text:
The Democratic Health Network (DHN) was set
up by the Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) to provide
policy advice, information, research and the exchange of good
practice on the developing relationship between local government
and health. The DHN has over 100 members, the majority being local
authorities, but also including health authorities, over 20 primary
care groups and trusts and community health councils and trade
unions. The LGIU is an independent research and information organisation
supported by more than 150 councils and the local government trade
unions. The DHN has a particular interest in the role of the private
sector in the NHS because:
The Government has said that there is no ideological
objection to involving the private sector in the provision of
public services; and the Prime Minister has said that he does
not believe that it matters to the public where their services
come from, as long as they are of good quality. We do not have
any objection, in principle, to the private sector supplying certain
goods, such as medical equipment, which are developed for a world
market. However, we do question the assumption that the public
do not care at all who provides public services, and the assumption
that there is no limit, in principle, to the extent of the private
sector's role.
The Prime Minister gives the example of someone
being knocked down in the street and asks whether that person
would query whether they were being taken to a private or a public
accident and emergency department. This is intended to be a rhetorical
question to which the answer is so obviously "no" that
it need not be given. However we think this depends very much
on how the question is putwe believe that a very different
answer might emerge if the same person were asked whether they
thought it was all right for someone to make a profit from their
accident and injury.
We that know that in local government, it does
make a difference to service users whether their services are
provided by the local council or by an "outsourced"
private provider. One example of this is the 89-year-old resident
of a local authority home who made a legal challenge under the
Human Rights Act against Birmingham City Council earlier this
year, because the council was planning to transfer its homes to
the independent sector. According to her solicitor, most of the
900 residents in Birmingham's homes were opposed to the plans
to transfer ownership and "would prefer to remain in the
public sector". (The Times 14 May 2001).
We think that residents of such homes and users
of other public services are aware that decisions about their
services are made by people in whose election they have participated
and to whom they have local access. They believe that they have
rights of ownership in such services that extend well beyond the
kind of consumer rights in a commercial relationship that derive
from ability to pay. That is why current trends (such as privatisation,
"externalisation" and "outsourcing") in both
local government and the health service, that distance service
providers from direct accountability to the electorate, are not
mere matters of efficiency. There are fundamental issues at stake
about the nature of democracy and citizenship. Whatever the Prime
Minister may say, these are issues of principle.
However, there are also practical issues, such
as value for money, that should obviously be considered in any
decision about involvement of the private sector. We are aware
of research that has been done into whether the Private Finance
Initiative does, in fact, provide value for money or better services
than alternatives based in the public sector; and we are convinced
that there are strong reasons to question PFI as the best option.
Nonetheless, in some cases it has been the only option available
to NHS bodies that have required new capital investment, and this,
we believe is not a desirable state of affairs, either in the
NHS or elsewhere in the public sector.
The present government has recognised the "democratic
deficit" in the health service and the need for greater openness
and transparency in decision/making. The government is encouraging
patients and the public to play a greater role and proposes to
give powers to Patients' Forums to inspect premises in the private
sector that are providing services to the NHS. It has also given
the power to scrutinise local health services to local authorities,
in the Health and Social Care Act 2001. We warmly welcome these
initiatives, but however tight the contracts and however many
structures there are to keep privately provided public services
under review, we believe that an increased role in scrutinising
services is no substitute for the provision of a democratically
accountable public service.
Firstly, the actions of private companies and
public private "partnerships" will be much less open
to scrutiny than those of the public sector as traditionally understood.
Considerations of commercial confidentiality are likely to interfere
with the openness and transparency that should characterise decision-making
in the public sector. Secondly, private providers of publicly
commissioned services are already at arm's lengths from the communities
that use services, in the sense that they are neither elected
nor appointed to represent the interests of those service users.
Rarely do the governing bodies of private sector companies include
users of the services provided, while more and more public sector
organisations are doing so, with the result of improved quality
and user-friendliness of services. Thirdly, the notion of competitiveness
that naturally dominates a sector in which capture of market share
is an enormous driver, could interfere with the co-operation that
ought to underlie transactions within the health service.
Finally, the obligation to secure profits for
their shareholders creates a permanent conflict of interest with
the obligations of private providers to act for the common good.
As evidence, we cite the Judicial Review[7]
of Northumbrian Water's decision not to extend water fluoridation
in the North East, in 1998. The Judge, Mr Justice Collins, said
that the water company "cannot be said to possess powers
solely in order that it may use them for the public good. It has
its commercial obligations to its shareholders. It must exercise
its powers in accordance with those obligations". He added
"with some regret" that the current legal situation
makes it "open to the water company to adopt the attitude
that it has" and that this was "an inevitable consequence
of privatisation".
We conclude that the "democratic deficit"
will be aggravated by greater private provision of health services.
We have concerns about how a social inclusion
agenda can be successfully implemented by the private sector.
Providing healthcare to the most vulnerable and to those, such
as minority groups, who may require services to be provided in
a variety of ways, is more expensive than providing services to
those in the mainstream. One of the reasons for having public
sector services at all is that they can operate on the basis of
different priorities from the private sector and can have clear
social policy objectives. It is questionable whether social goals
could ever pre-dominate in the private sector, given its requirement
to reduce costs and increase profits. These requirements are drivers
for greater standardisation in services provision, which we believe
acts against the interests of people who are currently socially
excluded and discriminated against.
A small, but telling, example is of the non-core
charges that are coming to be associated with a stay in hospital,
where non-medical services have been contracted out. These include
expensive charges for car parking for both patients and visitors.
(It should be noted that the trend for PFI hospitals is for them
to be built out of town on sites that are difficult to access
by public transport). We are aware of councils' transport and
environment departments experiencing problems where patients and
visitors are parking outside hospital grounds to avoid having
to pay the parking charges.
We are also concerned about the "Patientline"
telephone system provided to hospitals, which is charging both
patients and those telephoning them rates far above those for
local telephone calls. This is made worse by the fact that patients
and their relatives are often unaware of these additional charges
until they receive a bill.
Examples like this are not likely to assist
in the government's social inclusion agenda for the least well
off. We are concerned that such costs may come to be associated
with more and more services closer to the medical core. For example,
we would be completely opposed to charging for meals for a hospital
stay, which would obviously work to the nutritional disadvantage
of the poorest patients and discriminate against those with more
expensive specialist requirements (eg Halal food).
We are very concerned that, in the drive to
privatise more and more aspects of health service provision, a
"two-tier workforce" is developing. This happens when
workers are transferred from the NHS to private sector employers.
In theory, their contracts should be protected, at least in the
first instance, by the Transfer of Undertakings, Protection of
Employment (TUPE) regulations. Even where TUPE regulations are
correctly applied, private contractors are engaging new staff
on worse terms and conditions than those who were previously employed
by the NHS. The NHS is the country's largest employer. We do not
believe that the fragmentation and worsening of terms and conditions
of employment, given the well-documented evidence relating low
income to ill health, is likely to improve the health of NHS employees
or improve service quality.
This issue concerns us particularly in relation
to equalities issues. The NHS employs disproportionately many
more women and minority ethnic staff than other employees, particularly
in the lower and ancillary grades which are most likely to be
transferred to private sector employment, when the private sector
is involved in provision of services. We are aware that Julie
Mellor, the Chair of the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC),
has already warned (at this year's TUC conference) that involvement
of the private sector in health service employment contracts is
in danger of leading to the kind of gender inequalities which
EOC research found that the policy of Compulsory Competitive Tendering
in local government had led to at the end of the last century.
We welcomed the Secretary of State for Health's
announcement of pilot projects to try to retain in NHS employment
staff who would formerly have been transferred under PFI contracts.
We understand that attempts are being made to set up such pilot
projects, and that these projects are running into difficulties
because the private contractors believe that NHS retention of
staff would eat into their profit margins. If this is the case,
it is a serious indictment of the way in which private companies
plan to make profits from PFI contractsby reducing staff
costs and worsening their conditions. We would not wish to see
gender inequalities, race inequalities or greater health inequalities
developing out of a drive to involve the private sector more closely
in health service employmentthis would be a bitterly ironic
result for a government which is committed to improving health
and reducing health inequalities.
The government has argued that it makes common
sense that, where there is a crisis in the health services and
spare capacity in the private sector, the public sector should
take advantage of that spare capacity. We believe that this common
sense view has not been sufficiently analysed. Use of spare capacity
in the private sector may well look like a solution in the short
term. Indeed it might be a solution in the long term if there
were, for example, a lack of facilities (eg beds) in the public
sector combined with a surplus of staff. But this is not the case.
One of the reasons for waiting lists and the other factors that
cause difficulties in current NHS provision is precisely that
it is the same doctors and nurses and social care workers who
provide services in and out of the public sector. The more they
work in the private sector, the greater the staffing crisis in
the public sector is likely to be. So what looks like a short-term
solution may well be storing up more difficulty for the future
in terms of the supply of qualified staff to the NHS.
We are also concerned that, if it is believed
that the NHS will take up "spare capacity" in the private
sector, this will provide a motivation for more capacity to be
created in the private sector, to take advantage of NHS contracts.
We do not believe that the NHS should be in the business of making
markets in the private health sector.
Aside from the possibility of subverting the
public sector ethos, the social inclusion agenda and other social
goals discussed above, does involvement of the private sector
actually provide better value for money to the NHS? We are convinced
by the research of Professor Allyson Pollock and others that PFI
schemes currently in operation will not provide value for money
in relation to the objectives originally envisaged for them. We
are particularly concerned about assumptions of risk transfer
and public sector efficiency that are built into the original
assumptions that have led to many PFI contracts. We would refer
the Committee to the work of Professor Pollock and her colleagues
and to the LGIU's summary and analysis of public private partnerships
in Sillet, J, Public Private Partnerships, LGIU, 2001.
We are also concerned that PFI schemes provide
perverse incentives to deliver services in a certain way, that
may not accord with research into appropriate care and treatment
in the future. For example, an enormous amount of capital expenditure
and commitment over 30 years is being locked into PFI schemes
for large hospital buildings, while at the same time, the government
is encouraging health and social services, rightly we believe,
to work together to ensure that people spend much less time in
hospital and much more time being looked after at home and in
the community.
We are concerned that PFI and certain types
of public private partnerships are coming to be seen as the only
option for health trusts and local government to modernise their
services. This is as much to do with the capital raising and spending
regimes that operate in the public sector as with the presumption
that "private is good, public is bad" that seems to
prevail among some areas of government. We would wish to see a
much greater range of options within a financial framework for
health bodies and local authorities to finance the kind of services
that will be appropriate to their local populations and a level
playing field so that a genuine choice can be made between a capital
project directly commissioned by the NHS or local government and
a PFI deal. We would suggest that the Select Committee should
look at Treasury rules for public sector investment in comparison
to those that exist in other European countries in this context.
We believe that, before the government completely
changes the nature of the way that public services in this country
are delivered, as it looks set to do, there should be a debate
around the basic principles that should underlie public service
provision. To what criteria should any provider of public services
conform, in relation to ability to prioritise the public good
over private profit; standards of accountability, openness and
democracy in decision making; quality of service and inclusion
and access for all; quality and equality in employment? How should
such matters be regulated, where public services are delivered
by the private sector?
These are issues that have not fully been talked
through in public and they are issues about which the public are
likely to have strong views, if questions about them are put in
a fair and open way. We are very pleased to see that several other
organisations (eg Unison, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy)
have begun to formulate checklists and call for a charter for
public services. We would urge the Committee to recommend a full
debate leading to the setting up of an official charter for public
services backed by government regulation.


text:
CSIRO launches new low-carb diet, but that doesn't mean you have to give up pasta and bread for good
Why cutting carbs isn't the only way to lose weight.
CSIRO: It's fine to eat eggs every day, and no – your heart is not at risk
Eggs are not your concern when it comes to cholesterol.
CSIRO Report: Four out of five Aussies have a diet that's 'below par'
Our biggest vices include alcohol and chocolate.
CSIRO reveals what's going to sabotage your healthy diet this year
More than 1.5 million Australians will sabotage their own healthy diet this year, with almost one in five believing that they'll fail within six months.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Coquitlam, BC Canada (PressExposure) May 05, 2012 -- Individuals have been taking help of professional day care centers and has been grabbing benefits like enhancing the overall development of the child, balancing professional and personal life and improving the overall pre-school educational conditions in Coquitlam, BC.
The presence of leading day care centers in Coquitlam reflects the promotion of effective intellectual, social and skills stimulation as well as value formation for children. The lack of preparation in schooling cause the poor quality of education and this is the place where the essential role and importance of such centers can be realized.
Check out in what more ways the presence of pre-school in Coquitlam is beneficial.
Less violence
Early childhood education points out numerous benefits. It has been observed that children becomes less aggressive and are less prone to violence with the education at primary ages. It has been also found that children obtain 25 - 30% more marks in math tests as compared to children who didn't attend pre-school.
Social development
The schools and education there boosts child's language and cognitive and overall social development. The well-trained and skilled teachers propel quality education to the students.
Keeping early childhood education in mind, it has become for the parents to ready their children with the right learning abilities and coping skills.
And to help you in this regard, a number of professional daycare in Coquitlam is available like Bramblewood Montessori Preschool & Day Center. This preschool in Coquitlam, BC is known to offer a range of programs like infant & toddler program, full day Montessori program, school age care including Kindergarten to Grade 5, summer care and much more.
It creates a healthy and lively environment for the evolution of your child. And the best part is that you don't have to look for a nanny to look after your child. If nanny is not able to come due to some or the reason, there would be no one to take care of your child. A day care center takes proper care of your child so that you are free from any kind of tension.
Bramblewood Montessori Preschool & Day Care Center is a Coquitlam preschool that supports quality child care service with a range of other quality daycare services in the region.


text:
Pelican 2480 ELS Emergency Lighting Station
That's the sound of your toe jamming on the door.
Don't let a lights-out situation render you blind. Get a dependable light resource like the Pelican 2480 ELS Emergency Lighting Station.
Comprised of a Pelican 2440PLB MityLite housed in a photoluminescent body that's visible in the dark. The MityLite uses a 5-LED array to illuminate the dark and powered by alkaline/titanium cells giving it an extended burn time and long shelf life. The case, made of polycarbonate (Ed: I know… I like polycarbonate) case is durable and tough.
The Pelican 2480 ELS can be mounted anywhere. Mine is mounted in the utility closet.
Cost: @ $55 SWPS


text:
Student Clubs and Organizations
1st Nations
Advisor: Earl Martin
Email: email@example.com
Advisor: Brian Ramos
Email: email@example.com
The First Nations club is designed to promote unity and community among the various Indigenous American groups here on campus. As a club we provide support with personal, educational, and community oriented goals while enriching each member's knowledge on various First Nations' customs and beliefs.
African Diaspora Club
Advisor: Dorrin Wanjiru
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Unifying student of African descent through cultural sharing, field trips and mentorship.
AMTEC Organization
Advisor: Jason Speicher
Email: email@example.com
This organization has 5 entities: Welding, Composites, Engineering Tech, Machining and Mechatronics all united as one.
Anthropology Club
Advisor: Cynthia Clarke
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
The goal of the Anthropology Club is to exchange and discuss information and common interests within the study and subfields of Anthropology.
APWA (American Public Works Association)
Advisor: Kerry Lyste
Email: email@example.com
The goal of APWA is to help educate students about professional development in public works.
Art Alliance
Advisor: James Snitily
Email: email@example.com
Advisor: Thom Lee
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
The purpose of this club is to promote excitement about art, to develop personal expression and to increase emotional experiences of art.
Asian/Pacific Islander Student Union (APSU)
Advisor: Brett Kuwada
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
The goal of APSU is to organize and conduct activities related to Asian culture such as artists and lectures, promoting awareness and pride in our ethnic identities, culture and heritage.
Aviation Maintenance Club
Advisor: Shay Mohn
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
The purpose of the club is to increase the competency of the club members through skills based projects and to provide networking opportunities both locally and nationally in the field of aviation maintenance.
Black Student Union (BSU)
Advisor: Avianca Walker
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Advisor: Jerod Grant
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Advisor: Dorrin Wanjiru
Email: email@example.com
The Everett Community College Black Student Union (BSU) is a student lead organization that promotes cultural, academic, intellectual and economic advancement. The BSU is open to all interested persons with a genuine interest in Black culture and the betterment of the Black community.
Chinese Club
Advisor: Vikki King
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Chinese Club wants to introduce Chinese culture and traditions to the local community in order to enhance mutual understanding and appreciation. Encouraging diversity through sharing cultural activities and historical knowledge.
College Democrats
Advisor: Steve Horn
Email: email@example.com
A group of dedicated individuals with democratic values, gathering to discuss and promote democratic politics.
College Republicans
Advisor: TBA
Email: email@example.com
To encourage a space where like-minded individuals can come together to discuss policy and encourage youth activism in politics.
Computer Club
Advisor: Larry Camarota
Email: email@example.com
The goal if the computer club is an open form for the discussion of IT related issues as relates to World Technology. We raise funds to attend IT/Graphics conferences and other related functions.
Criminal Justice Club
Advisor: Cathy Newell
Email: email@example.com
Advisor: John Stewart
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
The purpose of Criminal Justice Club is to provide useful information, guidance and experiences regarding the various components of the growing justice field: law enforcement courts and corrections.
CRU (Crusaders for Christ)
Advisor: Kerri Schwab
Email: email@example.com
Advisor: David Rash
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Advisor: Ed Alexander
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
The goal of CRU is to provide a place for students of inter-denominational Christian faith to meet and discuss issues of faith, life, spirituality, and assist one another in leadership development.
Drama Club
Advisor: Beth Peterson
Email: email@example.com
The Drama Club supports EvCC students interested in using and improving their acting skills.
Ethical Hacking Club
Advisor: Dennis Skarr
Email: email@example.com
A safe environment for students to learn about the inner workings of a computer and how to exploit their systems. The club meets to talk about security and how to exploit operating systems in an ethical manner and on authorized networks, with the ideals of IT-280 ethics.
Food Club
Advisor: Arantxa Gallegos
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
The purpose of Food Club is to promote the importance of diversity and understanding differennt cultures through the exploration of food.
French Club
Advisor: Isabelle Miller
Email: email@example.com
The French Club promotes a favorable relationship between the members and the French-speaking community to further the understanding of the French language, customs and people.
German Club
Advisor: Elke Dinter
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
The German Club promotes a favorable relationship between the members and the German-speaking community to further the understanding of the German language, customs and people.
Hiking Club
Advisor: Candace Ronhaar
Email: email@example.com
The Hiking Club is designed to promote physical and mental wellness, build connections with each other and the Everett community as well as learn outdoor and survival skills.
Indonesian Club
Advisor: Debe Franz
Introducing Indonesian culture, cuisine, language, traditional clothing and dance.
International Club
Advisor: Adja Fame
Advisor: Ariana Stafford
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
The International Club promotes friendship among international students and the college community by sharing customs, ideologies and cultural diversity.
Muslim Student Association (MSA)
Advisor: Visakan Ganeson
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
The Muslim Student Association's goal is to provide opportunities for Muslim people and American people to share culture and ideas through a variety of activities.
Iwi Pono Student Society
Advisor: Laurie Franklin
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Advisor: Stacy Siler
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Iwi Pono is an alliance for all students to gather together and gain a better understanding of the Hawaiian people, history, culture, language and experiences.
Japanese Club
Club Advisor: Heather Uhl
Email: email@example.com
The Japanese Club welcomes all students interested in learning more about Japanese culture, language and people through participation in events, workshops and activities.
Knaves of Knowledge
Advisor: Mike Vanquickenborne
Email: email@example.com
A place for those who are interested in philosophical ideas and conversations.
Lake Tye Amplified
Advisor: Mostafa Ghous
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
A literary magazine and student group for EvCC's Lake Tye/East County campus.
Latinx Student Union (LSU)
Advisor: Leslie Diaz
Email: email@example.com
Advisor: Sarah Willoughby
Email: email@example.com
Come join us in supporting our Latinx student community on campus while exploring identity, culture, and current events.
Latter-Day Saint Student Association
Advisor: TBA
Email: email@example.com
The LDSSA is established by the Seattle Washington Institute of Religion to help students attending colleges or universities have a balanced secular and spiritual educational experience during their years of formal education.
Math, Engineering & Science Student Association (MESSA)
Advisor: Steve Grupp
Email: email@example.com
MESSA provides community service and education opportunities for students interested in - though not necessarily majoring in – math, engineering, and science through interaction with professional and educational organizations.
M.E.Ch.A. de EvCC
Advisor: Miriam Zaragoza
Email: email@example.com
Advisor: Jose Martinez-Gomez
Email: email@example.com
M.E.Ch.A. de EvCC is a student led organization that promotes higher education, self-identity, historical and cultural knowledge that will empower the Chicanx community, thus, creating social change throughout our campus and surrounding communities.
*The term Chicanx is grounded in a philosophy, not a nationality. Chicanismo does not exclude anyone, rather it includes those who acknowledge and work toward the betterment of La Raza.
Myth & Magic Club
Advisor: Heather Bennett
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Advisor: Heather Jean Uhl
Email: email@example.com
Calling all gamers, readers and writers! Do you love fantasy, adventure, lore and magic? Join the Myth and Magic Club!
Photography Club
Advisor: William Frankhouser
Email: email@example.com
The purpose of the club is to promote the art, style and enjoyment of photography at all skill levels and to educate, enrich and inspire our members to express themselves and help prepare their future in photography.
Random Acts of Kindness Club (RAK)
Advisor: Marisa Hackett
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Making the world a brighter place, one random act of kindness at a time.
Russian Club
Advisor: TBA
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
To comment, share, and increase knowledge for students who have an interest in the Russian language and culture.
Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers
Advisor: Matthew Fuentes
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Advisor: Renuka Prabhakar
Email: email@example.com
The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) changes lives by empowering the Hispanic community to realize its fullest potential and to impact the world through STEM awareness, access, support and development.
Society of Women Engineers
Advisor: Kristine Washburn
Email: email@example.com
The goal of the Society of Women Engineers is to provide a place for women in science and engineering to meet others with the same interests and learn more about the engineering field.
Society of Physics Students
Advisor: Andrew Vanture
Email: email@example.com
A network of physics students to share ideas, do homework together and attend colloquiums.
Spanish Club
Advisor: Denny Gibson
Email: email@example.com
The purpose of the Spanish Club is to practice speaking the Spanish language and encouraging cultural and social interaction between Spanish language learners and native speakers.
Advisor: Ronda Hansen
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
SPLICE stands for Supporting Parents with Limited-Incomes for College Education promotes unity and support among students, encouraging goal attainment and providing social, as well as, other services. A winter holiday party for the children of low-income students is held annually, in addition to other family-oriented activities.
STEAM (Science, Tech, Engineering, Arts, Math)
Advisor: Issac Steele
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Advisor: Matthew Fuentes
Learn about engineering and computer science. Work on projects in team environment that combines engineering, technology and the arts.
Student Association of Medical Assistants (SAMA)
Advisor: Chris Clark
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Advisor: Robb Etling
Email: email@example.com
SAMA provides a place for students with an interest in Medical Assisting to expand their interest by participating in the activities such as discussion, projects, guest speakers and book discussions.
Student Nurses Organization
Advisor: Candace Whedon
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
SNO provides networking, coordination and organization for the nursing students of Everett Community College.
Students for Environmental Action (SEA)
Advisor: Laura Wild
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Advisor: Molly Beeman
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
SEA is all about promoting environmental awareness and having fun while learning about current sustainability initiatives.
Study Abroad Club
Advisor: Deborah Franz
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
The purpose of the Study Abroad Club is to promote the study abroad opportunities that are available for Everett Community College students.
Triangle Alliance
Advisor: Karl Ritter
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Triangle Alliance provides social support, awareness and information concerning Gay, Lesbian, Bi-Sexual and Transgender issues.
Advisor: Ruben Miranda-Juarez
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Advisor: Jackson Schultz
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
TRiOjans is a student-led club that promotes cultural exposure, leadership opportunities, and student success for first-generation, low-income, and disabled students.
Veterans' Club
Advisor: Arlene Cahoon
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Advisor: Dale Galloway
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
The purpose of this club is to provide support and resources for EvCC students who are veterans through volunteer programs, discussion groups as well as group projects.
Women in Advanced Manufacturing
Advisor: Annette Floyd
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
The purpose of the Women in Advanced Manufacturing Club is to encourage and support members, promote the education, leadership, and success of women in advanced manufacturing careers.
Writing Club
Advisor: Gina Colantino
Email: email@example.com
Looking to strengthen your writing? The Writing Club is a place for serious writers to convene for encouragement and critique. Writers of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry are welcome. Writers meet weekly to write and to promote awareness, understanding, and discussion of the various literary genres. Members are also involved in a variety of campus activities related to the literary arts.
American Welding Society
Advisor: Jason Speicher
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
AWS objective is to engage in and assist others, in the development of sound practices for the application of welding, related processes and to disseminate welding knowledge through its publications, meetings, discussions, consultations and exhibits.
Phi Theta Kappa
Advisor: Jessica Edwards
Email: email@example.com
Advisor: Phebe Shen
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
PTK is an international academic honor society. Phi Theta Kappa promotes scholarship, leadership development, service and the cultivation of fellowship among students at EvCC.


text:
Adirondack Legends Remembered
Related Articles
- PACIFIC NORTHWEST. Whitney, Steve // Wilderness Society's Quarterly Newsletter;Summer99, Vol. 1 Issue 3, p5
Focuses on the protection efforts for roadless lands in Washington. List of the candidates for enlistment in the National Wilderness Preservation System; Enumeration of threats to the land areas; Involvement of local conservation groups in the area.
- A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT. Meadows, William H. // Wilderness Society's Quarterly Newsletter;Winter99/2000, Vol. 2 Issue 1, p2
Commends the cooperation of conservationists in saving wilderness areas in the North America. Contributions of different conservation groups; Reliance on the knowledge of local lands and politics brought from campaigns; Plan to inform the Forest Service on the importance of maintaining national...
- Saving Pieces of the Golden State. Wille, Chris // Audubon;May88, Vol. 90 Issue 3, p129
Reports on the efforts of conservationists to raise funds to purchase and preserve wilderness areas in California. Amount of funds targeted by local conservationists.
- FOUR CORNERS STATES. Eaton, Pam // Wilderness Society's Quarterly Newsletter;Summer99, Vol. 1 Issue 3, p4
Focuses on the campaign of environmentalists to protect the wilderness in New Mexico. Cooperation between The Wildlife Society and New Mexico Wilderness Alliance; Identification of El Malpais as an endangered land; Relevance of the Peloncillo Mountains to endangered species.
- BRAHMS SYMPHONIES AND THE HERMIT THRUSH. Heacox, Kim; Lentfer, Henry // Wilderness;Winter2000, p20
Focuses on conservationists' efforts to protect public lands in Alaska. Vulnerability of Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge to development and industrialization; Increased pressures on wilderness areas; Decline of essence of wilderness.
- PAYING TRIBUTE TO ENVIRONMENTAL HEROES. // Wilderness;Winter2000, p39
Pays tribute to several conservationists in the United States. Wilderness Society's recognition of citizens who have gone above and beyond in their efforts to protect wildlands and wildlife in the country; Selection of Clarence Petty as winner of the 1999 Robert Marshall Award; Ansel Adams...
- Wilderness Fever Is Spreading Far and Wide. // Wilderness Society's Quarterly Newsletter;Summer99, Vol. 1 Issue 3, p1
Focuses on the increasing awareness on wilderness preservation in the United States. Efforts of different preservation groups to advocate wild land protection; Details on the Wilderness Society; Involvement of the Bill Clinton Administration; Information on the National Wilderness Preservation...
- A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT. Meadows, William H. // Wilderness Society's Quarterly Newsletter;Summer99, Vol. 1 Issue 3, p2
Details the efforts of The Wilderness Society to promote wilderness protection in the United States. Difficulties encountered by conservation groups to protect wild lands; Enlistment of private citizens in the campaign against wilderness development; Enumeration of grassroots partners of the...
- NORTHERN ROCKIES. Ekey, Bob // Wilderness Society's Quarterly Newsletter;Summer99, Vol. 1 Issue 3, p5
Assesses the protection efforts for unprotected roadless forest areas in Montana. Details on the forest area; Coalition of conservation groups for the preservation effort; Impact of the alliance on environmental and local economies.


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Lincolnville woman taken for mental evaluation after 'hostage' call to police
LINCOLNVILLE, S.C. (WCIV) -- After a tense hour surrounding a Lincolnville home with guns drawn, Charleston County deputies say the reported hostage situation is over, the house is clear, and the people inside are safe and unharmed.
The woman who sparked the law enforcement response is now being evaluated.
Around 11 a.m. Wednesday, deputies responded to what they described at a hostage situation at a Railroad Avenue home. Deputies were told a 17-year-old boy was holding two others hostage at gunpoint.
"They told us for our safety that we needed to get out of the house," said Collette Richardson, who lives on Railroad Avenue.
She says sheriff's deputies kindly, but quickly told her family to leave their home.
"All of a sudden it was just like people screaming. Like we have to go. We have to go," said Richardson. "Then they asked us once we left the house to be very quiet and just leave and go in a certain direction and don't come back."
For a brief time, deputies were calling out to one person in the home, asking him to come outside.
About an hour later, officials reported that "one subject walked out of the house and is being detained." Moments later, a second person left the home.
A short time later, an EMS crew carried a woman out of the home on a gurney. Sheriff's officials said the woman was being taken for a psychological evaluation, adding they do not yet know why she made the call for help.
Detectives tell ABC News 4 a relative claimed that a teenage boy held two occupants hostage. But investigators learned that never happened.
Sheriff's deputies say no weapons were found.


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Hearing is a passive process, and, if your child isn't actively focused on what you're saying, it's possible to hear words without actually listening and processing their meaning. That can lead to the frustrating experience of repeating yourself over and over. It's important to determine whether your child has an actual hearing disorder or just needs practice focusing his attention and actively listening.
Physical Difference Between Hearing and Listening
Hearing is a step-by-step process, and, if something goes wrong during one of the steps, it's possible that your child may not be ignoring you by not listening, he may genuinely have a hearing problem. Normally, a sound wave enters the ear and moves into the ear canal. It bumps against the ear drum and creates a vibration which carries to the inner ear, vibrating against the auditory nerves. When these nerves are stimulated, signals are sent to the brain and it processes and interprets the sounds heard. Since the brain doesn't automatically translate the sounds into words, if your child isn't actually paying attention to what is being said (listening), then he hears without understanding.
Activities Centered Around Hearing
Hearing activities test your child's ability to hear any noise at all and noises at different volumes. Start by standing out of sight. When your child is busy doing something else, walk up behind her and shake a maraca or a jar full of beans. If she turns to look, you know she heard you. The second activity is a game. Blindfold her and have her sit in a central room in the house. Move around, activating different noise-making devices, such as turning on the vacuum cleaner, turning on the faucet or flipping on the TV. Ask her to identify the noise. After she does, turn off the noise and move on to the next one.
Activities Centered Around Listening
Listening activities test and improve your child's active listening skills. Start by choosing songs and rhymes that encourage your child to pay close attention to what you're saying. For example, the song "B-I-N-G-O" forces children to listen closely for the pauses so they know when to clap. Ask your child to listen carefully while she sits there with her eyes shut. Use familiar household items to make sounds and then ask her to identify them. For example, run the vacuum cleaner, turn on the TV or run the faucet.
Hearing and Listening Disorders
If you believe that your child may have a problem with her hearing or listening, arrange to visit an audiologist. The audiologist places a soft plug in your child's ear which lets him map the movement of sound in her hears. You child's dilemma may be as simple as having too much ear wax built up in her ears. Hearing loss usually falls into four categories. The first three -- conduction (disorders in the outer or middle ear, like infections or structural problems), sensorineural (disorders in the inner ear or eighth cranial nerve, usually from noise exposure, meningitis or problems at birth) or a combination of the two -- all involve difficulties actually hearing. The fourth type of hearing loss is a central problem with the central auditory nervous system which can involve auditory processing disorders and can't be caught through school programs that screen hearing. These types of disorders are usually tied to what appear to be problems listening, since central auditory disorders impact the processing of information in the brain.


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I missed last years Oyster Run because I had to work and because I really didn't have anyone to run with. The year before last, I went and it was amazing. I loved every minute of it.
This years Oyster Run was more of the same but I went with a friend of mine and saw many good people I used to hang with while they were in the CVMA.
Here's a video of the long line of bikes trying to get parked as we walked around. It was pretty awesome. There was even the 12th Man Seahawks flag flying proudly as we walked into Main street:
The amount of motorcycles that show up for this every year, (rain or shine) is just uncanny. It's literally miles and miles of motorcycles. They take over all the parking at Safeway, they park down alley ways, in peoples' drive ways, on the sidewalk… it truly is the best thing I've ever experienced while owning a motorcycle.
It's kind of amazing, too, considering it was just one guy 33 years ago that started this whole thing. Him and a few pals met up for beers in Marysville after a long season of fishing in Alaska and eventually they moved to Anacortes because so many people were showing up. Soon, there were 20,000 followers. This year, it looked like it easily surpassed 35,000 bikes. It was crazy.
I met up with some friends and we talked about things, this and that. Not too exciting but I love my old pals from the CVMA. They've moved on to bigger and better things, (in which one day maybe I'll follow down their path) and it's always good to see them.
Good friends are hard to come by. People generally have their own agenda's and you really have to try hard to keep the good ones around. In the end, to me, it's worth it, though. I've had lots of good buddies I would chum around with but never any lasting relationships. I know a lot of people, some I keep in contact with and others I just see on the Facebook or whatever. Truly, some of these relationships I've built since I've been out of the service, I'd really like to keep. It's hard being out of the Army and not having a barracks full of friends you can always count on to be there when you need a friend.
It's really hard some times not to just quit my job, slap on a "nomad" patch on my motorcycle vest and just cruise America looking for my path. I know things aren't forever but we like who we like and we love who we love. Even though we may not receive the same kind of mutual feelings in return, we don't know what we don't know, right?
Anyway. Until next years Oyster Run, I'll just be cruising around in the rain for the rest of the year. Washington State is good to me like that.


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Sunday, May 07, 2006
Part of the inspiration for starting this blog was a recent visit to a local middle school during Author Day. Several of us local authors gave short presentations about what it was like to be a writer to eight grade classes, and it worked well, as we filled several different genres, including fiction and non-fiction.
I'm a literary novelist. I do other genres of writing, also (short stories, poetry, memoirs, and a children's book), but novels are my true love and obsession. Unfortunately, this is rarely a money-earning field. That is not why I'm a writer, though. I'm a writer ... because I am. I didn't dream of being a writer while growing as some will tell you they did. I was a writer. I have done it ever since I can remember. My only question was how it would manifest into my adult world.
I'm horrible at teaching in person. I can explain nearly anything in words, in print (anything I know how to do, that is), but don't ask me to sit with someone and explain how to do anything vocally. So, although I enjoyed going into the school and talking with the students, I feel there were so many things left out of my answers. I want to try to answer them here.
There will be other things thrown in, as well: things I have learned about the writing process, advice I give newer writers, and particularly anything that deals with publishing in a non-traditional format, which I call "indie publishing." I am indie-published, meaning that I did not try to send my novels into a traditional company. I'm doing it on my own, after much research into what both methods entail. Why? The simple answer is that I wanted to maintain control. More detailed answers will follow in further entries.
I want to start, though, with the one question asked of me that I truly wished I had answered much better (blame the nerves of public speaking).
What is your normal day like as a writer?
Here's my normal day in a nutshell (writing tip: be careful about cliches, but don't throw them out altogether):
6:20 am: make sure my oldest child is awake and ready to catch the bus
6:30 am: wake my youngest child so he can start getting ready
7:15 am: make sure he is leaving on time to catch the bus
8:30 am: listen to my favorite DJs and/or music on my alarm clock while trying to convince myself to get up and start my own day
9:00'ish to around noon (this varies depending on the day and what needs to be done that particular day): make coffee!, feed goldfish, check email, spend time in writing.com reading/reviewing/entering writing contests/networking with other writers, check work email (for network coordinator job), play with photos (for photography hobby), work on graphics (for my site or others)
noon'ish to around 1:30: find something quick for lunch so my brain doesn't shut down, do stuff around the house that needs to be done, or other things that get my blood circulating (I try to use this time for some time of exercise when I can force myself to do so)
1:30 to 3:00'ish: varies -- including doing research for my current in-progress novel, checking for markets and ways to find exposure for my writing/art, work on my website, checking email, working on NC job as needed, and I may do some writing during this time, or graphic work, and now and then I let myself take a break and chat with a friend or family
3:00 to around 8:00: This is the 'interrupted' part of the day when the kids get home and homework and chores have to be pushed and we have baseball practice or errands to run and dinner to deal with. When there is time, I'm likely doing more correspondence, or looking for markets, or checking on other hobby-related activities and household chores, etc.
after 8:00 until around midnight: I call this "my" time, the time I try to save for writing, either actually sitting down and working on a novel or story, or doing detailed research for one. It's also when I generally write my daily blog entry at writing.com (though that also varies). I may have other work to do, though, that pushes my writing time later.
We writers lead such exciting, glamorous lives! (note the sarcasm) I like, though, that I can vary my schedule as I need around my family. Let me say that during much of the time I've been writing, I've also had an outside paying job. Currently, I am very fortunate to be able to spend more time on my writing/art than I have before and I'm trying to use it to the best advantage while I have the opportunity. I don't expect it will be something that can help support the family financially. There are many other jobs out there I can do for that.
I write because it's who I am and I hope it will make a difference.
"Better to write for yourself and have no public than to write for the public and have no self."
Cyril Connolly
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The Tropical North Queensland (TNQ) region really is the quintessential tourism mecca, yet nowhere near as busy or crowded as you would expect from a region with so much to offer. Come and enjoy the peace and quiet - life moves more slowly in the tropics !
From the easy access to the Great Barrier Reef and its magnificent marine life, to coral fringed islands, to rainforests and tablelands, sailing above the forest canopy in hot air balloons or the Skyrail cablecars, "TNQ" has something for everyone.
But it doesn't stop there ! The fantastic Northern Beaches, the sleepy Kuranda township which comes to life on market days, the Queensland Rail Kuranda trip snaking through the fresh mountain air, to the beautiful resort township of Port Douglas, the playground for the rich and famous, but even we mere mortals can afford a stay there !


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One is the news about the new road to be built from Arusha north into Kenya (my blog yesterday). The other news item is that Prof Maghembe, Tanzania's Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, led a delegation to the US in February to represent Tanzania at the New York Times Travel Show and then visit Dallas and San Diego. The report noted that tourism to Tanzania is booming with arrivals increasing by 12% in the past year. The UK and US are prime tourism markets.
Rumit Mehta, Director of Business Development, Safari Ventures, a co-sponsor of the trip, said:
It is important that Tanzania is represented by such high-level of delegates led by the Honarable Minister. It allows the American public to meet face-to-face and discuss the destination with their hosts- including the Minister himself. It infuses confidence in the tour operators such as Safari Ventures that Tanzania is a serious contender in promoting tourism and investment.
Tanzanian tourism has been helped by increased focus in the media on Tanzania's unique natural attractions, including USA Today naming the Serengeti National Park as the new '7th Wonder of the World', (blogged here).
To change the system, we have to work on the whole system. Increased tourism helps to justify investment in better infrastructure like roads, and better roads help tourism. We need to work on both the roads and the tourism.
Of course, the School of St Jude is a mini-tourism event in itself. It attracts hundreds of visitors a year to Arusha. These visitors come to see the school, visit friends who are volunteering there, or they come help out (see my post about Rotary volunteers).
A Minister visits the US and jobs are created in Arusha, the centre for Tanzanian safari tourism. This means better job prospects for poor families in the Arusha district and future job/business opportunities for the children at St Judes.
Click here to subscribe to this blog.


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Make this holiday season a memorable one.
20 Christmas Desserts to Try This Year
Wondering what to put on the table this year? We rounded up the best Christmas recipes that will satisfy even the pickiest of eaters.More
Your typical salad gets a festive makeover in this must-try Christmas recipe.
Grab the recipe from Green Kitchen Stories.
Because everything is better when it's honey-roasted.
Grab the recipe from The Healthy Foodie.
18 Must-Try Jackfruit Recipes


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What's playing at the movies this month? November 2015
In Theaters November 10, 2015
In Theaters November 13, 2015
From Angelo Pizzo, the writer of RUDY andHOOSIERS, comes MY ALL AMERICAN – the true story of one of legendary UT Austin football Coach Darrell Royal's (Aaron Eckhart) most beloved players, Freddie Steinmark (Finn Wittrock), an underdog who led his team to a championship season and was an inspiration both on and off the field.
By the Sea follows an American writer named Roland (Pitt) and his wife, Vanessa (Jolie), who arrive in a tranquil and picturesque seaside resort in 1970s France, their marriage in apparent crisis. As they spend time with fellow travelers, including young newlyweds and local villagers, the couple begins to come to terms with the issues in their own lives.
A tight-knit team of rising FBI investigators – Ray (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and Jess (Julia Roberts), along with their District Attorney supervisor Claire (Nicole Kidman) – is suddenly torn apart when they discover that Jess's teenage daughter has been brutally and inexplicably murdered.
Now, thirteen years later, after obsessively searching every day for the elusive killer, Ray finally uncovers a new lead that he's certain can permanently resolve the case, nail the vicious murderer, and bring long-desired closure to his team. No one is prepared, however, for the shocking, unspeakable secret that will reveal the enduring, destructive effects of personal vengeance on the human soul.
Interweaving past and present, this deeply layered mystery explores the murky boundaries between justice and revenge, and asks the question: how far would you go to right an unfathomable wrong?
In Theaters November 25, 2015
"The Good Dinosaur" asks the question: What if the asteroid that forever changed life on Earth missed the planet completely and giant dinosaurs never became extinct? Pixar Animation Studios takes you on an epic journey into the world of dinosaurs where an Apatosaurus named Arlo (voice of Raymond Ochoa) makes an unlikely human friend. While traveling through a harsh and mysterious landscape, Arlo learns the power of confronting his fears and discovers what he is truly capable of.


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A Taste of Wheaton is celebrating
its third year!
The festival starts on June 2 and extends through Sunday (June 5)
and this year will feature three musical acts playing that day!
Event features four days of entertainment at the Memorial Park Band Shell, as well as…
- Tasty Eats from Local Restaurants & Traditional Festival Fare
- Cosley Zoo Run for the Animals 5K/10K & Zippity Zoo Run
- Carnival Rides
- Art in the Park
- Business After Hours featuring 2016 Wheaton Award
- Children's Games
- Arts & Crafts Fair
- Beer & Wine Garden
- Business Expo
A "Taste" of all that Wheaton Offers! Wheaton (June 2 - June 5, 2016)
Taste of Wheaton
When: June 2-5
Where: Wheaton
Tickets: FREE
Information: wheatonparkdistrict.com/events/taste
Looking to buy a home in Wheaton, IL? Call/text me at (630) 669-2401, email me at firstname.lastname@example.com and feel free to check out my Real Estate Website www.MonicaMancano.com to see properties currently listed in the MLS and for your Real Estate Needs! Monica Mancano, REALTOR®, MRP, AHWD, Century 21 Affiliated
Download a Taste Events Schedule & Map (PDF)
A "Taste" of all that Wheaton offers!
Event features four days of entertainment at the Memorial Park Band Shell, as well as…
- Tasty Eats from Local Restaurants & Traditional Festival Fare
- Cosley Zoo Run for the Animals 5K/10K & Zippity Zoo Run
- Carnival Rides
- Art in the Park
- Business After Hours featuring 2016 Wheaton Award
- Children's Games
- Arts & Crafts Fair
- Beer & Wine Garden
- Business Expo
Unique Aspects of the Event:
Slice of Wheaton
Last year, The Wheaton Park District and Wheaton Chamber of Commerce brought local pizza vendors to the Taste of Wheaton on Thursday night. It was a huge success and a great way to kick off the event.
Business and Art & Craft Vendors
In 2015, we welcomed over 50 business vendors and 30 Art & Craft Vendors. These vendors get to showcase their products and services to the community.
Schedule of Events & Entertainment Schedule
We have an exciting weekend planned, filled with live entertainment!
Thursday, June 2
6-7:30 Hello Nuvo
8-9:30 Planet Groove
Friday, June 3
5:30-7:30 The Mix
8-10 The Boy Band Night
Saturday, June 4
9-10:30 Go 4 It Entertainment
12:30-2:30 Whiskey Romance
3-5 Dick Diamond and the Dusters
5:30-7:30 Centerfold
8-10 Hi-Infidelity
Sunday, June 5
12-1:30 South of Disorder
2-3:30 Red Woody
4-6 Neverly Brothers
Unlimited Ride Wristbands*†
Ride unlimited at the carnival on a day of your choice for $20 in advance or $25 on site.
Purchase in advance at one of our two locations before 5/31:
- Community Center | 1777 S. Blanchard Road
- DuPage County Historical Museum | 102 E. Wesley Street
*Wristbands valid on your choice of ONE of the follow dates and times:
Thursday, June 2 | 4-10pm
Saturday, June 4 | Noon-5pm
Sunday, June 5 | 1-5pm
†Wristbands are not available on Friday.
Park Policies
No dogs allowed inside Memorial Park through the hours of Taste of Wheaton June 2- June 5.
Contacts & Opportunities
Sponsorship Opportunities – Taste of Wheaton 2016 Sponsorships (PDF)
For more information about the sponsorship opportunities available at the Taste of Wheaton, please contact Kristina Nemetz at 630.510.5064 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
Marketplace in the Park Opportunities – Marketplace In the Park (PDF)
For more information about Marketplace in the Park opportunities, please contact Kerry O'Brien at 630.668.6464 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
Food Vendors
Food Vendor Row for 2016 has been sold out, for more information about participating as a food vendor in the 2017 Taste of Wheaton, please contact Dan Novak at 630.510.5117 or email@example.com.
Arts & Crafts Fair – Art on Hale Application (PDF)
For more information about participating in the 'Art on Hale' Arts & Crafts Fair at the Taste of Wheaton, please contact Cristin Handlon at 630.510.5132 or email@example.com.
Cosley Zoo, Run for the Animals
For more information about the Cosley Zoo Run for the Animals, please contact Margie Wilhelmi at 630.510.4984 firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Marshmallow Head
The Boss
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Hamumu HQ
Posts: 6,118
Happyponygate Event Contest!
Well, you asked for it, so here goes! This is a contest to come up with a special event that could happen in Happyponygate at some point. You could make one up for a specific holiday, or just one that could happen whenever.
Here are the official Standard HPG Contest Rules:
1 - I reserve the right to use (or not use) anything and everything posted in this thread at my discretion.
2 - You acknowledge that you might not get any credit for ideas here. I might have thought of them first!
3 - The author of my favorite entry receives 20 Yerfbucks.
4 - There will be one winner no matter how many entries I choose to use, even if I use no entries. I'll just choose my favorite to be the official winner.
5 - Any entry used in the game will get its creator listed in the game credits in an appropriate section.
6 - Enter as many times as you like!
Here is handy info for this particular contest:
- This contest ends on July 1st!
- An event is a way that the game changes temporarily for a day, or maybe a week, but one-day events are preferred.
- The basic example is "Marshmallow Madness" - a day when all the (non boss) monsters are replaced by Marshmallow Men, and a counter keeps track of how many of them are being beaten collectively by all players combined! When players beat 20,000 of them, the madness ends and the game returns to normal. Every player who participated would win something, or have a chance of winning something. Maybe you get 1 Loony for each one you beat, or each one you beat gives you 1 chance towards winning one of 10 special Marshmallow Head items, which are awarded when the event is over. Or maybe the 10 who beat the most would get that prize. The event would also end if the 20,000 Mallows aren't beaten in 24 hours, in which case no prizes are awarded.
(Note that Marshmallow Madness doesn't exist, and may not ever exist, it's just the original idea, by Varkarrus I believe, and should give you an idea of what an event could be like)
Last edited by Jamul; 06-20-2008 at 06:05 PM. Reason: rule 6
Couch Potato
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Dumbopolis
Posts: 5,926
Re: Happyponygate Event Contest!
The Mysterious Chocolate Factory
In London, Ontario, there is a mysterious industrial building; However, unlike most of the other buildings, its impossible to get inside! Legend has it that once in every great while (like, once every 3-6 months), the Factory's doors open to reveal a crazy factory populated by Doompa-Loompas (or maybe just powerful chocolate enemies). This factory is supposedly full of rare and valuable items for those who notice that the Factory has opened. But of course, that's all just a rumor; that factory could never possibly open...
Giftbot 5000 visits London, Ontario every year in December. However, the ponies have decided that his methods of dispensing happiness are too violent, so they captured and dismantled him! ONOS! Every year, the players must work together to unite all of the Giftbot pieces, which are located in hard-to-reach or hard-to-notice places all over the city (and possibly even in new areas the ponies have developed to make sure nobody reassembles Giftbot!). Once Giftbot is reconstructed, he gives fabulous gifts to those who returned some of his parts to the ''Giftbot Items Depository''. A side effect of Duhcember is that Christmas affects the region; All grass tiles are changed to snow tiles, tree items are changed to Christmas trees (with snow and lights on them), mailboxes become snowmen, etc.
Rabbit Overpopulation
Bah, those rabbits have completely infested the city! Huge amounts of rabbits appear in each area. Players have to find and destroy all the Rabbit Lairs which periodically pop up as the day passes.
T&T- New Region!
Last edited by Coolguy; 06-21-2008 at 09:43 AM. Reason: Bah, there's no E in 'months'
College Boi
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: MD
Posts: 2,067
Re: Happyponygate Event Contest!
Chocolate Rain Day!
Once a month, a storm system pulls through one of the Happy Portals, and chocolate rain starts pouring from the London sky! (I think a lot like the rain in SwC.) On that day, players are given large, stainless-steel buckets (a limited number, probably) which they use to try to gather as much of the goodness as possible, by placing them and moving them around the town (by putting them in vehicles for transportation*). (The storm clouds would move randomly around town, so the rain wouldn't fall everywhere, and the rain might fall at different rates.) At the end of the day (or, if it's not a full day, at the end of the time limit), the ?top 10 people? who collected the most chocolate rain would win something. (I think it should be a limited edition weapon...such as a chocolate squirt gun or something to that effect! )
*Maybe, players could rent pickup trucks for that day (or time limit), and they could stick a barrel or two in the back and drive around while still collecting chocolate rain...huzzah!
Duh Twista
Every so often, another form of storm gets through the Happy Portals: a tornado. However, this is twister in the form of swirling sprinkles! (Or some not-so-sticky candy.) Various items are caught in its wind: Loonies, CDs (for music), vehicle parts (for upgrades), cloths (?To funkify Bouapha?)...basically just stuff people would want! Bouapha can snag these things using his Licorace Whip (or maybe some other weapon that can grab items, like a portal gun or something ), but if he gets too close, he gets whipped around himself, loses [x] number of Loonies, and eventually gets thrown a fair distance.
Every so often (again ), a really difficult version of a boss (with a different color than normal, maybe) gets through a portal (again ); players who find him to be too difficult can opt out by blowing him up, but those who take the hard way out and beat him using normal weapons win a weapon or some other goody left over by the boss. (The item(s) really should depend on who the boss is. Like, if it's Charlie the Chocolate Factory, maybe players win a key to enter The Mysterious Chocolate Factory, which of course is useless since "no one" can get in there...)
Last edited by TyTBone; 06-20-2008 at 08:01 PM.
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Fending Off Boredom
Posts: 1,940
Re: Happyponygate Event Contest!
While it is active, Happyponyrifts appear all over London, and you seal them up with weaponry. Enemies will constantly come out, and sometimes, new Happyponyrifts as well. This will be somewhat of a survival thing. You have to survive the onslaught as the rifts appear everywhere.
The Pixieduststorm
Pixie dust (basically colored, flavoured sugar) will fly in from the south, filling up most areas. While your outside, you'll start losing air, and you have to find bubbles of air in places like caves or houses.
Last edited by varkarrus; 06-20-2008 at 07:23 PM.
College Boi
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: MD
Posts: 2,067
Re: Happyponygate Event Contest!
Arg! CG took a concept I had!
Anyways, I still want to post it...
Picture Day
Once in a while (I don't know how often), pieces of a shredded letter appear around the city. (The pieces might depend on how many people are logged in at the time or how many have actually bought the game.) I think it should be a LOT of pieces, and many of them hidden. HPG players have to go around and find ALL of the pieces. (It's a real team effort.) Once they do, a message and/or picture appears on the reconstructed sheet, letting them know that they won something. (It would be a rather insignificant prize, since everyone who found at least ONE or [x] pieces would get it.)
EDIT: Oh, and this is super-obvious, but I want to mention it.
The landscape and/or enemies (maybe the enemies' coloring and Bouapha's outfit) of London, Ontario change depending on the speciality of the holiday. (It might be hard to "syncronize" holidays, because not everyone worldwide celebrates the same ones, obviously, but the concept is cool.)
Last edited by TyTBone; 06-20-2008 at 07:54 PM.
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,505
Re: Happyponygate Event Contest!
College Boi
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: MD
Posts: 2,067
Re: Happyponygate Event Contest!
Rodeo Day!
On this day, a stadium appears somewhere in the city. Upon entering it, players can partake in the rodeo's events, buy nifty little "limited-edition" trinkets, purchase cowboy related paraphenalia, or just buy a ticket to view others from the stands.
1. Lassoing: In the stadium center, Bouapha holds a modified version of the Licorace Whip, the Licorace Lasso. He pitches this, and if it wraps around a[the fastest moving HPG monster(s)], Bouapha hog-ties it and carries it into the carral in the center of the stadium. However, since these animals move (and maybe jump) so fast, they're hard to catch.
2. Mooseriding: Bouapha tries to stay on an angry chocolate moose as long as he can; the moose tries to push Bouapha off by running around and bumping into things, and he becomes even faster as time goes on. A timer appears in the window; a Loony is won each time after [x] seconds goes by, so the longer Bouapha stays on, the more money he earns. (As for how to control Bouapha, one option is to have players eyeball it - pay attention to Bouapha's swaying movements. Alternatively, there could be that swinging pendulum/bar near the bottom of the screen, and the player would have to keep the pendulum in the middle of the bar by carefully moving the left and right keys.)
3. Happy Pony Run: This would be like an in-stadium obstacle course. Bouapha and a Happy Pony would start out side by side, each on a seperate race track (enclosed by a metal fence). 3-2-1 would count down, and then a
?boulder? would start rolling towards them from the left, forcing them to start running to the right. (Naturally, they would have to keep moving to avoid being squashed.) However, this Happy Pony will only jump or attack whenever Bouapha jumps or attacks. Therefore, Bouapha has to try to syncronize his movement so that both he and the HP will avoid a mud pit or break through a barrier. For instance, even though he might not be facing a blockade at one point, the HP might, so Bouapha will have to attack so the Happy Pony makes it through, too.
NOTE: this MIGHT work better if Bouapha and the Happy Pony run on their own, so players only have to worry about pressing the jump and attack buttons.
Winnings would depend on how long Bouapha and the Happy Pony could stay alive for. Of course, if Bouapha wins the obstacle course entirely, he would get incredible winnings (or maybe get to keep the Happy Pony as a pet! )
4. Hot Dog eating contest! Bouapha runs around the stadium catching and eating either motionless hot dogs or quick ones with two little legs. There would be a time limit.
5. [Root] Beer Guzzling Contest! A small number (maybe even only one) of heavy metal barrels are placed around the stadium. Once he reaches one, Bouapha has to lift it up - not an easy task; it slows him down significantly - and take it over to the Barrel Opener, a heavy duty piece of machinery. Unfortunately, picking one up causes Bubble Baddies (brown circles of carbonation that ram into Bouapha) to appear near Bouapha every once in a while. He is forced to set the barrel to fight them, but the clock is also ticking. Once Bouapha reaches the Barrel Opener, all the Baddies disappear, and he enjoys the fruits of his labor.
More ideas to come!
Original Kool Kat
Re: Happyponygate Event Contest!
Added Monster Events!: You make a special store open up, and in that store you can buy a special monster for A LOT of $. And after the day, the store closes. Next time it opens again, a new monster is purchasable and the old one is now x2 priced.
Download Hank's Toolbox to mod your Loonyland 2 or use these reference files to learn more about making your own mods!
King of the Shrooms
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Saving the World, one pond at a time.
Posts: 1,443
Re: Happyponygate Event Contest!
Disco Fever:
Random Event: Happens every Three or Four months
An Evil Disco Ball has come to London via a Happy Pony Gate!!!
While this disco ball is here everyone seems to be thrown off balance and the controls go completely wonky!
They aren't constantly wonky, it comes and goes.
But there is a constant stream of various disco musics and nice flashy lights everywhere you go.
Maybe duriong this time the Happy Ponies manes turn into afros
Candy Chaos:
Random Event, happens every couple of months(Or every month)
All enemies disappear and are replaced by Sweet style enemies.
There are also times two the normal amounts of enemies, so it will indeed be Chaos.
Needs more candy!!!
There is a reward if you ONLY use your sweet style weapons
There will be some sort of candy related rewards for the people that only use there sweet weapons and another BIGGER reward for those who kill the most enemies.
Rainbow Mania:
Random event: Anytime, more of a single person event.
Upon entering the area all the enemies disappear and a pot of gold pops up in the center of the area.
Then an enemy pops out of the pot of gold titled: "The Rainbow"
Anyway, teah, he sprouts out of a pot of gold(Golden Loonies that is)
He is much like a big snake.
His head being a cloud that can rain candy or shoot some form of lightning.
More ideas on the way...
Eh. Have some smilies I guess.
Couch Potato
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Dumbopolis
Posts: 5,926
Re: Happyponygate Event Contest!
Candy Mountain Treasure Hunt!
Unicorn NPCs have started bothering everybody to go to Candy Mountain. But why? For what reason? The only way to find out is to get to Candy Mountain! The players have to work together on a series of extremely puzzly cloos in order to find the mountain. (Plus with a couple fights, like beating the Leopleurozoid into submission so he gives the next cloo and such)
Halloween Trick-or-Treating!
Every building in London, Ontario is giving out a piece of candy to each player who visits! Players seek to go to every building to try and collect all of the candy. Once a player has visited every building (including extremely vague ones, like cabins way out in the woods, or buildings hidden in the sewer system, or even doghouses, etc), they'll have all the candy and can thus reach the Pet Cemetery, which is infested with cute (yet spooky) enemies, like Schrodinger's cat.
ONOS! The ponies decided that one of the sections of forest around the city was too dark and spooky, so they chopped it all down! Players must quickly re-plant the forest to save all the cuddly forest animals. They can defeat various forms of enemies to get their 'junk items' and plant those in the deforested area. Once a certain amount of ''seeds'' have been planted, they'll all grow into various kinds of trees (Gumdrops make Gumdrop Trees, Pixie Dust makes Giant Mushrooms, Eyeballs make Eyeball Trees). Once this event ends (when X trees are planted), it leaves a nice candy forest for everybody to explore.
Mooselini's Revenge!
ONOS! The Happy Ponies have sent one of their most dastardly monsters, Mooselini, to defeat Bouapha! It's like a Japanese giant monster movie. Mooselini resides in a different section of the city every day until the event ends. He is a MASSIVE monster (it's impossible to see all of him on one screen) and he's very good at killing people. Only one person can enter Mooselini's lair at a time, and Mooselini keeps the same amount of health (so players can 'work together' in a sense to destroy Mooselini).
International Smackdown Day!
For one day, XP gains are tripled!!! Unsurprisingly, the amount of monster-smackdowns dealt by the players should increase immensely on this day.
T&T- New Region!
Last edited by Coolguy; 06-21-2008 at 10:24 PM.
College Boi
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: MD
Posts: 2,067
Re: Happyponygate Event Contest!
Here are some ideas I have, which are simpler than some of the other ones I've come up with...
Happy Stick Day! Everyone transforms into light blue 2D outlines.
Mini'd! Everyone shrinks down to roughly 1/4 of their original size (weapons included).
Alt. version of Mini'd - "Measly" All the enemies shrink down to about beetle size, so Bouapha can just run or drive over them. (However, the number of Loonies a single enemy would give would be significantly reduced.)
Bug'd Out! Everyone's eyes grow about 2 or 3 times as big! It just looks goofy.
Last edited by TyTBone; 06-21-2008 at 10:34 PM.
King of the Shrooms
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Saving the World, one pond at a time.
Posts: 1,443
Re: Happyponygate Event Contest!
The Big Day:
All enemies are grown to bigger sizes!
Bouapha remains the same.
Super Happy Go Go Ninja Time!
Random event happens every couple of months.
(Or it could be an annual event, but that wouldn't be as fun )
The town is over run by the folks from the ninja academy!
Those Dummies are all over, spike blasting machines are everywhere!!!
It's MADNESS!!!!!
Best of all Bouapha gets to become a ninja!! WOO HOO!!!!
There will be a meter running the whole time, counting how many dummies each person slays.
The person who slays the most dummies on this day gets a SUPER HAPPY GO GO NINJA PRIZE!!!
What is the prize??? I HAVE NO CLUE!!!!
More ideas MIGHT come from me, but I doubt it.
Eh. Have some smilies I guess.
spoon eater
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: the question is where are you?
Posts: 1,616
Re: Happyponygate Event Contest!
Caffeine day. All monsters go double speed
French fry Kremlin the morose nucleotides!-Jamul
There is no fifth amendment in mafia games - you don't have a right to be silent!- hammered
Will reimburse for additions to mah underwhelming collection"So tell me Harry, what exactly is the purpose of a rubber duck?" -Mr. Weasly
Original Kool Kat
Re: Happyponygate Event Contest!
Canada Day!: Armies of mounties appear around the town and start slaying the ponies as a rebellion, but when they see you, they think you're a pony in disguise so they attack you too!
Download Hank's Toolbox to mod your Loonyland 2 or use these reference files to learn more about making your own mods!
Guy That Throws Hammers
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: {Insert place here}
Posts: 1,252
Re: Happyponygate Event Contest!
Monster Transform:At a certain day(or days)you will be transformed in a random monster(and maybe boss)!(that you can control it)You will be a monster for the entire day!
Last edited by Hammer Up!; 06-21-2008 at 05:16 PM.
College Boi
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: MD
Posts: 2,067
Re: Happyponygate Event Contest!
Also (another big one):
Music Day!
- Enemies become different kinds of instruments. (For example, Marhsmellow Men might become saxophones, Happy Ponies might become cellos (or electric guitars, since HPs are the star of the show), Chocolate Meese might become grand pianos, etc.) Each time one of these creatures dies (in musical form), a little 2-3 second tune plays (the kind depends on the instrument the monster was) and instead of the puff of blue smoke, colorful musical notes float up a little ways into the air. (Side note: it may also rain sheet music at one point.)
- The local record store is opened, and Bouapha can visit and hear and buy good music he wouldn't have been able to hear on Dumb FM or buy otherwise.
- A harder way to have Bouapha hear good music - allow him to see band(s) live in concert! (The local amphitheater would open for the day.) The players (?Mounties? or just enemies) wouldn't have to synchronize to the music; they would simply be on stage, maybe even motionless.
[Potential] Mini-games
Sound memory game - There is a xylophone set up which fulls most of the screen. A note plays, and Bouapha has to hit that same note again. Then two notes play, and Bouapha has to play those two same notes again, in the same order. On and on it goes. (There may be a clock that counts down after each "level" is finished, and at the end of each "level", [x] number of Loonies are won.) Of course, this would work with various instruments.
Musical Playback - Essentially, Bouapha can record and playback a little piano tune in real time. Players click the record button, then they can click on the keys as slowly or as fast as they want, and record a little diddy. Then they can play it back. (No prizes, just an amusing little thing.)
"Bang the Drum" - There would be approximately 4 different 2x2 tile sets in a room, each with a different color. A tune would start going, and Bouapha would have to jump on the different tile sets (which would look like the tops of drums) to add in his own synchronized drum sounds to create the beat...sort of.
To know when to hit the drum, there would be a line running across the bottom of the screen. In the middle would be circle.
(Anyone who has done dancing in GTA: San Andreas knows what I mean.)
Different colored circles (or shapes) run along that line from right to left (or vice versa), and whenever one is approximately in the middle of the circle, Bouapha must hit the correctly colored drum to create the beat. (This means running around between the different tile groups and jumping about 1/2 second before the circle reaches the center, so the timing is right.)
"Band Playas" - Yes, this is inspired by Guitar Hero. So sue me! *Gets sued and cries* Okay, just let me explain and then take it or leave it...
Where to start...Hmmm...
There are 3 characters in three separate sections on a stage of sorts. (There are many possibilities for players.) One plays drum(s), one plays keyboard (only 1 actual key, to keep things simple), and one players guitar (only one cord, to again keep things simple). These guys are essentially motionless unless they are actually playing their instrument.
Once the basic tune or beat starts (it would be a pretty simple one), it's up to the player to keep in time with that tune with the drum, the keyboard, and the guitar.
Yes, like Guitar Hero, there would be 3 of those lines running up from the bottom to the middle of the screen. UNLIKE Guitar Hero (but maybe like the Flash versions you see online), they would be 2D. LIKE I mentioned earlier with "Bang the Drum" they would have circles in the center, and one would have to synchronize the instrument playing with the original tune by doing it once the ?arrow? was in middle of the circle. :strangified:
UNLIKE "Bang the Drum", movement wouldn't be as complicated. Each of the 3 lines would be underneath one of the players. Once the ?arrow? was in the center, players would hit the "Play" button and the character would play his instrument for 1/2 second or so. The player would switched between the characters by using the left and right keys. (I suppose a fourth character and line could be added, forcing players to use up and down somehow, to increase difficulty.)
And now for something, utterly simpler...(well, not completely)...
Hit the Middle [or High] C! -
There is a pyramid of plastic blocks. There are two specially colored block in the middle and on the very top. The letter "C" makes random appearances in the various blocks, and Bouapha - who can only get so close to the pyramid - must use a weapon to try to hit the middle or high "C". (Licorice Whip makes the most sense to me.) If he hits it in a regular square, he still gets points or Loonies, but if he hits it in a specific "winning" square, he wins something special. (Not as special as if he had won "Band Playas", but special nonetheless.)
Stuff to win...
Here are some music-related weapons I was thinking about...
Electric Guitar - Bouapha can smash enemies over the head with it.
Tuba - Bouapha shoots something (like balls) out of it.
Violin - Bouapha uses it as a bow-and-arrow.
Piano (or keyboard) on wheels - Creatures who are in hearing distance lose health, so naturally they run away whenever Bouapha starts playing.
Various musical related trinkets would be available (and maybe sub woofers for one's car ).
Clothing options for Bouapha might include a disco outfit, conductor's uniform, '70s sort-of-Hippy get up, etc.
Last edited by TyTBone; 06-22-2008 at 10:50 PM.
The Fourth Seal
Re: Happyponygate Event Contest!
Darkness Day: London is shrouded in darkness, and new enemies are behind it! 100 Darkness Masters appear randomly throughout London, terrifying the childrens, and for 24 hours, or until all are killed, everything will be a darker (less light), causing you to not see things you might see in regular light. The only way to kill the Darkness masters is to cast magic missile, a spell given to players for this day only. If you help in the event, you might get to keep it!
White Week/Day: All of London is terribly bright! Players go around destroying decorative lights that are making it hard to see. The amount may vary, but would likely be a lot. Once all lights are demolished or the week/day has passed, the world returns to normal. Players who participated may get a spell that allows them a larger area of light around them in appropriate places.
Hamumu Day: All throughout London, Yerfdog is popping up, giving a few Loonies to all who will listen to his stories of Hamumu, and decorate the town with Hamumu style decorations.
Uber Day: For one day, and one day only each year, the monsters muster up their rage of being defeated over and over, and use it against players. This day, monsters are much, much stronger, but to compensate, they drop more Loonies than normal!
Festival of Randomosity: At any time, during the Festival, while fighting a monster, large fireballs will randomly fall out of the sky, striking either you or your enemy to slightly turn the odds in the others favor!
Pwned Day: One of the most boring holidays in London, every so often, when an enemy is killed, it will turn into an Uber Day monster, and yell PWNED.
Lynch: Drgamer
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,184
Re: Happyponygate Event Contest!
Hide and Seek: Various characters from Hamumu games are hiding. They're giving out rare items and equipment. Hurry, and find one before it's too late, and someone else does.
DumbDay: Every week or so(maybe more, it just depends, maybe just once a month) 'rare' monsters show up. These would be recolors that are harder to defeat than their counterparts, harder to find too. They're holding tickets to an item raffle that's held every month. Liberate the tickets for a chance to win!
Short story stuff!
Last update. 26-JUNE-2008 Late sig update
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Burnaby, B.C.
Posts: 3,634
Re: Happyponygate Event Contest!
Happy Day: Items in all shops are reduced to 50% the price!
Birthday Party: When you create your profile, you can set a birthday, and when it's your birthday, random items will be dropped by monsters, and sold by most shops! (You can't change your birthday, of course!)
Magic Muffin: Your weapon fires muffins with the same ammount of damage that the weapon usually does, but the muffins will do random type of damage! (Choco/Sweet/Cute/Snuggle)
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Fending Off Boredom
Posts: 1,940
Re: Happyponygate Event Contest!
Uber London
You will enter London to find the late-game monsters are in the main London place, and there are a lot of them. Occasionally, beating them up will give you a Magical Lollipop part. There are 3 parts, the handle, the lollipop, and the gum. Put them together (anywhere in game) and a little icon of the lollipop as well as a button appear. Pressing the button will fire a bolt in a direction. The bolt moves towards a hidden portal like a compass (the portal is invisible until you get the lollipop though)
When you enter the portal, you will find a REALLY tough version of one the more dastardly game-bosses, in a place called Uber-London
There will have to be some changes, as it's kinda similar to Uber-Tristram from Diablo 2.
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