text:
Spring Orientation
Spring New Student Orientation is on Tuesday, January 21, 2020
The 2020 Spring New Student Orientation and Registration program takes place on Tuesday, January 21 from 10:00 a.m.-4:00 pm. (Check-in begins at 9:00 a.m.)
There will be a one-time, non-refundable fee for the services and materials of this program. This fee will be directly added to the semester bill. All new incoming undergraduate first-year and transfer students must attend the program. Please confirm your attendance by registering online by January 15. Workshops for parents/guests are available as well.
A full schedule of orientation events will be sent via email to all registered students starting January 3, 2020. This confirmation will include information about:
- Arriving and parking on campus
- Moving into a residence hall
- How to obtain a Fredonia ID
- Orientation and advising program details
Welcome Back Week Spring 2020 Activities
Here is a shortlist of items necessary for your success at Fredonia. Please complete them before attending orientation.
- Pay your deposit
This will hold your academic slot and unlock access to certain items.
- Complete the Course Interest Survey
This helps us pre-build your course schedule.
- Complete the Housing Application
Required if you plan on living on campus.
- Complete your Health History information
Mandatory for all students to register for courses and attend classes.
- Review and accept your Financial Aid in "Your Connection"
This video will walk you through the steps.
- Log into your FREDmail
This is your Fredonia specific email account. We will send you semester bills and key information via this email.
- Confirm your meal plan and register for a FRED Debit account
All students living on campus (with a few exceptions) are required to have some type of meal plan. You can register and confirm yours before you even arrive at campus by going online and logging into the myFSA link using your e-services log in (the one you use to access your email.) You can also register for a FREDDebit account if you would like.
Have questions?
We are very excited you have chosen Fredonia and we want you to have a successful transition to our campus, so please ask us questions! Erin Mroczka, Director of New Student and Transition Programs is here to assist you. You may contact her at (716)673-3271 or via email to email@example.com.
Classes begin on Wednesday, January 22, 2020
Spring New Student Orientation Schedule Summary
- 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Check-In and Continental Breakfast
- 10:00 a.m. -11:30 a.m. Welcome and Workshops (information regarding campus policies; instructions about meal plans, purchasing textbooks, completing financial aid or bill requirements)
- 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Lunch and Campus Resource Fair (opportunity to meet campus departments, process parking passes, turn in immunization records)
- 12:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Academic Workshops and Course Registration Lab Rotations (course registration sessions are for students only)
- 1:30 p.m- 2:30 p.m. Parent/Family Panel Presentation (Q&A session with campus leaders)
- 1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Financial Aid Walk-In Hours (2nd Floor, Maytum Hall)
- 1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. FREDCard ID Processing (1st Floor, Gregory Hall)
- 3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Campus Tours (starting from the Williams Center)
New students attending the Spring Orientation program may move on campus at one of the following dates and times:
- Sunday, January 19 between 9:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.
- Monday, January 20 between 9:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.
Welcome to the Big Blue Family! We have several activities planned from the time you arrive on campus through the first week of classes.
Sunday, January 19, 2020
- Residence Hall Move-In (9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.,/Residence Halls)
- Welcome Station (9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m./Williams Center, near Tim Horton's)
- Campus Tours (1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m./Williams Center)
- Don't Dine Alone- Meet the Orientation Leaders (4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m./Cranston Marche- University Commons)
Monday, January 20, 2020
- Welcome Station (9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. /Williams Center, near Tim Horton's)
- Campus Tours (1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m./Williams Center)
- Don't Dine Alone- Meet people from different majors (4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m./Cranston Marche- University Commons)
- DJ's and PJ's Late Night Breakfast (8:00 p.m.- 10:00 p.m./Willims Center)
Tuesday, January 21, 2020
- New Student Orientation and Registration *Required for all new incoming undergraduate students (9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m./Williams Center)
- Don't Dine Alone- Meet people from student organizations (4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m./Cranston Marche- University Commons)
Additional Welcome Back Week Activities sponsored by Spectrum


text:
IRMC Physician Group's We-Care program helps eligible persons receive health care services at no cost or reduced cost, depending on their family income.
Please see the attached income range table to determine your eligibility and share of covered charges.
How to Qualify
In order to qualify for the IRMC Physician Group (IPG) Charity Care Program, patients will be required to complete a We-Care application after reading the We Care application guidelines.
Patients who have health insurance, including medical assistance, will not qualify for the charity care program.
If you become eligible for any insurance, including medical assistance, during the six months that you were approved, you will no longer be covered by the We-Care program as of the date your insurance/medical assistance became effective.
The Charity Care program is not insurance. This program does not cover any testing or procedures that are done at the hospital, even if a participating provider ordered the testing or procedure. Only physicians on the We-Care physician list will participate in this program.
Application Process
Patients who have no insurance and are requesting charity care must apply for the medical assistance program by contacting the Medical Assistance office at 724 357 2900. Only patients who are denied acceptance into the medical assistance program will be considered for the charitable care program. A copy of the rejection letter from the medical assistance program must be provided for patients to be considered for the charity care program.
- If you are receiving any income, please bring proof of your current income. Most government or state income can be accessed on line. Due to HIPPA Laws, IPG cannot provide computer access for you to obtain this information.
- If a patient is accepted for the charitable care program, the designation is only for six months. Patients will need to reapply before that time ends.
- Clarification: If you are seen today and have no insurance, you will be listed as "self-pay" and you will have 30 days to apply for medical assistance and receive a denial. If you are denied by medical assistance and you qualify for charity care, you will be covered for that date of service. Your 6 months will begin with that date of service.
- It will be the patient's responsibility to know when they need to reapply for medical assistance (please give yourself at least 30 days) IPG will not be able to back date the next date of service and the patient will be responsible for that visit. What this means is, if you have an appointment scheduled for the day after your expiration and you did not reapply for medical assistance, that date of service will not be covered under the We-Care program.
- Patients who currently have I-Care will need to apply for the We-Care program. IPG can no longer automatically transfer you from the I-Care program to the We-Care program without a formal review following the same criteria as listed above.
An IPG representative will be available to take your application, or assist you with your application on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 to 3:30 p.m.
If these dates and times do not work for you, please call our office at 888 452 IRMC to make an appointment.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Never has someone been so good to me. Phillip was in my face 24/7, he was everywhere I was. Dragged me out even when it was cold. But stayed with me when I wanted to just stay home and stare at him all day and all night. He kept me up all hours even, with … Continue reading
Wow- I have not raved about a CD like this in a while I think. Especially a CD by a contemporary artist. Joe's Signature CD has managed to get achieve this and I believe he actually found his signature as a contemporary ADULT male crooner. With the passing of people like Luther van dross, illness … Continue reading


text:
In New York City, living alone for the first time can seem a revelation, and laying claim to a few hundred square feet of personal space a minor miracle. But for Tamantra Bowen, getting her own apartment last year meant more than freedom from roommates: It was also the first place she could truly call home in a decade.
Ms. Bowen moved into the spacious one-bedroom on the ground floor of a condo building in Coney Island in Brooklyn last July, after spending the previous year in homeless shelters.
"I was pulling my hair out when they called me," she said, explaining that the apartment became available just two weeks before her 21st birthday, when she would have had to move from an adolescent shelter to an adult one. She was hesitant to let her excitement show.
"I feel like when I get my hopes up, things fall through, so I just said, 'O.K.,'" she recalled. "And I did the stink face when they showed it to me. It was only when I was able to pick the furniture out that it started to feel like home."
Ms. Bowen's housing situation collapsed a few weeks before she turned 19, but it had been somewhat precarious since she immigrated to the United States from Guyana at 11, leaving behind her mother and five sisters to join her father in New York. Ms. Bowen, who has cerebral palsy and additional complications stemming from a difficult breech birth, said the initial motivation for the move here was for surgery to straighten her hamstring.
After the surgery, her father, a long-haul truck driver, sent her to live with a friend in Flatbush, Brooklyn — a woman, now in her 70s, whom Ms. Bowen "adopted" as an aunt.
The arrangement ended when Ms. Bowen was 17 and her father got into a bad car accident. She decided to join him in Reading, Pa., where he had moved, but found life there difficult. He was often angry and erratic, she said, and he would travel to Guyana for months at a time, leaving her alone and without access to transportation.
After high school, she was no longer able to live with him, she said. She discovered her immigration papers had expired, meaning that she could neither work nor gain access to a local shelter.
The family of a high-school friend agreed to allow her to live with them temporarily. And after a series of panicked phone calls, the occupational therapist from her old school in Brooklyn offered to let Ms. Bowen stay in her Bay Ridge home for up to a year — about the time it would take for Ms. Bowen to get her green card.
Working with the Door, a social service agency for youths, she was able to get both the green card and her work authorization within eight months. (Her move to the United States was sponsored by her father, who had become a citizen.)
"I moved into the shelter four days after my 20th birthday," Ms. Bowen said. "My therapist was so sad, and crying. I was like, 'Girl, I'm looking at this like going to college.' "
Though moving to the shelter felt like a milestone after a year in limbo, reality quickly sank in. Covenant House, the first shelter she went to, was a short-term facility, typically limited to 30-day stays, though Ms. Bowen said she remained for four months, with extensions.
She then went to a longer-term shelter for adolescents in East New York but struggled to find a job that would allow her to earn enough to move out. With her 21st birthday approaching, she learned that she was eligible for housing assistance through the Cerebral Palsy Associations of New York State, a program funded by New York State's Office for People With Developmental Disabilities.
Ms. Bowen, who has an internship four days a week at a day care center by Broadway Junction, pays 30 percent of her income — or $175 a month — toward the $1,500-a-month rent for the one-bedroom.
"For one person, it's pretty spacious," Ms. Bowen said. "I have a lot of closet space — every girl's dream."
Of living alone, she said: "It's nice that I don't have to smell anyone's feet. I can clean, and I don't have to worry about anyone messing it up."
More important, she can cook what she likes (roasted vegetables are a favorite), come home whenever she likes (no more curfew) and put up Christmas decorations. It's also easier to budget, she said, now that she no longer returns home to find, say, that someone has used up her entire bottle of conditioner.
While the apartment quickly felt like home, Coney Island has been more of an adjustment. "This place is nice in the summer," she said, "but in the winter, it's very windy. The cold and the wind turn everything to ice, and when the wind picks up, it wants to push you off the tarmac."
Ms. Bowen said she was so focused on getting settled last summer that she didn't enjoy Coney Island's finest season. She doesn't intend to let another summer slip away.
"I already made plans with a co-worker to go boardwalk dancing," she said.


text:
Lowden Guitar Dealer
Folks Heartbreaker Guitars is the #1 Lowden Guitar Dealer in the world! We have been a Lowden Dealer for more than 5 years and we currently have a larger inventory than any other dealer! Lowden Guitars are some of the finest guitars on the planet and George Lowden is a legend in the guitar building business. Currently we have the following models in stock: Lowden F50, Lowden F35, Lowden S50, Lowden S35M, Lowden S32J, Lowden O22, Lowden Fan Frets in 3 sizes and many others. Heartbreaker Guitars gets first crack at all the specialized woods George gets his hands on, including Brazilian Rosewood, Madagascar Rosewood, Mountain Rosewood, Cocobolo, Indian Rosewood, and others. Check out our Lowden Guitar Inventory now! Being the #1 Lowden Guitar Dealer we also do plenty of "one off" guitars with the guys in Northern Ireland, including guitars that have never been built before, like the Guatamaulen Rosewood Wee Lowden and the Custom "Uber" Lowden made with Brazilian Rosewood. We also offer video clips of all of our guitars so you can get an idea of what they sound like. Please call Heartbreaker Guitars with any questions about Lowden Guitars. And if you want a custom guitar built, it's no problem! We do more custom order Lowden Guitars than anybody! We are your "go to" Lowden Guitar Dealer!


text:
Sold Out
Now you can look good even when you're cleaning up after your little friend. The snap closure makes refilling your poop bags easy — and it lets you pull a poopbag out with ease (even when you're juggling a leash, coffee, and unruly pup).
Production Time: Please allow 2-3 business days before item is shippedShipping + Returns: Learn about more about shipping and returns.


text:
I meant to have this post up Wednesday, but I had problems with pictures and internet and sleeping...but here it is! Here is dotticure, along with his friends rainbow and stripes! "What do you mean, stripes?" You'll see.
Essie - Cute as a Button, P
Wet N' Wild - Sunny Side Up, O
Sinful Colors - Unicorn, Y
Sinful Colors - Innocent, G
Sally Hansen - Blue Me Away!, B
Sinful Colors - Verbena, P
Wet N' Wild - French White Creme, base
Base: Essie - Fill the Gap!
Top: NYC - Grand Central Station
Top: NYC - Grand Central Station
This didn't take as long as I thought and also wore very well, only barely starting to wear after 3/4 days. Next time I'll buy a better yellow, as Unicorn disappears in the photos. :(
Already wearing next week's challenge and armed with a new modem/router, so get hype! I know I'm not posting as much as I'd like to, but I've been using Twitter and Instagram and considering a Tumblr, so see me there if you miss me!
Back to Week 14's Challenge - Easter
All posts from the 52 Week Challenge


text:
Thinking about your audience and customer
During my late teens I was involved in radio broadcasting and fortunate to get valuable advice from a veteran broadcaster.
One golden nugget of advice he shared was to picture your listener when talking into the microphone on air.
This simple advice revolutionized the way I went to air.
It can also revolutionize the way you go to "air" in any situation that you need to communicate.
Why you need to picture your audience or customer when preparing commas
We know that speaking to an audience or customer in person makes us communicate differently than when they are not in the same room. Since we get to see the person who is in the same room we get to understand them better from what we see and pick up in the communication. We then communicate our message better.
So how can you communicate well with an audience or customer when they are not in person?
You can create a rich picture of your audience as if they are in the same room. This will put you in the zone where you can improve your messaging dramatically.
In the world of professional communication, audience and purpose are two critical things that you need to consider before any communication. You need to be clear of what you want your communication to achieve. And who you're communicating with.
I explain how this works in my book Bullseye! – Getting the RIGHT message to the RIGHT audience.
As for communicating effectively with your home based business, knowing your audience is just as important. It can shape the way you talk about your products, services or ideas.
It allows you to modify your approach so that you can be sure that your message is relevant.
Developing a rich picture of your audience or customer
To develop a rich picture of who I am communicating with I like to ask the following questions:
- What is the audience's needs, attitudes and wants
- What is the audience's experience or educational background?
- What is the audience's working culture like?
- What is the audience's preferred way to receive a message
- When is the audience most likely to be receptive to your message?
- Who is the best sender of your message?
The answers to these questions can help you make decisions in terms of:
- What content to include
- The level of detail to include in your content
- Your style and tone sur ce site
- How talk about your topic
- How this will help you with Internet marketing
In the digital marketing world, it is really important to know your audience in terms of the buyers you want to attract into your sales funnels from reading your online articles. If you have enough information to help you "speak" to them directly, you'll have a much better chance of drawing them in.
How quickly can you describe your key audience? This is something you should be able to do quickly for successful communication.
Dave Halls.


text:
2021 Dodge Challenger Sxt Review, Interior, Price
2021 Dodge Challenger Sxt Review, Interior, Price – Dodge reintroduced Challenger company 8-10 in the past, experienced seized the matured people looking to get back their younger years and also the youthful men and women trying to astonish, or they want one thing much more relaxed as opposed to the standard automobile.
2021 Dodge Challenger Sxt Redesign
There exists almost no insight to the 2021 Dodge Challenger Sxt studies, either official or conjecture. Nevertheless, a significant quantity of that certain presumption includes the discharge of Hellcat and potential plant life that Dodge can utilize the new form; V6, V8, in-collection 4, Turbo or supercharging is really a whole discipline of research.
For all attempts and reasons there is nothing identified about the changes of Dodge Challenger 2021, besides probably it will probably be created once the stage Alfa Romeo "Giulia," meaning a significantly smaller sized measure, lighter in weight and far more successful vehicle the rebuilt Dodge Challenger 2021 would be. We enjoy seeing trademark type signals, such as lighthouses continue to keep included in the plan-the present challenger illustrates a specific plan, Dodge fails to want to pass the limit of the successfully, maybe the part of his manufacturer to the 2021 Dodge Challenger Sxt revive.
2021 Dodge Challenger Sxt Engine
With regards to flat portions; It is actually a gambled protégé that Dodge will always be with the significant V8, possibly a good V6 for this screen product heart, even so, we feel that the Dodge will display a decreased, 2. 4-tube turbocharged liter. The minor electric motor should even now stack a 300 impact. Nevertheless, most likely it is far from suited to its idealists-there is not any range of distinction for the prevents since they typically say.
2021 Dodge Challenger Sxt Price
Regrettably, we undoubtedly never have any research on the fees for that Dodge Challenger 2021. This article might be entirely extraordinary and new. Consequently, we cannot get even average against the provide a treadmill year from now develop. Continue to be tuned for changes – once we have more information and recent situations, we will publish it as being an ideal on this page.


text:
KITA Cancels
"SPOEX"… But "SPOEX Fall"
Will Take Place in August
- The decision has been made in order to prevent the spread
of coronavirus infection -
The Korea International Trade
Association (Chairman: Kim Young-ju) and the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation
have canceled the "2020 Seoul International Sports and Leisure Industry Show (SPOEX
2020)", which was originally scheduled for four days
from February 27th.
SPOEX, the largest sports and
leisure industry exhibition in Korea, has been held every February since 2001
by the Korea International Trade Association and the Korea Sports Promotion
Foundation. However, the hosts have decided to cancel this year's event due to the spread of novel
coronavirus infection. Instead, the Korea International Trade Association and
the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation have decided to hold the "2020 Seoul International Sports & Leisure Industry Exhibition
and Export Consultation (SPOEX Fall 2020)" at COEX Hall
D in Samseong-dong for two days from August 17th.
SPOEX Fall is planning to
invite famous Korean sporting goods manufacturers as well as overseas big
buyers by arranging various programs including exhibitions, export
consultations, overseas market expansion strategy seminar, and sports industry
consultation, etc. In particular, the Korea International Trade Association is
planning to take this event as an opportunity to actively introduce Korean
companies' sports
services such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), screen sports,
and franchises to the buyers from all over the world.
Kim Hyun-chul, head of the
Global Marketing Group of the Korea International Trade Association, said, "We are planning to expand our tailored
online and offline marketing support projects with a view to minimizing the
damages of small and medium-sized companies' exports
caused by the coronavirus outbreak."


text:
8 Products
Multi Armed Ceiling Lights
Here you will find our small but specially selected collection of multi armed ceiling lights. A perfect choice for a large room that is crying out to be lit up in all corners.
We feel these lights are best suited in a living and dining arrangement, so when you kick back with your glass of wine of an evening you can enjoy the atmospheric feel that is beautifully complimented by our floor and desk lamps.
Our range starts with an understated 3 arm and reaches the shining star of our 9 Arm Chrome Multi Arm Pendant. So, sit back, relax and enjoy our collection.
Showing products 1 to 8 of 8


text:
State sales tax rate10.5%
* While the base rate applies statewide, it's only a starting point for calculating sales tax in Puerto Rico. For an accurate tax rate for each jurisdiction, add other applicable local rates on top of the base rate.
Download Puerto Rico sales tax rate table
Get a CSV file of this month's sales tax rates by ZIP code for Puerto Rico.
But be cautious: ZIP codes are the wrong tool for the job. That's why we give them away for free.
Puerto Rico sales tax basics
Puerto Rico (PR) is not a state but a commonwealth. The Puerto Rico sales and use tax rate is 10.5%. Puerto Rico has been an unincorporated territory of the United States since 1898, when it was acquired from Spain in the aftermath of the Spanish American War. People born in Puerto Rico, which is located approximately 100 miles southeast of Miami, Florida, are U.S. citizens.
Sales and use tax compliance in Puerto Rico is challenging. Facing mounting government debt, Puerto Rico has implemented several tax changes and is considering several more. The following changes took effect in 2015:
- The general sales and use rate increased from 7% to 11.5% on July 1, 2015.
- A 4% sales tax was tax was applied to previously exempt business-to-business (B2B) transactions on October 1, 2015.
See Departamento de Haciendo de Puerto Rico Administrative Determination No. 15-17 for more information.
Get a grip on sales tax compliance
Get automated, cloud-based solutions for transaction tax compliance across the U.S. and throughout the world — no matter your business size or industry. Avalara provides advanced tax software that integrates with your existing business applications.
New York sales tax guide for businesses
Our free, online guide covers all aspects of managing New York sales tax compliance. Topics include:
- Business registration
- Collecting sales tax
- Filing sales tax returns
- State nexus obligations
- And more!


text:
Breaking News
PDP to Nigerians: Vote en masse, protect your votes
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged Nigerians to come out en masse on election day to cast their votes, monitor all activities around their polling units and protect their votes.
The Director, Media and Publicity, PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, gave the advice at a news conference on Sunday in Abuja.
Ologbondiyan, who is also the PDP National Publicity Secretary, said that the call was important as available information to the party revealed that there were attempts to rig the elections.
He said that the PDP had resolved to unbridle, in full measure, all defence machinery legitimately available to it, including its numerical strength, in marching with millions of Nigerians across the nation to defend Nigerians votes.
"In this regard, the PDP urges all its members and supporters, in their millions, to politically occupy and become extra vigilant by closely monitoring all electoral activities around their polling centres.
"Our members and supporters are hereby directed to get prepared to arrive at their polling centres very early on the day of election; monitor the activities of electoral officers, note all strange faces and resist any attempt by any alien or unregistered person to vote.
"Our members and supporters are further directed to remain at the polling center after casting their votes, monitor the collation of result, use all means available to defend all our votes to the last and ensure that no result is altered''.
Ologbondiyan added that the PDP was ready to confront any security force or thugs that wanted to be willing tool to rig the elections.
"For this, we charge our members and supporters to use every means available to them legitimately in a democracy to defend themselves and resist all acts of intimidation.
"Finally, the PDP urges all members and supporters to continue to be alert and await further directives ahead of the elections''.
Ologbondiyan recalled that PDP gave Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) a 48-hour ultimatum to make public the list of all officials and ad hoc staff that would participate in the Feb. 16 Presidential election at all levels, for verification by stakeholders.
He said PDP had also alerted Nigerians of alleged plots to manipulate the smart card readers so as to substitute biometric accreditation with manual verification and pave way for mass rigging.
DISCLAIMER:Opinion articles are solely the responsibility of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers of ABN TV
For publication of your news content, articles, videos or any other news worthy materials, please send to [email protected]
For Advert and other info, you can call 07013559600 or send a WhatsApp Message to 07013559600


text:
We, at Get Tiles Online, offer you the elegance of real natural marble. The Taj Mahal, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Duomo of Florence and the United States Supreme Court, are some breathtaking internationally renowned buildings made from marble. Get our stunning marble tiles to get a touch of cosmopolitan class and style for your home.
We are proud to offer a wide range of shades and patterns of the tiles. We provide high-quality marble tiles with an elegant look. We are highly experienced service providers and we are recognised worldwide for our excellent services. We supply exclusive tiles which you will not find anywhere else in Sydney.
If you want a unique look of tiles for your home, see our online catalog and see our showroom for ideas as to how we can make your property stand out. Create many designs and layouts with our various tile solutions. We would be glad to help you with our excellent solutions.
We offer superior and broad spectrum of tiling solutions for customers looking for travertine and porcelain, as well as our beautiful marble tiles. Our experts can equip your home with high-quality, stylish, durable tiles for bathrooms and kitchens as well as outdoor spaces. You can trust us to provide hassle free products, which will ensure you peace of mind for years to come. Contact us to get more information about our excellent tile solutions.
What are marble tiles?
Marble tile is one of the most widely used tiles. They are the ideal flooring option. The marble tiles are made from natural stone and are highly durable. Marble tiles add more charm to your house and are perfect for indoor areas like hall, foyer, bedrooms etc.
What is the cost of marble tile?
The cost of marble tile can vary depending upon how they are laid. If you lay the marble tiles diagonally you can end up paying more. There are great marble look tiles usually made from porcelain that are a fraction of the cost of genuine marble.
Is marble more expensive than tile?
Marble tiles are generally more expensive than tiles. They are not scratch or stain resistant as compared to other flooring and tiling options. Marble tiles are abundantly used for their elegance and class as well.
Does marble tile scratch easily?
Marble tiles are made from natural stone. They are highly durable and one of the best options for your indoors. Marble is timeless and very easy to maintain as well. Marble being one of the toughest natural types of stone does not crack easily.


text:
Posts by Adebukola Ajao
Afrobeats Artist Marenikae On Living with Adrenal Fatigue And Making Music
[fl]O[/fl]n March 11, Marenikae, the self-proclaimed pioneer of the Afromerge music genre, released her debut album Ajebutter. As a voice of millenial Nigerian women, she is adding a new perspective to the Afrobeat music culture. Her debut album comes after a period of time away from the music ...


text:
An excellent product --appears strong and durable
Meets equipment requirements on USCG certified vessels when you add SOLACE-spec. reflective tape, and 60 feet of line. We also added small strobes. These rings are HARD and heavy. I like that the rope passes through the structure, so won't come loose if webbing tears like our previous rings.
Captain Will
St. Mary's City, Maryland


text:
It's Versatile Blogger time again as I've been nominated by nowrittenwords
It's only been a few months since my last time so I'll keep this one brief. As per the rules I need to pass on the award and nominate a few blogs. Here are my choices.
A personal and often philosophical blog touching on a variety of topics including creative writing.
Great writing blog, lots of no-nonsense, practical advice.
A great creative writing blog with lots of helpful advice and ideas.
A fun, beautiful blog with daily mazes and quotes.
Another great creative writing blog that I've followed for a while. A wonderful mix of creative writing and personal photography.
A fantastic blog full of personal experiences, travel and creative writing. Always worth a look.
In keeping with the VBA rules I also need to tell you all 7 things about myself. So here we go:
1. I was born at Midnight.
2. My date of birth is symmetrical backwards and forwards.
3. I'm left-handed (although I do most things with my right hand)
4. I am older than most people think I am, I am just short.
5. My favourite English food is chips and gravy.
6. I love my telly, especially American TV shows.
7. I'm a natural blonde (dark blonde).


text:
Since I became a house owner a number of years ago, I all the time wished to build a Sauna. Whereas it's exhausting to know exactly how many nails a particular undertaking will require, three to 4 nails per shingle is an efficient estimate. Our nails had been 20mm lengthy shank which did not penetrate by means of the plywood for a nice finish. Siding nailers – Sliding nailers are also extremely specialized instruments and they are built for the aim of nailing down siding.
Aspect notice: if you're not familiar with lumber sizing, modern lumber is sold by nominal size, not actual size. If the roofing nail happens to penetrate the sheathing alongside this seam, there's very little strong wood to carry the nail. Use two pallets to make a chair, very related in style to an Adirondack chair, and all you are looking at is several screws, two pallets, and a brace minimize to dimension.
Screws resist the yearly contraction and enlargement of metallic supplies that may power nails outward. These nails simply started to actually elevate over the last month, because it has not gotten too cold yet, it could possibly be a combo of previous ice associated loosening, and a current high wind, I am undecided. Good day po plan ko po magpatayo ng house sa province bungalow po lot of a hundred and twenty sq. meter 2bedrooms, are you able to please assist me po sa flooring plan at design ng bahay a lot appreciated po kung matutulungan nyo ako finances ko po is 300K can you please send it to my e-mail [email protected]
The Coil Roofing Nailer is right for roofing, exterior drywall, insulation board, and fiber cement purposes. Reviews for Bostitch VSA4 Vinyl Siding Adaptor Package (Tools & House Improvement) This half works neatly for what its for. A stick journal holds lengthy strips of 20 to 100 nails that resemble a stick of staples. For instance, do not buy 10-year nails to use with 30-year shingles – until you need to be re-roofing in 10 years, regardless of your investment within the increased quality shingles!


text:
Dear applicant, Thank you for your interest in the Head of Estates Operations role at the University of London.
The central University benefits from a large and prestigious estate and, as its custodians, we must do our utmost to ensure it continues to provide the foundation upon which the future of the University of London will be built, focusing on a vision of efficiency, sustainability and quality. Our new Director of Property and Facilities will lead the implementation of our ambitious estates strategy which will transform our property portfolio and further enhance our reputation in providing world class facilities. She will influence and inspire others to ensure the Estates Strategy significantly enhances the student experience. The Estates Strategy sets out a challenging investment programme. It also identifies properties that could be replaced or redeveloped and sets out sites that Colleges may wish to develop for themselves. In addition, the Strategy establishes master planning for Senate House and its immediate surroundings to open up this iconic building as an academic hub for use by our member institutions and Central Academic Bodies alike. A hub which students, researchers and staff can continue to feel pride in for generations to come. Put simply, our strategy is to ensure our property is valued and relevant. 'Valued' both in terms of its financial return but also as an enabler for our core activities. 'Relevant' in that our property adapts to changing need and circumstance. These imperatives demand that we remain vigilant in maintaining, updating, adapting, acquiring and disposing of property according to the needs of today and tomorrow. If you recognise this commitment to ambition and would like to contribute your expertise to our team, I would encourage you to apply. Chris Cobb, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Operations), Chief Operating Officer.
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker


text:
My teaching 'headquarters' were right across from the 'khlong'. A khlong rien is a multipurpose 'water'way, used for rain water run off and sewage.
Most of them are concreted off, to slow down ground water contamination, though in the smaller communities they still resemble natural rivers or large ditches.
The Khlong has a particular smell, is murky, and not entirely appealing to the foreign eye.
I would learn that most Thais here love the Klong – they swim in it, fish in it and want to live near it.
The Klongs are viewed the same as waterways anywhere else – desirable real estate – a place where people gather and where the more expensive homes are located.
Of course that doesn't mean that they aren't primarily lined with garbage, they are. Thailand is a bit behind on recycling, and though my neighbourhood had daily garbage pick up, many don't. Plastic was introduced to Thailand quite late, and that has become a major issue.
You get food AND drinks in plastic bags and unfortunately many are simply discarded where and when they are finished.
One particularly educated Thai explained to me that when he was younger, street food (which is the major way Southern Thais eat – homes often do not have traditional kitchens, and lack refrigeration) came in coconuts and banana leaves.
When one finished their meal, it was common to throw your natural, biodegradable remains wherever you finished. The monsoon season came and washed everything 'clean' (or 'water come, make all clean', as I was told).
Now that plastic has arrived, the tradition remains but the end result is not the same. Plastic consumer garbage lines and fills most streets, local beaches, khlongs and the ocean. Local governments have been trying to introduce the concept of recycling, but most people I spoke to about it felt like I did in 1990 – 'Huh?'.
I didn't have former teacher training, but planned a few lessons with some research on-line and with the help of a few teaching friends.
Though I was 'ready', it was less than 24 hours from my arrival that I found myself in a classroom. Sure, I had serious jet-lag with the 36 hours of commuting from Vancouver Canada, to Hat Yai Thailand – but that wasn't the most nerve wracking part of my experience, I still had to get to work!
My hosts felt it was best to throw me into reality, and in hindsight, I can't really disagree – though I nearly had a nervous breakdown.
I had my Thai host write me map-like directions to school in Thai, thinking that would help me get to and from school. I did not yet have a cell phone, and had zero idea of my bearings. Just my school name and temporary home address written down with one landmark – the 7-11.
Don't kid yourself, this is NOT your idea of a 7-11. I was excited when I first knew I would be nearby a familiar local convenience, but this 7-11 is nothing like ours in North America. More on that later!
On top of not knowing where I was going, or how to get back, and being in a part of Thailand that generally did not speak English (and not yet speaking Thai), I had to ride on the back of a small motorbike. A Thai motorbike driven by a man that I was (at least) 4 inches taller than, and outweighed by 60-80lbs. For real.
When I arrived to the 'taxi stand', I discovered that none of the drivers could read or understand a map, so my attempts at preparing my backup were futile. Fortunately, I had been practicing the name of my school all night in my sleep, and they recognized it when I told them (but how would I get home?!!).
They spoke amongst themselves for quite some time. Their conversation turned to laughter, and before long I realized they were trying to decide which of them was heaviest and tallest – which of them COULD take me.
They knew a few words of English;
'Ahh! SoOoo FAT farrang (foreigner)!'
'Sexy, sexy lady!'
O geez. A great way to start my day! I decided then, that this would be one of my future lessons – appropriate use of English words – how to compliment and what NOT to say.
I hopped (wobbled) on, nearly knocking him to the ground. We struggled to stay upright and straight throughout our tour. Neither of us enjoyed it – I would say it was actually quite dangerous. The traffic, the instability, the lack of helmets.
I saw some of my YOUNG students along the way, driving themselves to school. Much too young by Canadian standards to be driving a motorized vehicle – some as young as 10 years old! This inspired me.
If I was going to have to deal with the motorbike 'taxi fiasco' on a daily basis (and yes, it went like that EVERY DAY), I was going to have to get my own motorbike and teach myself to drive.
No, I didn't have a licence in Canada, still don't. I have a funky eye problem and Canada is very strict about letting people with my issue drive. But if my 10 (+) year old students could drive themselves to school, so could I – dammit!
How did I get home that day? The 7-11. There was a taxi stand right outside my school. Another embarrassing group talk (it went the exact same way – this group also used the word 'jumbo'). It turned out that when speaking, Thais leave out the '11' part of '7-11', so it took a while to figure that out between us. Once we did (and the largest driver was selected), we still had to find the right 7-11.
Our fourth stop proved fruitful and when he dropped me off (and I tipped him a lot), he said;
'Tomorrow – same same?'
'Yes! Same Same!'
I showed him on his watch which time I needed to be picked up in the morning (made a sleeping sign, pointed at the sun and then his watch), and we made a deal that would last a few days. A nice temporary break from the to-and-from school stress.
Unfortunately it wasn't too long before his co-workers were upset with him for hoarding the foreigner who tips well, and he 'disappeared', starting the fiasco all over again.
You can follow this trip by heading to the 'Living In Thailand' section, or you can enjoy many more photos of Thailand by heading to the Habitual Runaway on Facebook.
Related articles
- Thai Jungle Ants (habitualrunaway.wordpress.com)
- The First Day – Thailand (habitualrunaway.wordpress.com)


text:
People v. Dacayana (B122454, 12/13/99)
76 Cal.App.4th 1334 (DCA 2, Div. 6)
Subsequent history: Rev. granted 3/22/00 (S085498), and the case was deffered pending a decision in People v. Torres (2001) 25 Cal.4th 680, matter still pending.
[5.D.] Dr. Paladino's testimony at appellant's trial under the Sexually Violent Predators Act was properly admitted and did not violate the patient-psychotherapist privilege under Evidence Code section 1012. Evidence Code section 1024 permits treating psychotherapists to disclose otherwise confidential communications to prevent the danger posed by the prisoner's release, just as it permitted similar disclosures under the Mentally Disordered Sexual Offenders law. People v. Wharton (1991) 53 Cal.3d 522 does not require that a warning, pursuant to Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California (1976) 17 Cal.3d 425, 442, be given before the disclosure can be made under Evidence Code section 1024, nor does it limit the disclosure of otherwise privileged communications to the Tarasoff warning itself. Wharton was a criminal prosecution. [3.C.3.c.] The Court of Appeal rejected appellant's claim that he did not have two qualifying offenses as required to trigger the application of the Sexually Violent Predators Act because the 1980 rape conviction resulted from a no-contest plea rather than a guilty plea. Because Penal Code section 1016, which was amended in 1982, provided that the legal effect of a no-contest plea would be the same as a plea of guilty for all purposes, and case law establishes that these convictions are admissible in subsequent civil actions, a person who enters a no-contest plea stands convicted just as though he had pleaded guilty. [3.D.] [6.] [7.] CALJIC 4.19, which defines the elements necessary for a Sexually Violent Predators Act conviction, and which does not require the jury to find the prior convictions "predatory," accurately states the law. The predatory nature of the prior offenses is a factor in the prison screening process designed to identify potential SVPs. Welfare and Institutions Code section 6600, subdivision (a), permits prior convictions to be shown with documentary evidence, including the details underlying the offense and the predatory relationship with the victim. However, neither of these provisions transforms this factor into an element of the offense. As further evidence that the Legislature did not intend the predatory factor to become an element of the offense, the Court of Appeal pointed to the fact that forcible spousal rape under Penal Code section 262, subdivision (a)(1), is a qualifying SVP offense under Welfare and Institutions Code section 6600, subdivision (b), while few, if any, of such convictions would involve a predatory relationship. [3.C.2.] [6.] Under CALJIC 4.19, the Sexually Violent Predators Act requires the jury to find, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the prisoner is likely to commit a sexually violent crime. Neither the statute nor the jury instruction requires the jury to find that "the prisoner is likely beyond a reasonable doubt to commit a sexually violent crime." The trial court's answer to the jury's question regarding what standard to apply to the "likely that he will engage in sexually violent criminal behavior" finding, as well as CALJIC 4.19, make this clear.
Garcetti v. Superior Court (B133053, 11/30/99)
76 Cal.App.4th 685 (DCA 2, Div. 4)
Subsequent history: Rev. dismissed on 2/16/00 (S057336)
[3.C.3.a.] [7.] A sexually violent offense may be counted as a predicate conviction under the Sexually Violent Predators Act (SVPA) if the defendant was sentenced to an indeterminate term for that crime. A 1996 amendment in the SVPA extended the law to qualifying crimes for which an indeterminate term had been imposed, as long as the conviction otherwise qualified as a "sexually violent offense." This interpretation of the amendment is fully congruent with the purposes of the SVPA and consistent with its legislative history. The 1996 amendment applied to the 1972 conviction and sentence suffered by appellant because its provisions expressly apply it to convictions suffered before July 1, 1977, (that is, under the indeterminate sentence law), and application would be consistent with legislative intent.
People v. Ibanez (E024579, 11/29/99)
76 Cal.App.4th 537
Subsequent history: Rev. denied 3/15/00
[1.] The trial court here abused its discretion in granting a petition for writ of corum nobis where Ibanez claimed that at the time he entered his plea he was not advised that by pleading to multiple counts of child molestation he would be subject to civil commitment proceedings under Welfare and Institutions Code section 6600 et. seq. (SVPA). The remedy of plea withdrawal was not available on the corum nobis writ petition here because Ibanez had no new information to bring before the court. Moreover, the petition was predicated on a mistake of law (whether such an advisement was required) in which Ibanez's attorney participated. Finally, because civil commitment is not a direct penal consequence of the plea but merely a possible collateral consequence, the trial court was not required to advise of the possibility of such commitment. The appellate court therefore found that the lower court erred in denying the People's petition for a writ of prohibition which sought to prevent the plea from being withdrawn.
People v. Rains (F028684, 10/25/99)
75 Cal.App.4th 1165 (DCA 5)
Subsequent history: Rev. denied 1/2500.
[3.C.3.e.] [5.B.] In a trial to determine whether appellant was a sexually violent predator, it was error for the court to have permitted two doctors to testify about the consequences of a jury's "true" finding. However, because the trial was a civil proceeding, the verdict could not be set aside unless it was reasonably probable that a result more favorable to the appealing party would have been reached in the absence of the error. Here, it was undisputed that appellant was a sexually violent predator and was likely to reoffend. Moreover, appellant had tendered no defense. The doctors' testimony was brief and in response to the jury's inquiry. The jury was instructed not to consider what was going to happen to appellant. Under the circumstances, there was no reasonable probability of a more favorable result to appellant, and reversal was therefore not required.
People v. Superior Court (Perez)(B131539, 9/30/99)
75 Cal.App.4th 394 (DCA 2, Div. 2)
[1.B.] The court erred in dismissing a petition filed under the Sexually Violent Predators Act (SVPA) because appellant would be deported before receiving treatment. The dismissal was premature because the Attorney General had the discretion to defer deportation proceedings in favor of allowing treatment under the SVPA. Furthermore, because the SVPA is fair and nondiscriminatory on its face concerning alienage, state action against Perez could only be a violation of equal protection if the action resulted in purposeful or intentional discrimination. Neither the filing of the SVPA petition, nor the decision of the government to defer deportation pending the outcome of the petition resulted in discriminatory treatment. Accordingly, there was no equal protection violation.
People v. Cheek (H019064, 9/28/99)
75 Cal.App.4th 282 (DCA 6)
Subsequent history: Rev. granted 12/15/99 (S083305) and decided on June 21, 2001: 25 Cal.4th 894. See cases decided by the California Supreme Court, article page 5.
[1.A.] [3.D.] [7.] A trial court erred by precluding appellant from calling and cross-examining witnesses at his hearing for conditional release under Welfare and Institutions Code section 6608. Appellant had been committed to the State Department of Mental Health (DMH) under the Sexually Violent Predators Act (SVPA). Under the SVPA, a defendant is entitled to petition the court for conditional release after one year. If s/he does not affirmatively waive his or her right to petition, the court must hold a show cause hearing to determine whether facts exist that warrant a hearing on whether there has been a change in condition which warrants release. Here, appellant did not affirmatively waive his right to petition for a hearing because he refused to check the appropriate box on the form which advised him of his right to a hearing. While Welfare and Institutions Code section 6605 does not specifically provide for the right to call and cross-examine witnesses, it does provide a right to a hearing, which implies something more than just a review of an annual report prepared by the DMH. The absence of language in the statute limiting the hearing to the review of reports, combined with the specific restriction in other provisions of the SVPA, demonstrates that the Legislature intended to provide for a full hearing. Also, because DMH presented the testimony of experts through hearsay reports, "common sense and fairness" compel the conclusion that appellant should have been allowed to cross-examine the preparers of the reports. [3.D.] [5.B.] [7.] It was not error for the trial court to have refused appellant's request for the appointment of an expert prior to the show cause hearing. Welfare and Institutions Code section 6605, subdivision (a), uses permissive rather than mandatory language, and the appointment of an expert is a matter within the court's discretion. There was no abuse of discretion here because there was substantial information in the annual report regarding appellant's current mental condition.
People v. Buffington (C025957, 9/14/99)
74 Cal.App.4th 1149 (DCA 3)
[3.C.2.] The requirement that a trier of fact need determine only that is "likely" that an alleged sexual predator will engage in future predatory behavior is not a violation of due process. The reasonable doubt standard is not diluted because the phrase challenged is not a standard of proof, but simply a prediction of future dangerousness that the trier of fact must find proved beyond a reasonable doubt. [1.B.] The Sexually Violent Predator Act (SVPA) does not violate equal protection principles. The SVPA does not allow SVPs to be involuntarily committed based on a less severe mental disorder than those committed under other civil commitment schemes. Although the definitions of mental disorder for the SVPA and the Mentally Disordered Offender (MDO) Act do not have identical definitions of mental disorder, their definitions rest on a similar foundation for equal protection purposes. The SVPA, the MDO Act, and the Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Act have similar evidentiary requirements for determining who is suffering from a mental disorder and who is likely to reoffend. The provisions for treatment of SVPs also do not violate the equal protection clause. Treatment is an integral part of the SVPA, but requiring a finding of "amenability to treatment" would be contrary to the goal of California's civil commitment schemes, which were intended to protect the public as well as treat the mentally disturbed.
In re Kirk (A087145, 9/10/99)
74 Cal.App.4th 1066 (DCA 1, Div. 5)
Subsequent history: Rev. denied 11/17/99.
[2.] [5.C.] A new hearing to determine probable cause to hold a petitioner for trial as a sexually violent predator (SVP) was required where the court relied on uncertified psychological evaluations as evidence of a petitioner's mental disorder. The certification requirements of Evidence Code sections 1530 and 1531 apply to SVP probable cause hearings, and help ensure that the hearsay which is admissible in SVP hearings is sufficiently trustworthy to form the basis of the probable cause finding.
People v. Hunt (C025177, 9/7/99)
74 Cal.App.4th 939 (DCA 3)
[3.C.3.c.] A commitment under the Sexually Violent Predators Act (SVPA) was reversed, and the petition dismissed, where the qualifying prior conviction under the SVPA was a court-martial conviction in Germany for indecent acts with a child. The SVPA's use of the term "conviction in another state" is limited to convictions in one of the United States and does not encompass a conviction via military court-martial in Germany.
People v. Chambless (D031860, 8/31/99)
74 Cal.App.4th 773 (DCA 4, Div. 1)
Subsequent history: Rev. denied on Dec. 15, 1999.
[3.C.3.b.] [7.] An inmate who had pleaded guilty to molesting two children, which included masturbation and oral copulation, committed substantial sexual conduct under the Sexually Violent Predators Act (SVPA). The SVPA required a showing that Chambless had been convicted of two "sexually violent offenses," against at least two victims. A sexually violent offense can be lewd acts with children when the acts included "substantial sexual conduct," which is defined to include masturbation of either the victim or the offender. Although masturbation is not legally defined, the Legislature must have intended for it to have the commonly understood definition, which is touching for the purpose of arousal. Therefore, because the evidence showed that Chambless touched the victims' genitals and forced them to touch his, substantial sexual conduct occurred. Accordingly, there was sufficient evidence that appellant fell within the definition of the SVPA.
People v. Poe (A083416, 8/30/99)
74 Cal.App.4th 826 (DCA 1, Div. 1)
[3.C.2.] There was sufficient evidence that an inmate was "likely" to engage in sexually violent conduct when released where two experts testified that the risk of appellant reoffending was higher than 50 percent, and their opinions were based on numerous factors in addition to appellant's prior offenses. The fact that appellant was young when he committed his first sexual offense, he continued to use drugs and alcohol, and he had a pattern of aggressive conduct over many years including during the time he was in prison, all supported the conclusion that he was likely to reoffend. Therefore, there was sufficient evidence to support the finding of the court that appellant was a sexually violent predator within the meaning of Welfare and Institutions Code section 6600. [1.A.] [1.B.] [1.D.] The Sexually Violent Predators Act (SVPA) does not violate state and federal due process rights, or the constitutional protection against ex post facto laws. The arguments presented by appellant were rejected in Hubbart v. Superior Court(1999) 19 Cal.4th 1138. The SVPA also does not violate the equal protection clause. Identical arguments were raised and rejected in People v. Torres (1999) 71 Cal.App.4th 704. [3.B.] Appellant was not entitled to credit for the six months he served between his scheduled release date and the date he was committed as a sexually violent predator. The Legislature did not provide for pre-commitment custody credits, and it intended the two-year commitment to begin on the date of the finding that an inmate was found to be a sexually violent predator.
People v. Hurtado (D029586, 8/3/99)
73 Cal.App.4th 1243 (DCA 4, Div. 1)
Subsequent history: Rev. granted 10/20/99 (S082112) and the case was decided 8/22/02 (S082112) See cases decided by the California Supreme Court, article page 5.
[3.C.3.e.] [6.] [7.] Although the Legislature inadvertently omitted the adjective "predatory" from the Sexually Violent Predators Act (SVPA), and CALJIC 4.19 echoed this oversight, the error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. There was substantial evidence that Hurtado's behavior was predatory. The only evidence of Hurtado's offenses established that his victims were strangers or individuals with whom he promoted a relationship in order to victimize. [1.B.] The Sexually Violent Predators Act did not violate appellant's equal protection rights because it was narrowly drafted to serve the compelling state interest in protecting society from a specific class of sex offenders. [3.A.] [3.B.] Appellant was legally committed under the Sexually Violent Predators Act on a second petition filed on the same day that the original commitment petition was dismissed for failure to hold a probable cause hearing within the requisite ten-day period. By reinstating the original petition or filing a new one, the trial court never lost jurisdiction, and appellant was therefore legally committed. [3.C.1.] Substantial evidence supported the jury's finding that appellant suffered from a currently diagnosed mental disorder. [1.F.] The Sexually Violent Predators Act did not violate the constitutional prohibition against double jeopardy because double jeopardy principles do not apply to civil proceedings.
People v. Hedge (D021343, 6/23/99)
72 Cal.App.4th 1466 (DCA 4, Div. 1)
[4.A.] In an appeal taken from a judgment ordering appellant's second two-year extension of commitment to the custody of the Department of Mental Health as a sexually violent predator, the Court of Appeal held that the trial court did have jurisdiction to proceed on the second petition. Even though the commitment order on the first petition was not final because it was still pending review in the California Supreme Court (People v. Hedge(1997) 56 Cal.App.4th 773, review granted October 29, 1997 (S063954) [Hedge I]), the trial court retained jurisdiction to proceed on the second petition. Even assuming that appellant was not serving a valid parole revocation term at the time these current proceedings were instituted, per Terhune v. Superior Court (1998) 65 Cal.App.4th 864, it had no effect on the trial court's jurisdiction to act on the second petition under Garcetti v. Superior Court (1998) 68 Cal.App.4th 1105 (referred to as Lyles) and People v. Superior Court (1998) 68 Cal.App.4th 1383. The Sexually Violent Predators Act (SVPA) does not require that a defendant's custody be lawful at the time the petition is filed. It only requires the person to be "in custody under the jurisdiction of the [DOC]."
[Editor's note: while the Court of Appeal did not rely on default in its holding here because of the express statutory language and existing case law supporting its disposition, it did note in dicta that appellant failed to challenge the validity of his custody under the applicable parole regulation by administrative appeal or by habeas writ, and that he did not challenge the filing of the current second petition on these grounds until this appeal.]
People v. Torres (C028359, 4/26/99)
71 Cal.App.4th 704 (DCA 3)
Subsequent history: Rev. granted 8/11/99 (S079575), and decided on 5/21/01: 25 Cal.4th 680. See cases decided by the California Supreme Court, article page 5.
[5.C.] [7.] In a hearing to determine whether appellant was a sexually violent predator (SVP), the trial court committed reversible error when it admitted uncertified documents to prove the prior out-of-state convictions. Torres had waived his right to a jury determination on two prior Texas convictions and a prior California conviction for sex offenses. In a bifurcated proceeding, the trial court admitted, over appellant's objection, several uncertified documents from Texas purporting to prove appellant's prior convictions in that state. The trial court rejected appellant's argument that the uncertified documents were inadmissable hearsay, and held that the Sexually Violent Predator Act (SVPA), Welfare and Institutions Code section 6600, subdivision (a), allows admission of a broader range of documents and does not expressly require the documents to be certified. The court then found the priors to be true. The appellate court reversed the judgment. Although section 6600, subdivision (a), allows the introduction of a broader range of documents, it does not relieve the proponents of the documents from compliance with Evidence Code sections 1530 and 1531. The Evidence Code applies to every action in California except as otherwise provided by statute. Nothing on the face of Welfare and Institutions Code section 6600, subdivision (a), suggests an exception or a legislative intent to create an exception. Public policy reasons, such as ensuring that the documents are authentic and that the inmate's right to confront and cross-examine is protected, further support the conclusion that the Legislature could not have intended to abrogate those Evidence Code sections. Because a person's liberty interest is at stake in a civil commitment proceeding, he or she has the right to confrontation and cross-examination. Without the safeguard of certification, the Texas documents were not sufficiently trustworthy to be admitted and used against appellant. Because only the California conviction remained, and a minimum of two prior victims were required to satisfy the SVPA, the conviction was reversed and the matter was remanded to the trial court for retrial only on the issue of whether appellant sustained the prior Texas convictions. [3.C.3.c.] [3.C.3.d.] The Court of Appeal also held that if the documentation had been certified, there was sufficient evidence to prove the prior convictions. The SVPA does not require proof that the prior convictions were predatory. [5.D.] Appellant's claim that his statements to examining doctors were inadmissable to prove his prior predatory acts was not raised below and was therefore waived on appeal. Even if the issue had been preserved, it would have failed on the merits because the judicially declared rule of use immunity applies only in a criminal proceeding, and hearings under the Sexually Violent Predator Act (SVPA) are civil in nature. [3.C.2.] There was no error regarding the standard of proof where examining physicians stated, and the prosecutor argued, that appellant was "likely" to engage in further predatory behavior. The jury was properly instructed that they were to make the ultimate finding "beyond a reasonable doubt." Appellant's diagnosis of paraphilia and antisocial personality disorder was sufficient as a qualifying disorder under the Sexually Violent Predator Act (SVPA). The appellate court also rejected further constitutional challenges to the SVPA, as they had been previously rejected by the California Supreme Court in Hubbart v. Superior Court (1999) 19 Cal.4th 1138.
People v. Ward (E020993, 4/13/99)
71 Cal.App.4th 368 (DCA 4, Div. 2)
Subsequent history: Rev. denied on July 28, 1999.
[3.B.] Appellant was not entitled to pre-commitment credits for the 231 days he was in jail prior to the jury's sexually violent predator finding. Credits which would reduce a prison term are not applicable to a civil mental health commitment. [5.A.] Psychiatric and psychological testimony admitted for the purpose of a sexually violent predator (SVP) hearing pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code section 6600, et seq., is not scientific evidence subject to a Kelly-Frye analysis. (People v. Kelly (1976) 17 Cal.3d 24; Frye v. United States (1923) 293 F. 213.) California law distinguishes between expert medical opinion and scientific evidence. Kelly-Frye analysis applies to cases involving novel devices or processes, not to expert testimony such as a psychiatrist's prediction of future dangerousness. The law permits such expert testimony in a number of other contexts, such as insanity and mentally disordered offender commitments. These other situations cannot reasonably be distinguished from expert testimony in SVP commitment proceedings. Therefore, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in this case when it admitted expert testimony regarding the likelihood that appellant was a sexually violent predator and was likely to reoffend. [3.C.1.] The trial court did not err in refusing appellant's request for an instruction which informed the jury that a DSM-IV diagnosis was not sufficient proof of the requisite diagnosed mental disorder. The statement was not appropriate as a statement of law, but only as argument.
People v. Superior Court (Ramirez) (A085269, 3/30/99)
70 Cal.App.4th 1384 (DCA 1, Div. 2)
[2.B.] The appellate court here found that the trial court had erred in dismissing the People's petition for civil recommitment of Ramirez as a sexually violent predator. The petition was filed four days before Ramirez's release date. Distinguishing People v. Kirkland(1994) 24 Cal.App.4th 891, a case that interpreted the time limits set forth in the Mentally Disordered Offender (MDO) Act (Pen. Code, § 2960 et seq.), the appellate court held that the petition, filed pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code section 6600 et seq., the Sexually Violent Predators Act (SVPA), was timely. Welfare and Institutions Code section 6601, subdivision (a), provides that the initial screening should be commenced at least six months prior to the inmate's scheduled release date, but it does not specify when the request for a petition must be made or when the petition must be filed, although it does require that the individual be in custody. Welfare and Institutions Code section 6601.3 permits the issuance of a parole hold of 45 days if the parole date will be reached before the evaluation is completed. Where the parole hold will expire before a probable cause hearing is conducted, section 6601.5 authorizes an urgency review which, based on the facts of the petition, allows the court to order the individual detained for an additional 10 days, provided, however, that the hearing is held within the 10-day period. There is no provision specifying a time by which the trial must be commenced or concluded. [4.] Welfare and Institutions Code section 6604.1 does provide that for a subsequent extended commitment, the term of commitment shall be from the date of the termination of the previous commitment. The appellate court found that this provision recognized that the extended commitment trial may not finish before the expiration of the previous commitment because otherwise there would be no need to specify that the term of the extended commitment shall run from the date the previous commitment ended. Therefore, a subsequent commitment order need not be obtained before expiration of the previous term.
People v. Superior Court (Johannes) (B126017, 3/3/99)
70 Cal.App.4th 558 (DCA 2, Div. 1)
Subsequent history: Rev. denied on Jun. 16, 1999.
[3.C.3.b.] [7.]Under Welfare and Institutions Code section 6600 et. seq., the Sexually Violent Predator Act (SVPA), sex offenses against children under 14 need not have been committed by force to satisfy the statute. Johannes was convicted of seven violations of Penal Code section 288, subdivision (a) (child molestation without force), against multiple victims, and several counts of Penal Code section 288.5 (continual sexual abuse of a child). The People petitioned to have Johannes declared a sexually violent predator under the SVPA. The trial court found that there was no probable cause because Johannes's offenses were committed without force. The trial court held that the crimes must satisfy both section 6600.1, which required the offenses to have involved substantial sexual conduct, and section 6600, subdivision (b), which required that they be committed by means of force, fear, or violence. The appellate court here held that section 6600.1 modifies section 6600, subdivision (b). Someone who commits two or more specified sex crimes against children under 14 years old with substantial sexual conduct is subject to the SVPA even if the offenses were not committed with force, violence, menace, or fear. The statutes' facial meaning and legislative history, as well as the rules of statutory construction, unambiguously compel this conclusion. [1.A.] Relying on Kansas v. Hendricks (1997) 521 U.S. 346, and Hubbart v. Superior Court(1999) 19 Cal.4th 1138, the Court of Appeal found the SVPA to be sufficiently narrowly drawn to pass constitutional muster even if the conduct against children under the age of 14 years was not committed with force, violence, menace of fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury on the victim or another person.
People v. Mercer (E021569, 3/1/99)
70 Cal.App.4th 463 (DCA 4, Div. 2)
[3.C.3.e.] There was sufficient evidence to classify appellant as a sexually violent predator where the jury could reasonably have believed the evidence of prosecution witnesses and rejected that of the defense witness. Although no court has yet articulated the standard of review for considering the sufficiency of evidence to support a commitment under the Sexually Violent Predator Act, the class of offenders is similar to commitments under the Mentally Disordered Offender Law and extended commitments under Penal Code section 1026.5 for defendants acquitted by reason of insanity. Therefore, the standard of proof should be the same as that for reviewing a criminal conviction. Here, all three psychologists who testified at appellant's hearing to determine whether he was a sexually violent predator testified that he had pedophilia. The prosecution experts testified that appellant could not control his sexually violent behavior, while the defense expert testified that there was no evidence that he was unable to control his behavior. As all reasonable inferences must be drawn in favor of the judgment, there was sufficient evidence from which the jury could have determined that appellant could not control his behavior and would likely reoffend if released.
People v. West (F026945, 2/24/99)
70 Cal.App.4th 248 (DCA 5)
[3.C.3.a.] There was insufficient evidence that appellant was a sexually violent predator where there was no evidence that he received a determinate term for his prior 1975 rape conviction. At the time of appellant's trial, the definition of a "sexually violent predator" included a requirement that the defendant had been convicted of a sexually violent offense against two or more victims for which he or she received a determinate sentence. Although West stipulated that he was convicted of forcible rape in 1975, he contended that there was no evidence he received a determinate term for that offense. The court agreed, finding "no legal or practical solution to the express words of this statute that created the anomaly which inures to appellant's benefit." Subsequent amendments to the statute were not simply a clarification of existing law. The amendment did not affect appellant because it had not yet become law when appellant's trial took place. The judgment must be reversed because of "legislative oversight," despite appellant's egregious record and evident danger to the public.
People v. Superior Court (Howard) (H018530, 2/22/99)
70 Cal.App.4th 136 (DCA 6)
Subsequent history: Rev. denied on Jun. 3, 1999.
[1.A.] [2.C.] [5.C.] The Sexually Violent Predators Act (SVPA) specifically allows the People to prove that a defendant has committed sexually violent offenses through hearsay evidence. The admission of hearsay evidence at a probable cause hearing does not violate due process because the defendant has an opportunity to challenge the evidence. Howard, who had pleaded guilty in 1987 to a violation of Penal Code section 288a, subdivision (b)(2), and in 1991 to a violation of Penal Code section 288, subdivision (a), was not paroled in May of 1997. Instead, proceedings were begun under the SVPA. At the hearing on the SVPA petition, the court admitted four written evaluations of Howard which were submitted by psychologists who, in addition to examining Howard, had reviewed his record, including the probation reports. Howard's attorney called two of the psychologists as witnesses at the hearing, and cross-examined them regarding their opinions that Howard met the criteria of the statute. The court ruled that there was no probable cause to detain Howard under the SVPA because the proof that Howard's convictions constituted sexually violent offenses within the meaning of the statute consisted of inadmissable evidence, that is, the hearsay statements of the victims contained in the probation reports. The People petitioned for a writ of mandate. The court here held that the SVPA specifically provides that the existence of qualifying past conduct may be shown at the probable cause hearing by documentary evidence, including statements in a probation report. Due process under the SVPA is not measured by the rights accorded a defendant in criminal proceedings, but by the standard applicable to civil proceedings.
People v. Superior Court (Donelson) (G023889, 1/29/99)
69 Cal.App.4th 734 (DCA 4, Div. 3)
Subsequent history: opn. ordered nonpub. Apr. 1, 1999.
[2.B.] A petition to commit a defendant as a sexually violent predator (SVP) was valid when brought while the defendant was still in custody because the Board of Prison Terms had put a hold on his release. Donelson was scheduled to be released from state prison on parole on April 18, 1996. Prior to that release date, the Department of Corrections identified him as a potential SVP and referred him to the Department of Mental Health (DMH) for an evaluation. Both examining doctors concluded that Donelson was a pedophile who would continue his sexually violent behavior if released. A three-day hold was placed on Donelson's release pursuant to California Code of Regulations section 2006.1. The Board then placed a 45-day hold on Donelson in order to allow the state time to petition for Donelson's commitment. The state filed the petition and proceedings commenced. Donelson moved to dismiss the petition, arguing that the Board's holds were invalid. The trial court granted the motion, but stayed the order pending appellate review of the State's writ of mandate. The court here granted the writ, holding that Donelson was legally in custody when the petition was filed, and the hold placed by the Board was valid. Welfare and Institutions Code section 6601.3 allows the Board to place a hold on an inmate who is referred to the DMH for up to 45 days to complete an evaluation before the inmate's release and before the DMH makes a recommendation. Here, the DMH evaluation was completed but probable cause was not determined before Donelson's original release date. Given the sequence of events, the Board had no statutory provision to guide its actions. Section 6601 required a probable cause hearing, but did not specify when it was to occur. The Board was entitled to rely on its own regulations under the circumstances, and its actions were necessary to ensure that an SVP was not released before the potential danger was assessed.
People v. Moore (A080393, 1/26/99)
69 Cal.App.4th 626 (DCA 1, Div. 4)
Subsequent history: while the petition for review was denied on March 31, 1999, Justice Mosk voted to grant review.
[3.C.3.] The trial court was not required to advise a defendant that he may be subject to additional confinement under the Sexually Violent Predator Act (SVPA) before accepting his guilty plea to a violation of Penal Code section 288, subdivision (a). Following the entry of his guilty plea, Moore moved to withdraw the plea because the court had not advised him that the plea could lead to SVPA proceedings which might require him to spend the rest of his life in prison. The court properly denied the motion because any commitment Moore might suffer under the SVPA would be neither a "direct" nor a "penal" consequence of his plea. Even if Moore would be automatically screened under the SVPA as a result of his plea prior to his release from prison, the screening would not necessarily lead to a finding that he was a sexually violent predator. Any such determination would require additional steps, and would not be controlled by Moore's plea. A potential commitment under the SVPA is, at most, a collateral consequence of the plea and admissions. The court, citing Hubbart v. Superior Court (1999) 19 Cal.4th 1138, also held that such a commitment would not be a "penal" consequence of the plea. There was no abuse of discretion in refusing to allow withdrawal of the plea.
People v. Superior Court (Whitley) (A084054, 1/5/99)
68 Cal.App.4th 1383 (DCA 1, Div. 1)
Subsequent history: while the petition for review was denied on March 17, 1999, Justice Kennard voted to grant review.
[2.B.] The Department of Corrections has the jurisdiction to commit an individual under the Sexually Violent Predators Act (SVPA) even where his parole has been erroneously revoked. The prosecutor's original petition for Whitley's commitment as a sexually violent predator was dismissed for lack of probable cause. Whitley's parole was revoked for psychiatric treatment. In Terhune v. Superior Court (1998) 65 Cal.App.4th 864, this court held that the revocation was in excess of the Board of Prison Terms' authority. Before the opinion in Terhune was final, the prosecutor filed another petition for Whitley's commitment under the SVPA. Whitley's motion to dismiss that petition was granted. In this People's appeal, the court held that the trial court erred. At the time of the filing of the new petition, Whitley was in the custody of the Department of Corrections, because Terhune was not yet final. The Department's error in revoking Whitley's parole was not a negligent or intentional wrongdoing; the error was the result of a mistaken understanding regarding the Department's statutory authority. Given these factors and the serious public safety purpose underlying the SVPA, the trial court had jurisdiction to consider the latest petition for Whitley's commitment despite the Department's legal error. Even if the dismissal of the second petition for commitment was a final judgment on the merits, the prosecutor was not collaterally estopped from bringing another petition, as the two proceedings did not involve the same issue. The determination that the original revocation was not authorized did not undermine the efficacy of the commitment proceedings, and a new probable cause hearing was authorized.
Issues Pending Review
Compendium Topic Code Index
U.S. Supreme Court Cases
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Cases
California Supreme Court Cases
Year 2014 California Court of Appeal Cases
Year 2013 California Court of Appeal Cases
Year 2012 California Court of Appeal Cases
Year 2011 California Court of Appeal Cases
Year 2010 California Court of Appeal Cases
Year 2009 California Court of Appeal Cases
Year 2008 California Court of Appeal Cases
Year 2007 California Court of Appeal Cases
Year 2006 California Court of Appeal Cases
Year 2005 California Court of Appeal Cases
Year 2004 California Court of Appeal Cases
Year 2003 California Court of Appeal Cases
Year 2002 California Court of Appeal Cases
Year 2001 California Court of Appeal Cases
Year 2000 California Court of Appeal Cases
Year 1999 California Court of Appeal Cases – you are here
Years 1998 & earlier Court of Appeal Cases


text:
1. Make a set of quilted nesting/stacking blocks for a friend using Winnie the Pooh fabric
Monday, April 22, 2013
How's Your Month Going?
1. Make a set of quilted nesting/stacking blocks for a friend using Winnie the Pooh fabric
4 comments:
Wow, I've been at your blog and your Pinterest site for what seems like forever - it's been so fun! I figure I better comment and get going. I love the bibs you make. Sure wish I knew of a baby so I could buy one. Which made me realize - I didn't see your Etsy Shop button on your blog. I've made nesting boxes before - of they were so fun. I really like yours so much - so unique and well thought out. And I love your needle books. Very nice, The one with the square being not the same size is really cool. I'm following you now .ReplyDeleteReplies
Thank you so much Linda! Actually the needle book with the uneven squares was not meant to look like that. I like symmetry and I'm trying to get over my perfectionist ways and just go with it. That is an example of just going with it. I couldn't find the etsy button but I put an etsy mini here. Thanks for that suggestion!Delete
I would like to follow you with Bloglovin - have you considered joining that?ReplyDeleteReplies
I've seen it. I will look into it.Delete


text:
The Nothobranchius kiyawensis lives in the benthopelagic, non-migratory, freshwater environment.
↑ Nothobranchius kiyawensis w: Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ang.) 2. ↑ http://fishbase.org/Country/CountrySpeciesSummary.cfm?c_code=288&id=9881 Źródło "http://pl.wikipedia. More
Nothobranchius kiyawensis, and almost all imaginable combinations of the above and Fundulusoma. It has a huge distribution area and consequently quite some variation in phenotype (Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Tchad, Ghana, Cameroon). Quite rare in the hobby, long incubation time, appr. 50 mm. More
6) Nothobranchius kiyawensis (described by Ahl in 1928 on one male and one female) Colours of the live fish are not known. 5 cm. Caught in (by?) the river Kiyawa near Katagum in Northern Provinces in Nigeria. More
Nothobranchius kiyawensis on Fish Mapper TSN 647436 (Taxonomic Serial Number) Retrieved on from the Integrated Taxonomic Information System online database. This is a cached copy. More
Riviviuhkapyrstö in Finnish (suomen kieli)
原鰓鰕鮰 in Mandarin Chinese
原鳃鰕鮰 in Mandarin Chinese


text:
My second advice-seeking post today; I guess I just need a lot of help today. Anyway, so my girlfriend's sister in law gave birth last night, and we're going to visit her and the baby in the hospital this evening. It's been a long, long time since I visited someone in the maternity ward, and I was a pre-teen at the time, so I didn't really know what was what. Will we be expected to bring something like flowers or a card? Or is our presence satisfactory enough? Halp.
On another note, I feel really awkward because my girlfriend pretty much hates her SIL and only likes her brother a bit more than that. I feel like bonding over the baby should be a chance to repair relationships, but I don't see it happening. (My girlfriend REALLY hates her SIL.) So it goes.


text:
How I Found This App
In a previous post for PenUp, I mentioned my tendency to do an app cleansing periodically (this is a weird thing I do with all my gadgets). Well, while I was perusing yet again to do my cleaning on the ol' cellular device, I came across another app I had no recollection of downloading. Samsung's Bixby. I'm sure that she comes up during phone start-up, but i never really delved into it. Probably, because when you get a new phone all you want to do is get it running so you can check it out! However, my curiosity was already peaked. I had to dig more into this nifty app and see what all it could do for me. Although, it would take me a while to actually LOOK UP what Bixby can do. So rather than watch a tutorial made just for people like me, I pressed random buttons.
What Does Bixby Signify?
When I was looking over it initially, it did not really occur to me that I was using something that would look very odd to somebody from like 10 years ago. This was me shouting at my phone "BIXBY! BEATBOX FOR ME!" and then it would do a half-decent beatbox. Where as most people from then would be more accustomed to phones like these.
Now I can just ask my what the weather is tomorrow, to set an alarm or timer for me, to search for a quick answer to a question I have, or to even call a loved one for me. This is a very impressive example of not only accessibility, but also just how much we are in the future, and don't even think about it.
A.I. development is a topic that most people know is happening, but do not really take a lot of time to dig into. An example is Wired's Article for AI in 2017, featuring AIs like Sophia who was introduced to the United Nations, and was granted citizenship in Saudi Arabia. They are becoming more and more prevalent on the consumer level, and we don't even think about it!
Features of Bixby
So what can Bixby actually do? Well in my usual fashion, I will be crafting a list! Although, I need to preface this by saying that Bixby actually has FOUR different iterations across your Samsung 10th Gen phones. That's right, freaking FOUR. You should have these.
- Bixby Home
- Bixby Voice
- Bixby Vision
- Bixby Routines
So let's just break these into smaller pieces shall we? Don't worry I will not mention every single little thing that these apps can do!
Bixby Home
Basically, this is like a smart homepage. Samsung's Bixby Website says
"Bixby learns your routine, so you'll have the right content ready when you need it. By looking for patterns in your app usage by time and location, Bixby can predict what you might be looking for."
Now for full disclosure, I have to tell you I haven't tested the capabilities of the app's learning abilities. But, from everything I have read it seems to function very very well.
The truth is that Bixby Home doesn't really boast anything all the intuitive, it just crams everything into a single smart-page that you can see the stuff you would probably just use on it's own.
Bixby Voice
This can do what you would expect from a voice service. But Bixby does it VERY well. Just allow me to name a couple.
- Read Inbound Messages/Emails
- Set Alarms,Timers and Reminders
- Forecast the Weather
- Increase or Decrease Volume/Brightness
- Search the Web for You
- Send Messages and Emails
- Integration With Other Smart-Tech
What is very neat is that Bixby actually understand natural language. Meaning it will not just need you to say "Bixby, read the weather for tomorrow". You can speak more naturally and she will be able to deduce what you are asking it to do.
Bixby Vision
Now THIS is one of the things that I have been having a lot of fun with personally, and look forward to testing even further. She can look through your camera and identify certain landmarks, items and even people (normally famous). So in my experience this can be a little spotty, but I am very interested to see where Samsung takes this. I have had it identify many things that I ask it about, just sometimes it can be weird. My personal favorite part is that you can scan text and save it.
Bixby Routines
Above all else, this is what I find to be the coolest one. Assuming you have experience with "if:this then:that" then it is fairly simple. Depending on location, event or time, it will activate a sequence of functions. Of course, you can also set manual functions so that you are not solely relying on the contextual learning of this AI. An example routine from Samsung's Galaxy Page says
"When your Galaxy S10 series phone or Galaxy Fold connects to the Bluetooth in your car, Bixby Routines can do a variety of apps and settings—like pulling up the Maps app, opening your music app, and keeping your phone unlocked for easy access—to add convenience to your drive."
This is obviously a very convenient process, and I think this is a good example. Well done Samsung, and since I have stroked your ego sufficiently, I demand tester items immediately!
Personal Ponderings on Possibilities Presented
You see what I did there? Anyway, I find this to be a very welcome feature to my Samsung phone, but as you all know, I am a Samsung and Google fanboy. I just love their products what can I say? It's a nice feature that just comes with the phone. I find it kind of hard to complain about that. Obviously, there are probably some things that can be ironed out a bit more, but that is the nature of Technology. But if you take one second to think about how insane this really is, it is mind-boggling. You can set up automatic routines on your phone for Christ's sake. And don't get me started on the Galaxy Fold.
I am wondering just how much you can use this app, and I would like if you folks could let me know down below what you think of Bixby, and what some possibilities of mobile AI in the future could be. It has been a genuine pleasure writing this, and have a wonderful day!


text:
48 hour pan European Road Trip
With the arrival of the GT4 we felt it important to test the car in as many different environments as possible. I threw my hand up for a short, sharp road trip setting the target time at 48 hours. This time frame was partly dictated by work and home commitments and partly with the logic that in my experience high intensity trips offer an extra challenge that isn't present when you have a relaxed itinerary. So it was only left to decide where to go and who to go with. The latter was pretty much already decided as a few friends from school days were already on the case. A couple of good customers that I also regard as friends had also expressed an interest and their timing was good so the plan was hatched. The route was more of a challenge. UK roads were out as the only contender was a loop of Scotland and this was not something we fancied doing in 48 hours. Continental Europe it would be. One of the group had never been to Spa so we timed our trip to coincide with the tail end of a Goldtrack track day and as "in the area" included a run out to the Nurburgring in the mix. To make most efficient use of time and to create some additional "social" time I included an overnight ferry in the route plan.
It was an early start on a Friday morning for a dash to Ealing to collect my co-driver Rod. The GT4's far from subtle exhaust doubling up as an alarm call for many of the residents of his close. We met two of the other three cars at the Eurotunnel. Ady and Tone in their C63 AMG Merc took a relaxed view on timing and completely missed the crossing we agreed to get on so Top Gear rules applied and we left them. We drove from France into Belgium and although attempts were made to hook up at one of the service stations near Brussels, Tone must have been holding the map upside down as whilst we waited for them they drove past and the group was not united until Spa. Traffic was very heavy but the convoy of the GT4, Sagaris and 997 turbo caused quite a stir (and a lot of noise!) with many windows winding down as people in front prepared for the group to come past. The Gt4 seemed very popular with the young ones and at one point there were children hanging out of windows trying to get a better look!
If you have never done a GoldTrack track day, you should. If just for the banter that you will get from Melindi. She was on top form when we arrived. Unfortunately the weather wasn't and we arrived in a torrential downpour of rain and pretty much two thirds of the cars were packing up for an early dart rather than take the chance on a very wet Spa track surface. We watched a number of the remaining cars round and then stayed on to watch a car club who were doing a track evening. There was a good selection of cars from a 2CV (race prepared no least) to a GT4 and everything in between. From there it was off to the Hotel Beau Site where we had very comfortable accommodation and a great meal with much beer, wine and banter.
The following morning was a fairly lazy affair with Ady and Tone again being relaxed on their timings. I planned out a route that took us through a good chunk of the Eifel mountains and avoided main roads wherever possible. Rod did a great job of keeping us to these roads. End destination was The Nurburgring to watch some GT racing. Although I could not re-draw the exact route again the roads we covered were great and there was little traffic on many of the roads. The convoy covered ground quickly and the tighter and twistier roads really showed how sublime the GT4's handling could be. The punch from the engine in the upper rev ranges combined with the soundtrack from the exhaust on sport setting was intoxicating. The GT4 and Richard's 997 Turbo separated from the TVR and the Merc on a few occasions where the composure of the Porsche models made the difference. Philipp (not a typo) was working hard inside the cockpit of the TVR and doing a fine job and the lurid slides out of junctions was one of the highlights of the trip for me. Our convoy picked up a couple of bikers that stayed with us for such a long way down so many odd roads and switch backs that they were clearly tagging us. When we stopped for a photo opportunity they stopped also and introduced themselves as a couple of French bikers also on their way to the Nurburgring. It looked like that was the direction we were heading in and we also looked to be having fun so they hooked on the back of the convoy.
The Ring was great and the GT racing was exciting. It was a Porsche GT3 demonstration drive as the top two slots were GT3's for the whole of the race and everybody else fighting it out to see who could come in third place. We left the circuit mid-afternoon and grabbed a late lunch/early tea in a lovely roadside hotel/café Shlossblick in Blankenheim near Aachen. The sun was out and we spent several hours swapping car related anecdotes. With hindsight we probably spent too much time talking as we were still in Germany at this point and although the ferry was a late evening sleeper from Holland it was still many miles to travel. As we drove back into Belgium and refuelled Dave made comment on the sat nav eta to the port and not having a lot of time for additional stops. It was at this point I looked up the booking details to get the address for our sat nav and spotted a significant error in my calculations. The time I thought we checked in at was in fact the time the ferry departed! We had lost a further hour and quick calculation of time and distance meant the last two hours of the drive would need to have a pretty significant speed average. Graham duly stepped up to the challenge and the 997 Turbo lead the convoy to the ferry port check-in desks at Hook of Holland just as they were closing up for the night. Pumped full of adrenalin and then subsequently beer from the bar that seemed to stay open all night we continued the banter until tiredness got the better of us and everyone retired to the cabins.
We had already docked in Harwich when I woke for breakfast. The accommodation and facilities on that particular ferry were the best I have experienced. I have slept in many worse hotels! Being early morning on a Sunday the traffic was light and as promised to my wife and kids I made it home to see them for breakfast (my second of the day) on Sunday. Most of my brownie points intact!


text:
Monthly Archives: April 2017
Canine Liability 360: REASONS WE GET IN TROUBLE
by Bill Lewis II
A K9 handler's leash should ideally be wrapped around the handler's waist and secured when not being used so it can easily ride above the gun belt, not interfere with access to the handgun and other equipment on the gun belt, and be readily accessible when needed.
If not wrapped around the waist, the leash should be stored in a pant pocket where it can be quickly retrieved by the handler.Read more »
by Shawn Rosner
Ahead of the 11th Annual K-9 HITS Handler Instruction and Training Seminar in San Francisco, California in August, I wanted to provide some canine public relations information and ideas and some helpful tips for establishing a charitable fundraising organization for you canine programs.Read more »
by Jeff Meyer
When properly used an Electronic collar, or E-Collar, is, in my opinion, one of the best tools you can use to train and handle a patrol dog. When used incorrectly it can be one of the worst tools in our arsenal. I have trained hundreds of dogs all around the country on the proper use of an E-Collar and see many of the same mistakes. I share these ideas to assist you in looking at your own training to see if you too are guilty of any of these common E-Collar mistakes. To write an article explaining the proper use of the E-Collar would end up as long as a book, so this is in no way a comprehensive 'how to' manual.
Be sure to check out our excellent stock of high-quality K9 Electronic Collars
Common Mistake #1
Not having a written policy for using E-Collars Read more »
Posted: April 03, 2017|Categories: Narc & Explosive Detection
by Andrew Weiman
For court purposes, using real drugs is always better. Drugs that have been qualitatively tested to be cocaine for example, and not some other additive will make a better court presentation.
I participated in a study with Dr. Kenneth Furton in the mid to late 90's. Dr. Furton was determining if a dog's indication to currency was usable in court to prove the currency's direct contact with cocaine. The belief at the time was that all currency was contaminated with cocaine and that any such indication was useless.Read more »