax on the patio outside.
Come early – they serve dinner!
Friday Jan 26 – 7pm to Midnight
18 & over are welcome.
Only 21+ may drink alcohol.
3910 Portola Dr
Santa Cruz, 95062


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Earlier today, The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences released its list of nominees for the 84th annual Academy Awards. Martin Scorsese's Hugo led the field with 11 nominations, while The Artist followed closely with 10. The other big movies on the slate are The Descendents, Moneyball, and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Unfortunately, Andy Serkis was not nominated for his role as Caesar in Rise of the Planet of the Apes, but the movie was nominated for "Best Visual Effects". Check out the list below, courtesy of Oscars.org:
Best Picture
The Artist (The Weinstein Company), Thomas Langmann, Producer
The Descendants (Fox Searchlight Pictures), Jim Burke, Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor, Producers Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (Warner Bros. Pictures), Scott Rudin, Producer
The Help (Touchstone Pictures), Brunson Green, Chris Columbus and Michael Barnathan, Producers Hugo (Paramount Pictures), Graham King and Martin Scorsese, Producers
Midnight in Paris (Sony Pictures Classics), Letty Aronson and Stephen Tenenbaum, Producers
Moneyball (Columbia Pictures), Michael De Luca, Rachael Horovitz and Brad Pitt, Producers
The Tree of Life (Fox Searchlight Pictures), Nominees to be determined
War Horse (Touchstone Pictures), Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy, Producers
Michel Hazanavicius - The Artist
Alexander Payne - The Descendants
Martin Scorsese - Hugo
Woody Allen - Midnight in Paris
Terrence Malick - The Tree of Life
Actor in a Leading Role
Demián Bichir - A Better Life
George Clooney - The Descendants
Jean Dujardin - The Artist
Gary Oldman - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Brad Pitt - Moneyball
Actress in a Leading Role
Glenn Close - Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis - The Help
Rooney Mara - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Meryl Streep - The Iron Lady
Michelle Williams - My Week with Marilyn
Actor in a Supporting Role
Kenneth Branagh - My Week with Marilyn
Jonah Hill - Moneyball
Nick Nolte - Warrior
Christopher Plummer - Beginners
Max von Sydow - Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
Actress in a Supporting Role
Bérénice Bejo - The Artist
Jessica Chastain - The Help
Melissa McCarthy - Bridesmaids
Janet McTeer - Albert Nobbs
Octavia Spencer - The Help
Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
The Descendants, Screenplay by Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash
Hugo, Screenplay by John Logan
The Ides of March, Screenplay by George Clooney & Grant Heslov and Beau Willimon
Moneyball, Screenplay by Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin. Story by Stan Chervin
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Screenplay by Bridget O'Connor & Peter Straughan
Writing (Original Screenplay)
The Artist, Written by Michel Hazanavicius
Bridesmaids, Written by Annie Mumolo & Kristen Wiig
Margin Call, Written by J.C. Chandor
Midnight in Paris, Written by Woody Allen
A Separation, Written by Asghar Farhadi
Foreign Language Film
Bullhead (A Savage Film Production), Belgium
Footnote (Sony Pictures Classics), Israel
In Darkness (Sony Pictures Classics), Poland
Monsieur Lazhar (Music Box Films), Canada
A Separation (Sony Pictures Classics), Iran
Animated Feature Film
A Cat in Paris (GKIDS), Alain Gagnol and Jean-Loup Felicioli
Chico & Rita (GKIDS), Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal
Kung Fu Panda 2 (DreamWorks Animation), Jennifer Yuh Nelson
Puss In Boots (DreamWorks Animation), Chris Miller
Rango (Paramount Pictures), Gore Verbinski
Art Direction
The Artist, Production Design: Laurence Bennett; Set Decoration: Robert Gould
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2, Production Design: Stuart Craig; Set Decoration: Stephenie McMillan
Hugo, Production Design: Dante Ferretti; Set Decoration: Francesca Lo Schiavo
Midnight in Paris, Production Design: Anne Seibel; Set Decoration: Hélène Dubreuil
War Horse, Production Design: Rick Carter; Set Decoration: Lee Sandales
Guillaume Schiffman - The Artist
Jeff Cronenweth - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Robert Richardson - Hugo
Emmanuel Lubezki - The Tree of Life
Janusz Kaminski - War Horse
Costume Design
Lisy Christl - Anonymous
Mark Bridges - The Artist
Sandy Powell - Hugo
Michael O'Connor - Jane Eyre
Arianne Phillips - W.E.
Film Editing
Anne-Sophie Bion and Michel Hazanavicius - The Artist
Kevin Tent - The Descendants
Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Thelma Schoonmaker - Hugo
Christopher Tellefsen - Moneyball
Documentary (Feature)
Hell and Back Again (Docurama Films), Danfung Dennis and Mike Lerner
If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front (Oscilloscope Laboratories), Marshall Curry and Sam Cullman
Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory (A Radical.Media Production), Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky
Pina (Sundance Selects), Wim Wenders and Gian-Piero Ringel
Undefeated (The Weinstein Company), TJ Martin, Dan Lindsay and Richard Middlemas
Albert Nobbs, Martial Corneville, Lynn Johnston and Matthew W. Mungle
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2, Nick Dudman, Amanda Knight and Lisa Tomblin
The Iron Lady, Mark Coulier and J. Roy Helland
Music (Original Score)
John Williams - The Adventures of Tintin
Ludovic Bource - The Artist
Howard Shore - Hugo
Alberto Iglesias - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
John Williams - War Horse
Music (Original Song)
"Man or Muppet" from The Muppets, Music and Lyric by Bret McKenzie
"Real in Rio" from Rio, Music by Sergio Mendes and Carlinhos Brown Lyric by Siedah Garrett
Sound Mixing
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, David Parker, Michael Semanick, Ren Klyce and Bo Persson
Hugo, Tom Fleischman and John Midgley
Moneyball, Deb Adair, Ron Bochar, Dave Giammarco and Ed Novick
Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers, Jeffrey J. Haboush and Peter J. Devlin
War Horse, Gary Rydstrom, Andy Nelson, Tom Johnson and Stuart Wilson
Sound Editing
Drive, Lon Bender and Victor Ray Ennis
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Ren Klyce
Hugo, Philip Stockton and Eugene Gearty
Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Ethan Van der Ryn and Erik Aadahl
War Horse, Richard Hymns and Gary Rydstrom
Visual Effects
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2, Tim Burke, David Vickery, Greg Butler and John Richardson
Hugo, Rob Legato, Joss Williams, Ben Grossman and Alex Henning
Real Steel, Erik Nash, John Rosengrant, Dan Taylor and Swen Gillberg
Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Joe Letteri, Dan Lemmon, R. Christopher White and Daniel Barrett
Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Scott Farrar, Scott Benza, Matthew Butler and John Frazier
Documentary (Short Subject)
The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement, Robin Fryday and Gail Dolgin
God Is the Bigger Elvis, Rebecca Cammisa and Julie Anderson
Incident in New Baghdad, James Spione
Saving Face, Daniel Junge and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy
The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom, Lucy Walker and Kira Carstensen
Short Film (Animated)
Dimanche/Sunday, Patrick Doyon
The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore, William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg
La Luna, Enrico Casarosa
A Morning Stroll, Grant Orchard and Sue Goffe
Wild Life, Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby
Short Film (Live Action)
Pentecost, Peter McDonald and Eimear O'Kane
Raju, Max Zähle and Stefan Gieren
The Shore, Terry George and Oorlagh George
Time Freak, Andrew Bowler and Gigi Causey
Tuba Atlantic, Hallvar Witzø
[via Oscars.org]


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The Challenges of Rapidly Growing Your Business
Once a business has overcome the challenges faced in the startup phase it enters into another difficult period. This period is earmarked as the stage in which scalability and flexibility become the most critical success factors. Rapid growth is a balancing act. Scaling at a speed beyond your company's capabilities can be detrimental to the business success. While scaling to slowly and you risk losing momentum and vital opportunities. As the company grows, it needs to take on relatively large number of people, which pose new talent challenges. As the organisation scales up, the sheer growth can overwhelm organisation leaders. When increasing the size of the organisation, leaders need to focus on developing the right skills for the new positions within the company. Above this, they need to make sure there isn't a vacuum of talent leaving the organisation at this fragile time, while at the same time keeping the company culture that has been nurtured from the beginning.
Challenge one: Finding the right employees
Start ups are only as good as the teams that drive them. Building a team and scaling the people can be one of the biggest challenges a founding team faces as it grows. However, this step is essential to the survival of the company. In fact 75 percent of startups fail to give investor returns. This failure is pegged on the ability of the co-founders to build a team with the right mindset to drive the company forward. When a company is built from the ground up, it takes trust to outsource the responsibility to others. Hiring for culture is important, and cultural match is undoubtedly a factor that cannot be ignored. However, no personality fit can make up for the vacuum an empty position creates when that employee cannot fulfil their roles. Finding employees who have the same motivation, and the same mindset as the co-founders is a difficult task. Traits that co-founder the must be on the lookout for are people who possess the ability to constantly challenge young business system, and constantly be improving and developing themselves. Having these 'out-of-the-box' thinkers benefits the manager and the company, as it provides a diverse mindset that co-founders can lean on when faced with a challenge. The ability to take constructive feedback well and build upon current employee and manager knowledge, nurtures an business environment whereby employees rapidly adapt to new business problems.
Github hires according to their belief that an employee's passion lies in their contribution to society. As Preston-Werner, CEO and co-founder says:
"Do they care about improving as a person? Do they believe in products? In supporting users? In making developers' lives better? In making it easier for people to work together? Are they self-motivated? Do they value communication skills? Do they appreciate the freedom to self-direct and make the best possible decision?"
When Github started, they believed that their people didn't need managers to delegate tasks and for anyone to hold employees accountable. They believed that every employee was driven by the inherent belief that they were passionate by what they did. However, recently the company overhauled its business structure to include managers at every level. Reports have been surfacing that indicate some grumblings within the company. Employees, who were happy with the flat structure now face a system where they have to report to a teammate who used to be a colleague.
One employee reportedly said: "The new CEO is trying to keep everyone happy by not making the hard decisions necessary of leaders." He's been described as someone who "hides in conference rooms" and who is being influenced by an inner circle."
As the company reaches hypergrowth - a business that sees over 65% increase value year on year - it needs a system that supports this type of growth. Bringing on board a hierarchal business approach can be good when the company needs structure, but when employees feel threatened by the impending changes, it may lead to retention issues. During a rapid growth stage, micromanagement drastically reduces the momentum teams have to grow. When the company is small everyone has to have broad range of skills to keep the product up and running. However, when the company gets bigger, it requires bringing in experts and learning to trust them.
Challenge two: Employee Retention
During a rapid growth stage, employee retention can be a challenge, as many employees believe rapid growth can be a threat. A reasonably common failure for startups is to do a great job recruiting the first ten or so employees and then have many of them leave after the first 18 months. Companies build value over long periods of time, and maintaining employees from the start assist the rapid growth of the company. These employees come with the understanding and the ability to portray the purpose and the mission of the company to new employees within the organisation.
Many startups face retention issues, which result from negative attitudes felt by employees. This can include uncertainty about the future of the organization's direction, job security, perceptions of lack of leadership credibility and feelings of confusion due to lack of communication. In essence, employees often lose trust in their organisation and feel betrayed by their leadership when the company lacks a specific direction. During this delicate growth process, it's essential to keep employee turnover low because business continuity is key to realizing the benefits of scaling. There are a number of hurdles a company must overcome when employees jump ship. Financial implications can be dire, especially during the scaling process. When employees leave, it creates a brain drain of knowledge. Taking the already pressured time from other employees to train the new employees can have long lasting effects on the company in the long run and causes the young start up to trip and stumble. What's more, employee turnover can result in loss customer relationships.
Once seen as a service so fundamental that it simply needed to exist, Twitter has since started to falter. A stream of characters was how people would find the most crucial, critical and thought-provoking stories in the moment. However, recently the company has seen its own growing pains, as employees publicly questioned the direction the ex-CEO, Dick Costolo, would be taking the company. Worryingly the company has recently lost a number of key executives as the pressures of growth and internal company dynamics have created a public crises.
In a desperate attempt to clamp down on its already hemorrhaging retention wound, Twitter has started offering payouts between $50 000 and $200 000 to current employees. These "retention" packages are offered in the form of restricted stock - stock of a company that is not fully transferable until certain conditions have been met - with a clause stipulating the employee remains at the company for at least six months to a year. However, very little appears to have changed in the intervening months. Reviews on the Glassdoor, show that the company is done very little in the way of rectifying its management policies. A number of the employees say that the company is " not a happy workplace" and one said, "it's a very political climate".
Twitter, which has seen its share price fall more than 50 percent in 2015, has started refocus on its employees. Jack Dorsey, the co-founder and CEO of Twitter, told Vanity Fair, that "developing and retaining top talent is critical to Twitter's business success and to rebuilding shareholder value".
Recruiting and retaining top talent is only a part of the scaling challenge. Once recruitment and retention strategies are implemented, it's up to the co-founders to hash out what the company stands for, the values and the beliefs the company wishes to portray. How to communicate these core fundamentals is determined by the culture these authors create.
Challenge three: Maintaining culture
Good startup executives keep their fingers on the pulse of the finances and business mechanics of their companies. They are always seeking growth, developing an exit strategy, and working to increase their market share. While these are critical to a startup's longevity, equally crucial is internal stability, and a motivated and productive workforce. Rapid growth can yield profit and investment wins, but in the startup world, extremely fast growth can lead to structural problems if the corporate culture fails to grow at the same pace. According to Deloitte, 87 percent of SMBs rated company culture and employee engagement as important or very important, yet 59 percent felt they weren't culturally ready.
Company culture is an emergent quality of the communication style and practices of the people in the organisation. Culture usually stems from the co-founders of the company, and grows out from there. As new people join the company, they embrace this culture that is nurtured from day one. Once a company grows to a level in which people have less time for each other, it becomes more difficult to maintain the core values and beliefs the company was built. For example, if people are brought on specifically for their skills set, it will naturally dilute the culture. It's typically around the twenty person mark that founders start feeling some concern about their company culture and how to go about maintaining what they love about the culture while the company continues to scale. Setting the mission, vision and core values become a priority, as a company with a lack of culture focus, can end up losing steam during its scaling period.
Startups that establish and cheerlead core values to maintain stability for their teams and maintain focus on the core mission, enjoy long term success. In a recent Bersin study, it found that companies who focused on their culture are 80 percent more likely to have engaged employees. Darius John Mirshahzadeh, President of the Endeavor America Loan Services believes that once employees are hired, they adopt the values of the company immediately. By implementing daily and weekly, "Huddles", the company ensures its people constantly remain on the same page. In addition to this, the company makes use of incentive and reward software, to make sure everyone is recognised for the work they do. And this level of culture commitment is showing, as the company has over 90 percent overall retention rates, and continues to add employees and offices that are in sync with each other.
It's important to accept there is no one size fits all culture for startups. If the person in the team doesn't fit, then the co-founders should make the decision about who stays and who goes. Win Cramer, president and Founder of Jlab Audio, says that there is nothing more problematic to the culture of fast growth then a person that just doesn't fit in.
Recently, Zenefits, has had its fair share of news headlines. The company offers cloud HR management software and makes most of its money selling HR-related benefits. It was this unique business model that sent the company into a rapid cycle of growth. In its first two years of operating, the company reached a $4.5 billion in valuation. However, of late, the company has seen its CEO step down, and the company lay off 250 employees. David Sacks, the new CEO, issued a statement, stating "it's no secret that zenefits grew too fast, stretching both our culture and our control"
The company, which was labeled as the fastest growing subscription software business in Silicon Valley, had a culture that oozed a frat like ideologies of drinking, smoking and having sex in inappropriate places (such as company stairwells). However, the culture soon came under scrutiny. Zenefits was investigated for allegedly allowing insurance brokers to cut short mandatory requirements to obtain a license, so they could join the Zenefits ecosystem quicker. Following this, Sacks made a statement that said:
"Our culture and tone have been inappropriate for a highly regulated company [...] we must have integrity in the way we treat each other and must make zenefits a great place to work for employees, because we're all in this together."
When companies grow quickly, it's a challenge to keep the culture in check. In Zenefits case, the focus was on output, which saw the culture fall behind. In some cases, it's vital that the company culture reflect the industry in which the business operates in. As in this case, insurance is a highly regulated and highly bureaucratic system, and not having certain aspects that reflect these aspects can hurt the company. By realigning the company culture to reflect a highly moderated industry, David Sacks realised that there was a need to reign in some of the detrimental aspects the company culture had on the growth of the business.
Company culture is a hot topic in today's business world, and getting it right is imperative to the long term success of the business. When co-founders understand the true values and beliefs that drive the company, its easier to employ people who have the same beliefs. Today, employees have more bargaining power and are free to jump ship whenever they feel the company does not live up to their expectations.
Solution: Impraise
Rapid Growth comes with a series of challenges a company must face in order to be successful. When a company goes through this stage, it must clearly define and understand what roles they require and the employee they need. A good way to do this is to implement a performance review process, such as the platform Impraise offers, from the beginning to understand the key strengths and weaknesses of each stakeholder in the company. From here, the co-founders can easily determine which skills to hire for and which employees would be best suited to the culture. Once these employees are successfully integrated into the culture of the organisation, a company can open up the channels of communication to better help employees understand how the business is developing and where each employees can help to get better business results. Manager reviews can give employees direct oversight of how they see their manager performing. Implementing this can gives managers to fully understand how they are developing their skills as leaders and rectify any issues that might occur quickly and continuously.
Photo Credit: Crossroads foundation


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Oh, dear.... February funk?! That's possibly what's happening to me.
Life is wonderful - lots of good things happening. In fact, I'd say that the family is moving forward through winter better than we usually do. The three biggest men went off winter camping, this week, no less - talk about drive and determination!!! Not for me, though.... I want to stay by the fire, fuddle around the house or work on photography.
I mean, anyone know what I'm a-talkin' about?!
I mean, anyone know what I'm a-talkin' about?!
And speaking of photography.... I do appreciate these quiet winter days. What a great opportunity to improve my post processing skills and to work on indoor photography (food and flowers in the 'studio')! But, do you ever feel like you could be pushing yourself harder? Like time is slipping by and it's so golden, you don't want to miss a bit of it?
and, yet....even though I feel like I could stretch farther, I've learned so much, this month.
But, there came this moment when the technical got too much for me. I probably should have just taken a break and walked away but I thought I'd go work on something else and the technical kicked me there, too. I went on to another frustration and, finally, decided I'd do a niiiiice and eeeeeasy flower. A simple flower! That's the ticket!
I put on Pandora radio to my cheery vintage station and the first song that came up was this:
It brought such a smile to my face...
...and I worked on my flower and didn't care and played and played and breathed and... I learned SO much...
...and it was FUN!
Stormy weather is past... even though,
it just started to snow again.
Stormy weather is past... even though,
it just started to snow again.


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What size prints will we get?
1-4x6 print or 2-2x6 strips with Unlimited Sittings
What kind of props are included in Basic Props? How many pieces?
All rentals will include an assortment of 30 or more props. Fun props such as hats, sunglasses, mustaches, masks, inflatables, novelty items, signs, etc. Upgrade to add themed props on top of the 30 props for $50 for 5 pieces.
How much space do you need?
We ask for a 9x6 space
What kind of Backdrops do you provide?
A white backdrop is provided with all booths. You may upgrade to a Gold Sequins or Gray + White Chevron Backdrop. As we build our backdrop options we are happy to take your requests and will do what we can to accommodate.
Do I need to provide a table?
No, we will provide a table for the props with a black table cloth.
How many props are included with the Custom Prop upgrade?
5 for the $50.
What is included with a Scrapbook Station?
12"x 12" scrapbook, Metallic Colored Markers, Non-corrosive roll-on adhesive + Black card stock. The attendant will assist in the assembly to make sure your book stays organized and utilizes the most space on the pages.
Do you need anything from the venue to set up?
Anza Foto Booth needs to be near an outlet and requires 110-120 Volts AC power
How does the Social Media Station work?
We will need to have acces to wifi through the venue for Social Media integration to work.
What Filter Options are available?
We can do Color, Black + White or Sepia filters for your prints
Do you charge a travel fee?
There will be no travel fees for anywhere within San Diego County, although anywhere outside may tack on a small fee depending on the distance.
How long does it take to set up the booth?
It takes approximately 30 minutes to an hour. We will arrive 1 hour prior to make sure it is set up and ready to go (this is not a charge and will not be part of your package hours)
Are you affiliated with Anza Foto + Film?
Yes! We are happy to say Anza Foto Booth is an extension of Anza Foto + Film, a San Diego based wedding photography + videography company. You can find our photography and videography work at Anzafotofilm.com


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Pregnancy And Diabetes
Only a few know that diabetes and pregnancy have a strong connection. Well, if you are going to step into the all new world, it is important you learn a little more about it. Read on here to know more.
It definitely brings forth lots of happiness. But, it is full of challenges. There is a lot you need to take care of. And, it becomes more difficult when you have diabetes.
It is defined as a condition when the amount of sugar level in the blood becomes too high. Basically, glucose comes from the digestion of starchy foods, like bread and rice. Your pancreas produces a hormone – insulin, which helps the body to use glucose for energy.
The pregnant (or planning to be) women can be affected by three types of diabetes, i.e. type 1 and type 2 diabetes. While these both are long-term conditions and are considered to be pre-existing diabetes. There is another type, which develops only in pregnancy and end up after the baby is born. It is termed to be Gestational diabetes.
A Little More About Gestational Diabetes
As stated earlier, this kind of diabetes occurs only in pregnancy. Although, it can occur in any stage of pregnancy, yet it is highly common in the second half. The reason being, in that duration your body fails to produce enough extra insulin in order to meet the demands of pregnancy. After the delivery, gestational diabetes goes away as the pancreas start producing appropriate amount of insulin.
Although most women with diabetes deliver a healthy baby, yet diabetes is said to add higher risk of some complications.
How To Know If You Have Gestational Diabetes?
As far as the symptoms are considered, gestational diabetes doesn't produce some specific characteristics. Therefore, doctors advise all the pregnant women to have a glucose-screening test between 24 and 28 weeks.
In case, you're at high risk of diabetes and/or are experiencing some signs of it, like having sugar in your urine, you need to go for screening test at the first prenatal visit. The test needs to be repeated again at 24 to 28 weeks in the case of initial result comes to be negative.
What if you get a positive result on the glucose-screening test? Don't panic! It is not necessary you have gestational diabetes. But, now you need to take a longer follow-up test to examine the problem.
Are You At High Risk For Gestational Diabetes?
Although it is advisable to go for the screening test from time to time, yet you can consider yourself to be at high risk of gestational diabetes if you find one or more characteristics in you:
• You are overweight. Generally, women with body mass index over 30 are more suspected to it.
• In case it is your second pregnancy and you've had gestational diabetes previously.
• You have high sugar in your urine.
• For those having a strong family history of diabetes are more prone to it.
• If you have had an unexplained stillbirth or a baby with a birth defect earlier
• Those having high blood pressure and are over 35.
What To Do To Prevent Gestational Diabetes?
You must consult your doctors regularly. Meanwhile, you can follow the below listed tips to reduce the risk of getting gestational diabetes. Have a look:
Eating Healthily: It is quite obvious that in pregnancy you need to plan your meals wisely. But when you are suspected to gestational diabetes, you need to add slow-release carbohydrates, for example brown rice and wholegrain pasta. Avoid fatty meats with lean protein, like chicken, fish and pulses.
Exercise: Following a healthily diet chart is not sufficient. In order control your blood sugar levels adding an exercise regime is recommended. Different sorts of exercise can be considered during pregnancy like yoga, swimming, or brisk walking.
Sleep well: A good sleep is much required. Don't miss at any cost!
I want to share my experience with using Dr.numb. I tried nearly every other product when I got my tattoo work done and nothing, I mean absolutely nothing worked like Dr. Numbs cream. it honestly is the best on the market and I want to thank Dr.numb for having a solution to the pain. Thanks Dr. Numb!
I love this cream it works wonders. I was able to lay of the table while he worked on my tattoo for about 2 hours before I needed a break for a smoke. Great product!!
Wonderful for tattoos! Really helps with longer sessions. Applied thick and can't feel a thing. Would definitely recommend!
This is the 3rd time I have purchased this cream I like it a lot it does work just wrap the are for 30 minutes and done you won't feel a thing I have 3 big tattoos and I felt no pain using it
This stuff really does work and is well worth the $$. FYI, the longer you leave it on before a tattoo, the longer it lasts!!


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Amongst many games that have rattled the gaming world, Paladins is one of them. Although many players have been playing this game on Steam, this game is not that simple to go through. In the game, you get to choose your favorite character, but the problem is the choice you have to make is a huge list, and that is what makes it almost impossible to choose the right character at one go that will be suitable for your style of playing. This is why knowing the Paladins Champions will help you in and out.
Front Line
Amongst the Paladins Champions available in the game, front line battle characters are the best as they can absorb the enemy attack and stop them from rushing in. If you love to be a part of the action all the time, then you need to choose one of the characters of front line fighters. Although there have been a lot of characters available in the first line category, lately 2 of these characters have come into the limelight.
Inara has been amongst the Paladins Champions who can bring survivability and utility to your gameplay. She can block out her opponents attack with several different techniques. If you want a mobile troop, then she might not be the best choice as she is proficient in guarding a single spot for a longer period of time. The main advantage of having her in your team is that she can help you take a lot of hits with the proper setup, but you will need to make sure that you are healed by Mal'damba or Ying. If this is the scenario, you can certainly stay at a fixed location for a longer time, and no one can take you out.
- Stone Spear: it can fire three projectiles at a time. It can deal almost 225 damages at max.
- Earthen Guard: if you use this power, you will have five secs of increased healing and reduced damage.
- Impasse: it will make a wall stand in the enemy path for five secs
- Seismic Crush: if you can throw your spears correctly, it can deal 500 damages, and the impact will last for two secs.
Ash is another famous Paladins Champions. Players, who played with her, have said that she is more like Fernando and may be better than Inara. The dash ability of Ash is excellent and so is her damage, but the shields are not as effective as they should be. The LMB has good range, but not well against the enemy who is on the higher ground. The point control of the champion is magnificent.
- Burst Canon: it's firing shrapnel really, and it can deal 400 damage.
- Kinetic Burst: this is a booster for Canon burst. It can only boost the next shrapnel fire
- Siege Shield: this deploys a 5000 health shield which lasts for only six secs.
- Shoulder Ash: this is a pretty easy technique to go with, but can be useful too.
So, as you can see the all new champions are up and running as well. They are really good and can be great when it comes to your front line defense. This is the time that you choose either Ash or Inara as your defender and start your game a step ahead. One more thing, each of character have a bunch of skins, which you can buy or receive thanks, Paladins Codes. For more information about skins, check the official website.


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The 2019 Hyundai SANTA FE XL. A full-size crossover that doesn't feel utilitarian. Three rows. Seven passengers. No unhappy campers! A smarter crossover...starting with Driver Selectable Steering modes (comfort, normal, or sport). Smarter second row seating with either a 40/20/40 split-fold, or available twin captains' chairs. Smarter cargo space (over 80 cubic feet), more than Highlander or Durango. Three engine options, from a 190HP base up to a 290HP V-6 with direct-injection. The 2018 Santa Fe has earned a 5 star safety rating from the NHTSA. Technology abounds...many items standard, some are optional, including a 360* camera. The Hyundai SANTA FE XL LIMITED ULTIMATE AWD with the optional rear bumper applique, cargo net, cargo cover, first aid kit, carpeted floor mats, and cargo tray, from the manufacturer with America's best warranty, backed with quality vehicles that are highly tested. It's a company that's supplying over 94,000 jobs in the USA. Hyundai. A brand name that you can trust.
Limited powertrain warranty- 10 years/100,000 miles or whichever comes first Limited new vehicle warranty- 5 years/60,000 miles or whichever comes first Anti-perforation warranty- 7 years/unlimited miles 24 hour roadside assistance- 5 years/ unlimited miles
Call C & S Hyundai toll free at 866-212-8718 or locally at 319-291-7321.


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Vegas Family Travel was born out of love for the city and all it has to offer. Founder, Billie Hillier, would see discussions in Facebook groups of people who would state that "I would never take my family to Vegas!!!"
While our 24/7 city offers those who want to take part in the nightlife and gambling scene, there is so much more to our city and surrounding area.
Vegas Family Travel offers locals and out of state travelers information to find the best deals, find the best attractions for their family, and most importantly… have a great vacation (or staycation for locals).
With a love for food and travel (with Billie's blog Menu of Musings), this site was "waiting to be born."


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Christianity is being a follower of Jesus Christ. That means a Christian is someone who knows Jesus and is trying to be like him. However, those who seriously attempt to be like Jesus discover that such a thing is impossible. We all fall far short of the standard Jesus proclaimed and demonstrated. In the Bible such shortcomings are called sin. Sin causes us to be separated from God, and to deserve the punishment of death – spiritual death. But Jesus not only lived a perfect life, He also died for those who can't live up to his standard. Jesus paid the punishment we deserve when He died, so now we can be brought into a relationship with God and empowered by God to live like Jesus. "Christians" are those who have such a transforming relationship with God. They have completely trusted Jesus' death as a substitute their own and have given their lives entirely to Him as their Master.
If you want to know more about Jesus as your Lord and Savior or have recently become a Christian and would like to be baptized please contact us and we'd be happy to help you.


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Australia's government is reviewing the way water is distributed in the southeast of the country.
Two rivers - the Murray and Darling - provide much of the water supply for the hundreds of thousands of Australians. Most live in the city of Adelaide and surrounding rural towns.
Australia's outback is usually dusty and dry. However, the Meindee Lakes are an exception: they have more water now than they have had in years following an unusually wet few months.
It is good news for tourist operations such as Lady River Tours of Robert Gregory.
"The lakes look great and it's really good for the town," said Gregory, who runs boat tours for bird watchers. "Tourists come in and spend money, which keeps the economy buzzing."
A plan was introduced five years ago to stop farmers upstream from taking too much water to protect communities and wildlife downstream. Now, a U-turn in policy is being considered.
Environmentalists say communities upstream take so much water that it damages wetlands and ecosystems downstream. It also reduces the amount of water that downstream towns such as Broken Hill and cities, particularly Adelaide, rely on.
"Irrigation as an industry has a huge role to play in terms of keeping the communities vibrant. So how much can you continue to take?" Tony Thompson, a cotton farmer, told Al Jazeera.
Barnaby Joyce, Australia's agriculture and water minister, has backed a review calling for a reduction in the plan's targets. He has also promised to look at how water-allocation decisions affect rural communities.
But downstream - at the other end of the river - local politicians and environmentalists want the current plan to be more ambitious, for rivers to flow more in line with their original courses.
Clearly, Australia's water wars have some way to run.


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It is that time of the year and the due date (31 July 2017) for filing income tax return is approaching. Here is a quick checklist for you to start filing your income tax return and complete it in one go.
- Have your PAN ready
- Make sure you have an Aadhaar card
- Get Form 16 from your employer
- Use Form 26AS
- Collect details of your assets if your income exceeds ₹50 lakh
- Download bank statements
- Gather proof of investments
Reach out to a ClearTax Expert if you need further help.
A detailed version of this article was published in The Huffington Post on 2 June 2017.