text: Comfort Maximized From New Plants to Furnace Service Posted December 11, 2015 You've probably noticed the days are getting shorter and colder and it feels impossible to keep your home comfortable and cozy. We've got a collection of tips that can help beyond completing annual furnace service. These tips will boost the comfort your furnace provides. Here are four tips for staying comfortable this winter in Midlothian: Seal air leaks. A great deal of warm air escapes your home through cracks around your windows and doors. This can be a costly problem when you look at your utility bill. The good news is it's not costly to fix it. Generally, new weatherstripping or caulking is all it takes. Change your furnace filter. •This is important to improving your furnace's efficiency, and therefore helping you save money. The best part is that it's super easy to do yourself. Look at your filter regularly and change it when the manufacturer recommends it. Get plants. Houseplants are great because they look pretty, and they can actually enhance your indoor air quality. A lot of common houseplants will absorb some of the airborne toxins that are released from common household cleaners, paints and other products. Furnace service. You should plan for regular furnace service every year. This will ensure your furnace is working properly, and if it's not, identify problem areas before they worsen. Keeping your home comfortable during the winter doesn't have to be time-consuming task. Call Daniel's Heating & Refrigeration Corp. at 804-372-0313 to get more information about keeping your home comfortable or to schedule furnace service. Back To Blog


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We all have that odd light switch or outlet cover plate that's an odd combination. We may not realize it until we need a replacement and – eh oh! – Home Depot and Lowe's doesn't carry it. Now what? Over the past several years I've come to the conclusion that there is literally nothing that can't be found online. That includes random switch plates with weird configurations. The problem is, if you think you need a custom plate when you really don't, you may end up spending way more than you need to by ordering a made-to-order wallplate.
You may think you have a switch plate that's so unique it needs to be custom made, but the truth is, Kyle Switch Plates carries over 300 irregular switchplates that can't be found in stores but are currently in-stock and ready to ship from their wallplate warehouse. They carry the largest selection of switch plates online and offer the most affordable light switch plates and outlet covers on the web. Even better – all orders ship out within 1 – 2 business days (with cheap, flat-rate shipping!) which means you don't have to wait a week (or longer) for your "custom" plate to be made, and then wait another week for it to be delivered.
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subset: commoncrawl


text: A cute baby card today using the Elephant from Everyday Pop Up Cards cut at 4" and using some yarn on the tail. The paper for the Elephant was K&Co Itsy Bitsy collection and then the background strips, I border punched using a Martha Stewart punch. The sentiments are from Scrappy Moms 'The charmed life' set, stamped onto cartouche's cut from an EK Success punch.


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She would be the first to admit it was better prepared than her first, 12 months ago at the European Championships in Rotterdam.
"I hadn't expected to qualify for the individual final so it was rather thrown together at the last minute," she said.
One year on, she has programmed a routine that reflects Valegro's improving technical prowess to a patriotic theme.
Both she and Hester work with young composer-arranger Tom Hunt. The riders first devise a choreography ("floor plan," in dressage-speak) then tell Hunt what music they would ideally like and they piece it together over several weeks, a footstep at a time. Scoring a kur has become big business in continental Europe, with some riders reportedly paying more than £15,000 per routine.
In freestyle, certain elements have to be included but it is the riders' opportunity to showcase movements their horses do especially well. Degree of difficulty is also a consideration. The gamble is whether to perform something easier extremely well, or throw in something tricky but fluff it.
Dujardin's medley was The Great Escape – "passage"; Live and Let Die – extended trot; Chimes of Big Ben – canter pirouette; Land of Hope and Glory – canter; I Vow to Thee My Country - walk.


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'No exams but I knew I wasn't thick'
Maxine Turner left school without a single qualification.
"But I knew I wasn't thick," she says.
She went on to get a teaching qualification and now she's running education courses trying to help adults without qualifications, without jobs and often drained of self-confidence.
Maxine is speaking at Mowbray Gardens Library in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, where a group is gathering for lessons taught by the Workers Educational Association (WEA), the largest voluntary sector provider of adult education.
There are ex-miners here who haven't worked since the pits closed in the 1980s.
When Maxine left school in the 1970s, she says working class youngsters were expected to go straight into factories, mines or the steelworks. They didn't need to take exams.
"Maths may as well have been taught in Martian language," she says.
'A kind of malaise'
But those industries have declined and communities have been left behind.
"There's a kind of malaise that falls over like a blanket. It's really hard to break through," says Maxine, who found her own way back into learning through the WEA, where she became a tutor.
There have been endless policy announcements and glossy strategies about improving vocational skills and helping people to retrain.
But how does that really translate at the sharp end?
It's tough enough for people with qualifications - imagine what it's like without any exams and your only work experience is in jobs that no longer exist.
"We all need respect. Everyone should have a chance," says Shane, who is part of the student group.
He doesn't want anyone looking down their noses at people trying to find work or training for a fresh start.
Students talk of feeling "belittled" by an often faceless online application process.
These are the disenfranchised white, working class. Not working, but at least back in class.
'Communities aren't there any more'
At the weekly lesson, they're being taught IT skills that could help them write an application letter, put together a CV or find ways to access information online.
It's also about working as a group.
There are repeated comments about the threat of social isolation in areas where there are shrinking numbers of shared places to be together.
"People lived, drank, worked together. But those communities aren't there any more," says Maxine.
Richard, in his 40s, says he'd been living more or less like a "recluse", sometimes struggling with depression and finding it difficult to get out of the house.
This WEA class had given him a sense of purpose and friendship, as well as learning.
The need for retraining is profound.
North-south divide
In Rotherham, 12% of the working-age population have no qualifications - in Surrey it's 4%, in parts of London it's too low to be measured.
It's a problem that is markedly worse across the north of England compared with the south.
London represents the other end of the spectrum, with the highest concentration of graduates anywhere in Europe.
For those who find work in Rotherham, the typical full-time annual salary in the town is about £25,600.
The news agenda has been focused on value for money for university students, but it's those without qualifications who are almost twice as likely not to be working.
- Could you cope with eight different jobs a week?
- Schools 'must do more to promote construction jobs'
- What do children draw when asked about their future jobs?
The WEA runs 8,000 adult courses per year - with a very different social profile from the debate about university access.
Among their students, almost half have no or almost no qualifications, almost 40% live in the most deprived areas, a quarter have health problems and 12% have mental health difficulties.
But it's also where education can make the biggest difference.
Research into the impact of WEA courses has shown big improvements in employability and positive benefits for those with mental health conditions.
Parents reported being more confident with helping their own children to learn.
However, it's an uphill struggle. Inside the library there are three separate adult education courses taking place, but the back windows seem to be pitted with what look like air-rifle impacts.
Whether or not that's the cause, it seems an appropriate metaphor for people trying to improve but being assailed from every side.
Parents learning together
In York, another WEA group is gathering. This might be an historic, picturesque city, but it's a tourist economy with lots of insecure, low-paid work.
Its schools have the lowest level of per pupil funding in England.
The group here are taking part in a project where parents learn about helping in school and are encouraged to improve their own skills.
"When you've got a child, but you don't have the financial backing, it's very difficult to get training," says Annemarie.
"I struggled at school with the academic stuff, my self-esteem was very low. I felt stupid. That's what I told myself. I stopped trying because it felt so hard to try."
But she says her confidence has been reinvigorated by her return to lessons.
You may also like:
- One mother, two school shootings
- Employers warned over snow days pay dock
- The youngsters keeping traditional trades alive
"I was that scared. I was shy, this awkward person. I felt like a proper lost cause," says Laura, also on the Helping In Schools course.
"I left school when I was 14, I didn't gain any GCSEs. I thought this is me, this is all I have to offer.
"But with this course, I've proved I can still do something.
"Now I feel like I can go on to other things."
Applying for jobs left her filled with a sense of "not being good enough".
"You think you're going to be turned down straight away."
She spent a long time in her flat, not going out. There are many people like her, she says, "going under the radar".
Now she wants to work with children and is going to study how to help with special educational needs.
The students and their tutors say the barriers to learning are often practical.
Courses can cost too much or the lack of transport can make them out of reach. Affordable childcare can be the key to returning to learning.
Again and again these students mention the need for confidence and to make learning seem less daunting.
Another student, Catherine, says it used to be much easier to get jobs without qualifications, but now they need to have exams.
"People can do it if they get help," says Laura.
"They throw the tablets at you, but this has helped me more than any medication.
"I feel like my life's been turned around. I want to keep on learning now."


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The 27th edition of our festival and the 13th of the academy will take place from 29th July to 11thAugust 2019
Recitals, chamber music and evenings with orchestra are showcased in the 2019 edition.
Let's discover The Program!
Piano, harpe, violin, alto, cello, double bass, flute, clarinet, oboe, trumpet, singing and conducting orchestra are taught in the 2019 academy.
Please visit our Gallery of teachers!
The organization Musiques-Échanges presents its new website in the French and English versions.
For any request, please do not hesitate to contact us via our contact form.


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Suquamish, WA, USA
Full Time
SUMMARY: Provides guest service by properly seating guests at their table(s), cleans dining areas and assists Food and Beverage staff as needed.
DUTIES: Sees to all the needs of the dining guests by providing clearly superior customer service. Ability to learn and follow the room rotation system for seating guests. Assists in keeping the host/hostess area clean and organized. Actively practices the customer service standards. Assists co workers with rolling silverware and other assigned side work duties. Greets guests and answers questions. Makes all cash transactions, gives change and cash out till. Assist guests with comps and food specials (Coupons, two-for-one etc.) Assists with reservations.
QUALIFICATIONS: High School Diploma or GED. Some food preparation training is helpful. Food Handlers Card required. One (1) year of experience in Food and Beverage industry.


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Link to author's website: http://www.davidbrin.com/
We welcome contact with authors. If you are this author and you have more information that could appear here, please contact us.
There is 1 book listed by the author David Brin.
|SW: Star Wars on Trial
$36.95 Trade Paperback
Star Wars
Debates on the authenticity of the Star Wars franchise and the hero-or-villain status of George Lucas are at the heart of these essays by bestselling science-fiction authors. The incredible popularity ... ISBN: 193210089X
Should you be after a book not listed here, email and ask us. We may be able to supply it. For various reasons, not all available books are listed on our website.


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$24.95 USD $49.99 USD You Save 50% ($25.04 USD)
This may look like a tiny cardboard box, but it holds a SECRET inside: a cute little kitty that steals your change when you leave it on her dinner plate! But rest easy, she's only borrowingthe money until you need it. When you're ready to reclaim it, simply unscrew the bottom to access your money and never need to break the bank.
Please note that if you try to add them to your cart and get an error message, that means they've already Sold Out, so you can check back in Summer 2017 when our second manufacturing round will arrive.
Battery: 2 AA batteries (for best results, use Alkaline Batteries!)
Note:Press the coin onto the dinner plate
Collections: GADGETS


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Ethiopia is a journey of discovery to the lands once traversed by caravans of the Queen of Sheba. Few nations, if any, can boast the historic splendour of Ethiopia. From its rock-hewn churches, still places of living worship, to the ancient historical traditions and magnificent cultures.
Ethiopia, is a nation of surprises, full of diversity and contrast, from the ancient to the modern. Legend has it that Emperor Menelik I, the son of the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon, brought the Ark of the Covenant from Jerusalem to Aksum, where he settled and established one of the world's longest known, uninterrupted monarchical dynasties
Our journey is one of ease and comfort and full of fascinating cultural legacies. It is a tour offering superb value and over and above the extensive sightseeing programme, we have included virtually all meals, leaving little additional expenditure throughout the tour.
We look forward to you joining us on this spectacular tour, designed especially for our direct clientele. Your camera will capture images never to be forgotten.
|Addis Ababa – Ethiopia
6 September to 2 October 2020
|27 days/26 nights
|PRICES per person
US$8,490 twin share rate
US$9,490 single rate
|4 to 12 Guests
Additional information
Days 1-2
Join Addis Ababa (2355m)
On arrival in Addis Ababa you will be met at the airport by a representative of Adventure Associates and transferred to the group hotel. We spend the remainder of the day sightseeing in the capital, and visit the Fistula Hospital.
– Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's sprawling capital in the highlands bordering the Great Rift Valley, is the country's commercial and cultural hub. Its National Museum exhibits Ethiopian art, traditional crafts and prehistoric fossils, including replicas of the famous early hominid, "Lucy." We will also visit the burial place of the 20th-century emperor Haile Selassie, and the copper-domed Holy Trinity Cathedral, a neo-baroque architectural landmark. B,L,D
Day 3
Addis Ababa – Jinka
Following breakfast we take a flight south to Jinka. After checking into our lodge we will visit the Ari village. Ari people are privileged to have the largest territory of all the tribes in the area. They have the most fertile land for growing coffee and corn. The women are known for selling pottery and wearing skirts made from banana trees. B,L,D
Day 4
Today we visit the South Omo Museum which contains cultural displays from the 16 different ethnic groups living in the region. After lunch, experience the famous Saturday market in Jinka, which is the largest in the region. The predominant ethnic group here is the Ari, however it also attracts a variety of ethnic groups including Banna, Mursi and sometimes Bashada all attending to exchange their products. B,L,D
Day 5
Jinka – Turmi (925m), drive 2-3 hrs
After breakfast we drive to Turmi via Key Afer, and check in to our Lodge. Late in the afternoon we will visit the Hamar village. The Hamar women are striking; wearing beautiful colorful beaded skins, ornate necklaces, and metal bangles around their wrist and ankles. Famous for their hairstyle — a crown of long dread-lock braids covered in ocher, these women are the most colorful of the Omo people. The Hamar are known for their unique custom of "bull jumping," which initiates a boy into manhood. First, female relatives dance and invite whipping from men who have recently been initiated; this shows their support of the initiate, and their scars give them a right to demand his help in time of need. The boy must run back and forth twice across the backs of a row of bulls or castrated steers, and is ridiculed if he fails. B,L,D
Day 6
Turmi – Konso (1650m), drive 3-4 hrs
Today we drive to Konso. Known for its stone wall village and cultural landscape, Konso society is largely agricultural involving the irrigation and terracing of mountain slopes. It is recognised for it's communal and sustainable terrace system which is registered by UNESCO. Staple crops include sorghum and corn, with cash crops including cotton and coffee. Cattle, sheep, and goats are raised for food and milk. Their village is also well known for traditional wooden totem "waka" as a symbol of grave marks for their clan chief and warriors. Although there are today marked differences in customs between the Konso and their Oromo neighbours, Konso society has also retained some commonalities with traditional Oromo culture. The latter include the gadaa generation-grading system of social organisation, similar high priests and a cult of phallicism. Polygyny is an accepted practice among the Konso. B,L,D
Day 7
Konso – Arba Minch (1285m)
En-route to Arba Minch we take a boat trip on Lake Chamo. Lake Chamo is one of the lakes of the famous Rift Valley with a surface area of 317 km2the lake is fringed with beds of Typha (Cattail). It is fed by the Kulfo River and several small streams as well the overflow from Lake Abaya. During the boat ride, we will have the opportunity to spot Hippo, Nile crocodile and aquatic birds. In the afternoon we continue to Arba Minch. B,L,D
Day 8
Arba Minch – Dorze Village (2300m)
Today we explore the Dorze Village located in the Guge Mountains. The Dorze occupy the Eastern edge of the Gamo Highlands above Lake Abaya, about 2600m above sea level. The Dorze people are famous for their unique beehive houses built from bamboo tree, dancing, traditional weaving and authentic life style. We take lunch at Dorze Lodge and then take a picturesque walk overlooking the Rift Valley and its lakes. Today happens to be the ETHIOPIAN NEW YEAR (11 September), and we will celebrate over dinner this evening. B,L,D
Day 9
Arba Minch – Lake Mangano (1585m), drive 4-5 hrs
Today we journey to the Hara Lodge, located on the shore of Lake Langano, another of the Rift Valley lakes. En-route we stop in Sodo town for lunch. On arrival we check-in to the lodge, and afterwards explore the area which is rich in bird and other wildlife. B,L,D
Days 10-12
Lake Mangano – Bale Mountains (3000m), drive 6-7 hrs
Enroute to the Bale Mountains we visit the park's headquarters and hope to see two endemic mammals, the Mountain Nyala and Menelik's bush buck. Afterwards proceed to the Bale Mountain Lodge via the Sanetti Plateau where we spend the next two days. Bale Mountain National Park also contains the Harenna forest, situated to the south of the mountains, which is a largely unexplored area thought to contain many undiscovered species of reptile and a wealth of birds including the endemic white-backed black tit, Abyssinian catbird and woodpecker. The park offers some wonderful trekking opportunities and the largest population of Ethiopian wolves is found here. Other mammals we might see are olive baboon, guereza monkey, bushbuck and if we are lucky the Bale monkey. B,L,D
Day 13
Bale Mountains – Addis Ababa, drive 6-7 hrs
Early morning drive to Hawassa via the beautiful countryside of Bale and Arsi massifs. Then we take an afternoon flight back to Addis Abba. B,L,D
Day 14
Addis Ababa – Lalibela
After breakfast we take a morning flight to Lalibela, on arrival transfer to our accommodation. We have a little time to rest before lunch at the hotel. In the afternoon visit the Southern cluster of the rock-hewn churches. Lalibela was the 3rd capital of Ethiopia from 11th to 13thcentury and it was during this period that King Lalibela excavated the magnificent rock-hewn churches (an official 8th Wonder of the World). B,L,D
Day 15
Lalibela – Yemrehanne Kirstos Monastery, drive 2-3 hrs
Lalibela is one of Ethiopia's holiest cities, and a centre of pilgrimage. The population of Lalibela is almost completely Ethiopian Orthodox Christian. Ethiopia was one of the earliest nations to adopt Christianity in the first half of the fourth century, and its historical roots date to the time of the Apostles. The churches themselves date from the seventh to thirteenth centuries, and are traditionally dated to the reign of the Zagwe dynasty King Gebre Mesqel Lalibela.
Following breakfast we visit the northern cluster of rock churches, here we find the famous church of Saint George. After lunch, we drive through the picturesque Lasta mountains to the monastery of Yemrehanna Kirstos. This 'cave church' predates the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, and is one of the most beautiful and colorful of the cave churches. Built from marble, wood it is beautifully decorated from inside and outside with remarkable architectural skill. The cave also contains many mummified bodies of pilgrims from centuries gone. B,L,D
Days 16-18
Lalibela – Gerhalta, Tigrai region – drive 9-10hrs
It will be a very long 9 -10 hour drive north to Gerhalta. The scenary during the drive is stunning, and will more than make up for the long journey.
The Tigray region is homeland to the Tigrayans, Irob and Kunama people. We take time to explore the Tigrai rock-hewn churches that are unique and predate those of Lalibela. Many Tigraian churches are carved into what were exisiting caves or crevices in impregnable-looking cliff faces. We hope to explore the Abune Yemata at Guh, Abuna Adraham Debre Tsion and the Teka Tesfai cluster of churches. B,L,D
Day 19
Gerhalta – Axum (2131m), drive 5-6 hrs
After breakfast we drive to Axum via Adigrat, and on the way take time to explore the Temple of Yeha. This is the site of the famous Temple of the Moon, Ethiopia's oldest standing structure. It is also famed for it's amazing rectangular stone temple, the oldest known sacred site in Ethiopia dated from around 500 BC. In the afternoon we reach the historic city of Axum. B,L,D
Day 20
Axum – Limalimo (2950m), drive 6-7 hrs
There is much to see in Axum. After breakfast we visit the Axum obelisks; the largest single pieces of stone standing anywhere in the world and a UNESCO listed site. We also visit castles of former monarchs, the Axum Museum and Mariam Sion Church – built on the site of Ethiopia's first church AD, Palace of Sheba and the Pundit stelae field, King Evan's inscriptions and the tombs of Kings Kaleb and Gebre Meskel. Following lunch we travel by road to Limalimo Lodge. The drive to the lodge is especially scenic as we travel through the lowlands of the Tekezze Valley and the Semien Mountains National Park. B,L,D
Days 21-22
Semien Mountains (highest peak 4550m), drive 1 hr
In the morning, we will take a walk in Limalino searching for birds and gazing at the awe inspiring views. We take lunch at the lodge before the drive to Semien Mountains National Park via Debark, and Sankaber at 3230 metres. The Semien Mountains National Park is a UNESCO listed World Heritage Site and we will spend our days here exploring the exceptional mountainous scenery, and viewing the endemic fauna and flora along the way. It is here that the Gelada Baboon (bleeding heart Baboon) is found. B,L,D
Day 23
Semien Mountains – Gondar (2133m), drive 2-3 hrs
Following breakfast we take a final walk to see the Gelada Baboons and then drive to Gondar. On arrival we check in to the lodge and in the afternoon visit the castle compound and Debre Birhan Sellassie church. Gondar was the first capital city of the Ethiopian empire, which began in 1632 with the reign of King Fasilledes. In Gondar there are dozens of castles built by various emperors over the course of 236 years. Our time in Gondar includes visits to the palaces, residences and open air baths of King Fusillades; (UNESCO listed), the monasteries of Qusquom, and the church of Debre Berhan Sellassie (Light of the Trinity) with its 16th century paintings and frescoes, which is located at the summit of a hill and surrounded by fortified walls. B,L,D
Day 24
Gondor – Bahir Dar (1800m), drive 3-4 hrs
Today is MESKEL CELEBRATION DAY (27 September)– to commemorate the finding of the true Cross over which Jesus Christ was crucified. A Bonfire will be burned as part of the celebration accompanied by singing and chanting of the believers. In the morning we experience the celebration, before driving to Bahir Dar. Along the way we will stop at the Bezawit Palace area for great views of the Blue Nile River leaving Lake Tana. B,L,D
Days 25-26
Bahir Dar – Lake Tana – Blue Nile Falls, drive 1-2 hrs
In the morning we will drive 32 km southwest of Bahir Dar, to the small town of Tiss Abay, along the way there is an abundance of birdlife and so have your camera at the ready. On arrival in Tiss Abay we will walk for about 30 minutes to the Blue Nile Falls. The falls are estimated to be between 37 and 45 meters high, consisting of four streams that originally varied from a trickle in the dry season to over 400 meters wide in the rainy season. The falls isolate the ecology of Lake Tana from the ecology of the rest of the Nile, and this isolation has played a role in the evolution of the endemic fauna of the lake. In the evening we take a boat trip to the point where the Blue Nile River leaves Lake Tana. Here we may spot Hippo and other wildlife such as aquatic birds as the sun sets.
The following day we will take a boat excursion in Ethiopia's largest water body, Lake Tana (3,600 sq km) to visit the monasteries of Ura Kidane Mihret and Azwa Mariam which are found on the largest peninsula of the lake. These monasteries are known for the colourful frescoes of religious scenes, different ancient types of crosses, paintings, murals and an impressive display of illuminated Bibles written in Ge'ez, Ethiopia's oldest language. In the afternoon fly back to Addis Ababa and enjoy a final group dinner. B,L,D
Day 27
Depart Addis Ababa
Our final morning in Addis Ababa before transferring to the airport for your return flight home. B
Daniel Ademe Tire
Daniel is the Managing Director of our partner company in Ethiopia and will be our guide on tour, he is also passionate about delivering a quality travel experience. Daniel has a vast knowledge of all aspects of Ethiopia, having been a high school teacher prior to developing an interest in tourism. The combination of his knowledge as a teacher, travel consultant and a naturally gregarious personality, makes him the ideal tour guide. Daniel has travelled widely, attending workshops and training sessions in Africa and other parts of the world, as well as obtaining his MA degree in Social Anthropology at Addis Ababa University, deepening his knowledge of the diverse cultures and peoples of Ethiopia. Daniel's vision is to provide an authentic experience of his country, conserve the fragile environment, and to help boost the income of local communities through sustainable travel practices.
Sue Werner
Sue graduated as a veterinary nurse before embarking on a more adventurous life as a professional outdoor guide. Over the past 25 years she has worked as an expedition leader, photographer and tour guide. Throughout that time she has been at the cutting edge of developments in adventure travel, mainly specialising in Antarctica and the High Arctic. Her enthusiasm has taken her to many remote corners of the world, including Ethiopia, Madagascar, the Amazon, Africa and the Himalaya. Spending three months living in Grytviken, working for the South Georgia Heritage Trust and was a highlight of Sue's career. In January, 2015, Sue purchased Adventure Associates and continues to plan even more exciting journeys to remote destinations.
How to Book
To ensure your place on this exciting adventure, please contact us to reserve a place 02 6355 2022 or , then complete the Adventure Associates Booking Form and return to us with your USD 1000 per person deposit.
|Deposit required per person:
|US$1000 per person
|Balance due:
|75 days prior to departure
|If booking within 74 days of departure:
|Full payment must be made.
Reservations are established when you receive written confirmation and acceptance of the deposit and Booking Form. Travel insurance is strongly recommended at the time of booking.
Cancellations must be advised in writing to Adventure Associates. Cancellation charges are subject to regulations of airlines, coach and tour operators, hotels and other principals involved. If it is necessary to cancel your arrangements, the following non-refundable charges will apply.
|More than 100 days prior to departure
|US$500 per person
|Between 99 and 75 days prior to departure
|Full loss of deposit per person
|Between 74 and 31 days prior to departure
|75% of tour cost per person
|On or within 30 days prior to departure
|No Refund
If the cancellation charge is more than your advance payment you remain liable for the difference. For these and other reasons mentioned above you are strongly recommended to take out Travel Insurance. Once the Land Tour has departed there will be no refund for any unused portions of the trip.
Tour Reviews
If it is anything like the Madagascar trip it will be fantastic!
Travelled with Daniel & Sue in September 2019 through Ethiopia. I had memories of seeing an National Geographic article on Ethiopia/Abyssinia as a child and when the opportunity arose I jumped at it. The trip was outstanding- scenery/wildlife/people/culture/accommodation/food/company. When one can only complain about the perforations in the toilet paper – one knows it was an outstanding Journey. I can only congratulate Sue for finding Daniel and her organisation of the whole journey. Best parts were possibly seeing Ethiopian Wolves/walking with bands of Geladas/ viewing the Meskel ceremony in Bahir Dar, the numerous church paintings, Gondar castles and the lalibela chuches. Thanks Sue for this wonderful opportunity.
Ethiopia is unlike any other African country I have ever visited and full of surprises. Sues comprehensive coverage gave us a window into the lives of the local people as well as the fascinating history that shaped the country. According to Daniel our gentle and knowledgeable guide, September was a great time to see the country, as it was lush and green at the tail end of the wet season. I was especially glad to have travelled on the 27 day Ethiopia – Ancient Abyssinia trip Adventure Associates offered. There was so much to learn about the mountain wildlife, the tribal peoples and their traditions in the south and the ancient history of remarkable rock-hewn churches and religious festivals of the north.
Our driver Solomon was exceptional and safe, we had several flights to ease the distances. Sue chose delightful accommodation in all the places we stayed and mostly all meals were included. One of the secrets of the itinerary was that in many cases we had 2 to 3 nights in the one place which is a huge bonus in my opinion.
Truly an extraordinary adventure, thank you Sue, Daniel and Solomon.


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Weld Tech can design handrails and balustrades to suit your requirements, whether on a patio or on a staircase. Built to our usual high standards with safety in mind, they will not only be functional but attractive.
Balustrades and Handrail Design
Weld Tech have been designing, producing and installing bespoke balustrades and can design and install matching handrails.
Utilising only materials of the highest quality, Weld Tech create both internal and external metal balustrades to the highest standards. Whether the balustrade is as a garden or a staircase, just give Weld Tech a call and we will advise what the best solutions are for you.
Based in Bolton, Weld Tech can supply and install metal balustrades to the North West regions and guarantee the service your deserve.
We can also match any existing Gate and Railing design you have in place.


text: Better Days 2020 is using important upcoming suffrage anniversaries to celebrate Utah women's illustrious heritage and expand knowledge of that history as they look to improve the future of women in Utah.Better Days is a great example of public history and how that history has the potential to make a difference and they need a historical director. 2020 will be the 150-year anniversary of Utah women becoming the first in the nation to vote, the 100-year anniversary of the 19th amendment and US women's suffrage, as well as the 55-year anniversary of the Voting Rights Act expanding access to disenfranchised minorities. Even if you don't need a job, check out their efforts. Martha Hughes Cannon is on her way to Washington in 2020 and Better Days 2020 is on the move. Apply for a chance to become part of something important.


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Color up your world with HoloBuilder in three quick steps. HoloBuilder offers numerous already integrated and ready to use 3D objects you can add to your AR/VR project. To make your Holo, even more, unique, you can change the color of each to the scene added 3D object individually.
Change the color of a 3D object with HoloBuilder
- Click the cube icon in the right-hand sidebar. Then choose a 3D object to add to your current scene.
- When having added the 3D object to your scene, select it in the scenes' object overview. You can find the scenes' object list in the right-hand sidebar by clicking the sitemap icon . Alternatively, you can right-click on the 3D object and select 'Change color' from the menu.
- Change the color of the selected 3D object using the 'Pick a color' button next to the highlighted list element. Select a color in the 'color picker' and click 'Ok'.
Do it yourself:
Have a look at the Holo below. Click the 'Copy & Edit' button to open the displayed Holo in the editor and try it yourself!
If you have any further question, please write us an email. Or, go to our developer blog to find more tutorials about HoloBuilder.


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National Crime Victim Law Institute
Dear Victims' Rights Community,
January 24, 2011
Dear Victims' Rights Community,
In December the fall semester Crime Victim Litigation Clinic wrapped up, producing outstanding contributions to the victims' rights field.
On January 19th and 20th, NCVLI convened a group of stakeholders from all over the country to begin a conversation about the future of victims' services. Amazing dialogue took place about how to better meet the needs of victims and how to form productive partnerships among various areas of the field. Vision 21 will continue to develop in the coming months.
On February 14th, the National Alliance of Victims' Rights Attorneys (NAVRA) will be launching its new website. The new website will host amazing content that will include our entire database of victims' rights case summaries, sample pleadings by jurisdiction and topic, copies of NCVLI amicus briefs, and links to past trainings. Be sure to visit www.navra.org on February 14th to show that you too "heart" NAVRA!
© 2011 National Crime Victim Law Institute


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Welcome to Perfect 10 Boarding LLC
We love dogs as much
as you do
We offer boarding accommodations for all sizes and breeds of dogs.
Perfect 10 Boarding LLC is located in Fort Atkinson, Wis. just three miles outside of Cambridge. It's run by Laura Evenson who has made it her full time passion to provide a safe, clean, and fun environment for your pet. She lives on-site with her husband, Dan, five year old son, Beau, and dogs Mea, Millie and Marge. The 10,000 sq. ft. play yard and spacious 17 foot long runs provides enough room for your pet to socialize and relax. Come see our facility and make us your pet's next vacation destination!Schedule a Reservation
Pick up & Drop off hours
- 8am - 10am
- 4pm - 6pm
- 8am - 10am
- 4pm - 6pm
Professional boarding services
W8938 Marsh Road
Fort Atkinson, WI 53538
Call us: 608-423-7997
Fax us: 608-423-9192
Perfect 10 is a smoke free property.
See our gallery
Click the link below to view pictures of our facility and more.See gallery


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A paradox is a statement or event that seems to contradict itself, though it is still true, or at least makes sense.
In A dictionary of Literary Terms, (3rd ed. Blackwell, 1991), J. A. Cuddon explains the origin: "Originally a paradox was merely a view which contradicted accepted opinion. By round about the middle of the 16th c. the word has acquired the commonly accepted meaning it now has: an apparently self-contradictory (even absurd) statement which, on closer inspection, is found to contain a truth reconciling the conflicting opposites. . . ."
Paradox occurs often in children's literature, even that for the very young, as is seen in Betty Ann Schwartz's What makes a Rainbow? In this board book, a little rabbit's mother suggests he ask his friends to answer his question. Each animal replies with a color—the color that is associated with the particular animal, "green" for the grasshopper, for instance. By the end of the book, Little Rabbit learns that besides colors it also takes both rain and sunshine to make a rainbow.
The child in Robert Louis Stevenson's "Bed in Summer" (found in A Child's Garden of Verses) finds the long summer days and the long winter nights to be a paradox:
In winter I get up at night
And dress by yellow candlelight.
In summer, quite the other way,
I have to go to bed by day.
I have to go to bed and see
The birds still hopping on the tree,
Or hear the grown-up people's feet
Still going past me in the street.
And does it not seem hard to you,
When all the sky is clear and blue,
And I should like so much to play,
To have to go to bed by day?
The paradox of Jessica Aday Kennedy's Marta's Garguantian Wings (Guardian Angel Publishing) is that the wings that Marta thinks are a liability are really an asset.
The antics of Artemis Fowl (paradoxical name: does this mean he hunts for foul people?) keep the Middle Grade Reader hopping among alien robots, fairies and dwarfs and imps, multiple personalities, and real stuff like global warming. In Eoin Cofler's "Time Paradox," Artemis (now fifteen years of age) and his friends journey to the past to correct a mistake Artemis made about eight years earlier in his eventful life. His mother has contracted a rare disease that can only be cured by an extract from the brain of an extinct lemur, and ironically, that extinction was hastened by none other than Artemis himself. It will be interesting to see how Artemis battles with himself.
Paradox abounds in adult poetry and fiction, also.
We find in the Collected Poems of Emily Dickinson many examples.
On the bleakness of my lot
Bloom I strove to raise.
Late, my acre of a rock
Yielded grape and maize.
Soil of flint if steadfast tilled
Will reward the hand;
Seed of palm by Lybian sun
Fructified in sand.
I many times thought peace had come,
When peace was far away;
As wrecked men deem they sight the land
At centre of the sea,
And struggle slacker, but to prove,
As hopelessly as I,
How many the fictitious shores
Before the harbor lie.
There's the "rule" painted on the barn in George Orwell's Animal Farm: "All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others." The idea of being "more equal" is paradoxical, but Napoleon oppresses the other farm animals; he must think he's more equal than they.
Consider also the paradox of Captain Beatty in Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451. Books have been banned, and Beatty's job is to destroy any books he finds, but he is obviously well-read because he surrounds himself with quotations from great literature that he uses to convince people that destroying books is the right thing to do.
Shakespeare was the master of paradox.
In Romeo and Juliet, Benvolio speaks,
"One fire burns out another's burning,
One pain is lessen'd by another's anguish."
And Juliet: "Parting is such sweet sorrow. . ."
This brings up a sub-genre of paradox, the oxymoron, a figure of speech wherein contradictory statements reside side by side.
In Macbeth, the witches say, "Fair is foul, and foul is fair."
The Paradox of Catch-22
"There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that concern for one's own safety in the face of dangers that were real and immediate was the process of a rational mind. Orr was crazy and could be grounded. All he had to do was ask; and as soon as he did, he would no longer be crazy and would have to fly more missions. Orr would be crazy to fly more missions and sane if he didn't, but if he was sane he had to fly them. If he flew them he was crazy and didn't have to; but if he didn't want to he was sane and had to."
(Joseph Heller, Catch-22, 1961)
"Catch – 22" has become an almost every day term.
My story, "A Pet for Foley," (knowonder magazine, Sept. 2009) turns on a paradox. Here is the beginning and end of that story.
Foley was a Springer spaniel puppy with white and brown and while fur. He lived on a farm until a nice lady came and took him home in her car, his floppy ears streaming like feathers in the wind. The lady gave him food and water and a doghouse in the fenced back yard.
After he explored his yard, Foley felt lonely. "What I need is a pet," he said.
(Foley meets three animals he asks to be his pet. The squirrel and the blue
bird agree, but things go wrong; it just doesn't work out. The mole is not
acceptable, so Foley doesn't even ask him. Now he's alone again).
Foley lay down with his head on his front paws and thought about his problem. Who could he ask to be his pet? Just then an orange tabby strolled into the back yard. Foley jumped up and ran over to greet the cat. He smiled and said, "Will you be my pet? We can play and have fun together."
"Sorry," said Nutmeg, licking his back with dignity and not sounding very sorry at all. "I already belong to Jessica and here she comes now."
A yellow school bus came down the street. By the screeching sound of the bus's brakes, it must have stopped in front of Foley's house. In a few minutes a pretty little girl opened the back door and ran down the steps. The cat purred and arched his back up against her legs. She bend down and scratched him behind the ears. "Hi, Nutmeg," she said. Then she ran over to Foley. She sat down on the grass and hugged him. "Foley, I am so glad that you have come to live with us and be my pet."
Foley's ears stood up in surprise.
He and Jessica were soon having fun. They played Frisbee, fetch, tug-o-war, and tumble-in-the-grass. The treat Jessica gave Foley tasted delicious—much better than worms and grubs!
Life in Foley's new home was going to be wonderful. He knew he would never be lonely again.
"I guess I don't need a pet. . ." Foley told himself. I AM a pet."
What's your favorite paradox in literature?


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Language Links – Translation and Interpreting provide translation services for more than 140 Languages.
Language Links – Translation and Interpreting has specialized in translation for over 15 years. We translate from English, Chinese, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Russian, Farsi, Malay, Thai, as well as over 140 other Languages!
Our translators are experienced native speakers recognized by the NZ Immigration Department, NZQA, NZ Transport Agency, and our director and most of our translators are members of the New Zealand Society of Translators and Interpreters.


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John Kamm is an American businessman and human rights campaigner active in China since 1972. He is the founder and chairman of The Dui Hua Foundation, based in San Francisco with an office in Hong Kong. Kamm was awarded the Department of Commerce's Best Global Practices Award by President Bill Clinton in 1997 and the Eleanor Roosevelt Award for Human Rights by President George W. Bush in 2001. In September 2004, Kamm received a MacArthur Fellowship for "designing and implementing an original approach to freeing prisoners of conscience in China." Kamm is the first businessman to be awarded a MacArthur Fellowship.
Read more on the Dui Hua site.
We invite to a meeting with John Kamm 15th November at. 14:30.
The theme for the day is: business and human rights.
Human Rights House 5 floor
Kirkegata 5, 0153 Oslo


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Hotel Description:
Tsell Harim Village is one of The Dead Sea area's most unique hotels. Two floor bungalows surrounding a beautiful pool backing onto The Dead Sea, provide the perfect location for your Dead Sea vacation The unique architecture of the Tsell Harim Village Hotel provides a relaxed atmosphere of informality & privacy. The Hotel has Spacious, private beach,Separate adult & children swimming pools,dinnig room, varied menu,Wireless free internet access in the hotel lobby, Spa with heated, Dead Sea, saltwater pool, sauna & therapy rooms.


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Information Coming Soon!
What our customers have to say…
"We so appreciate Jim's professionalism, honesty, respect, eye to detail, and woodworking skill. He is a perfectionist not only with the install but also with the cleanup at the end of each day. Our beautiful new floors have dramatically changed the look of our home and everyone who comes to visit will comment on the change. We are extremely happy with our new floors."
Ron and Carol Halverson, West Fargo, ND Read More »»


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Choose local. Choose independent. Choose The Garcia Agency, Inc.
We've been helping the Albuquerque community and all of New Mexico compare and save on insurance since 1970.
As an independent insurance agency, we work for you, not the insurance carriers. That means we can help you find the best value on auto, home and business insurance and more from several of New Mexico's most trusted carriers.
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The Garcia Agency, Inc. is licensed in New Mexico, Texas and Colorado.
Need an insurance quote? Get in touch!
Access quotes from New Mexico's most trusted insurance carriers. It's comparison shopping at the click of a mouse.


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Raekwon Reveals Disappointment With New Wu-Tang Album
You might have noticed that a couple key members are missing from the new Wu-Tang single, 'Keep Watch,' that dropped earlier this week, namely Rae and Ghost. In a recent extensive Grantland piece on the Wu-Tang family, Rae admits that he has no reservations blaming RZA for his own lack of involvement:
"I would be the first one to say that we cannot leave everything in RZA's hand no more," Rae says. "He has done his job to the greatest of his ability when we were younger, but now every man plays an imperative role in this situation. His plan was to do a more humble album. We was like, Nah. You can't do that with the hardest group in the game."
The piece contains several other quotes from Wu members about the new album, A Better Tomorrow, which is supposedly "almost ready to ship," but most telling is probably GZA's comment: "It would be great to do another album, come back with a banger. But I don't think we have anything to prove. We proved it already." Sounds like the Wu members have checked out of the mansion. -- Max Weinstein


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RAPAPORT... The Jewelers Vigilance Committee (JVC) will present a seminar titled "Safe & Compliant Gem Shipping — International Trade Simplified" at the upcoming JA New York Summer Show on July 26 from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in meeting room 1D 05-06. The seminar will explain the procedures that govern the importation and exportation of precious stones and metals and jewelry. Speakers will include supervisory import specialist Nuccio Fera of the Port of JFK International Airport, foreign trade ombudsman Omari Wooden of the U.S. Census Bureau and JVC's president, chief executive officer (CEO) and general counsel, Cecilia Gardner.
In addition, attendees will receive an information sheet that outlines the procedures required to import and export products through Customs using common carriers. The seminar will be sponsored by Brink's Global Services and UPS and is free to attend. Registration is not required and a light breakfast will be offered.
The specific topics to be covered during the seminar will include: •The Importer of Record; •The entry of goods into the U.S.;•The classification of goods upon Importation; •The U.S. General System of Preferences (GSP);•Import duties on jewelry, precious metals and precious stones;•The liquidation process;•Country of origin markings; •Importation and exportation of rough diamonds; •Export licenses; and•Import and export bans and sanctions.
Gardner noted that "The most effective way to guarantee safe, secure and unimpeded deliveries of your parcels is to comply with the rules. Before shipping merchandise to or from the U.S., it is important to be familiar with your legal obligations. JVC's seminar will explain the steps required to import and export precious stones and metals, and jewelry, special rules pertaining to rough diamonds and jadeite and rubies from Burma and whether Customs duty payments are required.
"This volume of targeted import and export information has not been covered before in a single seminar," she continued. "JVC urges importers and exporters to attend the seminar and to bring questions pertaining to their businesses. JVC would like to thank Brink's and UPS for sponsoring this important seminar."


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Even though there can be exclusions for recovery from a governmental entity or a county, governmental bodies can still be liable for injuries. State and County liability is often modeled after the Federal Tort Claims Act which allows recovery against the government for personal injury, wrongful death and property damage caused by negligence of a government employee.
This theory applies to the State of Hawaii and County of Maui also. There have been successful lawsuits and settlements obtained from the County and State due to negligence. Not all lawsuits against the County or State are successful. However, many different suits have been filed.
- In 2010 a woman sued the Maui Police Department for extortion and theft.
- In 2012, a golfer at the Waiehu Golf Course sued Maui County for negligence after he was attacked and injured by a goose on the greens.
- Recent lawsuits have also claimed County negligence in not properly maintaining roads which can cause vehicle accidents.


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Balkan Jewel Resort comprises of 160 apartments split into 6 different blocks named after precious gemstones: Ruby, Emerald, Sapphire, Amber, Diamond and Jade. Each block offers 3 types of residences: studios, 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom apartments. a short walk away we also offer Luxury 3 bedroom double bedroom chalets which are fully furnished almost like a home from home
All apartments come with a fully furnished kitchen, local heating, cable TV, free wi-fi internet, safe deposit box, and telephone service and all other services expected from such a resort. Guests staying at the apartments and chalets can have free use of the various facilities found in the resort including but not limited to the Pool Area, wellness Centre, Fitness Centre, Games Room, Children's Indoor & Outdoor Playing Area, wi-fi internet at reception, lobby bar and restaurant, Garage Parking and Shuttle Service to the Gondola Lifts and the Golf Course.
Guests can benefit from an unlimited number of facilities and services given by the resort which are better described in the Our Facilities & Services Section.
The studios offer a cozy layout with one big room including a small kitchen, a bed and/or a sofa. These types of residencies are ideal for active holiday makers and they can accommodate up to 2 people.
The 1-bedroom apartments offer the luxury of having a living/dining room separately from the bedroom. One can enjoy relaxation in the living room which comes inclusive of a fully functional kitchen and a wood burning fireplace*. It is ideal for a family holiday because this apartment can accommodate 4 people in total comfort.
The 2-bedroom apartments are similar to the 1-bedroom apartments; however they offer another separate bedroom whilst the living area is much bigger. It is ideal for residents that love space because this apartment can accommodate up to 6 people.
Our Magnificent 3 Bedroom Chalets comprise of 3 doube bedrooms, with private entrance, 1 ensuite bathroom, a guests bathroom with bath and shower, a large lounge area with large flat screen TV, fully equipeed kitchen, dining area and a large outisde area with dining area and garden free wifi thoroughout the chalet, a laundry room with washer/dryer.
Note: Balkan Jewel Resort offers different types of accommodation and residences. Please let us know if you have any specific preferences such as views, fireplace, balcony, disabilities, etc.
* Fireplace available in selected apartments. If you would like an apartment with a fireplace, kindly confirm with the reservations.


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Apple's bull run on the Wall Street to US$664.75 a share has helped the company become the most valuable in history to about US$622 billion, surpassing Microsoft's 1999 record of $619 billion.
The surge in Apple share price came on rumour that Apple is poised to release new versions of Apple iPhone, iPad and Apple TV devices. How many people are actually waiting for these, even though they already have one? What's the point of chasing after technology when you know this is a game that you cannot win?
Of course, the clear cut winner is Apple!


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Treason and Espionage charges filed against Antonio Trillanes IV - by Siena Luchansky
By: Kristine Felisse Mangunay - Reporter / @KFMangunayINQ
The camp of Rodrigo Duterte has filed treason and espionage charges against President Benigno Aquino III and Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV for undertaking "back-channel talks" with China that "only advanced [the] interest of our Asian neighbor."
|PTPA Dave Luchansky
The filing came as Trillanes publicly accused Duterte, the front-runner in the presidential race, of having millions of pesos in undeclared bank accounts.
The complaint said "Senator Trillanes met with the Chinese 16 times, and he requested that the meeting [be] secret. In those meetings, Trillanes made mention that the Philippines cannot enforce coastal protection. And that made the Chinese take an aggressive [stance] and take over our areas like Scarborough Shoal and Spratly Islands. That alone constitutes treason," former Rep. Ronald Adamat, one of the complainants, said, quoting from supposed notes made by former Philippine Ambassador to China Sonia Brady.
Although the complaint recognized that under the law, treason requires that the Philippines be involved in a war, it said "external aggression" was committed by China when it "immediately occupied the subject areas."
As for the charge of espionage, the complaint said China had been "emboldened" by the information "gathered from" Trillanes.
"We include the President because Trillanes could not have done this without the order of the President. They breached international policy. They did it without coursing their efforts through the foreign affairs department," Adamat said.
Source: PDI - May 08, 2016
Treason and Espionage charges filed against Antonio Trillanes IV - by Siena Luchansky Reviewed by Raelyn Luchansky on 6:03:00 AM Rating:


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YoungStock Signals
Rearing calves into heifers is a major investment in terms of money and labour. How can you turn your heifer into a strong, productive dairy cow while using labour, housing and feed efficiently. YoungStock Signals teaches how to achieve these aims. You'll cut the costs of rearing per kilogram of milk.


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A personal plea for kinship September 30, 2013Posted by Ted Witham in : Reflection , comments closed
I find myself caught in a tension between my farming family and my Franciscan friends who oppose the use of animals for food.
To suggest that my family engages in cruelty to animals is neither fair nor factual. To deny the viewpoint of my Franciscan brothers and sisters would be discourteous and narrow-minded. I think I have to live in the tension.
I read in friar Daniel Horan's excellent book Francis of Assisi and the Future of Faith that thinking of humanity's relationship to creation as one of 'subduing' has long past. But, Horan argues, the idea of 'stewardship' should also be consigned to the past. Francis saw 800 years ago that 'stewardship' çan be equally paternalistic to most creatures. Francis invited us to see all creatures as sister and brother. Our relationship to creation is not 'kingship'' but 'kinship'.'
I get that. And I get it that we should defend animals against maltreatment. The cow that is repeatedly shocked with an electric prod feels the pain. The pig that is clobbered with a sledge-hammer feels the pain, just as a human being would. We know they feel the pain because they are brother and sister to us.
But there is a tension there. In an imperfect world, human beings must sometimes be treated as more brother or sister than animals. I have finite funds to give away. I think I should give more money to children abandoned on railway platforms in India than to dogs mistreated in Australia. I shouldn't have to make that choice, but I do.
I think I have to wrestle with the demands for human habitat and the habitat of the western ring-tail possum. It's not a fair choice, and I should never allow our society – that is, our local governments, our Department of Parks and Wildlife, developers – to assume that humans win as a matter of principle.
I watched last night with horror the story of an abattoir in Victoria closed down after a single clandestine visit from Animals Australia. The government agency gave to this long-established business no opportunity to defend itself. It simply accepted a few minutes of footage in which abattoir workers followed government guidelines to the letter as evidence of cruelty. An escaped pig was bludgeoned with a sledge-hammer. The guide-lines actually recommend this course of action as the safest and most humane in a situation where there is a frightened, unpredictable animal loose in an area with sharp knives and dangerous equipment.
In fact, the presence of the Animals Australia photographer probably caused the animal to flee. Had she not been there, the situation would not have arisen.
An abattoir is not necessarily a pleasant place. Animals die there. But this abattoir was audited regularly and animals were apparently treated well. If this one incident was cruelty, then justice should mean that the operators were given the chance to correct their practices. But instead their licence to operate was withdrawn immediately. A score of employees lost their jobs, and the farmers dependent on local abattoirs were financially hurt. Some were forced out of business.
Landline took sides. I know that. But even if the program showed a distorted view of this particular case, there is a real tension here. Our brothers and sisters who are called as farmers pride themselves on their ability to feed the rest of us. Their role in our society is both vital and humane. Farmers generally look after their animals. It's good business. They are our brothers and sisters and deserve respect for what they do, not condemnation.
Our brothers and sisters who eat meat do so because it's culturally appropriate. Meat is part of the Australian diet. But as Franciscans we are concerned not just about those who can afford $40 restaurant steaks, but those who live on a subsistence diet. To help the poor out of poverty requires protein, and there is as yet no easy substitute for meat. We need our meat farmers to help the poor.
There is a tension between them and our brothers and sisters who are bred for eating. I look forward to a time when the human race can feed itself without killing pigs, cows and chickens. But that time is not yet here. The best we Franciscans can do for our brother and sister meat animals is to continue to commend the best in animal practices in our abattoirs. And we should, out of respect for our brothers and sisters the farmers, the small business owners, be properly informed before we condemn.
If we genuine live in kinship, then we are bound to live in tension. We need to speak gently and justly.
Ted Witham
September 2013
Saint Louis – one of our patron saints? September 11, 2013Posted by Ted Witham in : Franciscan , comments closed
We tertiaries have inherited from the Secular Franciscans the notion that Saint Louis is a patron saint of the Third Order. I was excited to learn that the great French scholar of Francis and Clare, Jacques LeGoff had undertaken a 10-year study of Saint Louis and published it. I managed to obtain a copy of the 1,000-page tome for $15 (it's usually about $80) anxious to read what Saint Louis could teach me about living as a Franciscan.
Saint Louis is worth the effort. The book is beautifully written and smoothly translated by Gareth Evan Gollrad. It has three parts: the first outlines the life of Saint Louis based on the best evidence available; the second goes more deeply into aspects of the evidence to explore how much we can really know about a personality from 800 years ago (quite a lot, it turns out), and Part III contains family trees, maps, charts, notes an bibliographies.
I have written a more detailed review at http://wp.me/p1E0m7-3n
King Louis IX, like his brother-in-law Henry III in England, surrounded himself with Franciscans and Dominicans. The new Orders were in royal flavour. And Louis' life was strongly influenced by the mendicants and the Carthusians. He made justice and peace the main values of his kingdom. When he went on Crusade, like Saint Francis, he tried to convert the Muslim leaders. He cultivated humility and poverty. He toned down his dress and personal style.
As I read, I was reminded often of Queen Elizabeth II and her commitment to serve the people of her kingdoms and the Commonwealth as a Christian vocation. Likewise, King Louis, crowned as a "most Christian king" aimed to live that out in every aspect of his life.
Saint Louis, as it turns out, was not a member of the Third Order. Jacques LeGoff, however, draws a sympathetic picture of a charismatic man conscientiously living out his vocation. Saint Louis is not a plaster saint, nor is he some kind of tribal Franciscan hero: he is a human being and a Christian from whom we can learn.
Brother Duck – the latest biographer of St Francis July 5, 2013Posted by Ted Witham in : Franciscan, Story Telling , comments closed
Jay Stoeckl SFO, Saint Francis and Brother Duck, Paraclete Press 2013, from $US 16.38 online
Reviewed by Ted Witham
French clergyman Paul Sabatier published his Life of St Francis of Assisi in 1893. Since then, there have been hundreds of lives of St Francis. Sabatier's Life has had a powerful influence on those who followed him, but ironically it was placed on the Catholic Church's Index of Forbidden Books because of its unreliable telling of the story.
Jay Stoeckl, a Secular Franciscan from the United States has produced a life of St Francis in part aimed at children. The only invented character in the story is Brother Duck, a drily humorous fellow who followed St Francis after he saved him from the cruelty of soldiers. Brother Duck brings a wry and innocent voice which enables us to hear the thoughts of St Francis as he makes decisions to follow Christ more closely, and to choose Assisi and humility over Rome and glory.
Saint Francis and Brother Duck is a graphic novel, a comic book. It is not the first graphic novel about saint Francis: in the early 1980s, Marvel Comics teamed up with Fr Roy Gasnick OFM to produce the first telling of the story in this style. Jay Stoeckl's new graphic novel is full colour making the experience of reading the story immediate and bright.
The challenge for those who tell the story of St Francis to children is make sense of the motivations that drove St Francis to defy his parents and to defy the normal pathways of marriage and work. Stoeckl makes good use of the graphic novel genre to make Francis accessible to children. After the scene in front of the cathedral where Francis returns everything of his father including his clothes, Jay Stoeckl shows Francis asking for forgiveness for the hurt that he had done to his family. While there is no evidence of the attitude to his father that Francis held from then on, this invention does help ground St Francis for children.
This would be an appropriate book to put in the hands of any child 8 years and upward, or in the library of any Primary School. While it does not claim to bring new insights to the story of St Francis, it has a high level of detail, making it suitable as a comprehensive introduction to the Saint's life.
Francis and al-Kamil show the way to peace May 17, 2013Posted by Ted Witham in : Resources , comments closed
Kathleen A. Warren OSF, and others, In the Footprints of Francis and the Sultan: A Model for Peacemaking, Cincinnati, OH: Franciscan Media 2013.
DVD-ROM ($US 19.99 + postage from Franciscan Media; from other suppliers > $15) plus free on-line resource material.
Daring to Cross the Threshold: Francis of Assisi Encounters Sultan Malek al-Kamil. The book appears to be the academic and ecclesial support for the DVD.
The DVD, produced with film-maker Jaysri (Joyce) Hart, is a fascinating resource based on the meeting between Francis and the Sultan. It consists of two segments of 22 minutes each, 50 pages of online materials, plus recommendations for other resources. These are free and can be found at www.FranciscanMedia.org/francissultan.
The first part of the DVD shows the differing versions of the story. The second segment encourages the viewers to use the story as a basis for making peace, particularly in interfaith dialogue. The shots in Brother Robert Lentz's workshop, as he creates a triptych of modern icons, are visually stunning.
The online resources suggest ways of using the DVD in groups, ranging from a one-hour session through to a whole day of reflection. These would be particularly useful for groups of Tertiaries, both in guiding groups through discussion and in preparing people for action 'in the field': not just talking among ourselves but also how to initiate interfaith dialogue. Sister Kathleen urges her fellow-American Christians not to assume that there are no Muslims in their community. Muslims are likely to be there, and a first step is meeting them and engaging them in general conversation. This observation is true of Australia, too. We moved to the regional town of Busselton six years ago. I assumed, lazily, that if there were any Muslims in town, they certainly wouldn't be practising. But I have made friends with my barber from Morocco, who prays five times daily (in the tiny space behind the barber's shop), and who, along with his wife and brother and the owners of the Halal fast-food stall, travels every Friday he can to prayers in the mosque in Bunbury.
A variety of guidelines for dialogue, including specifically Franciscan considerations, are given and explained.
Neither the DVD nor the online resources lived up to the claim that the meeting between the Sultan and saint was 'a model for peacemaking'. The emphasis is much more on interfaith explorations, and the occasional reference to making peace with the Other was generalised. Those seeking instructions on non-violent peace-making for Franciscans would do much better to use the resources of Pace E Bene (www.paceebene.org and www.paceeebene.org.au).
Apart from this reservation, I have no hesitation in recommending this DVD for Tertiaries to watch, reflect on, discuss in groups, and act on.
Are Animals Christians? May 2, 2013Posted by Ted Witham in : Resources , comments closed
Laura Hobgood-Oster, The Friends We Keep: Unleashing Christianity's compassion for animals, London: Darton Longman Todd, 2010.
Paperback 228 pages, $AUD 18.32 (online) Kindle E-book $USD18.95
Reviewed by Ted Witham
Saint Francis would be saddened to see the crises affecting the world's animals, and even sadder to realise that humans are a main cause of habitat loss for wild animals, cruelty to food animals and neglect to companion animals. The Friends We Keep is a thorough examination of what Christian theology has to say about animals. Professor Hobgood-Oster wonders whether we have made of Christianity a faith that concerns only humans.
She notes that, while there is not a huge literature on animals and Christianity in any period, from the time of the Reformation on, animals seem to disappear altogether from Christian thought. She attributes this disappearance partly to Luther. Luther emphasised the Word, and so elevated human beings to a high point – Jesus the Word was a human being, so human beings must be distinct from and of more concern to God than other animals. In emphasising salvation, other Reformers followed the humanists of the Renaissance in also giving pride of place to the salvation of humans.
Before the Reformation, animals played different roles in the lives of the saints: St Anthony the Abbot was often depicted with a pig. Jerome kept a pet lion in his monastery. A bird nested in St Kevin's outstretched arm. St Francis tamed the wolf from Gubbio. The great Saint Hilda kept snakes at Whitby. Animals were both companions and helpers for humans. Some of the legends are based in fact. Others are charming and have little historical value except to illustrate that animals were more visible to pre-Reformation Christians.
Going even earlier in the tradition, the Bible has a positive role for animals. The giants Behemoth and Leviathan are God's playmates in Job. In Genesis 29, Jacob waters Rachel's mother's flock, putting their needs above his and Rachel's. In the New Testament, Jesus is happy to agree that dogs should get crumbs from the table (even if only metaphorically)! Hobgood-Oster tells a delightful anecdote from an apocryphal Gospel in which Jesus expresses compassion for a mule whose owner beats him until it bleeds.
Hobgood-Oster catalogues human cruelty to animals both in anecdotes and in statistics: the effect is almost overwhelming.
In today's world, animals suffer in many of the places where humans interact with them. We breed horses with ankles the size of human ankles and wonder why race-horses "break down". We crush pigs into tiny pens so that the sows can move only enough to feed the piglets. At puppy farms we keep bitches in elevated cages and continue to fertilise them until they stop having pups. Even the pets we choose we neglect.
How should we respond as Christians? Is Christianity good news only for humans? Laura Hobgood- Oster is Professor of Religion and Environmental Studies at Southwestern University. She argues we should show hospitality to animals in every way possible. She is personally involved in the rescue of dogs, but she notes many ways in which Christians might unleash their compassion for animals. In her University ethics committee she argues for fewer animals to be "sacrificed" for research, and for the most humane use of animals when they are necessary.
She suggests we eat compassionately, and one practical way of doing this is to eat less meat. Christians might return to the Friday fast and have a weekly meat-free day – at the least. They should be aware of the conditions their food animals lived and died, and where possible source their meat from local farmers whose animals are free-range.
If we bless animals, we should do it seriously. We should consider blessing food animals and wild creatures. The Friends We Keep includes liturgical resources, including a prayer from the Australian Uniting in Worship. Many organisations are listed, nearly all in the US, that promote better treatment of animals.
One of these organisations is The Episcopal Network for Animal Welfare (www.franciscan-anglican.com/enaw) which acknowledges a Franciscan influence. I read The Friends We Keep as a Franciscan, conscious of St Francis's teaching that every creature is a little Word of God, revealing something of God's nature to us as we encounter each one in love.
It is encouraging to read a Christian address these issues. While I admire much of the Australian ethicist Peter Singer's radical understanding of animal rights, we Christians do have a distinctive viewpoint which should be heard.
The Friends We Keep is a book both to alert Christians to the theological dimension of God's hospitality to all creatures, and an activists' manual to help us engage lovingly and compassionately with the animals whose lives we humans affect. A book for Franciscans – and the animals we may bless.
Remembering St Francis of Assisi September 30, 2011Posted by Ted Witham in : Franciscan, News , comments closed
On the night of October 3, 1226, Francis of Assisi was dying. He asked to be laid naked on the bare earth near the little chapel of Portiuncula, down the hill from Assisi, the place he had made his base for his peripatetic ministry.
He was only 44 but nearly blind, in constant pain from an illness in his stomach, worn out from the lack of care he had given his body. It is true that he once apologised to Brother Ass, as he called his body, for the abuse he had inflicted on It, but there is no evidence that he heeded his own health message!
He died singing, and the legend says that at the moment of his death, larks flew singing into the sky.
Why do I find such a man such an attractive model of the Christian faith?
In a nutshell because he was passionate about God. He could be spectacularly wrong, as he was with the treatment of Brother Ass, but even that is a result of his never-ending enthusiasm to spread the message of Christ.
And in St Francis' life, and on St Francis' lips, what a message that was.
God, he said, is love. Well, we all know that. But for St Francis, God is love that never comes to an end. You've heard of Médecins sans Frontières, Doctors without Borders, well, St Francis proclaimed that God was Amour sans Frontières, love without boundaries. God loves every creature infinitely and equally.
Francis' energy was spent in going about telling everyone this transforming message. If you really let God's love take hold of you, you will never experience the end of it: it will always be there, always supporting, holding, delighting in you. Knowing that love, you can then pass it on. And because it is amour sans frontières, as you give love away, the supply never runs out.
That's the whole message of the Cross, the whole meaning of the life of Jesus, the whole purpose of God. And I thank God for sending Francis of Assisi to refresh that message in me.
Immerse yourself in the infinity of Divine Love – love without boundaries!
Ted Witham
Minister Provincial


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Mexican wolf restoration hits (another) snag
The feds want to release captive animals to increase genetic diversity in the wild, but New Mexico isn't having it.
Earlier this year, things seemed to be looking up for the long-struggling effort to restore Mexican wolves to the Southwest. The population grew to more than 100, a threshold the 17-year-old effort hadn't reached before. And wolf advocates cheered changes to the ground rules of the federal recovery program that seemed poised to benefit wild wolves at a critical juncture.
As the population has grown, it's also become increasingly inbred thanks to past removals of genetically valuable packs and the outsized reproductive success of one that remained. Animals from the captive population could help to shake up the gene pool if they're introduced soon, while the wild population is still small. But though the recent rule changes looked like they would free the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service up to make releases they couldn't before, the state of New Mexico is not on board – and it's where releases are needed most.
The recovery program's struggles have always come down to politics. After Mexican wolves were reintroduced in the late 1990s – after being completely wiped out in the U.S. – they were only allowed to roam a 7,000-square-mile area straddling Arizona and New Mexico. Any that ventured outside of it were trapped and returned to captivity or their sanctioned territory. And early on, New Mexico refused reintroductions, leaving only a small area of Arizona for potential releases. Since wolves quickly established territories in that area, additional releases were often impractical and happened infrequently. Then there were the killings. Mexican wolves were poached, hit by cars, and baited into violating a three-strikes rule, which allowed the feds to kill any that thrice preyed on livestock. What Montana-based biologist Rich Fredrickson calls a "spasm" of removals in the mid-2000s, without regard for genetics, initiated the declining genetic diversity that's evident today.
In January, though, the Fish and Wildlife Service finalized a new rule that cracked open the bureaucratic handcuffs hobbling recovery. Wolves would be free to roam through an expanded area, and the revisions allowed for the reintroduction of animals directly into New Mexico.
New Mexico, however, still hasn't warmed up to the idea. So far, state officials are standing in the way of reintroductions that biologists say are essential for improving the long-term viability of the wild population.
Later this month, the state's Game and Fish Commission will make a final decision on permit requests from the Fish and Wildlife Service for new releases. The agency hoped to release a mating pair of adult wolves and also to "cross-foster" pups, where captive-born wolves are swapped with wild pups before two weeks of age. But earlier this summer, the state denied the permits; the feds appealed at a commission meeting in August.
For the first time, the state also declined to renew a permit for a captive wolf facility on a private ranch in southwestern New Mexico owned by Ted Turner. That facility is considered crucial for the recovery program because space is limited for the captive population, and because it allows captive wolves to live in an environment that more resembles the wild landscape, better conditioning them for potential release.
"It has the appearance to me of just being political monkey wrenching in the process," says David Parsons, who headed the Mexican wolf program for Fish and Wildlife in its early years and is now with the Albuquerque-based Rewilding Institute, which advocates for large carnivores.
Wolf supporters say New Mexico's previous governor, Democrat Bill Richardson, was largely supportive of wolf recovery, but its current governor, Republican Susana Martinez, is not. After Martinez took office, the governor-appointed Game and Fish commission voted to formally withdraw state support for wolf recovery and pull state staff from the recovery team. The commission also voted last month to raise hunting quotas on bears and mountain lions, and to allow sport-trapping of mountain lions on private and state trust land. Wildlife advocates believe the moves are indicative of the commission's anti-predator bias.
Alexandra Sandoval, director of New Mexico Game and Fish, denied the permits primarily on the basis that Fish and Wildlife lacks a recovery plan for wolves. In a June letter, Sandoval said the feds were relying on the rule revision from this January to support the planned reintroductions, using it as a "placeholder" until a recovery plan is completed. She argued that such a plan must lay out measurable criteria for achieving successful recovery of the species, and the management measures required to get there. Without additional details, Sandoval said, it was impossible for her to determine whether the feds' proposals would conflict with state "conservation management efforts," as she must do to issue permits.
Fish and Wildlife, on the other hand, says it does have a recovery plan. It was finalized in 1982, and allowed them to reintroduce the first Mexican wolves; they say they have no legal obligation to revise it. The plan may be old and need to be beefed up, federal officials concede, but it does exist and should be sufficient to win the agency the permits.
Fish and Wildlife says it is in the process of updating the 1982 plan, but doesn't expect a new and more detailed plan to be ready until 2017. Last month, Game and Fish commissioners expressed a desire to know the ultimate goals of recovery before approving the release of additional animals. They especially wanted to know how many wolves the feds eventually envisioned on the landscape, a question for which there was no hard answer.
But the prospect of waiting for the revised plan to allow new releases makes wolf advocates anxious. Fish and Wildlife has not fulfilled past promises to update the plan. And if the wild wolf population keeps growing without additional intervention – that is, without an infusion of DNA from the captive population – its lack of genetic diversity will become increasingly difficult to correct.
"On average, the wolves are as related to one another as I am to my brothers and my sisters," explains Fredrickson, who has worked on the recovery team. "We want a substantial population, but the bigger it gets, the harder it's going to be to change its genetic composition. As it gets harder and harder, the likely outcome is that despite the Fish and Wildlife Service's attempts at improving the population, the outcome will be worse and worse."
If the political winds don't shift for new releases, a growing wolf population, Fredrickson says, is "a very mixed blessing."
Cally Carswell is a High Country News contributing editor based in Santa Fe, New Mexico.


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Beyond Relaxation
Beyond Relaxation. A family vacation should have something special for every member of your family. Relax and rejuvenate your mind, body and spirit with amazing body treatments, luxurious massage, skin care, nail care and more.
BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT ONLINE or to speak with one of our spa specialists, call (570) 216-5493, or on property extension 21290.
As our valued guest, we would like to ensure you have the best possible experience at Spa Kalahari. Consistent with industry best practices, upon arrival you will be asked to complete some medical history questions. This is done to ensure that there are no contraindications between your health and the spa treatment you will receive. If you feel there is anything we should know prior to your arrival, please share that at the time of scheduling your treatment.
*Specials not valid with any other discount or coupon.
General Info
Spa Kalahari and Salon is open 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. everyday. Operating hours are subject to seasonal change.
Phone: (570) 216-5493
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Gratuity is left to your discretion and should be based on satisfaction of services.
Better, Together
Couples That Massage Together Stay Together
Couples massage is a special, shared experience that encourages two people to bond closer together. Clients may use the session to catch up, communicate and chat, or they may simply relax and enjoy their shared experience in comfortable silence. Even when words are not spoken, the experience brings couples closer together.
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Unlike traditional massages that are done solo, couples treatments allow clients to experience massage with someone they know. This familiarity provides comfort to first-timers who may initially be uncomfortable or nervous about the process. Having a partner in the room makes the session less intimidating and allows the clients to relax more fully. Many clients are also squeamish about undressing but are more comfortable in the presence of a friend or other partner.
Perfect for All Kinds of Couples
Although couples massage can certainly be romantic, sessions are also the ideal time to bond and relax with a dear friend or family member. Mothers and daughters can become closer and best friends can visit while letting stress slip away over the table.
Convenient Coordination
Finding time for each other, let alone massages, can be difficult for couples with busy schedules. By pairing massage sessions with quality bonding time, couples can accomplish two goals at once and emerge relaxed, refreshed and reconnected. The convenience of couples treatments is also ideal when planning a special event, like a wedding or other celebration. Entire bridal parties, for example, can get ready for the big day all at one time, reducing rushing and stress.


text: Sony D-EJ011: A in-depth review by A.A. Fussy This will be a multi-part review-so photos will be in the final part Part 1-Introducing the D-EJ011 There have been a lot of CD Walkman and before that the Sony Discman models released from 1984 until late 2006 but today there are no newer models. All in the family The D-EJ011 is such a example-being notable for being a part of the last new series of basic PCDP's by Sony. A step up from the EJ011 is the EJ017/021CK series which include a remote and car kit. The NE240/NF340 added MP3 playback and its display is on the top. Being the most basic model, it is sold for under $50-I paid $49 for mine last December. The design and controls It has a full circle design-a bit bigger than a CD, and a two tone color scheme:silver top, black bottom. Controls are along the bottom, with sound/P MODE,VOL -/+,open,a 1 line display, stop/paiuse ,next/previous. Unlike the intuitive and smooth operating jog lever on players like the EJ761, Sony went for a separate next and previous buttons. Although there is plenty of room on both curved sides, Sony chose to smartly position the hold switch on the bottom. Some buttons have double functions-eg. P MODE toggles between different play modes:repeat, shuffle, repeat one Sound has 2 settings: SND1/SND2 and AVLS There is also the bookmark feature as seen on 2002-2006 models. Sound Features Sony's Digital MEGA BASS is present with 2 stages-SND1 and SND2. Unlike older Discmans, there's no volume graph type display-only "SND1/SND2" to indicate the MEGA BASS level. AVLS is present and is turned on by a long press of the P Mode button. Mechanism The D-EJ011 uses the DAX-25E optical pickup which is very responsive. The spindle design is of special mention:it features a series of steel balls with springs to firmly hold the disc in place. SQ Being the last of its kind-no newer CD Walkmans were released after the FJ040/EJ011/NE240, the EJ011 has nice sound-listening to Michael Jackson with MEGA BASS sounded very good with a nice wide sound stage. Much better sound quality than the first Sony PCDCP we had-a 1997 D-E303. Coming up-comparisons with the F20 and EJ761 and the conclusion.