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Monte Rosa, or the 'Pink Mountain', is the second highest in Europe, and has long been famed for its winter sports opportunities. Towering high above the ski resort of Macugnaga, it's a fantastic choice for those looking to enjoy snowboard and ski breaks in Italy. The scenery is nothing short of breathtaking, and the snow-laden slopes offer the perfect place to try out winter activities: from snowshoeing and heli-skiing to cross-country skiing and snowboarding, Monte Rosa's the ideal destination for those looking to get active on holiday. So why not sample Italy's finest slopes this year?
Monte Rosa ski summary
When looking to enjoy ski breaks in Monte Rosa, look no further than HomeAway' excellent range of accommodation. We have a huge number of private chalets around Monte Rosa, including those in Macugnaga – so you're just minutes away from the ski lifts – and some further afield in La Thuile, Pila, Champoluc and Gressoney. Wherever you'd like to stay in Piedmont's Verbano province, you'll find your perfect property when you browse through HomeAway. So why wait? Simply read on for a rundown of everything Monte Rosa has to offer.
Ski holidays in Monte Rosa: the resort
Macugnaga is the main ski resort for those looking to enjoy ski breaks around Monte Rosa. Set at the foot of the majestic mountain range, the town lies 1,327 metres above sea level, at the base of Dufourspitze, almost 4,700 metres high! Famed as one of the best destinations for those of you just beginning to learn to ski, there's an excellent ski school in the town with friendly, knowledgable instructors, where you're sure to get to grips with the basics in no time. Of course, it's the town's surrounding landscapes which attract tourists: woods, streams and incredible peaks abound.
View chalets in Macugnaga
Ski holidays in Monte Rosa: runs and lifts
There are around 180 kilometres of piste in the Monte Rosa ski area, and a sizeable number of runs for all levels of ability: there are 17 blues for beginners, the longest of which is Del Lago, 38 red trails for intermediates, and six challenging black runs for the expert skiers amongst you. The runs are serviced by a modern and efficient lift system, comprising 33 ski lifts, with the highest reaching 3,275 metres above sea level. Of course, much of the terrain remains undeveloped and so off-piste skiing is also popular: venture further afield and you'll find vast swathes of untouched snow.
View chalets in Gressoney
Ski holidays in Monte Rosa: skiing
Beginners will find high nursery slopes above Champoluc, as well as further suitable slopes at Gressoney, whilst intermediates will find a huge number of challenging runs to choose from. Long, cruising trails run down towards Alagna, but there are even a couple of blacks that the more advanced intermediate can try: one of the best is the Olen piste. For experts, the main attraction of Monte Rosa is the off-piste skiing: there are a range of excellent and thrilling heli-drops, some of which allow you to ski into nearby Zermatt before returning via the pretty resort of Cervinia.
View chalets in Champoluc
Ski holidays in Monte Rosa: activities
The Monte Rosa ski area is well equipped for off-mountain activities. If you fancy getting fit in the afternoon, you'll find a sports centre equipped for tennis, basketball and golf in Gressoney, as well as a heated indoor pool. For those looking to relax, however, there's also a Wellness Centre which offers reflexology treatments, Thai massage and shiatsu, as well as a sauna and Turkish bath. The thrillseekers amongst you are also well catered for, with dozens of excursions to choose from: snowshoeing, parapenting, ice climbing and dog sledding are all popular activities, and readily available in towns.
View chalets in Pila
Ski holidays in Monte Rosa: aprés ski
Between Champoluc, Gressoney, Alagna and Macugnaga, you'll be spoilt for choice when it comes to apres ski. They're a little less lively than neighbouring resorts, but offer the perfect evening scene for families, couples and groups of friends looking to relax. There are sophisticated wine bars and traditional Italian restaurants, 32 of which are located on the mountain and showcase the spectacular surroundings perfectly. Of course, if you decide to spend an evening in front of the fire instead, there are plenty of delicatessens and shops in which you'll find the local delicacies to whip up a meal.
View chalets in La Thuile


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[Video below.] Each week, Rav Avrohom Stulberger, rosh yeshiva of Valley Torah High School in Los Angeles, shares a 3-4 minute message relating to the parshas hashovuah. Matzav.com is proud to present this exclusive video shiur each week.
This week's message is titled "A Gift – Given To Be Shared."
Click below to watch:
{Matzav.com Newscenter}

subset: commoncrawl


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10 Best Gyms In Orange County
Looking for the 10 best gyms in Orange County? Living in Orange County is a great life, but you have to stay fit to enjoy such a great environment and great social atmosphere. Keeping up with your Orange County body can be done at one of the best Orange County gyms, ensuring that you get the best value in exercise regimen and equipment and the most effective training for the best price.
- The Sports Club. If you are looking for the best of the best in equipment, training and scheduling for any type of workout you could possibly want, including pilates and yoga, the Sports Club is an excellent choice. The Sports Club: 1980 Main St., Irvine, CA 92614; (949) 975-8400.
- 24 Hour Fitness Ultra Sport. Located in the Lakeshore Tower, this is the ultimate of gym clubs, offering full amenities that aren't found in most sports clubs. There are great services, excellent training and regimen options, and a huge gym full of anything you could think of, offering one of the best of the top Orange County gyms. 24 Hour Fitness Ultra Sport: 18007 Von Karman Ave., Irvine, CA 92612; (949) 250-4422.
- Bally Total Fitness. For the best price and the most detailed and supportive work-out services and training, Bally Total Fitness is one of the best gyms in Orange County by far. The total fitness combines several disciplines, including dynamic personal training, basic nutrition, and any other weight-loss or bodybuilding service or training you could think of. Bally Total Fitness: 2095 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, CA 92806; (714) 456-969.
- Back Bay Fitness. If you are looking for results and top quality training from some of the best trainers in the area, this is one of the best gyms in Orange County to choose. Back Bay Fitness: 2675 Irvine Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92627; (949) 631-5587.
- Equinox Fitness & Spa. At Equinox, you really do get the feeling you are at one of Orange County's best gyms, with full recreation and workout options offered for a great price. Equinox Fitness & Spa: 19540 Jamboree Road, Irvine, CA 92612; (949) 296-1700.
- Renaissance Club Sport. If you are looking for a workout and then some, Renaissance Club Sport offers everything you could think of. You can work out at the fitness center, utilize personal training or group fitness, take advantage of yoga and pilates classes or even attempt aquatics. Renaissance Club Sport: 50 Enterprise, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656; (949) 643-6700.
- Custom Bodies Fitness. If you are looking for the best price from one of the best gyms in Orange County, Custom Bodies Fitness is an optimal choice. For less than a dollar a day, you can tone and shape your body with higher fitness and better nutrition, getting a super value. Custom Bodies Fitness: 4880 Irvine Blvd., Irvine, CA 92620; (714) 544-4010.
- James Fitness. Get with the number-one trainer in one of Orange County's best gyms at James Fitness, utilizing one of the trainers that have shaped many of the most well-known celebrities. Great rates and perfect results will be your benefits from this choice. James Fitness: 17801 Main St., Irvine, CA, 92627; (949) 232-2007.
- Athletic Club for Women. Women can utilize this great gym in Orange County, which offers full weight-loss and body-shaping opportunities for a great price. Athletic Club for Women: 2036 Quail St., Newport Beach, CA, 92660; (949) 852-8655.
- Meridian's Bodies in Motion. There are many options for you to take advantage of at Meridian's, such as full nutritional training, weight-loss coaching, and exercise equipment of top quality. Meridian's Bodies in Motion: 1535 Deerpark Drive, Fullerton, CA 92831; (714) 646-6873.
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The British Olympic Association confirmed the cruel news on Sunday. Sliwinski had been selected to compete in the men's 100m breaststroke.
The 22-year-old Stockport ITC swimmer suffered a shoulder tendon injury and will undergo surgery next week before beginning a three-month rehabilitation programme managed by British Swimming.
Speaking about his withdrawal from Team GB, Dan Sliwinski said: "It is an athlete's worst nightmare. I have had a couple of injuries and I need to go back and rebuild the foundations. I am still young enough to think about Rio 2016, but I need to address this injury before it gets worse.
"I still want to swim for as long as I am physically able to and this operation will help with that. The important thing I need to focus on now is my recovery."
A new athlete will be selected to Team GB for the 100m Breaststroke event following the second round of trials which take place in Sheffield between the 20th and 23rd June at the ASA National Championships.
Meanwhile, the BOA confirmed that freestyle wrestler Olga Butkevych will compete for Team GB at the London Games.
Ukraine-born Butkevych was nominated to the BOA for selection to Team GB by British Wrestling and will compete in the 55kg weight class this summer at the ExCeL, on the 9th August.
The 26 year-old has an impressive international record, and claimed bronze at the European Championships in Dortmund last year. She will be looking to reproduce the form she displayed at the Olympic Test Event at the ExCeL last December, where she won the silver medal.
She said: "I am extremely honoured, and proud. I can assure everyone I will be working extremely hard between now and the Olympic competition to be competitive, and to be in the hunt to win Britain a medal at the Games. I won silver at the Test event last year, and it would be wonderful if I can be on the podium for the real thing."


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The WEL-Systems Institute is at the core of an evolving global collective; built on the strength of the individuality of its participants and a desire to further evolve in the company of others on a similar journey of discovery.
When we created WEL-Systems® in 1990, we had no idea how quickly it would grow and evolve; and how profoundly people's lives would be renewed, enriched and revitalized because of it. Today, we are pleased and honored to know that we are leaders in the global movement for human evolution with the WEL-Systems® body of knowledge as the preferred gateway for the acceleration longed for and required in our world, at this time
The WEL-Systems body of knowledge is a startlingly powerful and compelling invitation to become a living expression of the transformation yearned for, by so many.
We offer our clients a wide range of experiences and products that both recognize and call to the inherent power of the individual, making it possible for our clients to access that inner power and engage life.
The WEL-Systems Institute Offers the World:
An extensive, encompassing and field-tested body of knowledge that transforms lives!
Available to anyone, anywhere in the world, the WEL-Systems body of knowledge is accessible to all! Through an extensive, life-altering and compelling collection of original books and audio materials, any one can choose to expand themselves into a greater discovery and expression of themselves, with this life-altering knowledge. Through the online Store, materials can be ordered and shipped anywhere in the world; with more than 500 FREE articles, sound files and radio show episodes available online for anyone, anywhere, to access at anytime.
In addition, through our online Directory of WEL-Systems Institute Affiliates and Registered CODE Model Coaches™, assistance and support is no further than an email away. Whether you're looking for one-on-one experience or to connect with others of like mind, WSI Affiliates and CMC's are both willing and able to help you, help yourself. The extensive Engage WEL-Systems area is an online location that will help you stay current with what we're up to and allow you to get a sense of what else might be possible for you.
The WEL-Systems Institute Offers Women:
A safe haven for the accelerated rediscovery of the power of women in expressions of authentic and intuitive leadership.
"The future of the world is in the hands of women."
(Kofi Annan - former Secretary-General of the UN and Nobel Peace Prize laureate)
We share this view that the future of the world is in the hands of women. In the truth of that experience, we have chosen to focus attention and resources to create a safe place where women can come together, in the good company of each other, to rediscover their capacity to know themselves as whole, unique and essential to their world; as well as safe, relevant and meaningful to the creation of a new world. Beyond access to the full body of knowledge of WEL-Systems, the Institute also makes available to women extensive offerings that allow them to press the edges of their perceptions of themselves, as leaders; and supports them in redefining and reclaiming new constructs of leadership as expressions of being. Frameworks for ongoing accelerated evolution include a Certification stream for CODE Model Coaching™; access to year-long processes for practical application of this ongoing evolution (ACES); as well as business opportunities with the Institute in a non-competitive model, that support leadership in their communities (Affiliates). Part of this journey of accelerated evolution includes access to a password protected environment that allows us to transcend space and time, that we might connect to ourselves, through the wisdom shared of each other, when it calls to us to engage.
We invite you to read our declaration of Evolution by Intention™ to become familiar with and engage the higher levels of thinking that shape what we are manifesting.
As you enter into the WEL-Systems Experience, think of yourself as stepping into a pool. Your first entry can be at the shallow end of the pool, with wide, gently sloping steps guiding you slowly into the water - keeping you safe as you go, always offering a quick retreat as your desire and interest unfold. As you gain comfort and confidence in your interest and ability as a swimmer, you move further into the experience of the pool, allowing yourself to discover that not only are you a strong and powerful swimmer, you have a natural affinity for the deep end of the pool.
We know that each individual client arrives at a different starting point. Our commitment to you is to honor and engage with you at that place.
Our clients know that we deliver what we promise. We offer exceptional value for your investment of time and money. Our consistently great results come from our innovative WEL-Systems material and our unwavering commitment to our own evolution - to being living expressions of what we offer to you. In other words, we walk our talk!
We also believe we achieve such great results because we know and trust how capable you already are. We are committed to helping you rediscover and reclaim that in yourself.
All of our programs are based in experiential learning, working with the real life issues and challenges you bring into the room. Our approach encourages you to press the edges of your comfort zone, leaving you completely in charge of deciding when enough is enough. We respect your right to choose and know that when you are ready, magic and miracles abound!
We invite you to explore your potential through:


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Two years after it was created, Cognionics of San Diego has emerged as a regional leader in the development of sensors and equipment that make conducting EEGs easier. The U-T discussed the company's work was Cognionics President Michael Elconin.
San Diego company makes EEGs easier
Copyright © 2018, The San Diego Union-Tribune


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Speech Contests
Each year, Toastmasters throughout District 37 participate in speech contests. Competition begins at the club level and goes all the way to international level. Whether you're planning a speech contest or competing in one, it may be difficult to know where to begin. We've put together this resource guide to help you understand speech contest fundamentals and get organized. For additional assistance, please contact District Contest Chair Gary Cohen by email.
Speech Contest Resource Guide 2019
This overview was specially prepared for the 2019 speech contest season and documents all the steps and resources your club will need to take in preparing for a contest in Spring 2019.
Speech Contest Rulebook
Speech contests are an important part of the Toastmasters educational program. They provide an opportunity for Toastmasters to gain speaking experience, as well as an opportunity for other Toastmasters to learn by observing proficient speakers.
This booklet contains the rules and standard procedures for conducting the International, Evaluation, Humorous, Table Topics, and Tall Tales speech contests. If you are involved in conducting or competing in a speech contest, please read these rules carefully and follow them. By doing so, you will ensure a fair speech contest and an enjoyable event for everyone.
Speech Contest Tutorials
These tutorials offer fundamental principles to help members understand speech contests.
Templates & Scripts
From excel templates for planning your contests to scripts to follow to know what to say and when to say it, you'll find it here.
Contest Kits
Complete digital versions are available for download at no charge on the Toastmasters International website. You may also order hard copy versions for a nominal fee. You must login as a member to the Toastmasters site to order hard copies of the kits.
Trained Judges Database
District 37 requires judges for speech contests to participate in Judges Training. Use the Trained Judges Database to find trained judges in your area. If you are interested in attending judges training or need additional assistance, please contact District Chief Judge Michelle Bennett by email.
View Trained Judges Database
This content is protected. Please enter the password to access it.


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Can you afford to buy here? If you like, we can get one of our mortgage experts to tell you exactly how much you can borrow, which is the best mortgage for you or how much they could save you right now if you have an existing mortgage. Click here to get help choosing the best mortgage rate
When our research team crunched the numbers we calculated that Vassar has a median home price of $117,000.
There are 255 neighbourhoods that have more properties on sale than Vassar at the moment in Manitoba which puts the neighbourhood lowest fifth when looking at the number of properties to choose from.
As one of Manitoba's many potential real estate investment neighbourhoods, Vassar needs to be carefully researched before investing in – and remember to check especially the locations within an area before spending - the old estate agent's mantra of location, location, location has never lost its importance.
It's always hard to tell what property prices will do over the coming months, but over the last three months the properties available for purchase in Vassar have stayed pretty much the same which would tend to indicate that demand is steady.
Across Canada the most common number of bedroom property being listed has 2 bedrooms, in Jun this neighbourhood's most common listing the same as the national average.
Can we guarantee how well Vassar is going to do next year? No, but we can look at the data we have and use it as a starting point before doing research.
Stock on the market can be an important leading indicator of whether market pressure will be on prices to rise or fall – in Vassar there is about the same amount of stock than three months ago. This would indicate housing stock pressure remaining the same.
Just fill in a few details, and we'll arrange for a Mortgage adviser to help you find the best mortgage for your needs


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Retired Boca Raton investor Charles Schmidt visited Florida Atlantic University two years ago with plans to donate $5 million.
After speaking with FAU President Anthony Catanese, Schmidt returned to his car to find a $5 parking ticket.
He paid the ticket and doubled his donation to $10 million.
"I was even more determined to donate then," Schmidt said. "I like a school that is so democratic that it treats everyone fairly."
Today, he will witness the fruits of his donation. Officials are conducting a groundbreaking ceremony for an arts and humanities center named in memory of Schmidt's late wife, Dorothy.
"I've made a lot of money in my time," said Schmidt, 81, a retired banker and investor. "But if you just pile up your money under a basement floor, it's worthless. I wanted to do something special for Dorothy, something big to memorialize her and this made sense."
Schmidt's gift, matched by the state, represents the largest cash gift to any academic program ever made to a Florida public university.
"He is very straight-forward; he engenders enthusiasm and he makes things happen," said Sandra Norton, dean of the Schmidt College of Arts and Humanities.
The new humanities complex, to be built on the southeast side of the Boca Raton campus, will be shaped in a quadrangle. It will feature a performing arts center, outdoor amphitheater, art gallery, experimental theater, visual arts center with seven art studios and a classroom/office building.


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The two will sign a Memorandum of Understanding Friday, May 10 at 4 p.m. in the Great Room of the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library.
Signing the historic accord will be TAMIIU Interim President Jose Garcia and Dr. Khosrow Fatemi, Dean of the University's College of Business Administration and Dr. Ramon de la Pena, President of ITESM. Dr. Jaime Alonso Gomez, Dean and Professor of the Graduate School of Business and Leadership at ITESM, will also attend the event.
"This Memorandum of Understanding will provide for student and faculty exchanges, joint research and exchange of materials, joint conferences, symposia and workshops," Garcia explained.
Dean of the Graduate School of International Trade and Business Administration Dr. Khosrow Fatemi said the signing also includes other innovative programming.
"This Memorandum of Understanding provides for the establishment of a Executive Development Programs and Degree-Certificate Programs in International Trade, International Banking and International Logistics. Through this agreement, ITESM will offer TAMIU students a certificate program in Manufacturing Strategy. Joint degrees and dual degrees will also be possible with this MOU," he said.
ITESM-Monterrey has 26 undergraduate programs and 30 graduate programs have produced a large percentage of Mexico's business and technology professionals, a record which has made the University the most respected school in Mexico and among the elite educational institutions in all of Latin America.
TAMIU holds a number of similar agreements with universities throughout central and Latin America and Europe.
For additional information on the Memorandum of Understanding between TAMIU and ITESM, please contact the TAMIU Office of Public Affairs and Information Services at (210) - 326 - 2180.


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Nymph by Tonya Alexandra
Have you ever been tired of reading about murder, destruction, and depression? Sick of vampires, zombies and the like? I certainly got that way earlier this year and then this book came across my desk. Judging a book by its cover, this was bound to be different.
Greek goddess Merope is in trouble. Zeus has agreed to her marriage, but she doesn't even like Orion. So as punishment, she is sent to live on Earth for a year to consider her future. Not the ancient Greek Earth, but a modern Australian city. In order to fill her time, she is required to attend an everyday secondary school. Imagine a Greek Goddess in your class!
This is a light and entertaining romance novel, a great change from all the dystopian fiction so prevalent in YA today. But it is a real beach read. Don't look for literary allusions or symbolism in this simple and straightforward story. Just read it to enjoy the fun of an all powerful god trying to blend in with modern teens.
This is not Percy Jackson, but is still fun in it's own way.


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Veteran actor Tom Alter's son Jamie has said that his father is showing signs of recovery after being diagnosed with skin cancer. The news was out on Monday. The family requests some privacy at the moment. As per a Mumbai Mirror report, Jamie said, "We will have to see how …Read More »
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For years, adventurers have traveled great distances only to meet their doom at the Far Coast. This distant and isolated place is the legendary home of the mysterious creature named Yeel. Countless souls have fallen before the dangers of the journey and the devious guardians who seek to keep Yeel imprisoned at this point farthest west in all the lands.
When the scout Jymoor finally succeeds where so many others have failed, she is allowed to believe that Yeel is a human wizard, powerful in the arts of magic. What she doesn't know is that Yeel is actually a hideous tentacled monster, a garrulous tinkerer and alchemist with a vast collection of wondrous artifacts. Jymoor has enlisted the aid of this odd being to save her nation from a horde of invaders... but what can a single alien do in the face of such odds?
A 62,000 word fantasy adventure by Michael McCloskey
Cover art by Howard Lyon
Subscribe to receive email when new books become available.
"A wonderful eccentric piece of business."
-A. Thorne
"This book has been forged from pure awesomium."
"... a very enjoyable and light read in front of the fireplace, punctuated by frequent chuckles."
-M. Goll
"Yeel is an excellent entertaining character, and the world and supporting characters were very well realized. Most importantly, the story gave just enough detail to build solid descriptions while keeping the pace and action going."
-J. Teed
"Breezy, enjoyable read. The character Yeel is a unique and engagingly rendered commentator on the human condition. The other characters are standard fantasy archetypes, sword master, eternal champion, regent, etc. The prose is clean, and reminds me somewhat of one of my favorite authors, Roger Zelazny."
-Future Nick


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CLEARWATER, Fla., March 27, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Focused on delivering the best customer experience and support to its partners, Tech Data Corporation (Nasdaq:TECD) was named "Best Distribution Sales and Support" by the ASCII Group, Inc. (ASCII) at the ASCII I.T. Success Summit, held recently at Innisbrook Resort & Golf Club in Palm Harbor, FL.
"This award reinforces our strong partnership with the ASCII Group and its members," said Greg Banning, vice president, SMB Sales at Tech Data. "Tech Data and ASCII share a focus on adding value through customized education and training to meet the needs of solution providers in the channel. The ASCII Group provides a beneficial network for solution providers, and we are proud to deliver the best support for its members."
This prestigious award was presented to the technology company that is deemed to have the best distribution sales support in the IT industry. The awards are voted on by the solution provider attendees at the event. Tech Data supports ASCII's community of solution providers, integrators and resellers through education and training, as well as with dedicated system engineers, online tools like the Solutions Store, and special competitive pricing.
"Partner groups like ASCII and IAMCP are important to our channel partners because of the valuable member benefits they provide," said Tiffany Embry, director of Product Marketing, Software at Tech Data. "The tools and services provided give channel partners the opportunity to share best practices, leverage relationships to complement their businesses, and gain education and training as they need to enhance their business practice. Tech Data's Software Product Marketing team will continue to be an active supporter of both."
"We congratulate Tech Data on winning this award from the ASCII members at our Tampa Success Summit," stated Doug Young, senior vice president for Distribution Programs and chief operating officer of the ASCII Group. "We have had a productive long-term relationship with Tech Data for over 20 years, and we are pleased that our members have recognized Tech Data for the efforts they have made to support small and medium-sized solution providers."
The Tech Data model enables technology solution providers, manufacturers and publishers to cost-effectively sell to and support end users ranging from small-to-midsize businesses (SMB) to large enterprises. Tech Data provides services that are a platform for resellers' business success.
To learn more about Tech Data's Microsoft support of the ASCII members, or to speak with a Microsoft Product Sales Champion, please contact 800-237-8931, ext. 82031.
About Tech Data
Tech Data Corporation (Nasdaq:TECD) is one of the world's largest wholesale distributors of technology products. Its advanced logistics capabilities and value added services enable 120,000 resellers in more than 100 countries to efficiently and cost effectively support the diverse technology needs of end users. To learn more, visit www.techdata.com.
The Tech Data Corporation logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=10666
CONTACT: MEDIA CONTACT Amanda Little Public Relations Manager (727) 538-5803 firstname.lastname@example.com
Source:Tech Data Corporation


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AMB Design 2321 Long Sleeve Sheer Top
*PLEASE NOTE : Any AMB brand top whose style number is in the "2000's" (ex. 2321, 2030, 2315, etc.) are considered "dance style tops" and will fit snugger and appear to be smaller than typical OSFA sizing, however these tops will stretch when worn. Any AMB brand top whose style number is in the "3000's or 6000's" (ex. 3010, 6010, etc.) are considered boutique tops and are made for everyday wear and will fit more true to a OSFA sizing, these tops also stretch when worn.*


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Observing the Universe
Square Kilometre Array
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It would be an overstatement to suggest that Australians went crazy with enthusiasm when their country was named as a host of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). Nevertheless, to be a central plank of the project to build and operate the most accurate telescope ever contemplated is something of an honour and the general public, following closely behind industry, is gradually catching on to its importance and the opportunities it presents, both economically and in terms of Australia's reputation as a high-tech global player.
SKA? This is planned to be the world's largest and most sensitive radio telescope. Thousands of linked radio wave receptors will be located in Australia and in Southern Africa. Combining the signals from the antennas in each region will create a telescope with a collecting area equivalent to a dish with an area of about one square kilometre.
The SKA is intended to address fundamental unanswered questions about the universe, including how the first stars and galaxies formed after the Big Bang, how galaxies have evolved since then, the role of magnetism in the cosmos, the nature of gravity, and the search for life beyond Earth.
This global science and engineering project is led by the SKA Organisation, a not-for-profit company with its headquarters at Jodrell Bank Observatory, near Manchester, UK. However, the southern hemisphere is where the real work is to be carried out: an array of dish receptors will extend into eight African countries from a central core region in the Karoo desert of South Africa. A further array of mid frequency aperture arrays will also be built in the Karoo. A smaller array of dish receptors and an array of low frequency aperture arrays will be located in the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory in Western Australia.
Part of the project is already up and running in the form of ASKAP, the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder. This array of 36 antennas, each 12 metres in diameter, working together as a single instrument is located in the remote Mid West region of Western Australia, an area ideal for a new radio observatory since the population density is very low and hence there is a lack of man-made radio signals that would otherwise interfere with weak astronomical signals.
ASKAP is pioneering and testing revolutionary new technologies in areas of electrical engineering, digital systems, computing and signal transport. It was developed by CSIRO, with input from leading scientists and engineers from the Netherlands, Canada, the USA, and a number of Australian universities.
We managed to catch up with Brian Boyle, leader of the Australian side of the SKA project, to ask him what this intriguing prospect means for both science and Australia. "It represents a great example of a major international co-operation being hosted within Australia," he said. "Overall it will continue to retain Australia's world-class astronomical capability, which we have had for more than 50 years, and it ensures a seat at the global table for Australian scientists." Not least, there is a lot of good solid industrial work to be done to actually build the array and all its connective tissues.
By the time the SKA begins its investigations, hopefully in 2020, it will be so sensitive that it will be able to detect an airport radar on a planet 50 light years away (which may or may not shed light on why your flight to Perth is delayed). Its central computer will have the processing power of about one hundred million PCs. Impressive, but Brian sounds what serves as a warning: "The technology does not yet exist to build it at the cost we need to build it at, so it will take a while yet for the scientists and the engineers to work together to ensure that the computational power in particular required for the SKA will be deliverable at the cost we need." In its first decade (2016-2025) the cost for SKA Phase 1 construction will amount to around EUR650million ($940 million), with a second construction phase, requiring further investment, to be completed in the latter half of the next decade.
It's a sign of the times that budgets are not unlimited, even with such an array (if you'll pardon the term) of nations involved in the SKA. This is very much leading edge stuff with some of the world's top scientists; Brian himself was a member of a recent Nobel Prize-winning team of physicists.
He points to the importance of this high-flying team being able to collaborate with the 'real world' of business. Governments have covered the EUR120 million ($178 million) for the design phase and "despite extraordinarily challenging economic times, from Australia's perspective we are also having other organisations and industry also providing resources because they believe this is a good use of their money." It helps build knowledge in some vital technologies that will return value to the participating industries (Brian reminds that the search for black holes, 'pure' physics as ever was, eventually led to the patents for wi-fi technology). For the Australian authorities, the project provides a stimulus for young people to find or maintain an interest in science and motivates them to study it at a high level.
ASKAP's home, the CSIRO-run Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory, is where the SKA telescope infrastructure in Australia is to be centred. In SKA phase 1, this infrastructure will consist of a low-frequency aperture array of 50 array stations, each with 10,000 individual antennas, and a 96-dish survey telescope incorporating the existing 36 dishes of ASKAP. Handling the volumes of data of the phases of SKA are part of the challenge; its dishes will produce up to 10 times the current global internet traffic.
Also housed at this site is the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA), another Australian-run SKA pre-cursor telescope. This array will be used to inform the design of the SKA low Frequency Array – an important part of the SKA. The MWA is a joint project between an international consortium of universities to build a low-frequency radio array operating in the frequency range 80–300 MHz. Its main scientific goals are to detect neutral atomic Hydrogen emission from the cosmological Epoch of Reionization (EoR), to study the sun, the heliosphere, the Earth's ionosphere, and to study radio transient phenomena.
Brian pronounces himself very pleased with the way Australian industry has taken up the cudgels on the SKA project. "The interaction we have had so far with industry has been excellent," he says. "They have been very patient with the long gestation period of SKA and have been very active advocates for the telescope and its hosting in Australia. But I would like to reassure some of the SMEs in Australia that although SKA is a big global project, they should not be afraid to jump in. There are a lot of specialist areas where SMEs can play an incredibly important and valuable role and up-skill themselves."
He adds that from a quiet start, the project has begun to catch the imagination of the public too. "Our research shows more than 30 per cent of Australia's population are aware of the SKA; now it's up to us to ensure they know what it is and give them a sense of pride that Australia is co-hosting the telescope." A recent art competition to depict key scientific aspects of the project attracted more than 2,300 entries.
SKA is an exercise in theoretical physics and Brian freely acknowledges the project leaders know only a few of the questions to be raised, let alone any of the answers. That is what makes it a challenge, and renders the project exciting for all participants. This is not a project to specifically find the answer to 'dark matter' or 'dark energy' – but it would of course be fun if discoveries of that magnitude could be made.


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Stumbled on this illustrator's work "Cars and Films" by Jesus Prudencio. You can find more of his work on his Etsy shop, where posters are labeled by decades. They're pretty awesome and very accurate you don't even need the title!
Your thoughts?
You can purchase any of the prints HERE


text: NEW DELHI (AP) - June 27, 2008 --The Indian Meteorological Department says a 6.7-magnitude earthquake has stuck the Andaman Islands off the east coast of India. The office said the undersea quake struck at 5:40 p.m. Friday. A police officer in Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman Islands, said the quake shook the islands causing panic among people. S. M. Tiwari said there were no reports immediate reports of damage of injuries and that no tsunami alert had been issued. The remote islands were among the many areas devastated by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.


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I haven't done much stamping as I have been busy planning my classes and workshops for this year.
The two items I have to show you are two of the items we made on my last Tuesday night class before Christmas. The first is a glass bauble. We stamped on the outside with with Staz-on, put some silver shred in the bottom and then stamped a snowflake on some acetate, rolled it up and put it inside the bauble suspended on some silver thread. It is a bit hard to see in the photo.
The second one is an origami wreath. It is made up of eight pieces of designer series paper (the one in the picture is retired) which are folded and then tucked into each other. There is no adhesive.
Although it is very easy to make, it was quite a challenge for me as I am not very good working from instructions and find it easier if someone shows me what to do. However I got there in the end.
Happy stamping


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My name is Ashley and I started Simply Sweet Studio in 2010. It began mostly as a hobby. I needed something to keep me occupied while staying home with my kids! Over the last couple of years I have discovered how much I love it and couldn't imagine doing anything else. I never imagined my little hobby would turn into the small business it is today and I am so grateful to every single one of my customers. This little business I have created allows me to stay home with my 3 kids and do something that I love. It definitely gets overwhelming at times being the only employee (especially during holiday seasons!), but I am committed to providing the best products and service that I possibly can.
Please know that by purchasing from Simply Sweet Studio, you are allowing me to give back to others in need. Over the last few years I have been able to donate to organizations like Donors Choose and Kiva, as well as local churches and non-profit organizations in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area. Thank you!


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The Monday Man: RE.CAP
One of my favorite aspects of watching sports is the "recap" at the end of games. Even if I had been watching the entire game and know exactly what happened and why it happened, there is something reassuring about a summary or a recap. It allows us (fans, commentators, analysts, coaches, players) to first take a breath and soak in what we just witnessed, and then it enables us to study and understand before we fully move on. This process, the "recap," is the chance to debrief and to note the ending of one thing before it transforms or evolves into another.
So as our month of "RE" comes to a close, let us RE.CAP and appreciate where we have been so we can set our eyes on where we are going.
We began with the call to RE and the encouragement to reimagine our words as we explore coworking and collaboration. We then joined together to RE.PLAY, a Workbench that demonstrated the power of music and sound in our lives. Before RE.POSITIONing our ideas, a workbench which taught us how to make our ideas "Spectacular," we were RE.MINDED to foster awareness and mindfulness in our space and the need for proper RE.COVERY before we take new action. As the seasons turned, we RE.JOICED in the blossoming of nature and the warmth of spring and learned that RE.GROWTH is quite simple. (A Workbench that demonstrated that all you need is an empty soda bottle, some string, a cork, a few minutes a week, and BOOM – you have your own mini-garden!)
Finally, we turn to RE.BRAND to transform the old into something new – a fitting finale to our month of "RE" and a perfect transition into our upcoming month of "EN," a prefix rooted in action and involvement.
Happy Monday.
Photo Credit: blogbrunch.tumblr.com


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Love is in the air! Get ready for Valentine's Day with a new story of romance and falling in love in Kathryn Springer's The Dandelion Field. The handsome firefighter makes a living "coming to the rescue," but Gin is used to fighting her own battles. Can a woman who doesn't believe in happy endings take a chance on a new beginning?
Feeling lucky? Celebrate a second chance at love and family with Kathryn by entering her Kindle Fire giveaway!
One grand prize winner will receive:
- A Kindle Fire
- The Dandelion Field


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Правила ведения рыболовного хозяйства и рыболовства
Правила ведения охотничьего хозяйства и охоты
Списки редких и находящихся под угрозой исчезновения на территории Беларуси видов диких животных и дикорастущих растений, включенных в Красную книгу Республики Беларусь
Запреты на добычу, заготовку и (или) закупку рака длиннопалого (узкопалого) и личинок хирономид
Перечень сроков, способов и орудий охоты на отдельные виды охотничьих животных
Перечень рыболовных угодий, переданных в аренду для промыслового лова рыбы и организации платного любительского рыболовства или в безвозмездное пользование
Информацию о водных объектах, переданных в аренду для рыбоводства, следует запрашивать в местных исполнительных и распорядительных органах
Перечень рыболовных угодий фонда запаса, на которых действуют ограничения по способам лова рыбы
Перечень охотничьих угодий, на территории которых запрещается охота на гуся белолобого, гуся-гуменника, гуся серого, канадскую казарку, крякву, чирка-трескунка, чирка-свистунка, чернеть красноголовую, чернеть хохлатую в весенний сезон охоты
Положение о ежегодном творческом конкурсе на лучшее освещение в средствах массовой информации деятельности Государственной инспекции
Положение о деятельности общественных инспекторов
Presently, poaching is not of the mass character in our country. This is the evident result of the purpose-oriented state policy in the nature saving sphere of activities. And, of course, big success has been achieved by those who in accordance with their professional duties and personal positions of the principle guard the native nature from illegal infringements to its treasures.
We would like to remind you that on December 3, 1921 the Council of People's Commissars of BSSR took a decision about establishment in Belarus of the first nature guarding service – the department of fishery and fishing under the People's Commissariat of Lands. The young Soviet republic started resolving one of the most important tasks referring the protection and safety of natural resources. This nature saving body was repeatedly reformed, but the essence of its activity remained the same – to be always on the guard of nature. It played a big role in the struggle with violators of the nature saving legislation, and it made it possible to save rivers, lakes and forests, which are in our possession now.
Presently, this honored and responsible mission is still fulfilled by the State Inspectorate on Wildlife Protection under the President of the Republic of Belarus. It has its prehistory. At the meeting held on January 15, 2003 the head of the state emphasized the problem of using the fishery complex of the country. There are more than 200 thousand hectares of lakes, ponds, water reservoirs, 4.5 thousand km of rivers in the country, but these sources of the fish production were used extremely unsatisfactorily. On January 27, 2003 Alexander Lukashenko signed a decree, according to which the State Inspectorate on Wildlife Protection under the President of the Republic of Belarus was formed. The purpose oriented work fulfilled by the State Inspectorate during these years made it possible to drastically improve the situation on forest lands and at water projects of the country.
- We are working with the incremental result, - Mikhail ARESHKO, the Chief of the State Inspectorate on Wildlife Protection under the President of the Republic of Belarus pointed out during a talk with a "NG" correspondent. – During the current year 12 632 violations of the nature saving legislation have already been revealed, including 8 245 violations of the Rules of fishery and fishing, 925 violations of hunting, 1963 violations of the Rules of forests using, 325 cases of pond fish stealing. 325 criminal cases were initiated in accordance with the materials of the inspectorate. Fines in the amount of 2 billion 161 million rubles were imposed on violators of the nature saving legislation. The amount of 1 billion 809 million rubles was charged to them for compensation of the loss.
- Mikhail Adamovich, while suppressing the cases of poaching, state inspectors meet violators face-to-face and often subject themselves to danger.
- Poachers have now become more sensitive, they are armed to the teeth, and most inveterate of them show physical resistance to inspectors. There were cases, when our employees had to oppose to attackers with knives, some violators threatened to use fire arms and even shot inspectors. In Borisov region a poacher hit an inspector with a oar to the head. In Orsha region a bandit put a fishing net on an inspector and wanted to make short work of him. These examples are numerous.
- How does the State Inspectorate build its relations with other state bodies?
- According to our initiative joint measures are regularly taken the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Defense Ministry, the State Frontier Committee, The Ministry of Nature, the Ministry of Forestry, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, "BOOR" Republican State Association. Such interaction promotes working coordination of all interested bodies and organizations in the nature saving sphere. The joint activity is rather effective with prosecuting bodies for not allowing the evasion from responsibility of the persons who have committed illegal actions in the field of environment protection.
- But do ordinary people, who become witnesses of facts of poaching, render assistance to inspectors?
- Every fourth violation at water projects and in forests is revealed with the aid of the population. By using the opportunity I would like to express my great gratitude and thankfulness to law obedient citizens, who render us the essential aid in revealing and suppressing the facts of poaching by means of sending the messages to "the hot line".
- Mikhail Adamovich, employees of "Narodnaya Gazeta", its readers are sure that the traditions started far in 1921, when the first republican nature saving body was established, will be increased and filled with new contents. We wish new successes in your noble business to you and your glorious collective.
- Thank you! We'll try to justify the trust.
Material is prepared in association with journalists of the Narodnaya Gazeta.


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Prof-in-charge/Principal : Dr.(Mrs.) Saila Bala Das
"Once you educate boys, they tend to leave the villages and go in search for work in the cities, but the girls stay at home, become leaders in the community, and pass on what they've learned. If you really want to change the community, to empower women, improve basic hygiene and health care, and fight against high rates of infant mortality, educate the girls."
Dr. (Mrs.) Saila Bala Das
|1.Education Qualification:
|Triple M.A., Ph.d., B.Ed
|2.Administrative Experiences:
|Worked as Associate professor in Dept. of odia
|3.Contact Address:
|Prof.-in-charge/Principal, Mahila College / Principal, Chaibasa-833201, Phone No.: 06582-256512, (M) +91-919986781


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Medical simulation is an innovative way to train healthcare professionals using advanced technology. Learners participate in a realistic healthcare setting using a high-tech mannequin, wirelessly operated by instructors, to serve as a patient. The patient simulation can be digitally streamed live to other learners.Simulation is valuable because it avoids the use of live patients for skills practice and provides important technical training before providers treat humans. Surgeons and other providers learn and enhance their cognitive, clinical and technical skills.
Simulation provides the training that every healthcare provider needs during real-life patient care. Simulators provide a structured learning experience and permit practice without danger to patients. They also help teach treatment for rare or unusual cases.Medical and surgical simulation evolved from the aviation industry, which has used simulation-based learning to train pilots since World War I. The Center for Professional Development & Simulation at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center provides this critically important service to providers both within and outside of the Lahey Health network. The skills taught at the Center have touched the lives of countless patients who have come through our doors.


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Kenny Jackett is the new manager of Rotherham United.
The 54-year-old was today confirmed as the Millers' successor to Alan Stubbs who was sacked on Wednesday, with the club six points adrift of safety at the foot of the Championship.
He will be in charge of the team when they play Reading at New York Stadium tomorrow.
Jackett, who has signed a deal for the rest of this season and then two more years, is a proven operator in the second tier after spells with Millwall and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That was an important requirement for chairman Tony Stewart as he seeks to arrest the disastrous start to the season under Stubbs whose 13 league matches in the hot-seat after his arrival from Scottish side Hibernian yielded only six points.
Former Watford player Jackett, who left Molineux in the summer, won promotions with the Lions and Wolves and also, earlier in his career, when he was in charge of Swansea City.
Top credentials of new Millers boss Kenny Jackett


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It's been a tumultuous year right across Lancashire: Here, the LEP reflects on a hectic first six months ...
Flood Help - December saw severe flooding in parts of Lancashire. Then Prime Minister, David Cameron, visited some of Lancashire's worst hit areas and promised to help the county and people affected. He said: "We recognise that the response to flooding is not a matter of a few days and a few weeks." He also pledged "to stay with it for the long course".
Broughton Bypass - Work began on the Broughton Bypass - 40 years after the campaign started for the congestion-busting road scheme. Council leader Coun Jennifer Mein said: "This is a very big day. It is a long time since people first mooted the necessity of a Bypass for Broughton, so I am absolutely thrilled." Since January work has been ongoing on the bypass. A new date has been set for completion and the road is aiming to be finished by August 2017.
"I taught David Bowie" - Music legend Davie Bowie passed away on January 10. James Dodding, a Garstang teacher, told the LEP of how he remembers the "exceptionally quiet and courteous" David Bowie he once taught, in the mid 1960s in London. James said: "I remember writing in his report that he was totally dedicated and hard working. He was exceptionally quiet, showed courtesy at all times and carried out his course work with care and a great sense of detail."
Lancashire: Giving the gift of life - The Lancashire Evening Post launched a campaign to recruit organ donors and save lives. The goal was to get at least 2,016 people to sign up to the donors register throughout 2016. Among the case studies we spoke to was Imran Najeeb, who donated one of his kidneys to his own mother.
HS2 Ready - Plans to make Preston railway station ready to link up with the high-speed HS2 railway began to be drawn up. Coun Jennifer Mein, the Lancashire County Council leader, said: "This is the most extensive and ambitious transport plan Lancashire has ever put forward." It was said the aim was to create a more modern railway station for Preston and in doing so creating jobs, generate £324m over the coming decades and bring over 75,000 visitors to the city.
Fracking - A public inquiry was held on two controversial fracking applications at Little Plumpton and Roseacre, after the county council refused planning permission. The inquiry took place at Blackpool FC in front of Inspector Wendy McKay and featured passionate speakers from both sides of the argument. Protesters also took to the streets to oppose fracking.
A royal in town - Prince Harry visited Weeton where he met soldiers who helped during the flood crisis and told them, "I take my hat off to you." Harry also went on to visit the local primary school and residents affected by the floods in St Michaels on Wyre.
Refugees flee to Preston - we spoke to a number of people who have fled conflict and political chaos in their home countries and are now seeking sanctuary in Preston. Among them was Mostafa, a designer and cameraman from Syria who made the journey to the UK on foot after fearing his life was at risk from Isis
Laughing gas craze - Dog walkers complained of empty gas canisters and vomit in car parks in Cadley, along with complaints of 'bedlam' from groups of youths. Police warned of the dangers of inhaling nitrous oxide, otherwise known as laughing gas
City in a jam - Preston was ranked in the 25 most congested towns and cities in the UK. It was reported that "the city's roads are so snarled up that commuter journeys can take around 50 per cent longer than they should". However, council highways chiefs hit back, highlighting the £434m City Deal was set to bring four major road schemes to improve the traffic in the local area.
Grave worry - a Fulwood resident upset at the 'over-development' of north west Preston erected a cheeky fake gravestone by the roadside, stating 'RIP Fulwood - killed by concrete'. Michael Swinburne said he had seen the area change beyond recognition in the 47 years he has lived there.
Hillsborough: The Untold Stories - following the verdicts in the inquests into the deaths at Hillsborough, the Evening Post ran an eight page spread telling the stories of some of the Lancashire people caught up in the Hillsborough tragedy. Gerard Baron from Preston was the oldest person killed in the tragedy when Liverpool fans were crushed in the stadium in Sheffield. His son Gerard Jnr told how losing his dad at Hillsborough completely shaped his life and how became disillusioned with the UK and emigrated. And Preston man Mark Aspden spoke for the first time about how the crush left him in a coma but against the odds, he pulled through
End of the road for potholes? - the county council vowed to spend £23.5m on highway repairs and improvements. Work finally began on repairing the county's roads, after a high number of complaints from residents about their cars being damaged due to poor road conditions. It wasn't just potholes that were repaired, with money also being spent on rural roads, foot ways, bridges and street lighting.
Closure of Chorley A&E - The accident and emergency department controversially closed, due to staff shortages, which resulted in a huge backlash from the community. For the first time in 60 years, Chorley found itself without an A&E in April. A campaign by the LEP and local residents, #fighttheclosure, saw a number of stories on why the department shouldn't close. With stories of how it saved peoples lives to MPs plans to save it, the campaign battled hard to save the A&E.
Fire Heroes - A huge blaze broke out at Total Polyfilm, a plastics manufacturer in Walton Summit near Bamber Bridge. It took 60 officers around five hours to get it under control. Incident commander Jerry Cragg said, "Without the efforts, skill and professionalism of firefighters from across the county this would have been an even worse incident."
Political pint-scoring - The EU referendum debate was in full swing, with both campaigns doing everything they could to push the vote their way. At the Waddington Arms, near Clitheroe, drinkers were treated to an IN or OUT ale. Punters at the pub were given either a Vote In or Vote Out glass and mat, depending on their political persuasion - and leave votes won the day, much like the real vote...
Queen's tribute to fallen soldiers - In May, the Queen joined wounded veterans to unveil a memorial, paying tribute to soldiers killed whilst serving in the Preston based Duke of Lancaster's regiment.. Her Majesty unveiled the statue of a bronze lion, at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. Family and friends of fallen soldiers were among those at the private service to unveil the statue. The writing on the base of the statue which reads "Our kingsmen. Lions of England" is a tribute to those that have given their lives and continue to fight for our country. The Queen went on to meet with injured servicemen and women, giving her time to thank them and speak with them. A month that saw the Queen and country thank our local regiment.
Brexit - Voters in Lancashire were among the areas which showed support for leaving the European Union in the referendum. All 14 districts in Lancashire voted to leave, with Blackpool returning the largest majority in the whole of the North West. Brexiteers Boris Johnson and Michael Gove had taken to Preston Flag Market on June 1 as the campaign ramped up. Prime Minister David Cameron, who spearheaded the Remain campaign, promptly resigned after its failure, sparking a leadership race.
Bowled over at Guild Hall - Businessman Simon Rigby (left) revealed further plans for the redevelopment of the Guild Hall in Preston. Among his schemes was a new venue called LeVel, a 10 pin bowling alley, a crazy golf course and karaoke booths. Mr Rigby spoke of how he was happy to be "investing further into Preston".
Ron Atkins celebrates 100th birthday - The UK's oldest living ex-MP, Ron Atkins, turned 100 years old in June. The former Preston North member revealed his secrets to longevity: good genes, an active lifestyle and wild Atlantic salmon.
Don't miss Part Two tomorrow ...


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The first twenty-five chapters of Genesis of an Octogenarian, the autobiography of Peter Milward, are now available. Here's the entrance. Milward's most recent episode narrates the adventures of his sabbatical in 1988, teaching in Baltimore and visiting various cities ... There are only six more chapters left!
William Johnston
Note the links to some books of Peter Milward and to some of William Johnston, the well-known authority on mysticism and translator of Endo Shusaku's Silence. You can easily order the books by clicking the links and visiting an online bookstore. Both Milward and Johnston are Jesuits and retired professors of Sophia University.


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The independent Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission has today published a weighty tome, running to 348 pages, which in size at least indicates the zeal of its members to 'hold the Government's feet to the fire'. Led by former Labour frontbencher Alan Milburn, and deputy chaired by former Conservative Minister Baroness Gillian Shephard, the Commission is decidedly even-handed in its appraisal, alternating between assessment of the current and previous governments to spread the blame and some of the credit across all the main political parties.
In keeping with its deliberately balanced analysis, I'd like to offer one positive and one more critical comment about the new State of the Nation report.
The media coverage so far has focused on two main stories: the growing problem of 'in-work poverty' – affecting families where at least one adult works, but living standards are falling due to stagnating wages and rising prices; and the political dilemmas wrought by intergenerational inequality, particularly the vexed question of whether or not well-off pensioners really need their free bus passes, TV licenses and winter fuel allowance.
While these headline messages encompass an important set of issues, there is a lot more to be gathered from the report within its plentiful pages. The apparent spat between Milburn and the Deputy Prime Minister about what to do to tackle intergenerational inequality should not distract from the repositioning that the report represents.
Rightly, the Commission members are unimpressed by the 'myriad of different initiatives, indicators and strategies' that have been forthcoming since 2010. The plethora of strategy documents (relating to 'Social Justice', 'Child Poverty' and 'Social Mobility') reflects the keenness of each Coalition Partner to demonstrate (rhetorically, at least) its fairness credentials in a time of austerity. It also indicates some of the jostling for control of the political agenda that has been going on behind the scenes.
The focus of this latest report is primarily on the UK Government's Social Mobility strategy (which shares almost all of the same policy priorities as its Child Poverty strategy) – reflecting the priorities of the Deputy Prime Minister, who called on Alan Milburn to act as 'social mobility' Tsar many months before his appointment as head of this Commission was finally agreed by other, more reluctant members of the Cabinet. Tellingly, the Commission's report is pitched at a much broader swathe of the population than the 'Social Justice' agenda driven by DWP Secretary, Iain Duncan Smith, who in office has pursued the same moral crusade against Broken Families that began after his 'Damascene' conversion during a visit to Glasgow's Easterhouse estate in 2002.
For anti-poverty campaigners, there tends to be a decided antipathy towards the policy goal of 'social mobility' – it seeming to offer a rosy prospect for the brightest and most fortunate children from poorer families, while confining the rest to a continued existence in relative poverty and deprivation.
But rather than confining the poverty debate to welfare reform targeted towards (or perhaps against) the bottom 1-10%, it is arguably more productive to build a coalition around more equitable life chances for the bottom 90 or 99%.
One of the main practical recommendations here is the call for a broader definition of disadvantage than eligibility for free school meals, which doesn't 'properly capture the breadth of the cohort which is in poverty or at risk of falling into it'. The report notes that one-third of school-aged children living in poverty in England – around 700,000 children are not entitled to this extra support. It is right to call for a new definition which includes all children at risk of poverty and disadvantage.
More broadly, by focusing on the life chances of a broader group of children and young people – not just those purportedly afflicted by severe, persistent and inter-generational poverty – the Commission has positioned itself against a reductionist view of poverty, which should be welcomed. What is more, this is a report that talks repeatedly about child poverty, warmly welcoming the Government's decision not to jettison the 2020 child poverty targets (brushing over its ongoing attempts to redefine how child poverty is measured), and refusing to let child poverty slip quietly off the agenda. This is a positive – even if the hope of further progress towards the 2020 vision feels like a distant dream.
This brings us to the negative: despite the telling critique of certain aspects of past and current approaches, the report is too generous in suggesting that either government has made anything like sufficient progress towards raising the tail of underachievement and in tackling the UK's abysmal record on youth and adult skills. Yes, there is more to do to open up a rather closed meritocratic system, in which young people from more privileged backgrounds find it far easier to do well at school and gain entry to higher status universities, qualifications and jobs than their less affluent counterparts. But the report does not give enough direction about what more must be done to tackle underachievement and poor development, beginning in the early years of life.
Progress towards promoting early childhood development is being severely constrained by under-investment in proper training for the early years workforce. The Commission rightly recognises that one of the keys to unlock social progress is 'high-quality, affordable and universal childcare that enables more parents to work and helps improve children's early development'. 'High quality' needs to be more than a catchphrase. It should mean employing a professional workforce of qualified teachers to ensure every child has the foundations for learning by the time they start school.
Despite recent projections, Ministers have continued to assert that the Coalition's flagship policies are on track, and will improve outcomes for the most disadvantaged children and young people. As reviewed here, the evidence to support these claims is unconvincing. The weakness of the 'new approach' is not that it has focused on the wrong areas of policy; like the 'old' approach, the key programmes are, in the main, based on sound evidence that worklessness, low educational achievement and poor maternal and infant health are the key drivers of poverty and limited life chances. Where the government's approach seriously falls short, however, is in expecting a few flagship programmes to do all the heavy lifting.
In the face of wider spending cuts to key public services and changes to the tax and benefit system that will have an overall adverse effect on children and families, the Coalition will be lucky to achieve even the same slow level of progress in narrowing achievement gaps as that achieved under the previous government. As Labour's limited record shows, making progress on tackling poverty and entrenched social disadvantage is not easy even in good economic times, let alone in the new age of austerity. But the biggest poverty gap that now exists is that between the government's rhetoric and reality. It would help if the Coalition started by giving up the rhetoric of a 'new approach', and responded to the Commission's report with an honest appraisal of the likely impact of its policies.
Louise Bamfield is Associate Director of RSA Education.


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Hedwig and the Angry Inchfrom State Theatre
Brilliantly innovative, heartbreaking, and wickedly funny, Hedwig and the Angry Inch is the landmark American musical by John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask that is "groundbreaking and undoubtedly ahead of its time" (Entertainment Weekly). This genre-bending, fourth-wall-smashing musical sensation, with a pulsing score and electrifying performances, tells the story of one of the most unique characters to ever hit the stage. Directed by Tony Award®-winner Michael Mayer (Spring Awakening) and winner of four 2014 Tony Awards® including Best Musical Revival, Hedwig and the Angry Inch played to record-breaking sell-out crowds on Broadway and promises to take New Brunswick by storm with what Time Magazine proclaims is "the most exciting rock score written for the theatre since, oh, ever!" (from )
This event has passed.
Through May 21, 2017May 19, 2017 to May 21, 2017
State Theatre New Jersey
15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ
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Loris Fortuna
Loris Fortuna (January 22,[1] 1924 – December 5, 1985) was an Italian left-wing politician, and former Member of Parliament since 1963.
Born in Breno, province of Brescia, he was a partisan during World War II, and initially joined the Italian Communist Party (PCI), leaving it in 1956, and crossing the floor to the Italian Socialist Party (PSI), after the anti-Soviet revolts in Hungary were suppressed by the Soviet Red Army. His first ran in elections in 1963; two years later, he promoted, as first signer, the law on divorce, but he then decided not to submit it to the examination on Parliament.
In 1970, however, Fortuna decided to finally present his proposal of law, together with liberal colleague Antonio Baslini, gaining support from the PCI, the Radical Party and the left wing, but opposed by the Christian Democracy. The law, which legalized and regulated divorce in Italy, was then approved on December 1, 1970.
In 1974, Christian Democracy tried to repeal it via a national referendum, but failed, with 59.3% of Italians favourable to maintain the law on divorce. During the referendum campaign, Fortuna bound up with Radical leader Marco Pannella, and then joined his party, but continuing to be member of the Socialist Party.
Subsequently, Fortuna was a strong supporter and promoter also for the law on abortion, which was depenalized in 1978 and survived to another referendum in 1981. He died in Rome, soon after having asked Bettino Craxi for an electoral alliance between the PSI and the Radicals.
In 2005, the name of Loris Fortuna came back to national political scene, following the formation of the Rose in the Fist, an electoral alliance including Radicals and Socialists, and openly based on the principles of José Luis Zapatero, Tony Blair and Fortuna himself.
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CENTENNIAL, Colo. – When the Colorado Rapids unveil their new-look squad in Dallas for the first time on Saturday night (8:30 pm ET, MLS Live), the biggest new face of them all won't be on the field.
The club's marquee offseason acquisition, Edson Buddle, is still recovering from residual knee fluid buildup, and will fly to his native New York over the weekend for further evaluation.
The former LA Galaxy star underwent right knee surgery for a torn meniscus in his last June, and then he suffered a recurrence of fluid buildup in the same knee in January. Buddle been undergoing plasma-rich therapy in LA, but he hasn't practiced fully since starting training with the Rapids earlier this month. The 31-year-old striker will get a third opinion on the troublesome knee, with further surgery a looming possibility.
"I need a full week of training with the team where it's not on my mind that something else goes wrong," Buddle told MLSsoccer.com on Wednesday afternoon. "I just want to be confident instead of making it worse. If I need to get surgery, I'll get surgery."
If the doctor clears the 2010 World Cup veteran, however, he could fully return to the practice fields as soon as next week, and he still has a chance of being ready for the Rapids' home opener on March 9.
2013 Colorado Preview: Revamped Rapids set to compete
"Next week, I'm thinking to be full training with the team," said Buddle, who was acquired from the Galaxy in a December trade. "See the doctor in New York on Monday, get a third look at it and hopefully all goes well there and I'll be ready next week."
Buddle's absence leaves the Rapids' strikeforce thin and young. Rookie DeShorn Brown will likely start in his MLS debut on Saturday – "I'm not afraid to throw those [young] guys in," head coach Oscar Pareja told MLSsoccer.com on Wednesday – with sparingly used fourth-year pro Andre Akpan as his primary backup at center striker.
But despite not being ruled out of the Rapids' opener, Buddle says he's felt better over the last few weeks.
"I feel all right" he said. "Of course, coming back from any injury, no matter what it is, you take it step by step. It's never you have an injury that just gets better right away. That's just what's going on. Training every day. It feels good, no [knee] fluid."
Chris Bianchi covers the Colorado Rapids for MLSsoccer.com.


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Godmachine has added a new print to his online shop. The poster looks like it was made for a viewing of Predator at the Astor Theatre this past July 5th. The print is a 4 color screenprint on black stock, 18″ x 24″, signed and numbered an edition of 40 for $35 each.
Get it here: Godmachine Online Shop


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First of all, our 2007 taxes are done! I still need to write out the "ink" forms, make copies, and put it all in the mail, but I've done all the computations, checked, and re-checked the math. So the hard stuff is done. Now I just have to make sure that I don't lose anything or let Super L (who has an uncanny ability to locate important documents and use them as coloring pages without my knowledge) get her grubby little hands on any of them.
In other good news: The healthful benefits of red wine has been promoted for years. I do enjoy a good glass of pinot. With my family's terrible history of heart disease, I actually try to drink a glass fairly regularly. I did not need another excuse to enjoy it, but today the fine people at msn, in all their infinite wisdom, informed me that red wine actually inhibits fat absorption. I am convinced that Jesus wants me to drink this stuff (in moderation, of course). And now that sound you hear is all the Southern Baptist pastors who've ever "pastored" me raising a collective *sigh* and a few great- uncles wagging their heads and *tsk-tsk'ing* me. My mom's side of the family is o-l-d s-c-h-o-o-l.
Later this week I leave for a weekend of good art, good food, and good company in Chicago with fourteen or our finest students and one very cool friend/co-worker. I have been looking forward to this trip for months with great anticipation. But right now mommy-guilt is starting to settle in. I'm going to miss my kids. I hate being away from them overnight. I feel like I already miss so much time with them being a working mom and a grad student. Super L is a bit too small to miss me too much. As long as Daddy or Little Miss G is around, she's a happy camper. But Little Miss G is old enough that she has the sense of being left behind. She is almost old enough to come along, but I don't think she would have the patience for an entire day at the Art Institute. Plus, a few of the juniors and seniors going on this trip are some of my favorites that I've had the pleasure of teaching, so I'd really like to be able to focus on enjoying my time with them.
I told LMG today that I'd be out-of-town for a few days, and she seemed fine with it when I told her that Daddy would be home with her. I will do the normal parent thing…spend obscene amounts of money on gifts for them while I'm gone and do a couple of extra-special activities with them before and after the trip. I'm thinking Chuck-E-Cheese for dinner tomorrow for starters. If she didn't have a perfect attendance record so far, I'd consider keeping her home from school on Wednesday just to spend the whole day with her… but I know that isn't the right thing to do. School is important. And perfect attendance! I was never able to do that when I was in school.


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Scaring Our Children: A Critique of Georgia's Attempt to Fix the Childhood Obesity Epidemic – Yvonne Morales
Scaring Our Children: A Critique of Georgia's Attempt to Fix the Childhood Obesity Epidemic – Yvonne Morales
The fact that childhood overweight and obesity is now an epidemic is no longer news. Results from the 2007-2008 NHANES report found that childhood around 16.9% of children and adolescents 2 to 19 years old are obese (1). The number of obese children has tripled since 1980 (2). The state of Georgia is one of the hardest hit by this epidemic, only falling behind Mississippi. Four in ten children are either overweight or obese in the state, the second highest in the country (3). Overweight and obese children are now suffering from diseases we use to think were only seen in adults (3). Children are suffering from joint pain, sleep apnea, hypertension, liver disease, high cholesterol and Type 2 Diabetes, which we use to call adult onset diabetes (3). The severity of the physical consequences of overweight and obesity action needs to reach a wide audience.
Across the United States several strategies have been implemented to help combat childhood obesity. Common food policies implemented include altering the relative price of foods at schools, shifting the exposure to food and trying to improve the image of healthy food (4). Other strategies including increasing taxes on foods considered "unhealthy" and increasing taxes on these same foods have been considered (4). In Georgia the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Pediatric Hospital has taken matters into their own hands and created a 5 year 25 million dollar program, strong4life, aimed at reducing childhood obesity in the state (5).
This program started with the launch of a media campaign, named "Stop Childhood Obesity", aimed at raising awareness about childhood obesity, which has created a lot of controversy nationwide (5). Using the tagline "Stop Sugarcoating It, Georgia" the campaign, which includes print and video ads, seeks to shock its citizens into action (5). The program goes beyond this ad campaign and includes a movement they named strong4life and other ads campaigns that were rolled out after the "Stop Childhood Obesity" campaign (3). For the purpose of this critique only the ad campaign launched as the first phase of the initiative will be discussed. In late 2011 and early 2012 when the campaign was launched a great deal of controversy was created. Some praised its boldness and directness while other criticized it for making a sensitive issue worse (5). The ads are shocking depicting sad little boys and girls that are either overweight or obese in an effort to raise awareness to childhood obesity.
The campaign was very successful in getting people talking about the issue. A Google search for "Georgia childhood obesity ads" yields 322,000 results in 0.48 seconds. The campaign is so recent that we still don't have any evidence on its ability to change what it set out to do yet many critiques agree that the possibility that it will do more harm than good is real (5). Even though it caused a stir the ad campaign fails to properly combat childhood obesity by alienating its target audience, failing to provide a viable model for children to follow and fails to create community awareness to the issue.
Critique 1: Stigmatizes overweight and obese children
One of the print ads for the campaign stars an overweight girl who seems to be around 9 years old. She is staring into the camera arms crossed, a banner runs at the bottom of the page, "WARNING: It's hard to be a little girl if you're not" (5). This is one of the images being plastered on billboards and online in Georgia. The other images are accompanied by the caption, "My fat may be funny to you but it's killing me", and "Fat prevention begins at home. And the buffet line" (6). The ads aimed at propelling parents and children into action may be instead further stigmatizing overweight and obese children.
Stigmatizing includes but is not limited to verbal teasing, physical bullying and relational victimization (7). Studies have shown that overweight and obese children are already the victims of bias and stereotyping by peers, educators and even parents (7). This has been well documented in scientific literature for more than 40 years (7). In a seminal study by Richardson et al in 1961 640 school children 10 and 11 years old were instructed to rank the pictures of six children in order of whom they would rather be friends with (7). The pictures included children with disabilities, and overweight child and an average child with no disabilities (7). On average the overweight child was ranked last and deemed least likeable (7). Many other studies have confirmed these findings (7). Stigmatizing associated with depression, low-self esteem, body dissatisfaction and difficulty establishing interpersonal relationships (7). So instead of pushing these children into action they are being pushed further into a cycle of low self-esteem, depression and further weight gain.
Critique 2: Fails to promote self-efficacy
One of the video ads titled "Video Games" that forms part of the campaign stars Jaden, a young African-American boy, who likes to play video games, by himself, so he doesn't have to be around the other kids that make fun of him (8). The ad is very effective in showing how lonely being overweight or obese can be. Most children that are overweight or obese already know this. The campaign "Stop Childhood Obesity" seems to be based in part on the health belief model. This model stipulates that there are six main constructs that propel people into action (9). These include perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits of taking action, perceived barriers, cues to action and self-efficacy (9). Self-efficacy refers to a person's belief in his or her ability to take the action (10). The ad depicts Jaden in a dark light, and he talks about how he retreats to his video games so he doesn't have to be around other kids. Jaden is not being given the tools or even told that he can change his situation. It seems he is condemned to playing video games, since "being fat takes the fun out of being a kid" (8). Every single ad that forms part of this campaign ends on a negative not or makes you feel sad. If as an adult looking at this you don't feel empowered to make a change, children will not either.
This campaign was designed to raise awareness and create a buzz around the issue. It accomplished that but, how effective is an intervention that fails to empower those that they intend to help. Another huge issue with the campaign ads that only depict children in them is that they make it seem that this is an individual issue. Given the large range of factors that contribute to childhood obesity it is clear that this is not an individual issue (11). Those behind the campaign, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, do admit that what they want to do is push parents into action saying that they need to be pushed out of a state of denial (12). Yet, they are not transmitting a message that promotes self-efficiency to parents either. None of these ads even suggests a course of action to be taken, we are just asked to stop sugarcoating it. Studies, like the one conducted in Australia by Lewis et al. have shown that obesity public health campaigns can cause more harm than good when targeted to adults (13). It would be interesting to study the effect these ads are having on parents. They are probably having similar effects, which included feeling stigmatized and blamed for their situation (13).
Critique 3: Fails to create a model for children to follow
A TV ad shot in black and white stars Bobby and his mother, they are sitting face to face on two foldable chairs. Bobby asks his mom point blank, "Mom, why am I fat (14) ?" The conversation is set in the same tone all the other ads portray, dark, cold and seemingly hopeless. By bringing in Bobby's mother into the picture the campaign is bringing in the environment into the picture. The Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) describes the dynamic in which personal factors, environmental factors and human behavior influence each other (10). The SCT says that there are three main factors that will increase the probability that a person will change a health related behavior (10). These factors are self-efficiency, goals and outcome expectancies (10). This theory later evolved to the Social Learning Theory that postulates that people learn by observing others, this is where this campaign fails completely (10).
Bobby isn't given even a suggestion or anything that resembles an answer (14). We are just told, "75% of Georgia parents with overweight kids don't recognize the problem" (14). So even if we look at the ad from the perspective of a parent that may have an overweight child and doesn't recognize it we are not told how to do this. There is no suggestion of behavior to model at all. This is another huge missed opportunity. If we want to get parents on board with the program we have to show them where the door is.
Proposed Intervention
Successful interventions need to have impact on the individual and societal levels (11). Relying solely on children or even children and their parents to solve the childhood obesity crisis would be wasting some of the most important resources we have as a society, each other. An effective intervention that will help combat childhood obesity in state like Georgia where the prevalence is high is to include everyone in the fight, not alienate those affected and make them feel like they are to blame. Yes, there is some blame to assign but this will not solve the problem. Working together and making the solution as easy as possible is the way to go.
A great example of a campaign doing just this is the do® groove campaign created by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota (15). This campaign targets adults but could serve as a great model for a children's campaign. The campaign features TV, print and online ads that promote a positive message towards achieving meaningful weight loss. The ads for the do® groove campaign include taglines like, "walk a mile in your own shoes", "we hear the Joneses have been exercising", "Groove. Breathe. Repeat.", "put some step in your spring" among others (15).
The TV ads star everyday people sharing their successful weight loss stories weight loss stories (15). The factor that is key here is that the people sharing their stories are not now super skinny health fanatics. They are people that are still in the trenches still struggling with the problem (15). Modeling a program for children that provides relatable models for both parents and children and empowers them to take action could be more successful that scaring children and pointing the blame at parents. A great way that the do® groove ads used advertising theory is that added a comedic element to the TV spots that is consistent throughout. The same man appears at the end of all the ads, he stars in one, and invites everyone sharing their story to "groove" with him. Ending the spot with an uplifting moment even if the story might not have been.
The Stop Childhood Obesity campaign makes good use of advertising theory and marketing theory. These strategies should be continued in the new campaign, with a different tone. The ads in Georgia were very effective at getting the community talking. Every media outlet picked up the story and discussed at length. This is a great way to et even more exposure and even free advertising for the campaign. Finding a creative way to accomplish this in a more positive tone will be hard since usually this type of attention goes to controversial topics (5). Making use of creative agencies and experts in advertising could help achieve this goal.
Defense 1: Providing a model to follow
In the stop childhood obesity program that I am proposing TV ads would feature children that have been successful at losing weight. This will provide children with a model from which they can learn. According to the Social Learning Theory observational learning or modeling is behavioral changes that occur by watching the actions and outcomes of other's (10). Portraying children that have been successful or are currently trying to lead a healthier lifestyle is important. The current campaign in Georgia doesn't give children a better model to follow. Overweight and obese children need to see that changing is possible and shown how to do it.
A second model that also needs to be provided is a parental model of how to help your child lose weight. Many parents don't know how to help their children. Instead of casting them in the role of enabler or cause like they do in the Stop Childhood Obesity ads we can cast them in the role of support or better yet example. Getting parents to lead a healthy lifestyle will at the same time help children lead a healthy lifestyle. In other words providing parents a model on how to be good role models for their children.
Defense 2: Create a sense of community
The initiative should create a sense of community; we got into this problem together we will fix it together. The cause of childhood obesity can be simplified to an excess delivery of calories (11). How we ended up having children that consume an excess amount of calories and don't exercise enough is extremely complicated (11). So blaming the current generation of children and their parents for letting their weight get out of control is absurd. The current obesity epidemic is the result of many factor coming together is a sort of perfect storm. Many of these factors that caused the childhood obesity epidemics are environmental. If the cause of the problem lies in the community so can the solution. According to the Social Cognitive Theory there is a dynamic process in which personal factors, environmental factors and behavior influence each other (10). Changing one of the three factors will later cause changes in the other two.
Defense 3: Create a sense of self-efficacy
One really important thing that creating a sense a community and providing both children and parents a model to emulate does is that it creates a sense of self-efficacy. Each of these factors act together to empower both children and their parents. Some consider self-efficacy the most important personal factor that leads to behavior change (10). Its the factor that appears in every behavior change model (10). If self-efficacy is created this will eventually lead to action. In order for this to happen the campaign has to provide easy to follow and easy to access steps for both children and parents to take. Again looking at the do® groove campaign as an example they have a tab on the website called "Get Started Now" (15). Here people can find 3 easy steps that will get them on their way to a healthier lifestyle (15). A similar approach can be taken and adapted to children. There is still a lot to learn about how to motivate children to lose weight without causing eating disorders in the process (6). So instead of asking people to find their healthy weight like on the do® groove website children could be asked to set other type of achievable goals which are important to change behaviors (10).
The childhood obesity epidemic is a real problem that must be dealt with now. The Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Pediatric Hospital has that much right there is no more time to waste when it comes to confronting the issue and finding a solution. The way they are going about this is going to cause more harm than good. Further stigmatizing an already vulnerable population without proving actions to be taken can make the problem worse. We can stop sugarcoating the issue without scaring a generation of vulnerable children. The Do® groove campaign created by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota does this for adults (15). A similarly positive and serious campaign can be crafted for children. Empowering them during a very vulnerable stage of life can create better end results. We need to stop sugarcoating the issue across the country; we just have to be careful not to create a bigger problem.
1. Products - Health E Stats - Overweight Prevalence Among Children and Adolescents 2007-2008. (n.d.). Retrieved December 12, 2012, from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/obesity_child_07_08/obesity_child_07_08.htm
2. Obesity and Overweight for Professionals: Childhood: Data | DNPAO | CDC. (n.d.). Retrieved December 13, 2012, from http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/childhood.html
3. We Are Strong4Life. (n.d.). Retrieved December 12, 2012, from http://strong4life.com/pages/about/about.aspx
4. Frieden, T. R., Dietz, W., & Collins, J. (2010). Reducing Childhood Obesity Through Policy Change: Acting Now To Prevent Obesity. Health Affairs, 29(3), 357–363. doi:10.1377/hlthaff.2010.0039
5. Controversy Swirls Around Harsh Anti-Obesity Ads : NPR. (n.d.). NPR.org. Retrieved December 13, 2012, from http://www.npr.org/2012/01/09/144799538/controversy-swirls-around-harsh-anti-obesity-ads
6. Gray, E. (2012, January 3). Georgia Anti-Obesity Ads Say "Stop Sugarcoating" Childhood Obesity. Huffington Post. Retrieved December 12, 2012, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/03/georgia-anti-obesity-ads-stop-sugarcoating_n_1182023.html#s585825&title=Tamika
7. Puhl, R. M., & Latner, J. D. (2007). Stigma, obesity, and the health of the nation's children. Psychological Bulletin, 133(4), 557–580. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.133.4.557
8. Stop Childhood Obesity: Video Games. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tK57ieGhE7w&feature=youtube_gdata_player
9. National Cancer Institute. Theory at a Glance: A Guide for Health Promotion Practice. Part 2. Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute, 2005, pp. 9-21 (NIH Publication No. 05-3896). Available at: http://www.cancer.gov/PDF/481f5d53-63df-41bc-bfaf-5aa-48ee1da4d/TAAG3.pdf
10. Individual health behavior theories (chapter 4). In: Edberg M. Essentials of Health Behavior: Social and Behavioral Theory in Public Health. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 2007, pp. 35-49.
11. Vos, M. B., & Welsh, J. (2010). Childhood Obesity: Update on Predisposing Factors and Prevention Strategies. Current gastroenterology reports, 12(4), 280–287. doi:10.1007/s11894-010-0116-1
12. Do Georgia's Child Obesity Ads Go Too Far? (2011, May 2). Huffington Post. Retrieved December 13, 2012, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/02/georgia-child-obesity-ads_n_856255.html
13. Lewis, S., Thomas, S. L., Hyde, J., Castle, D., Blood, R. W., & Komesaroff, P. A. (2010). "I don't eat a hamburger and large chips every day!" A qualitative study of the impact of public health messages about obesity on obese adults. BMC Public Health, 10, 309. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-10-309
14. Stop Childhood Obesity: "Why am I Fat?" (2011). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysIzX_iDUKs&feature=youtube_gdata_player
15. What is Do Groove, How Can it Help You Get Healthier & more. (n.d.). Retrieved December 13, 2012, from http://www.do-groove.com/about