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Vijaya Ramachandran and Julie Walz of the Center for Global Development recently reported on their trip to Haiti, where they further examined aid accountability and the ongoing reconstruction effort, the themes of their recent policy paper which we have previously described.
Among the problems that Ramachandran and Walz noted were:
International NGOs have frequent staff turnover and very high costs. In the aftermath of the quake, we learned that senior staff came and went, some staying as little as a few weeks. A new arrival meant starting all over again, often with an individual who had little knowledge of Haiti and no knowledge of Creole (or even French). The cost of maintaining expatriate staff in Haiti is very high. According to the Miami Herald, it can cost upwards of $200,000 annually in housing and other benefits to keep a senior-level manager in Haiti. Some of our interviewees explained how NGOs and foreign workers are exempt from Haitian taxes and often do not follow Haitian registration requirements. Donors have spent billions of dollars trying to repair Haiti's broken infrastructure, largely with their own goods and labor. In the meantime, most Haitians in Port-au-Prince spend their day trying to sell a few vegetables or fruit or other goods on the sidewalk, which in most cases, does not generate enough money to feed themselves or their families.…We repeatedly heard stories about the unintended economic and social consequences of the influx of foreign workers. Housing costs in certain areas have skyrocketed – rentals easily go for over $30,000 per year, with some houses being rented for a lot more. Restaurants and supermarkets in certain areas of Petion-ville cater exclusively to foreign tastes, and prices of basic goods have been driven up to a level that even middle-class Haitians cannot afford.
This is the second installment looking at the New York Times in depth investigation into the Caracol industrial park. For part one, click here. Jobs at What Cost? Sontag reports that while concerns over Sae-A's labor practices were consistently brought to the attention of officials, the project continued to go forward without a comprehensive review:
Before the Haiti deal was sealed, the A.F.L.-C.I.O. urged American and international officials to reconsider, given what it described in a detailed memo as Sae-A's egregious antiunion repression, including "acts of violence and intimidation" in Guatemala, where Homero Fuentes, who monitors factories for American retailers, calls Sae-A "one of the major labor violators."
The five-page memo "accused Sae-A of using bribes, death threats and imprisonment to prevent and break up unions." Sontag describes the allegations against Sae-A in some detail, and notes that while "Gail W. Strickler… the assistant United States trade representative for textiles, says she considered Sae-A 'an exemplary corporate citizen,'" meanwhile "Scott Nova, executive director of the Workers Rights Consortium, calls the company 'a big player in a dirty industry with a track record that suggests a degree of ruthlessness even worse than the norm.'" Of course, labor rights violations in the garment sector in Haiti are nothing new. In fact, on the same day that U.S., Haitian and development bank officials inaugurated the Caracol park, an investigation by Better Work Haiti found "evidence of violations of freedom of association" at other Haitian textile factories. The most recent Better Work Haiti report, which "uncovered a higher number of violations in the areas of core labour standards than what [was] observed in the previous assessments", is available here. 11 of 20 factories were found to be non-compliant in at least one of the core labor standards. "American officials said Sae-A would be closely monitored in Haiti because of trade legislation requiring stringent scrutiny through an American-financed inspection program." As part of the legislation providing duty free access to the U.S. market, the U.S., together with the Better Work Haiti program, provides oversight as well as training to employers, employees and Haitian government officials on labor rights issues. But as Yannick Etienne of the Haitian workers' rights group Batay Ouvriye tells Sontag, '"it remains to be seen" whether the inspection program will have "any teeth."'Every two years, the U.S. must identify which producers are in compliance with core labor standards and Haitian labor law. The most recent report, which was published in the last month, notes that, "While this is USTR's fourth report, this is the first reporting period that [non-compliant] producers have been identified." Yet, giving credence to Etienne's concerns, this does not mean that the three producers identified as non-compliant on core labor standards will miss out on duty-free access to the U.S. market. As long as the producer shows an effort to improve and work with the U.S. to correct the problems, they will face no sanctions.One resident of Caracol, who went to Nicaragua to participate in a Sae-A apprenticeship came back so disillusioned he told the New York Times that as soon as he found other work, he would quit his job with Sae-A:
"The way the Koreans treat the Nicaraguan workers is awful," Mr. Joseph said. "They just treat them like nothing. Just: 'Do your job. If you don't do it, I'll call somebody else to do it.' "
The first of two installments looking at the New York Times in depth investigation into the Caracol industrial park. Part two will be posted shortly. Deborah Sontag, writing in today's New York Times, takes a detailed look at the new Caracol industrial park being built in northeastern Haiti, finding that in their rush to show reconstruction progress the plan's backers have overlooked labor and environmental concerns. Sontag writes:
Two and a half years after the earthquake, Haiti remains mired in a humanitarian crisis, with 390,000 people languishing in tents. Yet the showcase project of the reconstruction effort is this: an industrial park that will create jobs and housing in an area undamaged by the temblor, a venture that risks benefiting foreign companies more than Haiti itself.
The park, whose main tenant Sae-A expects to generate some 20,000 jobs over the next six years, has been made possible by generous subsidies from the U.S. and Haitian governments and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Sae-A officials were invited to the U.S. embassy in Seoul to meet with Secretary of State Clinton in 2010. One concern the company had at the time was "uncertainty about whether Haiti's minimum wage for textile workers, scheduled to increase to $5 from $3.75 a day this October, would continue to rise." Wikileaks cables later revealed that the U.S. embassy in Haiti, along with some multinational companies had "aggressively moved to block a minimum wage increase for Haitian assembly zone workers," according to The Nation. While the minimum wage has increased, 18 out of 20 factories monitored by the Better Work Haiti program were found to be non-compliant on the minimum wage in their most recent assessment published in April.Despite the "obstacles," and convinced by legislation providing tariff-free access to the U.S. market, Sae-A officials were soon heading to sign an agreement -- but not in Haiti, in Washington:
By late summer, they were flying with their investment plan to Washington for a meeting with Mrs. Clinton and other international officials in a historic treaty-signing room on the State Department's seventh floor.
While Sae-A originally estimated the project would create 3,000-4,000 jobs, American and international officials wanted more:
"We would say, 'We could probably do a factory with about 3,000 to 4,000 people.' They're like, 'Wow. What would you need to make it bigger?' I [Lon Garwood, senior advisor to Sae-A] said, 'If we could get a loan for the machines, we could probably double that.' They said, 'What about 10,000?' We said, 'If we didn't have to worry about purchasing the land, if we didn't have to build the factory shells, then we could double it again.' That's where the 20,000 jobs figure came from."
In the end, the land was provided free of charge by the Haitian government (evicting some 350 farmers in the process), the IDB agreed to provide $100 million to finance the building, while the U.S. would contribute $124 million for a power plant, housing and a port. Sae-A, which reported $1.1 billion in export business last year, only needs to invest $39.2 million. The $124 million provided by the U.S. is over a quarter of the money the U.S. earmarked for reconstruction.
Last week, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) announced a drop in Haiti's internally displaced persons (IDP) population to below 400,000. AP reports:
The reduction in the camp population is attributed to a combination of forced removals, rental subsidies and voluntary departures, but it is not clear where the bulk of the people have gone or if their living arrangements are better than the camp conditions.
While previous reports of IDP population decreases were held up uncritically as signs of progress, this time IOM spokesperson Leonard Doyle provided a more nuanced response. While the government-backed relocation efforts have only reached a small portion of the IDP population, Doyle notes that "As for the rest we don't know [where they ended up]," adding, "[a] lot of these people we know have pitched tents on the side of the mountains." Indeed, a simple look at the available numbers suggests that many of those that have left the IDP camps monitored by the IOM have not found adequate shelter.The IOM touts a 75 percent reduction in the camp population since July 2010, amounting to a decrease of over 1.1 million people. Yet as of April 2012, only 12,000 rental subsidies were given out, 13,000 houses were repaired and just fewer than 5,000 new homes were constructed. In total, these three solutions account for only about 12 percent of the reduction in IDP population. Additionally, about 108,000 transitional shelters have been built, which would account for an additional 42 percent. However this likely overstates the effects of the transitional shelter, as it is estimated that only about 40 percent of transitional shelters actually went to IDPs.Figure I compares the number of households exiting the camps with the number of new housing solutions completed. As can be seen, the majority of the IDP population decrease occurred when shelter implementation was far too low to absorb all the people exiting the camps. This backs up previous studies which have shown that forced evictions and declining services were the primary drivers of the reduction in IDP population.Figure I.Graph: CEPR, Author's Calculation Source: E-Shelter and CCCM Cluster
On June 5, Ministers of Defense and Foreign Relations from South American countries met in Asunción, Paraguay to discuss the future of the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti – or MINUSTAH. Ten of the twelve countries in the regional group known as UNASUR – the Union of South American Nations - contribute troops to MINUSTAH and make up nearly 50 percent of the entire force. As we have described in other posts, there has been quite a bit of debate regarding MINUSTAH in troop-contributing countries, especially Brazil, the largest contributor.Since last summer, there has also been a wave of civil society opposition to the ongoing presence of foreign military troops in Haiti, as attested by separate letters addressed to Latin American presidents and the UN Secretary General and signed by prominent intellectuals and human rights defenders from throughout Latin America. This opposition has been bolstered by a string of recent sexual abuse cases, including more than one involving troops from UNASUR member country Uruguay, as well as the overwhelming evidence suggesting that MINUSTAH bears responsibility for introducing cholera into Haiti.As the Telesur correspondent in Paraguay, Amanda Huerta explained, there were two competing positions among UNASUR countries: those that favored a rapid reduction of troops and a shift in focus to reconstruction and humanitarian activities and those who favored maintaining current troop levels until 2014. The final declaration on MINUSTAH noted the need to develop a policy of sustained cooperation which "respects the sovereignty and the self-determination of the Haitian people". Further, ministers agreed to form a working group "for the purposes of elaborating a scheme on the strategy, form, conditions, stages, and timeline of a Plan of Reduction of Contingents of the Military Component of the Mission." Given the large role South American countries play in MINUSTAH (an importance clearly recognized by the United States), any decision made on reducing troops would have a tremendous impact on MINUSTAH's future in Haiti.
A piece yesterday on the Christian Science Monitor's website, written by investigative journalist Kathie Klarreich, discusses the increasing unpopularity of UN troops in Haiti in the wake of multiple sexual abuse incidents and the introduction of cholera in late 2010. As the article explains, the negative feelings that these scandals have stirred up among Haitians are compounded by the general lack of accountability of foreign soldiers and police personnel that are part of the UN Stabilization Mission for Haiti, or MINUSTAH.The Monitor highlights two recent sexual abuse cases involving MINUSTAH personnel, both of which we've documented on the Haiti Relief and Reconstruction Watch blog: the rape of an 18 year-old boy by Uruguayan soldiers in Port Salud last year and the rape of a fourteen year-old boy by Pakistani police officers. In both these cases, after the scandals became public, the alleged rapists have faced judicial pursuits in their countries of origin, though the Pakistani officers only received a one-year sentence, and the trial of the Uruguayan soldiers has moved forward at a snail's pace. But there's no indication that other abuse incidents involving MINUSTAH have resulted in judicial pursuits of any kind. The Monitor mentions the case of "more than 100 Sri Lankan troops expelled in 2007 on suspicion of sexual exploitation of Haitian women and girls." But, writes Klarreich:
"no information about what happened to those Sri Lankan peacekeepers was ever made public by either the UN or Sri Lanka. Member states are not required to divulge the outcome of their internal inquiries."
In a report that focuses on the case of the Port Salut rape case, Haiti's National Human Rights Defense Network, lists a number of other cases of human rights abuses allegedly committed by MINUSTAH agents since 2005 that – as far as we know – haven't been properly investigated or prosecuted.
The Miami Herald's Jacqueline Charles reports on the planned Caracol Industrial Park in Haiti today, noting that while the project's funders tout it as "the most visible symbol of post-quake progress", it remains a source of controversy. Charles writes:
Desperate for any good news after the devastating January 2010 earthquake, the Haitian government signed off on the 600-acre industrial park in this remote rural village without preparing for how the region should eventually look — or absorb the promised jobs. Only now is a zoning plan being developed, but residents and Haiti watchers wonder if it's coming too late.Their anxiety is fueled by Haiti's historically weak institutions and the rush by the international community and Haiti's leaders to show progress. It is also a reflection of the challenges of working in Haiti where there is continuous friction between need-to-spend foreign aid agencies, which are often perceived as arrogant, and a weak central government.As a result, Haiti analysts say, projects are often haphazardly started with too little preliminary planning, lopsided consultation and inadequate environmental impact studies."The international community has been under immense pressure to show movement and this is the closest they've come to have something significantly positive to say about Haiti, investments and jobs," said Carlo Dade, a senior fellow at the University of Ottawa's School of International Development and Global Studies. "But on the other hand, this is really one case where there is no excuse for not getting it done right."
A major issue is what the effect will be of an estimated influx of 300,000 people into the area, where town populations range from 1,500 to 25,000. Charles reports:
"When you look at the social problems that Cité Soleil poses today, you have to ask, did it have to be that way?" said Michèle Oriol, executive secretary of Haiti's Inter-ministerial Commission on Territorial Planning, which has objected to the park's location, and that of a U.S.-financed housing development just off the main commercial corridor.
Alex Dupuy, Haiti-born sociology professor at Wesleyan University, comments:
"It's about tapping a source of cheap labor…They did the same thing in Port-au-Prince, which had people leaving the countryside because of the free-trade policies that have devastated the Haitian agriculture sector. So the fear that the region will be flooded is very real."
Dupuy adds that the push to support the garment manufacturing industry "has absolutely nothing to do with creating a sustainable growth economy in Haiti."
As previously mentioned, a release from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) this week makes an important call for renewed efforts to combat cholera as infections rise with the rainy season. But further on, the release states that "[OCHA's Director of Operations John] Ging also visited the Champs de Mars camp for internally displaced people (IDPs), where the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is supporting voluntary return of IDPs."
But the movement of IDPs out of such camps is often not "voluntary." This has been the case in Champs de Mars as in many other IDP camps. Stuart Neatby wrote in an article for Canada's Embassy magazine last month:
Port-au-Prince's Champ de Mars camp, the most visible of the hundreds of remaining camps of Haitians rendered homeless by the 2010 earthquake, saw its first set of forced evictions on April 4.…The tent camp in Haiti's capital city fills the central plaza across the street from the collapsed National Palace, a key government building that used to house the office of Haiti's president. About 21 camp residents, including [Narcysse] Lud, woke up on March 29 to find their names on a notice warning that their makeshift shelters would be torn down. They were told they had three days to pick up all of their belongings and clear out of the camp. The International Organization for Migration, which had maintained a census of camp residents, claimed that those to be evicted had not been within the camp during the last head count. As a result, the IOM said, the residents had no claim to stay in Champ de Mars, and the eviction was legal. Days later, residents could only watch as local municipal workers dismantled and carted away the bits of tarp, plywood, and corrugated sheet metal that had served as their homes. Haitian National Police members, UN soldiers, and UN police officials oversaw the evictions.
Port-au-Prince's Champ de Mars camp, the most visible of the hundreds of remaining camps of Haitians rendered homeless by the 2010 earthquake, saw its first set of forced evictions on April 4.…The tent camp in Haiti's capital city fills the central plaza across the street from the collapsed National Palace, a key government building that used to house the office of Haiti's president. About 21 camp residents, including [Narcysse] Lud, woke up on March 29 to find their names on a notice warning that their makeshift shelters would be torn down. They were told they had three days to pick up all of their belongings and clear out of the camp. The International Organization for Migration, which had maintained a census of camp residents, claimed that those to be evicted had not been within the camp during the last head count. As a result, the IOM said, the residents had no claim to stay in Champ de Mars, and the eviction was legal.
Days later, residents could only watch as local municipal workers dismantled and carted away the bits of tarp, plywood, and corrugated sheet metal that had served as their homes. Haitian National Police members, UN soldiers, and UN police officials oversaw the evictions.
While most major U.S. media attention focuses elsewhere, NGO's and UN agencies are sounding alarm bells about rising rates of cholera infection. A release today from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) states
Grave concerns were expressed by aid workers that this year's epidemic, which has already affected 13,000 people, 132 of whom have died, may escalate. Detection and response capacity are significantly reduced this year due to cuts in aid budgets. The OCHA Director stressed the urgency for new and more sustainable approaches by aid agencies and local authorities, and more commitment by donors. "It is unacceptable that lives are being lost to cholera because last year's capacity building in the areas of prevention and response were lost due to a lack of funding," [OCHA's Director of Operations John] Ging said.
An Inter Press Service article last week, titled "Funding Dries Up Even as Rains Worsen Cholera Deaths" begins
As predicted, the beginning of the rainy season in Haiti brought exponential increases in the numbers of people sickened and killed by cholera. While the number of new cases in December was about 300 per day nationwide, this week one centre in the capital alone reported receiving 95 cases per day. And the numbers are expected to increase.… "Between the first week of April and the last week of April, the number of new patients increased by three-fold" in the capital, Gaëtan Drossart, head of mission for Doctors Without Borders or Medecins san frontières (MSF), told IPS on May 16. "In April alone, we saw over 1,600 patients at the four cholera centres MSF supports in Port-au- Prince."
As predicted, the beginning of the rainy season in Haiti brought exponential increases in the numbers of people sickened and killed by cholera.
While the number of new cases in December was about 300 per day nationwide, this week one centre in the capital alone reported receiving 95 cases per day. And the numbers are expected to increase.…
"Between the first week of April and the last week of April, the number of new patients increased by three-fold" in the capital, Gaëtan Drossart, head of mission for Doctors Without Borders or Medecins san frontières (MSF), told IPS on May 16. "In April alone, we saw over 1,600 patients at the four cholera centres MSF supports in Port-au- Prince."
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) warned on Wednesday that not enough has been done to prepare for the rainy season and the corresponding surge in cholera that is expected. The international humanitarian organization stated:
While Haiti's Ministry of Health and Populations claims to be in control of the situation, health facilities in many regions of the country remain incapable of responding to the seasonal fluctuations of the cholera epidemic. The surveillance system, which is supposed to monitor the situation and raise the alarm, is still dysfunctional, MSF said. The number of people treated by MSF alone in the capital, Port-au-Prince, has quadrupled in less than a month, reaching 1,600 cases in April.
Data from the Ministry of Health (MSPP) backs up this increase noted by MSF. While the average daily case load reported by the MSPP was around 50 throughout March and early April, in the last two weeks of reporting (April 10-23) the average number of daily cases has increased to over 150. MSPP reports that 25 people have died due to cholera through in the first 23 days of April. While these numbers are still lower than last year, they point to an increasing caseload as the rainy season begins. Last year, just as cases were spiking, many NGOs were winding down their operations as donors pulled funding. MSF notes that the same phenomenon may be occurring this year as well:
"Too little has been done in terms of prevention to think that cholera would not surge again in 2012," said Gaëtan Drossart, MSF head of mission in Haiti. "It is concerning that the health authorities are not better prepared and that they cling to reassuring messages that bear no resemblance to reality. There are many meetings going on between the government, the United Nations and their humanitarian partners, but there are few concrete solutions," he said.An MSF study in the Artibonite region, where approximately 20 percent of cholera cases have been reported, has revealed a clear reduction of cholera prevention measures since 2011. More than half of the organizations working in the region last year are now gone. Additionally, health centers are short of drugs and some staff have not been paid since January."Rain is just one of the risk factors for contamination. But as soon as the rains end, cholera subsides, and funding stops until the next rainy season, instead of money being channeled towards cholera prevention activities. As a consequence, people are still highly vulnerable when cholera comes back," said Maya Allan, MSF epidemiologist.
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North denied research base; in association with RBS.
A NEW research institute for the subsea oil and gas industry will be created in Aberdeen and not the North East.The region had been touted as a possible location for the centre for the fast-growing industry after David Pridden, chief executive of industry body Subsea UK, praised the entrepreneurial spirit in the North East, which he said was absent in Aberdeen.
He said there was a skilled workforce ready for employment in the North East while subsea firms in Aberdeen were struggling to find staff.
Yesterday, however, it emerged that Aberdeen - which is home to most of the UK's 750 subsea companies - will be the headquarters of the new institute. This will be a joint venture between Aberdeen University, the city's Robert Gordon University and Dundee University. The HQ of the new institute is expected to be at Aberdeen University.
Mr Pridden revealed the plans at Subsea UK's annual awards dinner in Aberdeen which was attended by more than 600 people.
It is forecast that sales in the global subsea industry will soar to more than pounds 23bn a year by 2012 from the current pounds 18bn.
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Publication: | The Journal (Newcastle, England) |
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text: Tin Bin Team View full-size image < previous next > Is this photo a winner? "Our start-up's first shirts! Custom Ink is the place to go to for awesome custom shirts." - http://tinb.in - Jared Calinisan (Apr 29, 2013) Share this photo on: Twitter Facebook Pinterest Similar Photos: fun | startup | first shirts | happy | professional | red | tin bin Feeling inspired? Visit the CustomInk Design Lab to start your own group order. Design Your Own


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Michael Kors
"From the very beginning, I was convinced you could be sexy and sporty at the same time." Michael Kors, "Women's Wear Daily," March 2011, on the occasion of his company's 30th anniversary
It would be a mistake to assume the seemingly casual attitude Michael Kors the man prefers in his personal style (a uniform of jeans, a black tee and jacket and distressed leather bag) reflects the same attitude Michael Kors the designer takes toward his business. With a laser-sharp focus on providing his customers with accessories and clothes that are consistently the epitome of a polished, chic, relaxed and yes, sexy-sportyglamour, Michael Kors has created an enduring and iconic luxury lifestyle empire with a distinctive point of view and global reach.
Raised in Merrick, Long Island, a suburban town 23 miles from New York City, Michael Kors experienced his first major design success at the age of five when he advised his mother, Joan, on her wedding dress for her second marriage. Kors went on to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan, where he studied fashion design. Kors left school to start his own label in 1981, following accolades for his work for Lothar's, the then-trendsetting boutique on New York's West 57th Street. The first Michael Kors Collection runway show was held for the fall 1984 season; in its review, "WWD" referenced his "collection of haute classic sportswear" and "elegant but minimal dressing."
As he continued to build his own designer business, from 1998 to 2004 Kors also served as creative director of Celine, the renowned French luxury brand. He is credited with restoring its former luster as one of the major European fashion houses.
Michael Kors' New York City-based company has seen explosive growth beyond its ready-to- wear roots to its current status as a major design house in the luxury accessories arena (comprising handbags, footwear, sunglasses, watches and jewelry) under the Michael Kors, KORS and MICHAEL Michael Kors labels. By the end of 2011, the company will have over 200 stores in 74 countries globally with Flagships in the world's most glamorous cities including New York, London, Paris, Milan, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Seoul, Singapore, Dubai and Istanbul.
Kors has been the recipient of numerous industry awards including the The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), Womenswear Designer of the Year in 1999 and Menswear Designer of the Year in 2003. Amongst his other accolades, Kors has also been awarded The Accessories Council ACE Award for Designer of the Year in 2006 and Fashion Group International's Star Honoree at its annual Night of Stars Awards in 2009. In 2010, the CFDA acknowledged Kors with their most prestigious honor, the Lifetime Achievement Award, which was presented by American Vogue, Editor in Chief, Anna Wintour. He also received the Award of Courage from the Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) in 2011. In addition to all of these accomplishments, Kors has also been a judge on the Emmy nominated show "Project Runway" since 2004 which is syndicated internationally.


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Oregon State rips apart UCLA
Oregon State rips apart UCLA | |
Jacquizz Rodgers caught one TD pass and ran for another on Saturday, as the Oregon State Beavers defeated the UCLA Bruins 34-6. Oregon State covered the 7.5-point spread, while the combined 40 points fell UNDER the posted total of 48.5. Rodgers finished with 145 yards rushing, Sean Canfield finished with 221 yards passing with two touchdowns in the win. Kai Forbath booted two field goals in the loss for UCLA. |


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22 Aug 2012
We can't help but love Learning Express Roseville. In 3 short years they have built a talented, vibrant yo-yo club.
And it's all thanks to Colleen and her dedicated family and staff. They love yo-yos and it shows in their efforts to promote the sport. They hold clubs, contests and even go into the community to perform.
We not only got to come for a great demo, it was also a farewell party for Colleen's son Cory, who is the head teacher at the club. But no worries, he's actually going off to college a few hours away, in Chico.
For the event there was a big taco spread. And awesome baked goods by RedHen.
We had a lot of fun hanging out and showing off new tricks and product to the club and customers.
We closed out the day with a stellar demo from Ann and Augie. Thank you Roseville for having us and showing us such a great time! We'll be back soon!
21 Aug 2012
YoYoFactory finds its way back to Reno for another round of demos at the local Learning Express'. We had a good crowd of locals at our first stop.
Lots of teaching and trading tricks. It's always a blast to meet new players from a new area and see the talent that's springing up thanks to the hard work of Chuck and Learning Express.
We wrapped up our first appearance with a demo by Ann and Augie. For some of these players this was their first time seeing such a high level of modern yo-yoing.
We quickly transitioned to the next Learning Express in Reno and got right to teaching the crowd some new tricks.
Like last time, we finished with a great demo by Augie and Ann that the crowd loved! Thanks so much for having us out again, Learning Express. Special thanks to Chuck and all the club members that came out. We had a blast!
20 Aug 2012
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Paolo Bueno vs. Ernest @ DXL Battle
Fresh off his stellar performance at Worlds, Paolo Bueno took the stage in the final round against Ernest. Check out the trick battle bellow:
17 Aug 2012
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YoYoFactory Summer Camp with YoYoUniversity
Over the past week YoYoFactory was given the opportunity to stop in Portland for a week to hold a YoYo Summer Camp during our West Coast Tour. Thanks to YoYoUniversity, Portland has a thriving young yo-yo scene full of amazing talent.
As part of YoYoUniversity's program, they teach many building blocks, and test the campers on their proficiency. As they work their way around the "U" they achieve higher, more exclusive, levels in the program.
The ages and skill range was great. We had kids who had just picked up a yo-yo, to players who had been in the YoYoU program for over 2 years and were placing well at regional contest.
Along with all the yo-yo activities, there were outdoor breaks. Who could turn down the chance to go up again a Yo-Yo Champ in a game of ball?
Another feature of each day at YoYo Camp was time meeting and learning from the Pros on hand. Each of the Pros has very interesting insights into yo-yoing and the campers were eager to hear and full of questions.
Speaking of our Pros for the week, here's a nice group shot. From Left to Right: Ibrahim Rahman, Luke and Jack Finnel, Augie Fash and always camera aware Ann Connolly.
The campers were so stoked to have some of the best Pros in the country on hand to teach them tips and tricks.
For the last day, the Camp had a big head to head team battle. Augie's team huddled up to plan their epic team routine. With the veteran performing experience of Augie, they were sure to have a good routine.
Teams assemble and get ready to face off.
Both teams had great ideas and really entertaining routines. Augie's team came out victorious with their amazing team jump trick and solid performance.
Thank you to everyone who came out to YoYo Summer Camp. Special thanks to the parents and campers for making this such a fun, successful event. Special thanks to Colin and Greg of YoYoU and Ibs, Jack, Luke, Seth, Ann, Augie and Gentry for coming out. We can't wait for next year!
13 Aug 2012
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YoYoFactory in Portland
As part of the YoYoFactory West Coast Tour, we find ourselves in Portland, OR again. After a quick break, and a trip to the World YoYo Contest, we're back on the road. This leg of the tour we have Ann Connolly, Augie Fash, Gentry Stein and Seth Peterson.
We started our first day in Portland on Alberta Street. The neighborhood is full of great food, coffee and shops. We had a chance to stop into the Antler Gallery and hang out with a new friend, artist Neil M. Perry.
After Alberta St. we met up with some friends for dinner. Here is the YoYoFactory team, bookended by YoYoUniversiy.
At dinner we were also joined by our buddy, and Protegé, Ibrahim. He's always full of stories and good times.
Then, off for desert. If you're in Portland, it's a must to stop at VooDoo Doughnut. Racks on racks on racks of delicious, sugary goodness waiting to be devoured.
No matter what time of day, you'll find a line at VooDoo. Luckily we brought our yo-yos.
VooDoo is known for their crazy toppings and themes. Among the group there was oreos, cereal, frosting and bacon! It was a great end to a fun first day in Portland. Tomorrow we start YoYo Summer Camp.
12 Aug 2012
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The Galactic YoYo Contest
While we were all enjoying Shu's amazing 2A freestyle smashing any previous freestyle ever presented by any human being in the history of yoyo play at this year's world based yoyo contest little did we know that a greater battle was unfolding in outer space. Yesterday a video hit YouTube showing astronaut Don Pettit demonstrating a modern performance yoyo aboard the international space station. "Nothing special to report here" I'm sure you are saying, "this was done years ago on a shuttle mission." "We all learned about it in elementary science classes ever since. Old news".
But wait. There's always something that, as a yoyo player, has always bothered me about that original outer space yoyo experiment. I'm not saying it kept me awake at night STEWING in the thoughts, just whenever the subject was presented I felt the data was flawed.
Here's the problem: in 1985 astronaut David Griggs was put to the task of using a yoyo in space and researching the effect of zero gravity on the toy. I assume he had some training on the basics or maybe had some residual childhood technique which elevated him to the position of In-House YoYo Expert. Here, you can watch the result of his off-world yoyo experience:
(YoYo magic happens at 2minutes 40seconds if you don't have the patience to watch the other fascinating toy experiments.)
The reported results were that Dave Griggs couldn't get the yoyo to "sleep" due to the lack of gravity. Then all the data was compiled into a science program called Toys In Space and made available to educators around the country. The data claimed "The yo-yo will not sleep in space because there is no force to keep the yo-yo from moving back up the string."
I always imagined teachers explaining this across the nation and the students accepting this fact based on the authority of the experiment and the credentials of the educator. Then in my mind's eye I imagined that one precocious 6th grader in the back of the classroom who considered himself a bit of an expert on the playground with the yoyo thinking to himself "I could get it to sleep, send me up and I'll prove it. That guy just had bad equipment and his skill was questionable".
So I did a little googling and found I wasn't alone. Here a English major ponders the same quandary.
So yesterday when my email started blowing up at the end of the day with friends reporting the new yoyo video posted on YouTube showing Don Pettit taking a break from rescuing a satellite and goofing around with his yoyo my emotional state hit an all-time high as I watched him demonstrating not only a YoYoFactory® DNA™, but also putting the yoyo through numerous "sleeping" based maneuvers in zero gravity.
Did Don Pettit know that he was taking the first step in space at calling out his predecessor, an outer-space challenge, the first Galactic Smackdown? Does he know the damage he has done to the teachers guides and all of the re-writing that will need to be done? Is this a quantum shift in science? The last one, probably not. But for the 6th grader inside me who just knew that with a little practice and the right equipment the challenge could be beaten… I feel vindicated, smug even. I want to thank Don Pettit for taking the challenge and showing that science is more than just one experiment, more than just one anecdotal experience. Also want to thank him for taking his break from his extraordinary day that allowed me to take a break from my very ordinary day and write this comment.
Hans VanDanElzen
Guinness Record Holder
YoYo Enthusiast
10 Aug 2012
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2A World YoYo Champion Shu Takada
If you're a regular to the YoYoFactory Blog, you've heard our praises and hopes for Shu Takada's 2A. This remarkable player has grown and developed his skills to unmatched heights. And his performance is second to none. Congratulations Shu, 2012 2A World YoYo Champion!
10 Aug 2012
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1A World YoYo Champion Hiroyuki Suzuki
Hiroyuki Suziki's win this year brought him even more firmly into his position of Most Winning 1A Player at Worlds. For years Hiroyuki and YoYoFactory players have gone head to head for the World title. This year was different. Working together, we put together a very special model for our upcoming Champion's Collection: the Equilateral. More on that later, enjoy the freestyle for now.
10 Aug 2012
With a seed from US Nationals, Harold Owens III got to sit back and watch the others battle through prelims and semi-finals. Harold had his freestyle on lock and his confidence showed on stage. Coming in at 4th, Harold was the top placing US competitor. And that's a good spot to be in for Nationals in October.
10 Aug 2012
The term "sleeper" has been thrown around a lot with Gentry Stein this year. Bowing out of competing at BAC, Gentry gave all his focus and attention to preparing for Worlds. Through prelims and semi-finals he didn't lead the pack. But that was intentional. Gentry didn't want to give to much away until Finals. With a jaw dropping Final routine at Worlds, Gentry has cemented himself as one of the top Modern yo-yo players in the world.


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Vancouver has brought together one of the most promising power metal bands in a long time. Unleash the Archers is a joy to the ears of anyone who appreciates over the top technical rock with powerful vocals that will blow you away.
Formed in 2007 by close friends Brittney Slayes, Scott Buchanan and Zahk Hedstrom, Unleash the Archers considers themselves to be a Canadian power metal band. They have gone through a few lineup changes over the last 8 years, with Slayes always on vocals and Buchanan on drums. Grant Truesdell of Golgothca joined them in 2001 to take over guitar and in 2014 Kyle Sheppard came on as a bass player while Andrew Saunders (also formerly with Golgotcha) took over second guitar and vocals. Having a female as the front person has only strengthened their force in the Canadian music scene.
The music is heavily based on mythological images, legends and battle scenes. Many think the name is derived from a love for the sport of archery, but the truth is there is not a member who can hold a recurve bow or shoot one arrow. The bands name came from thin air, but the allusion towards the dark days of battles fought with recurve bows and arrows made the name stick. (They would likely be using these bad ass arrows if they were the fighters.)
They have released four separate tracks since hitting the heavy metal scene including a demo in 2009. This was followed by Behold the Devastation, which was a big hit for them, followed by the lesser received Demons of the AstroWaste in 2011. They came back with an EP in 2012 titled Defy the Skies, but have focused their attention on a live presence since then.
To see them play live is a shock to the senses. While this is hard core, in your face heavy metal, it is as melodic as Judas Priest, one of Brittney's biggest influences. There is as much attention paid to the lyrics as there are the rifts and beats, making them one of those metal bands that make you think, instead of just bang your head.
Often compared to 3 Inches of Blood, Unleash the Archers sound is a bit more like Canada's Into Eternity, who also create melodic riffs to complement their death metal style. This is a hard act to keep up, but Unleash the Archers has been at it for 8 years, and by the size of their fan base it would seem that they are unstoppable.
Make sure that when you have the chance you check out Unleash the Archers at one of their live shows. This is a rock solid rock band who have the potential to become just as powerful in the industry as the legends they worship.


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Saying goodbye: After the tears, there is a silver lining for those leaving last for college
This week, while everyone was monitoring health care controversy and/or airing their feelings about Brett Favre, the first batch of freshmen moved off and into their new collegiate lives.
Rachel left first, driving to Mankato on Tuesday to check in early with the rest of the Bethany speech team.
On Wednesday, the MSUM boys spent 45 minutes repeatedly asking their parents, "Are we there yeeeet?" as they drove to move-in day at the dorms.
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Beaumont/Port Arthur
For the past nine years, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services' Prom Project has made dreams come true for hundreds of high-school-age foster kids in Southeast Texas who might otherwise never attend one of the most memorable nights of their lives.
And this year was no different. With at least 600 dresses, thousands in donations from area businesses and a small army of volunteers, this year's Prom Project ensured area foster kids would have a prom night to remember.
Deputies and U.S. Marshals attempting to serve a felony arrest warrant were met with armed resistance by a man with a loaded gun in the 800 block of F.M. 1131 in Vidor on Feb. 25, according to a news release from the Orange County Sheriff's Office.
A fatal accident on Interstate 10 West near Highway 62 in Orange County at about 5:34 a.m. on Feb. 24 claimed the life of 30-year-old Joshua Thurmond of Baton Rouge, La., DPS reports.
A car wreck on Feb. 23 in Port Arthur left a Groves woman dead and led to the arrest of a Port Arthur resident, police report.
While we harbor no disrespect for the Wall Street Journal who called us "that scrappy little paper from Southeast Texas," we prefer to think of ourselves as simple seekers of the truth. We're of the opinion that headlines and sound bites never tell the whole story. Our readers demand all the facts, facets and flavors of every story or event. And, they expect to be informed, educated and stirred to action.
For this week's New York Times crossword puzzle, pick up a copy of this week's The Examiner on newsstands now.


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Inviting somebody to break bread is an act of hospitality, like when a strongman breaks his door in half so you can come inside. Share a meal with this Groupon.
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The menu includes snacks such as baked goat cheese and duck-confit tacos along with Kobe cheeseburgers topped with crispy bacon and beet-carpaccio salads.

Though this merchant sometimes offers a discounted price online, this Groupon is still the best deal available.
Jax Kitchen
Hailed by Phoenix magazine, among others, for its "mix of whimsy, talent, kitchen smarts and great service," Jax Kitchen concocts upscale comfort fare that blends the familiar with the sophisticated. The eatery's seasonal dishes, featuring favorite foods of the owners and head chef Virginia Wooters, dress up new york strip steak with sunny-side quail eggs and load sea-scallop chowder with poblano peppers and house-made cornbread croutons. Inside the dining area, soft lighting illuminates each bite, and brick archways form the entrance to an outdoor patio area where patrons can sip cocktails and wines and inhale uninhibited amounts of oxygen.
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"No problem using groupon. Treated like everyone else great server and good food!"


text: Aug 20, 2014 09:41 St. Thomas Aquinas freshmen meet up St. Thomas Aquinas freshmen meet up Photo provided by MICHELLE CHAUVIN -- Freshmen students, from left, Lauren Davis, Mia Milton and Abbie Busch attend a school assembly, the first for the Class of 2018, on Aug. 5 at St. Thomas Aquinas Regional Catholic High School in Hammond. Advocate staff report Aug. 20, 2014 Comments Nearly 100 freshmen gathered at St. Thomas Aquinas Regional Catholic High School on Aug. 5 for their first event as the class of 2018. While their parents attended an informational assembly with administrators, the freshmen mingled and ate ice cream sundaes in the theater with the Advancement Team and the STA Student Ambassadors, a news release from the school said. The freshmen class will get to use the new academic building, which opens in late fall. School improvements include a renovated gymnasium floor and upgraded baseball field and other athletic facilities. St. Thomas will institute a new eight-period rotating schedule to give students more opportunities with electives, which will help students with both college and career readiness, the news release said. Classes started Aug. 11. Get The Advocate in your inbox Subscribe