text:
Our February 2003 Newsletter:..
What is Old is New Again: The IRS and Offshore Tax Hunting. Dominican Republic Real Estate Seminar.
The theme of this issue seems to be the IRS and YOU, or what I like to call The Hunt For Red October . We did not plan on focusing on this topic, but we have been bombarded with emails about recent news stories involving offshore credit cards, IRS tactics and so on - that it looks like the subject is certainly worth addressing..
IRS OFFERING DEAL TO OFFSHORE TAX CHEATS - Tuesday, January 14, 2003
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Internal Revenue Service, hoping to recapture tax money lost through the use of offshore financial dodges, is offering violators a chance to escape prosecution if they come clean -- and give the IRS information on people who promote the illegal practices. To qualify under the program, taxpayers who have used offshore payment cards or other offshore financial arrangements to hide taxable income must first report the income; second, pay any back taxes, interest, and some "accuracy or delinquency" penalties; and, finally, give the IRS complete information about promoters of the suspect arrangements. Taxpayers who formally request to participate in the program -- named the Offshore Voluntary Compliance Initiative -- by April 15 will be able to avoid criminal prosecution, as well as civil fraud and information return penalties. The IRS estimates that thousands of U.S. citizens may be purposefully avoiding taxes through such practices as transferring unreported income to foreign financial institutions and then using credit, debit, or charge cards issued by those institutions to spend the money. Holding the cards is not illegal, the IRS said, but using them and foreign institutions to hide income is..
The government estimates that 1 million U.S. citizens hold undisclosed credit cards from offshore banks. While the cards are not illegal, the law requires taxpayers to report ownership of foreign accounts. Bank secrecy laws in 30 tax-haven countries have enabled people to hide large incomes, and evade U.S. income taxes, while living lavishly with their plastic. The IRS began obtaining records in 2000 from Visa, MasterCard and American Express to target people for audits and prosecution for tax evasion. The IRS so far has about 1,000 active cases, including names of prominent and famous Americans, congressional sources said Monday..
One tax lawyer said prosecuting the people who market such arrangements could be difficult, because the cards and accounts are legal. The burden arguably is on the taxpayer to report the arrangements and the income, said Jacob I. Friedman, chairman of the tax committee at the law firm Proskauer Rose in New York. But if the customers go away, it doesn't pay for (the marketers to continue, which would solve the IRS's problem, he said. As part of the new initiative, the IRS also will watch the filing of amended tax returns closely. Taxpayers trying to disclose their offshore income this way still will be prosecuted, IRS officials said..
Before I pass comment on the above, I would like to offer the following recent news story:
IRS COMMITED FRAUD, APPEALS COURT RULES - By Rhea Davis, Associated Press, January 19,2003
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A federal appeals court has ruled the Internal Revenue Service committed fraud and acted deceptively after giving secret deals to two pilots in return for their testimony against 1,300 other pilots who had bought into the same tax shelters. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday overturned a previous ruling against the pilots who were found guilty of tax evasion and were ordered to pay more than $2 billion in penalties. In order to remedy the IRS misconduct, the court ordered that all the pilots should receive the same deal that one of the pilots received. As part of the secret deal, pilot John Thompson escaped paying the taxes he owed and received a $60,000 refund through falsified tax returns prepared with HELP FROM THE IRS. Thompson used the refund to pay his legal fees. He also collected $20,000 in interest, according to the ruling. The second pilot, John Cravens, also received a secret deal. IRS lawyers Kenneth McWade and William Sims, who prosecuted the case, never revealed to the tax court that the two pilots' cases had been settled, much less revealed the conditions of the settlement. The appeals court said the lawyers' silence turned into outright misconduct when, during a trial, it became apparent that Thompson was going to testify about his settlement and McWade quickly shifted his question to unrelated topics. The ruling requires the IRS to pay tens of million of dollars in tax refunds, interest and legal fees to the pilots who paid the disputed taxes more than 20 years ago. The court criticized the IRS for not taking serious action against the lawyers who tried the case. McWade and Sims were suspended for two weeks without pay. They both insisted in testimony that they had behaved properly. The IRS office in northern California did not immediately respond to requests for comment Sunday. The group of pilots participated in an investment program and tax shelter designed by now-deceased Honolulu businessman Henry Kersting who claimed the shelter was a legitimate investment. The program allowed the pilots to purchase stock with loans from Kersting-controlled entities that were financed with promissory notes. The investment enabled participates to claim interest deductions on their individual tax returns, according to the court. The IRS discovered the scheme in 1981 and did not allow the deductions and sent bills to the pilots for additional taxes and penalties..
EDITORS NOTE: Now we get to the real impetus behind this as stated in the news article from the Philadelphia Inquirer and elsewhere. Which is to say, POINT NUMBER ONE: Owning or having a credit card (or any other kind of such card, meaning debit cards as well) from a non US bank is 100% legal for US citizens - Thanks for telling us something we already did know. POINT NUMBER TWO: what they really want to do is now somehow put pressures on non US Banks and anyone else offering or assisting with such card accounts to stop doing so (helping US citizens obtain credit or debit cards from non US banking institutions) - again something which is NOT illegal. POINT NUMBER THREE: The IRS does not follow the law, or shall we say, good or ethical conduct in how it behaves, never mind pointing such a finger at others, as demonstrated by the US Court of Appeals ruling mentioned above. In fact, the exact word used was FRAUD..
There seems to be some kind or implied threat here in terms of any bank or other (attorneys, accountants, and others) that somehow assist US citizens either with offshore trust, companies, banking or whatever. It is not completely clear what the threat is, other than of course the taxpayer gets some sort of reward or lenient treatment for coughing up a confession of some sort. But how can you justify threatening someone who is not doing something illegal (providing legal services such as incorporation services completely within the law, or banking services also completely within the law)? Furthermore, what about the vast majority of cases whereby such persons (accountants, attorneys, bankers, etc.) have no requirement to report such accounts (of clients) to anyone (in many cases not even the local government, never mind any foreign government)? They say desperate men (or governments) often take desperate measures (and throw the law and reason out the window in the process). If this does not convince anyone that the US government must be pretty hard up for tax revenue (and pretty well frightened as well), then I do not what else will. In other words, despite the sound bites and rhetoric, they must be broke or well on their way (and they know it). What else is the reason for such tactics? It has already been reported that about 35 US States are operating at a cash flow deficit and many have already announced an increase in income and other kinds of taxes. And that is just at the local State level, so what about the US Federal Government? How broke or in the red are they really? Is the economy really improving, or are the public sound bites something different than the actual truth (which they might NOT be saying)?.
To recap all of this, owning such cards are perfectly legal for US citizens, with the only issue being that US Citizens are required to report the ownership of such cards or such accounts, which holds true for a number of other matters, meaning non US bank accounts, investment accounts and so on. However, the sticky wicket, if you will, is that it is very difficult if not impossible to glean such information from the banks or government agencies in those jurisdictions where such accounts might be held. In addition, the waters get a bit muddied when we start getting into technicalities about who actually owns such accounts, the US citizen (in their own name) or someone else? In other words, let us suppose you are working or are a consultant for a non-US company, and the company issues you a corporate visa card? Does this mean you, as a US citizen, have a tax and reporting issue because you have use of a company charge card? Regardless, we know have a new game plan, which is to first try and glean such information from the credit card transaction processors themselves, which are US companies by the way (Visa, MasterCard and Amex), and scare taxpayers as well (we know who you are and we will get you, unless of course you confess first). My question is, if they know you are doing something illegal and have the evidence, why announce it? Why not simply lock everyone up that fits this situation or audit everyone that fits this profile? Do they really know or are they just on a public fishing campaign?.
Along these lines, it is very important to understand how credit cards work and the relationships between the transaction processors (Visa, MasterCard and American Express) and the non-US banks that might issue such cards. First and foremost, it is a misnomer to call these companies - credit card companies, because they do not issue credit, at least not to individual consumers. What they do instead is to offer a franchise right to banking institutions to become a member of the card network, and the banks themselves accept credit applications from customers (and print nice little plastic cards with the bank's name on it, along with the Visa logo, or whatever). So, in reality, the so-called US Credit Card Companies do not have any direct detailed information about individual cardholders, and neither do they care. After all, it is the individual bank that issues the card and not Visa (using Visa as just one example), and it is also the bank that is on the hook if the client does not pay off his debit balance. So, in terms of personal credit history and other information about the cardholder, all of this information sits with the issuing bank, which might be offshore and which might be in a jurisdiction that prohibits turning over private clients information to foreign governments (or anyone else for that matter)..
So, what does Visa or MasterCard know? To be quite plain, only what you tell them, or what the merchant you buy from - tells them. In other words, companies like Visa and MasterCard process the transactions and connect the bank to the merchant (and vice-versa) for payment. They could care less if cardholder number 12345678 is a German, a South African or a one-eyed monster from Mars. In fact, they themselves do not really know if someone with a Visa Charge Card is in fact a one-eyed monster from Mars - ONLY the bank issuing the card knows, and they are not talking. So, how is it that Visa and MasterCard have damaging information in their records? Well, they only know what goes through the pipeline in concert with whatever transactions takes place, and that itself is not 100% proof of anything either- and I will offer two points the IRS will touch upon to prove linkage between a card holder who may (and I would like to emphasis MAY) be a US citizen. In addition, I would also like to illustrate the problems at hand as well..
For example, Jaime Lopez (second cousin to Coco Lopez) is visiting his niece in Miami (Lopi Lopez) and uses his Visa Card to buy his niece dinner one day at a very fancy restaurant. So, aha, the IRS now has a record of a Visa Card issued by a non-US bank being used inside of the US at a luxury restaurant no less. But, poor Jaime is a Jazz Musician from Lima, Peru simply on vacation in Miami. So, does a US based credit card charge transaction (involving a card issued by a non-US bank) indicate that the user of the card is a US citizen evading taxes? You decide, but this is flashpoint number one and criteria number one for database sorting by the IRS (you have got to have some sorting mechanism because you can only imagine the number of transactions going through the Visa and MasterCard computer systems on a monthly basis). Although, the IRS has said previously that they will focus on high-end purchases involving non-US bankcards made inside the US (as if everyone is running out to buy Rolex watches). Of course, you do have a large number of foreign tourists using their charge cards in general inside the US, so you can imagine what that list must look like in terms of the magnitude of names on it..
Example number two, our hero Jaime decides since he has three weeks to kill staying at his nieces house in Miami, and thus decides to buy some Jazz CD's from Amazon and provide his niece's Miami mailing address for delivery. Aha, flashpoint number two, a US address being provided for a credit card transaction involving a credit card issued by a non-US bank. Does this mean that Jaime MUST be a US citizen evading taxes? Maybe and maybe not, but for sure poor Jaime will most certainly appear on the IRS database print out. His poor niece - they will probably try and place a tax lien on her house. Oh well, life in America..
In any event, you now have the two top scanning criteria and the possible problems with it. However, the address thing is probably the most crucial, and what will be the strongest issue, I think. So, for example, any PERSON with a card from a non US bank that has also provided a US address to receive monthly statements and or has indicated a US address on transactions whereby an address is asked or required, will for sure pop up on this wonderful IRS credit card list. So, now you know who might be on the list, and it is a very big list to be sure (and why it would be much easier to scare people into coming forward on their own than to spend thousands of hours trying to follow up on all this). With that said, or perhaps conversely, I can say with some certainty who I think will NOT be on the list (here is goes): US citizens that established a credit card account offshore and did NOT provide a US address for statement purposes to the bank, or for transaction purposes (when they charged something) - US citizens who only used such cards at US ATM machines, which falls into line with the previous comment. Also, US citizens whom have obtained residency and or citizenship in another country and used that as a basis for establishing accounts (which to some extent, goes back to the previous as well because the address thing especially is quite crucial considering that citizenship does NOT come into play when you use a credit card - which is to say, no one asks your nationality and it is not part of the data going though the Visa and MasterCard computer systems during the normal course of transaction processing). Although, getting a valid and legal second citizenship is very important for your own financial survival as a very smart long-term idea anyway..
Another interesting issue with all of this is the ANONYMOUS Debit and Credit Cards now available. Which is to say, in relation to the above, that the ONLY information going through the MasterCard and Visa computer systems in a transaction with a number only (no name, no address, nada - unless of course it is asked for on included as part of the merchant transaction). Thus making it even more difficult to pinpoint account ownership (specifically in terms of citizenship of the card holder). However, there certainly are some drawbacks to this kind of card, such as when using it for car rentals, airline tickets and any transaction whereby identity is an issue. Although, I will say that I have purchased airline tickets for other family members (that have a different last name) over the telephone, which leads me to believe that the air carriers could care less provided the card goes through and they get paid. In any event, it is certainly true that restaurants rarely ask for ID and small businesses, the same thing. Also, ATM machines as well. So, there are some practical uses for these anonymous cards, but the biggest benefit of all is privacy. The official argument against such cards is that it is a mechanism for terrorists, drug dealers and so on. Perhaps, but that is similar to saying that terrorists and drug dealers have a tendency to use cell phones, therefore everyone with a cell phone might be a potential bad guy (and come under scrutiny as a result)..
At the end of the day, what is it all about? It is to catch and jail terrorists, drug dealers, evil lawyers and offshore financial planners or perhaps even wayward Star Trek fans? You decide, but remember that things like offshore trusts, offshore companies and offshore bank accounts have been around for years (much longer than I have been alive for sure). So, why is it such a sticking point now? The only common denominator seems to be money, or lack thereof in regards to the US government, and they want it. The question then is, despite all of the positive comments about the economy and special tax cuts - what do they really know that we do not, and why is this such a hot issue now (offshore accounts, credit cards, etc.)?.
One of our readers sent in the following news article and the person also added the additional comments: I thought you might find this link relative to your newsletter. I would suggest to all your avid readers that making a change in life style, such as changing their address, or where they bank could make more sense now then later..
ACLU REPORT: US HEADING TOWARD BIG BROTHER SOCIETY - By David Kravets, Associated Press Legal Affairs Writer
Spurred by loosened legal standards following the 2001 terrorist attacks, the United States is evolving into a Big Brother society as technology advances and surveillance grows, the American Civil Liberties Union warned in a report released Wednesday. The report, titled "Bigger Monster, Weaker Chains: The Growth of an American Surveillance Society," says Americans' privacy and liberty are at risk..
Dear John: I contacted you a couple of years ago about investing in Costa Rica on the phone. It was not the Mendoza Brothers, but the Vehalobos Brothers, and Savings Unlimited that ran with the ex-pats money. I spoke with you on the phone regarding these high-risk investments with over 30% returns. And you asked me how I was going to enforce collection to get my initial investment back - I realized if it sounds to good to be true, watch out! Thanks for saving me over $100,000..
EDITORS REPLY: Well, I cannot do too much about all of the scam artists out there, but I do think if you simply use some common sense (and not emotions or greed), then at least you can make a sound decision about what you are doing. On that note, we have gotten a number of inquires from people claiming to be involved with some sort of financial deal in Nigeria or some other African country, whereby there are promises of a financial windfall, etc. I try to counsel people as best as I can, but almost all insist the big payday is coming - after many have already shelled out US$50,000 or more. In any event, read the following news article for a CNN reporters opinion on these type of offers:.
Another Reader Writes:
Hi John: Excellent newsletter. I always look forward to receiving it.
EDITORS REPLY: Thank you for the positive comments. I enjoy writing it.
Another Reader Writes:
John: I was reading your latest newsletter with great interest, as usual, and happened across the question sent to you regarding the movement of funds from the US to foreign bank accounts. I was wondering what your opinion is of the various internet based, precious metal depositories that are now available such as E-Gold and the many others that are out there. Funds transferred to these entities can be done using money orders and numbered accounts with virtual anonymity. Once on deposit, those same funds are backed by whatever precious metal you choose and they can then be accessed from (or sent to) anywhere in the world via the stroke of a few keys on secure web sites. These companies have in essence created alternative metal-based currencies without the border limitations of nation state based currencies yet they can be converted and cashed out in whatever currency you desire..
If I am correct E-Gold was begun in New York and, and after being harassed by the bureaucrats here in the states, moved to the island of Nevis. I think it is a neat idea and would like to hear your views in case I am missing something. Thanks for the great newsletter!
EDITORS REPLY: Well, I am not sure how or where it got started, but I do know it is registered somehow in Nevis. But to answer more directly on the idea, I do think it to be a wonderful idea and in fact and alternative payment system to Visa, MasterCard and so on. However, this is part of the problem. Meaning, E-Gold is a way to transfer money between two private persons electronically or as a way to pay for goods purchased electronically as well (using gold as the medium or basis for the exchange). But, one must remember that Visa and MasterCard are directly threatened by E-Gold and have a substantial monopoly on the electronic payment system market (credit cards, and in turn merchant accounts for business owners). As such, I suspect that these companies (Visa and MasterCard) are behind much of the pressure placed on banks not to accept or support E-Gold, and you do NEED to have the participation of banks to make it viable. In addition, while I do know that there are some merchants that do accept E-Gold, it is not as widespread as Visa or MasterCard. So, from a marketing point of view, acceptance by merchants and acceptance by the general public, I do thing it has a long way to go (and an uphill battle as well fighting the banks that keep trying to close them down). Apart from that, I applaud the idea and hope it has staying power..
Another Reader Writes:
Hi Mr. Schroder: In the previous version of this link there was the suggestion that investors check in with the SEC before investing.
Banco Santander-Chile - NYSE: SAN - The Bank today announced the pricing terms of its offer to exchange its new subordinated notes due 2012 (the New Notes) for any and all outstanding 7% subordinated notes due 2007 (the Old Notes)..
I think I can answer my own question, as I noticed that stock in the Banco Santander-Chile is traded on the NYSE. How much intermingling is there between banks in Chile and the U.S. government and how does one find a bank that has kept itself pure? (The press release says that BS-C is the largest bank in Chile.)..
EDITORS REPLY: On the subject of purity my guess is that you mean non-ties with a US based bank, and assuming that is the case, the honest truth is that I am not aware offhand of all of the licensing that Santander has, or in which countries. However, Banco Santander is probably one of the best managed and is certainly up on the list of one of the largest banks in the world. Most Americans have not heard of it, but the parent bank is actually in Spain, and they have been aggressive about expanding into other Spanish speaking countries for some time now (such as Chile). So, do I think Santander is a good bank and a safe bank? The answer is yes. Does the fact that the stock is traded on the NYSE have any correlation to the US banking authorities? No, and in fact quite a number of companies are dually traded (London and New York exchanges, Amsterdam and New York, etc.)..
On the Subject of Living in Panama, this Gentleman Writes the Following - with the Headline: TO JUST LEAVE - OR NOT TO LEAVE (that is the question):
As I sit here in Panama City in my US$450 per month two-bedroom, two bath apartment, plus maids quarters (includes her own bath), corner windows, fourth floor, palm trees just outside my window, parrots roosting by the hundreds every evening - yes downtown Panama City. I bought a whole fillet minion yesterday, US$2.99 per pound, cooked two three inch steaks off it - can smell the roast and gravy cooking now with the rest of it. I do not have a live in maid, like my privacy, but she just left, has been cleaning since 8:30 now 4:00 - cost me US8 - does this twice a week. A year ago, I sold everything I own in the states but my pickup truck, motorcycle and my televisions and stereo equipment - spent about 5,000 total to relocate (including all new furniture but my water bed). I go home once every three months to see my parents - will as long as they are with us, US$390 round trip plus tax (thanks to my 25% pensionado discount), by the way thanks again for help with that. First read about it in your newsletter and got the rest of the details from the package you sent me. YES YES YES you can and the sooner the better. My only advice is to live someplace a year - rent a place , and then buy if you want - and no they don't look for us small folks that left a bunch of debt behind. The best advice I ever got was for free was from another expat, and he told me- it aint against the law to not pay income tax - and it aint against the law to not pay your bills, but you got to file. Well, I aint got to do nothin but die and I don't plan on that any time soon. Thanks again and do so look forward to your letter..
EDITORS REPLY: Well, thank you for your letter and it sounds like that Panama suits you just fine (as it does many other people as well).
Another Reader Writes:
I've been a subscriber for some years now and find your work to be honest and informative. Great work and I look forward to each letter. I have a question regarding IRS regulations and Subpart F income..
From what I understand, only "Subpart F" income, or passive investment income, is immediately taxable in the year it is acquired. As such, income derived from actual business operations such as trade and/or services are not considered as Subpart F income to its shareholders. Consequently, an IBC could continue to accrue profits offshore and defer income taxes for its US shareholders. The income is taxible upon repatriation when issued to the US shareholders in the form of either payroll income or dividends. The IRS has tried to circumvent this problem by using "excessive capitalization" guidelines to assess taxes even if dividends were not issued, thereby forcing US shareholders to pay taxes on income not even received..
Is my interpretation of IRS regulations correct? I have the opportunity to operate a legitimate business venture offshore. The company will accrue income in the form of commissions. I wish to keep these funds offshore in order to defer my taxes until retirement. I will pay taxes on the income that is repatriated in order to eliminate going to jail. Thanks for your time and consideration..
EDITORS REPLY: Well, ironically enough you are correct on both counts, and it would seem that the regulations are in direct contrast to each other, when comparing tax treatment of domestic US corporations and non US corporations. In a nutshell, the bottom line is that the IRS wants to discourage and penalize US citizens from creating or maintaining a non-US incorporated company. In addition, they also want to try and discourage or eliminate the various tax beneficial rules that may apply to US corporations (such as holding back retained income and deferring it to a later date so shareholders can postpone a tax event, in regards to a dividend distribution). In plain English, if you have a US corporation, you can elect not to distribute that income to shareholders. In terms of a non-US incorporated company (whereby the share holders are US citizens), they throw this idea out the window and claim you are liable for taxes on the portion of dividend income attributable to you as a share holder, REGARDLESS if the non-US company paid it out to you or not. It's the old, even though you did not get it - we will tax you as if you did routine. Of course the real answer to this is to avoid a case whereby a US citizen is the shareholder of a non-US company. For example, the share holder can be another physical non US citizen (your favorite Aunt Milly in Argentina) or if you do not have one of those, then a another non-US entity, such as a Trust or Foundation. Where there is a will, there is a way - all perfectly legal..
Another Reader Writes:
Does Dominican Republic sell cheap cigarettes without the tax added on, duty-free?
EDITORS REPLY: Well, I have to admit that this is my very first cigarette question, but here goes. First and foremost, one must understand that one of the principal agricultural products of the Dominican Republic is tobacco. So, cigarettes, including the Marlboro Brand are made here as well. Even with government taxes, a standard pack of cigarettes (10 pack) costs about US 90 cents to US$1.15 (the local brands being less expensive than Marlboro). Along the same lines, a carton of cigarettes cost US$9.00. Prices are higher in tourist areas, such as Punta Cana, but this is the price in the capital. In terms of buying cigarettes duty-free in the airport, that of course is available as well, but never having done so, I could not say if it were much of a bargain over buying cigarettes in the local market. I would suspect the costs to be slightly less, but then again, after paying US$7 in New York City for one single pack of cigarettes, I suppose anything less looks pretty good..
Another Reader Writes:
Dear John: I read the following at the web site of the government of the DR - Note: The Embassy of the Dominican Republic understands that a number of web sites on the Internet assert that U. S. citizens can obtain divorces in the Dominican Republic without either of the spouses having to appear in the Dominican Republic before a Dominican court and without mutual consent. This information is completely incorrect and directly contrary to Dominican law. If someone has paid any money to obtain a divorce in the Dominican Republic, but has not complied with the requirements listed above, that divorce is invalid and will not be recognized as valid by courts in the Dominican Republic or in the United States. Is a unilateral divorce possible, so long as separation of over two years can be proved? Possibly it is valid with bifurcation of financial questions being postponed?.
EDITORS REPLY: There is some information floating around about "quickie divorces" or mail order divorces. I tend to think at least some of the information is either untrue, or in the least not fully explained.
With regards to the Dominican Republic, non-residents (foreigners) may obtain what is known as a Por-Vapor divorce. This type of divorce is different that what can be called a local divorce, applicable to residents or citizens only. The advantages of a Por Vapor divorce are that a divorce decree is handed down within 3 days from the client's appearance in front of a local judge (under normal circumstances). In addition, only one of the parties are required to visit the Dominican Republic, providing the other party provides a power of attorney allowing the visiting spouse to sign on behalf of both. In this regard, it is only applicable in such cases where the couple both mutually agree to the divorce and whereby both have settled any matters concerning division of property, etc. privately and without disagreement. Therefore, such a divorce is only advantageous where both parties are in agreement or mutually consent, and would prefer to get the matter resolved quickly (rather than waiting one year or more as may be required by their local US jurisdiction)..
The initial steps for such a divorce can be started by mail, such as providing certain kinds of information to the law firm handling the matter for the client. The law firm in turn must secure a date on the court docket for the client to appear in front of the judge. Often this can be done within 30 days, but of course it all depends on the court calendar and how quickly the law firm can arrange an audience date..
Once the audience date has been sent (hopefully about 30 days later), the client must personally visit the Dominican Republic and appear before the judge. However, both parties need not appear and one spouse can give the other spouse a legal power of attorney or power of representation. In addition, the law does allow for other legal representation, although most judges do discourage this and would prefer that at least one of parties personally appear (if both appear, even better). Assuming everything is in order, a divorce decree is normally handed down 3 days later..
Does the US recognize a foreign divorce decree or a Dominican Divorce specifically? Well, that depends on the US jurisdiction. Certainly many US jurisdictions are concerned about high divorce rates among its citizens, and some local regulations have been put into place to slow down or impede the divorce process. In addition, there are many US Federal Government agencies that will not recognize a foreign divorce outright. The next step or solution then is to have the divorce decree notarized by the US consulate and also have it registered or recorded with the local court where the client resides. There are some US judges that may refuse to recognize such a divorce, but there is difficulty in that both parties are in mutual agreement and that both parties are not asking the US court to settle a dispute over marital assets, etc. However, the state or governments legal right to intervene or refuse a divorce (even if mutually agreed upon by Husband & Wife) comes from the fact that you asked the state to become a party to the marriage contract when you applied for a state license to marry. Most people are not even aware of this, but this is the legal premise behind the state's right to have an opinion or voice in what most people think is a private matter between two people. In reality, or accordingly to the law, there are three parties involved in the marriage contract, and the government is one of them..
There is another kind of divorce available in the Dominican Republic, but it applies only to residents (or citizens). This can be called the normal divorce process and usually takes about three months. What is the difference between this one, and the previously discussed Por Vapor divorce? First of all, the local law comes into play and local law permits one party to file for divorce without the consent of the other party (contested divorce). It also allows a judge to grant a divorce even though the other party disputes it for whatever reason. In addition, Dominican law is very different than US common law in that matters concerning private property domiciled in one party's name, which may not be considered marital property subject to division or distribution. Some clients do in fact secure this kind of divorce also, as a legal resident..
Keep in mind that the US, or specifically a certain jurisdiction, can refuse to recognize any foreign divorce under the argument that the license to marry was issued in that US jurisdiction and only the US courts have a right to dissolve such a marriage. My advice would be to seek local legal council or ask the local courts about their sentiment in recognizing a divorce secured elsewhere..
This information has been compiled and presented by John Schroder of Ascot Advisory Services, for the benefit of clients and readers. Ascot Advisory Services provides assistance with such matters as offshore company formation, Panama Foundations, offshore banking, and special services in the Dominican Republic regarding residency, free zone applications, etc. For more information:... ..
Telephone 809-334-5387 or 809-756-1917
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
. ...


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subset: commoncrawl


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The recycling depot at the Mt. Hood Town Hall recently passed a major milestone. Upper Hood River Valley residents have recycled one million pounds of materials since its opening in 2006.
The recycling depot is a team approach among the Town Hall, Hood River Garbage and Tri-County Waste and Recycling. Hood River Garbage hauls and markets the materials collected at the site.
Jim Winterbottom, manager of HRG, said, "Hood River Garbage continues to be impressed with the recycling depot at the Mt. Hood Town Hall and both the quality and quantity of materials being collected. We appreciate the efforts of Town Hall volunteers to oversee the depot, to educate the public on what can be recycled there, and the flexibility the volunteers and community members have always extended to HRG as we service the depot."
The depot is open from 8 a.m. to dusk each day. Recyclers often are greeted by John Ashby, a Mt. Hood Town Hall volunteer who manages the depot. Recycled materials must be separated three ways. The general recycling box takes waste paper, cardboard, and plastic and metal containers. There is a second box just for glass bottles and jars. And, the third box serves as a donation center for pop, beer and water bottles and cans that carry a five cent refund.
"A million pounds (500 tons) is an amazing amount of material to recycle at the depot," said Bob Danko, also a Town Hall volunteer. "It shows that there are a lot of people in the Upper Valley who want to do the right thing when managing our waste."
Danko encourages even more recycling at the depot but also asks everyone to please follow directions on what is accepted. "Please do not recycle plastic bags, styrofoam, clamshell food containers, or waxed or foil lined juice and milk cartons. These are considered contaminants and can't be recycled at the depot. And of course, please pick up any litter at the site and never leave any materials outside of the boxes."
Plastic bags, styrofoam, clamshell food containers, or waxed or foil lined juice and milk cartons.
The bottle and can donation center was added last year to raise funds for the continued restoration of the 103 year old Mt. Hood Town Hall. The building served as a public school for its first 50 years, and now serves as a community center for Upper Valley residents. Sixty thousand bottles and cans were donated during the last half of 2016.
For more information about the Mt. Hood Town Hall please visit its website, mthoodtownhall.org, or call 503-530-0398.
Donations are always needed and appreciated and can be made on the website or mailed to P.O. Box 247, Parkdale, OR 97041.
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New sales record set at Lendlease's Atherstone
A new sales record has been set at Atherstone, a masterplanned community developed by Lendlease in conjunction with joint venture partner Melton City Council.
On Saturday, in its biggest land release to date, Atherstone hosted a crowd of approximately 450 people as 77 lots were snapped up in a matter of hours through a public ballot.
Atherstone has achieved excellent sales since the start of this year, with the last six land releases having been sell-outs on the day.
The project is on track to achieve almost 500 sales between January and June 2017. The weekend's release was the last opportunity to purchase land in Atherstone's highly sought after Settler's Creek precinct, which includes some of Melbourne's most affordable land starting at just $131,000, through to premium park and creek-facing lots.
Managing Director of Lendlease's Communities business, Matthew Wallace, said he was thrilled with the weekend's result. "This terrific result is evidence of the demand for affordable, high quality living options with excellent access to local infrastructure", Mr Wallace said. "Atherstone is a prime example of the growing population in the outer suburbs, and our commitment to early delivery of community infrastructure and facilities has proven very successful.
"Atherstone is truly taking shape and we are helping create new landmarks and places that ultimately all of Melton will enjoy. We are investing in the infrastructure needed for a surging population such as the Western Business Accelerator and Centre for Excellence (BACE) to promote and support small local business; Bridge Road Children's and Community Centre; and the first stage of the $11.3 million Regional Sports Precinct."
Located just over 35 kilometres west of the Melbourne CBD and surrounded by natural wetlands, lush parklands and bordered by a picturesque creek, Atherstone will be home to approximately 14,000 residents upon completion. Over a quarter of Atherstone will be dedicated to conserving local habitat and indigenous heritage sites with open-space parks, ovals, gardens, waterways, hike and bike trails and a 100 hectare regional park – 50 times the size of the MCG in development.
Atherstone, Australian property news, Lendlease, masterplanned community


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Dyanna Spa and Hair Removal Waxing Middle is New York's #1 vacation spot for Brazilian waxing men and women since 1983! Brazilian wax turned well-known when it was launched into the US when a hair removal salon called J. Sisters Worldwide Salon was opened in 1987. J. Sisters Worldwide Salon was opened in Manhattan, New York by seven Brazilian sisters Jocely, Jonice, Joyce, Janea, Jussara, Juracy and Judseia Padilha. The commonest types of Brazilian waxes are the usual Brazilian (or G-wax) and full Brazilian (Hollywood). With a normal Brazilian wax or G-wax, a small line or vertical strip of hair is left above the vulva.
With a full Brazilian wax or Hollywood wax (also known as 'sphynx'), all hair is completely removed. Taking a heat shower earlier than your Brazilian wax session will make you more snug and helps to open the pores aiding in simpler removing of the hair. Try to schedule your Brazilian wax session per week after menstruation as the genital space is least delicate. Regular exfoliation (as soon as daily starting two days from date of wax) helps to remove dead pores and skin and avoids ingrown hairs.
His righteous anger at the New York police officer who beat him in 1959 only fueled his antipathy towards whites and his resolve to do no matter he wanted. Her concert events raised 9,000 dollars for the upcoming March on Washington, and Simone herself gained firsthand expertise marching in the South as an alternative of solely criticizing the South from New York. Adapted from a poem by a New York high school trainer, Strange Fruit" was inspired by the 1930 lynching of two blacks, Thomas Shipp and Abram Smith. Ensure you hold the skin taut with one hand as you pull the wax strip to remove the hair with the opposite.
Dyanna Spa now has two convenient places that supply our spa services in Manhattan: one in downtown Manhattan, within the Gramercy Park and Flatiron District, and the other in east midtown Manhattan, in the Murray Hill District. Being one of many first salons providing Brazilian wax services to men and women, together with a full array of nail salon therapies, our expertise and professionalism has led us to develop into one of the high ranked day spas in Manhattan, NY. We additionally offer imported Brazilian beachwear products provided exclusively at CB Waxpert Brazilian Waxing Middle in NYC. Unbiased research find Brazilian Waxing to be the most effective methodology for the elimination of pubic hair.
Brazilian wax turned famous when it was launched into the US when a hair removing salon known as J. Sisters Worldwide Salon was opened in 1987. J. Sisters International Salon was opened in Manhattan, New York by seven Brazilian sisters Jocely, Jonice, Joyce, Janea, Jussara, Juracy and Judseia Padilha. The most typical kinds of Brazilian waxes are the usual Brazilian (or G-wax) and full Brazilian (Hollywood). With a normal Brazilian wax or G-wax, a small line or vertical strip of hair is left above the vulva.
In Historic Greece, Rome, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Persia, a full wax was generally carried out utilizing a paste created from sugar and lemon. As bottoms received smaller, uncovered skin area grew to become bigger and women cheap Brazilian wax in Manhattan started to wax virtually all of the pubic area to ensure easy, clear skin across the bikini with no pubic hair poking out. Really useful for smaller areas with coarse hair, and specially for Brazilian waxing.
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Cream wax is used for all other waxing services and contains many soothing properties minimizing discomfort. With a Brazilian wax, the hair from the vulva (outer and interior labia), perineum, anus and buttocks is completely removed. As the title suggests, Brazilian waxing originated from Brazil for girls who needed to wear the new thong bikinis.
Throughout the painful process, Ms. Padilha distracts clients along with her laissez-faire model of recommendation, which she has packed into a guide known as Brazilian Sexy," out this month. The Padilhas have been actually the zeitgeist pushing Brazilian bikini waxes to this part of the world," stated Marcia Kilgore, the founder of Bliss Spas, who now runs a shoe and a cosmetics company. As the nineteen nineties introduced a culture of extra, the once-stunning Brazilian grew to become de rigueur for Manhattan ladies.
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03 December, 2008
I'm having one of those days where my pain levels are high and my energy levels are low; it causes the smallest tasks to seem daunting. I feel overwhelmed and frustrated. My poor husband, R., is having a very similar sort of day; but he has the added stress of being at work. I just want to go back to bed. But Life needs to be met and dealt with. And all one can do is pray and meditate, then gather their self up and do.
Labels: health, meditations
2 comments:
- Trina said...
Mrs. Kaos - thanks for the warm welcome for baby Claire - all the comments were so fun for me to read. It's been neat to be able to celebrate with all our bloggy friends!
I hope you feel better soon!
- December 4, 2008 at 10:06 AM
- Mrs.KAOS said...
Thank you Trina. I am feeling a bit better today. And I can't wait to read more about you and Claire.
- December 4, 2008 at 2:22 PM
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Support CTN!Your donation is tax deductible, so please include your contact information (esp. mailing address) with your donation so that we can properly account for it and send you documentation for your tax deduction.
Beau Ideal
An American (Ralph Forbes) joins the French Foreign Legion in order to rescue a boyhood friend.
Upcoming Runs
This doesn't have any upcoming airings. Drop us a line if you would like it aired again. email@example.com


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Deluxe Folding Walker – Silver
Folding and lightweight and robust with aluminium frame and adjustable height legs. Folds by use of a simple press down button and becomes only 100mm (4″) thick for easy storage or transportation. Silver framed walkers come with plastic handles for easy clean, coloured framed walkers have soft foam comfort handles. Available in silver only.
Deluxe Folding Walker – Silver
|Product Dimensions
W-508mm D-406mm
|Max User Weight
|VAT Exempt
For order totals under £20, delivery is £3.25
For order totals between £20 and £75, delivery is £5.25
For order totals over £75, delivery is FREE
Such as Mobility scooters, Riser Chairs, Adjustable beds & Wheelchairs.
You can have your purchase delivered by courier standard pallet delivery FREE to any UK mainland address.
This is usually by TNT and on large items like scooters & riser chairs this will be to the nearest kerbside to your property. The vans do not always have pallet trucks to move the heavy item into your property. The courier will drop off the equipment in a box and it will be up to you to unpack and assemble your purchase. If you haven't anyone to assist you we recommend you upgrade to the engineer set up delivery option.
Available in the UK for £99.
Click here for more information
Choose "Showroom pickup" at the checkout and call 01572 755204 for a quote. We will invoice separately for the shipping cost.


text: Young fish such as Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) often frequent different habitats than do their parents and swallow different foods. Researchers, fisheries managers, and others can reel in information about the early stages of fish life at LarvalBase, a companion to the ichthyology compendium FishBase (NetWatch, 24 December 1999, p. 2423). Supervised by Bernd Ueberschaer of the Leibniz Institute of Marine Science in Kiel, Germany, LarvalBase houses data on juvenile fishes compiled from papers, books, reports, and unpublished "gray" literature. You'll find listings for nearly 2200 species that are important for fisheries and aquaculture. The information includes egg hatching times, charts that compare the anatomy of larval stages, roundups of larval diet, and rearing instructions for some well-studied species. You can also take a larva identification quiz.


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Winter 2016
As the only company offering a complete private student loan program for lenders, ReliaMax provides unparalleled customer-oriented servicing for student borrowers. Count on our student loan specialists to build personal relationships and provide world-class customer service, so students can feel confident in repaying their loans.
WordPress Development
Google Analytics
WordPress Multi-Site
WordPress Performance Enhancement
Spam Filter Customization
Email Form Enhancement


text: Hello. I am a 25 year old Ivy League Graduate looking to pursue my passion for the outdoors and action sports. I have interned in the ski industry, as well as help run a commercial kitchen in Denver, CO. I am a quick learner, team player and very flexible to any needs. Thanks


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There is a growing need to accurately simulate physical systems whose evolution depends on the transport of subatomic particles. It has long been recognized that the huge computational demands of the transport problem mean that practical solution times will be obtained only by the efficient utilization of parallel processing. For example, since estimates place the time devoted to particle transport in multi-physics simulations at 50-80% of total execution time, parallelizing deterministic particle transport calculations is an important problem in many applications targeted by the DOE's Accelerated Strategic Computing Initiative (ASCI). One common approach to deterministic particle transport calculations is the discrete-ordinates method, whose most time consuming step is the transport sweep which involves multiple sweeps through the spatial grid, one for each direction of particle travel. The efficient parallel implementation of the transport sweeps is the key to parallelizing the discrete-ordinates method.
The key contribution of this paper
is the first general model which can be used to predict the running time
of transport sweeps on orthogonal grids for any regular mapping of the
grid cells to processors. Our model, which accounts for machine
dependent parameters such as computation cost and communication latency,
can be used to analyze and compare the effects of various spatial
decompositions on the running time of the transport sweep. Insight
obtained from the model yields two significant contributions to the
theory of optimal transport sweeps on orthogonal grids. First, our model
provides a theoretical basis which explains why, and under what
circumstances, the column decomposition of the current standard KBA
algorithm is superior to the 'balanced' decomposition obtained by
classic domain decomposition techniques. Second, our model enables us to
identify a new decomposition, we call Hybrid, which proves to be almost
as good as, and sometimes superior to, the current standard KBA method.
Our analysis covers sweeps in two- and three-dimensional spatial domains,
and first considers sweeps in only one direction, and then sweeps
involving multiple simultaneous directions. We obtain expressions for
the completion time and discuss theoretical results.


text:
Mayan King, the largest banana producer in Belize, abruptly ceased operations in October when the Irish fruit company Fyffes stopped importing Mayan King bananas due to fear of economic sanctions from the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). In 2012, OFAC designated Mayan King owner John Zabaneh a Drug Kingpin under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (Kingpin Act) for his alleged connections to Mexican fugitive drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman and associated Colombian drug cartels.
Despite the installation of a managerial company, Meridian, Fyffes informed Meridian that they will no longer be buying bananas from them. Meridian, who was already struggling to meet payroll, were left with no other choice but to inform their workers that they have no work for them. The workers are incensed and desperate, 700 of whom took part in a peaceful protest at the Big Creek Port at the Head Quarters of Fyffes and Banana Grower's Association.
Mayan King farms are is responsible for around one-quarter of Belize's banana exports, and the Banana Growers' Association acts as the sole exporter for the fruit. An estimated 1,200 migrant farm workers and their children from Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua, who work on the farms, now face an uncertain future. Most have nowhere else to go in Belize or their home countries if Mayan King remains closed.
Further information:
Photo: Mark Aumann


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Formats and tools
- Unit Description
- Reconstruct the unit from the xml and display it as an HTML page.
- Assessment Tool
- an assessor resource that builds a framework for writing an assessment tool
- Assessment Template
- generate a spreadsheet for marking this unit in a classroom environment. Put student names in the top row and check them off as they demonstrate competenece for each of the unit's elements and performance criteria.
- Assessment Matrix
- a slightly different format than the assessment template. A spreadsheet with unit names, elements and performance criteria in separate columns. Put assessment names in column headings to track which performance criteria each one covers. Good for ensuring that you've covered every one of the performance criteria with your assessment instrument (all assessement tools together).
- Wiki Markup
- mark up the unit in a wiki markup codes, ready to copy and paste into a wiki page. The output will work in most wikis but is designed to work particularly well as a Wikiversity learning project.
- Evidence Guide
- create an evidence guide for workplace assessment and RPL applicants
- Competency Mapping Template
- Unit of Competency Mapping – Information for Teachers/Assessors – Information for Learners. A template for developing assessments for a unit, which will help you to create valid, fair and reliable assessments for the unit, ready to give to trainers and students
- Observation Checklist
- create an observation checklist for workplace assessment and RPL applicants. This is similar to the evidence guide above, but a little shorter and friendlier on your printer. You will also need to create a seperate Assessor Marking Guide for guidelines on gathering evidence and a list of key points for each activity observed using the unit's range statement, required skills and evidence required (see the unit's html page for details)
- Self Assessment Survey
- A form for students to assess thier current skill levels against each of the unit's performance criteria. Cut and paste into a web document or print and distribute in hard copy.
- Moodle Outcomes
- Create a csv file of the unit's performance criteria to import into a moodle course as outcomes, ready to associate with each of your assignments. Here's a quick 'how to' for importing these into moodle 2.x
- Registered Training Organisations
- Trying to find someone to train or assess you? This link lists all the RTOs that are currently registered to deliver AVII2007B, 'Check in aircraft passengers'.
- Google Links
- links to google searches, with filtering in place to maximise the usefulness of the returned results
- Books
- Reference books for 'Check in aircraft passengers' on fishpond.com.au. This online store has a huge range of books, pretty reasonable prices, free delivery in Australia *and* they give a small commission to ntisthis.com for every purchase, so go nuts :)
Elements and Performance Criteria
1Greet passenger
1.1 Passenger is greeted in accordance with workplace customer service procedures
1.2 Passenger is asked for their name and details of their flight
1.3 Photographic identification is requested from the passenger and their identity is confirmed
2Check in passenger using manual process
2.1 When manual procedures are being followed, passenger's name is identified and confirmed on the passenger list for the nominated flight
2.2 Where possible, passenger's seating preference on the aircraft is sought
2.3 Passenger's check-in is recorded on the passenger list and a suitable and available aircraft seat is allocated
2.4 Passenger is advised of any changes in flight arrangements including delays, cancellations and gate changes
3Check in passenger using computerised process
3.1 When computerised procedures are being followed, passenger's name and indicated flight are entered into the system using relevant workplace procedures
3.2 Passenger's booking for the flight is confirmed on the system
3.3 Should the passenger's name not be found in bookings for the flight, appropriate action is taken in discussion with the passenger to resolve the problem in accordance with workplace procedures
3.4 Where relevant, passenger's seating preference on the aircraft is sought or if in a loyalty program confirmed from their preference profile
3.5 Passenger is advised of prohibited items that are not allowed to be carried onto an aircraft or carried in baggage in accordance with workplace procedures and regulatory requirements
3.6 Passenger's check-in is confirmed on the system and a suitable and available aircraft seat is allocated using appropriate workplace procedures
4Check in baggage
4.1 Where applicable, passenger is requested to present her/his baggage for check-in
4.2 Items of cabin baggage are checked to ensure that they fall within number, size and weight requirements, and if not, the passenger is courteously advised that relevant items must be checked in together with any other items for carriage in the aircraft's hold
4.3 Passenger's checked-in baggage is weighed on the scales in accordance with workplace procedures
4.4 Baggage weight is compared to allowable limits for the passenger's class of travel
4.5 If baggage is above the allowable limit but still permissible under excess baggage rules, passenger is advised and arrangements are made for excess baggage payment in accordance with workplace procedures
4.6 If baggage is above the allowable limit and the excess is not permissible under regulatory requirements, passenger is advised in accordance with workplace procedures and requested to take appropriate action to reduce baggage weight to within the allowable limit
4.7 Baggage details are recorded on the aircraft's baggage list and entered into the computer system dependent on the workplace procedures for the type of check-in process being used
4.8 Baggage is labelled in accordance with workplace procedures using either manually or printer-produced tags dependent on the system being used, including overweight, oversize or fragile labels where applicable
4.9 Where loyalty services apply, baggage is tagged with the appropriate label
4.10 Passenger's baggage is placed on the baggage belt or cart, as applicable
4.11 Passenger's baggage check-in record is attached to their ticket or boarding pass sleeve
4.12 Baggage is handled at all times in accordance with OH&S regulations and workplace procedures
5Respond to problems during check-in
5.1 A problem arising during check-in is promptly identified and clarified in accordance with workplace procedures
5.2 Options for the resolution of the identified problem are explored in consultation with the passenger and other staff in accordance with workplace procedures and any relevant regulatory requirements
5.3 Where a problem cannot be immediately resolved, the problem is referred to an appropriate supervisor or other relevant staff for action in accordance with workplace procedures
6Issue boarding pass
6.1 On finalisation of check-in procedures, a manual or computer-produced boarding pass is issued and presented to the passenger in accordance with workplace procedures
6.2 Passenger's attention is drawn to relevant details on the boarding pass including the flight code, the boarding gate and the required boarding time
7Direct passenger to security gate
7.1 Passenger is directed to the security gate in accordance with workplace procedures
7.2 Where applicable, passengers subscribing to a loyalty scheme and/or airline club are advised of the location of the club lounge and the facilities available in accordance with workplace procedures


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More often than not with EMS the flights wind up at the evening hour and go through the backside of the dial. Ever notice how we start getting busy right near hospital's shift change?
There really is no rhyme or reason. When I was at a community-based op, the night shift usually flew more. Now at the hospital-based one, the day shift does. Then again, we have done 3 flights in one night.


text:
I've been doing some research on how public space becomes public place at public libraries, in both physical architectures and virtual architectures.
I just submitted an abstract as a proposal to present a full paper on this topic at a conference. Fingers crossed. I hope to be writing a lot more about this topic in the future. In the meantime, I wanted to share with my readers a graphic that sort of explains my train of thought. Click on the thumbnail to be directed to a larger image.


text:
Showing 1-20 of 36
By: Anh Do
Price: $5.95
Publisher: Australia, Allen & Unwin: 2010
Seller ID: 001363
Condition: Good
The laugh-out-loud, reach-for-your-hanky story of one of Australia's best-loved comedians. Anh Do nearly didn't make it to Australia. His entire family came close to losing their lives on the sea as they escaped from war-torn Vietnam in an overcrowded boat. But nothing - not murderous pirates, nor the imminent threat of death by hunger, disease or dehydration as they drifted for days - could quench their desire to make a better life in the country they had dreamed about... View more info
By: Anita Heiss
Price: $29.90
Publisher: Australia, Bantam: 2012
Seller ID: A1004
Condition: New
The story of an urban-based high achieving Aboriginal woman working to break down stereotypes and build bridges between black and white Australia. I'm Aboriginal. I'm just not the Aboriginal person a lot of people want or expect me to be. What does it mean to be Aboriginal? Why is Australia so obsessed with notions of identity? Anita Heiss, successful author and passionate campaigner for Aboriginal literacy, was born a member of the Wiradjuri nation of central N... View more info
By: Bobbie Buchanan
Price: $24.90
Publisher: Australia, Boolarong Press: 2012
Seller ID: 003974
Condition: New
Nat Buchanan was the first European to cross the Barkly Tablelands from east to west and first to take a large herd of breeding cattle from Queensland to the Top End of the Northern Territory. Buchanan created a droving record when he supervised 20,000 head over this route. Critique: If he was an American they would build a Hall of Fame in his honour, but Australians haven't heard of him. At last, a fitting tribute to one of the truly great Australians. Ted Egan View more info
By: Clinton Walker
Price: $29.90
Publisher: Australia, Wakefield Press: 2013
Seller ID: 003777
Condition: New
In the bitter autumn of 1932, as the world crashed into the Great Depression, Australian motor ace Norman 'Wizard' Smith sat on the remote Ninety Mile Beach in far north New Zealand, waiting for the wind to change; waiting for a chance to drive his streamlined super car the Enterprise to a new world speed record. He would be the fastest man on earth - a golden god! He waited and waited ... Norman Smith was an enigma. A contemporary of Bradman, Kingsford Smith and Phar L... View more info
By: Debra Byrne
Price: $5.95
Publisher: Australia, MacMillan: 2006
Seller ID: 001247
Condition: Good
Debra Byrne's life has been a roller-coaster ride of successes and adulation alongside scandal, drugs and depression. From her first showbiz triumphs on "Young Talent Time", Debra's existence had a darker side. From childhood abuse to underage sex, from the destructive evil of cocaine and heroin addiction to the black depths of depression, Debra lurched from one personal disaster to another - all the while performing to an adoring public, both as a recording artist and i... View more info
By: Don Elgin and Kevin Moloney
Price: $24.90
Publisher: Australia, Don Elgin: 2015
Seller ID: 003095
Condition: New
Born without the lower half of his left leg, young Don Elgin never considered himself disabled until he was in high school - and even then, he had to be convinced. His story, of a boy from the bush who battled the odds and finally stepped onto the podium as a medallist at the Sydney Paralympics, is one of absolute inspiration. Driven by an inherited sense of grit, determination and pure guts, Don overcomes an abundance of obstacles to rise to the top of the sporting heap... View more info
By: Don J. Corcoran
Price: $24.90
Publisher: Australia, Boolarong Press: 2012
Seller ID: 003977
Condition: New
This is an extremely well researched work which will be treasured by all horse riders. It is a very thorough account of Australian spurs and the bush blacksmiths like Fred Gutte who designed his on Wave Hill Station, but is much more that. If offers a romantic folklore of the horsemen who used the spurs in their sometimes dangerous and often lonely rides on the cattle stations between outback Queensland and the Kimberley. View more info
By: Elsbeth Hardie
Price: $29.90
Publisher: Australia, Australian Teachers of Media: 2015
Seller ID: 003084
Condition: New
On 8th April 1811, the ship Friends sailed from England carrying 101 female convicts bound for the penal colony that was New South Wales. The crimes of the women and girls on board ranged from pickpocketing to murder, but most were convicted of theft. Susannah Noon, not yet in her teens, tried to steal four pairs of cotton stockings from a shop in Colchester. It earned her a sentence of transportation for seven years' 'beyond the seas'. It was a sentence that reverberate... View more info
By: Fred Brophy and Sue Williams
Price: $24.90
Publisher: Australia, Penguin Books: 2014
Seller ID: 003320
Condition: New
My life has been a mad travelling show, meeting some of the strangest and greatest people who've ever lived. I've had my fair share of trouble and I'm lucky to be here. But I've always been a showman and I've done my best to preserve a precious part of an old Australia that's fast disappearing.' Son of a sideshow operator and trapeze artist, fourth-generation showman Fred Brophy grew up on the road, travelling the length and breadth of Australia. He did time in jail as... View more info
By: Geoff Allen
Price: $24.90
Publisher: Australia, Boolarong Press: 2013
Seller ID: 003988
Condition: New
Meet Blue Bostock, Australia's first bullfighter and rodeo clown. Told in an authentic voice by an authentic Aussie character Blue Bostock: Australia's first bullfighter and rodeo clown is the colourful story of one man's life as one of this country's most famous rodeo riders. From his carefree days growing up in Mackay to international fame as a rodeo rider and bull fighter, Blue Bostock was never one to let an opportunity pass him by. Narrated by a true Aussie larrik... View more info
By: Geoff Allen
Price: $24.90
Publisher: Australia, Boolarong Press: 2014
Seller ID: 003984
Condition: New
This is the true life story of Smokey, King of the horse-duffers. One hundred years ago, as the Boer War came to an end, the rugged Kimberley Range formed the roughest and most remote cattle-country in Australia. It was five days hard ride from the nearest township of Wyndham to Smokey's Kimberley Underworld hideout. The police patrols sent out to arrest King Smokey faced a daunting task. The few passes through the forbidding King Leopold Ranges were guarded by fierce A... View more info
By: Gillian Helfgott and Alissa Tanskaya
Price: $5.95
Publisher: UK, Penguin Books Ltd: 1997
Seller ID: 001164
Condition: Good
The biography of David Helfgott, a gifted young Australian pianist who suffered a severe mental breakdown and was institutionalized. Although brilliant and charismatic, he was insecure and reliant on anti-psychotic medication, but eventually overcame his illness to achieve artistic greatness. This story was written by his wife Gillian, who tells of the powerful bond between them and of sharing her life with a man who came through the darkness of his past. View more info
By: Harry Gallagher
Price: $5.95
Publisher: Australia, Wakefield Press: 1999
Seller ID: 001767
Condition: Good
Harry Gallagher's memoir is both a story of achievement and a unique love story. As a child of the Depression in Sydney's inner west Harry and his best friend Gloria made a playground of the local tip. The resourcefulness he learnt in these early years stood him in good stead as he took on the world, launching the careers of Jon Henricks, Dawn Fraser and many other swimming legends, and bringing Australia an avalanche of Olympic Gold. 'This is a story to inspire. It cree... View more info
By: Hugh Lunn
Price: $19.90
Publisher: Australia, ABC Books: 2007
Seller ID: A1137
Condition: New
Saigon,1967. Fresh-faced 25-year-old Hugh Lunn arrives in Vietnam at the height of the war to cover it for Reuters and quickly meets a fascinating cast of characters: journalists, Vietnamese, military and best of all, Dinh, the Vietnamese reporter and guide who spoke his own brand of English (Dinglish) and whose wisdom and humour become inextricably bound up with the young reporter's view of the war. Before long the author experiences the full horror and tragedy of war, ... View more info
By: Hugh Lunn
Price: $27.90
Publisher: Australia, ABC Books: 2013
Seller ID: A1134
Condition: New
A bind up of Hugh Lunn's two bestselling memoirs, Over the Top With Jim and Head Over Heels. One of the classic childhood memoirs complete with vividly painted characters, teachers, siblings, parents, the people who came to the Lunn family's bun shop and most of all the suspicious Russian kid with the funny name, Dmitri Egeroff (Jim), Hugh Lunn's Over the top With Jim is a laugh out loud account of a bygone Australian era. Successive generations have fallen for Hugh and ... View more info
By: Ion L. Idriess
Price: $19.90
Publisher: Australia, ETT Imprint: 2016
Seller ID: 004128
Condition: New
Nemarluk, one of the most feared Aboriginal renegades in the north of Australia, had vowed to rid his land of all intruders. This is the story of the last three years of his life, and his extraordinary battle with the tracker, Bul-Bul, brought in by the Northern Territory police in a final desperate attempt to put an end to Nemarluk's fight. Ion L. Idriess had already brought Lasseter and Flynn to the public's attention with his action-packed stories. He had first-ha... View more info
By: Ivan Rudolph
Price: $14.90
Publisher: Australia, Boolarong Press: 2012
Seller ID: 003976
Condition: New
John Flynn is one of Australia's greatest folk heroes. His achievements are stuff of legend - no other Australian has had more monuments dedicated to him than John Flynn. Flynn established a network of cottage hospitals, flying doctors, patrol padres, welfare centres and radio transmitters to create a Mantle of Safety that would allow the Outback to be habitable for men, women and children. Critique: Ivan Rudolph brings out Flynn the man who, like no other,revolution... View more info
By: Jeff Apter
Price: $27.90
Publisher: Australia, Five Mile Press: 2015
Seller ID: 003249
Condition: New
The rise and fall of the brothers Gibb is perhaps the greatest saga in Australian, even world, music history. As ubiquitous as the falsetto harmonies, flares and multi-platinum record sales were the tragedies: the highs, the lows, the highs again. And then the brothers fell, one by one. Not long before his death, Robin made it clear that he believed the Gibbs had been forced to pay the highest possible cost for their success. 'All the tragedies my family has suffered . .... View more info
By: John Morrison
Price: $34.90
Publisher: Australia, Boolarong Press: 2014
Seller ID: 003972
Condition: New
The story of Harry Readford, born in 1841 on the frontier of the infant colony of New South Wales, who became a proficient bushman, stockman, drover, explorer, pioneer and above all, a renowned cattle duffer, has passed into Australian folklore. The pivotal event in the story was the famous cattle theft in 1870, of 1200 head from the Longreach area of Central Queensland, and droving them nearly 1600 kilometres through virtually unexplored desert country deep into South ... View more info
By: Jonathan King
Price: $5.95
Publisher: Australia, Simon & Schuster: 2004
Seller ID: 001842
Condition: Good
For the crime of robbing a wealthy woman of a silk bonnet and a few guineas, an illiterate Cornish woman faces the hangman's noose. Her death sentence is commuted; instead she finds herself transported in chains on the First Fleet to Botany Bay, New South Wales to serve seven years penal servitude. So begins the extraordinary but true story of legendary Mary Bryant, the only female convict to escape from Botany Bay and whose open-boat escape voyage with her husband, two ... View more info


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2017-2018 Ms. Alumni (Updated)
A Note from the 2017-2018 NCCU Ms. Alumni Michelle Gaston: Thank you to everyone who supported my candidacy for Ms. Alumni of the North Carolina Central University (NCCU) Alumni Association. Due to your generosity and support, I won the honor of serving as Ms. Alumni for 2017-2018. I couldn't have done it without you. This year's alumni court raised almost $50,000 for current and prospective scholars at NCCU. The other members of the alumni court (Richard Gilbert (Mr. Alumni – Raleigh-Wake Chapter); Lisa Smith (1st Runner-Up, Durham Chapter); Michael Lipscomb (1st Runner-Up, New Jersey Chapter); and Nykole Wyatt (2nd Runner-Up, Charlotte)) are to be congratulated for their hard work, energy and effort. I look forward to working with them during our term. Until I see you again, t


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4418 93 322
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Move Accelerate Special Skill
Mope.io Author : Stan Tatarnykov - 122 389 plays
Eat, grow, evolve and try to survive in the ruthless world of Mope.io, an arcade multiplayer game. Begin your story by choosing to be a little mouse or a shrimp. Evolve into a earthly or marine ecosystem, feed yourself enough and turn into other animals as you progress. Rabbit, Crab, Bear, Crocodile, Elephant, Orc, each species has a special skill that will help you survive or attack other players. Because in Mope.io, the biggest threat will come from your congeners led by other players. Eating or being eaten is the law of evolution and survival in the game Mope.io.


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some collaborative pieces created at the
closing fiesta of the painting grounds exhibition at
tortuga studios, featuring andros, clint, flobot.3000,
gonzalo, ioulia petrova, joanna gwarek & mobot.
'twas a fun-filled event & the collabs were
a blast to do. expect more exciting things in the
new year from those kids mentioned above.


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ТМ "Khlebnikov" - embodiment of succession of traditions of vodka production. The best national recipes of preparation and historically developed culture of consumption of beverages found reflection as in unusual "imperial" design of the label and the bottle, and in names of vodka – "Kupecheskaya" (Merchant), "Klassicheskaya" (Classical), "Khrustalnaya" (Crystal), "Myagkya" (Soft).
Vodka "Khlebnikov Classical" is a classical sample of true Russian vodka. There are infusions of rye flakes at the heart of taste and aroma, completeness and softness are given to vodka by means of the infusion from raisin extract, vodka aftertaste is sweetish, but soft - core.
visit: www.hlebnikov.by
Alcohol content :40%
golden medal for Khlebnikov classic / Sochi 2014
vodka "Hlebnikov classicheskaya'' (Yalta, 2014)
vodka "Khlebnikov classic" in nomination "Brand new product of the year"
at the competition "The best products of Belarus" for vodkas "Khlebnikov classic", "Rye" and balsam "Krautermeister"
Vodka "Glubina", "Bogach luxury", "Khlebnikov classic", "Golden Bizon premium" and balsam "Krautermeister" received golden medals at the 1-st International Tasting Competition "Golden Wine & Spirits"
Vodka "Khlebnikov Classic" received Gold medal at the International exhibition "Wine-Vodka 2013", May, Sochi
Gold medals for vodka "Khlebnikov Classic" and "Golden Bizon premium" in International degustation competition "Odessa Bay", February 2013 / Odessa, Ukraine


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Josh Hamilton is a Major League Baseball player; a former American League Most Valuable Player, a four-time all-star, former batting and RBI champion, and MVP in the playoffs. He hits for average, power, steals bases, and plays the outfield with wild abandon – often crashing into walls while chasing fly balls. He is the kind of player that every fan wants on his or her team; the kind of player that every Major League team wants on their side. He is a game changer – a man who plays at the highest level of the National Pastime.
He also has a drug and alcohol problem.
Hamilton was once suspended from MLB for three years for drug and alcohol use. He has written a book documenting his problems, and has spoken openly and frequently about his addiction. He has 'fallen off the wagon' at least twice in the past few years, including an incident that took place last week.
What does a team do with a player like that? What should happen to a professional athlete who is an addict? Athletes who use illicit drugs are usually suspended, but Hamilton's recent problem does not involve illicit drugs – it's all about alcohol.
His suspension beginning in 2004 was the result of drug and alcohol use, but since his return to baseball, Hamilton is tested for illegal drugs at least three times each week. There is no doubt that anyone proven to have used PED or recreational drugs should face consequences. It isn't the drugs that were Hamilton's downfall though in the well-publicized incident in 2009 or the most recent in 2012 – it was the booze.
It may not be illegal to be an alcoholic, but it can be unseemly – especially for someone such as Hamilton, who is in a high-profile profession. While alcoholism is an embarrassment for Hamilton, and for the Rangers, this is a personal problem. We are always hearing that athletes are role models, but that is just so much bunk. Yes, kids emulate athletes such as Josh Hamilton, but it is the kids' parent's responsibility to teach their children to not to follow such behavior.
It is not Josh Hamilton's responsibility to put on a show for the world or beg forgiveness. It is not his job to teach morality or right and wrong to fans. Hamilton has an addiction and he deals with it in the manner that seems best to him and his family. Alcoholism is a disease. Yes, it is part mental, but physical dependency is a disease just as any other serious illness. And just as with other diseases, treatments don't always work.
Although Hamilton's most recent relapse did not ignite a public outcry, Hamilton came forward of his own accord and publicly apologized. That is a nice touch, but he doesn't have to explain this to anyone other than himself and his family. This is a problem that he needs to deal with privately, and his family and his employer should do what they can to assist him.
The problem with his employer though is that Hamilton will be a free agent at the end of the 2012 season, and obviously the Rangers would like to keep this star player in their own outfield. Sports teams, however, are reluctant to give long-term contracts to players who have drug and/or alcohol problems, as they cannot know for sure what effect the addiction will have on the player's career.
The team does have a stake in this, but Rangers' management needs to realize that Hamilton's problem is a personal one. As long as it does not affect the way he does his job; as long as he does not resume the drug use, the Rangers don't have any business getting into this, and neither does Major League Baseball.
Hamilton certainly wants to sign a long-term contract, but the smart thing for the Rangers would be to push for a shorter term. They do have a right to protect their investment – signing Hamilton to perhaps a two or three-year deal will keep the star player in position to play. At the end of such a deal, he will still be young enough to seriously negotiate a longer-term contract.
He should not be treated as a pariah simply because he has a disease that just happens to be less 'acceptable' than if he had multiple sclerosis or cancer. If Hamilton's disease was MS or cancer or some such affliction, the Rangers would go out of their way to assist him. With alcoholism though, he is more likely to be treated as undesirable or untrustworthy.
The Rangers and Major League Baseball (pay attention Bud Selig) need to not judge Hamilton as a man, but help him treat this for what it is – a disease. Good luck, Josh – we hope you can manage your addiction, deal with it for yourself and your family, and continue to wow us with your exceptional baseball skills.


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Hello Kitty "Enjoy Stay Villa" portable my tiny town villa play-set. Kitty and Mimmy are having the time of their life in Kitty's very own villa, featuring own outdoor picnic area and boating lake, and the villa has many luxuries for them both to enjoy . Easy to follow instructions – Unsuitable for under 3 years due to small parts. (D) 22 x 14 x (D) 4.5cm
Pop over to the Dizzy Pink shop today to have a look 🙂


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KT TAPE Roll precut tape PRO Black 20 tapes
Need support that will endure your toughest workout? KT TAPE PRO is just what the trainer ordered. It will keep you pain free and supported exactly where you need it. KT TAPE PRO will stay in place through multiple demanding workouts for up to seven days. KT TAPE PRO will stick with you in the harshest conditions including daily showers, humidity, cold, even in the pool.
KT TAPE PRO is performance engineered to work in the harshest environments. It's the world's only 100% synthetic kinesiology tape, re-engineered with stronger adhesive, to out last anything you can throw at it.
Each box comes with 20 precut strips of 100% synthetic tape. One hard plastic carrying case with twist on lids to keep your tape in good shape in your gym bag or purse. One Quick Start Guide with step-by-step instructions on the most common injuries and one KT sticker.
- 100% SYNTHETIC microfibers for better aquatic performance.
- UltraLite Elastic Core - for better support.
- Secondskin Adhesive for use in extreme conditions.
- Precut "I" strips for easy handling.
- Includes protective travel case.
- Reflective safety design for use in the dark.
- Latex free for sensitive skin.
- Step-by-step instructions for applying.
- Includes twenty-10" precut "I" strips per roll.
- The tape is all the same, the different colors are so you can style yourself out.
KT TAPE PRO is engineered to perform in the harshest environments, to last for an entire week, through multiple runs, daily showers, in humidity, cold or in the pool. It features a patented Secondskin Adhesive that will go as long as you do, and–no offense–probably longer.
KT TAPE PRO features a much longer elastic core which delivers better support for muscles, joints and tendons without restricting comfort and range of motion.
KT TAPE PRO's stronger elastic core retains its elasticity far better over time than cotton kinesiology tape. This means it will provide stronger support, for as long as you need it, and then some. Like top athletes, it relies on both strength and endurance to get the job done.
KT TAPE PRO can be worn comfortably in the shower, in the pool or while riding big waves at microfibers. You triathletes, swimmers, surfers and sailors are sure to appreciate it. Synthetic microfibers are fast drying and provide superior weight-to-strength ratios. These fibers are also naturally anti-microbial, which allows for comfortable extended wear without the funk.
KT TAPE PRO is precut and ready to apply right out of the box. Precut strips have rounded corners which help to prevent the corners from snagging on things or the edges fraying. Each roll contains 20 10-inch "I" strips. That's 16.6 feet of tape all 2 inches wide, for you mathletes out there.
Be seen. Be safe. KT TAPE PRO features reflective elements that add even more functions to its form, perfect for use in low light conditions, road training, and reflecting the flash of action-shot paparazzi.
KT TAPE PRO comes in 10 colors: Rage Red, Sonic Blue, Laser Blue, Winner Green, Solar Yellow, Blaze Orange, Hero Pink, Epic Purple, Jet Black and Stealth Beige. The tape is all the same, the different colors are so you can style yourself out.
KT TAPE PRO comes in a permanent carrying case. It's great for the gym bag and hundreds of other useful things. Use it for everything from training gear to good luck charms. Be creative and tell us what you're doing with it.
KT TAPE PRO uses an acrylic based medical grade adhesive that is gentle on skin. That means you can scratch your itch to exercise without having to scratch the itch that often comes with braces and traditional athletic tape.
- Make sure the skin is clean and dry, free from lotions/oils (suntan lotion, skin conditioner, topical treatments, etc). We've even found that some bath soaps have moisturizers in them that leave a residue behind, so if you want to play it safe just clean the skin with rubbing alcohol before applying.
- If applying KT Tape on a joint, be sure the joint is in a fully bent position. If the tape is applied over a knee or elbow in an extended position the tape will pull off as the joint is moved.
- Never stretch the first or the last of the tape on either end. The tape on the ends should be applied directly to the skin without stretching, otherwise it will pull up and will not stick.
- Lastly, be sure to set the adhesive by firmly rubbing the tape & make sure all the edges are down. For best results apply the tape 30 minutes before athletic activity
*Do not use KT Tape if you have been diagnosed with cancer as it may interfere with treatment and disease management strategies employed by your medical professionals.
*Do not use KT tape on abdominal applications if pregnant.
|Non communiqué
Customer Reviews


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Teach the truth about history
THE EDITOR, Sir:
Works like The Making of The West Indies, A History of Jamaica and all other outputs like those are nothing more than a whitewash of our history written by white or brown-skinned apologists who want to sugar- coat our colonial experience.
If the objective of those publications was not to fulfil the social purpose of history, then I will "charmingly" accede. If not, the works of Messrs Augier, Black, Sherlock, et al, with all due respect to the accolades and their supposed contribution to the history archives, are nothing more than a covert attempt to make the crime of slavery and colonialism seem like a walk in the park and would then be fit for nothing more than bedtime stories for children or insomniacs.
History has a social responsibility to relate in its entirety no matter how uncomfortable or unpalatable it makes the perpetrators and their apologists. We don't get that from white, brown middle class or black-skinned neo-colonialist apologists. It's no wonder the minds of our people continue to be enslaved. Teach the people the truth!
Speak truth to the people from primary development. Not everyone will pass through tertiary level education as I did at the University of the West Indies, to be introduced to the numerous textures in the telling of our story.
Donna Mattis


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Brandon texted me at 9:52pm to let me know that Mandi's water had just broke. He went on to say that "it went very fast from this point with our first". It was time for me to head to the hospital. I arrived at 10:20pm and exactly 8 minutes later, little Beckett Hayes was born! No time for an epidural and no time for an IV! Mandi cruised right through the pain so beautifully and effortlessly. She was amazing. Beckett is just perfect and looks so much like his Daddy and big sister!
What a gift it was to be in the room with this family as they celebrate the birth of their brand new baby boy! I am so happy for you all!
KC England Photography is located in Spokane, WA and serves family, senior, and wedding clients.
View Mandi + Brandon's maternity session here.


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New GP lead looks to closer working with a strong local voice
A Lichfield GP has become the new leader of NHS commissioners serving Lichfield, Tamworth, Burntwood and Seisdon Peninsula.
Dr Shammy Noor has taken on the role as the Chair of South East Staffordshire and Seisdon Peninsula CCG following the retirement of Dr John James in December.
The change takes place as Staffordshire's six* CCGs are beginning to work more closely together with a joint leadership team while still retaining their own identities to allow key decision to be taken locally.
Dr Noor said: "I am delighted to announce that I will be succeeding Dr James as the clinical leader of the CCG.
"Plans to bring together the commissioning power of all Staffordshire CCGs will give us much greater leverage to effect changes for the greater good of Staffordshire.
"Nevertheless it is essential that we do not lose the local voice. The residents of our CCG and the GPs in our local practices have, and will always have, far greater insight into needs of our patients than anyone else. I will endeavour to ensure that there is good balance between local delegated powers and central commissioning might."
Dr Noor has been a GP for almost 10 years, and worked in South Derbyshire before moving to Lichfield three years ago.
He chaired the CCG's locality GP board for Lichfield and Burntwood and was the CCG's respiratory clinical lead. In this role he helped develop a number of local respiratory services and presented some of his work at the Primary Care Respiratory Society national conference. He also trains new GPs.
He is a strong believer is collaboration and said: "I am passionate about starting the process of breaking down barriers between our local organisations.
"Patients see the NHS as a single entity, but their very real experiences are that many different parts of the NHS seem alien to one another. These organisational boundaries are where much of the inefficiency in our system occurs, and frustrates clinicians and patients.
"We need to soften these boundaries and in doing so we will help to make the patient journey easier and increase job satisfaction for our clinicians."
Dr Noor takes over from Dr James who has been at the helm of the CCG since 2011. Dr James played a key role in not only leading the organisation through authorisation but also in strengthening GP engagement and the establishment of Membership Boards to ensure the clinical voice was at the heart of the CCG's decision making process.
As Chair of the CCG, Dr John James was a strong advocate of developing local services for local people and was committed to strengthening engagement with patients and the public in the area. He was a core member of the CCG's Patient Council and was always the first to champion the views of local people.
Dr James, who has taken on the role of Medical Director for the Staffordshire Sustainability Transformation Partnership, said:
"I have thoroughly enjoyed my time working with the CCG and am leaving behind a great group of clinicians and staff who are working hard to improve services for local people. Personally, I am looking forward to the opportunity to influence change across the whole of Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent so that we can create a NHS that is fit for the future.
"This is a really exciting time for the six CCGs in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent and a great opportunity for them to work more closely together. I wish Dr Noor every success in his new role and look forward to working with him in the future."
Dr Noor added: "I would like to express my most sincere personal thanks to John for his mentorship and development and thank him for the dedicated service that he provided to the CCG over the last few years."


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LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY britzkrieg)
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, like his immediate predecessor, John Ashcroft, has pledged to make obscenity prosecutions a priority. The department is expected to announce soon the creation of a special unit within its criminal division to focus on adult obscenity cases.
"Enforcement is absolutely necessary if we are going to protect citizens from unwanted exposure to obscene materials," Gonzales recently told federal prosecutors. He directed U.S. attorneys to report back by late July on effective ways to crack down on obscenity and what tools the prosecutors might need.
Those kind of words please religious conservatives, who claim the Clinton administration virtually ignored the proliferation of pornography, particularly on the Internet, during the 1990s...
A proponent of strict enforcement of obscenity laws [says] that so far, the administration has aimed mostly at minor figures in the industry.
"At some point, they're going to have to ratchet it up if they want to do something meaningful," said Robert Peters, president of Morality in Media.
Full Story
LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY britzkrieg)


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Jokerware LLC.
Jokerware creates awesome mobile games for players of all ages who are looking for new features, new challenges, and addictive game-play.
- Stage Full Product Ready
- Industry Gaming
- Location Bethesda, MD, USA
- Currency USD
- Founded December 2012
- Employees 4
- Website jokerware.com
Company Summary
Jokerware creates proprietary games that are innovative, challenging, and fun for mobile devices including iPhone, iPad and Android. The company creates games that target more than 100 million users around the world. Our first game called "Love Gears" has been developed and published on both IOS and Android markets with great expectations of success. "Love Gears" is priced at $0.99 and completely distributed over Apple App Store and Google Play.