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Issue no 147
top story
The explosive growth of communications technologies has given potential users a wide range of new tools to communicate. Yet beyond the familiar numbers generated by the growth of mobiles, very little has emerged about how these new users communicate. A recent survey from Gamos and the CTO looks at patterns of behaviour for a range of users, particularly poorer users and those in rural areas. Nigel Scott of Gamos summarises the research findings.
Gamos Ltd. and the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) have carried out field research through local universities in Ghana (University of Legon), Botswana (University of Botswana) and Uganda (Makerere Institute of Social Research), which concentrated on talking to users and potential users in rural and low-income areas. The results highlight some interesting features of how people use and access phones, and illuminate factors that lie behind some of the choices that users have to make.
In all three countries, people have a choice of fixed line phones or mobile phones. In each country there is only one major fixed line phone operator, but varying degrees of competition in the mobile markets. There are two major players in Botswana, each of which offers national coverage. In Uganda there is only one operator with national coverage, although others are beginning to expand their network coverage. The largest number of national operators are found in Ghana, where four companies offer services, although coverage is far from comprehensive.
In both Ghana and Botswana, it is fixed line phones which dominate the market, especially in Ghana where 87% of respondents use fixed line phones compared with only 20% who use mobiles (N.B. people can use either or both). Use is more balanced in Botswana, where the mobile market is more developed - 67% and 45% use fixed line and mobile phones respectively. Uganda is the odd one out, where mobile phones dominate (56% use, compared with only 21% who use fixed line phones). This reflects the interesting situation in Uganda whereby MTN, who were awarded the second national operator's licence, chose to use cellular technology, so mobile coverage of the country is high.
It might be assumed that the use of short messaging service (SMS) might closely match mobile phone use, but this does not appear to be the case. Only in Botswana has the use of SMS really taken off, with 31% of the sample taking advantage of this service, compared with only 8% and 3% in the Uganda and Ghana surveys respectively. This reflects the relative sophistication of users in Botswana, where the level of education attained by the sample was highest. In addition to communication, mobile phones now offer a range of features which may influence their popularity; for example, a taxi driver in Kampala stated that the most useful feature of his mobile phone was that he could play games whilst waiting for clients!
With regard to other communication services, use of email and internet services is still low, ranging from 5% in Botswana to 12% in Ghana. Ghana was the only country with healthy numbers of cybercafes in major provincial towns. It is not clear why internet use in Ghana is relatively high, as cybercafes there have to pay trunk call charges to connect to ISPs, which was given as one of the reasons for the lack of cybercafes elsewhere. We assumed that poor literacy might be a major constraint to internet use, but staff provide a valuable service in overcoming any such barriers. In one cybercafe, a customer sat down at a PC and verbally guided the attendant through all the security features of her email service provider before dictating the text of her email - no problem.
Of all the features of users, the one that stands out in all three countries as having the greatest influence on levels of use of telephone services is education. Better educated people use phones more, have a stronger intention to use phones in the future, and have a more positive attitude towards phones. In Ghana, the differences are most pronounced between those with primary education, and those with secondary education. The same trend is apparent in Uganda, where those with higher levels of education (secondary and post-secondary) exhibit significantly higher use than those with lower education (none and primary). Mobile use in Botswana shows the same threshold between primary and secondary education, although differences between those with no education and those with primary education are most acute when it comes to fixed line phones. This is not true of internet use, where it is only those with post secondary education that make greater use of these services.
Somewhat surprising was the result that by far the most common use of phones was chatting with friends and family. There are a number of aspects of communication with friends and family, such as urgent matters (e.g. funerals and festivals), financial matters (e.g. calling to family members working in cities to ask for money when school fees are due), and generally keeping in touch. Although efforts were made to identify the relative priorities of these issues, it is inevitable that all may come up at some point during a single conversation. Nevertheless, it is clear that far fewer calls are made relating to business matters; figures indicate around half as many as to friends and family.
Users in Ghana with no education show patterns of use similar to the average, with a couple of notable exceptions  a higher proportion of their calls relate to social events, and a lower proportion to business use. Similarly, users in areas with no service have similar type of call patterns to the average, with the exception that business use is lower. Of those who only use phones infrequently, the proportion calling family is similar to the sample average, but again the numbers calling business and friends are reduced. All of which indicates the importance attributed by the poorer users to keeping in touch with family matters.
People not only have a choice of technology, but they also have a choice of access points. Public phone booths are common to all countries and generally found in commercial centres, although in Uganda booths can be found in remote rural communities, and many booths are connected to cellular networks. Telephone shops (or communication centres) are shop premises run by an attendant where people can make calls in relative privacy as they are not on the street, and most are fitted with cubicles. We had expected to find that a significant number of people, especially in remote areas, would access services through a few individuals who owned private mobile phones, but this was not borne out by the surveys. On the contrary, the view was strongly expressed in both Uganda and Botswana that, although it was regarded as culturally acceptable to ask individuals owning private mobile handsets to make calls, this was strictly regarded as a gesture of good will, and not a commercial service. It was mentioned that although individuals had offered the use of private handsets as a "commercial" service a couple of years ago, this practice stopped with the introduction of public access points in trading centres i.e. people are prepared to travel to access public phones rather than pay a premium. What the surveys do show is that there is now a significant number of people who own mobile phones, ranging from only 8% in Ghana to over 30% in Uganda and Botswana.
It appears that people are prepared to pay a premium for assisted service when using phones. In Ghana, telephone shops provide an attended service, and are clearly the preferred means of access to phones. The preference in Uganda is also for telephone shops, but the distinction in attended service between booths and telephone shops is less clear in Uganda, where the second national operator has taken an innovative approach to installing public booths. MTN have recognised that problems of neglect and vandalism can be mitigated through local "ownership", and now have a policy of installing booths in partnership with a local entrepreneur, or attendant. The current arrangement is that the partner makes an investment (roughly 10% of the cost of the booth) for it to be installed at his premises, and can then make a profit in a number of ways:
- charging a premium on units paid using a phone card;
- getting a percentage of the coins taken by a booth;
- charging for a message delivery service on incoming calls to the booth.
So what lies behind this preference for attended service? It is often suggested that the technology itself constitutes a barrier to use amongst poorly educated people in remote areas - that they simply do not know how to use a phone. Attendants in telephone shops all have stories to tell that confirm this point of view e.g. picking up the receiver upside down, placing the receiver on the desk and shouting into it; they also help with telephone "etiquette", such as how to finish a call (stories of people continuing to talk long after the person at the other end has hung up). They do point out, however, that people are quick to learn, and only need to be shown once so this is not likely to be a problem for long, given the current rate of increase of exposure to phones. Attendants also have customers who, although familiar with phones, are not comfortable with dialling procedures and simply prefer somebody else to make a connection; one feature that appears to cause some concern is that of computerised voice messages, which people either have difficulty understanding, don't trust, or just don't like.
Possibly the most valuable service carried out by attendants is the delivering of messages - this registered as a positive attitude in Uganda, and was the strongest attitude expressed by respondents in Ghana concerning telephone shops. There are essentially two types of service:
- people call the attendant and make an arrangement to call back and speak to a person at a later time; the attendant then delivers a message to that person giving the time of the call, so that they can come to the shop and wait for the call;
- people call the telephone shop and give a message to the attendant, who then passes the message on to the recipient. Messages tend to be delivered verbally, and people see little if any additional value in written messages, complaining that written messages are less reliable.
An effective message delivery service depends on community networks - knowing how to get hold of a person. There are plenty of examples of innovative ways of tapping into existing networks. One telephone shop in Ghana is helped by an old man in the village (who is a regular customer) who knows most families, so if the staff do not know the recipient, the messenger is sent on his bicycle to the old man, who can give him directions. Another has an arrangement with a lady who runs a stall in the trading centre, close to the telephone shop, such that they can pass messages to her, and she ensures that messages are delivered through her customers. The location of the booth can be critical in providing access to these networks. In a remote rural village in Uganda, for example, a booth has been installed at the headquarters of the Catholic diocese and the attendant can pass messages to visitors to the adjacent school and health clinic; the school is a particularly effective network, as children from most of the surrounding villages attend daily.
One of the interesting features of a message delivery service is that it has to be done properly if it is to work. If people cannot be confident that their message will be delivered, they will not be prepared to risk the expense of a call to the telephone shop. The booth attendant in another rural village in Uganda goes to great lengths to personally deliver all messages, and is convinced of the value of the reliability of his service, which is reflected in the high payment (which is discretionary) that many recipients make for this service.
The impact of the message delivery services offered by telephone shops is evident in the proportion of incoming traffic to areas where these are the preferred point of access. The findings shows that in both Ghana and Uganda, telephone shops are the preferred means of access to phones, and Botswana is the exception, where most people tend to use public booths. Now, in Ghana, the proportion of received calls is 38%, which compares with only 27% in Botswana, and clearly shows the important role played by telephone shops in facilitating incoming calls. It is interesting to note that incoming calls tend to be longer than outgoing calls (but only by 20%), indicating that residents in rural areas have less disposable income than those they are communicating with, who tend to live in urban centres. In Ghana the majority of calls (made and received) are trunk calls (around 70%), and in Uganda (where most people use mobiles so the trunk / local call distinction does not exist) half of all calls are made to/from the capital. The exception is Botswana, where the distribution of calls is more even with local calls being the most common, followed by calls to mobiles.
Other issues arising in people's decision to use booths or telephone shops include privacy (and noise) and queuing. Telephone shops tend to be fitted with booths, giving people a far greater degree of privacy than booths, which are generally of the open hood type, and are located on the street. Privacy and noise can be a particular problem in rural villages where the booth is located in a busy place such as the market place where people congregate during the course of the day. One of the advantages given for telephone shops is that they eliminate the need to queue. It is not apparent why this should be, as most shops only have one or two lines, but it is apparent that with seating, they offer a more pleasant queuing experience.
A further issue is that of choice. It is puzzling to see informal operators doing brisk business in market squares in Botswana providing access to a phone on a table under the shade of a parasol, when their stall is sited next to a public booth where tariffs are lower. The answer may lie in the fact that these private operators can provide a choice of mobile services, in contrast to the booths which are installed by the fixed line operator. The choice of point of access becomes more important where the tariffs are such that people pay a premium for calling across networks.
Some of the factors influencing people's choice of access point included the fact that telephone shops are not open at all hours, and the belief that booths may read phone cards incorrectly. However, the decision appears primarily to be based on cost issues. The belief that booths are the cheapest means of accessing services is influential in Ghana, and in Uganda the role of attendants in managing calls and helping reduce costs is important; note that this can be either positive or negative i.e. attendants can either be helpful (reduce costs), or keep you on the phone longer (increase costs).
Some interesting debates arose in Uganda with regard to the affect that booth attendants have on costs. During the course of one meeting, a man pointed to the hand painted sign in the street, and complained that although the sign advertised phone cards for sale, there were none to be bought. The attendant conceded that he was able to sell cards, but this was news to the villagers - they had only been able to pay for calls using his phone card. The reason lies in the profit margin that can be made from various means of payment. Attendants typically charge a 50% mark-up on calls made using a phone card, claiming this is line with guidance given by the operator. By contrast, if they have a coin operated booth their commission is only around 5% - 10% of the coins taken, and the commission on selling phone cards is similar. Card operated booths are often preferred, as they are less prone to problems with reliability and vandalism, and in these circumstances the attendant makes it easier to access the phone by overcoming the capital investment required to buy a card. So on the one hand, attendants promote phone use by providing customer service and reducing the amount of money needed, but on the other hand they can inflate the cost of calls by protecting their source of income.
Communities in Ghana and Botswana were categorised according the telecommunications service level offered, ranging from no service to high service where there were fixed line services plus coverage by two or mobile operators. This distinction was not made in Uganda, where the mobile network is dominant, and most of the country is covered (although there are local variations in quality of service). Samples were split equally across four categories of service level. It can be assumed that service level corresponds roughly to urban / rural context as there is a link between service level and main occupation - most farmers are in areas with no service, and most professional people are in high service level areas.
It is evident that many people living in areas with no service are travelling in order to access services e.g. 79% and 82% in Ghana and Botswana respectively. The level of ³occasional² use of booths in Uganda is consistent across levels of service level i.e. there is demand for a certain level of high priority calls, for which people in areas with no service coverage will be prepared to travel to access phones.
People in these areas have to spend time and money in order to get to a phone, indicating that they place a high value on the service. Figures vary from country to country, but the average cost of travel is around the $0.50 to $1.00 mark. The survey in Uganda was the only one to expressly ask how long respondents took to access phones, and the results show that the majority of those who have to travel take from half an hour to two hours for the round trip.
Letters are the most common means of communicating, and can be delivered by the post or by messengers. There are a number of factors influencing the reliance on letters for communication. In areas of Ghana with no service, the reliance on letters is less than for the sample as a whole and people prefer to travel to visit people instead; this is tied up with issues of literacy and quality of the postal service. On the other hand, there is reduced reliance on letters in urban areas of Uganda (as opposed to rural areas), where phones have now taken over as the most common means of communication in urban areas.
A further issue that can be seen as important is the risk associated with travelling to access a phone. Indeed, amongst older people in Uganda (over 40), the belief that using a phone avoids risks associated with travel (as an alternative means of communication) is the most important driver influencing their intention to use phones.
Equally interesting is how many people are not using services in areas where services are available. In Botswana, for example, over 80% of those who do not use fixed line phones live in areas where service is available (45% are in areas with the highest service coverage), and similarly, in Ghana, over 60% of those who do not use fixed line phones live in areas where coverage is available. This indicates that there are groups of people who are not using services, although they are available, amongst whom other issues are important, such as the need to travel to a phone (especially with fixed line phones), they the fact that people feel they don't know how to use a phone.
This is the practice used with mobile phones whereby one dials a number, lets it ring a couple of times, then hangs up before the phone is answered. The number of the person initiating the call is then displayed on the handset, and the owner can then decide whether or not to return the call. The practice enables people to communicate without paying the cost of a call. Although the practice was found in all countries, it appears to be most common in Uganda (reflecting the dominance of cellular technology). One public booth located next to a school had the line identification masked, presumably in an attempt to prevent the practice of beeping, but the children had found a way of overcoming this - they arranged with their parents that if they beeped three times, then it was a signal that they wanted to be phoned back. It is not quite true to say that people beeping do not have to pay for the call, as telephone shops generally charge a fee for the service (although this is much less than the cost of making a call).
Intuitively, it might be expected that the practice would lead to increased phone use, on the basis that those without resources to pay for a call can still "initiate" a call. On the other hand, it may be that phone use in a rural area is more or less fixed, and beeping simply enables a reversal in the direction of traffic. As beeping is practised throughout the country, it is not clear to what extent the practice increases overall phone use. The popularity of beeping is reflected in the "success rate" - the proportion of beeps returned to customers using both booths and telephone shops is similar, at 40%.
There must some form of beeping "etiquette" which determines who will beep, and to whom beeps will be returned, and it is expected that this is largely based on financial resources. This is confirmed to a certain extent by the fact that although the proportion of successful beeps made from personal mobile phones is slightly higher at 45%, these people are more economical with their own air time, and call back only 34% of people who beep them.
There are circumstances where beeping can be used to communicate a message in its own right, such that there is no need for the beep to be returned, which is obviously not in the interests of operators. This was only observed amongst highly sophisticated users for local communication e.g. indicating arrival at a meeting place. Although an interesting example of how users can adapt services in imaginative ways, it is unlikely that this will become widespread.
The aim of the research is that this information will be of use to key players in the telecommunications industries of African countries (and elsewhere). It is hoped that the information will promote a better understanding of how people actually use services in practice, and play a part in stimulating innovative approaches to ways in which telephone services can be made more readily accessible to those in remote and low-income communities.
Econet Wireless International has said it is examining prospects of buying out Vivendi's 60 per cent stake in KenCell Communications Ltd. Strive Masiyiwa, Econet CEO, said: "It is a fact that there is a process going on for Vivendi to dispose of their interests in Kenya, and we have been approached. We are looking at it. As one of the players in the African telecoms sector, it was only natural that we would be approached."
Econet now joins Mauritius Telcom in the fray to acquire the Vivendi stake in Kenya's second largest mobile phone service operator. Vivendi last year said it wanted to dispose of the assets, and France Telecoms and MTN were initially seen as potential buyers.
"We are reviewing the documentation that they have given us but it is still to early too tell you we are interested," said Masiyiwa.
A KenCell executive said Vivendi was dealing with its Kenyan exit plans in Paris. KenCell said it has 600,000 subscribers on its books, but analysts say only between 450,000 and 500,000 are active. With the mobile service operator's revenue per user currently put at Sh22,400 (US$280), analysts estimate that its 600,000 subscriber base gives the firm a valuation of Sh13.4 billion (US$168 million). Mauritius Telcom, MTN and now Econet Wireless are currently seen as top contenders for the Vivendi stake.
Vivendi's decision to divest from the country coincides with the Kenyan Government's plan to license a third mobile phone operator to compete with Safaricom and KenCell. Though Masiyiwa agrees there is need for a third operator, he is pessimistic about the planned auction attracting many top- notch bidders.
Speaking of his frustration with Kenyan officials during the negotiations for the possible stake in Telkom Kenya two years ago, Masiyiwa said from the very beginning, it was clear the Kenyan leaders were not keen to divest from the fixed line monopoly.
"As a company, we won't go into an environment where we are being muscled by politicians, and that was what was happening in Kenya. It was such a disgraceful factor," Masiyiwa said. But he has a word of caution for the new government: "Serious investors don't jump in quickly. What is necessary now is for the new administration to settle down. They mustn't expect people to come in with US$200 million or US$300 million investments within three or four months. It doesn't work that way. What people (investors) will do is keep coming in and looking, and if the Government continues to fulfil its campaign pledges, in 12 months' time, Kenya will look very exciting."
The Nation
According to a report by Nigeria's Vanguard, the two largest mobile providers, Econet Wireless and MTN Nigeria disagree on allowing Private Telecom Operators (PTOs) to offer limited mobility services. MTN believes that PTOs should not be allowed to offer any level of mobility while Econet Wireless says it is not concerned if the PTOs offer limited mobility services.
The NCC ruled that the position held by Econet Wireless, that PTOs be allowed to offer limited mobility, be adopted.
Adrian Wood, MTN Nigeria's CEO said, "MTN is opposed to PTOs becoming mobile operators by the backdoor and we have 200 million reasons why we have that point of view. The PTOs have paid a normal license fee and we don't think that it is reasonably fair or economically justifiable for GSM operators to pay $285 million for their licenses as opposed to few million naira. The second issue is very simple, that going into the auction process in 2000, representation was made to all the bidders that the mobility of the PTOs will be phased out. The GSM operators calculated on this to plan their business".
Media in Nigeria
Tanzania's government and MSI/Detecon will appoint an independent expert in a last ditch effort to end a dispute over outstanding dues for a stake in a state-owned telecoms firm, officials said last week.
The expert, to be appointed at a later date, will look into controversial accounts which are the basis of a deadlock between the government and a consortium of Germany's Detecon and Mobile Systems International (MSI), Tanzania's chief secretary Martin Lumanga told a news conference.
MSI/Detecon paid US$60 million in February 2001, half payment for a 35 percent stake in Tanzania Telecommunications Company Ltd. (TTCL), and agreed to pay the remaining $60 million by December 2001. But the consortium has not paid the second trache of $60 million to date and has asked for a review of TTCL's 2000 accounts, Tanzania officials said.
The two shareholders cannot agree on accounting for some 115 billion shillings ($115 million) worth of uncollected revenues in 2000, which MSI says are unlikely to ever be collected in view of their age. "We have reached an impasse. We could not agree on certain figures on debtors and the collectibility of the debt," MSI Chairman Sir Alan Rudge said at the joint news conference.
In August last year, MSI/Detecon lodged an application for arbitration in London, further deepening the rift and sparking fears that the privatisation of TTCL would be jeopardised. But the parties have now decided to negotiate out of court.
"Our two sides have reached the conclusion that we need to appoint an independent international expert to look into TTCL accounts for the year 2000 and advise as appropriate," Lumanga said.
"We have also committed ourselves to abiding to the experts determination as final so we can move forward to more investments in Tanzania," he added. He said that once appointed, the expert would have one month to complete the task. Lumanga said the expert would not be a national of Tanzania, United States or the Netherlands to avoid conflict of interest.
- South Africa's regulator ICASA is pointing out that although the 2.4 to 2.5 GHz band has become very popular to provide connections between users and computer networks, it can only be used without the required telecommunications licences if specific conditions are adhered to, beyond which it will amount to a number of contraventions of the Telecommunications Act, some of which are criminal offences.
- Angolan mobile operator Unitel has launched its new roaming service, initially offering coverage in Portugal but will add other countries.
- France Telecom Mobile Satellite Communications is extending its range of mobile satellite services by marketing Thuraya, a hand-held satellite telephone. Thuraya's footprint covers 99 countries in the Indian sub-continent, Central Asia, Middle East, central and northern Africa and Europe
- MTN Nigeria Communications Limited, the pioneer GSM operator in Nigeria, has suspended the sale of its most popular package, the 'Pay As You Go' starter packs (SIM packs). It blamed the need to cope with surging demand.
- Celtel Uganda this week launched its coverage in Kumi, Pallisa, Kapchorwa, Iganga, Bugiiri and Kamuli districts. Next on the expansion map is Lira, Gulu, Nebbi, Paraa, Kabale, Fort Portal, and Kisoro.
- The results of a coverage evaluation of Algerie Telecom by the regulator, RPT shows that it is not meeting its regulatory targets. It reveals the following levels of coverage: Skikda (88.42%), Oran (72.73%), Alger (70.13%), Tizi Ouzou (22.22%), Setif (9.59%).
The explosion in the number of cyber-cafes in Burkina Faso is making the web more accessible, writes Florence Santos da Silva of Afrik.com. But this is in spite of a connection that remains expensive and slow. In Ouagadougou there's a cybercafe every 50 metres. But many have no functioning connection. Most cybercafe employees take a philiosophical attitude and ask customers to come back in an hour. Once connected the surfer needs a lot of patience: one click, one minute, one page. The price is between 800 and 1000 CFAs an hour at least, compared to 300 CFAs an hour in neighbouring countries like Benin and Togo.
Burkina Faso's citizens have a thirst for new technology. Many of the cyber-café clients are very young such as the pupils who come to open their first mail box. A businessman spends around 10,000 CFAs a month on the internet, against 5,000 CFAs spent by his neighbouring user a physics professor. Most people go to cyber-cafes to receive mail as having a connection at home is a rarity as it costs several thousand CFAs.
Among the cyber-cafes of Ouaga, Reflex is unusual because it has a rapid connection through a leased line, which is unusual in Burkina. There are less than 10 such connections in the country. Reflex's owner M. Millogo believes that the increase in cyber-cafes has led to the increasing popularity of the internet but that prices need to come down before more people will use it:"Africa needs these new technologies in order to communicate better."
In Bobo-Dioulasso, Cyber-Planète opened last summer. On the wall there are notices identifying a selection of sites: for finding a a school or a university, friends, etc. Ezéchiel Ouédraogo, the son of the owner is the moving force behind the new café and one of the most enthusiastic exponents of the internet in Burkina. Founded in Ouagadougo by l'association Yam-Pukri it appears to want to convince all Burkinabes of the magic of the web. His father was drawn into this strange adventure and little by little has been seduced by the growing turnover of this family enterprise.
Ninety percent of high profile security breaches occur at companies with lavish security systems in place. So said Clifford Katz of Information Security Architects (ISA) South Africa at a Sun Microsystems security seminar held in Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg last week.
He added that misconfiguration of security systems is worse than no security systems at all, as it gives a false sense of security. "If a company did not have any meaningful security infrastructure, they would at least understand their risks and manage them accordingly," said Katz. "By giving stakeholders a false sense of security, effective risk management is impossible.
"Without a practical security infrastructure - availability and posture  management security will not support business - it will hamper it. No amount of products will mitigate security. The reality is that management should understand the Œnew-era' risks and manage them appropriately."
Katz also questioned how vendors explained system patches designed to address a weakness in a previous version of their product. Were they not secure before the patch?
- South African state-owned signal carrier Sentech has acquired the remaining 30% stake of Infosat from Ared. The move means Sentech will now fully own Infosat, which provides value-added services around telecommunications mediums such as leased data lines and satellite.
- Simbanet Com Ltd, a communication infrastructure provider, has been awarded Kenya's first wireless data operators' license by Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK).The firm is the VSAT arm of Simba Group.
A letter of intent (LoI) has been signed between three organisations to set up a printer assembly facility in Egypt.The promoters are the Electronics Factory of the Arab Organisation for Industry, CPG International, and Globalis International. In the plant's first phase, it will assemble a printer model that is currently sold in the Egyptian market, while in the subsequent stages, there will be "greater levels of assembly and local manufacturing of components".
The three parties have agreed to expand the scope of the agreement to cover other models currently being manufactured in Europe by CPG International. Globalis International was founded last year as a result of merging the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) operations of Alis Technologies (Canada) and CPG International (Europe). Globalis - Egypt, a new company being incorporated under the Foreign Investment Law, will be the interface between all the parties.
Gulf News
Sun Microsystems has announced that it has appointed Pytron Technologies as the first South African distributor of its StarOffice productivity suite. StarOffice is being promoted as an increasingly popular alternative to other office productivity suites. It claims to deliver all the functionality expected in an office desktop environment at a fraction of the cost of its competitors.
Pytron Technologies is a black company that boasts a network of over 2500 resellers around the country and has extensive experience in the SME (small to medium enterprise) market, which Sun is aggressively targeting with the StarOffice suite.
Anyone who thought wild Nigeria was a land of unbridled opportunity for devious gains, take note. Not only has Thoroughbreed Software Consulting, a Nigerian company been barred from dealing in software developed by Nigerian ISV Wadof Software Consulting, its customer, the very corporate Habib Nigeria Bank Limited has been told to stop using it too. The Federal High Court in Lagos says that the software was copied illegally by Thoroughbreed.
Furthermore, a combined team of security agents and the legal representatives of Wadof Software carried out a raid on Habib Nigeria Bank Trustees recently for alleged software piracy. The raid led to the seizure of the company's server, which is operated on the pirated software. The software was said to have been pirated by top officials of Thoroughbreed Software Consulting Limited and a former employee of Wadof, and sold to Habib Nigeria Bank Trustees. Nigeria's This Day newspaper reported that this incident may finally "introduce some measures of sanity into the marketing of software in the country." Where next for pirates?
CRN Flash
- Some 139 clients of SA's First National Bank will have their Visa cards cancelled after a hack into a card processing company's database last week
- Research house Forge Ahead BMI-T says government spending on IT is growing at an average rate of 15% per annum.This is in stark contrast to the general stagnation in the ICT industry of late, and one of the few sectors still growing in double-digits.
- ABSA is planning to increase its IT spending by about 9% this year, which is higher than the estimated industry average of about 7% to 8%, says Leon du Rand, group executive for IT at the bank."We will be spending about R240m to R250m on infrastructure replacement, including upgrading mainframes to allow for increasing volumes of business transactions processed, and the upgrading of PCs in branches."
Farmers will be able to receive farm prices through mobile telephones in order to enhance their bargaining power. This new service was announced last week by Dr Adrian Mukhebi, the executive director of the Kenya Agricultural Commodity Exchange (KACE), a private firm based in Nairobi. Mukhebi said the firm had entered into discussions with mobile phone providers to enable KACE launch its service.
Farmers will receive information on where to sell their produce or buy inputs such as fertilisers and seeds, he said.He said KACE has field officers based in key agricultural markets in major towns who will be used to provide data on commodity prices on an hourly basis. The new facility is unique as it will enable farmers receive information about market trends and enable them fix prices before selling their crop to middlemen.
"The information will be sent and charged as SMS messages using a special computer programme linked to the mobile phone system," said Mukhebi. He said the service was aimed at benefiting especially small-scale farmers in rural areas where lack of information on where to sell their produce results in unscrupulous traders exploiting them through price manipulation. "Armed with this information, farmers will now increase their bargaining power for better prices," said Mukhebi.
The new technology will also assist consumers who, he said, have often been exploited by middlemen. Mukhebi said institutions that frequently buy food commodities such as schools, colleges, hospitals, hotels and general consumers, will get timely messages through mobile phones.
Digital Content
The NIG is a non-governmental and non-profit organisation, licensed by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to administer the domain name. The chief executive of Zenith International Bank Jim Ovia iss presidentand Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem is vice president. NCC's chief executive, Ernest Ndukwe and former communications minister, Chief Olawale Ige are members.
The Guardian via AllAfrica.com
US-based content company AllAfrica Global Media has launched a new project. The iNetworking Project is attacking that problem through an Internet operating system designed to facilitate effectiveness and accountability in four key sectors: education, health, governance and enterprise development.
According to AllAfrica, by providing a core technology platform along with a toolkit for computer engineers to use as a template for information and communications projects that are finely tuned to both local and national needs this initiative puts the power of the Internet into the hands of the people who use it.
Already, the iNetworking Project is working with Namibian partners to develop systems that effectively utilize linkages among schools, businesses, clinics and local government structures; with a panAfrican network of peace groups on a conflict prevention and resolution initiative; with the UN Economic Commission for Africa on strategies for effective, democratic governance; and with African development groups on a digital commons to facilitate progress towards environmental protection and poverty reduction (sustainableafrica.org).
The FirstRand Group's e-commerce venture, eBucks.com, last week was claiming success as the Internet banking portal for First National Bank, Origin, WesBank and Ansbacher as well as establishing itself as SA's leading rewards programme.The group launched eBucks.com in October 2000, shortly after the launch of Old Mutual's Fundsnet, Icanonline, Standard Bank's Bluebean and before Saambou's Internet bank, 20Twenty.
At the time of launch, the group announced it had set aside R300 million for the launch and to support the fledgling business for a period of three years. Paul Harris, CEO of FirstRand Bank Holdings has said: "eBucks in fact used less than R100 million at peak funding. We are very proud to say that eBucks.com is now profitable on a month-to-month basis and is outperforming all initial expectations."
In addition to the growing strength of its bottom line, proof of eBucks.com's growing success is that there are now over 129 000 active Internet bankers conducting over R4.1 billion worth of transactions via the Web site every month, and over 500 000 rewards programme customers who, in utilising the products of FirstRand and MTN, have built up over R100 million worth of eBucks. The average spend in the eBucks Shop has also increased on a monthly basis, with over R4 million worth of eBucks spent during December and total sales for 2002 being double that of 2001.
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Ethos Private Equity's new venture capital technology fund, Ethos Tech Fund 1, has made its first investment, leading the management buyout of information solutions provider INGO Information Solutions. The effective date of the buyout from Inala Technology Investments is 1 July this year.
The Ethos Tech Fund announced its first closing at R205 million in July last year. Investors include Ethos Private Equity, RMB, Metal Industries and Transnet pension funds, Eskom Pension & Provident Fund and the German Development Finance Institution.
Ethos Private Equity specialises in acquisitions that involve management equity participation."Our investment in INGO reflects our stated requirements for a venture capital fund - the ability to offer deserving entrepreneurs the right combination of capital, technology experience and global business building support," says Ethos Tech Fund CEO Claudia Koch.
"INGO more than meets our requirements. This is a company with a rand cost base operation delivering excellent business analysis, customised software development and project management skills, that is generating annual revenue of approximately R20 million after four years."
Koch says 70% of this is dollar- and sterling-based resulting from corporate contracts in the US and Europe in the chemical and broader- based industrial sectors.
INGO, an IT vendor-independent information solutions provider, offers services that include business and IT consulting, customisation of systems, software development, system implementation and integration, project management and post-implementation support.
"The company's primary objective is to develop software that integrates with existing and often disparate information systems to improve the information flow between those systems and the broader business functions."
Ethos Private Equity CE André Roux says SA is ideally placed to generate globally competitive technologies and the firm believes the timing is right for investing in quality early stage technology businesses
Reconciling the interests of government, operators and investors was the focus of the Digital Africa Summit, held in Accra, Ghana, from 19 to 21 February 2003. The summit's theme was 'Building Digital Opportunities Through Public Private Partnerships'.
High-level participants from throughout the continent attended the summit including ministers of information and communications technologies (ICTs), non-governmental organisations, intergovernmental bodies concerned with ICT, regulators, private sector partners in ICT projects in Africa and finance organisations.
The summit, organised by the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) and hosted by the Ghanaian Government, provided the opportunity to examine several new public-private partnership (PPP) models, where the interests of three establishments intersect: the public sector, in the form of ministers, regulators and representatives of national telecommunications companies; the private sector, in the form of operators and vendors; and the financial services sector. The summit helped to develop greater appreciation among all three parties of each other's needs and requirements.
"The summit also covered goals of the public sector, such as universal service and rural telephony, as well as what operators require from governments and investors in order to be commercially viable," explained Dr David Souter, Chief Executive of the CTO. "It explored what the financial sector requires in terms of security of investment and the profits that can be obtained. Through summit discussions from all three perspectives, the old PPP structures have gone or are disappearing and new rules are being established."
Another theme to emerge from the summit was that the private sector need not necessarily mean foreign direct investment from multinational operators. The private sector may also include numerous local entrepreneurs who are able to meet market demand.
In his closing summary, Dr David Souter noted that PPP "can help the public and private sectors to work together to achieve commercial success on the one hand and at the same time socio-economic development on the other."
- Econet Wireless, the only listed technology company on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange, released its interim results last week for the six months to December 2002, which showed a dramatic reduction in the company's debt from a high of nearly $4bn in June to $1,6bn in the period under review.
- Tanzania has issued a tender for the sale of its 27 percent stake in the country's second-largest mobile phone operator, Mobitel, as part of its continuing privatisation programme.
Due to an attack of the gremlins the above story appeared when it should not have. It is one of our company archive stories and is well over a year old. Sincere apologies to all for any confusion this may have caused.
* RDC Dr Aristo Gubare of Uganda's Bundibugyo district recently called for new investors in the local telecommunications business:"We are grateful to MTN for getting us connected. But the network is still limited to some areas and not stable." Gubare said UTL services in the district collapsed years ago. A new road now connects the district to Kampala making it a day's journey and Gubare wants to see telecoms improved to match this new improvement.
* According to Ewan Sutherland, executive director of the International Telecommunications Users Group (INTUG) South Africa's attempts at managing the transition between the Telkom monopoly and an open market are almost certainly doomed to failure and will do nothing to make broadband more widely available or affordable.In fact, South Africa's version of asynchronous digital subscriber line technology (ADSL), the great white hope for consumer broadband, is a parody of what it could be, says."ADSL as offered in South Africa is a product clearly designed not to be purchased," he said. "It is a truly Third World offer," said Sutherland, who met regulators and spoke at the University of the Witwatersrand last week.
He said the reason for and solution to the lack of broadband Internet access in that country were clear. Telkom is the problem and ending the state of protectionism it operates in is the answer. "The slow speed (of ADSL in SA) is a marketing decision," he says. "If you are close enough to an exchange to get ADSL, you can get 12Mbps."
* According to This Day, NITEL subscribers in Llorin district, Kwara State are not happy:"We are getting tired of them and that's why we have been eagerly waiting for the second national carrier, Globacom". According to Engr. Justina Apede, her bills arrives wrong:"When you complain, they ask you to pay before they'll listen to you and once you pay that's all." Ilorin-based lawyer, Deji Gbadeyan, had reason to complain about NITEL's billing system.
In February 2002, no one used phone in my office and they brought a bill of N8,750 and after a protracted argument, which fell on deaf ears, we paid only for the same error to be repeated in December 2002, when consumers had to pay N11,000 for a directory in which my office particulars were omitted."
NITEL public relations officer for the tertiary, Segun Omolade, said "on the billing, it is the hand written amended bills that should be paid. That's the most recent bills and that's what we'll collect. On faults, it is not true that consumers have to wait for weeks and they have no reason to bribe our staff to work on their faults."
- The Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation is looking for a new Chief Executive. For details click on the top banner ad.
The Southern African Internet Forum has three key objectives:
1. To help create a shared strategic agenda between the private sector, the regulators and civil society that will help each advocate for change that will overcome current obstacles.
2. To offer high-level training through experience-sharing that will enable the private sector and civil society the ability to identify new opportunities and to act boldly in tackling them.
3. To allow participants the opportunity to put in place a Southern African Internet Forum as a way of pursuing these discussions on a regular basis.
The South African Internet Forum be a three-day event with a high-level training workshop on the third day (11-13) April 2003, Kwa Maritane Game Lodge, Pilansberg, South Africa). There will be a plenary stream with breakout panels to discuss specific topics. It will precede IDRC's Acacia event  Lessons of Empowerment from Communities enabling participants to attend both events.
The plenary stream will cover:
Plenary: Setting an agenda for action
William Stucke (AFRISPA) and David Meintjes, UUNet
Regulators, policy makers, civil society and the private sector: Forging new relationships to make things happen
Speakers to be announced.
Thinking the Unthinkable - African regulatory challenges for the 21st century (VOIP, the international bandwidth monopoly, interconnection and rural operators
Lishan Adam (To be confirmed)
Digital rights - The minefield of censorship, personal privacy and much more: What users are entitled to
Ryk Meiring (South Africa)
Bretton Vine (South Africa)
Lobbying government and regulators: Getting your voice heard, influencing others - Lessons to be learnt
Charley Lewis, LINK Centre (To be confirmed)
Mike van den Bergh, Gateway Communications
Universal Service Policy: Putting TRASA's Universal Service Policy into action
Speaker to be announced.
Domain names - How can Southern Africa regain control of this process
Calvin Browne
Brian Longwe
Plenary: Creating a Southern African Internet Forum
The high-level training session will be:
Creating national and regional Internet Exchange Points: reducing costs and speeding up content delivery
Brian Longwe (Kenya)
Panel discussions will include:
Technologies to reach the parts others cannot reach
Bassit Bulbulia, Witel Africa, Mike Jensen, Russell Southwood, Balancing Act.
Who represents the user? - Finding a role for Internet user groups
Charley Lewis, LINK Centre (To be confirmed)
E-rate: Why it is needed and what it can do
Encouraging active virtual communities:
Bev Clarke, Kubitana (Zimbabwe) and David Barnard, Sangonet
The rural challenge - Getting beyond the cities and towns
Telecentres and Cyber-Cafes - Finding the best approaches to opening access
The Kwa Maritime Bush Lodge is two hours from Johannesburg. Transport arrangements will be confirmed with you upon booking.
The forum is being organised by AITEC and Balancing Act, with support from the Southern African Open Society Initiative.
If our correspondent is "off the mark" or you have factual amendments, mail them to us and we will include them in subsequent News Updates. If you'd like to contribute, write and let us know.
If you need information about a particular place or issue, just send your questions in. We are always happy to follow up on readers concerns.
News Update is a free e-letter produced by Balancing Act that covers African internet content and infrastructure developments, It goes out to government, the private sector, education and NGOs. To subscribe, send a message saying "I want to subscribe" to email@example.com


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Non-Hodgkins Lymphomas (cont.)
In this Article
Risk factors
Doctors seldom know why one person develops non-Hodgkin lymphoma and another does not. But research shows that certain risk factors increase the chance that a person will develop this disease.
In general, the risk factors for non-Hodgkin lymphoma include the following:
The following are the main types of infection that can increase the risk of lymphoma:
Researchers are studying obesity and other possible risk factors for non-Hodgkin lymphoma. People who work with herbicides or certain other chemicals may be at increased risk of this disease. Researchers are also looking at a possible link between using hair dyes before 1980 and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Having one or more risk factors does not mean that a person will develop non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Most people who have risk factors never develop cancer.

subset: commoncrawl


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by Carrie
I ate these cookies over at an aquaintance's house and begged her for the recipe. I don't even really like lemon-flavored baked goods, but I ate like five of these; they are THAT good. And super easy! Sorry I don't have a picture, I haven't actually made these for myself yet, but I have enough faith in the recipe and HOW AMAZING THESE ARE that I decided to share anyway. I just had a feeling Food Lushers would love these! The cookies are really light-tasting, perfect for eating with a cup of tea for an afternoon pick-me-up. Make these!
Best Lemon Cookies Ever


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Aztec Track & Field Announces 2014 Schedule
Oct. 18, 2013
The San Diego State track and field team has released its 2014 schedule, head coach Shelia Burrell announced today. Highlighting the slate is the three-day 36th annual Aztec Invitational from March 27-29, 2014.
The Aztec Invitational will once again feature some of the top collegiate teams and athletes in the country and will include open, invitational and high school sections. More information and a meet schedule for the Aztec Invitational will be released in the coming weeks.
After the preseason Red and Black Inter-Squad meet on Dec. 7, the Aztecs officially kick off their 2014 campaign at the Cherry & Silver Collegiate in Albuquerque, N.M., on Jan. 24-26. The Cherry & Silver Collegiate is one of six meets on the indoor schedule for SDSU.
San Diego State will also compete in the Howie Ryan Invitational & Multi's in Houston, Texas on Jan. 31-Feb. 1 and the Don Kirby Elite in Albuquerque, N.M., on Feb. 14-15 prior to the Mountain West Championships, which the Aztecs will look to defend. This year's championship meet will be at USAFA, Colo., near Colorado Springs, from Feb. 27-March 1.
SDSU could then send some individuals to a last chance qualifying meet the following weekend before the NCAA Championships in Albuquerque, N.M., from March 14-15. At least year's NCAA indoor meet, current senior Shanieka Thomas was second in the triple jump, helping the team to a 25th-place tie.
San Diego State's outdoor campaign gets underway on March 15 at the Ben Brown Invitational in Fullerton, Calif., followed by a trip to the University of the West Indies Invitational on March 22 in Mona, Jamaica (Thomas' home country).
Following the Aztec Invitational from March 27-29, the Aztecs will look to capture a fourth consecutive Cal/Nevada Championships title on April 4-5 at UC San Diego.
Also on the docket for SDSU in April is the Mt. SAC/CA Multi's (April 16-17) in Azusa, Calif., the Mt. SAC Relays (April 17-19) in Walnut, Calif., the Drake Relays (April 24-26) in Des Moines, Iowa, and UCSD's Triton Invitational on April 25-26.
San Diego State will compete in a last chance qualifying meet in Azusa, Calif., on May 10 in a final tune-up for the Mountain West Conference Championships in Laramie, Wyo., from May 14-17. The Aztecs completed the 2013 MW Championships sweep last May by winning the outdoor meet in Las Vegas, Nev.
Those who qualify will then advance to the NCAA Prelims (West Regionals) in Fayetteville, Ark., from May 29-31.
SDSU will look to continue its recent success at the NCAA Outdoor Championships on June 11-14 in Eugene, Ore. Led by Thomas, who won the school's fifth individual NCAA title in school history and first in the triple jump, San Diego State tied for 23rd at the championships, giving the program its second consecutive outdoor top-25 team finish.
The Aztecs could also send athletes to various national championships and compete over the summer. Last year, SDSU had representatives at the USA Championships (Allison Reaser), Jamaican Championships (Thomas) and the Canadian Championships (Nicole Oudenaarden).


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Brizo R64707 Vesi Roman Tub Faucet Rough In (Less Trim)
Item #:
Offer Ends
Contact For Pricing
Call (800) 444-5783, Live Chat, Request a Quote We want to help make your remodel easy and affordable! Please call or chat during business hours using the links at the top of our site to take advantage of this special offer.
Technical Specs
|Exploded Parts
|Installation Guide
|Manufacturer Warranty
|Specification Sheet
|Country Of Origin
|Designer Style
|Art Deco
|Integrated Diverter
Product Features:
- Brass construction of end valves and spout body ensures reliability
- Covered under Brizo's lifetime limited warranty
- Premier finishing process – finishes will resist corrosion and tarnishing through everyday use
- Includes hand shower support assembly – handy for rinsing down the tub or just rinsing off after a bath
- Deck mount installation – faucet mounts directly to the tub fixture
- 4 hole installation
- 5/8" O.D. copper supply inlet/outlet tubes
- Control mechanism shall be of the rotating cylinder type with ceramic plate and 180º rotation, with replaceable ceramic seats operating in stainless steel lined sockets
- Washerless ceramic valves
- Temperature and volume controlled with handles
- Max Deck Thickness: 2-1/2" (measured from mounting deck to spout outlet)
- NOTE: Trim kit must also be ordered to complete installation. Refer to separate trim kit specifications to determine the best kit for your situation.
Additional Brizo Links
Our SKU: R64707
This product is listed under the following manufacturer number(s):
*Denotes a finish or option that has been discontinued
Product Reviews
Brizo is the leading manufacturer of luxury kitchen and bath faucets and accessories. Inspired by nature as well as technology; by art in addition to architecture; by the past as well as the future; Brizo truly is fashion for the home. However, they draw their greatest inspiration from the richest yet most elusive source of all : our dreams. This belief is evident in their huge selection of kitchen and bath collections that feature cutting edge innovations such as SmartTouch, MagneDock, and H2OKinetic Technologies; as well as their partnership with fashion designer Jason Wu. Brizo, where fashion forward meets forward thinking.
Brizo Vesi Collection
The Vesi Collection from Brizo is offered with two distinct spout configurations. The Vesi Channel bath faucets are inspired by babbling brooks, remaining functional while creating an indulging and unique sensory experience. The Vesi Curve bath faucets create a startling contrast between fluid and structural design.
Other Products In The Brizo Vesi Collection
Brizo 65340LF
Vesi Widespread Bathroom Faucet with Pop-Up Drain ...$347.04-$504.00(7)
Brizo RP41202
Vesi Hand Shower Package with Hose and Wall Supply$241.92-$352.80
Brizo RP42431
Vesi 4-15/16" Multi-Function Shower Head with Touc...$63.36-$90.72
Brizo 69846
Vesi Towel Ring$74.88-$105.12(2)
Brizo T67745
Vesi Double Handle Waterfall Roman Tub Faucet Trim...$756.00-$1,097.28(1)
Warranty Info
LIFETIME FAUCET AND FINISH LIMITED WARRANTY All parts and finishes of the Brizo® faucet are warranted to the original consumer purchaser to be free from defects in material and workmanship for as long as the original consumer purchaser owns their home. Delta Faucet Company recommends using a professional plumber for all installation and repair. Delta will replace, FREE OF CHARGE, during the warranty period, any part or finish that proves defective in material and/or workmanship under normal installation, use and service. Replacement parts may be obtained by calling 1-877-345-BRIZO (2749) or by writing: Delta Faucet Company Brizo Product Service 55 E. 111th Street PO BOX 40980 Indianapolis, IN 46280 BRIZO HELP LINE: 1?877?345?BRIZO (2749) E-MAIL: email@example.com This warranty is extensive in that it covers replacement of all defective parts and even finish, but these are the only two things that are covered. LABOR CHARGES AND/OR DAMAGE INCURRED IN INSTALLATION, REPAIR, OR REPLACEMENT, AS WELL AS ANY OTHER KIND OF LOSS OR DAMAGE ARE EXCLUDED. Proof of purchase (original sales receipt) from the original consumer purchaser must be made available to Delta for all warranty claims. THIS IS THE EXCLUSIVE WARRANTY BY DELTA FAUCET COMPANY, WHICH DOES NOT MAKE ANY OTHER WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY. This warranty excludes all industrial, commercial and business usage, of faucets whose purchasers are hereby extended a five-year limited warranty from the date of purchase, with all other terms of this warranty applying except the duration of the warranty. This warranty is applicable only to Brizo faucets manufactured after January 1, 1995. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you. Any damages to this faucet as a result of misuse, abuse, or neglect or any use of other than genuine Delta replacement parts WILL VOID THE WARRANTY. This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state. It applies only to Delta faucets installed in the United States of America, Canada and Mexico.
xLive Product Expert


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Two truly FAB designers which should most definitely be in any Cat5-ers closet would undoubtedly be Kate Spade and J.Crew. Both make classically stylish pieces that elevate even the most impressive of wardrobes. This week's look features contrasts of color, fun prints, and super fun accessories! Beginning with Kate Spade's Octavia coat, pricey yes, but […]Read More
"I'm ready to play…" 0
Time flies, that's the one thing we can all be sure of. Here we are at the end of August, with the official fall season kick off right around the flippin corner. The question is, are you ready? Fall is without a doubt my favorite time of year. Layering, rich colors, boots and furs…it's all […]Read More
Cat5 Outfit of the Week: "Untouchable" 0
Never underestimate the power of edge in an outfit. It provides a sense of unforeseen confidence, almost inexplicable. Untouchable. As if everything in the world came together for you on this day, and the only inevitability was the walking definition of fabulous. This week's look provides all the edge one chick could ever need, from […]Read More
Outfit of the Week: "Not all who wander…" 0
There is something to be said for undefined elegance. A style that is chameleon-like, too elusive to nail down. A style that wanders, but as the FAB necklace made by TheMeltonPot on Etsy.com says, is not lost. It is shades of cream and black dominating this week's look, beginning with Zara's Jacquard Safety Pin Sweater. […]Read More
Outfit of the Week: "SOOOOO Tribal-Fab-Chic!!! 0
This week's look is all about TRIBAL-FAB-CHIC! Beautiful prints with edgy accessories, the combinations will have you on style cloud-9. Beginning with Stella Jean's Printed Wax Cotton Peplum Top, this unique print featuring a peplum shape is a year-round wardrobe staple and an instant showstopper. While you could pair this top with a fitted pant, […]Read More


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Monday January 21, 2013
AUGUSTA, Ga. – Augusta State Head Basketball Coach Dip Metress notched his 200th win at Augusta State University as the Jaguars triumphed over Georgia College, 69-44, Monday night in Christenberry Fieldhouse.
The win moved ASU to 9-5 overall and 5-3 in the Peach Belt Conference, while the loss dropped GC to 6-9 and 2-6 in the PBC.
"Since the day we were hired on my wife's birthday, May 10, 2004, I have not made a jump shot or had an assist," Metress said. "Getting our 200th win is a tribute to the 24 seniors that have completed their eligibility in our time here. Out of those 24 and actually 25, if we include Travis Keels, 20 of them (80 percent) have either graduated or are on track to graduate with their degree. This is more important than all the championship banners that are hanging in Christenberry Fieldhouse. I am truly thankful to Coach Bryant for giving this opportunity to us nine years ago."
Sophomore forward Devon Wright-Nelson led all scorers with 17 points, while pulling down seven rebounds. Junior guard Ryan Weems notched the first double-double of his career, scoring 11 points and grabbing a season and game-high 12 rebounds. Sophomore guard Devonte Thomas scored 13 points and contributed eight rebounds.
AUGUSTA, Ga. – With the student sections battling for volume control, the Augusta State Lady Jaguars matched their best start in school history with a 50-31 Peach Belt Conference victory over Georgia College on Monday night in Christenberry Fieldhouse.
The win tied the Lady Jags for first place in the Peach Belt Conference with a 6-2 conference record and 12-2 overall – matching ASU's 2003-04 squad for the best start in school history. The loss dropped the Bobcats to 5-3 in the PBC and 9-6 overall.
Two Lady Jags tied for the game-high in scoring. Junior guard Becky Newhouse scored 12 points and nabbed a game-high eight steals, while senior guard Brittany White notched 12 points and added six steals. Senior forward Taylor Ayers contributed 10 points, a team-high six rebounds, and four blocks.
The GC Bobcats were led by sophomore forward Enisha Donley's 12 points and game-high eight rebounds. Junior guard Brandi McKinney came off the bench to notch 10 points and seven rebounds.
The first half was close with ASU ending the period with a two-point advantage, 23-21. After the Bobcats tied the game early, the Lady Jags led for the last 17 minutes of the first half. ASU twice built eight-point advantages only to see GC fight back within two. Becky Newhouse hit three from behind the arc, leading the Lady Jags in scoring in the half with nine.
"Becky had a great scoring night. She does the little stuff well and brings a lot of energy to the game," head coach Nate Teymer said.
White scored 10 of her 12 points in the second half as ASU pulled away from the Bobcats. White hit her second three-pointer and eighth point in a row at the 12:07 mark to give ASU a commanding 13 point lead.
Sophomore guard D'Angelo Boyce handed out a game-leading and season-high 11 assists and scored nine points. Senior forward Travis Keels had a game-high four blocks and nine points.


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The National Map 2013 Users Conference and USGS CDI Workshop
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Take a sneak peek at the new NIST.gov and let us know what you think!
(Please note: some content may not be complete on the beta site.).
NIST Authors in Bold
|Elijah J. Petersen; Xiaomin X. Tu; M Miral Dizdar; Ming Zheng; Bryant C. Nelson;
|Oxidatively Induced Damage to DNA: Potential Role of Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes at the Molecular Level
|May 13, 2013
|Ultrasonication is a physical process known to generate abundant levels of oxygen-derived species such as hydroxyl radicals, hydrogen atoms, and hydrogen peroxide. When used to process DNA solutions, these highly reactive hydroxyl radicals can react with DNA to generate strand breaks and a multiplicity of oxidatively modified DNA bases. Oxidatively induced damage to DNA bases has been well-studied and the reaction mechanisms have been resolved. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) methodologies have been developed to both qualitatively and quantitatively measure the DNA lesions. Here, we investigated DNA base damage in (ATT)14 and (GT)20 oligomers from ultrasonication in the presence and absence of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). We found that the overall level of DNA damage is reduced in the presence of SWCNTs, particularly for DNA lesions formed by one-electron reduction of intermediate radicals.
|Nanotech 2013
|Washington, DC
|May 12-16, 2013
|Research Areas:
|Nanotech/Environment, Health & Safety
|PDF version:
|Click here to retrieve PDF version of paper (201KB)


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A Motorcycle was stolen from house in Brandesburton overnight on January 2 when someone got into the rear garden via a secured gate while the resident was at home.
The thief knocked the lock off the gate and took a blue Modena Kriss 110 motorcycle which was secured with a padlock and chain. Later the same day the owner's wife found the stolen vehicle not far away. It was found to have damage to the ignition, a ripped seat and broken side fairrings.


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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]
Boustead, John, Sheepfarmer, "Pah Flat," Alfredton. Mr. Boustead was born in 1850 at Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, where he was also educated. He was brought up to farming pursuits, and left Home for Wellington in 1878 per ship "Pleione," spending the first ten years of colonial life in the Wairarapa. The farm of 800 acres which he now occupies was acquired in 1888, when it was mostly in a state of nature; now it supports about 2000 Romney sheep and a good herd of shorthorn cattle. Mr. Boustead takes an interest in the welfare of the district as a member of the Alfredton Domain Board. In 1884 he was married to a daughter of the late Mr. Samuel Oates, referred to on page 893 of this volume in the notice of Mr. Joseph Oates, and has one daughter.
Mr. And Mrs. J. Boustead.
Mr. A. Burling.
Clulow, John, Farmer, "Rangedale," Pori, Alfredton. Mr. Clulow was born in 1854 at "Park House Farm," Leek, Staffordshire, where he was educated, and worked on his father's farm. Coming to the Colony in 1887 in the s.s. "Ruapehu," he was for over two years on his brother's farm, near Eketahuna. He took up his present holding in 1890, being the first settler on Mt. Merchant, and had to cut his own track to his land. Mr. Clulow, in conjunction with his brother, took up 600 acres of bush-land, a large portion of which is improved and sown with the finest grasses, and now carries a flock of Lincoln-Romney sheep and some shorthorn cattle.
Gillespie, William, Settler, "Waihoki," Alfredton. Born in 1869 in Wellington, where he was educated, Mr. Gillespie has had a good deal of experience of country life, and has travelled through most of the Auckland Provincial District. He was in the neighbourhood of Mt. Tarawera on the 10th of June, 1886, and will never forget the eruption of that night. In 1892 Mr. Gillespie took up his holding of 334 acres in the Waihoki Valley, then all in dense bush. A great portion of this property is now in good grass.
Morris and Ford, Farmers, Mt. Marchant, Pori, Alfredton. This property, which is 773 acres in extent, was purchased in 1891 by the present holders, who have 400 acres grassed and fenced, with a carrying capacity of over two sheep to the acre, in addition to a large number of shorthorn cattle. Mr. Morris was born in 1870 in Shropshire, England, and was educated in Heraford, coming to New Zealand via Melbourne in 1889. Mr. Ford was born in Hereford, where he was educated, and came to the Colony in 1887 in the s.s. "Ruapehu."
Nelson, F. P., "Ruatea," Pori, Alfredton. Born in 1867 in Suffolk, where he was educated Mr. Nelson followed farming pursuits from his early years, and came to Lyttelton in 1886 in the ship Stapinui." After about three years in Australia, he returned to New Zealand, and took up his holding of 1750 acres in 1891. The holding wasdense bush at that time, but now, with the exception of 250 acres, it is highly improved, and carries three sheep to the acre, besides some cattle. Mr. Nelson has served the public as member of the Alfredton Road and Domain boards, and as vice-president of the local athletic sports club.
Mr. W. J. Saunders.
Mr. J. Smith.
Warren, Holmes, Sheepfarmer, Tiraumea, Alfredton. Mr. Warren was born in 1863 at St. Kilda, Victoria, and was educated at Christchurch Grammar School and College, passing some years on stations belonging to his grandfather, the Hon. M. Holmes, with whom he gained valuable knowledge of the various breeds of sheep. In 1884 he purchased his property of 10,300 acres, which carries a large flock of sheep of the Cheviot, Romney, and Lincoln strains, which have been judiciously crossed. Mr. Warren has also a herd of 370 grand shorthorn cattle. For several years he has been a member of the Castlepoint Road Board, and also of the Alfredton Road Board, which he used his influence to have merged in the Wairarapa North County Council. Mr. Warren was married in 1890 to Miss Bidwill, and has a son and a daughter.
Mr. H. Warren.


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Spartanburg Methodist hosting seminar series on investigating crime via social media
Published: Tuesday, November 27, 2012 at 8:19 p.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, November 27, 2012 at 8:19 p.m.
Social media not only changed the way the world communicates, it changed the way crimes are investigated.
On Thursday, Spartanburg Methodist College's paralegal certificate program will launch a seminar series to examine the effect of social media in investigating and prosecuting crimes with evidence gathered online. It will review the legal and ethical challenges posed by social media, as well.
The seminars are open to the public and cost $125 for the three-lecture series.
Spartanburg County's 7th Judicial Circuit Solicitor Barry Barnette will be the featured presenter for Thursday's seminar. The other seminar dates are Dec. 6 and Dec. 13. All seminars start at 5:30 p.m. and will be on the SMC campus.
For more information, or to register for this seminar, contact Yvonne Harper, email@example.com or 864-266-7409.
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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When Courtney Rahrig '08 applied for a 12-week fellowship after graduating from Valparaiso University's College of Nursing, she knew she was more than qualified to take part in the program.
Rahrig points to the simulation-based instruction she received through the CoN's Virtual Nursing Learning Center.
"I could definitely tell I was prepared well," Rahrig says. "I know having the experience with simulation at Valpo made me even more confident."
Rahrig was one of 11 to be accepted during the summer of 2008 into the Critical Care Fellowship through the Medical Center of Aurora in Aurora, Colo. The fellowship was geared toward training recent graduates for a career as a nurse on an intensive care unit.
Those who took part in the fellowship were guaranteed a position as an ICU nurse at any of the Health One facilities in the Denver area. Rahrig now works as an ICU nurse at Skyridge Medical Center in Lone Tree, Colo.
The fellowship provided participants with a hands-on learning experience thanks to a heavy integration with patient simulation tools at the Work, Education and Lifelong Learning Simulation Center, a state-of-the-art facility specializing in building clinical knowledge through patient simulation.
"It was basically honing our skills from nursing and applying them to real situations," Rahrig says. "I know simulation has given me more confidence. I'm a hands-on learner. And I think a lot of people feel that way when trying to apply their knowledge."
PHOTO CAPTION: Courtney Rahrig '08 works as an ICU nurse at Skyridge Medical Center in Lone Tree, Colo.


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Underage drinking was to be the serious topic discussed by a group of concerned community leaders, parents and students at a town hall meeting in San Ramon.
Coordinated by the Youth Community Advisory Board of the Community Against Substance Abuse (CASA) and the Monte Vista Chapter of Friday Night Live, the meeting was to be held Tuesday to create an awareness of the danger in thinking it's "no big deal" that young people are consuming alcohol, says Patty Hoyt, coordinator of the San Ramon Valley Alcohol Policy Coalition.
The meeting is a way to "mobilize the community to change social norms or attitudes relating to the use of alcohol, to control the availability of alcohol, and to strengthen enforcement of laws and regulations governing its use," Hoyt said.
In this season of proms, graduations and summer parties around the corner, "What you can't do is nothing," said Dave Williams, youth resource officer with the San Ramon Police Department and one of the evening's speakers.
He adds that it's not uncommon for parents to think they are providing a safe haven for kids to gather and drink. These parents, he adds, are "not aware of certain laws that make them liable for the actions of their kids." San Ramon currently has a "social host" ordinance; under that, adults who provide alcohol to underage guests at gatherings in their homes can be cited and fined $1,000.
It's a matter of educating the kids and the parents, he adds.
Williams adds that the community cannot address underage drinking and alcohol without speaking about marijuana use as well.
"There's not a single month when I haven't had a case involving a student having possession of marijuana at school," he says. And that's in addition to cases of possession outside of school.
"There's a casual attitude toward (marijuana)," he says. With the legalization of marijuana is many jurisdictions, "everything is telling them (that) marijuana is OK," but like alcohol, "it impairs judgment." Hoyt says that they "hope to get a groundswell of support for enforcement of existing policy and for establishing additional policy" -- for example, the creation of a uniform policy to prevent alcohol and other drugs from getting into school dances.
"Currently, all four high schools (in the district) have different procedures. I hope the town hall will get supporters of this work," she adds.
According to the latest California Healthy Kids Survey administered to San Ramon Valley School District students, 11 percent of ninth-graders and 26 percent of 11th-graders reported having had at least one drink in the past 30 days. Fifteen percent of 11th-graders report binge drinking in the past 30 days. (Binge drinking is defined as five or more drinks at a time).
Marijuana use was surveyed as well, with 5 percent of ninth-graders and 15 percent of 11th-graders reporting using it in the past 30 days. Some parents "are very concerned and aware of the problem (of underage alcohol and drug use). They seek help to figure out a course of action," which, Williams says, is encouraging.
On the other hand, "There are parents who don't see it as a big deal. That frustrates me," he says. What kind of message is that sending to the kids?
HEALTH FAIR: The Bishop Ranch Wellness and Safety Fair is Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. outside of Bishop Ranch 3, 2623 Camino Ramon.
The free event will feature dozens of vendors with information on health, diet and exercise. There will be interactive demonstrations and free cholesterol screening, bone density tests, blood pressure checks and chair massages. Come and enjoy healthy refreshments, giveaways and raffles for fun prizes. The American Red Cross will also be there to accept you donations of blood.
The Food Truck Mafia lineup will be available with items to purchase for lunch. For more information, contact Bishop Ranch Community and Outreach at 925-543-0100.
Contact Monica Lander at email@example.com.


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What is Trisomy 18?
Trisomy 18 (also known as Edwards Syndrome) is a chromosomal abnormality in which a person inherits three copies of chromosome 18 in every cell of the body, rather than the normal two. This extra bit of genetic material on chromosome 18 disturbs normal development.
What Causes Trisomy 18?
When the sperm and ova meet during conception, 23 chromosomes from the mother and 23 chromosomes from the father combine to form a baby with 46 chromosomes per cell. A trisomy happens when an additional chromosome is added at the time of conception. For those with Trisomy 18, an extra chromosome is added to the 18th chromosomal pair.
A trisomy is never, ever the parents' fault, nor is it caused by anything that happened during pregnancy.
How Common Is Trisomy 18?
In live births (rather than stillbirths), Trisomy 18 is the second most common autosomal trisomy, following only Down Syndrome. Trisomy 18 occurs in approximately 1 in every 6,000-8,000 newborns. 80% of newborns with Trisomy 18 are female. During first trimester prenatal screening, the incidence of Trisomy 18 is 1:400; however, due to the high amounts of spontaneous losses, the birth prevalence is 1:6,500.
What Are The Types of Trisomy 18?
- Full Trisomy 18 - the most common type - 95% of all Trisomy 18 cases - is a full Trisomy, meaning that the extra chromosome exists in every cell in the body. Full Trisomy 18 is not hereditary and is not the result of actions before or during pregnancy.
- Partial Trisomy 18 - a rare form of Trisomy 18 that occurs when a fragment of an extra chromosome exists and may be hereditary. People who have partial Trisomy 18 have two copies of chromosome 18 in addition to a small bit of extra material - rather than a full extra chromosome - on chromosome 18.
- Mosaic Trisomy 18 - a rare form of Trisomy 18 that occurs when the extra chromosome is present in some - but not all - cells within the body. Mosaic Trisomy 18 is not inherited, but a random occurrence that happens during cell division.
Epidemiology of Trisomy 18:
Age: Trisomy 18 is detectible during newborn as well as prenatal periods.
Race: Trisomy 18 has no racial proclivity.
Sex: 80% of Trisomy 18 cases occur in females.
Morbidity/Mortality of Trisomy 18:
As many as 95% of conceptions with Trisomy 18 pass away as fetuses or embryos. 5-10% of children affected with Trisomy 18 live beyond the first year of life.
For livebirths with Trisomy 18, the median survival is 14.5 days. The extremely high mortality rate is due to renal and cardiac malformations, sepsis, apnea and feeding difficulties. 50% of infants may survive into the teen years, but will do so with severe medical problems and developmental delays.
Long-term survival up to 27 years of age has been reported.
Prenatal Signs of Trisomy 18:
- Single umbilical artery
- Weak fetal activity
- Fetal distress
- Intrauterine growth restriction
- Excess amniotic fluid or inadequate amniotic fluid
- Small placenta
Physical Signs of Trisomy 18:
The extra genetic material in individuals with Trisomy 18 can cause a spectrum of problems with varying severity, ranging from extremely affected to mildly affected, meaning that there is no specific definition as to how Trisomy 18 will affect each individual.
Organ systems commonly affected include:
Cardiac - 90% of infants with Trisomy 18 have cardiac malformations. The most common cardiac malformations are ventricular septal defects (holes in the septum, or wall, separating the left and right ventricles of the heart) along with pulmonary and aortic valve defects. Other malformations include:
- patent ductus arteriosus - failure of the ductus arteriosus, the blood vessel that allows blood to go around the baby's lungs before birth, to close after birth
- overriding aorta - the aorta is shifted over the right ventricle and ventricular septal defect, instead of coming out only from the left ventricle
- atrial septal defects - holes in the wall separating the left and right upper chambers (atria) of the heart
- coarctation of the aorta - narrowing of part of the aorta
- tetralogy of Fallot - a combination of 4 related heart defects - ventricular septal defect, pulmonary stenosis (narrowing of the pulmonary valve), right ventricular hypertrophy (thickening of the right ventricular muscle wall), and overriding aorta
- transposition of the great arteries - the two main arteries leaving the heart are reversed, changing the way blood circulates through the body
- hypoplastic left heart syndrome - the left side of the heart is severely underdeveloped and can't effectively pump blood out to the body
- abnormal lobation of the lungs - the lungs are irregular in shape
- pulmonary hypoplasia - the lungs are underdeveloped
- microcephaly - head size is significantly smaller than it should be for an infant of the same gestational age
- wide fontanels - larger than expected fontanels (soft spots) on the baby's head, where the skull bones come together
- long skull
- delayed motor development and mental retardation in 100% of cases
- poor muscle tone
- apnea - the infant stops breathing at certain intervals
- seizures
- microcephaly
- Arnold-Chiari malformation
- hydrocephalus - excessive build-up of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain
- frontal lobe defect
- arachnoid cysts - sacs filled with cerebrospinal fluid, situated between the brain (or spinal cord) and the arachnoid membrane (one of the three membranes covering the brain/spinal cord)
- myelomeningocele
- adrenal hypoplasia - underdeveloped adrenal glands
- thyroid hypoplasia - underdeveloped thyroid gland
- thymic hypoplasia - underdeveloped thymus gland
- pyloric stenosis - narrowing of the opening from the stomach into the small intestine
- exstrophy of Cloaca - the bladder and portion of the intestines are exposed outside the abdomen; the intestine is short and the anus may not be open
- imperforate anus - the opening to the anus is missing or blocked
- malpositioned anus
- pilonadal sinus - a cavity below the skin surface near the crease of the buttocks that connects to the surface with one or more small openings
- hernias - umbilical, inguinal, or diaphragmatic - holes in the mesentery or membrane that holds the organs in place
- omphalocele - the intestines or other abdominal organs protrude through the belly button
- ileal atresia - an obstruction in the ileum, the final and longest section of the small intestine, that connects to the large intestine
- esophageal atresia - an obstruction in the esophagus
- malrotation of the intestine - the intestines do not rotate completely or correctly during gestation, causing intestinal blockages or twisting
- Meckel diverticulum - pouch on the wall of the lower part of the intestine that may contain tissue identical to the stomach or pancreas
- diastasis recti - separation between the left and right side of the abdominal muscle that covers the front belly area
- absent gallbladder
- absent appendix
- accessory spleens
- double ureters - the infant has two ureters draining the kidney, instead of one
- hydroureters - swelling in the ureters
- hydronephrosis - swelling in the kidneys
- horseshoe kidneys - kidneys are fused together at the base
- micromulticystic kidneys - tiny cysts in the kidneys
- unilateral renal agenesis - the infant only has one kidney instead of two
- Females may have hypoplasia (underdevelopment) of labia, ovaries, or clitoris.
- Males may have micropenis (unusually small penis), hypospadias (urethral opening on the underside of the penis), or cryptorchism (undescended testes).
How Is Trisomy 18 Diagnosed?
There are two types of prenatal testing available for Trisomy 18. These include screening and diagnostic exams.
1) Screening for Trisomy 18: A screening test may indicate a risk that the fetus has Trisomy 18 by taking all results from the same test and comparing results to individual results. A screening is NOT the same as a diagnosis, it merely indicates that the risk for Trisomy 18 is higher than the average.
- AFP (also known as triple screen, quad screen, maternal serum screening) is a blood test performed between week 15 and 17 of pregnancy that detects levels of AFP, hCG and Estriol. An elevated AFP may indicate a risk for Trisomy 18.
- Ultrasonography - In the case that the AFP returns a risk for Trisomy 18, a level II ultrasound may be ordered. These more detailed ultrasounds performed by a perinatologist or high risk OB will look for markers of a chromosomal abnormality. These markers include soft markers - characteristics of babies with Trisomy 18 - and structural markers - abnormalities in the bone and organ formation. Several markers for Trisomy 18 include: rocker bottom feet, delayed growth, clenched fists, heart defects, kidney problems and esophageal atresia. Even if many markers for Trisomy 18 are discovered on an ultrasound, this is not a diagnosis of Trisomy 18.
2) Diagnostic Tests for Trisomy 18: Diagnostic tests are able to check the genetic material of the fetus to ascertain if Trisomy 18 is present. These tests are able to diagnose Trisomy 18 and include:
- Chorionic Villi Sampling (CVS) - a diagnostic test performed between weeks 10 and 12 gestation that involves taking a piece of the chorionic villi and analyzing the cells. As a CVS generally has the same genetic and biochemical material as the fetus, chromosomal issues may be diagnosed.
- Amniocentesis - a diagnostic test performed typically between weeks 15 and 18 of pregnancy in which a small amount of amniotic fluid (which contains fetal tissues) is removed from the amniotic sac surrounding the fetus. The amniotic fluid is then tested for genetic abnormalities.
Decisions After A Prenatal Diagnosis of Trisomy 18:
Finding out that your child has a diagnosis of Trisomy 18 is one of the most difficult experiences, and nothing can be done to make it any easier. If your child has been diagnosed with Trisomy 18, be certain to discuss this diagnosis with your doctor and a genetic counselor.
- Ask questions, take notes, and ask for the doctors to explain everything.
- Seek out doctors that you trust and who will advocate for you - no matter what decision you make.
- Learn as much as you can about Trisomy 18
- Take all of the time you need before making any decisions.
- Remember: it's okay to grieve the child you'd pictured.
- Write your story for Band Back Together.
- Keep in mind that every child, every pregnancy is different, and Trisomy 18 can have a spectrum of symptoms.
If A Trisomy 18 Diagnosis Is Made After Birth:
Medical care for babies with Trisomy 18 is supportive and aimed at treating and preventing infections, encouraging feeding as well as treatment for cardiac and other structural abnormalities.
During the neonatal period, issues of diagnosis (especially if it was unexpected) and survival are paramount and parents should be educated about Trisomy 18, the implications of the condition as well as the multitude of outcomes.
Parents should be directed to support services within the hospital and the community as the presence of a disabled child in a family is a tremendous source of anxiety and stress.
Parents should expect the roller-coaster of grief and grieving including reactive grief related to chronic illness and preparatory grief associated with losing a child.
Parents should be advised that they did nothing to cause this condition in their child and that the risk of recurrence in subsequent pregnancies is less than 1% (in cases with full trisomy).
Related Resource Pages on Band Back Together:
What To Say To Someone Who Has Lost A Child
Additional Resources:
Trisomy 18 Foundation - the mission of this foundation is to encourage the search for treatments and preventions of Trisomy 18, to educate and support medical professionals, and to create a caring worldwide community for affected families.
Support Organization for Trisomy 18, 13 and Related Disorders (SOFT) - a nonprofit volunteer organization offering support for parents who have had or are expecting a child with a chromosome disorder (especially Trisomy 18 and Trisomy 13), and education to families and professionals interested in the care of these children.
Hope for Trisomy 13 & 18 - non-profit that is devoted to funding research for Trisomy 13 & 18 and related chromosome disorders, develop programs that educate parents of children with Trisomy about options available to their child and teach them how to advocate for their child to receive all available treatment, and to create materials, literature, workshops, seminars, and conferences to educate the medical health professionals, the parents, and the public about Trisomy 13 and 18, so they have accurate and current information and resources available to them.


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When in doubt, fry it: Leslie Brenner's fried dish wish list
Photo: Xiaomei Chen/Staff Photographer
"Fried little asparagus" with roasted lemon-dill dressing is a signature dish from Nick Badovinus, chef-owner of Neighborhood Services.
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Issue No.04 - July/August (2007 vol.27)
pp: 14-19
Leonel Valbom , University of Minho
Adérito Marcos , University of Minho
DOI Bookmark: http://doi.ieeecomputersociety.org/10.1109/MCG.2007.76
This article describes a prototype immersive musical instrument that expands the concepts of traditional musical elements and allows the integration of a spatial dimension using 3D music and sound objects into the musical environment by employing physical, visual, and sound immersion. From the prototype's evaluation results, the authors conclude that immersive musical instruments naturally give users a way to perform, compose, or improvise music (in real time) with a high degree of control.
audio systems, music, user interfaces, virtual reality
Leonel Valbom, Adérito Marcos, "An Immersive Musical Instrument Prototype", IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications, vol.27, no. 4, pp. 14-19, July/August 2007, doi:10.1109/MCG.2007.76


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High ISO performance in D5000
So is the high ISO performance of the D5000 the same or significantly better than the D300?
Jeff Meyers
Lumos Galleries
#1. "RE: High ISO performance in D5000" | In response to Reply # 0mfaccone Nikonian since 28th Apr 2008Sun 17-May-09 01:47 AM | edited Sun 17-May-09 02:00 AM by mfaccone
When I played with the D5000 I had my D300 with me.
I set both camera in Manual mode.
1/30 shutter speed
Found that the D5000 was a little better.
They were close.. had to pixel peak real close to tell the difference
1/60 shutter speed
Found that the D5000 was a hair better.
Same thing... had to look real close to tell a difference.
When I went up to Hi 1.0 or I think that is 6400 ISO was when I started to see the D300 look a little better than the D5000
Not by much though.
But, for head to head comparison... the D5000 stands its ground.
This is my opinion... it wasn't really a true controlled test. All my shots were hand held, which is where most shots actually happen anyway.
Visit my Nikonians gallery.


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Is someone able to give an example of code how to disable MimeTypes Link Icons on a particular link. For a situation like a PDF linked on the image of the cover page where you don't want the MimeTypes Link Icons to apear. I am not a programer so the «Tick this box to have a classname that will disable the mime type links (ie: around an image or caption).» explanation is very difficult to understand. It would be nice to add an example in this part of the MimeTypes Link Icons settings page to help people like me.
I apologize for my bad english, I am from Montréal, Québec, and my main language is French.


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View the original article at: http://www.countryweekly.com/news/johnny-rodriguez-recovering-after-fall-horse
The singer was placed on a respirator for a while, but is now breathing on his own in the intensive care ward and expected to recover fully. Doctors at his Forth Worth-area hospital have determined he suffered no spinal or brain damage in the fall, and may be allowed to return home in a few days. Nonetheless, Johnny's planned Aug. 20 show at the North Texas State Fair & Rodeo in Denton has been canceled. Johnny's many 1970s hits include the chart-toppers "Riding My Thumb to Mexico" and "Love Put a Song in My Heart."
[1] http://www.countryweekly.com/news/kenny-new-single-and-video
[2] http://www.countryweekly.com/news/joe-nichols-admits-drug-past


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Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty broadcasts in 28 languages. Most of our programs are available on FM and medium-wave frequencies of local radio stations in the countries of our broadcast area. If you are having problems listening to programs on the internet, please read our technical help document.
Published 26 February 2013
Representatives of Iran and six world powers are meeting in Almaty, Kazakhstan, to discuss Iran's contested nuclear program. On the eve of the talks, a small group of activists gathered by a statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Almaty to join in a collective prayer for world peace. The meeting was led by Dzyunsey Terasava, a traveling Buddhist monk and peace activist from Japan, which experienced a civilian nuclear disaster two years ago. RFE/RL's Kazakh Service
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