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Hi ladies! I am almost 4 months pregnant and I am wondering when is a good time to start going to LLL meetings? I was thinking around 7 months?
Hi ladies! I am almost 4 months pregnant and I am wondering when is a good time to start going to LLL meetings? I was thinking around 7 months?
I started when I was 8 months pregnant. I wish I had started earlier in my pregnancy. They are so much fun.
We too started at about eight months but I wish we had started a few months earlier.
I LOVE to see pregnant moms at the local LLL! I think it really helps to build that support system before the baby comes so that you have a familiar place to go or to call when you have questions or just need a shoulder!
We had a 5 mo. pregnant mom at our last meeting...that was cool!
I say, start attending as soon as you have interest too! Go this month if you feel like it! They are fun and informative and that way you can already start building your support network!
Go ahead and start going now. There is a series of 4 meetings given on a rotating basis. By going now, you can be sure and get all 4 in before your baby is born.
Congratulations! It's so great that you are taking this time to educate yourself about breastfeeding. It will pay off in the long run!
"Mothers are designed to be available to their babies--to help them make the transition into this big, wide world. To teach them to trust, and love, and feel good about being alive."
--Elizabeth N. Baldwin, Esq., So I Nursed Him Every 45 Minutes
Click here to find your local LLL Group
How to tell if your breastfed baby is getting enough milk!
Ditto the others: Go as soon as you can!
I personally wish I had attended before my first daughter's birth not only for the direct breastfeeding information, but for more about childbirth. LLL philosophy says "Alert and active participation by the mother in childbirth is a help in getting breastfeeding off to a good start." For my second birth, I used LLL resources including my Group Library to get info that helped me decide the details of my birth well in advance. It allowed me to have that "alert and active participation" and breastfeeding started off great this time!
I started when I was 9 mo. pg with my first and I could have kicked myself for not going earlier. So much great information, potential mommy friends, and support can be gained.
Thanks ladies! I think I may call and start going next month! I need all the support I can get since breastfeeding didn't really go as planned with my 1st. Thanks again. I love this group!


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What is the place you remember had the cheapest drinks ever?
7-11 69 cent big gulps. 🙂ReplyCancel
Free water at Panera.ReplyCancel
Moscow, circa 1989. It was amazing what a pack of Marlboros or Kools could buy in Soviet Russia.ReplyCancel
Hopefully he doesn't fill the bottles back up with water to make the levels match at least?ReplyCancel
Nothing like starting young eh Violet?ReplyCancel
There was a place by my university called The Library and then Squires and they did 50cent beer on Wednesdays. They were small cups but for some lightweight first year, $2 would get you properly lost. I should note that I'm 26, so we're not talking about "well with inflation it would actually be about $5.00…"ReplyCancel
Penny pitchers at a Purdue bar. Good times!ReplyCancel
This little bar in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Pitchers of beer were $1.50 and the locals were complaining because they raised the prices for the rodeo.ReplyCancel
Well the dirty martini offer still stands, Violet. Especially as it seems your supplies are dwindling…ReplyCancel
Fred's Tavern, Dover, NJ. There was a really great club in Dover, I forget the name. Southside Johnny, Syl Sylvain, David Johanssen, all the big NYC club bands of the 80's would play there. Anyway, afterwards, everyone headed over to Fred's, an awesome dive bar.ReplyCancel
Bar A in Belmar used to have $0.50 drafts on Tuesdays when Love Lies Bleeding played. They were 7oz dixie cups, but ya get a dozen or so at a clip, among a couple people.
Bar down the street was being sold and the new owners didn't want to pay for the inventory (turning joint from bar w/ kitchen to a restaurant w/ bar). The closing party was on a Sunday and what ever you wanted was a dollar. Draft beer or top shelf scotch. None of the employees were being retained, so they didn't give a fuck about anything. I went in for beers and shots. Gave the chick a $20, she gave me beers in a 6pk holder, 8 shot glasses, and a 1/2 bottle of chilled Jaeger, told me to poor my own.
That may have been the second craziest party I ever went to. First being a house that was being foreclosed, because daddy took off w/ a whore. House was solely in his name, so mom and 2 sons were wrecking it and invited people over to join in. The story in the local paper said $30+ worth of damage. At one point people were ripping out the kitchen counter tops and throwing them into the pool.ReplyCancel
A local place in college had 25 cent beer night. The cups were smallish but also, I'm old!ReplyCancel
Ahh, the 80's …
Mrs P's – Penny beer Wednesdays
50 cent schnapps shots all the time
The Armory 75 cent well drinks all the time
Sounds good! I'll have to dust off the guitar and start practicing the chords for Country Road…ReplyCancel
WVU. The Dungeon. 10 cent drafts and 25 cent well drinks. Freshmen Heaven. The Den on campus had 42oz. Sodas for 35 cents.ReplyCancel
Quarter drafts on Thurs eves at a place called Zelda's near the Univ of Pittsburgh circa 1993. It ceased to exist a long time ago. All you needed was a college ID to get in. Fun times.ReplyCancel
Buck fifty beers at a country bar.ReplyCancel
Draft beer at the Press Room downtown San Diego was cheap for me back in the 70's. I was underage too so it was really exciting to sit at the bar next to men in suits. Lots of drunk attorneys asking for my number. Good times.ReplyCancel
Czech Republic. Beer is cheaper than water pretty much. Pints for 10-30centsReplyCancel
Parties at Sundance. The free liquor flows. Even Stella Artois has a tent and the beer is free. I'm a huge fan of FREE!!!!ReplyCancel
But clearly the answer is VEGASReplyCancel
My brothers house. (At my house I still have to buy tbe alcohol.)ReplyCancel
This liquor store right by my first apartment in Spring Lake. It used to have an itty bitty bar with five bar stools in the back. We'd end our night with car-bombs that they basically charged us just for the beer. It was the perfect way to end our evenings & stumble home.ReplyCancel
A Dallas bar that had free unlimited happy hour drinks for females. It attracted alot of guys.ReplyCancel
Penny draft $5 cover Mondays in college ladies night!ReplyCancel
Foufounes Electrique on Thursday, ladies night, 5$ pitchers. Just don't mind the huge crowd and 60% bro population and your good… The karaoke sports station on st Cath is awesome too, getting drunk with natives is more fun than people think.
All this is in Montreal btw. And current.ReplyCancel
The 80's were a good time. There was a club in Marin County that had $.25 well drinks one night. Only catch is you had to finish your current drink to get the next one for a quarter. Only for a few hours though but what a great time and I still remember to this day.ReplyCancel
The 80s rocked. I was a teenager working at an airline in Las Vegas (transplanted from a smallish town in the Pacific Northwest — talk about culture shock). My friends and I were dirt poor, and we'd hang out at Binion's Horseshoe on Fremont street where the well drinks were 50 cents AND they never, ever carded us!!!!!ReplyCancel
Someone said "The Library" bar and that was Texas- I remember going there for cheap drinks. There were quite a few bars in Houston that still do the "dollar beer" nights and at clubs downtown girls walk around with free shots to try all the time. Cheapest place for a drunk has got to be Houston TX.ReplyCancel
Senior year in high school, Hendersons in Heilbronn, Germany. Tuesday nights were 50 Pfennig Night (back when they still used Deutsche Marks and Pfennigs).
50 pfennig is equivalent to 10 cents. All I remember is on Wednesday mornings waking up w/ something bizarre in my room (street signs, construction cones, multi colored wigs….no idea how it got there). Good times though. Loved 50 Pfennig night at Hendersons!ReplyCancel
Last Saturday of the month was ladies drink free if you entered by 10p with a $10 cover charge. I was friends with the cop who did security there, so he would get me however many armbands I needed saying we got there in time and he let us in a side door.ReplyCancel
Perry's Place. Free drinks for me and my guests anytime I showed up as long as I sang "Beth" and "No More Mister Nice Guy" for the bartenders and owners.ReplyCancel
I was a bartender in tourist resorts and could drink for free as much as I wanted to. If I went to other bars, I said I would not pay for my drinks cause I get them free everywhere. It works when you're young and pretty! Couple of years later I went on holiday to one of the islands where I used to work. Recognised a few people from back in the day and got free drinks all week!ReplyCancel
Ah, Wetherspoons. I feel all nostalgic. 50p a pint nights at Shark in Edinburgh, although you could hardly classify the arse water they served as real boozeReplyCancel
The venerable 150-year-old Antoine's Restaurant in the French Quarter STILL serves 25c shaken martinis daily with their classic Creole $20.14 3-course lunches! Sashay in and stagger out!ReplyCancel
We found a dollar draft bar in Key West that our friends we hung out with all the long weekend that lived there didn't even know about.. and it was right in the city with live carribean music.. forgot the name but it's probably still there.. I went there with my daughter a couple years ago and am pretty sure we strolled right by itReplyCancel
VFW near the UMass campus had 25 cent beers.
A club I used to go to in London had really crappy well drinks for 10p in the early 90's.
Bulgaria in the 90's was a place of wonder and cheapness. I don't remember how much pop cost, but a large pizza at the "Italian" restaurant was somewhere around 80 cents.
In the town I live in, beers are 2 bucks and pitchers 7.ReplyCancel
Drinkin w/Lincoln nights @ the Milk Bar in Jax. FL back in the day…and any college bar from 19-29. We were always double fisted and drank for free…ReplyCancel
In the late 1980s when beers in LA cost around $2.00 each, I flew back to Minnesota for the holidays. My old roommate picked me up and drove me to my folk's place about 70 miles away from the airport. On the way there, we stopped at a tiny bar in a tiny town. The bartender put down two beers for us and said, "80 cents." I was amazed that a bottle of beer was less than a dollar! I put $2 down on the bar. He took one and gave me change. I told him I was buying both beers, and he said they were 40 cents apiece.ReplyCancel

subset: commoncrawl


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Two soldiers back home for the first time in six months surprised their two kids at a Christmas show in Methuen, Mass. Sunday
Surprise reunion for soldiers and their kids
Published On: Dec 23 2013 07:33:02 AM HST Updated On: Apr 30 2014 08:55:02 AM HST
The views expressed are not those of this site, this station or its affiliated companies. By posting your comments you agree to accept our terms of use.blog comments powered by Disqus


text:
Finding a solid business rewards credit card isn't always easy. Sometimes there are high annual fees while others have tiered rewards where you have to spend thousands of dollars before any real rewards kick in.
For the business owner that doesn't want to have a bunch of separate credit cards aimed to provide the most benefit in each category of spending (typically office supplies, telecommunications, gas, dining, and lodging just to name a few), it can be hard to find that all around solid card.
Who wouldn't want to carry just one credit card instead of five?
Enter Capital One's Spark Cash Business Credit Card to save the day.
[Read more…]


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Undergraduate Research in Scientific Inquiry with C. Dirks
Fall 2014, Winter 2015 and Spring 2015 quarters
Taught by
Rigorous quantitative and qualitative research is an important component of academic learning in Scientific Inquiry. Research opportunities allow science students to work on specific projects associated with faculty members' expertise. Students typically begin by working in an apprenticeship model with faculty or laboratory staff and gradually take on more independent projects within the context of the specific research program as they gain experience. Students can develop vital skills in research design, data acquisition and interpretation, modeling and theoretical analysis, written and oral communication, collaboration and critical thinking. These are valuable skills for students pursuing a graduate degree or entering the job market.
Clarissa Dirks (biology) aims to better understand the evolutionary principles that underlie the emergence, spread and containment of infectious disease by studying the coevolution of retroviruses and their primate hosts. Studying how host characteristics and ecological changes influence virus transmission in lemurs will enable us to address the complex spatial and temporal factors that impact emerging diseases. Students with a background in biology and chemistry will gain experience in molecular biology techniques, including tissue culture and the use of viral vectors.
Program Details
Fields of Study
Location and Schedule
Campus location
Offered during: Day


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This study is provided by ICPSR. ICPSR provides leadership and training in data access, curation, and methods of analysis for a diverse and expanding social science research community.
Study of Consumer Purchases in the United States, 1935-1936 (ICPSR 8908)
Principal Investigator(s): United States Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Cost of Living Division; United States Department of Agriculture. Bureau of Home Economics. Economics Division; United States National Resources Committee. Consumption Research Staff. Industrial Section; United States Central Statistical Board; United States Works Progress Administration
In 1935, the principal investigators interviewed a national sample of all families in the United States to ascertain for the first time in a single national survey the earning and spending habits of inhabitants of large and small cities, villages, and farms. Families completed questionnaires that reported in detail all household income sources and expenditures. Respondents were asked to list the amount of all income received by the family from each person employed as well as from other sources such as gifts, interest and dividends, pensions, and work in the home. Complete information was also provided on family composition, type of living quarters, housing accommodations, fuel and other utility expenses, medical care, recreational activities, tobacco use, purchase of reading materials, educational expenses, miscellaneous occupational expenses, gifts furnished, taxes paid, automobile expenses, personal care costs, and a detailed appraisal of all changes in family assets and liabilities over the course of the previous year. Families also reported the quantity of food items consumed, unit purchase price, and total expense of all food items consumed by the family in the seven days prior to the interview. In addition, families were queried on furnishings and equipment purchased for the home as well as on all items of clothing purchased for each family member in the previous year. Demographic characteristics recorded for each household member include relationship to the household head, age, sex, occupation, weeks spent at home or away from home, wage rate, length of time employed during the year, and total earnings.
Series: Cost of Living Survey Series
Access Notes
These data are available only to users at ICPSR member institutions. Because you are not logged in, we cannot verify that you will be able to download these data.
WARNING: This study is over 150MB in size and may take several minutes to download on a typical internet connection.
Study Description
United States Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Cost of Living Division, United States Department of Agriculture. Bureau of Home Economics. Economics Division , United States National Resources Committee. Consumption Research Staff. Industrial Section, United States Central Statistical Board, and United States Works Progress Administration. Study of Consumer Purchases in the United States, 1935-1936. ICPSR08908-v3. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2009-06-29. http://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR08908.v3
Persistent URL: http://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR08908.v3
Export Citation:
- RIS (generic format for RefWorks, EndNote, etc.)
- EndNote XML (EndNote X4.0.1 or higher)
This study was funded by:
- National Endowment for the Humanities (RT-20853-87)
- Alfred P. Sloan Foundation (B1989-22)
Scope of Study
Subject Terms: consumers, cost of living, debt, demographic characteristics, economic conditions, economic indicators, economic trends, expenditures, expenses, families, farm families, financial assets, food costs, food production, home ownership, household composition, household income, households, housing, income, living conditions, ownership, products, purchasing, rural population, urban population, wage earners, working class
Geographic Coverage: United States
Time Period:
- 1935--1936
Date of Collection:
- 1935--1936
Universe: All native-born families living in the United States in 1935-1936.
Data Types: survey data
Data Collection Notes:
A portion of the families surveyed in this collection provided only basic income and housing information while other families also provided detailed expenditure information. Part 1 includes income and housing data for ALL sampled families in urban areas, regardless of whether they provided expenditure information. Part 2 includes income and housing data for urban and rural families who DID NOT provide any expenditure data. Parts 3 and 4 include both income and expenditure data for urban and rural families, respectively.
Facsimiles of the original income and expenditure interview forms (called "schedules") are provided as a Portable Document Format (PDF) file in the ICPSR codebook for this collection.
Sample: The data were collected from 51 cities, 140 villages, and 66 farm counties. The principal investigators selected these areas as primary sampling units to represent the demographic, regional, and economic characteristics of the United States. From these areas a randomly selected group of approximately 700,000 families were screened as a first wave. From this first group, approximately 300,000 families were selected to supply basic income and housing information. Some 61,000 families were selected from this second group to furnish more comprehensive expenditure information. For the present collection, random subsamples of approximately 5,000 families who completed income schedules only and 6,000 families who completed both income and expenditure schedules were chosen.
Data Source:
interview schedules of the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Bureau of Home Economics
Original ICPSR Release: 1991-03-05
Version History:
- 2009-06-29 The SPSS and SAS setup files and codebook (questionnaire included) have been updated. Also, a Stata setup file, SPSS and Stata system files, a SAS transport (CPORT) file, and a tab-delimited ASCII data file have been added.
- 2006-03-30 File QU8908.ALL.PDF was removed from any previous datasets and flagged as a study-level file, so that it will accompany all downloads.
- 1999-04-26 Parts 2 through 4 have been added to this collection, and the data collection instruments are now available in a PDF file.
Related Publications (?)
- List all ~15 citations associated with this study
- View citations for the entire series
Most Recent Publications
Export Options: RIS/EndNote
Metadata Exports
- Citations exports are provided above.
Export Study-level metadata (does not include variable-level metadata)
If you're looking for collection-level metadata rather than an individual metadata record, please visit our Metadata Records page.


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The Space Between
32 comments:
- Anything but Bland said...
it's truly beautiful! I found a few petticoats the other day at salvation army.. such a lucky find! hope you find one that fits the dress well!
love, polly :)
- July 20, 2011 at 8:13 AM
- The little world of fashion said...
So cute dress! :)
- July 20, 2011 at 8:38 AM
- anahita said...
really cute and brave dress - I would be too shy to wear something so cut out, but it looks incredible. great length too xx
- July 20, 2011 at 9:11 AM
- Lisa (aka sweetie) said...
Love the lace details on this dress..you look adorable! xo Lisa
- July 20, 2011 at 9:15 AM
- CMA said...
this is great!
i've always been a fan of your blog, i've added you to my "blogs" page for fashion sites! keep it up!
i hope you'll come check out my posts from my journey through Spain and my first look since returning to the US!
- July 20, 2011 at 9:19 AM
- Sarah said...
this dress is gorgeous. and i LOVE those shoes!
- July 20, 2011 at 9:25 AM
- Yajaira said...
cute cute dress
love the lace details
- July 20, 2011 at 9:51 AM
- SoFashionistica said...
That is truly an amzing dress! The lace detailing is what really makes the dress and adding the bandeu bra made it appear less risque. Very chica!
- July 20, 2011 at 9:52 AM
- Carmen said...
Such a gorgeous dress, the lace in it is so pretty!
Carmen Ri.
- July 20, 2011 at 10:09 AM
- whitemaskgirl said...
Such a beautiful dress, I really love the lace! :)
- July 20, 2011 at 10:12 AM
- Emma said...
Trippy wall! I thought it was going to be the same photograph mirrored before I properly scrolled down, ha.
Lovely dress - it fits you so well! x
- July 20, 2011 at 10:23 AM
- Christy said...
The dress is the perfect mix of gothic and romantic. And I can understand why your closet is overflowing with black pieces; black looks lovely with your vibrant red hair!
- July 20, 2011 at 10:29 AM
- Marie @ Lemondrop Vintage said...
what a gorgeous dress, perfect setting. And I have bun envy.
Marie @ Lemondrop ViNtAge
July giveaway
- July 20, 2011 at 10:36 AM
- Lidiya said...
Lovely dress - so cute and I adore the color, I love black dresses :)
- July 20, 2011 at 10:46 AM
- Mila said...
What a great dress!I love it :)
I invite on http://milamodastyle.blogspot.com/
- July 20, 2011 at 11:17 AM
- Jacquelyn said...
that dress looks perfect on you! love the lace!
xo Jackie
- July 20, 2011 at 11:22 AM
- Vicki said...
such an elegant classic dress. it will never go out of style! you look flawless :) x
- July 20, 2011 at 11:40 AM
- Melis said...
awww cute. where is that brick wall? perfect picture spot :) and the outfit is wonderful as usual!
check out my blog, i have a lookbook and behind the scenes video for my etsy up. take a look! i think you'd like it.
- July 20, 2011 at 11:49 AM
- vintage process said...
Great look!!!
- July 20, 2011 at 12:13 PM
- Shelby said...
this dress is so fun. i adore the lace.
- July 20, 2011 at 1:37 PM
- bachman's sparrow said...
It's very romantic, lovely :)
xoxo Maria
- July 20, 2011 at 1:54 PM
- jess said...
The dress is so pretty. I love the lace detail on the back.
- July 20, 2011 at 2:01 PM
- Tammy (Marshmallow Dreams) said...
I love this dress! it's so cute and vintage :)
- July 20, 2011 at 4:21 PM
- Jenny said...
Such a pretty dress! and you have such a awesome collection of heels! your lovely blog is making me want more in my collection ;p
- July 20, 2011 at 6:24 PM
- Jes said...
I love the lace on the dress! It's so romantic looking. (:
- July 20, 2011 at 6:38 PM
- Amber Rose, Laughing With Broken Eyes said...
You look so ephemeral and poetic in this lace dress.
I really want to color-coat my closet. I had it so in the past, but I get so lazy..
- July 20, 2011 at 7:08 PM
- The Daily Fashionista said...
That dress is super hot! I love the pretty lace details and the cut is just perfect. I hope you find a petticoat to wear with it. The only thing is, is that most petticoats that I've come across are really high-waisted so you may see the top of the petticoat through the lace.
- July 20, 2011 at 7:10 PM
- Jenna said...
The dress, and how you styled it, is lovely.
I'm also glad to know I'm not the only one who organizes according to color!
- July 20, 2011 at 8:00 PM
- Pretty Things said...
looking fabulous, love the lace, and your shoes are super cute shoes. gorgeous as always
- July 21, 2011 at 2:52 AM
- Michelle Goldie said...
This is such a nice dress! :) I think you can NEVER have too much black in your wardrobe ;)
Here in London I'm already thinking of Fall… You can check my inspirations for next Fall here: http://goldielondon.blogspot.com/2011/07/autumnwinter-inspiration-2011.html
And tell me what you prefer and maybe what are your inspirations for next fall!
- July 21, 2011 at 7:14 AM
- annah. said...
i love the daringness of this dress - it could easily turn trashy the the length and your hair really balance it out. gorgeous!
Annah xx
- July 21, 2011 at 9:05 AM
- Jamie Rose said...
This dress is really really pretty. I love the lace detail underneath and the nice, full skirt. It looks really great on you!
- July 21, 2011 at 8:17 PM


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Premonition maybe?
Okay so to be quick, I accidentally posted the whole Coco was traded thing twice (I guess I was incessantly clicking). So I wanted to delete one entry, but I ended up deleting both… so I was annoyed because it still showed up on my profile (as far as I could tell).
3 Comments
Congrats on your blog being highlighted! It was a good one about Dusty! I've only been blogging here a short while but it is a great place to be! Sorry about the math test. And I'm with you – the Yankees are after way to many players, but you know what? It's only because they know they can't beat the Sox without help!
I can't stand math. I've always been horrible, and I really don't see the point to half the stuff in Algerbra. The Yankees cannot have Jake. I will not allow it! (like I have any control!)
Don't worry, ladies. The Yankees won't get everybody.🙂 As for the Coco trade, Elizabeth, I think it was a good one for the Sox. Ramirez (Ramon, that is) could be a real asset in the pen, and you already have Jacoby for CF, right?


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Everything u mention could be answered checking out a KO GAME-THREAD the past few seasons with Melo ....
a article-fact wasnt needed about our low-rebounding and poor-effort defending the paint with u in any of KO Game-Threads this season, u blame that whole ordeal on Tyson ..
When Melo needed all 40 minutes of playingtime per game this season just to stay inrange with the scoring title leaders (Durant / Lebron).
Melo been playing PF the majority of his time in Denver (with all those bigman injuries each season), which is why Denver got blown out in the first-round.
And dont bring-up a healthy Denver-roster when Billups became a Nuggets to ride them to the WCF.
A Star SF must have a inside/outside GAME on offense annd Defense vs SG/SF/PF, sorry, but scoring Melo never fit into a star-SF criterior .... the reason Franchise Player ISO-Melo forced coach Karl & coach Woody to play him at PF most of each game.
Its 95 degreees in Bayshore LI


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Laura E Niklason, PhD, MD
Nicholas Greene Professor of Anesthesiology and Professor of Biomedical Engineering; Division Chief; Vice Chair, Research
Departments & Organizations
Anesthesiology: NIH T32 Program | Niklason Lab | Translational Research
Stem Cell Center, Yale: Stem Cell Niche and Homing
Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program
Office of Cooperative Research
Dr. Niklason is Professor of Anesthesia and Biomedical Engineering at Yale.She received her Bachelors degrees in Physics and Biophysics from the University of Illinois, and went on to the University of Chicago for her PhD in Biophysics in 1988. Dr. Niklason subsequently received her MD from the University of Michigan, where she did her internship. She then went on tothe Massachusetts General Hospital for residency in Anesthesia, followed by fellowship training in Critical Care Medicine. During her time in Boston, Dr.Niklason was also a post-doctoral researcher at MIT with Dr. Robert Langer,where she developed techniques for the tissue engineering of autologous arteries. Dr. Niklason joined the faculty at Duke University in 1998, where she continued her work in cardiovascular tissue engineering, and founded a biotechnology company designed to bring tissue engineered cardiovascular products to the clinic. Dr. Niklason has received national and international recognition for her work in this field, receiving the Discover Magazine award for Technological Innovation in 2000. In January of 2006, Niklason moved to Yale University, where she is expanding her research program in tissue engineering of blood vessels and lung, as well as understanding the basic aspects of cellular aging.
Currently, Dr. Niklason's research program has several areas of focus. With regard to engineered arteries, Niklason is engaged in preclinical studies in large animals to validate the method for generating engineered tissues that are available "off the shelf". Large animal studies on vascular grafts are centered on immune/inflammatory response minimization to these off-the-shelf tissues, and on the long-term function of the grafts in the arterial circulation. In addition, Niklason is developing tissue engineering approaches to generating vascularized cardiac muscle, as well as vascularized lungtissue. In addition, Niklason has active research interests in vascularremodeling that is associated with various disease states, including atherosclerosis and arterial vasospasm.
Education & Training
|University of Michigan/Ann Arbor (1991)
|University of Chicago (1988)
|Mass General Hospital
|Mass General Hospital
|University of Michigan
International Activity
Stem Cell Research United Kingdom (2007)
Professor Niklason collaborates with Dr. Sanjay Sinha and Dr. Roger Pedersen of Cambridge University. Their work centers on stem cell research.


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See images from Himawari-8 in the new satellite viewer
This demonstration product is most suitable for people
with fast internet connection and high data allowance.
Low-definition satellite images
Satellite View Selection
12:00 ACST on Sunday 11 December 2016 | False colour temperatures, Full Disk
Images from Japan Meteorological Agency satellite Himawari 8 via Bureau of Meteorology.
IDY28000 Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology Bureau National Operations Centre Satellite Notes for 0600UTC Saturday 11 December 2016 Issued at 5:28 pm EDT Sunday on 11 December 2016 Middle level cloud and thunderstorms are visible about northern parts of WA and the NT, the Gulf of Carpentaria and also southwest and eastern parts of Queensland. Isolated thunderstorms are developing over northeast New South Wales. This cloud is associated with surface troughs. Patchy middle level cloud and developing isolated thunderstorms are visible along western parts of southern WA, near a trough. Cloud over the southern Indian Ocean, extending to the west coast of WA, is due to an upper level trough and an approaching cold front. A cold front can be seen moving across the Tasman Sea towards New Zealand. Cool onshore winds behind the cold front are causing patchy low cloud over eastern Victoria, southeastern New South Wales and Tasmania. A high pressure ridge is keeping the remainder of the continent mainly cloud free.


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Clinch 11-30
Fished the Clinch below the weir dam on Sunday in the rain. I tried out the weir pool for a little while with a couple of midge pupae hung deep below an indicator. Didn't get anything that felt like a bite, I've never tried that method before, and I have a frighteningly short attention span, so I became antsy and headed down below the weirs. I ended up with about 6 fish in an hour or so including a 14" brown and a 12" brookie, both of which were gorgeous. I did hook into a larger brown who made quick work of my 7x when he headed into a tree snag, a very exciting 2-3 seconds! I caught all my fish on a jujubaetis (size 22, I think) that I bought at LRO. That's the only fly I used, so others may have worked as well or better.
It was a nice day to be out. I'll take 40 degrees and rain over sunny and crowded any day. In fact, as soon as the rain stopped, two guys swooped down and started fishing about 40 ft below me (fly fishermen). They had the whole river below us open, but apparently the run I was on was just too tempting. I took that as a sign to pack it in, just in time to watch a guy catch a slot-sized brown and let it flop around on the weir grates for about 5 minutes while he talked to his buddy.
I think the Clinch below the dam will continue to only be a weekday or foul weather option for me.
Thanks for the report CinciVol, I am really starting to get Clinch withdrawal. I need to get back over there soon. I know that back in the summer I had heard some reports that TWRA was patrolling the weir dam daily and issuing a good number of citations. I fear though that with the primary catch-n-keep season being over that they have laxed their patrols and the over fishing will resume.
I don't think anybody can argue the fact that the fishery this year has been far better than the previous few years. And, I like to contribute that to the slot limit and the majority of ethical fisherman who abide by the rules.
My Blog --> http://tnfishingfanatic.blogspot.com/
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Businesses are struggling, families are separated and morale is down: Times have been tough in Silver Valley since the Lucky Friday Mine was shut down, but in their darkest hours, there's still faith the community will bounce back.
Last January, Hecla Mining Co. announced the Lucky Friday Mine silver shaft was being shut down, putting 120 people out of work and sending a ripple effect across the valley.
When the mine shut down, it was the time of year when businesses typically slow down. But with the mine remaining closed for the rest of the year, people have had to start reaching out to one another, helping in whatever way they could, even if they were hurting themselves.
Mark Miller has three darling boys, a loving wife and a little girl. He had just bought a minivan and life seemed to be pretty good. Then right before Christmas the unthinkable happened.
"I got laid off just before Christmas. I bought a car two weeks before that. We got laid off. I didn't even make one payment on the minivan yet," Miller said.
Miller worked at Lucky Friday for four years. Like all miners, he's as tough as the rock they dig through. Being a mill worker was not his first job choice but one that paid the bills.
He was there last Dec. 14 when there was a rock burst, injuring seven miners.
"Guys were screaming. It was pretty traumatic. We knew at that point without that hallway there was no ore. There's no mine," he said.
The rock burst was the fifth incident at the mine in 2011, the third involving injuries, including two deaths in separate incidents.
In January, Hecla announced the Mine Safety and Health Administration ordered Lucky Friday shut down in order to remove built up material for safety.
"No idea that they were going to shut us down for a year," Miller said.
The closure put 120 people and up to another 100 contractors out of work.
"How am I going to pay my mortgage?" Miller asked.
The Idaho Department of Labor estimates the closure could cost millions of dollars in lost wages directly and indirectly. At Dirty Ernie's Bar in Kellogg, they've seen business drop off by 10 percent.
"We are working more days a week. We're working six days a week. And trying to do the best we can to keep going and moving," Debbie Cameron at Dirty Ernie's said.In a small town where people know each other by name, the missing faces are obvious.
"We have had a lot of people leave town with the families or leave their families behind," Cameron said.
Some have left Idaho for work; many are separated from their family.
"The families are broken up now, with dad off working and mom trying to keep the family constellation together," Mullan school superintendent Robyn Stanley said.
Stanley says Hecla has supported the Mullan School District through donations; it's harder to ask for money when so many people are out of work.
"The school district is going to be suffering literally for years to make up the loss of revenue for this year," Stanley explained.
Despite the downturn, there is some optimism about the future of the Lucky Friday and the Silver Valley as a whole.
"The Lucky Friday is going to be a stronger mine than it was before. It was a strong mine then and it's going to go on for a long time," Jamie Baker at the Red Light Garage said.
The Red Light Garage is over in Wallace, a town steeped in history. Buildings from the 1800s butt up against a modern day highway, a symbol of sorts that the mining industry historically has had ups and downs and that there's always a future.
"The mining industry; it's been 130 years and it'll be here for another 130 years," Baker said.
The Deroose family is looking past the mine toward tourism as a revenue stream in the Silver Valley. They're opening Silverstreak Zipline tours in June. They plan to hire 30 people, hoping tourists will make the time to take a ride.
"The Silver Valley has gone through troubled times before and we are very resilient here. We will find a way to work," David Deroose said.


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Authorities are investigating the death of a 37-year-old man who was being held in the Douglas County Jail.
The sheriff's office says Clifton Walker died Friday.
According to a news release from the sheriff's office, Walker told other inmates he wasn't feeling well and wanted to lie down. Paramedics were called, but Walker stopped breathing and efforts to revive him failed. He was pronounced dead at the jail.
Preliminary autopsy results found Walker suffered massive internal bleeding due to a perforated ulcer that ruptured an artery in his stomach lining.
The Duluth News Tribune reported the sheriff's office and the Wisconsin Department of Corrections are investigating.


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Just a reminder that the Santa Cruz County Horsemen's Association (SCCHA) Fireworks Endurance Ride is this coming Saturday, June 13 and much of the event will be on trails in Wilder. Below is a course map for reference and the two courses (50 Mile and 25 Mile) are described in more detail below.
For those of you riding the MBoSC club ride, be assured that Saturday's ride leader (Matt) will factor this in when determining a route. For those of you riding on your own that day, please keep in mind the following and do what you can to help to support the unique cooperative relationship between mountain bikers and equestrians in Santa Cruz county.
There are two distances/courses, a 25 mile event and a 50 mile event. The 50 Milers will leave the Showgrounds on Graham Hill Rd in a controlled start at 6:30am. They will go on Powder Mill Trail through Cowell, past the Observation Deck, down Rincon to the river crossing. Then up Rincon to the parking lot, up UConn and then Chinquapin through the UC upper campus. The 50 Milers will cover all the trail on the attached map. After all their time in Wilder they will retrace their steps thru upper campus and Cowell to finish at the Showgrounds.
The 25 Milers will follow the same course the 50 Milers do to get to Wilder then will do Chinquapin to Eucalyptus Grove to top of Enchanted then left and loop back up (the blue loop on the map). It is expected that the 25 Milers will be at UConn by about 8:30, at Twin Gates by about 9:00, then loop 7.5 miles and back out.
The SCCHA will deploy a volunteer crew to clean poop from the trail, most likely on Sunday morning. This should not impact any mountain bikers and is just an FYI that the equestrian community is committed to policing their road apples 😉
Please contact Lindsay Overton (MBoSC member and volunteer for SCCHA) at email@example.com if you have any questions and happy riding!


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For Immediate Release
November 3, 2009
State looks to students to help spread Internet safety message
Attorney General Madigan, State Education Superintendent Koch launch Internet safety contest and ongoing initiatives to keep children safe online
SPRINGFIELD – State Superintendent of Education Christopher A. Koch and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan joined students at Springfield's Lincoln Magnet School today to kick off the first statewide Internet safety contest to raise awareness about the dangers of the Internet and prevent the misuse of technology. The contest, open to students in grades first through 12th, encourages students to create either a poster or electronic message addressing Internet safety and specifically this year, cyberbullying.
"Teaching children how to safely navigate the Internet is as important as telling them to look both ways before they cross the street," said Koch. "The dangers may not be as evident but they are real. This contest, as well as a new requirement to incorporate Internet safety into the curriculum starting in third grade can help raise awareness about good Internet practices to keep children out of harm's way."
The Illinois State Board of Education, the Attorney General's Office, and the Governor's Office are sponsoring the contest, called the Youth Internet Safety Contest. Students in any public or non-public district can enter the contest by submitting an entry as a poster or in an electronic media format (video, podcast or slideshow). Districts must submit all entries to the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) by March 31, 2010. Winners will be announced in May. Winning entries will be shared on participating school and state Web sites and winners will be honored at a State Board of Education meeting.
Contest rules, terms and conditions, can be found online here: http://www.isbe.net/curriculum/html/internet_safety.htm.
"Internet safety education is now an essential part of our school curriculum here in Illinois and I believe it is an important tool in our arsenal to protect children from potential threats posed by Internet predators," said Attorney General Madigan. "Many of our children and teens are exposed to dangers online that can be avoided by empowering them with ways to stay safer. This contest is a terrific vehicle for getting them thinking and talking about ways to be safe online."
Attorney General Madigan's High Tech Crimes Bureau employs specialized personnel to respond to the complex and technical nature of offenses that are committed using the Internet and computers. The office coordinates the Illinois Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force through a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice. The Illinois ICAC task force is one of 62 similar organizations nationwide designed to investigate child exploitation crimes and provide Internet safety education and training programs. Through August 2009, the Illinois ICAC task force provided Internet safety training and education to more than 92,690 parents and students and 8,305 law enforcement officers and prosecutors.
Many schools have taught online safety for years but starting with this school year, 2009-10, school districts are required to incorporate Internet safety at least once each school year beginning in grade 3 under Public Act 095-0869. The full text of the Public Act can be found here: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?Name=095-0869.
Each local school district can determine how to incorporate the lessons into curriculum but some recommended topics include safe and responsible use of social networking Web sites, chat rooms, bulletin boards and other means of communication on the Internet. It is also recommended that instruction includes information on recognizing, avoiding and reporting online solicitation by sexual predators, recognizing and reporting online harassment and cyberbullying and knowing the risks of transmitting personal information on the Internet.
Lincoln Magnet School eighth grader Emily Britt said cyberbullying is a very real issue for students her age.
"This contest will help raise awareness among teens to recognize and report cyberbullying," Miss Britt said. "My classmates and I use a computer everyday but it's important we know how to avoid danger while surfing the Web."


text: The winery is located in the Maule Valley and the vineyards are in the Maule, Colchagua and Casablanca valleys. Each property was specially selected to extract the best attributes of each grape variety. The philosophy of Viñedos Terranoble is to produce elegant, noble and pleasant drinking wines, with fruit-bearing flavors and aromas that maintain the characteristics of each variety. The wines are young, attractively priced, and perfect for every day drinking. The line is all stainless steel production, resulting in clean, varietally driven profiles. The and wines see time in oak barrels, producing fully-bodied wines with a dynamic structure that offers the aromas and flavors of both the fruit and the wood.


text:
Aliens Versus Predator 2 Movie 24
Another predator is hunting for prey and calls you over.
Another predator is hunting for prey and calls you over.
The predator makes good use of its speargun.
The player is swarmed by alien drones when trying to escape.
The marine tries to help his friend, but all he gets in return is a facehugger.
You must go deep in the compound to find a friend.
The marine wields a shotgun to dispatch unwanted aliens in the streets.
Warning: My contain spoilers. Check out the birth of an alien.
A face hugger searches the corridors for a human host.
Lastly, here is the Predator intro movie.
Next we have the Alien intro movie.
First, this is the Colonial Marines intro movie.
This clip shows the marine in a trusty exo-suit trying to survive.
Check out a trailer that offers plenty of gameplay footage from all three races.
The first video footage of AvP2 was taken at the GDC conference.
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Living conditions and volunteer lifestyles in Tanzania
|Living conditions and volunteer lifestyles in [[{{#explode:Living conditions and volunteer lifestyles in Tanzania| |6}} {{#explode:Living conditions and volunteer lifestyles in Tanzania| |7}} {{#explode:Living conditions and volunteer lifestyles in Tanzania| |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 Tanzania| |6}}{{#if:{{#explode:Living conditions and volunteer lifestyles in Tanzania| |7}}|_{{#explode:Living conditions and volunteer lifestyles in Tanzania| |7}}|}}{{#if:{{#explode:Living conditions and volunteer lifestyles in Tanzania| |8}}|_{{#explode:Living conditions and volunteer lifestyles in Tanzania| |8}}|}}.svg|100px|none]]
Few countries in the world offer the level of mail service considered normal in the United States. If you expect U.S. standards for mail service, you will be in for some frustration. Airmail can take up to a minimum of two to three weeks to arrive in Tanzania and sometimes can take two weeks or more to get to your site. Some mail may simply not arrive (fortunately, this is not a frequent occurrence, but it does happen). Advise your family and friends that mail delivery can be sporadic and that they should not worry if they do not receive your letters regularly; also advise them to number their letters for tracking purposes and to include "Airmail" on their envelopes.
Once you begin your Volunteer service, you can have mail sent directly to your site or to the Peace Corps office in Dar es Salaam. Education Volunteers often receive mail through their school's post office box, while other Volunteers usually rent a post office box in a nearby town. Most Volunteers find that their mail arrives faster when it goes directly to their site. During pre-service training, you will receive mail at the Peace Corps training site.
The address is:
"Your Name", PCT
Peace Corps Training Site
PO Box 9123
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Packages sent via surface mail normally take three to six months to reach Tanzania from the United States. Packages sent by air take from three to eight weeks. Hefty duty fees may be imposed on certain items. Although Volunteers can have packages sent to the Peace Corps office in Dar es Salaam, you are strongly advised to have them sent directly to your site. For your first six months of service, Peace Corps/ Tanzania will pay the cost of clearing one package through customs and forwarding it to you at your site (a maximum of 15,000 shillings, or about $15). After that, with rare exceptions, Peace Corps will not clear additional packages for you unless there is a firm work-related reason that has been pre-approved by your supervisor for the shipment. We recommend that you wait to have packages sent until you get to your site and know what you really want or need.
Most large cities, regional capitals, and many smaller towns have domestic long-distance service, while regional capitals and all large cities have overseas service. Most Volunteers have cellphones (which should be purchased in Tanzania to ensure compatibility with local cellphone services) and find that text messaging friends and the office in-country to be a fast, reliable, and inexpensive way to communicate.
Because long-distance phone service is expensive, we recommend that you have friends and family call from the United States rather than placing calls yourself from Tanzania. Because it sometimes takes several hours (on either end) to get a call through, you should not plan on regular phone calls as the primary means of communication with loved ones back home.
Computer, Internet, and E-mail Access
Environment Volunteers are discouraged from bringing personal computers to Tanzania as their sites seldom have electricity. Many education and school health Volunteer sites have electricity, so a laptop computer can be a convenience, but is certainly not a necessity. Limited repair facilities, the potential for theft, and fluctuating electrical currents make for short computer lifespans. Most Volunteers do not bring computers to Tanzania.
Access to the Internet, e-mail, and word processing is common in larger cites and becoming increasingly available in towns nationwide. Computers with Microsoft Word and Excel, as well as limited Internet access, are available at the Peace Corps office in Dar es Salaam.
Most Volunteers can access e-mail at least once a month, though a Volunteer may, on occasion, travel to a nearby town and find the network is not functioning.
Housing and Site Location
Volunteer sites range from towns in the far north like Bukoba, Mwanza, and Musoma on Lake Victoria to towns in the deep south like Mtwara and Lindi. No Volunteers serve along the western borders with Burundi, Rwanda, or Lake Tanganyika. Health Volunteers are assigned to communities where there is a primary and secondary school and health center. Education Volunteers are posted at or near secondary schools in both rural and urban sites, while environment Volunteers work in village communities. The determination of a Volunteer's site is made during training, after staff members have had an opportunity to match an individual's strengths and capabilities with the needs of the host community or school.
Volunteer housing, which is usually similar to that of Tanzanians living in the same community, is generally modest but comfortable. Housing varies in size, but all houses are made of either cement block or fired brick with tin or tile roofs. Houses have at least two rooms and are sometimes furnished with a bed, a table, chairs, and possibly other items. Volunteers receive a settling-in allowance to assist them in obtaining basic household items and in purchasing a cellphone. Volunteer sites are located anywhere from a few hours to a few days from Dar es Salaam. Proximity to the nearest fellow Peace Corps Volunteer varies from site to site. Your nearest ex-patriate neighbor might be a British (Voluntary Service Overseas, or VSO) or Japanese (Japanese International Cooperation Agency, or JICA) volunteer.
Volunteers generally are placed alone and live alone, although having two Volunteers at one site or even in one house or sharing housing with a host country national is a possibility. The phrase "live alone" may be misleading, however. Tanzania has a collectivist or group-based culture, which means that American concepts of privacy and personal space are neither understood nor always respected. Neighborhood children will be in and out of your house on a regular basis, and adult neighbors and colleagues will be part of your daily life.
Some Volunteers have electricity and running water, but the quality and reliability of both are often poor. These services become scarcer as sites become more rural; in these areas, water may come from a community well or river, and evening light is often limited to candles and lanterns. Whatever the circumstances, it is important that you remain flexible while you adjust to your new lifestyle.
Living Allowance and Money Management
As a Volunteer, you will receive a modest but sufficient living allowance, paid in Tanzania shillings, that will allow you to live at the same economic level as your Tanzanian colleagues. Nevertheless, in many cases, your remuneration will be greater than your counterpart's or supervisor's salary. The amount of this allowance is based on regular surveys of Volunteers and the cost of living in Tanzania and is intended to cover food, utilities, household supplies, clothing, recreation and entertainment, transportation, reading materials, and other incidentals. The living allowance (currently equivalent to about $165 per month) is paid bimonthly into Volunteers' local bank accounts, so your ability to manage funds wisely is important.
You will also receive a settling-in allowance, which includes funds to purchase a cellphone, basic household furnishings, kitchen equipment, linens and other items to make your new house a home. Peace Corps will also provide bicycles to Volunteers who want them. A helmet (provided by the Peace Corps) must be worn at all times when riding your bicycle. Finally, you will receive a leave allowance of $24 per month (standard in all Peace Corps countries), paid in local currency along with your living allowance.
Volunteers suggest that you bring cash or credit cards for vacation travel. Credit cards are accepted only at the more expensive tourist destinations, but it is possible to get cash advances via credit cards (for a fee) in Arusha and Dar es Salaam. However, keep in mind that credit card fraud is a significant problem in Tanzania. Most stores and hotels will only accept Visa Card. Volunteers who rely on MasterCard may struggle to find places to use them.
Food and Diet
The staple food in Tanzania is maize (corn), which is prepared as a thick porridge called ugali and eaten with vegetables or beans. Meat and chicken are almost always available, and fish is plentiful in the coastal and lake areas. Many fruits and vegetables grow in Tanzania (though not all items are available year-round), and with a little creativity, you should be able to enjoy a varied diet. Most Volunteers prepare their own food, although after becoming more familiar with their sites, some Volunteers hire someone to help with household work, including cooking.
Volunteers who are vegetarian will be able to eat well in Tanzania after becoming familiar with local foods and their preparation. Vegans may have to be flexible to meet their nutritional needs. Most Tanzanians are not familiar with vegetarianism and normally will not be prepared to serve a vegetarian meal if you are a guest in their home. (It is a sign of good hospitality to serve meat to one's guests.) Volunteers who are vegetarians will often be asked why they do not eat meat. Every Volunteer has a different way of answering this question. Some simply say they do not like meat; some say their religion has rules about meat (whether that is true or not); and some say they choose not to eat meat for health reasons. In any case, a sensitive explanation of your dietary preferences is likely to be accepted.
One former Volunteer offers this advice on handling situations involving food: "When a Volunteer is offered some food or drink they do not like, they will often refuse it and say they do not want anything, or may claim they are not hungry or thirsty. Try to find something you will eat or drink and thank them for it. If you do not like beer or soda, maybe have some tea. If you do not like meat, have some beans or potatoes. You cannot simply refuse everything—they will not stop asking until you accept something from them. Enjoy what you can, and be polite and gracious for what you cannot tolerate."
Volunteers' primary mode of long-distance transport is public buses. For shorter excursions, Volunteers use a daladala or a bicycle. A daladala is a minibus or small pickup truck that carries people and goods. (Yes, chickens could end up in your lap!) Buses and daladalas travel between or within towns on irregular schedules (i.e., when full), so travel in Tanzania is never a predictable affair. Many Volunteers find that in country travel options are one of the biggest difficulties they encounter. While there are more buses available every year, this can make the roads even more crowded and dangerous for travel.
Geography and Climate
Tanzania, located in southeastern Africa, borders Kenya and Uganda to the north; the Indian Ocean to the east; Mozambique, Malawi, and Zambia to the south; and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Burundi, and Rwanda to the west. The country is also comprised of the Zanzibar Archipelago in the Indian Ocean. The total area of Tanzania is 378,035 square miles (945,087 square kilometers).
Because the country is south of the equator, the seasons will be the opposite of what you are accustomed to. In June, July, and August (the cold season), temperatures range from 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit in the lowlands and on the coast to 35 to 50 degrees in the highlands. The hottest months of the year are November, December, and January when temperatures in the highlands range from 70 to 80 degrees and those in the lowlands range from 90 to 105 degrees, with considerable humidity. The rainy season starts in late November or early December and continues through April. The rest of the year is dry, but many highland areas have showers and mist year-round. A jacket or fleece top is recommended for the cool season, and loose-fitting cotton clothes are recommended for the hot season.
The landscape of Tanzania is quite diverse. The north is home to Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest point on the African continent, as well as Mount Meru and Mount Hanang, the third and fifth highest points in East Africa, respectively. The north is also home to numerous national parks, including Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area, a World Heritage site. The surrounding areas in the Great Rift Valley are also popular tourist destinations. Other notable national parks in Tanzania include Ruaha National Park and Udzungwa National Park in Iringa Region, Mikumi National Park and Selous Game Reserve in Morogoro Region.
Tanzania contains or borders several important lakes. Lake Manyara and Lake Natron in the northern interior feature great migrations of flamingos and stunning scenery. On the northern border is Lake Victoria, the mouth of the White Nile River and the location of major commercial fishing operations. To the west lie Lake Tanganyika and, farther south, Lake Malawi (also called Lake Nyasa).
Social Activities
Larger towns often have discos and bars, which can become very lively on both weekdays and weekends. The most common form of entertainment is socializing with friends and neighbors. Some Volunteers visit other Volunteers on weekends and holidays. Although we encourage Volunteers to remain at their sites as much as possible in order to develop relationships with people in their community, we recognize that an occasional trip to the capital or to visit friends is important as well.
Tanzania has several television stations that broadcast nationwide. These stations have limited programming, but they offer a few programs from South Africa, the United States, and Europe. Satellite television is available in many cities. Tanzanian radio is quite good if you are in an area that receives FM broadcasts. Volunteers placed in rural areas rely on shortwave radio broadcasts from the BBC, Voice of America, or Radio Deutsche Wella. There are several modern cinemas in Dar es Salaam, and some hotels and bars show videos of American or European films.
Professionalism, Dress, and Behavior
Norms for dress are much more conservative in Tanzania than in the United States. In the United States, we view our clothes as a reflection of our individuality; in Tanzania, people view one's dress as a sign of respect for others. Tanzanians do not appreciate clothes that are dirty, have holes in them, or are too revealing or too casual. Wearing such clothes will reduce both the amount of respect you gain and your effectiveness at work. While some of your counterparts may dress in seemingly worn or shabby clothes, this will be due to economics rather than choice. The likelihood is that they are wearing their best. A foreigner who wears ragged, unmended clothing, however, is likely to be considered an affront.
Although considered fashionable in the United States, accessories like nose and tongue rings and earrings on men are frowned upon in Tanzania. This is particularly true in rural areas. Volunteers who accessorize in this way may encounter negative feelings or feedback from the people with whom they live and work. This might be because they think you are gay (homosexuality is not widely accepted in Tanzania) or because they think you are unprofessionally dressed.
Whether you work as a teacher, health educator, or environmental volunteer, you will be perceived as a high-status professional. You will be "on duty" seven days a week, 24 hours a day, and will need to make every effort to conform to the behavior and dress expected of educated and high-status people in your school or community. One of the difficulties of finding your place as a Peace Corps Volunteer is fitting into the local culture while maintaining your own cultural identity and acting like a professional at the same time. It is not always an easy situation to resolve, but the Peace Corps will provide you with guidelines and recommendations.
Working effectively in another culture requires a certain level of sacrifice and flexibility that can be difficult for some people. The Peace Corps expects Volunteers to behave in a manner that will foster respect within their community or school and reflect well on the Peace Corps. Behavior that jeopardizes the Peace Corps program or your personal safety cannot be tolerated and could lead to administrative separation—a decision by the Peace Corps to terminate your service. If you have reservations about your ability or willingness to make these accommodations, you should reevaluate your decision to become a Volunteer.
Personal Safety
More information about the Peace Corps' approach to safety is contained 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 incidents of physical and sexual assault can occur but are rare Most Volunteers complete their two years of service without personal security incidents. 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 Tanzania. At the same time, you are expected to take responsibility for your own safety and well-being.
Rewards and Frustrations
Although the potential for job satisfaction in Tanzania is very high, like all Volunteers, you will encounter numerous frustrations. Perceptions of time, status, privacy, protocol, and efficiency are often very different from those in America. The lack of basic infrastructure can be challenging, and host agencies do not always provide expected support in a timely manner.
Tanzanians' views of Americans often come from the television shows, movies, or pop stars they see or hear. They generally perceive Americans as being very rich, so you are likely to be regularly asked for money. The way American women behave and are treated in our culture is also an area of considerable curiosity and surprise to Tanzanians. Confronting these issues is part of what makes the Peace Corps experience so special. Although bridging cross-cultural differences will potentially be the hardest thing you ever do, it is also likely to be one of the most fulfilling.
It is a special time to be a Peace Corps Volunteer in Tanzania. With the devastating AIDS epidemic dramatically affecting all sectors of Tanzanian society, your efforts in working with youth and community members will be more important than those of any other time in Peace Corps/Tanzania's history. You will be given a great deal of responsibility and independence in your work—perhaps more than in any other job you have had or will have. You will often need to motivate yourself and others with little guidance from supervisors. You might work for months without seeing any visible impact from, or without receiving feedback on, your work. Development is a slow process. You must possess the self-confidence, patience, and vision to continue working toward long-term goals without seeing immediate results. Nevertheless, most Volunteers leave Tanzania feeling that they have gained much more than they sacrificed during their service. If you are able to make the commitment to integrate into your community and work hard, your service is sure to be a life-altering experience.


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Compare Lotus Garages and Specialists in Stapleford with Who Can Fix My Car.
Enter your registration to check prices and reviews, and get your Lotus booked in today!
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Efficient, friendly, and good value. Will use again.
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Thank you for a fast efficient was threated really well from start to finish I will be returning many thanks Alan
The garage team was absolutely fantastic. Repair issue diagnosed immediately and corrected within quotation as agreed. Additional cost for oil which was empty and agreed with me before adding. Other checks undertaken and I was notified of a further issue related to oil loss to take up with previous repairer. A very professional service and excellent customer care that genuinely offers reassurance and confidence. I will be using as my repairer from now on.
Good service
Good experience.
I received a quote for full service+MOT, and the KAM servicing has done a good job. They had performed all the standard checks and diagnostics to make sure it passes the MOT. I was asked for some minor fixings e.g. tyre change, brake fluid replacement, head light adjustment etc. after the MOT, before they would charge for the extra work. My car runs much better now after the service. Friendly and trustworthy staff, highly recommended!
Excellent service, really helpful and very competitively priced. Really pleased and judging from the difference in driving the car work was done to a high standard
Excellent service, politeness, knowledge -all with a happy smile. Fantastic!
Really good experience, checked out the car for any potential issues instead of blindly fixing the issue noted by the other garage. Friendly service and car was turned around quickly.
I have today got my car back from kam servicing. and I have say as a first time customer of them I was very impressed by them. from start to finish they had excellent customer service, and even though its often hard to trust new garages. theirs is one I now do, and I will quite happily use them even if it means driving 8 miles to get to them.
Great service.
Exceptional service received during a difficult time. Garage made contact within hours of initial enquiry, arranged to have my vehicle recovered, repaired and returned to my house. Highly recommended.
Very good service,polite and informative will definately use them again
Took in my car for service and MOT, Friendly staff, kept me informed if anything needed doing prior to carry out the work. would recommend
I cannot speak highly enough of the work Frank and the garage provided me with. Frank was clear and consistent throughout the time my car was being fixed, his communication was regular and informative with no hidden costs or work. Overall I was overwhelmed with the service and would happily deal with Frank and KAM for any future work, Chris
Was quoted for 29.99 for air con regas but was advised to have UV test as well. Job done within an hour as the garage said it would
Great service
This was actually the third garage I went to with this problem, I wasn't really happy with the service I received in other places, but I'm glad to say in this case the service was very professional and helpful and they took their time to explain everything to me, since I have no understanding whatsoever about cars. I can recommend this garage.
Overall I was happy with their diagnostic, they found the cause in my car, although knowing that I have the car battery drain they shouldn't leave it overnight connected, damaging the brand new battery.
Fantastic turnaround and incredible value.
Very friendly helpful and very informative on the feedback on my car, good price for the work I needed doing
Great garage, diagnosed and solved the problem. I even went back at second time. Great Team
Polite friendly and professional. Final price was as quoted so im well happy. A credit to the motor trade


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The clones chest because its the best place to do so
Cuz not only can u push them back and gives them little
Time to recover
How about bodily damage?
Small to mid size damage
<.< Okay, that kind of works...
( Ryu Kaen Bakufuu ) - Dragon Flame Blitz
Rank: D
Type: Offensive
Range: Short
Chakra cost: 10
Damage points: 20
Description: The user shoots balls of fire at the opponent.
Okay, let's talk about the Shuriken just a bit.
What do you know about it and how would you use it in a battle?
Shuriken is a ninja tool use for battle they throw them to
hit there target i would use the shuriken with fire jutsu
hiddn with in the flame like a sneak attack with the flame
As a cover of fire keeps it hidden
Last edited by TheGreyFox; 12-14-2012 at 05:48 AM.
Alright, very good.
Proceed to take out some Shurikens, infuse them with fire, and then throw them at my clone. How would the attacks affect my clone compared to a regular shuriken?
Remember to be detailed.
So is that right answer
Forum Rules


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Compare great Daewoo Convertible Roof Repair prices in Hackney with Who Can Fix My Car.
Enter your registration, compare quotes, and find a great garage near you. Get your competitive local prices now!
Compare great Daewoo Convertible Roof Repair prices in Hackney with Who Can Fix My Car.
Excellent customer service and a brilliant job done. The quote was the same as promised, i took the car on a saturday at 10:30 & by 5:30 full service & MOT done. I even had a dent repaired just for £30. From right from the start of receiving the quote from whocanfixmycar.com, i was in touch with Jagg the owner of the garage, he was exceptional. I would definetly recommend Jagg Autos Thanks, Harry
Avoid this con man. I would never recommend this man to anyone. Put my car in for new head gasket, he told me my timing belt needed replacing so I ended up paying £640 instead of £375 original quote. Came back with an oil leak which it didn't go in with, another mechanic looked at my car and said Jagg had over filled it causing a seal to blow so I took it back, Jagg denied causing it and charged me £250 to fix it. Now my timing belt, which he said needed doing, is causing major problems with my car where he's done a shoddy job and he doesn't want to put it right so I've got to pay another garage to fix a problem he caused. He is rude and aggressive if you pull him on his behaviour. I would never use this garage again, he doesn't know what he's doing, just takes your money and leaves you with problems you never went in with.
Excellent service and great communication throughout! Air suspension fixed! Previous garage I went to did a poor job. Jagg is a very honest family man! Would definitely go back and would highly recommend!
Good job. Thanks
Excellent. Explained what needed doing - quick, efficient and kept to his price and word. Thoroughly recommended.
One star because you did not write the report I asked and you don't respond to my messages.
Samet has been very professional and has fixed the problem very quickly and at the right price. Will use his services again. Thanks
R.P.M. Auto Electrics is a leading car specialist in Stratford offering a range of services related to car electrics. These services include servicing, repair and replacement of alternators, car audio, electric windows, starter motors, ABS, engine management systems and air bags along with other electrical repairs that may be required. Our objective is to put our customers first.
At R.P.M. you will be greeted by friendly staff who will be pleased to help you with any enquiry.We always strive to deliver the highest level of electrical and mechanical repair, no matter the problem, and achieve the best customer satisfaction possible. We at R.P.M. understand that poor service and high priced bills from poor workmanship can really stretch your pockets, that's why we offer reasonable prices on all our servicing, repairs, diagnostics, MOT's etc.
cost more than written and end up buying extra parts which we didnt needed!
Did everything that was asked, no problems.
Did an excellent job, Lukasz is very creative as a mechanic and I would happily use him again.
Never come back to me after taking £49.
Fantastic! The guys from yourmobilegarage were brilliant! Arrived at a convenient time, completed the job efficiently and I have had no problems in almost a year. Fabulous value and great service- delighted!
Great service, top job.
Truly excellent work, and completed in record time. I am mightily impressed, and the car looks like new. I have no hesitation in recommending F and G to anyone who has invisible mending to be done.
My Saab 9-3, which I bought second hand 5 months previously, needed a service, I was quoted £190. However, I had a feeling it would cost more as lot of work needed doing. After accepting the quote and dropping off the car, F and G rang me requesting that I come in so they could show me what was wrong... I was shown worn tyres, broken suspension, dodgy exhaust and many other faults. They would not proceed with servicing or repair work without having my express permission for each single item, which I gave. I had a suspicion that the bill would be hefty, and it was - a fully itemised £1400. They also gave it a thorough clean and polish, which it needed, free of charge
Every aspect of this experience was positive. Excellent customer care from start to finish. Work completed very promptly with minimum fuss and maximum efficiency. Costs were reasonable. Diagnostics run prior to price quote, work carried out only after checking with me that the quote was acceptable. A brilliant outcome. Thankyou.
Clive came to my doorstep to repair an alleged leak in my smart A/C.He explained in easily understandable words what needed to be done, and what the min max cost would be. The job was carried out in my street. The diagnostic was right. And the cost very reasonable. It does not come better than that.
The service provided was fantastic, reasonable in price and timely. I was explained about the work being completed with politeness and superb competence. All latest equipment was utilised to provide a best in class service and identify faults and any repairs to be made. Would definitely recommend this service provider and will certainly utilise again in the future.


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Re: Official G.G. Raceday Points Club
Office of the State Inspector General
Final Report
March 24, 2014
The Stewart – Haas Racing State Inspector General found that Ranking Member JSW14 submitted numerous forged medical documents to the Department of Official Raceday Points Club in order to excuse his absences from club for purported medical reasons. The Inspector General has referred this matter to the Raceday County District Attorney for consideration of potential criminal prosecution, the commission of Public Integrity for consideration of a possible violation of the state's ethics laws, and to DOR for appropriate disciplinary action.
The Inspector General received a complaint from the DOR that Ranking Member JSW14 had on numerous occasions submitted what appeared to be fraudulent medical documents to excuse his absences from the Department of Official Raceday Points Club for alleged medical reasons.
The State of Stewart – Haas Racing Department of Official Raceday Points Club maintains an office at the Corporate Office in Kannapolis, North Carolina. Ranking Member JSW14 has been with SHR since February 28, 2009.
JSW14's personnel record contains reference to numerous counseling sessions for excessive use of sick leave. The first such counseling session was held just 10 months after JSW14's came on board at SHR. In addition, the file contains six counseling memos related to the same matter. Due to JSW14's excessive use of sick leave, the counseling memos required JSW14 to submit medical documentation when absent for purported sickness or when using other leave accruals in lieu of sick leave.
As required by the SHR – DORPC counseling memos resulting from his excessive prior use of sick leave , JSW14 submitted nine medical letters purportedly issued by medical doctors in the Emergency Room at Villages Regional Hospital in The Villages, Florida on various dates from December 2009 to February 2014. The letters, written on Villages Regional Hospital Emergency Room template forms, require the treating doctor to write the diagnosis, illness, form of treatment required, vitals at time of arrival, and medications prescribed as well how long JSW14 would need to be on temporary unenrollment status. In many cases, there was missing information and when DORPC attempted to follow up with Villages Regional Hospital, they had no record of JSW14 visiting their facility on that date.
It is the recommendation of Stewart – Haas Racing State Inspector General's Office that JSW14 be prosecuted to fullest extent of the medical board and that JSW14's golf clubs be confiscated from him for a period of not less than the remainder of this NASCAR Season. JSW14 should also be banned to the Treehouse for the remainder of the season. The one last recommendation to the Raceday County District Attorney would be that JSW14 given no medical treatment for the remainder of the NASCAR season. However, if JSW14 should absolutely need it, JSW14 should cover all medical costs out of his own pocket and whenever possible JSW14 is to use whatever he can find in the Treehouse First Aid Kit or out in the woods to fashion what he needs.


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This is an artistic illustration of the giant planet HR 8799b.
The planet was first discovered in 2007 at the Gemini North observatory. It was identified in the NICMOS archival data in a follow-up search of NICMOS archival data to see if Hubble had also serendipitously imaged it.
The planet is young and hot, at a temperature of 1500 degrees Fahrenheit. It is slightly larger than Jupiter and may be at least seven times more massive.
Analysis of the NICMOS data suggests the planet has water vapor in its atmosphere and is only partially cloud covered. It is not known if the planet has rings or moons, but circumplanetary debris is common among the outer planets of our solar system.
Object Name: HR 8799b
Image Type: Artwork
Credit: NASA, ESA, and G. Bacon (STScI)
To access available information and downloadable versions of images in this news release, click on any of the images below:


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Happy Halloween!
Time to light that halo up, Halloween style. Forget the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. It's the 2011 AL West MVG – Most Valuable Gourd!
Time to light that halo up, Halloween style. Forget the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. It's the 2011 AL West MVG – Most Valuable Gourd!
Now that is impressive! Are the flanking pumpkins done in the image of the Brown Footed Loons?
Thanks Jeff! Ummm…yeah…that's it…we channeled our "WTF?! Bad call, Blue!" faces just for the occasion. *nods* Because what could be more scary than that?
— Kristen
love it! i am relatively artistic. i paint. i sketch. i sew. but, alas, i cannot carve. it's really tragic.
Thanks Toosoxy! And, very cool! I saw the Halloween costues you posted and was very impressed. I sew a little too, and sketch and cartoon, or at least I used to cartoon. No painting since high school though. Carving the pumpkins like this, with a small exacto knife and clay tools is similar to sketching. You even hold the knife kind of like a china marker. You would probably be good at it.
— Kristen
Very cool.
Thanks Blue Jays Nest!
— Kristen
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For the first time in a half a dozen years, residents living in the Delaware Valley School District may have to dig deeper into their pockets to pay for an increase in school taxes, it was announced at the monthly school board meeting on May 16. The proposed final 2013-2014 budget of $70,610,660 is 2.3% above the current budget, and will translate into an average tax increase of $66 per household.
In a 5-3 vote, the board supported the proposed final budget, with the most vociferous objection coming from board member Jessica Decker, who asked the board to dip into the over two million in reserves, citing the economic hardships of the area, including an unemployment rate just over 12%.
"We're sitting on $2.3 million in unspent funds," she said, adding that a tax increase may lead some households and businesses to "financial failure."
School board president Bill Greenlaw referred to the six-year tax freeze as unprecedented, further stating that the tax increase is negligible—about $1.50 a week per household; and responding to a point Decker made said that such an increase would most probably not cause foreclosures area-wide.
Teachers, whose salaries have been frozen since the 2011-12 school year, will enjoy a salary increase of $1,905 per teacher in the upcoming school year, noted superintendent John J. Bell. He further stated that salaries and benefits make up 76% of the budget.
The district, which has been ranked well for academic excellence by sources including the Pittsburgh Business Times and U.S. News and World Report, is slated to add five new professionals: an English, social studies, sixth grade and two elementary school teachers, while eliminating one instructional assistant.
Also, two social workers, a guidance counselor, and a physical education teacher will also be added. The funds that paid the salary for a retiring high school French teacher will be earmarked for a business teacher.
Bell made two references to President Barack Obama, claiming that Obama has driven health care costs up 9%. He said it's "difficult to predict the revenue from Washington," adding that the last year's figure of $675,000 is anything but a sure deal for the upcoming year. He said, "It may hold up, it may be zero, or it may fall somewhere in between." Couple that with the fact that that state has offered "52 different proposed plans" and it's a guessing game how the funding from the government will play out.
Bell referred to promises made from Harrisburg in November that the state's school budget would be a priority in January, which, in fact, have not materialized.
Greenlaw said that the funding in the future is anybody's guess and that for a school district rated one of the best in the country "we want to get the biggest bang for our buck."
At the next meeting the board will vote on the budget again, which will be deemed the final budget.


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March 5, 2010
Youth Conservation Corps Has Made Its Mark in Yellowstone
Yellowstone Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) participants, aged 15 to 18, spend the better part of each summer working on projects that help ensure Yellowstone is well cared for. You may never have seen them in action, but if you've visited Yellowstone National Park any time during the past two decades, chances are you've experienced the results of their labors.
The work isn't easy. These young people haul, climb, carry, pound, cut, build, and dig for several weeks at a time, all for the benefit of Yellowstone and those of us who visit. Fortunately they get to do it in one of the most beautiful places on earth, while making new friends, acquiring valuable skills and knowledge, and learning about career opportunities in the National Park Service.
Here is a small sampling of the work the YCC has performed in Yellowstone:
If you feel awed (or exhausted) just looking at examples of these teens' accomplishments, you're not alone. But we don't want to leave you with the impression that the YCC is only about physical labor.
As Mary Wilson, Yellowstone's Volunteer Coordinator, explains, there's much more to it than the work projects...
"Through the YCC experience, young people not only complete work projects, but also develop their job and leadership skills, gain self-esteem, and practice self-discipline," said Wilson.
Wilson added that participants learn first hand about environmental and conservation issues -- as well as careers -- through a wide variety of field-based activities and experiences. For instance, each YCC group spends several hours every week attending presentations and workshops on environment-related topics.
And they don't leave Yellowstone without getting in some time to play in the great outdoors. They also build friendships and experience Yellowstone through fun activities such as backpacking and river rafting.
Learn more about the Yellowstone YCC>>
Find out what it's like working on a remote, backcountry trail with the YCC>>
Moose International and the million-plus men and women of the Moose fraternal organization have donated almost $3 million since 1989 to underwrite the expenses of this important and ongoing program. More than $2 million of this has been facilitated by the Yellowstone Park Foundation since the Foundation's inception in 1996.


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- Home
- Paper Crafts K-Z
- Stamping
- SWALK Unmounted WELL DONE Rubber Stamp SWST-done Collection
SWALK Unmounted WELL DONE Rubber Stamp SWST-done Collection
SWALK Unmounted WELL DONE Rubber Stamp SWST-done Collection
Product Description
S.w.a.l.k. stands for 'Sealed With a Little Kiss' and the gorgeous S.w.a.l.k characters from Santoro fit this idea perfectly. These gorgeous S.w.a.l.k.™ characters from Santoro lend themselves perfectly to cards for all occasions and all recipients. As well as the characters, each stamp also features a sweet sentiment, giving you everything you need for fabulous gorgeous card toppers--ideal for making cards for friends and family across the generations. This stamp set is approximately 3¾" x 4" in size, is UNMOUNTED.
How do I use these stamps?
All of our rubber stamp sets come as an unmounted sheet of rubber. To use your stamps, simply trim out the image you wish to stamp, spray the back with our Stick & Spray Temporary Adhesive and then mount it to a Rock-A-Block or other acrylic stamping block. As an alternative you can also mount your stamp piece to EZMount Cushion, trim out the image and then use your stamps with any acrylic stamping block. Store your stamps onto binder ready storage panels until you're ready to use them again! Stick & Spray, Rock a Block, EZ Mount and storage panels are available in other listings.


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On the EU bonus cap (and ways around it)
Ah, the bonus cap.
As you are probably aware, the European Union has introduced new rules on how big bankers' bonuses can be.
It came into effect at the beginning of this year, and means that certain bankers (we'll get back to which in a minute) can only be paid a bonus equal to their annual salary–or twice as much if their firm gets approval from shareholders.
Banks have been burning the midnight oil figuring out ways to both comply with the bonus cap and still pay their staff (more or less) exactly what they always have.
The upshot is that bank pay, never the most transparent or easily understood subject to begin with, just got a whole lot more complicated. You're bound to have questions. Fire away.
First things first: what were the regulators trying to achieve with the bonus cap?
Contrary to popular belief, the European lawmakers aren't trying to limit what bankers are paid. Rather they are trying to prevent the kind of remuneration structures – with (relatively) small salaries and high bonuses – that they believe incentivised short-term risk taking in the lead up to the credit crunch.
What do banks think about all this?
Well, as they have said in private, it makes their lives harder for lots of reasons. But let's limit ourselves to two.
Firstly, paying high variable bonuses allowed banks to keep a tight rein on costs (in theory anyway). In the good years, they could pay people big bonuses; in the bad year they could just pay them just their salaries. The cap reduces that flexibility.
Secondly, the cap applies to all bankers who work in Europe – even for non-European banks, and for the international operations of European banks, even those working in the most far-flung emerging markets. This could well make it harder for European banks to compete for talent in the US and Asia.
What are the chances of shareholders approving 200% bonuses?
Well that depends on who you work for. The European subsidiaries of foreign banks (and that includes the Americans) effectively have one shareholder: the parent group. They therefore aren't going to find if very hard to raise bonuses to double the level of salaries.
It will be tougher for European banks. They will have to ask their external shareholders for permission. Some – like the Royal Bank of Scotland, which is 82% owned by the UK government – might find this is a somewhat difficult conversation.
Who gets caught by the cap?
Ok, buckle up. The rules on this are complicated.
The European Banking Authority's rules (or, in the jargon, regulatory technical standards) are aimed at identifying those staff working for banks that have "a material impact on the institution's risk profile."
They include anyone who's deemed to be a senior manager, anyone who heads up an important department (including some support functions like human resources) and anyone that has the authority to sign off on credit decisions.
They also include anyone whose total remuneration is more that €500,000 ($675,000) in any one year or is among the top 0.3% best paid staff at a firm.
Controversially it also includes anyone who is paid as much or more as the lowest-paid member of staff that is caught by the bonus cap under one of the other criteria.
Riiiight. I think I've got that.
Unfortunately, we're not done yet.
Banks can seek to have some members of staff excluded from the bonus cap if they believe that their duties and activities do not have a material impact on the firm's risk profile. An example might be investment bankers who provide corporate advice – they're well paid but their work on mergers and acquisitions, for example, doesn't really affect their bank's risk profile.
They will still need to keep regulators in the loop on this, though, notify them if the relevant member of staff is paid more than €500,000, or applying to have them excluded if they are paid more than €750,000.
If banks want to exclude staff who are paid more than €1 million from the bonus cap then their home regulator, such as the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK, has to also inform the European Banking Authority.
Many banks are still trying to figure out which members of staff will be caught by the cap and who among that number can be exempted. Some are waiting for the EBA's standards to be converted into European law, which is scheduled to happen at some point before the end of March.
You said earlier that European lawmakers aren't trying to limit what bankers are paid. Can't banks just hike up base pay?
Well, yes. But also no. There are, broadly, three main options open to the banks: 1) pay staff less overall compensation; 2) increase base salaries; or 3) come up with some funky new alternative.
All three are likely to play a part. Fixed salaries are likely to rise a bit because of the cap (it emerged this week that Bank of America Merrill Lynch is increasing salaries for front office staff in Europe by about a fifth this year). But, for the reasons we've discussed, options 1) and 2) have their limits – banks want to be able to pay top dollar for top talent and they don't want to be strapped with unwieldy and inflexible costs. That leaves option 3) bridging the gap.
So, what exactly is option 3)?
We don't yet know for sure. All the big of banks are working on it. Last week, Goldman Sachs won regulatory approval for its new European pay structure, but it's in the minority and the exact details of the structure have yet to emerge.
What we do know is that the big banks are all tinkering around with so-called "role-based allowances". These are, effectively, a hybrid form of pay combining elements of both salaries and bonuses.
According to pay experts they are likely to be based on seniority, set at the beginning of the year and paid monthly, quarterly or even biannually.
This means that allowances are a form of fixed pay and can therefore be used in the calculations towards bonuses. However, unlike salaries, allowances can be cut or scrapped should the tough times return.
Today, Sergio Ermotti, the chief executive of UBS, said that bank is considering paying monthly allowances but the plans are yet to be finalised.
Sorry, I'm still confused.
Believe us, you're not alone.
Alright, imagine that some lucky banker got paid a base salary of €500,000 and a bonus of €5.5 million last year (giving him €6 million in total compensation for 2013). And suppose that he performed just as well this year and his bank wanted to pay him the same.
Well, it can't. His bonus last year was 11 times his salary – way above the cap.
But the bank could increase his salary to €750,000, pay him an allowance of €1.25 million and then pay him a bonus of €4 million which would only be twice his fixed pay (salary plus allowance) and within the cap (provided the bank had secured shareholder approval for 200% bonuses).
So, the allowance could be more than the salary?
There's nothing in the bonus cap rules to say it couldn't be.
And would the allowance be paid in cash or shares?
That's all to be decided. It is unlikely that many banks will pay the whole allowance in cash and European banks especially are bound to face pressure from shareholders to ensure there is a large share-based element. Ultimately the banks want to replicate, as closely as possible, the pay structures they had in place before the bonus cap came into effect.
And this is all going to make bankers behave themselves and ensure banks are safer?
This article first appeared on The Wall Street Journal's MoneyBeat blog