text:
- Cost of Attendance (COA)
- FAFSA Verification
- Funds Disbursement
- Loans
- Scholarships
- Student Rights and Responsibilities
- Proof of Course Completion
Cost of Attendance (COA)How is my cost of attendance calculated? To calculate your financial aid, the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid will estimate what it will cost you to attend the University of Houston. Items included in the cost of attendance:
- Tuition and Fees - The average cost of tuition and fees for a typical student is based on enrolling for 30 hours per year. The actual costs that a student incurs will vary depending on the student's degree or certificate program.
- Room and Board - A reasonable estimate of what it would cost to live in Houston while attending school. Actual costs may vary by individual choices related to location and circumstances.
- Books and Supplies - The average cost of books and supplies for a typical student for an entire academic year.
- Transportation - Represents travel to and from parent's residence and transportation costs to and from class and work.
- Personal - Personal items not included in room and board expenses.
FAFSA Verification
- I've been selected for verification. What does this mean?
- Verification is a random quality-control method used by the U.S. Department of Education to check the accuracy of information submitted on the FAFSA. All schools that disburse Federal Title IV Funds are required to participate in the verification process. The verification process is a manual review of your application and requires a minimum of 2-3 weeks for processing (4 ‒ 6 weeks processing during July, August and September). For more information on the verification process, please contact your Financial Aid Advisor or the myUH Enrollment Services Call Center at 713-743-1010, option 5.
- What information is subject to verification?
- Household size
- Number in college
- Receipt of food stamp benefits
- Child support paid
- For tax filers
- Adjusted gross income (AGI)
- Income tax paid
- Untaxed IRA distributions
- Untaxed pensions
- Education credits
- IRA deductions
- Tax-exempt interest
- For non-filers
- Income earned from work
- What additional application requirements might be requested if I am selected for verification?
- Once your FAFSA is submitted, your information will be verified by matching the information on your FAFSA with a series of federally mandated data (Social Security Number, date of birth, name, selective service status, citizenship status, and default status). You may also be selected for the verification process by the U.S. Department of Education, which is a random quality control method used to check the accuracy of information submitted on the FAFSA.
- What is the difference between a tax transcript and a tax return?
- Any request for taxes beginning 2012/2013 school year will now have to be an IRS tax transcript. The University of Houston will no longer accept 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ or 1040X tax documents. The IRS provides additional information on the difference between a tax transcript and tax return.
- How can I request a tax transcript?
- You may contact the IRS using one of the below methods to request a tax transcript. Please allow 7-10 business days for delivery.
- Online: www.irs.gov
Telephone: (800) 908-9946
IRS Form: 4506T-EZ (Short Form Request for Individual Tax Return Transcript)*
*Transcripts requested via IRS Form 4506T-EX can be sent directly to the University of Houston.
- How soon after I file my tax return can I request a tax transcript?
- You can request a tax transcript as soon as your return is processed. For online returns, the processing time is usually three weeks. For paper returners, the processing time is six to eight weeks.
Funds Disbursement
- What does "Disbursement" mean?
- Financial aid disbursement is a process that takes place on or after the first class day of each term. Financial aid is defined as "anticipated or pending aid" until it actually "disburses" into a student's account.
- When will financial aid disburse to my student financial account?
- Financial aid is awarded to students' accounts as pending/anticipated aid prior to the start of each term. All Federal Loans and Scholarships will begin disbursing the first week of classes (this can be delayed if you have session courses that start in months other than August and January). All Grants will disburse immediately a day after the 12th class day of the session which is the official reporting date. This allows students to make changes to their enrollment status prior to the Official Reporting Day without adversely affecting their financial aid status. In order to view the specific disbursement dates for the semester, please visit out disbursement page. In order to view the start dates and Official Reporting dates of all sessions, please visit the Academic Calendar page.
- How do I calculate how much I owe to secure my classes for each term based on my pending/anticipated Financial Aid?
- Once financial aid funds are posted to your myUH account (and you have accepted the aid offer) as pending/anticipated aid, you can subtract the semester's aid amount from your semester's "Charges Due." The calculated difference is either the amount you owe the university or the amount the university will refund to you. This difference is shown in your myUH account under "Account Summary." For example, let's say you have semester "Charges Due" due of $2,000. Your accepted pending/anticipated financial aid amount is $1,000. At that time, the amount you would need to pay in order to secure your classes would be $1,000; therefore, your "Account Summary" would show $1,000. Students are always advised to check their myUH financial accounts daily during the start of each term as balances and Financial Aid is subject to adjustment at any time.
- What can I do if I do not have enough funds to cover my total term balance?
- Prior to the university payment due date, students can select one of three payment plans offered by the university in order to secure enrollment: 90-Day Emergency Deferment Plan, Short-Term Tuition Deferment Plan (45 Day), or Installment Pay Plan.
- After my university debts are paid, when will I receive any remaining financial aid funds?
- Once financial aid funds are disbursed to a student's account and all university debts are paid, UH will release any remaining funds (refund) to Higher One. All UH student refunds are then distributed by Higher One. These funds will be sent to Higher One within 24 hours of appearing on a student's account. Thereafter, refund processing times are determined by a student's refund preference in Higher One. Visit cougarone.com to select your method of refund processing (direct deposit to bank account of choice or deposit into a Higher One Account).
- I'm not eligible for a Federal Direct or Perkins loan. What are my options?
- Many banks and other private lenders offer educational loans to help you pay for your education. Interest rates may not be as low as the federal programs can offer, but some lenders are able to offer attractive loan options.
- What is the difference between subsidized and unsubsidized Federal Direct loans?
- Subsidized Federal Direct Loans are based on financial need, and the government pays the interest to the lender while you are in school at least half-time, as well as during any deferment periods. Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loans, on the other hand, are not based on need, and borrowers are responsible for all interest accrued on the loan. Interest payments can be deferred until graduation and then will be capitalized and added to the principal of the loan. You also can make payments on the interest while in school by contacting your lender.
- How will I receive my loan?
- Your funds will be received electronically and will be applied to your myUH student account. Any remaining funds will be credited and distributed to you by Higher One. Visit cougarone.com to select your method of refund processing (direct deposit to bank account of choice or deposit into a Higher One Account).
- I have accepted my Federal Direct Loan. Why has it not disbursed?
- If you are waiting for your Federal Direct Loan from financial aid, please make sure you have completed your Master Promissory Note and Entrance Counseling at www.studentloans.gov. Everyone receiving a direct loan must complete a MPN and Entrance Counseling.
- What are the consequences of default?
- You may be subject to court action requiring total repayment of your loan.
- Your credit rating can be severely damaged, making it difficult to borrow money for a car or home, or to receive credit cards.
- The default status can remain on your credit report for several years after you pay the loan in full.
- Your federal Treasury payments (including federal tax refunds) and state income tax refunds may be withheld.
- Up to 15% of your disposable income can be garnished (administrative wage garnishment) without a court order.
- You won't be eligible to receive any more federal financial aid (and possibly state aid) unless you make acceptable arrangements to repay what you already owe.
- You may be ineligible for assistance under most federal benefit programs.
- You'll be ineligible for deferments or forbearance.
- You'll be liable for the costs associated with collecting your loan up to 24% of your principal and interest balance, plus court costs and attorney fees.
- You may not be able to renew a professional license you hold or may jeopardize your chances for certain types of employment.
- Your loan may be assigned to a professional collection agency.
- What is an incentive repayment plan?
- Most lenders offer an incentive plan for borrowers who make timely payments (i.e. interest rate and/or fee reductions for borrowers who make 48 consecutive on-time payments). Check with your lender for available options.
- How do I apply for a scholarship at the University of Houston?
- For most UH-funded scholarships, your application for admission serves as your scholarship application as well. Others require that you submit the FAFSA and provide additional documentation. Check our Scholarships page for detail.
- How do I send a private scholarship to the Financial Aid Department?
- Full detailed instructions can be found on the Private Scholarship Processing Guide.
Student Rights and ResponsibilitiesWhat are my student rights and responsibilities? As a student consumer you have the right to:
- know what financial assistance is available, including information on all federal, state, and institutional financial assistance programs;
- know the deadlines for submitting applications for financial aid;
- know how your financial need is determined. This process includes how costs for tuition and fees, room and board, travel, books and supplies, and personal expenses are decided in developing cost of attendance budgets;
- know what resources (such as parental contribution, other financial assistance, student assets, etc.) are considered in the calculation of your financial need;
- know how your financial need, as determined by the University, has been met, and how and when financial aid funds are disbursed;
- request from the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid (OSFA), an explanation of the various programs in your student aid package. If you believe you have not received the financial assistance for which you are eligible, you may request in writing a review of your aid application;
- know what portion of the financial assistance received must be repaid, and what portion is scholarship/grant aid. If the aid is a loan, you have the right to know what the interest rate is, the total amount that must be repaid, the payback procedures, the length of time you have to repay the loan, and when repayment is to begin;
- know how the OSFA determines whether you are making satisfactory academic progress, and what happens if you are not; and
- you have a right to privacy. All records submitted with your application for financial aid are confidential, and subject to legal requirements concerning disclosure of such information. For more information, please see the university's explanation regarding The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
It is your responsibility to:
- review and consider all information about the financial aid programs at the University prior to enrolling;
- complete all financial assistance applications and forms accurately, and submit them to the OSFA by the appropriate deadlines;
- complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Renewal FAFSA (undergraduates) in full. You may experience delays in receiving a decision about financial aid if forms are submitted after the priority filing deadlines or are filled out incompletely or incorrectly. Falsification of information on application forms for federal financial assistance is considered a criminal offense, and you may be subject to penalties under the U.S. Criminal Code;
- respond quickly to all requests for additional documentation related to verification or corrections;
- notify the OSFA if there is a change in any of the information reported on the FAFSA;
- read and understand all forms, both paper and electronic, that you are asked to submit or sign, and keep copies of these forms. You are legally responsible for all agreements which you sign;
- if awarded a loan, participate in any required entrance/exit counseling;
- notify your lender of any changes in your name, address, or school status if a loan is part of your financial aid;
- if employed through Federal Work Study, report to your job according to the schedule you arranged with your supervisor, complete all work to the best of your ability, and notify your supervisor in advance if you are unable to report to work for any reason;
- maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for financial aid eligibility;
- know and comply with the University's refund and Return of Title IV fund policies
Proof of Course Completion
- Why am I being asked to turn in a Proof of Course Completion Form (PCCF)?
- If a student who began attendance fails to earn a passing grade in at least one course during the semester, the institution must assume that the student has unofficially withdrawn, unless the institution can document that the student completed the period. In the absence of evidence of a last day of attendance at an academically related activity, the school must consider a student who failed to earn a passing grade to be an unofficial withdrawal and subject to returning 100% of financial aid received for the semester.
- Can you accept late submissions of the PCCF?
- The Department of Education has a strict deadline for reporting withdrawal dates within 30 days of the closing of the semester. A submission past the institutional deadline is still considered late for processing purposes and a review is not guaranteed. This includes any necessary supporting documentation submitted after the deadline.
- What if I am having a hard time getting in contact with my instructor?
- Ideally, it is best to contact the instructor for the course in which you participated the longest. Although only one submission from one instructor is required, you can contact any of your instructors by phone, email, or in-person. If you are unsuccessful, seek assistance from the instructor's department. Failure to contact your instructor does not waive you of this requirement.
- Will the PCCF be denied if it is incomplete? What makes a complete submission?
- Yes, an incomplete PCCF submission will be denied. A complete submission is essential and it is your responsibility to ensure that the form is complete and all necessary supporting documentation submitted. Examples of academically related activities are examinations or quizzes, tutorials, computer-assisted instruction, academic conferences, completing an academic assignment, paper, or project, and attending a study group required by the institution where attendance is taken. (34 CFR 668.22(c)(3)) Correspondences regarding your inability to complete assignments or lack of attendance are NOT considered academically related activities.
- I am considering a medical withdrawal; do I still need to complete a PCCF?
- Yes. The medical withdrawal review process can take longer and although it can result in an official withdrawal, it is still subject to financial aid withdrawal guidelines. Any student who officially or unofficially withdraws from the university or fails to earn a passing grade in any class, federal regulations require a return to Title IV calculation for all students receiving Federal Title IV Funds. The calculation of the return of those funds may result in your owning a balance to the university. This calculation occurs within 45 days of the closing of the semester.
- What happens once the PCCF is processed?
- A date of withdrawal will be determined according to the documentation provided. This date will be used to determine whether the aid you received was earned, according to the last day your documentation shows attendance or that you participated in an academically related activity. The calculation of the return of those funds may result in you having a balance with the university. Students owing a balance to the university will not be allowed to register for subsequent semesters until balance is paid.
- What happens if I never turn in a PCCF?
- If you do not submit the PCCF form by the deadline, the institution must assume, for Title IV purposes, that you have unofficially withdrawn. 100% of aid received for the semester will be returned. Official correspondence from the university is sent to the e-mail address provided by the student to the Registrar's Office. If the student has failed to correct his or her contact information, they will not be relieved of the responsibility on the grounds that the correspondence was not received.


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For the second time, President Barack Obama took a public oath of office today. Obama took the oath in front of an estimated 700,000 spectators on Capitol Hill in Washington. The president was joined by his family and used Bibles once used by Abraham Lincoln and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In his relatively brief 18-minute inaugural address, Obama encouraged Americans to come together to face the...
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text:
22 U.S. Code § 2715c - Conservation and disposition of estates
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(a) Conservation of estates abroad
(1) Authority to act as conservator
Whenever a United States citizen or national dies abroad, a consular officer shall act as the provisional conservator of the portion of the decedent's estate located abroad and, subject to paragraphs (3), (4), and (5), shall—
(B) inventory and appraise the personal effects of the decedent, sign the inventory, and annex thereto a certificate as to the accuracy of the inventory and appraised value of each article;
(C) when appropriate in the exercise of prudent administration, collect the debts due to the decedent in the officer's jurisdiction and pay from the estate the obligations owed by the decedent;
(D) sell or dispose of, as appropriate, in the exercise of prudent administration, all perishable items of property;
(E) sell, after reasonable public notice and notice to such next of kin as can be ascertained with reasonable diligence, such additional items of property as necessary to provide funds sufficient to pay the decedent's debts and property taxes in the country of death, funeral expenses, and other expenses incident to the disposition of the estate;
(F) upon the expiration of the one-year period beginning on the date of death (or after such additional period as may be required for final settlement of the estate), if no claimant shall have appeared, after reasonable public notice and notice to such next of kin as can be ascertained with reasonable diligence, sell or dispose of the residue of the personal estate, except as provided in subparagraph (G), in the same manner as United States Government-owned foreign excess property;
(G) transmit to the custody of the Secretary of State in Washington, D.C. the proceeds of any sales, together with all financial instruments (including bonds, shares of stock, and notes of indebtedness), jewelry, heirlooms, and other articles of obvious sentimental value, to be held in trust for the legal claimant; and
(H) in the event that the decedent's estate includes an interest in real property located within the jurisdiction of the officer and such interest does not devolve by the applicable laws of intestate succession or otherwise, provide for title to the property to be conveyed to the Government of the United States unless the Secretary declines to accept such conveyance.
(2) Authority to act as administrator
Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), a consular officer may act as administrator of an estate in exceptional circumstances if expressly authorized to do so by the Secretary of State.
(3) Exceptions
The responsibilities described in paragraphs (1) and (2) may not be performed to the extent that the decedent has left or there is otherwise appointed, in the country where the death occurred or where the decedent was domiciled, a legal representative, partner in trade, or trustee appointed to take care of his personal estate. If the decedent's legal representative shall appear at any time prior to transmission of the estate to the Secretary and demand the proceeds and effects being held by the consular officer, the officer shall deliver them to the representative after having collected any prescribed fee for the services performed under this section.
(4) Additional requirement
In addition to being subject to the limitations in paragraph (3), the responsibilities described in paragraphs (1) and (2) may not be performed unless—
(A) authorized by treaty provisions or permitted by the laws or authorities of the country wherein the death occurs, or the decedent is domiciled; or
(5) Statutory construction
Nothing in this section supersedes or otherwise affects the authority of any military commander under title 10 with respect to the person or property of any decedent who died while under a military command or jurisdiction or the authority of the Peace Corps with respect to a Peace Corps volunteer or the volunteer's property.
(b) Disposition of estates by the Secretary of State
(1) Personal estates
(A) In general
After receipt of a personal estate pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary may seek payment of all outstanding debts to the estate as they become due, may receive any balances due on such estate, may endorse all checks, bills of exchange, promissory notes, and other instruments of indebtedness payable to the estate for the benefit thereof, and may take such other action as is reasonably necessary for the conservation of the estate.
(B) Disposition as surplus United States property
If, upon the expiration of a period of 5 fiscal years beginning on October 1 after a consular officer takes possession of a personal estate under subsection (a) of this section, no legal claimant for such estate has appeared, title to the estate shall be conveyed to the United States, the property in the estate shall be under the custody of the Department of State, and the Secretary shall dispose of the estate in the same manner as surplus United States Government-owned property is disposed or by such means as may be appropriate in light of the nature and value of the property involved. The expenses of sales shall be paid from the estate, and any lawful claim received thereafter shall be payable to the extent of the value of the net proceeds of the estate as a refund from the appropriate Treasury appropriations account.
(2) Real property
(A) Designation as excess property
In the event that title to real property is conveyed to the Government of the United States pursuant to subsection (a)(1)(H) of this section and is not required by the Department of State, such property shall be considered foreign excess property under title IV of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949. [1]
(c) Losses in connection with the conservation of estates
(1) Authority to compensate
The Secretary is authorized to compensate the estate of any United States citizen who has died overseas for property—
(A) the conservation of which has been undertaken under section 2715 of this title or subsection (a) of this section; and
(2) Liability
(A) Exclusion of personal liability after provision of compensation
Any such compensation shall be in lieu of personal liability of officers or employees of the Department of State.
(B) Liability to the Department
An officer or employee of the Department of State may be liable to the Department of State to the extent of any compensation provided under paragraph (1).
(C) Determinations of liability
The liability of any officer or employee of the Department of State to the Department for any payment made under subsection (a) of this section shall be determined pursuant to the Department's procedures for determining accountability for United States Government property.
(d) Regulations
The Secretary of State may prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out this section.
[1] See References in Text note below.
Source(Aug. 1, 1956, ch. 841, title I, § 43B, as added Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(7) [div. A, title II, § 234(b)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–427.)
References in Text
The Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, referred to in subsec. (b)(2)(A), is act June 30, 1949, ch. 288, 63 Stat. 377, as amended. Title IV of the Act, which was classified generally to subchapter III (§ 511 et seq.) of chapter 10 of former Title 40, Public Buildings, Property, and Works, was repealed and reenacted by Pub. L. 107–217, §§ 1, 6 (b),Aug. 21, 2002, 116 Stat. 1062, 1304, as chapter 7 (§ 701 et seq.) of Title 40, Public Buildings, Property, and Works.
Effective Date
Section effective six months after Nov. 29, 1999, see section 1000(a)(7) [title II, § 234(c)] of Pub. L. 106–113, set out as a note under section 2715b of this title.
LII has no control over and does not endorse any external Internet site that contains links to or references LII.


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Most excellent intro to the Haskwood Canifers, I like a good tell with a good map, especially a Good Tell which this is.
Long ago there were mighty Haskwood Canifers found throughout Ansium. These tall and straight trees would stretch up to the sky with barely a branch before 100' and then spray the canopy wide. They were rare but treasured by lumberjacks as well as carpenters and were cut only if there was a need for such a straight and true trunk.
Then later when outsiders came in and took them away for ships masts and other less needy uses the population of them dwindled. As such the price for them went up and the species as a whole became almost extinct in Ansium.
They were obliterated first in areas next to water where they could be cut and floated away. Next, the ones on the plains and then the hills.
Only in one area did they continue to exist. In the fenlands the trees were cut where they could be, but there were areas where it would be insanely hazardous to go let alone cut trees and haul them away. So there were years where you could see a Haskwood Canifer from afar in the lowlands around Deathchaser Fen.
It so happened that there was a drought (does the US spell this word as stupidly as the english?) and the water receeded allowing Ebenezer Longaxe deep enough into Deathchaser Fen to fulfil a lucrative contract for four Haskwood Canifers for a set of ships. A platoon of armed guards and helping hands were hired and set off for Deathchaser Fen. After much toil, a few attacks, the sweat and loss of coin for Ebenezer the four trunks were hauled up to Thrub. Ebenezer set the huge trunks down in the lumber yard and waited for the return of his client for the rest of his coin. The contact did not show and the trees sat idle for several years.
Sangham Delling was a property developer eyeing a site ripe for a new upmarket inn. The plans were audacious with a large and open bar with side saloon. The area would be large and it needed pillars to hold up such a monstrous roof. The four Canifers would be perfect and knowing that they sat idle made an offer which for ordinary lumber would have been ample but for Haskwoods from Deathchaser Fen ? Ebenezer thought not and the pair argued for a while and the animosity over it grew. Nobody else wanted to pay to have these enormous trunks hauled across wilderness for weeks and Ebenezer would not back down and accept the loss after the memory of the fens.
Well Ebenezer suffered yet more loss when his sawmill caught fire. Many suspected foul play but with no evidence and facing ruin the trunks went to Sangham, Ebeneezer left for a new life and the Inn was started. The carpenters were about to strip the bark when Sangham insisted that the full glory of the Haskwoods show through. They were to be made the center of attention and a personal gloat for Sangham. In fact the Inn would be named "The Four Haskwood Canifers" just so that noone would foget it.
Here is the original sketch - which does not show the trunks... but heck what can you do ? The map is much further on than the sketch now. More to follow.
ViewingDale Map maker and VTT . Recent CG posts . Keyword Index . Intros Index . Member Locations . CWBP Place Index
Most excellent intro to the Haskwood Canifers, I like a good tell with a good map, especially a Good Tell which this is.
SeerBlue is me, but more importantly the Four Happy Carpet Orcs +2 (FHCO +2) are Lizzy (BumbleMouse, 16), Race (Raith Eliathy, 11), Roy (Ol' Horsehair, 9), and Lena Marie (Lemur, 6) Kimi (Whurm,2), and Sachiko (MoMo,1)
All creative inspiration is theirs, from characters to maps to tells, I only fill in the details.
I have been impressed with the sketchup and I also said that maybe I should do a 3D job next time - actually that was two times ago on the April Challenge I think - Fentor Cross Church so I have a little more time now to throw at some 3D modeling.
I have been keeping WIP pics so here are one or two starters.
I first copied in the basic shape of the inn and blocked it in for the two lavels. I thinned the walls to a more sensible thickness - something like 2ft and put in the tree trunks. I have been moving the position of the trunks about a bit as the model has progressed so that they make more sense structurally.
I keep all of the surfaces as bold colors at this stage as I know ill texture them later. For now its all about shape and getting the basics in right. I know from experience that if you have too many stray points then any boolean ops later go badly wrong. So the key is simple clean shapes for now.
### Latest WIP ###
ViewingDale Map maker and VTT . Recent CG posts . Keyword Index . Intros Index . Member Locations . CWBP Place Index
I love the concept.
I especially like it because when people think of human controlled extermination of species, we tend to only think in the modern world.
We have however, been responsible for many exterminations:
Tasmanian Wolf
Dodo Bird
are two that come to mind.
But in the plant world, as far back as ancient Egypt and the time of Knossos we humans over harvested the plant Silphium to extinction.
So, I like this idea, I like it a lot.
Daniel the Neon Knight: Campaign Cartographer User
Never use a big word when a diminutive one will suffice!
Any questions on CC3? Post them with CC3 in the Subject Line!
MY 'FAMOUS' CC3 MAPS: Thunderspire; Pyramid of Shadows; King of the Trollhaunt Warrens; Demon Queen's Enclave
Blimey, you must have pushed the send button at exactly the same time - I saw my post appear behind yours when it appeared. Thats a first for me !
Thats interesting about the Silphium and I never heard of it. It makes me so mad when people selfishly take last remaining specimens of stuff. And when they take it so they can drape fur or get some tiger bone for an aphrodisiac etc well I could just shoot them. That Silphium could be mans last cure for something serious and its gone. I guess its been happening all the time even by animals etc but we ought to be above that level.
Anyway, blood pressure down... calm...
I put the two sets of stairs in and made the balustrades. Much easier done digitally with a nice clone tool I think I put a bit of effort into this bit because I'd like to make some nice torch lit scenes later on and the balcony should provide some great views.
This is being done is lightwave but its an old copy as I can't afford to keep upgrading all the time. So I have already run out of its model point limit at a mere 64K. Hah, who thought that 64K would be enough in a model - thats crazy thinking. I really should move over to Blender but I can play this instrument and its such a chore to learn a new one. This one has faults but I know where most of them are now and work around them. You will see some more bugs from it later - sigh. And its very slow - like cup of tea per render slow but I still like it as an app. One thing is that it does not crash often and I know what does make it crash so I don't do those things with it and then its alright.
ViewingDale Map maker and VTT . Recent CG posts . Keyword Index . Intros Index . Member Locations . CWBP Place Index
Fick, thats good, we really like the spiral staircase, really, really like it. Ours is a bit of a bodge job, but Snap is in pretty tough times so there stonemason ain't the best...suffers from Pother's Fog.
You should check out the free version of Houdini, seems pretty powerful, even runs on this old laptop, I just use it for fun once and a while.
I also have a bit of the abbey in thrub inwork, and now that I have learned enough (meaning let ruby scripts do the hard stuff) to actually make a go of it in Sketchup and have it look good I will get back to it after Snapgallows and Hebbies.
Really good work, oh, did I say we like the Tell also,,,yup, we do.
SeerBlue and the FHCO's
SeerBlue is me, but more importantly the Four Happy Carpet Orcs +2 (FHCO +2) are Lizzy (BumbleMouse, 16), Race (Raith Eliathy, 11), Roy (Ol' Horsehair, 9), and Lena Marie (Lemur, 6) Kimi (Whurm,2), and Sachiko (MoMo,1)
All creative inspiration is theirs, from characters to maps to tells, I only fill in the details.
http://www.cartographersguild.com/showthread.php?t=1475 Werthers Skull where I put in an iron staircase. Same technique but its tricker there because the hand rail must line up with the next step. Did that by guess, trial and error - second only to a pencil in the box of invaluable tools !
Oh and I really really should try sketchup sometime too....
"...then this geezer came along and got some gear and then it was alright innit."
well thats what it feels like looking at it after reading yours.
ViewingDale Map maker and VTT . Recent CG posts . Keyword Index . Intros Index . Member Locations . CWBP Place Index
Ok so then I made the bar and put some doors into all the holes I made for them. As somebody mentioned on another thread (Toff?) these doors need to be thinner than the walls by a considerable margin so I have made some chamfered door frame and put a simple door into it. I know I should add the doors as separate objects in the scene editor but I am lazy and I can edit these out later anyway. A 3D editor is not a VTT after all.
So a few more WIPs showing the staircase - you can see how its made of individual steps. And the bar.
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I really do hope you're going to change the textures soon...I'm expecting John Travolta to come out on to that floor any moment now....
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May 7, 2012
Billy Wessels
Hurst L.D. Bell offensive tackle Jesse Robinson has spent this offseason working on his body and he hopes that work will pay off when it comes to recruiting.Robinson ended last season at 6-foot-5, 280 pounds and he said he's grown to 6-foot-6 and shrunk to 265 pounds."I'm a lot stronger and faster now than I was," Robinson said. ...More... To continue reading this article you must be a member. Sign Up Now!
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Urinary Tract Infections in Teens and Adults
Topic Overview
Is this topic for you?
This topic is about urinary tract infections in teens and adults. For information about infections in babies and young children, see the topic Urinary Tract Infections in Children.
What is a urinary tract infection?
Your urinary tract is the system that makes urine and carries it out of your body. It includes your bladder and kidneys and the tubes that connect them. When germs get into this system, they can cause an infection.
Most urinary tract infections are bladder infections. A bladder infection usually is not serious if it is treated right away. If you do not take care of a bladder infection, it can spread to your kidneys. A kidney infection is serious and can cause permanent damage.
What causes urinary tract infections?
Usually, germs get into your system through your urethra, the tube that carries urine from your bladder to the outside of your body. The germs that usually cause these infections live in your large intestine and are found in your stool. If these germs get inside your urethra, they can travel up into your bladder and kidneys and cause an infection.
Women tend to get more bladder infections than men. This is probably because women have shorter urethras, so it is easier for the germs to move up to their bladders. Having sex can make it easier for germs to get into a woman's urethra.
You may be more likely to get an infection if you have diabetes or you are pregnant. The chance that you will get a bladder infection is higher if you have any problem that blocks the flow of urine from your bladder. Examples include having kidney stones or an enlarged prostate gland.
For reasons that are not well understood, some women get bladder infections again and again.
What are the symptoms?
You may have an infection if you have any of these symptoms:
- You feel pain or burning when you urinate.
- You feel like you have to urinate often, but not much urine comes out when you do.
- You have pain in your lower belly.
- Your urine is cloudy, looks pink or red, or smells bad.
- You have pain on one side of your back under your ribs. This is where your kidneys are.
- You have fever and chills.
- You have nausea and vomiting.
Call your doctor right away if you think you have an infection and:
- You have a fever, nausea and vomiting, or pain in one side of your back under your ribs.
- You have diabetes, kidney problems, or a weak immune system.
- You are older than 65.
- You are pregnant.
How are urinary tract infections diagnosed?
Your doctor will ask for a sample of your urine. It is tested to see if it has germs that cause bladder infections.
If you have infections often, you may need extra testing to find out why.
How are they treated?
Antibiotics prescribed by your doctor will usually cure a bladder infection. It may help to drink lots of water and other fluids and to urinate often, emptying your bladder each time.
If your doctor prescribes antibiotics, take the pills exactly as you are told. Do not stop taking them just because you feel better. You need to finish taking them all so that you do not get sick again.
Can urinary tract infections be prevented?
You may be able to help prevent these infections.
- Take time to empty your bladder as much as possible when you urinate.
- If you are a sexually active woman, make it a point to urinate shortly after having sex.
- If you are a woman past menopause who is having repeated UTIs, using vaginal estrogen may help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Learning about urinary tract infections:
Being diagnosed:
Getting treatment:
Living with infections that keep coming back:
Bacteria that enter the urethra and travel up the urinary tract are the usual cause of urinary tract infections (UTIs). Bacteria that normally live in the large intestine and are present in feces (stool) are the most common source of infection. Sexual intercourse may move bacteria into the urinary tract, especially in women. Catheters, which are small, flexible tubes inserted into the bladder to allow urine to drain, are a common source of bacterial infection in people who are in hospitals or who live in long-term care facilities.
Sometimes bacteria traveling through the blood or lymph system cause kidney or bladder infections.
Kidney stones , an enlarged prostate in men, and structural problems in the urinary tract can contribute to UTIs by limiting the body's ability to eliminate urine completely.
Women who have repeated UTIs may have inherited genes that make them more likely to get these infections.
Symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI) may include:
- Pain or burning when you urinate.
- An urge to urinate frequently but usually passing only small amounts of urine.
- Pain in the lower belly.
- Urine that looks cloudy, is pink or red, or smells bad.
- Pain in the flank , which is felt just below the rib cage and above the waist on one or both sides of the back.
- Fever and chills.
- Nausea and vomiting.
Some people have bacteria in their urinary tract without having any symptoms. This is called asymptomatic bacteriuria. Asymptomatic bacteriuria may lead to infections that cause symptoms, but in many cases it does not. It usually goes away without treatment.
Several other conditions, such as vaginal infections or irritable bladder, cause symptoms similar to those of a UTI. Your doctor may evaluate your health for one or more of these if you have urinary symptoms, depending on your medical history and how well you respond to treatment for a UTI.
What Happens
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) typically occur when bacteria from the rectal area enter through the urethra and travel up the urinary tract to the bladder or kidneys.
Typically, UTIs cause urinary symptoms, such as pain or burning during urination. Some mild bladder infections may go away on their own within a couple of days. Most UTIs clear up quickly with antibiotics. The amount of time required to cure the infection and the need for urine tests will vary with the location (bladder or kidneys), frequency, and seriousness of the infection. Kidney infections and UTIs that are complicated by other factors require longer treatment.
Complications of UTIs are not common but do occur. Serious complications can include permanent kidney damage and widespread infection (sepsis), which can be life-threatening. The risk is greater if the infection is not treated or if the infection does not respond to antibiotics.
Some people have many UTIs. They are often new infections (recurrent UTIs), but they can also be the same infection coming back (a relapse). A rapid relapse usually means that treatment failed or there is another problem affecting the urinary tract (not just the infection).
UTIs in women
UTIs are most common in young to middle-aged women. They occur more often in women than in men because:
- The rectum is closer to the urine outlet (urethra) in women than in men. This allows bacteria present in stool to enter the urinary tract more easily.
- The urethra is shorter in women than in men, which allows bacteria to reach the bladder more easily.
- In women, sexual intercourse can push bacteria into the urethra.
- The fluid produced by a man's prostate gland helps kill bacteria in his urinary tract.
Some women have an ongoing problem with UTIs. If a woman has more than two bladder infections in 6 months or more than three infections in a year, she is said to have recurrent UTIs. Recurrent UTIs usually get better with extended antibiotic treatment. But infection may recur as soon as the woman stops taking antibiotics. For this reason, doctors usually recommend preventive antibiotics.
UTIs in men
Most urinary tract infections in men are caused by bacteria.
UTIs in older men are more often related to prostate problems. This can make them more difficult to treat. Having an enlarged prostate, which is common in older men, can limit the body's ability to pass urine. Repeated UTIs may indicate prostatitis, epididymitis, or another urinary tract problem.
For more information, see:
What Increases Your Risk
Risk factors in women
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are most common in young to middle-aged sexually active women. Things that increase a woman's risk of getting UTIs include:
- Sexual activity, which pushes bacteria into the urethra. Sexual activity with the use of a diaphragm and spermicide raises the risk.
- Pregnancy.
- Previous UTIs.
- Lack of estrogen, which allows bacteria that can cause UTIs to grow more easily in the vagina or urethra. Women who have gone through menopause are at increased risk for UTIs.
Risk factors in men
Things that increase a man's risk of UTIs include:
- Problems with the prostate gland. Men become increasingly prone to UTIs as they get older because of prostate problems, such as enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia) and prostatitis.
- An uncircumcised penis.
- Anal intercourse.
- Unprotected sex with a woman who has a vaginal infection.
- HIV infection.
Risk factors in both women and men
Certain risk factors apply to both women and men. These include:
- Having a catheter in place. Bacteria can enter the catheter and start an infection. Most at risk are older adults who are in hospitals or who live in long-term care facilities.
- Kidney stones and other obstructions in the urinary tract. These may block the flow of urine, raising the risk of bacterial infection.
- Diabetes. People with diabetes are at greater risk for UTIs because their immune systems are weakened. Also, long-term high blood sugar can damage the kidneys' filtering system (diabetic nephropathy).
- Structural problems of the urinary tract. These may be present at birth or develop later in life.
When To Call a Doctor
Call your doctor immediately if painful urination or other symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI) occur with:
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Fever and chills.
- Pain in the flank , which is felt just below the rib cage and above the waist on one or both sides of the back, or lower belly pain.
Call your doctor immediately if you are pregnant and have symptoms of a UTI (listed above).
Call a doctor if you:
- Have had UTI symptoms previously and have those symptoms again.
- Have minor symptoms of a UTI that do not clear up in 1 to 2 days, such as pain or burning when you urinate, foul-smelling urine, or the urge to urinate frequently while passing only small amounts of urine.
- Notice blood or pus in your urine.
- Have symptoms of a UTI and you have diabetes.
- Have been taking antibiotics for a UTI but your symptoms do not improve or they come back (recur) after improving temporarily.
Watchful waiting
Watchful waiting is a wait-and-see approach. If you get better on your own, you won't need treatment. If you get worse, you and your doctor will decide what to do next.
In adults, home treatment for minor urinary tract infections (UTIs) often resolves the problem. Home treatment includes drinking plenty of water and urinating often, emptying the bladder each time.
- Try home treatment for 1 to 2 days if your symptoms are minor.
- If your symptoms last longer than 1 to 2 days or are severe, seek medical help.
Watchful waiting is not appropriate if you:
- Have diabetes or an impaired immune system.
- Are pregnant.
- Are older than 65.
Who to see
The following health professionals can treat urinary tract infections (UTIs):
- Nurse practitioner
- Physician assistant
- General practitioner
- Family medicine physician
- Internist
- Obstetrician
- Gynecologist
- Urologist
To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.
Exams and Tests
If you have symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI), your first evaluation by a doctor will likely include:
Your doctor may order a urine culture to confirm the diagnosis of a suspected UTI. But if your doctor thinks you have a UTI, he or she may have you start taking antibiotics right away without waiting for the results of your test.
Tests used less frequently
If the infection does not respond to treatment with antibiotics or recurs rapidly, if the infection may be complicated by other factors, or, in some cases, if the kidneys are infected, your doctor may order other tests to:
- Look for the cause of recurrent or chronic infections.
- Check for other kidney problems.
- Diagnose structural problems of the urinary tract that might make you more likely to get UTIs.
- Find out whether the infection is caused by unusual bacteria.
- Find out whether you have an impaired immune system.
If you get UTIs often, your doctor may write you a standing prescription for antibiotics that you can fill without a doctor's appointment. Then when you first have symptoms of a UTI, you can start taking medicine right away. You may want to use a home test for UTI to make sure you have an infection before you start antibiotics.
Treatment Overview
Antibiotics can treat most urinary tract infections (UTIs) successfully. The goals of treatment for UTIs are to relieve symptoms, eliminate the infection and prevent recurrence, and prevent unlikely but serious complications such as kidney damage and sepsis. In pregnant women, treatment protects the woman and the fetus.
Initial treatment
Treatment for bladder infections is usually a combination of antibiotics and home treatment. Home treatment includes drinking a lot of water and fluids and urinating frequently, emptying your bladder each time. More testing is not needed if your symptoms improve.
Oral antibiotics usually can treat kidney infections (pyelonephritis). But you may need a brief hospital stay and a short course of intravenous (IV) antibiotics if you are too ill or nauseated to take medicine by mouth (oral medicine). Kidney infections tend to make people more severely ill than bladder infections.
You may need more tests before and after treatment if you:
- Are pregnant.
- Are older than 65.
- Have diabetes or an impaired immune system.
- Are a man.
If you have a severe kidney infection, or if a bladder or kidney infection is complicated by other factors, you may need hospital care.
Treatment if the condition gets worse or recurs
If your urinary tract infection (UTI) does not improve after treatment with antibiotics, you will need further evaluation and additional antibiotic treatment.
If the infection spreads and affects your kidney function or causes widespread infection (sepsis), you will need hospital care. These complications are not common. And they rarely occur in people who are otherwise healthy.
A new infection, rather than a relapse of the same infection, usually is the cause of a UTI that keeps coming back (recurs).
- Women with recurrent bladder infections may be treated with preventive antibiotic therapy.
- Recurrent UTIs in men are usually a sign of prostate infection (prostatitis). Chronic prostatitis can be hard to treat. For more information, see the topic Prostatitis. Follow-up checkups are usually needed for men who have UTIs and are always needed if the infection recurs.
You can take steps to prevent new or relapsing urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Prevention tips for men and women
- Drinking more water and other liquids may help.
- When you urinate, take time to empty your bladder as much as possible.
Prevention tips for women
- Urinate immediately after sexual intercourse. This is the best protection women have against UTIs, because it helps prevent bacteria from moving into the urethra.
- Avoid using condoms coated with spermicide or a diaphragm for birth control if your doctor believes they are causing you to get UTIs.
- Change sanitary napkins often.
- Wipe from front to back after using the toilet to avoid spreading bacteria from your anus to your urinary tract.
- Some women have found cranberry juice to be helpful, although the evidence from studies isn't strong.
- If you get UTIs often, ask your doctor about taking antibiotics right after sexual intercourse to prevent recurrent UTIs.
- Post-menopausal women may want to ask their doctors about using vaginal estrogen to prevent recurrent UTIs.
Prevention tip for men
Keep the tip of your penis clean, especially if you are uncircumcised. The foreskin can trap bacteria, which can then get into the urinary tract and cause infection.
Home Treatment
You may be able to cure an early urinary tract infection (UTI) if you act promptly when you have the first symptoms of a UTI, such as pain and burning with urination. Try these home treatment steps that may stop an infection from getting worse:
- Drink lots of water, especially during the first 24 hours after your symptoms appear. This will help make the urine less concentrated and wash out the infection-causing bacteria. This may alter some of your body's normal defense mechanisms. But most doctors recommend drinking a lot of fluids when you have a UTI. Some people also drink cranberry juice.
- Urinating frequently and completely, to empty your bladder each time.
To relieve pain, take a hot bath or lay a heating pad over your genital area. Never go to sleep with a heating pad in place.
Self-treatment of recurrent UTIs
If you are a woman who has frequent uncomplicated UTIs, your doctor may write a standing prescription for antibiotics to take if you notice symptoms of a UTI. If you and your doctor agree to follow this approach and you start to have symptoms that you are certain are caused by a UTI, follow your doctor's instructions for taking the medicine and for watching your symptoms. Be sure to tell your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or if you start having UTIs more often than in the past.
Oral antibiotics can treat most bladder infections and uncomplicated kidney infections successfully. In many cases, if the symptoms and urinalysis suggest a urinary tract infection (UTI), you will start taking antibiotics without waiting for the results of a urine culture.
The number of days your doctor will have you take antibiotics depends on your infection and the type of antibiotic medicine.
Antibiotics for recurrent infections
Doctors sometimes advise that women with repeat infections use preventive antibiotic therapy. This may include taking a small dose of antibiotics daily or on alternate days, taking antibiotics after sexual intercourse (since sex often triggers UTIs in women with recurrent infections), or taking antibiotics only when you develop symptoms. Talk with your doctor about which treatment strategy is right for you.
Medication choices
Medicines used to treat UTIs include:
- Antibiotics to cure the infection. Antibiotics used for UTIs include sulfonamides with trimethoprim (such as Bactrim).
- Phenazopyridine (such as Uristat) to treat the pain and burning of a UTI. Uristat is an example of phenazopyridine you can buy without a prescription.
- Other nonprescription medicines for pain. These include acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (for example, Advil) and naproxen (for example, Aleve).
Medicines used to prevent recurrent UTIs include:
- Antibiotics, including sulfonamides with trimethoprim (such as Bactrim).
- Methenamine (such as Hiprex).
- Vaginal estrogen (such as Estrace, Estring, or Vagifem) for women who have been through menopause.
Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label. Be sure to tell your doctor if you are or think you may be pregnant. Some of these medicines are not safe to use if you are pregnant.
What to think about
These medicines are often prescribed in a less costly generic form rather than under a brand name. A pharmacist might also decide to give you a generic instead of a brand name medicine unless the prescription says "no generic."
Take all of the antibiotics your doctor has prescribed. Most people begin to feel better soon after they begin the medicine. But if you stop taking the medicine as soon as you feel better, the infection may return. And not taking the full course of antibiotics encourages the development of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. This not only makes antibiotics less effective but also makes bacterial infections harder to treat.
Other Places To Get Help
|Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
|1600 Clifton Road
|Atlanta, GA 30333
|Web Address:
The Get Smart Web site at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides information for both consumers and health professionals on the appropriate use of antibiotics. The website explains the dangers of inappropriate use of antibiotics and gives tips on actions people can take to feel better if they have an infection that cannot be helped by antibiotics. Some materials are available in English and in Spanish.
|KidsHealth for Parents, Children, and Teens
|Nemours Home Office
|10140 Centurion Parkway
|Jacksonville, FL 32256
|(904) 697-4100
|Web Address:
This website is sponsored by the Nemours Foundation. It has a wide range of information about children's health—from allergies and diseases to normal growth and development (birth to adolescence). This website offers separate areas for kids, teens, and parents, each providing age-appropriate information that the child or parent can understand. You can sign up to get weekly emails about your area of interest.
|National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse
|3 Information Way
|Bethesda, MD 20892-3580
|(703) 738-4929
|Web Address:
The National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC) provides information about diseases of the kidneys and urologic system to people with these problems and to their families, to health professionals, and to the public. NKUDIC answers inquiries; develops, reviews, and distributes publications; and works closely with professional and patient groups and government agencies to coordinate resources about kidney and urologic diseases.
NKUDIC, a federal agency, is a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). NIDDK is part of the National Institutes of Health under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
|National Kidney Foundation
|30 East 33rd Street
|New York, NY 10016
|(212) 889-2210
|(212) 689-9261
|Web Address:
The National Kidney Foundation works to prevent kidney and urinary tract diseases and help people affected by these conditions. Its website has a lot of information about adult and child conditions. The site has interactive tools, donor information, recipes for kidney disease patients, and message boards for many kidney topics. Free materials, such as brochures and newsletters, are available.
|Urology Care Foundation: The Official Foundation of the American Urological Association
|1000 Corporate Boulevard
|Linthicum, MD 21090
|(410) 689-3700
|(410) 689-3998
|Web Address:
UrologyHealth.org is a website written by urologists for patients. Visitors can find specific topics by using the "search" option.
The website provides information about adult and pediatric urologic topics, including kidney, bladder, and prostate conditions. You can find a urologist, sign up for a free quarterly newsletter, or click on the Urology A–Z page to find information about urologic problems.
Related Information
Other Works Consulted
- Lee BSB, et al. (2012). Methenamine hippurate for preventing urinary tract infections. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (10).
- Neumann I, Moore P (2011). Pyelonephritis (acute) in non-pregnant women, search date October 2009. BMJ Clinical Evidence. Available online: http://www.clinicalevidence.com.
- Perrotta C, et al. (2008). Oestrogens for preventing recurrent urinary tract infection in postmenopausal women. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (2).
|Healthwise Staff
|Primary Medical Reviewer
|E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
|Specialist Medical Reviewer
|Avery L. Seifert, MD - Urology
|Last Revised
|May 13, 2013
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Last Revised: May 13, 2013
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review: E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine & Avery L. Seifert, MD - Urology
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Posted 23 August 2012 - 08:28 AM
Posted 23 August 2012 - 09:48 AM
1. Value on 9th game not negating expansion
2. Expansion based on long term viability, sustainability and strategic purposes
3. this relates to the ARLC's Strategic Plan (advantages of expansion to locations for the nrl & media)
4. Bids need to be NO Risk and low start up costs / strong financial backing
5. Some "protecting the heartland" discussion (importance of queensland)
6. TV deal based on only 16 team, 8 game structure negotiations
Posted 23 August 2012 - 10:50 AM
Why expansion will/could happen:
1. Value on 9th game not negating expansion
2. Expansion based on long term viability, sustainability and strategic purposes
3. this relates to the ARLC's Strategic Plan (advantages of expansion to locations for the nrl & media)
4. Bids need to be NO Risk and low start up costs / strong financial backing
5. Some "protecting the heartland" discussion (importance of queensland)
6. TV deal based on only 16 team, 8 game structure negotiations
So does the last of these put the brakes on any expansion?
The $1.025 billion deal is based on the current NRL team numbers so unless one or two current clubs relocate or fold, it makes expansion less likely than before doesn't it?
******************************* Disciple of Experience *******************************
Posted 24 August 2012 - 07:43 AM
to me it means expansion negotiations are yet to come..... its purely up to the ARLC (and what their Strategic Plan reveals on expansion)
So does the last of these put the brakes on any expansion?
The $1.025 billion deal is based on the current NRL team numbers so unless one or two current clubs relocate or fold, it makes expansion less likely than before doesn't it?
Posted 24 August 2012 - 07:43 AM
Posted 24 August 2012 - 08:45 AM
Central Queensland meets Expansion Demands
The CQ bidders have obviously recognised there is a potential negative in the outcome of the TV rights deal.
The statement in that article directly answers the question I put.
It'll be interesting to see if the case outlined there does put CQ at an advantage over the other hopeful ventures.
******************************* Disciple of Experience *******************************
Posted 29 August 2012 - 01:02 AM
CQ NRL bid CEO Denis Keeffe and chairman Geoff Murphy speak at the bid's regional roadshow at Gladstone.
VIDEO: http://www.gladstone...roadshow/14617/
Posted 29 August 2012 - 01:04 AM
Posted 31 August 2012 - 03:24 AM
Posted 31 August 2012 - 03:26 AM
29 August 2012 , 5:07 PM by Philip Staley
While NRL teams celebrate the recent five-year television deal, what does it mean for the NRL's expansion hopefuls?
The Central Queensland bid has managed to secure government funding for a new stadium and more than 40,000 members.
But with the NRL not likely to expand in the next five years, is all the hard work for nothing?
The bid's chief executive officer Denis Keeffe says he's still confident of entry into the NRL by 2016.
Listen by clicking below.
Posted 31 August 2012 - 03:27 AM
Posted 31 August 2012 - 03:29 AM
Wednesday, 29th August, 2012
New heights for QLD with economic building blocks laid by Central QLD icon
Geoffrey Murphy is responsible for three billion dollars in development and construction throughout Central Queensland over the past 50 years, however his leadership and service to the region must be considered just as valuable.
His contribution to Central Queensland, the heartland of the state's booming resources sector, has long been second-to-none and all Queenslanders stand to benefit from his continued influence on the development and engagement of this area, so crucial to our state's economic growth.
Commercially, Murphy's impact in the area has largely come through the work of the JM Kelly Group of Companies, of which his is the Managing Director and owner, and which is Queensland's largest diversified and privately-owned construction business. As well as overseeing billions of dollars of regional construction, he has led the education and training of more than 500 tradesmen and women across the JM Kelly Group. He also hosts more than a hundred apprentices and trainees each year over the four JM Kelly Group sites in Rockhampton, Gladstone, Mackay, and Brisbane.
Being the Chairman of Beef Australia Ltd and owning two commercial beef cattle properties in Central Queensland, he is also at ease with connecting with the region's rural communities.
This connection with the Central Queensland community is also fostered through Murphy's leadership and service to the area. Murphy has advised the state and federal government on the needs of small business, large private-sector organisations, as well as regional and rural providers. As a business graduate of Harvard University and a two-time Queensland Executive of the Year, his input is valued and sort-after. His Rockhampton-based air service, Kelly Aviation, also regularly flies individuals and families in need to and from Brisbane and most recently contributed resources to the 2011 flood recovery.
Murphy's passion outside his family and work is Rugby League and from this passion stems the potential for Murphy to create an economic building block like none other for Central Queensland and Queensland as a whole.
His active support of Rugby League can be traced back to his role as a founding Director of the Rockhampton Brothers Rugby League Club and his membership of the 1980 Initiative, providing mentors to Queensland State of Origin players.
However as Chairman of the Central Queensland NRL Bid his current mission is to earn the go-ahead to establish the region's own National Rugby League team, based in Rockhampton.
The Central Queensland bid has already received strong community, corporate and government support ahead of Australian Rugby League Commission's decision whether to expand the National Rugby League competition as early as the 2015 season. Whatever decisions are made, Murphy has indicated that he and the Central Queensland NRL Bid team are here for the long run.
More than 40,000 rugby league fans have become members of the Central Queensland bid and more than 150 corporate partners, including QR National, have committed their support.
The Queensland Government has also committed to building a new state-of-the-art stadium in Rockhampton if the bid is successful and the financial strength of the region makes the venture low risk - according to data released by the Queensland Government in 2011, the economy of the Central Queensland NRL Bid territory represents nearly 20 per cent of Queensland's economic activity and shows no signs of slowing up. CEO of the Central Queensland NRL Bid Denis Keeffe is also former CEO of the North Queensland Cowboys, who became National Rugby League grand finalists within four years of his leadership.
Keeffe says Geoffrey Murphy is the biggest asset of the Central Queensland bid team and the economic benefits for all Queenslanders to enjoy from the bid are very real.
"Geoff's commercial success speaks volumes about his ability to lead not just viable, but lucrative ventures, and the fact he counts the love and loyalty of his family as his greatest accomplishment says even more about his character," Mr Keeffe said. "It makes perfect sense that all Queenslanders stand to benefit from the development and engagement of the heartland of our booming resources sector and essentially our economy. "According to DEEDI, the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, the coal industry alone in Central Queensland is expected to continue to grow between 7 and 10 per cent per year over the next 5 to 10 years. "It's clear the importance of Central Queensland to Queensland's economic growth is not a passing fad and our message is, nor is the Central Queensland NRL Bid – we look forward to continued momentum as we gain more and more community, corporate and government support," he said.
Posted 01 September 2012 - 07:11 AM
The CQ NRL Bid today announced its major sponsors for the 2012 Junior Development Program. Building on the success of an outstanding inaugural program in 2011 the CQ NRL Bid have partnered with leading Central Queensland companies The Rock, Boom Logistics and the JM Kelly Group to improve and extend the program in 2012.
FULL ARTICLE at http://www.cqnrlbid....opment-program/
Posted 02 September 2012 - 05:23 AM
Talking about the games against SE QLD schools/sides and not holding back on development progression using resources
Thanks to The Rock, Boom Logistics and JMK
From WIN News, 31 August 2012
Posted 02 September 2012 - 05:25 AM
Local Seven News Coverage (Sponsorship news)
Posted 03 September 2012 - 06:48 AM
Kerri-Anne Mesner | 3rd September 2012 5:10 AM
Comments (2) »
Tags: cq nrl bid, denis keeffe, fast rail link
CQ NRL Bid CEO Denis Keeffe.

A FAST-TRAIN rail service from Rockhampton to Bundaberg would be even better if the proposal included a line to western towns.
CQ NRL Bid chief executive Denis Keeffe said the rail service proposed by Capricorn Enterprise, to go via Gladstone, would be great for the community for work and recreation purposes.
Mr Keeffe was one of the people interviewed for the pre-feasibility study, which was handed over to the State Government last week.
"I think it's the most wonderful idea ever," he said.
"It should also be connected to the Central Highlands."
The line would provide Bundaberg, Gladstone and Emerald faster access to Rockhampton which would benefit the CQ NRL Bid.
The pre-feasibility study for the fast-rail proposal is now in the hands of Transport Minister Scott Emerson.
It's up to the State Government to decide if the next step, a feasibility study, is undertaken.
The proposal showed a three-car electric train running at a 70% load rate could travel between Rockhampton and Bundaberg in less than an hour and take 177 cars off the road every day.
Posted 06 September 2012 - 06:03 AM
5th September 2012 10:00 AM
AFTER a near Cinderella season, Mackay's Ben Barba is now considered among the best players in the NRL.
Mackay's Ben Barba has gone from strength to strength this year and was tipped to take the Dally M player of the year award last night.
AAP Images
AFTER a near Cinderella season, Mackay's Ben Barba is now considered among the best players in the NRL.
He capped off a stellar year by running away with the prestigious Dally M Medal at a gala function at Sydney Town Hall last night.
He finished the home-and-always rounds with 32 votes, six ahead of Cowboys' Matt Bowen (26) and seven ahead of Storm halfback Cooper Cronk.
Barba finished the regular NRL season equal leading try scorer with 21, alongside Cowboys' Ashley Graham.
The dynamic Canterbury fullback also had more line-breaks than any other NRL player this season.
Barba earned favouritism for winning the Dally M Medal last night, the league's highest individual honour, after a season that yielded several length-of-the-field tries.
The fringe Queensland player has thrived under the coaching of Des Hasler and is now an NRL force.
Mackay rugby league fan and identity Alf Abdullah said Barba deserved the prestigious award, after a five-star performance over the past month.
Abdullah praised Barba's brilliance and noted his near man-of-the-match efforts over the past month were why many had claimed he had been the NRL's best player.
"His last four or five games have been outstanding," he said of the former Mackay player.
Abdullah said Hasler's work with Barba had made him a near complete player this season.
"Hasler has done a lot of work him, particularly in defence, and that has improved that part of his game immensely," he said.
Dad Ken Barba, speaking from Sydney yesterday, said his son had his eye firmly on winning the grand final.
"His form this season has been a credit to Canterbury for showing faith in him. Whatever happens we'll be proud of him."
Mackay rugby league patron Col Grosskreutz felt Barba would go close to a bench spot for the Maroons next season.
A humbled Barba was also crowned Fullback of the Year and claimed the Provan-Summons People's Choice Award and the Peter Frilingos Memorial Award for that magical length-of-the-field try he set up for Josh Morris against the Storm in round 16.
All that remains now is for Barba to cap a season to remember with a premiership, starting with Manly this Friday night at ANZ Stadium.
Barba highlights the continued production line of CQ talent.
11 Juniors in the NRL Finals Week 1 (included players on extended bench)
Posted 06 September 2012 - 06:09 AM
Posted 11 September 2012 - 10:01 AM
Posted 11 September 2012 - 10:11 AM
Have to admire their option to stay positive & await more solid info from the ARLC.
Always carry a flagon of whiskey in case of snakebite
and furthermore always carry a small snake - W C Fields


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Summer Wind
Imagine enjoying the Summer Wind on this lovely patio of the Farralone Estate. Completed in 1951, this is a beautiful example of modern architecture of the era. The Chatsworth, CA estate is on the market, priced at $12 million."Sinatra rented the estate for nearly a decade, starting in the 1950s, during his Rat Pack years. He occupied the 10,000-square foot, four bedroom main house, which touts 16 foot walls of glass curtains and a 50 foot swimming pool just outside. The estate also boasts a 1,000-square foot, one bedroom guest house with a small pool of its own. Sinatra used to sublet the guesthouse to his friend: a blonde actress by the name of Marilyn Monroe. The swimming pool is alleged to be the site of one of the blonde bombshell's last photo shoots, and more interestingly, the guesthouse is believed to be the alleged meeting spot for the late Monroe and President Jack Kennedy's notorious reported affair." Forbes The home was designed by Pereira & Luckman, architects famous for the Los Angeles International Airport and Pereira specifically for the Kennedy Center's Studio Theater and the Transamerica Pyramid Building.
For more great images of this historic home visit: Forbes
Tags: Farralone Estate, Frank Sinatra, interior design, Marilyn Monroe, Modern Architecture, Summer Wind


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All 32 NFL rosters had to be trimmed to 75 players or fewer by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
One of the bigger names on the move Tuesday was Miami Dolphins backup quarterback Brady Quinn, who signed with the team Aug. 12.
He completed all four of his pass attempts for 22 yards in his lone preseason appearance for Miami.
The move essentially ensures that Matt Moore will be the backup to Ryan Tannehill when the season begins Sept. 7 against the New England Patriots.
It was short lived but I enjoyed every second. Thank you @MiamiDolphins for the opportunity to play the game I love again. Best of luck to..— Brady Quinn (@3rd_Goal) August 26, 2014
Quinn had planned to work as an NFL analyst for FOX prior to receiving the opportunity with Miami.
The St. Louis Rams put injured Sam Bradford on injured reserve and waived defensive end Sammy Brown to reach the 75-player roster limit. Brown's departure could be a signal Michael Sam's spot with the team is increasingly secure.
The Dallas Cowboys cut backup quarterback Caleb Hanie and waived linebacker LB DeVonte Holloman, whose career will likely be ended by a neck injury, with an injury designation.
The Pittsburgh Steelers released long snapper Luke Ingram, apparently a good sign that injured Greg Warren will be ready by Week 1.
Among earliery prominent cuts was Arizona Cardinals kicker Jay Feely, who lost his positional battle to stronger-legged and inexpensive Chandler Catanzaro on Monday. Over the past four seasons in Arizona, Feely had converted more than 85% of his field-goal attempts (98-for-115).
The Cards also cut veteran tackle Max Starks and No. 3 quarterback Ryan Lindley, who was bypassed by rookie Logan Thomas.
The New England Patriots parted with three longtime league defenders: defensive tackle Tommy Kelly, linebacker James Anderson and Will Smith, the longtime defensive end for the New Orleans Saints.
Cornerback Derek Cox, who has started 56 games for the Jacksonville Jaguars and San Diego Chargers since 2009, was let go by the Minnesota Vikings.
Wideout Anthony Armstrong was among those dropped by the Cleveland Browns.
The Detroit Lions dropped Giorgio Tavecchio, meaning rookie Nate Freese will be the team's new kicker.
Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone said veteran defensive tackle Alan Branch's future with the team was in jeopardy even before the player was arrested and charged with drunken driving. But Marrone said the main factor in cutting the eighth-year player was Branch not performing well throughout training camp.
Contributing: The Associated Press
PHOTOS: 2014 preseason action


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Solar cooker dissemination and cultural variables
this wiki
Here is a sampling of perspectives that may be of interest to solar cooking promoters and that may serve as a reminder to seek local partners for greater insight.
A good information source is Solar Cookers International's own Spreading Solar Cooking manual. Among the items on the manual's assessment check list, these speak to cultural variables:
- Are there open, sunny spaces near homes, where a solar cooker and food can be safe from stealing, tampering or damage?
- Is cooking already usually done outside?
- Are main meals around noon and/or around sunset or soon after?
- Do gender roles allow/encourage women to participate in community groups and allow women some decision-making in family financial matters?
Food preferences and customs vary by culture, and the manual asks promoters to consider whether high-heat frying consumes a significant portion of household fuel. In cultures where most foods are fried, parabolic cookers may be the most suitable, while in cultures where frying is less important, lower-cost Box cookers and panel cookers may be the most economical choice.
Here are a few other variables promoters should consider:
- How many people do most women cook for in the community?
- What size or style of cooker suits this family size?
- What pots are used? Will they work with solar cooking and will they fit in the cookers?
- What time of day do women buy the day's food?
- Is there enough time after purchasing the food to solar cook it?
- Will they have time to solar cook both lunch and dinner?
Knowing local food customs can help promoters find niches where solar cookers can have dramatic pay-offs. For example, in Hausa communities in West Africa, there are usually a significant number of people involved in small businesses roasting chickens. These chicken roasters could be a great market for solar box cookers.
Gender, culture and cookers
One important factor is the disparity in decision-making power between men and women in many cultures. In most cultures, women do most of the cooking, but in many cultures men make the decisions about spending money. Since the men don't cook, they may be reluctant to spend money to improve the working conditions of the cook. On the other hand, we've heard of a man in Kenya who bought his wife a solar cooker, but she refused to use it.
Cases have been reported where women fear to try a new cooking method because they worry their husbands will beat them if meals do not taste the way the men are used to.
A study from Central America by Dr. Dulce Cruz discussed a project in which women organized into groups to build and learn to use cookers. Some men were threatened by the fact that their wives were getting out of the house, meeting with other women, and learning new skills—and they beat their wives to discourage them.
There have been reports in Africa of opposition to solar cookers because men were afraid that the cookers would provide women time to be idle.
In those families that rely on gathered firewood instead of purchased wood or charcoal, women and girls usually do most of the fuel collecting. Under some economic analyses, the time spent gathering the wood would be considered a "cost" of cooking. However, in many places, time spent by women and girls doing work is not assigned a recognized value. Therefore, "saving" their time through solar cooking does not have a recognized value. In many cases, it is not exclusively a gender issue. Work that does not bring cash income may be less valued than work that does produce cash.
One reported reason for rejecting solar cookers is that an indoor cooking fire is effective at reducing the number of insects that live in the roof of the family dwelling. It has been reported that in some places women like working together in hot, smoky kitchens with a cooking fire because the heat and smoke keep the men away and allow the women a space of their own.
On the other hand, men's attitudes can support the acceptance of solar cooking. There are cases where men have praised their wives' move to solar cooking because of the lack of smoke and soot. Some men have said that with solar cooking their wives smell better (not smoky), look better (no red eyes from smoke), feel better (reduced coughing) and have more time for the family.
In fact, in some projects, especially in Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya, a surprising cultural change was noticed: Men began cooking their own meals. This may have been due partly to the fact that the problems that led people to become refugees also disrupted families, so that some men had no female relatives available to cook for them. However, what the men said was that they liked solar cooking because it was clean and modern. By removing the worst negatives of cooking, solar cookers may foster enormous cultural changes if it leads to men and women sharing the cooking chores more equally.
The cleanliness, lack of smoke and image of modern living is one that attracts many women in the developing world to solar cookers, even as others may cling hard to the old and traditional ways.
Belief systems and cookers
The person whose questions stimulated the writing of this article offered an anecdote. She said she heard that some cultures reject square solar box cookers because they believe that circular shapes are the symbol of perfection.
In parts of Nepal, people were reluctant to use solar cookers because they believed the god of the household hearth was an important spirit who would be offended if meals were not cooked on a fire on the hearth.
It has been reported that during solar cooking demonstrations in Haiti in which the people grew fearful when the food started to cook. They thought black magic must be involved, so they ran away. There are similar cases in Africa where cooking food without fire was perceived as the work of the devil. In the United States, the influential solar cooking leader Barbara Kerr was visited by an engineering professional. The engineer spent much of the day trying to make his point that a cardboard solar box cooker could not possibly cook food. He continued his argument while his lunch was cooking in a box at his feet, and still maintained that the box could not cook even after he ate the hot, delicious lunch Barbara fed him.
In all three of the above cases, the fact of solar cooking is outside the experience and belief systems of the people who doubted or feared it. In such cases, it is normal for people to develop an explanation that does lie within their belief system.
Another example of belief systems and cookers could be demonstrated in the Jewish traditional laws (Hallacha) pertaining to the Sabbath. On this day, there are several restrictions such as not lighting a fire, using a fire only under strict restrictions, and not cooking on a fire (also with certain exemptions, like continued warming from Friday). In modern times these restrictions were extended to electricity. There are various ancient discussions written in the Jewish holy scriptures, about cooking or baking in the sun, including mentions of solar cooking in the Sinai Desert, during the exodus at biblical times. If taken at face value, these texts state that it is permitted to cook food in the sun on the Sabbath. There have been various debates in modern time about this, especially since in Israel, where the majority of population keeps to tradition, there are more than 80% of the housholds with solar water heating, in accordance with the local law. This was an additional reason for advocating the law of solar heating by the Jewish religious politicians.
Under the same discussion, the subject of geo-thermal heating and cooking is brought up. Solar heating receives a positive attitude, while the geo-thermal heating recieves a negative one, comparing it to man made fire, and declaring it as undesired on the Sabbath.
It may be benefitial for the people of the three Monotheist religions, to be exposed to these ancient texts, promoting solar cooking as an extra spiritually clean and ancient traditional activity.
Culture supports solar cooking
Beliefs help spread solar cooking, too, in various ways. For example, people in Africa and elsewhere have commented that the sun's power to cook food is more proof of the benevolence of deities.
Sometimes the motivation is more immediate. African farmers have written who celebrate their ability to carry light weight solar cookers into their distant fields, so that the food cooks while the people work, and a hot meal can be had with no delay. women's groups in eastern Africa make extra money by using solar cooking to meet a strongly felt local cultural need—for birthday cakes. Baking cakes is virtually impossible on a three-stone fire, but easy in a solar box cooker. There is a ready demand, so the solar cooker easily fits into its niche. Template:Main:Solar restaurants and bakeries
But, these and many other individual examples obscure more important attractions of solar cookers across cultures. Solar Cookers International has received hundreds of letters from many countries from people who decry the coughing and pneumonia that are linked to indoor cooking smoke, people who desire the smoke free alternative of solar cooking. SCI has also received many pleas from many countries describing the suffering, especially among children, who waste away from diseases carried in their drinking water, and who seek information on solar water pasteurization.
Full realization of the benefits--economic and health-related--occurs only after people solar cook successfully and regularly for several seasons. An elder in a Somali community that had been using solar cookers on a regular and widespread basis for several years told a neutral monitor of the project the following:
"Forest is rain, forest is fuel energy, forest is crop…livestock…money. Forest, in general, is livelihoods. By reducing their destruction and reclaiming them…most of us have just started witnessing how valuable these [solar cookers] are."
The good news here for promoters trying to reach whole villages, towns or districts seems to be that if you do everything right for the first four years, it will start to get a lot easier.
Cookers and changes
I know that I am reluctant to make changes and try new technologies without a compelling reason—even though I grew up in a culture that worships change and newness. It does not surprise me that many people are slow to make the changes in habits needed to succeed with solar cooking.
A study comparing several solar cooker projects in Ladakh, India, looked at this issue. Their study indicated that acceptance of solar cooking was greater in communities that were more exposed to encroachments of the modern world. Communities that were more remote and less affected by modern changes were less likely to adopt solar cooking. Apparently, if traditional ways are intact, people are more likely to continue their traditional cooking mode. If tradition is already crumbling, it may be easier to get people to make voluntary changes in cooking habits when they have good reasons to do so.
In many places in the world, traditional cooking methods are harder to maintain because of spreading shortages and rising prices of traditional fuels. These shortages may drive people to embrace alternatives like solar cooking.
Economics, culture and cookers
In our project in western Kenya, we sell very low-cost cookers at slightly subsidized prices to low-income rural women. We have been told that the women in that culture do not believe in going into debt. Therefore, they refuse to buy the cookers on credit. Instead, they pay small installments until they have paid the full price and then accept the cooker. From a western perspective, the women would seem to be better off if they would accept the cooker after the first payment. Then they could pay the rest of the installments by using the money the cooker saved them on firewood expenses. The reluctance to go into debt of any kind makes the purchase of cookers more difficult, slowing down the dissemination process.
One can easily imagine problems arising from an opposite attitude. If it fit the culture to make a down payment, take a cooker, and then postpone making the rest of the payments, solar cooking promoters would face serious problems.
For people raised in industrialized-consumer cultures, one of the best points about solar cookers is that they can pay for themselves in a few months by reducing spending on wood, charcoal or gas. The idea that an investment now will lead to recurring savings month after month in the future seems to make solar cooking obviously beneficial. However, in some cultures, ideas about investing and gaining small but permanently recurring savings are not developed the way they are in the West. Cultures that have little experience with money in general are not likely to have developed sophisticated traditions of thinking about "investing" "savings" and "return on investment."
Still it is hard to find the city people who adopt solar cooking as a major activity. In order for solar cooking to become adopted and widespread in western cities culture, the "packaging" of the solar cookers needs to look more "standard" and have a strong appeal. It is yet to be seen what new types of products will be developed enabling solar cooking in city homes, and in city kitchens in particular.
One last item. A solar cooker project in Central America worked with wooden cookers of the box type. Women didn't like them, because the cookers sat on the ground and women had to sit, stoop or crouch to put food in and out. In response, the promoters started building the box cookers with legs, so that the oven would be near waist height like the ovens the women were used to. Acceptance improved greatly. Again, listening to local people about their needs and preferences is vital.
When one thinks about the variability of human cultures, one will easily conclude that someone sitting at a desk in California probably has some cultural blind spots. Others who read this article may wish to add their insights. If you have a contribution to make, please send me an email at email@example.com I hope to update this article in 3 to 6 months with additional comments from others.
See also
Selected articles
- May 2012: Identifying the barriers to the deployment of solar cookers in the energy-poor households of sub-Saharan Africa - Sarah Cochetel
- December 2011: Some Big Solar Cooking Project in Asia - Dar Curtis, Solar Household Energy
- October 2009: Cookstove and Obstacles to Technology Adoption by the Poor - Xander Slaski and Mark Thurber
- August 2010: New research reconfirms acceptance of solar cooking - Solar Household Energy
- July 2006: Integration of Local Culture and Perception in Marketing of Solar Cookers - Mahnaz Saremi
- July 2006: An Example of an Informal Strategy for Dissemination of Solar Cookers - Heike Hoedt
- July 2006: Destination New Partnership - A Map For Accelarated Spread of Solar Cookers - Pascale Dennery
- Moving ahead with solar cookers by GTZ. This is an interesting article in general, but pages 11 and 12 are most closely related to culture issues
- Solar Box Cookers in Ladakh is based on an interview with a solar cooker promoter active in Ladakh in the 1980s and includes some comments on culture.
- Here is a short section on cultural factors that is part of a larger article by Marc Aalfs about adapting solar box cooker designs.
- Solar Box Cookers in Zimbabwe by Patrice Rodgers is an in-depth examination of one solar cooking introduction project, with insights on cultural issues interwoven with economic and technical issues.
- The special challenges of solar cooking by Charles Onyango-Oloo is short and discusses a variety of issues from a Kenyan point of view, including to some extent the culture and attitudes of solar cooking promoters.
- The Fuel Wood Crisis in Burkina Faso--Solar Cookers As An Alternative" by Paul Krämer is a long study which includes comments on Burkinabe culture related to solar cooking.
- A Market-Based Strategy for Introducing Passive Solar Ovens in Kenya is a marketing study performed by graduate students from the Michigan School of Business. Among many considerations discussed, some cultural factors are included.
- Solar Cookers and Social Classes in Southern Africa by William Noble Grundy reports culture-related observations of an individual.
- Social Acceptance of Solar Stoves in South Africa reviews results of a comparative test of solar cookers and includes comments on culture.