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On January 30, 2014, Michael Young announced his retirement.
There's already been a significant reaction to his announcement. There will be much and more in the coming week. There will be another swell around Spring Training (pitchers and catchers report in just a bit more than two weeks). There's a good reason for this; Mike Young was a pretty good ballplayer, and he played baseball here for a long time.
The thing is, you can encapsulate his career with that phrase - 'Mike Young was a pretty good ballplayer, and he played baseball here for a long time.' There's no need to dig further in, intrinsically. However, it's impossible to simply analyze Michael Young, baseball player. He's a local cultural phenomenon. He casts a cult of personality like almost no other athlete I've ever seen. He's divisive, just by his mere presence.
There's two clear sides to the Michael Young debate, and they both have merit. Analytic metrics peg him as a good-average player with stark weaknesses; the kind you're glad to have around as the fourth or fifth best player on your team, but move on from as they age into big paydays. Classical, non-analytic types have a stronger appreciation for the non-tangibles a player brings; for the extra work put in after games answering questions or making a habit of putting in extra work.
Neither side is really right. Neither side is really wrong. In some respects, it's a false division, because everyone who likes baseball likes stats and just about everyone who likes baseball likes decent human beings - it's just a question of how much weight you put into each versus the other. The point of this blog has been, since day one, to provide a bridge between the two sides (I know, sometimes the work I do here is counterproductive to that, but... you've got to let a dog have a bone every now and again). Maybe that's a foolhardy goal. I prefer to think not, because if so I've wasted three years putting up nonsense and all I've got to show for it is a lot of personal satisfaction and fun and interesting content I've created that I'm proud of and a few hot dogs and some press access adventures that were awesome.
Mike Young was a flashpoint between the two philosophies, and he shouldn't have been. 'Mike Young was a pretty good ballplayer, and he was here for a long time' should have satisfied both sides. Young was never really great; he was terrible at the end, but most players are. He lead the American League in Batting Average in 2005, which was the high point in his career. I've railed against batting average many times, but the raw truth is getting hits is very valuable, and hitting .331 is always at least a good thing. The problem with batting average (keep your torches away!) is it just doesn't convey any information beyond how many hits a player had- it doesn't tell you the quality of the hits (extra base hits are key to producing runs, which are key to winning games) or how many times a player reached base other than via a hit (which is the entire point of baseball).
In 2005, Young was 24th in the league in On Base Percentage. That's good! It's hard to be an unproductive baseball player and be 24th in the league in the one statistic that I (and a lot of other people) would argue is simply the best rate indicator of how a batter succeeds or fails. Yet, it's also hard to look at a player's absolute peak (his .385 OBP in 2005 was his career-best mark in a season) and see 23 players better and call him elite.
Likewise, Young's Slugging Percentage in 2005 was .513. That's good! In fact, .500 is a common line of delineation for a really, really good slugging line. It wasn't quite the greatest slugging season of his career (in 2009, he slugged .518) but it was really, really close.
That .513 was good for thirty-second in the league in 2005. Again, this is his peak, and slugging is an important metric. Doubles and home runs are much, much better at scoring runs than singles. Runs are what wins ballgames. It's not a be-all, end-all metric, but if your argument is that a player is elite, it's hard to contend with the fact that so many players were so much better at important things than Michael Young was when he was at his best at those same things. Mike Young was a pretty good baseball player, and he played here for a long time.
Of course, the flipside is in 2005, he was a shortstop, which has traditionally been a tough place to find offense. It's the most demanding position on the diamond from a defensive standpoint (aside from catcher, which seems to kind of be in a universe by itself). Since the expectations from a shortstop are traditionally lower, you could say being in the mid-thirties in key metrics is, in fact, an example of an elite player.
The sad truth of it is that Michael Young just was never very good at defense. His range was limited (especially to his glove side). For his career, Fangraphs saw Young as worth -79.4 Runs defensively (and had him as worth 59.8 runs offensively). Defensive metrics are still young, and they're growing and evolving, so that shouldn't be taken as gospel - but some facts should be apparent. Even with that, Mike Young was a pretty good baseball player, and he played here for a long time.
Part of Young's curse, and his blessing as well, was the cast of characters he had around him during his stint as a Ranger. In his first full season, Alex Rodriguez, Pudge Rodriguez, and Rafael Palmeiro were here. Pudge was and is, of course, revered, with very good reason; Palmeiro wasn't yet, but would become one of baseball's biggest finger-pointing villains. No player was as polarizing as Alex Rodriguez, though. From the second he inked his 252-million-dollar deal, A-Rod was a target of scorn. He was too cocky, not clutch enough, too pretty, and he didn't pitch effectively. Mike Young was the perfect counterpoint to him. In fact, Young likely owes much of his career to the simple fact that he was the quiet, non-flashy opposite of his double play partner. The media loves to build one player up as a means of tearing another down (see the cyclical argument about the Cowboys' Triplets).
Once Rodriguez left in 2004, the dark period really began. The player A-Rod returned, Alfonso Soriano (let's forget about Joaquin Arias, and forget about the fact that the team chose Arias over Robinson Cano, because I don't want to have a rage stroke) had the misfortune of playing second base, which was the same position Michael Young played. The team broached Soriano about a move (he was pretty bad at second base) but he balked. Young stepped in and volunteered to move to shortstop, a move for which he was hailed and for which Soriano was excoriated. The opinion at the time was that if the team asked you to dent your pride and market value to change positions for the betterment of the team, then that's what you should do- a position which would reverse itself in the popular media when Young was asked (told) to move.
I've always wondered, myself, why the switch wasn't viewed as selfish on Young's part. Shortstops are more valuable than second basemen. It's like volunteering to move out of accounting and into sales. Moving to shortstop made Young a much more valuable commodity.
The 2004 season was actually a high-water mark, as they muddled to an 89-win year, the most for the franchise since 1999 and a mark that would not be matched until 2009. That was still only good for third in the AL West, though, which raises another point; Michael Young was simply a good player on a series of very bad teams. Again, this isn't demeaning Young; Mike Young was a pretty good baseball player, and he played here for a long time. But, again, the image of Young was always greater than the production, and a part of that was that he was fairly bright on some very dull teams.
Maybe it is that there's something to longevity that gets underrated. After all, it's hard to stick in one place for a long time and be a terrible person. Except prison I guess, but you'd be hard-pressed to call the pre-2009 Rangers as bad as prison. Dirk Nowitzki is a Dallas treasure, and with good reason; he's been an elite player, and he was here his entire career. We were also fortunate to have Mike Modano, Darren Woodson, and Jason Witten here for (virtually) the duration of their careers. Those were all elite players. Each one should have his visage on Dallas Sports Mount Rushmore, should they ever have the terrible idea to build it.
Still, Carl Everett played for eight teams in twelve years. Milton Bradley played for eight in twelve years. Josh Lueke has yet to stick with a team for more than two seasons. Barry Bonds only played for two teams, but he was the best player of his generation and probably had two to three more years of production left when the league blackballed him (steroids or not). Maybe Young's longevity here was a product of his value as a person, and that brought more to the team than a better player but lower quality of a person would have brought. That's outside my area of expertise, and I've found that things that are quantifiable are often more valuable. If you don't believe that, I've got a couch that holds all of my hopes and dreams I'll sell you for a million dollars. It really ties a room together, too.
There's a key aspect of the Michael Young narrative that I've yet to address; The Contract. In Spring Training of 2007, the Rangers signed Young to a five-year, eighty-million-dollar extension. Extending your players before they hit free agency is often wise, but the path is fraught with perils. The Young deal was done a full two seasons before Young would hit free agency; while some will argue that it was a sign the Rangers would step up and pay players, the fact that the team's payroll did not hit ninety million dollars until 2009 highlighted the problem. The team gave Young a big-market contract, then gave the rest of the team small-market money. It's a sign of a team that doesn't know it's identity; if you don't immediately see that as a problem, consider the team that plays on the other side of the Ballpark's parking lots.
One of the points sabre-centered fans repeated often once the contract was signed, was that at no point during the deal was the contract worth it. When the contract kicked in, no team would have given Young a 5/80 deal if he were a free agent. One year in, no one would have given him 4/64. Even in his last year, no one would have given him a one-year deal for sixteen million dollars; when the Rangers did trade Young to the Phillies, they had to send over ten million dollars to facilitate the swap. Ultimately, it's not fair to hold the contract over Michael Young's head; each player has every right to get as much money as they can, because at some point they have to walk away from the game (such as, right now). He didn't twist Jon Daniels' or Tom Hicks' arms to get the deal (that I'm aware of... it seems pretty outside of Young's character to be violent towards anyone but Vicente Padilla).
And, I think, is the main thrust of what I want to say; a lot of the factors that lead to negativity against Young weren't his fault. His image in the media, and the outspacing of his actual production, weren't his own creations. Of course, it would have been nice if he would have actually produced at the level some local media types would have you believe he produced at, but there's no evidence that Young was ever anything but a hardworking guy who tried hard to be good at baseball. He apparently had the backing of his manager as a defender; if your boss tells you you're doing a good job, who am I tell you you're not?
Of course, there was a dark side to Young (aside from socking Vicente Padilla, which I think we'll all agree we're pretty ok with). In 2008, when Young's defensive deficiencies were coming to a head, Elvis Andrus was steaming his way through the minors. Young bristled at fan suggestions that he wasn't a good defender, which is actually pretty ok with me because I'd prefer guys who have pride in what they do opposed to someone saying 'Yeah, you're right, I'm pretty awful I'm going to go home and be emotional.' The issue is, Young was quoted as saying 'Show me a guy with turbo range out there.' Now, I'm not one to suggest that major league players should be really aware of minor league prospects, because those guys are largely there to take your job. It's a sad fact. I'm not out actively recruiting bloggers to take my spot, because I like having a job. That said, the quote rubbed many (including myself) the wrong way, and in a lot of ways was a catalyst to fans being ready to break up with the player. The issue was, the Rangers did have a guy with turbo range, and he was pretty much ready to contribute. The only issue was the player in his way.
Then, in 2009, a low point. The Rangers decided to make the leap to committing to Elvis Andrus at the shortstop position. The team was dedicating itself to defense much more than before, and Andrus is likely the best defensive shortstop the Rangers have ever had. Young's response was to request a trade.
Requesting a trade rarely works. Partially because trading in baseball is largely a poker game, and broadcasting your desire to be relocated puts your team in a bad spot, and partially because it puts the player in a lose-lose proposition; if they are traded, the relationship with the trading city is likely done. If they aren't, they're stuck in the town they were just crying they wanted out of. This is another situation, though, where the laws of physics don't apply to Michael Young. He was applauded, in local media, for the same thing Soriano was excoriated for. Where Soriano was selfish, Young was fighting the man, standing up to management like so many people wish they could (me, personally, I've got a pretty great relationship with my management team, both in my day job and here at the WFAA. It's important to me that they read that, and know that they're great, and the microwave was like that when I found it. It was probably Dale.). Again, it's facile to hold the way the media treated Young against him, but the fact remains the act itself was selfish and contrary to the success of the team. And, worst of all, Young was wrong, because Elvis is and was a great baseball player.
Young eventually cowtowed, in part because every team passed on trading for Young. Remember above when I said no one would give him a contract in 2009 for four years and sixty million? There's a data point in that argument. Young would hold third for two years. They were, at the time, two of the greatest years in Rangers history.
Then, late in the winter of 2010, the Rangers signed Adrian Beltre. You know the calculus; Young had to move again. Young, again, requested a trade. A trade, again, failed to materialize. Once again, Young was recalcitrant in moving to accommodate a clearly superior player, and was rewarded for it. Young responded, strangely, with one of his best offensive seasons ever. The team made the World Series, and it turned out that individual performance amid the most successful team in franchise history was a strong panacea for relationships.
The less that's said about 2012, the better. It... it was not a good season.
The Rangers traded Young, finally, before the 2013 season. Young wasn't good, and the Rangers had problems but won 91 games. The two players the Rangers received for Young, Josh Lindblom and Lisalverto Bonilla, both look to have positive effects on the team moving forward (although Lindblom's output will be tied to that of Michael Choice and Chris Bostick, the two players the Rangers received for Lindblom and Craig Gentry). Moreso, the fact that Young has agreed to retire as a Ranger is pleasing on several levels; one, in that Young is willing to move on and repair a fractured and strained relationship and two, in that it's just satisfying to have the player symbolically walk off in the the team he spent over ninety percent of his career with. Young was a pretty good player, and he played here for a long time.
If you go by fWAR (and you should, it's great) Young is the 597th best player of all time. That could sound like a slight, but it's anything but. Saying a player is one of the 600 best players ever in the past century-plus of baseball is no insult, at all. Unfortunately, Young will likely have a vocal local minority (have you heard of my new band, the Vocal Local Minority?) pushing his Hall of Fame credentials in five years. Once again, the normal physics of baseball won't apply to Mike Young, and saying what he was (Mike Young was a pretty good player, and he played here for a long time) will be called an insult. It's anything but.
I joked before that the team could find Young a spot in outside sales if he wants to join the franchise, but, in truth this might be the job he was always destined for; the face of the franchise. I've come to realize that data-backed decisions tend to be very unpopular; Mike Young explaining the tough decisions Jon Daniels makes may be the best of both worlds, the jock and the nerd. I'm glad he's retiring, and I'm glad he's retiring as a Ranger, and I'm glad I don't have to see grounders go past him because they were hit four feet to the right of where he was standing when the ball was hit.
Mike Young was a pretty good player, and he played here for a long time.
Joe Ursery is a seasoned WFAAcontributor who appreciates analytics and hialrious parantheticals. You can follow him on twitter at @thejoeursery
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Recapping the career of Michael Young
On January 30, 2014, Michael Young announced his retirement.


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U.K. Plans Massive Swine-Flu Vaccination
Argentina's Health Ministry Reports More Deaths, Exceeding Mexico's Toll
LONDON -- The medical establishment in Britain, the nation hardest hit by swine flu outside North America, is scrambling to roll out a large-scale vaccination program in an effort to protect its population against a virus that threatens to spread rapidly here in coming weeks.
The state-run health system is deciding whether to hire private contractors to help doctors carry out the massive vaccination job, said Peter Holden, a general practitioner who represents the British Medical Association in pandemic-flu planning with the government. Doctors would rather handle the shots themselves, he said, but as phone calls and office visits related to swine flu have jumped, they are concerned the extra work will overwhelm them unless they suspend some other routine care.
In his own practice in the Peak District in central England, Dr. Holden is making plans for each doctor or nurse to vaccinate between 30 and 40 people an hour. "There'll be no chitchat. It will be, 'Are you allergic to anything? Bang, in, out,'" he said.
It isn't yet clear how many doses will be needed per person, but many flu experts believe it will be two.
Since the spring, 17 Britons have died after being infected with the H1N1 virus that is causing the swine-flu pandemic, according to U.K. officials. The U.K. recently recorded its first swine-flu death in an otherwise healthy patient, an event that set off further concern, even as other deaths, including that of a 6-year-old girl last week, have gained attention.
As of July 6, the U.K. had 7,447 confirmed cases, ranking the country fourth in the world, behind the U.S., Mexico and Canada, according to the World Health Organization's most recent figures. World-wide, 429 people have died from swine flu and 94,512 have been infected, according to the WHO.
The latest reports from some governments indicate higher death tolls than the WHO figures. Argentina's health ministry on Tuesday reported that the number of deaths from the swine flu had reached 137, with a total of 3,056 officially confirmed cases. The latest tally puts Argentina second only to the U.S. in swine-flu deaths -- passing Mexico, which this week reported its toll had risen to 124 dead, with 12,645 confirmed cases.
Many in Argentina believe the official count has been slow to confirm swine flu and the actual toll could be much higher.
The number of cases in the U.K. is several times greater than in any other European country. Ian Jones, professor of virology at the University of Reading, says the U.K. has been hit hard because many Britons were traveling to Mexico and the U.S. when the virus first appeared there.
Wendy Barclay, chair in influenza virology at Imperial College London, said the U.K. also has a good surveillance system that ensures that a high percentage of infections are reported.
The country has ordered enough vaccine to cover all 60 million of its residents. The government plans to offer everyone free shots as soon as they become available, a Department of Health spokeswoman said on Tuesday. It won't require people to get the shots, but will make vaccine available to everyone, she said.
The health department expects the first doses to arrive in the fall, and will start vaccinating certain groups first, including health-care workers, children and pregnant women. The U.K. expects enough vaccine for 30 million people, or about half the population, to be available by the end of the year, the health department spokeswoman said.
The companies supplying Britain with the vaccine -- GlaxoSmithKline PLC and Baxter International Inc. BAX -0.25 % -- have already won preliminary approval for their pandemic vaccines from the European Medicines Agency, or EMEA, Europe's top medicines regulator. Preliminary approval is possible because flu vaccines are generally made in the same way, with the same basic ingredients. The main element that changes is the type of virus used in the vaccine.
Because the companies have already supplied the EMEA with plentiful data on their vaccine ingredients and won the preliminary approval, it shouldn't take the agency long to review their completed H1N1 shots, an EMEA spokeswoman said Tuesday. The agency expects to receive more information from the companies around the end of September, and could make a decision within five days after that, she said.
The U.S. -- which has had 211 deaths from swine flu and 37,246 confirmed cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- is also making plans for a voluntary vaccination program. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said last week that as many as 100 million doses of vaccine would be available in the U.S. by mid-October.
U.S. health officials have said clinical trials must be conducted first to be sure the vaccine is safe and effective. They expect those trials to get under way in early August, with some results in early October.
Earlier this month, U.K. Health Secretary Andy Burnham said that if current infection rates continue, new swine flu infections could rise to 100,000 a day by the end of August. But he stressed that this was a projection, and also that the vast majority of cases so far have been mild.
Dr. Jones said he didn't think infection rates would grow as quickly as the health minister projected, but that the U.K. could have half a million cases by the end of the year. There is a good chance that many of these cases will be mild, he said, because the H1N1 virus has shown little evidence yet of becoming more virulent.
A public awareness campaign organized by the Department of Health has done a good job of teaching people how to avoid infection, which should help reduce infection rates, he said. Ads telling people to wash their hands frequently and cover their sneezes have been running for months in women's magazines, bus stations, and on the London Underground, as well as on supermarket trolleys and ATM screens.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has called the U.K. one of the countries best prepared to cope with swine flu. In addition to ordering vaccine, the U.K. has stockpiled enough antiviral medication, including Tamiflu, to treat 50% of the population, and is aiming to increase that to 80%. Antivirals are used to reduce symptoms in a person already infected with the flu, while vaccines are used to prevent infection.
Write to Jeanne Whalen at email@example.com

subset: commoncrawl


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The Navy Federal Credit Union says the National Credit Union Administration has approved its acquisition of USA Federal Credit Union. The Washington Business Journal reports that the boards of both credit unions have already approved the acquisition. The deal gives Navy Federal a West Coast headquarters and boosts its branches to 200 worldwide. The merger was announced in mid-September. Financial terms weren't disclosed.
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[32.5°C] [16.8°C] Change Location
WeatherKathmandu, Nepal
RAUTHAHAT: Residents of Bhasedhawa -3 of Rauthahat had a sleepless night after a parade of wild elephants that entered their village ravaged their houses and killed a 12-year-old girl on Monday night.
The victim has been identified as Shanti Kumari Baitha – daughter of Mangal Baitha.
The wild tuskers demolished some houses at midnight and one of them attacked the girl when she was asleep, according to District Police Office, Rauthahat.
Later, security personnel, and locals shooed off the tuskers, SP Govinda Ram Pariyar said.


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text: Interview with Christian Smith (WHI) The White Horse Inn has been turning out some great stuff lately, but this (link) might be the best of the year. Who is Christian Smith? About these ads Rate this:Share this:Share on FacebookClick to share on TwitterClick to email this to a friendClick to share on RedditClick to share on Google+Click to printLike this:Like Loading... Related


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Alcatel-Lucent: The Disappearing Mobile Masts and Towers
– lightRadio(TM) – Solving Network Gridlock and Universal High-Speed
The looming global gridlock in mobile communications promises to be
averted following the launch today of pioneering technology which will remove
the bottlenecks constraining mobile networks and help deliver universal
broadband coverage.
Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU), the leading network
technology group, has joined forces with industry partners to develop
lightRadio(TM), a new system that signals the end of the mobile industry's
reliance on masts and base stations around the world.
and tomorrow's demands for coverage and capacity require a breakthrough in
mobile communications."
He added: "lightRadio will signal the end of the basestation and the cell
tower as we know it today."
Governments and regulatory bodies are expected to welcome the technical
development, which will help meet targets for universal broadband access by
laying the foundation to address the so-called "digital divide."
Other major benefits from lightRadio(TM) include: - Shrinking the carbon footprint of mobile networks by over 50% - Reducing the Total-Cost-of-Ownership of mobile operators by up to 50% - Improving end user services by significantly increasing bandwidth per user thanks to the deployment of small antennas everywhere
Wim Sweldens, President of Alcatel-Lucent's Wireless Division said:
"lightRadio will help mobile operators evolve their networks to address the
mobile broadband deluge."
lightRadio represents a new approach where the base station, typically
located at the base of each cell site tower, is broken into its components
elements and then distributed into both the antenna and throughout a
cloud-like network.
lightRadio also shrinks today's clutter of antennas serving 2G, 3G, and
LTE systems into a single powerful,
mounted on poles, sides of buildings or anywhere else there is power and a
broadband connection.
The innovation coincides with growing demand for third-and-fourth
generation mobile networks and devices, involving the mass adoption of
wireless television services and other forms of broadband content. The total
addressable market for the radio technology necessary to serve such networks
and devices is expected to exceed EUR100bn1 over the next seven years.
Alcatel-Lucent announced the lightRadio(TM) technical specifications and
launch timetable at an industry event in
http://www.alcatel-lucent.com/lightradio for product press release and link
to event replay (available at
[1] This is the total addressable market for multi-technology radio
solutions that consist of radio access base stations that simultaneously
support 2G, 3G, and LTE, and multiple frequencies in the same platform
About Alcatel-Lucent
Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) is the trusted
transformation partner of service providers, enterprises, strategic
industries such as defense, energy, healthcare, transportation, and
governments worldwide, providing solutions to deliver voice, data and video
communication services to end-users. A leader in fixed, mobile and converged
broadband networking, IP technologies, applications and services,
Alcatel-Lucent leverages the unrivalled technical and scientific expertise of
industry. With operations in more than 130 countries and the most experienced
global services organization in the industry, Alcatel-Lucent is a local
partner with a global reach. Alcatel-Lucent achieved revenues of
http://www.alcatel-lucent.com, read the latest posts on the Alcatel-Lucent
blog http://www.alcatel-lucent.com/blog and follow us on Twitter:
SOURCE Alcatel-Lucent


text:
Archive for Thursday, May 12, 2011
One lane of U.S. 56 now open east of Baldwin City
One lane of U.S. Highway 56 east of Baldwin City has reopened after power lines fell on the road during a thunderstorm Wednesday night.
The report came from the Kansas Department of Transportation via Twitter Thursday morning.
The highway was closed in both directions from County Road 1061 to Kansas Highway 33 for about 12 hours. During the closure, traffic was being routed through Wellsville.
KDOT estimates all lanes from Baldwin City to the Johnson County line will reopen Thursday afternoon.
More like this story
- Sheriff's office investigating allegations of missing money from Wakarusa Township fireman's fund
- Douglas County delegation to travel to San Antonio to look at ways to reduce jail time for mentally ill
- Douglas County to have townhall meeting on jail expansion
- Avian flu case confirmed in Leavenworth County
- RG Fiber on a roll, expects to have gigabit service in Baldwin City in August
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1940 Ford Deluxe for sale by owner is Super Nice, Solid Steel and Road Ready! With Eye Catching Red paint, Great Performance and Easy to... More
1948 Chrysler Town & Country - Older restoration. Runs and drives excellent ... More
This classically customized 1948 Cadillac Series 62 convertible is a unique creation from the fertile mind of Hollywoods King of the Kustomizers, George Barris.... More
1940 Ford Standard Business CoupeA classic 1940 Ford Standard in the driveway is a dream many of us aspire to SaturdaysSpent polishing it sunny... More
1949 Ford F100 Delivery VanThis truck is better then new an all steel body that's as straight as an arrow. Over 80K spent on... More
1946 Ford Business Coupe Street Rod that is a wonderful build both mechanically and cosmetically, has a steel body body and fiberglass fenders that... More
This 1941 Willys coupe is the veritable definition of overkill. The compact body has been stuffed with a blown V8, full air-ride suspension, a... More
Price: $57,995 Type: Used Year: 1947 Make: Lincoln Model: Continental Convertible Body Style: Convertible Stock 162625 Mileage: 59999 Engine Size: 12cyl. Transmission: Manual 3 speed Exterior Color: Black Interior Color: Red Vin: 7H162625 866-230-2851... More
The GM "old-look" transit bus is a transit bus that was introduced in 1940 by Yellow Coach beginning with the production of the model... More
1947 Chevrolet Coupe 327 V8 engine, automatic transmission, power steering, power brakes, vintage air and heat, tilt wheel, shaved doors w/remote, Nova front clip,... More


text:
Anna Grace Reep, National American Miss South Carolina Princess Queen, has been busy volunteering around town.
January 8th, 2015
Anna-Grace also met with the Mayors of the towns in Newberry County South Carolina last night. She met with the Mayor Lisha Senn of Silverstreet, SC; Mayor Darryl Hentz of Pomaria, SC; Mayor Derek Underwood of Prosperity, SC ; and Mayor Foster Senn of Newberry. They all wanted to meet with her and wish her luck as she will represent our community & state at Nationals.
Also she met with Mayor Derek Underwood privately as he welcomed her nonprofit thrift store Angels of Grace to the town of Prosperity. She had appeared in an advertisement with her sister in the Newberry Magazine where the Thrift Store had moved to Prosperity. It was featured on page 24 in the September/October edition. Anna-Grace is the ambassador and a volunteer in the non-profit store. She helped it moved and works in the store setting up displays, sorting clothes, and also helping children shop in the store.
After a busy day with school, cheerleading practice & appearances, she stopped by one of her proud sponsors Zesto's of Newberry to get supper. Mr. Jack the owner knows that their Fried Chicken is her favorite food. They always have their NAM Queen a chicken leg & a milkshake ready.
Baylee Smith SC Pre-Teen Queen and Anna-Grace SC Princess together at Toni Buskers Workshop in Greenville. Anna-Grace attended last year's MCI event in Nashville and is part of the MCI family.
Categories: Community Service, pictures, Press Release, Princesss, Royalty, south carolina | Tags: american, and, anna, busy, carolina, grace, miss, nam, namiss, national, pageant, pageants, princess, queen, reep, representing, south, volunteering | No Comments


text:
Confirmed health authorities in Liberia say there have been no new suspected deaths from the deadly Ebola virus since the admission early this week of four (2 in Guinea, 1 in Foya and 1 in Zorzor) reported cases.
"I can confirm to you that there has been no reported case of Ebola on admission in any of Liberia's hospitals. Samples from suspected persons have been provided to MSF in Guinea for preliminary examination. Further confirmation from the preliminary findings will be provided from Lyon, France," a source who was privy to a discussion with senior administration officials and health authorities Wednesday.
Precautionary measures
FrontPageAfrica reported Wednesday that several businesses have taken precautions since reports surfaced that the deadly virus had crossed over to Liberia from neighboring Guinea. Some stores and supermarkets had their employees wear gloves and hand sanitizers were in short supply at most convenience stores and supermarkets as many consumers heed warnings from the Ministry of Health to wash their hands, avoid handshakes, kissing and sexual activities.
FrontPageAfrica also reported that nurses at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center were in panic mode after a patient came down from Ganta, Nimba County with apparent symptoms of the disease and experiencing bleeding nose. FPA also reported an unconfirmed suspected case of Ebola in the New Kru Town area.
On Wednesday, a senior health official provided the following update. "Preliminary diagnosis of the patient transferred from Ganta to JFK shows that it was not Ebola, the patient is stable and recovering. The diagnosis of the reported case at Redemption Hospital in New Kru Town showed dysentery, no vomiting and no fever. The patient was admitted over a period of four days. There is no national emergency and the borders remain opened."
FPA later learned that the patient who brought down from Ganta came down to Monrovia to see a visiting relative from the U.S. and started bleeding from the nose during a meal. He was rushed to JFK where some medical practitioners, first believed it was a case of Ebola, but later found to not be the case.
Local health authorities scrambling for answers Wednesday sought to allay fears. "Several international media outlets reported Tuesday that a Canadian who came from Liberia and was originally suspected of contracted the Ebola virus has been confirmed not to have Ebola and 27 persons identified to have had contacts with the suspected victims are being closely monitored by health authorities and permitted very minimal contacts with others. There have been no reported case involving health care workers," the source told FPA.
Bernice Dahn, Chief Medical officer told FrontPage Africa Tuesday that the disease is reported to be spreading along the border with Liberia, specifically in the communities and towns close to Guinea towns of Guekedou, Nzerekore, Kissidougou and Macenta. "The team is already investigating the situation, tracing contacts, collecting blood samples and sensitizing local health authorities on the disease," Dahn said. The World Health Organization is said to be in the process of "confirming suspected cases to know what medical practitioners are dealing with.
This coming amid reports that Canadian authorities on Tuesday isolated a man showing symptoms of haemorrhagic fever resembling Ebola after travelling from Liberia. According to the Associated Press, the man who recently travelled to West Africa is seriously ill and being kept in isolation in a Canadian hospital with symptoms of a haemorrhagic fever resembling the Ebola virus. It was later determined that it was not the case. The man had shown symptoms of hemorrhagic fever after arriving in Canada and remains quarantined in a Saskatchewan hospital, the Associated Press reported Wednesday.
JFK Case 'Stable, Recovering'
AP quoting Cailin Rodgers, a spokeswoman for Canada's health minister, said lab tests determined the patient does not have the deadly virus that is thought to have caused at least 64 deaths in Liberia and Guinea. "All we know at this point is that we have a person who is critically ill who traveled from a country where these diseases occur," Dr. Denise Werker, Saskatchewan Province's deputy chief medical health officer, said prior to the results of the tests. "There is no risk to the general public at all about this."
On Wednesday, medical practitioners in Liberia explained that suspected cases from Zorzor which was initially reported on Monday involving one death and one admission at Zorzor Curran Hospital, Lofa County: The admitted patient is steadily recovering and a death audit confirmed that the alleged case of death in Zorzor does not meet the case definition of Ebola. Regarding the patient transferred from Ganta to JFK, officials at the hospital told FPA that the preliminary diagnosis ruled out Ebola. "The patient is stable and recovering."
Regarding the case in New Kru Town, administrators at that hospital told FPA that the reported case at Redemption Hospital in New Kru Town the diagnosis has been negative, that the patient experienced dysentery, no vomiting, no fever and has been admitted over a period of 4 days. Ebola is one of the most contagious viral diseases known, often resulting in death. The virus cannot be prevented with a vaccine and is untreatable with medication.
The reported cases heightened interest in the national legislature, where lawmakers greeted the news of suspected Ebola cases in Liberia with a great deal of seriousness with both the Senate and the House of Representatives mandating their Health Committees to closely work with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in tackling the disease.
During separate regular sessions Tuesday, the issue of the outbreak of the disease was discussed with consensus for collaborative efforts with the Executive Branch of government through the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in tackling the spread of the disease. Senator Peter Coleman of Grand Kru County who once served as Minister of Health of Liberia told his colleagues to take seriously the current news of the spread of the virus in Liberia by making interventions in the best interest of the population. Senator Coleman also stressed isolation and confinement of affected persons as some of the surest ways of preventing the virus from spreading to others and the need to make a national decision in terms of the provision of funding to the national emergency efforts.
Guinea curbs spread
Many experts have suggested that Liberian authorities quarantine areas where the disease has been reported similarly to what has been done in neighboring Guinea where it was announced Wednesday that the outbreak of deadly Ebola have been stopped from spreading beyond the country's remote southeast, although the number of deaths from suspected infections rose to at least 63. UN agencies and medical charities such as Doctors without Borders (MSF) have scrambled to help Guinea - one of the world's poorest countries - to cope with the virus, amid fears it might spill across borders into neighboring West African nations, Reuters reported Wednesday.
According to Reuters, laboratories have so far only confirmed 13 cases of the disease out of 45 tested. More samples, some of them from Sierra Leone and Liberia, have been sent for examination. "The epidemic is not spreading to other regions," Guinean Health Minister Remy Lamah told Reuters by telephone from the affected area in Guinea's remote Forest region. "Medical equipment has been shipped in," he said. "MSF is helping us to control the outbreak." An MSF spokesperson said the number of suspected infections had risen by just two from Tuesday to 88, according to government figures. Four more people died, however, bringing the death toll to 63.
Since its discovery in 1976 in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo, only around 2,200 cases of Ebola have been recorded. Of those, 1,500 were fatal. The outbreak of mysterious haemorrhagic fever was first detected in Guinea in February. Scientists have since identified it as the most virulent Zaire strain of the Ebola virus. The virus is believed to reside primarily in bats between rare outbreaks in humans. Some experts believe it may have been carried by bats from central Africa, where it is more common.
In an effort to contain the disease, Guinea has banned the sale and consumption of bats and other types of bush meat, and banned public funerals for those killed. Volunteers from the Guinean Red Cross were disinfecting the homes of victims and dealing with infected bodies. The disease incubates for up to three weeks and its symptoms are similar to malaria and cholera, making it difficult to detect in West Africa, where such diseases are endemic.


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5 Website Templates and counting!
Game CSS Flash 8 Animated Website Templates
First person shooters (FPS), adventure games, strategy games, role playing (RPG) games, action games, digital board games, racing games, or sports games. It doesn't matter what genre of games you're dealing with, there's game themed website templates here to cover all sorts of games. You might use these templates for a cheat code repository, strategy site, clan portals, or even for the release of a new game you or a client has developed. If you wanted to setup a top 10 list of new and popular games, that's possible as well. PC, consoles such as Xbox, Playstation, Nintendo, Wii, or old school consoles like Sega and Atari, the only limit is your imagination! Get a leg up on the competition and save yourself a gang load of time with these game website templates. Our CSS Flash 8 animated website templates all contain animation to help make your website stand out and be more impressive. These templates usually have the flash 8 portions in the header or menu areas while the rest of the template uses static images, HTML, and CSS for all of the styling. If you wish to edit the Flash portions you will need to make sure your Flash editor can edit Flash version 8 or greater. All of these templates also include a non-flash version so that you do not have to use any Flash if you do not want to. Our game CSS Flash 8 animated website templates usually include one to three pages always including the main page, sometimes a sample content page, and sometimes a miscellaneous page such as a privacy policy page.
Page Number: 1


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Edward Stanley, Lord Stanley (1894–1938)
|The Right Honourable
Lord Stanley
|Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs
|In office
16 May 1938 – 16 October 1938
|George VI
|Prime Minister
|Neville Chamberlain
|Preceded by
|Malcolm MacDonald
|Succeeded by
|Malcolm MacDonald
|Personal details
|9 July 1894
Marylebone, London
|16 October 1938
Marylebone, London
|Political party
|Hon. Sibyl Cadogan
|Alma mater
|Magdalen College, Oxford
Edward Montagu Cavendish Stanley, Lord Stanley, PC, MC (9 July 1894 – 16 October 1938) was a British Conservative politician. The eldest son of the 17th Earl of Derby, he held minor political office before being appointed Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs in 1938, sitting in the cabinet alongside his brother Oliver Stanley. However, Stanley died only a few months after this appointment, aged 44, with his oldest son, Edward John Stanley, succeeding to the earldom in his stead.
Background and education[edit]
Stanley was born in Marylebone, London, the eldest son and heir apparent of Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby, by Lady Alice Montagu. He was spectacularly well-connected to leading political families.
His father Edward, Lord Stanley, later the 17th Earl of Derby, was at the time of his birth Conservative MP for Westhoughton, Lancashire, and went on to serve as Secretary of State for War from 1916–1918 and from 1922-1924. His paternal grandfather, the 16th Earl of Derby, was a former Lancashire MP, Colonial Secretary, and Governor-General of Canada. His great-uncle, the 15th Earl, served twice as Foreign Secretary and was Prime Minister Lord Salisbury's stepfather, while his best-known ancestor was his great-grandfather, the 14th Earl of Derby, who was Leader of the Conservative Party for 22 years (1846–1868; the longest tenure in that office) and Prime Minister three times (1852, 1858–59, and 1866–68). His paternal grandmother, Lady Constance Villiers, was daughter of Lord Clarendon, who also served as Foreign Secretary, three times. Lord Stanley's uncles Sir Arthur and Sir George also served as Conservative MPs.
His maternal grandfather was William Montagu, 7th Duke of Manchester, also a Conservative peer and MP. His maternal grandmother Louisa von Alten married after the death of the Duke of Manchester, Spencer, Duke of Devonshire, also known as Lord Hartington, former Leader of the Liberal Party.
His sister Victoria married Neil Primrose, the son of Liberal Prime Minister Lord Rosebery. Oliver Stanley was his younger brother, and his son Richard became an MP.
He became known by the courtesy title Lord Stanley in 1908, when his father succeeded in the earldom of Derby. He was educated at Eton and Magdalen College, Oxford.[1]
Political career[edit]
Lord Stanley was first elected to Parliament on 28 June 1917 in a by-election in Liverpool Abercromby. He left Parliament the following year, when the seat was abolished for the 1918 general election.[1][2] During this time, he was the Baby of the House. He returned to Parliament in the 1922 general election when he was elected for Fylde.[1][3] He served under Stanley Baldwin as a Junior Lord of the Treasury from 1924 to 1927 and was a Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party from 1927 to 1929.[1]
On the formation of the National Government after the 1931, Stanley was made Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty under Ramsay MacDonald.[1] On 26 February 1934, he was admitted to the Privy Council.[4] In 1935 he was made Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs by Baldwin, and later that year was made Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty. Two years later, Lord Stanley became Under-Secretary of State for India and Burma.[1] On 16 May 1938 he entered the cabinet as Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs.[5] His brother, Oliver, was also in the Cabinet as President of the Board of Trade. However, in October 1938, five months after being appointed to the cabinet, Lord Stanley died in Marylebone, aged 44.[1] Neville Chamberlain paid tribute to him in the House of Commons: "So great, indeed, was his keenness and his interest in Imperial relations that he insisted on carrying out his intention to visit Canada, although even then he was suffering from the disease which has now ended fatally. Perhaps in that office he would have, for the first time, found an opportunity of showing the full extent of his powers, for those who knew him best had long recognised that he possessed to an exceptional degree the high qualities of steady judgment and sterling good sense, combined with a complete and utter selflessness and integrity of purpose."[6]
Lord Stanley married the Honourable Sibyl Louise Beatrix Cadogan, daughter of Henry Cadogan, Viscount Chelsea, in 1917. They had three sons. He died in Marylebone, London, in October 1938, aged 44, predeceasing his father by ten years. His eldest son Edward succeeded his grandfather in the earldom in 1948. Another son, Richard, later became an MP for Fylde North. Lady Stanley died in June 1969, aged 76.[1]
- ^ a b c d e f g h thepeerage.com Rt. Hon. Sir Edward Montagu Cavendish Stanley, Lord Stanley
- ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "A" (part 1)[self-published source][better source needed]
- ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "F" (part 1)[self-published source][better source needed]
- ^ The London Gazette: no. 34028. p. 1323. 27 February 1934.
- ^ The London Gazette: no. 34511. p. 3189. 17 May 1938.
- ^ theyworkforyou.com House of Commons debates, 1 November 1938
External links[edit]
- Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Lord Stanley
- 1894 births
- 1938 deaths
- Conservative Party (UK) MPs
- Lords of the Admiralty
- Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom
- Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for English constituencies
- British Secretaries of State for Dominion Affairs
- UK MPs 1910–18
- UK MPs 1922–23
- UK MPs 1923–24
- UK MPs 1924–29
- UK MPs 1929–31
- UK MPs 1931–35
- UK MPs 1935–45
- Stanley family (English aristocracy)
- Heirs apparent who never acceded
- People educated at Eton College
- Alumni of Magdalen College, Oxford


text:
US loses to Honduras 3-1 in World Cup warmup
Bornstein was the only U.S. starter held over from October's qualifier at San Pedro Sula, when the Americans rallied for a 3-2 win that clinched their sixth straight World Cup appearance. Four days later, it was Bornstein's injury-time goal against Costa Rica that gained a 2-2 tie - and put Honduras in the World Cup instead of Costa Rica.
Honduras used just three starters from October's match. Catrachos captain Amado Guevara, MLS's MVP in 2004, provided the scouting report on the Americans.
"I trained with a few of them, and I had some as teammates," he said. "I told all my teammates about each one. I feel very good about the way we analyzed how the United States plays, how each player moves."
The Associated Press


text:
Hosted by Boston University
November 19-21, 2014
Boston University School of Management
595 Commonwealth Ave.
Boston, MA 02215
EdX is pleased to gather together our member organizations for our fourth partner meeting, edx Global Forum, hosted on the Boston University campus, November 19 - 21, 2014. Edx Global Forum is an event for educators, thought leaders, instructional technologists, researchers, visionaries and innovators to share experiences on pedagogical research, blended learning and to explore emerging trends in online education. At the edx Global Forum, members of the edX community will have the opportunity to collaborate to shape the future of education across the globe.
Wednesday November 19, 6:00PM - 8:30PM
Welcome Reception at Boston University Agganis Arena
Thursday November 20, 9:00AM - 7:00PM
The morning will begin at Boston University School of Management and feature sessions on topics such as data and research, revenue opportunities, and more. The afternoon will consist of the xConsortium Subcommittee breakout sessions. Thursday ends with an informal dinner in Boston at Fenway Park.
Friday November 21, 9:00AM- 4:00PM
The morning will begin at Boston University School of Management and feature keynotes and panels on topics such as open source and blended learning. The afternoon will consist of parallel sessions on topics such as best practices, feature demos, collaborations, and business models.
In addition, edX is hosting our monthly Partner Training and Enablement workshop at our offices in Cambridge on Tuesday and Wednesday, November 18-19.
If you have questions or comments about #FutureEDU | edX Global Forum, please contact Paula Bertrand.
+1 (617) 324 6389
If you want to learn more about edX in general, including our mission and our current course offerings, please visit edx.org.


text:
Zoom Children's Museum
Museumsplatz 1, Vienna, Austria 1070Map
+43 1 524 7908
email: email@example.com
Neighborhood: 7th district - Neubau
Modeled after New York City's century-old Children's Museum, this museum brings excitement and learning to Vienna's Museum Quarter. Kids will love interacting with all the hands-on exhibits, turning learning into a fun and exciting experience.
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Quito Urban Adventures
Day tours, with a local
Quito Urban Adventures offers a unique experience in one of the most beloved cities in Latin America through our selection of Quito tours you won't find anywhere else. Our multilingual guides enjoy sharing their extensive knowledge about the natural and cultural riches of the city of Quito.
Ecuadorians are a people known for their cultural diversity and friendliness and along these Quito sightseeing tours you will have the opportunity to interact with them and gain unique insight into their daily lives.
As local experts on Quito, we are here to help provide you with a memorable journey as you travel to Ecuador. Our goal is for you to have fun on your Quito Urban Adventures city tour whether the focus is culture or Ecuador's incredible biodiversity. We are passionate travel professionals anxious to give you an unforgettable experience while showing you the many wonders of Quito!
While you're in the glorious continent of South America, do check out our other Urban Adventures in Lima, Cusco, and Bogota!
from 3 reviews
From USD 99.00
A gold leaf church and an imposing monastery are what Quito's Old Town is all about. See them both on this Quito tour as well as heading into the kitchen of a local bakery that has been mastering the art of quesadillas and Quiteñian sweets for four generations.more...
Quito Market Discovery
from 2 reviews
From USD 99.00
Wherever you go in the world, markets are the source of the freshest food around and Ecuador is no exception. Join this Quito tour to discover (and taste) the ingredients that go into the signature dishes of this region.more...
Condors and Culture in Otavalo
from 2 reviews
From USD 156.00
Condors may be strong and skillful but sometimes even birds of prey get the blues. Visit a rehabilitation centre for condors that are down on their luck, then enjoy a nature walk, a visit to a sacred waterfall and some down time at a craft market. This Quito tour isn't full of the usual travel suspects.more...
Quito Sweet & Culinary Experience
from 1 review
From USD 99.00
Do I smell empanadas? Join this Quito tour for a day of power-eating and empanada-making. Taste rich caramel at sweet-making institution, see quesadillas being made at a bakery and learn how to make tamales and empanadas in a local masters home.more...
All Souls Day
Place: Quito - [ 02/11/2015 ]
This celebration is the result of a combination between indigenous beliefs and the Catholic religion.Festivities of Quito
Place: Quito - [ 01/12/2015 - 06/12/2015 ]
During the first week of December the citizens of Quito celebrate the founding of the city, which starts with the election of the Queen of Quito.New Year´s Eve
Place: All Country - [ 31/12/2015 - 01/01/2016 ]
On December 31st people celebrate New Years Eve in Quito by burning elaborate, life-sized dolls in the streets at midnight, which symbolizes leaving all bad things in the past and welcoming the new.more events...
Quito is all about food!
more... more stories...
05 Aug 2014 This was a wonderful tour! All of the shoppes were different and gave a different feel. If you love food you will enjoy this tour. It was so much fun to make the pastries by hand, meet locals and see the kitchens in action.
11 Mar 2014 We traveled on three different day trips. Byron, our guide, was wonderful. He was able to assist us on our adventures, treated us with great care and knew many of the local spots to visit. The owner Pablo was ready to help us whenever we called. All of the staff wanted us to have a memorable vacation. I would highly recommend this company. Everyone was great.
05 Mar 2014 I was the only person on the tour, so I really appreciated the fact that the tour was not cancelled just because I was the only person.
05 Mar 2014 I was the only person on the tour - it was great that the trip was not cancelled for this reason.
United Kingdom
14 Dec 2013 We were unable to see condors flying because there was no wind! However the day was dantastic with Santiago our guide who looked after us so very well.
The main goal of Quito Urban Adventures is to provide a quality of service that exceeds your expectations. Through our unique tours of Quito, our team includes professional guides who not only show you the most interesting sites Quito has to offer, but also give you unique insight into the Ecuadorian lifestyle while sharing with you some of the city's many secrets, traditions and legends. Because of its unique multiethnic culture and biodiversity, Quito offers a variety of experiences for visitors and locals alike making an urban adventure in the city an ideal choice for your Ecuador holiday.
Feels like: 10°C
Passing clouds. Cool.
Sign up now and get $10 off your next tour!
At Urban Adventures, we firmly believe local travel is one of the best ways we can support responsible tourism. In fact, we believe it so strongly that we've made it our entire business! All our tours are run by local experts, not some faceless corporate team located halfway around the world with no sense of the local vibe.
We craft our tours to ensure every traveller has authentic interactions with local people, businesses, transportation, and food and drink. Local travel gives you the opportunity to experience a destination as locals do, and has the potential to impact you in ways you never imagined. In short: local is awesome.
As a responsible travel company, we promise to:
- Use locally owned infrastructure on our tours whenever possible.
- Spread the financial benefits amongst local people and operators.
- Provide employment and leadership opportunities for local people.
- Respect local customs and culture.
- Provide safe tours for Urban Adventure partners, staff, and travellers.
- Educate travellers and our partners about how and why we choose to travel this way.
- Limit any negative impact to the daily lifestyles of local people.
- Limit any physical impact on natural and cultural environments.
- Provide support to organisations and local communities.
- Provide opportunities for travellers to interact with local people.
- Actively ban partners, staff, and passenger participation in or endorsement of commercial sexual activities or illegal drug use on Urban Adventures tours.
- Work to prevent the exploitation of children in tourism.
- Actively discourage participation in activities that exploit animals.
- Use local partners that adhere to Urban Adventures' responsible travel principles.
- Support and encourage fair employment practices.
- Give our travellers the best possible value.
- Have fun!
As a traveller, we ask that you keep the following in mind:
- People: Be mindful of the local citizens, and seek understanding through shared experiences. Consider their customs and values while in their homeland, and when in doubt, ask your guide for advice.
- Environment: Be mindful of the local environment, and act with conservation and sustainability in mind. Follow local guidelines, as recommended by your guide, and make proactive decisions on your own.
- Culture: When travelling to other cultures, remember that not everyone's customs are the same as yours at home. Be respectful, and be mindful of openly questioning a customary practice, even if you disagree with it. Try to understand from their perspective. You may learn something! Your guide will be an excellent point of reference here, so check with them if you're unsure.
- Economy: Make every effort to use local businesses and put your tourism dollars in the right (local) pocket. We use local vendors and businesses, and your guide will be able to advise you on the best ways to support the local economy.
For more suggestions on how to be a responsible traveller check out our top 12 responsible travel tips, or check out what our friends at Intrepid have to say.


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Search Tags: World at Work
Telework: Creating a more mobile federal workforce
Bill Bransford hosts a roundtable discussion of how teleworking can benefit your agency.
February 8, 2013
Tags: workforce , telework , Bill Bransford , John Vivadelli , AgilQuest , Rose Stanley , Naomi Stanford , work flexibility , Fed Talk
Public v. private - who's happier?
Paul Rowson, Managing Director at World at Work, analyzes the Gallup poll results.
Tags: Paul Rowson , Gallup , job satisfaction , employee morale , In Depth
Advice for keeping your HR staffs sharp
Paul Rowson of WorldatWork recommended federal agencies make sure their HR staffs have training so they can hire the right people for the mission.
Tags: In Depth , management , pay and benefits , hiring reform , CHCO , Paul Rowson , pay freeze , Courtney Thompson
Federal retirement benefits on the chopping block
Host Debra Roth is joined by Federal News Radio's Mike Causey, NARFE Legislative Director Dan Adcock, and World at Work's Lenny Sanicola to talk about pending legislation in Congress that would change retirement benefits for federal workers.
May 20, 2011
Tags: pay and benefits , federal pay , federal retirement , TSP , Congress , Tim Geithner , debt ceiling , deficit reduction , deficit reduction commission , fiscal commission , Civil Service retirement and disability trust fund , FERS , CSRS , Debra Roth , Shaw, Bransford and Roth , Mike Causey , Your Turn , Dan Adcock , NARFE , Lenny Sanicola , Fed Talk
Opinion: federal pay cut a bad idea
Paul Rowson, Managing Director for the D.C. office of the HR group World at Work, responds to a Forbes editorial calling for a 10-percent federal pay cut.
Tags: P&B , pay debate , Paul Rowson ,
How to attract, motivate and retain
Compensation and benefits cannot be fully effective unless they are part of an integrated strategy of other programs and practices to attract, motivate and retain top talent.
Tags: mngt , best practices , retention , recruitment , P&B , Jim Stoeckmann , telework


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HP Chief Hurd Sees 'Lot of Work' to Change Company
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) — Less than six months after taking over at Hewlett-Packard Co., Chief Executive Mark Hurd on Wednesday said there's still "a lot of work to do."
"We've got some looseness in our structures and our processes," Hurd, who took over after the company's board ousted former CEO Carly Fiorina, told investors at a meeting in New York. "We have to get away from managing and reporting to leading and driving."
Hewlett-Packard managers need to take more responsibility for their business areas, Hurd said. In the past, they've turned to the chief executive to resolve conflicts, he said. "We have got to get accountability and responsibility lower down in the organization," he added.
Hurd, 48, was appointed chief executive April 1 after the company pushed out Fiorina, whose $19 billion acquisition of Compaq Computer never produced the results she promised.
HP, the world's No. 2 computer maker, is shedding 14,500 jobs to cut annual costs by $1.9 billion and boost profits.
Fiorina left in February after the board disagreed with her "execution" of HP's strategy, directors said at the time.
HP is taking a "disciplined" approach to acquisitions, Hurd said, but he added that investors should expect the company's strategy to be "kind of steady as she goes."
The company's shares have added 33 percent in the past six months. Hurd, the former chief executive of NCR Corp. (NCR.N: Quote, Profile, Research), said he sees "a long haul to take the company where we want it."
Stock in HP was trading 26 cents higher at $27.51 late in the session on the New York Stock Exchange.
"From a learning-curve perspective, I feel pretty good," he added.
On the Net:


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Final Score: Boston College 19, Maryland 17
College Park, MD (Sports Network) - Dave Shinskie threw for 227 yards and a
touchdown, as the Boston College Eagles nipped the Maryland Terrapins, 19-17,
in an ACC showdown at Byrd Stadium.
Shinskie completed 14-of-23 pass attempts for the Eagles (8-4, 5-3 ACC), who
improved to 5-2 all-time versus Maryland. Colin Larmond Jr. was his main
target with three catches for 105 yards and a score, while Montel Harris
rushed for 142 yards on 41 carries.
Jamarr Robinson and Chris Turner both saw time under center for Maryland
(2-10, 1-7) and they combined for 216 yards and a touchdown on 20-of-32
tosses. Torrey Smith grabbed six passes for 68 yards and a score, as the Terps
dropped their seventh consecutive game.
The Terps opened the scoring with a 32-yard field goal by Nick Ferrara just a
few minutes into the game.
BC responded behind a 66-yard touchdown pass from Shinskie to Larmond Jr.
midway through the frame. Steve Aponavicius added an 18-yard field goal late
in the period, giving the Eagles a 10-3 advantage.
Maryland knotted the score in early in the second quarter, as Da'Rel Scott
scurried six yards to paydirt.
Aponavicius connected on a pair of field goals late in the second quarter and
BC carried a 16-10 lead to the intermission.
Following a scoreless third quarter, Aponavicius hit a 42-yard field goal
with four minutes left in the game to give the Eagles a 19-10 advantage.
Maryland made things interesting with a 28-yard touchdown pass from Robinson
to Smith with 1:34 left, but the Terps were unable recover the onside kick.
The Eagles outgained Maryland, 353-277, on the day and that includes a 126-61
difference on the ground.


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This was a great experience, more than what you'd expect even at that price. I don'T know if it is the Columbian factor or JW Marriott, but everyday staff were extremely friendly and helpful, room was cleaned 3 or 4 times a day, and food was good.
- Official Description (provided by the hotel):
- The luxurious JW Marriott Bogota Hotel is located at the heart of the financial and entertainment district, next to the corporate offices of major companies and close to the best restaurants and bars in Zona T and 93rd St Park. This Bogota hotel offers the highest speed Internet available (65 MB)for an invaluable entertainment experience streaming movies or music. Exclusive soundproof windows in rooms guarantee you the best rest. Our 264 rooms feature 300-thread count Egyptian cotton linen as well as a down feather mattress topper to offer maximum comfort and a unique relaxing experience. Enjoy a great steak or a delicious imported lobster in La Mina, renowned as one of the best restaurants in Bogota. For a brasserie experience visit Monet, our French restaurant recognized for its exquisite breakfast and lunch buffets. Try one of our 73 different types of Martinis at Dry 73 or chill out at La Terraza, where live music, exotic cocktails and a great ambiance make it the place to be. ... more less
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HIV and AIDS.
The year 2001 was the 20th anniversary of the initial reports of a mysterious deadly immune-system disorder that came to be known as AIDS. The medical community, international AIDS organizations, and especially the media saw the occasion as a time to reflect upon the relentless epidemic that had killed more than 21 million people on every continent and from every walk of life. In 2001 an estimated 36 million people were living with HIV infection.
The long-held hope for an AIDS vaccine continued to be pursued. Although as many as 80 potential vaccines had been tried in humans, only one had reached large-scale human trials. About 8,000 volunteers at high risk for HIV in North America, The Netherlands, and Thailand had received either an experimental preventive vaccine developed by the California-based firm VaxGen or a placebo. Periodically they were being tested for HIV. The trials would continue until 2002–03.
At the 8th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, held in Chicago in February, HIV/AIDS treatment specialists voiced a loud cry for newer and safer drugs and pointed out that the highly lauded combination-drug therapies, also known as AIDS "drug cocktails," were not working for thousands of patients. Clinicians reported a range of adverse effects associated with the life-prolonging drugs, including high cholesterol, diabetes, fat accumulations in the neck and abdomen, weakened bones, and nerve damage in the extremities. Among the many experimental drugs that were described at the conference, perhaps most promising was a new class called entry inhibitors, which blocked the binding of HIV to key receptors on the cell surface.
Excitement about new treatments, however, had little relevance for the millions of people in less-developed countries living with HIV, many of whom had no access to treatment. The high cost of existing drugs and their unavailability to the vast majority of HIV/AIDS sufferers had aroused considerable ire among government officials and others trying to combat AIDS in less-developed countries. To make treatment more accessible, a handful of pharmaceutical companies in India, Thailand, and other countries began producing cheaper generic versions of the patented agents used in drug cocktails, a move vigorously opposed by the multinational companies holding the patents. As sentiments against the drug giants mounted, however, several conceded to pressure and slashed their prices on AIDS drugs for less-developed countries, and a few waived their patent rights. Some 39 major companies that manufactured AIDS drugs had sued South Africa in 1998 in an effort to bar the country from importing cheaper drugs. In April 2001 the companies dropped their case.
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan called the battle against AIDS one of his personal priorities when he initiated a global fund to allot between $7 billion and $10 billion annually to combat a trio of diseases that continued to ravage the Third World—AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. Addressing the delegates to the first UN summit on AIDS, held in New York City in June, Annan said, "This year we have seen a turning point. AIDS can no longer do its deadly work in the dark. The world has started to wake up."
China was one country that "woke up" to its AIDS crisis. In August its deputy health minister, Yin Dakui, admitted that the country was "facing a very serious epidemic of HIV/AIDS" and that the government had "not effectively stemmed the epidemic." An estimated 70% of China's cases were among intravenous drug users. The Chinese government claimed that about 600,000 citizens were infected with HIV, whereas the UN estimated the number at more than one million.
In the U.S. the incidence of new HIV infections among homosexual African American men aged 23 to 29 was called "explosive." CDC surveys found that 30% of men in this group were HIV-positive.
Rarely do research scientists become unmitigatedly exuberant over a new treatment. Nevertheless, this was the overwhelming sentiment among cancer specialists about a new drug, imatinib (marketed as Gleevec in the U.S. and Glivec in Europe). Imatinib was one of a new class of anticancer agents known as growth-factor inhibitors, which targeted cancer cells by recognizing their unique molecular defects. The FDA approved imatinib in record time after tests showed that it had induced remissions in 53 of 54 patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Less than a month after publication of the CML results, scientists reported that 60% of nearly 200 patients with gastrointestinal stromal cancer (GIST) treated with imatinib had became symptom-free. GIST is a rare intestinal malignancy for which there had been no known treatment.
An IOM report issued in June put some of the fanfare about new cancer treatments in perspective. "The reality is that half of all patients diagnosed with cancer will die of their disease within a few years," the report stated. The expert panel that prepared the report was highly critical of the "almost single-minded focus on attempts to cure every patient at every stage of disease." It found that at least half of dying cancer patients suffered symptoms for which they received little or no treatment; these included pain, difficulty breathing, emotional distress, nausea, and confusion. The report called for a vastly stepped-up program to ensure that suffering cancer patients received palliative (symptom-abating) treatments.


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August 1, 1998
Help Desk deals with the thickening nails of an elderly client, a customer with fragile, eggshell nails, and the plague of dry, cracking heels.
Light-activated gel systems have been revamped for the healthy, odor-free environment of the 90s.
When it comes to deciding who sells what, manufacturers base their choice on how well the distributor services the nail technician. Their verdict? Most are doing a good job, but there's always room for improvement.
Consumer beauty editors got a chance to speak to nail authorities directly and see "The Magic of Makeovers" at the NMC press event in New York.
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- 9Promote
Framed Art Print
White inkby Micheleficeli
Choose from a variety of frame styles, colors and sizes to compliment your favorite Society6 gallery, or fine art print - made ready to hang. Fine-crafted from solid woods, premium shatterproof acrylic protects the face of the art print, while an acid free dust cover on the back provides a custom finish. All framed art prints include wall hanging hardware.
WHITEOUT: white correction fluid for covering typing or writing mistakes.
A4,whiteout on paper.


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|Property type
|Minimum Stay
|3 - 7 nights
Tertulia at Amber Ridge – where good friends and family gather in stunningly beautiful, peaceful surroundings to enjoy each other's company over great food and wine. Deep relaxation, pleasant conversation, laughter and joy ensue! Tertulia is a fabulous two-acre Wine Country sanctuary surrounded on all sides by vineyards as far as the eye can see, with views of the foothills in the distance.
The elegant main home is a 4br/3ba, nearly 4000 sq. ft., two-story, gated estate with central heat/AC, a spectacular gourmet kitchen, abundant high end architectural details and custom finishes, fine furnishings, and the entire home is floored in honed hickory hardwood made even more comfortable with the addition of many beautiful area rugs. The accommodations can also include a lovely, spacious 1br/1ba loft above the 3-car garage. The extensively landscaped 2-acre grounds with in-ground pool and spa, outdoor kitchen, dramatic outdoor dining area and large gas firepit are surrounded by vineyards on all sides including those that produce a famed Kosta Browne Pinot Noir.
This beautifully appointed home offers the best of both worlds. Enjoy the spectacular setting of Tertulia as well as the fabulous dining, wine tasting, galleries, and shops of charming, historic, upscale Healdsburg - the "crown jewel" of Sonoma County's Wine Country, only 5 miles to the north. This very special home located in the heart of Sonoma - the "Tuscany" of Northern California - with Napa valley just over the hills to the east.
Imagine awakening to the cool tranquility of an agrarian setting among the vines. Enjoy your morning coffee or tea from a rocking chair on a shady porch overlooking luscious landscaping, manicured vineyards and the hills beyond as hot air balloons drift silently by overhead. Contemplate your day's agenda – perhaps planning meals to make the best use of fresh offerings from Tertulia's garden planters or a local farmer's market, or maybe plotting your path to a winery or two before your coveted dinner reservation at a Healdsburg restaurant or a meal prepared by, or for, your group in the generous chef-friendly indoor and outdoor kitchens.
When afternoon arrives, like clockwork, notice the afternoon breezes that clear the warm air before sunset. As evening falls slowly, gather on the patio to watch the sun fade along with the din of conversation. You might choose to dine al fresco at the majestic redwood slab table under the shelter of two ancient black walnut trees. And to end your day, unwind in the spa as you gaze at the stars above – so bright in the dark night sky removed from the city lights. This is Tertulia at Amber Ridge.
Arrive at Tertulia through the secure iron gate to the rock-walled entrance and paved driveway lined with Crape Myrtles, lavender and roses. The driveway turns past the house to rejoin the paved private road for easy exits. Abundant outdoor amenities include: a large, seating-wall enclosed, dining patio with plenty of outdoor furniture shaded by two specimen olive trees; a generous full-featured outdoor kitchen with BBQ, sink, refrigerator and counter prep space; a 40' x 18' heated in-ground pool including an inset spa to comfortably seat 8 guests with an automated safety cover; a generous pool deck with chaise lounges and umbrellas; a stunning 18' redwood slab picnic table nestled in the shade of two mature black walnut trees; an oversized natural gas fire pit. And just across the driveway is a workout room with Precor treadmill, an Elliptical trainer, a Diamondback recumbent bike, mats and light weights.
Make your way to the formal main entrance via a walkway shaded by a row of majestic birch trees, and let the tour begin! From the front entry hall, find a welcoming view through the library to a beautiful antique rug, round table and oversized handcrafted Mexican vase, and further on through the sliding glass doors to a generous wrap-around veranda overlooking a grass lawn edged by flower beds, olive and oak trees, and vineyards and hills beyond. Turn just to your left and move down the window-lined hallway to find the true heart of Tertulia – a generous kitchen worthy of the most discriminating chef.
From the 6-burner plus griddle, double oven, stainless steel professional Wolf range with commercial vent hood, to the gigantic butcher block center island, to the two oversized stainless steel sinks with disposals, large refrigerator/freezer, Bosch dish washer, and beautiful soapstone countertops and backsplashes, it is hard not to conjure sights and smells of the fabulous feasts that are possible here! There are also two comfortable leather bar stools perched at the end of the island to provide a vantage point for backseat chefs, and a built-in banquette style soapstone table and wooden benches where hosts or chefs can plan menus or take their respite.
Of course, the kitchen also has all the other cooking essentials including a coffee maker, 4-slice oversized KitchenAid toaster, a Henckels knife set, AllClad cookware, and a full set of culinary accessories to satisfy the chef within. If that is not enough, just off the hallway is the pass-through butler's pantry to the formal dining room. With underlit cabinets, the butler's pantry has yet another sink with disposal, as well as a commercial KitchenAid mixer, Panasonic bread maker, Breville professional blender, Cuisinart food processor, Nespresso espresso maker and milk frother, Cuisinart ice cream maker, Panasonic microwave, as well as a pasta and sauce maker. Between the kitchen and butler's pantry, you will also find an abundance of plateware, glassware, flatware, serving utensils, platters, bowls, and wine glasses.
The kitchen transitions to an informal dining room with a large farmhouse table seating up to 12, a floor-to-ceiling antique oak hutch with an eclectic library of cookbooks, and double sliding doors opening to the arbor-covered side porch that looks out onto the two established black walnut trees and beautiful redwood picnic table, providing shady daytime shelter and a lovely interplay of light and shadow as the sun moves across the sky. Beyond the walnut trees, discover the planter boxes filled with organically grown seasonal herbs and vegetables for your use to enhance your culinary experiences at Tertulia.
Back inside, from the informal dining area, it is a couple of steps up into the living area with two large sofas – one of which opens to a queen sleeper, a lovely wool area rug, twin coffee tables, two leather cube stools, and a large entertainment center anchored by a wall-mounted Samsung 55" LED 3-D TV with a Sony Blu-ray player, Yamaha surround sound receiver, Xbox 360, whole house WiFi, and a DISH HD receiver. Wharfedale speaker towers stand on each side of the entertainment center providing a great audio experience in the living area, and the home has a whole house sound system with ceiling-mounted speakers in the kitchen, living room, formal dining room, and Master Suite.
Beyond the formal living room is the formal dining room with a large window overlooking the manicured lawn, a beautiful dining table and chairs seating 8, a unique limestone fossil side table, cloisonné sconces and lovely artwork. Past the dining room is the large antique rug that welcomed you as you entered the home. At the end of the room, find a quiet sitting area perfect for contemplation or an intimate conversation, or to browse the internet from your laptop on the whole home wifi.
To your right, look in on the library to find coffered ceilings, a cozy gas log fireplace with comfortable oversize chairs, a large ottoman and throws, book cases filled with bound treasures to satisfy a range of tastes, and a Baldwin upright piano for the musically inclined. Continue past the library through the door to the right and find a generous private first-floor bedroom with its own shaded glass exterior door to the side veranda. This bedroom has a queen bed, end tables and lamps, an overstuffed leather chair with ottoman, a large armoire, and a Tivoli audio system.
Returning to the library, continue through to the entry again and down the hallway to the staircase. First discover the full bath at the foot of the stairs, with a large tiled walk-in shower, and lovely pedestal sink. Then follow the banistered stairs to the second floor. First pass the quiet pocket-doored laundry room with a new large Maytag washer and dryer set, iron and ironing board, and the large linen closet just across the hall.
On the left is the large Master Suite with a beautiful ebony wood 4-poster king bed, antique wood and marble topped nightstands, beautiful lamps, an iHome clock radio docking station, a comfortable leather chair with ottoman, a large 8-drawer dresser, a wall-mounted Samsung 46" LED HD TV with DISH HD receiver, a small pocket-doored, walk-in closet, and a set of glass sliding doors leading to the Master's balcony. The en suite master bath features a lovely clawfoot soaking tub with a large draped window overlooking the majestic black walnut trees. Double pedestal sinks and an extra large walk-in shower with rainforest showerhead and a shower wand complete this beautiful master bath.
Across from the Master Suite are the third and fourth bedrooms, both with queen beds, wall-mounted Samsung 32" HD TVs with DISH HD receivers, nightstands, lamps, chairs, one with a secretary desk, and one with a side table, and both with iHome clock radio docking stations, and wide sliding-door closets. Completing the upstairs is a shared, third full bath with a large pedestal sink and a large tiled walk-in shower.
We have attended the Passport weekend for years. This house was found after the one we had reserved for six months cancelled with us. We were so excited that Birdsong Property Management was willing to take the time to help us find this beautiful house. There were 8 of us and we thought this house was FANTASTIC in every way. It was beautiful and was more than we expected. It was comfortable, clean, and very well equipped. It made our trip one that we all want to repeat.
Wine tasting, Vineyard tours, close to the Redwoods, close to the Northern California Coastline and its activities, world class dining, specialty shops, art galleries
|Rate Period
|Weekend Night
Main House High
May 1 2015 - Oct 31 2015
7 night minimum stay
My Standard Rate
7 night minimum stay
|Cleaning Fee
|Non Refundable
|Tax Rate
$1300/nt Jan - Apr, $1350 May - Oct, $1300 Nov - Dec (Main House); 3 nt min
$1500/nt Jan - Apr, $1550 May - Oct, $1500 Nov - Dec (Main w/ Loft); 3 nt min
5-7 nt min for summer's high season - Memorial– Labor Day & Holidays
11% Sonoma County Bed Tax – Detailed cleaning - $3300 - $450
$995 refundable security deposit
TOT License #: 641N; Permit #: ZPE12-0344
Payment is usually accepted in the quoted currency (USD) unless the currency and the amount is specifically agreed in advance with the owner / advertiser.


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Singapore, Singapore
My Rating
Tour leader was a wealth of information and delivered info with enthusiasm and passion.
Singapore, Singapore
My Rating
Everything I expected. Ample time for breakfast and quick look around on our 1/2 day itinerary.
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From misery to tragedy in Egyptian train crash
"My heart is bleeding for Egypt's martyrs and the injured and God willing, this accident will be the last to sadden Egypt and Egyptians," Morsi said at a military hospital in suburban Cairo.
The head of the Brotherhood's political party, Saad el-Katatni, said the accident was "evidence of the near complete collapse of the infrastructure after years of corruption under the rule of the ousted president."
The entire train journey illustrated the harshness and neglect Egypt's poor face. The draftees were packed into a decrepit, rusting train, heading to a join a force where abuse and mistreatment of recruits is notorious. After the accident, survivors were taken to a broken-down hospital with open sewers and decaying wards where the injured were loaded several to a bed.
The train was carrying 1,300 young recruits of the Central Security Forces, a 300,000-member body which draws from the ranks of military draftees for manpower to back up regular police forces in keeping internal law and order.
All young Egyptian men are required to perform military service, but some of the poorest and least educated are diverted into the CSF. There, they are often deployed in crackdowns on protesters and strikers - black-garbed troops ordered to line up in human walls, armed with sticks to keep back demonstrators.
The miserable conditions in the force are so well known among Egyptians that at times even protesters showed sympathy for the conscripts during the anti-Mubarak uprising.
Those on Tuesday's train ride were heading from impoverished villages in the south to a training facility still named "Mubarak Camp" on the outskirts of the capital.
Survivors described an awful 6-hour trip - even before the crash. They were crammed into the cars, sitting on the ground, squeezing multiple numbers into seats designed for two, even sitting on the baggage racks overhead. The rusting, aging cars had no electricity and were in complete darkness. Officers shouted insults and beat recruits, they said.
During the ride, "I cried hard, I thought I was going to die," said el-Imam el-Araby, a 20-year-old conscript from the southern province of Sohag as he lied on a metal bed in a foul-smelling ward of Hawamdiya hospital, close to the crash site, where 99 of the injured were taken.
Officials were still investigating the cause of the crash. Survivors said the train made unusual noises during the trip and the driver stopped several times to check the cars but was ordered to continue. As it neared Badrasheen, the rear car began to shake violently.
"Our car was jumping up and down and then suddenly there was something like a bomb," said Hamad Mahfouz, a 20-year-old from the southern province of Assiut who was injured in his legs. "In one minute, we fell down and found ourselves on the track itself. It was like an earthquake."
His twin brother was killed.
"When I gained my consciousness, I started calling my brother's name," he sobbed. "This is negligence. They knew that the train was broken. Why didn't they get us buses instead of killing us? They treat us like animals."