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Academics . Admissions . Faculty
Eric Reitz
Title Associate Director of Enrollment + Financial Aid
Department Admissions
Phone 216.421.7437
Title Counselor
Department Admissions
Phone 216.421.7422
Karen graduated with a BA in Art, with a concentration in Painting, and focus in Art History, from Cleveland State University. Karen has worked at several galleries in the Cleveland area, then at the Cleveland Museum of Art in the Development Department, before starting in the Admissions Office at CIA in the Fall of 2008. Over the past several years, she has participated in local group shows, including St. Clair Superior Development Corporation's Public Art Projects and Sparx City Hop; as well as having attended numerous gallery openings and museum events, and supporting the local arts scene. Karen values the Cleveland artistic community, and helping students prepare for the admissions/portfolio prep process for admittance into the Cleveland Institute of Art.
Karen covers the following territories: Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and all Ohio zip codes that begin with: 442, 443, 444, 445, 446, 447.expand collapse
Thomas Green, Associate Director of Admissions, works primarily with transfer students and international students. Thomas has worked in visual arts higher education for more than 20 years and has served as a juror at several arts competitions and exhibitions during this time. He is an avid photographer and a free-lance graphic designer. Thomas enjoys visiting Cleveland museums and photographing the city and Lake Erie. He has a B.A. from Ohio State University.
Territory: Transfer and Internationalexpand collapse
Title Assistant Director of Admissions
Department Admissions
Phone 216.421.7492
Pita is an advocate and native to this region, and she has been immersed in the Cleveland art scene since childhood. She received a B.A. in Fine Arts from Hiram College, where she studied painting, photography, multimedia, and minored in Art History. She most recently came to the Institute from the Museum of Contemporary Art in Cleveland where she was working for the past five years. Pita is a lover of contemporary culture and when she is not at CIA or in her studio, you can catch her motorcycling around town, hitting all of the art openings.
Pita covers the following territories: all Ohio zip codes that begin with: 437, 438, 439, 440, 441, and 457.expand collapse
Title Counselor
Department Admissions
Phone 216.421.7943
Originally a Detroit native, Cleveland has become Thea's new home after receiving a Bachelors of Art from Hamilton College, where she pursued a double concentration in Art History and Hispanic Studies. Thea appreciates how artists and designers see the world through a lens of limitless potential, and is excited to bring the next generation of creative problem-solvers to Cleveland. Before working for the Cleveland Institute of Art, Thea worked for the Wellin Museum of Art at Hamilton College and the Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland. From riding her bike around town to playing in local pinball leagues, and running a project space for artists, Thea enjoys the unique experiences only Cleveland can offer.
Thea covers the following territories: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virgin Islands, and all Ohio zip codes that begin with: 434, 435, 436, 448, 449, 458.
Title Counselor
Department Admissions
Phone 216.421.7458
Eranah recently graduated with her MFA in Painting from Kent State University and she received her BFA in Painting from Cleveland Institute of Art in 2004. Eranah is a native Clevelander who has spent time painting and teaching in New York, Washington D.C. and St. Thomas Virgin Islands. Eranah makes paintings, drawings, sculptures and mixed media art. By experimenting with aleatoric processes, Eranah often creates whimsical and playful work, upon which thoughts that have apparently just been developed are manifested.
Her paintings feature coincidental, accidental and unexpected connections which make it possible to revise art history and, even better, to complement it. Combining unrelated aspects lead to surprising analogies. Her works reference recognizable forms and symbols through collage and drawing which are most often embedded in a matrix of abstraction. The results are deconstructed to the extent that meaning is shifted and possible interpretation becomes multifaceted. By applying abstraction, she formalizes the coincidental and emphasizes the conscious process of composition that is behind the seemingly random works.
Eranah has shown her work in several galleries in the United States. Her work can be viewed at www.herbaleranah.com
Eranah covers the following territories: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and all Ohio zip codes that begin with: 430, 431, 432, 433, 450, 451, 452, 453, 454, 455, 456.expand collapse
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While at CIA, you'll learn from the masters through our rigorous, world-class curriculum and connect with working professionals to begin your career.


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The Director/Administrator is in charge of day-to-day operations of the Central Kansas Library System. To accomplish the division of labor, the Library System is organized into eight departments: Administration; Reference/Outreach; Continuing Education; Youth Services; Talking Books for the Blind and Physically Handicapped; Automation Services; Resource Access and Sharing; and Maintenance. Each department head supervises support staff and various programs, including Books-by-Mail, Rotating Books, Interlibrary Loan, Technical Services, and the Low-Vision Center. The Director/Administrator is responsible for all hiring and firing decisions and recommends salary increases to the Board annually.
The Administrative Manager directs human resources—responsible for maintaining personnel records, timecards, payroll, vacation records, sick leave records, other time off records, and all personnel insurance records. Staff members may contact the Administrative Manager about any of these issues.

subset: commoncrawl


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Educational Resources: Search the CLEAN Collection
Scientifically and pedagogically reviewed digital resources for teaching about climate science, climate change, and energy awareness
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- Cyclical and Natural Changes 9 matches
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Climate Literacy Principles
- Humans can take action 23 matches Humans can take actions to reduce climate change and its impacts.
- Sun is primary energy 5 matches The Sun is the primary source of energy for Earth's climate system
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Life Cycle Assessment of Biofuels 101
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Using a mass balance model to understand carbon dioxide and its connection to global warming
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World of Change: Amazon Deforestation
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Climate Change: How Do We Know?


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Authorities are hoping the public can help locate a convicted sex offender who is on the run.
Matthew Caulk, 46, failed to register as a sex offender in Colorado and is now wanted by the U.S. Marshals for violation of federal supervised released. He failed to show up at a Denver halfway house, after which a federal warrant for his arrest was issued on Feb. 15.
Caulk currently has two sexual assault convictions, including one in Lakewood, Colo. in 2007, when he sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl. That assault was committed while Caulk was on the run; it was later discovered he was accompanied by a runaway underage girl while attempting to elude authorities. He was located after he was featured on America's Most Wanted.
Caulk was also convicted for sexual assault on a 13-year-old in 2002.
Caulk is 5-foot-9 and 175 pounds, bald with hazel eyes. He has tattoos on his abdomen, chest and left shoulder.
If you have any information on Caulk's whereabouts, call the U.S. Marshals at 1-877-WANTED2 or Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP.
KKTV firmly believes in freedom of speech for all and we are happy to provide this forum for the community to share opinions and facts. We ask that commenters keep it clean, keep it truthful, stay on topic and be responsible. Comments left here do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of KKTV 11 News.
If you believe that any of the comments on our site are inappropriate or offensive, please tell us by clicking "Report Abuse" and answering the questions that follow. We will review any reported comments promptly.powered by Disqus


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Sri Lanka
A view of Sri Paada (Adam's Peak) from Maskeliya, Sri Lanka. Source: Mediawiki Commons
Sri Lanka (formerly known as Ceylon) is an island nation of over twenty-one million people in the Indian Ocean, about 28 kilometers (18 mi.) off the southeastern coast of India.
Its major environmental issues include:
- deforestation;
- soil erosion;
- wildlife populations threatened by poaching and urbanization;
- coastal degradation from mining activities and increased pollution;
- freshwater resources being polluted by industrial wastes and sewage runoff; waste disposal; and,
- air pollution in Colombo
Sri Lanka is susceptible to occasional cyclones and tornadoes.
The first Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century B.C., probably from northern India.
Buddhism was introduced in about the mid-third century B.C., and a great civilization developed at the cities of Anuradhapura (kingdom from circa 200 B.C. to circa A.D. 1000) and Polonnaruwa (from about 1070 to 1200).
In the 14th century, a south Indian dynasty established a Tamil kingdom in northern Sri Lanka.
The coastal areas of the island were controlled by the Portuguese in the 16th century and by the Dutch in the 17th century.
The island was ceded to the British in 1796, became a crown colony in 1802, and was formally united under British rule by 1815.
As Ceylon, it became independent in 1948; its name was changed to Sri Lanka in 1972.
Tensions between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil separatists erupted into war in 1983. After two decades of fighting, the government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) formalized a cease-fire in February 2002 with Norway brokering peace negotiations.
Violence between the LTTE and government forces intensified in 2006, but the government regained control of the Eastern Province in 2007. By May 2009, the government announced that its military had defeated the remnants of the LTTE. Since the end of the conflict, the government has resettled more than 75 percent of internally displaced persons and has undertaken a number of massive infrastructure projects to reconstruct its economy.
Location: Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India
Geographic Coordinates: 7 00 N, 81 00 E
Area: 65,610 sq km (land: 64,630 sq km; water: 980 sq km)
Coastline: 1,340 km
Maritime Claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Natural Hazards: occasional cyclones and tornadoes
Terrain: mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior. The highest point is Pidurutalagala (2,524 m).
Climate: tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October)
Topography of Sri Lanka. Source: Mediawiki Commons.
Ecology and Biodiversity
1. Deccan thorn scrub forests (dark yellow) sprawls across the Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra and also includes part of northern Sri Lanka.
2. Sri Lanka dry-zone dry evergreen forests (yellow) represent the tropical dry forests throughout most of the island of Sri Lanka, except for the southwestern quarter, the central mountain range, and the Jaffna Peninsula in the extreme north.
3. Sri Lanka lowland rain forests (green) represents the tropical rain forests below 1,000 meters (m) in elevation in the southwestern quarter of Sri Lanka.
4. Sri Lanka montane rain forests (dark green) represents the montane and submontane moist forests above 1,000 meters (m) in the central massif and in the Knuckles Mountain Range to the northeast.
See also:
Source: World Wildlife Fund
People and Society
Population: 21,481,334 (July 2012 est.)
Sri Lanka is ethnically, linguistically, and religiously diverse.
Sinhalese make up 74% of the population and are concentrated in the densely populated southwest. Sri Lankan Tamils, citizens whose South Indian ancestors have lived on the island for centuries, total about 12%, live throughout the country, and predominate in the Northern Province.
Indian Tamils, a distinct ethnic group, represent about 5% of the population. The British brought them to Sri Lanka in the 19th century as tea and rubber plantation workers, and they remain concentrated in the "tea country" of south-central Sri Lanka. In accordance with a 1964 agreement with India, Sri Lanka granted citizenship to 230,000 "stateless" Indian Tamils in 1988. Under the pact, India granted citizenship to the remainder, some 200,000 of whom now live in India. Another 75,000 Indian Tamils, who themselves or whose parents once applied for Indian citizenship, chose to remain in Sri Lanka and have since been granted Sri Lankan citizenship.
Other minorities include Muslims (both Moors and Malays), at about 7% of the population; Burghers, who are descendants of European colonists, principally from the Netherlands and the United Kingdom (U.K.); and aboriginal Veddahs. Most Sinhalese are Buddhist; most Tamils are Hindu. The majority of Sri Lanka's Muslims practice Sunni Islam. Sizable minorities of both Sinhalese and Tamils are Christians, most of whom are Roman Catholic. The 1978 constitution--while assuring freedom of religion--grants primacy to Buddhism.
Sinhala, an Indo-European language, is the native tongue of the Sinhalese. Tamils and most Muslims speak Tamil, part of the South Indian Dravidian linguistic group. Use of English has declined since independence, but it continues to be spoken by many in the middle and upper middle classes, particularly in Colombo. The government is seeking to reverse the decline in the use of English, mainly for economic but also for political reasons. Both Sinhala and Tamil are official languages.
Ethnic Groups: Sinhalese 73.8%, Sri Lankan Moors 7.2%, Indian Tamil 4.6%, Sri Lankan Tamil 3.9%, other 0.5%, unspecified 10% (2001 census provisional data)
Age Structure:
0-14 years: 24.9% (male 2,705,953/female 2,599,717)
15-64 years: 67.2% (male 6,993,668/female 7,313,440)
65 years and over: 7.9% (male 720,219/female 950,916) (2011 est.)
Population Growth Rate: 0.913% (2012 est.)
Birthrate: 17.04 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)
Death Rate: 5.96 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)
Net Migration Rate: -1.95 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)
Life Expectancy at Birth: 75.94 years
male: 72.43 years
female: 79.59 years (2012 est.)
Total Fertility Rate: 2.17 children born/woman (2012 est.)
Languages: Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national language) 18%, other 8% Note: English is commonly used in government and is spoken competently by about 10% of the population
Literacy (age 15 and over can read and write): 90.7% (2001 census)
Urbanization: 14% of total population (2010) growing at an annual rate of chnage of 1.1% (2010-15 est.)
The actual origins of the Sinhalese are shrouded in myth. Most believe they came to Sri Lanka from northern India during the 6th century BC. Buddhism arrived from the subcontinent 300 years later and spread rapidly. Buddhism and a sophisticated system of irrigation became the pillars of classical Sinhalese civilization (200 BC-1200 AD) that flourished in the north-central part of the island. Invasions from southern India, combined with internecine strife, pushed Sinhalese kingdoms southward.
The island's contact with the outside world began early. Roman sailors called the island Taprobane. Arab traders knew it as "Serendip," the root of the word "serendipity." Beginning in 1505, Portuguese traders, in search of cinnamon and other spices, seized the island's coastal areas and spread Catholicism. The Dutch supplanted the Portuguese in 1658. Although the British ejected the Dutch in 1796, Dutch law remains an important part of Sri Lankan jurisprudence. In 1815, the British defeated the king of Kandy, last of the native rulers, and created the Crown Colony of Ceylon. They established a plantation economy based on tea, rubber, and coconuts. In 1931, the British granted Ceylon limited self-rule and a universal franchise. Ceylon became independent on February 4, 1948.
Post-Independence Politics
Sri Lankan politics since independence have been strongly democratic. Two major parties, the United National Party (UNP) and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), have generally alternated rule.
The UNP ruled first from 1948-56 under three Prime Ministers--D.S. Senanayake, his son Dudley, and Sir John Kotelawala. The SLFP ruled from 1956-65, with a short hiatus in 1960, first under S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike and then, after his assassination in 1959, under his widow, Sirimavo, the world's first female chief executive in modern times. Dudley Senanayake and the UNP returned to power in 1965.
In 1970, Mrs. Bandaranaike again assumed the premiership. A year later, an insurrection by followers of the Maoist "Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna" (JVP, or "People's Liberation Front") broke out. The SLFP government suppressed the revolt and declared a state of emergency that lasted 6 years.
In 1972, Mrs. Bandaranaike's government introduced a new constitution, which changed the country's name from Ceylon to Sri Lanka, declared it a republic, made protection of Buddhism a constitutional principle, and created a weak president appointed by the prime minister. Its economic policies during this period were highly socialist and included the nationalization of large tea and rubber plantations and other private industries.
The UNP, under J.R. Jayewardene, returned to power in 1977. The Jayewardene government opened the economy and, in 1978, introduced a new constitution based on the French model, a key element of which was the creation of a strong executive presidency. J.R. Jayewardene was elected President by Parliament in 1978 and by nationwide election in 1982. In 1982, a national referendum extended the life of Parliament another 6 years.
The UNP's Ranasinghe Premadasa, Prime Minister in the Jayewardene government, narrowly defeated Mrs. Bandaranaike (SLFP) in the 1988 presidential elections. The UNP also won an absolute majority in the 1989 parliamentary elections. Mr. Premadasa was assassinated on May 1, 1993 by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam ("LTTE" or "Tigers"), and was replaced by then-Prime Minister Dingiri Banda Wijetunga, who appointed Ranil Wickremasinghe Prime Minister.
The SLFP, the main party in the People's Alliance (PA) coalition, returned to power in 1994 for the first time in 17 years. The PA won a plurality in the August 1994 parliamentary elections and formed a coalition government with Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga as Prime Minister. Prime Minister Kumaratunga later won the November 1994 presidential elections and appointed her mother (former Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike) to replace her as Prime Minister. President Kumaratunga won re-election to another 6-year term in December 1999. In August 2000, Mrs. Bandaranaike resigned as Prime Minister for health reasons, and Ratnasiri Wickramanayake was appointed to take her place. In December 2001, the UNP assumed power, led by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe. Chandrika Kumaratunga remained as President. In November of 2003, President Kumaratunga suddenly took control of three key ministries, triggering a serious cohabitation crisis.
In January 2004, the SLFP and the JVP formed a political grouping known as the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA). In February, President Kumaratunga dissolved Parliament and called for fresh elections. In these elections, which took place in April 2004, the UPFA received 45% of the vote, with the UNP receiving 37% of the vote. While it did not win enough seats to command a majority in Parliament, the UPFA was able to form a government and appoint a cabinet headed by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. The JVP later broke with the SLFP and left the government, but has often supported it from outside.
Presidential elections were held in November 2005, with Mahinda Rajapaksa becoming President, and Ratnasiri Wickramanayake becoming Prime Minister. President Rajapaksa stood for re-election 2 years before the end of his term, in January 2010, and was reelected by a margin of 18% over the opposition candidate, retired Army General Sarath Fonseka. The presidential elections were soon followed by a large victory for Rajapaksa's UPFA coalition in April 2010 parliamentary elections, where it captured 144 out of 225 seats possible, just shy of a two-thirds majority. The remaining parliamentary seats were secured by the United National Front (60), the Tamil National Alliance (14), and the Democratic National Alliance (7).
Communal Crisis
Historical divisions continue to have an impact on Sri Lankan society and politics. From independence, the Tamil minority has been uneasy with the country's unitary form of government and apprehensive that the Sinhalese majority would abuse Tamil rights. Those fears were reinforced when S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike triumphed in the 1956 elections after appealing to Sinhalese nationalism. His declaration that Sinhala was the country's official language--an act felt by Tamils to be a denigration of their own tongue--was the first in a series of steps over the following decades that appeared discriminatory to Tamils. Tamils also protested government educational policies and agriculture programs that encouraged Sinhalese farmers from the south to move to newly irrigated lands in the east. The decades following 1956 saw intermittent outbreaks of communal violence and growing radicalization among Tamil groups. By the mid-1970s Tamil politicians were moving from support for federalism to a demand for a separate Tamil state--"Tamil Eelam"--in northern and eastern Sri Lanka, areas of traditional Tamil settlement. In the 1977 elections, the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) won all the seats in Tamil areas on a platform of separatism. Other groups--particularly the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE or Tamil Tigers)--sought an independent state by force.
In 1983, the death of 13 Sinhalese soldiers at the hands of the LTTE unleashed the largest outburst of communal violence in the country's history. Hundreds of Tamils were killed in Colombo and elsewhere, tens of thousands were left homeless, and more than 100,000 fled to south India. The north and east became the scene of bloodshed as security forces attempted to suppress the LTTE and other militant groups. Terrorist incidents occurred in Colombo and other cities. Each side in the conflict accused the other of violating human rights. The conflict assumed an international dimension when the Sri Lankan Government accused India of supporting the Tamil insurgents.
In October 1997, the U.S. Government designated the LTTE as a foreign terrorist organization under provisions of the Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 and has maintained this designation since then, most recently redesignating the group in October of 2003. The U.S. Government in November 2007 froze the U.S.-held assets of the Tamils Rehabilitation Organisation, a charitable organization associated with the LTTE, and in February 2009, the U.S. froze the assets of the Maryland-based Tamil Foundation, on suspicion that they were funneling money to the LTTE.
Indian Peacekeeping
By mid-1987, India intervened in the conflict by air-dropping supplies to prevent what it felt was harsh treatment and starvation of the Tamil population in the Jaffna Peninsula caused by an economic blockade by Colombo. Under a July 29, 1987, accord (the Indo-Lanka Accord) signed by Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and President Jayewardene, the Sri Lankan Government made a number of concessions to Tamil demands, which included devolution of power to the provinces, merger--subject to later referendum--of the northern and eastern provinces, and official status for the Tamil language. India agreed to establish order in the north and east with an Indian Peace-Keeping Force (IPKF) and to cease assisting Tamil insurgents. Militant groups, although initially reluctant, agreed to surrender their arms to the IPKF.
Within weeks, however, the LTTE declared its intent to continue its armed struggle for an independent Tamil Eelam and refused to disarm. The IPKF found itself engaged in a bloody police action against the LTTE. Further complicating the return to peace was a burgeoning Sinhalese insurgency in the south. The JVP, relatively quiescent since the 1971 insurrection, began to reassert itself in 1987. Capitalizing on opposition to the Indo-Lankan Accord in the Sinhalese community, the JVP launched an intimidation campaign against supporters of the accord. Numerous UNP and other government supporters were assassinated. The government, relieved of its security burden by the IPKF in the north and east, intensified its efforts in the south. The JVP was crushed but at a high cost in human lives.
From April 1989 through June 1990, the government engaged in direct communications with the LTTE leadership. In the meantime, fighting between the LTTE and the IPKF escalated in the north. India withdrew the last of its forces from Sri Lanka in early 1990, and fighting between the LTTE and the government resumed. Both the LTTE and government forces committed serious human rights violations. In January 1995, the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE agreed to a cessation of hostilities as a preliminary step in a government-initiated plan for peace negotiations. After 3 months, however, the LTTE unilaterally resumed hostilities. The government then adopted a policy of military engagement with the Tigers, with government forces liberating Jaffna from LTTE control by mid-1996 and moving against LTTE positions in the northern part of the country called the Vanni. An LTTE counteroffensive begun in October 1999 reversed most government gains and by May 2000 threatened government forces in Jaffna. Heavy fighting continued into 2001.
Peace Process, Resumption of Conflict, and Conclusion of Fighting
In December 2001, with the election of a new UNP government, the LTTE and government declared unilateral cease-fires. In February 2002, the Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) and LTTE signed a ceasefire agreement sponsored by peace process facilitator Norway. Peace talks began in Norway in December 2002. The Tigers dropped out of talks in February 2003, however, claiming they were being marginalized. In July 2004, the first suicide bomb since 2001 struck Colombo.
In March 2004, Eastern Tiger commander Karuna broke with the LTTE, going underground with his supporters. In March 2006, the Karuna faction registered a political party, the Tamil People's Liberation Tigers (TMVP). The LTTE and the Karuna faction began targeting each other in low-level attacks. In late 2007, Sivanesethurai Chandrakanthan ("Pillaiyan") took over the leadership of the TMVP. In March 2008, Karuna left the TMVP and joined President Rajapaksa's SLFP as Minister for National Reconciliation.
Over 30,000 Sri Lankans died in the December 2004 tsunami, and hundreds of thousands of others fled their homes. In June 2005, the GSL and LTTE reached an agreement to share $3 billion in international tsunami aid. However, the agreement was challenged in court and was never implemented. In August 2005, the LTTE assassinated Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, an ethnic Tamil. Parliament passed a state of emergency regulation that has been renewed every month since then.
During the November 2005 presidential election, the LTTE enforced a voting boycott in areas under its control. As a result, perceived hard-liner and Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) leader Mahinda Rajapaksa won by a narrow margin. Low-level violence between the LTTE and security forces escalated. In December 2005, pro-LTTE Tamil National Alliance Member of Parliament (MP) Joseph Pararajasingham was assassinated within a GSL high-security zone in the eastern town of Batticaloa.
In February 2006, exactly 4 years after the ceasefire agreement was signed, the GSL and LTTE renewed their commitment to the agreement at talks in Geneva. There was a lull in violence until April 2006, when an explosion rocked a Sinhalese market in Trincomalee, followed by limited Sinhalese backlash against Tamils. Several days later, an LTTE suicide bomber attacked the main army compound in Colombo, killing eight soldiers and seriously wounding Army Commander General Fonseka. The government retaliated with air strikes on Tiger targets. In June 2006, an LTTE suicide bomber succeeded in killing Army third-in-command General Kulatunga in a suburb of Colombo.
The European Union (EU) banned the LTTE as a terrorist organization on May 30, 2006. In June 2006, GSL and LTTE delegations flew to Oslo to discuss the future of the Scandinavian-led Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM). The Tigers refused to sit for talks with the GSL and instead demanded the SLMM remove any monitors from EU-member nations.
Heavy fighting in August 2006, the worst since the 2002 ceasefire, killed hundreds of people and caused tens of thousands to flee their homes when the Tamil Tiger rebels clashed with government forces in the north and east. In September 2006, the government carried out the first major seizure of enemy territory by either side since the 2002 ceasefire when it drove Tamil Tiger rebels from the entrance of the strategic Trincomalee harbor.
In October 2006, the LTTE attacked a Navy bus convoy at a transit point in Habarana, killing 90 sailors, and a few days later, attacked the Sri Lankan Navy Headquarters in Galle, a major tourist destination in the far south. Peace talks in Geneva at the end of October ended with no progress. The LTTE attempted to assassinate the Defense Secretary by bombing his motorcade in December 2006, but he escaped unharmed.
Government troops took control of the LTTE's eastern stronghold of Vakarai in January 2007, resulting in thousands more internally displaced persons (IDPs). In March 2007, the Tamil Tiger rebels launched their first-ever air attack, which targeted the Katunayake Air Force base adjacent to Bandaranaike International Airport. By July 2007, however, the government had recaptured the remaining territory held in the Eastern Province from the Tigers. In November 2007, a Sri Lankan Air Force bomb killed LTTE political chief and number two leader, S.P. Tamilchelvan. Also during that month, the LTTE detonated a bomb in a busy Colombo shopping center, killing 17 and wounding many more.
In January 2008, the government announced that it was unilaterally abrogating the 2002 ceasefire agreement. Government forces stepped up their campaign to assert control over the northern areas still led by the LTTE. The LTTE resisted government advances into the north and carried out attacks on economic and civilian targets in the south.
In May 2008, elections were held for the first time to fill the newly created Eastern Provincial Council covering the Ampara, Batticaloa, and Trincomalee districts. Although opposition parties alleged widespread vote-rigging, the government's United People's Freedom Alliance in a coalition with the TMVP secured the majority in the new Provincial Council, and TMVP leader Sivanesethurai Chandrakanthan ("Pillaiyan") was sworn in by President Rajapaksa as Chief Minister.
The conflict entered a new phase in September 2008 when government forces initiated an offensive on LTTE, resulting in significant losses of LTTE territory. The government continued to capture territory in northern Sri Lanka through May 2009, when fighting became confined to a small area of land near Mullaitivu, where thousands of civilians were forcibly held by the LTTE in a government-designated "no fire zone". On May 19, the government declared victory over the LTTE as they reported the capture of remaining Tiger-held territory and the death of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran.
The end of the military conflict resulted in nearly 300,000 internally displaced persons and allegations of potential violations of international humanitarian law and other harms committed by both sides in the final stages of the conflict. IDPs were initially detained at camps, primarily in Vavuniya area, but IDPs have been permitted freedom of movement since December 2009. Most IDPs have since returned to their home districts, staying primarily with host families. But many have not been resettled in their homes, due to the lingering presence of land mines and government-enforced high-security zones. To date, international non-governmental organizations, working in coordination with the Government of Sri Lanka and the United Nations, have removed a reported 1.1 million land mines. The humanitarian effort continues to progress--as of May 2010 it was estimated that 68,000 IDPs remained within the camps.
Under the 1978 constitution, the president of the republic, directly elected for a 6-year term, is chief of state, head of government, and commander in chief of the armed forces. Responsible to Parliament for the exercise of duties under the constitution and laws, the president may be removed from office by a two-thirds vote of Parliament with the concurrence of the Supreme Court.
The president appoints and heads a cabinet of ministers responsible to Parliament. The president's deputy is the prime minister, who leads the ruling party in Parliament. A parliamentary no-confidence vote requires dissolution of the cabinet and the appointment of a new one by the president.
Parliament is a unicameral 225-member legislature elected by universal suffrage and proportional representation to a 6-year term. The president may summon, suspend, or end a legislative session and dissolve Parliament. Parliament reserves the power to make all laws.
Government Type: Republic
Capital: Colombo - 681,000 (2009)
Administrative divisions: Under the Indo-Sri Lankan Accord of July 1987 and the 13th amendment to the constitution, the Government of Sri Lanka agreed to devolve significant authority to the provinces. Provincial Councils are directly elected for 5-year terms. The leader of the council majority serves as the province's chief minister; a provincial governor is appointed by the president. The councils possess limited powers in education, health, rural development, social services, agriculture, security, and local taxation. Many of these powers are shared or subject to central government oversight. As a result, the Provincial Councils have never functioned effectively. Devolution proposals under consideration as a means of finding a political solution to the ethnic conflict foresee a strengthening of the Provincial Councils, with greater autonomy from central control. Predating the accord are municipal, urban, and rural councils with limited powers.
9 provinces;
Independence Date: 4 February 1948 (from the UK)
Legal System: mixed legal system of Roman-Dutch civil law, English common law, and Jaffna Tamil customary law. Sri Lanka has not submitted an International Court of Justice (ICJ) jurisdictiondeclaration; non-party state to the International criminal court (ICCt).
Sri Lanka's judiciary consists of a Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, High Court, and a number of subordinate courts. Sri Lanka's legal system reflects diverse cultural influences. Criminal law is fundamentally British. Basic civil law is Roman-Dutch. Laws pertaining to marriage, divorce, and inheritance are communal.
International Environmental Agreements
Sri Lanka is party to international agreements on: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, and Wetlands. It has signed, but not ratified an international agreements on Marine Life Conservation.
Total Renewable Water Resources: 50 cu km (1999)
Freshwater Withdrawal: 12.61 cu km/yr (2% domestic, 2% industrial, 95% agricultural)
Per Capita Freshwater Withdrawal: 608 cu m/yr (2000)
See: Water profile of Sri Lanka
The Palk Strait separates India (upper left) from Sri Lanka (center). This true-color image from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on May 20, 2002, shows the strait filled with bright sediment, while off the northeast tip of Sri Lanka, a dark stain in the waters could be a phytoplankton bloom. On Sri Lanka, much of the native forests have been cleared, but small pockets remain in preserves, such as that seen in the southeastern portion of the island, where dense green vegetation can be seen.. Source NASA. Credit: Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC.
Agriculture has lost its relative importance to the Sri Lankan economy in recent decades. It employs 31% of the working population, but accounts for only about 11% of GDP. Rice, the staple cereal, is cultivated extensively. The plantation sector consists of tea, rubber, and coconut; in recent years, the tea crop has made significant contributions to export earnings. Domestic agriculture such as rice and other food crops improved significantly with the return of peace to the eastern and northern provinces. However, floods in early 2011 destroyed many crops and livestock, including rice, in the main cultivation period.
Agricultural products: rice, sugarcane, grains, pulses, oilseed, spices, vegetables, fruit, tea, rubber, coconuts; milk, eggs, hides, beef; fish
Irrigated Land: 5,700 sq km (2008)
Natural Resources: limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay, hydropower
Land Use:
Sri Lanka is a lower-middle income developing nation with a gross domestic product of about $50 billion (official exchange rate). This translates into a per capita income of $5,100 (purchasing power parity). Sri Lanka's 91% literacy rate in local languages and life expectancy of 75 years rank well above those of India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. English language ability is relatively high, but has declined significantly since the 1970s.
Sri Lanka's income inequality is severe, with striking differences between rural and urban areas. About 15% of the country's population remains impoverished. The effects of 26 years of civil conflict, falling agricultural labor productivity, lack of income-earning opportunities for the rural population, high inflation, and poor infrastructure outside the Western Province were impediments to poverty reduction. There are reports that poverty has been decreasing significantly in the last few years.
In 1978, Sri Lanka shifted away from a socialist orientation and opened its economy to foreign investment. But the pace of reform has been uneven. A period of aggressive economic reform under the UNP-led government that ruled from 2002 to 2004 was followed by a more statist approach under President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Despite a brutal civil war that began in 1983, economic growth has averaged around 5% in the last 10 years. Due to the global recession and escalation of violence during the final stages of the war, GDP growth slowed to 3.5% in 2009 and foreign reserves fell sharply. Business confidence rebounded quickly with the end of the war and an International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreement in July 2009. Consequently, Sri Lanka recorded strong growth in 2010, as GDP grew by 8%. Official foreign reserves, including borrowings, reached $6.6 billion (5.9 months of imports). The post-war economic re-integration of northern and eastern provinces has boosted agriculture and fisheries, although a large area of agricultural land was damaged by floods in early 2011. Reconstruction of the war-damaged areas as well as infrastructure development throughout the country is also fueling growth. Tourism has rebounded strongly to record levels. Exports grew by a healthy 17% in 2010. Foreign remittance inflows from Sri Lankans working abroad swelled to $4.1 billion in 2010 from $3.3 billion in 2009. The Colombo Stock Exchange was the second-best performing market for the second year in a row. Inflation, which had reached double digit levels during the war years, was around 7% in 2010. Inflation pressures are building, and inflation reached 8.6% in March 2011. Foreign direct investment (FDI) remained relatively low in 2010 at about $450 million. The FDI target for 2011 is $1 billion, including investments in the tourism sector.
Government fiscal control remains a concern. The budget deficit reached almost 10% of GDP in 2009, but was forecast to fall to around 8% of GDP in 2010.
President Rajapaksa's broad economic strategy outlined in his 2005 and 2010 election manifestos, "Mahinda Chintana" (Mahinda's Thoughts), guides government economic policy. Mahinda Chintana policies focus on poverty alleviation and steering investment to disadvantaged areas; developing the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector; promotion of agriculture; and developing Sri Lanka to become the regional hub of ports, aviation, commerce, knowledge, and energy. The government has developed a 10-year development framework to boost growth through a combination of large infrastructure projects. The Rajapaksa government rejects the privatization of state enterprises, including "strategic" enterprises such as state-owned banks, airports, and electrical utilities. Instead, it plans to retain ownership and management of these enterprises and make them profitable.
The Mahinda Chintana plan aims to double Sri Lanka's per capita income to $4,000 within 6 years. To do so, Sri Lanka requires GDP growth well over 8%, and the investment rate needs to rise from 25% of GDP to 35% of GDP.
Sri Lanka's economy will continue its post-war resurgence and is expected to grow strongly in the immediate term. Although Sri Lanka should maintain moderate economic growth, Sri Lanka needs to enact important policy reforms to reach its full economic potential. Sri Lanka has set the goal of improving its business climate, but must follow through with reforms to decrease bureaucratic red tape; increase transparency, particularly in government procurement; and increase the predictability of government policies. Sri Lanka must also continue to improve its fiscal discipline. The 26-year conflict and high government expenditure have contributed to Sri Lanka's high public debt load (83% of GDP in 2009).
Sri Lanka depends on a strong global economy for investment and for expansion of its export base. It has been advised to diversify export products and destinations to make use of the Indo-Lanka and Pakistan-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreements and to benefit from rapid economic growth in emerging East Asia. Sri Lanka's exports to the European Union qualified for duty-free entry under the EU Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) Plus market access program, granted in 2005 to help Sri Lanka rebuild after the 2004 tsunami. However, after a lengthy review process, the European Union suspended the GSP Plus market access benefit in August 2010, due to Sri Lanka's poor human rights record. Nevertheless, Sri Lanka's exports grew strongly by over 17% in 2010, despite the loss of this benefit. Sri Lanka continues to receive limited tariff preferences under the EU GSP program. Sri Lanka also receives preferential access to the U.S. market under the U.S. GSP program. This program has been temporarily suspended pending congressional approval.
The service sector is the largest component of GDP at almost 60%. In 2010, service sector growth increased to 8% from about 3% in 2009. Tourism, shipping, aviation, telecom, trading, and financial services were the main contributors to growth. Public administration and defense expenditures increased in recent years due to hostilities, and there has been an expansion of public sector employment. Despite the end of the war, defense expenditures remain at around 3.9% of GDP. There is a growing information technology sector, especially information technology training and software development.
Industry accounts for almost 30% of GDP. Manufacturing is the largest industrial subsector, accounting for 17% of GDP. The construction sector accounts for 7% of GDP. Mining and quarrying account for 2% of GDP. Electricity, gas, and water account for 2% of GDP. Within the manufacturing sector, food, beverage, and tobacco is the largest subsector in terms of value addition. Textiles, apparel, and leather is the second-largest sector. The third-largest sector in value added terms is chemical, petroleum, rubber, and plastic products.
Agriculture has lost its relative importance to the Sri Lankan economy in recent decades. It employs 31% of the working population, but accounts for only about 11% of GDP. Rice, the staple cereal, is cultivated extensively. The plantation sector consists of tea, rubber, and coconut; in recent years, the tea crop has made significant contributions to export earnings. Domestic agriculture such as rice and other food crops improved significantly with the return of peace to the eastern and northern provinces. However, floods in early 2011 destroyed many crops and livestock, including rice, in the main cultivation period.
Trade and Foreign Assistance
Sri Lanka's exports (mainly apparel, tea, rubber, gems and jewelry) were estimated at $8.3 billion and imports (mainly oil, textiles, food, and machinery) were estimated at $13.5 billion for 2010. The resulting large trade deficit was financed primarily by remittances from Sri Lankan expatriate workers, foreign assistance, and commercial borrowing. Sri Lanka must diversify its exports beyond garments and tea. The information technology (IT) and business process outsourcing (BPO) sector is small but growing.
Exports to the United States, Sri Lanka's most important single-country market, were estimated to be around $1.77 billion for 2010, or 21% of total exports. The United States is Sri Lanka's second-biggest market for garments, taking almost 40% of total garment exports. (The EU as a whole is Sri Lanka's biggest export market and largest apparel buyer.) India is Sri Lanka's largest source of imports, accounting for over 20% of imports. United States exports to Sri Lanka were estimated to be around $178 million for 2010, consisting primarily of machinery and mechanical appliances, medical and scientific equipment, electrical apparatus, wheat, plastics, lentils, and paper.
Sri Lanka is a large recipient of foreign assistance, with China, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, Japan, and other donors disbursing loans totaling almost $1.0 billion in 2009. China is a major lender for infrastructure projects, such as a new port, a coal power plant, and roads. Iran is also a major lender to Sri Lanka and has committed $450 million for the Uma Oya multipurpose irrigation project and $111 for rural electrification. Iran provides an interest-free credit facility for oil imports. Iran has also promised assistance for modernization of Sri Lanka's only oil refinery, though no firm commitments are in place. The Government of India is providing loans for the railway sector. Foreign grants amounted to $230 million in 2009. There continue to be problems with projects awarded without tenders.
The unemployment rate declined to 4.5% in fourth-quarter 2010, from 5.7% in fourth-quarter 2009. Unemployment is highest in the 20-29 age group. The rate of unemployment among women and high school and college graduates has been proportionally higher than the rate for less-educated workers. The government has embarked on educational reforms it hopes will lead to better preparation of students and better matches between graduates and jobs.
Approximately 20% of the 7.6 million-strong work force is unionized, but union membership is declining. There are more than 1,900 registered trade unions, many of which have 50 or fewer members, and 19 federations. Many unions have political affiliations. The Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) and Lanka Jathika Estate Workers Union are the two largest unions, representing workers in the plantation sector. The president of the CWC also is Minister of Livestock and Rural Community Development. Other strong and influential trade unions include the Ceylon Mercantile Union, Sri Lanka Nidhahas Sevaka Sangamaya, Jathika Sevaka Sangayama, Ceylon Federation of Trade Unions, Ceylon Bank Employees Union, Union of Post and Telecommunication Officers, Conference of Public Sector Independent Trade Unions, and the JVP-aligned Inter-Company Trade Union.
Public sector trade unions usually resist government moves to restructure state-owned corporations. The Government of Sri Lanka has no plans to privatize any state-owned enterprises, and in some cases the government has reversed prior privatizations.
There are 1.7 million Sri Lankan citizens working abroad. A majority are women working as housemaids. Remittances from migrant workers, estimated at around $4.1 billion in 2010, is the most important source of foreign exchange for Sri Lanka, surpassing earnings from apparel exports.
GDP: (Purchasing Power Parity): $116.2 billion (2011 est.)
GDP: (Official Exchange Rate): $58.8 billion (2011 est.)
GDP- per capita (PPP): $5,600 (2011 est.)
GDP- composition by sector:
agriculture: 13%
industry: 29.6%
services: 57.4% (2011 est.)
Industries: processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, tobacco and other agricultural commodities; telecommunications, insurance, banking; tourism, shipping; clothing, textiles; cement, petroleum refining, information technology services, construction
Currency: Sri Lankan rupees (LKR)
Image by McKay Savage


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Nice start, the colours blend nicely =P
Not a complete creation on my part. A friend is running some D&D 4e adventures in the Vale of Elsir (if I have the name correct) and has a regional map made of maps from several sources butted together. The styles and colors clash somewhat unpleasantly, and I was looking for a challenge to tackle, so I figured I'd see if I could recreate the map for him. He had a few changes he wanted made (some of the geography didn't suit the story -- why does this road have a near-monopoly on travel to the West when there are *two* more roads that go that way? -- or didn't make sense, such as all rivers flowing into a lake and none flowing out) so I thought I'd incorporate them while working.
So far, after about 10 hours (assuming two hours a day starting on Sunday) I've got the map below. I still have one region left to render, the fens surrounding the delta on the lake, and a whack of labeling.
Incidentally, if anyone knows a better way to do hills that would be consistent with maps in a style like this, I'd be delighted to learn of it. I tried searching here and didn't have a lot of luck.
Overall, I like it. I can see some areas to improve and a few where I frankly didn't get it *quite* right (some artifacting near or on the mountains, for example, or not breaking the forests up quite enough), but overall I'm quite pleased. Not bad for one of my first significant works, I think.
Last edited by kjdavies; 10-23-2010 at 12:19 AM. Reason: done, no longer WIP
Nice start, the colours blend nicely =P
Fiddly, fiddly little stuff. I was starting to get the hang of the labels by the end, but until then they were a bit of a trick.
I'm pretty happy with this. I haven't had cause to composite something this complex before, and I think for the most part it came out well. I see some things I can improve for next time, but overall I'm pretty satisfied.


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By Mike Bush
St. Louis (KSDK)-If you haven't seen Scott Farber and John Berger running in Forest Park, you haven't been in Forest Park lately.
"We train about 14 to 20 hours a week, " says Berger.
They are two friends with a single purpose. Though their finish line is almost 5,000 miles away what's more important to them is how far they've already come.
John Berger is a captain with the Air Force and a part of
Air Mobility Command at Scott Air Force Base. He's seen time in both Iraq and Afghanistan piloting the big C-17 cargo planes under dangerous conditions.
"You're nervous, " he says. "But we do so much training and everybody is so good at their jobs that it really kind of puts you at ease."
Dr. Scott Farber is in the graduate stage of his training. He's a plastic surgery resident at Barnes-Jewish Hospital where long shifts and long weeks are the norm.
"That's been my motto all life, " he says. "My whole life is just putting in a lot of hard work."
Both men were going down separate roads until fate constructed an intersection.
"I took two steps out into the crosswalk, " remembers Capt. Berger. "And out of the corner of my eye I just saw headlights and that's the last thing I remember."
Almost a year ago, at the corner of Washington and Kingshighway, Capt. Berger was the victim of a hit and run.
He had suffered a broken pelvis, broken hip, broken ribs and internal damage. He was rushed to Barnes where Dr. Farber was the resident on call
"His injuries were bad enough, " Dr. Farber recalled, "that had we not operated he wouldn't have survived."
It was the next day that Dr. Farber went to check on his patient in ICU and then checked his chart.
"And I saw his name, his birthday and I realized that his address was the exact same one as mine, " said Farber.
It turned out that the two men lived in the same building just one floor apart and they had something else in common. Before veering off to medicine, Dr. Farber wanted to be a pilot.
"So he knows more about all the old planes than I know, " laughed Berger.
They quickly became more than just doctor and patient they became friends.
It was sometime during rehab that Captain Berger, who had always been a runner, decided that he needed the prove something to all the doctors and nurses who took care of him. By the one year anniversary of the accident he wanted to take a victory lap of sorts.
"So in a way ,"he says, "it's kind of a thank you to them."
Capt. Berger decided that he would compete in the truest test of strength and endurance, an Ironman Triathlon and he asked Dr. Farber if he'd like to join him.
"He kind of looked at me and said no way, I'm not doing that, " Berger chuckled.
" Well, I talked about it with some friends and people said you can't do it, " recalled Farber. " And the easiest way to get me to do something is to say I can't do it."
Next month, Scott Farber and John Berger leave for Nice, France where they will compete in Ironman France.
"It's not the location, it's the date. It's almost exactly a year to the date that he got hit."
Some journeys are not about the destination but the people you meet along the way. While one man's life was saved, another was changed.
"I certainly couldn't have gotten this far and couldn't have done anything without him, " says Berger
"Just overcoming his adversity and he's shown me that if he can do it, I can do it, " says Farber.
A chance friendship going the distance while also feeling right at home.
If you would like to learn more about their journey and how you can help them support the Wounded Warrior project-here are the links-


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The People's Bank of Zanzibar (PBZ) has spent a total 69bn/- for purchasing cloves from farmers in the 2011/2012 harvesting season.
PBZ's Director for Marketing and Business Growth Juma Hafidhi revealed yesterday in Dar es Salaam in an interview with The Guardian. PBZ has been very close to clove farmers by buying their produce since the season started, he said.
"We have used 69b/- in the 2011/ 2012 season where most of it came from Pemba where farmers had a bumper harvest," he said.
Hafidhi said that the bank had so far managed to attract more farmers to save their money once they sold their crops.
He explained how the bank had succeeded in encourage farmers in the Islands by conducting seminars meant to provide education on the importance of banks.
"This is an important issue because most of the people do not know or have never gone to a bank to ask procedures on opening an account," he said.


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"Sorry to say it again, but life just ain't fair and neither is this game. Unfortunately communism and socialism don't seem to work. So we are stuck with capitalism"
You have received a warning at Playdom Community Forum
"I am sorry that I used metaphors pertaining to popular political systems. Hard not to when trying to convince someone of how life is. I could understand a warning if I had tried to persuade others to follow a particular ideology or if I had been completely damning of one"
As the rule exists, it isn't trying to persuade or put down another political system, it is the discussion of them at all. Disney prefers the forums free of anything like that which may cause arguments.
Dear Ropey,
You have received a warning at Playdom Community Forum.
Forum Rule Violation
You are in violation of the forum rules and have been issued a 0 point warning.
Quote Originally Posted by The Forum Rules
Do not post any obscene or inappropriate content; including nudity and hateful, threatening, racist, sexual, or homophobic speech, imagery, audio, or video. Any profanity which is transposed, modified to escape the word filter, completely or partially replaced by symbols, used in an acronym, or substituted by another benign word in generally known profane phrases or uses will be considered a violation of this rule. Inappropriate content that is blocked by our filter will still be considered a rule violation.
Forum Rules: Please read
Repeated violations will result in an infraction.
This warning also covers the following post:
Quote Originally Posted by Ropey View Post
Avengers Hulk is the best looking Hulk?
Electra and DD. As I believe they have been romantically involved and red is a striking colour.
Damian and Satana, Obvious
Black Cat and Angel alts for some S&M
Rescue and Warmachines alt for that standout robotic look.
Ares and Thor for cool helmet envy.
Original Post:
Magneto and Juggernaut. Phallic..... chortle
Warnings serve as a reminder to you of the forum's rules, which you are expected to understand and follow.
All the best,
Playdom Community Forum
Sorry that I was considered to be offensive on a fun post. I was careful to use language adult enough to go over most minors heads. I will be certain to refrain from any sexual references in the future now that I know how strict you are on such matters.
No apology needed. And yep, Disney is very strict when it comes to adult content on their family forum.
Can you believe it? I thought Rom was strict!


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Egypt has faced a natural gas and diesel shortage since last year, which has led to rising food costs, long lines at filling stations and electricity blackouts. The energy supply problems have deepened popular discontent with Egypt's Islamist government and exacerbated broader economic difficulties there.
By SUMMER SAID
DUBAI -- Qatar promised Egypt five free shipments of LNG
this summer after a meeting of representatives from the two
countries' governments in Doha, giving cash-strapped Egypt a
reprieve from worsening energy shortages.
The LNG is intended to help Egypt generate more electricity
so it can avoid wider power outages as energy demand peaks in
the summer months.
However, one Egyptian official said that as part of a
broader agreement with Qatar, his country may have to pay
higher than hoped prices for subsequent natural gas
Egypt has faced a natural gas and diesel shortage since last
year, which has led to rising food costs, long lines at filling
stations and electricity blackouts.
The energy supply problems have deepened popular discontent
with Egypt's Islamist government and exacerbated broader
economic difficulties there.
The agreement came after Qatar's crown prince, Sheikh Tamim
bin Hamad al-Thani, gave directives "to provide all sorts of
support to the people of Egypt," said the country's oil
minister, Mohammed al-Sada.
The five free cargoes of Qatari LNG, which will be shipped
in large oceangoing tankers, come as "a gift to the Egyptian
people during the summer months, with the first of these
shipments beginning at the end of July," and continuing until
mid-September, the Egyptian petroleum ministry said on its
The five shipments, however, fall short of the supply Egypt
needs to fully solve its domestic energy shortage.
Each cargo would hold around 3.2 Bcf of natural gas, said
Tarek el-Barkatawy, the head of state owned Egyptian General
Egypt consumed 5 Bcf of natural gas a day in 2011, according
to data on the website of the United States Energy Information
"The gift we got today from Qatar basically gives us more
room and time to finalize swap deals with them and other
producers," Mr. Barkatawy said.
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Engineers and designers are highly skilled individuals. Forcing them to enter design changes using tables, forms and spreadsheets is unproductive and uneconomical, and it increases the likelihood of human error—this is the way that most instrumentation software systems currently work. For too long, software vendors have denied engineers and designers the simple practicality of a graphical visual engineering interface with "drag and drop" capability and inbuilt intelligence, ensuring changes are automatically replicated into all the associated data and databases.
On average, what range will Brent and WTI crude oil prices trade in during 2016?
Under $40/bbl
From $40/bbl to $60/bbl
From $60/bbl to $80/bbl
Over $80/bbl
April 2016


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26 U.S. Code § 33 - Tax withheld at source on nonresident aliens and foreign corporations
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There shall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by this subtitle the amount of tax withheld at source under subchapter A of chapter 3 (relating to withholding of tax on nonresident aliens and on foreign corporations).
Source(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 13, § 32; renumbered § 33 and amended Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title IV, §§ 471(c), 474 (j),July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 826, 832.)
Prior Provisions
1984—Pub. L. 98–369, § 471(c), renumbered section 32 of this title as this section.
Pub. L. 98–369, § 474(j), amended section generally, striking out "and on tax-free covenant bonds" after "foreign corporations" in section catchline, and, in text, substituting "as a credit against the tax imposed by this subtitle" for "as credits against the tax imposed by this chapter", and striking out designation "(1)" before "the amount of tax withheld", and ", and (2) the amount of tax withheld at source under subchapter B of chapter 3 (relating to interest on tax-free covenant bonds)" after "on foreign corporations)".
Effective Date of 1984 Amendment
Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title IV, § 475(b),July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 847, provided that: "The amendments made by subsections (j) and (r)(29) [amending this section and sections 12, 164, 1441, 1442, 6049, and 7701 of this title and repealing section 1451 of this title] shall not apply with respect to obligations issued before January 1, 1984."
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There are a few traits of culture that I try to define in my world-building.
Language, religion, subsistence pattern, social/political organization, kinship, art, economics, and it seems like there are more, but I don't have my worksheet handy.
For the purposes of mapping, many of these elements are relevant.
Subsistence: Where does the community's food come from? What percentage of the community is involved in food gathering? How is the food distributed? Is any food imported or exported? Related to this is water supply: Where does the water come from? How is it distributed? Do any members of the community have special rights over the water?
Does the community's food or water supply force it into a nomadic lifestyle, following herd animals or hunting or moving to new fields?
Religion: Are religious services communal, requiring temples or other meeting places? Or are they individual, such that each household will have it's own shrine, and public shrines tend to be smaller affairs? Are there monuments to gods or kings? Are these monuments holy places, or do the people treat them casually? Does religion have any influence over where or how people build their homes?
Kinship: How do people consider themselves related to other people? Do men go to live with their wives' families, or women to their husbands'? Do families live in large extended households, or do they break off into nuclear families, building a new home? Who helps in the building of new homes?
Social/Political Organization: Who rules, and how is that decided? Does the ruler have a designated dwelling place, and is it distinctive from other buildings? Are there distinct social classes? Is there some kind of economic leveling system that keeps most people at similar levels of wealth? What mechanisms exist for dealing with abnormal people or the mentally ill?
Economics: How do goods move into and out of the community? Other than food, what goods does the community produce, and how does it produce them? Who receives the benefits of trade? Is there taxation, and how is it administered? What physical spaces are necessary to support this economic system?
Class has started now, so I don't have time to continue, but I hope that gives you some things to think about. If you're getting into some heavy world-building, then a worksheet where you can keep track of details like these is very handy. Also, bear in mind that many of these qualities will be heavily influenced by the culture's environment.


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May 2, 2016
Careteret County's curfew begins at 9p Saturday and will last through 7am Sunday following Hurricane Irene. The bridges remain closed until further notice although Hilary Magacs spoke with Atlantic Beach's Mayor who told her they may reopen in the morning.
Click Here to access the online Public Inspection File
Viewers with disabilities can get assistance accessing this station's FCC Public Inspection File by contacting the station with the information listed below. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, 888-835-5322 (TTY), or email@example.com.


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May 2, 2016
A joint operation by the Jacksonville Police Department and the NCIS has led to the arrest of a man for dealing spice.
21-year-old Basim Abdulwahab of Broadhurst Road in Jacksonville was arrested and charged with 5 counts of trafficking in synthetic cannabinoids, PWIMSD schedule VI controlled substance, sell schedule VI controlled substance, deliver schedule VI controlled substance, manufacture schedule VI controlled substance, PWIMSD marijuana, sell marijuana, deliver marijuana, and manufacturing marijuana.
"This is a prime example of the working relationship we have with NCIS and other law enforcement agencies in Eastern North Carolina. Illegal narcotics have no jurisdictional boundaries and will not be tolerated in our communities," stated Michael Yaniero, Director of Public Safety.
Abdulwahab was locked up on a $54,000 bond.
Click Here to access the online Public Inspection File
Viewers with disabilities can get assistance accessing this station's FCC Public Inspection File by contacting the station with the information listed below. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, 888-835-5322 (TTY), or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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11 ¾" W x 13 ½" H x 6" D with 10" strap drop
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ChefAlarm ®
Model #TX-1100-XX (select from 9 colors)
Splash-proof design for commercial kitchens
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Normally $59.00
ChefAlarm includes unit, Pro-Series High Temp Cooking Probe, SS Probe Clip, Operating Instructions, and Padded Zip Wallet that neatly holds everything.
Click image enlarge
The ChefAlarm professional oven thermometer has been Rated #1 by a leading Cook's Magazine. Designed for commercial use, ChefAlarm delivers features not found in "houseware" cooking alarms. Continuous Min/Max display tells you how hot (or cold) your food got when you weren't looking. A "High Alarm" sounds when your food reaches your setting, and a first-of-its-kind "Low Alarm" is perfect for making yogurt and other cold dishes. Adjustable alarm volume can be heard in a noisy restaurant kitchen. The main temperature digits are big and easy-to-see from a distance. Touch the backlight button to read the display in the dark. New from the factory, ChefAlarm reads within ±2°F so you should never need a calibration adjustment but the CAL feature can be used for fine-tuning your accuracy to better than ±1°F. Fold ChefAlarm flat and use the magnetic back on a metal surface or tilt the display up and use it on a counter. Only ThermoWorks offers the new Pro-Series Temperature Probes. Built for robust commercial use, they are more accurate, faster and more moisture-resistant than any other alarm probes. ChefAlarm comes with one Pro-Series High Temp Cooking Probe that measures to 572°F with a cable that withstands 700°F short term exposure. Coupled with a molded transition to the SS tube, this probe survives commercial cooking use longer than consumer probes. Replacements are still affordable. Every kitchen should have at least one ChefAlarm.
How to use your Pot Clip
Pro-Series® Probes
Continuous Min/Max
Both High and Low Alarms
Count-Down/Count-Up Timer
Calibration Adjust
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IP65 - No ingress of dust (6); Protection from water ingress: Low pressure jets of water (5).
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ChefAlarm Reviews.
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Delicious Dishings - "I've relied on the ChefAlarm, probe-style cooking alarm, to help me regulate the temperature of frying oil. It has a high- and low-temperature alarms, and I can set them so I know when my oil falls out of the desired temperature range and I can adjust the heat accordingly."
Feisty, Frugal & Fabulous - "...had I taken it (beef roast) out when the first alarm rang, I would have had the perfect medium-rare roast. Lesson learned. Always listen to your ChefAlarm."
Noshing with the Nolands - "Ken found this (ChefAlarm) a delight to use, easy, accurate and we enjoyed one of the best roasts, cooked to perfection."
Welcome to the Cookout - "...knowing the starting temp will help you understand just how much cooking needs to happen to achieve the desired done active cooking temperature."
For the Love of Cooking - "This new thermometer does everything! I am so excited to have such an amazing meat thermometer that is so accurate!"
Grill Grrrl - "A good thermometer is a must come Holiday time. (ChefAlarm) will come in handy when monitoring this years Thanksgiving turkey, or in times when monitoring the temp of crucial such as when smoking a brisket or pork butt."
About.com Barbecue & Grilling - "(ChefAlarm) is a great way to monitor temperatures in the oven, on the smoker, or even on the grill."
Slap Yo' Daddy BBQ - "...go get yourself one in any of the 9 colors because overall, it's a great product and for the price...it's a steal."
What's Cookin' Chicago - "Another tool I recommend this holiday season is the ThermoWorks ChefAlarm. If you're a fan of their Thermapen, oh boy...this is going to excite you even more!"
Everyday Mom's Meals - "I'm tell you it's like having a babysitter in the kitchen. I love the fact it can alert me when I might be distracted or busy, saving sinner from being ruined."
Homebrew Finds - "I'm impressed by the feature set, classic ThermoWorks quality and price..."
Bright-Eyed Baker - "...the genius people at ThermoWorks have come up with another incredible tool for seniors bakers and cooks: the ThermoWorks ChefAlarm."
Grilling with Rich - "I really loved this product and it is perfect for both serious barbecue competitors and also those who just want to have fun on a weekly basis outside."
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Long Wait for Isabella - "Cooking this holiday season and need an amazing kitchen tool? Or maybe you are wondering to get for that cook in your life as a holiday gift? Look no further. ChefAlarm from ThermoWorks."
Cakespy - "This helpful gadget includes timers, a temperature probe, and temperature monitoring so it will notify you if things are going outside of the comfort zone. But the absolute best part is that it comes in pink. YES! I think it's a nifty tool and would probably make a good present for the baker in your life this holiday season."
Erin's Food Files - "The most awesome thing though about the ThermoWorks ChefAlarm thermometer is that it can be used for more than just cooking with meat! You can use it for making: candy, marshmallows, fudge, yogurt, bread"
Grilling 24X7 - "This one is made just right for monitoring your long BBQ smokes. Again, I can't recommend these products enough. Totally high quality products here."
CookingLight.com - "Anyone who bakes and roasts needs a timer and a thermometer. ChefAlarm is both, with a big display and lots of useful options."
Embracing Beauty - "I love my Thermapen and I now love the ChefAlarm, but together they are a perfect combination."
Brown Eyed Baker - "...you don't have to keep a constant eye on the thermometer. Go about another task and it'll beep when the temperature is reached. This has been such a time-saver for me in the kitchen. I'm really loving it."
Dad Cooks Dinner - "I've got this on my Christmas list, but if I don't get it, I'm buying one for myself on December 26th."
RoxanneJolly.com - "I used this gadget for our Thanksgiving turkey, to grill meat, to check my rotisserie chicken, etc. To put it bluntly, it's a great way to check the doneness of the meat without murdering it (again)."
GearDiary.com - "I believe that cooking to an accurate temperature is one of the most important aspects of a successful meal, both from a safety standpoint and to ensure well-cooked meats that aren't overcooked. The newest product from ThermoWorks is the ChefAlarm, and I think it should be an indispensable addition to just about any kitchen."
Not Without Salt - "There have been a number of people having a hard time with the consistency of the caramel. You really need an accurate thermometer for this. The ChefAlarm from ThermoWorks is my current favorite."
Nibble Me This - "It's simple and functional design made it very intuitive. After a month of use, I still haven't even looked at the instructions, it was that easy to figure out."


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A new profile for the Vulnerable Big Bear Valley woollypod.
Related species for the Emperor dragonfly (Anax imperator)
By Habitat
« Back to the Emperor dragonfly (Anax imperator)
Masked finfoot (Heliopais personatus)
Information on the masked finfoot is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly.…
Fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus)
The fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) is another feline that contradicts the belief that cats dislike water, frequently entering…
Greater bulldog bat (Noctilio leporinus)
The greater bulldog bat is one of the largest bats in the New World, and also one of the most distinctive. One of only a few bat species to…
California red-legged frog (Rana draytonii)
Information on the California red-legged frog is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly.…
More about the california red-legged frog »
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Valencia toothcarp (Valencia hispanica)
An attractively coloured, diminutive freshwater fish, while the Valencia toothcarp has a history of popularity in the aquarium trade, today…
Common merganser (Mergus merganser)
Also known as the goosander, the common merganser (Mergus merganser) is a large, slender diving duck with a streamlined body. It is the…
More about the common merganser »
0 videos
White-faced heron (Egretta novaehollandiae)
A slender, medium-sized heron species, the white-faced heron (Egretta novaehollandiae) is easily identified by its blue-grey body and…
Slim scarlet-darter (Crocothemis sanguinolenta)
The slim scarlet-darter (Crocothemis sanguinolenta) is a medium-sized dragonfly with dazzling scarlet colouration and a long, slender body…
More about the slim scarlet-darter »
0 videos
European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis)
The olive, brown or black European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) is one of the few freshwater species that live in Europe…
Pied kingfisher (Ceryle rudis)
Not only is the pied kingfisher (Ceryle rudis) the largest bird capable of a true hover in still air, it is also the only kingfisher with…
Ruddy turnstone (Arenaria interpres)
The ruddy turnstone is a small, stocky, brightly-patterned shorebird, named for its habit of turning over objects such as stones, shells and…
Apolinar's wren (Cistothorus apolinari)
Apolinar's wren is a small, secretive bird from the East Andes of Colombia. Its plumage is rather drab, being beige-brown on the upperparts…
More about the apolinar's wren »
0 videos
Schilluk ridged frog (Ptychadena schillukorum)
The Schilluk ridged frog (Ptychadena schillukorum) is a compact, medium-sized frog which is found in a wide variety of habitats across…
Painted turtle (Chrysemys picta)
A small, attractive reptile, the painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) has a smooth, olive to black upper shell, or carapace, with yellow or red…
More about the painted turtle »
0 videos
Grey teal (Anas gracilis)
The most abundant and widespread duck in Australia, the grey teal (Anas gracilis) is named for its rather drab greyish to greyish-brown…
0 videos
Chiricahua leopard frog (Rana chiricahuensis)
ARKive is working with the Global Amphibian Assessment (GAA) to source images of the world's threatened amphibian species.A collaboration…
More about the chiricahua leopard frog »
0 videos
Common frog (Rana temporaria)
Undoubtedly Britain's most well-known amphibian, the common frog (Rana temporaria) is often found in garden ponds. They are typically brown…
Spotted whistling-duck (Dendrocygna guttata)
The spotted whistling-duck (Dendrocygna guttata) is an easily recognisable bird which is named for the white spots that decorate its neck…
African clawless otter (Aonyx capensis)
The dexterous, hand-like forefeet of the African clawless otter are its most remarkable feature, enabling it to grapple with its prey with…
Little ringed plover (Charadrius dubius)
Information on the little ringed plover is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly.…
Lesser water-plantain (Baldellia ranunculoides)
Like all Baldellia species, the lesser water-plantain (Baldellia ranunculoides) is an aquatic herb. This delicate plant has a long, curving…
More about the lesser water-plantain »
0 videos
Red-veined darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii)
Information on the red-veined darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly.…
More about the red-veined darter »
0 videos
Blue-cheeked bee-eater (Merops persicus)
The blue-cheeked bee-eater is named for the blue stripes above and below the eyes, which sometimes, when the plumage is worn, can appear…
Little bittern (Ixobrychus minutus)
The little bittern (Ixobrychus minutus) is, as its name suggests, a tiny heron species, most easily identified by its dark back, dark cap…
Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
Instantly recognisable as the national emblem of the United States, the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) has long been a key symbol in…
Common reed (Phragmites australis)
This common reed forms large beds in shallow water; it has round, hollow stems, which typically grow to 2m in height, but may reach 4m…
Michaux's sedge (Carex michauxiana)
Michaux's sedge (Carex michauxiana) is a perennial plant of bogs and other wet habitats in North America and Asia. Its stems, known as…
Striated heron (Butorides striata)
Also known as the little heron due to its small size, the striated heron has a dark grey back, a thick grey to reddish-brown neck, a large…
White-shouldered ibis (Pseudibis davisoni)
As its common name suggests, this large, blackish ibis has a contrasting white patch on the inner forewing, or 'shoulder', although this is…
Violet dropwing (Trithemis annulata)
The violet dropwing (Trithemis annulata) is a distinctive dragonfly that is well known for its striking violet colouration, from which it…
More about the violet dropwing »
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What To Hold: 3 Hold-Rated Dividend Stocks VIV, RESI, ATLS
While plenty of high-yield opportunities exist, investors must always consider the safety of their dividend and the total return potential of their investment. It is not uncommon for a struggling company to suspend high-yielding dividends which could subsequently result in precipitous share price declines.
TheStreet Ratings' stock rating model views dividends favorably, but not so much that other factors are disregarded. Our model gauges the relationship between risk and reward in several ways, including: the pricing drawdown as compared to potential profit volatility, i.e. how much one is willing to risk in order to earn profits?; the level of acceptable volatility for highly performing stocks; the current valuation as compared to projected earnings growth; and the financial strength of the underlying company as compared to its stock's valuation as compared to its stock's performance.
These and many more derived observations are then combined, ranked, weighted, and scenario-tested to create a more complete analysis. The result is a systematic and disciplined method of selecting stocks. As always, stock ratings should not be treated as gospel — rather, use them as a starting point for your own research.
The following pages contain our analysis of 3 stocks with substantial yields, that ultimately, we have rated "Hold."
Telefonica BrasilDividend Yield: 7.80% Telefonica Brasil (NYSE: VIV) shares currently have a dividend yield of 7.80%. Telefonica Brasil S.A. provides fixed-line telecommunications services to residential and commercial customers in Brazil. The company has a P/E ratio of 6.48. The average volume for Telefonica Brasil has been 1,807,900 shares per day over the past 30 days. Telefonica Brasil has a market cap of $22.4 billion and is part of the telecommunications industry. Shares are up 4.2% year-to-date as of the close of trading on Thursday. TheStreet Ratings rates Telefonica Brasil as a hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its attractive valuation levels and largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including feeble growth in the company's earnings per share, deteriorating net income and disappointing return on equity. Highlights from the ratings report include:
- VIV's debt-to-equity ratio is very low at 0.20 and is currently below that of the industry average, implying that there has been very successful management of debt levels. Although the company had a strong debt-to-equity ratio, its quick ratio of 0.80 is somewhat weak and could be cause for future problems.
- VIV, with its decline in revenue, underperformed when compared the industry average of 3.3%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues slightly dropped by 9.8%. Weakness in the company's revenue seems to have hurt the bottom line, decreasing earnings per share.
- The company's current return on equity has slightly decreased from the same quarter one year prior. This implies a minor weakness in the organization. In comparison to the other companies in the Diversified Telecommunication Services industry and the overall market, TELEFONICA BRASIL SA's return on equity is significantly below that of the industry average and is below that of the S&P 500.
- Net operating cash flow has decreased to $563.59 million or 48.95% when compared to the same quarter last year. In addition, when comparing to the industry average, the firm's growth rate is much lower.
- You can view the full Telefonica Brasil Ratings Report.
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Posted on 7/24/2014
Margaret Adam
What kinds of amazing things can you make with balloons? The Balloon Lady will delight all ages with whimsical, colorful, inflated shapes when she performs in Walkertown on Tuesday, July 29nd at 3:30 pm.
The Balloon Lady--also known as Donna Pruett--has entertained thousands of children across the state. Besides her award-winning balloon creations, her visit might include music, storytelling, or engaging tricks that appeal to children of all ages. The event is open to the public and free, thanks to funding by Friends of Walkertown Library.
Donna's annual show is a tradition and a favorite among programs that promote and enhance summer reading. All attendees who have been reading (or listening, for younger library users) will receive a ticket as they enter for a raffle of small reading-reward prizes. A door prize of a balloon creation to take home will go to the luckiest of readers. Last summer's enormous red, black, and white balloon box sculpture stayed inflated atop the Walkertown Branch chapter-book shelves for nearly ten months.
Tuesday, July 29nd, 3:30 pm
Walkertown Branch Library
2969 Main St. Walkertown, NC 27051
Call (336) 703-2990 for more information.
2969 Main Street
Walkertown, NC 27051
(336) 703-2990
Closed Sunday
10:00 - 9:00 Monday
10:00 - 9:00 Tuesday
10:00 - 9:00 Wednesday
10:00 - 6:00 Thursday
10:00 - 6:00 Friday
10:00 - 5:00 Saturday
Hours for All Locations
Holiday Closings
Copyright © 2016 Forsyth County | Contact the Webmaster | Site Map


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The Philosophy Club will meet on Wednesday March 19th, 7-8pm in Rothschild Place 147. [For those unfamiliar, the building is next to the Communications building.] All are welcome to come and join the conversation!
If you would like to receive announcements from the club, send an email to firstname.lastname@example.com.
Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations should contact Brendan Murday at firstname.lastname@example.com. We ask that requests for accommodations be made as soon as possible.
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Sarah replies:
How long does it take for the "vagina opening" to get tight again after sex? A few days, a week? Do PC muscle exercises help? Say I hadn't had sex for about 5 months and then just had sex about a week ago, am I "looser" now then I would've been if I didn't have sex at all? And if so, how do I make it tight again and how long does it take? Is it already "tight" again...Does that even make sense!?? PLEASE HELP!!
You know, I really wish I could get a hold of whomever started this obsession with vaginal "tightness" and have a few choice words with them. Most of the words I'd have to say would not be very nice. But since that person is not here right now, all I can do is try to clear up a few of the unfortunate misunderstandings and blatant lies that seem to be so common about this issue.
So in short, worrying about being "tight" is a pretty pointless and actually counter-productive thing to do. Having sex will not make you looser. Not having sex will not make you tighter. There's not anything that is going to make you permanently "tighter" that is healthy or a good idea. And if you are feeling tight, that's a good sign that you don't want to be having sex right then anyway. If you want to do something like Kegel exercises, that's fine. Rather than making you inherently tighter during sexual arousal, it will probably give you more conscious control over those muscles that you can exercise during sex if you desire. But really, you should focus on being relaxed and enjoying yourself, rather than being as tight as a partner may (incorrectly) believe you should be.
Check out the following links for more useful information:
Information on this site is provided for educational purposes. It is not meant to and cannot substitute for advice or care provided by an in-person medical professional. The information contained herein is not meant to be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease, or for prescribing any medication. You should always consult your own healthcare provider if you have a health problem or medical condition.


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Hot Couple Alert?!? Two pictures hit the web yesterday that make it look like Chris Brown was making out with Nicole Scherzinger at a club. But Nicole's rep jumped on this quickly saying Nicole and Chris were just doing some close talking, "The photos that have surfaced are old friends who were trying to talk at a very loud club." Anyone buying this story? See what you think - click HERE for the "evidence" - you decide!!
Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart are living together again, but there's no word where. A source says, "They are living together and have reconciled." Things aren't back to normal yet, though, they're doing a one-month trial thing. Rob's got to see if he can get past the betrayal. Kristen is doing everything she can to prove she's all about him this time. According to one source, that includes writing poetry, "He always wanted her to write poetry for him, but she never made the effort before. But since this happened, she's been writing her heart out. She's written song lyrics, poetry and about a million apologies." Another source says Kristen is talking about getting Rob's name tattooed her body. And while Rob thinks it's a crazy idea, he was also "affected deeply" that she would consider it.
Nicki Minaj has hinted that she may let more cameras into her life. She'll be a new judge on "American Idol" when it returns in January. Now there's word she's preparing to film scenes for a new reality show, to air on E!
If you're in the mood for a cocky song from an overprivileged 14 year-old, then here ya go! It's Jaden Smith, the son of super couple Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith.