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Useful Links
- Date submitted: 1 Nov 2011
- Stakeholder type: Member State
- Name: Egypt
- Submission Document: Download
Full SubmissionSubmission by Egypt for the draft compilation document for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD 2012), Rio+20 Introduction Twenty years after the Earth Summit in 1992 in Rio, much has been done to address the challenges related to the achievement of sustainable development. However, many of the challenges still exist, others have grown more acute and new issues have emerged. We have been addressing at length the causes & implications of the global challenges & crises that are still hampering growth & development and in spite of our efforts & sporadic positive signs, the prospects for the future are still daunting. It is evident that something is not working properly, and we all need to reflect on how to redirect the helm of multilateral action into the right direction so as to succeed in making the transition to a more resilient world economy, one that is effectively based on sustainable development. A careful consideration of the challenges facing us reveal that a more integrated approach is needed to confront them. One that recognizes their interlinkages, avoids dealing with them in separate tracks and incorporates the economic, environmental & social aspects, so as to achieve sustainable development in all its dimensions. Rio+20 conference should offer the opportunity to assess the progress to date and the remaining gaps in implementation, thereby allowing us to learn from past mistakes and translate the concept of sustainable development into concrete actions at all levels. while the 1992 Rio Conference laid the foundation of the concept of sustainable development, we look forward that the Rio+20 Conference will launch the era of sustainable development through the elaboration of an international , long term action oriented agenda that would include the establishment of clear mechanisms for the implementation of commitments that will take into consideration the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and take a supportive approach towards developing countries and an effective enforcement approach towards developed countries. As the lack of integration of the sustainable development dimensions, and the lack of implementation of sustainable development commitments, were both identified as the major obstacles to achieving sustainable development, the Rio+20 Conference should focus on both, integration and implementation of sustainable development and give it due and full consideration. The Conference should identify a framework of action focused on implementation and full integration of the three pillars of sustainable development, in accordance with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, in order to achieve tangible outcomes. Objective of the Conference The objective of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD Rio+20 2012), is to secure renewed political commitment for sustainable development, assessing the progress to date and the remaining gaps in the implementation of the outcomes of the major summits on sustainable development and addressing new and emerging challenges. 1- Securing renewed political commitment Based on the outcome of international negotiations within different fields of sustainable development, there are alarming signals on the lack of political commitment to achieve sustainable development. In this respect, the reluctance of developed countries to adhere to their commitments as well as to the previously agreed principles & objectives in the economic, social and environmental fields is a major source of concern. Also their attempts to renegotiate those commitments agreed by consensus, as have been witnessed in recent intergovernmental processes, are alarming. This puts into question their political commitment to sustainable development. Developed countries must fulfill all their obligations towards developing countries. The renewed political commitment in Rio should lead to the full implementation of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (?Johannesburg Plan of Implementation?) and should fully support national efforts to achieve sustainable development in particular eradication of poverty and food security. Poverty eradication cannot be achieved without the collective commitments and efforts of the international community. 2- Assessing the progress to date and the remaining gaps in the implementation of outcomes of the major summits on sustainable development Rio+20 Conference should renew and strengthen the political commitment needed to achieve what we have agreed to back in Rio in 1992, and in all major summits on sustainable development. Indeed, time has changed and the situation in which we are now is different than the one that was 20 years ago. But we have to recognize that the agreed upon objectives in the context of sustainable development have not been fulfilled. This is an additional reason to implement the job that has not yet been done, and develop, along the road, new solutions to the new and emerging challenges. In order to have a forward looking vision, we need to take stock of past experiences and to understand what went wrong so that the agreed upon sustainable development commitments were not fully implemented, before engaging in discussions on new ideas or concepts. The overall gap in implementation is overwhelming. This gap has been incremental since the Rio Summit in 1992, through the Review Conference on the further implementation of Agenda 21 in 1997 and the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002. The main reasons for the implementation gap are the shortcomings in the fulfillment of commitments regarding the provision of financial and technological means of implementation. Detailed information on the delivery of ODA, including the comparison between actual delivery and declared pledges is important to assess progress in implementation. Measurement, reporting and verification of financial and technological support are indispensable to address the shortcomings in a consistent manner. Developed countries that have not yet done so, are urged to meet the targets of 0.7 per cent of their gross national product for ODA; including 0.15 to 0.2 per cent of their gross national product to least developed countries. In order to meet agreed commitments and targets, it is important that developed countries establish clear and transparent timetables within their national budget allocation processes to reach the level of at least 0.5% for ODA for developing countries as well as 0.15% to 0.2% of GNP for ODA to LDCs, as urgently as possible, taking into account that the 2010 deadline was not fulfilled by 2010, and 0.7% by 2015, at the latest. Also the commitment to doubling aid to Africa by 2010 as articulated at the summit of Gleneagles was not entirely reached and in this regard there is a need to make rapid progress in order to fulfill the Gleneagles and other donors' commitments. 3- Addressing new and emerging issues and challenges Simultaneous actions to address the challenges related to all three pillars of sustainable development in a coordinated, integrated and balanced manner are needed, recognizing human beings are at the centre of concerns of sustainable development. Egypt reaffirms the urgent need to address persistent and emerging sustainable development challenges, such as poverty eradication, job creation, food and energy crises and the challenges related to the limit and unsustainable use of resources, climate change, biodiversity, ecosystem degradation, drought and desertification, land degradation, population dynamics and urbanization, water and sanitation. All of these crises and challenges have significant and, in some cases, unforeseen impacts on developing countries, undermining their efforts to achieve the MDG. In addition to these challenges, the imbalance between developing and developed countries with respect to international economic affairs is increasing. Therefore, the Rio+20 Conference could provide a good opportunity to address this imbalance, and deal with the question of equity on international level. Furthermore, the current major challenge for developing countries is the impacts from the multiple crises, particularly the ongoing economic and financial crisis, food crisis, energy crisis, as well as the challenges related to climate change. The economic repercussions of these multiple crisis and challenges have aggravated poverty, social exclusion, increased unequal distribution of income and wealth, and undermined efforts to implement sustainable development. Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time and developing countries are particularly vulnerable to and are experiencing increased negative impacts from climate change. This is severely undermining food and water security, efforts to eradicate poverty, sustainable development. In this regard, all States need to fully implement the provisions of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, in accordance with the Convention?s principles, particularly the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. Of particular concern, is the state of play regarding the financing aspects for the global efforts to address climate change. The developed countries should commit to implement the Cancun decision with regard to fast start finance, transitional and long term finance. Egypt is deeply concerned at the phenomena of the creation of empty shells, and of attempts to shift the burden of financing to the private sector. While the latter is naturally a complement to public sources of finance, it cannot become a substitute for them. It is also disturbing that many attempts to impose unilateral measures that increase the hardship on developing countries and represent a total disregard to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities are being undertaken. Moreover, the barriers created based on intellectual property rights are hindering the transfer of the needed technologies to the developing countries. In order to address the impacts of these challenges, developing countries need a facilitated and direct access to the means of implementation, and developed countries should ensure providing developing countries with adequate, new and additional, predictable and sustainable means of support, in particular regarding finance and technology transfer. There is a need for access of developing countries to technologies. Developing countries would also need to have access to the know-how and expertise required for the effective utilization of these technologies to achieve sustainable development. Effective mechanisms, enhanced means, appropriate enabling environments and the removal of obstacles to the scaling up of the development and transfer of technology to developing countries are all essential in this regard. The Rio+20 Conference should consider establishing an International Mechanism to implement concrete actions focused on bridging the technological gap between developed and developing countries and facilitating transfer of technology in sustainable development. Such a mechanism should help in securing the availability of adequate and predictable means of support, to address the needs of developing countries both on technology and finance. It is also necessary to solve the problem of the migration of developing countries? scientists to developed countries through the support of the latter in developing the environment necessary in developing countries to attract those scientists and develop scientific networks, which will contribute to the achievement of Sustainable development. Themes of the Conference The two themes of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD 2012), ?Rio+20?, are ?green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication?, and ?the institutional framework of sustainable development?. 1- Green economy in the context of sustainable development Despite the numerous studies, reports, meetings and workshops that took place in relation to green economy, divergences are still persisting over GESDPE, even on the conceptual level, as it is perceived differently among different regions and countries (green economy/ green growth). Therefore the concept of green economy needs to be defined in terms of the challenges and opportunities it raises and in terms of the means of implementation required to achieve it in developing countries. Also developing countries believe that their concerns with regard to transitional costs/ green protectionism/ green conditionality are not properly addressed. Therefore it is thought that there is not enough consensus with regard to common view or arrangements with regard to GESDPE. Green economy/ growth should be a means to achieve sustainable development through undertaking economic activities in an environmentally sound manner, while ensuring social equity. This concept should be seen as one of many tools to achieve the overriding goals of sustainable development and poverty eradication. The Green Economy/ growth concept should not become a substitute for the paradigm of sustainable development, developed during the past twenty years. It should not be an attempt to put again the focus solely on the environmental dimension to the detriment of the other two dimensions. While there is convergence that the concept of green economy is yet to be defined at the global level, Egypt believes that it is important that such a definition be elaborated inter-governmentally, and that each country or region, as appropriate, be left to define for itself what it means by this concept. Countries should have the sovereign right to determine their development path and their model of green economy/ growth and ensure their policy space. Green economy/ growth should not become an obstacle to the realization of development goals of developing countries as per their national priorities. Moreover, it should not be a backdoor attempt to impose environmental barriers or development assistance conditionalities, or for gaining market access through the guise of environment, or a means to shifting to developing countries the mitigation targets for which developed countries should take the lead in implementing in light of their historic responsibilities and in application of the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. In fact, it is the developed countries who should take the lead in changing their unsustainable production and consumption patterns and honor their commitments made Rio 1992 and thereafter in numerous UN conferences and summits. They should also support developing countries? sustainable development through finance, technology transfer and introducing the needed reforms to the global economic and financial governance structures. Thus, green economy/ growth should not follow a top-down approach, or ?one-size-fits- all model?. The discussion of this theme should respect the different realities of economic, social and environmental developments of countries as well as their particular conditions and priorities. The policy space of each country to define their own paths towards sustainability in their economy and society, in accordance with their own circumstances and priorities should be reaffirmed. Furthermore, green economy/ growth should not represent a pretext for new form of protectionism and conditionalities. It should not resort to any form of protectionism, unilateral measures or other border trade measures; should allow for expanded market access for products from developing countries and address trade-distortive measures; and should not generate conditionalities, new parameters or standards in the areas of financing, ODA and other forms of international cooperation. It should also not create any obstacles to hinder developing countries efforts to achieve Sustainable development or be used as a pretext by developed countries to not implement their previous pledged commitments in support of developing countries in this regard. Also, It should not turn into a device for establishing corporate control over natural resources, noting the importance of developing standards of corporate responsibility and accountability for transnational corporations in order to make sure that such corporations support local efforts in achieving Sustainable development. While Egypt recognizes that the transformation towards a green economy carries with it opportunities and challenges, we call for both to be clearly evaluated in open-ended settings with the full participation of developing countries scientists and policymakers. Developing countries should receive the needed means of implementation to assist them in such transformation, and to address the resultant costs associated with them, particularly social and economic costs. Opportunities for developing countries to make use of the transformation to create jobs and to contribute, through employment-intensive projects, to poverty eradication need to be reinforced. Developing countries need better access to new investments in a number of sectors such as renewable energy. Also technology transferred to developing countries should be safe, cost effective, and provided to them on favorable terms. In this regard, Egypt reminds of the need to develop the national capacities and systems of innovation, and to develop global arrangements that increase international cooperation and accelerate the diffusion of green technologies to developing countries. Of particular importance is expanding the scope of technologies in the public domain, and stimulate the transfer of publically-funded technologies to developing countries. The creation of an enabling environment, through ensuring the flow of needed technologies and adequate financial resources to developing countries, and incentivizing their voluntary actions, policies and strategies that aim to enhance shifting to environment friendly growth patterns within their sustainable development strategies is paramount. Developed countries have a leadership role to create and enhance such global enabling environment, so that all countries wishing to do so can shift to green economy/growth on a voluntary basis. In this respect , the conference could consider creating a green stimulus/ or accompanying mechanism that would help developing countries make the transition to green economy/growth, by providing to them adequate finance and technology transfer through a mechanism that facilitate the transfer of appropriate technology, as well as provide capacity building, as needed and identified by developing countries, including the necessary support to developing countries? scientists and scientific institutions to foster their efforts to, inter alia, develop green local technologies and use traditional knowledge in this field . A thorough discussion of solutions of IPR issues in this context will be needed to support developing countries in this field. 2- Institutional framework of sustainable development Establishing the link, once again, of what was reflected in the introduction, regarding the necessity that the Rio+20 Conference focus on concrete measures on how to achieve integration and implementation of sustainable development, these same two overarching parameters: integration and implementation should govern IFSD. Egypt believes that the Institutional framework for sustainable development should not be looked at as an end in itself but rather as a means to accomplish the new directions and objectives to be set out in the outcome document of the Rio+20 Conference. To this effect, there is ample need to have a critical look at the experience to date with the Commission on Sustainable Development, the ECOSOC, and the General Assembly. The objective of any reform should be to guarantee better intergovernmental guidance for the norm-setting exercise at the United Nations, to achieve better integration of the three dimensions of sustainable development at the three levels; international, regional and national, ensuring better coherence and coordination and synergies between the different components of the United Nations system, and between them and the UN funds and programs, specialized agencies, and international financial institutions, so that they all collaborate to ensure better implementation and tangible results on the ground. Therefore, the institutional framework should ensure the integration of the 3 dimensions of sustainable development, as well as its implementation. Its functions should include: international sustainable development agenda setting/ coordination and coherence/ monitoring of implementation (e.g. through yearly reports on the global outlook of sustainable development incorporating all relevant international organizations in economic, social and environmental fields, thus making sure they are all involved)/ enabling and supporting developing countries efforts to achieve sustainable development. Egypt believes that there is a need to strengthen the economic and social dimensions of sustainable development. Of particular concern is the participation of developing countries in global governance of these two important pillars, particularly in the context of the international financial institutions and the WTO. Egypt is deeply concerned at the shortcomings in this regard, preventing developing countries from having the needed participation in decision-making, norm-setting and elaboration of policies in these institutions. The lack of progress in the ongoing Doha round negotiations is also of particular concern as it results in preventing developing countries from benefitting from the multilateral trading system, particularly in operationalizing the provisions which are in their favor and constantly making their achievement contingent on the renegotiation of other commitments, effectively resulting in a constant shifting of the goal-post to their disfavor. In this regard, developing countries are in dire need of the effective implementation of the Monterrey Consensus, so that they can be better able to finance their development efforts. The attempts by some countries to deny developing countries the access to the needed sources of finance, particularly from trade, debt relief, official development assistance, trying to shift the responsibility to the private sector actors and to the markets in general, are of major concern. Such attempts represent an imminent danger for the realization of the legitimate priorities of developing countries, namely poverty eradication and sustainable development as they deny them the needed predictability of resource flows and subject them to the profit motives of the private sector. The social pillar needs also to be reinforced. Issues of social justice and of a rights-based approach to sustainable development should carry a special place in upcoming discussions. There is a need for a paradigm shift, beyond the focus on achieving economic growth to address the manner in which the fruits of such growth are equitably distributed; lifting people from poverty, providing them with needed jobs, social safety nets, and social protection in general. Among the other important social pillar issues to be examined in the context of the preparatory process is the phenomenon of migration and how to ensure that it provides a win-win solution to both sending and receiving countries and to the migrants themselves bearing in mind the changing characteristics of ongoing migration flows. Egypt is open to examine proposals to strengthen the Institutional framework for sustainable development at the regional and international levels. Any such consideration is contingent to careful examination being made at the intergovernmental level of the lessons of the institutions in existence to date, including the pros and cons of the different proposals in terms of their financial, institutional, organizational, political, legal, and systemic implications and the manner in which they achieve the desired balanced integration of the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. The guiding principle to any such exercise should be to improve on what is already there, and how to ensure that all components of the system work in unison towards realizing the same objectives, and above all how they can more effectively assist developing countries, particularly developing countries, to implement their national sustainable development policies, learning from experiences in different countries, and mobilizing for them the needed means of implementation to this effect. Furthermore, any such proposals should not depart from the fundamental requirement of universality in membership and decision-making, and should be financed with new additional resources, without exerting any additional burden on developing countries. In this regard, the possibility of establishing a ?Sustainable Development Council?, whether through transforming the Commission on Sustainable Development, or reviewing the mandate of the ECOSOC, is worth considering. In the case of the first option, the cycles? pattern of the CSD could be reviewed and changed from two cycles: Policy and review, to three cycles: economic, social and environmental in order to address and incorporate all three dimensions of sustainable development. On the other hand, the starting point for any improvement is for countries to examine ways and means to ensure coherence at the national level first, as this would in turn contribute to improved coherence at both the regional and international levels. Therefore, out of concern for modernizing and strengthening our national Institutional framework for sustainable development. Egypt looks forward, in the context of the forthcoming Rio+20 Conference to benefit from the experiences of other countries in making this framework more effective, result ?oriented, and participatory. Egypt looks forward for improved efforts to realize a stronger partnership with civil society organizations and scientific institutions, in designing, implementing, and evaluating national sustainable development policies and efforts. In this regard, UNEP ought to be strengthened financially and organizationally to be better able to accomplish its existing mandate, and to provide better coordination, coherence among the multitude of players in the environmental field, as well as between the multilateral environmental agreements while respecting their independent legal nature. UNEP should be better able to provide programmatic support to developing countries at the national level, and its science-based capacities for analyzing the state of the global environment and for reporting on environmental challenges should be strengthened. In this context, we support the strengthening of UNEP and transformation it into a successful action oriented implementation programme with sufficient resources, comparable to the UNDP, through reviewing its mandate and increasing its resources, in order to give UNEP a clear operational mandate to enable it of supporting the integration and implementation of sustainable development on national level.


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Rhonda Koonts
Published: Thursday, January 24, 2013 at 11:34 a.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, January 24, 2013 at 11:34 a.m.
Rhonda Lee Hege Koonts, 73, of Lingle Farm Road, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013, at Hinkle Hospice House.
The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Davidson Funeral Home Chapel by the Revs. Byron Barker and Jeff York. Burial will follow in Paul's Chapel United Church of Christ Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home and other times at the home.
Mrs. Koonts was born Aug. 18, 1939, in Davidson County to Connie Lee Hege and Thelma Pearl Waller Hege. She was a former doffer at Wennonah Cotton Mill. She was a member of Paul's Chapel United Church of Christ. Mrs. Koonts loved to cook; her raisin pie was considered the best by friends and family. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Huitt Conrad Koonts, and a sister, Linda Applebee.
Surviving are sons Reginald "Reggie" Gene Moorefield and Kent Richard Moorefield and wife Amy, all of Lexington; daughter Mona Renee Stuart of Lexington; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and brothers Larry Hege and wife Joyce of Concord and David Hege and wife Evonne of Asheboro.
Online condolences may be made at www.davidsonfuneralhome.net.
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.

subset: commoncrawl


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I am firmly convinced that the freedom haters intend to eventually take away ALL guns. I believe that these people are all made from the Adolph Hitler mold. They don't care anything about stopping crime and violence. All they are interested in is making this country safe for themselves so that they can continue their planned destruction of everything America ever stood for.
So, now they are after tactical weapons. Next it will be handguns. Then "Sniper" guns, that is, hunting rifles. Then shotguns. They will have a cuss word for them by then. I believe that the last thing on their agenda will be to go after single shot firearms. But, the day will come! Believe it! That is why I want a few single shot rifles in my collection.


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Would like to use Google Alerts with my Google Apps account and manage via Google Reader. It appears that one can't associate a Google Alerts created/managed under a Google Apps account and send it to a "feed" the same way one can do this from a standard Google account. Wonder whether there is a way around this.
I just set myself up with a feed through my
Here are the steps:
The following steps are apply if you don't have your regular
Disclaimer: I have a paid for Google Apps for Business account. I don't know if this works for the free Google Apps accounts.


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Leadville 100 isn't hard enough to stop rider with MS
Submitted by Kris Thompson on
From the Denver Post
For more than 30 years, Ragland has been battling relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, a neurological disease with unpredictable symptoms of numbness, pain and extreme fatigue.
So it's probably best for Ragland not to hop on a bike, pedal more than 2,600 feet up a mountain and feed herself the thin air that could trigger the worst of her disease.
But she tells her body who's boss, and as boss, she ordered Saturday's Leadville 100 — for the fourth consecutive year.
Read more from the Denver Post


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End of Three Fitness
Simple, Effective Fitness for the Other Guy & Gal Designed to Make you a Better Human
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Life Happens.
Maybe you got stuck in a desk. Maybe your schedule got filled to the brim. Maybe you feel like an average life, for you, is like fitting a square peg into around hole.
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Gardening Articles: Flowers :: Annuals
Selby Gardens
by Amanda Jarrett
Blooming orchids fill gift shop benches January through March.
In Sarasota, Florida, about an hour and a half south of Tampa, lies a rare jewel for people who love tropical plants. The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens rests on a spit of land jutting into Sarasota Bay, surrounded by deep blue tropical waters. Winding trails take you to plant collections in 20 themed gardens, and a glass house displays one of the world's largest and finest collections of orchids and bromeliads. A twisting boardwalk also allows tourists to view seaside flora and fauna without disturbing their habitat.
The gardens are named for Marie Selby, an avid gardener and the wife of William Selby, an oil magnate and philanthropist. She bequeathed the property, which also includes their stucco bungalow built in the early 1920s, to the city of Sarasota in 1971. The city later purchased neighboring properties and expanded the gardens from the original 7 acres to 9 acres. The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens was opened to the public in 1975.
The winter weather in Florida is typically warm and sunny, which for many people in other areas of the country is reason enough to visit these gardens. But winter is an excellent time to visit whether you're a tourist or local because January through March is the peak bloom season at the gardens. You'll see orchids of all kinds, but particularly corsage orchid (Cattleya), butterfly orchid (Oncidium), lady's slipper (Paphiopedilum), and moth orchid (Phalaenopsis).
Many Gardens in One
If you visit the gardens, plan to spend at least half a day to fully enjoy the many collections. In the Live Oak Grove, Spanish moss cascades like gray-green waterfalls from the oaks' gnarled and twisted limbs, and in the Bamboo Pavilion, stately stands of giant bamboo (Bambusa oldhamii) chime in the wind. A cool waterfall shimmers down a mossy bank and into a koi-filled pond in the Waterfall Garden. South of the Banyan Grove, many varieties of hibiscus show off their large blossoms in an astonishing array of colors.
In the Palm Grove, date palms (Phoenix dactylifera) over 25 feet tall pierce the azure sky. At their feet grow triangle palms (Neolypsis decaryi) from Madagascar, fishtail palms (Caryota) from Southeast Asia, and other exotic species. Not to be outdone, the Peruvian apple cactus (Cereus peruvianus) bears its white flowers in the sun of the Cactus Garden. Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis), aloes, and other arid-climate plants surround the apple cactus's swollen, thorny trunk.
Immense banyan trees, planted in 1939, dominate the manicured lawn in front of the stucco house. The huge limbs of these members of the Ficus clan stretch across the lawn, buttressed by aerial roots that plunge into the soil below. The large lawn is a perfect setting for the Selby Gardens' plant sales in March, July, and November. The trees' broad, spreading boughs provide welcome shade as well as a natural canopy for weddings, the annual Orchid Ball, and Shakespearean and other theatrical productions.
Plants (all well labeled) aren't the only attraction in these gardens. The Butterfly Garden, a mass of flowers, floral scents, and vivid colors, attracts not only the delicate winged visitors, but also many tourists, who stop to enjoy this garden's fluttering pleasures.
Edible plants grow in the Tropical Fruit garden. They range from tropical exotica like the unusual miracle fruit (Synsepalum dulcificum) that sweetens anything sour eaten with it to medicinal, ceremonial, and culinary herbs. A "hands-on" children's garden was completed in 1998.
For ecology-minded visitors and seashore lovers, the boardwalk in the Baywalk Sanctuary travels along the garden's mangrove-studded shoreline. Egrets, herons, pelicans, ibis and other tropical wading birds stand elegantly in the glistening water. The birds find habitat among the seaside plants in the Shoreline Restoration Project Garden.


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Loving God, neighbors in a new way
Published: Friday, July 12, 2013 at 2:32 p.m.
Last Modified: Friday, July 12, 2013 at 2:32 p.m.
Like most pastors, I spend time visiting in our local hospital, the Wake Forest Baptist Health — Lexington Medical Center. In the past months, however, I have spent some time there in the outpatient clinic for my own medical needs. Yes, I've suffered from that malady common to us Southerners for whom the Bible Belt and the Kidney Stone Belt are one and the same — kidney stones (aka "Satan plays Bocce Ball"). So I've observed firsthand the good care offered here. I've given thought to the close connection between religion and health care.
A quick read of Wikipedia's article on "The History of Hospitals" delivers a treasure trove of information. It reports that the connection between religion and health care goes back quite far to the ancient Egyptians. There are also links between religion and health care in ancient India and China. Closer to our time, Jewish and Muslim cultures established hospitals in their communities.
We are most familiar with, of course, the Christian connection with health care. Healing was a vital part of Jesus' ministry. It is difficult to turn a page in the gospels where there is not some mention of healing. Last week's lectionary readings spoke of Jesus sending his disciples on mission, one of their tasks being healing.
As the Christian faith became more institutionalized, the establishment of hospitals and healing ministry became more intentional. After the First Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D., every town with a cathedral built a hospital. Wikipedia quotes James Edward McClellan and Harold Dorn from their book "Science and Technology in World History: An Introduction" (The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2006), p. 99, 101. They say: "Thus in-patient medical care in the sense of what we today consider a hospital, was an invention driven by Christian mercy and Byzantine innovation." The very word "hospital" emerged in the mid-1300s and meant "shelter for the needy."
Many of you will remember a television series from years past called "St. Elsewhere." Most of us know of St. Jude's Hospital. Throughout our country there are hospitals that begin with "Saint" and have some affiliation with the Christian Church. In our own area, we have three great hospitals whose founders had close ties with Christian denominations. Wake Forest Baptist Health is, of course, associated with Baptists. Duke University Hospital is associated with the United Methodist Church. There is Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center in Charlotte. And the list goes on as distance increases.
Why is there such a strong connection between Christian faith and health care? Because the One who is at the center of our faith placed healing at the center of his ministry.
It can be argued that churches abdicated their responsibility for health care to secular hospitals and that hospitals, subject to the regulation of government and concerned about profit, lost their concern for the spiritual side of life in concern for the physical side of life. There is truth in that argument, though the way I stated it is much too simple.
But there is an effort to bring churches and hospitals back to their common bond and goal of caring for the body and the soul. A new initiative titled FaithHealthNC has been introduced to our community. It is an effort to involve churches and hospitals in a cooperative effort to look after the medical needs of our community. Churches are helping in the follow-up care of those who are dismissed from hospitals. Volunteers in the churches will help with doctor visits, proper medication schedules, meals and other aspects of healing.
If you would like your church to be involved in this ministry, please contact the area coordinator, the Rev. Coley Rimmer, at 972-6662 or firstname.lastname@example.com. There will be a meeting of the Congregational Care Coordinators and Congregational Care Givers at Wake Forest Baptist Health — Lexington Medical Center at 6:30 p.m. July 25. This is a great opportunity for churches to send a representative to become familiar with this ministry. It is important to contact Rimmer to let him know that someone will be attending.
What a grand opportunity for both churches and hospitals to recover a part of their identity that may have become lost or misplaced. As Christians we are to be concerned with the entirety of the person — body, soul, mind and spirit. This Sunday many of us preachers will read from Luke's gospel that we are to "Love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. And love your neighbor as yourself." FaithHealthNC may just be a good instrument through which we can do that.
The Rev. J. Randy Hall serves as pastor of Fairmont Presbyterian Church and author of "Images of Sorrow, Visions of Hope."
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.


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Country comparisons
Alzheimer Europe is uniquely placed to carry out country comparisons in relation to particular issues which surround dementia. These comparisons highlight the sometimes stark differences between the European countries' approaches as well establishing commonalities. We have carried out four such comparisons on:
a) Homecare: In 2005 our homecare project revealed tremendous differences between countries, (particularly in terms of State responsibility, funding, the role of families and the actual availability of home care services) whilst finding common ground other areas (eg. a lack of any specific reference to people with dementia in laws and documents pertaining to the provision of homecare services).
b) Advance directives: A comparative project on the legal status of advance directives in Europe carried out in 2006 also revealed differences between participating countries, with a few countries (Greece, Portugal and Turkey) being omitted as the concept of advance directives was found to be practically unknown. The project resulted in the publication of Alzheimer Europe's position on advance directives which provides information on the legal, ethical, medical and personal and practical issues surrounding the use of advance directives in the case of dementia.
c) the Reimbursement of anti-dementia drugs: In 2006 Alzheimer Europe conducted a survey on the reimbursement of anti-dementia drugs. This survey revealed that people with Alzheimer's disease do not have equal access to existing dementia treatments in Europe as access is subject to a great many restrictions with huge variations in access between European countries being found.
d) Social support: As part of the European Collaboration on Dementia (EuroCoDe) project, Alzheimer Europe carried out a survey into the level of social support provided to people with dementia and their carers in the member states of the European Union, as well as in Switzerland, Norway and Iceland. This revealed variations as well as a lack of services for people with dementia. Recommendations were drawn from this survey and published in the 2008 Alzheimer Europe Yearbook.
Last Updated: Friday 14 November 2014


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NICE BALL MOVEMENT. Finally TD!
These DEN bricks... long rebounds... killing us. Huge possession
Melo is so lazy on boxing out.
Got scared there when the whistle blew when Melo was on NeNe.
Why is Jared Jeffries in the game? Somebody please tell me?
The **** penetrates and goes in deep.
is Toney D allergic to the paint?
****ing gallonugget


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Brandon Marshall is Mr. October in celebrity calendar with…
Lake Howell high school football alum Brandon Marshall is one of 11 Miami Dolphins players to participate in a celebrity calendar shoot, but the athletes aren't the featured celebrities.
It's their dogs.
The mother of Dolphins linebacker and former Florida linebacker Channing Crowder, Pauline Crowder, created the project and is hosting a launch party for the calendar tonight (Monday, Oct. 11) at the Seminole Hard Rock in Fort Lauderdale. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Humane Society of Broward County and the Sun Sentinel Children's Fund.
The featured athletes are (in the order of months): Ronnie Brown, Will Allen, Chad Henne, Channing Crowder, Karlos Dansby, Donald Thomas, Davone Bess, Vernon Carey, Jake Long, Brandon Marshall, Yeremiah Bell and former Dolphins tight end turned sportscaster Joe "Big Dog" Rose is Mr. December.
Participants who did not own dogs posed with animals from the Humane Society. Channing Crowder, however, was able to bring his "children" Rottweilers along for the photo spread, 5-year-old L.T. and 1-year-old Princess.
"His dogs are like his babies," said Crowder's mother Pauline.
Who says tough guys can't name their baby girl Rottweiler Princess?


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Parmigiano & Pecorino/Grating
Quick View
Pecorino Oro AnticoWith even a remedial knowledge of Italian, you've probably figured out on your own that this means ''Old Gold Sheep Cheese.'' Yup, it's pasteurized, aged for 6 months, and ''Gold'' refers not only to its color, but to its excellence. Firm and flaky, it has the beloved aged sheep cheese flavors: sheepy, nutty, and grassy. Precious. Read More
Out of stock
Quick View
Pecorino GineproBathed in a solution of balsamic vinegar and juniper berries, this raw sheep's milk cheese is then attentively aged at least four months. The flakey paste and perfectly edible rind balance hints of gin and acidity with the natural richness of sheep's milk. Read More


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- Foreword
- The Imperatıves Of An Organızatıon Buılt For Speed
- On the Roof Of Anatolia
- The Soul Of Japanese Culture: Kansai
- "I would turn down all the wealth of Croesus for love."
- A User's Guide To The Brain
- The Tıme Of The Comıc Book Artıst Has Come
- Treasury Of Calligraphy
- 10 Reasons To Go To Kuala Lumpur
- Ramadan Exuberance In Istanbul
- A History Of Everyday Life In Pictures
- Taking Top Honors Even When Stale...
- When Color Comes To Water…
- Jazz Capital Istanbul
- Chicago Waiting
- When Vinyl Won't Do
- Spirou At 75!
- Final Days Of The Festival
- Robert College At 150 Years
- Before Hitting The Road
- Trial By Fire
- The Tour De France In Its 100th Year
- Miró In Izmir For The First Time
- Life Is A Long Bridge…
- Flashy And Cheap
- Pearl Of The Danube: Budapest
- City Of Warm Waters: Aqaba
- Folk Cultures In Croatia…
- Second To None
- Looking East From The West
- Beşiktaş Waterfront Palace
- Art Of Korea At Topkapi Palace
- Meeting Point
- Time Travel
- Northern Cyprus In Three Questions
- Mehmet Aktarli's Diyarbakir
- Books Bursting With Life
"I would turn down all the wealth of Croesus for love."
An actress who has made more films than any other actress in the world with some 200 to her name, the beloved "Sultan" Türkan Şoray, of the Turkish film industry talked with us about her first book, "My Cinema and I", and her new projects
"I'm going to fly home and go on living as a renewed and rejuvenated person," says Türkan Şoray, catching a breath after a long day of book signings. Şoray has spoken and had her photo taken with, and signed copies for, hundreds of people in connection with her book, every word of which she wrote herself, every photograph in which she personally chose. Yet she is still bursting with energy. She has never used a stand-in in any case. Whether on stage or in the wings, it was always she herself. She dove into icy waters, drove a motorboat for the first time in her life, even fell off a horse and broke her neck, all "for the sake of the film". "For the sake of the film" has shaped her way of life in conformity with the spiritual values of the common people, and she has always chosen to live, as she puts it, "a controlled and moderate life, simply, unpretentiously, like everybody else." She says she gave up her personal life for the cinema and the people: "The love I feel for my audience became the meaning of my life." Her respect for herself and those around her and for her work, her inability to hurt anyone, her selflessness and her courtesy are just a few of the qualities that make Türkan Şoray inimitable. When she speaks of the love of her fans, who have "taken her into their hearts", she frequently knocks on wood saying that not everybody is as fortunate as she is. The Sultan sums up her life philosophy without batting an eye: "I would choose love over all the wealth of Croesus."
When did you decide to write a book? And why? Can you tell us about the early phases of the process?
They said I needed to write my memoirs. I agreed but I just couldn't get started. One morning a couple years ago I was sitting on the balcony communing with nature. It was one of those moments when I was most overcome with its beauty. I thought to myself, "Wouldn't it be nice to document the beauty of cinema?" It started to flow through my brain, through my soul, like a film strip, and I began to write. My aim was to describe my struggles over the years to develop my acting skills. To describe my pain, my hopes, my low points - my own personal road to becoming an actor - for those who want to be actors today, and to explain to new filmmakers the conditions under which those films were made.
Let's talk about the writing process. Was it difficult? Did you have any reservations, any things you weren't sure you should write about?
Writing a book is like acting. It's a way of expressing yourself. I just wrote what came from inside me, without any thought about whether it was couched in proper sentences. I was not out to write a "literary book" in any case. I just wrote from the heart. I did a lot of research to be able to tell the true story of the Turkish film industry, which came into being on popular demand, as it deserves to be told. But I never considered writing about the people who hurt me, I considered it superfluous. I would never think of describing my private life. A person should have privacy, and my private life has to stay with me. In the book I describe the cinema up to the point where it touches on my private life.
Every film was certainly important in your life in the cinema, but which ones would you characterize as milestones?
When I look back at my 200 films, there are some that were merely commercial, and others that are real, quality films. There are a few films of mine that established my career in the cinema. Films like Acı Hayat and Vesikalı Yarim. These are some of the most moving films in Turkish cinema because they are about real love.
Do you have a new book project?
I'm going to keep on making films for as long as I live, so I might write a book about the films I'm going to make from here on out.
What's the first film in which we will see you now?
I'm going to make two films this year. I'm also directing one of them. In other words, I'm going to act and direct. One of them is a film with Osman Şahin that takes place in rural Turkey. I'm making the other one with Selim İleri.
We know that before you started out in the cinema you were interested in music. Is there any chance of an album?
I was considering singing my songs in the films, but I changed my mind because some singers have already made such an album. If I make an album, it will be a one-time thing, I won't do it again. I have 200 films, I have my costumes on display, and I have my book. I'd also like to have a recording of my own voice. On the album I'll sing some Turkish art songs that I heard from my mother when I was a child and have loved ever since.
Which foreign actors do you like?
Dustin Hoffman and Anthony Quinn.
You've worked hard all your life. How do you feel about housework? What do you like to do?
I love my house and I love housework. I love having guests for dinner. I go into the kitchen myself and cook great meals. I like to read, both books and the newspaper, and keep up with what's going on in the world. I also like to enjoy fresh air and nature, and I like to be with my friends and with my daughter, Yağmur.


text: It's just a great honor for me to be here, and thank you, Ahmet and everybody on the committee. I got nothing prepared for this. I couldn't possibly be prepared to do this. You know, when you play guitar, you can play, or you can transcend, and you can go as far - there's no boundaries, how far you can go in your own body and how far your mind can expand when you're playing it. Jimi showed me that; I learned that from Jimi. And he was at one with his instrument. Truly, one thing was happening, just - no technique that you could take note of - chords that I could recognize - no hand movements that I could go, "I know what that is." I didn't know what any of it was. I just looked at it, and I heard it, and I wanted to do it. I said to myself, "Maybe someday I can go to that neighborhood and feel what that's like." But you can't make it there by yourself, so lucky for me, I had Crazy Horse, and lucky for Jimi, he had the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Because without Noel and without Mitch, it's hard to say what would have happened, even though Jimi is a legend, and a ground-breaker, and everything everyone says and more, it's hard to say whether he could have done that without these other two guys. Because I know that it doesn't matter whether you can play or not, it doesn't matter whether you're together, or whether everybody hits it at the same time, or what key they're in or anything - it just matters if it's the right chemistry, and they had the right chemistry - and every time they played together Jimi took off, and I only really heard him do that with them, to the point where it took me completely away. So I guess the point that I'm kind of going on about here is, it's not just Jimi, it's the other guys up there with him, Mitch and Noel, and the sound of the Jimi Hendrix Experience, and all the people there, and the looks on their faces, the people in the crowd. The whole thing is really what did it. I can't say any more - it just gives me great pleasure to induct the Jimi Hendrix Experience into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.


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Peer-Reviewed Publications
Found 3 resultsTitle
Filters: Author is Arbogast, Kristy B [Clear All Filters]
Oculomotor and neurocognitive assessment of youth ice hockey players: baseline associations and observations after concussion." Dev Neuropsychol. 2015;40(1):7-11."
Characteristics of prolonged concussion recovery in a pediatric subspecialty referral population." J. Pediatr.. 2014;165(6):1207-15."
Validation of a helmet-based system to measure head impact biomechanics in ice hockey." Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2014;46(1):115-23."


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Part of Music Masters® Series Events
One of soul music's primary architects, Sam Cooke is the honoree for the 10th annual American Music Masters series.
Sam Cooke's extraordinary voice and unforgettable melodies appealed to black and white audiences, and the popularity of his music helped introduce many other black performers to mainstream audiences. His music expanded from its gospel roots into more mainstream R&B and pop genres while managing to keep the interest of many among his core gospel following. Cooke was also a force in harnessing the power of music for a socially conscientious cause. He recognized both the growing popularity of the early folk-rock balladeers and the changing political climate in America, using his own popularity and marketing savvy to raise the conscience of his listeners with such classics as "Chain Gang" and "A Change is Gonna Come."
Aretha Franklin, Elvis Costello, Solomon Burke, The Dixie Hummingbirds, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Peter Wolf, Taj Mahal, Otis Clay, The Manhattans, Gavin DeGraw, William Bell, Lou Rawls, Cissy Houston, Michelle Williams and Morgan Freeman


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Chippendale Planter
Tree of Life Wall Art
Lazer Bond
1,600 Photo Storage Box
Cooling Buffet Platter
Flower Spinner
HD Vision™ Sunglasses
Birdseed House
Seersucker Bedding
Eyelet wrap-around bed skirt and coordinating pillow sham instantly "dress up" a bed without having to lift or move your mattress or box spring! Elasticized bed skirt wraps around the outside of your bed, creating a classic dust ruffle effect. Eyelet trimmed pillow sham fits standard pillows. Both are made of easy-care machine washable poly/cotton. Imported. Available in White or Beige.
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Perhaps you're all too tempted to ignore Valentine's Day: By now, you've got nothing to prove to Cupid (much less your husband) and, P.S., you've got a big job and—who knows if you'll need to work late that evening? But, trust us, giving the holiday a total pass can make you feel distressingly over the hill.
So if you really don't have the time on February 14th, take a tip from the young: Tristan Coopersmith, coauthor of Menu Dating, who says that she and her fiancé decided to take the pressure off by declaring V-Day a roving holiday, subject to celebration wherever and whenever one of them decrees it. In other words, feel free to profess your love on that Particularly Boring Wednesday in March or any other time you happen to be in the mood for a little erotic pick-me-up. But even if you choose to make whoopee on St. Patrick's Day, these guidelines will still apply.
Letting someone else express your feelings (i.e., a greeting card) screams old. Stick it to the industry by making your own hand-glittered card or handwriting a love letter (which is retro, not old). Or show some 21st-century soul with an individualized tumblog (look it up) or a sweet tweet: 140 affection-filled characters.
REMEMBER: IT'S THE SEX, STUPID As time wears on and relationships mature (cue ponderous PBS voice and a visual of a lumbering rhinoceros couple), some of us narrow our celebration to a ritual dinner at an overpriced, overcrowded restaurant. Yet a couple of steaks, a bottle of red and a Baked Alaska later, you won't be good for much more than being rolled—burping and bulging—straight to bed. Grab something light and less conventional instead—sushi, maybe, or tapas. Then put all your energy into creating a tender, romantic, loving, sensual evening that says, "All we need is each other—and maybe Viagra, Astroglide and a little soft porn."
Just because you roasted the damn Thanksgiving turkey, bought every freaking present for the holidays (including his mother's) and coordinated the New Year's Eve party completely by yourself is no reason to turn the night over to him. That's how you'll wind up stuffing yourself at Le Pretentious Inn, pretending to like the red roses (just another way of saying, "Yes, we're old"), all while feeling guilty because you couldn't think of anything to get him (besides, you know, that blow job).
Trotting around in a lacy underthing is one tradition no generation should be quick to scrap. You do, however, want to beat him to the purchasing punch—or risk receiving something too scanty, too sheer or too ridiculous to actually wear. While you're at the store, pick him up a pair of silk bikinis, or boxers with hearts and kisses on them. Why should you be the only one lookin' silly for love?
Want more How Not to Act Old? Click below! . . .
How Not to Act Old With Your Hair
How Not to Act Old at the Beach
How Not to Act Old With Celebrities
How Not to Act Old On Facebook


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Rain should give way to sunny weekend in Volusia-Flagler
Published: Friday, April 5, 2013 at 6:19 a.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, April 24, 2014 at 2:21 p.m.
The clouds and rainy weather could linger a while on Friday before giving way to a nice spring weekend in Volusia and Flagler counties.
The National Weather Service forecast calls for a 50 percent chance of rain on Friday, with the greatest chances coming in the morning and early afternoon before conditions begin to clear. The storms could bring the chance of heavy showers, lightning and even hail.
Temperatures will climb to about 73 degrees, and the winds will be at 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Overnight, temperatures will drop to about 57 degrees, and conditions will clear so that the weekend will be mostly sunny with high temperatures in the 70s.
Boaters should exercise caution on Friday. The storms could produce gusts up to 35 knots and hail over inland lakes and the Intracoastal. Offshore, seas could build as high as 6 feet.
No accidents affecting traffic were reported in Volusia or Flagler County in the pre-dawn hours.
All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.


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At Melissa & Doug we strive to produce the highest-quality educational toys for children. From puzzles to puppets, plush to play food, magnetic activities, music and more, Melissa & Doug is one of the leading designers and manufacturers of educational toys and children's products. Started in 1988 in their garage, Melissa & Doug has something for everyone, with over 2,000 unique and exciting products for children of all ages.
I love, love, love this post. Helping children develop healthy friendship skills was my biggest job as a kindergarten teacher. It's just so important.
Using stories to spark conversations with my students was really helpful. I posted a roundup of 38 favorites here:


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Joined: 22 Mar 2007
Posts: 1502
Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 10:39 pm
Post subject:
I read 2 Historical Romances to cover that subset:
The Other Guy's Bride by Connie Brockway **.9
A Lady's Lesson in Scandal by Meredith Duran **.5
Neither has enough humor to recommend on that basis, though the Brockway came close.
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library addict
Joined: 06 Dec 2008
Posts: 1762
Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 2:36 am
Post subject:
A Dime a Dozen:
2 Contemporary Books:
Ice Lake
by BJ Daniels/Delores Fossen/Julie Miller:
I started the first story in this anthology,
Gone Cold
, and was surprised when a character I thought was a very secondary one had a POV scene. Then I realized the story revolves around a love triangle. I really dislike love triangles. At first I wasnt sure which guy was supposed to be the hero and by the end was so fed up with all three characters I was hoping theyd all be killed. Blah. The second story,
Cold Heat
, featured a likeable h/h, but was bogged down by the who-is-the-big-bad-villain plot. The heroine flip-flops between being very inept at her job to being almost super human which was distracting. The final story,
Stone Cold
, was better. The hero has a major case of overprotective-itis which could have been annoying. But since the heroine calls him on his behavior it wasnt. The killer was obvious and too much time was spent in his POV. As with the other two stories, the heroine does something foolish and puts herself in unnecessary jeopardy. But the reunion romance between the h/h was enjoyable.
Gamblers Woman
by Stephanie James:
This book was originally an old category release. It has glimpses of JAKs humor, but not as much as some of the others I have read. I liked the parts set in California more than the beginning set in Vegas. The heroine feels the need to keep her friends and employer in the dark about the fact the hero is a professional gambler. Hes a bit too heavy-handed at times, but the heroine refuses to put up with his behavior when he acts like a jerk, so thats a plus. Also whenever the plot seems likely to veer off into big misunderstanding territory, the particular problem is quickly resolved. Not JAK at her best, but a quick, likeable read.
A Dime a Dozen Challenge: 4 down 8 to go
The New Release Calendar Challenge: 1 down 11 to go
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Joined: 06 Oct 2009
Posts: 553
Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 8:22 pm
Post subject:
The Twelve Days of Christmas Challenge
Day 12.)
A book with the word Twelfth, Twelve, Drum or Drums in the title. Or a book where one of the characters is in a band or
works in the advertising industry
One True Love
by Barbara Freethy
Lisa and Nick divorced 8 years ago, after the tragic death of their baby girl. She is now a executive in an advertising agency, and he is a successful business owner, but not everything is great in their lives. Forced to spend some time together, they cannot help but realize that their love / hate feelings for each other still exist.
I really wanted to like this book (I love "reunited" romances), but overall it did not work for me. The positives: I liked the secondary characters very much, particularly Maggie (Nick's sister and Lisa's friend). The negatives: the book actually deals with the love stories of 3 couples, and by the end of it I was more interested in a secondary story than on reading Lisa and Nick's HEA. Also, the book started mostly as a regular contemporary romance, but then the author introduced some "magical" elements in the story, up to a point where it got a little bit too much - I could not really suspend disbelief as I would in a paranormal book, for instance. Additionally, I could never connect to Lisa's character. I empathized with her for what she suffered in the past, but could not really like her.
This was my first book by Barbara Freethy. Not sure if I want to try another one by her any time soon, now...
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library addict
Joined: 06 Dec 2008
Posts: 1762
Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2012 10:36 am
Post subject:
A Dime a Dozen:
2 Romantic Suspense Books:
Operation Midnight
by Justine Davis:
This is the kind of book where you just have to set logical thinking aside and go with the story. Never thought I would say this, but the book could have benefited from having the dogs POV
The heroines thoughts were very repetitive in the beginning. The introductions of the heros men were obvious sequel bait. Also, I really wish there had been more of an actual romance in this book and wed gotten to know the hero better. But despite those issues and the plot implausibilities, I liked the book. Not exactly a cliffhanger ending, but there was a huge subplot left open. Hopefully [spoiler]
the mole
will be addressed in the next book of the series.
Saints Gate
by Carla Neggers:
I read this book straight through. There was something quite refreshing and appealing about the combination of characters and plot. There are a lot of POV characters and subplots that weave together in this meandering tale. I liked that both the hero and heroine were shown to be FBI agents who are normal people, not experts at everything. Though I guessed at the identity of the killer before the end, the clues and red-herrings were well dispersed throughout the book. I liked that the various law-enforcement characters all speculated on the other characters possible involvement, including the h/h, as that seemed true to their various characters. Looking forward to the sequel when its released.
A Dime a Dozen Challenge: 6 down 6 to go
The New Release Calendar Challenge: 1 down 11 to go
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Joined: 06 Oct 2009
Posts: 553
Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2012 7:22 pm
Post subject:
library addict wrote:
Never thought I would say this, but the book could have benefited from having the dogs POV
LOL... Your post reminded me of two books: have you ever read
Take a Chance on Me
Susan Donovan
? It actually has scenes with the dog's POV. It was cute, specially in the Epilogue. And in
Patricia Gaffney
The Dog Days of Laurie Summer
(on the anthology
The Lost
), there is a dog's POV, although in different context: the heroine sees the world through the eyes of a dog, and it is quite a transforming experience.
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Joined: 22 Mar 2007
Posts: 1502
Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2012 7:59 pm
Post subject:
If you want a dog's POV, parts of A Loyal Companion by Barbara Metzger are narrated by a dog. There is also the whole Miss Piggy series by Emily Carmichael with a woman who transmigrated to a dog:
carmichael, emily
finding mr. right***
diamond in the ruff***
gone to the dogs***
the cats meow**.5
a new leash on life***
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library addict
Joined: 06 Dec 2008
Posts: 1762
Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2012 10:03 pm
Post subject:
The dog in this particular story is Superdog (cue superhero music). He basically is the smartest dog that ever lived and can do just about anything all with no real explanation. I wanted to know why he took such a liking to the hero he had never seen and somehow knew was flying overhead in a helicopter
so he takes off making sure the heroine follows and gets them both kidnapped by said hero.
I have read
The Dog Days of Laurie Summer
. I will check out the other recomendations.
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library addict
Joined: 06 Dec 2008
Posts: 1762
Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2012 9:55 am
Post subject:
A Dime a Dozen:
2 Romantic Comedy Books:
Hocus Pocus
by Teresa Roblin:
While not as laugh out loud funny as I had expected, the book still had many humorous moments. The heroine is put under a spell by her aunt which goes wrong and she is forced to answer all questions asked her honestly. Despite the premise, the book is a pretty standard boss/assistant romance with many of the usual clichés. Were supposed to believe the heroine is in love with her boss, but its obvious she doesnt really know him in the beginning. Overall I liked the h/h, though each is contradictory in their thought processes at times. I will eventually read the sequel because it is already in my tbr pile, but I dont feel compelled to rush to do so.
A Nice Girl Like You
by Alexandra Sellers:
I knew this would be comical from the blurb and the fact its from the old Silhouette Your Truly Line. The book starts off very funny in a type of French farce fashion. The heros mother meets the heroine and wants her to serve as a decoy date for her eldest son whom she is really trying to fix up with another woman. Used to his mothers matchmaking schemes the hero then asks the heroine to pretend they are dating to keep his mother from trying to constantly fix him up. I maybe could have liked the book if the heroine hadnt spent 95% of the story engaged to another man.
A Dime a Dozen Challenge: 8 down 4 to go
The New Release Calendar Challenge: 1 down 11 to go
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library addict
Joined: 06 Dec 2008
Posts: 1762
Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 11:23 pm
Post subject:
A Dime a Dozen:
2 Time Travel Books:
A Train Through Time
by Bess McBride:
Theres no explanation for how the heroine goes back in time. She simply goes to sleep on a train and wakes up in 1901. The heroine believes shes dreaming so doesnt make much of an effort to fit the social norms of the era. The story often got bogged down in examining the clothes and décor. The heroine is also a vegetarian, so there is more than one lengthy discussion about that. Did dresses in 1901 have zippers? Zippers are mentioned a lot in this book when it comes to the clothing the heroine borrows from the heros sister and I didnt think zippers were that popular in 1901, but maybe I am wrong. But right or wrong, the constant mentioning of them did throw me out of the story. Despite the numerous issues I had with this book, I did feel compelled to finish it. However, once done I was left wishing there had been that elusive more to the story.
Wherever You Are
by Sharon Cullen:
The heroine in this book wakes up on a burning ship among a bunch of animal carcasses, is mistaken for a stowaway, blamed for the fire, and flogged. This is all described in vivid detail. Im not usually a queasy reader, but Im not sure I would have kept reading if Id had another time travel romance in my tbr pile to use for this part of the challenge. In an interesting twist, [thats strongly hinted at in the blurb, but just in case]
the hero is the heroines childhood boyfriend who had disappeared 15 years earlier when he was 17. Though it takes the heroine entirely too long to figure out who he is.
The hero spends too much time feeling sorry for himself. And there were many times I wanted to smack both the hero and heroine upside the head for their attitudes. Despite that there were some scenes in the middle of the book I enjoyed. But then theres the über-villain. His reappearance and more torture scenes towards the end left me feeling that I wanted the time I spent reading this book back.
A Dime a Dozen Challenge: 10 down 2 to go
The New Release Calendar Challenge: 1 down 11 to go
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Joined: 06 Oct 2009
Posts: 553
Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 3:50 pm
Post subject:
The High Noon Challenge
(new-to-you authors)
Angels' Blood
by Nalini Singh
Loved it! I was eager to read something with a lot of action, and this book did not disappoint. And even better: the hero (the archangel Raphael) was one of those great dark, powerful heros - we are never quite sure of what to expect from him. And the heroine, Elena, was outstanding: I like how she fought really hard for what she believed. Their scenes together were excellent. I thought this book would remind me of the J.R. Ward BDB books, but it actually made me think of Eve and Roarke from the In Death series.
And that is also a plus for this book: I will get to see what's next for Elena and Raphael in the next book in the series. I have not read many series that have the same h/h in multiple books, but I very much liked the ones I read (J. D. Robb's
In Death series
and Deanna Raybourn's
Lady Julia Grey series
), so I am now glad to have another couple to follow over time.
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library addict
Joined: 06 Dec 2008
Posts: 1762
Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 6:29 am
Post subject:
The New Release Calendar Challenge:
Last Man Standing
by Cindy Gerard:
The h/h of this book began their romance as the secondary couple in
Feel the Heat
. Since the author had originally planned to end the Black Ops Inc. series with the previous full-length book,
With No Remorse
, I kind of view this book as one big extra. And what a nice wrap-up to the series it is. This book concentrates on Joe & Stephanie, with the other team members only putting an appearance at the very end. Evidence on the villain is obtained seemingly too easily, but I really liked the balance of suspense and romance. My only disappointment was that we didnt get to see more of Gabe & Jenna. They are still my favorite couple from this series. This book is easily one of the top 2 of the series.
A Dime a Dozen Challenge: 10 down 2 to go
The New Release Calendar Challenge: 2 down 10 to go
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library addict
Joined: 06 Dec 2008
Posts: 1762
Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2012 6:25 am
Post subject:
A Dime a Dozen:
2 Historical Books:
Nearly a Lady
by Alissa Johnson:
What a fun and charming book. The hero and heroine have a lot of chemistry and their romance is full of humor and just a touch of angst. The drama toward the end did seem a bit forced, but overall just a lovely, enjoyable read. I wish I had read it earlier as would definitely have voted for it as best UK historical of 2011.
Crusader Captive
by Merline Lovelace:
A very likeable hero and heroine. Set during 1152 near Jerusalem it was nice to read an historical which was not a Regency. Given the politics of the time, the h/h know there isnt much hope they will be together as they are treated as pawns, both by royalty (in her case) and by the Church (in his case). The interesting period and location details are well-interwoven into the story. Not my favorite Lovelace historical, but a solid read nonetheless.
A Dime a Dozen Challenge: 12 down 0 to go
The New Release Calendar Challenge: 2 down 10 to go
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Joined: 23 Mar 2007
Posts: 2059
Location: Washington, D.C.
Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 1:49 pm
Post subject:
I feel bad, having fallen down on the job during the 2011 challenge. I only just finished the last two books. (When the holidays arrived, I had to push aside my reading, having so much on my plate.)
In any event, I'm going to give the 2012 challenge a try. I'm torn between the Clock Challenge, which should be relatively easy ... except for the Futuristic/Time Travel part. (Don't think I have many books in those subgenres.) And, the Duodenary challenge as I have lots of books in various romance lines and categories -- even those not listed, like the NASCAR line.
I guess the Dime a Dozen challenge could work too.
I'm just bound and determined not to buy any books to complete the challenge. Must do it with what I have!
I'll look and see what appeals to me and report back.
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Joined: 06 Oct 2009
Posts: 553
Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2012 5:55 pm
Post subject:
The Twelve Days of Christmas Challenge
Day 3.) A book with the word
Third, Three,
or Hens in the title.
Lessons in French
by by Laura Kinsale
Flowers from the Storm
is one of my favorite books, so I have always admired Laura Kinsale's writing skill.
Lessons in French
has some elements of Kinsale at her best, particularly her ability to write heroines we really care for, but the plot was not so interesting. Overall, I agree with the B- grade from the AAR's review. The book started well, and made me curious to know more about what happened to the h/h in the past. However, the story became less and less interesting as the book progressed. The author mentioned that she wanted to write a "light" story, but I think I prefer the "darker" Kinsale books.
Last edited by karat on Thu Jul 12, 2012 9:48 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Joined: 06 Oct 2009
Posts: 553
Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2012 7:05 pm
Post subject:
The Twelve Days of Christmas Challenge
Day 4.)
A book with the word Fourth, Four, Colly or Birds in the title or a blackbird on the cover. Or... a book where the hero/heroine has a
job considered a calling
medical field
, social work, etc.)
Virgin River
by Robyn Carr
A fun part of this challenge has been to find matches for the different categories, sometimes in books I had not thought about in a while. For this "Day 4", I wanted to avoid the military/ law enforcement characters (who are frequent characters on the romantic suspenses I read), and use the challenge to look further on my TBR to see if I could find something with characters in the medical field or other calling, which are more rare for me to read about. And there was Virgin River, whose heroine is a nurse. Great opportunity to finally get started on this famous series!
Mel is a nurse that decides to change her life, and moves from L.A. to a small town in the small northern California called Virgin River. The author describes Mel's passion for her profession very well, and it is nice to see how it is a true calling. At Virgin River, Mel meets Jack, a former marine that now owns the town's bar (and so, I ended up with a sort-of military hero anyway)
I liked the book very much, until the final part. It was great to see Mel's relationships with the town, with the town people, and of course with Jack, evolve gradually, but surely. The only thing that I wish was different was that it took Mel too long to acknowledge her real feelings for Jack (to herself, and specially to Jack). He was wonderful, and deserved better. If not for that, it could have been an A book for me.
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text:
Step aside, guys, and leave the high-paying jobs to the ladies.
That's right, forget about all those supposed gender roles of the past. Having a career that brings in the big bucks means more to today's young women than it does to today's young men, according to a newly released Pew Research Center report, USA Today says.
The report shows 66 percent of women between the ages of 18 and 34 think that rocking a high-paying gig is "one of the most important things" or "very important" in life, while 59 percent of guys the same age agree, the newspaper notes.
"In the last few decades, women have made major gains in higher education," Pew's Kim Parker tells USA Today. "This younger generation of women are more highly skilled and educated, so they can compete in a different way . . . It's not as if men have lost their ambition. It's more of a story that women have this sense of opportunity."
Now, if we could just get that gender wage gap to close . . .
Click here to read the full story.
Click here to read another fascinating news story.
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Fallen Fruit of Utah, the exhibit of historical, symbolic and decorative fruit images telling a tale of the Beehive State at Salt Lake Art Center, is on display for another week or so. Tomorrow night (September 10) at 7 p.m., meet the artists—David Burns, Matias Viegener and Austin Young—behind the exhibit on the corner of 9th South and 9th East for an ambulatory evening of public fruit picking.
Bring a picker if you have one and some old grocery bags. Let Fallen Fruit will show you their vision of Salt Lake, using fruit as their lens.
After you're done picking fruit, go drink some. Jimmy Santangelo, new beverage director at Copper Onion, is doing marvelous things with pressed watermelon and liquor in a Mason jar.


text:
The Delaware Chapter of National Multiple Sclerosis Society has announced the start of the 2014 Read-a thon program.
The MS Read-a-thon is an educational fundraising program created by the National Sclerosis Society to encourage reading, promote community involvement, raise disability awareness and more. The Delaware Chapter is encouraging schools across the state to enroll. So far, 16 schools have already registered to participate.
This year, schools will be able to choose traditional incentives and prizes for students or, if fundraising is the school's top priority, it will be able to receive the additional percentage in order to help achieve their goals.
For more information: msdelaware.org.
Location, ST | website.com


text:
Published: Thursday, July 25, 2013 at 12:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, July 24, 2013 at 9:10 a.m.
BOSTON SETH LAMBETH is 5 years old today, July 25. His parents are Joshua and Ashley Lambeth of Mocksville. Grandparents are Ron and Patricia Lambeth of Lexington and Don and Cathy Tuell of Lake City, FL. Boston's brother is Bane Joseph Lambeth. His mother is the former Ashley Williams.
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.


text:
Pedestrian struck by truck suffers minor injuries
Published: Wednesday, April 3, 2013 at 9:28 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, April 3, 2013 at 9:28 a.m.
A Wilmington man received moderate injuries Tuesday when he ran across Carolina Beach Road in Monkey Junction and was struck by a truck, an official said.
Daniel Hardison, 42, was taken to the hospital following the 8:07 p.m. accident near Walmart.
According to State Highway Patrol Sgt. C.K. Parks, Barton Hatcher, 55, of Wilmington, was northbound on Carolina Beach Road in a 2001 Ford pickup when Hardison darted in front of his vehicle.
Hatcher was not cited, Parks said.
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.


text:
Draftexpress.com is posting results next day, so does anyone know where to see them realtime?
Draftexpress.com is posting results next day, so does anyone know where to see them realtime?
I've searched everywhere for last night's Knicks-Wolves game, but haven't found anything...anyone knows who won?
Found a French blog that says Knicks beat Wolves last night, 88-67. Can't believe the lack of info on this league. The official site (nba.com/timberwolves/news/summer_league_2005.html) doesn't even have Friday's results.
On a sidenote...NBA TV is showing the Knicks v Bulls from Vegas (last week) tonight...
Nah, the coaching staff was happy with his production in the Vegas summer league and told him that it wasn't necessary for him to attend the one in Minny.Originally Posted by KnicksFan20
Can I publicly state that I love our summer team? They deserve serious props for reuniting the noun "Knick" with the word "win" and the adjective "exciting". I trust this hustle and thirst for victory pushes our vets to perform at a higher level next season.
Amen. I think they should just bench our starters, and send the summer leaguers in to play.Originally Posted by portega1968


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Johnson City, Tenn. (August 15, 2002) - East Tennessee State's women's soccer team began practicing for the rapidly approaching 2002 season this week. The Bucs arrived on Saturday, Aug. 10 and had a series of team functions and meetings before their first practice on Tuesday, August 13.
ETSU looks to build on last year's success with a mixture of old and new. The Bucs return all but two players from last year's roster. Besides all of the familiar faces, fourth-year head coach Heather Henson has brought in 12 newcomers making 2002 her largest recruiting class ever.
Henson and company defeated Wofford 4-3 in overtime of their final match of 2001. The squad hopes to pick up right where they left off last year when they open the 2002 season at Radford on Aug. 30.


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A New Audience for an Unforgettable Writer
Kathleen Turner revives her role in Red Hot Patriot, the play that brings the words and wit of Molly Ivins to a new audience. More »
Telling Stories That Matter
Daisy Hernández's new memoir offers compelling perspectives on media, race, feminism, immigration, chosen family, and wanting nice things. More »
Where Are the Facts on Breast Implants?
As numbers of women getting breast implants continue to increase, researchers and advocates are voicing concern about their safety. More »
The Women of "Dear White People"
The author explores a missed opportunity in a film about identity. More »
Female Sports Reporters Finding a New Voice
A new show on CBS Sports is giving female sports reporters greater visibility by placing them front and center. More »
The Synod's Final Document: Where Are the Women?
The author of "Good Catholic Girls: How Women Are Leading the Fight to Change the Church" reveals the deep flaws in the bishops' recent assembly on the family. More »
Marriage Equality: What's Next?
With universal marriage rights within reach, LGBT leaders are reminding us that there is a lot more work to do for full equality. More »
Kolkata Women Mobilize Against Violence
In India's third most populous city, women and allies are using social media to fuel a new wave of activism against anti-woman violence. More »
How a Woman Director Found Her Voice
The author, Women and Hollywood founder and editor Melissa Silverstein, profiles Belle director Amma Asante, who is one of the honorees at this week's WMC Women's Media Awards. More »
An Unflinching Look at the Realities of Domestic Violence—and the Women Who Work to End It
A new HBO documentary, Private Violence, reveals complex truths about domestic violence and the courageous work of the women who have been standing up for years on behalf of victims and survivors. More »


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Staybridge Suites Cincinnati North, Oh
Our Hotel Is Located In West Chester, Ohio And has just completed a full Renovation To Enhance Your Guest Experience.
Set in a northern suburb of the Cincinnati area, this hotel's location is ideal for every traveler. With all the comforts of home including a fully equipped kitchen, this upscale extended stay hotel is ideal for your home away from home. You can start your day with our full hot breakfast and enjoy our Social Reception Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. Conveniently located right off of I-75 close to I-275, we are centrally located to Greater Cincinnati and Dayton. The hotel's property is near companies like Procter & Gamble, General Electric, IKEA, General Motors and more.
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The pet-friendly Staybridge Suites® Cincinnati North, OH hotel's amenities accommodate every traveler, ensuring relaxation with an indoor pool and an outdoor barbecue pavilion with two gas grills for creative outdoor dining during your stay. You'll even save with free perks like the laundry facilities, on site and off site fitness when you stay with us.
Quick Info
- Check In: 3:00 PM
- Check Out: 12:00 PM
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- Parking: Free
- Print Fact sheet
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Hotel Highlights
- On-site Guest Self-Laundry Facilities
- Housekeeping Full Service
- Complimentary Breakfast Buffet
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- On-Site Fitness Center Available
Guest Reviews
Overall Experience
Amazing suite and great value
Bybella shell
April 10, 2016
Super 2 bd / 2 ba suite. Spacious, quiet, and super clean. Everything we needed for a short stay away with 2 kiddos. Pool was perfect, breakfast yummy and the pantry came in handy for late night snacks! Great value as well; highly recommend this hotel and will return in the future
Great Room and Wonderful Servive
April 08, 2016
The Staybridge Suites in Cincinnati is a great place to stay; especially if you have small children. The rooms are large and meet the needs of most families. Having the separate bedrooms is wonderful and I would recommend this hotel to any person looking to travel to this area.
Clean hotel great location
April 07, 2016
Great stay with exception of pool and hot tube. Pool look dirty and a garden hose was in the hot tube. Did not use either.
Not bad
April 06, 2016
Make sure you are in the bed you requested and that you are in a location that would benefit your needs in the hotel.