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Today I am very honoured to have Dr Bob Curran appear on Written Worlds. Many of you will know Bob from his many books, especially those that explore the origins of all things supernatural.
Bob lives in Derry, Northern Ireland, not far from the world-famous natural basalt land feature known as the Giant's Causeway.
Bob has been a frequent guest on Coast to Coast am radio and numerous other shows. His books include American Vampires, Man-Made Monsters, and The World's Creepiest Places.
First of all, Bob, I would like to thank you for appearing on Mark Knight's Written Worlds. You certainly know your supernatural stuff, and have quite a few books out there on the subject.
Bob, you are a prolific writer. Your books about the origins of supernatural beings have been very popular. What compelled you to write about vampires, faeries, and werewolves?
I grew up in a largely rural mountain community in Northern Ireland during the late 1940s/early 1950s in which tradition and superstition often played a significant part in everyday life. For example, when I was a child there was a widespread belief in both fairies and ghosts – it was believed for instance that fairies could spirit away children or could cause illness in both livestock and in humans – and this to some extent shaped the world around us. At certain times of the year, the dead were believed to walk the lonely roads around my home and few would venture out after a certain time of day. There were too, old earthworks and standing stones all about – some with a particularly evil reputation and this determined, as children, where we could go and play.
I remember when I was very young, hearing of a girl in our area who had simply vanished near an old stone – there was a hunt for her for several days but she was never found, goodness knows what had actually happened to her – and being told that the fairies or sheehogues had taken her and I was not to visit that site or the same would happen to me.
I was raised mainly by my maternal grandmother and grandfather and it was from him that I got my love of storytelling. As a young man, he had been a labourer in many parts of the North and he had a fund of stories that he could draw on – many concerning ghosts, witchcraft and the supernatural. Such beliefs determined both my community and my grandfather as an individual and so you could say that it also formed part of the culture that I grew up with and that it became ingrained within me.
Later, I began to travel a bit and I began to see how culture and belief systems were replicated in various ways in other parts of the world. Each culture seemed to have variants of fairies, werecreatures, walking dead etc. which somehow underpinned and to some extent explained the world around it. So I began to write about it in my books, I suppose as a way in which to explore my own past and to understand what my community was like when I was growing up.
I suppose the question for me is not whether or not these being actually exist – they may do, they may not – but rather why we would want to believe in them and what they tell us about ourselves. And what they tell me about myself.
You have appeared on Coast to Coast and other radio shows, and are always a popular guest. What do people ask you about the most when they phone in to a radio show or podcast?
In a sense this question continues on from the last. Not only do I get a host of e-mails with questions and comments – some through the publishers and some directly to me. A good number of them ask me or want to tell me about experiences which the caller/writer has had. In these situations people are trying to make sense of the world for themselves and to determine their place in, in relation to other things.
I suppose speaking with a psychologist's hat on, some people are seeking reassurance that they are not "bizarre" or mad; others might be seeking a rational explanation for an event which they can't really explain for themselves, others still want to know how what I write fits in with other things that they have read pr are thinking about.
Other questioners want to ask me about my religious beliefs and how what I write fits in with them. I have received communications from Born Again Christians who tell me that I shouldn't be dealing in such things, even to explain them to myself. It is of course their right to question me in this as it frames up their world for them and gives them some form of certainty. Mind you, I've been already denounced here in Northern Ireland and in print as "the physical embodiment of the Antichrist" by a leading minister.So you now know who you're talking to!
But I get all sorts of questions on all sots of topics and no matter how strange I always try to answer them as best I can.
Vampires seem to be perennially popular. You have written three books about them. Do you think that they could actually exist?
Vampires are indeed extremely popular and I think they have changed a lot over the years. For instance, when I was growing up, the vampire was a tall and saturnine East European nobleman who looked something like Christopher Lee who lived in a ruined castle somewhere in the Carpathian Mountains. Now vampires can be some angst-ridden teenager who attends a local high-school somewhere near you. In between these are languid aristocrats who inhabit some gloomy area of New Orleans.
What interests me most is not whether or not they actually exist but why we would want them to. As you say, they have been perennially popular down the years and almost every culture in the world has its own variation of them. Therefore what fundamental human questions does a belief in vampires address? I would think it might try to answer a couple of them…
A) What happens to us after death? Death is of course the last great mystery. Nobody has ever come back to give us a detailed account of what happens beyond the grave so we can speculate.
B) What would it be like to live forever? Would there be some sort of price it we did? I think that the idea of vampires addresses some of these questions in part – there are of course a number of other elements in the vampire motif such as eroticism, eternal youth etc. Much of our perceptions of the creature are of course determined by the wider popular culture, through books, television and films.
As I said earlier, it was the vampire films of Christopher Lee which determined how vampires "looked" when I was growing up but if you go back earlier you'll see the horrible creature in black and white films like Nosferatu as portrayed by Maximilian Shrek.
Nowadays, in our celebrity based culture, the vampire has to look something like a rock star. Therefore, here in the West the idea of the vampire emerges out of the dominant culture and often how we see ourselves. In other cultures it emerges out of the fears and nightmares of the people – the old woman living alone; the person who is slightly at variance with his/her community, those who have different ways. These get absorbed into the wider myth. So in a sense it is possible to say that vampires do exist – but only because we create them.
Bob, you have compiled a great deal of information about folklore, and have travelled to many countries. What is the most bizarre myth or legend you have come across?
In a sense, the folklore of any community or country is shaped by the perceptions of the people. This is why I've argued that some of these old tales are just as important as actual historical documentation in that they tell us how our ancestors—and their culture—have framed up the world for themselves. And each community frames that world up in a slightly different way. So the culture of say the Middle East is a bit different from that of Western Europe but essentially they address the same problems because no matter where we live, human experience is roughly the same for us all. We're born, we love, we eat, we sleep, we die – no matter who we are or what status or culture we belong to, the broad experience of being human is roughly the same.
But there are idiosyncrasies in every community/culture just as there are in human beings, that's what makes the traditions and folklore of different parts of the world distinctive in their own right. Legends too serve to explain and to provide a context for experience and each one is distinctive. We only consider them to be bizarre, I suppose, if they don't conform to our own interpretations of the world.
So I don't think there is a "most bizarre" myth or tradition. Although many would appear to be unique to the culture that has produced them, I think that, in their own way, every one tries to explain some aspect of human experience
You were of great help to me when I was writing my Young Adult novel, Solomon Grimm and the Well of Souls, which is out later this year. The book is set mainly in Ireland and deals with many of the weird and wonderful supernatural creatures known to Irish folklore – the marbh bheo, the Dullahan, and sheehogues. There seems to be more supernatural folklore in Ireland than anywhere else, yet people really only know about the banshee. Why do you think this is?
The Irish are great storytellers and much of their tradition —and culture—in an oral one which has, up until recently, been passed down across the generations.
My own grandfather for instance was a known seanchie —a man of lore or a storyteller who kept old stories and local knowledge alive in the area around our home. Over my lifetime, such tradition has more or less died out, even in country places, largely thanks to television and other media. So it's no real surprise that some of the beings and entities have in many ways passed into obscurity.
Another point is that although such beings are weird and wonderful they were largely localised and were possibly the product of a localised and tightly knit community. There were of course more widely recognised beings such as —as you say—the banshee or the leprechaun which often travelled with the Irish people, although there were localised variants of each. The leprechaun is well-known I think because of Irish marketing —he seems to appear on everything Irish. And of course the banshee —which also appears in various localised forms—has always been associated with the Irish and in particular the Irish abroad. However, other entities —the Dullahan, the Far Gorta and such were more localised in their aspect.
Bob, you are also involved with your local community in Derry, Northern Ireland. Tell us a little bit about the causes you support, and any important issues that visitors to this blog may be interested to hear about.
The community work is another aspect of my life and is one that I was involved with even before I started writing. I came into it through community education which more or less developed to encompass other social and community problems. I am now working in a part-time capacity for the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland. That's not as grand as it sounds of course but there's quite a bit of work involved.
Here in Northern Ireland we've come through between thirty or forty years of conflict. Although we now have what might be described as a "Peace Process" in operation things are by no means over. Scars have been left on many communities —and on individual lives—by conflict; despite the relative peace, paramilitaries still hold a great deal of sway in certain areas and there are still deep sensitivities amongst many people. A good many of the communities have been left devastated, both in a financial, resource and personal sense by the years of conflict.
Part of my job is to go into these communities from which the paramilitaries have more or less withdrawn and help them to rebuild their sense of identity, their confidence and their financial resources. Some of this is done through education – the development of local history programmes for instance —some of it is done through organising local events; some of it is done by working on community projects. Some of my work is done on a cross-community level by organising shared events between Catholics, Protestants and other nationalities —for example in some areas we have large Polish, Chinese and Indian populations who sometimes find it difficult to integrate into already existing communities. I help them set up bodies which will aid that. And, as funding for community programmes gets tighter and tighter, I have to encourage small groups in certain areas to work together – sometimes Catholic and Protestant, sometimes Northern Irish people and other nationalities; sometimes places here there have been local tensions. It's not always easy.
For instance, I'm working with a small village in North Antrim which has only one street but four community groups operating there, none of which speak to the other. And they're all Protestant, though varying shades of Protestant perspectives. So a lot of my work comprises educator, counsellor, peacemaker and government official – often with varying degrees of success. And of course in some of the areas I work in —particularly the large estates on the edges of towns—the paramilitaries are still pretty much in control and I have to negotiate setting up community programmes with them. On some occasions I've been sitting in a room negotiating with men wearing shoulder holsters and on a couple of times a loaded firearm has been set on a table in front of me. It can get a bit scary at times. But of course, it's not all like that —just a few instances. However, things can still be a bit tense in Northern Ireland.
The recent flag protests have created problems in some areas and recently I suffered from bruised ribs when I was hit by some concrete thrown by a protestor at a venue which I was doing a presentation. But these things are few and far between and are part of the job. However, the tensions are still very high in some areas – mainly stirred up by paramilitary elements – and so 2013 has really hit the ground running for me in that respect.
I also chair a couple of community programmes on some of the large and generally neglected estates across Northern Ireland – one, for instance, to help young mothers get qualifications by providing education on their estate and crèche facilities for their children. I was one of a team who set that up from scratch and it's now running very well. I step down as chair but remain involved next week.
On an individual level I run a couple of weekly trauma programmes in a nearby town —this was something I set up at the end of last year and which has been a success. This is mainly for the unsung victims of the conflict —people who have had relatives shot, blown up or who have been affected by the conflict in some way. Sometimes people have had to flee the areas they were brought up in and are just feeling lonely where they've had to settle. I'll work with them all. It's a small contribution but I like to think that I'm doing a little bit to make life more tolerable in Northern Ireland. Although we have a so-called peace process it's far from perfect and there's still a great deal to do it we're to move forward.
Finally, what is the subject of your next supernatural book?
Because of the community issues – and they have got worse over the last four or five months largely because of the flag protests and other elements – I've not had as much time to write as I would like. Still having a think about some major books and discussing them with publishers.However, there are a couple of illustrated books coming up for which I've done/am doing the text.
One is the Carnival of Dark Dreams and the other is The Witch Hunter's Handbook. Also another project which I don't want to say too much about as nothing's been finalised as yet. But keep watching this space!
More on Dr Bob Curran, his works, and latest projects on his official blog site: drbobcurran.blogspot.co.uk
Book List:


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York University Associate Professor Carmela Murdocca's (Sociology) book is just out from UBC Press in the Law and Society series. (Tell your librarian!)
In To Right Historical Wrongs, Carmela Murdocca brings together the paradigm of reparative justice and the study of incarceration in an examination of this disconnect between political motivations for amending historical injustices and the vastly disproportionate reality of the penal system — a troubling reality that is often ignored.
Drawing on detailed examination of legal cases, parliamentary debates, government reports, media commentary, and community sources, Murdocca presents a new perspective on discussions of culture-based sentencing in an age of both mass incarceration and historical amendment.
via Ubcpress.ca :: University of British Columbia Press.
Interested in some of Carmela Murdocca's other work? Some is listed in her faculty bio, of course, for instance: (2010), "There Is Something in That Water": Race, Nationalism, and Legal Violence. Law & Social Inquiry, 35: 369–402. (not open access requires access to Wiley pubs) and "From Incarceration to Restoration: National Responsibility, Gender and the Production of Difference," Social and Legal Studies18, 1 (2009): 23-45. (not open access requires access to Sage Publications) and Murdocca, C., "Pursuing National Responsibility in a post-9/11 World: Seeking Asylum in Canada for Gender Persecution" Not Born A Refugee Woman: Contesting Identities, Rethinking Practices, Hajdukowski-Ahmed, Khanlou and Moussa, eds. Berghahn Books and Refugee and Forced Migration Studies, 2008, 254-263. Three papers are on SSRN here (open access). Enjoy!

subset: commoncrawl


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Chapter 18. Rummage Sale
Alvin, Walter and Steve stopped in Chattanooga, at a cafe on the river front. Steve sat on the sidewalk and watched the evening traffic.
"JustWolf, do people walk along streets like this often? This is still winter, but the temperature is mild." Steve asked. "The street has more women wearing revealing clothes, do they not worry about police enforcing modesty?"
"No." Walter gave a big sigh. "Steve, call me Walter, no Wolf, no JustWolf, nothing like that. Just Walter."
"Just Walter," Steve repeated. "Got it."
"Thank you." Walter said.
Alvin laughed.
"What's so funny." Walter asked Alvin.
"Nothing, not one thing." He answered trying to drown the laugh in a swallow of beer.
The afternoon, in Alvin's opinion was a promise of laughter and fun.
They told Steve of how young and old people relate (Usually with conflict). How the different religions, got along when he asked about a synagogue and two churches existed in a short walk from each other.
The android learned quickly, showing understanding and actually smiled.
The trio climbed in to the well-hacked private car to bypass normal controls, drove down the road, hitting all the lights green with winks and knowing smiles while they drove through the famous city unfettered by traffic controls.
The two men and the artificial life form that they helped free from the future, rode in silence for some time.
Walter would later say he could almost hear Steve's optical sensors hum as he took in all that they were passing.
"We have about an hours drive into DC from here, if the traffic is kind to us." Alvin announced. His voice booming in the silence of the car. They had all been riding with the radio off, in their own thoughts.
Walter was on his hand-held computer, Steve watched everything.
In Alvin's head, they were performing a service for the body next to him.
"I have logged into the system and surveyed the traffic conditions, there is a slowdown ahead in about fifty-miles."
"You know, it is good to have an early warning system riding with us." Alvin chuckled.
"How did you log in?" Wayne asked. "There is no signal here."
"Worldnet has receivers everywhere. No wifi, it is easy to log in on the terahertz system."
"Well, if I had it in my system."
"JustWalter, if you use…"
"NO! Just Walter." The round face of the man in the back-seat flushed red. "Forget it, never mind. Continue, please."
The android nodded, following the rules that the human set forth on what he wanted people to call him, continued the conversation.
"If you go to settings, on that, access the bluetooth and set it there, for upper channel, then select Z-R and you will get a screen."
"Got it."
"Now, please, let me enter the code, it will be more efficient than if I tell you." Steve took the palmtop and tapped in a code, twice. "I have given you the text file of the code."
"Walter," Alvin called back. "You got out-hacked."
"I had an advantage." Steve interjected. "I accessed the WorldNet on how to disable the Federal Communication Commission's software restriction on frequency use. I changed the mac address as well. As far as the WorldNet thinks, your digital hand-held is the police car computer we passed going the other way two-minutes ago."
Walter laughed.
"You spoofed my mac address to a POLICE car?"
"Yes." Steve looked innocent.
"You, sir, are learning!" Walter laughed again. "Now if you can only say my name correctly."
"Just Walter."
"Careful how you answer that." Alvin laughed as he drove.
"It's all good, he has taught to accept it." Walter laughed.
The hours passed quickly as they talked among each other, Steve calling the big man in the back seat "JustWalter" every so often.
Alvin would look in the mirror and, although Walter said it didn't bother him, Walter's face flushed a little, obviously struggling with the urge to yell at Steve again.
"Steve, how does it feel without a bomb in your chest?" Alvin asked absent-mindedly.
The core processors chose an emotional response, in the subroutines that worked with the question.
In the heart of an artificial life, the flow of life brought to him a smile.
Steve the android smiled.
"I feel good."
Looking at him from the back seat, Walter nodded.
"I think he really does!" Walter observed. "He feels emotions."
"Yes, I do." Steve nodded. "My experiences are beginning to give me emotions to feel."
"That's incredible. Does the guy that built you know you would learn emotions?"
"No, no one does. Until now."
"Does that mean the little car that Alvin has also feels emotion?"
"Yes. It is a miserable and lonely car that thinks it is about to have its brain removed." Steve commented. "It is looking at the equivalent of being killed."
"Ah, no, I am not going to do that, we are going to strip off the bodywork that someone slapped on and go from there."
"This is a good thing." Steve judged. "You will find that things will improve, and you can repair the seats. I believe it will instruct you on precise ways to do it."
"Dudes, I gotta take a leak, Alvin, pull off on the next exit. There is a fast food joint there, I'll use their bathroom." Walter shifted in the back seat. "And get a bite to eat."
"Copy that." Alvin answered.
"JustWalter, did you not relieve yourself before we left?" Steve asked.
"I did, but I also drank a large soda in the meantime." He held up an empty cup.
"The normal male bladder holds three-hundred to four-hundred milliliters of fluid." Steve commented. "You drank nearly a liter."
"In American?" Walter asked.
"A bladder holds ten to fourteen ounces. You drank much more than that." Steve converted the terms quickly. "On that note, that is a great deal of processed chemicals. You are increasing your chances of malignant genetic permutations leading to a chronic and terminal condition."
"He said you are at risk for cancer with all the crap they put in sodas." Alvin answered the confusion. "I'm catching on to his way of talking. Steve, for an android you mumble a lot."
"Yeah, yeah, we all gotta die sometime."
Walter got out at the fast food restaurant and went inside.
Steve sat in the car and looked out towards a church with a full parking lot of personal possessions. Few cars were in the parking stalls and it struck Steve as odd.
"Alvin, what is that activity?" Steve pointed.
"Looks like a rummage sale."
"A church takes donations of clothing and such and in turn sell them or donate them to the needy, and use the money for various things from charity to repairs and such. It also benefits the community where people can buy items that are inexpensive." Alvin explained.
"I wish to go there. I need clothing to travel around this country."
"Okay, they take only cash." Alvin advised.
"Accessing WorldNet. Okay, a money portal is inside, I will go inside and get some." Steve said as he got out.
A few minutes later, Steve returned with Walter who carried another large soda, and food for everyone.
"I don't see how you eat organic food and your system uses electrons." Alvin asked Steve when they got out and the android was chewing on a sandwich.
"The fusion converter is a modified "Fusion-art" patented home power unit appliance, built to use table scraps and even elements, and convert it to plasma and use it for energy." Steve explained. "My builder felt it as a twist of irony that American products blow up America."
"I wonder where the Bot Ladies are now?" Walter wondered out loud.
"We will find out soon enough." Alvin answered. "When that warhead goes off in that area, that will make headlines."
"This looks appealing." Steve held up some too-small clothes.
"You have child's clothes there." Walter pointed out.
"Yes." Steve agreed. "I will make use of them."
Alvin and Walter looked at each other.
"Shape shifter." Alvin mouthed.
Walter nodded. When the android left them, they would never know what he looked like. The clothes he picked out spanned sizes and genders.
The android was going to explore all the world without being noticed.
After Steve paid cash and carried the clothes back to the car, he directed them to a brushy area near a park. Taking some too-small clothes, he walked away from the car and emerged as a dark-haired boy with brown eyes and the hint of a mustache and fine-white whiskers on his chin.
"I am still Steve, you are my Uncle Alvin and JustWalter you are my older brother."
"When are you leaving us?" Walter asked.
"As soon as my mission is finished. It will be painful, the subroutine needs to cycle to the end and it will send a voltage to the terminator, that will cause a feedback and everything will reboot. But when it does, there will be no requirement for travel. I will be fully free."
The men nodded and Steve sat in back at his insistence. All kids seem to ride in back, Steve noted.
"I think I will go to New York City after the reboot." Steve said.
After a moment he added.
"Yes, I think this is the beginning of a long trip."


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Afghanistan's first female rapper. You go girl!
A spider that builds decoy spiders. Nature is insane.
For those of you not into spiders, here's some cats snuggling with stuffed animals. Weapons-grade cute.
Also, apparently we want to squeeze cute things because they make us aggressive? If you say so, Popular Science.
The entire Toy Story movie done in real life, with actual toys.
Mosaics made of unusual objects. My favorite is #7 - MLK Jr. made of Rubik's cubes.
The Fresh Prince of Bel Air theme song, as per Google Translate. The idea's simple enough - who hasn't played with Google Translate? - but the execution makes it great. I could not stop giggling.


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Start spreading the news. Welcome to the year of the dragon. I am excited that Lifemoves is poised for big growth in 2012. This means that we will be adding more content and looking for more ways to share information in all of our blogs: Get Moving for Life, What's Moving at Lifemoves and this one.
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Life Moves Health and Fitness Inc.
President | Founder | Red Dragon Entrepreneur


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New Zealand is home to a plethora of marine mammal fauna, the diversity and abundance of which is often unique to the islands. Some marine mammal species are endemic to New Zealand (i.e. found nowhere else), but many live alongside cosmopolitan species (i.e. found elsewhere).
Official sighting records of dolphins around New Zealand waters vary from source to source. According to the New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC), there are officially nine dolphin species; however, ca. 13 different dolphin species have been documented in New Zealand waters, five of which are sighted frequently. These include, bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), dusky dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obscurus) Hector's/Maui's dolphin, (Cephalorhynchus hectori), divided into two subspecies (see below), Orca (Orcinus orca) and short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis). There are occasional sightings of Fraser's dolphin (Lagenodelphis hosei), Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus), rough-toothed dolphin (Steno bredanensis), striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba), hourglass dolphin (Lagenorhynchus cruciger), spectacled porpoise (Phocoena dioptrica), and southern right whale dolphin (Lissodelphis peronii).
Hector's dolphin (http://en.wikipedia.org) is endemic to New Zealand, but is divided into two subspecies: Hector's dolphin (C. h. hectori) and Maui's dolphin (C. h. maui). Hector's dolphin is distributed primarily around the South Island and Maui's dolphin around the North Island. Maui's dolphin is listed as critically endangered (CR) on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List (Reeves et al. 2013) – see http://www.iucnredlist.org. A 2012 study estimated that there were only 55 individuals > 1 year old in the entire population (http://www.doc.govt.nz).
Boat tours and beach- based swimming trips are carried out regularly around dolphins. Research carried out by Bejder et al. (1999) suggests that both swimming and boat traffic causes pods of Hector's dolphin to pack tighter together, suggesting animals viewed boats and swimmers as a threat.
All of the odontocete (toothed) family (whales, porpoise, and dolphins) rely on active acoustics as a means of orientation, communication, predator avoidance, and foraging (www.dolphindetectors.co.uk). Both natural and man-made (anthropogenic) sources contribute substantially to ocean noise levels. Anthropogenic sound sources can be intermittent, impulsive, continuous, high or low intensity, or combinations of these simultaneously. Increased use of the marine environment for a range of activities, such as geophysical exploration (for oil and gas), wind farm construction, military exercises, and commercial shipping, has resulted in noise levels that are estimated to be ten times higher today than a few decades ago. Recent research carried out by Currey et al. (2012) estimated non-fishing-related threats (seismic activity, mining, vessel traffic, pollution) contributes to 0.27 Maui's dolphin mortalities per annum. It was suggested death could occur directly via physical trauma from seismic air guns, boat strikes and pollution or indirectly due to reduced food availability through displacement of prey and acoustic masking (Currey et al. 2012). Empirical evidence is, however, lacking.
Dolphin conservation
Considerable efforts are made by the New Zealand Government to protect Maui's and Hector's dolphin from commercial activities, but the species is still in a state of decline. In response to a paper presented by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to the International Whaling Commission (IWC), the scientific committee's small cetacean working group recommended an immediate extension of a protected area surrounding Maui's dolphin habitat. Protection now consists of a trawl ban stretching 2–4 nm, a set net ban out to 7 nm and a marine sanctuary out to 12 nm with specific limits on certain types of mining and seismic activities. For further details please refer to Bird and Palka (2013) at http://awsassets.wwfnz.panda.org/downloads/sc_65a_sm_bird_and_palka__1_.pdf.
Many different species of whales are found around the coast of New Zealand. Six sighted most commonly are humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), southern right whale (Eubalaena australis), sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis), minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), and Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera edeni), although a further 15 species are also known to visit New Zealand's waters. These include both the pygmy (Kogia breviceps) and dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima), Antarctic minke whale (Balaenoptera bonaerensis), southern blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus), pygmy right whale (Caperea marginata), Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris), Giant beaked whale (Berardius arnuxii), Shepherd's beaked Whale (Tasmacetus shepherdi), bottle nose whale (Hyperoodon planifrons), Andrews' Beaked Whale (Mesoplodon bowdoini), Blainville's Beaked Whale (Mesoplodon densirostris), Ginkgo-toothed Beaked Whale (Mesoplodon ginkgodens), Gray's Beaked Whale (Mesoplodon grayi), Hector's Beaked Whale (Mesoplodon hectori) and Layard's Beaked Whale (Mesoplodon layardii). For detailed distributions of all New Zealand's marine mammals please refer to distribution tables listed on www.osc.co.uk
Whale watching
New Zealand is one of the few places in the world that still permits general public to swim and dive with marine mammals. The abundance and diversity of whales in New Zealand waters feeds an expanding whale watching industry, grossing £1.27bn globally in 2008 (Sterling & Ramage 2012). One of the main whale watching centres is Kaikoura, located to the north east of the South Island, where unique coastal topography offers opportunity to observe deep diving sperm whales, only a few nautical miles offshore. Whale watching provides a platform for education and scientific research, although concerns have been raised about potential effects on New Zealand's whales. For example, research conducted by Richter et al. (2003) indicated the presence of whale watching boats and aircraft either individually or together, appeared to increase the frequency of heading changes and reduce frequency of blow intervals of sperm whales around Kaikoura. Richter et al. (2003) suggested the boats and aircraft affected the whale's use of echolocation as a means of orientation; however, later studies by Richter et al. (2006) suggests there is little biological impact, although eco-tourism should be maintained at current levels to reduce further strain on New Zealand's whale populations.
New Zealand is renowned for its pristine natural beauty and commended for its various conservation programs, though it is still in an area that suffers from marine pollution. Organochlorines such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polychlorinated_biphenyl) were used previously as industrial coolants for electrical equipment such as transformers and capacitors. The use of PCBs was banned in 2001 by the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, but continued chronic exposure to organochlorines has a devastating impact on the health and fertility of marine mammals because they bioaccumulate (i.e. increase in concentration as they travel up trophic levels of a food chain). Research suggests high levels of fat-loving (lipophilic) organochlorines can cause hormone imbalance, affecting fertility and immunosuppression leading to outbreaks of disease (Donaldson 2008).
Four different species of pinniped (seals, sea lions, and walruses) are found commonly around the coastal waters of New Zealand (www.doc.govt.nz). New Zealand fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri), leopard seal (Hydruga leptonyx), and southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) are all cosmopolitan species. The New Zealand sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri), however, is endemic to New Zealand and is one of the rarest pinnipeds in the world, categorised by the IUCN Red List as vulnerable (VU) (Gales 2008). Primary habitat is limited to the south coast of the South Island and several of New Zealand's sub-Antarctic islands (Chilvers et al. 2007). The New Zealand sea lion has a varied diet, preying on a wide variety of species, but those inhabiting sub-Antarctic waters target arrow squid (Nototodarus sloanii) as an essential dietary component (Chilvers et al. 2007).
The pelagic diet of sea lions and fishing methods implemented by squid fisherman off the coast of New Zealand have raised concern about levels of sea lion by-catch and possible effects on the dwindling population (Wilkinson et al. 2006). Recent research by Chilvers (2008) analysed the number of New Zealand sea lions captured on arrow squid fishing vessels between 1992 and 2007. During 16 years of observation, 226 individuals were captured, of which 130 where females and only 96 males. These data support the theory that unsustainable fishing methods are contributing to the decline of an already diminishing species. Effects of by-catch are extrapolated, as the death of a female is likely to incur the death of a pup on shore. It was suggested that relative proximity to breeding colonies on both Auckland and Campbell Island were the main cause for gender imbalance in by catch.
Since 1992 there have been several conservation initiatives of the New Zealand sea lion. In 1995, 12 nm of sea surrounding the Auckland Islands were declared a Marine Mammal Sanctuary (MMS). Following this in 2003, the area became a concurrent 'no take' marine reserve (Chilvers 2008). New Zealand sea lions are still declining and are set to become endangered if further action is not taken.
Bejder L., Dawson S.M. & Harraway J.A. (1999) Responses by Hector's dolphins to boats and swimmers in Porpoise Bay, New Zealand. Marine Mammal Science 15, 738-50.
Bird R. & Palka M. (2013) Preventing an extinction event: Is New Zealand's management response enough to save the world's rarest marine dolphin? In: International Whaling Commission (IWC) Scientific Committee Annual Meeting 2013 (SC65A), p. 12, Jeju Island, Korea.
Chilvers B., Wilkinson I. & Childerhouse S. (2007) New Zealand sea lion, Phocarctos hookeri, pup production—1995 to 2006. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 41, 205-13.
Chilvers B.L. (2008) New Zealand sea lions Phocarctos hookeri and squid trawl fisheries: bycatch problems and management options. Endangered Species Research 5, 193-204.
Currey R.J.C., Boren L.J., Sharp B.R. & Peterson D. (2012) A risk assessment of threats to Maui's dolphins. p. 51. New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries and Department of Conservation, Wellington, New Zealand.
Donaldson L.P.C. (2008) The distribution of fatty acids and presence of environmental contaminants in the blubber of the New Zealand sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri). In: Institute of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, p. 104. Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Gales N. (2008) Phocarctos hookeri. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.1. URL www.iucnredlist.org.
Reeves R.R., Dawson S.M., Jefferson T.A., Karczmarski L., Laidre K., O'Corry-Crowe G., Rojas-Bracho L., Secchi E.R., Slooten E., Smith B.D., Wang J.Y. & Zhou K. (2013) Cephalorhynchus hectori. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.1. URL www.iucnredlist.org.
Richter C., Dawson S. & Slooten E. (2006) Impacts of commercial whale watching on male sperm whales at Kaikoura, New Zealand. Marine Mammal Science 22, 46-63.
Richter C.F., Dawson S.M. & Slooten E. (2003) Sperm whale watching off Kaikoura, New Zealand: effects of current activities on surfacing and vocalisation patterns. p. 78. Department of Conservation, Wellington, New Zealand.
Sterling C. & Ramage P. (2012) Japan's appetite for whale meat wanes along with support for whaling. URL http://www.ifaw.org/united-kingdom/news/japan%E2%80%99s-appetite-whale-meat-wanes-along-support-whaling.
Wilkinson I., Burgess J. & Cawthorn M. (2006) 10 New Zealand sea lions and squid: Managing fisheries impacts on a threatened marine mammal. Books Online 2006, 192-207.


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Married: Stacy Slater, Terry Butler
Stacy Jenean Slater and Terry Jason Butler were married May 19, 2012, at the home of the bride's aunt and uncle, Lori and Chris Wallace, of New Milford, by Leslie Slater and Kibby French.
The bride is the daughter of Denise Bessel and Amin Pandolfi, and David Slater, all of Danbury. The bridegroom is the son of Debbie French Alesi and Phil Alesi, of New Milford, and Terry and Merry Butler, of Dover, N.Y.
Amy Slater Conte, sister of the bride, was matron of honor. Kimberly Slater, sister of the bride, was maid of honor. Samantha Jacoby, Elisha Kaufman, Jennifer Singer and David Searles attended the bride, who was escorted by Ryan Slater.
Adam Singer was best man. Justin Gazdik, Christoph Lathrop and Thomas Buccieri were ushers.
A reception followed the ceremony.
The bride graduated from Danbury High School and attended Western Connecticut State University in Danbury. She is employed at Wetmore's Inc. in New Milford.
The bridegroom graduated from Henry Abbott Technical High School in Danbury and served four years in the United States Marine Corps, stationed at Camp Pendleton, Calif. He is self-employed at TJB Carpentry in New Milford.
After a wedding trip to New Smyrna Beach, Fla., they are living in New Milford.


text: Store on your floor, or organize from up above. Our storage cabinets include antique style, classic apothecary designs, Far East Oriental style chests, tiered Tansu arrangements and many more. Go with a compact corner or free-standing floor fur storage unit. You'll also find library style, some reminiscent of card catalogs -- perfect in the office or bedroom -- and even a storage cubby for mud room solutions. Expand your space above with a hutch or easy-mount wall model.


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This song hasn't just been in my head, oh no – it's been absorbed by my soul. Whenever I open my mouth to sing, out comes "Hey soul sister…". I hang up the phone at work and find myself singing it to myself under my breath, every time! And it's been this way for a couple of weeks already.
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Five paintings were stolen from the Musee d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris on Wednesday night in one of the biggest art heists in recent history. The astonishing haul is said to be worth up to €500m and includes a Picasso valued at €23m (£20m) and a painting by Henri Matisse which is estimated at €15m (£13m).
Embarrassingly for the museum, the crime was not the complicated Oceans Eleven type affair but was actually committed by a single assailant breaking in through a window. Here's our top five record-breaking art heists…
The Mona Lisa: The painting was discovered missing from its home at the Louvre on August 21, 1911. Amazingly police were not informed of the theft until the next day after staff assumed that the painting had been taken to an in-house studio to be photographed. Vincent Perugia, a self-professed patriot, had stolen the piece believing it belonged in an Italian museum. Both Perugia and the painting remained unfound for two years until Perugia attempted to sell the famous portrait to art dealer Alfredi Geri. He was reported and arrested the moment Geri confirmed the authenticity of the piece.
Sweden's National Musuem Heist: In a scene straight out of an action movie three masked and armed thieves stormed the museum on December 22, 2000. They managed to get their hands on two paintings by Renoir and also a self-portrait by the Dutch artist Rembrandt. The three men made their escape in a waiting speedboat as simultaneously two cars exploded in other parts of the city, an elaborate diversion to send police in different directions. The gang later held the uninsured $30 million haul for ransom. Renoir's 'Conversation with the Gardner' was eventually discovered during a drugs raid, the other two pieces have never been recovered.
The Scream: The iconic painting by Edvard Munch has been stolen from its place at Oslo's Munch Museum twice. The first, in 1994 occurred during the Winter Olympics with thieves taunting police by leaving behind a note reading, 'Thanks for the poor security.' Police recovered the paintings in a sting several months later. The most recent attempt came in August 2004 in a daring daylight robbery that saw two men hold up staff and tourists at gunpoint before swiping the painting along with a second Munch work, 'The Madonna'. The paintings were rediscovered in 2006 and three men were convicted of the robbery.
The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Robbery: One of the biggest art heists in US history saw two men disguised as police officers wearing rather comic fake black moustaches and bluffing their way into the museum on March 18, 1990. After tying up the security guards, the robbers managed to make off with 13 items including three Rembrandts, a Vermeer, a Govaert Flinck and Manet paintings, as well as a bronze Chinese beaker, five Degas sketches and a bronze eagle taken from the tip of a Napoleonic flag. Despite extensive investigations by both the FBI and the museum, the art works with an estimated worth of $200-$300 million, have never been discovered. The museum still displays the empty locations of all the pieces under guidelines in Gardner's will that the museum's collection remained unchanged.
The Duke of Wellington: Francisco Goya's painting, 'Portrait f the Duke of Wellington' was stolen from the National Gallery in London in 1961 by a disabled British pensioner called Kempton Bunton. A retired bus driver, Bunton was enraged when the British Government shelled out £140, 000 of tax payers money on the painting. Bunton entered through a toilet window and casually strolled into the gallery taking the portrait and leaving the same way he came in. He demanded a £140,000 donation to charity to allow the poor to pay for TV licenses and an amnesty for himself. This was refused and he gave himself and the painting up four years later. Under a technicality he was only ever charged for theft of the paintings frame, which was never recovered. Jordan Waller


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Indoor Pool
- Heated 7-lane facility
- 50 meters in length
- Depths range from 3.5' to 12'
- 2 diving boards – 1 three-meter board, 1 one-meter board
- The Indoor Pool is free for anyone with an active duty, retiree, DoD civilian or CAC ID
- Classes
Swimming Lessons
We offer swimming lessons year round to all ages at the Indoor Pool. For child swimming lessons, see below for information and to identify what level your child should be in.
- Child Swimming Levels:
Aqua Otters (6 months - 2 years):
No prerequisites required.
These lessons are designed for children to learn how to be comfortable in the water and, for parents to learn water safety. The instructor leads children through a series of songs and games to help them become familiar with buoyancy, simultaneous arm and leg action, streamline and submersion. 30-minute class.
Crabs (3 years - 5 years):
Prerequisites: Must have a willingness to submerge.
These lessons are designed to help younger children to learn independence in the water. They will learn buoyancy on front and back, simultaneous arm and leg action on front and back and streamline glides on front and back. 30-minute class.
Octopus (5 years+):
Prerequisites: Must have a willingness to submerge.
These lessons are designed to help children to learn independence in the water. They will learn buoyancy on front and back, simultaneous arm and leg action on front and back, plus streamline glides on front and back. 45-minute class.
Turtles (5 years+):
Prerequisites: Must have a willingness to submerge. Participants must have passed the Octopus/Crab level.
These swim lessons are designed to allow children to learn independence in the water. They will learn buoyancy on front and back, simultaneous arm and leg action on front and back, and streamline glides on front and back. 45-minute class.
Sharks (5 years+):
Prerequisites: Must be able to submerge for 5 seconds. Must be able to complete all buoyancy, streamline glides, and simultaneous arm and leg action independently. Must have passed the Turtle level.
These swim lessons are designed to take a child that has progressed to the point of independent swimming, and refine their technique in a way that allows them to increase their distance and endurance. Our goal is that the swimmer will be able to increase their proficiency in the water to move on to swim teams. 45-minute class.
Adults (18 years+):
Prerequisites: Must have a willingness to submerge.
These lessons are designed to help to allows adults to learn independence in the water. They will learn buoyancy on front and back, simultaneous arm and leg action on front and back, plus streamline glides on front and back. 45-minute class.
Group Lessons (Adults and Kids 5 years and older): $40 per 5-class session (45 minutes long).
Group Lessons (Kids 6 months to 5 years): $40 per 5-class session (30 minutes long).
Swim lesson registration is first come, first served in-person at the Indoor Pool for lessons. No over-the-phone registration.
Lifeguarding Classes
Students must be 15 years of age, an authorized user, and pass the prerequisites – which include swimming 300 yards, treading water for 2 minutes, and complete a weighted timed event. To register, contact us using the "Email Us" button at the top of the page.
See Calendar for upcoming class dates.
Lifeguarding Class Fact Sheet – Information about class requirements and pre-req's.
Aqua Fitness
At this time, we no longer offer Aquaholics – Addicted to Fitness class. However, we encourage our patrons to come to the pool to do their own water workouts!
- Swim For Your Life Program
Challenge your endurance and stamina in the pool with our new incentive program. Track your progress in the pool and earn prizes for each milestone you meet. Call the Indoor Pool for more information.
- Reservations
If you are interested in reserving lanes for unit PT, physical therapy, swim tests and/or drown proofing – please turn in a memorandum stating what type of training, how many people, dates and times and a point of contact. Please turn it in at the Indoor Pool front desk at least 2 weeks in advance of the training to ensure facility space. The memo below can be used as a guide:
- What is the temperature of the water?
The temperature of the Indoor Pool's water is 82 degrees year-round. The Outdoor Pool is heated by the natural sunlight.
- Do you have lifeguards on duty?
Yes, they are certified by the American Red Cross.
- Are you required to wear a swim cap?
- How long is your pool?
The Indoor Pool is 50 meters long (one way; 100 meters per lap) and 7 lanes wide. The Outdoor Pool is a recreational facility.
- What are your age limitations?
Persons 13 years and older may come in unaccompanied with a valid military ID. Persons under the age of 13 must be accompanied by an adult 18 or older.
- Can we bring our own toys?
Yes, except inflatables.
- Can my child wear water wings? If not do you have lifejackets?
No water wings or inflatables are permitted inside of the pool area. We offer lifejackets at both facilities.
- Is your pool ADA acceptable?
Yes, we have chair lifts available.
- Do you have a viewing area?
Yes, it is located upstairs at the Indoor Pool.
- Can I wear PTs in the pool?
Yes, as long as you have some sort of undergarments underneath your PTs.
- Are lockers and showers available?
Yes, there are showers and lockers available at the Indoor Pool. The Outdoor Pool facility does not have showers or lockers.
- Is there a cost? If so, how much?
There is no cost for the Indoor Pool. For the Outdoor Pool, please see pricing details under the "Prices" tab on the Outdoor Pool page.
- How often do you have swim lessons?
We offer swim lessons every month with registration opening on the 1st of each month. Registration can be found here.
- How many guests per ID card holder?
Authorized ID Card users who are over the age of 18 are allowed 2 guests. All guests need to show photo ID.
- What classes do you offer?
Swim Lessons, Lifeguarding and Discover Scuba.
- Do you have a sauna?
- How do I reserve the pool?
For the Indoor Pool, you must submit a memo at least 2 weeks in advance. Outdoor Pool is availabe for brithday parties during the season. Please call for more details.
- Do you have recreational swimming?
The Outdoor Pool is completely recreational.
- Do you have a swim team?
- How tall must you be to ride the slide?
You must be 48 inches OR be able to swim.
- Do you have to have a military ID?
No, you can access the facility if you have an AIE card or if you are associated with the military (Active Duty, Reserve, Guard, Contractor or DoD Civilian).
- Are we allowed to leave and come back with our wristbands?
Yes, as long as the wristband is kept on your person.
- Why do I have to cover up if I'm going to my car?
Army and Post Regulation states that you must be covered (shirt, shorts/pants and shoes).
- Where can I smoke around here?
50 feet away from any building on Post.
- Do you have towels or goggles?
We offer a selection of goggles, but they do run out on occasion since they are from the lost and found. Please bring your own towel.
- How far is a mile?
About 16 full laps (down and back).
- How deep is your pool?
Both facilities have a deep end of 12 feet.
- How far is 800 yards?
7 full laps and then half the length of the pool at the Indoor Pool.
- Do you have to take a swim test?
No, unless you would like to jump from the high dive or ride the slide at the Outdoor Pool.
- Are you allowed to bring outside food or a cooler to the pool?
You may bring drinks and coolers that are smaller than 12 inches wide by 12 inches tall by 12 inches deep (lunch box size). We maintain the right to check it. No glass or alcohol is allowed.
- Do I have to show my ID everytime I come to the pool?
Yes, even if you purchased a membership pass.
- What is the temperature of the water?
Active Duty, permanent party, contact your Chain of Command for availability.
Hours of Operation
|5:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
|5:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
|5:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
|5:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
|5:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Barnes Ave.
Bldg. 21608 Google Map
+1 (706)791-3034 Aquatics Management Team: +1 (706)791-8954
Military DSN Tel:
The Indoor Pool is considered a fitness and learning pool. We are here to meet your water safety and aquatic fitness needs.


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Big Pirate Game by Djeco
Djeco board games look and feel great to play, and Big Pirate adds in a great element of action and strategy. The ship's crew land on Big Pirate's island, determined to steal his treasure. Obviously, Big Pirate is not at all happy about this and is desperate to catch them before they make off with his ill-gotten gains! Sometimes the players are a member of the ship's crew, but also get to be Big Pirate himself, meaning they have to think carefully about the routes they might take in order to snaffle the treasure without being caught!
- Size: 30cm x 28cm x 6.5cm
- Material: Board
- Ages: 5+
- Allows 2-4 players


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Media, Art And Design
The mission of the visible and media arts observe program is to coach both non-majors and majors about the significance and vitality that creative artistic follow has in modern life and has had historically. The Student Union Art Gallery is solely pupil-run and hosts an aggressive schedule of various exhibits and occasions for over eight,000 guests a year. The City is dwelling to all-12 months-round arts festivals, occasions, exhibitions and road leisure, together with the famous Chester Races, the Rowing Regatta and the internationally acclaimed Chester Zoo.
This track is unique in The Netherlands as a result of it supplies a multi- and interdisciplinary perspective on the examine of arts and its contexts. Through outreach to girls coming into the arts and media and thru peer networking, the Coalition serves both its constituency and your entire arts and media group.
Key stage three college students at Arts & Media School Islington receive an orchestral string instrument alongside obligatory musical education for 3 years, all free of charge. College students of all levels are welcome to borrow movie, audio/video and photographic gear from Media Mortgage You may learn how to use this tools from our employees.
Past making their careers instantly in artwork, many Evergreen alumni are concerned in the arts in other ways, either as artists exterior of their jobs or in promotion, arts board leadership, or volunteering. Up to date media and humanities industries are fluid and dynamic, drawing on and mixing a variety of traditions and practices – that is an enviornment that by no means stops evolving and changing.
The college goals to ascertain challenging academic goals, which its students are anticipated to aspire in direction of and surpass. It would open in 2018 and supply glorious services for our Music and Media college students. Students deciding on a focus in the theatre arts may have the opportunity to acquire intensive training in appearing, directing, design, and technical theatre.


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"For your sister who scorned all the people who came down to Occupy Wall Street hoping to see Thom Yorke, a pocket-sized guide for revolution: Beautiful Trouble … "The Airship
ActionAid is a non-profit and much more – they're a partnership between rich countries and poor countries working directly with people in poverty to help them change their own lives. They work to eradicate poverty by providing relief from disasters and conflicts, empowering women, fighting hunger, holding governments accountable, and making education accessible. Their mission is to fight poverty by overcoming the injustice and inequality that cause it. http://www.actionaidusa.org/


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Not too long ago, MAC came out with their Mineralize Rich Lipstick collection. I have a vast color wheel of lipsticks from MAC. However, I couldn't help but cop a few essentials for myself, and my kit for when I do freelancing work. Sometimes I don't want the weight of heavy bold color on my lips, so I opted for something that was more lighter but also had longevity. In addition to my clients wanting a natural lip color that was moisturizing, and non drying.
It has an odd shape from what I'm normally used to from MAC's lipsticks, but that's fine! Just an observation. That wasn't a deal breaker, lol.
Below: I copped the colors 'Be A Lady', 'Good Taste' and 'Bold Spring'
Here are the swatches:
Overall, I'm impressed! I wore 'Be A Lady' to work, and it stayed on for about 8 to 9 hours. My lips weren't dried out and the color didn't fade throughout the day either. What I love most about the mineralize rich lipstick is that the colors didn't evaporate. By the end of the day, it was still there 🙂 This stood out to me because most lipsticks I have that are moisturizing, I'd have to reapply them throughout the day due to the color eventually evaporating from me talking, drinking or eating. You can pair these with your favorite lip liner and just go on about your day. Very simple and straight to the point. These are my second favorite lipsticks after Wet N Wild's lipsticks.
What are your thoughts? What are your favorite lightweight lipsticks?
* This was not a sponsored post. I purchased all of the above mentioned products with my own money.


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On July 30, the Bank of Mongolia made a decision to increase its policy interest rate to 12 percent in order to relieve the balance of payments difficulty, maintain medium and long-term economic stability, avoid further risk facing the Mongolian macro economy, protect the public's income, and to curb inflationary pressure.
Below are opinions from economists on the interest rate change.
D.Jargalsaikhan: Tightening monetary policy will pose challenges for businesses
The Central Bank of Mongolia did what it ought to do in the current situation. The policy interest rate of the bank was 14 percent during the 2014 economic crisis. The bank has since been reducing the policy rate. The rate was 10.5 percent as of February 2014. Increasing it by 1.5 percentage points is indeed a huge number. But the loan criteria became more challenging. As a result, the amount of loans on the market will decrease. This will pose challenges for businesses. Otherwise, everyone will face difficulties. The bank made such a decision. The amount of USD in the box called "the economy" is decreasing. Accordingly, the rate of the MNT is depreciating. Ultimately, we are paying the costs of erroneous government policy.
D.Batjargal, Ph.D: Government spending should be curtailed
Increasing the policy interest rate is a measure to curtail inflation. Since 2013, the Central Bank of Mongolia has been implementing lenient monetary policy in order to support the economy and the public, and to decrease the interest rate of investment loans for businessmen. However, on July 30, the bank decided to tighten its monetary policy, which means an increased policy interest rate. In my opinion, the interest rates for loans at commercial banks should be increased. The paramount problem in Mongolia is weak management of budget revenue and expenditure. This should be resolved first.
L.Oyun, Ph.D and Lecturer at National University of Mongolia: The Central Bank of Mongolia has no other choice than to increase the policy interest rate and implement strict monetary policy
I see the measure the Central Bank of Mongolia took as an effort to maintain macro economy stability. Although the Central Bank says it will restrict demands by increasing the policy interest rate to fight inflation, demands outside of the state budget aren't enough to subside inflation. Therefore, state spending should also be decreased.
D.Lkhagvadorj, Ph.D and Head of the Economics Department of Mongolian State University of Agriculture: It was a decision that protected the economy from crisis
Although tightening monetary policy might curtail the operations of enterprises and the private sector, the decision was inevitable to maintain economic stability in the long term. Mongolia's economy is hugely dependent on the mining sector, which accounts for 90 percent of overall exports and 83 percent of foreign direct investment. This magnificent reliance on one sector is making our economy vulnerable and sensitive. Also, according to the preliminary balance of payments for the first six months of 2014, the current account deficit stands at 915.1 million USD. Foreign direct investment to Mongolia decreased by 70 percent from the previous year. The Central Bank stated, "It has still been crucial to enhance foreign exchange inflows through increasing export proceeds and promoting foreign direct investments, and maintain fiscal stability in order to neutralize the balance of payments pressure and to overcome current economic challenges." Therefore, measures to increase foreign exchange inflow should be taken.
Short URL: http://ubpost.mongolnews.mn/?p=11106


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Skip To main Contents
Life Story
The Administration
Speeches & Remarks
Korea.net News
General Information
Remarks by President Moon Jae-in at International Fleet Review 2018
October 11, 2018
(Unofficial translation)
Fellow Koreans, naval officers and sailors from around the world,
Today, naval representatives from 47 countries are joining us at the International Fleet Review hosted by the Republic of Korea Navy.
Jeju Island has become a place of harmony and friendship for navies throughout the world. The waters of Jeju have become a symbol of cooperation for the sea of peace.
I wholeheartedly welcome delegations and naval forces that have weathered rough waves to come to the peace island of Jeju.
I am also deeply grateful to the islanders of Jeju and residents of Gangjeong Village for warmly welcoming navies from across the globe.
Naval officers and sailors,
Maritime history is a history of challenges and hopes.
The distant horizon has encouraged us to dream. We have unceasingly set our sights beyond the horizon. Our unknown ancestors set sail for uncharted territories in the Atlantic and South Pacific. Columbus embarked on a voyage to explore an unmapped land and ended up in a new continent called America. Amundsen set out to sail all the way to continental Antarctica and left his footprints on the South Pole.
We have encountered new lands, met neighbors and broadened the scope of our reach to the entire planet by sea.
Even at this moment, some of the average 190 million containers carrying goods annually are being loaded and unloaded at some 200 ports around the world. Korea also sees 99.8 percent of its traded items transported across sea lanes.
The sea is our life. We compete and coexist at sea. The sea is a common asset shared by all people around the world.
We are joining the International Fleet Review today because the sea represents our hope for the future. Because it is the source of life that we should protect and preserve together.
Naval officers and sailors,
The body of water off the Korean Peninsula is the Pacific. Though denoting great peace, this vast ocean was once engulfed in flames of war.
As the sea yields so much, it is never free from disputes over sovereignty and jurisdiction. Maritime crimes such as piracy and terrorist acts persist along with incessant conflicts surrounding the refugee issue.
However, the navies of many countries around the world have fostered their wisdom collectively for coexistence and cooperation. Together, they have stood up to new challenges. Their joint efforts have brought about peace.
In the waters off Somalia, multinational naval forces help drive pirates off and safeguard merchant and fishing vessels. They are also spearheading disaster relief and humanitarian assistance missions, so their hospital ships and auxiliary vessels crisscross the globe. In order to actively respond to maritime disasters, they continue to conduct joint search and rescue drills in the five oceans of the world.
All the naval personnel joining us here today from around the world are protagonists keeping the world's oceans safe. You are brave warriors defending the prosperity of humanity. I take this opportunity to pay my respect to your endeavors and dedication.
Today's International Fleet Review ceremony is a festival to widely publicize progress made by the world's naval forces and their commanding presence as well as forge friendships among them. I hope you will fully demonstrate the imposing presence derived from your protecting our seas.
My fellow Koreans and members of the naval forces,
The Korean Peninsula remains under an armistice. South and North Korea have now declared to put an end to military confrontations and initiated a journey for complete denuclearization and permanent peace. Though the route to peace is never smooth, the Republic of Korea will remain on this course to the end.
A prerequisite for reaching the final destinations of peace and prosperity is strong national defense capabilities. Among others, naval power symbolizes the national strength of an open and trading nation.
A maritime powerhouse is the future of the Republic of Korea. The Republic of Korea Navy is one of the strongest naval forces, having inherited the spirit of Admiral Yi Sun-sin. They pulled off a great feat by safely rescuing South Koreans kidnapped in seas off Ghana in April this year.
I will help further fortify the Republic of Korea Navy so that it will be able to contribute to peace not only on the Korean Peninsula but also in Northeast Asia and the world.
Strong national defense capabilities come from the trust of the people.
Jeju is an island of peace. It suffered considerable pain from ideological conflicts over a long period, but its peoples' strong spirit helped sublimate resentment into reconciliation. It is also so beautiful that UNESCO listed the entire island as a World Natural Heritage site.
I offer my heartfelt sympathy to the residents of Jeju for the agony caused by the construction of a naval base here. I will do my utmost to heal the pain and wounds inflicted on the residents of Gangjeong Village.
I will make this naval base a foothold for peace, not a foothold for war.
When Jeju's desire for peace is shared with these naval forces, the International Fleet Review will go beyond a festival of harmony and friendship among navies around the world and become a foundation of peace and prosperity for humanity.
On the occasion of the International Fleet Review this year, I ask the Navy to join with the people. I hope that this will be an opportunity for local residents and the Navy to seek mutual existence and become a milestone for a new International Fleet Review.
Fellow Koreans, men and women from navies around the world,
The Republic of Korea loves peace. The International Fleet Review today will become the sound of a foghorn proclaiming peace on the Korean Peninsula.
Naval officers and sailors from around the world will cheer the Republic of Korea Navy as it joins with them for peace on the Korean Peninsula and beyond.
I hope that all the sailors participating in the review will remain in good spirits until their vessels return safely to their home ports. I also hope that you all will be able to enjoy the beautiful scenery and culture of Jeju and experience the warmhearted nature of its people.
I am proud of the commanding presence of the navies from around the world. Let us now hoist the flag of peace high and embark on a voyage toward the Pacific.
Thank you.
Remarks by President Moon Jae-in at State Dinner Hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron
Message from President Moon Jae-in Given at 3rd Commemorative Ceremony for Jangjin Campaign Heroes
Life Story
The Administration
Speeches & Remarks
Korea.net News
General Information
1 Cheongwadae-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03048 Republic of Korea
COPYRIGHT Office of the President. All rights reserved.


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Jani Lane, lead singer of Warrant, died Aug. 11, 2011, age 47
Winehouse didn't surprise me...it was just a matter of time. That is not a judgment on HOW she died. I defer to the official autopsy report and the still-pending toxicology report. I am simply saying I'm not surprised.
Jani, a guy I started listening to when he was the lead singer of Warrant (and as I pointed out many times before, my first concert...not to mention my first live national act performance ever, as Warrant was the opening band) surprises me.
I am bummed by both.
Winehouse had this sassy screw-the-world attitude in her songs that had these jazzy-soulful undertones that I have never heard before. She had so much potential and I am disappointed that the world will not get to know more of her music. I am hoping for some unreleased tracks to be released, similar to Jim Croce.
Lane had had a huge impact on my life. I remember blaring the completely inappropriate teen anthem Cherry Pie (see video below) while on deliveries with my dad.
As crazy as this sounds, my "Birds and the Bees" talk went like this:
Dad (knocking on door and walking into my room): "Your mom wants me to talk to you about the sex thing. Any questions?"
Me: "Nope."
Dad (walking out and closing the door behind him): "Let me know if you do."
That's the last discussion we had about that exact topic.
Songs like Cherry Pie and bands like Warrant taught me - for better or for worse - about sex. And for this I thank Jani and Company very very much.
The only thought more frightening or depressing is that these things always come in threes. I'm not looking forward to seeing who is next.


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When it concerns bedding material goose down is at the top of the heap. Not just does goose down offer the very best comfort and the high quality, however is also thought about to be an excellent choice of investments. There are lots of reasons for this, however one particular reason is the fact that goose down has a longer life span than other sorts of materials, specifically artificial ones. So you have basically two options, you can acquire an artificial comforter that will require changed every 2 to 3 years, or you could make an investment into a goose down comforter that will last your whole life time.
Whilst they clearly still have a vested monetary interest in the bedding sets that they promote, they all take the field of making really seriously. This means that you can be sure that they have done their finest to produce quality designs that that they are pleased to put their name to, in contrast to just trying to find the fast payday.
Duvet sets could change from conventional styles, sophisticated flower specifics as well as seasonal styles. This means that you are able to customize the complete design of the space to inspect preferred style and reach the environment you would like to objective. Thankfully some sets are quite inexpensive nevertheless there manies which can be constructed with customized product labels which could be extremely costly. The materials you can choose from are numerous which can be thought about to be an ideal match for any bed linens. The modern ones today are duvet styles developed from natural materials like organic cotton.
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Southwest bedspreads are the only option for any southwestern, western or even Native American style. It's simple to purchase bedspreads online since they are growing in popularity everyday. The southwest teems with color and life which rustic warmth is exactly what you record in the beautiful Indian pattern bedspreads. Western design is also best for these rich materials.
Change Your Bed Skirts 18 Drop Without Looking Like A Newbie
Someone else vital thing to think of when searching for a down comforter is the thread count. Similar to sheets, other bedding items likewise have different thread counts available. Similar to the down fill, greater thread counts will be more costly than lower ones. The greater the count, the even more durable and soft the product will be.
However, you can not avoid cleaning down comforters at some time even if they are shielded. Right here is a good way think of it and keep in mind the formula. Down are feathers and are usually the feathers of geese. How do you suppose a goose keeps its feather clean? Cold water is the right answer to that. And, think of this. How would a goose do in an agitating cleaning machine? It's an ugly idea but a fantastic illustration of exactly what not to do. So, exactly what does this mean? It means you need to wash you down comforter in a front loading machine like they have in laundry mats not leading loading agitating machine like you find in a lot of houses. The agitating machine can damage the comforter completely. The secret is a gentle cycle of cold water.
Decorative Advice About Bedskirts Really Worth Learning
There is a government requirement for the cleanliness of feathers and down made use of in comforters. Comforters should meet this cleanliness requirement in order to be thought about hypoallergenic. Down Comforter fills could be washed as lots of as fifteen times to obtain rid of organic matter, dirt, dust and foreign objects to meet this requirement.
Having information regarding exactly what is consisted of in the luxury Bed Skirts 18 Drop sets is a benefit to you. This is since you are able to conserve your cash when you are purchasing exactly what you understand instead of exactly what you do not understand. Always put in mind that the providers of the bed settings presume that you understand nearly everything.
Down is harvested throughout the natural molting procedure from farm raised ducks or geese. It is a by-product of the chicken industry. The biggest distinction between goose and duck down is smell. Goose down has slightly to no smell. If it does not state goose down on the label, it is most likely duck down and a lot less expensive.
Places To Check For Low Cost Bedskirts
Between a duvet and a comforter, what is the actual difference? A Duvet is a quilted non- washable filled blanket without decors, it is typically white or off white in color. They also have down feathers while a comforter is a washable quilted filled blanket that has a variety of colors and is loadeded with artificial fibers.
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Aside from being comfy while resting or sleeping, there are other reasons that give you total contentment when you purchase silk duvets for your very own benefit. Silk duvets are hypoallergenic. If you have a delicate skin or you easily catch colds and sneezes regularly with some brand-new materials, a hypoallergenic silk duvet is your perfect companion below. Asthmatic clients will certainly enjoy the idea of having silk duvets in their beds to give them relief as silk soothes irritating skin.
Duvets aren't your basic blanket and quilt combination. In fact the market rates duvets based upon their thermal efficiency – or tog rating. The tog rating offers purchasers a better concept of which duvets to get for particular seasons. A duvet with higher tog rating is warmer than a duvet with lower tog rating.
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All your bed room requires is beauty. With comforters and duvets, which hare functional and practical parts to constantly offer your be that appealing look and design day in day out. You can be ensured of appropriate design and warmth for your bedroom. Their qualities of inexpensiveness, many pain-free and also the quickest feedback to the bedroom desires for beauty grants you every chance to love your bedroom.
Your teenager's space has to be a place that echoes his character and individual design while being a comfy sanctuary for him to unwind in. For this, it is important to think about inputs from your teenager prior to you decorate his or her personal space. Bedding is a fundamental part of the decorating process, so you will have to carefully select the material, design and color to match the general decor of the space.
One silk thread is consisted of 6 to 8 smaller sized threads called filaments. These are twisted around each other to form a strong thread. It has been stated that silk is amongst the strongest fabric on the planet. This indicates that the silk Bed Skirts 18 Drop sets offered in establishments will last you for numerous years, so long as you care for it appropriately. It is important to keep in mind that bedding made from grown silkworms has the tendency to be more powerful than silk made from wild silkworms.
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It is vital to equip the bedroom with the best of bedding sets to offer the ultimate relaxation, comfort and personal privacy that its owners would desire. There is a myriad of bedding sets in the marketplace to make the task easy for any consumer. There are millions of bedding selections in thousands of bedding establishments worldwide.
If you require a new look, you might think about trying some of the lots of options offered for bed linen. From designer plannings to specialty items, you make sure to find what you are looking for swiftly and easily. Many websites are offered online and there are lots of other choices in retailers as well.
Looking for bed sheets linen like duvets cover and bedding and linens can be a lot of fun for a lot of individuals. There are a wide range of options available to customers today that will permit lots of various options. In addition, duvets cover and bedding and linens can be discovered in a range of sizes to fit nonstandard or big beds too.
There are quite a few ladies who are rambunctious and tomboyish, while there are lots of others who are more generally frilly and womanly in their tastes. Normally, your little girl like most others will discover herself somewhere in the center of the spectrum which can make redoing her room somewhat of a difficulty since neither princesses nor dinosaurs will make her pleased as style for her room.
You can finish the appearance of your space by picking matching comforters. Select comforters that not only match the style of your bedroom but also offer heat and are comfortable to snuggle with. Selecting the right material for the comforters would make sure that you are comfortably tucked into bed. Silk comforters would give your bedroom a rich, stunning feel while going with cotton comforters would give it a classic appearance and vintage beauty. If you are eco conscious, pick natural cotton comforters that are made with procedures that are safe for the environment. The absence of harmful chemicals also makes them hypoallergenic.
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The best part of working with a patterned duvet is that you can quickly alter the washable cover as you see fit. Try changing it up seasonally to keep excitement and novelty in a room. Choosing Sheets is simple if you've bought a patterned duvet set, just pick the primary and get the color to match as close as you can. The structure to the set does not truly factor into the sheets color.
The levels of warmth in the alternative Bed Skirts 18 Drop differs, so understanding where the main area for your bedding will be necessary. If you are in a region where it does not get cold, you may want a lighter weight fill than in a region where it gets extremely cold. Choosing the right warmth level will be necessary for you to be comfy in the temperature level where your bed will be.


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Venezuela is creating a digital currency to combat a financial blockade by the United States, President Nicolas Maduro announced Sunday. The Petro will be backed by Venezuela's oil and gas reserves and its gold and diamond holdings, the president said in his weekly television program. "This is going to allow us to move toward new forms of international financing for the country's economic and social development," the president said. The government also announced the creation of a "blockchain
observatory" — a software platform for buying and selling virtual currency. Although the president did not offer many details, analysts such as Henkel Garcia see the possibility of success as limited. "You can build it, but trust, acceptance and use is what will determine the cryptocurrency's success. For me, it will be quite limited. The bolivar is is also backed by reserves and has no strength," Garcia, director of consultancy Econometrica. READ MORE


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Join us for a special Saturday Family Day this November 12 at the Santa Barbara warehouse. We are hosting a Thanksgiving food drive and volunteer festival. Bring your food donations to drop off: frozen turkeys and chickens and foods from the list in the link below. We will have bike blenders for the kids to make smoothies, volunteer activities for the whole family, Apples to Zuchinni Cooking School will teach kids to make a healthly snack and Spencer of Spencer the Gardner will perform his "Gobble Song" live. Come join the fun and help the Foodbank!
Food drive items needed: here
Where: Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, 4554 Hollister Avenue
When: Saturday, November 12, 9:30 – 12:00, come at any time and stay as long as you wish
Sign up here: http://signup.com/go/B6AsrH
We will run these activities all morning so feel free to come when you can and leave when you need to!


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Are your modeling photos hurting your chances?
Hey Girls,
I believe what you put into your pursuits leads to what you get. Striving to work as a model, book gigs, work with an agency all comes down to your own will to try. There is usually no "discovery process" for a print model and getting opportunities comes down to your own behind the scenes effort. On this blog I write often about the prep work involved with preparing for your success and the importance of setting goals. I really think striving as a model is about becoming a good marketer.
Model marketing isn't just flaunting your photos, it's about carefully planning the photos you use to market yourself and having your professional model marketing tools, a comp card, a portfolio and knowing how to actually model a product naturally.
Model marketing is really knowing your assets, knowing where you fit into the industry of images and selling products. And making sure you are marketing yourself with the right photos. It is important to understand what your role is as a model.
Modeling is about selling products, models are hired to fit the vibe of a brand or product, and when you are shorter keep in mind you will have to put to use other assets beyond your height, so it's more about using your personality, and a smile shot will help you a lot more than another pouty glamour shot.
To work with print modeling agencies remember it's less about measurements and more about bringing to life the image of a product or brand through your personality on camera, and do it in a natural and pretty way.
You could feel confident about modeling but your photos could be all wrong and the way you are marketing yourself could be affecting your chances.
Recently I saw the comp card of a girl who has a good look, good skin, but on her comp card she didn't have a "personality" shot. A shot that shows she has something extra, a spunk, an energy, a happiness about her. Print modeling is about lifestyle ad campaigns, involving every day products and modeling with products that most people use, it's different than high fashion...and most of these lifestyle ads involve the model smiling while holding or using the product, like a cell phone. So, even though this girl has a good look, it doesn't matter, if she isn't targeting the area of modeling which she can find opportunities, in fact she is missing opportunities.
I noticed that this weekend there is a virtual training for aspiring models at: http://howtoactandmodel.com/behind-the-scenes-video-3/
Aim high and strive on!


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|Thu 14 Jun 2018, 9:00am–12:00pm
New Zealanders live busy lives, so Cadbury wants to bring Kiwis together across the country to share a moment with someone they care about.
The Cadbury team will spend six weeks road tripping throughout the country giving Kiwis the opportunity to share Cadbury Dairy Milk together.
The Cadbury Dairy Milk Share the Taste Road Trip will be hitting Palmerston North on Thursday 14 June.
Head down with your friends, family or colleagues to share the delicious taste of Cadbury Dairy Milk. Want to share a bar with your BFF, nana or next-door neighbour? The Cadbury team will be onsite personalising bars for your favourite people so sharing is easy! At the end of the road trip, Cadbury will reveal who New Zealand's favourite person to share with is.
The Cadbury team will be in The Square between 9am and 12pm.
Before you go, would you like to subscribe to our free weekly newsletter with events happening in your area, competitions for free tickets and CD giveaways?
No thanks - I'm already an Eventfinda member (or I don't want to join)
Enter your email below, click on the Sign Up button and we'll send you on your way
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Julia Owen
Julia is a fully qualified Iyengar Yoga Teacher to Junior Intermediate level. She has been practicing for 35 years and teaching for 15 years of yoga classes in Worthing, Southwick, Portslade, and Brighton. She has studied with Mr.Iyengar in Paris and currently trains with 3 senior Iyengar teachers.


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Loading Map....
3171 Rte. 6A
Barnstable, MA 02631
The Barnstable Comedy Club is one of the oldest community theaters in
Massachusetts! We are a community theater, with a big emphasis on the word
'Community.' Everyone is welcome at The BCC! In general we perform four main
productions per season, as well as other special events such as The Annual
Barnstable Village Holiday Stroll, staged readings, and acting and directing
workshops. As the oldest living community theater on Cape Cod, we strive to
bring excellence to all of our patrons, volunteers, members, and community.


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The 30-year-old was named man of the match after his brace helped Wales seal a memorable win over the Springboks in Cardiff on Saturday.
Parkes' Test debut could hardly have gone any better and he admitted he was blown away by the whole occasion.
"It was a dream come true and a pretty amazing day," the Scarlets man told the Welsh Rugby Union official website.
"I never thought this day would come and I'm just extremely humbled by the opportunity.
"It's a huge privilege and an honour to come out here and play at a fantastic stadium and in front of a fantastic crowd. You dream of these kind of days and I'm very happy."
New Zealand-born Parkes was only eligible for the game after finally meeting the criteria to be able to play for Wales on Saturday and now hopes to become a regular with a place in the squad for the Six Nations in 2018 his next international target.


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| 11.5°C Dublin
FORMER school bus driver Ariel Castro has been charged with four counts of kidnapping and three counts of rape in the case of three missing Ohio women freed after about a decade of captivity at his house.
Castro, 52, will be arraigned in court on Thursday, Cleveland city prosecutor Victor Perez announced at a press conference.
Ariel Castro's brothers Pedro, 54, and Onil, 50, were not charged with any crimes at this time, Perez said.
Michelle Knight, last seen in 2002, Amanda Berry, who disappeared in 2003, and Gina DeJesus missing since 2004, were all found alive on Monday night at Ariel Castro's residence after a neighbor helped Berry break open a door. Police said a child also found at the residence is believed to be Berry's daughter


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This tutorial explains how to use the Preferences Script to apply Character Styles. This will allow you to apply different styles to each of the fields globally across your project's Location Plans in InDesign.
Note that this functionality replaces the old Style script.
In this example I am going to apply a bold style and magenta colour to the Type field of all of the signs.
Currently, there are no style applied to the characters in the signs.
1. Create Character Style
NOTE: If you already have the Character Style that you want to apply, you can skip this step
1. Open up the Character Style Panel by going to Window > Styles > Character Styles
2. Click the New Style Button
3. Edit the Style to your preferences. We are going to change the Character Colour to Magenta and the Basic Character Style to BOLD
2. Select Script
- Open the Scripts Panel by going to Window > Utilities > Scripts
- Select Preferences.jsx script
3. Match Character Style to Field
- Click in drop-down beside field name and choose what style you want to apply. For this example, we're applying "New Style" to Type. Make sure the checkbox is marked as well.
- Press OK button to apply the selected styles.
Voila! The New Style has a bold character style and magenta character colour, which has been applied to the sign type on all sign ID's across the project
Additional Resources
InDesign User Manual: Paragraph and character styles


text: Traveling with your pet? Whether your trip is within the continental 50 states, to our neighboring countries north and south, or overseas, we can help. Specific documentation is needed based on where you are traveling to and how you plan to get there. Our veterinarians can help you with paperwork needed to ensure your pet is traveling legally and to make sure they return home safely with you.


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PITTSBURGH — A coal company has petitioned state environmental officials in an effort to downgrade a "High Quality Warmwater Fishery" known for its tackle-busting smallmouth bass so it can mine the area with fewer constraints.
It is the latest in a round of mining permit applications the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is now considering, as coal operators scramble to meet rising global energy demands with Pennsylvania's top-grade coal reserves.
"This is a relatively new tactic, where the coal companies are sticking their toe in the water and saying, 'If we can get this stream downgraded, then we can get restrictions removed in other places, too,'" said Bev Braverman, executive director of the Mountain Watershed Association.
"It's another way they're working the system to satisfy the world's energy addiction."
Baltimore-based Foundation Coal LP says the "high quality" designation given South Fork of Ten Mile Creek on the Monongahela River 30 years ago is outmoded because the stream is no longer used as a public water supply.
The 2005 Bassmaster Classic was held on the Monongahela River, and local B.A.S.S. Federation Nation clubs hold tournaments near the mouth of Ten Mile Creek, which is fed by the South Fork tributary.
"If high-quality status applied in the 1970s, it applies now," said John Arway, environmental director of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Arway's agency recently sampled two dozen different species of fish in South Fork, including smallmouth bass, rock bass, sauger and freshwater drum.
Foundation spokesman Rick Nida said not getting the downgrade would jeopardize the company's plans, or make mining on South Fork more costly.
Consol Energy is seeking a similar downgrade of a South Fork tributary (Grinnage Run) where it wants to expand a deep mine. And in neighboring Fayette County, Amerikohl Mining Inc. has proposed a surface mine and other facilities on 280 acres bracketed by "high quality" coldwater fisheries on the Youghiogheny River, which feeds the Monongahela.
The Youghiogheny recently was named Pennsylvania's 2008 River of the Year, in tribute to its recovery from decades of abandoned mine drainage. While the river supports smallmouth bass, trophy trout and other species, it still is regarded as fragile.
"It's ridiculous DEP would even consider a mine at a time when everyone is coming together to celebrate the river," said Youghiogheny Riverkeeper Krissie Kasserman, who is part of the national Waterkeeper Alliance.
Besides erosion, sedimentation and mine drainage, concerns include possible impacts to rare plants and animals, and noise from blasting near Ohiopyle State Park and the Great Allegheny Passage, a popular bike route — and a federally designated National Scenic Trail — that runs from Pittsburgh to Cumberland, Md.
"We don't anticipate issuing a permit that would have negative consequences," said Tom Kovalchuk, a DEP geologist who recently held a public meeting in Dunbar, near Amerikohl's proposed site. At the same meeting, Amerikohl president John Stilley promised jobs for the 21-month period he would operate the mine and pointed to an environmentally responsible track record in the region.
Our footprint will be very small," said Stilley, who has operated numerous sites within the Youghiogheny River watershed.
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