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Parent communication is key to student success. Our teachers are available to provide parents or guardians with the most accurate up to date information about a student's progress. As our students' mature into middle school and high school, we encourage them to develop advocacy skills. To put this skill into practice, we encourage students to email their teacher, coach, or advisor directly with questions or concerns they may have about their experiences.
For all other questions or concerns, including technology, facilities, operations, food services, and safety & security, contact a principal who will direct you to the appropriate contact person.


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Bel Air
Sponsored By
1 Teen Dead In Harford County CrashOne teenager is dead and two others hospitalized after a single-car crash in Harford County.
Rider Stepped On By Bull at Harford County Farm FairA bull rider was airlifted to the hospital after a bull stepped on his face at the Harford County Farm Fair.
Woman Sentenced to 5 Years for Child Pornography A Bel Air woman has been sentenced to five years in prison for distributing child pornography.
2 Hurt When Boy Pours Gas on Campfire in Md.Maryland fire investigators say two boys were injured after one poured gasoline onto a campfire at a party at a Bel Air home.
$1,500 Watermelon Stolen from a Md. Farm Sheriff's deputies are searching for a thief or thieves who stole a 150 pound watermelon worth $1,500 from a Maryland farmer.
Man Charged With Setting Fires at Md. Apartment Maryland fire investigators have charged a Harford County man with setting two fires at a woman's Bel Air apartment after an argument.
Police Investigating Fetus Found In Md. Trash Bin Police responded to a call in Bel Air, Maryland Tuesday night and are now investigating a fetus in a trash bin they came across.
Fetus Found In Bel Air Trash BinAuthorities are investigating the discovery of a fetus in a trash bin in Harford County.

subset: commoncrawl


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With this study, Global Synchronous Belt Market report highlights numerous facts such as development factors, business enhancement strategies, statistical growth, and financial status. The readers and clients can understand the market on a global scale. It specifies the regions that are expected to witness the fastest growth during the forecast period. It has uncovered rapid development in the upcoming years. In this report, the market has been examined on the basis of the assessment of production ability, different market companies, and the manufacturing chain of the market across the world, and geographical analysis. Also, the volume and profit parameters have been over-viewed in the study. Some pivotal Synchronous Belt insights pertaining to the regional frame of reference and the competitive spectrum of this Synchronous Belt market have been enumerated in the study.
The Global Synchronous Belt Market report analyses the production of size, supply, sales, and the current status of the market in a detailed manner. Furthermore, the report examines the production shares and market product sales, as well as the capacity, production capacity, trends in sales, cost analysis, and revenue generation. Several other factors such as import/export status, industrial statistics, demand and supply ratio, gross margin, and industry chain structure have also been studied in the Global Synchronous Belt Market report. The market report covers in-depth analysis of business strategies, development plans, business opportunities, industry chain structure and growth forecast will help the readers in getting essential business decisions.
Request for Sample Report @ https://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/global-synchronous-belt-market-trend-status-and-outlook-293257#RequestSample
The report is actually made up of a combination of the important and the pertinent info of the worldwide market, for instance, key things responsible for the variation of demand with its services and products. The report states pioneering new developments and technological advancement, which empower our customers to structure they are long-term primarily based on innovative developments; settle on informative business options and also to perform the necessary fundamentals. The report provides the main region, market conditions with the product price, profit, capacity, production, supply, demand, and market growth rate and forecast, etc. This report also Present a new project SWOT analysis, investment feasibility analysis, and investment return analysis.
Synchronous Belt Market report provides a detailed overview of the industry including both qualitative and quantitative information. It provides an overview and forecast of the global Synchronous Belt market based on various segments. Synchronous Belt market offers size and forecast estimates from the year 2019 to 2025 with respect to five major regions (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA) and South America).
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With this Synchronous Belt market report, all the participants and the vendors will be in aware of the growth factors, shortcomings, threats, and the lucrative opportunities that the market will offer in the near future. The report also features the revenue; industry size, share, production volume, and consumption in order to gain insights about the politics and tussle of gaining control of a huge chunk of the market share.


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"Hey Joi… how did you find that happy place? I've been looking for it for a long time."
This question was dropped in my DM by a childhood facebook friend the other day. I told him that I would answer him but needed a couple days to think about it. To be quite honest, I'd never really thought much about the process that landed me here.
Happiness is a choice that I wake up and make every day. Somewhere along the short journey between 30 and 31 years old, I decided that pure unadulterated JOI was my number one priority and that I would not accept anything less. Although this list is not exhaustive, here are eleven steps I took to get there.
1. I untied my happiness from all other beings. All too often we intertwine our happiness with that of other people – our partners, children, friends etc. There's nothing worse than being in a relationship with an unhappy person. Especially if you are someone like me who is incredibly empathetic to the people around me. I decided that I wanted to take responsibility for my own happiness, make that the priority. I also made the executive decision to cut off anyone who was taking me further away from my joy.
2. I surrounded myself with beautiful things. I invested my time and energy into designing a comfortable, inspiring and creative place to live and work.
3. I decided to only do things I like doing. From day one I knew that I would never have a traditional nine to five job. Nothing against that, I just knew that it wasn't for me. I made a commitment to myself to only do things I like doing, every single day.
4. I started having more fun. I made play dates my number one priority. I started hanging out more with my girl friends, traveling, drinking too many mimosas at brunch and other debauchery. I stopped taking myself so seriouslyyy and started to value the magic of play.
5. I adjusted my free(quency). Music has the power to manipulate your mood in any given direction. I started being more intentional about the type of music I was listening to and started curating playlists of some of my favorite sounds that I listen to everyday. Check out my Spotify Playlist, "No Bad Days".
6. I mastered the Law of Attraction. I adopted an attitude of gratitude. I realized that being truly thankful for who I am and the opportunities that I've been given is the only way to be. I fostered a deeper connection with God, the Universe, nature, other humans, the planet and galaxies around me. Then, I was able to attract the perfect people, opportunities and experiences into my life. I stopped complaining about all the things I didn't have and started celebrating the things I did.
7. I started letting go of all of the things that weren't bringing me joy. Point Blank Period.
8. I started making more money. Don't get me wrong, money can't buy you happiness. And, I know "making more money" is way easier said than done. Folks that know me well know that money has never been a motivation for me. I've basically lived an (albeit fabulous) life of poverty all over the globe for the last several years. In fact, in my perfect universe – money wouldn't even exist. But on this planet and in this time of ours, money is currency (energy) and can alleviate some of the stresses of just getting by.
One book that completely transformed what I thought about money and helped boost my bank account in a positive direction is Marianne Williamson's "The Law of Divine Compensation".
9. I started saying 'NO' more. The more you say NO the more you have time to rest, read, play and do other fun stuff that you actually want to do. Now, I plan full 'NO' days, uninterrupted play dates I make with myself to give myself the space to be free.
11. I fell in love with myself. I'm talking like truly, madly, deeply.. in love. Head over heels in love. I became my own favorite person. I became much more protective of myself and my heart. I started to forgive myself more. I became more gentle with myself. I started to treat myself as I wanted to be treated. I began to enjoy spending time with myself.. making myself laugh and taking care of myself. This was the major key to unlocking the Joi that was lying dormant inside all along.
If you have a question you'd like me to answer contact me.


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The potential bad news for Apple just keeps getting worse. PC shipments are down, Foxconn's iPhone builds slipped this past quarter, iPad sales are shifting to the cheaper iPad mini, and now the next big Apple hit products may be missing production targets.
Note, that's potential bad news.
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says that Apple's iPhone 5S, an as-yet-unannounced low-cost iPhone, and the new version of the iPad mini are all going to be delayed, due to production difficulties.
Originally, he targeted a summer launch for all three products; now, based on manufacturing challenges with integrating a potential new fingerprint sensor in the iPhone 5S, color coatings for the low-cost iPhone, and difficulties fitting a high-res retina display into the second-generation iPad mini, Kuo says that launch dates could be pushed back as far as October/November:
Currently, market consensus for shipments of iPhone 5S, low-cost iPhone and iPad mini 2 is July, July, and August, respectively. But in light of publicly available information and our knowledge of technological trends, we now think all three products will begin shipments later than our previous expectation and market consensus.
This is not what Apple needs right now.
Apple's domestic iPhone sales are up 11 percent this past quarter, according to one ComScore report, but the international mobile market, already dominated by Android, has been clamoring for a cheaper iPhone. And with Apple's current stock price woes, anything that even smells of new product delays is dangerous.
If Kuo is correct reading the supplier market and the delays are real, he projects that Apple will see only single-digit year-over-year growth in iPad and iPhone shipments in the coming third quarter, far below analysts' projections.
Apple, however, has never released a product roadmap claiming the products will be released at any given time, and a summer release would mean that Apple would be shipping the iPhone 5S much quicker than other follow-on models. For example, the 4S lagged the iPhone 4 by 16 months, and the 3GS followed the 3 after about a year. A summer iPhone 5S launch could make a gap of just eight months between the 5 and 5S ship dates.
We'll know more about what might actually be happening on April 23 when Apple releases its second quarter numbers and issues guidance for the third quarter.
Image credit: ShutterStock/Delayed


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This short article on the use of the ever-popular social media platform, Instagram, amongst others, focuses on the need to keep up a regular and consistent program of work. The article also alerts new social media activists and marketing campaigners on the need to do own following for the purpose of promoting the own business. Learning from the start to be active and engaging from all angles can lead to short-term success.
And then there is the small matter on how to gain Instagram followers quickly and from the moment you've just published your first week's posts. You can do this by simply buying them. Don't forget that you can also buy likes for each post you're about to send out. And just so you know, you're allowed to buy followers and likes for other platforms, Facebook and YouTube for instance, that you may wish to use for the purpose of attracting clients and/or promoting your business.
The importance of regular posting work cannot be emphasized enough. In order to continue to captivate your new market, you'll need to be sending out at least one post a day. If not that, every other day can still work.
Fortunately, just how often you post is still up to you. The regularity of your posting work needs to resonate with the kind of business or work you are promoting. It also needs to be seen to believed. Your wording must be coincidental to the photos you've published. The use of the hashtag should be approached smartly. Make it relevant not just to your visual promotions but align it to others too. Do market research in this regard.
And there's no shame in tagging your posts in with the most popular listings. Just make sure it's relevant to these too and making your further mark by becoming a follower too.
Also, you'll gain better, genuine followers by following those who support you. These followers, in terms of the business to hand, should already have things in common with you. That way you can relate in a manner that makes sense to other visitors.
But in so doing, you still need to actively engage with them, just like you would when initiating and publishing your own posts. A surreptitious like here and there every once in a very long while may not be indicative of an honest interest in your frenemy's business. And for the purposes of keeping things positive but not flaky and fake, you've got license to be objective from time to time. Showing a critical interest in what your rival is doing will show others that you know your stuff and you take it seriously.
And while it's appealing to personalize Instagram posts for added attraction, it's not a good idea to revert to overly emotive and subjective language. This can be annoying and offend the respondent or receiver. And it leads to a damaged reputation on your part. And that means no further progress towards obtaining regular work.


text: Hey, I'm starting my search for a new amp. The only amp I've owned was a little Samick SM-25B (80W - 1-10") that I bought out of ignorance. I have many many questions and searching has made me smarter but tired. Cab questions: 1) Is the definition of "bi-ampable" the ability to add a second cab? 2) What kind of cord do you use to connect an additional cab to a head or combo? 3) How does the power rating for a head INCREASE when a cab is added? Is it automatic or do you have to manually increase the wattage (ie. flip a switch)? Pre-amp/Power-amp questions: 4) Preamps and poweramps are only usable in a rack system? A combo or a head would already contain a pre-amp and power-amp. Misc. questions: 5) What kind of output jacks are needed for DI or monitors? Is it the XLR connector? 6) Jumping to 200W would not create a noticable difference with my current 80W amp, correct? 7) When will Joris finish his amp FAQ and make me smart?


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When we think of FLEXIBLE or being flexible we may focus ourselves on:
- our health – can our bodies be more flexible or do we need to work on different athletic moves or…
- our food – allergens exist and how can we eat well and stay healthy
- our work – balance between projects and ideas
AND really, this post is about:
- our schools – what kind of learning environments are we providing in order for students to be engaged critical thinkers, problem solvers and curious learners who are seeing the connections between education and the world around them?
My notes below are the experiences over the three day period where I attended a Canadian Academic Leadership Summit hosted by Surrey Schools and Discovery Education.
PLEASE click on the Flexible Learning Environments photo to be taken to the Spark Page that I created.


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Monthly Archives: December 2015
Balance declared winner of 2015 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race
After a long day and overnight wait, Paul Clitheroe's TP52 Balance was this morning declared the overall winner of the 2015 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, Clitheroe's major rival for the Tattersall's Cup, Quikpoint Azzurro gliding over the finish line in Hobart at 07.37.59 hours this morning to claim third place.
A belated birthday present for Clitheroe, who turned 60 in July, this is the first time he has won the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia's 628 nautical mile race, but not the boat's first time. As Quest, it won the 2008 race for Bob Steel, and aboard again were two of his winning crew, sailing master Mike Green, a veteran of 37 Hobarts, and Adam Brown, a veteran of 29 races.
Green also won on a previous Quest in 2002 and took line honours on Ninety Seven in the storm ravaged 1993 race. Brown, was with Green in 2008 and 1993, with an additional overall win on Ragamuffin in 1992.
CYCA director Paul Clitheroe purchased his fifth Balance mid-last year and it has won two Sydney Hobarts from just five attempts. The 10 year-old Farr designed yacht has represented great value for her various owners, with other great results to her credit.
"It's an absolute honour to win this great race. I thought the little boat had beaten us, until the Derwent River decided otherwise," Clitheroe said.
"When you put a dumbo like me on a boat as good as this, it's easy to win. In fact Greeny and Brownie are relieved when I leave the helm," Clitheroe said, understating his value.
Of the conditions, the Sydney yachtsman said: "We had the hell beaten out of us on the first night and then it was pretty light in Bass Strait. The boat would launch into the air in the first 24 hours and you would count one, then two and if you get to three, (a crew member interjects: 'You get the cheque book out'.
Clitheroe's other crew are: Nick Scott Perry, David Keddie, David Taylor, Jason Dock, Matthew Craig, Max de Montgolfier, Tom Brewer, Michael Slinn, Andrew Cribb and Clinton Evans, who becomes the first Norfolk Islander to win the race.
For a full list of overall standings see: www.rolexsydneyhobart.com
Comanche takes line honours after drama packed race
Photo c Kurt Arrigo / Rolex
2015 Rolex Sydney Hobart Race
When Comanche crossed the finish line of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race at Castray Esplanade in Hobart, Tasmania, at 9:58:30 hours on Monday night, history was created, because Kristy Clark became the first female owner to take line honours in the blue water classic.
Kristy, who raced aboard the yacht while co-owner husband Jim stayed ashore, was thrilled to take line honours in her first foray into the race. The yacht represents the New York Yacht Club and
Jim was on the water to greet the Ken Read skippered Verdier Yacht Design and VPLP yacht as it made its way up the Derwent River to the finish line.
It is the first time, possibly with the exception of the early years, that a boat has retired, her crew sail 30 odd nautical miles back towards Sydney, before deciding to continue on racing and go on to win.
And the locals loved it. As Comanche zigzagged close to shore, trying to find pressure on the River Derwent, at Blackman's Bay lights were being flashed on and off from hundreds of houses and those in cars at Blackmans Bay Beach flashed their lights on and off, making an unforgettable impression against the last light of the day.
But it was at the dock, where Comanche arrived, that one of the largest crowds in living memory had gathered. There was not a square inch to be had around the piers and wharfs surrounding Hobart where thousands cheered the American victory.
Comanche's finish was impeded by the breeze which came and went at whim as the yacht rounded the Iron Pot. At one stage she was powering at 15 knots, then down to 8.5 knots. Her finish time of 2 days 8 hours 58 minutes 30 seconds was outside the record of 1 day 18 hours 23 minutes 12 seconds set by Wild Oats XI in 2012.
But it did not matter. The last American to take line honours in the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia's race was Larry Ellison's Sayonara, 17 years ago in the fatal 1998 race, so Comanche's efforts was quite some achievement, even if their quest of beating Wild Oats XI was not to be.
For all latest standings see: www.rolexsydneyhobart.com
More rudder blowups as Comanche bites back
Photos © Rolex / Stefano Gattini
2015 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race
As the leading yachts reach the halfway mark of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, the US supermaxi Comanche has made, arguably, the greatest comeback since Lazarus.
She closed on race leader Rambler, also from the US, and resumed the lead in the race for line honours. Comanche was in deep trouble off the NSW south coast after midnight, when it appeared she would have to withdraw completely after, as skipper Ken Read put it, she "probably hit something". That "something" all but wiped out a rudder and daggerboard on one side of the boat (she has a rudder and daggerboard on each side).
But in the spirit of its pursuit of this Holy Grail of a Rolex Sydney Hobart line honours victory, Read chose to sail on, albeit with fewer appendages: to continue into Bass Strait and chase down Rambler. It took 13 hours.
"We decided to punch on through. We think we can get to Hobart safely," Read said. "I don't care if we limp over the line. We are going to finish this damned race."
And finish it in style, if she can.
While Comanche is back in the lead and the southerly buster, which has taken out more than 20 per cent of the fleet, is expected to abate over the next 48 hours. On paper, the much lighter conditions expected in the bottom half of Bass Strait and along the Tasmanian coast later this afternoon and tonight favour the less beamy Rambler. So a fascinating duel could develop off Tasmania tonight.
Another great duel is taking place 30 miles astern between Syd Fischer's Ragamuffin 100 and Giovanni Soldini's smaller Volvo 70 Maserati. They are separated by three miles after Soldini took a wide arc around the troubled fleet off the NSW south coast.
The morning has seen a steady stream of retirements from the race, many with rudder and mainsail damage. They include the maxis Wild Oats XI, Perpetual Loyal, Brindabella and the 2013 overall winner Victoire.
At 1330 hrs local time, there had been 23 retirements. They include another international casualty, Haspa Hamburg and her eager young German crew.
Battle of the walking wounded
But by the afternoon, Comanche staged a dramatic comeback, slowly reeling in her smaller rival, and eventually regaining the lead.
What was happening?
Had the guys on Comanche pulled off some sort of miraculous jury rig?
Not quite. Somehow, in the vast sweep of Bass Strait, Rambler had found her very own submerged object, twisting and bending her starboard side daggerboard.
"We have no idea what we hit, we couldn't see it," Rambler's Australian navigator Andrew Cape said by satellite phone a short time ago. "It might have been marine life or flotsam, but it was a solid hit. It shook the boat.
"Our port tack performance has been badly affected, and it is all upwind to Tasman Island, so we have a lot of pain to come."
Cape estimates that they have lost about 10 percent of their speed on port tack and, because they can't lift the daggerboard, they are losing a bit on starboard tack as well.
"It's tricky," Cape says, "A serious structural problem impeding our boat speed."
"I don't know what will happen overall. We'll just try to get the shifts right and do our best."
So right now we have an American two-horse race, and both horses are running with broken legs. The same broken leg.
Meanwhile, the last standing Australian super maxi, Ragamuffin 100, is slowly closing in. At 30 miles astern of the race leaders this afternoon, her close duel with the Italian V70 Maserati looked to be a fight over third place. Rags has cut the deficit to 26 miles, and there is still a long way to go to Hobart.
Will the Americans stagger up the Derwent side by side?
Will Ragamuffin 100 pull off a home-town upset? Or could Maserati?
Is there a malevolent sunfish roaming Bass Strait, looking to strike again?
If it was in a movie you wouldn't believe it.
For current standings see: www.rolexsydneyhobart.com
Wild start as nothing goes to plan
Photo © Rolex / Stefano Gattini
2015 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race start
If the start of the 2015 Rolex Sydney Hobart is any indication, this race is going to have more twists and turns than any Broadway murder mystery and nothing will pan out the way we think it will.
The drama began an hour before the start when the official start boat began taking on water. Those on board, who should have had a box seat of the start, were hastily deposited on the Zoo wharf, a good two kilometres from the super maxis milling about on the front start line.
But the race must go on, and at 1pm, a hooter rather than the traditional cannon, fired from the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia's usual start vessel, sent the fleet on its way.
Instantly it became clear that the brisk northerly breeze, with surprisingly little east in it, was going to provide for an epic tactical start. There was no short line to the first mark. The boats would have to tack across each other at least two or three times to get there.
Wild Oats XI skipper Mark Richards always favours the western side of the start line, and just one boat lay between the flying super maxi and the pin end buoy. It was a perfect start, and within seconds Richards threw the Oatley family's boat onto a daring port tack and began crossing the fleet, passing a good three to four boat lengths ahead of Comanche, which quickly tacked too.
Oats, Comanche, Ragamuffin 100 and Rambler tacked over towards the eastern spectator fleet. Only Perpetual Loyal hung onto her initial starboard tack towards the western foreshore, and when she finally tacked back across, it appeared that her persistence had been a terrible mistake as she ducked behind one after another of her rivals.
Wild Oats XI's starting plan was working a treat. She had an extra boat length on Comanche when they crossed a second time, and when they turned to cross the Harbour again on port tack, Richards seemed in total command of the Harbour.
But then Perpetual Loyal re-appeared from nowhere on starboard. Richards realized he did not quite have the room to cross in front of the charging Loyal and peeled away on a huge ark to avoid her.
Comanche threw in an emergency tack and found herself in the lee of Perpetual Loyal's massive mainsail. By the time Oats regained her footing, she was in an unusual third place, and nothing was going to stop Perpetual Loyal leading the fleet out of the Harbour.
Comanche trailed Loyal by a boat length or two as Perpetual Loyal, Comanche, Wild Oats XI, Ragamuffin 100 and Rambler settled onto the tight reach through the Heads towards the sea mark and the turn to Hobart.
Then an astonishing thing happened. Comanche unfurled her big spinnaker, pressed the turbo button and took off. She surged to the lead. An arrogant display of raw, unmatchable power.
But more was to come
Rambler looked to be right where she needed to be, snapping at the heels of her bigger rivals, but about halfway through the Heads, someone hit the American's afterburners. First Rags, then Oats and then Perpetual Loyal fell by the wayside as George David's American 88 footer raced through the lumpy, jarring seas as though she was at a flat water regatta.
Jaw dropping
And still the drama was not over. As Comanche, Rambler, Ragamuffin 100 and Wild Oats XI unfurled their giant Code Zeros for the run south Perpetual Loyal continued out to sea. Twice her Code Zero refused to burst open.
Behind the super maxis things were going more to plan for Black Jack, Chinese Whisper and Ichi Ban, but further back in the fleet Maserati, the world beating Italian V70 had managed to ensnare one of the buoys separating the race and spectator fleets. The big ocean racer finally left Sydney surrounded by small fry. But there is a long way to go.
Further back, Ark 323, the Chinese TP52, was in a collision with another TP52, Ragamuffin 52. "We were dipping down to avoid Rambler, but the boat below us (Ragamuffin 52) did not give us enough room. We have a big crack in our deck," crew member Faris Bin Aznan, alleged back at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia dock, following her retirement.
Also back at the CYCA were Jeremy Pilkington's RP78, Lupa of London, and Anthony Lyall's TP52, Cougar II from Tasmania. They, too, were involved in a collision that left Cougar II's starboard transom stove in and broken, with damage to the bow of Lupa of London.
Cougar II's crew were too shattered to speak, the disappointment clearly written on every crew member's face.
On Lupa, tactician Laurent Pages told of their devastation. "We were sailing on starboard tack from the start and three boats got locked together – we were in the middle with nowhere to go.
"We were left with the decision to run into the boat above us, or the one below us," Pages said. "This was the worst thing – the worst feeling – a stupid accident.
"The race director was very clear at the briefing this morning. The race committee told us all to take it easy at the start – there was a whole race to go. If everyone listened, this would not have happened. We are shattered – we came a long way. It seems so unfair," Pages ended.
M3, Peter Hickson's TP52, is also out of the race, suffering a shattered forestay. They initially thought they would return to the CYCA and try to fix it and re-start. Anthony Lyall kindly offered them the forestay from his Cougar II.
"Despite how they were feeling, Cougar II made us a generous offer, but we subsequently had a crew meeting and looking at tonight's forecast for a harsh southerly, we decided to retire," M3's skipper, Brent Fowler said.
An extraordinary start, but three hours into the race, God appeared to be back in his heaven, normalcy restored.
Comanche is approaching Jervis Bay in the lead, reveling in the brisk northerly. "We have the hammer down, doing 29 knots," skipper Ken Read reported
"We've got to go fast in these conditions that suit us and put distance between us and the rest.
"The southerly is due in four to five hours. If it is sailable, we should still have the advantage, and take more miles out of the others."
Read isn't at all surprised that Rambler is in second place, not one of the Australian 100 footers.
"We have raced them a few times and they we have made them better. And they have made us better."
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the live stream of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race start was unable to be broadcast internationally. We apologise for any inconvenience and frustration that this has caused international followers.
Breaking news – Favourite out with torn mainsail
Wild Oats out – Photo c Michael Chittenden
Supermaxi yacht, Wild Oats XI, has been forced to retire from the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race with a torn mainsail.
Early reports indicate that the sail tore in half when the yacht was hit by a 40 knot squall that accompanied a southerly change off the NSW south coast.
The front hit the front runners around 2130hrs AEDT, close to the time predicted. The race fleet was expected to have a difficult time with the dramatic wind change from a fresh NE breeze to a southerly front accompanied by rain.
Top navigator Will Oxley,sailing on board Ichi Ban reported the the winds peaked at 41 kts before settling down to an average of 35kts as the front steadied.
Wild Oats XI is returning to Sydney. All her crew are reported to be safe.
And yet more dramatic news
Comanche breaks rudder – Photo c Michael Chittenden
Whilst leading the race, US supermaxi, Comanche has suffered a broken rudder and is desperately trying to effect emergency repairs.
The incident occurred about an hour after the race leader had been hit by a southerly front which she appeared to pass through in good shape.
However at 2300hrs EDT the yacht reported to race control that she had broken a rudder.
Currently leading the race is Rambler.
For current standings see: www.rolexsydneyhobart.com
RC44 class celebrates 10th year with two new venues
Photo © Gavin Howarth
Following a brilliant end to the season in the British Virgin Islands with an overall victory for Team Nika after spectacular racing at the RC44 Virgin Gorda Cup, the RC44 Class is pleased to announce it will celebrate its tenth year in 2016 by visiting two new world class venues.
The RC44 Class will make its first-ever visit to Bermuda to kick off the 2016 season before competing at some of Europe's most celebrated sailing venues, including a return to the beautiful Sotogrande, Spain, where an early World Championship will be held. Marking the half-way stage of the Tour with a debut in Gosport/Portsmouth, United Kingdom, the teams will then revisit Cascais, Portugal, an old Class favourite, before heading back to Valletta, Malta to finish off the season in the historic 'City of the Knights'.
With ideal sailing conditions on offer, Bermuda was an easy venue choice for the Tour. The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club's Regatta Chairman, Andy Cox, explained why Bermuda is looking forward to welcoming the teams: "Bermuda is honoured to be the latest host location in the RC44 series. Our island is globally recognized as providing some of the most challenging, as well as beautiful, waters for sailing competition and we hope the RC44 teams will enjoy the experience."
Taking place just inside the Mediterranean, close to Gibraltar on Spain's Andalucian coast, Peninsula Petroleum Sailing Team will play host for the RC44 Sotogrande World Championship. Gibraltar-based owner John Bassadone commented:
"It's very special to have the Worlds in Sotogrande. We were there last year and got quite lucky with the wind. It's great to sail where you spend a lot of time and I think everyone had a lot of fun. For it to also be the World Championship this year, it's fantastic."
Gosport/Portsmouth will provide a home-water advantage for five-time RC44 Championship Tour winner Team Aqua. Owner Chris Bake, who will be hoping to regain the championship title in 2016, said: "It's a class that has a lot of appeal, not only because of the dynamic sailing, but also because of the events we go to and the social element to the class. There are some pretty good people involved and I think by bringing it to the UK, which will be the first time ever for the class, hopefully we bring some attention to potential UK owners who don't know the class or haven't really looked at it that much."
The Tour is also excited to be returning to Cascais, Portugal and Valletta, Malta – both venues that have previously delivered challenging and exciting conditions for the sailors.
The competition within the Class is at an all time high. Every team has the ability to win races and many are capable of challenging for the overall victory. Proven by the fact that a different RC44 team won each of the five events this season. Embraced by owners and the world's most talented sailors alike, the 2016 RC44 Championship Tour line up is looking as strong as ever.
2016 RC44 Championship Tour Schedule:
2-6 March, RC44 Bermuda Cup, Bermuda
10-15 May, RC44 Sotogrande World Championship, Spain
13-17 July, RC44 Portsmouth Cup, UK
21-25 September, RC44 Cascais Cup, Portugal
23-27 November, RC44 Valletta Cup, Malta
For more info see: www.rc44.com
World Match Racing Tour reveals 2016 schedule
The World Match Racing Tour seeks to transition to catamaran racing in the M32 for a short four month season that concludes at the new venue for the World Finals in Marstrand in July, will together create a total prize purse of over $2 million US$ to the teams. The current Finals venue is the Monsoon Cup in Malaysia, which concludes the current season January 26-30, 2016.
2016 short season Championship Events venues
Fremantle, Perth, Australia, March 2nd-7th
Long Beach, Los Angeles, USA, April 5th-10th
Undisclosed Venue, April 18th-23rd (TBC)
Copenhagen, Denmark, May 9th-14th
Newport, RI, USA, May 31st-June 4th
World Championship Finals, Marstrand, Sweden, July 4th-9th
Freemanlte, WA will be the first stop – Photo c City of Fremanlte
All events will use the M32 catamaran except for the Congressional Cup in Long Beach, which will continue to use the Catalina 37s which have been part of the event for over two decades. At each WMRT Tour Level Event, the top three teams will qualify to a WMRT Championship Event.
The full line up of 10 Tour Card Skippers will kick off the start of the 2016 World Match Racing Tour season in Perth, Australia from 2 – 7 March. They will be joined by a further 10 teams at each event on the Tour schedule, those teams gaining entry through a series of 'World Tour Event' qualifying regattas
2016 Tour Card Skippers:
Ian Williams, GBR
Björn Hansen, SWE
Taylor Canfield, ISV
Keith Swinton, AUS
Phil Robertson, NZL
Eric Monnin, SUI
Yann Guichard, FRA
Mattias Rahm, SWE
Sally Barkow, USA
Nicolai Sehested, DEN
For more details see: www.wmrt.com
Rob Greenhalgh wins with 3 bullets on final day
Photo © Beau Outteridge / Amlin International Moth Regatta
Amlin International Moth Regatta in Bermuda
Rob Greenhalgh stamped his dominance on the inaugural Amlin International Moth Regatta hosted by the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club.
Lying in second overall entering the day, Greenhalgh won all three races to win the championship and the winner's share of $5,000 of the $10,000 prize purse.
"The week has been fantastic," said the 38-year-old Greenhalgh of Hamble, England. "It's been good to come to a new venue. Everyone's been very hospitable. I hope it keeps going."
With the wind 6 to 12 knot winds right in Greenhalgh's wheelhouse, he dominated the three races. His first victory was by nearly 1 minute and the second was by 1 minute, 30 seconds. He left little doubt as to who the best sailor was this week.
"Sailing is a game of boatspeed, there are no two ways around it," said Greenhalgh. "If you can go faster than the other guys, then you're halfway there."
In a near repeat of last summer's European Championship, Greenhalgh overcame regatta leader Chris Rashley for the victory. Rashley led Greenhalgh by 1 point entering today but finished 8 points in arrears in the final standings after placing 10-4-4. The 10th wound up being one of Rashely's discards and he won $2,000 for finishing second.
"I had a bad start in the first race," Rashley said. "There was a left hand wind shift just before the start and I couldn't get up on my foils. I was pleased with how I sailed in the next two races.
"It was nice to lead for a couple of days but I expected Rob to win today. He really excels in those conditions. He's quicker in the mid-range stuff," said Rashley.
After the two leaders a pair of America's Cup sailors battled it out for third and fourth. Paul Goodison of Artemis Racing wound up nipping Chris Draper by 2 points for 3rd place and won $1,500 while Draper won $1,000 for fourth place. Fifth-placed Simon Hiscocks won $500.
"I finished where I deserved," said Draper. "I've only sailed a Moth seven days in the past six months, but I felt like my boat handling was better today. I've got some work to do on my setup."
Greenhalgh dominated in part because he's put in a lot of work on his setup. Today he was riding on his large foils because of the lighter winds. With the large foils it's easier to get up on them and stay on them through tacks and jibes. As soon as a boat drops off the foils it loses significant speed.
Greenhalgh also used a canting rig system today. The system doesn't cant the rig to windward. Instead it allows the rig to stand up straighter, which generates more boatspeed.
"A more vertical rig gives more horsepower," said Greenhalgh. "It's good in conditions like today, early foiling conditions, the 9 to 11 knot range. It's definitely an advantage, but you need to know how to use it because it affects things like boom vang tension and tacking and how the boat handles."
Final days action video
Overall results (Top 10)
1st GBR 4340 Robert Greenhalgh 13 pts
2nd GBR 4 Chris Rashley 21 pts
3rd GBR 4341 Paul Goodison 31 pts
4th GBR 5 Chris Draper 33 pts
5th GBR 42 Simon Hiscocks 46 pts
6th GBR 3982 Ben Paton 51 pts
7th GBR 3942 Jason Belben 68 pts
8th AUS 4302 Kyle Langford 75 pts
9th ISV 9 Anthony Kotoun 83 pts
10th VEN 4166 Victor Diaz de Leon 100 pts
For full results & more info go to: www.bermudamoths.com
Rashley retains overall lead after Greenhalgh capsizes
Chris Rashley (yellow bib) and Rob Greenhalgh trade tacks – Photo © Beau Outteridge
Amlin International Moth Regatta in Bermuda
The inaugural Amlin International Moth Regatta is primed for a showdown between Chris Rashley and Rob Greenhalgh. At stake is $5,000.
Three races are on tap on Friday and it's anyone's guess as to who'll come out on top of the event hosted by the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club.
With the wind blowing 18 to 25 knots today, Rashley retained the overall lead but only after Greenhalgh capsized in the day's third race, the eighth of the series.
Greenhalgh had opened a 2-point lead in the overall standings after placing 1-2 in the day's first two races to Rashley's 2-3. In the third race, Greenhalgh found himself out of control after the end fitting on the push rod controlling the main foil broke.
"I was going really well in the first two races. I won the first race going away and had great speed in the second race, probably could've won that one too but had to do an extra jibe and that allowed Goody (Paul Goodison) to win," said Greenhalgh.
"I'm not sure when the fitting broke, maybe between the second and third race. After it broke I could go upwind alright but had a massive capsize on the run near the leeward gate," Greenhalgh said. Greenhalgh placed 13th in the third race, which is one of his discards, while Rashley won it.
The day started off with those who have a choice of rig setups debating what to go with. The forecast called for the wind to build but some doubted it, believing that forecast heavy rain would dampen the wind strength.
"I used my flat sail, soft mast, large main foil and small rudder," Rashley said. "It was an odd set up but I thought there would be a lull in the wind before the storm. As it turned out the forecast was spot on."
For others, such as Chris Draper of SoftBank Team Japan, there was no choice. He only has one mast but he was left wanting for a softer one.
"I'm lighter than those guys (Rashley, Greenhalgh) so I could use a softer mast," said Draper. "A softer mast would allow the sail to depower more. I can't quite hike with those guys."
Draper had been the top scoring America's Cup sailor in the fleet, but after dropping to 5th today that honour now belongs to Paul Goodison of Artemis Racing. Goodison, who was 3rd at the European Championship last summer, placed 3-1-3 today and now holds 3rd overall, 11 points behind Rashley.
Tomorrow's forecast is calling for 10 to 15 knot winds from the northeast, which should be ideal for another Rashley-Greenhalgh showdown. Rashley has revenge on his mind after Greenhalgh wrested the European Championship away last summer in the final race. Rashley had led from the start.
"Greenhalgh is stronger than me in the conditions that are forecast, so I just have to sail my best. That's all I can do," said Rashley.
Standings (top 10 after 8 races, with one discard)
1 Chris Rashley GBR (4)-2-3-1-1-2-3-1 – 13 points
2 Rob Greenhalgh GBR 1-4-1-3-2-1-2-(13) – 14 pts
3 Paul Goodison GBR (Artemis Racing) 2-3-2-(13)-10-3-1-3 – 24 pts
4 Simon Hiscocks GBR 3-8-(59/DNF)-2-3-7-5-2 – 30 pts
5 Chris Draper GBR (SoftBank Team Japan) 5-1-7-4-7-(8)-4-5 – 33 pts
6 Kyle Langford AUS (Oracle Team USA) 6-(16)-4-9-5-4-6-6 – 40 pts
7 Ben Paton GBR 7-7-8-12-4-9-(18)-4 – 51 pts
8 Jason Belben GBR (13)-5-11-5-8-10-8-7 – 54 pts
9 Anthony Kotoun ISV 8-19-12-7-6-5-7-(21) – 64 pts
10 Tom Johnson USA (Oracle Team USA) 20-12-10-8-11-20-(21)-11 – 92 pts
(For a complete list of results, please click here.)
For more info go to: www.bermudamoths.com
America's Cup racing returns to the Big Apple
Photo – Rob Tringali / America's Cup
America's Cup racing will return to New York for the first time since 1920 with Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series racing on May 7-8, 2016.
The New York event is one of six events planned during 2016, each featuring thrilling, high-speed competition, as six America's Cup teams, with top sailors around the world, vie for points that count towards the final competition for the 35th America's Cup in 2017.
This year, Emirates Team New Zealand's star helmsman, Peter Burling, the youngest in the fleet, led his team to the top of the standings over current America's Cup champion Jimmy Spithill's Oracle Team USA, and the highly touted Land Rover BAR team led by Olympic hero Ben Ainslie.
But the competition was close. In fact, the opening three Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series events in 2015 featured three different event winners, and four different individual race winners. The 2016 calendar promises more hard-fought racing on the foiling AC45F catamarans that fly above the water.
"Everyone is going to want to start the New Year off well," said Oracle Team USA skipper Jimmy Spithill. "But all the other teams have been out training with the same goal in mind, so nothing will come easy this year.
"The New York event is going to be spectacular. Racing on the lower Hudson River, in front of that Manhattan skyline, will be a huge hit. New Yorkers are massive sports fans and I think this will be something very special: thrilling, top-level racing right in the heart of the city. It's going to be a great event for the America's Cup and a great event for New York."
Practice racing in New York is on May 6, with point-scoring races on the weekend of May 7-8.
Four events on the 2016 schedule have been announced to date:
Muscat, Oman – February 26-28, 2016;
New York, USA – May 6-8, 2016;
Chicago, USA – June 10-12, 2016;
Portsmouth, UK – July 22-24, 2016;
Two additional Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series events are anticipated to complete the calendar, likely in Europe in mid-September and in Asia in mid-November.
"With six events around the world in 2016 our fans will have more opportunities to enjoy America's Cup racing and follow their favourite teams and sailors as we build towards the finals in Bermuda in 2017," said Harvey Schiller, the Commercial Commissioner of the America's Cup.
"We're excited to be able to add the new venues of Oman, New York and Chicago to the calendar, giving more fans a chance to experience the America's Cup in person."
The New York event is an historic milestone of sorts. America's Cup racing was held in New York harbour and environs for 50 years, representing the first 13 challenges for the oldest trophy in international sport.
From 1870 through 1920 racing took place off New York. Beginning in 1930, the competition was moved to Newport, Rhode Island, where it remained until the United States finally lost the Cup in 1983, ending the longest winning streak in sport.
Since that time, racing for the America's Cup has taken place in Perth (Australia); San Diego (USA); Auckland (New Zealand); Valencia (Spain); and San Francisco (USA).
In May/June 2017, the next America's Cup will be raced for in Bermuda.
Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series standings (after three events):
Emirates Team New Zealand – 122 points
Oracle Team USA – 112 points
Land Rover BAR – 109 points
Artemis Racing – 105 points
SoftBank Team Japan – 100 points
Groupama Team France – 82 points
About the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series New York
This event will take place from May 6-8, 2016, with official practice racing on the Friday and point-scoring races on Saturday and Sunday.
The Event Village will be in the Brookfield Place Waterfront Plaza, while the racing will be on the lower Hudson River off the Battery Park City Esplanade (between the Pier 25 basin to the north and The Battery to the south).
The technical areas for teams, race management and America's Cup TV production will be based at Liberty State Park and Liberty Landing Marina, across the Hudson River in New Jersey.
Chris Rashley celebrates his birthday in style
Photo © Beau Outteridge / Amlin International Moth Regatta
Amlin International Moth Regatta in Bermuda
Chris Rashley from Southampton, UK, celebrated his 27th birthday by winning Races 4 and 5 on day two of the Amlin International Moth Regatta in Bermuda.
Rashley overcame strong winds and near-blinding conditions, punctuated by a squall with gusts topping 30 knots, to take over the lead of the $10,000 regatta.
"David (Campbell-James, the principal race officer) made an excellent decision to go out today," said Rashley. "There were a lot of hesitant people and at times you couldn't see because the rain was in your eyes, but we started on time and the racing was proper."
Rashley will wear the yellow bib recognizing the overall leader at the regatta. After day two victories Rashley is tied with day 1 leader Rob Greenhalgh of the UK with 7 points, but owns the tiebreak advantage because he won the last race sailed. (With five races completed, the regatta now discards each competitor's worst score.)
"I had a good day," said Greenhalgh, who finished 3-2. "But Rashley's just too strong in those conditions."
With the wind blowing 18 to 24 knots as the fleet sailed to the racecourse on Great Sound some never even made it to the first start. By the end of the day at least half a dozen boats were brought back to shore on RIBs after suffering broken masts. Others suffered breakdowns that included broken booms, tillers and tiller extensions and other controls such as boom vangs and cunninghams.
"The thing with these boats is that we have all the control lines in front of us, so if you pitch pole (capsize over the bow) you tend to take that stuff with you as you fly out of the boat," said Tom Offer of the UK., who is placed 16th overall after enduring such an incident. "It was on the edge today."
You Tube video from day 2 or racing:
The strong winds resulted in some blistering speeds for those who could handle the conditions.
"I crossed the finish line doing 28.8 knots," said Benoit Marie of France in his heavy accent. "I think I was doing over 30 knots at some points, but I wasn't able to look at the speedo all day, you know? It was crazy.
"But I feel good about today," Marie said of his 23-20, which has him placed 15th overall. "At the beginning of the year I couldn't sail in these conditions. But I've made some adjustments and am very happy with how I went today."
Rashley said he was doing 28 to 30 knots on the runs, but had to slow down to 22 to 25 knots approaching the leeward gate to keep in control. The runner-up at last summer's European Championship and the 2014 Worlds, Rashley is one of the class's all-time tinkerers, developing sails, masts and foils to near perfection over the past five years.
Before coming to Bermuda last week for practice he fashioned a new paddle for the wand that controls the height of the Moth on its hydrofoils. Hoping to make a paddle that doesn't bounce off the water too much, which would lessen the movement of the flap on the main foil and provide a steadier ride, he had a paddle fashioned from a 3D printer that was painted bright pink. During a windy practice day, it suddenly went missing.
"I was sailing upwind and doing 16 to 20 knots last week when a fish bit the paddle right off the wand," said Rashley. "I'm not a fisherman and don't know anything about fish, but I'm told it was a barracuda. The paddle's a tiny thing, but that's what the class is about now. Everything else is so well developed."
Light winds force postponement on day 3
Rashley, Greenhalgh and Hiscocks retain top three places after a day of no racing
Day 3 or racing at the Amlin International Moth Regatta was postponed due to light winds. After an idyllic day on Monday and challenging conditions on Tuesday, Wednesday brought yet another set of conditions to the regatta hosted by the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club.
Since no racing was completed Chris Rashley of the U.K. remains in the overall lead of the $10,000 regatta, with $5,000 earmarked for the winner.
Principal Race Officer David Campbell-James got Race 6 underway as scheduled at 11 am. Irishman Rory Fitzpatrick aced a port-tack start on his foils and rounded the windward mark in the lead. But the race was abandoned about halfway through when the wind died away to 5 knots or less.
No other racing was conducted as Great Sound became glassed over, inhibiting the sailors from getting on their hydrofoils.
"The fleet was foiling off the start line in winds around 10 knots. After about 35 minutes of racing we had only 22 boats complete one lap, so we made the decision to abandon the race and postpone for the day," said Campbell-James.
"Tomorrow's forecast looks to be windy again and Friday looks very good so we're hoping that we'll get at least another five races before the end of the week, which would give everyone a second discard," Campbell-James said.
Rashley has the low score of 7 points. Although he is tied with fellow Briton Rob Greenhalgh, Rashley owns the tiebreak advantage by virtue of winning the last race sailed.
Simon Hiscocks retains 3rd place with 16 points and is followed by Chris Draper and Paul Goodison, who are tied for 4th. Each has 17 points, but Draper holds the tiebreaker by placing 7th in Race 5 to Goodison's 10th. Draper, of SoftBank Team Japan, also is the top placing America's Cup sailor in the fleet.
You Tube Video or race day 3
Results after Day 3: (Top 10 of 56 boats after 5 races, with 1 discard)
1. Chris Rashley, GBR, 7 points
2. Rob Greenhalgh, GBR, 7 pts
3. Simon Hisccocks, GBR, 16 pts
4. Chris Draper, GBR, SoftBank Team Japan, 17 pts
5. Paul Goodison, GBR, Artemis Racing, 17 pts
6. Kyle Langford, AUS Oracle Team USA, 24 pts
7. Ben Paton, GBR, 26 pts
8. Jason Belben, GBR, 29 pts
9. Anthony Kotoun, ISV, 33 pts
10. Victor Diaz de Leon, VEN, 40 pts
For full results and more info go to: www.bermudamoths.com


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The Florida Legislature is considering bills that on the surface would seem to protect voters� privacy and prevent voter fraud � but instead could allow elected officials to evade open-records laws.
The Florida Legislature is considering bills that on the surface would seem to protect voters� privacy and prevent voter fraud � but instead could allow elected officials to evade open-records laws.
Current law makes confidential the Social Security number, driver license number and Florida identification number of a voter registration applicant or voter. HB 249 and its companion in the Senate, SB 1260, would create an exemption in the state�s Sunshine Law for the email addresses.
Supporters say this is needed to ensure the addresses won�t be used to commit voter fraud. They don�t point to any evidence that email addresses actually have been used to commit fraud; they just say they could be.
In erecting a defense against possible voting irregularities, the legislation has a greater chance of obscuring government business conducted in violation of the Sunshine Law.
As Barbara Petersen of the First Amendment Foundation points out, the bills are written broadly so that the exemption applies to the email addresses of every voter held by any government agency. That means that in a public records request, the email addresses of any government employee who is also a registered voter could be redacted.
That would make it virtually impossible to see who public officials are communicating with via email. Some have been known to conduct public business via email, which is a violation of Florida�s open-meetings law. Indeed, that was the subject of a 2009 court order against the Walton County Commission mandating that commissioners correspond using only county email accounts, not their personal ones.
If this legislation becomes law, only the substance of those kinds of email exchanges will be made public; the redacted addresses would make it difficult to determine who was corresponding with whom, and thus whether a Sunshine Law violation occurred. It will be harder to hold government accountable.
There is no compelling reason to pass these bills, and the proposed legislation has the potential to do far more harm than good.


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A quick note to say Antipodean Footnotes will be on hiatus for a while. I am relocating to Melbourne, Australia, on 10 June, and starting in a new position (Deputy Curator, special collections, University of Melbourne) on 24 June.
I'll be back with new posts once settled into my new role.


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My company's commission and bonus plans are fairly complex. Can Core handle unique, complicated plans?
Core uses a proprietary formula builder that lets the user break down even the most complex rules into individual, manageable steps that are then integrated into a single process. This approach, unique to Core, lets non-technical users build and manage even the most complex rules without the need for custom programming.
We need to track overrides received, an agents' production, as well as commissions on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis.
All aspects of incentive management are supported in the Core application including hierarchy overrides, splits, team pools, accelerators, bonuses and chargebacks, floors and ceilings and ramped targets. Core can track and store data associating people, organizations, and activity according to a number of user specified fields and configurations. The application also supports an unlimited number of commission cycles and payment schedules. Any cycle period can be defined and tracked easily and multiple cycles can be run concurrently.
Can I import my data directly from Excel or a CSV file?
Yes. Core can integrate with any application and comes standard with import/export capability with Excel or CSV files. Core is able to audit the records real-time allowing customers to catch any errors during the import process, so you never have to worry about bad data in the system.
What type of training is provided if I purchase a Core system?
Training and full documentation is provided at various levels of support to get you up and running as quickly and efficiently as possible. A trouble ticket system and knowledge base are available online, as well as live technicians to assist with client questions.
How quickly can I be up and running on a Core application?
Client deployment time can vary from one day to a few weeks depending on the complexity of your plan requirements. For a moderately sized plan of 2-3 data sources and 10-12 unique payment components, implementation usually takes about a week.
Can Core integrate with Quickbooks or Microsoft Dynamics?
Yes. Integration into popular financial management and CRM applications is a common request. However, because each client has different requirements (security, timing, individual fields, etc..), we typically quote this integration separately.
What if I want to integrate my data with Salesforce.com?
As a development partner of the force.com platform, we can offer full integration into the Salesforce.com platform.
Do you offer volume discounts?
Yes. We can evaluate your individual requirements and provide you pricing options including volume discounts.
I need to calculate tiered and split commissions between territories.
Splits, overrides, bonuses, quotas, accelerators, floors, ceilings, chargebacks, ramped targets and tiered commissions over multiple territories are just some of the features Core supports.
What type of reporting capability does Core provide?
A flexible web-based reporting module, custom report designer, interactive "drag & drop" analytics and dashboard module are some of our most used features. A bulk email distribution engine allows you to send out multiple reports with individualized information with a single button click.


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Kaupeka has many meanings like to branch out, section or part and it is also a term that means season or the lunar month that Māori followed. Tae can mean to reach out, extend to arrive or colour. Both depend on the context. Giving this hoarding design a wide scope for interpretation.
Each section of pattern can relate to sections within your building or business. The Māori patterns are derived from the traditional art practices of whakairo (carving), kōwhaiwhai (painted scroll ornamentation – commonly used on meeting house rafters) and raranga (weaving).
Some of the kōwhaiwhai used are mangopare (the hammerhead shark) known for its tenacity and resilience, Koru representing a new beginning and growth, and pūhoro representing speed and whakapapa (genealogy).
Whakairo patterns that have been stylized come from Maui – so named because it depicts a fish hook like the one Maui used to fish up the North Island. Maui was resourceful, tenacious and adventurous, Rauponga taken from the fern leaf, and Rauru a spiral pattern for potential.
Weaving patterns include the Poutama symbolic of attainment, learning and growth, Niho taniwha which represents chieftainship, strength and history, Aramoana the wave pattern symbolizing communication and lastly Pātiki the flounder pattern a symbol of hospitality and caring for people.
These hoarding designs are an acknowledgment to the creativity of mana whenua and their connection to the environment. The colours of the images reflect the ebbs and flows of the seasons of the city, as well as the many textures that can be found around the city as it evolves with the post-earthquake rebuild.
Design partner: Ariki Creative(external link)
Download the Kaupeka Tae design files
- Kaupeka Tae examples [PDF, 1.1 MB]
- Kaupeka Tae hoarding 1A [EPS, 165MB](external link)
- Kaupeka Tae hoarding 1B [EPS, 76MB](external link)<
- Kaupeka Tae hoarding 2A [EPS, 31MB](external link)
- Kaupeka Tae hoarding 2B [EPS, 37MB](external link)
- Kaupeka Tae hoarding 2C [EPS, 42MB](external link)
- Kaupeka Tae hoarding 2D [EPS, 76MB](external link)
- Kaupeka Tae hoarding 3A [EPS, 27MB](external link)
- Kaupeka Tae hoarding 3B [EPS, 55MB](external link)
- Kaupeka Tae hoarding 4A [EPS, 14MB](external link)
- Kaupeka Tae hoarding 4B [EPS, 20MB](external link)


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Opportunities to Volunteer
Volunteers are welcomed and anticipated during all seasons here at Teen Missions. The ministry of Teen Missions stretches out from Merritt Island, Florida, around the world, impacting lives of thousands of national children and adults. With this kind of outreach, the central base in Florida is kept busy throughout the year as we prepare for the Lord's Boot Camp here in Florida, and in the 17 other bases found on all six major continents. The work in Florida is plentiful and varied, with often more work than hands to complete it! Because of this, the staff of Teen Missions have readily expressed their appreciation for the help of all the willing and joyful volunteers who have dedicated time to furthering the work of the Lord.
Why Volunteer?
Volunteering with Teen Missions is a unique way to participate in the work of the Lord.
Teen Missions' volunteers have the experience of working and fellowshipping with Christian believers from all across the Globe. You will find it a joy and a privilege to serve with a ministry whose sole focus is to see the Gospel of Christ spread to teenagers and others in need of salvation. Throughout your time here, you will have the opportunity to pray for, encourage and work alongside adults and youth from across America.
SEASONAL VOLUNTEERS (November—April -Florida)
Seasonal Volunteers serve throughout the fall, winter and spring months. Some of our seasonal volunteers come in groups, others come as single volunteers, but all are welcome. Those willing to volunteer with special vocational skills often come during these three seasons to help mend AC units, lay tile, work in the Mechanics Shop, or contribute to the various projects going on during that season.
SUMMER BOOT CAMP VOLUNTEERS (June – August -Florida)
Boot Camp Cutoff to Register is May 15th.
Summer volunteers work during the Lord's Boot Camp and help with setting up, running and taking down everything involved with Boot Camp. During the times that the team members are here, volunteers can be found all over the property—helping in the kitchen, teaching construction or evangelism classes, serving in the Care Clinic, or just offering general and maintenance-type help wherever needed. Summer volunteers also have the opportunity to help counsel and work with the youth involved in our program. Without these volunteers, the Lord's Boot Camp could not successfully happen each year. Meals and housing are provided for all those willing to come and serve. Please call our office for details on how to register today!
GAP YEAR / ONE YEAR VOLUNTEER (June—June -Overseas)
Overseas Volunteering is a unique opportunity to give your time to serving at one of Teen Missions many overseas bases and to running one of our diverse national Boot Camps. These Boot Camps run year round, so your time of participation is not limited to just the summer. Overseas Volunteers get to experience the culture of their chosen base and to interact with and be blessed by the staff of the many bases. The requirements for serving overseas includes: obtaining a passport, attending Leader Training Seminar, and raising adequate support to cover transportation to and from your country and covering room and board. For more information, please click here: Gap Year Info
Work groups are welcome throughout our Seasonal Volunteer months (November—April). Groups of any size can find plenty of work to accomplish during their time here, and serving together often builds group unity. Churches, youth groups, schools and other organizations interested in getting involved with the ministry of the Lord, and working together on a common project, should contact the Teen Missions Office for further details on how to get involved.
Volunteers are ordinary people willing to commit their time to complete the Lord's extraordinary work! We ask that our volunteers be born-again Christians with the ability to work well with others and to serve with a servant's attitude. All volunteers, aside from those coming as part of a work group, should be mature adults, 20 years or older, or Former Team Members, 18 years or older and recommended by past leadership.
Volunteering at Boot Camp often requires long hours of behind-the-scenes work, which may seem thankless. We do need your help and we are grateful for all those willing to come and serve; however, we maintain the policy that if you do not want to work, you should not come.
God has blessed the efforts of all of our volunteers in the past, and it would be our joy to see Him work through you this summer. We look forward to hearing from you!


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105 minutes
rated R
by Scott Mendelson
At its best, writer/director Pascal Laugier's The Tall Man is an examination of our expectations when it comes to the horror genre. It almost playfully plays with our knowledge of the cliches and the templates, telling what seems to be a conventional story while slowly pulling the rug out from under us. While the picture is not a complete success, and while it intrigues and unnerves more than it explicitly frightens, it earns points for telling a story right up to its climax. This is not a film that runs out of narrative by the 2/3 mark and descends into an action sequence or a violent spectacle, but rather a slow-burn drama that holds some of its cards as long as possible. It's a cliche/generic pull-quote to say that a movie 'keeps you guessing to the end', but it applies in this case (as an objective fact more so than an exclamation).
There is very little plot that I'd feel comfortable revealing, so this will be brief. In the small town of Cold Rock, the citizens have been caught in a grip of fear over the legendary Tall Man. Just who is the Tall Man? No one knows, but he has a habit of regularly abducting the children of this quiet community, with nary a trace found nor a clue left in his wake. The film centers around Julia Denning (Jessica Biel), a young nurse who is raising a young child by herself following the death of her husband several years prior. Needless to say it's only a matter of time before her son is snatched up in the night, sending Julia on a fierce pursuit that will reveal terrible secrets that affect not only Julia, but the theoretical Tall Man and the entire town of Cold Rock.
That's all you need so that's all you get. Laugier's canniest move is to cast Jessica Biel and show her as a loving mother right from the get-go. We know that Ms. Biel is a big movie star and that a mother in pursuit of her missing child is one of the oldest stories around. So we have a pretty good idea of where we think this movie is going, but all I will say is that it's a little more complicated. As we get information that both comes from unreliable sources and contradict what we know about storytelling conventions, we aren't quite sure what to believe or who is telling the truth until around the third act of the picture. While Laugier's Martyrs played with conventions as well, this one is arguably more successful if only because this picture doesn't have the luxury of distracting us with astonishingly graphic violence and horrifying imagery. The Tall Man is more of a mystery than a straight-up horror film, so its effectiveness is dependent on acting and mood. Biel is quite good here, and it's disheartening to realize that she'd likely never get a role this solid in a more mainstream production. Stephen McHattie, Samantha Ferris, Jodelle Ferland, and William B. Davis all add a certain gravitas to the proceedings, and the picture captures a vivid small-town environment in a way only horror films seem capable of.
The film's biggest issues involve the final act, where the film comes to a natural conclusion but still progresses for a good fifteen minutes which only further to muddy up the film's moral waters. To say more would risk giving too much away, so I'll only state that what story there is left to tell, if it indeed must be told, should have been wrapped up in a more streamlined fashion. Nonetheless, The Tall Man is a disconcerting and engaging chiller, with strong performances and a genuinely authentic sense of time and place. The final reel will surely get people talking and the journey to said final reel is a bit of engaging slow-burn storytelling that knows which cards to hide and which to show. I wish the film concentrated a bit more on the psychological effects of an entire town slowly being stripped of their offspring, but that's more in the 'film I wanted to see' category. In terms of telling the story it chooses to tell, The Tall Man just plain works.
Grade: B


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Tagged: Direct talks
US Abandons Efforts to Persuade Israel Settlement Freeze
Article first published as US Abandons Efforts to Persuade Israel to Freeze Settlements on Blogcritics.
The United States has decided to abandon its efforts of persuading Israel to freeze its settlement construction, saying the tactic has failed. Palestinians' leadership in West Bank, Palestinian Authority has been demanding total settlement freeze in order to attend direct talks with Israel under the US mediation. Israel's self-imposed 10-month settlement freeze expired in November last week due to which the direct talks also ended as Israel refused to extend the freeze on illegal settlement construction in occupied territories for 90 more days as requested by the US.
The US offered a proposal with incentives such as supply of jet fighters and security guarantees in return to a 90-day extension of a previous 10-month settlement freeze. Israel cabinet rejected the proposal. On the other hand, Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu offered to freeze the construction if the Palestinians recognised Israel as a Jewish State, but Palestinian Authority dismissed the idea.
It is not clear what the US is planning. Israel Defence Minister Ehud Barak said the talks with the Americans were postponed because the US was busy dealing with the result of Wikileaks leakage of diplomatic cables. However, this is denied by the US state department spokesperson P J Crowley. The US made clear that abandoning efforts for settlement freeze does not mean giving total efforts. It said it recognised there was a need to change the tactics to resume the peace talks.
US given one-month deadline to rescue Mid-East talks
BBC News | 8 October 2010 | 21:39 GMT
Arab League foreign ministers have given the US one month to rescue deadlocked Middle East peace talks. At a meeting in Libya, they endorsed a decision by the Palestinian negotiators to stay away unless Israel restored a partial settlement construction freeze. But the ministers said the US had to be given more time to break the impasse.
The direct negotiations, the first in almost two years, resumed in September but later stalled when Israel refused to extend the freeze in the West Bank. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas attended the meeting of Arab League foreign ministers in the Libyan city of Sirte.
Afterwards Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabr al-Thani, who chaired the meeting, told reporters: "The committee endorses the decision of President Abbas to stop the talks." "It urges the American side to pursue its efforts to prepare adequate grounds and circumstances to resume the peace process and put this peace process back on the right track, including stopping settlements," he added.
The Arab League ministers are now due to meet again in a month's time to review the situation. The US state department later said: "We appreciate the Arab League's statement of support for our efforts to create conditions that will allow direct talks to move forward."
West Asia Peace Talks are a game for Netanyahu
Article first published as West Asia Peace Talks are a Game for Netanyahu on Blogcritics.
The much-hyped Middle East peace talks have faced a dead end with all parties standing rigid at their positions without making any move. As the self-imposed partial freeze of settlement building has expired on September 26, the settlement building resumed despite warnings and requests from the US establishment.
Eretz Yisrael
Although the peace talks were supposed to be held without preconditions, the president of the Palestinian Authority Mr. Abbas has declared before the talks that Israel must freeze its settlement building for the peace process to be continued. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told before leaving for talks, to the supporters of his Likud party that they had nothing to worry. "You don't need to worry. Nobody needs to teach me what it is to love Eretz Yisrael," referring to the idea of an Israel stretching from Mediterranean sea to the Jordan river including the whole of the West Bank. ('Frontline' fortnightly's print edition – October 8, 2010)
Netanyahu's love for Eretz Yisrael implies his unwillingness to the existence of Palestinians' West Bank. If it is so, why should he dance to the tune of Mr. Obama? It is not clear whether Obama is in the pocket of Netanyahu or Netanyahu is in the pocket of Obama. However, the doubt appears to be cleared with a leaked video of Mr. Netanyahu.
Leaked Video
A video was published on Youtube that shot Benjamin talking to a family, supposedly a victim of terrorist attack, in a West Bank settlement of Ofra. He asked to stop shooting preparing himself to tell something that cannot be
Ban condemns killing of four Israeli citizens
MSN News | PTI | 01/09/2010
The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the killing of four Israelis by the Islamist group Hamas in the West Bank, describing it as an attempt to undermine the crucial direct talks between Israel and the Palestine leadership. "This attack must be recognized for what it is: a cynical and blatant attempt to undermine the direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations starting tomorrow," Ban said.
Noting that the attack comes just ahead of the peace talks between Israeli and Palestinians that begin tomorrow in Washington, Ban urged parties not to be sidetracked by the attack. "He (Ban) extends his condolences to the families of the victims and calls for the perpetrators of this crime to be promptly brought to justice," a statement from his office said. "Negotiations are the only way for the parties to resolve all final status issues. The Secretary-General calls upon both sides to show leadership, courage, and responsibility to realize the aspirations of both people," it said. The UN has also called for the perpetrators of the attack to be apprehended and prosecuted. "We condemn this murderous act and call for those responsible to be brought to justice," Robert Serry, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, said in a statement issued in Jerusalem.
Israel and the Palestinians to resume direct talks
BBC News | 20 August 2010 | 18:11 GMT
Israel and the Palestinians have agreed to resume direct negotiations for the first time in 20 months, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas have been invited to Washington on 2 September to start the talks. They have agreed to place a one-year time limit on the direct negotiations. But correspondents say prospects of a comprehensive deal are slim, as serious disagreements exist on the core issues. Sensitive areas – including the construction of Jewish settlements on occupied territory, the status of Jerusalem, the borders of a future Palestinian state and the right of return – will be difficult to overcome.
Speaking at the state department, Mrs Clinton said President Barack Obama had been encouraged by the leadership of Mr Netanyahu and Mr Abbas, and had invited them to Washington to "relaunch direct negotiations to resolve all final status issues, which we believe can be completed within one year". "President Obama has invited President Mubarak of Egypt and King Abdullah of Jordan to attend, in view of their critical role in this effort. Their continued leadership and commitment to peace will be essential to our success," she added. Mr Obama will hold meetings with the four leaders, followed by a dinner with them, on 1 September. Tony Blair, the special representative of the Middle East Quartet – which comprises the US, the UN, the EU and Russia – has also been invited.
A trilateral meeting at the state department between Mrs Clinton, Mr Abbas and Mr Netanyahu will formally relaunch the direct peace talks the following day. "As we move forward, it is important that actions by all sides help to advance our effort, not hinder it. There have been difficulties in the past, there will be difficulties ahead. Without a doubt, we will hit more obstacles," Mrs Clinton said. "But I ask the parties to persevere, to keep moving forward even through difficult times and to continue working to achieve a just and lasting peace in the region," she added. "These negotiations should take place without preconditions and be characterised by good faith and a commitment to their success, which will bring a better future to all of the people of the region." Continue reading
Hamas, secular groups, oppose direct talks with Israel
Reuters |
Two secular Palestinian organisations joined Hamas on Sunday in calling on President Mahmoud Abbas not to bow to U.S. pressure to resume direct peace talks with Israel, which they described as dangerous. "Insisting on direct talk throws a life line to Israel as its isolation deepens," Hamas said in a statement issued jointly after a meeting in the Syrian capital with other Palestinian organisations that included Islamic Jihad. "A return to direct talks serves the U.S. and Zionist aim to liquidate the national rights of the Palestinian people," the statement said. The statement was read by Maher al-Taher, a senior official in the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine that does not usually toe the Hamas line.
The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, an organisation which has long advocated negotiating with Israel and has a minister in the Palestinian Authority, also signed the statement. The DFLP said direct talks cannot resume without international supervision and an end to the Gaza siege. Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal said the meeting was "exceptional" because it brought together 11 groups that represent what he described as a majority of the Palestinians. The schism between Hamas, which is supported by Syria and Iran, and Abbas's U.S.-backed Palestinian authority, has weakened the Palestinian cause. Hamas does not rule out peace talks with Israel if they realise what it considers Palestinian rights.
Israeli media reported that Israel has rejected a Palestinian proposal to begin face-to-face peace talks on the basis of a statement by the so called Quartet of Middle East mediators that could set a clear agenda for the negotiations. Abbas has indicated that he could go for face-to-face negotiations,
Signs of movement in Middle East peace talks
Reuters |
U.S. envoy George Mitchell resumed his push for direct Middle East peace talks on Tuesday with signs coming from Palestinian leaders that they might bow to pressure and agree to meet the Israelis face-to-face. Mitchell was due to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to address questions from both before returning home on Wednesday. The stalled peace process resumed in May after an 18-month hiatus, but only at the level of indirect "proximity talks", in which Mitchell acts as a shuttling, third-party diplomat. U.S. President Barack Obama has said he wants direct talks to resume by September before a partial moratorium on Israeli settlement construction in the occupied West Bank is set to expire, with possibly dire consequences for the process.
Abbas hinted on Monday that he might soon bow to international pressure, end the impasse and resume direct negotiations for the first time in almost two years. Netanyahu has said he is ready to begin immediately. "Until now, we did not agree," Abbas said. "We may face other pressures that we cannot endure. If that happens, I will study this thing with the leadership … and take the appropriate decision," he told reporters at his office.
Abbas insists that direct talks tackle all territory Israel has occupied since capturing them in the 1967 Middle East war. He includes Arab East Jerusalem, which the Palestinians want as the capital of their future state and the Jordan Valley, where Israel might insist on continuing to secure the Jordan border with its own forces. Abbas also wants a total halt to Israeli settlement building in the West Bank, and an agreed Continue reading


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Theater Living Room Furniture – The furniture for TV has without a doubt a fundamental space in our living room. Many times I would say that it is from him that we orientate and locate the remaining part of the furniture. The selection of TV furniture should be oriented to select designs with ample storage capacity. Furniture that allows you to order everything without creating big problems and keep the room tidy.
Furniture for TV as the storage capacity ideas. The style we can vary it or combine it with other furniture of the lounge on all the sofa. It really is inevitable not to opt for a TV cabinet when it is a computer present in most homes. In addition to the details that we mentioned, in the beginning, choose the place that occupies can be complex. In many of the images that we have in the gallery there are several options, at ground level, living room murals or on supports on the wall above the theater living room furniture.
Modern and functional TV furniture ideas version. The existing options are many and of proven validity. We only have to select the one that best suits our real conditions in terms of space. It is important to remember that televisions have gained in size at the same time they have become lighter. Keep in mind that also around it is placed a DVD reader or home theater. This determines that the furniture chosen has enough units, even to incorporate something new in the future. Although space is undoubtedly the main condition for the selection of the place of these electronic. If we do not want to have fixed TV in the living room there are also options. We can transport you from room to room easily thanks to lightweight furniture TV also include wheels.
Minimalist style for theater living room furniture ideas will be fit for small space. In addition, this large furniture for the TV can be replaced by others of minimalist design that is very appropriate for the small interiors. In addition, to complete the minimalist decoration you can place the TV suspended on the wall. In this way, you will also increase the style and elegance.


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Dehler is a well established brand name throughout the world. The name stands for safety, speed, quality and innovation.
The dehler factory have been builders of fast, secure sailing yachts for more than 40 years. The performance of their yachts is truly remarkable whether on the regatta race course or family cruising.< Back to previous page
Interior / Lay-Out:
Nicolle Associates is pleased to assist you in the purchase of this vessel. This boat is centrally listed by munitor.


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Does your team exhibit one or more
of these symptoms?
- Velocity fluctuating greatly from sprint to sprint
- Arguing a lot during planning poker sessions on the size of a story
- Rarely succeeding to complete a larger user story during a sprint
If so, than your team might need to use Triangulation to estimate their user stories. Triangulation is the process of comparing one user story with two others in order to determine if the story is similar, smaller or bigger than the two others. The Rekall plugin for Jira and GreenHopper allows you to use triangulation to estimate the story via a simple drag and drop interface. Learn more


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11 tips to get the most from your African safari
Ok so all the planning is done – you are heading to Africa for a safari adventure of a lifetime. Maybe the Okavango, the Zambezi or the Serengeti? If you are heading to the right safari areas at the right time of year with the right people then most of the job is already done and you stand a great chance of having an unbelievable experience. However, there are a number of things you can do to really maximise the experience available to you. Here are 11 tips that will guarantee you have the best safari possible.
1. Connect with your local safari guide
The guides in the camps are incredibly knowledgeable and very personable. They have a challenging job, dealing with a wide range of people from different backgrounds and with different hopes and dreams for their safaris, and there is generally a turnover of guests every 2-3 days. Sometimes even the best guides find themselves going through the motions and interacting with their guests on auto-pilot. You can avoid this by showing interest in the guide as a person. Ask questions that show that you are interested in the guide as a person, not just for the animals they can show you. For example ask them about where they come from, their family, their education and how they got to be a guide. This in itself is fascinating, but also shows the guide that you are generally interested in him/her, and this will drop any barriers from their side. They will relax and be themselves, but also go out of their way to show you the best experience possible.
2. Embrace everything
You might have an idea of how your safari experience will play out, but that seldom if ever happens – Africa often throws up all sorts of curve balls. You often can't control what is happening, but you can control how you feel about it. For example there might be a thunderstorm on your afternoon game drive. You can either sulk about the unfairness of it raining on your safari and demand to be taken back to camp, or you can embrace it and literally soak up the experience of an African rain storm on the savannah. Your vehicle might get stuck in thick sand or mud. Instead of getting angry or frustrated, embrace the experience and see how you can help the guide. The curve balls often provide unique and very powerful experiences and memories, and so long as you embrace them they could well end up being major highlights.
Embracing everything also means really engaging with the experience. Connect with the guides, management and local staff. Soak up the sounds and smells. Take your shoes off and feel the African soil beneath your feet. Learn how to pole a mokoro. Swim in the Okavango, or at very least get your feet wet. Sing and dance with the camp staff. Hug a tree.
Don't hug a lion.
3. Maximise your time out of camp
Aim to soak in as much of your safari experience as possible. When the guide tells you the scheduled wake time, ask him/her if it is possible to get going half an hour earlier. Don't waste time sitting around the breakfast table in the morning – grab your food and get out into the wilderness. If you are sharing a vehicle with other people that you don't know, see if you can (gently) get them on the same wavelength as you. See if you can go out for a full day with a packed picnic so that you can explore further afield. This point follows closely from the first point. If your guide knows that you are super enthusiastic, then he/she will do whatever they can to help maximize your experience.
4. Be curious
Be curious about everything. Ask about an interesting looking tree or flower or insect or spider. Ask what animal is making the noise you are hearing, and importantly ask why it is making that sound. This allows the guide to talk about things that he knows but often doesn't get to talk about. You will be amazed at your guide's knowledge, and you will find yourself slipping beneath the surface experience of just seeing animals. You will soon begin to understand the incredible depth of a safari experience and it will help you appreciate the amazingly rich experience you are living.
5. Use binoculars
Invest in a decent set of binoculars, and if you can afford it, get one for each person travelling. Good binoculars will transform your safari experience. The simple fact is this – the more times you put them to your eyes the greater the experience you will have on safari. Use them to scan for wildlife – if you happen to spot something before the guide it is a great thrill. Use them when an animal is far away or hidden in thick bush, but also use them when an animal is up close and even when it is easily visible with the naked eye. You will see the tiny hairs covering an elephant's body, or the prehensile tips of its trunk. Seeing the incredible colours of a lilac-breasted roller through a pair of bincolars will blow your mind and possibly change your life.
6. Take time out
A great safari isn't just about rushing around seeing what animal you can find next. Make sure you take time out and really soak up the wilderness around you. On most morning drives you will stop for coffee or tea, and in the afternoons you will stop for a sundowner drink. Step away from the rest of the group (not far and with the permission of the guide) and just sit quietly by yourself. Listen to the sounds, soak in the smells allow wild Africa to envelop you. These can be some of the most powerful moments of your safari.
7. Don't just view your safari through a camera
People often want to take photographs of everything they see. This is absolutely understandable and capturing a great image is a real thrill. There is nothing wrong with coming back home with thousands of photographs. However, the camera can be a barrier to fully experiencing the wilderness. Make sure you put the camera down from time to time and allow yourself to just soak up the experience.
8. Don't compare
Theodore Roosevelt once said "Comparison is the thief of joy". This is definitely true on safari. Avoid comparing your safari experience with that of other people in the camp.
This is harder than it sounds, because you will often find yourself sitting around the fire together in the evening, sharing stories about your day and it is perfectly natural to discuss the things that you have seen. You will often find that you are absolutely thrilled with all the special things you have seen and experienced until you hear what someone else saw. Then all of the great feelings you had (which were very real) get squashed as you begin to think that you missed out.
It is important to remember that the experience you have is yours alone. What you see and experience on safari is your gift. No one else will ever see or experience those gifts in the same way ever again – so savour them and appreciate them fully. Remember how you felt when experiencing the gift. Don't let anyone else take that way and don't envy the gifts that were given to other people.
9. Communicate any fears or concerns
Safari takes place in a wild and foreign environment. It also has the potential to be one of the greatest experiences of your life. If you have any fears (even if they seem irrational) or concerns that might be impacting your experience then you should communicate those to the guide or the manager of the camp. Allow them to understand what it is that is worrying you. The very act of doing this will generally help shift the situation. The management and the guides can also make a plan to change things if needs be to ensure that you feel safer and alleviate any of the concerns you have.
10. Disconnect
When you are in the wilderness, actively disconnect from the life you normally live, and allow yourself to fully embrace the safari experience. You have travelled so far and invested so much in just getting there, give yourself the best chance of making the most out of it.
Make sure that you have told people that you will be out of contact for the duration of your safari. Then when you get into the wilderness, put your phone away. If you are using it as a camera make sure it is on flight mode. Many camps these days do have internet connection, but do yourself a favour and avoid it like the plague. Nothing will ruin your safari more quickly than watching emails pour into your inbox.
As soon as you start checking your phone messages, or your emails or your facebook, you are disconnecting with the experience available to you and re-connecting with your regular life. It immediately and significantly reduces the potential impact of the safari. Save the facebook photos until you get back to 'civilization'.
If you are going to a camp with no internet or phone signal (lucky you!) and you absolutely have to be in touch with home for your own peace of mind (e.g. you have a sick family member or you absolutely have to be in some contact with your business) then rent a satellite phone and try and check in just once a day.
11. Own the experience
In planning your trip, we at African Family Safaris can only put you in the right places at the right time, with the right people. We know that this is generally enough to create very unique and powerful experiences and memories. However we can't force you to enjoy it. Some people go on safari with a negative mindset and regardless of how amazing everything is they are always looking for the things that are wrong with a given situation. People can pick holes in any experience, but is that helping you enjoy it?
Ultimately how you feel about the experience will depend on you. If you want to love it, then you will!