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In Their Own Words – Great Strides
My son, Christopher Fitzmaurice, was diagnosed in 1988 at UCLA by one of the foremost authorities in the field in autism, Dr. BJ Freeman. We then had two confirming diagnoses. We got Chris all of the services that were provided over the years and on our own, paid for additional speech therapy (five days per week) and much more. As we moved throughout Chris's life, I always kept in touch with Dr. Freeman and used her as a "resource" at different times so we knew what to do next.
Over the years, a boy who didn't even speak intelligibly at 11 (he had been kept back twice to be "mainstreamed") continued to improve at light speed. By the time he was 17, I flew back to California with him to see Dr. Freeman (who was still at UCLA) and she was "amazed" to see how well he was doing. Over the next two years he shocked everyone and they "raised' him one grade. At 19, he was accepted to UNC Charlotte and graduated in four years with close to a 3.0 GPA in Sports Medicine. He did so well in fact that he was accepted for his Master's Degree in Sports Medicine at UNC-C, which has amazed everyone who knew him.
At age 24, we just flew out again to see Dr. Freeman and she was absolutely "blown away." Tears all the way around. The improvement since she saw him at 17 was "ten-fold." But what she said, I feel, is really important for young parents today whose child was just diagnosed.
"Michael, a 'number' of the kids that were diagnosed back in the 80's with autism are doing very well today. Working, some going to college, some in graduate school like Chris."
She further said that some kids were so good on the computer, for instance, that companies actually were looking for adults with special skills.
I remember we didn't have much hope back when Chris was diagnosed in the late 80's. Yet here's one of the foremost authorities on the subject of autism who says many years later, that she has "seen with her own eyes" great strides by children with autism.
Young parents need to know this.
This "In Their Own Words" essay is written by Michael Fitzmaurice of Charlotte, N.C.
If you have a story you wish to share about your personal experience with autism, please send it to email@example.com. Autism Speaks reserves the right to edit contributions for space, style and content. Because of the volume of submissions, not all can be published on the site.
May 11, 2010 at 9:51 am
Great story! I too sought for a diagnosis for my daughter – one said autism, but she was ultimately diagnosed with ADHD, altho some of the autism sxs were present.
The wall of negativity I met was terrible, unthinking comments from people who had no knowledge. Luckily with the help of one great psychologist, a fantastic teacher in the 2nd grade, my daughter ultimately graduated from college and is proficient in several languages. She is also a sensitive and caring individual. So don't give up hope, things are changing. Seek out supportive people and keep persevering.
May 11, 2010 at 9:55 am
I live in Duham England and I read your story and found it very inspiring and hopeful. My son Joseph is Autistic and will be 9 in june. We have our challenging moments and when I hear of good stories it gives me hope.I do wish there was more over here to help as there is in america.
May 11, 2010 at 9:56 am
Amazing. As we are beginning the college process for our 16 year old son diagnosed with High Functioning Autism / Aspergers, this gives me hope beyond what I could have imagined. Congrats Christopher. You are an inspiration to us all!
May 11, 2010 at 9:59 am
Great job love your story gives me hope for my 2 yr old thanks
May 11, 2010 at 10:06 am
Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful story. It gives me hope that my son who is 12, will have a bright future. He is a whiz on the computer and I have total faith that he will be success in the working field. God Bless!!!
May 11, 2010 at 10:09 am
Chris is an inspiration! I was lucky enough to meet him last year after hearing him talk at a Walk Now for Autism Speaks kick-off event. He was wonderful to speak with and he really gave me even more hope for our son Ryan. What a great guy and what wonderful parents!
May 11, 2010 at 10:10 am
Thank you for sharing your story. Our 3 and half year old son was diagnosed with autism at two and half and it is hard to imagine life beyond the here and now and sometimes the here and now looks so dark (good days and bad days as they say) but your story shed light that there is hope and maybe the future won't be so grim :o)
May 11, 2010 at 10:20 am
This is a truely wonderful story! I am not the parent to a child wth autism but I am the aunt of sean mckinney who has autism. I thank god for early intervention not so long ago there wasn't the early help as there is now.a child who couldn't express his needs started learning sign language ,then more talk,now he's writing the teachers and aides and all the wonderful people who help our children are angels in disguise
May 11, 2010 at 10:21 am
Great Story! Keeps my hope alive. Thank you for sharing.
May 11, 2010 at 10:23 am
This is a truely wonderful story! I am not the parent to a child wth autism but I am the aunt of sean mckinney who has autism. I thank god for early intervention not so long ago there wasn't the early help as there is now.a child who couldn't express his needs started learning sign language ,then more talk,now he's writing the teachers and aides and all the wonderful people who help our children are angels in disguise . You have given us hope beyond hope with your story chris you are indeed a inspiration to all the children younger then you with autism or any other child for that matter my prayers and thought go out to you to keep on inspiring the youth of today.
May 11, 2010 at 10:29 am
Thank you so much for sharing this story!!!
May 11, 2010 at 10:32 am
This story lifts me up and fills me with hope for my son. We have had a hard week with therapies. One person says one thing, another say something totally different, all which leave us scared that he won't be able to accomplish the simplest tasks when he is in preschool this next year.
I think I am safe in saying that success will happen. In its own time, its own way for my son.
Thank you for your story!
May 11, 2010 at 10:42 am
Thank you for this posting. I too, have taken my son to several "experts" for diagnosis. No one seems to have a recipe, but my son, who is now 3 1/2, is doing amazingly well. He is in ABA therapy in our home, plus a blended public preschool program. He is making friends and his speech is improving daily. He now uses complete sentences most of the time and can articulate his wants, likes and dislikes, which has "almost" eliminated the tantrums. One of my craziest concerns about my son, Jake, was that he wouldn't go to college. Fear and worry are not always rational – actually probably seldom rational – so for some reason, upon hearing Jake's diagnosis – twice – I was plagued by the thought of him not going to college? My best friend tried to bring me back to the now and reality – "How about he learns to speak first and then we can worry about college honey?" "No. I am worried about college right now." Maybe I need(ed) a goal for Jake? Maybe it was a way of coping. Who knows? Again, not rational or logical.
As my son has continued to improve, and the more I read about and hear from the "experts," I have come to the conclusion that no one really knows much of anything when it comes to the potential of a child diagnosed. But, a parent like Michael Fitzmaurice, can and will ensure that his/her child is getting the best possible care. No one knows your child like you do. Listen to that voice. Do not listen to everything the "experts" say. Chart a course for your child and revel in each and every tiny success. Block out the negative – it is harmful and dangerous.
So for about I year, I kept saying that my son was going to college if I had to sit and take notes for him. I am certain now that not only will this not be necessary, but he would be horrified by the thought…and if you have an Autistic child, you will understand why that too makes me smile.
Good job Michael and good job Chris (I know how hard you worked to be "mainstreamed" whatever that actually means) and THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for sharing a success that parents of young children can read and feel hopeful. Take comfort in the fact that all your years of worry and hard work are now helping others – like me!
May 11, 2010 at 10:50 am
I've got a little guy following in Chris's footsteps. My little one started making rapid progress at about the age of 5 and also looks to be heading toward sports medicine. He'll be 9 this month. His first year in school he was in a self contained special ed room and considered profoundly impaired in all areas the school uses. In a new school in Kindergarten he was mainstreamed and got some really good speech therapy. In second grade he was tested for the gifted program and entered it for third grade. He likes studying college level human anatomy books for fun. Bones are his favorite.
May 11, 2010 at 10:54 am
Thank you Thank you so much for sharing your story. As I sit and watch my 4 year old navigate the computer like a pro, I am filled with hope and joy. We know he has been making huge strides but we still wonder from time to time what his future will be like. Reading your story puts me a little more at ease. Thanks again
May 11, 2010 at 11:26 am
Thank you for sharing your story! I don't have a child with autism but my best friend has two and my cousin has a son with down syndrome and autism. Stories like your are inspiring to everyone!
May 11, 2010 at 11:27 am
Thank you! That should give all parents hope : )
May 11, 2010 at 11:37 am
My son was just taken to a Neuroligist for Migraines and we came back with he has slight signs of Autim. I always thought it was ADD or ADHD at which when he was in age 3 preschool the state comes and evalutes every child and they said he would grow out of his behaveral problems and arm and hand flapping. He is now 4 and I kept him home out of preschool this year for that reason. If only I has known. These story's give me hope, hope that my son will make it!! I have alot fear, and anxiety, he still has to be evaluted soon for his autism but now because of your storys…i am calm and feel better. I truely Thank You and everyone of your story's in an insperation to us.
May 11, 2010 at 11:37 am
This just made my whole morning!
My 5 1/2 yr old son has been quickly improving for the past 2 years. His first year and a half was a very slow go and the doctors and therapists told me he may never be near 'normal' because he was so low functioning.
He is now speaking – although not clearly, he has oral muscle weakness.
He has overcome some of his sensory issues.
He can ride a bike and run (although, he does still fall a lot).
He can stand on one foot for 5 seconds and catch a large ball (still working on medium and small).
He no longer needs behavior therapy, he has learned to manage his aggression fairly well for a 5 year old. Most of his outbursts are typical 5 year old outbursts.
These were all major milestones he has accomplished within the past 2 years. His doctors, teachers and therapists are amazed and upped his mainstream time line from 8th grade to a possible 4th or 5th grade.
Reading this story gives me so much hope. I often wonder if he'll be able to mainstream. Will he be able to go to college? Will he get a good job? Can he live on his own? etc…etc…etc.
Thank you Mr. Fitzmaurice for sharing the story of your son Chris. Definitely and inspiration!
May 11, 2010 at 11:45 am
You bring me HOPE!! thank you!!
May 11, 2010 at 11:49 am
Christopher your amazing. May God continue to bless you in everything that you do.
May 11, 2010 at 12:41 pm
That is great….it's give me so much hope in your story,,my son who was diagnosed when he was 2yrs old since then he was undergone OT & ST and now he's 6yrs old in 4 years process he have a big development…in fact he is now studying in a normal school but he still continuing OT & ST…hopefully in due time he will become normal as CRIS did…
May 11, 2010 at 1:05 pm
Thank you for sharing your story. My son wasn't diagnosed until he was 6 and prior to that everyone kept medicating him for ADHD/Bi-Polar disorder and just 5 min in the Neurologist's office and it was diagnosed correctly due to him walking on his toes and not making eye contact. He's super intelligent, from day 1 and he was always verbal, but spoke his own language at first. Now, he's 11 going on 12 and you wouldn't know he was autistic unless I told you. It's good to know that he will probably be successful in his adult life. Thanks again and if anyone wants to talk or needs to just vent, email me, email@example.com
Take care and God Bless.
May 11, 2010 at 1:28 pm
thank u this gives hope for parents of childern with autism
May 11, 2010 at 2:30 pm
Tears all around here too! Thanks for sharing your story with the younger generation. We have all expectations that our son will be just as successful, but reading your story just makes it real. Thank you so much!
May 11, 2010 at 3:38 pm
Michael, thank you so much for sharing your story. My son will be three-years-old in August and was diagnosed at 22-months. My family and I have dropped everything and made him our priority. Since his diagnosis, he has improved far more than ever expected. He is now doing things children his age can't do: he knows his numbers 1-9, his alphabet, and is reading! His verbalization and social skills are still emerging, but I know that one day, I will be sharing his success story, just as you have about your son. Please, give your son my best regards and tell him that there is nothing that he can't achieve. I'm sure that he will be an outstanding asset in his chosen field of sports medicine.
May 11, 2010 at 4:32 pm
@Jen: My son will be 4 in Spetember. He sounds almost exactly like your son. Jake is sight reading about 150 words. He loves trains and lights – stoplights, traffic lights, ligh poles – any lights are cool. A train with lights is a double-whammy! We have been doing ABA therapy in our home for him. It's about a million dollars – bye-bye to my fancy gym membership, bye-bye to my fancy car, vacations, clothes – Target has cute stuff this summer! Hello $2500 a month that my insurance won't pay for. C'est la vie. As you know, the only thing that matters is your son. I went from selfish to selfless in about 2 hours after the diagnosis. But, the reason for my ranting is to tell you HE WILL BE FINE!!
No one ever said that to me and if they did I would have kissed them. You are doing all the right things. One more thing to try is a play group with one other cormally developing child. We have been doing this with a therapist for about 2 months. I think this has had the biggest impact on him of all. His little friend comes over and the therapist creates appropriate play cues and interactions and tecches taking tursn (I STILL HAVE A HARD TIME WITH THAT ONE MYSELF). But the change has been amazing. Jake will walk up to kids he doesn;t know and say, "hey, want to play hide and seek?" Is it a little scripted? Sure. Does he know what he's saying? Yes. Once it works, he realizes how to get attention from his peers in a way that is positive and gets reinforcement. So I highly recommend this. I just want to tell everyone I can, especially with hightly functioning children like yours. STOP worrying. It is liberating. He will be fine. You watch. You can email me in 10 years when he has friends or A friend. Take care. And stop saying better than expected – they don't know anything…he will continue to make giant leaps. Spread the word. There are so many of us out there that need it :) Much love to you and your son.
May 11, 2010 at 3:44 pm
Hope is what keeps us all going. Thanks for a great shot in the arm of it today. I read each person's comments and the word "hope" appeared in about 95%!
May 11, 2010 at 4:18 pm
Um – this post was exactly what I needed to read after a rough three weeks of trying to force the mainstream model to work for my son. Micheal, you and Christopher are a wonderful inspiration for myself and for my son, who also read this and said, "Wow." Best wishes to both of you and thank you for sharing your story!
May 11, 2010 at 4:25 pm
My son is 4 and we made a trip to the Neuroligist for his Migraine's and came back home with he slight signs of Autim. He does talk well and is very interactive. So that gives me some hope..well, alot of hope. But even at his 3 preschool evaluation "at which I put I feared he has ADD or ADHD and was worried about his hand and arm flapping" they said he would grow out it, and it was nothing. The teacher put him in corner in "timeout" two times in two in half hours because of his outbreaks. So this year I couldn't bare to put him in school. He is stil to be evaluated and have alot hope, you inspire us and Thank You for all the Hope.
May 11, 2010 at 6:02 pm
Congratulations Christopher!! You must have worked so hard over the years and you should be so proud of your accomplishments. It sounds like you've had wonderful support and encouragement from your Dad. I have son who is 16 and will be a Jr. in High School next year, he is mainstreamed and is a very good student. He does not want to go to college because he wants to be in the U.S. Coast Guard like his Father who served for 27 years. Unfortunately, because of his Autism diagnosis he will never be allowed to serve in any branch of the military. I can't even begin to bring myself to tell him this, I do not want to hurt him and I can't bear to think of his disappointment. We still have two years to go and with lots of hope and prayers, I hope he finds something else that he can feel good about and able to achieve. Thanks for sharing your inspirational story. Best to you.
May 11, 2010 at 6:38 pm
This is an EXCEPTIONAL life story to hear and one that also exemplifies the belief of a family in their son and also his abilities!!!! Keep going Christopher….show us, teach us! Learning is a life-long skill and it does not stop at a certain point. Your story is one that needs to be heard for all those other children and families out there.
May 11, 2010 at 8:43 pm
Wow comes to mind first and last. Thank you for sharing my fellow Carolinian. My son is thirteen now and could play drums 24/7 if we would let him. I'm not really sure if it is a form of anger management or if he really has that much rhythm in him. He received a piano scholarship in second grade but it was not to his liking. The trick is to find what moves these kids and use it to our and their advantage.
May 11, 2010 at 11:58 pm
John Gatterdam would be extremely proud of you and Christopher..!
Congratulations to both of you!! ; )
May 12, 2010 at 12:48 pm
Dear Michael,
Your story about your son's progress is very inspiring! I am the parent of a ten year old son with autism and I am also a parent consultant and trainer for parents of kids on the spectrum. I am also involved in research to help determine what type of involvement by parents influences child outcome. I wonder if you could share with us any specifics about what you did to help your son over the years and what strategies/interventions you believe contributed most to his success. Also, what areas, if any, are you and he continuing to work on at this point – for example, independent living skills, flexibility, executive functioning, social skills, etc?
May 12, 2010 at 3:12 pm
What a wonderful story! My son is 6 yrs. old and on the milder end of the autistic spectrum and I love to read stories of triumph! Congratulations to Christopher and your entire family!
Jeannie Chukoskie
(UNCC graduate 1992)
May 13, 2010 at 11:42 pm
I am cheered by your article. My daughter Hayley is 17 and has moderate Asberger's Syndrome with OCD. She is very smart but I am so worried for her to drive, go to college, or even take the SAT's. I worry that during these activities I wont be there to help her if she gets overwhelmed. As a mom who has worked daily with her to live a "normal" life it is so hard to let go. Thank you for showing me it is possible!
May 15, 2010 at 9:26 pm
My son is 5 year old.he has PDD-NOS with ADHD.His speech improving.Still needs to be worked on Sensory.We are Behavior Therpay,he is doing good there.Want ask all of he his Gross Motor Skill ase good,excecpt attention issue he doing great,so which class should he go for Kindergarten? His Dr says his skills are good ,but we are not sure to try inlclsion class !!
May 20, 2010 at 9:49 pm
I truly loved your story and it gives me sooo much hope and strength to work even harder than i am with my 3.5 year old, my son is my inspiration and he surprises me everyday! thank you so much for sharing your story again:)
August 9, 2011 at 6:11 pm
Yes, thats great,! We were with UCLA in 84 when my son was diagnosed also by BJ! My son is now 31 and he has been back to see J as well. He does very well , is verbal, can talk and is very high functioning – but he still has issues and still is very sensitive to things around him, but has learned to deal and cope very well.
He has grown up to be one of the nicest, sweetest peoplel I know, and Im not just saying that cause Im his mom.
Alot of the movements and stims he had when he was younger have either been outgrown ,
or he has learned to keep under control. Mainly I think it is because of the advice we were given then from BJ, to keep him around regular people, students, as much as possible.
and not treat him as someone with autism – and expect hiim to do well and keep him in as much regular ed as much as possible , for sure socailly. He was very astute in observing others behaviors, so being around others with worse behaviors orstems was not for him.
We found schools in TX that allowed him more interaction with others that worked out well.
We also found a team sports program just for disabled – and he really did well with it – and may have helped pave the way for a huge improvement in many skills and ability to be around others.
Today, we can barely tell he is any different than others, He does have limited vocabulary, and even after alll the speech we had, it is difficult for him to be understood, but over all hes much better than when he was a child, no tanrtrums, very calm and able to be around others even in crowds.
And when you think he isnt understanding, you can see the wheels turning !
He may act child like in some things, but in others and things he says, he seems very wise beyond his years.
But BJ was great and so was UCLA, we are thankful we were able to be a part of their research programs when we lived in CAL.
The future will be bright – for those of you just now getting a diagnosis – stay focused on all the therapys offered. Alot of the things they do when they are kids, they will outgrow.
May 11, 2010 at 8:17 pm
May 11, 2010 at 11:08 pm


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Tesla Fanatics Remain 'So, So, So Bullish'
The sharp rise in Tesla Motors's stock price is warming the hearts of a rabid crowd of believers in the electric car maker's future prospects.
From day traders to longterm money managers, investors have been watching the stock market's newest darling with a keen eye — none more so than Tesla's converts, who have endured plenty of ridicule and skepticism.
Shares finished at a fresh record yesterday on yet another day of heavy trading volume. Even as the stock price has gone from $50 to $90 in a week, the true believers remain convinced the highflying stock.
One man is already betting it all on Tesla. Here are three other Tesla fanatics reached by MoneyBeat over the past few days who shared their story.
Alex Shaskevich
The latest stock-price volatility doesn't faze Alex Shaskevich, a 48-year-old former substitute teacher in Houston who has plowed all of his life savings intoTesla Motors.
Shaskevich has never sat in a Tesla vehicle, but he thinks the stock — which he bought for $38.49 a share earlier this year — could soar to $1,000 in about three years' time.
"I'm looking at the long term and the fantastic upside to this stock," Shaskevich says. "There will be ups and downs, and there are going to be a lot of day traders trying to manipulate the stock up and down, and as each quarterly statement comes out, there will be people trashing it."
Shaskevich knows the kind of volatility that can come from trading momentum stocks. During the 1990s, Mr. Shaskevich lived off the day trades he made on tech stocks like Cisco Systems Amazon.com and Excite before being "burned." He steered clear of the stock market for most of the 2000s, working jobs at the local Home Depot and Walgreen's. But earlier this year, he began reading about Tesla Motors and started to get excited about the company.
A few weeks ago, Shaskevich made the three-hour drive from Houston to Austin — in a 2010 Ford Ranger — to shake the hand of Elon Musk, TeslaMotors' founder and chief executive. The more he learns about the company, Shaskevich says, the more confidence he has in the stock price.
"If I had more money, I would add whatever I have," he says. "I'm feeling good, and I know that if I just hold on, in the long term I'll be fine," he says. As for the short sellers, he says: "I'm betting on them getting burned by Elon."
Christopher Khan
At Boston College, 21-year-old senior Christopher Khan has been spreading the word about Tesla Motors to anyone who will listen. "I am so, so, so bullish on Tesla, and have been for quite some time," he said. After watching his shares of Tesla Motors double in recent weeks, he boasts: "At this point, I feel like I should be running a hedge fund and not even bothering with classes."
After returning to school from winter break, he pitched the company as a prospective stock to his college investment club, of which he recently served as vice-president. Khan was met with skepticism, but purchased the stock for himself.
Around his circle of friends, Khan has encountered skeptics, but dismisses them. "I hate it when people spit on a company they don't know about," he says. "Everyone else missed out and I made a killing on it, so whatever."
Robert Lutts
Even professional portfolio managers with a longer-term mandate are getting swept up in the craze surrounding Tesla. Robert Lutts, chief investment officer at Salem, Mass.-based Cabot Money Management, which manages about $500 million in assets, bought shares in Tesla Motors about a year ago at $28 a share.
After the stock jumped to around $80 a share late last week, Lutts sold about one-third of the firm's shares of Tesla, in order to keep the car company from accounting for too large a share of Cabot's overall stock portfolio.
The risk to those stock sales, however, is missing out on even bigger gains, Lutts says. "When you find a great company that's as dynamic as Tesla, it's always tough to pare back on a position," he said, acknowledging that "it may look like a dumb move down the road."

subset: commoncrawl


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McCarthy's buzzer-beater lifts Litchfield
Matthew McCarthy netted 13 points, including a floater as time expired, to give Litchfield a 63-61 victory over Housatonic in BL action in Falls Village.
Darrin Newbury led the Cowboys (3-9) with 17 points, while Tyler Mowry added 12.
Steven Rinquist chipped in with 11 points.
Jeremy Stiewing scored 15 points for the Mountaineers (0-10), and Max Vadakin had 14.
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text: The 20 Best GIFs of the Lingerie Football League By Doug Sibor Doug Sibor contributes to Complex Sports and Pop Culture, resides in Boston MA, and can often be found shuttling between Fenway Park, Gillette Stadium and TD Garden. If you wish to discuss sports, "The Challenge," or acceptable meats to use as pizza toppings, follow him on Twitter and Google+. Share Tweet 0 Lingerie Football League GIF 11 Watch Now Tags: Galleries, Lists, Girls, Lingerie Football League, Sexiest Gifs Like Follow Chat SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER Enter Show Comments


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Top Gourmet Stories of 2012
Eating and drinking are a continent-wide obsession in Asia. From the rise of secret supper clubs to local twists on craft beer, here's a look at the food, drink and dining stories that Scene readers devoured this year.
Dinner Is Ready (Tell No One): We uncovered the intriguing and sometimes frustrating world of secret supper clubs in Asia's big cities. Plus: Eight underground restaurants (and how to find them), and one so secretive that you need to play the harmonica to get an invite.
Dining Down Under With David Chang: The 34-year-old chef behind the growing Momofuku empire shared his five favorite restaurants in Sydney.
Okada's $40 Million Restaurant Plans: Why launch one business empire when you can have two? That appears to be Kazuo Okada's philosophy.
In Praise of Street Food: For any place with a street food culture, what's served in restaurants can only be part of the story.
A Japanese Spin on an American Classic: The good old hamburger is about as far away from the genteel surroundings of the sushi restaurant as is possible to imagine. That didn't stop Satoru Mukogawa, chef at Hong Kong's Sushi Kuu, who created his rice burger shortly after last year's earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
A Japanese Staple Reconsidered: Seiji Yamamoto, owner and chef of restaurant Nihon Ryori RyuGin in Tokyo, elevates humble grilled fish to an elaborate play on flavor and texture.
Happy New Year! Now Let's Eat: Celebrating Chinese New Year has always been equated with a big meal. See how four top restaurants in Asia prepared for the day.
Hong Kong Earns Michelin Boost: Hong Kong's firmament of Michelin stars got more crowded as the French company announced its 2013 gourmet rankings.
China's First Collaborative Craft Beer: As China's craft beer market begins to take flight, two brewers have teamed up to produce the country's first collaborative craft beer: Yunnan Amber, a beer that infuses southwestern Yunnan province's dianhong black tea with domestic and imported hops.
Bracing for KFC: As Myanmar opens up, its citizens brace themselves for the arrival of international fast-food chains.


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Hello, ve run into this problem actually about year ago.
the problem i don't have a printer at hand so i have to export my drawings...(maybe it would work if i had one or if found some linux printer around)
I am using Q-cad on 32-bit Fedora 11 linux system.
when I want it to simply to export drawings into pdf or ps it seems ok. however windows' adobe does not open pdf files
at least here in linux Evince shows me both pdf and ps exports full size, still if i for example try to export it with evince printing frame gets messed and croped same as with ps2pdf.com converter!
so the reason hides somewhere in the programm.. i think i will try windows version of it. maybe also vec2web for image conversion
feedback appreciated


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With the help of the Tenet Healthcare Foundation, donations have been made on behalf of our facility to several local charities that include the Cy-Fair Houston Chamber of Commerce, Cy-Fair Division of the American Heart Association, Cypress Creek EMS, and the Cypress Fairbanks Educational Foundation. The Tenet Healthcare Foundation conducts philanthropic grant-making on behalf of Tenet Healthcare Corporation and its hospitals. The Foundation also provides grants to various educational, social services, civic and humanities-supporting organizations nationwide.
In our commitment to giving back to the community, Cypress Fairbanks Medical Center developed a Tenet Healthcare scholarship. Through the Tenet Healthcare Foundation, Cypress Fairbanks Medical Center donated funds to the Cypress Fairbanks Educational Foundation and the North Harris Montgomery Community College District to endow scholarships to persons seeking an education in the medical field.
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Student ID/Printing Credit
Obtaining a Student ID
You can obtain your Nicolet ID in the Welcome Center in the Red Oak Center.
Benefits with Your Student ID
- Receive free tickets to Nicolet Live! theatre events (excludes WXPR concerts)
- Purchase discounted Conway Theatres and Rouman Cinema movie tickets
- Access college events
Updating Your Student ID
- Every semester, remember to update your ID by obtaining a date sticker from the Business Office, Welcome Center, or Nicolet - Lakeland.
Printing and Copying Credits
- New students are given a beginning balance for printing and can purchase additional credits as needed.
- If you have used your beginning balance of printing credits, you may purchase additional printing credits at the Business Office, located on the second floor of the Red Oak Center or in the Library.
- If you need to make copies on campus, you'll need to purchase a separate copy code at any of the following: Library, Business Office, Welcome Center, Bookstore or vending machine in the Lakeside Center.
Name and Address Changes
Any change of name, address, or other personal information should be reported to the Welcome Center as soon as possible.


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The deadline is drawing near to renew your McPherson High School basketball season tickets. The cutoff to do so for the 2012-2013 season is Tuesday at 4 p.m. MHS begins it's season on Nov. 30 at Salina Central. Beginning Nov. 26, all seats not renewed will be available for purchase through Dec. 7. Questions may be directed at the MHS activities office at 241-9510.
Location, ST | website.com


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Scarlett Johansson is the sexiest woman alive, according to Esquire magazine.
Let me see if I can present an argument opposing that notion ... .
Nope. Nothing.
The actress becomes the first woman to win the Esquire title twice, says E1 News. She also won in 2006. Since then, the 28-year-old married and divorced Ryan Reynolds, won a Tony Award for her performance in "A View From the Bridge," co-starred in the third highest-grossing movie of all-time, "The Avengers, and got engaged to advertising executive Romain Dauriac.
Johansson told Esquire "I'm the only woman to win twice right? You know, I gotta hustle. I'm a 28-year-old woman in the movie business, right? Pretty soon the roles you're offered all become mothers. Then they just sort of stop. I have to hedge against that with work -- theater, producing; this thing with Esquire."
Witty and decent-looking. This kid may have a future.
During the interview, the actress also compared her relationship with Reynolds to her romance with Dauriac. "I didn't think I was a jealous person until I started dating my current, my one-and-only," Johansson said. "I think maybe in the past I didn't have the same kind of investment. Not that I liked my partner less, I just wasn't capable of it or caring that much."
Previous winners of the magazine's Sexiest Women title include Mila Kunis (2012), Rihanna (2011), Minka Kelly (2010), Kate Beckinsale (2009), Halle Berry (2008), Charlize Theron (2007) and Jessica Biel (2005).
Contact Tony Hicks at Facebook.com/BayAreaNewsGroup.TonyHicks or Twitter.com/insertfoot.


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Few seniors have the resources to pay for long-term skilled nursing home stays. New York has one of the highest average cost per day rates at these facilities. For most families, those costs are far more than they are able to pay from their own income and savings. That is one reason why we recommend that people look into long-term care insurance, or LTCI, to protect assets from nursing home costs. However, LTCI premiums remain too high for many, and then Medicaid is generally used to provide for necessary care.
Some facilities are actually resorting to another option to ensure they are paid for providing care — getting adult children to foot the bill. Recently, the Consumer Voice, one of the nation's leading nursing home resident advocacy groups, published a memo on the use of filial responsibility laws. While enforcement of rules based on these statutes remains relatively rare, some argue that more and more facilities will take a look at pursuing adult children to increase payments.
New York currently does not have a filial responsibility law on the books. Thirty states have these rules including the neighboring states of Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Vermont. Those with loved ones in facilities in one of those states need to be aware of the possibility of a facility filing suit against an adult child for unpaid nursing home bills.
Each state statute has slightly different rules regarding who exactly can be held accountable and what the nursing home must show in order to recover. In most cases, for example, the long-term care facility must explicitly show that the adult child has the means to provide the necessary financial support. It makes little sense for a court to force an adult child to pay bills for a parent when doing so will make the child destitute.
The most high-profile recent case on this matter came out of Pennsylvania, where a court ordered an adult son to pay a $93,000 nursing home bill. Uniquely, the court determined that it did not matter whether he had any siblings or even whether a Medicaid application was pending. In other words, it was quite an expansive ruling that, if upheld on appeal, suggests that nursing homes have significant leeway in pursuing adult children for payment if they choose.
The best approach is to act as early as possible to make sure assets are protected from nursing home costs. The next best plan, if you don't have adequate long-term care insurance, is the Medicaid Asset Protection Trust.
Bonnie Kraham is an attorney practicing elder law and estate planning with Ettinger Law Firm in the Town of Wallkill. She can be reached at 845-692-8700, ext. 119 or at firstname.lastname@example.com. This column is intended to provide general information, not legal advice.
Location, ST | website.com


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Surprise your Guppies fan with a cool, delicious treat, inspired by Molly!
Weekdays on NICK
Combine the blueberries. strawberries, and water in a blender. Process until smooth, stopping to stir occasionally. Remove half of the puree and place in a glass measuring cup. Add the yogurt to the remaining puree in the blender and pulse until well combined.
Spoon some of the berry puree into 4 clear glasses, alternate with the yogurt berry mixture and continue layering to fill the glass.
Kids will have fun in the kitchen making these bubble bites just right!
A swimsational spread that will keep kids dipping back into the kitchen for more of this fish cracker snack!
Something is fishy about these snacks� but kids won't suspect that a tasty treat could also be healthy!
Fishin' for a quick and easy treat for your Bubble Guppies fan?
Go fishing for fruit--and make a game out of good eating!
Bubble Guppies fans will dive right into this tasty dip!
What's hiding under that sheet? One fin-tastic treat!
A frozen drink that looks like Gil's tail? COOL!
Little guppies will flip for this funny take on dessert!
These swim-sational cookies will pop right out of your cookie jar!
Make no bones about it, these cookies are delicious & easy to make!
Make a fin-tastic sandwich that looks like your kid's favorite preschool teacher
Bake the cake and top it off with Molly and Gil!
These fetchin' cupcakes will stand out at your little guppy's next party!
Here's a peanut butter and jelly fish-shaped sandwich for your little guppy!
Turn plain pound cake into bite-sized cake pops that look like Little Fish!
Make a splash at snack time with a swimsational veggie treat!
What time is it? It's time for a new twist on classic macaroni and cheese!
Make this tasty treat any day of the week--it's simple!
Kids will want s'more of this chocolate and marshmallow-filled treat!
All aboard! Kids won't even notice the veggies on this healthy pizza
Turn a hot dog into a...hot "DOG!"
Frowns turn friendly fast with this easy 5-step pizza!
This blazing fruit-filled snack is a tremendous treat!
Go fishing for fruit--and make a game out of good eating!
Get a taste of the tropics with this healthy, fruity drink!
A frozen drink that looks like Gil's tail? COOL!
Warm their hearts with Dora's favorite drink!
Take a trip to the tropics with this fruit-filled smoothie!
The ice-cold treat is just right for quenching an explorer's thirst.
Smoothies are super with a little ladybug luck!
Chocolate milk with a frozen tropical twist
Ring in the new year with these festive drinks


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LEGO Shop Home Themes City Arctic Snowmobile
Arctic Snowmobile
- Item: 60032
- Ages:5-12
- VIP Points: 0
- Pieces:44
- Retired product
Go on an ice adventure on the LEGO® City Arctic Snowmobile with trailer plus an ice block, crystal, Arctic explorer minifigure and pickaxe.
Investigate the secrets of the ice with the LEGO® City Arctic Snowmobile!
Search for the secrets of the ice with the super-cool LEGO® City Arctic Snowmobile! Venture out into freezing polar conditions with the explorer in his specialist Arctic gear. Crack open the huge ice block with the axe to reveal the mysterious crystal inside. Use the walkie-talkie to report your discovery, then load the ice and crystal onto the sled and return to base camp to conduct more tests. Includes an Arctic explorer minifigure with assorted accessories.
- Includes an Arctic explorer minifigure with accessories
- Features skis and detachable sled
- Also includes a translucent blue ice block and a crystal
- Accessories include an Arctic explorer hood, walkie-talkie and a pickaxe
- Report back to base with the walkie-talkie
- Transport the huge ice block on the sled
- Examine the mysterious crystal inside the ice block
- Arctic Snowmobile measures over 3" (8cm) long and under 1" (2cm) high and 1" (2cm) wide
- Sled measures over 1" (4cm) high, 1" (5cm) long and 1" (3cm) wide
- Combine with the 60036 Arctic Base Camp for the ultimate Arctic research and discovery mission
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SAN JOSE -- San Jose City College is no longer in the hot seat.
The 91-year-old institution was put on probation in 2010 by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, after years of warnings related to financial management, student outcomes and governance.
In its latest report to the commission, the college showed that it had fixed those problems, and the accrediting body agreed, said City College President Barbara Kavalier.
The college's board adopted a mandatory 7 percent fund reserve in response to the concerns, among other changes, she said.
"As you can imagine, we're thrilled," Kavalier said. "We've been sort of living under the cloud of sanctions for quite some time now."
The college was never penalized as a result of its status, but the next step after probation, known in education jargon as "show cause," would have been more serious. The college no longer faces that threat, now that it's accreditation has been reaffirmed.
Follow Katy Murphy at Twitter.com/katymurphy.


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DeGeneres' Oscars selfie crashes Twitter with record retweets
By Christopher Palmeri | Bloomberg News
Not a subscriber? You can purchase a single-day subscription for only $0.75 to read this and access all of our content and our E-Edition. CLICK HERE purchase a single day subscription.
Become an electronic subscriber to the Republican-American for only $8 a month. CLICK HERE.


text:
MONTGOMERY, Ala.—Secretary of State Jim Bennett is urging
candidates and political action committees to be mindful of a September 4th
deadline to file campaign finance reports.
The new reporting schedule was required by reforms approved by the
legislature for candidates participating in the 2014 election cycle.
A few important changes will come with this September 4th
report. On August 1, the threshold for
all candidates, regardless of position sought, was lowered to $1,000.
Therefore, all candidates who have either raised or spent $1,000 in their
campaigns are required to file a report on September 4th with the secretary of
state or the probate judge, depending on the office sought.
Also beginning on that same date, penalties shall be assessed
for reports that are not timely or accurately filed with the respective filing
official. The amounts are as follows:
-First offense: $300 or 10 percent of the amount not
properly reported, whichever is greater.
-Second offense: $600 or 15 percent of the amount not
properly reported, whichever is greater.
-Third offense: $1,200 or 20 percent of the amount not
properly reported, whichever is greater.
-Fourth offense: A rebuttable presumption of intent to
violate the reporting requirements of the Fair Campaign Practices Act is
Intentional violation of the Fair Campaign Practices Act
can be prosecuted by the Attorney General or the district attorney for the
appropriate jurisdiction, with penalties ranging from a Class A misdemeanor to
a Class B felony, depending on the offense.
"With these changes to the FCPA, we will have more
accurate reports from candidates and PACs," said Bennett. "Campaign finance
disclosure is an essential tool for voters to use in deciding who the best
candidate may be. In passing campaign
finance reform and online reporting, the legislature took a major step


text:
I have been using QCad Pro for two years now under Ubuntu Linux, and would like to migrate to Mint Linux. However, my old downloaded QCad Pro binary will not run on the new Mint 11 installation: Nothing happens when I double-click the binary in Nautilus, and the terminal does nothing when I try to run it from the command line.
Is there some kind of "product activation" that is necessary, or is QCad Pro simply incompatible with Mint Linux? Yet, the free version of QCad seems to work on Mint 11, but the Pro version, for which I've bought the license, doesn't seem to work.


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Advance Auto Parts is acquiring another leading auto parts supplier.
On Wednesday morning the Roanoke-based corporation announced it will acquire General Parts International. The $2 billion deal will create the largest aftermarket auto parts provider in North America.
General Parts International has 1,200 company stores and 1,400 independently-owned Carquest locations throughout the U.S.
Advance Auto Parts president George Sherman says the headquarters will remain in Roanoke.
"I think your hometown company just got bigger and just took a leadership position," Sherman said. "And that means we continue to be based here. That means we have more contractors and vendors and visitors coming into Roanoke. That means an awful lot for the airport and rental cars and for hotels and for restaurants. And I think it has a good cascading effect across the entire valley."
Advance is acquiring a company known for the Carquest brand. The deal will add 2,600 company and independently owned locations to the Advance network.
A major advantage to the deal is what it will mean to Advance's commercial business with auto repair shops, a key element of its recent growth strategy over the last few years.
When we first met Advance CEO Darren Jackson five years ago, he told us his goal was to double the size of the company.
The company says this deal will create the largest aftermarket parts provider in North America, with combined sales of 9.2 billion and will accomplish that.
Here is the complete announcement:
• Creates the largest automotive aftermarket parts provider in North America with combined sales of over $9.2 billion
• Expected to generate annual synergies of $160 million within three years of closing
• Estimated to deliver significant FY14 Cash EPS(1) accretion of more than 20% excluding one-time costs to achieve synergies and an increase in the low teens including one-time costs to achieve synergies
• Expected to maintain investment grade ratings given strong combined financial profile
ROANOKE, VA, October 16, 2013 - Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (NYSE: AAP), a leading provider of automotive aftermarket parts, accessories, batteries, and maintenance items, announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire General Parts International, Inc.(GPII), a leading privately held distributor and supplier of original equipment and aftermarket replacement products for commercial markets operating under the CARQUEST and WORLDPAC brands, in an all-cash transaction with an enterprise value of $2.04 billion. The transaction has
been approved by the boards of directors of both companies.
The transaction creates the largest automotive aftermarket parts provider in North America, with annual sales of over $9.2 billion and more than 70,000 Team Members. The strong combined financial profile allows for an all-cash
transaction and supports Advance's commitment to maintain its investment grade rating. The acquisition of GPII will accelerate Advance's growth strategy and enhance shareholder value through the following strategic benefits:
• Creates Market Leader – (1) #1 automotive aftermarket parts provider in North America with a balanced platform for growth between Do-It-yourself (DIY) and Commercial, (2) #1 distributor of import automotive parts and (3) the largest automotive aftermarket business-to-business e-commerce platform in North America.
• Delivers Scale – Provides Advance with complete coast-to-coast coverage across North America, creating a company with scale, reach and expanded growth opportunities benefiting shareholders, customers and team members. This presence in new markets allows Advance the ability to expand its geographic footprint in an
efficient manner.
• Accelerates Complementary Market Opportunities – Expands Advance's product and category offerings in both core and new product lines (i.e. paint and heavy duty), creates new sales channel with independent customers and broadens ability to grow with attractive customer segments such as larger bay garages, import specialists, national accounts and fleet and government programs.
• Strengthens Leading Brands and Capabilities – Enhances Advance's ability to serve customers through the transfer of CARQUEST's commercial capabilities and Team Member parts knowledge into Advance stores while expanding DIY into select company operated CARQUEST stores. The combination expands key capabilities in
customer service through enhanced daily replenishment and customer loyalty programs to a larger truck fleet and a significantly expanded commercial sales team.
Darren Jackson, Chief Executive Officer of Advance Auto Parts states O. Temple Sloan, III President of General Parts International, Inc. will continue as President of GPII, reporting to Mr. Jackson and is expected to join the Advance Auto Parts Board of Directors. The combined company will be headquartered in Roanoke, Virginia and will continue to maintain a presence in Raleigh, N.C.
Mr. Jackson said, "This transformational transaction provides a compelling strategic opportunity for Advance to expand our geographic presence and commercial capabilities to better serve customers. The addition of 1,246 company operated stores and 1,418 independently owned CARQUEST locations provides us with an immediate platform and scale across North America, full market coverage and the opportunity to position ourselves as the market leader in the commercial business. We believe the combination of the two companies is a great fit and the
synergy of GPII's assets with our capabilities will allow us to capitalize on market opportunities that will create value for our shareholders and provide even better service to our customers. We welcome and look forward to working with the talented leaders and team members from GPII."
Mr. Sloan said, "We are excited to bring together two highly complementary automotive aftermarket companies. The combination with Advance Auto Parts is the next logical step in our company's evolution. Advance's retail presence, strong capability infrastructure and acquisition integration experience combined with GPII's leadership in the commercial, independent and import segments creates a powerful platform to drive profitable growth. With a more robust offering and a shared focus on best-in-class customer service, our combined business will continue to
deliver value for customers and shareholders."
Financial Benefits
Advance anticipates that the transaction will result in approximately $160 million of annual run-rate synergies to be fully realized within three years after closing. The transaction is also expected to generate considerable free cash flow and deliver significant estimated FY14 Cash EPS(1) accretion of more than 20% excluding one-time costs to achieve synergies and a percentage increase in the low teens including one-time costs to achieve synergies.
Advance Auto Parts intends to finance the acquisition through a combination of senior notes, bank debt and existing
cash on hand. Following the transaction, Advance expects to continue to have a solid balance sheet supported by
the strong cash flow of the combined business. In connection with the transaction, Advance has received a financing
commitment from JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. with the senior notes offering and bank debt syndication expected to occur prior to closing.
Mike Norona, Chief Financial Officer of Advance Auto Parts said, "This strategic transaction presents an exciting opportunity for value creation and Advance is dedicated to delivering on the compelling financial potential this combination creates while remaining committed to maintaining our investment grade credit rating."
The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions and is expected to close by late 2013 or early 2014.


text:
Can a chai-obsessed, meat-loving writer become a green juice-drinking vegan for 21 days in order to detox her body? Find out
Luckily, I've got this part of the plan in the bag thanks to the fact that I'm a workout fiend. I do Pilates three mornings a week before work, try to sneak in at least one yoga class a week (two if I can), and I'm also a spin class addict. For me, sweating is an essential part of my day -- a completely enjoyable way to burn off stress and angst (not to mention calories).
In an ideal world, I'd also be making time to sit in a sauna (more sweating), dry brush my body before showering (which stimulates lymphatic drainage), and meditate (to help detox negative thoughts) while following this detox diet. But so far, I've only had time for my Monday-Wednesday-Friday Pilates sessions and a few spin classes each week. And I'm OK with that.
SEE NEXT PAGE: Starting to see my svelter, sexier self emerge
Older comments
I think I could do this, but the green juices? I just don't think they would go down!
by GigiSD Saturday, April 27, 2013 at 01:40PM Report as inappropriate
Loving this author! I did a 21-day detox along with mom in 2009. There were pills, juicing, and things to avoid. I had conferences scheduled during the beginning so I wasn't able to be as strict then. I stuck to veggies or the healthiest options available. My mom was busy in the middle when I was more at home! I've done smaller versions and weaned myself off meds since then. :-)
by asiagirl4ever Monday, January 28, 2013 at 07:04PM Report as inappropriate
Love It!
by CynthiaLrm Tuesday, January 15, 2013 at 03:12PM Report as inappropriate
by EricaF123 Tuesday, January 1, 2013 at 06:36AM Report as inappropriate
This sounds like a great detox diet. I usually eat pretty healthy, but I'm a carnivore. I don't want to give up meat, but I may try this!
by WiccanLady Tuesday, November 27, 2012 at 04:34PM Report as inappropriate
Love this!
by schien Wednesday, September 12, 2012 at 06:53PM Report as inappropriate
Would love to find a detox buddy. I make my green drink night before and make enough for 2 or 3 days. Have lost 5 pounds and I do not need to lose weight but I feel great and my clothes feel great. I am heading for 80% raw as I type this. Lots of fresh veggies and fruits and greens.
by Ydabney Monday, August 13, 2012 at 11:58AM Report as inappropriate
Interesting...I want to see "Hundry for Change". Thanks, nellyallen!
by alictasia Sunday, June 3, 2012 at 03:00PM Report as inappropriate
I never considered the power of a detox buddy, good call!
by sportimonki13 Monday, May 28, 2012 at 11:49PM Report as inappropriate
My daughter and I eat healthy and this diet is not scary but a note of good things to come for me---like the loss of 40+ lbs thast I've wanted off for years!
by shilohpines Wednesday, April 25, 2012 at 06:09PM Report as inappropriate
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text:
- Destinations
- Hotels
- Vacations
- Tours & Activities
- Special Offers
- Cruise Vacations
Offers valid on new bookings only. Prices shown are per-person, land only based upon double occupancy, except if expressly noted otherwise on the offer. Offers are subject to availability at time of booking and may be changed or discontinued at any time without notice. Blackout dates, minimum night stays, minimum stay requirements on air, seasonal surcharges, resort fees (if any), and other restrictions may also apply. Individual offers may require purchase of Travel Smart Plan or travel waiver. Offers are not valid for Group Travel. Some booking and travel dates may vary. Other promotions and departure dates available which may result in a different rate and/or hotel inclusion. Customer may be responsible for hotel taxes and fees on free nights and other offers, where applicable. Ask your Travel Specialist for details. Classic Vacations CST# 2079429-20
Boulevard Kukulkan Km 12
Save up to $1110 per couple
Passion Suite
Travel from 11/28/2011 through 12/21/2012
Blackout Dates: Dec 23, 2011 to Jan 02, 2012
Minimum Night Stay: 4 Nights
Book This Now
ME Cancun, by Melia
Hotel Ratings
Hotel Overview
What to Expect:
- A unique, contemporary, deluxe beachfront resort boasts rooms with fashionable décor, designed as the essence of energy, style and sophistication for those appreciate modern art and design, lounge music, innovative cuisine and a chic, yet laid back atmosphere. "An experience beyond mere accommodation", awarded with the AAA Four Diamond Award for 2008.
Amenity Highlights:
- Featuring two adult-oriented floors with VIP treatment at The Level and signature amenities in The Living Room. In-room amenities range from free pre-tuned iPods to private Jacuzzis to original works by artist Yuri Zatarain. Dining options include a Mediterranean restaurant and an Asian bistro. The signature MAXIM Beach Club combines dynamic energy in a relaxed venue. The expansive YHI Spa offers slew of relaxing treatments. Insider tip:Two nightclubs, one built over Nichupté Lagoon and the other catering to older couples, lie 1.5 km (1 mile) from the resort.
Boulevard Kukulkan Km 12
Cancun, 77500
- Hotel Zone
Airport:Cancun International Airport CUN
Room Amenities:
- Access via exterior corridors
- Air conditioning
- Bathrobes
- Bathroom scale
- Blackout drapes
- Cable/satellite TV
- CD player
- Clock radio
- Coffee/tea maker
- Complimentary toiletries
- Direct-dial phone
- DVD player
- Electronic/magnetic keys
- Hair dryer
- In-room safe
- Internet access - complimentary
- Iron/ironing board
- Massage - available in room
- Minibar
- Premium bedding
- Slippers
- Turndown service
- Voice mail
- Wake-up calls
- Window opens
Property Amenities
Overlooking Caribbean Sea, this oceanfront resort is within 1 km (0.75 mi) of the shopping, dining, and entertainment venues at La Isla Mall and Plaza Kukulcán. Luxury Avenue Mall is 2 miles away. Cancún International Airport is a 20-minute drive away.ME by Melia Cancun offers modern amenities and sophisticated leisure options. Facilities include an infinity pool surrounded by Bali Beds, a fitness center with yoga and other classes (surcharge), and an extensive health spa (surcharge). Dining options include Mediterranean fare, Asian cuisine, contemporary Mexican fusion, three bars, 24-hour room service, and the signature MAXIM Beach Club.Meeting and event space accommodates up to 300 guests. A cybercafé provides computers and complimentary wireless Internet access is available throughout the property. The following amenities are available on-site; fees may apply:
- 24-hour front desk
- Air-conditioned public areas
- ATM/banking
- Audio-visual equipment
- Ballroom(s)
- Banquet facilities
- Bar/lounge
- Beauty services
- Business services
- Concierge desk
- Conference room(s)
- Currency exchange
- Doorman/doorwoman
- Dry cleaning service
- Elevator/lift
- Event catering
- Exhibit space
- Fitness equipment
- Hair salon
- Internet access in public areas - high speed
- Massage - treatment room(s)
- Medical assistance available
- Multilingual staff
- Parking (free)
- Pool table
- Poolside bar
- Porter/bellhop
- Restaurant(s) in hotel
- Security guard
- Swimming pool - outdoor
- Tour assistance
- Wedding services
Extra person charges may apply and vary depending on hotel policy.
Rollaway beds and cribs (infant beds) may be available and should be requested at the time of booking; fees may apply.
Photo identification and credit card or cash deposit are required at check-in for incidental charges.
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in, cannot be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
- Small pets only
Check-in time:
Check-out time:
- Noon
Silk Asian BistroAsian, Sushi, Teppanyaki. Black lacquer, deep reds and dramatic lighting create a playful, cosmopolitan context for artfully presented sushi, sashimi, bold teppanyaki and daring Asian fusion cuisine by celebrated chef Heriberto Gomez. Reverently rendered classics are masterfully prepared along with original dishes combining exotic notes such as lemongrass, cardamom, miso and curry. Serving dinner only, Silk is the perfect choice for a night to remember.
Salt RestaurantMediterranean Fusion Cuisine. The mosaic of rich and varied cuisines from around the Mediterranean is reinterpreted in an irresistible menu of masterfully prepared dishes at Salt. Chef Heriberto Gomez employs the classic wood-burning stove and open bistro kitchen in his presentation of bold flavor juxtapositions, unexpected marriages and cleverly nuanced cuisine. Open, airy and social, Salt serves three meals a day.
Beach HouseContemporary Mexican Food Creations. Open-air dining, right on the beach, shaded by the thatched palapa roof. Acclaimed American nightlife entrepreneurs Rande and Scott Gerber to put a contemporary spin on the culinary traditions of the Yucatan. Beach House invites you to linger and be seduced in the open air, while less committed lunchers will opt for quesadillas or ceviche to enjoy poolside.
E-spaceBar & Coffee Shop. Take a break from the sun and get wired at E-space. Walk right up and sit right down at any station for fast, free online access with a Caribbean view. Also, a gourmet espresso and dessert bar, light café fare, and exquisite collection of books on art and architecture.
Along with an adjacent swimming beach, ME by Meliá Cancún offers an outdoor swimming pool, an infinity pool, and a 995-square-meter (10,700-square-foot) spa. Spa facilities include: a gym with state-of-the-art equipment; hydrotherapy zone with sauna, steam baths, hydro-massage pool; relaxation center for facials, body treatments, and massages. Volleyball is popular on the beach, and two tennis courts are available. Spinning, yoga, Pilates, and Tae Bo lessons are also offered.Two 18-hole golf courses are located on Cancún Island: the Hilton Golf Club is 5 km (3 mi) south of the resort, and the Robert Trent Jones, Jr.-designed Pok-Ta-Pok Golf Club is 5 km (3 mi) away.The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or near the hotel; fees may apply.
- Fishing
- Golf - miniature
- Golfing
- Jet skiing
- Motor boating
- Parasailing
- Playground
- Scuba diving
- Snorkeling
- Surfing/boogie boarding
- Tennis
- Volleyball
- Water skiing
- Windsurfing
Special Offer Details
Classic Suites4 nights from $2779 per person
Save up to $1110 per couple
What's Included?
- A 6th night FREE
- $100USD resort credit
- Complete ME
Available Room Types:Loft Suite
Passion Suite
Important Dates:Book from 11/28/2011 through 11/30/2012
Travel from 11/28/2011 through 12/21/2012
Blackout Dates: Dec 23, 2011 to Jan 02, 2012
Minimum Night Stay: 4 Nights


text:
Westeros is the premiere fansite for George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire. Discuss the series on the forums, browse our resource collections, read about the TV series from HBO and play the MUSH, to name just a few of the things we offer.
New to the series? Read our spoiler-free review of A Game of Thrones.
Read our Privacy Policy.
The So Spake Martin collection has now been entered into ExpressionEngine. As a result, old links to posts will no longer function, but it will be easier to link to individual posts, as each will have their own unique URL.
Also, new entries have been made in the Correspondence with Fans section covering Vericon and Boskone, as well as a number of additions to Chats, Interviews, Etc. thanks to the Internet Archive.
The Westeros network consists of several different sites, including a forum and a wiki, for all your A Song of Ice and Fire needs.


text:
The Hardest (Working) Man in Showbiz By Ron Jeremy
2007 | 352 Pages | ISBN: 006084082X | EPUB | 2 MB
With more than 1,750 porn films under his belt (and director of more than 135), Jeremy is still cranking them out two decades after most adult film performers have retired. His memoir (co-written by humorist Spitznagel, author of Fast Forward: Confessions of a Porn Screenwriter) details a life of relentless self-promotion that often borders on the excessive (who else would call himself "the biggest porn star on the planet" and attach an appendix of the mainstream projects he was almost cast in or was cut out of the final product?).


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NRC cancels open house, meeting on nuke plant concrete degradation
The session was in regards to concrete degradation at the Seabrook nuclear power plant. The sessions will be rescheduled once normal government operations resume.
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1986-12-05 Char-Koosta News
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Char- ) %gosta t :A. nrws publication oj the J Satisfa iiìui 'J\ootettai 'Tri6ùs\^ ^"^v^ of the 'Fiat fluid Indian ^^*) 'Xcseroation Mission Valley Power hearing date re-set for December 18 The hearing set for this month to address one of two lawsuits concerning the power division of FHP has been moved back ten days. Originally scheduled for Dec. 8, the hearing has been changed to Thursday, Dec. 18 -- at the same time, 9:30 am., and at the same place, the federal court building in Helena. People with transportation problems who are interested in attending •a w should watch the next issue of this newsletter for specific arrangements. To be heard is a lawsuit filed by the Joint Board of Control that challenges a federal contract allowing the Tribes to set up a management plan for the FHP power division, which the Tribes has renamed Mission Valley Power. A companion lawsuit asking that the JBC be given management control of all of FHP - the power and irrigation systems - will be heard sometime in January. UTILITY BOARD DEADLINE EXTENDED In the meantime, the Tribes and the BIA are screening applicants to serve on MVP's utility board and consumer council, respectively. While considering the letters of interest received in Pablo for the utility board so far, the Tribes has extended its deadline from Nov. 28 to Dec. 15, according to Therriault. Upstairs at the BIA, agency superintendent Wyman Babby said he had received a number of letters as well by the Bureau's Nov. 28 deadline from people wishing to sit on the seven-member consumer's advocate council. Of those seven, four will be representing Lake, Sanders and Mis-(Concludes on page 2) Post yard's expansion project is making progress 10 10 u Ok % Federal funding that will help the Flathead Post and Pole Yard expand next year was received Dec. 2 in Pablo. Tribal economist Ron Trosper explains that the federal Economic Development Administration's $355,-000 will be used for a sawmill that will produce wood trim from lodge-pole pine. The sawmill will add 32 full-time and 26 six-months-a-year employees to the Dixon pole yard's roster of workers. News of the federal money followed an announcement that Montana's Economic Development Board had given tentative approval to a $318,000 loan for the expansion project, pending assurances that federal and state environmental standards would be met. The total cost of the expansion will be $933,000, Trosper said. In addition to the federal grant and the state loan, $233,000 will be contributed by the Tribes. A bank loan for the remaining money, about $37,000, will complete the financial package. The BIA is guaranteeing both 10-year loans, he said. The state money comes from its coal tax revenue, Trosper said. It's an attractive loan because its interest rates are fixed and relatively low, he said, adding that he thought this might be the first time an Indian tribe in Montana received such financing. Construction is expected to begin in the spring.
Object Description
|1986-12-05 Char-Koosta News
|Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation.
|Salish Indians --Newspapers.; Kutenai Indians --Newspapers.; Pablo (Montana) --Newspapers.; Kootenai Indians
|Mission Valley Power hearing date re-set for December 18; Post yard's expansion project is making progress; Tribal member hopes to establish small steel mill on Reservation; Diesel spill does little or no damage to lake; Are you eligible for SSI ?: Job Corpsman dies; Timely reminders for lake structure owners; "What's my enrollment number"?; Survey disputes alcoholism figures; North-of-Complex construction to be car-care center.
|Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Indian Nation
|Date Original
|Date Digital
|Resource Identifier
|Rights Management
|Copyright (c) Salish and Kootenai Federated Tribes, all rights reserved.
|Contributing Institution
|Salish Kootenai College
|D'Arcy McNickle Library
|Vol. 15; No. 17
|Digitization Specifications
|Digitized at the University of Montana Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library; Scanned as master TIFF using Bookeye 3 scanner at 400 ppi, 8 bit grayscale; Optical Character Recognition with Abbyy FineReader Corporate Edition; Derivatives created using Photoshop CS
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An arrest warrant was issued for New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez on Friday in connection with a murder investigation.
The warrant for obstruction of justice was issued by Massachusetts State Police after finding Hernandez's home security system and cell phone destroyed, according to multiple reports.
Police searched Hernandez's home Thursday after obtaining a search warrant.
Law enforcement sources told ABC News that the security system was intentionally damaged and Hernandez's cellphone had been shattered.
Hours before Odin Lloyd was murdered, surveillance video showed Hernandez with Lloyd in Hernandez's North Attleborough, Mass., neighborhood earlier in the week.
Also, the Boston Globe reported that Hernandez and Lloyd were likely together in Boston early Monday morning, according to video footage.
Lloyd, 27, was found by a jogger shot in the back of the head Monday evening in an industrial park near Hernandez's home. The investigation has centered on the Patriots' 23-year-old tight end. He has not been ruled out as a suspect.
It is believed that Lloyd died between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m. Monday.
Police visited Hernandez's home Tuesday and Wednesday, then returned with a warrant Thursday. They questioned Hernandez about why the home security system and cell phone were destroyed and why a team of house cleaners was hired Monday to clean his home.
According to NFL.com, Hernandez visited Gillette Stadium on Thursday, although coaches and players were on vacation and owner Robert Kraft and other team executives were also not there. Reportedly, the only players there were a few rookies.
Lloyd was a linebacker for the semi-pro Boston Bandits. There were indications that he was shot and the body dumped in the industrial park. Lloyd had practiced with the team on Saturday.
Lloyd was dating the sister of Hernandez's girlfriend and mother of his child, at the time of Lloyd's death.
SI.com uncovered two incidents in which Hernandez was associated with guns and police. SI.com obtained a Providence, R.I., police report that detailed an incident in which police found a gun disposed under a car after a Jets fan confronted Hernandez at 2:26 a.m. on May 18, though there was no evidence that the gun belonged to Hernandez.
In 2007, Hernandez was interviewed by Gainesville, Fla., police about a shooting that occurred after Florida's 20-17 loss to Auburn. Hernandez was not considered a suspect. His mother confirmed to the Orlando Sentinel that her son and a friend from Connecticut were in a nightclub near where the shooting took place.
On Tuesday, the story of a lawsuit in Florida emerged in which Alexander S. Bradley alleged that Hernandez pointed a gun at him and it discharged while they were riding in a vehicle, striking Bradley in the face and resulting in the loss of his right eye and other facial injuries that required surgery. According to the suit, the two men had argued outside a strip club.
Bradley is seeking $100,000 in damages. The suit was filed earlier this month and withdrawn four days later, but USA Today reported that there was a paperwork error and it would be re-filed Wednesday.


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Here comes a new year, the great do-over. The clean slate. The opportunity to feel good about yourself for about two weeks until you shatter your New Year's resolutions like a glass vase dropped off the top of the Transamerica Pyramid.
Sometimes, however, change is necessary. In my case, I'm going old-school with my 2013 resolution and doing the fitness thing. I'm not picking a specific weight goal or strength goal, because that might not be realistic, or go far enough.
Basically, I want you to see me on the street and say, "My, that's a handsome man who could, no doubt, hold his own in a bar fight with Sam Elliott."
Right. I've resolved to become Batman. Or, if not Batman, at least someone who can go out and get the mail without sounding like Darth Vader with bronchitis by the time he gets back.
This great big do-over every January is a wonderful thing. For starters, pledging to get healthier in the new year gives you full permission to have a tremendously gluttonous December. So now that December is just about over, I have to face some hard facts. Such as: I have to take down the Christmas lights before Easter.
I mean it ...
I also have to start taking this health thing seriously. I'm getting older. I have diabetes. My blood pressure isn't great. I have this thing on my lip that won't go away. I'm not going to be young and naturally sexy forever.
So I'm going public and doing something I have to do. I'm going to turn myself over to Mike, the incredibly cheery man (you'd be cheery, too, if you were built like him) who owns the wonderful health club I won't name (Countrywood Fitness) near the border of Concord and Walnut Creek. I'm going to do what he says. And I probably won't like it, as my motto has always been "No pain, no -- hey, are you going to finish that burrito?"
The root of this resolution thing goes back to early August, when I was at the beach with my kids. Yes, a couple of fishermen did throw harpoons at me, but I'm kind of used to it, so no big deal.
Then came the boogie board incident.
My girls are old enough to boogie board, and because I'm not the brightest bulb, I went out there with them. And once the sharks figured out I wasn't an elephant seal, they went away and everyone went back into the water.
And, as I had last done this about 17 years and 30 pounds ago, I didn't think twice about belly flopping onto the board and trying to ride a wave.
Slap. That was the sound made as I hit the board.
Actually, it was more like SLAP.
Tidal waves
It was neither a good sound nor a good sensation. I had a blazing boogie board-shaped red spot on my stomach when I got out. Seagulls were laughing. It was embarrassing.
I decided right then and there that there would be no Slap That Shook Santa Cruz next year. I might not be getting younger, but there's no reason why a 45-year-old man can't play with his kids in the ocean. I've been hearing that slap in my head for nearly five months. It's terribly motivating -- I hope.
It starts Jan. 1. OK, Jan. 3. I'll need a couple of days of mental preparation -- plus I'll be at Disneyland over New Year's, and people get weird when you drop to the pavement and start doing push-ups while in line for Space Mountain.
Hopefully, though, that slap will keep bouncing around in my head long enough keep me motivated.
Consider it my 2013 Bat Signal.
Contact Tony Hicks at firstname.lastname@example.com, at Facebook.com/BayAreaNewsGroup.TonyHicks, or at Twitter.com/insertfoot.


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It was still chilly on April 6 and everyone seated around the plastic drop cloth on the Nancy Redington�s basement floor was looking down. Spread out were a variety of tools used in caring for roses. Redington, Master Gardener and rose expert, talked about hand saws, gloves, weeders, and the all-important bypass pruners as part of the Master Gardeners of Penn State Extension, Franklin County Roses 101 workshop.??
Wielding those all-important prunersPresident Ronald Reagan signed a resolution into law on October 7, 1986 naming the rose as the �national floral emblem� of the United States. Redington said one of her dream goals is to �plant a rose bush next to the American flag at libraries� and other public buildings in our area.
Red rose in full bloom Photo by Peggy Greb, courtesyUSDA Agricultural Research Service Image GalleryAccording to Eric Cech in an Ezine Article, it's estimated that 150 million plants are purchased annually by gardeners worldwide every year and roses dominate the world's cut flower market.
�The first thing I planted �was a rose,� said Rebecca Keller, Chambersburg, who moved to the area recently.<>>
<>Sylvia Kremp, Chambersburg, asked �What is the difference between the varieties of roses?� Reddington and son Jim talked about the types such as old garden, English roses, miniature, hybrid teas, mini-flora, shrub, and grandiflora roses.
<>>Once selected and purchased, however, gardeners need to know how to plant and care for their roses. Good pruning practices are an important part of rose maintenance.
Jim Redington shows the size of a mini-floral rose
�I have a Joseph�s Coat rose,� said Judy Scriptunas, Chambersburg, noting that she is interested in knowing more about how to care for it.????????
Redington demonstrated correct pruning methods citing her mantra - �prune the dead, diseased, dying and dinky.� Everyone got to practice on rose canes cut from her garden.
Nancy demonstrates correct pruning method
Everyone bundled up, grabbed pruners and gloves and headed out into Redington�s yard. She demonstrated how to prune a tree rose, calling out why she chose each cut � �dead,� �dinky,� �dead,� �dying.� ??????
Nancy Redington prunes a tree rose while son Jim watches
She moved out into the yard and severely pruned a miniature rose bush. Most of those crowded around were amazed at how much she pruned out. �Come back in June and you�ll see plenty of roses," she said. "Trust me.� ??
Nancy and Starbuck prune a miniature rose
As the hands-on workshop neared the end, participants were invited to choose a rose bush in her yard and begin practicing with those all-important pruners.
Dawn Stinson and LuAnn Munson prune a hybrid tea rose
Learn more about roses
?Penn State Extension: Roses- The Queen of the Flowers
Penn State Extension: Rose Disease
American Rose Society
Rogers Roses: Roger Phillips Rose ID Site (58,000 pictures)
Lilly's Rose Garden: Fun Facts About Roses


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Karen Koch, Psy.D. Chicago Campus
"We are privileged to work with clients and families
who demonstrate how much courage it takes to
grow and become the individual one is
truly meant to be."
- Karen Koch, Psy.D.
Karen Koch, Psy.D. HSPP, CAADC
Program Director
M.A. in Counseling: Specialization in Forensic Psychology Program
I am a life-long learner and believe that education takes a variety of forms each and every day. We learn and grow a little more each day through observation, interaction, reflection, and participation. I encourage my students to become cognizant of linking knowledge to practice. Lessons in the classroom need to be integrated with the lessons in life to assist in contributing positively to change in the world.
I would also like students to be aware that they are also mentors and role models for others, even when they are unaware of the difference they are making in the life of another. Working within the forensic population is always rewarding; however, it is not always evident that your work is as meaningful as you intended. We are privileged to work with clients and families who demonstrate how much courage it takes to grow and become the individual one is truly meant to be. The commitment to social justice and demonstration of social responsibility are evident in active engagement with a marginalized forensic population.
I have shared with my students that within the world there will always be people who teach you how to be, and those who teach you how not to be. My students continue to teach me how to be. My research interests continue to reflect my dedication to the law enforcement community and specifically the subculture of law enforcement.
Please email or call me (312.662.4320) if you have questions or would like more information about me.
- Psy D. Clinical Psychology, Chicago School of Professional Psychology
- M.A. Clinical Psychology, Chicago School of Professional Psychology
- M.H.S. Addictive Studies, Governors State University
- B.A. Criminal Justice, Governors State University
- Licensed Clinical Psychologist (Illinois)
- Health Service Professional Provider (Indiana)
- Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (Illinois)
Professional Memberships
- American Psychological Association
- American Counseling Association
- Illinois Counseling Association
- Illinois Mental Health Counselors Association
- Duty to Protect: Working with Law Enforcement and Their Families. American Counseling Association Conference, March 2010.
- 911 We Make House Calls: Counseling with Police. Illinois Counseling Association Conference, November, 2011.


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Older workers, young veterans the focus of job readiness program for "long-term unemployed"
November 1, 2013 by admin
Platform to Employment kicking off its first Denver class on November 4
DENVER — The Denver Office of Economic Development (OED) will launch the first local class of the popular Platform to Employment (P2E) program, a unique and ambitious curriculum that specifically targets the needs of workers who have been struggling with unemployment for six months or more.
Denver is the seventh city in the nation to launch a P2E program with the support of AARP Foundation, Citi Community Development, and the Walmart Foundation. The launch will take place November 4 during a business roundtable and program orientation.
Across both urban and rural settings around the country, the P2E program has placed 80% of its participants in work experience programs, and nearly 90% of its graduates move on to a full-time job.
"Two demographic groups who often find themselves in this category of long-term unemployed are workers over age 50 and veterans," said Paul Washington, OED executive director. It is precisely these two categories of workers, with far-reaching needs ranging from financial counseling to mental health services for families, who are the focus of the P2E job readiness program, Washington said.
"Being out of work is challenge enough, and for those workers who are unemployed for more than 27 weeks, the challenges to remain optimistic and find sustainable employment only grow," said Ledy Garcia-Eckstein, OED's acting director of Workforce Development. "We are pleased to bring this program to Denver and introduce the members of our first class, a mix of these young veterans and older workers."
Joseph Carbone, president and CEO of The WorkPlace, the Connecticut workforce council that developed P2E, will discuss the specific challenges faced by individuals aged 50 and over and veterans who have been unemployed long-term. Over the course of lunch, other speakers will include Deputy Mayor Cary Kennedy, Washington, and Garcia-Eckstein. Attendees from the business community, nonprofits, and members of the Denver Workforce Investment Board are expected to attend.
With an estimated 4.1 million Americans unemployed for 27 weeks or longer (as of September 2013), long-term unemployment remains a significant concern to reviving the American economy. P2E offers two phases of service, the first being a five-week preparatory program which includes workshops on resume writing, interview preparation, self-marketing and other skills. During this time, participants and their families will have access to optional behavioral health services and counseling through local providers.
Following the preparatory program, P2E helps participants find positions with local employers who have job openings. The employers get a risk-free evaluation of these new hires during an eight-week trial period where wages are subsidized by the program.
AARP Foundation funds specifically go to serving long-term unemployed workers who are over 50 years of age. This population continues to spend longer periods of time looking for work and securing a stable income. AARP Foundation is working to reverse the downward spiral that many older Americans and their families face.
"Today, Americans aged 50 and up face choices and pressures no one could have prepared for," said AARP Foundation President Jo Ann Jenkins. "Job loss and long-term unemployment among those 50 and older have wiped out retirement savings and caused any hopes of a secure financial future to fade. AARP Foundation is pleased to support the expansion of Platform to Employment to help put people aged 50 and up back to work in good jobs in their communities and to pave the way to a brighter and more secure future."
With support from Citi Community Development, P2E participants will receive financial counseling and credit rebuilding assistance through area nonprofits so they are better equipped to face the significant financial challenges many families confront during extended periods of unemployment. This training is essential at a time when many are financially overextended and have endured a reduction in regular income, or have none at all.
"Today, we offer a salute as Denver takes its place among other cities across the United States where the long-term unemployed, including our veterans, will benefit from the truly innovative Platform to Employment program," said George Wright, Citi Midwest Regional Director of Community Development. "P2E is proving that the right job readiness programming, combined with personal and family support services and financial counseling, can return the long-term unemployed to the workforce."
With additional support from the Walmart Foundation, P2E includes veterans in its target group to serve. The unemployment rate for veterans has remained much higher than the national average, as service members returning from Afghanistan and Iraq have struggled to find work. "As one of the nation's largest private employers of veterans and those on active duty, we share The WorkPlace's vision of a country where every veteran has a chance to succeed economically and support his or her family," said retired U.S. Army Brigadier General Gary Profit, senior director of military programs at Walmart. "Walmart is committed to making that vision a reality by supporting organizations and programs that provide job and skills training to our veterans. These young men and women stood up for us, and now it's our turn to stand up for them."by