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Seniors Step Up As Men's Soccer Wins MVC Tourney Title, 2-1
PEORIA, Ill. (Nov. 11) - MVC Player of the Year Jose Gomez and MVC Defensive Player of the Year Andrew Ribeiro scored second half goals as No. 12 Creighton men's soccer won the MVC Tournament title, 2-1, over SIU Edwardsville on Sunday in Peoria.
The title is Creighton's (15-3-2) second consecutive tournament crown, fifth in eight years, and 13th in the 22-year history of the event. The Bluejays have now won 10 straight overall matches and improved to 11-1 this year in games decided by one goal.
Gomez scored his sixth goal of the year in the 69th minute off an assist from Brent Kallman, giving Creighton a 1-0 lead.
Almost exactly 10 minutes later, SIUE evened the match when Jared Tejada headed in a ball to the left side netting with 10:23 to play.
Creighton's game-winning score came from Ribeiro after Benito Amaral was taken down in the box and a penalty kick was awarded. Ribeiro's penalty shot was saved by a sprawling John Berner, but Ribeiro followed his miss with a left-footed volley into the open net and the eventual game-winner.
Both of Ribeiro's goals this season were game-winning scores against SIUE. He broke a scoreless tie with a header against SIUE in Omaha on Oct. 6 for his first score of the season. Each of the last six goals scored by Ribeiro has been a game-winner including four winning tallies last season.
Jeff Gal made three saves for Creighton, improving to 11-0-0 in net this season.
SIUE outshot Creighton 16-9 in the match, though Creighton had a 5-4 edge in shots on goal.
The game was played in wind which gusted as high as 53 mph, and the final four minutes were played in a driving rainstorm, as well.
Brent Kallman, Eric Miller, Andrew Ribeiro
MVP - Jose Gomez
Creighton men's soccer fans are invited to join the players and coaches on Monday afternoon at the Old Mattress Factory Bar & Grill (501 N. 13th Street) to watch the 2012 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship selection show. The show will air live via video stream at www.ncaa.com and is scheduled to start at approximately 4:30 p.m., Central time.
The Bluejays, who have now earned an NCAA Tournament berth 20 times in the last 21 years, have bid to host all four preliminary rounds at the Rev. Michael G. Morrison, S.J., Stadium but could receive a first-round bye when the pairings are announced late afternoon on Monday.
Should the Bluejays be chosen to host a first-round match – which would be played on Thursday, Nov. 15 (7 p.m., kick-off) - and then continue to advance and host in the event, the second round would be played on Sunday, Nov. 18 (5 p.m., kick-off); the third round on Sunday, Nov. 25 (5 p.m., kick-off) and the quarterfinal round on Friday, Nov. 30 (7 p.m.).


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Midwest Living Review
Downhill skiers and boarders can find 35 runs -- from easy slopes to exhilarating terrain -- overlooking the wilderness, lakes and reclaimed mining pits surrounding Giant's Ridge, the largest resort on Minnesota's Iron Range. A folk art painting above the chalet's counter tells the tale of Mesabi, a giant whose sleeping body beneath the earth formed the hills of the Great Laurentian Divide. The ski area climbs 500 feet with runs snaking through hardwoods and pines. Families and beginners can join classes or start on the easiest hills with a J-bar or magic carpet ride. Then grab a chair lift and head up the ridge for a variety of terrain and sweeping views of Minnesota's Iron Range. It's especially beautiful on a freshly frosted morning. Many visitors skip the lifts and head onto the 70 kilometers of groomed cross-country ski trails, some of which traverse the resort's two lauded golf courses, The Quarry and The Legend. Giant's Ridge's northern location and snowmaking equipment make it one of the most dependable Nordic ski destinations in the state. Tubing runs, which opened in 2011, offer another option for family fun. With on-site lodging at both Giant's Ridge Lodge or Giant's Ridge Villas, it's easy to stay put, kick back and choose your speed for winter fun.

subset: commoncrawl


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Christopher Leinberger
Walking--Not Just for Cities Anymore
July 09, 2010
I just had a debate with Joel Kotkin, whom many consider to be an apologist for sprawl. Surprisingly, there is a convergence between his view of the next generation of real estate and infrastructure development and mine: a constellation of pedestrian-friendly urban development spread throughout metropolitan areas, redeveloping parts of the central city and transforming the inner, and some outer, suburbs. There are certainly differences between the two of us: I happen to see significant pent-up demand for walkable urban development and massive over-building of fringe car-oriented suburban housi
Remake Transportation Policy to Meet Market Demand
April 06, 2010
David Brooks' column in the New York Times today made reference to Joel Kotkin's latest book, The Next Hundred Million; America in 2050.
Has Sprawl Recovered Enough for the National Economy?
January 27, 2010
A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Alabama and University of Florida, sponsored by the Natural Resource Defense Council , shows that car-dependent communities have statistically higher rates of mortgage foreclosure than communities with multiple transportation options, such as transit, biking and walking. This also explains to some extent why across the country that "walkable urban" home values over the past two years have been flat or slightly down while fringe "drivable sub-urban" communities have suffered the worst price declines. The average American household spe
Can We Build Our Way to Reduced Carbon Emissions?
November 12, 2009
The House passed their climate change bill last spring, and the Senate Environmental and Public Works (EPW) Committee passed their version last week. It now moves on to the Finance Committee and perhaps Agriculture. It will be well into next year by the time the bill gets to the Senate floor. The House and EPW versions have one major thing in common: They focus nearly all attention on reducing green house gases (GHGs) from the supply of energy.
Transportation's Value-Added Funding Option
November 02, 2009
As if we needed more reminding, the country has a huge gap between costs required for transportation needs and the funding sources to pay for them.
The Bailout of Sprawl
October 22, 2009
When the financial history of this era is told, it is possible that it will be seen as the bailout of not just the banks, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac, it will also to some extent be seen as the bailout of sprawl. The low density, single family houses on the fringe of American metropolitan areas have experienced high rates of foreclosures and substantial price declines, and we're still looking for a bottom in many regions of the country.


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New All Blacks flanker Sam Cane is putting his hand up to start the third Test against Ireland after a head-knock put fellow loose forward Kieran Read in doubt for Hamilton.
Cane made his Test debut in Saturday's nerve-wracking last-minute 22-19 win in Christchurch after coming on at halftime for the injured Read.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said on Sunday Read would be monitored throughout the week but if there were any question marks over his fitness the Crusader would not be risked.
After an assured 40-minute display, which got the tick of approval from Hansen, Cane said he was eager to start at the home ground of his Super Rugby franchise the Chiefs.
"I'll back myself with a start," said the 20-year-old after the All Blacks needed Daniel Carter's late drop goal to edge past an inspired Ireland on a bitterly cold night.
Cane relished his first taste of Test rugby after getting the summons moments before the start of the second half.
"They (Ireland) were tough, it was physical, but it was awesome."
Despite the closeness of the match, Cane says there was a calmness on the field in the closing minutes.
"I was really surprised. There was a lot of composure out there, those older fellas set that tone. I felt really comfortable out there and we just needed to get the ball down the right end," he said.
Cane's Chiefs teammate Liam Messam has been called into the squad for the Test after missing selection for the All Blacks' two pre-series training camps.
Veteran lock Ali Williams, a second-half substitute in Christchurch, will miss the match after being told he needs surgery to repair damage to his cartilage in his right knee.
He is expected to be sidelined for up to eight weeks.
It means Crusaders lock Luke Romano is poised to become the fifth newcomer blooded by the All Blacks in this series.


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Public Garden Career Center - View Job
Education Programs Manager
Category: Manager
Descanso Gardens
La Cañada Flintridge, California
Posted: Friday, August 16, 2013
Education Programs Manager
Status: Exempt
Reports to: Executive Director
Descanso Gardens seeks an Education Programs Manager responsible for developing and managing comprehensive short and long term educational plans as well as creating and maintaining educational programs that reflect Descanso Gardens' mission and meets the needs of the diverse audiences we serve.
Reporting to the Executive Director, the Education Programs Manager is responsible for the development, administration and management of education programs offered by Descanso Gardens including but not limited to school field trips and group tours, learning resources provided on site and online, programs open to the public and outreach to schools and educational organizations. The Education Programs Manager is responsible for all aspects of the Education Department, which includes growing successful programs already in place and in creating new programs to expand our mission in a variety of areas.
Current Education programs include docent-guided and self-guided tours; the Harvest Garden program, a free horticulture program for students with special developmental needs; summer camp; and, classes designed for all ages. Rounding out the educational opportunities offered to our members and visitors are many interesting and mission-based educational activities including Little Owls Reading Nest, Toddler Treks and Acorn Bear, Get Dirty, seasonal Story Walks, Discovery Carts, bird walks, horticulture and healthy living classes and all programming for festivals, seasonal events and the Sturt Haaga Gallery.
An area of importance to Descanso Gardens is the Volunteer program. Working closely with the HR & Volunteer Manager and the volunteers themselves, the Education Programs Manager will put strategies in place that maximize the volunteer experience and grow the program to its full potential.
- Work with Executive Director and senior staff to set the vision and goals for the department.
- Participate as a key member of the senior management team.
- Lead, direct, and supervise the day-to-day operations of the Education Programs department.
- Develop and implement curriculum-based education programs.
- Develop and implement public programs for children and families, including festivals, workshops, performances, educational offerings related to the Sturt Haaga Gallery shows and readings.
- Work with staff to develop and implement an outreach plan to grow new and repeat attendance to education programs.
- Plan, develop, implement and evaluate partnerships with school teachers, school administrators, and staff at partner community organizations.
- Market programs to K-12, teacher audiences, undergraduate, post-graduate, and other institutions to promote programs and drive diverse audiences to Descanso Gardens. This includes but is not limited to submitting articles and programming content for the membership newsletter, websites, social media, etc.
- Work closely with the Volunteer Manager to grow the volunteer base and to maximize the volunteer program, overall recruiting, training and supervising of volunteers.
- Continue to build upon volunteer interactions with Garden visitors to create memorable visitor experiences.
- Ongoing evaluation of all programs to include feedback on visitor experience and attendance.
- Negotiate and manage contracts with artists and consultants.
- Oversee the efforts of any consultants hired to develop educational or public programs.
- Work with Chief Operating Officer to prepare, track, evaluate, and report on all education programming grants.
- Work with Director of Finance & Administration to develop and manage all departmental budgets.
- Work with the Membership and Visitor Services Manager with regard to all tours and programming affecting the visiting public.
- Work with the Gift Store and Sturt Haaga Gallery Manager to develop educational programs related to Gallery shows.
- Manage and direct education program staff to ensure optimal program creation and delivery.
- Other duties as assigned.
Computer (with MS Office), telephone, calculator, photocopier, fax, credit card machine, projecting equipment, sound system, Smart Board, and other office equipment, as appropriate.
This position requires flexibility to work in an office and an active outdoor environment which includes public interaction, some noise and various other distractions throughout the Gardens. Must be able to walk long distances and access various areas of the Gardens including areas not accessible by paved roads or dirt trails. Some lifting up to 20 pounds required, but not routinely. It also requires the ability to walk, kneel, bend, stoop, sit, crouch, drive (an electric cart), and climb step ladders.
- BA degree required, preferably in a related field (education, museum education, etc.)
- 3 – 5 years of experience and a track record in development, implementation, and evaluation of education programs in an educational or cultural setting.
- Working knowledge of informal learning theory and practice, museum visitor studies, history, botany or ornamental horticulture.
- Well-developed interpersonal skills including the ability to work with colleagues, trustees, volunteers, and community leaders.
- Demonstrated experience working collaboratively with diverse groups, working with a multicultural workforce, and a sensitivity to and appreciation for cultural differences.
- Effective oral communications skills with the ability to interact with employees at all levels of the organization as well as with external contacts.
- Experience writing curriculum.
- Demonstrated ability to manage and coordinate a team.
- Personnel management, which includes, but is not limited to hiring procedures, employee development, performance management, coaching and mentoring.
- Self-starter with strong organizational skills who can work independently as well as collaboratively with staff and external constituents.
- Knowledge of CA schools, as well as experience working with CA learning standards (Common Core).
- Solid political agility to work through organizational issues.
- Strong ability to be creative, think critically, define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions or solutions.
- Knowledge of and commitment to customer service principles, techniques, systems, and standards.
- Strong computer skills, preferably MS Office Suite; experience working with Smart Boards, preferred.
- Flexibility to change and a well-developed ability to perform under various levels of stress, imposed by frequent deadlines and peak workloads, essential.
- Other critical attributes include a high degree of warmth and a well-developed sense of humor. It is essential that the candidate have the flexibility and philosophical orientation to function effectively with staff, team members, students, teachers, parents, visitors and volunteers.
Compensation: Depending on qualifications and experience.
To apply:
Interested parties may apply by submitting a letter of interest, resume and salary history and requirements to email@example.com with EPM0813 in the subject line. Only those meeting the minimum requirements and submitting all required information will be contacted for further inquiry. We will accept resumes until the position is filled. No phone calls, please.
Descanso Gardens Guild Inc. acknowledges that equal opportunity for all persons is a fundamental human value. Each employee will be considered on the basis of individual ability and merit, without regard to race, color, age, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, sex, or marital status.


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Berklee Summer Concert SeriesDear Havanah
Tuesday / June 1, 2010 / 12:00 p.m.
Prudential Center
800 Boylston Street
United States
Soulful, young and energetic are three defining words for Boston-based, rock-infused, jam trio Dear Havanah. With their melodic hooks and honest, uninhibited live shows, the band is making waves. Dear Havanah has been tirelessly touring clubs and college campuses from the Northeast to the Midwest, making a name for themselves across the country. The band is currently collaborating with Soulive drummer Alan Evans on their second album. Evans is producing the new record, which is set for a release in summer 2010.


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Health Insurance Quotes
The alarming consequences of filling a prescription
When you have a prescription filled at the pharmacy, you may think that only you, your doctor and your pharmacist know what medications you are taking and why. There's such a thing as patient privacy, right?
You'd be wrong: Health insurance companies use pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to process and pay prescription drug insurance claims, and they then disseminate your information to a wide variety of others. You won't even escape PBMs if you pay cash and circumvent a health insurance claim.
PBMs have been known to (at times improperly) share information about you and your medication history with drug manufacturers, doctors, pharmacies, employers, and others -- including government "fusion centers," which were established to gather and disseminate information in order to combat crime and terrorism.
The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) has accused one major pharmacy benefit manager, CVS Caremark, of using prescription-drug insurance information to pressure patients to switch their prescriptions to a local CVS store or to get them mail-order from Caremark. In some cases, CVS Caremark is mandating that patients switch from their local independent pharmacy to a CVS pharmacy, says Stuart Soberman, general counsel for the NCPA.
"They're using their position as a PBM to drive business to their retail stores, which is harmful to the consumer, particularly in rural areas where there are no CVS pharmacies," Soberman says.
CVS Caremark spokeswoman Carolyn Castel contends that NCPA's accusations are completely false: "CVS Caremark places the highest priority on maintaining our customers' privacy and we follow federal and state laws in handling this information," she says. Contrary to NCPA's claims, she says, CVS Caremark is making pharmacy health care more accessible, more effective and more affordable.
Drug information can be used to discriminate against you
Dr. Deborah Peel, founder of PatientPrivacyRights.org in Austin, Texas, says that the sale of customer information by PBMs does more than leave a bad taste in your mouth.
A variety of employers, health insurance plans, life insurance and property insurance companies, fusion centers and corporations buy the information provided by PBMs about what drugs you're taking and use it to discriminate against you, Peel charges.
For example, she says, employers can figure out from your prescription list that you or your spouse have arthritis or are predisposed to blood clots, and might not hire you because they're afraid your health needs will cause you to miss work or push up the cost of their group health insurance plans.
Also, insurers selling health insurance for individuals could charge you higher premiums if they are aware of your medical history from your prescription drug insurance information, Peel says.
Those who sell prescription information say they "de-identify" it and that individuals can't be re-identified. However, Peel contends that "it's virtually impossible to do that. No one has a proven formula to keep health information safe from re-identification."
Little you can do to protect your medication privacy
Can you protect your privacy and stop PBMs from selling your information? Not really, Peel says. "You can do little except register a protest. Even if you pay cash, you cannot keep your prescription private." Likewise, even if you don't have health insurance at all, your personal information is for sale.
Peel suggests using her organization's free Patient Privacy Toolkit to download forms to demand that no prescriptions be disclosed or sold without your permission.
Unions may be able to pressure employers to tell their PBMs that they will take their business elsewhere if they sell patient prescription drug information. Public employees in West Virginia were successful in doing just that in 2007, Peel says.
A ban on selling patients' health information without consent was included in the stimulus package approved recently by Congress, Peel says, but it has yet to be implemented and the practice shows no signs of stopping. Peel is worried that PBMs and others will find a way around the law by weakening the new consumer privacy regulations that are being drafted to implement the law.
More from Beth Orenstein here
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Learn more about Pace's graduate programs and the admission process for International students by joining one of the online chats listed below. These events will provide you with an opportunity to chat directly with our admission staff and get answers to questions you may have about application requirements, academic programs, the I-20 process, and more.
To access a chat: Click on the below link while the event is in session. First, select the "Register for a Chat Event" link and complete the registration form. Next, click on that chat you would like to attend to access the chat.
Upcoming Chats
Check back soon for more dates.


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Hello and Thank You for being Interested in our Services!
Martinez Trucking Logisitc is a family-owned trucking business accommodating customers with moves. This fully-licensed and insured company are professionals in dealing with every type of move. We provide DEALS and SAVINGS for materials such as: shrink wrap, bubble wrap, and boxes. In every trip we include blankets to protect couches, Flat-screens, bed frames, mattresses, etc. Please inquire about our special offers in a phone call or e-mail. Our customer service representatives are available 24 hours a day 7 days a week!
With a variety of offerings to choose from, we're sure you'll be happy working with us. Look around our website and if you have any comments or concerns, please feel free to contact us.


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To embed, copy and paste the code into your website or blog:
On December 5, 2013, the House approved the Innovation Act, H.R. 3309, primarily intended to address abusive behavior by patent owners in infringement litigation. The bill passed by a bipartisan vote of 325-91.
Although the avowed purpose of the legislation is to control litigation by so-called patent trolls (A.K.A. non-practicing entities, or NPEs), the provisions focus on specific litigation behaviors and thus would affect all patent cases, regardless of the nature of the patent owner. The most controversial provisions would create a "loser pays" scheme in most cases and would dictate litigation discovery timing and content. Other, less controversial provisions, require greater transparency with regard to patent ownership, and impose more demanding requirements for pleading patent infringement.
Pleading Disclosures
The House bill would require that complaints for patent infringement identify, among other things, each patent and claim asserted, the accused device or process, model numbers for accused devices and how each asserted claim is found within the accused apparatus or process. In addition, the bill would impose a requirement that the patent owner describe its right to assert the patent, describe its principal business and list other complaints asserting the patents in suit and any licenses covering those patents through any agency or standard-setting body. If a patent owner cannot satisfy these requirements, it must state what is not disclosed, why it is not disclosed and that efforts were made to access the undisclosed information. Confidential information could be filed under seal.
Loser Pays
Among the most controversial provisions in the House bill is a provision that would require courts to award attorneys' fees to the prevailing party in any patent litigation unless the position and conduct were "reasonably justified in law and fact or that special circumstances (such as severe economic hardship to a named inventor) make an award unjust." If the non-prevailing party cannot pay, fees may be recoverable from a joined interested party. Infringement complaints under the Hatch-Waxman Act are exempted from this provision.
Subject to certain exceptions, if a district court that concludes claim construction is required, under the House bill it must limit discovery to determining the meaning of claim terms, including "any interpretation of those terms used to support the claim of infringement," until a claim construction decision is issued.
Except in the context of Hatch-Waxman Act cases, the House bill requires the patent owner/plaintiff (on an ongoing basis) to disclose to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), to the court and to each adverse party the following: any assignee, any entity with a sublicense or enforcement rights, any entity with a financial interest in the patent and the ultimate parent of any assignee. An entity would have a "financial interest" if it has the right to receive proceeds with regard to the asserted patent, and direct or indirect ownership of more than 5 percent control of the plaintiff in the action.
Customer Suits
Under the House bill courts must grant a motion to stay an action against a "covered customer" if the customer and "covered manufacturer" give written consent, the covered manufacturer is a party or is in a separate action on the same patent or a patent related to the same covered product and the covered customer agrees to be bound by the decision in the action against the covered manufacturer. The motion to stay must be filed within 120 days of service of the first pleading specifically identifying the covered product. To protect the covered customer, if the covered manufacturer enters into a consent judgment on common issues that gave rise to the stay, or declines to prosecute through appeal a final decision on common issues, the consent judgment or unappealed final decision would not be binding on the covered customer if it would unreasonably prejudice or would be manifestly unjust.
An amendment in the form of a substitute bill that would have more closely mapped to the Senate version was defeated by a vote of 258-157. The roughly equivalent bill in the Senate, the Patent Transparency and Improvements Act (S. 1720), introduced by Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.), is a less ambitious version of the House bill, but is proceeding at a slower pace. S. 1720 does not include the provisions that would force patent infringement case management rules on the district courts or procedures as to pleading, discovery timing and limits, cost-shifting related to discovery or loser-pays fee shifting.
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DISCLAIMER: Because of the generality of this update, the information provided herein may not be applicable in all situations and should not be acted upon without specific legal advice based on particular situations.
© McDermott Will & Emery
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Northern Ireland: Belfast, Coleraine, Jordanstown, Derry-Londonderry
Limited-enrollment exchange program with the University of Ulster
University of Ulster
- Academic Courses: Please note that not every campus offers every subject and it is not possible to commute between all campuses.
- Calendar: Fall semester is mid-September through mid-December. Spring semester is late January through early June.
- Housing: Coleraine, Derry-Londonderry, and Jordanstown have university accommodations in apartment style living. Belfast does not offer housing but students can live in Jordanstown and take a bus to Belfast to attend classes..
- Regional Information: "Northern Ireland is a safe, easy place to live and get around in. We can offer you a great mix of high educational standards, a brilliant cultural experience, and very high levels of support. By European standards, we also have a very affordable cost of living." - University of Ulster website
- Student Notes:
- Scholarships: Philbrook Smith Scholarship for History POEs; Benjamin Gilman Scholarship for students with Pell Grants; Rinehart-Darkatsch Scholarship for Education POEs; BUTEX (British Universities Transatlantic Exchange) Scholarships for study in UK
- Grants: Dr. Chumpol Phornprapa Experiential Learning Travel Grant
- Relevant POEs: With an immense selection of courses there are opportunities for almost any POE but especially PACS, Art, Art History, Biology, Health Professions, Psychology, History, Computer Science, Sociology, and Business.


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The Alliance would like to congratulate Rachel Lynch with New Haven Home Recovery in New Haven, Connecticut for winning the Story Bank drawing for a free registration to the Alliance's February Conference on Ending Family Homelessness.
Ms. Lynch shared the story of a mother with two small children who experienced a housing crisis while overcoming several hardships. She was able to move into permanent housing by working with New Haven Home Recovery.
The Alliance is collecting stories of rapid re-housing, homelessness diversion, and HPRP application through our Story Bank. You can read more about the collection on our website. Please feel free to submit a story about your program and your successes! If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact Alliance staff.
One Woman's Story
Sasha: The fire destroyed everything
Sasha's life changed in the time it took for a fire to flare up in her house and spread through her apartment. She was working the cash register at her job at a dollar store in downtown New Haven when her mother, who was babysitting Sasha's 4-year-old son, called to tell her that smoke was billowing into the rooms.
The news took a moment to sink in. Then, tears streaming down her face, Sasha jumped on the bus and made it home to find her mother and son on the street, watching flames shoot out of the apartment windows. The fire had started in another part of the house, but it was destroying Sasha's furniture, her clothes and all of her photographs. "My body was numb," she said. "I had two kids. What was I going to do? Where were we going to live?"
Sasha, who is 26, had fallen and picked herself up at least twice already. She had completed a drug rehabilitation program to clean up a habit she picked up with an old boyfriend. Another boyfriend beat her up, smacking her face and bruising her arms, landing her in the hospital three times. Once when he was in the bathroom, she ran out of the house and called the police. She got a restraining order and breathed a giant sigh of relief when he was later deported. She thought she was getting back on her feet.
The night of the fire, the Red Cross provided Sasha, her son and her infant daughter with a hotel room, and clothing, food and toiletries, but only for two nights. They spent a few nights at her mother's apartment across town, but it was so small Sasha and her children had to share a twin bed. Finally Sasha found her way to Life Haven, which provides shelter for women who are pregnant or have young children. "That was hard. I'm not used to living with a bunch of people I don't know," she said. But while she was there, she began working with New Haven Home Recovery, which found her a spacious subsidized apartment in Hamden.
Now NHHR case manager Liz V. visits Sasah once a week. Sasha is working part time, looking for a full-time job, planning to go to school for nursing, checking out new doctors and dentists, and getting her son settled in school and her daughter into daycare. She has furniture, bedding, a television set, beautiful old-fashioned china from The Furniture Coop, and lots of toys scattered about. On Easter Sunday, she hosted dinner for family and friends with ham, potatoes and seven desserts, and Easter baskets for all of the children. "I've never done anything like that before," she said. "It made me feel good to have my whole family in a nice place."
So today, the Alliance had a Congressional Briefing on Family Homelessness.
I've never been to one of these myself (at least, not one hosted by the Alliance) so I wasn't sure what to expect – but things clarified about ten minutes into the briefing.
It was a reasonably packed room – no place to sit for the whole staff, and we invited speakers from all over the country to discuss state, community, and local solutions to end homelessness among families.
So here's where we start: family homelessness is a problem.
That's been clear for a while now. News reports have (as of late) fixated on student homelessness – and while youth homelessness is nothing less than a critical problem – there's usually an entire family there that deserves our attention. Authors of the latest Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress (AHAR) from the Department of Housing and Urban Development will argue that family homelessness is up 4 percent from 2007 – 2008 (that's the latest data we have).
The numbers are fuzzy, but between unemployment and poverty rates, enrollment in social services, use of food stamps, and other indicators – it's pretty clear that need is up.
At our briefing, I had the privilege to listen to three representatives from three states:
The experience was tremendous. At the state (Bob), county (Kay) and community levels (Kathy), a housing-centric solutions is what made the difference for families. Stable, permanent housing is a critical component to overcoming other challenges that may be inhibiting families from getting back on their own feet – Leida noted that housing was important to provide a sense of home for her two young children. Not only that, but providing permanent housing freed up room in emergency shelters, decreased the length of stay in shelter, and – as Bob noted – was even cost-effective in the state of Massachusetts.
Which isn't to say that this seemed easy and dandy. All three community representatives touched upon the economic woes troubling us today, and how that has presented some challenges – especially in the way of increase demand – for housing providers. And while not everyone who needs housing is necessarily receiving it, the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing program (HPRP) funds have provided some much-needed assistance in the financing area.
As someone who is (still) relatively new to the idea of homelessness and to the solutions to the problem, this briefing was incredibly beneficial. To learn first-hand from people in the trenches of a community how rapid re-housing really works was so enlightening – and to hear from a consumer herself was all the evidence that I'll really ever need.
Check out pictures from the briefing on our Facebook page, and let me know what you think. Is your community using HPRP funds? Have you noticed more homeless families where you are?
My Name is Elizabeth Doherty and I am the Admin + Development Associate at the National Alliance to End Homelessness.
I would like to tell you about one of our recent and very exciting development ventures! The Alliance has partnered with Great NonProfits on their 2009 Food and Shelter Awards Campaign. What that means is for the month of December, Great NonProfits is featuring Food & Shelter nonprofits (like us!) and asking YOU to share your experiences and rate the organizations.
Have you ever attended an Alliance conference? Received a scholarship or technical assistance from the Alliance? Donated to support our work? If you answered yes to any of those questions or others, we want to hear from you! Tell us what you think and rate the Alliance on Great NonProfits.
I also invite you to share your experience with local, state or national organizations that do great work but might not get the attention they deserve. This campaign is all about highlighting the great work that organizations in our field do to fight homelessness and hunger.
A little background info on Great NonProfits: It's kind of like GuideStar meets Yelp. They're looking to provide information about charities and nonprofits from the point of view of consumers, volunteers and donors – that is, they want YOU to rate charities based on your experiences with them.
Other cool features include:
So as the holiday season is upon us, please take a moment to make sure the Alliance and your other favorite nonprofit organizations get the limelight they deserve and participate in the 2009 Food and Shelter Awards Campaign!
Many thanks,
It should come as no surprise that today is World AIDS Day.
It may, however, come as a surprise that there's an Office of HIV/AIDS Housing at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). More surprising, maybe, that the Office of HIV/AIDS Housing at HUD runs a program called Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS, abbreviated HOPWA.
Research has shown that it's hard for people – especially people with more economic challenges – to take the necessary steps to manage HIV/AIDS.
This probably doesn't come as a galloping shock – managing HIV/AIDS requires a strict regimen of a combination of retroviral agents (often three or more). Many people lack the capacity to access treatment, follow the required schedule, or have psychological and physical limitations that prevent them from properly treating the disease. People are also deterred by the various side effects of the treatment, which include lipodystrophy, dyslipidemia, the risk of birth defects, and insulin resistance. Perhaps most notably, the treatment is quite costly, and prohibitively expensive to most of the world's HIV/AIDS – afflicted population.
Research has also confirmed that stable housing, coupled with supportive services that are responsive to their complex needs, increases the ability of people living with HIV/AIDS to access and comply with HIV/AIDS treatment. This is especially true for poor and low-income people.
According to the National AIDS Housing Coalition:
It has been estimated that as many as half of all people living with HIV/AIDS will need housing assistance at some point in their illness. For many of those, short-term assistance with rent, mortgage, or utility costs alone will provide the necessary support to remain healthy and in stable housing. But others are struggling with multiple diagnoses of HIV and mental illness and/or substance use. Access to housing assistance and services is often further complicated by histories of incarceration, institutionalization, and homelessness. HOPWA housing assistance helps prevent homelessness and creates access to medical care and support services for individuals and families affected by HIV and AIDS.
This is where a program like HOPWA can really make a difference.
HOPWA is the only federal program that specifically targets the housing needs of people with HIV/AIDS and their families. Established in 1992, HOPWA provides funds to qualified state and local governments to help low-income people with AIDS and their families by providing:
As unlikely as the subject of housing might be in a discussion about HIV/AIDS, it's clear that stable housing – as well as complementary services and social support – are critical for those afflicted with HIV/AIDS. HOPWA provides qualifying individuals the assistance necessary to find stable housing.
Find out more about HOPWA on the Alliance website.
The time has rolled around again for us to give thanks for all our blessings, and the Alliance thought it might be helpful to take a sharp look at those who are less fortunate. Thanks for reading our wandering thoughts – and have a happy Thanksgiving!
It's that time of year again.
Pumpkins retreat as the mercury plunges, and we're seized with the charitable desire to be kind to those less fortunate. Suddenly, those on the economic brink of society – those just "one paycheck away" from homelessness – have taken center stage in our national conscience.
It's a shift as sure as the season – and this year, it's one that resonates all the louder. While homelessness has long been the exclusive plight of Americans living in poverty, its reach is climbing up the socioeconomic ladder. Increasingly, middle-class Americans are seeing the distance from one paycheck to the next get shorter and shorter while their incomes – and savings – dwindle. Combined with cash-strapped states cutting back social services and a continued rise in unemployment, the reality of homelessness comes sharply into focus.
This holiday season, there will be far more families living just "one paycheck away."
The good news: this is not news. The ravaging effects of the economy and it's impact on those living in poverty has not been wholly overlooked. An important federal stimulus initiative known as the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) is one of the few Congress-funded programs to address the recession by helping the poor rather than the rich.
HPRP does exactly what the name suggests: it gives families money to stay in their houses, or if they do become homeless, quickly gets them back into homes. It has been effective, but is not large enough to protect all those who will be threatened. (In fact, the Alliance predicts that as many as one million more Americans will experience homelessness as a result of the recession.)
This holiday season, the stakes are precipitously high. As politicians and pundits across the cable shows have said, this is the worst economic turndown that the country has seen in decades.
Now is the time to gather as a national community and make sure that our well-intentioned hearts espouse a sense of urgency. Let's call upon our national leaders and make sure they don't forget what we're enduring now. This holiday season, let's truly make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate.
Let's make sure that the legacy of this recession is not a new generation of homelessness.
Two days out from Thanksgiving and the Alliance staff held it's last pre-Thanksgiving 2009 staff meeting to go over what's happening around the house.
Highlights include:
The Alliance continues it's preparations for the February Families Conference in Los Angeles, California. As the Alliance lines up advocates, practitioners, community leaders, and experts to speak at the Conference, we encourage you to sign up soon! Early registration ends Friday, December 7.
The Homelessness Research Institute's Quarterly Newsletter went out last Friday, November 20. In it: an emphasis on veterans homelessness, a Q+A with Robert Rosenheck, and research on affordable housing – don't miss out!
The Alliance will host a Congressional Briefing on ending family homelessness on Friday, December 4. We're encouraging partners and interested parties to call upon their members of Congress to attend of send staff, and all interested parties are welcome to attend. More on this next week!
Funders Together, a collaborative of philanthropists dedicated to providing leadership and strategic funding to end homelessness in America, launched their brand new site! You can find out more about them at http://funderstogether.org/.
More later!
Last night, around 7 p.m., I found myself in a brightly painted community room surrounded by camera operators, photographers, and a bunch of boisterous, energetic young people (alarmingly nonplussed by the presence of all the media).
It was quite the motley crew.
I was at the Sasha Bruce House in Washington, D.C. The homeless youth shelter was playing host to legendary rap band Public Enemy, who – with the assistance of Virgin Mobile USA – was paying a visit to the shelter to raise awareness about youth homelessness.
The Alliance – as a leading authority on homelessness policy, trends, and research – was invited to attend and give a few remarks.
In preparation to attend this event, I tried to brush up on my facts. How many homeless youth are there? Who are they and where do they come from? How do they become homeless? What can we do about it? What are the best strategies to make sure that our youth remain safe and housed?
Turns out, there's some discord about this particular topic in the homelessness field.
There's a noticeable dearth of information about youth homelessness and upon giving it some more thought, it's not hard to understand why. Some of the most accomplished advocates and researchers gathering data on homeless people will testify to its trying difficulty. Collecting data on homeless youth, then, is likely only harder, as youth are even less likely to seek out or be aware of social services available to them. Between that reality, and the fact that the definition of the term "youth" tends to vary widely by organization, the picture of youth homelessness is a bit fuzzy.
But here's what we do know:
There approximately 50,000 street-dependent youth in the United States every year, and are up to two million youth experience an episode of homelessness during the course of a year.
Youth typically become homeless because of some kind of family disruption – divorce is one example, abuse is another. Youth also tend to become homeless after they exit state-run programs, namely the foster care and juvenile justice systems. Young people discharged from those programs rarely have access to a transitional program that provides them the skills and knowledge necessary to secure employment, find housing, and become productive members of society. As such, young people coming out of these programs often fall into homelessness.
While most youth who experience homelessness quickly return to family or friends, some do experience long-term homelessness. For those that do, street-dependent life presents great dangers. Homeless youth encounter a high incidence of violence, exploitation, and sexual assault while living on the streets.
Another something we know: there are things we can do. The Alliance advocates for three distinct tracts to prevent and end youth homelessness: 1) an increase in early intervention and family reunification services for homeless youth, 2) an expansion of long-term housing options consistent with young people's developmental needs, and 3) after-care support to end homelessness for youth exiting foster care and correctional settings. These are strategies that show success in preventing and ending youth homelessness.
Surrounded by the cheerful, bright young residents of Sasha Bruce House, it's easy to forget that they all somehow found themselves in a homeless youth shelter. Hopefully, with the help of private sector partners, the hard work of community leaders, and the energy of the young people themselves, we'll find a way back home.
In recognition of Homeless Youth Awareness Month and the work of Virgin Mobile USA – the Alliance's 2010 recipient of the Private Sector Achievement Award – a few words from Dan Schulman, CEO of Virgin Mobile USA.
All of us at Virgin Mobile USA are honored to accept the 2010 Private Sector Achievement Award from the National Alliance to End Homelessness, recognizing the strides that Virgin Mobile has made over the years to raise awareness for the issue of youth homelessness. The Re*Generation, established in 2006 with the support of Virgin Unite, Virgin Group's charitable arm, is Virgin Mobile's initiative to address the issue of youth homelessness and empower a generation to help its own. http://www.virginmobileusa.com/regeneration.
Virgin Mobile has been a consistent voice in raising awareness of this issue by fundraising and implementing easy ways for the public to engage and show support since the launch of The Re*Generation. In June 2007, we worked with legislators from both the House and Senate to have Congress officially declare November as National Homeless Youth Awareness Month with the support of singer-songwriter and former homeless youth, Jewel.
Over the past three years, Virgin Mobile has continued to expand its efforts in this area and, in light of the current economic situation in the U.S., we decided to make our annual Virgin Mobile Festival free this past summer. The energy surrounding FreeFest was inspiring and we expanded on this positive energy by announcing the Free I.P. program in which we asked people to volunteer in order to upgrade their FreeFest ticket to a V.I.P. ticket. Through this program, more than 30,000 hours of community service were donated by volunteers throughout the country, more than $80,000 was raised, 1,000 pairs of sneakers were donated, and 7,000 hygiene kits were produced for distribution to homeless youth organizations. The Free I.P. program was an acclaimed success and we hope to continue this program at future festivals and other events.
We have also provided the public with simple and direct ways to get involved in the movement to help homeless youth with our short code mobile campaigns Txt2Clothe and Txt2Donate. More than 200,000 items of clothing have been made available to homeless youth through our Txt2Clothe initiative and $35,000 through our Txt2Donate program. To date, Virgin Mobile has committed more than $3,000,000 of marketing and direct investment support to our charitable partners including $180,000 from Virgin Mobile Festival ticket sales.
To celebrate the three-year anniversary of National Homeless Youth Awareness Month, we hosted a special concert by Public Enemy on November 18th at George Washington University's Lisner Auditorium with all ticket proceeds benefiting Sasha Bruce House, a non-profit shelter for homeless youth in Washington, D.C. Working in conjunction with the "One Warm Coat" initiative, led by Serve DC – The Mayor's Office on Volunteerism, fans were encouraged to bring new or gently used coats to receive V.I.P. seat upgrades the night of the show. All coats collected were provided to the Sasha Bruce House.
We are very grateful to the Alliance for recognizing the work of Virgin Mobile, our dedicated staff and partners, and everyone who has helped to raise awareness for this issue along the way. This has been an incredible journey and one that still has many steps to accomplish. Virgin Mobile and Virgin Unite are passionate about moving closer toward the goal of ending youth homelessness in the United States. Our thanks go out to the Alliance for all you do and for your generous recognition of our work.
Happy Monday, everyone!
Here at the Alliance, a bunch of us are coming down from our big push of the new Data Update to the veterans report (see Sarah's post). We had terrific time working with local leaders and direct service providers, hosting our very own press call about the release of the report, and – over the course of the last week – seeing the fruits of our labor. There's nothing that can take away the fact that there are 131,000 homeless veterans in the United States on any given night – but thanks to the hard work of our partners, community members, and some very dedicated reporters, hopefully you have a better idea of what the problem is and what you can do about it (again, see Sarah's post).
It's one of the perks of working in the research department of the Alliance – we get to put out data and watch as people consume that information. Occasionally, we're privileged to see how our work inspires action – action that can make a tangible difference in the lives of people across the country: an improved rapid re-housing program, federal legislation expanding homeless services, a well written, thoughtful perspective on solutions to homelessness in your local paper.
In that spirit, the Alliance has engaged in two new partnerships this year that I hope you notice:
This awesome new site follows in the footsteps of standard-bearers like Guide Star and Charity Navigator. CEO Perla Ni, the founder of the Stanford Social Innovation Review, offers an engaging and user-friendly approach to searching for nonprofits by location, topic, even needs.
The Alliance is proud and delighted to join with Great Non Profits to host a week on Food & Shelter organizations. As Thanksgiving brings the holiday season ever nearer, we're reminded – especially in this economic climate – that not everyone is blessed with the hearth that some enjoy.
Share your review of programs and places that you've encountered. Your review will direct traffic – and ultimately, funding – to the different organizations featured on the website.
The Alliance will honor Virgin Mobile USA at its annual Kennedy Center Awards Ceremony in April 2010 for the company's signficant contributions in the struggle to end youth homelessness.
Through its RE*Generation program, Virgin Mobile USA has introduced several marketing initiatives to raise awareness, increase volunteerism, and provide critical resources and funding to local homeless agencies.
For its leadership and innovation in motivating the public to play a more active role in confronting the issue of homelessness, Virgin Mobile USA and Virgin Unite will receive the 2010 Private Sector Achievement Award.
This Wednesday (yep, WEDNESDAY), Virgin Mobile will host Public Enemy in a reception at the Sasha Bruce House in Washington, DC to bring awareness to the existing and persisting problem of youth homelessness. A concert featuring the rap band will follow at the Lisner Auditorium at George Washington University.
For more information about the Public Enemy concert on Wednesday, please visit An Evening With Public Enemy.
Check out the RE*Generation website to find out more about the campaign to end youth homelessness.
In honor of Veterans Day, the Alliance rallied our troops to engage in a national media campaign! We encouraged all our partners to reach out to local press to share their community efforts towards ending homelessness for veterans, as well as to announce the Alliance's release of a data update to the veterans homelessness report.
Sarah Kahn, Director of Field Mobilization, lead the charge on this campaign. She writes about it below.
Great work everyone! Last week's media campaign was a great success!
Thirty-two Alliance partners from across the country participated in the media release of the 2008 Data and Policy Update to Vital Mission: Ending Homelessness Among Veteran. So far, our collective media outreach efforts have achieved around 100 national and local press hits, including published articles, editorials, and TV and radio news segments. What's more is that many of these articles went beyond the regular data post – several articles made references to policy solutions, explored the causes and effects of veterans homelessness, and called on elected officials to take action to attack this problem.
So, what's next?
We now have an opportunity to leverage our accomplishments as Congress considers key policy issues in the coming weeks.
How do we do that?
Show them that homelessness is an issue that's important to your community; show and send them the articles about veterans homelessness in your state. Email the Senate offices pointing them to the veterans media coverage, and urge them so co-sponsor the Zero Tolerance for Veterans Homelessness Act, S. 1547, which is currently being considered in the Senate.
Veterans homelessness is something that we can end together – encourage your elected members to be a part of the solution to this national tragedy.
Next Steps:
Send letters to Senate offices and attach veterans articles from your state.
Call and follow up with staff to ask your Senators to co-sponsor S. 1547.
Contact Sarah (email@example.com / 202-942-8259) to report on any follow up you've done.


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- Filed Under
It's understandable if the Lions didn't recognize the symptoms.
The clinical term is Monday Night Hangover, and since the Lions were 10 years removed from their last appearance on the NFL's biggest regular-season stage, they wouldn't know the side effects of playing in such an emotional game. They're a little slow and sluggish, playing a step behind what's considered normal speed.
It happens. Ask those teams that regularly play on Monday nights and they'll tell you that the toughest game is always the next one. There's inevitably a letdown, especially in a game that was as electric as the ...


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Tuesday, November 13, 2012
© Copyright 2015 Albany Herald
WASHINGTON — The sex scandal that led to CIA Director David Petraeus' downfall widened Tuesday, ensnaring another acclaimed military figure with word the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan is under investigation for alleged "inappropriate communications" with a woman who received threatening emails from Petraeus' girlfriend.
Even as the FBI prepared a timeline of its investigation that brought to light David Petraeus' extramarital affair, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta revealed that the Pentagon had begun an internal investigation into thousands of pages of emails from Gen. John Allen to a second woman involved in the Petraeus case.
Allen succeeded Petraeus as the top American commander in Afghanistan in July 2011, and his nomination to become the next commander of U.S. European Command and the commander of NATO forces in Europe has now been put on hold.
In a White House statement early Tuesday, National Security spokesman Tommy Vietor said President Barack Obama has held Allen's nomination at Panetta's request. Obama, the statement said, "remains focused on fully supporting our extraordinary troops and coalition partners in Afghanistan, who Gen. Allen continues to lead as he has so ably done for over a year."
Meanwhile, FBI agents searched the home of Paula Broadwell, Petraeus' biographer, with whom he had an affair that led to his abrupt resignation Friday. It was Broadwell's threatening emails to Jill Kelley, a Florida woman who is a Petraeus family friend, that led to the FBI's discovery of communications between Broadwell and Petraeus indicating they were having an affair.
A Pentagon official said 20,000 to 30,000 pages of emails and other documents from Allen's communications with Kelley between 2010 and 2012 are under review. He would not say whether they involved sexual matters or whether they are thought to include unauthorized disclosures of classified information. He said he did not know whether Petraeus is mentioned in the emails.
Allen has denied any wrongdoing.
The new details in the case brought expressions of amazement in Congress, already in an uproar over the probe that has roiled the intelligence and military establishment.
Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, called the case "a Greek tragedy.
"It's just tragic," King said on NBC's "Today" show. "This has the elements in some ways of a Hollywood movie or a trashy novel."
billybob 2 years, 11 months ago
Havin seen the photos of Patreaus' wife and the woman he was having an affair with, I understand. Not condoning, but I understand.
Sister_Ruby 2 years, 11 months ago
Good luck getting to the bottom of all this, Congress. Of course the Senate and the White House have no interest in revealing the TRUTH, only obfuscating it. That worked pretty good for the election.
FryarTuk 2 years, 11 months ago
What absolutely amazes me is that this guy got caught cold with his own communication trail on an internet account. For goodness sake, this fellow is supposed to be the smartest, slyest, sharpest knife in the drawer. More degrees than a thermometer, military genius, intelligence (did I say intelligence?) strategist par excellence, rapier wit, politician without equal. The moral equivalent of Thomas Aquinas. And he gets caught with his pants down and by his own dumb hand. You would think the director of the CIA would at least set up a nom de guerre with a few hidden code words. But no, he's got to have a private email account where he talks dirty and uses titillating details then sign his name. Go figure.
Sister_Ruby 2 years, 11 months ago
"Intelligence" with a capital "I". Not that you need any in this Administration. This whole thing stinks like there are a couple of rotten fish in Obama's Denmark.
Did you notice that "D-E-N-M-A-R-K" and "C-H-I-C-A-G-O" have the same number of letters? Factor in a code scheme based on "6-6-6" and you may have a real hum dinger in the works here!!
Sister_Ruby 2 years, 11 months ago
In General Allen's picture above, he appears to be describing that "when it's big, it comes up to about right here.............!"
Or something similar.
badheavychevy 2 years, 11 months ago
I just wonder if these Generals are spilling very important to these women while they are cheating......
Sister_Ruby 2 years, 11 months ago
Hopefully not this!!!!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1Kvgt...
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More like this story
- Feinstein: Petraeus to testify on Benghazi attacks ( November 14, 2012 )
- Women get short end of The Petreaus Affair ( November 29, 2012 )
- Petraeus believed terrorists behind Libya attack ( November 16, 2012 )
- Scandal focuses on wrong seduction ( November 16, 2012 )
- It's sex and the city, D.C. style ( November 15, 2012 )


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What've we got? The Big Day Out, the fabulous fun of the Sydney Mardi Gras and a jam-packed calendar of world-class concerts and events; the nightlife hubs of Glebe, Darlinghurst and Kings Cross; an almost endless list of great pubs, restaurants, markets and boutiques. Add to that the beauty of Sydney Harbour, national parks and beaches, and you'll see why Sydney is such a great destination for a holiday.
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Canadian communications giant, Rogers, is going to court this summer in hopes of overturning a federal "truth in advertising" law, part of the Competition Act. Specifically, Rogers is challenging a section of the law requiring "adequate and proper" testing of its products before advertising claims on the efficacy of their performance can be made. Rogers is citing the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, claiming that the federal law violates the right of freedom of expression.
The federal law recently upped the stakes for offenders, increasing the first-time offence penalty from $250 thousand to $10 million in 2010 (it's a penalty rather than a fine, since the law is civil and not criminal). In 2011, Bell Canada had to pay the $10 million penalty for misleading customers as to the true cost of their various communications services in advertising campaigns. Of course Rogers is accused of violating the act as well, when the Competition Bureau brought a case in late 2010 with regard to a recent campaign for their discount cellular phone service, Chatr.
The bureau investigated claims made by Rogers that their service had "fewer dropped calls than newer wireless carriers," and that their customers have "no worries about dropped calls." After reviewing technical data from multiple sources, Rogers service turned out to be no more reliable than its competition. Rogers' new constitutional argument is the latest move in their ongoing battle against the bureau and this particular suit.
Of course it would be a cell phone company that does this. Remember Verizon and AT&T's cell phone coverage battles of the last couple of years? It started with Verizon showing side-by-side coverage maps of their own nationwide coverage compared to AT&T's. Then AT&T started their own ad campaigns where their coverage maps turned out to be much more solidly filled in than Verizon's. I'm sure I'm not the only one who was sitting there confused as each company told a different story and held up contradictory data.
Who was lying? The solution turned out to be in the fine print. The reason each company had different coverage maps in their own campaigns is they were each focusing on different kinds of specific coverage. Verizon had the best 3G coverage, while AT&T was better with a different kind of coverage. Both companies did their best to mislead consumers, by focusing on the big maps and letting it slip that they represented data for very specific services rather than general network performance.
The moral of the story is that companies are out to make money, and advertising is a tool designed to separate you from that money. Consumers have a civil right not to be overtly lied to, but companies will constantly push the boundaries if they think they can get away with it. Selective statistics, graphs and charts are very useful tools to that end, since they imply that an advertisement has educational goals rather than propagandizing ones. They make a consumer think they are learning something when they are really being convinced of something.
Big surprise that Rogers feels that being legally impelled to tell the truth is a major constraint on its business plan. Or maybe it's just that the they really, really don't want to fork over that money.
Related stories:
National Advertising Division bans first major ad
Citizens United Was Only Two Years Ago
Read more: advertising, capitalism, civil rights, consumer education, propoganda
Image credit: Rogers Communications
Of course their advertising should adhere to the facts. However, we do seem to do a somewhat decent job of ensuring that corporations don't lie to us in advertising their goods and services.
But what about political advertising? Why does it seem that there are no rules about adhering to the truth in political advertising?
How utterly Republican of them.
Lying and misleading your customers is part of the rogers mission statement. It's the way they've always done business and will continue to do business. They lied to and mislead their cable customers when they had cable in western Canada and had to pay dearly for it (don't take my word for it, it's spelled our clearly in the court records). They only have cell in the west now and will never see another penny of my money. I would rather do business with someone I suspect may be misleading me than give a single cent to one who I know, knowingly, cheated me.
Incredible... the right to lie to potential customers? Buyers beware!
Who knew there was a civil right to lie? Just think, it could negate all of the catch-all 'conspiracy' charges frequently leveled by the Department of PreCrime when an actual crime has not been committed.
They need one of those laws here.
Lying to the public, is NOT a freedom of speech issue. It's a FRAUD issue & demanding the ability to spread fraud, is NEVER acceptable.
At least it's not up here in Canada where we have laws regulating our airwaves. And HOPEFULLY will continue to maintain despite the Harper dicktatorship.
What a shock - he wants the "right" to lie. I'd love to see some truth in advertising and have it enforced. I'm afraid it's tough to do - witness the labeling we now require and some of the shenanigans companies go through to twist around the "truth". I do hope they slap him down, though.
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may
not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.
Nice to see a Care2 article that isn't all about the US.
I have to admit to a degree of surprise at the eagerness shown among some people (whose presence on this…
Problem on this page? Briefly let us know what isn't working for you and we'll try to make it right!


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Film may put critters in false light
LOS ANGELES — The Disney movie "G-Force" shows a squad of specially trained, computer-generated guinea pig spies coming to the world's rescue. After the movie comes out, though, animal activists say it will be real-life guinea pigs who need rescuing.
Some guinea pig rescue groups have already posted pleas to those who might rush out to buy the furry little rodents. "I can tell you, every single rescue in the United States and abroad took a look at that movie trailer and said, 'Oh God, here we go,'" said Whitney Potsus, vice president of The Critter Connection Inc. in Durham, Conn. The Orange County Cavy (AKA guinea pig) Haven in Costa Mesa has already posted urgent Internet pleas to parents asking them to say no when their children beg for guinea pigs, because the animals are too fragile for young children. It's happened before. Some call it '101 Dalmatians syndrome,' after the live-action Disney movie that sent thousands rushing to buy the black-and-white spotted pups. When the dogs failed to act like those in the movie, families gave them up, breeders said. The popularity of Chihuahuas soared after "Legally Blonde" and "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" and when Taco Bell featured one in an ad campaign. Ferrets were the animal of choice after "Along Came Polly" and guinea pigs after "Bedtime Stories." In "G-Force," which opens today, Agents Juarez, Darwin and Blaster drive cars, parachute, use blowtorches, swim, talk, walk on two legs, live in tanks with mice and rats and use hamster balls, Lyn Zantow, a volunteer for the Orange County group, warns on her Web site. In real life, guinea pigs are noisy, eat and poop all the time, require big and clean cages, don't swim and can be expensive to care for if they get sick, she said, adding that they should be kept out of the hands of young children. "We can only hope … parents will all do their research before bringing any critters home.


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Lemon Lime Curd
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 4 whole large eggs, beaten lightly
- 4 large egg yolks, beaten lightly
- 2/3 cup fresh lime juice
- 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons freshly grated lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons freshly grated lime zest
- 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, cut into bits
In a heavy saucepan whisk together the sugar, the whole eggs, the yolks, the juices, and the zests and cook the mixture over moderately low heat, whisking, until the sugar is dissolved. Add the butter, cook the mixture over low heat, whisking, for 10 to 12 minutes, or until it registers 160°F. on a candy thermometer, and transfer it to glass jars. The curd keep, covered and chilled, for 2 weeks. Serve the curd as a spread with sweet breads.
Epicurious.com © Condé Nast Digital, Inc. All rights reserved.


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Kiki SmithAmerican, born West Germany (Nuremberg, West Germany [now Germany], 1954)
Head with Bird II
1994sculpture | phosphorous bronze and white bronze
Not on view at this time; find out where you can see works from our collection at locations around the Bay Area while our building is closed for expansion
14 1/8 in. x 11 1/2 in. x 6 1/4 in. (35.88 cm x 29.21 cm x 15.88 cm)
Acquired 1997
Collection SFMOMA
Collection of Vicki and Kent Logan, fractional and promised gift to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
© Kiki Smith


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Many virtual lawyers possess certain skills and knowledge about technology, the Internet, or operating a business online. Some may come from technological backgrounds, but certainly not all do. For example, prior to attending law school, my background was in the study of ancient, medieval and Renaissance history. What could be further from a "techy" background that that? Information that I have learned – and continue to learn – about new and emerging technologies, software, and even gadgets that may help you in your career as a virtual lawyer, or possibly help you transition into virtual lawyering are categorized under "Tech Reviews." This information will be shared in a variety of different types of posts, including review posts of companies' products and services.
At this point, I would like to write a word or two about "affiliate" programs and blogging ethics. Many of you may have read online articles recommending one software download or another, one telephone system or another, this or that gadget, and so on. What you may not realize is that many of these articles are written by "affiliates" of the companies that produce the software, phone system, or gadget about which they are writing. These individuals are paid what amounts to a commission (kick back?) from the company if their promotion of the product results in a sale of the product, download, etc. Terms of these relationships vary from company to company. Unfortunately, these individuals rarely, if ever, disclose their affiliate relationships in their articles. And, when it comes to their review or list posts, they often have not even tested or used the other products or services in the article.
So, at the outset, this is my disclosure and pledge to you:
- I do not have any personal, business, financial, proprietary, or other pecuniary interest in any of the products or services that I will be reviewing on this blog;
- I do not accept any money, free products, or other things of value from any of the companies that make the products or services that I will be reviewing on this blog. From time to time, it may be the case that I will temporarily receive a product on loan in order to test it and review it. Once the review period is ended, I pledge that the product or service will be discontinued or returned to the manufacturer, with the exception of inexpensive gadgetry or possibly software that the manufacturer does not want returned to them;
- The outcomes of my reviews are not negotiable with any company or manufacturer – period;
- If, at any time in the future, I should gain an interest in a company or manufacturer of a product or service that I am reviewing, that interest – whether it be as an "affiliate" or otherwise – will be disclosed to the reader as part of my review so that the reader can make an informed choice about the reliability of my reviews;
- All products or services that I review will be personally tested by me or my staff. If we have not personally tested a product or service reviewed on this blog, that fact will be disclosed.
This may be more information than some of you want to read. However, as both a lawyer and a consumer, I take information seriously, and at all times, wish to strive for the highest degree of integrity in making any recommendations to my readers.


text: jsklz, flickr [ Today is National Carousel Day! By Sue Moll July 25, 2012 One hundred and forty one years ago, on this day July 25th, the first carousel patent was granted to Willhelm Schneider. Everytime I see a carousel it just makes me smile. Read More|Comment Category: Articles Tags: amusement rides, Family, fun, Jersey Shore, Ocean County, Shawn & Sue, the ocean county breakfast show Send to a friend! Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Pin it! Reddit This! Share on Tumblr!


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AMC Ford City 14 Movie Showtimes
7601 S. Cicero Ave.
Chicago IL 60652 map
Listening Devices available
Accessible to Disabled Audiences
Prices:adult:10.00, senior: 9.00, child: 7.00
10:30am, 1:15pm, 2:00pm, 3:45pm, 4:30pm, 6:15pm, 7:00pm, 8:45pm, 9:30pmBuy Tickets
User reviews on AMC Ford City 14
This use 2 B tha' spot back in da good ol' 90's, when I was in high school. All tha' Simeon kids hung @ Ford City (& Evergreen Plaza) back then.
That's when it was owned by General Cinema, they took better care of it. AMC (the new owners) seriously should remodel it a bit and livin' it up, both the interior and exterior, the buliding's gettin a lil' old and age is starting to takes it toll. But all in all, it still looks okay, I guess. But I'll never forget those good ol' times from the high school, and I'd definantly recommend anyone to come to this Theater before I send them to 210 W. 87th (ICE Chatham Theaters).
Its a nice place to watch a movie. Quiet and respectful crowd. Comfortable seating. Parking is free and convenient unlike downtown.
It has a nice screen but sometimes there r loud ghetto kids there laughing and throwing popcorn and talking. . but other than that its ok. I would recommend the Icon Theater downtown on Roosevelt. Its very nice and they have great surround sound plus a great screen and quiet respectful people.
ITS COOL I wish it was a near my house cause i love to go to the movies


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Couples That Should Have Been
View Single Post
February 3 2013, 08:59 PM
C.E. Evans
Vice Admiral
Location: Ferguson, Missouri, USA
Re: Couples That Should Have Been
The Mirrorball Man wrote:
CaptMurdock wrote:
Sato and Mayweather on ENT.
When she thought Travis was dead in ENT: "Dead Stop" she eulogizes him by relating a practical joke he played on her: having her trying to communicate with a "non-human lifeform" that turned out to be strawberry Jello!
I always hoped the writers would make this a running plot thread where she would reciprocate on in some way, things would escalate, Archer would have to gently call them on the carpet ("Fun's fun, you two, but knock it off!) and eventually they'd decided they just really liked spending time together.
It's a nice idea, but I don't think Anthony Montgomery could have pulled it off.
I've seen Montgomery in other productions, and he definitely could have pulled it off--but not as the one-dimesnsional Travis Mayweather.
"Don't sweat the small stuff--it makes you small-minded..."
C.E. Evans
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Take the whole family to see "Marvel Universe LIVE!" -- the original, live-action arena tour featuring Marvel's most popular superheroes and villains -- with this special offer for half off tickets to D.C. area performances.
Tickets are $27.50-$55 (reg. $55-$110) for the following performances:
Note: The $55 (reg. $110) tickets are not available on Sept. 12 or 19.
In "Marvel Universe LIVE!," Thor's villainous brother Loki has gotten his hands on the powerful Cosmic Cube, and it is up to 25 Marvel characters to join in an epic quest to defeat him. Superheroes featured include Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, Thor, Spider-Man and Wolverine.
Please go to your email and confirm your subscription.


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Do you like this story?Tweet
Conservatives cringe, Democrats applaud … Here's to socialism!
via Memri
Yemen To Ban Citizens From Carrying Personal Arms
The Yemeni government has decided that beginning September 1, citizens will no longer be able to carry their personal weapons in public,
The move is an effort to prevent the armament of the country's citizenry.
As a preliminary step, yesterday the Interior Ministry announced a ban on carrying weapons in the capital of Sanaa and in the provincial capitals.
Source: Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, London, August 24, 2007
Related posts:


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Vaastav (1999) - Hindi
Cast: Sanjay Dutt, Namrata Shirodkar, Mohnish Bahl, Ekta Sohini, Reema Lagoo, Shivaji Satham, Kashmira Shah, Deepak Tijori, Paresh Rawal, Mohan Joshi, Ashish Vidyarthi, Himani Shivpuri, Usha Nadkarni, Achyut Potdar, Kishore Nandlaskar
Producer: Deepak
Director: Mahesh Manjrekar
Genre: Action, Drama
Year: 1999
Story: The film is about the lives of people who live in Chawls and are part of the lower middle class of Mumbai. Parts of the film appear inspired by Ram Gopal Varma�s highly acclaimed film Satya. Raghu (Sanjay Dutt) is the younger son in a family living in a chawl in Bombay. His elder brother, ..
Watch Vaastav (1999) Hindi Movie Watch Online:
Found 1 video source(s) on the internet. We have not uploaded below links. We are displaying search result from Google and YouTube


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Karl-Heinz Krüger
From BoxRec
Karl-Heinz Krüger (born December 25, 1953) is a retired boxer, who represented East Germany at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, Soviet Union. There he won the bronze medal in the welterweight division (– 67 kg), after being defeated in the semifinals by eventual gold medalist Andrés Aldama of Cuba. Two years earlier he also captured the bronze, at the second World Championships in Belgrade.
Olympic results
- Defeated Mohammad Ali Eldahhan (Syria) 5-0
- Defeated Lucas Msomba (Tanzania) 5-0
- Defeated Joseph Frost (Great Britain) 5-0
- Lost to Andres Aldama (Cuba) 0-5


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DealNN roundup: 18.4-inch Asus Notebook, cut to $1,349
updated 12:05 pm EDT, Tue September 27, 2011
Deals on laptops, camcorders, and more
Today's deals from DealNN include price breaks on laptops, camcorders and more. Buy.com today is featuring the 18.4-inch Asus NX90JQ-B2 Notebook, complete with Intel Core i7-740QM processor, Blu-ray/DVD combo drive, 4GB of RAM, and Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit operating system. Currently priced at $1,349.99, this laptop has dropped 32% off its original list price and is featured at DealNN.
Macmall.com has recently lowered the cost of the Cisco Flip MinoHD Camcorder by an impressive 75%, which means its once $199.99 list price turns into the new $50.99 sale price, and even includes free ground delivery. The Philips Micro Size Stereo Audio System with clock radio and alarm can be found today at JR.com for only $69.99, making its $20 off its original cost and that's with free shipping also available. Lastly, save $30 after mail-in rebate on the Corsair Builder Series 600W 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply, now priced at $49.99 and listed as one of Newegg.com's deals of the week.


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Signium is an exceptional community of executive search experts who enjoy working together locally and across the globe to provide the best solutions for our clients.
Your success is our success. As experienced business leaders ourselves, we can better understand your overall business challenges and opportunities and provide rich consultative expertise.
Signium's enviable reputation depends on satisfied customers. All Signium consultants are motivated to deliver an exceptional experience for every client and candidate.
*Photo: Signium colleagues at 2014 Second Global Meeting, San Francisco
Our creativity translates into richer shortlists. One size does not fit all. Signium consultants are flexible and willing to tailor the solution to meet your individual requirements.
Our knowledge of local nuances and culture combined with global business networks and understanding of key trends allow us to outperform others in every measure.
Signium Consultants have a wide range of experience in the following industry sectors.
Crown & Marks have been congratulated for supporting four executive team appointments at the University of New England following an international search.
The University of New England has greatly strengthened its management and leadership credentials with four industry lead...
Signium International Welcomes 44th Office in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar
Signium International is pleased to announce the establishment of a new firm in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar (al...
Identifying, Attracting, Evaluating & Committing the Best Available Talent
EXECUTIVE SEARCH ~ a crucial consulting service to ensure the best strategic, leadership and specialist hiring decisions...
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Flight testing
Do You Need
• Support for your own flight test programme?
• A laboratory aircraft with many provisions installed for flight testing, for example: a dedicated electrical power system, hard points for external stores, nose boom (α and β vanes, 5-hole probe), high accuracy positioning system and optical window bottom fuselage (60x60 cm, in Metroliner)?
The objectives that you have for your flight testing can be quite different: R&D, concept evaluation, performance tests, data acquisition for simulation models, demonstration to customers or stakeholders, validation of ground test data, certification.
We Have
A Cessna Citation II laboratory aircraft for flight testing of systems, sensors or procedures from and for our customers. The Citation is equipped with a state-of-the-art cockpit with options for testing customer displays (certified and experimental), controls and concepts.
We operate an internal design and approval organisation for modifications to the aircraft so we can meet customer requirements.
Additionally, we support flight test programmes on other (customer or third party) aircraft and helicopters to define efficient flight test programmes, flight test instrumentation, data acquisition and data processing.
Our Capabilities
Flight Test Operations [900 KB]
NLR Cessna Citation II [3,033 KB]
Supporting ANSPs with CPDLC implementation [1,178 KB]
The measure of success [12,532 KB]
Relevant Issues
Airborne remote sensing
Flight inspection
Flight test methods


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Changes related to "2002-11-22 Jorge Mata w pts 12 Jairo Arango, Sports Palace, Leon, Spain - WBO"
This is a list of changes made recently to pages linked from a specified page (or to members of a specified category). Pages on your watchlist are bold.
No changes during the given period matching these criteria.


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Air quality alert today, with elevated levels of ozone and pollutants are expected to be in the "unhealthy for sensitive groups" range. Excessive heat warning remains in effect until 8 p.m. Friday.
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Georgetown Grad Hired as Men's Lacrosse Assistant
ITHACA, N.Y. - Scott Urick, a two-time All-America selection as captain of the Georgetown Hoyas, was named part-time assistant coach of the Cornell University men's lacrosse team, it was announced Aug. 30 by head coach Jeff Tambroni. Urick's primary responsibility will be working with the Big Red attack.
"Having a player of Scott's ability on the coaching staff will pay immediate dividends in the offensive end," Tambroni said. "His blue-collar style of play certainly fits the personality and character of the program."
Urick, a 2000 graduate with a bachelor's degree in government, led the Hoyas to the NCAA tournament in each of the last four seasons, including the 1999 Final Four. As captain in each of the last two seasons, Urick was voted to the All-America squad. He was also selected to the All-ECAC squad and participated in the North-South all-star game last season.
Urick, a native of Fairfax, Va., helped rewrite the Georgetown record book during his career. He set the single-season marks for both goals (47) and ground balls (97) in 1999, a season which culminated with Urick being named to the NCAA all-tournament team, and he left the Hoyas with the career record for both goals (144) and ground balls (224).
Scott Urick Named Assistant Coach For Cornell
Georgetown Grad Hired as Men's Lacrosse Assistant


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The Long Island Knit & Crochet Guild meets on the second Thursday of each month from 7-9pm at
Merrick Clubhouse
2550 Clubhouse Rd
Merrick, NY 11566
Guests and new members are welcome!
For more information, contact us at liknitcrochetguild at gmail dot com.
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Monthly Guild Meetings
Posted by BOARD MEMBERS at 12:26 PM
1 comment:
Thanks Kim!!!
- May 28, 2014 at 8:11 PM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. Light and variable wind.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 85.
Monday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70.
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You can use most sugar substitutes if you have diabetes, including:
Artificial sweeteners, or sugar substitutes, offer the sweetness of sugar without the calories. Artificial sweeteners are many times sweeter than sugar, so it takes a smaller amount to sweeten foods. This is why foods made with artificial sweeteners may have fewer calories than those made with sugar.
Sugar substitutes don't affect your blood sugar level. In fact, most artificial sweeteners are considered "free foods" — foods containing less than 20 calories and 5 grams or less of carbohydrates — because they don't count as calories or carbohydrates on a diabetes exchange. Remember, however, other ingredients in foods containing artificial sweeteners can still affect your blood sugar level.
Also, be cautious with sugar alcohols — including mannitol, sorbitol and xylitol. Sugar alcohols can increase your blood sugar level. And for some people, sugar alcohols may cause diarrhea.
M. Regina Castro, M.D.
Original article: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/expert-answers/artificial-sweeteners/faq-20058038
Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy linked below.
Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit organization and proceeds from Web advertising help support our mission. Mayo Clinic does not endorse any of the third party products and services advertised.
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RPGFan Music
Nowhere Safe: Unintended Silence
Neal Chandran
Intense storyline, great soundtrack.
Adult characters look like teenagers.
Bottom Line:
A harrowing visual novel whose intensity might be too much for some.
About Our Grading Scale
Game Stats
Reviewed On:
Visual Novel Games
Visual Novel Games
Graphic Adventure
Screen Shots
Yeah, you heard me! NO WIRE HANGERS!!!!
...and probably NOT for the right reasons.
You are NOT leaving this house dressed like that, young man! Go put some decent pants on!
Pop culture references are given subtle name tweaks.
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"Nowhere Safe: Unintended Silence follows in the footsteps of games like Trace Memory and Richard & Alice in that they pack deeply penetrating stories into a handful of hours."
Do characters have to be likeable in order for a story to be compelling? I would argue that they do not. You don't have to like someone in order for him/her to be an engaging character. The most memorable characters are those who elicit intense feelings from us, good or bad.
It is with this in mind that I review Nowhere Safe: Unintended Silence, a visual novel from Red Panda Games' Visual Novel Games division. I can safely say that I did not like any of the characters, save for maybe one. They were all screwed up in their own unique ways, many of them suffering from various forms and severities of mental illness. The depictions of the characters' conditions were very hauntingly written and the storyline, harbored around themes of festering resentment, was heady, depressing, and very mature. This is certainly not a game for the faint of heart, and even an experienced visual novel reviewer like me felt its impact.
The story is told through the eyes of Kimiko, a young woman rendered agoraphobic due to a violent trauma in her past. Apparently, in the events of the prior Nowhere Safe game, Kimiko was brutally raped by a murderous psychopath and is now stuck with the 6 year-old daughter of that rape and a fiancée who's growing more distant and cold by the day. Not only is the child's presence a constant reminder of Kimiko's past, much like Hester Prynne's daughter in The Scarlet Letter, but she is quietly displaying unsettling sociopathic tendencies at school. I could tell you more about the story, but doing so would require revealing spoilers and even non-spoiler content that would overly soften the game's intense content.
The game may not have a novel's worth of exposition due to its short length (100% completion can be reached in less than a day), but the characters and themes were blown wide open, and I was treated to more character development than I've seen in many epic 40-50 hour RPGs. The five endings and the sixth "Easter Egg" ending were all quite disturbing, even the supposed "good" endings. Some people might be put off that the game is really short, but honestly, I wouldn't want it to last any longer. It's perfectly paced, hits huge emotional notes when needed, and never wears out its welcome. Any longer, and the game would feel padded and overwrought. The only caveat I have is that not having played the first Nowhere Safe game takes away some of the impact of the characters' backstories and connections. Although I was able to get up to speed with everyone, thanks to some expository summaries, it still felt like I was thrown into the middle of a story and had missed out on important information to truly flesh out the plot and characters.
Progressing through the story is just like any other visual novel. You read text until presented with a branching choice. The choices made determine the ending received and each path reveals more of the storyline like layers of an onion. It is best to explore every branch and see every ending so you can omnipotently uncover every layer of the story. It is possible to play the flash version of the game online for free, but paying the $4.99 for download offers a few nice bonuses: full screen support, game saves remain even after clearing your Internet history, higher quality audio and video, and the good feeling of supporting an indie developer (maybe even with some tangible incentive bonuses). Whether you think that's a good value for your money is up to you, since the game can be played for free, but the emotionally draining storyline is worth experiencing.
Punctuating the storyline are great environment graphics and a lovely soundtrack. Since the protagonist is agoraphobic, the graphics for the house, while homey, feel stifling. By contrast, the outside environments look far more vivid. Some outdoor environments even take on a surreal bent that looks very dreamlike. The heady music does a stellar job of enhancing the atmosphere. The music is often sinister without being cheesy, there are moments where the silence speaks more volumes than any piece of music could, and the vocal theme at the title screen is delightfully haunting. There are a couple of voiced lines here and there, but the game has no voice acting. This works very well because the brief times there are voiced sounds jarred me the right way at the right time; unlike, say, Xenogears where a couple of voiced lines outside of cutscenes felt completely random. The only issue I have with the aesthetics is that the adult characters look way too young. Parents in their 30s should not look like glossy anime teenagers, yet Kimiko's fiancée and his twin brother don't look a day over 16. In addition, I found the character art too glossy and "tropey" for such a morose storyline. The character art gets the job done, but a more fitting stylistic choice could have been made.
Nowhere Safe: Unintended Silence follows in the footsteps of games like Trace Memory and Richard & Alice in that they pack deeply penetrating stories into a handful of hours. I never once felt cheated by those games' short durations. In fact, I've actually felt more cheated by some 40+ hour RPGs where at least half of those hours consisted of needlessly ancillary padding. Nowhere Safe: Unintended Silence may not be right for everyone, but I do urge players who value story to try it out. The full game can be played for free online, so there's no excuse not to check it out.
© 2013 Visual Novel Games. All rights reserved.
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More Lessons From A JavaScript Code Review
Before we start, I'd like to pose a question: when was the last time you asked someone to review your code? Reviewing code is possibly the single best technique to improve the overall quality of your solutions, and if you're … Continue reading →
Avoiding The Quirks: Lessons From A JavaScript Code Review
I was recently asked to review some code for a new JavaScript application and thought I might share some of the feedback I provided as it includes a mention of JavaScript fundamentals that are always useful to bear in mind. … Continue reading →
My name is Addy Osmani. I'm an engineer at Google working with the Chrome team to build tools to help improve developer productivity and satisfaction.
I've also written 'Developing Backbone.js Applications' and 'Learning JavaScript Design Patterns'.
First do it, then do it right, then do it better. This is one fundamental I always keep in mind when developing anything.
If you're a developer wishing to learn something new, regardless of skill-level, remember that as important as it is to read, it's equally as important to get out there and *do*.
Create a new gist or JSBin, pop open the console and experiment. It's effing fun.


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For all those planning to work collaboratively or in a consortium, this workshop will offer a conversation with colleagues from Camden Futures, a partnership of local organisations in Camden who have recently received substantial funding from the Big Lottery Fund to deliver joined up support to families.
Visit the Camden Futures website
Alexis Keir, Director of Elfrida Rathbone Camden, and a colleague from Camden CAB, will start off by sharing their experiences, after all the weeks of planning, of collaboration in practice. Please come with your questions or concerns to share with others.
Tea and coffee provided.
Places are limited.
Voluntary Action Westminster is a registered charity (no. 1068824) and is registered as a company in England and Wales with company number 03518124. Copyright Voluntary Action Westminster 2009