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I won't even start with rapid soap opera aging syndrome in this case. I will say how disappointed I am in American soap operas though. I have stopped watching them. Only Europe for me!
I could almost forgive the conservative story lines, the bad cinematography, and the cheesy settings. What I can't forgive when I compare it to European soaps is the caliber of acting. Those are actors that are devoted. I think they must practice after hours because they are committed to their roles. When I watch American soaps now, I just don't buy it.
There are exceptions of course, but mostly it looks like what the actors have said in interviews – they have a read through and then they tape.
So, no. To do a rape storyline on General Hospital and disregard Bobby's gay son Lucas(?(I can't remember at this point it's been so long)) is just not acceptable.
Rape in prison is valid; however, I really do already know how American soap operas will handle it – cheap, poorly acted (with an Emmy most likely), and since this is General Hospital: a mob murder of the rapist. Oh, and Carly will be involved somehow. Music will play and… a breakthrough in less than a year. Hurray!
Sorry this is long, but it really irritates me. Soap operas have so much potential, but they fail to live up to it in my country (USA).>:[
So. I have to go to jail if I wanna get laid?
Prison rape is a real problem but it's not taken seriously by the majority of the public, the media or the government, however there are endless discussions on combating male-female rape such as devices that cut off a man's dick, talk of capital punishment for male rapists etc.
Why isn't male rape addressed more often, victims are way more likely to get infected with STDs such as HIV, it is far more painful and traumatic but it's like every time male-male rape is mentioned it's in a joke but for male-female rape it couldn't be more serious. Men need to start demanding their rights.
I think soap Operas have to be fun and a little silly. The slide off their genre when they make life too real, and I think that is what some of the viewers are complaining about.
But I should never be allowed to write one. "Trans-gender Warden Kundla takes Michael in her office and they talk about their dreams over tea."
Hi, didn't the douche kill someone, with an axe handle? It would only be appropriate that they show the rape, with the handle. In 3D. Cheers.
"my sister's not disturbed by the storyline so much as the victim being an 18-year-old virgin (like her son). "He's so innocent"
Funny how all mothers think their babies are innocent virgins! My mother thought the same thing while I began having sex at 11 years old!
@Bob:*funny* I was 8 before I was 7 :-p
Rape on GH is nothing new. Laura of the iconic daytime couple Luke and Laura was raped by Luke of all people! She was 20 at the most. Elizabeth was raped when she was 16 (younger than Michael at 18). Both the stories of Laura and Elizabeth were popular. Interesting that viewers are getting up in arms about a rape when it's a male rape but for years they have been keeping quiet about when women are raped.
Actually, I think addressing male rape in this genre is a good thing. Rape in any form is disgusting and dispicable. Sadly though, male rape tends to be overlooked and ignored. One of my best friends was raped a few years ago. Despite the resulting trauma and devastation, she began voluteering at rape crisis centers and has become very active in support groups for victims. However, she has told me that frequently male victims tend to be ignored, scorned, or at the very least not taken seriously by victims' support groups. Fortunately, she is working to change this attitude at the centers she does volunteer at. By addressing this issue in such a wide spread format, maybe the wider society will change its attitude and begin to take male rape victims more seriously and treat them with the support and love they need.
I guess if Michael has been infected by the HIV virus, he'll be in the storyline for a while longer to educate the public a little and then be written outta the show. Nobody who is HIV positive can stay around for very long since they're so many issues that will have to be dealt with. The public couldn't handle it.
@glennmcgahee: Gonna be interesting to see how Uncle Saul's HIV storyline unfolds on Brothers and Sisters. The writers tend to be fairly Gay positive so most likely won't be over the top.
I hate to sound like a wet blanket but for some reason or other the teenaged actors in these soap operas look like older actors pretending to be teenagers. I don't watch soaps but have no doubt it took some acting for this actor to sit down softly.
Another desperate attempt to attract more of the loyal gay community to it's show.
Actually, Robin (another character on GH) has HIV and has been on the show since she was a teenager. She lives with HIV and is married. It doesn't come up constantly, but certainly it is a regular impact on her life and the storylines.
I watch GH everyday – I must have not been paying attention (I can watch the whole thing in 30 minutes since SO MUCH is repeat stuff and random exposition for those who don't keep up regularly). I thought Michael just got beat up. I bet they don't explore the topic more than they already did – it will come up a couple more times and then it'll be forgotten. At least with Elizabeth and with Laura, the rape storylines had major implications for them and others and continued to impact storylines for years and years (and still do).
Of course – GH has a host of other problems (I won't go on and on), mainly its glorification of mob violence and its treatment of really bad people as heroes.
Gave up soaps years ago because they amount to 5 hours a week I can never get back.
However, this storyline grabs me. Not just for the pervy prison rape fantasy that so many people have (until it actually happens), but because this issue to true to life, happens every single day and yet no one cares because they're society's throw-aways, criminals who gave up their rights to freedom and, well, their right to say no when Big Mike climbs into their bunk.
More shows need to tackle this subject, and hopefully the conservative brain-shackles that have hobbled this issue (and every else) will finally be broken.
"For those of you (like me) who don't watch the show, 18-year-old Michael landed in prison for bludgeoning his crazy stepmother to death with an axe handle after she kidnapped his pregnant mom. Michael's mobster dad burned all the evidence to protect his son but the court convicted Michael anyway. Once on the inside, Michael's rapist Carter protected him from an abusive guard and later raped Michael as 'payback.'"
I know soaps are soaps, but that has to be the most convoluted storyline I've ever heard. It's sad that people get paid to write the stuff, even if it does lead to addressing actual issues with the stay-at-home mom and the slackers-at-work.
Glenn, you obviously don't watch GH. The character of Robin Scorpio (played by Kimberly McCullough) joined GH in 1985 when she was only 8 years old. The audience saw her grow up before their eyes. In 1994 GH told a wonderful love story betwen Robin and her first boyfriend. Unbeknownst to either of the teens the bf carried HIV and Robin became HIV +. GH has told Robin's story for 16 years and shown that even though she contracted HIV as a teen she went to college to become a doctor, had struggles falling in love as she dealt with her condition and now is happily married. She is one of the most popular characters on the show and her pairing with Patrick is one of the happiest and most stable relationships on the show. If Michael does test positive he will definitely be part of the storyline just as Robin has for the past 16 years.
No.15 Sine
Some ordinary good people who toil 40 hours a week at a job they hate also watch shows with these "convoluted" storyline, not just stay at home moms and slackers. Its escapism. It makes people feel their own miserable lives are less so. And in a world were grown-ass people oppress and kill each other over fairytales, escapism can be a godsend.
As an avid GH watcher (My mom has been watching the show since she was 14, I've been watching since I was in utero) and a long time LGBT activist, I think GH has the potential to handle this situation quite well. This new kid playing Michael seems to be growing in to his role well. What I think alot of you are missing, since you are NOT followers of the show is the importance of the character Jason. Jason, is not just one of Michaels fathers "mob buddies". Jason has been taking care of Michael since he was an infant (particularly when Carly, Michael's mom, had post-partum depression) and arranged with the gov't to go to jail to Protect Michael. The man who plays Jason has done so for years and years, and the role is more than him as Sonnys (Michaels dad (but not really, but thats another storyline all together) enforcer – he is often the protector of the oppressed – but through gentle empowerment rather than the typical macho guy role.
Well this turned in to more of a rant than I'd like it to be, but I think a little character background is important before you make any judgements about the show, the plot, or the characters.
If you live on the east coast, the show is coming on today at 3pm.
@glennmcgahee: Kimberly McCullough has been playing Robin Scorpio for on and off for years, and the character has been HIV positive since roughly 1995-96. Not saying they do a great job with it at all, but for the record… and HIV diagnosis is NOT a one-way ticket off daytime TV.
"it is far more painful and traumatic"
compared to what, exactly?
Meh GH, ATWT is where its at with the all gay love triangle in full swing. Honestly its the best written storyline I've seen on a soap in decades.
Team Lure.
An 11@glennmcgahee:
You obviously don't watch GH. One of GH's most popular characters has had HIV for 16 years.
The only reason they care is because it's two men. It's rather sad and pathetic that they can't get past that to see the underlying story and truth of what really happens to men in prison.
These are the same women who killed the gay storyline on OLTL with their letters and threats to quit watching.
They don't want to see anything they deem as gay/homosexual on their TV and ABC willingly bends over.
@curtainface: Compared to vaginal rape, cos it's you know … tighter on a man.
It boggles my mind that female soap characters, some quite young, have been raped so frequently and in some cases hooked up with their own rapists but a rape of a male causes more controversy. Prison rape is a real issue and a realistic male rape story has never been done before. My only issue with the story is that I'm not sure the GH writers can handle it with the proper sensitivity.
@PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS: If not over the top, then ham-fisted. Could they have jammed that storyline into the season finale any more bluntly? I love Brothers & Sisters but as of late, the writers seem more focused on things happening than the effect of those things happening on the characters.
I have long believed that while political action is very, very important, one of the most powerful ways to change the world is through popular culture. If this GH story line opens the conversation about prison rape then some good has already been accomplished.
Personally, I think a soap opera is the wrong venue to deal with something as serious as rape. Like the woman said, she watches them to escape from reality. I'd rather see an A-list movie or a first-class documentary on the subject than watching them deal with it on one of those godawful daytime soaps.
I'm adding my two cents here regarding the Michael prison storyline.
I'm a pretty open minded guy. Marine, straight but hardly a prude & yeah I watch GH. People have sex in this world, some by choice, some by arrangements and some against their wills. People are often uncomfortable when presented with a scene or situation they cannot relate to, hence all the mothers and others up in arms about Michael's possible prison rape. I thought GH did an excellent job not showing the actual attack. The psychological impact of having it occur off-scene is much more powerful and much more professional/tasteful. To compare GH to HBO's OZ is plain ignorant. OZ was specifically about a special program for inmates within a specially designed prison. The show itself attracted many actors who wanted to expand their credentials and test their limits as actors. The American public needs to stop whining about everything it doesn't understand, appreciate or has not experienced. Many of you are just too spoiled to appreciate what you're being exposed to via media television. Story lines are supposed to be inspiring, heart wrenching and emotional. They are designed to make you think, to make you look and appreciate that you are not that character. Does the actor benefit? Sure if they work hard to make you believe the storyline. The current GH Michael prison storyline is well written. The fact that people are talking about it both good and bad proves it's stimulated peoples thinking. GH wins this debate.
A huge misconception is that anal sex is gay sex. Plenty of heterosexuals engage in anal sex too people & there are plenty of homosexual identified guys who do not engage in anal sex and in fact are completely against anal sex.
I've had plenty of gf's when I was younger think that anal sex was a good alternative to saving their virginity. When people mix religious views w/personal views and try to call them "morals" they miss the boat entirely. Life is hard. Prison life is harder & no one, male or female deserves to be raped, particularly children. GH has always pushed the envelope regarding its story lines. That's why it's an award winning show & both the writers and actors should be commended for their efforts and dedication.
For the person who commented about european soaps/shows being better… you must have more of an appreciation for boring, long and drawn out stories that are equally if not more out of this world. Just because their shows are filmed to appear like a movie doesn't make them any better. The reason why their actors appear so dedicated is because they don't expand their resumes and act in other shows, movies or programs. They are 1 dimensional. True, American Soaps can get annoying and too many commercials but hello that's capitalism at its best. Those commercials/sponsors pay their salaries.
I don't know what world some of you people live in but I could make millions if someone made a soap about my life… from divorce, secret adoptions, paternity tests, reunited w/biological parents, father a cop, mod connections, military experience, young marriages, multi marriages, patriarchs dying, parents dying, siblings popping up out of thin air, rapes both male and female & other scandals, etc.
The days of leave it to beaver are over. The sooner some of you realize that and understand that Art imitates LIFE, and not the other way around, the quicker you will understand what drives soaps to write these story lines and why they have been and continue to be a popular staple in the american tv culture.
For those that use soaps to escape reality… that just says a lot about your own life if you have to use a soap on TV to escape your life… you forget they are a vehicle for entertainment. Clearly many are products of creative minds but if people are talking about this show and in particular this storyline, then GH did what it set out to do. Stir the pot. They get my vote of confidence.
GH nor any American soap knows how to handle anything well. I find it offensive that soap writers/fans thinks its okay to sensationalize a sensitive issue just because it was acknowledged. It seems people are saying that it's okay to improperly hand certain social issues in a soap opera because at least they are acknowledging it unlike other networks. I disagrees. GH dealing with prison rape does not work when its done to further reinforce GH's skewed moral compass and it's done with weak storytelling. How did Carter get into Michael's cell? Prison's in 2010 are not what they used to be. The plot holes and contrivances of the story or so apparent that it degrades any of the integrity behind this story. If Jason gets away with vigilante justice, it just reinforces this hissy fit immature notion in our culture that it's okay to kill someone for doing something horrible.
I feel bad for Michael, I really do. If my child were raped, I would want the SOB dead. But feeling that hatred is one thing. Readily acting on it, is another and that's where GH lost it's right to tell this story. They are not going to explore this story with any kind of genuinely good writing, and it's going to be used to once again throw attention off the fact that Jason is the villian of the show. He mopes around feeling so guilty, along with Sonny, about the way Michael has turned out, but they don't plan on taking any action to set it right like quitting the business and setting better examples. They just lecture to Michael and we're supposed to feel sympathy. Sonny and Jason are anti-heroes and hence all notions of right or wrong can't help but be automatically distorted.
I totally agree with you. All of these comments about how the GH writers can make this into a realistic storyline. I don't think so. Will Micheal be raped over and over again until he learns to accept it, be murdered, or kill himself? Do other inmates have a knight in shining armor riding to the rescue? Will other inmates who are really subjected to this type of abuse be released from prison when the storyline dictates? My guess before summer is over. Again I DON'T THINK SO! There is nothin realistic about this storyline and I will join those who will not watch the show anymore. The PTB at GH knew beforehand that this storyline would be controversial and I hope it pays off for them, but as for me I have better things to do with my time.
No. 29 · Michael
Well said. And furthermore, the days of Leave it to Beaver were always a sham. Life was never so simple and perfect.
I stopped watching Soaps years ago. I use to watch "All My Children" and "One Life To Live".
Rape is a serious problem in all male prisons. No one deserves to be raped. If I had to be raped, let it be by Alex O'Loughlin, Eddie Cibrian, Alex Rodriguez, or Derek Jeter.
Just my luck, I would get raped by someone who looked like Andy Rooney on CBS Sixty Minutes. LOL LOL
It took me a while to get through that first episode since I knew where it was going but I made it through and I'm glad.
This storyline has the possibility to be explosive – although I have the feeling it will fail since it's General Hospital. They'll either give Michael HIV or they'll suddenly brush it aside and you'll never hear about again.
I said the same thing about how I don't watch soaps for reality but I've changed my mind.
And I love Chad Duell.
I knew they were going this route with Michael.
Not good
@Lamar—First off, let me say that no rape is more traumatic than any other. Rape is rape. And it is very traumatic and very painful for the victim. I know. I was raped several years ago and the scars that were left behind still ache to this day. It is sad that male/male rape is not being treated seriously by rape victim support groups and I hope that it changes soon. So maybe GH putting a story out there about it will open the public's eyes and help people to see that it is something to be taken very seriously. I sincerely hope that GH treats the storyline with respect and dignity and not just as a way to increase ratings. I'm watching with interest as I have been a loyal GH fan all my life.
@Lamar: Did you just say male rape is more traumatic than female rape? …….
I don't understand why prisons can't keep rape from happening. I don't approve of a sue happy nation but I would sue a prison as I didn't sign up to be raped, just to serve time.
Forget the rape storyline, I miss 15 years ago (or even longer) when General Hospital actually had the majority of their stories IN THE HOSPITAL. Now you see it like 5 minutes a day, if that.
To the women who started this thread because of her nephew. A soap is a soap, ridiculous, outrageous, and far fetched as always. No one ever knew for sure that he was raped till this Monday 1/31/11. The show is fictional, not about ur nephew. He's eighteen, I'm sure he knows the difference.
Oh, and btw, I have been sexually abused, by family members, most my childhood, but never raped. My parents always took the other persons side. We watch GH together and although it makes me uncomfortable to watch that stuff in front of them, it gives them an outside view. And for myself it gives me a chance to grieve a little, although I have gotten closure on my past. I don't think GH went too far. I think if you have been there, it can be an outlet. As far as the innocent 18 yr old, most likely it's fictional, like a movie.
Thanks for listening.
just started watching GH again and today heard "Carter rapping me" while Michael was talking about the things that have been happening to him and his sister and family. I didn't know they had gone to that story line. I actually like that this soap is touching on realistic plots even with a dramatic "creative liberties". I understand how it can be unsettling but I thought Christina's (his younger sister – who is still pursuing an older man) beatings were terrible and a step into reality for a soap, this plot is just furthering that I think.


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Freedom New Mexico
Clovis MainStreet is continuing its revitalization efforts by creating a Facade Squad, to help repaint buildings in the downtown district on Saturday.
Robyne Beaubien, executive director of the Clovis MainStreet program, said she's hoping the event will be the first of many.
Beaubien said Clovis MainStreet received a grant of $1,500 from Friends of New Mexico MainStreet, which will be used for paint and supplies. Lowe's Home Improvement Center is looking to match their purchases also, Beaubien said.
"This is a great community spirit kind of event where we all work together," Beaubien said.
The event runs from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., or when the work is done. The street will be closed and there will be music and refreshments.

subset: commoncrawl


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Speaking Engagements
Speakers and Events
For additional information or to book a speaker contact a Seminars Representative.
"That by her holy prayers she may reconcile me to her Son, my Lord Jesus Christ."
~ William the Conqueror, King of England, Duke of Normandy; who died asking for the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.


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For the first half of the year, the county issued permits to build more than 90 new homes, and about a third of those were for houses worth $500,000 or more. The new construction signals a renewed interest in spending and promises short-term jobs for area workers.
ŌĆ£Contractors, electricians and plumbers, most of them have work now,ŌĆØ said Tony Elders, director of permitting and code enforcement for the county. ŌĆ£And there were times they didnŌĆÖt have anything to do.ŌĆØ
The residential construction figures put the county in the lead among other counties west of Buncombe and ahead of its own tallies from the same period last year.
Apart from residential construction activity, the county also issued permits for 18 new commercial buildings in the first seven months of 2013 ŌĆö a new bank along U.S. 441 heading toward Cherokee, a doctorŌĆÖs office near the hospital in Sylva and a new office building in Cashiers, to name a few.
Six of those permits came in the month of July alone. More to come soon will be the countyŌĆÖs new liquor store in Cashiers, a Verizon store and a drive through burger joint in Sylva.
During 2008 and 2009, Elders said only a couple of commercial building permits were issued each year.
ŌĆ£ThatŌĆÖs a big deal,ŌĆØ he said. ŌĆ£That number dies during the recession.ŌĆØ


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I posted several weeks ago looking for help for my daughter's excruciatingly painful latch. We've been nursing exclusively for a little over 3 weeks now, and thought that my story might help women who are frustrated or in pain. If I can succeed, anyone can!
I wanted to share my struggles, story and advice. I've definitely had more than my share of struggles with breastfeeding and want to share that just when you're ready to give up, you might want to give it another shot if breastfeeding means a lot to you. This is going to be long, but I won't be offended if you don't read every word.
My daughter, sweet Bettie, was born 7 weeks early. At that point, I wasn't sure whether or not I even wanted to breastfeed. I was leaning towards not doing it. No one in my hospital was pushy, but they did let me know that because Bettie was in the NICU, if I wanted to breastfeed, I needed to start pumping. I had Bettie on 12/21 and started pumping on 12/24. My milk actually started coming in on 12/23. I knew something was up because my boobs felt like rocks!
I had a great postpartum nurse, who encouraged me to at least try pumping if I was unsure about breastfeeding. I felt more comfortable with her than the lactation consultants, so she worked with me and showed me how to pump. She got so excited when I started getting a little trickle, I started getting excited. It was pretty neat to see my body doing something I had been so horrified about during my pregnancy. I got less than a half ounce during that first pump session, but it was enough to take to the NICU and give to my sweet daughter. The folks in the NICU never gave me the opportunity to try putting Bettie to the breast the entire 2 weeks she was in NICU. The NICU folks actually seemed sort of anti-breastfeeding, which I thought was bizarre.
My nurse explained that if I wanted to continue and build my supply, it was important to pump at least 8 times a day, including at least 1 middle of the night session. My mission began.
I got home on Christmas eve and did my first solo pumping session. I had everything set up in my bedroom because I was too shy to do it anywhere else in the house. I turned my hospital pump up to about 8 and pumped for about 20 minutes. In that 20 minutes, my nipples turned black and started bleeding. I did some research and learned that with pumping it's not necessary to have such intense suction. That lesson caused me several days of residual pain, and I learned that Lansinoh lanolin is a pumping mama's best friend!
I kept pumping and was still not getting much more than an ounce or ounce and a half. We were supplementing with formula in the NICU because my supply was so inadequate. I kept wanting to meet with lactation consultants, but none of them kept their appointments, so I was on my own.
I was getting to be best friends with my pump. I was starting to get carpal tunnel from holding the horns. I was spending so much time washing and sterilizing pump parts. It was so exhausting. Like clockwork, I was attached to my pump at least 8 times a day, sometimes as many as 12.
It became my personal mission to ensure that Bettie had nothing but breastmilk, but my supply STILL sucked. I have to admit that it did get easier once Bettie was home and I didn't have to leave the house. At least that way, I could pump more. The down side was, I was spending more time with my breast pump than with Bettie! I'd pump while my husband fed her. I was feeling very isolated and left out. My nips were also always sore.
We took Bettie to her first pediatrician's visit and I met with their lactation consultant. She suggested putting Bettie on the breast. I tried it and it was excruciating. It brought tears to my eyes. I decided to continue pumping because as painful as pumping was, it had nothing on Bettie's latch.
The lactation consultant told me about Fenugreek (take 4, 3 times a day) and Blessed Thistle (take 3, 3 times a day). That did wonders for my supply. I started getting at least 5 ounces every time I pumped. I also noticed that eating oatmeal boosted my supply (even oatmeal cookies...YUM!). I kept drinking tons of water so I wouldn't dehydrate. Bettie hasn't had formula since she was 2 weeks and 6 days old. The herbals and pumping until I was dry and adding 5 minutes really did the trick. Lately I've been getting 7 or 8 ounces each time I pump.
I also invested in a Pump Ease (www.pumpease.com) so I could pump hands free. That saved my sanity. I kid you not. If you're going to pump more than a few times a week, I highly recommend spending the money. It makes a HUGE difference--especially if you aren't crafty enough to build your own hands free pumping device!
I changed pediatricians about 8 weeks ago and started taking Bettie to the onsite healthcare where I work. They have an awesome lactation consultant. She was amazed that I'd gone 5 weeks exclusively pumping and that I was making enough milk to feed Bettie breastmilk exclusively.
We worked on Bettie's latch. We stroked Bettie's tongue to teach her to put it down, then I'd get her to latch. It wasn't that bad. I was so excited! I just knew my pumping days were over (or at least I'd have to pump less).
I got her home and it was back to being painful. I gutted it out for two feedings that day, then couldn't bring myself to do it again. Bettie was fussy on the breast and just wanted to cry. I felt like such a failure and couldn't stop crying myself. I went back to my trusty breast pump.
I'd just about given up hope on actually nursing Bettie. Her due date rolled around on 2/7, and on a whim, one night she was rooting around and biting my shirt. It was between her "normal" feedings, so I thought, what the hell? I whipped out a boob and offered it to her. She latched and it wasn't any more painful than my pump. After about 2 minutes, it wasn't painful at all. I started crying and Adam thought I was nuts. I was crying because I was so shocked and happy.
It took us about a week to really get nursing down. I've learned that the Boppy pillow does nothing for me. It took me 2 nights to get the side laying position down. We've been nursing now at all feedings for a week now. It makes me a little teary to think that I gutted it out, but it's so worth it. People kept telling me that it takes time and that just when I was ready to give up, things would get better. Now...if only I could teach Bettie to let go before she whips her head back...talk about a purple nurple!
I'm living proof that if you really want to breastfeed, it can be done. It took us 9 weeks...NINE weeks! My pediatrician told me she thinks I should get a medal for perseverance. To me, the greatest reward is being able to hold my sweet little girl and spend more time with her than the d@mned pump!
I returned my hospital pump 3 weeks ago. It was a love/hate with my Medela Symphony, but I don't miss it one bit!


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HFPA Urges California on Flammability
December 18, 2006-- Home Textiles Today,
New York — The Home Fashion Products Association (HFPA) is concerned that the proposed California product flammability standards will require its members to treat bedding fill with toxic chemicals. The California standards are likely to set the stage for national regulations.
California is in the testing phase of a flammability standard for bedding. The standard, known as TB 604, does not contain any prohibitions against the use of toxic chemicals and does not require a toxicity study, according to the HFPA.
The dangers of treating bedding with chlorinated and brominated hydrocarbons, such as those which are currently being used to treat the foam inside furniture sold in California, were the subject of a recent opinion column in The New York Times, written by recognized biophysical authority Arlene Blum. In 1977, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission banned these very chemicals from being used as flame retardants in children's sleepwear when they were found to cause cancer. According to Blum, such chemicals tend to accumulate in people, animals and the environment and cause a host of health problems.
HFPA has contacted the California Bureau of Home Furnishings and Thermal Insulation and Governor Schwarzenegger to register the concern of its members over this issue. Dianne Morris, president of the HFPA, said, "We are sure that the state of California does not want to mandate the sale of dangerous products and that they will take our concerns under advisement."
For further information on this issue, please contact HFPA executive director Carolynn Jennings at (212) 297-2122.
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A Message from the Search Committee ChairChancellor Harold Maurer has provided outstanding leadership to UNMC for over a decade, and the search committee is excited about the opportunity to identify a new leader who can build upon the many strengths of our campus. The University of Nebraska seeks candidates who are innovative and experienced leaders to inspire our talented staff, faculty and students.
The new chancellor should elevate UNMC in its role as a nationally renowned model of excellence in health science teaching, research and patient care. Without question, this is wonderful opportunity. Please review the position description and the information on UNMC and the University of Nebraska provided here. Thank you for considering this opportunity, or for nominating qualified colleagues.


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December 2007
Monitoring Student Progress and Evaluating Provider Success
While each of the previous sections of this guide has included examples of evaluation of that specific component of program operations, both providers and districts need to look beyond process to outcomes.* The bottom line in measuring course success is how well students do. While partnering districts and schools must track the progress and success of their individual students, online providers will want to track how the broad range of their online students are performing as an indicator of their own success. All data can then be used to make program improvements.
VHS, for example, tracks and reports several measures of student success, each of which tells an important part of the story. For AP courses, in particular, VHS tracks student enrollment, course completion rates, the number of students taking AP exams, and the how they do on those exams. As part of schools' partnership agreements with VHS, their students are required to share their AP exam scores. Site coordinators receive student scores from the College Board and submit a copy to VHS. To protect students' privacy, when VHS leaders receive score reports, they record them using a random tracking number, and the copies are destroyed.
Figure 6 shows a dramatic increase in the number of AP course enrollments through VHS over the past five years. As of 2007, VHS reported an 85 percent completion rate for AP courses. 41 Figure 7 shows how students are doing on AP exams. As enrollment has increased, so has the number of exams taken — up to 350 in 2005–06. The bottom part of each bar shows the number of exams taken but not passed; the top part shows the number of exams taken and passed. The percentage of students passing the exam has fluctuated some over the years, starting quite high when only a few students took the exams and dropping as more students enrolled, 42 but has always exceeded the average pass rate for the U.S. as a whole, which was 59 percent in each of the last two years. 43
Of course, the goal is for all students to master the material well enough to take and pass the exam. But, as noted earlier, some research shows that taking an AP course is valuable even if a student does not take or does not pass the exam. 44 And there are likely to be some transition steps as more students are encouraged to take AP courses. Some students may be more comfortable taking the course without having to take the exam, so allowing this option may encourage them to try taking an AP course. Likewise, students may not do well on a first exam, but may do better on any subsequent exams they take. By tracking all four measures, a program and a district or school will gain valuable data that shed light on areas to investigate in an effort to improve outcomes over time.
The providers profiled in this guide also track a variety of other outcome measures. COL contracts with a private consulting firm, the Public Good, to conduct an especially comprehensive evaluation of program outcomes that includes measures of enrollment, course completion, grades, and student perceptions of what they have learned. Course completion rates at COL have increased each of the last four years, from 78 percent in 2003 to 92 percent in 2006. 45 When students themselves reflected on what they had learned, many mentioned 21st century skills that were enhanced by the online learning process; that is, skills recognized as important for success as citizens and workers in the 21st century, like self-direction and communication. For example, one student reported, "I think that students should take online courses because it teaches them how to be independent in their studies." Another said, "This course taught me more self-discipline in one semester than in all of my other years combined." 46
|Figure 6. Virtual High School's Advanced Placement Enrollment, 2001–02 to 2005–06 School Years
Source: Liz Pape of Virtual High School, 2007, "VHS Quality Benchmark Indicators," PowerPoint presentation, slide 14.
COL also looks closely at the characteristics of the students being served. Charged with serving schools with high academic needs and those with high poverty rates, COL can report that more than half the districts enrolling students in 2006 can be considered high-need, high-poverty districts, up from an average of 34 percent in the preceding years. This makes the high course completion rate of 92 percent all the more impressive.
In addition to collecting quantitative data (e.g., enrollment numbers, passing rates), these providers and their partner schools or districts also find it useful to collect qualitative data to help them improve their program. Their evaluations include satisfaction surveys of key stakeholders, including parents and students, as well as administrators, teachers, and site coordinators. A number of providers ask students to complete end-of-course evaluations (see fig. 8 for an example). CTY's survey asks about quality of instruction, the student's level of interest in course content prior to and after taking the course, ease of technology use, and the student's academic plans. COL also asks those who withdraw from an online course to complete an "early exit" survey, via e-mail. All providers indicated an interest in learning more from students who dropped an online course prior to completion about their reasons for doing so. VHS and FLVS also use their surveys to probe about unmet course needs. FLVS increased the number of electives it offers based on requests delivered through its customer satisfaction survey.
|Figure 7. Virtual High School Students' Performance on Advanced Placement Examinations, 2001–02 to 2005–06 School Years
Source: Liz Pape of Virtual High School, 2007, "VHS Quality Benchmark Indicators," PowerPoint presentation, slide 13.
Note: The Virtual High School pass rate on AP examinations has always exceeded the average pass rate for the U.S. as a whole, which was 59 percent in each of the last two years.
* An upcoming guide in this Innovations in Education series will focus exclusively on how to evaluate online learning programs.


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Kerala prawn curry
Nutrition and extra info
Nutrition: per serving
- kcal294
- fat16g
- saturates8g
- carbs8g
- sugars0g
- fibre0g
- protein31g
- salt2.76g
- 2 red chilli split, cut into quarters lengthways and seeded
- 1 small red onion, chopped
- 2½ cm piece of fresh root ginger, peeled and chopped
- 1 tbsp vegetable or sunflower oil
Sunflower oil
A variety of oils can be used for baking. Sunflower is the one we use most often at Good Food as…
- 1 tsp black mustard seed
- ½ tsp fenugreek seeds
Fenugreek seedfenn-you-greek seed
A popular seed in Indian cookery, in which it's termed methi, this small, hard, mustard…
- 14 curry leaf, fresh or dried
- ½ tsp turmeric
Turmeric is a fragrant, bright golden-yellow root that is most commonly seen and used dried and…
- ½ tsp cracked black peppercorns
- 250g jumbo prawns, leave some with their tails on if you like
There are thousands of different species of prawn, but tiger, king and North Atlantic are the…
- 150ml reduced-fat coconut milk
To serve
In a food processor, blitz the chillies, onion and ginger with 3 tbsp water into a smoothish paste – you may need to scrape it down the sides.
Heat the oil in a heavy pan or wok. When hot, toss in the mustard and fenugreek seeds, and curry leaves – they'll crackle and pop – and fry for 10 seconds. Add the onion paste, turn the heat down a tad and cook without colouring for about 5 minutes. Splash in some water if it starts to catch.
Add the turmeric and cracked peppercorns and stir the spices around for a few seconds before tipping in the prawns. Pour in the coconut milk and bring to a simmer, stirring all the time. The milk will take on a yellow colour from the turmeric. Cook for 1 minute until everything's heated through. Squeeze over some lime, sprinkle with fresh coriander and serve with rice.
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Comments, questions and tips
Comments (106)
Hmm, not as good as I'd hoped and I followed the recipe exactly. Chilli heat was good but zesty/lemony aspect was too harsh. Suggest more coconut milk, less lime and fenugreek for next time. Definitely bash the black peppercorns to bits as those which survived intact railroaded the whole balance of flavour. Will make again with adjustments.
This is a fairly authentic recipe. I'd add a couple of sliced green chillies when frying the mustard and fenugreek seeds. I'd also add a chopped tomato for sourness to balance the sweetness of the coconut milk. At least one teaspoon of salt needs to be stirred in. The sauce must be fully cooked before the prawns are added. This is the case for all south Indian fish curries. First cook the sauce, then add the prepared fish, and bring it to the boil. Turn off the heat. The fish will cook in the hot sauce perfectly, if you use a cast iron pot.
A delicious and easy recipe which has become one of my standbys with frozen prawns and powdered coconut milk. Be sure to go easy on the mustard seeds as a little too many can make it bitter. If I can't be bothered to wash the food processor I often do it with hand chopped ingredients and the result is slightly different but just as good.
The prawn curry is very tasty. I have a comment to make about the recent trend in British media calling South Indian dishes as Kerala dishes. The curry you described here doesn't just belong to Kerala, many dishes which are called with the adjective' Kerala', whether it is soup, chicken curry, fish curry or many other dishes are also indigenous to other South Indian states . Recently I watched a cooking programme on the TV about making 'Kerala fish sauce', I must say, people in Tamil Nadu ,Andhra Pradhesh and Srilanka also make the sauce same way. It is only fair, these dishes should be called 'SouthIndian' rather than just 'Kerala''.
Great! I found this very spicy but it tasted good.
As usual I substituted the red onion with a small red sweet pepper, as we don't like onion. I didn't need to add as much water to the paste (only about 1tbsp). I also used brown mustard seeds, dried curry leaves, fresh prawns (no juice!) and 160ml coconut milk - not reduced fat.
And my kitchen didn't stink the day after!
This recipe needs sugar & salt! I would recommend 1/2 teaspoon of brown sugar in the onion mix and 1/2 teaspoon of salt, to give it depth of flavour. Also I would recommend adding the coconut milk BEFORE the prawns, cooking it out for 20 mins and then adding the prawns right at the end for a few mins (otherwise they will go hard).
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A little after 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 14, 2010. A bright orange glow appeard in the sky off the Bast Road and Middle Road, Town of Rutland/Town of Champion. Arriving near the scene overlooking a dry field covered by fire and smoke. Several fire departments were on the scene and in the field.
Lana Alexander
Francis Alexander


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Beware the dangers of exposure to sun
The roller coaster ride of temperatures from spring to summer appears to be ending, with hot summer days right around the corner.
With the return of the summer sun, it is time for everyone to think about the dangers of skin cancer.
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, with 3.5 million skin cancers in more than 2 million people diagnosed annually. Fortunately, skin cancer is also one of the most preventable forms of cancer.
About one in five Americans will develop skin cancer during their lifetime, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. Each year there are more new cases of skin cancer than the combined incidence of cancers of the breast, prostate, lung and colon, the Skin Cancer Foundation reported.
The Skin Cancer Foundation notes that the incidence of many common cancers is falling, but the cases of melanoma continues to increase at an alarming rate, even with the warnings posted by the medical profession. In fact, the incidence of melanoma is increasing at a rate faster than that of any of the seven most common cancers, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.
Melanoma accounts for about 3 percent of skin cancer cases, but it accounts for more than 75 percent of skin cancer deaths, the Skin Cancer Foundation reported.
Melanoma is the fifth most common cancer for males and sixth most common for females.
Women 39 and under have a higher probability of developing melanoma than any other cancer except breast cancer.
The survival rate for persons diagnosed early with melanoma is about 99 percent. But the survival rate falls to 15 percent for those with advanced stages of the disease.
Studies have shown that a person gets about 80 percent of lifetime sun exposure by age 18. Melanoma is the second most common form of cancer for young adults 15 to 29 years old. Reports indicate that one blistering sunburn during childhood can more than double a person's chances of developing melanoma later in their life.
Everyone needs to remember some safety tips to avoid sunburn and limiting exposure to the harmful affects of the sun's ultraviolet radiation.
Since most of a lifetime exposure to the sun comes early in life, it is important to protect infants and children and teenagers from blistering sunburns.
The most obvious way to protect yourself from harmful UV radiation is to stay out of the sun. Stay indoors or find shade in the middle of the day when UV radiation is strongest, usually between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Plan outdoor activities for the early morning or late afternoon, when UV radiation is typically one-third of what it is at midday.
If you have to be outside in the sun, remember to cover the skin with long-sleeved shirts, long pants, wide-brimmed hats and wear sunglasses.
Another form of protection if you are out in the sun is to apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor of at least 15 on all exposed skin. Apply the sunscreen at least 15 minutes, preferably 30 minutes, before heading out in the sun. Also, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends to check your birthday suit on your birthday. Seek a dermatologist's help if you notice any changes in your skin.
As you head outdoors to enjoy the sunny skies in summer , remember to take precautions to avoid your chances of getting skin cancer.


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February 5, 2014 —
LAVA, NY — He may not be the first bona fide man of the world to call Tusten his year-round home, but internationally acclaimed woodworking artist Francis Cape is certainly a candidate for most civic-minded new resident. The son of a British career diplomat, his youth was spent moving from one world capital to the next. Cape returned to his native United Kingdom (UK) as an adult, there to complete a woodworking apprenticeship as well as his higher education. Then came the gypsy life of an artist, navigating the international art world and exhibiting his works across oceans and continents, choosing eventually to make New York City his art-world center. Although he owns a minuscule apartment there for business reasons, he yearned to put down roots for the first time in his life. Soon, a house and barn in Lava became home, the barn to be converted over the course of a year into a well-appointed woodworking studio with panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.
Fascinated and inspired by the unsung community activism he found in rural America, Cape was determined not to be an outsider among his neighbors but to be one of them. To that end, he earned U.S. citizenship. "I applied for my U.S. passport and inquired about becoming a member of the Tusten Volunteer Ambulance Corps on the same day. The next day I was driving an ambulance," he recounts.
What does a woodworking artist do? Well, this one at least discovers a vital connection between a culture and its furniture. Wondering about the roots of American volunteerism led Cape to explore nineteenth century American intentional communities, among them the Shakers and the Separatists of Zoar. Of the 12 communities studied, only four remain in existence and, of those, all but one are little more than curators of their own pasts. Cape shares his painstaking research into the furniture of these self-contained religious and political communes in a captivating book, "We Sit Together: Utopian Benches from the Shakers to the Separatists of Zoar," published last year by Princeton Architectural Press, and an exhibition of 17 benches reproduced to exact original specifications. Opening in New York City last summer to rave reviews, the exhibition opened in San Francisco the last week of January.
In the book's foreword, Arcadia University Art Gallery Director Richard Torchia explains that one of its objectives is to document American social movements that sought to present the importance of community and collective ownership as a counterpoint to capitalist-driven individualism. To help illustrate how the benches contained in the exhibition had contributed to these social movements, Cape stipulated that discussion groups must take place on the benches everywhere they're exhibited—and that the benches must always face each other, not a stage or dais. When these conditions are met, discussion group participants can't help but be acutely aware of each other as equals. All sit at the same height and in close proximity to one another, have unobstructed views of each other and can easily turn in any direction to face speakers. Discussion group participants also quickly realize that the benches are especially uncomfortable; they were designed that way. By discouraging complacency born of comfort, they promote alert listening and brief, constructive dialogue. A situation, Cape suggests, that could be useful today.
[A copy of "We Sit Together," inscribed "To Narrowsburg," can be found at the Tusten-Cochecton Branch of the Western Sullivan Public Library in Narrowsburg. For more information on the man and his work, see www.franciscape.com.]


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Air Force institutes reforms to prevent abuseBy CHRIS TOMLINSON
The Associated Press | November 15,2012AP PHOTO
Brig. Gen. Margaret Woodward, the 389th Airlift Wing Commander, waves on the tarmac of Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. The U.S. Air Force announced Wednesday that it is changing how it selects the officers and instructors who train new recruits following a sex scandal that included 48 alleged victims.AUSTIN, Texas The U.S. Air Force announced Wednesday that it is changing how it selects officers and instructors who train new recruits after a sex scandal at its training headquarters in which dozens of female recruits said they were improperly approached, sexually harassed or raped by male instructors.
Maj. Gen. Margaret Woodward, who investigated the Air Education and Training Command, said the biggest failure came from bad instructors who took advantage of a weak oversight system and the officers who did not adequately supervise them to catch the abuses.
Interviews revealed that some (instructors) lacked the experience necessary to effectively serve as mentors and leaders and had little to no supervisory experience, the investigation concluded. This lack of experience is considered particularly relevant when a single (instructor) is generally responsible for a flight of 50 or more trainees.
The investigation concluded that 23 instructors allegedly engaged in inappropriate or coercive sexual relationships with 48 recruits at Lackland Air Force base near San Antonio. Five people have been convicted in court martials on charges ranging from adultery to rape. Another person received administrative punishment, and additional instructors still could face criminal charges.
All U.S. airmen report to Lackland for basic training. It has about 500 instructors for about 35,000 airmen who graduate every year. While one in five recruits are women, most instructors are men.
In a written response to the investigation, the commander in charge of training said the Air Force will add more and better officers to supervise training units and require enlisted troops who hold instructor jobs to have more seniority.
Leadership preparation will also be strengthened considerably through an expanded leadership orientation course that will place additional emphasis on the potential for abuse of power, sexual assault, unprofessional relationships, and maltreatment or maltraining, Gen. Edward Rice Jr. wrote in his response to the investigation.
Rice also announced a new Military Training Oversight Council to make sure reforms are implemented and maintained.
The Air Force will also provide additional training for trainees and instructors on sexual assault and inappropriate relationships within the military.
Woodward made 45 recommendations for how to improve Air Force basic training to prevent future abuse, and Rice said the command has already instituted 13 and is on track to implement the rest by August 2013.
Sexual attraction, power, and money are three of the most corruptive elements of the human condition, and two of these three are present in the basic military training environment, Rice wrote. If we do not take steps to address these corruptive elements persistently and positively, we will find ourselves in the same situation at some point down the road.MORE IN Wire NewsCHARLESTON, S.C. Full Story
WASHINGTON — John Glenn, whose 1962 flight as the first U.S. Full StorySALISBURY, N.C. Full Story
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Illinois at Wisconsin
Published On: Oct 08 2012 11:47:49 AM CDT
Stave, Ball lead Wisconsin over Illinois 31-14
Redshirt freshman Joel Stave threw for 254 yards and two touchdowns, and Montee Ball ran for a pair of fourth-quarter scores as the host Badgers rebounded from last week's tough loss at Nebraska.
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Eliminate all traces of cat urine and enjoy odor and stain-free living. Nature's Miracle Urine Destroyer Just for Cats is formulated with oxygen boosters AND bio-enzymatic ingredients to power away yellow stains and sticky residue caused by cat urine and spraying. Deep-penetrating formula begins to destroy odors on contact and removes pet pheromones that encourage re-soiling. Safe and effective Natures' Miracle Urine Destroyer will also work on old, deep-set stains and odors and leaves behind a pleasant fragrance.
Use Nature's Miracle Urine Destroyer Just for Cats on carpets, upholstery, linens, shower curtains, clothing, blankets, pet bedding, walls and any other place your cat urinates. Spot test on a small inconspicuous area for color-fastness and compatibility.
Please click on "More Information" for directions and ingredients.


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Living conditions and volunteer lifestyles in Fiji
|Living conditions and volunteer lifestyles in [[{{#explode:Living conditions and volunteer lifestyles in Fiji| |6}} {{#explode:Living conditions and volunteer lifestyles in Fiji| |7}} {{#explode:Living conditions and volunteer lifestyles in Fiji| |8}}]]
|As a Peace Corps Volunteers, you will have to adapt to conditions that may be dramatically different than you have ever experienced and modify lifestyle practices that you now take for granted. Even the most basic practices— talking, eating, using the bathroom, and sleeping — may take significantly different forms in the context of the host country. If you successfully adapt and integrate, you will in return be rewarded with a deep understanding of a new culture, the establishment of new and potentially lifelong relationships, and a profound sense of humanity.
| See also:
Living Conditions and Volunteer Lifestyles by Country
Pre-Departure Checklist
For information see Welcomebooks
|[[Image:Flag_of_{{#explode:Living conditions and volunteer lifestyles in Fiji| |6}}{{#if:{{#explode:Living conditions and volunteer lifestyles in Fiji| |7}}|_{{#explode:Living conditions and volunteer lifestyles in Fiji| |7}}|}}{{#if:{{#explode:Living conditions and volunteer lifestyles in Fiji| |8}}|_{{#explode:Living conditions and volunteer lifestyles in Fiji| |8}}|}}.svg|100px|none]]
- 1 Communications
- 2 Housing and Site Location
- 3 Living Allowance and Money Management
- 4 Food and Diet
- 5 Transportation
- 6 Geography and Climate
- 7 Social Activities
- 8 Professionalism, Dress, and Behavior
- 9 Personal Safety
- 10 Rewards and Frustrations
Airmail leaving Suva takes about 6 to 10 days to make its U.S. destination. However, it takes sometimes twice that for U.S. mail to reach Suva. (Note: The farther you live from Suva, the longer the mail will take in both directions. The additional time may range from one day to two weeks or more.)
The local mail system is better than in many developing countries and once you have been assigned to a permanent site, you will be expected to have your mail delivered to your new address. During pre-service training, you may use the following address:
"Your Name," PCT
Peace Corps/Fiji
Private Mail Bag
Suva, Fiji Islands
South Pacific
Most essential items that are available in the U.S. are also available in Fiji through local stores in Suva and in larger towns. If your friends and family want to send you packages, have them check with their home post office as to what they can and cannot send. Customs agents are diligent about checking for food items and no seeds can be shipped into Fiji.
If the declared value of the package exceeds $500 (Fijian), you may have to pay an import tax. If you plan to have packages sent to you or if you're sending them to yourself, make sure you don't declare more than $200 (U.S.) on the box!
The local postal service (Post Fiji, Ltd.) can be contacted in-country at: 0800.330.7966 for more specific questions.
Most Volunteers live close to a phone—either a conventional landline or a radio telephone. You may want to bring a cellphone (GSM-capable) for your personal use from the U.S. as service is increasing in Fiji. A few Volunteers own personal cellphones now, but the phone and use can be expensive. (Phone service and access is not covered by your monthly living allowance.) Most businesses will have a telephone, as will some of your urban neighbors. In the bush, people use a "radio phone" (similar to citizens' band radios). In Suva you can place a collect call overseas 24-hours a day at the main telecommunications center. You can also pay for the overseas call yourself at a current rate of about $3–$4 per minute (Fijian). Fortunately, phone service, if available at your site, is generally reliable and connections are reasonably good.
Card-operated pay phones are located everywhere in the urban areas; prepaid phone cards are sold at post offices, shops, and service stations.
Many Volunteers use AT&T pre-paid phone cards (available all over the U.S.) to call home and have found the connection and service quite good. (The charge is approximately 35 cents per minute.) The country code for Fiji is 679; there are no city codes.
Computer, Internet, and E-mail Access
There are several Internet cafés in Suva as well as in some of the other urban centers. Access currently costs $5–$10 (Fijian) per hour. You will not likely have access during pre-service training and it may be very limited at your site unless you are in a larger town.
Housing and Site Location
You will be living with a host family during your 10 weeks of training in Fiji. You will soon discover that families are very important to the people of Fiji and that living with a host family can be both enjoyable and challenging. Going into the experience, you should definitely set some learning goals and make sure that you're getting the most out of your host family experience—including language, cultural, and other adjustment issues.
Your living accommodation is intended to be modest and comparable to that of your counterparts and neighbors. As in any country, housing in Fiji varies from place to place in architecture and amenities. Village houses (bures) may be constructed of coconut fronds or they may be made of wood, concrete block, or corrugated iron. Depending on assignment and project area, Volunteers will either live in a village, in a government compound, or in a rural housing area. In some cases, Volunteers may share accommodations with another Peace Corps Volunteer and/or with another international volunteer or host country colleagues. Please note that Volunteers may be required to live with a host family for the first few months at their site or all of their service based on site location and/or village resources.
Most houses in Fiji have piped running water, except for those in some rural villages. While rainfall is plentiful, there may be some periods where drinking water is scarce—especially in the western part of the main island.
Traditional houses usually have separate kitchen and toilet facilities. Rural communities do not often have access to electricity, but some houses have solar energy for lighting.
Some Volunteers may be placed on outer islands and/or interior villages where transportation is by small plane, boat, and pickup truck. Most Volunteers travel much of the time on foot, by bus, or small boat at their sites.
The packing list at the back of this Welcome Book offers suggestions on what to bring from home. All basic supplies can be purchased locally. After training, you'll receive a settling-in allowance to buy initial household supplies. The Peace Corps staff and current Volunteers will provide information about where the good bargains are, but you are encouraged to explore on your own as well!
A word about pets and other critters: There are a lot of animals in Fiji, and you'll experience the wildlife of Fiji no matter where you're stationed. Some Volunteers choose to have cats and/or dogs, but this can be challenging. Dogs and cats are not treated like they are in the U.S.—they are considered "animals" as opposed to a "pet." They serve a purpose and are typically kept outside. Volunteers who choose to have a cat or dog are strongly encouraged to wait until they have been at site at least a few months, and to have the pet neutered or spayed. We also encourage Volunteers who have not had pets before to learn basic pet care, as veterinarians are available only in Suva and a few other urban centers.
Outside of the urban areas most people do their laundry by hand either in their homes or at a local water source. You will likely do the same.
Living Allowance and Money Management
During your training period, the Peace Corps will open an account for you with one of the local banks. The Peace Corps will deposit your living allowance into this account each month. There are banking stations and ATMs in all of the urban centers throughout Fiji. Most banks are open Monday through Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Some urban stores also allow you to use your ATM card to make purchases and to receive cash back. International transactions are commonplace in the banks of Fiji, so it will be no problem getting traveler's checks or overseas money orders if or when you need them. Some Volunteers have found it advantageous to keep a checking account in the States as it's much easier to send a regular U.S. check for things like magazine subscriptions from back home than it is to get money orders from here. If your American checking account has a Visa/Cirrus/Plus debit card (with an international access PIN), you can use it to access extra personal funds you might want to use for annual leave.
Every month, the Peace Corps will deposit a lump sum into your local bank account. It will be enough money to cover modest living expenses with the expectation that your lifestyle is similar to that of your local counterparts. Your living allowance also covers utility expenses that are not covered by your host agency, and a very modest amount to cover in-country telephone or Internet charges.
Fijian money is counted out in dollars and cents. They have 5-, 10-, 20- 50- and 100-dollar notes (not bills), and 5-, 10-, 20-, 50-cent pieces and 1-dollar and 2-dollar pieces (no pennies, nickels, dimes, or quarters). The exchange rate between the American and Fijian dollar fluctuates. The rate at the time of this writing is roughly $1.67 Fijian for every $1 American. The estimated costs quoted in this Welcome Book are in Fijian dollars, unless otherwise noted.
Food and Diet
Fiji has a wide selection of food and many fruits and vegetables are locally grown. Availability is seasonal, but you can often get pineapple, mango, and papaya as well as many other fruits and vegetables. The staple foods in Fijian villages are starchy root crops; namely, dalo (taro root) and cassava. There is also plenty of curry eaten in Indo-Fijian communities. Urban areas offer much more variety and you can get very inexpensive Chinese food and even pizza (the local take on it). Suva has a wider selection of restaurants, from upscale to very cheaply priced food stands on the corner—including McDonalds and KFC.
Volunteers receive a local cookbook and will learn how to cook local foods during pre-service training. Volunteers in remote areas will find that their daily selection will be limited and may wish to start a garden to grow their own vegetables. Flour, tinned fish, rice, curry spices, and dalo are usually available everywhere. The farther you go from the urban center, the fewer choices you will have.
Cassava is one of the more pervasive root crops to be found in Fiji. Cassava is the root from which tapioca is made. It's white and starchy and tastes something like a textured potato. There's plenty of fish available here—fresh, frozen, and canned. Most villagers (and Volunteers) in coastal areas fish for their own food. Mutton is imported from New Zealand while chicken is raised locally.
Most fresh fruits (mangoes, bananas, pineapples, oranges, passion fruit, guavas, papaya, etc.) and vegetables (cassava, dalo, beans, squash, jack fruit, breadfruit, sweet potatoes, Chinese cabbage, English cabbage, chilies, tomatoes, etc.) can be purchased from local open-air markets. Vendors set up their wares on rickety tables and crates or just on the ground, and sell it all "by the heap."
Shops range from the small corner markets and village shops that sell basic items to large supermarket outlets that offer goods from food to tools. Cost-U-Less, a warehouse store much like Costco, has opened an outlet in Suva, but prices are higher than in most other stores.
Depending upon where your site is located, you may find yourself cooking on a small two-burner gas stove, kerosene, or an open fire. Gas stoves are more common in urban areas and the kerosene burners in the bush.
Yaqona is the Fijian name for a non-alcoholic drink made from the roots of the kava plant, which is a member of the pepper family. The roots are ground and made into a sort of muddy-water looking drink that turns your tongue temporarily numb and has something of an "earthy" taste. (Some say it tastes like water that twine has been soaked in.) It has a pleasant, calming/relaxing effect on the body and may make some people slightly drowsy. It is a ceremonial drink—the ceremony is called sevusevu—and it has great significance to the Fijian people. You will see yaqona offered at virtually every event of any significance and at many ordinary events. You will also see people (mostly men) drinking it in the markets, at taxi stands, at work, and at most social gatherings. Though of indigenous origin, many Indo-Fijians also drink it but in less ritualized settings. As a Volunteer, you will be involved in many ceremonies and significant events, which means you'll be drinking your share of yaqona. You will get used to it, and possibly become fond of it. It is considered impolite to refuse the first bilo (smooth, half-coconut shells especially used for drinking yaqona), but after the first, you can either drink more or not. (But be forewarned: Fijians will be delighted if you drink more than one!)
You will learn much more about yagona and the sevusevu ceremony, Fijian protocol/etiquette, and Indo-Fijian customs during your training.
Most of the time, you will travel by foot. Look to the right! Fiji is a former British colony and everyone drives on the left side of the road. There are buses to nearly every community in Fiji, except for the outer islands. The bus prices are great: in-town fares are under a dollar. Local buses (the ones that travel in and around town, or those that stop at every stop along a longer route) generally do not have glass windows. If it rains you unroll a plastic flap that's designed to keep most of the mud out of the bus. Express buses that connect urban areas usually have glass windows and may have air conditioning.
There are also mini-buses (small vans) that carry passengers among the main urban centers and around villages. Until recently, they have not been regulated and have tended to be overcrowded and poorly maintained. Volunteers are strongly advised not to ride in them unless this is the only mode of transportation to your site.
Taxis are numerous in Suva and they seem to make up the bulk of the traffic on city streets. Rides within town are usually governed by meter, whereas longer trips are negotiable. Most rides in town will cost between $2 and $5, depending on how far you are going.
Fiji is a country composed of islands. Chances are very high that you will travel by boat at some point during your service. The larger islands have regularly scheduled service, but all schedules in Fiji are subject to last-minute changes. Many of the villages on outer islands have local boat captains to bring villagers into the larger centers for shopping or to catch a ferry to Suva. There are also punts in some areas for crossing rivers.
Volunteers serving in Fiji should be comfortable both on and in the water, as many assignments will require periodic boat travel. If you are uncomfortable with your swimming skills or have a fear of water, please contact the Pacific country desk unit at Peace Corps headquarters to further discuss this issue prior to accepting your invitation to serve in Fiji.
There are two international airports, Nadi International Airport in the western division and Nausori International Airport outside Suva. Many of the outer islands have airstrips for periodic Air Fiji and Sun Air flights and/or private planes.
Geography and Climate
Fiji is composed of 332 islands with a total area of 18,376 square kilometers. Fiji is located between 15 and 22 degrees south latitude and 177 west to 175 east latitude. There are four main islands: Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, Kadavu, and Taveuni. Fiji is located just at the edge of the International Date Line, so it is one of the first countries in the world to see the dawn of each new day! Fiji is 12 hours ahead of Greenwich mean time, which means that it is generally 19 hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time, and 16 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time. Daylight Savings Time is not observed in Fiji.
The main urban centers on Viti Levu are those that are usually labeled on maps of Fiji (e.g., Suva, the capital, Nausori, Korovou, Rakiraki, Tavua, Ba, Lautoka, Nadi, and Sigatoka). The main urban centers on Vanua Levu are Labasa and Savusavu. For the outer islands, the port town is generally the main trade center.
The weather in Fiji is "mainly fine with some scattered showers, especially over the eastern parts of both the main islands." This is a typical weather report that is aired every two hours on radio Fiji. It is usually steamy and hot here from November to April during the rainy season. Generally, it will never get cooler than the low 60s (to the low 50s in the winter in the hills) and never be any hotter than the 90s. Many people wonder during the rainy season (i.e., most of the time on the eastern side of Viti Levu) if their laundry will ever dry out. Refer to the packing list for some detailed suggestions for things you could bring to be comfortable in this weather.
Social Activities
Fiji has an absolutely beautiful natural environment, which draws many tourists to the resorts that are located throughout the islands. Although Volunteers are considered "on duty" 24-hours a day/seven days a week, every Volunteer receives 24 days of vacation per year of service. Even in remote areas, villages and settlements usually have social events nearly every weekend in which Volunteers may choose to participate.
Big parties surround events, such as a new Volunteer's arrival in town, weddings, New Year's, birthdays, etc. When a Fijian or Indo-Fijian child turns one year old, there's a big family birthday party to celebrate it. The same goes for the 21st birthday. Occasionally, for important events, there will be a traditional dance performed called a meke or an all-night dance party called a taralala. Hopefully you'll encounter a lovo (feast) and/or taralala in your training village. There are quite a few festivals between July and September, many of them fundraisers. The Hibiscus Festival in Suva is especially popular and takes place in August. Nadi hosts a Bula ("Welcome") Festival in July, and nearby Lautoka hosts a Sugar Festival in September. In addition, there are many Christian, Hindu, and Muslim celebrations throughout the year.
Sports, such as cricket and rugby, are very popular here. Rugby is to Fiji as football is to America, except that it's easier to get an autograph from a local hero here! Fiji's seven-man team is often considered the best in the world. Many Volunteers jog or walk for exercise. While exercising, women generally wear sulus, skirts, or knee-length shorts depending upon their site.
There is an Olympic-size pool open to the public in Suva and Labasa, as well as opportunities for swimming at local beaches. Volunteers are expected to observe local customs for dress as well as for using an area that belongs to a particular village; in Fiji, there are very few areas that are truly public places, even if there is not a town or home in sight.
There are many activities available to fill your leisure time at site. Some Volunteers learn to socialize more; others spend their time introducing their hobbies to their new local friends. Some Volunteers have taught aerobic classes (which go over surprisingly well here!), taught local kids new songs, or established a weekly craft night. Volunteers may also find themselves learning some of the local handiwork skills, such as mat making. Others rediscover their love of reading. If you like to read, bring some good books, as they are expensive to purchase locally. Paperback books are available in many local stores and the University of the South Pacific (located in Suva) has a fair selection in its bookstore. There is also a public library in Suva in which you can borrow books for two weeks at a time, which may or may not be viable for you depending upon the location of your site.
Consider keeping a journal of your stay here in Fiji. It's not only a great way to document your experiences and accomplishments, but it's also great to use and review when filling out your quarterly reports!
Fiji has 3 major television stations and 12 radio stations. Suva, Lautoka, and Nadi all have cinemas that carry first-run Hollywood movies. (Some movies have even had their premier screening in Fiji.) In the villages, Volunteers may find themselves invited to a common building to watch an old movie, which someone rode into town on a horse to rent, on a VCR powered by a gas generator!
During vacation time, many Volunteers choose to explore other areas of Fiji. There are accommodations ranging from the typical inexpensive "backpackers lodge" on the beach to very expensive resorts catering almost exclusively to tourists. Often, resorts have nice, if overpriced, restaurants, shopping, and will be overrun with tourists in the high travel season. Less expensive properties are often much quieter and more relaxing.
The reefs that surround most of the islands here are teeming with wildlife, offering excellent snorkeling and diving opportunities. If you own your own snorkeling equipment, considering bringing it along or sending it to yourself. There are many dive shops that offer SCUBA (self-contained underwater breathing apparatus) training, certification and equipment rental.
There are also several nearby destinations that Volunteers may also want to consider, including Australia, New Zealand, Tonga, Samoa, and Vanuatu, which are easily accessible by plane from both Suva and Nadi.
Professionalism, Dress, and Behavior
Fiji is a warm and welcoming place where foreigners are a familiar sight. What distinguishes Volunteers from tourists is their knowledge of and respect for Fijian and Indo-Fijian customs. Volunteers receive extensive training on culture and the important part it plays in community life.
The atmosphere in Fiji appears somewhat relaxed, slow and
perhaps less formal than what you may be used to in the
U.S. However, do not assume that the informal atmosphere allows for informal dress. Just as in the States, people dress differently in various situations. Volunteers are encouraged to carefully observe what others are wearing—how professional people dress for work and social occasions. Learn what these standards are and follow them.
Being sensitive to Fijian dress norms, which lean toward the more conservative, will increase your effectiveness as a Volunteer. Volunteers are expected to dress and appear appropriately—both on and off the job. Volunteers who are sensitive to the cultural norms will gain respect and acceptance more readily. This respect is integral to an enjoyable and meaningful Peace Corps experience. Generally, a clean, unrumpled, somewhat low-key appearance works well in Fiji. In Suva, a more fashion-oriented style is typical; in rural areas, most people dress in more traditional, conservative clothing.
For women, dress is conservative and women cover up a lot more in Fiji than in the U.S. Ankle-length skirts are recommended. It is best to have them wide enough to sit comfortably on the floor with legs covered. Full dresses or skirts with modest tops and sleeves are very appropriate. These are easily purchased in Suva if needed. One-piece, loose fitting dresses with no waistband are also very good for hot weather. Wearing shorts in public is inappropriate except at resorts or other tourist areas. Miniskirts, short-shorts, tank tops, plunging necklines, midriff shirts that expose your belly, and strapless tops are inappropriate.
Men are also expected to dress conservatively. Long hair or untrimmed facial hair on men is considered unprofessional to Fijians. Nice slacks and shirts are the most appropriate attire, as are dress sulus (men's skirts). Men often wear long pants in public, and shorts are worn when doing outdoor activities in the village such as gardening, or for sports and hiking.
Nice-looking sandals are appropriate for both men and women. For those Volunteers who may work in an office setting, especially in urban locations, flip-flops are not acceptable at work. It is considered very rude to wear any type of hat inside of buildings and may be considered offensive to wear them in a village. Bathing attire for women should be very conservative (bikinis are only acceptable on resort beaches); local women wear T-shirts and wrap-around skirts (sulus) while swimming.
For most of the year, the climate will be hot and humid. Neutral-colored cotton clothing works best in this environment. One of the paradoxes of packing is that while lightweight clothes are the most comfortable to wear, the laundering process (do-it-yourself with scrub brushes and harsh soaps) favors sturdy items. Bright colors will fade in harsh sun and light colors will pick up curry and mud stains. Consider bringing some medium-weight cotton-poly blends that will survive the washing, sun, and climate without looking worn out in the last months of your stay.
Personal Safety
More information about the Peace Corps' approach to safety is outlined in the Health Care and Safety chapter, but it is an important issue and cannot be overemphasized. As stated in the Volunteer Handbook, becoming a Peace Corps Volunteer entails certain safety risks. Living and traveling in an unfamiliar environment (oftentimes alone), having a limited understanding of local language and culture, and being perceived as well-off are some of the factors that can put a Volunteer at risk. Many Volunteers experience varying degrees of unwanted attention and harassment. Petty thefts and burglaries are not uncommon, and occasional incidents of physical and sexual assault do occur, although many Volunteers complete their two years of service without personal safety problems. The Peace Corps has established procedures and policies designed to help Volunteers reduce their risks and enhance their safety and security. These procedures and policies, in addition to safety training, will be provided once you arrive in Fiji. At the same time, each Volunteer is expected to take primary responsibility for his or her safety and well-being.
Peace Corps/Fiji has developed a local emergency action plan that covers most contingencies. This will be discussed in more detail during pre-service training. In the event of a stateside emergency involving a close family member, the Office of Special Services at Peace Corps headquarters in Washington, D.C., can get a message to you. In addition, if your relatives hear or read something concerning Fiji that gives them reason for concern, they can contact either Office of Special Services or the country desk unit for updated information. Emergency contact numbers are listed in the back of this book.
Rewards and Frustrations
While the vision of a tropical island in the South Pacific may capture your imagination, romantic notions of this lifestyle may quickly wear thin as you adjust to the heat and humidity that descend on Fiji for six to eight months of the year. Other challenges include the occasional cyclone; the incessant ants, cockroaches, and mosquitoes that you will likely encounter; the "island fever" that can arise from living in a relatively small community where everyone knows what everyone else is doing; and the seemingly laissez-faire attitude that some people exhibit toward work and change. The island lifestyle, tropical climate, isolation, and lack of work-related resources and materials call for individuals who possesses good health, stamina, self-reliance, flexibility, and a positive attitude. You will need to adapt to a pace of life that, though not unique to the Pacific, may be quite different from what you are accustomed to in the United States.
Some individuals are surprised by the fact that, when joining Peace Corps, they become subject to the norms of their local in-country agencies, as well as those of the Peace Corps. As an employee of a host agency or institution, your professionalism will be counted on in order to respect policies your supervisors have established for their staff. Although you may be given a high degree of responsibility and independence in your work— perhaps more than in any other job you have had or will ever experience—you will often find yourself in situations that require an ability to motivate yourself and your counterparts with little guidance from supervisors. You may also work for months without seeing any visible impact or without receiving any feedback on your work. This is the nature of development work. It's a slow process and often results are only seen after the combined efforts of several generations of Volunteers. You must possess self-confidence, patience, and maturity to continue working toward long-term goals without seeing immediate results.
Peace Corps has a highly successful history in Fiji, and most Fijians fondly remember Volunteers living and working in their communities. Now that Peace Corps has reentered Fiji after a five-year absence, Volunteers play both a technical assistance and a diplomatic role. When citizens of Fiji interact with Peace Corps Volunteers, their impressions of America are formed by those interactions. Your ability to serve as a competent professional and a tactful "ambassador" will affect both the image of Peace Corps as an agency and of Americans in general. This is a significant responsibility for all Volunteers worldwide and will become part of Peace Corps/Fiji's continuing legacy.
The goodwill and hospitality of the Fijian people and the richness of their culture, the beauty of the environment, and the challenges offered by your work can make your life as a Volunteer exciting and rewarding.
Peace Corps service requires dedication, a "can-do" attitude, commitment, and, perhaps most importantly, a sense of humor. It will be an emotionally exhausting and demanding experience. However, it is an opportunity for personal as well as professional growth and fulfillment, and the rewards are likely to far outweigh the challenges.


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I'm Laura, mamma of 2
We love and
We have been nursing for over 2 years now!
Rose got her last bottle of EBM today. I AM feeling relieved that I'm done pumping, but sad that she's not getting mommy's milk while I'm away.
I'm Laura, mamma of 2
We love and
We have been nursing for over 2 years now!
I'm Hillary
Wife to Gualberto
Mom to Nolan
Born at 32 weeks-3lbs/10oz
Our precious early angel
IRL all my friends call me Buff, Wife to CB since 10/11/2003
Mom to DD - "MJ" born 9/2007 @ 8lbs 10oz, 21.5" She's 6 years old!
My journey nursing MJ started HERE, but we got through it and she breastfed 19.5 months, self-weaned on 5/17/09
Mom to my current nursling, DS - "ME" born 10/2009 @ 10lbs 1oz, 22.25" He's 4 years old! And yup, he's still nursing.
Ask me about my successful VBAC! Click here for my birth story.
I'm glad things are going well...
I'm really trying to get DS on a good solids sked...
He has done really well the last week so I think I'm going to start soon too!
We've made it 1 YEAR
A newborn baby has only three demands. They are warmth in the arms of its mother, food from her breasts, and security in the knowledge of her presence. Breastfeeding satisfies all three. ~Grantly Dick-Read
Married to DH since 2001
Mommy to Mikki 2006
Mommy to Xander 2008


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Okay I am SOOOO frustrated!
I've been relactating 7 weeks now. I've been using a lact-aid, fenugreek, oatmeal, domperidone, blessed thistle. I just added goat's rue and a milk tea a few days ago.
At first I had 3.5 oz of forumla in the lact-aid. Now I have 2-2.5oz of BREAST MILK! in the lact-aid. He sometimes takes it all and other times he leaves about an ounce or so.
Here is my frustration. He gets about 3.5-4 oz total per feed (I have a scale). 1.5-2 oz of that is from the breast milk in the lact-aid. So 2-2.5 oz are from me (I nurse on both sides) BUT when I pump afterward I pump an ounce out of EACH BREAST! How can I get him to take that from ME and not give it to the pump or take it out of the lact-aid?
It is like I'm not getting to a second let down. I know I don't feel a second let down just the first.
What I do is let him nurse both sides first (I may or maynot get a letdown), then I open up the lact-aid and I alternate giving him half on each side. Is this wrong? I'm almost thinking that I should feed on just ONE breast and have the lact-aid on the whole time? And put more breast milk in the lact-aid so that he's getting breast milk the entire feed?
I forgot to mention, he is SCREAMING at me if I don't have the lact-aid on. He will scream and cry and push his head past my breast if he sucks and doesn't get anything. I try to not wait until he's super hungry but if he's not hungry he won't even open for the breast. Also our feeds have gone from 30 minutes to only 10, I'm thinking that is why he's not getting all from me because that is only enough time for one let down?
HELP! I'm going to call my LC for an appointment but I need help NOW!


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The Board of Health is working with the Mohawk Area Public Health Coalition (MAPHCO), our public health emergency planning agency, and the neighboring town of Goshen, to plan for public health emergencies such as flu pandemic, drinking or waste water emergencies, bioterrorism events, and other events that may require the mass distribution of antibiotics, vaccine, or supplies.
The Anne Dunphy School is likely to be the emergency dispensing site (EDS) for both towns, and mail distribution of an EDS brochure was accomplished for both towns in early 2009. Please read the brochure and become familiar with the concept of the EDS.
Volunteers are always needed to plan, practice, and execute emergency plans in town. If you would like to volunteer, please contact the Health Agent at 268-8404.
Additionally, we are stressing the importance of each household creating its own Family Disaster Plan in four steps:
1/ Consider how you and your family might handle specific emergencies such as a power outage, flood, hurricane or flu epidemic.
2/ Create a plan to address such emergencies should they affect you.
3/ Set aside a 3-day emergency supply of food and water, as well as other emergency supplies such as batteries, blankets, etc. for your family. Also include important phone numbers, information about prescription medication, and other necessary information in a family "Go-Kit" should you be asked to evacuate on short notice.
4/ Practice your plan, maintain your supplies, and keep up to date with your community plan.
There are several excellent Disaster Planning Kits available at: www.mass.gov/eohhs/MassSupport
You can get free family publications by writing to: FEMA, P.O. Box 70274, Washington, D.C. 20024. Ask for "Are You Ready? Your Family Disaster Supplies Kit and Emergency Food and Water Supplies".


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Copyright 2016
American Institute of Steel Construction
All Rights Reserved
My AISC allows you to personalize the AISC Web Site according to your interests. If you have not already registered, please REGISTER NOW (and receive a FREE subscription to Modern Steel Magazine). My AISC also allows you to access Engineering Journal articles and Design Guides you have downloaded from the bookstore.
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Busy busy busy!
The next day, I checked the batteries on my camera and zoomed off to another opening night at Bethel Woods (www.bethelwoodscenter.org) to experience country crossover sensation Lady Antebellum, which performed to a sold-out crowd. Again, my review is online, but suffice it to say that opening acts Thompson Square and Darius Rucker built the momentum to fever pitch before the headliners hit the stage with their signature three-part harmony. As it turns out, I had photo issues that night, but got them straightened out by the time I got to the Liberty Museum (www.libertymuseum.com), which is currently hosting a new exhibit of glorious (IMHO) works produced by the artists collective Catskill Artists Gallery (CAG), (www.catskillartistsgallery.com).
In another example of technological growth, CAG is now available on the internet as a "gallery without walls," so this exhibit (running through July 8) is a great opportunity to experience the artwork "old school" style, up close and personal. Nada Clyne, Robert Friedman, Cate Gundlah, Margaret Helthaler, Kathy Jeffers, Tom Keleman, Buff McAllister and Hank Schneider outdid themselves presenting a vast array of jewelry, paintings, sculpture and photography and honestly, I left the museum thoroughly impressed. Although my scheduling conflicts prevented me from making it to the newest exhibit at the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance in Narrowsburg, NY (DVAA, www.artsallinancesite.org) on Friday, rest assured that I will be stopping in during the coming week to peruse Daria Dorosh's "Chairs 1982 - 2010," which promises to be stimulating.
Unable to make it to Domesticities (www.thecuttinggarden.org), I called cub reporter Lucy Jan-Turan, who graciously agreed to swing by Youngsville and report back on proprietor Ann Hart's second annual garden party benefiting the DVAA. My absence (I took home a prize last year) apparently opened the doors for new competitors and Ramona Jan, Sienna Klaber, Morgan Hamilton and Lucy herself (you're welcome!) took home the top honors, parading the lush garden in their summer finery.


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Mayor Anna Lopez Machacek cast the deciding vote to hire the Austin law firm of Knight & Partners to "mentor" City Attorney Ashford Taylor. New councilman Joey Thompson and councilwoman Liz Holsey also voted for acquiring the services of the law firm while councilmen Buddy Zavesky and Lionel Garcia opposed the motion made by Holsey and seconded by Thompson. New councilwoman Cheryl Worley abstained from voting on the item, allowing Machacek to cast the deciding vote.
Both Machacek and Thompson would not comment when asked who had recommended the services of Knight & Partners.
"I'm done for the night," Machacek said.
"I will comment, I'm just not comfortable enough right now," Thompson said.
Attorney Barney Knight offered his law firm's services to the city during a special city council meeting June 9 called by Machacek. Knight said his firm could serve as full legal counsel for the city or assist Taylor. City council took no action at the special meeting. Machacek put the item on the agenda again Tuesday night.
Former mayor Worley regretted not voting on the item.
"I'm beside myself right now," Worley said. "I always said when I was mayor that you need to vote and you need to pick a side."
Worley said she would have liked to table the item to get more feedback from Taylor.
Holsey insisted that she doesn't want to replace Taylor.
"We don't want to replace him," Holsey said. "His heart's here. We need to talk to him, but we're not replacing him."
Goliad attorney Steve Paulsgrove, who has served a county judge and county attorney, spoke to the council Tuesday night and offered to serve as a mentor to Taylor, who is employed in Paulsgrove's law firm.
"It was never up to us to approve Mr. Paulsgrove," Holsey said. "That was never brought up."
Holsey was against tabling the item to consider hiring Paulsgrove to assist Taylor.
"I think that's getting to be a habit that we table and bring it to the next meeting," Holsey said. "You can't continue to do business that way."
More on this story coming to mySouTex.com.


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The annual Cogswell College Fusion Awards 2010 took place on April 16th at 7:30 pm. The winners are:
3D Modeling: Jason Walker – El Conejito de la Murte
Concept: Josh Hodges – The Siren and the Faun
Illustration: Josh Hodges – The Nightmare
Lighting/Texturing/Rendering: Shane Finley – Bedroom
Music Composition: Adrian Hernandez – Patterns
Music Production: Robbie Ernst – Another Way Out
Photography: Jessica "Psy" DeLacy – Colors of a California Winter
Rigging: Jessica "Psy" DeLacy – Rhino Rig
Sculpture: Chris Evart – "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde"
Sound Design: Blythe Cairnes – Bliss Station
Distinguished Honors
Animation: Evan Clover – "You're Fired! – Dialogue Animation"
Music Performance: Will Reichenthal – "Analog Razor"
To see all of the entries, please visit http://www.myriadofform.com/fusionAwards/


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INGREDIENTS:¼ cup canola oil 3 qts. carrots, peeled and diced 3 qts. sweet onions, diced 2 qts. parsnips, peeled and diced 2 gallons vegetable broth 1-½ cartons Classic Casserole (R) Au Gratin Potatoes with 3 seasoning packets 1 cup fresh parsley, chopped ¼ cup fresh thyme, minced to taste, salt to taste, pepperDIRECTIONS:In large bowl, combine oil, carrots, onions and parsnips. Toss well to coat with oil. Transfer vegetables to sheet pan(s); roast at 425°F for 25?30 minutes, stirring ...
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School Rumble
Please, God! Please, Genuine Animal Fortune-Telling! Please, Tenma!
Episode 10 | TV-PG
Friends step in to help Tenma break the lunch rut by setting up a date - with curry on the menu, of course - but a stop at a sidewalk psychic could spoil the romantic atmosphere!
Official Site: www.funimation.com/shows/school-rumbleHide Details


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Deco Diamond Tiered Shell
Style: 570087768
Out of Stock
Diamonds point to curvy wraps of tiered fabric layering a matte jersey top with a sweetheart neckline and wide cami straps. 95% Polyester, 5% Spandex. Machine wash. Imported.
- Close-to-the-body stretch fit.
- Black knit piping at the neckline and around armhole. Center seam at the bust. Narrow at top, tiers widen from the smaller part of the waist to hem.
- Smooth knit back.
- Hits at mid-hip (25" from shoulder).
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