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It's no wonder why Tamar Braxton, the youngest sibling star of the hit show Braxton Family Values, is gearing up for the third season of her spin-off, Tamar & Vince. Not only is Tamar the most entertaining of the bunch, but she's also much-talked-about because of her bevy of go-there wigs and weaves.
From one show to the next, we can be certain that Tamar's hair will be over-the-top.com depending on her mood.
"Whether I wear my hair straight or curly really just depends on how I feel," Tamar said during a chat with ESSENCE.com. "If I feel like I want to be a little more glamorous, I will wear it straight. If I'm feeling a little flirty, I'll wear it curly but my favorite wig is the straight one with bangs and blonde highlights."
Tamar has grown to love the versatility of her wigs and admits it would be hard for her to start wearing her own, natural hair.
"I have become a slave to the wig and the weaves," reveals Tamar. "I love the quickness and the fullness. Plus I would never dye my hair because it falls out like a bolt of lightning."
Although Tamar loves her wigs — so much so that she built extra space in her closet to house her precious hair — she's also adamant about making sure her own hair is healthy and well taken care of.
"My number one priority is healthy hair," says Tamar. "When I do wear a weave, I don't keep it for a long time and I make sure my own hair is braided and very well moisturized. I also don't put any chemicals in my hair."
Take a look at Tamar's ever-changing hair looks inside.


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Does Nigeria matter?
As an alumnus of this illustrious university, I consider it a great privilege to be invited to address this esteemed body. I am particularly humbled by this opportunity, as it is the third time since my graduation in 1976 that you have graciously asked me to be guest lecturer at our Annual General Meeting. I am grateful for the opportunity to address such a distinguished group again, and at a time our nation and university require a deeper conversation on issues of great importance to us all.
The organizers of this AGM have given me the latitude to address any topic of my choice. With such unfettered freedom, I have decided to take as my theme for today, the question: "Does Nigeria Matter?" I was inspired to speak to this subject for a variety of reasons. First, there are many centrifugal forces challenging the existence of the Nigerian state in varying degrees of gravity. Many of these forces are rooted in our recent history and they can be viewed from economic, political, social and national security prisms. Every now and again these forces ebb and flow, appearing and receding like the tidal waves of the ocean – pushing the country to a tipping point whenever they charge forward with ferocious intensity. There should not be much disagreement that today we stand at one of those pivotal moments in our history where the nation is severely challenged by these forces. Because we are all heavily vested in the future of this beautiful and great country, it is incumbent upon us to parachute into this contentious but important national conversation.
Second, given the constellation of cool rational heads residing in ivory towers, the Ahmadu Bello University is a pre-eminent platform where such a burning issue can be subjected to rigorous analysis and a fair and balanced judgment. My intention in this discussion, therefore, is to deliberately lift the tone of the national discussion to a level higher than the mundane, elicit more contributions on the way forward for our nation. I recognize that as one of the shining beacons of academic excellence, this institution, Ahmadu Bello University, should take the lead in shaping and molding the national debate in ways that should enlighten our larger population, and in a manner that introduces a more sober, contemplative and reflective dimension in dealing with such a delicate question that carries huge ramifications for our national destiny.
In this age of the social media there are no shortages of pontificators who may not necessarily be firmly grounded in knowledge or have a good memory of our painful national journey – but who nevertheless are too quick to make inflammatory comments and "proclamations." The stakes are that high and we cannot stand aloof or continue to remain indifferent.
However there cannot be any doubt in your minds as to where I stand with regards to the question I posed in my choice of topic for this lecture. Nigeria does matter greatly to me and I believe it matters to everyone in this distinguished assembly.
The rest of this paper is structured into six parts. In Part two, I will discuss Nigeria's evolution as a sovereign state and its very important attributes, justifying its viability as a nation state. Part 3 takes a snapshot of our performance so far and argues that the country is a laggard compared to some of its peers with whom we started the walk to freedom in the early 1960s. In Part four, I will attempt to lay bare the symptoms that are more often mistaken as the underlying causes of the nation's malaise and stunted growth. Part five, will go beneath the veneer of these symptoms to dredge up the root causes of Nigeria's challenges. Part six, will focus on proposals on what all citizens must collectively do to build the nation of our dreams. I will conclude in Part seven with some general remarks.
Evolution of Nigeria As A Nation State
Speaking of Nigeria as a nation, one question that arises is whether such a concept applies to Nigeria as presently composed, or whether it is a fallacious misapplication of terms? To address this question, we must look through the lenses of history and examine the process of state formation in our part of Africa. This will enable us to determine whether indeed a historical process of nationhood has been interrupted or enhanced by the imposition of the colonial system, and the subsequent transition to independence.
According to social scientists, there are many theories about state formation, and various definitions of what a state means. I do not propose to go into such a discourse since I shall assume that you are all familiar with this subject. Suffice it to say that from Ibn Khaldun to Hegel, Karl Marx and Frederich Engels, to modern scholars like Max Weber and Francis Fukuyama, various interpretations about the state and state formation have been proffered. While they all have to some degrees succeeded in addressing aspects of the phenomenon, they have, however, remained silent on others. The greatest drawback in most of the theories about state formation is the lack of proper contextualization about this process among people with no written records such as most of the Nigerian societies before the arrival of the colonial power, the British.
In this respect, many of our achievements have been classified as outside the pale of history since none of it was written down for posterity, and as the bias of the outside world was more towards written records rather than other sources of history such as oral traditions and recollections of elders. The processes that attended the formation of the state system in this part of the world were deemed inconsequential at best, or primitive at worst, and therefore, not worthy of the attention of serious historians. This perception has been corrected to some extent by the outstanding researches of historians and anthropologists like Dr. Abdullahi Smith, Professor R. A. Adeleye, Dr. Yusuf Bala Usman, Dr. Mahmud Tukur, Professor Kyari Tijjani and Professor Ali Mazrui.
Going beyond conjecture and polemics and standing us on firmer ground, the modern state as it came into being can be traced to the Treaty of Westphalia of 1648 that ended the so-called Thirty Years War in Europe. Following from that document, identifiable entities with clear boundaries, possession of coercive powers and capacity for enumeration of populations and taxation came into being, and became designated as states. They entered into relationships with other kindred entities and modern diplomacy took root from there on. Wars became no longer between feudal families but between states with organized armies led by rulers claiming defined territories as their sovereign enclaves.
The transfer of this system by the European colonial powers into Africa especially the British in our own case, provided the template for the evolution of the Nigerian state as we know it today. However this may not be entirely true. The British found in existence in most of the Northern part of the country, and to some extent in the Western part as well, clearly defined state structures with hereditary rulers in the form of Emirs, Kings and Obas, who controlled armies, conducted warfares, imposed taxes and meted out justice to offenders in accordance with the laws of their land. The British incorporated this system, which they called the Native Authority system into their form of administration, and perfected the model that they called "indirect rule" particularly in the Northern Emirates.
The evolution of the various entities that comprise Nigeria today towards nationhood may not have been coordinated, synchronized or even planned, but the drive towards a semblance of states was indeed emerging with the consolidation of vast territories under the Fulani dynasties that were established across Northern Nigeria by the Jihad of Shehu Usman Dan Fodio. Likewise, the consolidation of the ancient kingdom of Kanem-Borno under the new El-Kanemi dynasty was a transformation and reformation of the moribund state into a more compact and cohesive entity under a new system of governance. The various Hausa States particularly the "Hausa Bakwai" or the Seven States, and those others in Central Nigeria such as the Nok Culture, the Jukun Kwararafa State, the Nupe and Igala Kingdoms, the Lamibe of Fombina, and even the decentralized states like the Tiv and Igbos in South Eastern Nigeria, all portend towards the evolution of distinct state and national structures that served the needs and purposes of their various constituent units. Nigeria therefore, even from ancient times, was a gravitational point from which the diffusion of cultures, languages and civilization took place, and the useful arts such as metallurgy, the casting of bronze and iron implements, the making of ornaments and the development of long distance trade across vast territories emanated.
Nigeria is a magnificent land, which showcases all of the endowments so generously bestowed on it by Providence and nature. There are not too many countries in the world that are nearly 900,000 square kilometers in size. She lies near to the Equator and has therefore escaped the extremes between cold and heat, which is the burden of temperate countries of the world. Mercifully saved from the scourge of natural disasters, her proximate distance to the Equator brings her ample rains during the wet season, which lasts between four to eight months depending on the parts of the country. This country encompasses two of the most precious resources – abundant water resources and over 80 million hectares of arable land. The country is rich in other natural resources such as precious metals and stones, tin, columbite, iron ore, coal, cooper, nickel, limestone, bitumen, gypsum and of course the ubiquitous oil and gas resources.
Expressed in economic terms, Nigeria has been amply equipped by Mother Nature to play to its comparative advantage, raise the quality of life of its citizens, create a resilient, prosperous and globally competitive economy and build a just and egalitarian society. Any nation so strategically located with maritime access to world markets, with its large size of land, vast market, a teeming entrepreneurial population that celebrates its unity in diversity represented by the confluence of its beautiful rainbow cultures, and endowed with all forms of natural resources – surely such a nation should be shooting for the stars and Nigeria should have become a runaway success, at least 25 years after its independence.
Unfortunately, in the real world, you cannot depend on any magic wand or miracle to climb the ladder of success. Even a gifted child endowed by the Creator with a large and powerful brain has to do some hard work to convert his latent potential into a powerful success story. The moral here is that natural resources, in and of themselves, cannot help you much unless you apply imagination, skills and wisdom in exploiting them to secure the future of your country. This argument can be flipped around by suggesting that while natural endowments can give a country a head start in the race to the top, it is not necessarily a precondition for success. We know that 87% of Japan is rock and water, yet it was until recently, the second largest economy in the world. Singapore is only a city state, but it is today a high income country punching above its weight on the Human Development and Global Competitiveness indices. Dubai located in the scorching desolate desert, and with rapidly depleting hydro carbon reserves, is today an amazing global economic success story. The common thread, which explains all of these success stories is the ingenuity of the human mind. The human brain and mind is so powerful that if applied in a disciplined and focused manner over an extended period of time, individuals, firms and countries can achieve dramatic and mind-blowing results. The experience of many developing nations, including Nigeria, seem to suggest that factor endowments can encourage a culture of indolence and profligacy leading to stunted growth – the phenomenon of "resource curse." As the saying goes, necessity is the mother of invention. The evidence shows that people and countries when stacked against the harsh vagaries of nature and life tend to have a far greater incentive to pull a rabbit out of a hat.
Nigeria's Scorecard
Just 56 years after her independence, Nigeria is still a country in the making with excellent prospects before her, but burdened by a mixed bag of successes and failures. On the positive side we emerged from the civil war a more united country where many others faced with similar challenges have since fragmented into smaller pieces. After a long military interregnum, the nation has learned to settle down and accommodate a popular democratic form of government, which is approaching its second decade by 2019. This, in and of itself, is a very big deal. Another big deal is the current war being waged against corruption. Although in its infancy and, therefore, still work in progress, it remains a monumental landmark project for a number of reasons. First, corruption has been acknowledged as a cancer that has been devouring the very fabric of our society, and literally brought our country to its knees.
Second, the man behind this crusade, President Mohammadu Buhari, is reputed for his huge moral fibre and Spartan discipline. Third, if anybody doubts his grit and determination to pursue this war, they should read the President's authorised biography by John Payden, which was launched two weeks ago in Abuja. Very importantly President Buhari's increasingly successful fight against insecurity and his courage in deregulating petroleum prices coupled with his unrelenting focus on the entrenchment of fiscal discipline and accountability, are significant and noteworthy attributes. On other economic fronts, we have registered a string of victories since the mid-1980s. Through an orderly programme of privatisation and commercialization, a large chunk of our public enterprises have been transferred to the private sector resulting, in many instances, in significantly improving performance levels, propelling expansion and diversification of operations of these enterprises, and availing the public of better quality products. You do not need to look too far for the evidence all around you.
Classic cases in point are the banking, oil and gas and telecoms industries. Although spurred by high oil prices, it is fair to say that we posted significant economic growth for 12 years leading up to the beginning of 2015. GDP more than doubled with average year on year growth rate surpassing 6% over this period. It also bears mentioning that the structure of the GDP underwent significant change over this period with the non-oil sector and services accounting for a huge chunk of the GDP pie. The other noteworthy achievement is the ability of the Obasanjo Administration to sterilize the country's balance sheet by seeking a large unprecedented debt relief from the international club of creditors thus freeing us from the shackles of the IMF/World Bank bitter pills. Due to this and related reforms in the capital market, international credit rating agencies started rating Nigeria for the first time. The country also took the bold step of complying with the anti-money laundering rules designed by the Financial Action Task Force, which resulted in the creation of such bodies as the EFCC and the ICPC. So, on balance, there is a positive story to tell about our journey so far as a nation. However, beneath this veneer, there remains an unflattering evidence of the huge task undone.
Relative to our struggle to move out of underdevelopment, Nigeria ranks 152 out of 188 countries on the Human Development Index (HDI) with Niger Republic at the tail bottom. We have been hovering around this score for almost a decade. Consequently, our prospects for long term development and progress based on a long and healthy life, access to knowledge and a decent standard of living presents a bleak outlook. The picture is not any better relative to our ranking in global competitiveness. We are 124 out of 140 on the Global Competitiveness Index, sandwiched between the Gambia – a country of two million people – and Zimbabwe, which has been in economic free fall for a considerable period of time. Legatum Prosperity Index ranks Nigeria 125 out of 142. This turns reason on its head when contrasted with HDI rankings where Niger Republic is 188 but ranks ahead of Nigeria at number 114 in Prosperity Index. The implication being that Niger Republic is better able to galvanise its lean resources to lead its people to prosperity.
Based on these statistics, it is no surprise that income disparities in Nigeria are widening at an alarming rate. Such disparities are not limited to just income gaps between rich and poor people but also between regions of the country, with Northern part of Nigeria bearing the brunt of grinding poverty. Relative to access to social services, such as education and health services, the regional disparities between the north and the south are mind boggling. The Southern part of Nigeria has over the years, taken aggressive steps over the last 15 years to expand access to social services, with the establishment of numerous private schools, clinics and hospitals.
Take a pause and compare Nigeria's performance with some of our peers who were not any better than us at independence. I am talking of Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and South Korea. As a case in point. Malaysia has posted one of the highest economic growth rates in Asia averaging 6.2% per annum real GDP growth since 1970. Thanks to a patriotic, dynamic and progressive leadership coupled with a world class public service delivery system – Malaysia successfully transformed itself from an essentially agro-based economy in the 1970s to manufacturing in the mid-1980s and to modern services since the 1990s. Malaysia's national per capita income grew from $400 in 1970 to almost $11,000 in 2014 and is expected to join the league of high income countries by 2020 when this figure is expected to exceed $15,000. Incidence of poverty has been reduced from 49% in 1970 to 0.6% now; approximately 76% of the population are home owners and over 96% have access to both potable water and electricity. Today it ranks 20th out of 144 countries on the Global Competitiveness Index. Based on these compelling statistics we can confidently conclude that while Nigeria got quite a few things wrong, Malaysia got quite a few things right in their respective journeys of development.
• Mohammed Hayatu-Deen delivered this speech on the occasion marking the 11th Annual General Meeting of the Ahmadu Bello University Alumni Association, Assembly Hall, Ahmadu Bello University Main Campus, Zaria, recently.
Symptoms and Causes of Nigeria's Challenges
Against the backdrop of Nigeria's sorry economic and social statistics, we should not be entirely surprised by the existential threat posed to the unity of the country by various groups for reasons both real and imagined. A dispassionate review of a few of the underlying causes of these grievances and restiveness provides some powerful insight. At the top of this list is what I call the problem of the elite. The elite in any nation should act as a custodian and preserver of the national conscience. It should always seek to forge a consensus on what is best for the country and make its interests subservient to the overarching interest of the nation as enshrined in the constitution and codified in the laws and statute books. The elite thus exists to solve problems consistent with the progressive aspirations of a nation. However, for the most part, the elite in Nigeria does not exist to solve problems; rather it seems to exist to create and perpetuate problems. In so doing, it advances its interests and undermines the national interest – a classic case of "I am for myself and God can take care of the national interest."
Because the Nigerian elite has such unbridled control over resource allocation and distribution of political power and patronage, they make it a religion to maneuver themselves into elective offices across the various tiers of government. This has been the chief causative factor responsible for many of Nigeria's problems for decades. It follows that a country that is not governed in the national interest cannot but achieve mediocre results and show stunted growth. The humongous cost of running government operations at all three tiers leaves barely a miniscule for capital and development projects essential for boosting national output and employment, and raising the quality of life of the citizens. For majority of our people, the GDP growth of 6% or even 10% was a mere statistical abstraction because it bears no meaning to them – thus instead of experiencing shared prosperity and inclusiveness, all they see daily is grinding poverty and disease and erosion of their self-dignity and self-worth. When the law and order environment is dysfunctional and the judiciary is weak and compromised and public service delivery is crippled, citizen's attachment to their country becomes challenged.
This has been going on for a long time and you will agree that under these conditions the social charter between the rulers and the governed gets broken. Because the people have completely lost confidence in the ability of their rulers to cater for their welfare, everybody is looking out for himself and as a result our social structures have completely broken down with our ethos and values gone out of the window. This free for all environment has given rise to a call to arms by all kinds of disaffected people and agitators often aided and abetted by the elite. Kidnapping for ransom which started in the Delta region has grown into full-scale nation-wide industry. Intra and inter-community conflicts represented in many shapes and forms, including cattle rustling, have become the defining features of our social and economic landscape. At the political level are those caught by the nostalgia of securing the resurgence of the defunct state of Biafra from Nigeria.
Superimposed on this structure are the far more dangerous and well-resourced movements in the Niger Delta represented by any number of coalition of militants, and the North East represented by the sinister and evil Boko Haram which mercifully is in retreat, thanks to the decisive and courageous leadership of President Buhari. The ultimate solution to mitigating all of these threats fundamentally lies in meeting the everyday needs of people so that they are free from want and they can clearly see a bright future for themselves and their children. I reject the misguided notion that these problems will go away if Nigeria fragments into smaller pieces. The problem of the Nigerian elite is not the exclusive phenomenon of any particular region, state, ethnic group or religion. Greed has no religion, tribe or geographical boundary. Therefore, breaking up the country does not solve but accentuate the problem because the connoisseurs of fragmentation will now be involved in a dog fight over a smaller and shrinking pie – a zero sum game.
The Pillars for building a new Nation
It is for a good reason that President Buhari is staking much of his presidency on the need for systematic change through a major reorientation of our ethos and values embodied in national discipline, anticorruption and national security. This is a critical and fundamental goal. But for reasons argued elsewhere in this paper, these are symptoms of a dysfunctional system. The President who is a patriot to the core must have taken very seriously, where others were dismissive, the classification of Nigeria about 10 years ago on the "High Alert" list of Failed/Fragile States. Our ranking which was 54 out of 76 countries in 2005 sharply deteriorated to 14 out of 175 countries in 2015. The first 13 countries include South Sudan, Somalia, Central African Republic, Yemen, Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan.
We have been living in denial for far too long and this is a wakeup call for us as a nation to redefine and shape our destiny. And it is not about applying band aid and tinkering with the system. It is about redesigning the system to meet our peculiar needs and realities and prepare us for the future. I propose that this system reengineering should rest on seven pillars. The first is constitutional reform. Constitutional Reform
There is an overriding need for Constitutional reform. Our Constitution is modeled after the American grande norm. Our experience of operating this form of constitutional democracy fits and starts since 1979 would suggest a need for major modification. The current structure of Governance and Administration in Nigeria is unwieldy, over bloated and frighteningly expensive. A colossal proportion of the nation's revenue earnings is devoted to servicing the cost of public administration. I propose that we pivot more towards the French Presidential system of government by embarking on the following amendments:-
• An Executive Presidency, which allows for the election of a President for a term of seven years, subject to a maximum of two terms.
• The President should have the free hand to appoint as Prime Minister an experienced technocrat to run the government on a day-to-day basis – the equivalent of a Chief Operating Officer in the private sector, while the President performs the role of Chief Executive Officer. The Prime Minister will be the public face of the Executive in parliament, participating in debates and consideration of bills. The President should have the powers to hire and fire the Prime Minister based on performance and conduct.
• The current bloated 36-state structure should be collapsed into six Regional Administrations to be governed by elected Premiers. These Regions should be contiguous to the existing six geopolitical zones of the Federation. This will yield several benefits. It will drastically reduce the cost of public administration and thus reduce waste and inefficiency. Many of the existing states are not economically viable entities and hence their agglomeration into these larger units will enhance their economic viability significantly. This is bound to improve the quality of leadership because of the likelihood of a more rigorous process involved in the election of a Premier since the stakes are a lot higher in electing a Premier compared to a Governor of a much smaller geographical entity.
• We should jettison the existing bi-cameral legislature in favour of a single chamber comprising of 200 or so part time legislators. In the light of our current experience, the benefits of having a much smaller legislative chamber are overwhelming and too obvious to bear mentioning here.
I am not naïve enough to presume that constitutional reform especially in Nigeria is an easy or even doable task. Some attempts to tinker with the Constitution at the margins since 1999 have hit the rocks. However, it is a necessary task that must be undertaken if Nigeria is to have a fighting chance at development and not become a wasteland of extravagance and profligacy. If the President were to get his act together very quickly, do very well for Nigerians and succeed in securing a second term, he will be best placed to formulate the campaign for his re-election around the theme of constitutional reform. He has the moral force of character, sincerity of purpose and patriotism to create a groundswell of support for such an idea; with the caveat that significant effort and energy must be invested in making a convincing and credible sales pitch to the Nigerian people. A national referendum or plebiscite is ultimately required to ensure its passage.
Crafting a National Vision
We need to decide whether we want to take responsibility as adults capable of becoming masters of our own house or forever remain children. No nation can become globally competitive and prosperous without clearly articulating and implementing a long term Vision based on discipline, sacrifice, hard work and patriotism. We attempted Vision 2010 and Vision 20-20-20 but both faltered due to reasons that are only too well known – lack of seriousness and commitment. The following attributes are essential in crafting such a vision document:-
• It must place the prosperity and welfare of the Nigerian people at the epicentre of the Visioning process.
• It should clearly define the desired end state and the period by which we shall attain such an end state. Given the very low base from which we are starting, I recommend that we set our sights on Vision 2050 – by which time we should have long become one of the top 10 economies in the world.
• Mass mobilisation of the populace is essential and this is best achieved if broad segments of the population are represented in the Vision Development Committee. The Committee in turn will establish a variety of outreach programmes and delivery channels for getting inputs and buy in from the general public.
• Every President of the country through to 2050 should be the chief sponsor and cheer leader of the Vision project which must have his undiluted attention and focus for it to have any reasonable chance of success.
Designing an Economic and Social Philosophy
A clear, coherent and robust economic and social philosophy on which the nation's vision will be anchored should be formulated. At the heart of this philosophy is the need for all successive governments to demonstrate their unwavering commitment to bringing development to the people by raising their quality of lives, enhancing their sense of self-worth and raise their potential to share in national prosperity. Reliance on the market as the most efficient allocator of resources should form the bedrock of macro-economic philosophy. Knee jerk reaction to external shocks through crude capital controls, price control and import bans should be avoided at all cost. Experience around the world and here in Nigeria suggests that resorting to such crude techniques can cause more harm to the economy. Rather, in the face of shocks to the economy prices must be allowed to adjust to restore balance and equilibrium, otherwise output and employment will bear the brunt of bad policies with a vengeance. It is largely on account of the decision by the current Administration to fix prices and impose capital controls that Nigeria found itself in a severe and avoidable recession today. It is accepted that countries, when faced with sudden shocks, can impose controls for a brief, transient period, but this should not become entrenched state policy. The fundamental point to be made here is that the independence of the Central Bank should be religiously safeguarded at all times.
Anchoring National Vision on Development Plans
As I suggested earlier, if Nigeria is to join the ranks of the ten leading economies in the next 30 years, it must rely on Development Plans as the primary vehicles for delivering on the lofty goals and aspirations of the National Vision. There should be three development planning cycles in the journey to Vision 2050. The first Development Plan should focus on building a true nation by eradicating poverty and ensuring the balanced development of all parts of the country and economic sectors. This plan will last from 2018 to 2030. The second plan, which will span a decade should seek to make Nigeria a highly industrialised export driven economy positioning it to become a high middle income country by the end of that period. The third Plan beginning in 2040 should position the country to become a highly innovative economy that is resilient and globally competitive with the services sector accounting for a significant share of the GDP. By 2050 the goal should be to make Nigeria a high income economy that is both inclusive and sustainable.
Economic Game Changers
The transformational journey that we are talking about is only feasible if we develop a new National Industrial Policy designed around the following organizing principles:-
• Anything we choose to produce and market should be based solely on our comparative advantage. We should not produce those goods, which can be made better and cheaper by other people as we cannot be the best in everything.
• Develop and implement a package of investment, trade and tax policies designed to provide incentives to investors across various industries.
• Develop an operating model consistent with global best practices for inter
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James Cook University: AD0201
|Connection: Zorro III
Hi Res Version - 55K
AD0201 stands for Analogue/Digital and is a full length Zorro III card for the Amiga designed to be used with Ocean Radar. The card was developed in-house by the James Cook University and unfortunately was never sold to the public although it is still in use. The card contains a Motorola MC68340 embedded microprocessor, 512K SRAM (25ns), a 12bit A/D + FIFO, Multiplexer, serial port, parallel port, FlashROM and an expansion bus for extending the cards capabilities. It was used with an A3000 to control radar and read sample raw data back. A video capture module was built for this card called the AD0240. A Zorro II version of this card was also made called the AD0200.
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Letzte Änderung des Artikels: 2009-01-26 15:35
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Daily Archives: January 4, 2011
The Coffee Club – Marion, SA
Kiosk 206 Westfield Shopping Town, 297 Diagonal Rd, OAKLAND PARK, SA 5046
On my way to see the seventh and penultimate Harry Potter movie, I decided that I needed a caffeine fix – and this place was closest (other than the $3.50 automatic coffee machine 'coffee' [word used loosely] available within the new candy bar run at the Cinema) – so I lined up, ordered my latte and proceeded to watch the entertainment that the staff offered. Let me just say, that if my lip reading skills were of higher quality I would have been much more offended at the things that the manager/barista was calling her waiting staff as soon as their backs were turned. But on to the coffee review…
Latte Quality – Passable – a really long wait, for scoldingly hot coffee – which could just as easily have been instant.
Cost – $4.20 regular latter – which is on the expensive side of things – $4.40 if I wanted it to go.
Coffee Supplier – Own Brand
Fair Trade – No – although they promote their involvement with UTZ Certification – which is "coffee supports the farmers and their families through labour rights, healthcare, water and housing. The program also protects the environment by ensuring water and energy conservation, and protection of the landscape and soil"
Venue Suitable for:
- Quiet Chat/Deep and Meaningful/Study and Reflection – Not really as it is located in the busiest part of the Marion shopping complex. The Coffee Club at Knox City is perfect for all these activities as it was a favourite haunt of mine when I lived in that part of the world.


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PEC Cards are first focused and structured approach for delivering Physical Education in primary classes. Children now can enjoy learning. It works at grass root with students of any class. It is a great innovative method of learning and teaching. This needs to be spread across schools all over.
Teaching yoga as part of the integrated school day, within established school routine and input from teaching staff has resulted in a much livelier, more vibrant and fun learning experience.
This is the basis of the models that we have developed and perfected on how to teach yoga to children in both the Primary Sector. We are happy to pass on our experience, knowledge and skills to students through our unique training.
Skating students go beyond just being skilled, qualified, experienced professionals. They are also Friendly, Approachable, Caring, Creative and Fun! Our skating school is not run like a factory, churning out skaters like robots. We prefer giving more attention to individuals, and believe we get better results too. We strive to keep our class ratio no more than 12 skaters per instructor.
- Series of classes are offered year round with various schedule options for time and day
- Instruction is based on the Skating Institute (ISI) format with Tots 1 or Beginner through Freestyle 5 offered
All beginning skaters may only enroll in the following levels: Tots 1 is for children who are from 4 to 6 years old with minimal to no skating experience. Beginner is for participants who are 7 to 17 years old with minimal to no skating experience.
Aerobic exercise (also known as cardio) is physical exercise of low to high intensity that depends primarily on the aerobic energy-generating process. Aerobic literally means "relating to, involving, or requiring free oxygen", and refers to the use of oxygen to adequately meet energy demands during exercise via aerobic metabolism. Generally, light-to-moderate intensity activities that are sufficiently supported by aerobic metabolism can be performed for extended periods of time. When practiced in this way, examples of cardiovascular/aerobic exercise are medium to long distance running/jogging, swimming, cycling, and walking.
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art and the national sport of South Korea. Taekwondo training generally includes a system of blocks, kicks, punches, and open-handed strikes and may also include various take-downs or sweeps, throws, and joint locks. Taekwondo ranks are typically separated into "junior" and "senior," or "student" and "instructor," sections. Taekwondo as a sport and exercise is popular with people of both sexes and of many ages. Taekwondo forms disciplines your body to control your breathing by exhaling on the execution of methods and inhaling in between. Taekwondo has a sport component to it, in reality, most martial arts have a sport component. Taekwondo training, a good Strength and Conditioning program is a vital component to your success, both short and long term. The Taekwondo Belt System There are six colors of belts: white, yellow, green, blue, red, and black.
Basketball is one of the world's most popular and widely viewed sports. The National Basketball Association (NBA) is the most popular and widely considered to be the highest level of professional basketball in the world and NBA players are the world's best paid sportsmen. There are many techniques for ball handling-shooting, passing, dribbling, and rebounding. Basketball teams generally have player positions, the tallest and strongest members of a team are called a center or power forward, while slightly shorter and more agile players are called small forward, and the shortest players or those who possess the best ball handling skills are called a point guardor shooting guard. The point guard directs the on court action of the team, implementing the coach's game plan, and managing the execution of offensive and defensive plays (player positioning). We produce the district level and National Level players through the training programs.
Football is India's second most popular sport, next to the game of cricket. Traditionally it has enjoyed popularity in the regions such as West Bengal, Goa, Kerala, Odisha, and the entire north-eastern India, especially Assam, Manipur,Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland,Tripura and Sikkim. Tamil Nadu is a recent addition to this list.
India's current top domestic league, I-League, was formed in 2007 in an attempt to professionalize domestic football and in 2013 the Indian Super League was formed with 8 teams to promote Indian football to the country and world Also contested is Santosh Trophy, a knock-out competition between states (provinces) and government institutions. Our students were selected in SGFI CBSE Football team and Nationals and District Levels.
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players each on a field at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard-long pitch. The game is played by 120 million players in many countries, making it the world's second most popular sport after association football. Each team takes its turn to bat, attempting to score runs, while the other team fields. Each turn is known as an innings (used for both singular and plural).
The bowler delivers the ball to the batsman who attempts to hit the ball with his bat away from the fielders so he can run to the other end of the pitch and score a run. Each batsman continues batting until he is out. The batting team continues batting until ten batsmen are out, or a specified number of overs of six balls have been bowled, at which point the teams switch roles and the fielding team comes in to bat.
In professional cricket, the length of a game ranges from 20 overs (T20) per side to Test cricket played over five days. The Laws of Cricket are maintained by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) with additional Standard Playing Conditions for Test matches and One Day Internationals.
Cricket is generally believed to have been first played in southern England in the 16th century. By the end of the 18th century, it had become the national sport of England. The expansion of the British Empire led to cricket being played overseas and by the mid-19th century the first international match was held. ICC, the game's governing body, has 10 full members. The game is most popular in Australasia, England, the Indian subcontinent, the West Indies and Southern Africa.


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Downloadable content:
Kv Jöns Ols i Lund - energisnålt och lönsamt flerfamiljshus med konventionell teknik, C Warfvinge, 2005.
Uppdatering av PFS - beräkningsdelen
Datum 2007-07-01
Uppdatering av sfs.dll. senaste versionen giltig till 2046-01-15
The PFS program is used to calculate almost any static flow system. The flow system is described with a simple sketch and as text file. Double lines are used describe flowpaths. Short texts connected to the double lines define different flowpath properties. Single lines are used to describe volumes connecting a number of flowpaths. A flowpath can be rather general and does not have to be a proper duct or pipe. The media can be air, water, other fluids or compressed gases.
A main idea with the PFS program is that the sketch as a text file should be self-documenting. The result text file is equal to the input text file with added result print outs. Another idea is that different components such as fans, pumps, dampers, valves or heaters should be defined by a single line.
PFS Tutorial with 24 examples can be downloaded.
The PFS program has been documented in a number of manuals and reports about the program language, the operation of the program and a large number of application examples. All manuals and reports are however in Swedish.
The PFS program can be run under DOS, Windows 98 and Windows NT. It is available both in a DOS version (PFS) and a Windows version (WinPFS).
For more information contact professor Lars Jensen.


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Get in gear, stylishly, with the new Lululemon Athletica store at First Colony Mall in Sugar Land. It opens today and makes the fifth Houston store and the 16th location in Texas.
And to celebrate, the store is offering free fitness classes through Sunday. Classes will be conducted by Elizabeth Whitehead of Define Body & Mind, Kim Syma of Revolution Studio, Michelle Shimer of Awakened Yoga and Mitzi Henderson of Life Power Yoga at Lifetime Fitness and Namitzi Yoga. For a schedule of times, visit www.facebook.com/lululemonfirstcolony.
There's also free Yoga for Athletes (all levels) at 3:30 pm. Saturday in the front of Sugar Land Town Center City Hall.


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Commodities Fund is established by Crops Act 2013 under the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Irrigation to provide sustainable, affordable and accessible credit and advances to crops sector for development of crops regulated under AFA Act 2013.
Commodities Fund seeks to recruit experienced, highly motivated and results oriented individuals to fill the following positions:
Commodities Fund seeks to recruit experienced, highly motivated and results oriented individuals to fill the following positions:
Systems Auditor
Under direct supervision of the Internal Auditor, the System Auditor performs detailed evaluation of internal controls and reviews computer information systems.
· Perform general and application control reviews for computer information systems.
· Perform information control reviews to include system development standards, operating procedures, system security, programming controls, communication controls, backup and disaster recovery, and system maintenance. iii) Direct and/or perform reviews of internal control procedures and security for systems under development and/or enhancements to current systems.
· Recommend revisions to audit procedures to enhance efficiencies. Reviews internal controls throughout the Fund by evaluating the adequacy of system controls and recommends improvements.
· Prepare audit finding memoranda and working papers to ensure that adequate documentation exists to support the completed audit and conclusions.
· Prepare and present written and oral reports and other technical information in a pertinent, concise, and accurate manner for distribution to Management.
· Follow up on audit findings to ensure that Management has taken corrective action(s).
· Assist and train other audit staff in the use of computerized audit techniques, and in developing methods for review and analysis of computerized information systems.
· Maintain currency of knowledge with respect to relevant state-of-the-art technology, equipment, and/or systems.
· Conduct operational, compliance, financial and investigative audits, as assigned.
· Perform miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.
· Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science/Management Information Systems, Accounting, Business or Finance.
· Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), or Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)
· At least 3 years' experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified above
· Experience in working with an Enterprise Resource Planning System
· Knowledge of current technological developments/trends in the area of expertise.
· Proficient in using computer software (e.g., ACL, SQL, Excel) and application systems.
· Ability to perform control reviews on systems development, operation, programming, control, and security procedures and standards.
· Ability to gather data, compile information, and prepare reports.
· Knowledge of auditing concepts and principles.
· Ability to review system backup, disaster recovery and maintenance procedures.
· Knowledge of software requirements for the auditing of computing systems and procedures.
· Knowledge of computer systems development and programming.
· Knowledge of general accounting principles.
· Ability to persuade and influence others.
· High level of Integrity and honesty.
· Must satisfy the requirements of chapter six of the constitution
Supply Chain Assistant
Under the direct supervision of the Supply Chain Management Officer, the Supply Chain Assistant will be responsible for inventory control, custody, distribution, utilization, verification and disposal of stores to ensure optimum stock levels.
· Assist in the preparation of procurement plans in adherence to the acceptable standards
· Prepare quarterly and annual procurement reports for submission to Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) in compliance with set requirements
· Conduct market research on goods and services required by the Fund for purposes of cost effective purchase, quality and value for money
· Process requisitions from user sections for goods and services required as per laid down procurement procedures.
· Goods receipt, recording and maintenance of appropriate records
· Maintain stores, take stock and participate in the identification of unserviceable and obsolete stores & equipment for disposal
· Maintain the Funds asset register for accountability and reference.
· Undertake any other duties as allocated from time to time by the supervisor
· Minimum Diploma in Supply Chain Management or its equivalent from a recognized institution
· Experience in E-procurement strategies
· Served in a comparable position for a minimum period of three (3) years
· Valid membership to Kenya Institute of Supplies Management (KISM) or an equivalent body;
· Valid license to practice Procurement from KISM
· Certificate in computer applications. Experience in working with an Enterprise Resource Planning System is an added advantage
· Good Negotiation and Analytical Skills
· High level of Integrity and Honesty
· Must satisfy the requirements of Chapter six of the Constitution.
Credit Officer
Reporting to the Manager Credit and Resource Mobilization, the Credit Officer is responsible for the entire credit administration process, including the consistent application of a credit policy, periodic credit reviews of existing customers, and the assessment of the credit worth of applicants & collections to meet set targets & minimize Portfolio while maximizing volumes, sustainability and profitability
· Manage the business relationships & portfolio of intermediaries while growing a high quality loan book.
· Receive and appraise credit applicants and proposals from farmers.
· Make appropriate recommendations to the Credit manager following credit appraisals and advise the intermediaries with reason for unsuccessful applications.
· Ensure appropriate securities documentation in line with the Fund's Credit Risk Management policy.
· Prepare and submit disbursement request to the Credit Manager and follow up for approval with credit committee.
· Liaise with the Finance department for disbursements to farmers;
· Ensure that all pertinent reports and supporting documentation required from the farmers are received on time, analyzed and submitted to the appropriate departments.
· Design appropriate field monitoring missions involving the farmers within their catchments and submit timely reports.
· Develop a loan recovery programme for outstanding loans and ensure timely remittance of repayment to the Fund and provide recommendations on strategy to adopt with respect to default cases.
· Contribute to product development to ensure that credit risk exposure is minimized
· Review the loan portfolio on a regular basis and give recommendation on areas of improvement or remedy
· Keeping abreast of issues related to compliance, legal, and market-risk involved in the endorsement of credit
· Manage assigned projects within the Credit department;
· Any other duties that may be assigned from time to time by the supervisor
· Minimum Diploma in Business Related Field/ Agriculture studies or any other relevant course.
· Minimum one (1) year relevant working experience in Credit Appraisal & Administration in a reputable financial institution
· Relevant professional qualifications e.g. CIFA, CPA, ACCA, CCP (Minimum Level 1)
· Post Graduate qualification in Credit Management or its equivalent is an added advantage
· Experience in working with an Enterprise Resource Planning System.
· Results-orientated, adheres to turn around times/deadlines.
· Strong Credit Analytical skills
· Team player, approachable, self-motivated.
· High level of professionalism, integrity and honesty.
· Good Communication and negotiation skills
· Must satisfy the requirements of chapter six of the constitution
How to Apply
Applicants who meet the above requirements should submit their application including copies of academic and professional certificates, testimonials, curriculum vitae and three referees. Clearly referenced applications should reach the undersigned by 26th July, 2018.
Railways Headquarters, Block D, 2nd Floor
Workshop Road, Off Haile Selassie Avenue
P.O. Box 52714 –00200 NAIROBI
E-mail: email@example.com
All Applicants will be required to satisfy the requirements of Chapter Six of the Constitution of Kenya 2010 and should submit among other documents:
· Certificate of Good Conduct from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations,
· Clearance Certificate from the HELB;
· Tax Compliance Certificate from the KRA;
· Clearance from the EACC
· Report from an Approved Credit Reference Bureau
Commodities Fund is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Persons Living with Disabilities are encouraged to apply.


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June is Pride month. During this time, cities and communities around the country hold festivals and parades to commemorate the struggles and achievements within the LGBT community. It is an occasion to celebrate love and freedom. In recent years, major events have positively impacted and progressed the rights of gay, lesbian, and transgender people including the elimination of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the dismantling of the Defense of Marriage Act, and the Supreme Court's ruling that same-sex marriage be recognized as constitutional.
The fight for these freedoms has not been easy, but the people still soldier on to fight for their way to express themselves. Religious and political groups find legal loopholes to undermine their efforts. Terrorists and crazed gunmen murder innocent people living their lives freely and normally. All manner of hate and greed manifested into confused people who only feel joy by taking it away from other people. It all is incredibly sad, but the feeling doesn't last. These people are on their way out and their influence is shrinking as the majority of those who support the rights and freedoms of our LGBT brothers and sisters continues to grow.
Pride in Chicago extends over two weekends. The first weekend kicks off with a two-day street festival along Halsted Street in the Boystown neighborhood. Food and shop vendors, music, and other festivities line the street. It is sweaty, loud, and chaotic. However, it is spirited and the feeling of joy and community is intoxicating. The next weekend on Sunday is the parade. My favorite parade of the year, it is a two hour plus force of movement and color. It is almost impossible not to have a good time. People are dancing and hugging and waving signs of support. And you even have candy thrown at you! It is so great to see people of all different backgrounds get together to support love and unity; causes that are bigger than any of our individual selves. However, it wasn't always like that.
Jobriath is a name very few people know. However, his impact on LGBT in music in pioneering primarily because he was the first openly gay rock star. Born Bruce Wayne Campbell, Jobriath was destined for greatness. Early on his musical career, he worked on stage productions of Hair. During that time through the early 1970s, he was also working on demo tapes and crafting his own musical persona. In 1972, Jerry Brandt signed on his Jobriath's manager and secured a $500,000 recording contract; one of the biggest ever up to that point. Before the release of his eponymous debut album in 1973, Jobriath's face was plastered everywhere; on buses, full-page ads in Rolling Stone, and even a massive billboard in the middle of Times Square.
With that kind of marketing and publicity, Jobriath was to become the next big thing in music. But the reason why he didn't was because people could not accept him as feminine and openly gay. The LGBT community during the late 1960s and early 1970s tried to find their footing after years of violence and threats to their community. Many felt that the only way to not draw attention to themselves in the form of violence was to not contribute to the stereotypes they were associated with. For men, the stereotype was that homosexuals were feminine, limp-wristed perverts who acted like woman instead of adhering to the masculine identity associated with men. As a result, many gay men took on masculine features, dressed in masculine clothing, and projected a manly attitude and persona. Jobriath was the antithesis to that identity and that didn't sit well with the gay community. They felt this person who looked feminine and vaguely human would continue to give their community a bad name.
This cultural backlash severely impacted Jobriath's career. Neither his debut album nor the 1974 follow-up Creatures on the Street sold well. After the failure of those albums and problems from his manager, Jobriath went into seclusion. After a few years, he changed his name to Cole Berlin and adopted a new look and performance persona. As Berlin, he would play cabaret and piano music for local clubs. He also tried to get back into acting which he hadn't done since Hair. Unfortunately, he wasn't successful in either his music or acting. He was often poor and would resort to prostituting himself. Within a few years, Bruce Wayne Campbell died of AIDs in his apartment becoming one of the first famous musicians to have done so. He was there for several days before he was discovered.
In recent years, Jobriath has become a cult musical icon. A documentary released in 2014 has contributed to that and to tell his story. What people find when they listen to him is glam rock in its early stages. The track "I'm a Man" is one of Jobriath's signature songs and pioneering glam rock track. While his contemporaries like David Bowie or Marc Bolan were also making major strides in developing glam rock, Jobriath was crafting a unique voice. His influence has grown over the years, sometimes in weird ways. When Morrissey was touring to promote his 1992 album Your Arsenal, he wanted Jobriath to serve as the opening act unaware that he had been dead for a decade at that point.
I think it is a shame of how unknown Jobriath is today despite his contributions to the LGBT influence and identity in popular music. Being the first openly gay rock artist in a time where being gay could get you killed is a heavy burden, but he did it. Even though his cost him a lucrative career as a rock musician, he wasn't going to hide his identity when others around him were doing so. Now, we celebrate people and all the different identities that make up this great society of ours. However, we mustn't forget about the people who came before us and sacrificed so much just to be themselves.


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Has anyone else done this yet?
SlinkySlim666 Panama City, FloridaMembers Join Date: 2017-02-27 Member: 228333Posts: 76 Advanced user
I'm just curious am I the only one that did this to keep there lifepod from floating around and away from the original start point, Plus it looks hella fresh. Also does anyone else happen to know how to do the secret trick of building a bulkhead at the end of the hallway module ? That's my glitch door in my main base I call it... It lets me leave my base in walking mode and I can walk around on the bottom of the ocean without losing oxygen and no predator becomes hostile. Explore Away. I uploaded a YouTube video of it on my new gaming channel if anyone is interested.
0x6A7232 USMembers Join Date: 2016-10-06 Member: 222906Posts: 5,262 Advanced userI believe after you repair Lifepod 5 it no longer drifts. But the corral is a cool idea.
It's not supposed to, but sometimes it does.UWE Community guidelines | Guide to play in VR with Google Cardboard or Gear | Increase Subnautica view distance | Useful info to post with error reports | Recovery of corrupted saved games | How to easily update your drivers
Crashing, lag problems? Or maybe your old save didn't get the latest update? Upload your saved game folder to help the devs troubleshoot, then try clearing your cache directories | Automatic Cache cleaning tool here | How to use the Debug Console | How to play any version of Subnautica using Steam | Tips for Subnautica beginners | Why can't the devs "just fix it"? - a modding session for you to educate yourself with Want more frames? Try adding this to your launch options: -window-mode exclusive | Solve options not saving or black screens by deleting options file | Possible workaround for Pause / Menu Bug | Rescue a trapped Seamoth / PRAWN
Slow loading / textures popping in? Try moving Subnautica to an SSD | How to switch Subnautica to Experimental mode (clear cache afterwards) | How to run chkdsk on your drive | How to verify integrity of your game cache (in the "Installation" section) | Blue screens or computer freezing up? Try this fix (updates a corrupted DX10 compatibility file in the graphics driver that sometimes doesn't get updated)
Subnautica launches in a tiny window? Use Task Manager to Maximize it (Thanks FlippingPower) | How to place your Moonpool so it connects correctly (includes diagrams) | Want to hang out with fellow players and the devs? Subnautica Discord server ← swing on by! | SuspensionRailway's Modding Emporium ↔ Categorized list of mods, including 1st playthrough-friendly ← Hey, look, mods! → ReShade mods ↔ Subnautica NexusMods
Humans don't crush at the depths you might think
Joystick problems? | Xpadder | UJR / vJoy | JoyToKey | Get detailed info for troubleshooting: CPU-Z | GPU-Z | HWiNFO64 | Speccy | Pastebin | Recover the data on your crashed hard disk! | I'm a Total Geek
Forum BBCode Rainbow text generator
Tarkannen North CarolinaMembers Join Date: 2016-08-15 Member: 221304Posts: 669 Advanced user
In one of my games, it disappeared infinitely into the horizon (even warping 5000 meters towards the beacon didn't find it, but it did cause the game to act weird). Last month I came back to my Lifepod drifting 5 meters per second over the Blood Kelp zone (confirmed by F1 console function while standing on the pod). While it ultimately forced a restart, the idea of it being drivable still appeals to me.Like my avatar? She's Jane, she's cute and she's awesome! She comes from the webcomic Nerf NOW!! created by Jo Pereira, and you should go check it out right NOW!!
SlinkySlim666 Panama City, FloridaMembers Join Date: 2017-02-27 Member: 228333Posts: 76 Advanced user
unhackerguard Members Join Date: 2018-12-19 Member: 246376Posts: 1 Freshly registered user
Kouji_San Sr. Hινε UÏкεεÏεг - EUPT Deputy The NetherlandsMembers, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue Join Date: 2003-05-13 Member: 16271Posts: 15,781 Advanced userSlinkySlim666 wrote: »LOL this just happened after I loaded up my game, after the texture breaking update (fyi, yep it isn't just you it happened to me too) I love it tho.. Made my day!
Oh no it came back, but hey this is all I see
Guardian of the "magic cookiejar"
Retired forum Admin, I mostly used a flamethrower tank for disputes... Mostly
Retired EUPT Deputy | Moral Support | Squad 5 Blue | 102 1HP Skulk escapes and counting


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It is possible to see the principle highlights of India: the Taj, tigers at Ranthambore, the majestic forts at Jaipur and still get to relax at a beautiful hotel on a beach – all in two weeks! We know sometimes that you actually just need a relaxing holiday, but also want to explore for a week or so and then just flop, which is why we've come up with exactly that. This is perfect for first timers to India taking in some for the key sites at a relatively speedy pace, and then having a week to chill on a lovely beach in Goa.
- Tick off one of those bucket list items with a visit to the incredible Taj Mahal.
- A tiger safari in Ranthambore, where your chances of spotting the elusive tiger is relatively high.
- Experience an incredible remote fort in Ramathra and see what real rural Rajasthan looks like – everything you think about India will be thrown out of the window here. Once in a lifetime.
- Complete the Golden triangle with some time in Jaipur, staying in the bustling old quarter and get to see the gorgeous Amber Fort.
- Take one week off and do as much or as little as you like in a luxury hotel on the beach in Goa.
As with any of our suggested itineraries, this holiday can be tailor-made to suit at no extra cost. You'll only pay for any difference in the logistic costs. If you have more time, this itinerary works extremely well by extending your time in Rajasthan and taking in places such as Jodhpur and Udaipur.
Talk to us to start your extraordinary India experience today.


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Tuesday, June 10, 2008
In defense of an unkempt yard
After all the broo-haha, I walked out in the yard with my camera to try and see it objectively, see it as a stranger would. Honestly, I couldn't find fault with it. I love it the way it is, and it's staying that way as long as we live here.
There are layers and layers of things to discover out there. It might be a new dragonfly skimming the prairie grass as it waves in the breeze. Or a swallowtail is investigating the Dutchman's Pipe in the "messy" corner, looking for a good place to lay her eggs.
A hawk might be waiting patiently in the "waiting tree", for a mouse or vole to peek out of the overgrown tree line separating us from the sweet elderly neighbors to the southwest (those neighbors grow the juiciest veggies, and share them with us every summer...you think they hate us?).
I stood in the prairie and took a picture of the house, to show everyone what the yard really looks like:
(The black and orange dot is Nellie trying her damnedest to carry her basketball to me)
Anyone see anything wrong with the yard?
Then I walked out to the middle of the yard and took a picture of the "BAD, BAD PRAIRIE".
Our neighbors to the northeast are also elderly (and two of our three neighbors live outside the subdivision, and they both owned at least part of the land that the subdivision is now standing on). The prairie ends at our fence, and the neighbor's yard has a nice, open space until you get to their house.
No worries about adding mice and snakes to their property (mice and snakes like overgrown areas...which is the whole reason we added a prairie)
We actually WANT rodents and insects and reptiles. Feed the raptors, they will be more than happy to stick around and continue the pest control for you.
(Gratuitous picture of happy Hooper, in front of the prairie)
If you want to make your yard a haven instead of a sterile monoculture, go check out National Wildlife Federation's Backyard Habitat page. It's easy, it's cheap, it's fun, it's good for the world, one yard at a time.
Enlisting the help of your neighbors can increase your efforts...I drew a simple diagram of four houses, with their shared corners as the focus of their backyard habitats:
*Don't laugh. I'm no Zick.*
Just so you don't think that all I can think of is my prairie, here's a shot of one of the blue million cicadas that are drowning out the bird song, scaring my children and generally messing up the place:
Please just mate so you can die and we can be rid of you for another 13-17 years...okay?
Do yourself a favor and go check out this video about the 17-year cicada invasion
(Brood X, larger and scarier than the emergence we are currently experiencing as Brood XIV). Though the little buggers are annoying and weird-looking, the video is very well done and captivating.
By the way, the feather from a recent post was from a Great Horned Owl. Finally, physical evidence that they are here! (And using the prairie, ahem.)
10 comments:
Okay, Smarty, I think it is time to 'fess up.
It is quite obvious to someone with a trained eye, such as The Swami, that the diagram of the shared habitat is the product of weeks of work by a team of landscape architects.
- Wednesday, June 11, 2008 7:25:00 AM
- nina at Nature Remains. said...
Nice post, Susan!
But sorry the cicadas are bothering you. They DO make a racket, don't they?
I have the species here whose song is like a sprinkler set on pulse. I've never heard anything like it!
But just think how happy your insect-eating birds must be!
- Wednesday, June 11, 2008 8:14:00 AM
- NCmountainwoman said...
Lovely yard. What a special place for the girls to learn more about nature.
We have cicadas to the east, west, and south, but none here. I love hearing them, but only for short periods of time.
- Wednesday, June 11, 2008 9:03:00 AM
- Owlman said...
I want to add some native prairie grass down the one side of our yard. What grasses would you recommend to attract birds? I'm in NW New Jersey, so I would need to put something in that's hardy. We back onto farm property and we have split rail fencing so prairie grass will be a perfect addition.
Personally I think your yard rocks, although I can see that some people will consider it untidy. I say let them have their sterile opinion and move on; life is too short to fuzz with stupid people who don't get it and never will. They are on the other side of the fence and as long as they stay there we'll all be happy ;-)
- Wednesday, June 11, 2008 1:36:00 PM
- Joy said...
It's beautiful. Amazing how planting the right things can bring all kinds of creatures to your yard. We've got an invasion of ladybugs (yay for the roses!!), we get teeny tiny baby praying mantis every spring, there's a snake living in the wood "wall" out back. We even had a black widow last year. She was so lovely. The hawks swoop through and pick off our fish in the pond sometimes. Baby mockingbirds were learning to fly for the past two weeks. And the hummingbirds. Oh my. They are hysterical. I vote for backyard habitats myself. Now if I could just get an owl to decide our yard is the best place for it to live. I'd like one of those tiny burrowing owls to make a burrow in the hill in our backyard. My life would be complete...
BTW, I found a flight feather from a Great Horned Owl down at the stables where I board my horse. It is incredible. They are massive birds, huh?!
- Wednesday, June 11, 2008 2:29:00 PM
- Mary said...
Susan, I love your prairie. I read Buttercup's comments and enjoyed your rebuttals but didn't have time to add... Time ain't on my side lately.
I live in a community that requires neat, tidy lawns. What they see in the front of my house is neat and tidy. Tee-hee. What they don't see in the back of my house are snakes, birdshit, raccoons, overgrown wild raspberries, raptor kills, and every native flower and weed imaginable. A GORGEOUS mess, in my eyes. And I'm damned proud of it. A natural wildlife habitat, just like yours, but I don't need to apply. I know it's there.
- Wednesday, June 11, 2008 10:29:00 PM
- LauraHinNJ said...
We're on the same page Susan - enough said!
I wish my yard were big enough for a prairie - but I have a pond instead!
- Thursday, June 12, 2008 1:09:00 AM
- dguzman said...
Good lord, ol' Buttercup needs to get a life. Jeff's original post was so good--he admitted his fear about angering the neighbors, then focused on the savings and even the benefits of this tiny strip of wildness. Then Buttercup tees off on him, calling him a jackass. Wow.
I'm sure glad I don't live anywhere near suburban hell and can mow or not mow as I see fit. Hell, the survivalist a couple houses over hasn't mowed since 2001!
- Thursday, June 12, 2008 11:17:00 AM
- Kathie Brown said...
Susan, I haven't been here in awhile but I always see your comments on other blogs you visit. You crack me up and I think you would be the best friend in the world to have. Good luck with your prairie. I salute you and your efforts. If I was your neighbor I would be right on board with you! We'd be prairie neighbors and watch birds, bugs and raptors all day long! Oh, and I also like snakes. BTW, I'm adding you to my blogroll!
- Thursday, June 12, 2008 8:27:00 PM
- RuthieJ said...
Hi Susan,
I think your yard looks great. Have you certified through NWF yet? And how about a Monarch Waystation certification too? I have certified for both in my backyard. It's great fun and good justification for people who don't think your yard looks "neat." now I just tell them it's a certified wildlife habitat.
Who has all that time to mow anyway when there are so many birds and butterflies to watch?
- Saturday, June 14, 2008 4:01:00 PM


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Or, how did we get to the middle of May already?
Well, April was a write off to Life #2 for me, hence the cobwebs and tumbleweeds that have started to take up residence here at Strey Creative.
Well they had…
Anyway, now I find myself in the best part of autumn with some free time and the itch for exploring. First stop: the local national park.
I'd forgotten how much I love this place. It's a few minutes drive from where I live and there are many entrances and trails to choose from. I dragged a friend along the first time so we could walk and talk and get to know each other better. We've known each other for a few years but y'know how things start to develop sometimes. 🙂
And I think what he learned about me on this particular excursion – apart from my love for scrambling over rocks and scrubby slopes and things – was the strange fey-ness that comes over me when I'm in nature. Especially when I come across things like this:
How cool are they, right?
Yeah, I can crouch there fascinated for ages, mesmerised by what's essentially random fungus in the dirt. I don't know what it is about them. Or anything else that captures my attention in a way that makes time stop. It's like when I'm in the creative zone: nothing else exists, time stops, food may or may not happen, daylight rolls over to night but all I know is that suddenly I can't see what I'm painting anymore. Love that space.
However, on this particular day I did manage to tone it down a bit so as not to completely freak the guy out (coz knowing about someone's 'crazy' and experiencing it are two different things!)
Instead, I took pictures and vowed to return with more time and less company so as to better appreciate the fungal beauty of the Aussie bush.
And subsequent wanderings have delivered an incredible bounty, I'm pleased to report. I didn't know half of these existed (probably coz I've never looked before, but still). Some teeny-tiny, some rather plump and proud of themselves. All amazing.
And my personal favourites – as I could not believe such a colour was possible:
Yes, they're purple! Yes, they're real!
Actually, the guy gets credit for this find on trip #2 as he spotted them while I was distracted. (He was the distraction at the time, I believe.)
Oh. So. Much. Awesomeness.
I keep expecting to see little faery creatures dancing around them or peeking out from behind the stalks. And – hey, what's that look for? Oh c'mon. You can't say you've never thought of that kinda thing before. No, I didn't eat any of the toadies, trust me! I can understand your concern there. I'm just a creative girl with a creative (& hopeful!) mind!
And it's fun to see the magic in life. Real or imagined.
But yes, since then there has been more scribbling, more gallivanting with iPhone camera, and more strey creativity in general. Where will it take me next?
We shall find out next time!
Till then, have fun 🙂


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Nike Air Max 95 features a Red Stardust
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Submitted by Jonesun on Sat, 09/09/2017 - 4:13am.
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Meet "Karol with a K" – our celebrity blogger studying at EC New York
Karol, a Brazilian blogger and journalist, is currently studying in EC New York's Semi-Intensive English course. Learn more about Karol and her journey to "the greatest city in the world": Why did you want to study English in New York? This is actually my fourth time here in New Yo … Read more


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In a report published yesterday highlighting non-frontline investment across the health service, the TPA claimed that £34m was spent on 826 PR staff in 2013.
Its CEO, Jonathan Isaby, criticised the expenditure, stating "taxpayers expect the health budget to be spent on real doctors, not spin doctors".
The comments were rebuffed by CIPR president-elect and former NHS communications director Sarah Pinch.
She said it was important for the NHS "to engage the public and to tackle healthcare issues", adding "this cannot be effectively achieved without professional public relations support".
The report, which also highlighted spending on other roles such as equality and diversity staff, claimed that "a large disparity" in the size of PR teams between health trusts showed "a large PR team is an unnecessary expense".
But Pinch claimed handling media enquiries, FOI requests and "facilitating open and transparent communications with the public" were examples of PR playing a "vital role" in the effectiveness of the service.
"Blood and organ donor drives, flu vaccinations, stop smoking campaigns and many other examples of NHS public relations activity both promote and support the successful tackling of public health issues," she said.
"This is not 'spin' – this is life-changing and lifesaving work, which actively reduces the burden of healthcare on the public purse."


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What if the Church began to see kids as people—not just the "littles" who run around and steal cookies off the fellowship table—
but people who desire God and can facilitate change?
We exist to equip, empower, and encourage Alliance churches worldwide to reach the kids and their families with the love of Jesus. With videos, curriculum, and leader helps, we want to help you succeed as you minister to these precious people with the Jesus' love.
Each year our District co-sponsors and promotes Kids Camp, hosted by the Waco Alliance Bible Church.
Children are part of today's church and we want to engage them to go and make disciples now not just in the future. For more resources and ways to make that happen go to:


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- The Big Cannon is a weapon from the Beast Wars Neo portion of the Generation One continuity family.
The Big Cannon is the personal weapon of the Maximal commander, Big Convoy. Extremely powerful, only the likes of Magmatron could remain functional after even an indirect blast.
By inserting his Energon Matrix into the cannon, Big Convoy can transform it into the Matrix Buster. Fueled by this link to the supercomputer Vector Sigma, this weapon is so powerful, even a god might pause when faced with it.
- "I never trust anyone except for — my Big Cannon only."
- ― Big Convoy [src]
Beast Wars Neo anime
Big Convoy used the Matrix Buster to destroy Unicron. The Last Battle
Beast Wars Neo manga
During an event on the battlefield, Big Convoy disregards Crow Convoy's order, rushing into a Predacon space fortress and blows it up with Big Cannon. Operation: The Five Rookies
When Big Convoy is busy fighting Magmatron with his hands, the mammoth nose on the Big Cannon puts the trigger and blasts Magmatron for several times, making him badly wounded. Battle of the Single Batch
In a battle against the Predacons on the planet Jörmungandr, Big Convoy uses the Big Cannon to blast Guiledart into pieces out of rage because he interrupts the duel between Big Convoy and Dead End by ordering Saberback fire on them. However, Big Cannon is lost in the last moment when Big Convoy tries to save Break. It is suck into the space along with Saberback and several other Predacons.
According to the event in the episode "Battle of the Single Batch" from Beast Wars Neo manga, the Big Cannon seems to be a part of Big Convoy rather just a weapon. It might be like the relationship between Optimus Prime's component: Brain Center, Roller and Combat Deck in some ways.
You left a piece out!
This article is a stub and is missing information. You can help Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki by expanding it.


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I recently saw this blog entry with instructions for making a Lego calm down jar. The idea really appealed to me, as a parent with a child on the autistic spectrum.
I had a quick scout around the internet, to see if I could find something with UK-specific recommendations for materials. I couldn't find anything, although that's not to say there isn't anything out there, just that I didn't have the time to locate anything.
Anyway, Lemon Lime Adventures' instructions were great, and we had fun making our calm down jars! However, our jars took a bit of fiddling to get right.
This was the result of the first attempt:
Here are some hints and tips from our experience:
- I couldn't get hold of the jars in the UK, but we found some brilliant – and inexpensive – bottles from UK supplier, Ideon. We opted for these ones, with the natural lids. The advantage of buying these is as they're brand new bottles, the tops still have their seals. I was contemplating supergluing the lids on, but with the sealed bottle tops I haven't had to… Yet…
- All other supplies I bought from Hobbycraft, and our boys particularly liked the glitter glue we found, as it was one with stars in!
- Ensure the glitter glue fills absolutely not more than 1/4 of the bottle. Our first attempt contained too much of everything (apart from water; could have done with more of that!), so the mix was too thick to see the Lego mini figure, and we weren't able to watch it settle. When I poured some of the mix out into another bottle, and topped up with warm water, the ratio of glitter glue:glitter:food colouring:water was much better!
- You may need to go easy with the glitter! Our glitter glue was very glittery and the whole mix probably could have done without any additional glitter.
- If you're using a gel food colour, usual rules apply; add just a tiny bit, otherwise your liquid will be too dark to see much other than sparkles!
After modification:
These were a lot of fun to make, not too fiddly for our six year old to have a go at, and are very calming to look at and enjoyable to shake for both our six year old and two year old. And, if I'm being completely honest, I rather like them, too!


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Brand Yourself into More Job Opportunities
One of our favorite creative friends Rick Byrne, recently posted this clever self-branding piece over at his Design Career blog.
Rick's always been passionate about helping others in the design world (aside from his tireless work with the SF AIGA, he's let us repost his articles How to Get the Design Career You Want and Designing Full Page Takeovers).
We're happy to share his affordable business card design adventure with anyone looking to add a bit of branding to their freelance image.
I already had a series of business cards which used the 'Aviator' image plus details on one side and 10 different movie quotes on the reverse thanks to Moo.com. It was always fun handing them out as the recipients guessed the movies that the quotes were from. After a while I wanted to take the project further.
One day, while in the local library in San Rafael, I looked across the street at The Belrose Performing Arts Center. While looking at the converted church I had a eureka moment: I could use multiple outfits from the costume shop underneath the theater to create 10 different personas. Seizing the moment I went across and explained my idea to Tori Arnold behind the counter. She was very helpful and I started quickly thinking through 4 different personas and poses on the fly.
Surrounded by over 3,000 costumes and a multitude of props I dived into the project by taking selfies. Having art directed photo shoots many times before I got all 10 personas done in two 3 hour sessions.
Each character took about 100 shots to get right with constant checking for light and angle as well as finding the right pose for each persona. Once back on the laptop I culled them down to two or three.
Next I would take my final selection into Photoshop to convert to black/white and alter the brightness/contrast. For the priest I added some shade to the background in order to bring out the bible (actually a diary).
I was much more prepared for the second session and finished the Gentlemen Adventurers with 10 characters: the Explorer, the Pirate, the Soviet, the Mummy, the Knight, the Viking, the Priest, the Bandit, the Sailor and the Aviator.
For two weeks I uploaded a new persona onto Facebook with a suitable cover photo.
Next I designed the cards and sent off the 10 different characters to be printed at http://www.moo.com (100 cards, with 10 different designs for a total of $54 plus shipping). This was the only cost for the entire project!
Capturing images: 6 hours
Photoshopping images: 5 hours
Design layout for cards: 7 hours
Pacific Sun article on Margie Belrose
Moo Printing (up to 50 different backs per print run)


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REVIEW: The Stray Birds – Moving On Music
The Stray Birds' talent as multi-instrumentalists, and their tight 3-part harmonies, have made it possible for them to cultivate their own particular sound from various American folk music traditions.
Tonight in The Black Box they started with "Bells" from Best Medicine, Oliver Craven was holding his guitar up to the microphone while Maya de Vitry concentrated on her singing with screwed up eyes and hunched shoulders. Charlie Muench on upright bass was up there singing with them, sharing that microphone, forming that classic Stray Birds photo-op.
They followed this with "Harlem," a song that conjures up images of many a home city. I know it describes Belfast to me. De Vitry's voice was deep as once again they were all wrapped around the sole, strategically placed microphone for those harmonies. With a faint quiver of her shoulders she stopped playing her guitar as the song ended.
It was Craven who sang "Heavy Hands." It's a beautiful song, a heartfelt song. The room was quiet and content, soaking it in. De Vitry's eyes were closed, and as she accompanied Craven on the fiddle her head moved with the music.
She told a tale of talking with an old sheep farmer she had met, of how he stands out to her because she loved the way he listened to the music. As she introduced "Wildflower Honey" she dedicated it to "the people who touch your life that you'll never see again"
Quiet man Charlie Muench had his time at the mic at last – well, to a degree. If I've got it right he said that he and Craven wrote the next song, "Somehow," together. Then after listening to the Everly and the Louvin Brothers they decided that it should be a duet. He looked out at the room, and as we fell into expecting him to start singing the song with Craven, he picked up his upright bass and forlornly stepped away to allow Craven and de Vitry to step forward. He wasn't in the duet. We applauded. It was masterful. We loved him. The Everly and Louvin tinged duet was gentle and sad and easy.
The set ended on "Best Medicine", title track from the latest album. Inspired by the owner of a small record shop fighting against the odds on a boarded up street, the song started with mournful simple guitar. The words were spell binding.
If the body is a temple
The soul is a bell
And that's why music is
The best medicine I sell
The second half had Craven talking to us. He was telling us how lucky they all feel to be in a position to do what they do. There are people who would love to be under this roof he told us "but they can't because they're beat up, or mistreated, or unhealthy, and we're just lucky." The warm and sincere sentiment was followed by "All The News." "Hey all the news is bad" they sang at us as their Lancaster, Pennsylvania accents rose to the top. Muench's bass bounced from behind the others, to play with the words, to lighten them.
Although the night was based on The Stray Birds' own work, there were some covers from their beautifully crafted 2013 covers EP Echoes. The first song they apparently ever played in the UK was Nanci Griffith's "I Wish It Would Rain." When they played it for us here in The Black Box, Craven was applauded for some impressive guitar, and as he raised himself on his toes and the song ended the applause grew louder. They also gifted us with a happy, harmonied version of "Loretta" from the same EP.
"Sabrina" had us shouting "oh" and we managed it well, talented Saturday night crowd that we were. The fact that the people on stage just carried on, regardless of whether we shouted or not freed us up. We were good at the "ohs."
I saw The Stray Birds last year in the same venue. For that review I wrote "Musicianship and sweet harmonies prevailed in this gig. Superb musicians, masterful songwriters, easy wordsmiths – I would keep an eye out for the next time they're in this neck of the woods. This was a class act." I can't beat that sentiment second time around.


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Following the death of a teenager who fell through thin ice at a Bartholomew County lake Wednesday, Indiana conservation officers are reminding Hoosiers of ways to stay safe around frozen bodies of water. In fact, conservation officer Angie Goldman said her department has a saying about ice safety.
"There is no such thing as safe ice, just safer ice."
Goldman said ice must be at least three-to-four inches thick before it can support a person's body weight, and several inches thicker than that before structures or vehicles can be on it. The best way to determine the thickness, she said , is to bring a pick or a shovel and make a hole – or, better still, a few holes.
"The best thing to do is to make several holes in the area. You know, if you're going to clear an area to ice skate or just to venture out on it. And make sure that the ice is thick all over that area," she said.
Goldman advises that any activities which take place on ice are not entered into alone. Additionally, she suggests wearing a life vest under one's coat, carrying a whistle or some other noisemaker to call for help if the ice breaks and purchasing a small pick to help get hold of the ice should you fall underwater and need to extricate yourself. If someone you're with falls through the ice, Goldman said it's important to first call for help and only then attempt to rescue the person in the water. The best way to do that is to offer a rope or a long tree branch to the person in danger and to approach them from the side of the hole through which they fell in, in order to avoid falling in yourself.