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To Fight For Your Rights
North Carolina Criminal Law 20-141.4: Felony Serious Injury by Vehicle
Felony Serious Injury by Vehicle differs from Felony Death by Vehicle in the absence of a homicide, that being the wrongful death of another human being. The defining, differentiating essential element involves proof of "serious injury," rather than a fatality associated with Impaired Driving.
In order to prove the Defendant guilty of violating North Carolina Criminal Law 20-141.4, Felony Serious Injury by Vehicle, the State must prove the following prima facie elements Beyond a Reasonable Doubt:
- Defendant drove a vehicle
- On a Public Vehicular Area, Highway, or Street in North Carolina
- While Impaired by an impairing substance
- Defendant unintentionally caused a vehicular collision
- Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury to another human being
- Defendant's impaired driving was A Proximate Cause of the serious injury
Driving While Impaired is a predicate offense to Felony Serious Injury by Vehicle. The traditional elements of Driving While Impaired consistent with N.C.G.S. 20-138.1 and N.C.G.S. 20-138.2 therefore apply.
Impaired Driving (DWI) may be proven by showing:
- The Defendant had consumed a sufficient quantity of an impairing substance to appreciable impair his or her physical or mental abilities to an appreciable extent; and/or
- The Defendant has remaining in their body, as determined by blood or urine testing, Schedule I substance(s) or metabolites of a Schedule I controlled substance; and/or
- The Defendant at any relevant time after operation of a vehicle had a BAC Blood Alcohol Concentration of .08 or higher, as may be determined by breath, blood, or urine testing.
Proof of impairment need not be limited to any one of the factors, where the Finder of Fact may find more than one as may be appropriate. "Appreciable Impairment" is that which is noticeable or discernible by observation.
One need not be "drunk."
All "drunk drivers" are said to be impaired, whereas appreciable impairment is not necessarily "drunken driving."
As such, substantial or gross impairment is not necessary to prove DWI in North Carolina. N.C.G.S. 20-138.1 defines "driving under the influence," (the traditional nomenclature for DUI charges) as appreciable impairment.
Defendant's impaired driving resulting in serious bodily injury must be "A Proximate Cause" of the accident. A Proximate Cause is not the sole or only cause. It may be a cause, together with other causes that took place at the same time, that resulted in the injury of another.
Serious bodily injury is a legal term of art. Minor injuries would not rise to the level of serious injury. Normally a serious bodily injury is that where there is permanent injury, bodily disfunction, and/or that could have resulted in the death of another human being.2. Related Offenses
Other similar or related offenses include:
- Aggravated Felony Serious Injury by Vehicle
- Felony Death by Vehicle
- Misdemeanor Death by Vehicle
- Second-Degree Murder by Vehicle Impaired Driving
- Involuntary Manslaughter
- Driving While Impaired
- Assault with Deadly Weapon Inflicting Serious Injury
Defendant is lawfully prescribed Oxycodone for pain management associated with a compressed lower-lumbar vertebra. Nerve impingement results in lack of feeling, numbness, and balance issues.
Defendant is involved in a multi-vehicle car accident on I-77 in Mecklenburg County, where the Defendant is not at fault. Another vehicle struck the Defendant's vehicle in the rear, causing substantial damage to both vehicles and loss of consciousness to Defendant.
The driver of the vehicle that struck defendant suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), losing sight in one eye.
North Carolina Highway Patrol Officers respond to the scene of the accident. Defendant is unable to perform Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST). Troopers note an odor of alcohol about Defendant's person. Defendant is not arrested, but taken to a local hospital for treatment. As part of medical diagnoses, Defendant's blood is sampled and tested.
Trooper note in their DWIR (Driving While Impaired Report) and associated accident report, Defendant appears to be "shaken up" after the wreck but "otherwise normal."
Test results indicate a blood alcohol concentration of .05 for ethanol (drinking alcohol). Test results further show the existence of a metabolite of Oxycodone in Defendant's blood.
Without more, Defendant should not be convicted of impaired driving or felony serious injury by vehicle.
Oxycodone, while an impairing substance, is a Schedule II controlled substance under the North Carolina Controlled Substance Act. As such, impairment by a Schedule I controlled substance is inapplicable.
Defendant further consumed ethyl alcohol, which is also an impairing substance. The BAC reading is below that normally necessary to prove impairment, that being a .08 or higher.
While a combination of a Schedule II substance, Oxycodone, and alcohol most certainly could result in appreciable impairment, there are no other indicators of appreciable impairment. The Defendant either could not perform dexterity tests and/or Troopers failed to conduct SFST Standardized Field Sobriety Tests.
No "appreciable impairment" is described, only an unparticularized odor of alcohol is indicated with no other documentation of impairment of mental or physical faculties due to the consumption on an impairing substance.
Furthermore, Defendant's driving did not cause the car accident. The victim in the accident suffered what would likely be deemed a serious bodily injury, the Traumatic Brain Injury and loss of vision.
A conviction for Felony Serious Injury by Vehicle would be tenuous at best, as the predicate offense of DWI Driving While Impaired cannot be proven Beyond a Reasonable Doubt. Further, the victim's injuries, while serious, were not a proximate cause of Defendant's driving.4. Defenses to Felony Serious Injury by Vehicle
Defenses to impaired driving exist, including:
- Non-Operation of a Vehicle
- Non-Impairment / Not Guilty of Impaired Driving
- Lack of Causality
- A Probable Cause
- Lack of Serious Bodily Injury
Traditional Common Law defenses have been found to apply to North Carolina DWI Charges, including:
- Necessity Defenses
- Self-Defense
- Defense of Others
- Involuntary Intoxication
- Automatism
If the person charged with the criminal offense, the Defendant, did not cause the car accident (vehicle collision) that resulted in serious bodily injury to another human being, she or he would not be guilty of North Carolina Criminal Law 20-141.4, Felony Serious Injury by Vehicle.
Voluntary Intoxication is not a defense to Felony Serious Injury by Vehicle in North Carolina.5. Penalties
Felony Serious Injury by Vehicle in violation of North Carolina Criminal Law 20-141.4(b)(4) is classified as a Class F Felony offense in North Carolina.
Pursuant to the Sentencing Guidelines, the maximum period of incarceration in the Department of Adult Corrections (DAC) for a Class F Felony is 59 months imprisonment. Intermediate or Active terms are indicated, subject to the Defendant's Prior Record Level (PRL) for prior convictions.
Other penalties include Supervised Probation, fines, costs of court, supervision fees, restitution, community service, house arrest, electronic monitoring, alcohol and/or drug assessment, treatment, continuous alcohol monitoring (SCRAM).
If the Finder of Fact finds the Defendant Not Guilty of the predicate offense of Driving While Impaired, the Court must set aside any conviction of Felony Serious Injury by Vehicle.
If convicted of impaired driving, pursuant to the Double Jeopardy clause of the Fifth Amendment, the Defendant cannot be sentenced for both DWI and Felony Serious Injury by Vehicle.
As such, the Court must similarly set aside the judgment for DWI and sentence only for the felony offense.6. Criminal Defense for North Carolina Criminal Law 20-141.4: Felony Serious Injury by Vehicle
If you have been arrested for Felony Serious Injury by Vehicle or Aggravated Serious Injury by Vehicle, politely assert your Fifth Amendment Rights to remain silent and to an attorney.
Thereafter, it's imperative you seek immediate assistance from a Charlotte Criminal Defense Lawyer.
With over 26 years practical courtroom experience, Charlotte Criminal Defense and a NBTA/NBLSC National Board of Trial Advocacy Board-Certified Criminal Law Specialist, Attorney Bill Powers understands the complexities and intricacies of criminal charges involving murder, manslaughter, death by vehicle, and serious injury by vehicle charges in North Carolina.
For more information about Felony Serious Injury by Vehicle charges, call now to schedule your free consultation. Contact the North Carolina Criminal Defense Lawyers at the Powers Law Firm PA now at: 877-462-3841.
You may also reach Bill Powers directly, by email, at: firstname.lastname@example.com


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|From the diary of Moira McAllister
|I write this in the earliest hours of daylight, having woken up from another restless sleep.
|All I think about now is the algorithm, which stubbornly refuses to be silent in my head. At first, I assumed it had originated from deep within my own mind, and was attempting to emerge through my subconscious and into the forefront of my thoughts. But recently, I've come to suspect otherwise. Just as my parents were physical expressions of the intangible concept of Love; this algorithm …this equation… it may be alive. Do I possess some manner of latent empathy through which am being essayed? It is communicating with me, but I don't understand what it wants. It is impossible to ignore. But how do I begin to solve the unsolvable?
|Employing skills I still do not fully understand, I have succeeded in assembling a wee, little contraption to assist me in this endeavor. I dare not claim any credit for creating such a thing. While necessary, my role in bringing about its existence was tiny. Like a farmer does for his crop, I provided the conditions necessary for the thing to thrive. More catalyst than creator; more paint than artist. It hardly matters now, as I have released the little wonder to do its work in solving the algorithm.
|For now, I feel good about the accomplishment. Yet, there is still some part of me that fears what consequences might occur, should some unwholesome character gain access to it. All I can do now is pray this was the right thing to do. In the meantime, I continue to also pray for insight into what happened to my parents. By revealing the secrets locked within the algorithm, I hope to finally learn the ending to their amazing love story.
|Moira closes her diary and breathes a depressed sigh. Like the many past and future circumstances into which she has had some uncanny, prophetic insight, Moira does not fully comprehend the meaning behind an intuitive notion suggesting she has just written its final entry.
|She stares out the window and watches the rhythmic motion of Finn's old rocking chair. She remembers the days when she fit neatly in the crook of his arm; and when that same rocking motion would lull her to sleep. She was not an unhappy child, exactly. Nor was she overly delightful. It has been a rather subdued melancholy. Though at the same time, it colors every aspect of her persona, which Malachi often describes as "silly", "aloof", and "brooding". Still, it is deeply rooted, and it emerges at the most unexpected times. Now, actually, is one such occasion.
|Neither Finn or Malachi has ever spoken a single word about Kacey or Adam. All these years, they have lied to her; telling her she is Malachi's daughter by his late wife, Fiona. And all these years, she has lied to them, never once telling them what she knows about the two angelic beings Malachi had found – and her knowledge that she is, in fact, their child. But she is not a child any longer.
|Today, she decides, is the time to put an end to the lies. Finn regards her with the same warm smile with which he always greets her. But upon sensing Moira's resolve, it takes only one moment for the expression to change.
|A range of emotions plays across his face. He struggles briefly to maintain the facade. But his animated expressions betray any attempted subtlety. Or, perhaps, he has just become weary of the deception. His rocking motion becomes a little bit quicker, as his lips purse into an unhappy frown. The sudden loss of color from Finn's face, and the appearance of a gaunt expression, causes Moira's heart to flutter. Hesitant to make eye contact with her, Finn quietly (and correctly) guesses that she has come to ask about her parents. She catches her breath, and manages to choke out the word, yes, despite her larynx threatening to close from anxiety.
|Finn's eyes, which had hardly ever shown anything but happiness and joy, begin to cloud over with tears. Finn starts to speak in a low, expressionless drone, which evokes a sense of the old sim having practiced this dialog many times in his mind. The words have barely left his lips when Moira is assailed with agitated flashes of past events. Each one of the disconnected and surreal situations fights against her, battling to remain hidden. She struggles with each one, forcing her will, and working to pull out as much detail as she can before it breaks free of her grasp.
|Old Finn had found a nugget of gold worth thousands of coin; more than a year's crop of potatoes would ever yield. Since then, Malachi has staked a mining claim to the entire hill and started working to find more. He'd worked together with Adam for hours, clearing rocks from the opening of a natural cave in the rocky hillside. Malachi shakes his head in wonderment, as he watches Adam continue to work under the blazing, hot sun. He has easily done the work of ten men today.
|Signaling Adam to stop working and collect his gear for the day, Malachi thinks back to the evening he had found the young man and his wife. The circumstances were very suspicious, if not bizarre. They'd been terribly mauled, and by all rights, should have already been dead. Malachi would have bet every coin he possessed that they would not survive through the night. But they did survive. And not only did they survive, but had they healed with no visible trace of the grievous wounds they'd suffered. Impossible? …Aye. But he has never worked up the disposition to ask what happened to them or where they came from. And they've never volunteered any information regarding their appearance. Perhaps old Finn was right about them, after all…
|Adam jogs easily beside Shena, as though he had just woken up from a fresh night's sleep. This, after working non-stop for no fewer than twelve hours. Upon arriving back at the cabin, he greets his wife and baby Moria with warm embraces. Kacey, now very heavy with a second child, returns his affection. After a bit of small talk, Kacey speaks to the matter of a telegram that had been delivered earlier in the day. Malachi opens the message and reads it out loud.
|It had been sent by a distant friend of Finn's from the Old Country, who now works for the federal government back east. Aside from a short greeting, the only other contents of the wire is a peculiar presage. A Federal Marshall, going by the name Hendrake, would be arriving in Sunset Valley by the end of the week to investigate Malachi's mining claim. Although the text itself had contained nothing to suggest any malevolence, just the simple presence of the letter seems to evoke a sense of dread.
|If this visit from a Federal Marshall was simply an investigation into his mineral extraction rights to the hill, then why send a provocative warning? Caught up in his own feelings of uneasiness, Malachi fails to notice the stunned and fearful expressions washing across the faces of both Adam and Kacey. Finn, however, does notice; and the only words he can think of to describe their reaction, is nothing short of pure, terrified, panic.
|The sound of Finn's troubled voice eases her back into the lucid present. He is in the midst of verbalizing his recollection of sitting with Moira in the bedroom later that same evening, rocking her to sleep. She was, at the time, only just a baby. She had always been a fussy child, possessing a wail so shrill, that it may have been able to unsettle the dead. But she had taken a liking to old Finn, and seemed content in his company. And much to Kacey's dismay, Moira would only sleep when Finn was rocking her in the bedroom.
|Finn's old voice quivers from the strain of revisiting these unwelcome memories. His words, shallow and weak, leave Moira feeling sick to her stomach. He regards Moira with as deep a sorrow as she had seen befall any sim. They wanted to take her with them… But it was Kacey, wanting to protect her first-born, who decided that it would be safer to leave baby Moira with Finn until Hendrake had gone. The old man's entire body shudders from a memory he refuses to speak. After a moment, his tired, sober eyes meet hers. The words that leave his lips cause Moira to cringe. She was right.
|The marshal arrived shortly after Adam and Kacey fled into the night that same evening. An unusually hot, dry wind had accompanied Hendrake's arrival, which was a full week earlier than expected. Somehow, they had known…
|Peeking at the Marshall through the bedroom's keyhole, Finn understood what had provoked such terror. Marshall Hendrake was not human. Finn describes the sense of dread and bleakness he had felt from just being within close proximity to such a creature. That's when everything fell into place for Finn. This creature had nearly killed Adam and Kacey, but they had somehow escaped. The beast, unwilling to lose its prey, had tracked them down. And it was eager to finish the job. Instinct alone (or perhaps it was his deeply rooted faith) had warned Finn to keep both himself and Moira silent. It would easily recognize the golden-haired, angelic child for what she truly was. And child or not, Moira was in grave danger.
|Over the booming of his own heartbeat, Finn could hear muffled voices through the door. The creature had convinced Malachi that Adam and Kacey were criminals. The government was offering a permanent land trust within Sunset Valley as reward for capturing the "fugitives". Malachi had not been able to see through the Marshall's guise. So, in the pitch of night, Malachi led Hendrake and his contingent to the mine, where Adam and Kacey had taken refuge.
|After a long quiet spell, Finn, now clearly exhausted, completes his telling with a hushed whisper. Malachi did not return until morning. And even then, he was too traumatized to speak about what he had witnessed at the cave. In his hand was the payment Hendrake had promised for his obedience; a deed administering full and permanent ownership rights to all land claims within Sunset Valley. As to the fate of both Kacey and Adam, Malachi has kept his account of what transpired that night, staunchly to himself.
|Having unloaded his burden, and with nothing more to tell, Finn finds his usual rocking rhythm and begins to quietly hum the Irish lullaby he'd always hummed while rocking Moira to sleep. He had seen too much unhappiness over his lifetime, and Moira does her part to ease his broken heart. With tears still fresh in her eyes, she kisses the tired, old man lightly on his cheek, and expresses her gratitude and love. Then, filled with a surplus of nervous energy, Moira runs through the tall grass toward the cave …and Malachi. She looks back once, and understands that this is the last time she will see her dear, old Finn.
|Afraid but determined, Moira continues on her path, unsure of how the day will end – but certain that it will end with her finally learning the truth.

subset: commoncrawl


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Escape Pod 241: Thargus and Brian
Show Notes
Show Notes:
- We're now on Twitter! Follow us @escapepodcast
- Enter the Escape Pod Flash Contest! It runs June 1- July 4, stories must be under 500 words. More information at the link.
Next week… we discover that food is, in fact, love.
Thargus and Brian
By Stephen Gaskell
Thargus thought the time right. He set the lights to full strength and flailed and gnashed and roared as he'd been practising. He felt rather silly, but the performance seemed to be working. The human, one hand steadying its spin, looked on intensely. It moved the white stick up to its mouth, breathed in, and then stabbed the stick out against the sac wall.
"Don't be afraid," Thargus said, meaning the opposite. He'd seen the trick on old films stored in the moss-brain when humans always said one thing and meant another like "We're safer if we split up."
The human exhaled a long stream of smoke. "I'm not," it said.
That didn't sound right. Thargus considered his response while staring at the human. It sure was ugly. A patchwork of dirty synthetics over the majority of its body, and on top of its pudgy, pink head, strand upon strand of greasy hair. Ugh! Thargus felt sick.
"Be afraid, then," he said.
"Why, are you going to eat me?"
Thargus didn't feel comfortable telling an outright lie, but that didn't mean he needed to be too honest. "I might."


text: The use of simple, chic, rich tones, are found in accent pieces of Sevilla, add just the right touch of style, warmth, and excitement to your living space. Being said as the finest wood modern furniture in its class, the Sevilla has smart texture which plays a pivotal role in design. Nothing makes a style statement like Sevilla!


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Perhaps Reykjavik's most iconic building, the epic Hallgrímskirkja church, is not only the tallest building in the country, but one of the most striking churches in the world. Today we take a look at this amazing house of worship during the never ending sunset of summer in Iceland.
All our drone films are operated by our fully licensed and insured pilot Roberto Serrini (www.nycdroner.com), who has flown all over the world documenting some of the most iconic places for everyone to enjoy. We appreciate that so many people are concerned about drone usage, and we adhere to all local guidelines and laws and always practice safe flying. Fly safe everyone, and enjoy the view.
Stay tuned for a bunch more films about one of our favorite countries, Iceland, with A NEW FILM EACH DAY.
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Tripod: Manfrotto 390 https://goo.gl/6PzxBv


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Maddy is an 18-year-old girl who lives in a beautiful big house in a nice neighbourhood, which is just as well because she can't and never has been outside out it. She lives in an environment of strict hygiene rules where she is constantly monitored by a nurse, and her house is equipped with special filters that keep out viruses and bacteria because she suffers from an illness that makes the outside world deadly. She's desperate to experience the great outdoors and has a passion to see the ocean with her own eyes, and her solitary existence becomes even harder when she meets her new neighbour Olly whose window faces her own. They exchange numbers and get close, and one day her sympathetic nurse allows him to visit her at the house.
When Maddy's mother finds out, she isn't pleased and bans her from ever seeing Olly again. In a bid to achieve her dreams and finally live, she runs away and starts to realise that she isn't quite as fragile as everybody thought she was - although that doesn't mean she doesn't risk her life with every step she takes. Every day becomes about having one perfect day even if it turns out to be her last.
Based on the bestselling young adult novel of the same name by Nicola Yoon, 'Everything Everything' has been directed by Stella Meghie ('Jean of the Joneses') with the screenplay by J. Mills Goodloe ('The Age of Adaline', 'The Best of Me', 'Pride'). It is scheduled for release on May 19th 2017.
Anika Noni Rose - Celebrities attend The Associates For Breast and Prostate Cancer Studies Mother's Day luncheon at Four Seasons Hotel at Beverly Hills. at Four Seasons Hotel at Beverly Hills - Los Angeles, California, United States - Wednesday 6th May 2015
Patti Labelle and Anika Noni Rose - Backstage at the Broadway musical After Midnight at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre. - New York, New York, United States - Sunday 22nd June 2014
Anika Noni Rose wearing Badgley Mischka - The 68th Annual Tony Awards After Party held at the Plaza Hotel. - New York, New York, United States - Monday 9th June 2014
Tony-winning Broadway star Anika Noni Rose was snapped posing on the red carpet at Variety magazine's Power Of Women Luncheon in New York City. The event was set up to honour various women in the media who have contributed to performing arts or charitable causes.
Continue: Video - Broadway Star Anika Noni Rose Arrives At Variety's Power Of Women Luncheon - Part 3
When this South African animated adventure embraces its unique setting and characters, it's visually stunning and a lot of fun. But it also tries to force everything into a trite Hollywood formula, unnecessarily adding clunky songs, goofy comedy sidekicks and big action set-pieces. Still, there's enough fresh storytelling and lively humour to keep us engaged, and some spectacular animation too.
It's set in the Great Karoo desert, where a herd of zebras has fenced off its own watering hole. But as a drought sets in, bullied half-striped zebra Khumba (voiced by Jake T. Austin) becomes worried about the animals outside. When he hears about a mythical pond that can restore his stripes and supply water to everyone, he leaves his best pal Tombi (AnnaSophia Robb) to take an epic trek across the desert. Along the way he picks up a variety of goofy travelling companions, including a hyena (Steve Buscemi), buffalo (Loretta Devine) and ostrich (Richard E. Grant). But he's also hunted by the vicious half-blind leopard Phango (Liam Neeson), who blames Khumba for his own hot-tempered misfortunes.
The animators far surpass the simplistic script with imagery that takes the breath away, from expansive landscapes to cleverly designed characters. And as the wacky sidekicks continually try to push the film over into slapstick silliness, the startlingly violent Phango reminds us of the darker side of nature as well as some deeper African cultural issues. This mix sometimes feels jarring, but that works in the film's favour. As do some inspired comical gags involving, for instance, a nutty sheep (Catherine Tate), a gang of hilariously agreeable meerkats and a herd of dumb-jock springboks.
Continue reading: Khumba Review
By trying to include an entire acclaimed novel on-screen, first-time filmmaker Biyi Bandele waters down momentous real-life events. The film is fascinating enough to hold our attention as it traces the first decade of Nigeria's independence, but the human drama at the centre never feels like much more than a soap opera.
The story starts in 1960 Lagos, as Nigeria proudly declares independence and looks to a bright future as Africa's largest, most prosperous nation. At the centre are twin sisters educated in America and Britain: Olanna (Thandie Newton) decides against working in the government, travelling north to teach at university; Kainene (Anika Noni Rose) moves east to manage their father's business. But it's their love lives that define them. Olanna falls for colleague Odenigbo (Chiwetel Ejiofor), whose Mama (Onyeka Onwenu) treats her as if she's a witch. Meanwhile, Kainene has a passionate affair with married Englishman Richard (Joseph Mawle). And both of their relationship struggles are echoed in Nigeria's violent birth pangs.
The film is punctuated with newsreel footage from the period, which adds to the authentic production design. The 1960s are recreated on-screen with an attention to detail from the bustling village streets to the stylish Mad Men-like sophistication of upper-class sitting rooms. Indeed, the focus is on the contrast between locals caught in ethnic and religious traditions and the foreign-educated progressive thinkers. So it's no wonder that the country experiences a series of violent coups, ethnic cleansing and a hideous civil war.
Continue reading: Half Of A Yellow Sun Review
Khumba is a young zebra who was born missing half of his stripes. Following his birth, there came a deadly drought threatening the survival of the herd and killing his mother. To his superstitious peers and his father, Khumba's unusual appearance is an extremely bad omen and he is eventually driven to run away from the herd to find water and acceptance elsewhere, leaving his only friend in Great Karoo, Tombi. On his travels, he meets a motherly wildebeest named Mama V and her wacky friend Bradley the Ostrich who are willing to travel with him and protect him from the ills of the wild, namely Phango the Leopard whose presence is a threat to every other creature in Great Karoo. He also meets Mantis, who reveals a map that could lead them to a waterhole - or will it instead lead Khumba to find his stripes?
'Khumba' is a heart-warming animated flick about that timeless message of accepting people's differences. It has been directed by Anthony Silverston in first direction, who co-wrote the screenplay alongside previous writing partner Raffaella Delle Donne ('Zambezia'). It was nominated for a Cristal award for best feature at the 2013 Annecy International Animated Film Festival and has already been released in the US.
Anika Noni Rose Sunday 26th February 2012 The 20th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation's Oscar Viewing Party held at West Hollywood Park - Arrivals
Tyler Perry re-works and Ntozake Shange's 1975 choreopoem/play For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf. The movie adaptation sees Shange's play given a new lease of life by Why Did I Get Married director/screenwriter Tyler Perry.
Continue: For Colored Girls Trailer
Anika Noni Rose Thursday 25th February 2010 2010 Costume Designer's Guild Awards held at the Beverly Hilton hotel Los Angeles, California
On the same day that Glastonbury welcomed back Margate's adopted sons, The Libertines, Margate itself put on it's very own Leisure Festival as it...
Sheffield's very own all girl group Pretty Fierce are still on a high after the recent release of their debut single - 'Ready For Me'.
Three nights before the end of his current tour Will Varley returned to his home town of Deal to delight a sold out crowd in The Astor Theatre.
With only a few days to go before Portsmouth based songstress and producer WYSE releases her new single, 'Belladonna', we caught up with her to find...
Colorado raised, Glasgow educated and Manchester based Bay Bryan is nothing if not a multi-talented, multi-faceted artist performing as both...
Former Marigolds band member Keelan Cunningham has rediscovered his love of music with his new solo project Keelan X.
Wiltshire singer-songwriter Luke De Sciscio, formally known as Folk Boy, is set to release is latest album - 'The Banquet' via AntiFragile Music on...
Electronic music pioneer and producer Annie Elise says that the release of her first EP - 'Breathe In, Breathe Out' feels "both vulnerable and...
Maddy is an 18-year-old girl who lives in a beautiful big house in a nice...
When this South African animated adventure embraces its unique setting and characters, it's visually stunning...
By trying to include an entire acclaimed novel on-screen, first-time filmmaker Biyi Bandele waters down...
Khumba is a young zebra who was born missing half of his stripes. Following his...
Tyler Perry re-works and Ntozake Shange's 1975 choreopoem/play For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide...
If only they had let Bill Condon direct Chicago instead of just writing the screenplay....


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Uncovering the Clues of Your Food Cravings
- Topic Info:A study out of the University of California-Davis found that "eating "mindfully" and cultivating a heightened awareness to the body's signals when you crave certain foods decreases emotional eating.
You can win your internal battle with emotional eating by paying attention to what you eat as you're eating, how it makes you feel, and realizing when you're eating to satisfy a hunger, a habit, or an unsatisfied emotion.
Why does this matter?
Anyone battling binge eating, sugar cravings, or other types of emotional eating can attest to the difficulty of breaking free from overeating patterns. We become side-tracked by day-to-day life in a non-stop world that makes us live in our heads and ignore our bodies. This means you miss vital clues to your well-being. You stifle many of your physical and emotional needs with your go-to quick fix: food.
By objectively investigating your food cravings, looking for the underlying reasons of our "hunger," noticing how certain foods make you feel, and more, you can discover a new perspective and a way to break old eating habits.
Lisa Lewtan, Founder of Healthy, Happy & Hip and author of Busy, Stressed, and Food Obsessed, joins host Lisa Davis to share how you can start to loosen the grip your cravings have on you.
- Book Title: Busy, Stressed, and Food Obsessed
- Guest Website:Healthy, Happy & Hip
- Host: Andrea Donsky, RHN and Lisa Davis, MPH


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In high school, I used to have a blog — and a pretty awful one at that. However, after shutting it down before going to college, I've found myself wanting to share my images, thoughts and musings with others. Or at least, with myself. I love journaling, but it's just more fun when other people can comment on it.
So this year I thought I'd do something new, something different. I've created this blog to serve as a way to publish my photos and the thoughts I have with them. Besides my own work, this blog will also include work of photographers who I admire or stories somehow relating to photojournalism and media (in other words, people trying persuade others that photojournalism is dead/not dead).
You should bookmark this blog if you are the following: related to me, a friend of mine, a fellow photographer, someone who is interested in photography or future employers who wish to hire me. Also, feel free to follow me on Twitter, Flickr and my fan page on Facebook.


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Don't miss out! Join the thousands of people who subscribe to our once-daily email or our free miles and points Facebook group with all the best travel news. Points With a Crew has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Points With a Crew and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.
You've undoubtedly heard of the data breach that Equifax had back in 2017, where data from approximately 147 million Americans was exposed. Later on Equifax agreed to a $475 million settlement for people who were affected.
How to process an Equifax data breach claim for money
It's actually quite easy – first go to the Equifax settlement eligibility site.
Then enter in your last name and the last 6 digits of your social security number. You'll be told either you were affected or not. If it says you weren't affected, you can try and manually submit that you should be part of the claim. If it says you were affected, you can file a claim online, and then enter in your contact information. Then you will be taken to a screen where you can choose either $125 or free credit monitoring service
I highly recommend choosing the $125. Most of us already have credit monitoring through CreditKarma or various credit cards, myself included, so I personally found no need to sign up for additional credit monitoring. You do not need to provide any documentation for this section. Sections 2 and 3 involve filing claims for time or money spent combatting the data breach. In these cases you should be prepared to submit documentation. I skipped these sections.
How much money will I get from the Equifax data breach settlement
Astute observers may notice that $475 million divided by 147 million affected members is…. not $125. Surely not every one of the 147 million affected users will file a claim, but I'm not holding my breath for a meaningful amount. Still, I'd say it's worth doing for you and any family members whose credit you help to manage. In a few years, you may randomly get a check for a few bucks 🙂
The last day to file a claim is January 22, 2020
Good luck!
Points With a Crew has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Points With a Crew and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered. Other links on this page may also pay me a commission - as always, thanks for your support if you use them


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Friday, November 30, 2007
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Ready for Christmas
Check out the puzzle I just completed! Isn't it a beauty - I don't have a digital camera... hint hint Santa... so I used my cell phone but it doesn't do it justice. We finished all the decoration changes from Fall/Autumn to Christmas and we're exhausted so today we stayed in our jammies and relaxed watching movies. Me... well I did the puzzle and my son helped me off and on.
UPDATE - - - We ended up going to Panera Bread for dinner this night. We had declious hot soup in bread bowls. Mmmmm
Posted by ChaChaneen at 4:28 PM 2 Cha Cha Bloggers left a comment
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Happy Thanksgiving!
Well my birthday was really enjoyable. Slept in until the kids would let me, then finished my daughters Science project and then off to the Tea Room for a lovely lunch. My son even wore a Pirate Hat so that he would be included in the tradition of wearing hats, however I don't wear hats, they look terrible on me. ha ha They looked adorable though. My husband even enjoys going to Tea because it says the atmosphere is relaxing and the food - yummy. That evening we went to Barnes and Noble bookstore and I got to preview all the holiday books that arriving. And I bought a beautiful book - Under The Tree by Susan Waggoner. Wow, look at me I figured out how to put a picture in my blog... ha ha ha Look out folks, I'm learning. Most of the content is before my time but that is why I like it. I love the images and the stories behind them. Toys my parents likely had. I'm going to show it to them today when they come over as I am hosting this year. After the bookstore, we headed over to my Mother-in-law's for dinner where she made my requested Garlic Bread and... authentic Italian spaghetti and meat sauce! Her 90 year old mother joined us and make the BEST green salad ever... that precious woman spares no expense and puts everything you'd want in a salad, delicious! Well I had better get going, have to start the days preparations but I have to go tickle my kids first and wish them a HAPPY THANKSGIVING. And to all my new friends, Happy Thanksgiving to you too.
Posted by ChaChaneen at 6:57 AM 2 Cha Cha Bloggers left a comment
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Happy Birthday to Me and my Blog
Happy Birthday to Me and my Blog. Yes, I'm determined to learn how to do this blog thing. I enjoy reading others so much and the writer in me wants to try it. Today I plan to finish my daughter's homework and then we're off to the store to do our Samaritans Purse Franklin Graham organization of Christmas shoe boxes for children around the world. And finally, off to my Mother-in-law's for dinner where her famous Garlic Bread awaits me. ha ha She asked me what I wanted for my birthday and I said... Your Garlic Bread... She said .... Well what else... I laughed, what else is necessary... ha ha... So she's going to build a meal around the bread. ha ha
Posted by ChaChaneen at 8:20 AM 2 Cha Cha Bloggers left a comment
Labels: Birthday


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A light and fast drying stretch fleece jacket for climbing, hiking and mountaineering.
With performance stretch fleece fabric and a slimline Active fit the Lumiko is an ideal lightweight fleece layer for everything from climbing close to the road to big days in the Alps. A grown-on hood adds valuable extra warmth on belays and a zipped chest pocket keeps essentials secure.


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The mechanical atrial function during atrial fibrillation remain a mystery . In fact , the general belief is during AF the mechanical function of atria is zero. This is why AF is promotes stasis and LA clot formation. It may appear theoretically correct , still AF especially coarse still imparts some amount of mechanical motion .But this usually does not translate to any useful hemodynamic function .
If atrial booster pump is lost (which is said to be 25 % of LV filling ) suddenly one expects dramatic symptoms especially if there is associated LV dysfunction or aortic valve disease .
But in real world AF is well tolerated arrhythmia in most . We know by land mark trials AF is as good as sinus rhythm if the rate is is under control
This is a definite evidence the AF may not compromise LV filling even if it nullifies the atrial contractility .
There is one more evidence for retention of atrial mechanical activity in spite of AF .It is well recognised , pre-systolic accentuation is preserved in many cases of mitral stenosis with AF.
*Crazy hemodynamics : For an attached LA clot to dislodge , one needs some amount of LA contraction isn't ? Unfortunately a fibrillating atria always tend to have this one ! This again is a senseless proof for some mechanical activity of LA during AF !
How is this possible ?
Is it a purely volume dependent filling ? ( Or ) is it the Intrinsic LA starling forces that do not depend electrical atrial activation .
This is definitely an issue to ponder over . A good LV contraction makes the atria empty more completely . This would somehow mean , LV relaxation is facilitating atrial function . During AF the LV handles effectively the additional burden imposed by the loss of 25 % booster pump of atria ( Accelerated LV relaxation ? ) A constantly changing RR interval makes LV diastolic function a more complex event .
Final message
Atrial fibrillation is a well tolerated arrhythmia in vast majority of patients . This implies either of the two things.
- The so called physiological atrial booster pump is redundant or dispensable in otherwise healthy heart
- The booster pump is indeed important . . . but it is less affected by AF as long as the rate is under control !
It is to be strongly emphasized , Heart rate and LV function will ultimately determine , how one is going to tolerate the AF !
It is a small gesture from LV to LA at it's hour of crisis . . . in return for it's lifetime assistance as a booster pump !
How rate control prevails over rhythm control in spite zero atrial contractility in the former ?
Comments welcome !


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At his confirmation hearing today, Defense Secretary nominee Leon Panetta argued that the Cold War of the 20th century had been replaced by a "blizzard" of threats in the 21st. Remarking that "for our troops, there has been no shortage of war," Panetta will likely concentrate on winding down American involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as completing a comprehensive review of military roles and missions to inform the President's stated goal of a $400 billion reduction in security spending over the next decade.
Panetta left unanswered, however, where these cuts might come from and which programs and capabilities might be affected.
Much of the hearing dealt with the ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. With regard to Iraq, Panetta spoke to the possibility of a sustained American presence past the expiration date of 2011 proscribed by the Iraqi–American Status of Forces Agreement. Panetta argued that the President should "seriously consider" the continued deployment of American troops if requested by the Iraqi government.
On Afghanistan, Panetta argued that "fragile and reversible" gains have been made in security as well as with the training and equipping of local police and military forces. The real problem lies in the slow progress of creating just and responsive government—a process that lags behind improving the security situation.
Bearing in mind the fragile nature of gains in Iraq and Afghanistan, Panetta would do well to heed his own advice that the most costly course of action would be to fail. Throughout the hearing, Panetta refused to go on the record agreeing with outgoing Secretary of Defense Robert Gates that any troop reductions in July should be modest, leaving open the possibility of a more accelerated withdrawal than many military planners had originally envisioned.
Panetta also pledged to ensure that the United States has the "best-trained, best-equipped" military in the world; however, he sent mixed messages regarding his views on defense spending cuts. Saying that America needs the "very best" fighter planes available, he quickly pivoted to concerns over the rising costs of the F–35 Joint Strike Fighter. With F–22 production ending, the F–35 remains the only fifth-generation fighter to replace the rapidly aging and heavily used tactical fighter jets.
The central long-term, unanswered question was the President's plan to cut $400 billion from national security budgets. Panetta stated that he would await an official study on the subject before determining the pace, areas, and scope of these cuts, but he presupposed the outcome when he said that he didn't think the review would show additional risk to the military. That doesn't fully square with his comments that hollowing out the force would be a terrible mistake, as would across-the-board defense cuts—which is true.
Unfortunately, it does not take a "hollow army," as Senator John McCain (R–AZ) said, to harm national security. Even comparatively small cuts in defense—if applied to the wrong area—can harm America's capacity to project power abroad, guarantee the defense of our allies, or to meet international commitments.
As Senator McCain put it, "defense spending is not what is sinking this country into fiscal crisis." It is unclear whether Panetta's words about conditions-based withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan, or a sober and unbiased look at military needs, capabilities, and budgets, will translate into actions that align with his words today.
Panetta is correct that there is a blizzard coming, but it is too early to say whether it will bury the military.
Source material can be found at this site.


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Film Review – The Vow
The Vow (PG)
Directed by: Michael Sucsy
Starring: Channing Tatum, Rachel McAdams, Same Neill, Jessica Lange
Two stars
Review by: Julian Wright
In one of the most painful performances to watch since anything Jessica Alba has attempted, Channing Tatum awkwardly works his way through this heart string tugging true story. While his inability to act was never really questioned (I hope), he does demonstrate here a whole other level of bad. Which is a shame because despite this being another overly sentimental entry in the tear jerking genre, it could have been a decent time passer had it not been for his distracting horrid performance.
Insanely happily married couple Paige (Rachel McAdams) and Leo (Channing Tatum) are thrown a curveball in life when the pair, on a romantic, nostalgic car ride, are involved in an accident that puts Paige in a coma. When she later wakes up, she doesn't remember her husband at all. Her memory stops at a point five years ago when she was a law student (she is now an artist) and engaged to Jeremy (Scott Speedman).
Paige's doctors recommend she goes home with Leo to get back in to her old routine to hopefully jog her memory, but she is hesitant to live with a man who she only knows now as a stranger. Leo then goes to great lengths to try to make her fall back in love with him so they can pick up where they left off. The problem is, Paige feels more comfortable flirting with the life she remembers – the one she had before she met Leo.
The script and direction take the schmaltzy route to try to appeal to the crowd that lapped up weepies such as The Notebook, but despite the presence of McAdams (who starred in that one) it will not reach the same heights of popularity. It is difficult to get lost in the story when Tatum struggles so desperately with the material, which, lets face it, is not all that complex. If he cannot even carry a sugary film like this, how can we have any confidence in him as a performer?
McAdams is the one saving grace as the confused and frustrated amnesiac. Her appeal outshines Tatum and her capability in conveying basic emotions leaves his in the dust. With so many strikes against this film – Tatum's bad acting, formulaic script, underused Lange and Neill as Paige's parents, obvious directorial choices – its entire watchability ends up sitting firmly on McAdams' shoulders.
This sweet story that had so much potential, and could have been bearable had it not been for Tatum's miscasting, will have you wishing you could only remember your life before you saw it. It was, indeed, a better time.
One Response to "Film Review – The Vow"
I saw this film and I disagree. Channing wasn't even bad. He did decent job and seems like he's improving. Seriously understand this dude hate.


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Each Monday through Friday, a Travel Gem of the Day will be posted at SmartWomenTravelers.com. These Travel Gems are tips that will help a traveler travel smarter, safer, handle home issues, be prepared and enjoy their journeys.
Here are last week's Travel Gems:
Monday – Flight delayed and you're all alone? A Twitter-based service is available to help. Just send a simple tweet to @Boarding with your airport code (JFK, LAX, CDG, …). Upon doing so, Boarding will send you a reply notifying you about other Twitter users in your location facing the same predicament.
Connecting with others in the same flight delay situation might offer you someone to commiserate with, have dinner with, or just talk with. Either way, it's a way to pass the time a bit faster while you wait for your flight to board.
This service is provided at no cost and entails no registration or sign up process. All you need is a Twitter account in order to start connecting with individuals in your same position.
Tuesday – Olive oil isn't just for healthy cooking … it is the main ingredient in many beauty products you can purchase. Here are several resourceful uses for olive oil that you can create yourself and are very travel friendly! Just add olive oil into a 3 oz. container and bring the mini-bottle along on your next trip:
Today's Travel Gem was so packed with information that we have turned it in to a full article. Read the full article here.
Wednesday – TripAdvisor has introduced a new feature that allows its readers to combine advice from their Facebook friends with the reader reviews that the site is known for.
At TripAdvisor.com, you can click on a Facebook icon to create a TripAdvisor account that links with Facebook (or log in with your Facebook id). Then, when researching a destination, hotel, attraction or restaurant you will now see a list of your friends who have also been to that location in the top, right-hand corner. In order for friends to show up, though, they also have to be users of the TripAdvisor Cities I've Visited application on Facebook. The TripAdvisor Trip Friends feature then allows you to message friends for travel advice.
According to TripAdvisor, the Cities I've Visited application has more than five million monthly active users. But how well this works for you will depend on how many of your friends use this application.
I've got my Cities I've Visited set up, so maybe we'll be connecting soon to talk travel?
Thursday – Who doesn't want extra space in their luggage? Compression bags create this extra space and keep your clothes organized! I've been using a compression bag when I have seven or more days' of clothes to pack in my carry-on bag. I'm amazed at how much little the collection of clothing items become once the air is rolled out of the bag. My bags have a very tight seal, similar to a Ziploc bag but stronger. After I've placed my clothes in the bag, I seal the bag, roll out the air through special vents in the bag and voila! My tall stack of clothes is shrunk down to a much smaller size.
I showed several days of clothing inside a compression bag when recently on Better.tv. These bags are great for keeping outfits together, or all tops or all undergarments … however you want to be organized.
Some of the clothing I put into the compression bag need a bit of ironing, not much different than had I not used a compression bag. I just hang everything up once I get to my hotel room and by morning most, if not all, of the wrinkles are gone.
Eagle Creek, a bag and travel kit maker, says its Pack-It Compressor Set can offer up to 80% more space.
Other vendors also offer compression sacs, so check related products on Amazon.com to find what'll work best for you.
I've been using a set of Small-Medium-Large and mostly using the medium size for my weekly travels.
Friday – Bringing Fido on your next trip and need a pet-friendly hotel?
If you've ever considered taking your pet along on your travels, you know that finding a pet-friendly hotel, understanding airline policies and international quarantine rules can be daunting and usually more difficult than the 'people' arrangements. Petswelcome.com is a site that offers tons of help for pet owners.
It's a searchable database of 25,000 pet-friendly hotels, B&B's, ski resorts, and vacation rentals in the US and beyond. The site also lists international vaccination requirements and quarantine policies. It even gives you driving instructions as to where you can stop over at pet friendly lodgings on the way.
They offer a wealth of pet travel information including pet-friendly locales and events, including beaches, parks, stores and other attractions, as well as valuable how-to travel advice and health tips. They also have a bulletin board to ask questions and/or provide help to other pet travelers.


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I'm super pleased to welcome you all on my blog today for my stop on the blog tour for Dying Art by Malcolm Hollingdrake. Many thanks to Sarah at Bloodhound Books for the opportunity! Also make sure you visit my lovely chum Kate at The Quiet Knitter for her post on the tour!
Author : Malcolm Hollingdrake
Title : Dying Art
Series : DCI Bennett
Pages : 255
Publisher : Bloodhound Books
Publication date : July 17, 2017
Following his recovery from a personal and professional trauma, Detective Chief Inspector Cyril Bennett has been declared medically fit to resume his police duties. He returns to discover a complex case involving the art world.
Soon Bennett unearths a dark side of the industry where greed, ambition and dubious practices thrive and, where there is money to be made, violence and murder are never far away. Working their way through a maze of galleries, museums and the internet, Bennett's team struggles to make sense of the evidence.
Can Bennett tell the difference between what is real and what is fake?
Dying Art is the fifth book in the DCI Bennett series and by now it definitely feels like catching up with old friends.
Cyril Bennett is still recovering from traumatic events in the previous book and trying to deal with the guilt he feels in not having been able to stop a tragedy. In case it wasn't clear from that sentence, I think you should really read the other books in the series as you'd miss out on quite a bit of background if you treat this one as a standalone.
As I've come to expect from Malcolm Hollingdrake, the case that Bennett's team is investigating is another intricate one where various people are connected and you hurt your head trying to figure out who, what, where and why. This case touches upon one of Cyril Bennett's passions, namely art and paintings. But the art world is a more dangerous world than you can possibly imagine. With a lot of money changing hands, it's sure to attract the wrong sort of people who have no qualms whatsoever to trade in fakes and who will go to extraordinary lengths to keep their shady business safe.
With Bennett unavailable for part of the storyline, it's Owen who moves more to the forefront again which I thoroughly enjoyed as he fast became a firm favourite of mine throughout the series. Luckily Bennett wasn't too absent as the books are just not the same without the inside jokes and their banter.
Malcolm Hollingdrake delivers another fantastic addition to this incredibly enjoyable series and I very much luck forward to the next book!
Many thanks to Sarah Hardy and Bloodhound Books for my advanced copy and for the opportunity to join the blog tour!
Dying Art was published on July 17th.
Amazon US – Amazon UK – Goodreads
You could say that the writing was clearly written on the wall for anyone born in a library that they might aspire to be an author but to get to that point Malcolm Hollingdrake has travelled a circuitous route.
Malcolm worked in education for many years, even teaching for a period in Cairo before he started writing, a challenge he had longed to tackle for more years than he cares to remember.
Malcolm has written a number of successful short stories and has four books now available. Presently he is concentrating on a series of crime novels set in Harrogate, North Yorkshire.
Born in Bradford and spending three years in Ripon, Malcolm has never lost his love for his home county, a passion that is reflected in the settings for all three novels.
Malcolm has enjoyed many hobbies including collecting works by Northern artists; the art auctions offer a degree of excitement when both buying and certainly when selling. It's a hobby he has bestowed on DCI Cyril Bennett, the main character in his latest novel.