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So far in this series, I've had no luck finding Chrysler Cordobas from the first couple years of production. We've seen this '78 (which provided me with a beautiful Corinthian Leather garage couch), this '79, and this '80 prior to today, and now we've got a genuine, Ricardo-approved 1976 Cordoba. (Read More…)
Tag: Ricardo Montalban
The Chrysler E-Class— based on the K platform and built for the 1983 and 1984 model years only— wasn't quite as opulent as the car we associate Señor Montalban with today, but it talked! (Read More…)
We make fun of the Cordoba today— hell, we made fun of the Cordoba when it was new— but wouldn't Fiat be wise to slather at least one 2011 Chrysler with "gold"-plated-plastic medallions and get some smooth-voiced macho man to pitch it on TV? (Read More…)


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Celebrated as one of the greatest films of all time, "Persona" (1966) was written and directed by famed Swedish director Ingmar Bergman ("The Seventh Seal", "Wild Strawberries").
Bergman is said to have arrived at the idea for the film when he was in ill in the hospital and saw a picture of actresses Liv Ullman and Bibi Andersson. He noticed a striking likeness in their facial features. This spurned him into writing the script in 14 days during his stay at the hospital.
While all of Bergman's films challenged the idea of cinematic conventions, "Persona" takes that notion the farthest, subverting our understanding of the cinema and simultaneously rewriting what we consider possible. The film is called a "poem in images." There are moments in which we do not understand what's happening or are able to articulate what we're feeling; yet, there isn't a single moment that we do not feel. That's the power of "Persona."
"Persona" tells the story of Elisabeth (a superb Liv Ullmann), a famous actress who has a mental breakdown and ends up in the hospital. For some reason, only apparent to her, Elisabeth has stopped speaking entirely and will not talk to anyone. She is assigned a nurse, Alma (a terrifyingly powerful performance from Bibi Andersson), who begins to take care of her and develops a certain affection for her. Alma eventually takes Elisabeth to a house in the country to take care of her and get her away from the city. Their days are spent with Alma talking about her childhood and her thoughts on life, while Elisabeth says nothing and listens. They form a strange bond with one another.
"Persona" marks the sixth collaboration between Bergman and director of photography Sven Nykvist, who's contribution to the light and images in the film cannot be overstated. This is one of the most painfully beautiful films I've seen. Every composition, every human face, every camera move is exact and emotional. Such is the case with any film by Bergman. "Persona" in particular is remarkable in the way it uses the camera to psychologically endanger and rattle the audience. Bergman is a master director of actors, and here he pulls unparalleled performances from his two leads.
Andersson is the stand out. One second she's cool and sexy and in control, the next second she's mad and exploding with genuine anguish. Ullmann is not in any way out-acted, even though her character speaks only twice in the film. Her expressive, watchful eyes guide the audience through the entire film, as we seem to vicariously experience the film through her.
Bergman is one of the rare filmmakers who never had an opus as all of his works were varying masterpieces on different subjects. Changing tides of interest created stages in his career; yet, there was a brutal commonality to everything he did — using the camera to observe the frailty and pain of human emotion as seen on the landscape of the human face. Each of his films were a dream — some of them nightmares — and they gave us entry into feelings and moods that we could've never experienced reading a book, listening to music or observing a painting. As Woody Allen stated, Bergman was a true "film artist."

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(SPEARVILLE, Kan.) — A 19-year-old from Texas dies in a crash Wednesday in Ford County.
The crash happened just after 5:30 p.m. on Eagle Road about six-and-a-half miles west of Spearville. The Kansas Highway Patrol says 19-year-old Thomas Vernard Mosley, Jr., of Humble, Texas was driving west on Eagle Road when for some reason he ran off the road.
The KHP says Mosley over-corrected, went off the other side of the road and hit an embankment. Mosley was taken to a Dodge City hospital where he died. He was not wearing a seat belt.


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You Should Have Known by Jean Hanff Korelitz
Grand Central • $26 • ISBN 9781455599493
on sale March 18, 2014
buy from: Amazon | Indiebound | B & N
Jean Hanff Korelitz's You Should Have Known is so full of smoldering suspense that I devoured all 450 pages of it in two sittings. Grace Reinhart Sachs has the perfect life: a thriving career as a psychologist; her first book—a relationship-focused, self-help book called, you guessed it, You Should Have Known—on the verge of publication with lots of pre-pub buzz; Henry, her sweet, intelligent 12-year-old son, who attends an exclusive Manhattan prep school, her own alma mater; a comfortable "classic six" on the Upper East Side, the very apartment she grew up in; and Jonathan, her saintly, charming, pediatric oncologist husband of 18 years.
Of course, we all know that things aren't always what they seem from the outside, but sometimes they aren't what they seem from the inside, either . . . as Grace soon finds out. A violent death sends her community reeling, but the shocking crime is only a prelude to the gut-wrenching, gob-smacking truths about to be exposed in this supremely entertaining page-turner. In this excerpt from the beginning of the book—to whet your appetite—Grace is being photographed for a Vogue article about her forthcoming book:
Grace leaned forward. The lens seemed so close, only inches away. She wondered if she could look through it and see his eye on the other side; she peered deep into it, but there was only the glassy dark surface and the thunderous clicking noise; no one was in there. Then she wondered if she would feel the same if it were Jonathan holding the camera, but she actually couldn't remember a single time when Jonathan had held a camera, Click, let alone a camera this close to her face. She was the default photographer in her family, though with none of the bells and whistles currently on display in her little office, and with none of Ron's evident skill, and with no passion at all for the form. She was the one who took the birthday pictures and the camp visiting-weekend pictures, Click, the photo of Henry asleep in his Beethoven costume, and Click, the photo of him playing chess with his grandfather, Click, her own favorite picture of Jonathan, minues after finishing a Memorial Day road race up at the lake, with a cup of water thrown over his face and an expression of unmistakable pride and just distinguishable lust. Or was it only in retrospect, Grace thought, Click, that she had always seen lust in that picture, because later, running the numbers, she had realized that Henry was about to be conceived, just hours after it was taken. After Jonathan had eaten a bit and stood for a long time under a hot shower, after he had taken her to her own childhood bed and, Click, saying her name again and again, and she remembered feeling so happy, and, Click, so utterly lucky, and not because they were in the act of making the child she wanted so badly, but because at that specific moment even the possibility of that did not matter to her, nothing but him and, Click, them and this, and now the memory of this, rushing up to the surface: the eye and the other eye through the lense that must be looking back.
"That's nice," Ron said, lowering the camera. Now she could see his eye again: brown, after all, and utterly unremarkable. Grace nearly laughed in embarrassment. "No, it was good," he said, misunderstanding. "And you're done."
Done, indeed. Will you be checking out You Should Have Known? What are you reading this week?
Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer
FSG Originals • $13 • ISBN 9780374104092
published on February 4, 2014
buy from: Indiebound | B & N | Amazon
A psychologist, surveyor, biologist and anthropologist go into the woods . . . well, not the woods, exactly. The premise of Jeff VanderMeer's Annihilation—the first in his Southern Reach trilogy, all due out this year—is oh-so-intriguing. The aforementioned quartet make up the 12th expedition into a place called Area X, the site of a former environmental disaster that's oddly teeming with lushness and wildlife. The fates of the members of the first 11 expeditions—murder, suicide, cancer—will send a shiver up your spine, and the mounting sense of foreboding in the first couple of chapters is outweighed only (though greatly) by an overwhelming curiosity to find out how this expeditions unfolds . . . or unravels. The imprint chosen for Annihilation—FSG Originals—couldn't be more perfect for this intense, unpredictable, clever thriller. Here's an excerpt from the beginning of the book:
There were four of us: a biologist, an anthropologist, a surveyor, and a psychologist. I was the biologist. All of us were women this time, chosen as part of the complex set of variables that governed sending the expeditions. The psychologist, who was older than the rest of us, served as the expedition's leader. She had put us all under hypnosis to cross the border, to make sure we remained calm. It took five days of hard hiking after crossing the border to reach the coast.
Our mission was simple: to continue the government's investigation into the mysteries of Area X, slowly working our way out from base camp.
The expedition could last days, months, or even years, depending on various stimuli and conditions. We had supplies with us for four months, and another two years' worth of supplies had already been stored at the base camp. We had also been assured that it was safe to live off the land if necessary. All of our food stuffs were smoked or canned or in packets. Our most outlandish equipment consisted of a measuring device that had been issued to each of us, which hung from a strap on our belts: a small rectangle of black metal with a glass-covered hole in the middle. If the hole glowed red, we had thirty minutes to remove ourselves to "a safe place." We were not told what the device measured or why we should be afraid should it glow red. After the first few hours, I had grown so used to it that I hadn't looked at it again. We had been forbidden watches and compasses.
What do you think? Will you be checking out Annihilation? What are you reading this week?
I recently came across this vintage 1930s library poster on the Library of Congress site proclaiming March as a month to read books "you've always meant to read." It was the perfect prompt to reassess my ever-growing TBR list and focus on some of the books that have been lingering on there for a while.
While I'm not reaching as far back chronologically as the examples on the poster (Dickens! Eliot! Clemens!), here are three books that I've decided to move to the top of my stack this month:
Beautiful Ruins
By Jess Walter
I feel like I'm the last person on the entire planet who hasn't read Beautiful Ruins, which has been collecting dust on my bookshelf for a year. The 1960s, behind-the-scenes peeks into the wacky film industry, a crazy love story? Yes, please! Plus, a little armchair travel to the Italian coast and sunny California sounds like the perfect way to pass the last couple of weeks of winter.
I love historical fiction, particularly relating to the Tudors. The real-life goings-on within the court of Henry VIII couldn't have been more intriguing had they been scripted by the likes of George R.R. Martin. Corruption, ego, excess, scheming, and a Man Booker Prize—sounds like Wolf Hall has the perfect ingredients for a thrilling read that I'm looking forward to diving into.
As a huge fan of both Pride and Prejudice and "Downton Abbey," it's practically a crime—or a head-scratcher at the very least—that I haven't read Longbourn yet. This critically praised re-imagining of the Austen classic—told from the perspective of the Bennett household servants—landed on our Best Books of 2013 list, and I'm hoping that reading it will take some of the sting out of the recent end of Downton's fourth season.
But what about you, readers? Is there a book that's been lingering on your TBR list that you might move up to the top this month? If so, we want to know what it is—share in the comments below!
A Girl Walks into a Bar: Your Fantasy, Your Rules by Helena S. Paige
Morrow • $14.99 • ISBN 9780062291974
published February 4, 2014
I had a Pavlovian response when I first saw this book. Like so many other kids growing up (way) back in the '80s, I regularly devoured "Choose Your Own Adventure" books, so holding one written for grown-up women about an adventurous single gal's night on the town . . . well, it sure sounded like a lot of fun to me! Author Helena S. Paige (actually a pseudonym for three writers: Helen Moffett, Sarah Lotz and Paige Nick) opens the book with you getting ready to meet a friend at a bar—your first choice will be what kind of undies you'll put on (which reminded me of the "absolutely enormous" knickers scene from Bridget Jones's Diary). Which of the four options you choose will set you on your way to an unforgettable adventure.
The book is described by the publisher as a "choose-your-own-erotic-destiny novel." There are indeed erotic parts, but they're balanced with plenty of fun and humor. Fans of Maya Banks, Sylvia Day and the Fifty Shades series will most enjoy this one—particularly if they gather with friends and a bottle of wine, and read it aloud.
Here's a scene to draw you into the adventure:
A taxi pulls up in front of you, interrupting your thoughts, and the driver gets out and leans over the roof of the car.
"Finally! That must have been the world's longest five minutes!" you say to him, hands on your hips.
He looks at a piece of paper he's holding, his face confused. "Mr. Cornetto?" he aske.
"No!" you snap. "I called you almost half an hour ago. Your guy said you'd be five minutes!"
"I'm afraid this taxi is for a Mr. Cornetto."
"I think you must mean me," says a voice from behind. You whirl around, ready to confront whoever is trying to steal your taxi, and you're taken aback when you see the sexy salt-and-pepper guy who rescued you from Chest Wig earlier. Mr. Intense. The guy who smells like a blend of cedar and leather. The one who could give George Clooney a run for his money. Miles, was it?
"Oh, it's you," you say. Then redden with embarrassment. At this rate, you're going to slay him with your wit.
"Is everything all right?" he asks, looking from you to the taxi driver.
"Everything's fine. I was just waiting for a taxi, but this isn't it."
"Well, there's no reason it couldn't be," he says. "Why don't we share it?"
"No, I wouldn't want to impose—it's fine, really. He offered me a ride, too," you say, indicating the bodyguard on the corner, who's having some kind of altercation with whoever's on the phone. "And anyway, you already helped me out once tonight."
"Are you sure? Your friend looks like he's got his hands full."
He's so attractive that you struggle not to stare. Dropping your head, you notice you're still clutching the "Immaculata" invitation. Your thoughts buzz as you try to decide what to do next.
• If you go to the art exhibition, go to page 52.
• If you share a taxi with the George Clooney look-alike, go to page 105.
• If you take a ride home in the sports car with the bodyguard, go to page 162.
What are you reading this Valentine's Day week?
Quesadillas: A Novel by Juan Pablo Villalobos
FSG Originals • $14 • ISBN 9780374533953
On sale February 11, 2014
In Juan Pablo Villalobos' highly hilarious second novel, Quesadillas, the 38-year-old narrator recounts being a teenager growing up in the 1980s in the small Mexican town of Lagos de Moreno. Orestes ("Oreo") is one of seven children—all named after infamous Greeks—born to a high school civics teacher with anger management issues and his homemaker wife, who seems to spend most of her time making quesadillas for her large family and trying to calm her husband down. Money is tight; political upheaval is in the air; and rumors of alien abductions swirl. All of this adds up to a wildly funny farce that's also surprisingly moving.
Here's the opening of the book, which features one of the most memorable first sentences I've ever read. F-bombs (authentic—not the condensed ones below) abound, but they're there to make a point (swiftly and deftly illustrating the character of the narrator's father)—and even the narrator is apologetic for it.
"Go and f— your f—ing mother, you bastard, f— off!"
I know this isn't an appropriate way to begin, but the story of me and my family is full of insults. If I'm really going to report everything that happened, I'm going to have to write down a whole load of mother-related insults. I swear there's no other way to do it, because the story unfolded in the place where I was born and grew up, Lagos de Moreno, in Los Altos, Jalisco, a region that, to add insult to injury, is located in Mexico. Allow me to point out a few things about my town, for those of you who have not been there: there are more cows than people, more charro horsemen than horses, more priests than cows, and the people like to believe in the existence of ghosts, miracles, spaceships, saints and so forth.
"Bastards! They're sons of bitches! They must think we're f—ing stupid!"
The one shouting was my father, a professional insulter. He practised at all hours, but his most intense session, the one he seemed to have spent the day in training for, took place from nine to ten, dinnertime. And when the news was on. The nightly routine was an explosive mixture: quesadillas on the table and politicians on the TV.
"F—ing robbers! Corrupt bastards!"
Can you believe that my father was a high-school teacher?
With a mouth like that?
With a mouth like that.
What do you think, readers? Will you be checking out Quesadillas? What are you reading this week?
Careless People: Murder, Mayhem, and the Invention of The Great Gatsby
by Sarah Churchwell
Penguin Press • $29.95 • ISBN 9781594204746
On sale January 23, 2014
Some people may be tired of reading about F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby and the 1920s . . . but I'm not one of them. My feet are firmly planted in the can't-get-enough camp when it comes to my favorite novel of all time. Which is why, this week, I'm reading Sarah Churchwell's new book, Careless People: Murder, Mayhem, and the Invention of The Great Gatsby.
In it, Churchwell focuses on one particular year in the life of Fitzgerald: 1922, the very year in which The Great Gatsby would be set (and, many say, the pivotal year that ushered in modernism). In 1922, Fitzgerald was just 26 and a rising literary star. He and Zelda settled right in the midst of a bustling New York City (and on Long Island), partying it up with the literati and everyone else snubbing their noses at Prohibition. As Churchwell points out, Fitzgerald was also doing a little first-hand research for a new book idea.
In her meticulous research, Churchwell combed through Fitzgerald's Princeton archives, through old newspaper articles, and other historical records, resulting in this fascinating account of a brilliant writer, a vibrant city and a tiny slice of American history and culture. While reading, you can almost imagine how the wheels must have turned in Fitzgerald's head.
In this excerpt, Churchwell describes the familiar landscape that Scott and Zelda (accompanied by none other than John Dos Passos) drove through while on a car trip from Manhattan to Long Island, where they were hunting for a house to rent:
About halfway between New York and Great Neck, just beneath Flushing Bay, stood the towering Corona Dumps, vast mountains of fuel ash that New York had been heaping on swampland beyond the city limits since 1895, in a landfill created by the construction of the Long Island Rail Road. By the time the ash dumps were leveled in the late 1930s (and eventually recycled to form the Long Island Expressway), the mounds of ash were nearly a hundred feet tall in places; the highest peak was locally given the ironic name Mount Corona. . . . By 1922, desolate, towering mountains of ashes and dust stretched four miles long and over a mile across, alongside the road that linked the glamor of Manhattan to the Gold Coast. In the distance could be seen the steel frames of new apartment buildings braced against the sky to the west. Refuse stretched in all directions, with goats wandering through and old women searching among the litter for some redeemable object.
What are you reading this week?
The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon
Doubleday • $25.95 • ISBN 9780385538497 • on sale February 11, 2014
Could there be a more apropos time to read Jennifer McMahon's chilling new novel, The Winter People, than while a "polar vortex" funnels arctic air across much of the country? One thing's for sure—this is a super-creepy book. Like, sleep-with-the-lights-on, close-the-closet-door scary, with plenty of hair-raising moments that will linger in your thoughts long after reading them.
Haunting in more ways than one, The Winter People is primarily set in West Hall, a remote small town in Vermont. The story alternates between the diary of Sara Harrison Shea, who was brutally murdered back in 1908 shortly after the heartbreaking death of her young daughter, and a present-day mystery revolving around the disappearance of Alice—who happens to live in the old Shea farmhouse. Alice's daughters, Ruthie and Fawn, go in search of their mother and end up making some horrifying discoveries about the past and themselves. Add in some unexpected twists, and you've got a genuine page-turner.
Here's the opening entry from Sara's diary, to lure you in:
January 29, 1908
The first time I saw a sleeper, I was nine years old. It was the spring before Papa sent Auntie away—before we lost my brother, Jacob. My sister, Constance, had married the fall before and moved to Graniteville.
I was up exploring in the woods, near the Devil's Hand, where Papa had forbidden us to play. The trees were leafing out, making a lush green canopy overhead. The sun had warmed the soil, giving the damp woods a rich, loamy smell. Here and there beneath the beech, sugar maple, and birch trees were spring flowers: trilliums, trout lilies, and my favorite, jack-in-the-pulpit, a funny little flower with a secret: if you lifted the striped hood, you'll find the preacher underneath. Auntie had shown me this, and taught me that you could dig up the tubers and cook them like turnips. I had just found one and was pulling back the hood, looking for the tiny figure underneath, when I heard footsteps, slow and steady, moving my way. Heavy feet dragging through the dry leaves, stumbling on roots. I wanted to run, but froze with panic, having squatted down low behind a rock just as a figure moved into the clearing.
I recognized her at once—Hester Jameson.
She'd died two weeks before from typhoid fever. I had attended her funeral with Papa and Jacob, seen her laid to rest in the cemetery behind the church up by Cranberry Meadow. Everyone from school was there, all in Sunday best.
Look for our review of The Winter People—our Top Pick in fiction for February!—in next month's issue of BookPage.
What do you think, readers? Will you be adding this to your TBR list? What are you reading this week?
Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh
Touchstone • $17.99 • ISBN 9781451666175
Published October 29, 2013
If you're familiar with Allie Brosh's wildly popular blog, Hyperbole and a Half, then you're no doubt jumping for joy that she's just published a book based on it. If all of this is new to you, trust me—by the third page in, you will be simply in love with the odd little being depicted on the book's cover. Trust me. That odd—crudely drawn yet o-so-expressive—little being represents Brosh in this amusing (often laugh-out-loud), honest and touching collection of illustrated essays about her life, from her childhood antics to living with dogs to her struggle with chronic depression as an adult—and lots of moments in between.
Already a New York Times bestseller, Hyperbole and a Half brims with warmth and sincerity, even—perhaps most—when Brosh is at her most self-deprecating. Crack it open, and you will crack a smile; you most definitely will laugh; and you'll no doubt look forward to more adventures with that odd little being.
What do you think, readers? Will you be reading this book? What are you reading this week?
I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai
Little, Brown • $26 • ISBN 9780316322409
Published October 8, 2013
On Tuesday, October 9, 2012, 15-year-old Pakistani Malala Yousafzai was on her way home after school when she was shot in the head at point-blank range. This was no random act of violence. Her hometown of Mingora, in the Swat Valley, had recently come under the control of the Taliban, who are known to vigorously oppose the education of girls. Malala—whose parents had always encouraged her education, her father even founding her school—did not shy away from publicly speaking out about her belief in the right of all girls to go to school. Doing so made her a target, leading to that fateful October afternoon.
Defying all odds and expectations, Malala survived the shooting, making a full recovery and more determined than ever to fight for the right of girls around the world to be educated. I Am Malala is her story—a story that is simply incredible, simply unforgettable, simply inspiring. Here are her eloquent and powerful opening words:
I come from a country that was created at midnight. When I almost died it was just after midday.
One year ago I left my home for school and never returned. I was shot by a Taliban bullet and was flown out of Pakistan unconscious. Some people say I will never return home, but I believe firmly in my heart that I will. To be torn from the country that you love is not something to wish on anyone.
Now, every morning when I open my eyes, I long to see my old room full of my things my clothes all over the floor, and my school prizes on the shelves. Instead I am in a country which is five hours behind my beloved homeland Pakistan and my home in the Swat Valley. But my country is centuries behind this one. Here there is every convenience you can imagine. Water running from every tap, hot or cold as you wish; lights at the flick of a switch, day and night, no need for oil lamps; ovens to cook on that don't need anyone to go and fetch gas cylinders from the bazaar. Here everything is so modern one can even find food ready cooked in packets.
When I stand in front of my window and look out, I see tall buildings, long roads full of vehicles moving in orderly lines, neat green hedges and lawns, and tidy pavements to walk on. I close my eyes and for a moment I am back in my valley—the high snow-topped mountains, green waving fields and fresh blue rivers—and my heart smiles when it looks at the people of Swat. My mind transports me back to my school and there I am reunited with my friends and teachers. I meet my best friend Moniba and we sit together, talking and joking as if I had never left.
Then I remember I am in Birmingham, England.
Goodbye to All That: Writers on Loving and Leaving New York
Edited by Sari Botton
Seal Press • $16 • ISBN 9781580054942
Published October 8, 2013
The love affair between writers and New York City goes way back. Taking its title from a 1967 Joan Didion essay, Goodbye to All That features musings by a stellar list of 28 women writers sharing their own experiences of NYC—discussing the initial allure, eventual disillusionment (for some) and everything in between.
Ann Hood writes about the magnetic pull she felt toward the city from an early age and how when she finally arrived "it felt as if all my cells settled into place . . . and I became exactly who I was supposed to be." Emma Straub writes about growing up in NYC, "my jungle gym and playmate all at once." And Cheryl Strayed shares how she eventually realized that "much as I loved it, I wasn't truly in love."
Reading these brief, intimate essays feels like you're chatting—commiserating, in my case, since I inhabited NYC for six years—with a friend over coffee. Here's an excerpt from Ann Hood's essay, "Manhattan, Always Out of Reach":
My first apartment was at 228 Sullivan Street, in a former convent painted pink, its Caribbean exterior a sharp contrast to all the grimy black around it. The day I moved in, I boldly left my 300-square-foot studio and walked the maze of Greenwich Village. The guy from 47F was going to show up that night, so the entire day stretched out before me without obligation or purpose. I wandered into Three Lives Bookstore to browse, into Café Reggio for a cappuccino, into the Third Street Bazaar and the Grand Union and every tiny store that sold earrings or posters or fruit or magazines. At some point on that journey, it felt as if all my cells settled into place, as if my body had shifted, rearranged itself, and I became exactly who I was supposed to be.
I will never leave here, I thought that June afternoon. That thought repeated itself almost daily as my first summer moved along. It was a very hot summer, relentlessly so. I would go to the Grand Union supermarket on Bleeker Street and stand in the frozen food section to cool off, or I would ride the Staten Island ferry for a nickel round-trip and stand at the front each way to catch a breeze thick with East River stench. On the Fourth of July, I joined the throngs on the closed FDR Drive to watch fireworks. I will never leave here, I thought as the neon colors exploded over the river.
What do you think, readers? Will you be checking out Goodbye to All That? What are you reading this week?


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FBK Products - They have sent the wrong contract twice in one week
- Aug 28, 2013 2013-08-28 11:55:34
- FBK Products
- Appliances and Electronics
- Appliance Insurance
- 76
I took out this insurance in case my air conditioner ever weny out. Well, finally, after being with the company 3 years, the compressor went out. I asked them for two weeks now to send me my original contract and so far they have sent me two contract which is not the correct one. The ones they have sent did not include air conditioners. The contract they sent me which is not the one I paid for.... Read more ›Was this review helpful? 0 0 by anonymous


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- Filed Under
I wish to applaud the highway planners responsible for the greatly improved termination of Berryhill Road in Pace.
The safety afforded by the changes made are, in my opinion, in sharp contrast to the hazards generated by the installation of turnabouts on the U.S. 90 causeway a while back. Recent accidents there suggest the need for considering shutting them down. It only takes a minute more for a driver to proceed to a controlled intersection where a much safer turn around can be made.
I recently expressed my opinion on this matter, and see no evidence that anyone has responded to it. Does anyone care?
- Dean Glick
Poor job fair
I was amazed at the coverage, or lack thereof, for the job fair on March 11 in Pensacola.
I know I am not the only one who thought it was a complete waste of time. The lack of organization and mass amount of people were just the beginning. Most of us came out with the promise of vendors hiring on the spot, which was not the case. The limited amount of vendors present mixed with an excess of job seekers was a recipe for disaster.
We were told that once we waited in line to meet with a vendor, we had to sit down and wait for another opportunity to get in line for another vendor. I have never been to a job fair run this way. The first to arrive should have been given the opportunity to meet with each vendor and then the next to arrive to do the same.
It was a major disappointment and appeared to be more of a PR stunt by the new mayor than anything else.
- Katharine Adams
Obama's commitment
Our faithless commander-in-chief just went over the top! He has denied his avowed Christian faith by endorsing same-sex marriage while "testifying" as "a friend of the court" in his recent address regarding the Supreme Court's deliberation on the topic.
A true Christian's views on certain issues do not "evolve," as Obama suggests. There are a large number of instructions in scripture that are absolute and not up for debate or "evolution." One of those is that homosexuality is a sin. In the Christian faith, we are instructed to repent our sins and ask forgiveness. Clearly, an endorsement of that lifestyle by the president would certainly delay any such move toward repentance. Ever hear of a recovering homosexual?
In spite of what the president may think, the United States is still a Christian nation, founded upon Christian laws and principles. We respect our nation's laws, and those of us who are true Christians try to follow God's laws as well. Do we always succeed? No! But God's standards don't evolve, and the height of the bar never changes.
It seems time for Obama to revisit his spirituality to determine the depth of his commitment to God's laws.
- Mick Chambers


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The 2007 Legislature approved increased high school graduation requirements, which will first impact Idaho students who enter the ninth grade in the fall of 2009 (graduating class of 2013).
The Idaho State Board of Education worked extensively to create the new requirements to ensure all Idaho students are prepared to live, work and succeed in the 21st century. The Board held a series of public meetings and gathered input from all educational stakeholders across the state, including parents, teachers, administrators, legislators, and business and county leaders, before crafting the new requirements.
The new rule requires that all students:
The rule also requires school districts to offer students at least one advanced opportunity, such as concurrent credit, Advanced Placement or tech prep courses.
|Click Here to read the complete Administrative Rules for high school graduation requirements.
|High School Graduation Requirements Updated 08/20/2014
|FAQs About Requirements
|Jerome High School Senior Project Handbook 2008-2009 — For more information regarding the Jerome School District Senior Project please contact (208) 324-2392.
|Wood River High School Senior Project 2008-2009 — For more information regarding the Wood River High School Senior Project please contact Amy McGraw at (208) 578-5020.
|Idaho Human Rights Article
|Pocatello/Chubbuck School District Senior Project - 2010


text:
My dad Gerald is 75 years old. He fishes everyday he can. It's amazing to watch him. This is his latest catch.
Geralds 32 lb. salmon
By: Terhun5Subscribe Channel: Fish Tales
2 Comments
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says ... on Saturday, Sep 13 at 5:32 AM
Way to go Gerald!!!!!!!!!!!! Keep on catching!!!!
says ... on Friday, Sep 12 at 7:44 AM
wow.. nice catch! I'll put this one on tv at around 6:20 am .. on Monday morning's newscast. Thanks for sending.. Rhonda


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I think it's time you grow up....your post was complete childlike. If your a trader, you know the ups and downs. You know that people gain and lose - pushing people's nose in disaster is a sign of a weak human being and far less professional if you do this for a living.
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text:
[Posted 11/28/2012]
AUDIENCE: Pharmacy, Patient, Health Professional
ISSUE: On November 9, 2012, Ranbaxy Inc. initiated a voluntary recall of 41 affected lots of Atorvastatin Calcium Tablets (10 mg, 20 mg and 40 mg) which is a solid oral dosage form, to the retail level. The Company is taking this voluntary action as a precautionary measure due to the fact that we cannot exclude the possibility that the affected lots may contain very small glass particles resembling a fine grain of sand (less than 1 mm in size). Because of the size of the particles which may be present in the affected lots it is unlikely to cause a significant safety concern. However, the possibility of adverse experiences arising primarily due to physical irritation cannot be ruled out.
BACKGROUND: The product is used to lower blood cholesterol and is packaged in plastic bottles, as 90 and 500 tablets per bottle. The affected lots of Atorvastatin Calcium Tablets and their respective NDC code, expiration date information can be found in the Firm Press Release. The recall does not affect or relate to the 80 mg dosage strength of Atorvastatin Calcium Tablets.
RECOMMENDATION: Consumers should immediately contact their physician or healthcare provider if they have experienced any problems that may be related to taking or using this drug product.
Healthcare professionals and patients are encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of these products to the FDA's MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program:
[11/29/2012 - Questions and Answers - FDA]
[11/29/2012 - FDA Statement - FDA]
[11/28/2012 - Firm Press Release - Ranbaxy Inc.]


text:
TRX Helps Drummers Hear The DRK
TRX has released a line of New DRK Cymbals to appeal to modern players.
Summer NAMM 2015: MXL
MXL debuts a full set of microphone solutions for touring, rehearsal, and live stage environments, built specifically with dynamic options to compliment being on stage.
Summer NAMM 2015: Clear Tune In-Ear Monitors
Clear Tune In-Ear Monitors offer seven models of custom in-ears for every musician, at an affordable price point. These products give a full frequency range with a crisp and clear sound, perfect for live performances.
MXL Introduces Drum Microphone Pack
MXL introduces a pack of three new drum mics.
Record Your Beats With MXLLos Angeles MXL Microphones introduced the MXL DRUM PA-5K e-piece microphone pack last week. The three-piece system covers the basic needs of performing drummers and includes MXL A-55 Kicker dynamic kick drum mic, and two MXL A-5t dynamic tom mics.
Play Drums? Red Six Wants To Be Your Brand
Red Six is a new brand that wants to be the drummer's go-to source for shirts, and apparel as well as performance accessories.
Korn's Krome KitSilveria wanted a mirror finish set for Korn's 2003 "Take A Look In The Mirror" tour. Tama didn't offer a mirror finish in their Starclassic Series at the time, so the company adapted a Rock Chrome finish from another line to make this one-of-a-kind custom set, which Silveria played on at least two Korn tours and albums.
Dream Goes To China For Ignition CymbalsTo clearly explain what's good, what's great, and what's average about Dream's Ignition series cymbals, we have to step back and review some cymbal- making basics.
Chicago Drum Show 2015: Craviotto
David Victor lets us check out Craviotto's Center Stage kit, a beautifully hand-crafted custom made drum set.
Keep Quiet With ZildjianThe L80 Low Volume cymbal is perfect for drummers looking for a quieter sound without losing the authentic feel of a Zildjian cymbal.


text:
ANTELOPE, CA - A police drawing of a man who sexually assaulted a young woman on an Antelope school campus last month has been released by the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department in the hope someone will recognize the individual and contact them.
The attack took place on Nov. 25 at approximately 8:30 p.m. on the campus of Olive Grove Elementary School on the 7900 block of Firestone Way. Sheriff's Sgt. Jason Ramos said the 19-year-old woman was approached by the man, had a short conversation with him and then the two went their separate ways.
However, as the woman walked around the school campus, the same man came up to her again, grabbed her and raped her, Ramos said. The man then ran away.
The assailant was described as black, in his 20s, approximately 5 feet 11 inches tall with a medium build. He had a thin moustache and beard. At the time, he wore a gray sweatshirt with a hood.
Anyone who can help detectives identify the man was asked to call the sheriff's department at (916) 874-5070 and ask for the Sexual Assault Bureau. Information may also be provided anonymously at the sheriff's tipline, by texting a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) and entering the keyword SSD, or by calling (916) 874-TIPS (8477).


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Hitters to Watch
Players to watch as we head into the final full week before the All-Star game. Mike Napoli, Catcher, Rangers — Napoli has been on...Read More
Posey Injury Doesn't Smell Right
by BallparkBob If you have Buster Posey on your fantasy baseball team, you made a wise choice at the beginning of the season during your...Read More
Handcuffing Catchers
There's a few catchers that fantasy baseball managers like having on their teams. There's Joe Mauer, Brian McCann, Victor...Read More
2011 Fantasy Baseball Catcher Rankings (Another Take)
Editor's Note: Phil Hedreth and Herman Obandol of FantasyBaseballU.com supply a back and forth debate on the top fantasy baseball...Read More
2011 Fantasy Baseball Prospect: Jesus Montero
At 6'4″ and 225 pounds, Jesus Montero looks nothing like Yogi Berra wearing pinstripes behind the plate. That is, until he...Read More
Fantasy Baseball Dugout 2011 Spring Training Tour
Day One — Minnesota Twins vs. Baltimore Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium, Sarasota Fantasy Baseball Projections – Matt Wieters...Read More


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About Us
Commercial Services
Residential Services
Common Pest Problems
Contact Us
Welcome to Reliable Pest Control
Our company offers termite and wood boring inspections and free estimates along with traditional pest control treatments. All of our vehicles are unmarked and dispatched via radio for the most prompt response to your pest control needs.
Did you know that a general interior/exterior spraying in the spring can eliminate pest problems before they become a nuisance? We also offer an inexpensive perimeter treatment that protects your home through the pest season.
Consider a termite pre-treatment when constructing a new home. This preventative treatment can save hundreds of dollars over the cost of termite elimination.
Having a backyard party, wedding or cookout? We can control those pesky mosquitoes and make your event a more enjoyable affair.
We also offer monthly/quarterly, residential/commercial maintenance agreements. Why not have your home, office or business protected year round from pest problems?
Call for an appointment or for a free estimate. We look forward to serving your pest control needs.
Reliable Pest Control, Inc.
401-253-5343 | 1-800-846-0810 |
Contact Us


text:
Sofitel's Le Café launches new menuHoliday Extras news
The Le Café restaurant at the Gatwick Sofitel has just launched a new Mediterranean-themed menu, with the option to add a starter or dessert for an extra £4.95.
Guests can start their meal with homemade soup, caesar salad or garlic bread with mozzarella cheese.
And tantalising main courses include fried whiting fillet in honey panko crumbs, Spanish-style chicken casserole, pasta carbonara, stone-baked margarita pizza and pure Aberdeen angus beef pattie.
Customers can finish off with something sweet: vanilla bean crème brulèe, pot au chocolat or fresh fruit salad and cream.
The Sofitel is one of the most luxurious hotels at Gatwick airport and was named best airport hotel at last year's Holiday Extras Customers' Awards. The hotel is connected to the North terminal by a covered walkway. The Le Café is open daily from 11am to 11.30pm.
An overnight stay at the Gatwick Sofitel plus a two-course dinner for two in Le Café starts from £150* with HolidayExtras.com.
*Overnight stay is based on a double room on August 31, 2012. This package can't be changed or cancelled. Price is subject to change and availability.


text:
Call us FREE on 1800 800 200 or Mobile: 0433 300 200
or book online here after getting your quote.
We can pickup in most places on the next busines day or sooner.
We specialise in interstate furniture removal and taxi truck services. Whether you're moving a few things: one, two or three items,
relocating interstate for work or education with not too much stuff or just moving home again, we can provide you with a great service at a cheap price because this is what we do best.
We can also move you car. We'll give you a price with your quote. Cars are moved by carcarrying.com.au
Our experienced operations team has now carried out over 200,000 removals in Australa over the past 20 years.
You can trust that we have the knowledge and experience necessary for your transport requirements and that we will be here
looking for repeat business even after you goods have been delivered.
Compare Quotes. We have no booking fees, no credit card surcharges, no fuel surcharges,
no "Oh, that's plus GST", and no inexperienced backyard operators with no blankets, no ties and probably 'professional' in their name.
Our interstate transport and furniture removal network covers most of Australia. Our
furniture removalists are moving people between major cities and most places in between on a daily basis.
We can organise your furniture removal or transport service with as little as one day's notice. For the benefit of Google's
search engines, we load daily from:


text:
Caddo Log Home Plan
Thoughtfully designed and economical, too, the Caddo appeals to both empty-nesters and first-time homeowners, alike. The family room with a fireplace flows into the dining area, which provides access to the outdoors. The efficient kitchen features a bar for additional dining or work space. The two downstairs bedrooms share a bath.
Constructed Shell Price $48,626-58,540
Material Package Price $24,739


text:
by Foetus
- Record Label: Thirsty Ear
- Release Date: May 8, 2001
- Critic Score
- Most active
- Publication
- Most clicked
The WireGranted, Flow's torrent of words is Thirlwell's familiar angsty blurt of near operatic proportions, but closer attention reveals his skill as an arranger, producer and rhythm sampler is now verging on the monumental. [#208, p.57]
Flow demonstrates that industrial music remains potent and vital in the early 2000s, and that one of its greatest pioneers is still one of its greatest innovators.
Alternative PressThis is the best Foetus record in about 12 years. [Aug 2001, p.88]
The downside here will be fairly obvious to anyone familiar with Thirlwell's previous output. While Flow's integration of big band jazz and other "external" musical styles is some of Thirlwell's most accomplished work to date -- creditable not only to better technology, but to the growth of his already respectable skills as a conventional composer -- its thematic elements remain the same.
Hugely exciting one minute, unlistenable the next and far too much to handle in a single sitting, Thirlwell's noise addiction can still make Trent Reznor seem like a pussycat.
User score distribution:
Positive: 1 out of 1
Mixed: 0 out of 1
Negative: 0 out of 1
Jan 21, 2012One of the very best industrial albums of the decade. Thirlwell displays his genius in most of its songs. Though certainly not as good as NailOne of the very best industrial albums of the decade. Thirlwell displays his genius in most of its songs. Though certainly not as good as Nail or Hide, Flow manages to take the listener to an utterly bizarre world. Highly recommendable.… Full Review »


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Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to visit the Diecast Legends office In Guildford. I made the trip yesterday afternoon and was able to obtain the model I was looking for in excellent condition. I'm very grateful to the friendly reception and service I received from the staff.
I just want to commend you and all your staff at Grand prix Legends on a fantastic job.I have been impressed from day one and will continue to use your Company and keep my Die-Cast Legend Membership going for many a year.
It is good to see that some companies still value customer service. Thank you once again, and keep up the good work.
I am delighted with my F1 World Championship Presentation. It's a work of art, many thanks.
I deeply appreciate this level of customer service, and I am pleased it still exists. I can see I am dealing with a quality company that gives its customers their personal attention at all times
The usual excellent model from CMC; worth every penny. Service excellent and highly recommended.
Alternative images
Please note this item is very big and a surcharge will be applied to the standard shipping fee if being sent outside the EU. The exact price will be calculated at the checkout.
No surcharge is payable if shipping to the UK or EU.
Basket empty


text:
Horseshoe pitching has been around for a long time.
It sparks rivalry among those who enjoy the game; it also sparks friendships among those same compet itors.
"It's part of my life. The game itself is fun but it brings me an appreciation of those who enjoy it as much as I do," said Dick Scott of Camp Hill. "It is more than a competition, more than winning."
Want to know what's going on in your community? We have you covered.
Latest news from Southern and Southeastern York County area
Latest news from Dallastown, Red Lion and Eastern York areas
Latest news from Central, Suburban and Northeastern York County areas
Latest news from Dover and West York area
Latest news from Spring Grove and Hanover area


text:
Thursday, March 10, 2011
© Copyright 2015 Newton Citizen
COVINGTON -- Newton County School System Superintendent Gary Mathews said more cuts may come to the system's prekindergarten and special education programs next school year.
He sent an e-mail to employees Wednesday morning detailing some more possibilities of cuts in addition to the nearly $8.3 million the school board recently approved for NCSS to cut from its general fund budget for next school year.
"I pray not, but it is a distinct possibility and one that will have to be faced in other school systems throughout Georgia and elsewhere," he said in his e-mail. "Rather than not say it, I am being earnest with you as we look ahead."
He said this week that Gov. Nathan Deal has proposed cuts to pre-K education in Georgia by reducing the year from 180 days to 160 days, but it would expand the program by 2,000 students.
NCSS already expects to receive $3.1 million less in state revenues for next school year.
"At this time, we hope that the Georgia General Assembly will not further negatively impact the operations of our public schools, but that remains to be seen," Mathews said in his e-mail. "Thus, we continue to follow these proceedings closely."
In addition to more state losses, NCSS also may lose more than nearly $2 million already projected in lost revenues from the federal government.
Mathews said Congress is debating cuts to special education and Title 1 schools to reduce the nation's budget deficit.
"As for special education, it is unclear to me at present what cuts, if any, in this area would mean for NCSS," Mathews said. "But I can say that if cuts were to come in federally funded special education, then it may be that such cuts have to be accounted for in our general fund, especially if such cuts impact the implementation of federally mandated student (individualized education plans)."
He said it appears that Title I funds would be taken to 2008 funding levels, meaning that NCSS could lose more than $1 million in Title I funding. Schools receiving Title I funding have a high economically disadvantaged student population, which is determined based on the number of free and reduced lunches a school gives.
"At this time, I am working with other administrators for a contingency plan for Title I should this cut actually materialize," Mathews said.
More information might be available by April, he said.
NCSS must issue teacher contracts no later than May 15, according to state regulations.
More like this story
- Mathews: Expect more budget cuts ( April 13, 2011 )
- NCSS to learn more budget details ( April 4, 2011 )
- 'It's a huge investment in little people': Newton BOE approves funding pre-K for full year ( May 12, 2011 )
- School board approves budget cuts ( March 8, 2011 )
- 'It's a huge investment in little people': Newton BOE approves funding pre-K for full year ( May 12, 2011 )


text: REGENT Business School (RBS) is a registered Private Higher Education Institution. RBS's programmes are recorded by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). RBS is currently registered, in compliance with the Higher Education Act 101 of 1997, (Registration number No 2000/HE07/012) by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) to offer its range of programmes. In 2002 RBS received accreditation for its programmes from the Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC), which is the quality assurance committee of the Council on Higher Education (CHE). An International Business School RBS has been awarded the prestigious TWO PALME award since 2008 by the EDUNIVERSAL INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC committee. This award acknowledges the quality of RBS's programme as well as its international influence in the delivery of its learning programmes. In its efforts to reign amongst the best, and to further strengthen its African roots, RBS has recently acquired pipeline membership with the Association of African Business Schools (AABS). RBS has also entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Shanghai University of International Business and Economics (SUIBE), Shanghai, Peoples Republic of China to collaborate on areas relating to research, staff and student exchange programme, study tours and academic development.


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HOPKINSVILLE, KY (2/8/12) – A Crofton man has reported to authorities the theft of several items including a 9MM Luger pistol. Rufus Bowman, Jr. told Christian County Sheriff's Deputies that the incident occurred sometime between the 4th and 6th of February.
Bowman stated he was out of town from Saturday through Monday afternoon. When he returned home, he says the front door was locked and nothing appeared out of place. Upon entering his bedroom he discovered that his pistol was missing.
According to the report, Bowman then started looking around and found other items missing including a can of quarters and a tool box of small sockets. The total estimated value of stolen items is more than $2,000.
The report states that the front door had apparently been forced open with little damage done to the door. At this time, it is unknown who took the property and no suspects have been identified. Anyone with information on this crime is encouraged to contact the Christian County Sheriff's Department.
David Bryant
SurfKY News
LIKE SurfKY on Facebook - Click here to LIKE us now.
© Copyright 2015 SurfKY News Group, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or rewritten without permission. SurfKY News encourages you to share this story on social media.
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text:
The Larry King Show
A simulcast of the Larry King Show, Larry King and his guests discussed the 1984 Presidential election which President Reagan won re-election. Participants talked amongst themselves during the show's commercial breaks.
People in this video
- Larry King Talk Show Host CNN->Larry King Live
- Mark Shields Columnist (Former) Washington Post
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text:
Accessibility Links
ISAs are a tax-efficient way to save
For the 2015/16 tax year you can invest up to £15,240 in an ISA. You can hold as much of the allowance as you like in investments, cash, or any mixture of the two.
Please note, if you have paid into a Cash or Stocks and Shares ISA since 6 April 2015, you will not be able to open a further ISA of the same type before 6 April 2016. You may however make additional payments – up to the £15,240 ISA subscription limit - into your existing account(s).
Fidelity Personal Investing only gives information about products and services and does not provide investment advice based on individual circumstances. If you are unsure of the suitability of an investment you should speak to an authorised financial adviser, although different terms will apply.
The value of investments can go down as well as up and you may not get back the amount you invest. The value of tax savings and eligibility to invest in an ISA depend on personal circumstances. All tax rules may change in future.
Junior ISAs are only available to UK resident children under 18 who do not have a Child Trust Fund (CTF). Please note that if your child was born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011 the Government would have automatically opened a CTF on your behalf so your child will not be eligible for a Junior ISA. The investment is locked away until the child reaches 18 years old.
A small change to your daily routine could add up significantly over the years, for example saving the money you would have spent on a shop-bought coffee into an ISA.
One low cost service fee - our typical service fee is just 0.35% with no additional charges.
If you have any questions, please call our freephone UK-based team.
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
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text:
Flatbed Plain Paper Fax and
Flatbed Plain Paper Fax and Copier
Toner + Drum Units
Panasonic 120m Film Roll
In Stock$39.95
SpecificationsExpand All
More Details
- Multi-Handset Capability No
- Cordless Phone Technology No
All Digital Answering MachineNo
Digital DuplexSpeakerphone No
Caller IQ CompatibleNo
- Paper Tray Capacity Max 100 Sheets
- Modem Speed (Kbps) 9.6
- TEL/TAD/FAX Switching No
- LCD Display Yes
- LCD Display (# of characters per line) 16
- Jog Dial Operation No
- Navigator Key Yes
Quick ScanYes
- Extension Line Transfer Yes
- Telephone Directory Navigator Yes, 106 entries
Out of Paper Receptionup to 28 pages
- Automatic Document Feeder (pages) 15 pages
- Electronic Film Indicator Yes
- 64-Level Halftone Resolution No
- Resolution photo/super fine/fine/standard
- Print Method Thermal Transfer
BroadcastingYes, 20 Locations
- Multi-Copy up to 99
- Help Function No
- Reduction Copy 92%/86%/72%
- Enlargement Copy 150%/200%
- Collate No
- Electronic Volume Control No
Caller IDYes
- Speed Dial Stations 106
- Voice Time/Day Stamp No
- Hands-Free Headset Compatible (headset optional) No
Fax Advantage ProgramOvernight Exchange, 1-year Warranty
- Paper size LTR/LGL/A4
- Plain Paper Yes
- Flatbed Yes
Distinctive Ring DetectionNo
- Monitor Speaker Yes
Answering Machine InterfaceYes
Owner's Manuals
What should I do if my product needs service?
NOTE: This does not apply to TVs, Microwaves, Vacuums, and Massage Chairs
For repairs and exchanges:
Ship your product to:
Panasonic Factory Service Center
4900 George McVay Drive
Suite B; Door-12
McAllen, TX 78503
Please include your name, address, telephone number, email address, copy of your purchase receipt (for warranty service), and a description of what is wrong with the unit. Freight collect shipments will not be accepted.
Panasonic is not responsible for damage that occurs in transit. All contents should be packaged for safe travel to the service center. Customer should use a reputable small package shipping company that is able to provide a package tracking number and insurance (if customer should so desire to insure their package).
Units that are abused, damaged, infested with insects, have corrosion, etc. will be placed out-of-warranty.
Once your unit arrives at the facility, you may contact us for status at:
Tel: 956-683-2930
Toll Free: 1-866-907-9111
Email: email@example.com
Please reference your Service Job number when contacting You will be contacted if there is any cost you are responsible for.
Why is there no power to the fax machine?
Make sure that the power cord is connected. Also, try a different power outlet.
Why does the film run out so fast?
This unit comes with a starter film roll (10 meters) that gives you about 20-25 pages of output. You can purchase films through Parts/Accessory. This unit uses KX-FA94 (120m) film.
Why am I unable to send a fax?
The telephone line cord may be connected to the [EXT] jack on the unit. Connect to the [LINE] jack.
- If you used a splitter/coupler to connect the unit, remove the splitter/coupler and connect the unit to the wall jack directly. If the unit operates properly, check the splitter/coupler.
- Disconnect the unit from the telephone line and connect a known working telephone. If the working telephone operates properly, contact our service personnel to have the unit repaired. If the working telephone does not operate properly, contact your telephone company.
- The power cord or telephone line cord is not connected. Check the connections.
- If you have connected the fax machine through a computer modem, connect the fax machine directly to a telephone line jack.
Where can I order parts for my product?
You can order parts and accessories for your machine from our Parts & Accessories Department at 1-800-833-9626.
What should I do when the product displays "Check Film"?
- Press down the printer cover open button. This is the green button at the lower right side of the paper exit
- If there is still film inside the unit, tighten the film by winding the film a little bit towards the back
- Close the cover by pushing down both sides until it locks
- If the message "CHECK FILM" is displayed, the film may not be installed correctly in the cartridge. Reinstall it
What should I do if I have no dial tone on my fax machine?
- Check the power cord and telehpone line cord connections.
- Try a different telephone line cord. Problem may be with the phone cord.
- Unplug the fax machine and install a different portable phone on the wall jack where the product is currently plugged. If the portable phone has a dial tone then it's a problem with the machine. Please call the technical Helpline for options. If the portable phone doesn't have dial tone but is working on the other jack then there could be a problem with the jack where the machine is currently plugged in to.
- The telephone line cord may be connected to the [EXT] jack on the product instead of the [LINE] jack.
- If you have connected the fax machine through a computer modem, connect the fax machine directly to a telephone line jack.
- Relocate the product.
The documents that I faxed out or copy has a black lines on it. How do I fix it?
The scanner glass may be dirty with debris such as "white out" or just plain dirt.
- Unplug the unit and locate the scanner glass
- Clean with dry cloth or if necessary, use a damped cloth with rubbing alcohol to help remove dirt
- Dry thoroughly before replugging the unit
My film keeps getting tangled up or keeps sticking why does it keep doing this?
This usually happens if you are using after market brands or films made by another manufacturer. The wax contents for the Panasonic film and after market brands are different thus the film sticks to the machine and paper. If you are using genuine Panasonic films then the machine needs to be serviced.
How do I to set date and time?
- Press [MENU] [#] [0] [1]. You will see "SET DATE & TIME" press [SET] on the display
- The desired menu option will appear, press [SET]
- Enter the correct month/day/year by selecting 2 digits for each, using the dial keypad
Example: August 10, 2002 - You Press [0] [8] [1] [0] [0] [2]
- Press [SET] to save
- Enter the correct hour/minute by selecting 2 digits for each, using the dial keypad. Press [*] to select "AM" or "PM"
Example: 10:15PM - You Press [1] [0] [1] [5] and Press [*] until "PM" is displayed
- Press [SET] to save
- Press [MENU] to exit
How do I set the logo for my machine?
- Press [MENU] [#] [0] [2] then [SET]. You will see "LOGO=" on the screen
- Enter your logo, up to 30 characters. Every key corresponds to a certain character
Example: PANA Press [7] once then [2] once [6] twice [2] once
NOTE: To enter a character that is located on the same dial key as the previously entered character, you must first press [►] to move the cursor to the next space
To make corrections: Press [◄] or [►] to move the cursor to the incorrect character, and enter the correct character. You can also press [STOP] to delete the incorrect character left to the cursor
Pressing [#] will change the character to upper-case or lower-case alternatively
- Press [SET] to save
- Press [MENU] to exit
How do I put my fax number in the machine?
- Press [MENU] [#] [1] [0] [3] then [SET]. You will see "NO.=" on the screen
- Enter your fax number, up to 20 digits
- To enter a "+", press [*]
- To enter a space, press [#]
- To enter a hyphen, press [FLASH]
- To erase a number, press [STOP]
- Press [SET] to save
- Press [MENU] to exit
How do I install a new film (KX-FB421)?
- Press down the cover open button. This is the green button at the lower right side of the paper exit.
- Make sure that there's no film on the white spool and all the film are on the blue spool before replacing it.
- Remove the film out of the machine.
- Take the new film out of the box. You should be using authentic Panasonic Film KX-FA94. Remove the stoppers and tags from the both ends of the film.
- Insert the film into the machine. The blue spool goes to the front compartment while the white spool goes to the back compartment of the unit. The gear on the left side of the blue spool should be in the slot on the left side of the machine.
- The blue spool should have at least one layer of film by winding it towards the direction of the white spool. Make sure there is no slack.
- Close the cover by pushing down both sides until it locks.
How do I change the ring tone when receiving an outside call?
No ring tone feature available for this model.
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To ensure both your answering machine and fax work hand in hand to receive messages and faxes, they must be connected to each other. The telephone line port from the answering machine that is normally plugged into the wall jack should be connected into the EXT port of the fax machine. Then set your answering machine to pick up on the 4th or lower ring count and the fax to 5 EXT TAM.


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A simple method for getting a little "exotic" flavor that's subtle enough to be enjoyed by even the more traditional eaters in your household
1 cup dry roasted quinoa*
2/3 cup coconut milk
1 cup water
½ cup red pepper, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tablespoon of sesame oil
Pinch of salt
- Rinse quinoa in fine mesh strainer. Bring water & coconut milk to a boil. Add quinoa, garlic, salt & chili flakes.
- Bring back to boil & reduce heat. Cook for 12-15 minutes.
- Remove from heat, stir in red pepper, sesame oil, and salt.
- Let stand for 5 minutes then serve.
* Dry-roasting brings out the sweetness in grains and can be done by placing them in a large skillet over medium heat, stirring until nutty aroma and very slight browning occurs (watch carefully so as not to burn), then removing them from the heat. This process can be done ahead of time, dry-roasting the amount you have purchased when you have time and storing it for use when you have less time.


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Thanks to your overwhelming support we have SURPASSED our initial goal of $25K towards pre-production funds BUT WE ARE NOWHERE NEAR FINISHED! This is a million dollar production and the more money we raise the sooner we can get this movie completed and in theaters! Let your voices be heard. Watch, donate, and SHARE!
Remember when Black movies didn't neccesarily star a dude in a fat suit and a wig? Or have major plot twists timed to Gospel numbers for no apparent reason? No? Damn...
Well believe it or not there was a time when "Black Art-House" was a thing. When movies like Do The Right Thing, Hollywood Shuffle, and Boyz In The Hood were breaking box office records as well as making us laugh, cry, and think in ways movies hadn't before.
The humble producers of DEAR WHITE PEOPLE, a satire about being a black face in a white place, long to bring those days back. But we can't do it without you!
Here's the deal...we're looking to raise seed money that will go a tremondously long way in securing the capital we'll need to produce our million dollar indie feature. With our trailer, script and your help, we believe we can bring this exciting piece of cinema to life! Join us, won't you?
Join us by helping to seed this awesome project! We've got a promotional trailer and a great script, but we need your help in getting it in front of the right people. In order to acquire the capital needed to move into production we'll be using funds raised to:
- Cast
- Retain legal services
- Prep a production budget and schedule with a skilled line producer
- Put on a star-studded table read event in June to attract financiers
- Research, storyboard and cover other pre-production costs
In return we are gonna hook you up!
We see you as a partner in the film and want to make you a part of this experience. In exchange for your help we're dishing out on-screen credits, a VIP seat at our star studded table read, official merchandise, and even a walk on role in the film! Check out all the cool prizes to the right and join the DWP fam!
DEAR WHITE PEOPLE follows the stories of four black students at an Ivy League college where a riot breaks out over a popular "African American" themed party thrown by white students. With tongue planted firmly in cheek, the film will explore racial identity in "post-racial" America while weaving a universal story of forging one's unique path in the world.
There hasn't been a film like DEAR WHITE PEOPLE in a long time, and it's sure to cause a stir once we get it to the big screen.
Our creative team is passionate, diverse, connected and experienced enough to get this project to the finish line...with a little help from you of course!
Justin is a Los Angeles based producer, writer / director currently working on a slate of original digital programs for Participant Media's Take Part TV launching this July. In addition to producing, directing and editing numerous shorts and webseries, he has worked several publicity and marketing campaigns for Focus Features, Paramount Pictures, and Sony Pictures over the last seven years. With "Dear White People" he hopes to make his feature directorial debut.
Lena is a Los Angeles based writer, producer, director currently working as a staff writer on a new half-hour sitcom called, How To Rock, for Nickelodeon. In addition to writing the internet viral sensation Sh*t Black Girls Say, she has helmed several short films.
Ann is currently Managing Director at the Hub LA, a creative space and social enterprise with the mission to connect, empower and resource the people of LA working to create change. Prior to the Hub, Ann was an executive in Universal Pictures International Production Group, working on local-language and multi-territory film projects from development to distribution, upon completion of the Universal Pictures Leadership Program. Ann previously was Vice-President of Fixed Income Sales and Trading at Banc of America Securities/Merrill Lynch and has worked on the trading floors of London, San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles. Merging her Wall Street and film production backgrounds, Ann has produced a number of film shorts, web series and PSAs. She was a 2010 Film Independent Project: Involve Fellow and has an MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management.
Angel is currently working as a Producer for Participant Media's TakePartTV, an original YouTube channel launching in July. Before that, he spent five years at Participant in the narrative features division, where he contributed to such projects as The Soloist and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Angel also worked at Focus Features in both development and marketing, where he contributed to the campaigns of such noteworthy films as Brokeback Mountain, The Constant Gardener, Pride & Prejudice, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Angel has also participated in talent enrichment programs for Outfest and Film Independent.
Even if you can't squeeze a few pennies for a donation, you can still help us spread the word! Share our campaign on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, anywhere you hang online. Every bit makes a difference!


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In Bill Child's office at RC Willey headquarters in South Salt Lake,...Read More
CBIZ Voice: Major Audit Changes Ahead for Organizations Receiving Federal Grants
Industrial Zone
Top Public Companies
Pay Thyself
Business Trends
The Doctor is In
Economic Insight
An Economist Walks in to a Bar...
Legal Briefs
Virtual Currency
Kimberly Page: Flying High in the Aviation Industry
Zealand Stroud: At the Corner of Business and Art
Toddlers and Technology
Money Talk
Stay the Course
Lessons Learned
Head of the Class
Living Well
Cycling Across Utah
Reader's Choice
The Perfect Dress: Helping Utah's Brides Feel Beautiful
August Players
Around Utah
August Around Utah
Industry Outlook
Special Report
Land of Opportunity
The typical entrepreneur usually has one of two reasons why he or she decided to start a business. The first is that they want to make a boat load of money. In spite of the realities and statistics on how many new businesses fail in the first few years, those who start businesses are usually a pretty confident bunch who believe they can make more money as their own boss than working for someone else. This leads right into the second reason many small business owners make the jump from employee to employer: They want to be the boss.
In either case, at some point, and hopefully sooner than later, new business owners must begin to pay themselves for their efforts. But when should new business owners pay themselves and how much?
Startup Funding
According to several experts, the answer to "when" and "how much" comes down to first determining where the money that will fund the business is going to come from. Will it be revenue that the business itself will generate, or will it be from some outside source such as investors, venture capitalists or lending institutions?
Bryce Hansen, technology commercialization adviser at the Small Business Development Center at the SLCC Miller Campus, says when fundraising from outside sources like VCs, you usually don't want to pay yourself if you're raising less than $500,000—at least in the technology sector. "Investors don't want to see their money funding your lifestyle. They expect you to have personal reserves or resources you can live on," he says.
It is wise to plan that for the first year or two, you might expect to take no salary from the business. Be prepared to live on savings or other resources—such as what you can sell or borrow. You might consider taking a second mortgage on your home or cashing in a 401(k).
On the other hand, if you are using revenue from the company to grow, you may be able to take a salary sooner. In the early stages of your enterprise, however, it is important to remember that cash is king and needs to be preserved. Cash is vital for growing and subsequently adding value to the business.
"Once the business begins to generate revenue, pay yourself based on the revenues in conjunction with what the business needs to grow," advises Ron Baron, Salt Lake SCORE mentor and vice president of marketing. "Make sure you reserve enough cash to fund the next step of growth, be it hiring an employee or buying a piece of equipment."
Long-term Thinking
Jan Newman, currently a senior executive at Vivint Solar, a former partner with Sage Creek Partners, and a founder of KeyLabs, Inc. and Altris, Inc., says a founder should take the minimum needed to pay the bills and feed the family. And expect below-market pay. "If you take too much salary, you cannot expect to grow the business. If you want a big salary and benefits, a startup isn't the place to be."
He points to his own experience as an example: "I was 36 years old with five kids and a mortgage when I started one of my companies, so I needed a certain amount of money. I had taken a $100,000 salary cut. At one point, I went to my partner prepared to show all the value I had brought to the business and to ask for a salary increase. He asked if I wanted a loan, was I having trouble paying my bills? The lesson was clear—the value was not in an extra $10,000 in salary but in the equity I had in the company. Make the company valuable. I did, and I made millions instead of thousands."
The Bottom Line
When you can take a salary often depends on how the business is being funded and whether revenue is being generated.
No matter what stage the business is in, you must balance what you pay yourself against what is needed to grow the business—to take your company to the next stage.
When you do take a salary, it will most likely not be at market value—remember, you own the business and your value is in your equity.
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text:
DOC23624_Rev-B 06/14
Copyright © 2008, 2014 Abbott Laboratories. Abbott Park, Illinois, U.S.A.
FreeStyle and related brand marks are trademarks of Abbott Diabetes Care Inc. in various jurisdictions. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
No use of any Abbott trademark, trade name, or trade dress in this site may be made without the prior written authorization of Abbott Laboratories, except to identify the product or services of the company. This website and the information contained herein is intended for use by US residents only. The product images are for illustrative purposes only.


text:
ARIEL DAVID writes on the AP via Yahoo News:
VATICAN CITY — A woman jumped the barriers in St. Peter's Basilica and knocked down Pope Benedict XVI as he walked down the main aisle to begin Christmas Eve Mass on Thursday.
The 82-year-old pope quickly got up and was unhurt, said a Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Ciro Benedettini. Footage aired on Italy's RAI state TV showed a woman dressed in a red jumper vaulting over the wooden barriers and rushing the pope before being swarmed by bodyguards.
The commotion occurred as the pope's procession was making its way toward the main altar and shocked gasps rang out through the public that packed the basilica. The procession came to a halt and security rushed to the trouble spot.
Benedettini said the woman who pushed the pope appeared to be mentally unstable and had been arrested by Vatican police. He said she also knocked down Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, who was taken to hospital for a check up.
"During the procession an unstable person jumped a barrier and knocked down the Holy Father," Benedettini told The Associated Press by telephone. "(The pope) quickly got up and continued the procession."
Read More: AP via Yahoo News


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Weeeeell, it says 'post videos of your horses here' Sooo, I shall. XD
Some of these videos are kind of old, but ehh.
Bam-Bam and I at our first show together a few years ago. We won second place and third place =D (Ignore the lame music in the background. I had to take a video with my camera of the video haha. My sister was watching Cheetah Girls or something in the other room. :roll: )
A random video of us cantering...
The dapple grey pony is Sprite
The grey pony is Smokey
And the dun ish coloured pony is Toffee.
(and Bam is the only horse haha)
Bleh I look horrible
My fave video. =D
(I kind of forgot the last jump haha)
Copper Top and me at our first and last show together. =[ My dad kind of didn't tape the last two jumps for some crazy reason...
My dad has mad video skills.... :roll:
Copper like tripped on the combination ahha. Poor guy.
Do any of you know who Lil John is? Well, if you don't, he's this big hot shot rapper. He always goes "What!?" "Okaay!" Soo, my trainer is a nut, and she always pretends to be Lil John. Its a big joke at my barn haha. You can hear her in the background.
My camera seriously sucks...


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319 Articles by: Dave Shively
Wizard's Eye: Madagascar (Part IV)
Follow the crew of the Wizard's Eye first descent exploration of the grueling Sandratsio River in northern Madagascar in this final of four episodes exploring the African island nation's rivers.
Wizard's Eye: Madagascar (Part III)
This first look into Part III the Madagascar leg of Tyler Bradt's five-year 'Wizard's Eye' circumnavigation follows the team of four kayakers on a two-day jungle descent of the Favory River.
Whitewater on the Wind
Photographer Benjamin Hjort captures the whitewater expedition kayaking that highlights the Madagascar leg of Tyler Bradt's Wizard's Eye circumnavigation. Originally featured in the Dec. 2015 issue of[...]
Wizard's Eye: Madagascar (PART II)
This first look into Part II the Madagascar leg of Tyler Bradt's five-year 'Wizard's Eye' circumnavigation follows the team inland to kayak the Ikopa River.
Wizard's Eye: Madagascar (PART I)
This first episode from the Madagascar leg of Tyler Bradt's five-year 'Wizard's Eye' circumnavigation-expedition follows a crew, which includes paddlers Benjamin Hjort and Isaac Levinson, as it "plumm[...]
Kayaking's Hammerhead Shark Week
Although West Coast paddlers have been reveling in unusually warm Pacific waters as the summer winds to an official end, the unseasonable water temperatures have also attracted other non-native visito[...]
2015 Canoe & Kayak Awards Recap
Relive the excitement of the 2015 Canoe & Kayak Awards.
Why Paddle the Mississippi River: Part 5
By Chris Staudinger Photos by David Hanson One of the easiest things about paddling the Mississippi River is that you can't really get lost. You can start way, way upriver, in say, Billings, Montana[...]
Film Debut: 'Message in a Plastic Bottle'
A kayak made of discarded plastic bottles and 150 miles of Puget Sound. Ken Campbell's "Message in a Plastic Bottle" is the story of an improbable kayak journey and the impacts of single-use plastics [...]
Into the Onot: The Search for Siberia's Ultimate Self-Support
Catching up with paddler-filmmaker Adrian Kiernan on his recent edit chronicling an international crew's descent of the Onot River in Siberia's remote Sayan Mountains.


text: Young Gunman Killed Teacher Who Tried to Stop Him 2 dead, 2 in critical condition after Sparks Middle School shooting By Kate Seamons, Newser Staff Posted Oct 21, 2013 11:47 AM CDT | Updated Oct 21, 2013 1:49 PM CDT STORY COMMENTS (212) (Newser) – Two people are dead after a shooting at Sparks Middle School around 7:15am local time this morning. Nevada police say a young gunman killed a teacher who was trying to protect the other children; the shooter died by a self-inflicted gunshot wound, says Sparks' city manager. Two more people have been transferred to a hospital, where they are in critical condition; a hospital rep says both are male minors. The Reno Gazette-Journal reports that the dead staff member is believed to be a "popular math teacher." It spoke to a number of students at the school, which is attended by about 700 seventh- and eighth-graders: A 13-year-old student says that "the student was pointing a gun at the teacher after the teacher told him to put it down, and the student fired a shot at the teacher and the teacher fell and everybody ran away." A second student says she heard the shooter saying, "Why you people making fun of me, why you laughing at me?" An eighth-grader recounts students running into the halls after a shot was fired. "We piled up and put the girls in the back and the guys in the front … for the safety of the girls. He came over to us and started aiming at all of us. ... Then he saw a teacher in the window and shot the window trying to get him. Shot the window twice." The AP notes that Sparks is located just east of Reno. That city's deputy chief says as many as 200 personnel responded to the school and local area. "The schools are safe. The rest of the city is safe," he says. Police secure the scene near Sparks Middle School after a shooting in Sparks, Nev., on Monday, Oct. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Kevin Clifford) Swat team members secure the scene near Sparks Middle School in Sparks, Nev., after a shooting there on Monday, Oct. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Kevin Clifford) ADVERTISEMENT(Click Prev or Next to continue viewing images.) « Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow Reno Gazette-Journal (Source Grid ») Associated Press (Source Grid ») Crime & Courts • US school shooting • Nevada • Sparks Middle School shooting CLICK BELOW TO VOTE 3% 2% 73% 1% 18% 2% RETURN TO THE STORY To report an error on this story, notify our editors.


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Fish & forests
Fish, whether from coastal fisheries, inland waters, or aquaculture, are a vital source of protein and income for millions. And forests, if correctly managed, are a sustainable source of numerous products, including timber, food and medicine.
Planting trees to fight drought
In parts of Malawi, the agricultural extension services and district authorities are supporting reforestation efforts by rural communities, by supplying polythene tubes and advice for the cultivation of tree saplings. In the village of Nkhukwa, about 10 km from Lilongwe, the villagers are attempting a massive reforestation effort, to restore their eroded soils and replenish their lost water supplies. Villager Wonderful Chalera also urges people to grow crops such as groundnuts, as an alternative to tobacco, which requires large amounts of wood for curing or building drying barns.
published: August 2013
Tree planting to boost farm production
While farmers are being urged to plant more trees on their farms, many have concerns that trees will compete with their crops for water, nutrients and light, and so reduce their crop yields. Jonathan Muriuki, a scientist from the World Agroforestry Centre in Nairobi, emphasises that farmers need to choose the right species of tree and shrub to plant in the right places. But appropriate tree planting can improve soil fertility and water holding capacity, reduce erosion and boost crop yields. Farmers can also use some nitrogen-fixing species to restore the fertility of fallow land, and planting timber species in woodlots or along farm boundaries provides valuable income.
published: January 2013
Bee-keeping for income and forest protection
In Katoba, to the east of the Zambian capital Lusaka, felling of trees for charcoal making provides the only available source of income for many households. To address the problem, the Kasisi Agricultural Training Centre is supporting the adoption of bee keeping as an alternative source of income. Donald Zulu explains the double benefits of bee keeping, both for income generation and environmental protection. We also hear from Japhet Seulu of Community Markets for Conservation, about a pricing system for crop production which is helping to reduce slash-and-burn agriculture, another major cause of deforestation in the area. And lead farmer, Peter Chabola, explains why he prefers keeping bees to making charcoal, as a means to raise his family.
published: August 2012
Deforestation - causes and effects
Forest areas, or farmland with large numbers of trees, offer many benefits to people and the environment. At a global level, trees remove carbon dioxide from the air, helping to control the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and prevent global warming. And at a local level, forest areas trap cool, moist air near to the ground, thereby reducing temperatures and protecting people, crops and animals from excessive heat. But despite these and other benefits, in Kenya, uncontrolled felling of trees continues, including from protected areas. In response, the Kenyan government aims to achieve 30 per cent tree cover by 2030 through support for tree planting.
published: June 2012
Earning payments from tree planting
Farmers living in deforested and degraded land in Uganda have begun earning carbon credit payments by planting indigenous trees. The payments are made by companies in Europe and America who want to reduce their environmental impact by compensating for their carbon dioxide emissions. Local NGO, Ecotrust Uganda, provides technical support to the farmers, and calculates the payments they are entitled to – according to how much carbon is stored in the trees over their life span. Pauline Nantongo, Executive Director of Ecotrust Uganda, explains more about this valuable new opportunity, which is creating income for local farmers, restoring the degraded land and also helping to tackle global warming.
published: May 2012
REDD+ - financing forest protection
Ghana is one of several African countries taking a keen interest in the REDD+ scheme, which offers payment for planting and protecting forest areas. Adoption and promotion of REDD+ presents challenges however, and farmers are among those who are concerned as to whether they will ever receive the promised financial benefits. Kofi Adu Domfeh speaks to some of those involved with Ghana's uptake of the scheme about the challenges and rewards that REDD brings, including the benefits it could offer in terms of local climate as well as the global picture.
published: February 2012
Knowledge and input costs - aquaculture's bottlenecks
The potential for pond-based aquaculture in Ghana is enormous, and in recent years, many farmers have tried to establish ponds to raise fast growing species such as tilapia. But lack of technical knowledge among farmers and very limited extension capacity are major constraints in aquaculture development. Farmers also struggle to afford commercial fish foods that enable fish to grow to sellable size in a short space of time. To address these constraints, the USAID funded Feed the Future project is communicating best practices to fish farmers through several approaches, including demonstration ponds and farmer-to-farmer extension. Kofi Adu Domfeh reports on the work being done.
published: November 2011
Cultivating wild forest vegetables
The forest vine, Gnetum africanum, known locally as eru or okok, is a highly prized food in Cameroon, and is traded both within the region and further afield, including Europe and the USA. With support from the World Agroforestry Centre, farmers in Cameroon are now cultivating the vine near their homesteads, thereby reducing their harvesting time and protecting the wild vines from over-exploitation. Processing the leaves and other parts of the vine into a variety of products lengthens their shelf life and adds value. Whiskies, body oils and hair pomades are just some of the products now being made from eru. Farmers are also organising group sales, in order to negotiate higher prices from traders. Martha Chindong reports on the progress being made.
published: November 2011
Building sustainable forest enterprises
The Gambia's National Forest Programme is encouraging local communities to sustainably manage forests around them by adopting community forest management. This empowers them not only to manage their forests but also to legally own them after a series of criteria are met. In addition, the communities are supported in the selection, value addition and marketing of forest products, through a process called Market Analysis and Development, or MA&D. In 2010, the National Consultancy on Forestry Extension Services and Training (NACO) was contracted, with funding from FAO, to carry out an MA&D programme in 26 villages. NACO Director, Kanimang Camara, and community representative Seeko Janko, describe how the process has worked, and the challenges and successes so far encountered.
published: October 2011
Gmelina trees comprise around 60% of Nigeria's planted forest. However, the fruits of the tree are hardly used, either by people or animals - a huge, wasted resource. Processing the fruit flesh to extract ethanol could make Gmelina fruit a very valuable feedstock for the biofuel industry - producing a fuel that can power vehicles and generators, and cost much less than diesel. Collecting and processing the fruit could also be a good income generating activity for rural communities, and as a biofuel, the Gmelina-based fuel is more environmentally friendly than fossil fuels.
published: June 2011
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