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GNC Ultra Mega Hip & Joint Health Senior Dog Chewable Tablet
Help your senior dog get back on his or her feet with less joint pain by feeding him or her these effective and tasty chewable supplements. Each tablet contains glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM to help cushion your canine's joints and ease pain while offering a delicious beef flavor that he or she will love. If your aging canine companion suffers from joint aches, these GNC PETS Ultra Mega Hip & Joint Health Premium Formula Chewable Tablets for Senior Dogs can help put a spring back in his or her step. Specially formulated with glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM, these supplements help cushion your dog's joints and improve mobility so he or she can start playing again. Added omega-3 fatty acids, turmeric and boswellia offer additional support for overall joint health.
- For senior dogs
- Provides advanced support for joint cushioning and mobility to help ease joint pain in your dog
- Delivers 750mg of glucosamine, 600mg of chondroitin and 500mg of MSM
- Supplemented with omega-3 fatty acids, turmeric and boswellia to promote healthy joint function
- Savory beef flavor tastes great to your pooch
- Feed 1 tablet to dogs weighing up to 10 lb.; feed 2 tablets to dogs weighing 11 – 50 lb.; feed 4 tablets to dogs weighing more than 50 lb.
- Give the recommended number of tablets daily
- Active ingredients (per 2 chewable tablets): glucosamine hydrochloride (from shellfish) 750mg, chondroitin sulfate (from bovine cartilage) 600mg, methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) 500mg, ascorbic acid (source of vitamin C) 100mg, omega-3 fatty acids (from fish oil) 27mg, boswellia serrata 25mg, turmeric 25mg, vitamin E 20 IU, zinc 15mg, hyaluronic acid 5mg, manganese 5mg and copper 1mg
- Inactive ingredients: ascorbyl palmitate, bacon flavor, beef liver, calcium carbonate, calcium silicate, cellulose, fish oil, gelatin (fish), hydroxypropylcellulose, magnesium stearate, maltodextrin, microcrystalline cellulose, pork liver, pork skin collagen, povidone, silicon dioxide, stearic acid and tertiary butyl hydroquinine
Keep out of the reach of children and animals.
In case of an accidental overdose, contact a health professional immediately.
Safe use in pregnant animals or animals intended for breeding has not been proven.
Consult with your veterinarian before using this product in animals that have clotting disorders, are being treated with anticoagulant medications, have diabetes or any metabolic disorder causing hyperglycemia, have a history of urinary tract stones or have known allergies to shellfish.
If lameness worsens, discontinue use and contact your veterinarian.
Administer during a meal or after the animal has eaten to reduce incidence of gastrointestinal upset.
Federal law prohibits the off-label use of this product in ruminants.
Available in a 240-count bottle.
$ 6.99
Now: $ 23.09
Now: $ 4.54
$ 1.07
Now: $ 28.04
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$ 11.49 to $ 28.99
Now: $ 33.99
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Now: $ 28.04
$ 20.49


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A native of Atlanta, Dr. Walter M. Kimbrough was his high school salutatorian and student body president in 1985, and went on to earn degrees from the University of Georgia, Miami University in Ohio, and a doctorate in higher education from Georgia State University. He has enjoyed a fulfilling career in student affairs, serving at Emory University, Georgia State University, Old Dominion University, and finally Albany State University in 2000 where he became the Vice President for Student Affairs at the age of 32. In October of 2004, at the age of 37, he was named the 12th president of Philander Smith College. In 2012 he became the 7th president of Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Kimbrough has been recognized for his research and writings on HBCUs and African American men in college. Kimbrough also has been noted for his active use of social media to engage students in articles by The Chronicle of Higher Education, CASE Currents, and Arkansas Life. He was cited in 2010 by Bachelors Degree.com as one of 25 college presidents you should follow on Twitter (@HipHopPrez).
A 1986 initiate of the Zeta Pi chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity at the University of Georgia, Kimbrough was the Alpha Phi Alpha College Brother of the Year for the Southern Region and served as the Southern Region Assistant Vice President. Dr. Kimbrough has forged a national reputation as an expert on fraternities and sororities, with specific expertise regarding historically Black, Latin and Asian groups. He is the author of the book, Black Greek 101: The Culture, Customs and Challenges of Black Fraternities and Sororities.
Dr. Kimbrough was named the 1994 New Professional of the Year for the Association of Fraternity Advisors, and selected as a 2001 Nissan-ETS HBCU Fellow. In 2009, he was named by Diverse Issues in Higher Education as one of 25 To Watch. In 2010, he made the coveted Ebony Magazine Power 100 list of the doers and influencers in the African American community, joining the likes of President and Mrs. Obama, Jay-Z, Richard Parsons, Tyler Perry, Debra Lee, and Tom Joyner. Finally, in February of 2013 he was named to NBC News/The Griot.com's 100 African Americans making history today, joining another impressive group including Kerry Washington, Ambassador Susan Rice, Kendrick Lamar, Mellody Hobson, and RG III.
Dr. Kimbrough and his wife Adria Nobles Kimbrough, attorney with the Kullman firm in New Orleans, are the proud parents of two children: Lydia Nicole, 7, and Benjamin Barack, 5.
Follow Dr. Kimbrough on his blog: http://hiphopprez.blogspot.com
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Hank Aaron Chasing the Dream Harold & Rhea Lucien Endowed Scholarship
Hearst Endowed Scholarship
Jacob Endowed Scholarship
James H. Dillard Endowed Scholarship
Johnie Seals & Joyce Roche Endowed Scholarship
Joseph & Mary Ford Memorial Award
Judith & Moritz Craven Endowed Scholarship
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Dillard University does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or veteran/Reserve/National Guard status and prohibits such discrimination by its students, faculty and staff. Students, faculty and staff are assured of participation in University programs and use of facilities without such discrimination.

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The Huntsville Botanical Garden is open year-round and boasts a picture perfect aquatic garden, a spectacular wildflower and nature trail and numerous specialty gardens and plant collections. The Children's Garden and Nature Center contain the nation's largest seasonal butterfly house and eight specialized gardens aimed toward the younger set. Children and adults alike will enjoy a stroll through the dinosaur garden, the space garden, storybook garden and more. Family festivals include Beaks and Barks, Huntsville Blooms, the Scarecrow Trail and the nationally recognized Galaxy of Lights and be sure not to miss our annual summer exhibits, designed to appeal to children and families. The Garden also has a gift shop, indoor and outdoor facility rental options, and education programs for all ages. The Garden prides itself on maintaining a strong relationship with the community and offering events year round that can appeal to everyone. We would love for you to come see us.
We've always got something growin' on!


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Valcourt's hat-trick leads Chiefs to win
Collin Valcourt completed a hat trick with a last second empty net goal and the Chiefs cruised to a 5-2 win over Vancouver in front of 5,957 fans at the Spokane Arena on Saturday night. Mitch Holmberg and Dylan Walchuk each finished with three points as Spokane ran its record to 6-2-0-0.
The first period was controlled by goaltenders as Spokane's Eric Williams turned away all eight of Vancouver's shots. Spokane went three of three on the penalty kill to keep the Giants off the board. Vancouver had their chances, including a shot off the left post from Tristan Sieben at 13:05, but couldn't slip one past the determined Williams.
The Chiefs had an equally difficult time with Giants netminder Liam Liston before finally breaking through at 19:18 on a power play goal from Brenden Kichton with assists from Mitch Holmberg and Dylan Walchuk.
The Chiefs stretched their advantage to 2-0 in the second on a top shelf goal from Todd Fiddler at 7:47 on assists from Liam Stewart and Blake Gal. Vancouver cut the deficit to 2-1 as Jackson Houck found the back of the net at the 14:06 mark to end the second period scoring.
Collin Valcourt got Spokane on the board early in the third with a rebound goal at 1:53 on assists from Walchuk and Holmberg. It was déjà vu for the Chiefs just over eight minutes later, as Valcourt scored again at 10:05 on assists from Walchuk and Holmberg.
The Giants got one back at 12:30 as Tanner Moar went five hole to make the score 4-2. Valcourt capped off his hat trick, and the game's scoring, with an empty netter at 19:59.
Williams finished the night 20 of 22 on save opportunities while Vancouver's Liston was 25 of 29. Spokane finished two of four on the power play and six of six on the penalty kill.
The Chiefs travel to Seattle on Tuesday for a matchup with the Thunderbirds before returning home for the weekend with games against Seattle on Friday and Prince George on Saturday.
© 2012 Spokane Chiefs. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without prior permission.


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Margaret Thatcher
Observations: The QandO Podcast for 14 Apr 13
This week, Michael and Dale discuss Kermit Gosnell and the UK.
The direct link to the podcast can be found here.
As a reminder, if you are an iTunes user, don't forget to subscribe to the QandO podcast, Observations, through iTunes. For those of you who don't have iTunes, you can subscribe at Podcast Alley. And, of course, for you newsreader subscriber types, our podcast RSS Feed is here.


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The Wardman Park Marriott Hotel in Washington, D.C., was the location for the Boy Scouts of America's National Annual Meeting, May 24-26, 2006.
The special invited international guests of the International Division were Lidija Pozaic, European Region Committee member from Croatia; John Geoghegan, World Scout Foundation, Switzerland; Jose Hernandez, Interamerican Scout Foundation, Mexico; Seung Soo Hong, Chong II Kim, and Young Ku Lee, Scouts Korea; Guillaume Legaut and Etienne Pere, France; Johan Krabb, WOSM, Sweden; and Aiden Jones, United Kingdom.
The annual International Committee dinner honored outgoing International Commissioner Richard Burdick and International Chairman Jerry Voros. The new international commissioner is Wayne M. Perry, and the new International Committee chairman is Kent Clayburn.
The 2007 National Annual Meeting will be held in Atlanta, Georgia.
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Wayne M. Perry was unanimously elected by the World Scout Committee in Geneva, Switzerland, on September 30, 2006, to replace Steve Fossett, who has stepped down from the committee due to other commitments. Fossett will continue his involvement in international Scouting through the International Committee of the Boy Scouts of America.
Perry is a member of the BSA and has a good knowledge of the Scout movement at the local level, through his work with his local council and region, and at the national level as a member of the National Executive Board.
Since May 2006, Perry has also been the international commissioner of the BSA. He will serve as a member of the World Scout Committee until the next World Scout Conference, in July 2008. Perry is the chief executive officer of a cellular telecommunication company in Washington state.
On February 28, 2006, Scouts from across America met in Dallas to prepare for the opportunity of a lifetime. The Scouts were selected to participate in the SAJ-BSA Friendship Program international Scout forum. The forum, held in Narita, Japan, was attended by over 200 Scouts from 26 countries.
The theme of the forum was "New Century—New Beginning." The objectives were promotion of international understanding and friendship among all participants, enrichment of the Scouting program through sharing information and experiences among participating countries, and a deepening knowledge of Japan.
After the forum, the Scouts toured Tokyo, visited the emperor's palace, and rode the bullet train to Kyoto, where they met their host families. For three days, the Scouts stayed with their host families and had the opportunity to live the everyday life of the Japanese.
The main reason for the visit was to experience a cultural exchange, but the Scouts experienced a lot more. This was a trip that they'll remember for the rest of their lives!
Phase two of the SAJ-BSA Friendship Program began on July 30, 2006, when a group of 32 Scouts and six leaders arrived in the Dallas/Fort Worth area to unite and become the BSA's contingent to the 14th Nippon Jamboree.
On July 31, 2006, the group departed for Tokyo, Japan. Upon arrival, they were met by representatives of the Scout Association of Japan. Before they traveled to Suzu-city, Ishikawa prefecture, to attend the jamboree, the Scouts enjoyed a visit to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology.
After the jamboree, the Scouts proceeded to the home hospitality portion of their trip. This is a very important part of the program: The Scouts live with a Japanese family for several days and immerse themselves in the culture and customs of a Japanese family.
The last event on the agenda before they came home was the SAJ-BSA-KSA Scout youth forum. The August trip marked the end of the second five-year program with SAJ. The Scout forum with Scouts from Japan and Korea is another manner in which Scouts from other countries work together to formulate ideas that might benefit their development.
Seven Scouts and two leaders from the Sam Houston Area Council left for London, England, on August 10, 2006, a day of high-level alerts after a terrorist plot was uncovered in London. They returned on August 23, 2006, exhilarated and changed, with a new appreciation of the World Organization of the Scout Movement. The adventure for these Boy Scouts and Venturing Scouts began in Yerevan, Armenia, where they spent the night, then climbed aboard a bus with a contingent of Scouts from the Ukraine, and headed for camp near Byurakan for the first Eurasian jamboree. Armenia is a landlocked country bordered by Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.
They learned of the different lifestyles and attitudes toward Scouting as represented by Scouts from the Ukraine, Russia, Tazikstan, Uzbekistan, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Japan, and the host country, Armenia. The one thing that was unchanged was the universal feeling of Scouting from the Scouts they met, even though Scouting developed in different ways in each country.
Amazingly, some of the Scouts already provided for their families, even though they were high school-aged, yet they still found time for Scouting and service projects in their communities. The American Scouts learned of the different struggles in the lives of the young people they met. The leaders of tomorrow at this jamboree were united through the Scouting movement "exactly the way Baden-Powell would have envisioned it," said one of the members of the BSA contingent. Quite simply, the BSA Scouts said they felt that this was the greatest experience of their young lives. They experienced fellowship and friendship, which is what Scouting is all about. They visited churches and monasteries, and saw other countries' music and dance traditions presented each night.
The International Scouting Conference at the Philmont Training Center was the largest ever held. Over the years, the International Division's international conference has grown from a small, one-room meeting to an exciting, two-dimensional adventure. One dimension of the 2006 conference was for Scouters who have developed a new interest in international Scouting and would like to learn how to participate in international Scouting events. The second dimension was for Scouters who are experienced in international Scouting programs, tours, and exchanges but would like to become involved in more advanced projects with other countries.
Of course, the specially invited international faculty from other Scouting associations or regions of the World Organization of the Scout Movement gave the conference a very special flavor.
Sharing in the fellowship of international Scouting, the special guest faculty for 2006 included Stephen Peck, director of Program and Development, The Scout Association, United Kingdom.
Subjects covered revolved around the latest plans to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Scouting at the World Scout Jamboree, and how to involve your council in international activities. Marshall Hollis of Ripley, Mississippi, was the conference chairman. Other special guests included newly appointed International Commissioner Wayne Perry and newly appointed International Committee Chairman Kent Clayburn.
The next Philmont International Scouting Conference will be held in the summer of 2008. Look for details on the International Division's Web page in 2007.
During the summer of 2006, Byron Houghton, a registered Scout from Old North State Council in Greensboro, North Carolina, spent the summer as a counselor at Kandersteg International Scout Centre in Switzerland. As a participant in the Boy Scouts of America's European Camp Staff program, Houghton spent the summer working at the beautiful high-adventure base.
Founded in 1923 by Lord Baden-Powell, the camp is the only international center in the world that serves Scouts of any age or sex. During the summer, Kandersteg offers such activities as hiking, mountain biking, paragliding, and river rafting to Scouts and other campers.
A Boy Scout since he was 7 years old, Houghton said he had wanted to visit Kandersteg for years. When his application to be a European camp staff counselor was accepted, he jumped at the chance.
"It's a pretty incredible place," Houghton said. "It's the World Organization of the Scout Movement's premier high-adventure base. Campers have to sign up for visits two years ahead of time, and they usually go with their local organizations and troops."
While at Kandersteg, Houghton was a "jack of all trades," handling everything from crafts to rock climbing and rappelling. Camp officials often appointed him to lead one- to two-day hikes, a job for which he is well trained.
"We did quite a bit of hiking locally in (Cullowhee, North Carolina's) Troop 914," he said. "And hiking has always been something my family has done as well. So it fit perfectly for me. I loved it."
While the topography of western North Carolina gave some idea of what he would be facing, Houghton said hiking in Switzerland did offer some surprises.
"Some of the trails are similar to the ones around here, but a lot of the terrain is different," he said. "They have these glacial valleys that are unlike anything I have seen in my life.
"Another difference is that the trails are very well marked, but they are measured in time," Houghton said. "Instead of something being two miles ahead, the sign would say something like four hours ahead. That was a little weird."
During his stay at the camp, Houghton said, there would be anywhere from 200 to 1,200 Scouts visiting at a time. Although that many children could be overwhelming, he said, leading hikes offered him and the campers a small escape.
"The hikes were the one time we got to sit down and talk to the kids," he said. "The biggest groups I would take out had 10 or 15 people. It was good to break off from the rest of the campers."
Although he enjoyed spending time with the younger Scouts, Houghton said, looking after kids from different countries often created a communication problem.
"Sometimes they would have a group leader who spoke English," he said. "But many times, I was taking out a group where no one spoke any English. Even if they could, it was very limited. It was hard to show them how to do things, and I think that was the biggest challenge."
Another concern was dealing with accidents, which Houghton said was always an issue when hiking.
"It was a bit overwhelming," Houghton said. "Since you're dealing with kids, accidents happen all the time. At first, that's always on your mind, and you really just want to do the right thing." Making accidents more prevalent were the altitudes at which most of the hikes took place. Although many campers would simply complain of being tired, Houghton said, some of them had a hard time dealing with the thinner air in the Swiss mountains.
"The places we were hiking were up really high, so the kids would get altitude sickness frequently," Houghton said. "That was just one of the things the counselors had to deal with. All the first aid training I got as a Scout really helped prepare me for it. The center also gave us some guide training as well."
Despite these fears, Houghton said, he and the other counselors were prepared to handle almost every situation they faced. Although staff members came from 16 different countries, all of them spoke English, which made communication with them much easier than with the campers.
Spending time with the other counselors also gave Houghton a glimpse of different cultures and viewpoints.
"I was amazed to meet all of these people," Houghton said. "The whole experience helped me to realize that people are pretty similar, no matter where they are from or what language they speak."
Now that Houghton has returned to school, he has fond memories of his time in Switzerland, and is hoping to return at some point.
"I definitely want to go back during the winter to be a ski guide," Houghton said. "I would go back anytime, really. Unfortunately, I have to go to school."
Kandersteg is only one of the many Scout centers that are a part of the European voluntary program of the European region of the World Organization of the Scout Movement. For more information on the European camp staff program, please contact the International Division of the Boy Scouts of America.
It is the objective of the 2007 Subcommittee—a body composed of members of the World Scout Committee, regional chairmen, The Scout Association (United Kingdom), and the World Scout Foundation—that the centennial of Scouting be celebrated with certain programs worldwide, and using the same graphic identity.
This graphic identity, based on a common design style, and two specific logos were formally adopted by the World Scout Conference in 2002 in Greece. The logos are:
These two logos have been registered as trademarks. They are therefore protected nationally in the United Kingdom and internationally. Please note that these logos include the World Scout emblem, which is separately protected legally. The WOSM retains the primary intellectual ownership of the World 2007 Centenary logo, and The Scout Association of the 21st World Scout Jamboree logo.
Scouting will benefit directly from the legal protection of the logos. Their commercial use will generate revenue in the form of royalties to support Scouting.
This protection also allows both the World Scout Bureau and The Scout Association to take legal action against any individual or body that reproduces the logos without authorization.
Unauthorized reproduction also includes reproduction without authorization of altered or amended versions of the official logos.
This legal protection also provides all national Scout organizations the power to take legal action against any individual or body within their country using the logos without permission, even if the organization itself has no intention of using the official logos.
Both the World Scout Bureau and The Scout Association would like to be kept informed of such cases and are ready to assist organizations if needed.
The right to take action against those who fail to comply with the regulations will be stronger if the two logos are also registered nationally by each national Scout organization.
It is always a special event when a Cub Scout earns the rank of Webelos Scout, but it was especially so for Lone Cub Scout K.C. Thomas, who lives with his family in the Bahamas. Attending a recognition event and assisting in the ceremony were John Rood, U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas, and Gene Arnold, the embassy's deputy consular chief. Arnold and K.C.'s father, Blake, are both Eagle Scouts.
Boy Scout Troop and Cub Scout Pack 1849, chartered by the Balboa Academy in Panama, joined forces with other organizations at the academy to raise funds for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Through different fund-raisers, these amazing children and teenagers were able to raise more than $3,000, which is being donated to Red Cross national disaster relief fund.
Troop 454, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, represented Direct Service and the Boy Scouts of America at the Together for Peace Moot held February 2-10, 2006, in Jubail, Saudi Arabia. Approximately 1,400 Scouts from 90 countries attended. The moot was hosted by the Royal Commission of Jubail and was organized by the International Union of Muslim Scouts and the Saudi Arabian Boy Scout Association.
Saudi Scouts met our contingent at the airport with the words "Welcome to Saudi Arabia, Welcome to the Land of Peace" in Arabic and English. They were then whisked away in a bus to Jubail, where they were assigned tents under trees in a park. Unless you live in the desert, you have no idea how refreshing and desirable that is.
All expenses for the event, including meals, were paid by the Saudi Arabian Boy Scouts Association (SABSA) in conjunction with the International Union of Muslim Scouts (IUMS) and the Saudi Arabian government. One of the most popular activities was the Internet tent, with 60 computers connected by DSL, near the dining hall.
The National Wildlife Research Center displayed Saudi wildlife and gave information on conservation. There was an opportunity to see Saudi Arabia's industrial, economic, social, and cultural achievements. Saudi Aramco, the national oil company, took a major role in the activities surrounding the event, which highlighted the kingdom's culture and its responsibility to its citizens.
The following Scouts earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 2006. Join us in welcoming these additions to Direct Service's Eagle's Nest!
During a recent court of honor for Troop 257, located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Committee Chairman John Langford was presented with the Silver Beaver Award. The troop's committee and leaders nominated him for this honor and managed to keep it a secret until the evening of the event. Needless to say, he was surprised and pleased to be honored in such a way. When thanking the group, Langford made sure that everyone knew that the award would not have been possible if not for the support of his wife, Rebecca.
The Silver Beaver is awarded to adult Scouters by the Boy Scouts of America's National Court of Honor, in recognition of their distinguished service of exceptional character to youth.
Lone Scout Maxwell Bertsch, currently living in South Africa, completed a five-day climb of Mount Kilimanjaro. The mountain is the highest peak in Africa, reaching approximately 19,341 feet. The first day, Max and his father, Mark Bertsch, hiked seven hours through forest to reach the first base camp. On day two, they hiked six hours through the clouds to an elevation where there was little plant life. On the third day, their hike took them through the cold Alpine desert for another six hours. After reaching the base camp on the third day, Max was advised to get a couple hours of sleep because he would have to get up before midnight to make the final push for the summit. Hiking in the dark hid the fact that the hike was very steep, and it reduced the risk of sunburn. The night hike was so exhausting that they had to crawl on their hands and knees over some of the rockiest places. On May 31, 2006, after hiking over glaciers, the father-and-son team reached the summit. Due to the lack of oxygen, bitter cold temperatures, and the risk of sunburn, they had to leave the summit after only 15 minutes. Needless to say, Max's adventure allowed him to complete requirements to earn his Hiking merit badge!
Cub Scouts from Pack 924 in Evanston spent several hours on the weekend of October 21-22, 2006, meeting and greeting Scouts from such faraway and exotic locales as New Zealand, Oman, Pakistan, Iceland, Mauritius, and Aruba—all without ever leaving the comfort of the Evanston Public Library.
No, there wasn't an international contingent of Scouts in town: These exchanges all took place in cyberspace during Pack 924's participation in the 10th World Scout Jamboree-on-the-Internet.
Jamboree-on-the-Internet is an annual 48-hour event sponsored by the World Scout Bureau of the World Organization of the Scout Movement. During the Jamboree, thousands of Scouts and Scout leaders from all over the world meet and communicate with each other via the Internet, using locally available technologies such as Web browsers, e-mail, chat programs, document scanners, and digital cameras.
Pack 924's "command center" for this year's Jamboree was the Community Meeting Room at the library's main branch. The location allowed Pack 924's Scouts to connect to the Internet via a free Wi-Fi hotspot and use the library's Internet browser projection equipment to view satellite images of participating Scouts' home locations. Pack 924's Scouts also used a talking interactive globe to check local times around the world, measure distances from Evanston, and learn more about the geography and culture of the different countries in which other participating Scouts reside.
Wolf Scout Noah DeMar, participating in his first jamboree, enjoyed meeting and talking with so many Scouts. "It was fun to find out what Scouts in other countries do," he said. "Many of them have the same interests and hobbies as we do, although there were some interesting differences."
Second Year Webelos Scout Daniel LeBien, also participating in his first jamboree, took advantage of the opportunity to communicate with Scouts from Japan, a country that interests him. Daniel sent and received multiple e-mails from Japanese Scouts during the course of this year's Jamboree. He intends to stay in contact with these Scouts throughout the year and exchange information and possibly even patches and other Scouting memorabilia.
Pack 924's Cubmaster Michael DeMar is already looking forward to his group's participation in next year's jamboree. "Jamboree-on-the-Internet gives our Scouts a unique perspective on the world," DeMar said. "They meet kids from countries that perhaps they had never even heard of before, and they communicate with these kids about their Scouting and non-Scouting lives. Hopefully, these early, direct interactions will stick with them and promote greater international understanding."
For more information on Jamboree-on-the-Internet, contact the International Division of the Boy Scouts of America.
The World Friendship Fund was created to help Scouts in other countries develop their Scouting program. Throughout the year, the World Friendship Fund receives contributions from individuals, Cub Scout packs, Wood Badge courses, and camp schools. One of the most heartwarming examples of a World Friendship Fund collection began at an auction for the World Friendship Fund at Philmont Training Center.
The International Division of the Boy Scouts of America conducts an international Scouting conference every two years at Philmont. One of the activities is a silent auction to raise money for the World Friendship Fund. It was at this auction that a little Cub Scout by the name of Cory Anderson first heard of the World Friendship Fund. At the auction, Cory saw a patch he could not resist. Time and again, he went back and increased his bid for this patch. At the end of the bidding, he was in danger of being outbid. Seeing the young Scout's desire to have the patch, the Scouter made a very generous offer to the boy: He could have the patch if he promised to go home and conduct a collection at his council for the World Friendship Fund. Cory Anderson kept his word and organized a collection for the World Friendship Fund. He collected $65.
Little Cory Anderson is what the World Friendship Fund is all about: nickels and dimes collected to help Scouts in other countries have the opportunity to join in Scouting.
If you would like to conduct a World Friendship Fund collection, let the International Division assist you. There is a new DVD available as well as posters and labels for collection cans. Let Cory Anderson be an inspiration to all of us!
Congratulations to the following individuals who received the International Scouter's Award during 2006.
This very special Scouting event for Baden-Powell Fellows was held September 20-23, 2006, in San Francisco, California. The elegant St. Francis Hotel served as headquarters for the event. The Meadowood Resort in Napa Valley was the location for a pre-event honors program, and a gala reception and dinner at the California Palace of the Legion of Honor was the location for induction of the new Baden-Powell Fellows by his majesty the king of Sweden, honorary president of the World Scout Foundation.
This fund-raising event for the World Scout Foundation helps the growth and development of Scouting worldwide by providing financial support for the World Organization of the Scout Movement.
Invitation to this event was extended to all Baden-Powell members by W. F. "Rick" Cronk, chairman of the World Scout Foundation and president of the Boy Scouts of America. The program was filled with an array of activities to include a welcome reception, tours, a special foundation breakfast, and a visit with local Scouts, and ended with an inspirational reception and, as a grand finale, the elegant gala dinner.
The Council International Representative plays a very important role in his or her council. With this in mind, the duties of the International Representative have been revised and broadened to better assist the local council's leadership with their international Scouting program.
The new duties include added responsibilities with the European camp staff program, international camp staff program, world jamboree recruitment, Jamboree-on-the-Air/Jamboree-on-the-Internet promotion, and the Tours and Exchanges Program.
For more information on the council international representative position, please contact the International Division of the Boy Scouts of America.
In November 2006, four Scout leaders from the BSA and from Girl Scouts of the United States of America traveled to Algeria for the first exchange visit with the Algerian Scout Association. The trip was sponsored and coordinated by the United States Embassy in Algiers, with the objective of establishing person-to-person contacts between the Scout associations of the two countries in order to foster better U.S.-Algerian relations.
Participants included BSA International Committee members Bruce Trefz, Piedmont Council, Gastonia, North Carolina, and Bari Saunders, Sam Houston Area Council, Houston, Texas, and GSUSA professional Scouters Sandy Thomas and Souraya Arfan. Thomas is the director of GSUSA's International Division in New York, and Arfan is from the GSUSA's Detroit, Michigan, Council.
The trip stretched over 10 days in November, and included visits with Algerian Scouts and leaders in the Algerian cities of Algiers, Constantine, and Adrar. Leaders of the Algerian Muslim Scouts hosted the trip, which included contacts with unit, council, and district Scout leaders; with government officials responsible for youth programs and general administration; and with various community and religious leaders in the several locations of the exchange. The Algerian press was closely involved in reporting the entire trip, and the visiting Scouters were interviewed for TV, radio, and print media in each location they visited.
It is hoped that a reciprocal visit of Algerian Scout leaders to the United States will be conducted in 2007, involving both BSA and GSUSA experiences; and that these exchanges will lead to the exchange of U.S. and Algerian Scouts in the future. Preliminary plans for the reciprocal visit are being discussed with the U.S. Embassy, which has pledged to assist with the initial Algerian trip to the United States.
The objective of future exchanges with Algerian Scouts and leaders will be to create additional personal contacts and shared experiences that can benefit the BSA, the GSUSA, and the Algerians in expanding international relationships within Scouting and in encouraging better training and membership growth in Scouting.
—C. Bari Saunders


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On this general level, it isn't hard to see the parallels: Trying to optimize situations is something we do every day. On a personal level (fastest way to the restroom), on a group level (best place for dinner), on a national level (unemployment rate) or on a global level (child mortality rate). Optimizing can mean maximizing or minimizing.
The mathematical formulation of the variational principle was inspired by Leibnitz' conjecture that we live in "The Best of All Possible Worlds". Here, I want to elaborate on the analogy between social and natural systems, and just bounce some thoughts off you.
One should keep in mind that in physics the variations do not "really" take place. They are imagined tries to find the optimal situation, but the optimal solution is then the one which just "is". Instead, I will here talk about an optimization that takes place over time, where the process of trial and improvement is real.
A Landscape of Possible Worlds
We ask of the systems that govern our lives is that they fulfil a certain task, and help us to work towards a goal. Our economic system is a good example. Its goal is to distribute goods, free capital to allow future investments, and connect traders - all to spur progress. Our political systems have too many tasks to count, but just to name a few: They allow us to live with maximal freedom for everybody without violating anybody else's rights, and they balance long-term with short-term interests. The academic system too has a task, that is to identify valuable research and to build a body of knowledge that helps us to understand nature and actively shape our future.
In most cases however, these systems were not specifically designed and set up for a certain task, they just emerge out of need or out of opportunity and represent cases of spontaneous self-organization. Nevertheless, it is useful to think of a system as having the task of optimizing something desirable, such as minimizing poverty or maximizing the usefulness of education.
For all the possible states the system could be in, consider there is some quantity expressing how good the status of the system is. We will refer to the value of this quantity over the set of possible states as a "landscape" of possibilities (see figure above). In the social context, performance of a system is most often hard to define, and equally hard to measure. However, it might not be necessary to quantify such a function, as long as there are means to evaluate how different states of the system compare to each other. All one really needs to know is whether one situation is "better" than some other, according to some criteria.
It requires effort to bring the system into a more optimal state, since it goes together with an increase of order and decrease of randomness. It also takes constant effort to keep the system in an ordered state. On a fundamental level, many of these efforts are connected to energy supply.
Primary Goals and Secondary Criteria
The essential ingredient to the optimization is now evaluating the system under small changes, to keep the improvements and to toss the worsening. This means the system needs to have means to evaluate how well it is performing. For this evaluation it is first necessary to understand the primary goal of a system, meaning to know what is to be optimized. It can happen easily that during certain phases, aiming for the primary goal goes along with optimizing secondary, derived criteria.
I have previously written about this distinction between primary goals and secondary criteria here and here. It seems to be very common that aiming to optimize secondary criteria instead of primary goals deviates a system from its original task. Bank managers aiming at high bonuses for example might under certain circumstances indeed correlate with an optimal functioning of our financial system, but this correlation is not guaranteed to hold and can lead the system far away from optimizing its primary goal. Similarly, publishing papers is certainly an important ingredient of scientific research and to some extend correlated with research activity and progress. However, the number of publications is a derived secondary criteria that does not generally have to be identical with valuable research. And keeping lobbies happy is a secondary criteria not generally correlated with the primary goal of the political system.
In all these cases, the dominance of secondary goals arises from them being easier to evaluate on an individual level, they thus represent personal incentives. On the long run, pursuing them can lead to a mismatch between the individuals following their micro-interests and the desired macro-behavior of the system, which is to optimize achieving its primary goal. If secondary criteria are used, it is thus necessary to readjust them appropriately so the feedback they provide works indeed towards the primary goal.
Local versus Global Optima
However, when optimizing one has to keep in mind that taking small steps and choosing the direction upwards will lead you to a mountain top, but this will not generally be the top of the highest mountain. A mountain top would be a "local optimum" whereas the highest mountain would be the "global optimum" (see figure below). Improving a local optimum by small changes implies going through a valley.
Yes, this is the same old story with the mountain climbers and valley crossers. Sometimes it has to get worse before it can get better.
Alternatively, one can make a big and courageous change to "tunnel" through a valley. This requires however very precise knowledge about the landscape, otherwise you might end up in a volcano crater lake or something.
Most often, one chooses a combination of both, a first large change followed by corrective adjustments.
For the optimization to work well, there are thus two ingredients needed: variation and evaluation of the variation. Optimization within the system requires the possibility to evaluate the status relative to that of earlier states, and the ability to react to the outcome of this evaluation. The feedback should be such that the system evolves towards an optimum with regard to the primary goal.
Now there are systems in which the evaluation of its performance and the feedback on the system works better, and in others were it works worse. A free market economy for example is a system that detects very promptly consumers satisfaction (evaluation), and is very flexible in its immediate reaction (variation). A planned economy in contrast is very rigid, and if the predictions of the plan are anything off the actual reality, it easily fails to achieve its primary goal. This does not necessarily have to be the case, but given that social systems are very complex and one does not well know what the landscape looks like, predictions are enormously hard if not impossible, and such plans are very likely to fail due to lacking evaluation and variation.
Similarly, governing by monarchy can work to everybodies' satisfaction in case the monarch happens to know well what keeps the people happy and works towards this goal. It is however very unlikely, since the system lacks evaluation and a feedback mechanism that works towards the goal of achieving happiness for the people. A political system that allows for feedback of citizens' happiness has better chances of improving them. Socializing the means of productions on the other hand does not exclude the possibility to evaluating the system's performance, but the reaction to this evaluation is considerably damped due to lacking personal incentives.
In realistic social systems, the system can be pushed out of its limits of applicability in which case it breaks completely down and has to be rebuilt or replaced. For example chopping the king's head off.
Finding an optimal solution also might not be the only thing one is looking for. Given that realistic social systems are subject to statistical fluctuations, the stability of the state is also an important factor of its desirability. If a solution is unstable, it means that a small change can create an even larger change, and drives the system farther and farther away from the optimal situation. This is a so-called positive feedback, though the adjective sounds misleading. A negative feedback instead would want to work against the attempt to make changes.
Keep in mind that it takes effort to keep the system in a well-working state. A positive feedback would for example be one that does not allow anymore to invest this effort, upon which the system retreats to a less optimal state, which means it can invest even less effort and falls into an even less optimal state, etc all down into the valley were the situation is stable again. Dwindling energy supply that corrupts infrastructure and political stability could be such a case.
Evolving Backgrounds
An additional complication for social systems is that the background one is optimizing in, the landscape, depends on the history of the system itself. Take for example the case in which a major change to improve the political system has been suggested. One took a courageous step, followed by some small adjustment, but the situation turned out to be less optimal than initially. Then returning to the previous state might no longer be possible because the systems' configuration has meanwhile changed. Thus, what previously might have been a locally optimal state might have gone completely lost.
Something else that frequently happens is that mistakes dampen the courage to try changes. One can interpret this loss of courage as deepening the valleys between optima because more people will be unhappy under change. Trying to pass a resolution today might not be the same as passing it next year, even if the content does not change whatsoever. On the other hand, conservatism might increase stability - at least unless the background evolves under you and the optimum you might have been in moves elsewhere. This conflict between the resisting change to achieve stability and the need to adjust to the evolving background is a major tension in our social systems which also reflects in the political spectrum.
This might not be "The Best of All Possible Worlds", but if we set up appropriately the systems that govern our lives we have a chance to make this world a little better.


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201 Principles of Accounting I (3-0-3). A survey of accounting principles, concepts, and procedures. Recognition of accounting as a device to measure financial activity of for-profit organizations using financial statements. Introduction of the accounting information cycle, journals, ledgers, and appropriate accounts. PR: Eligibility to enroll in MATH 101 or higher.
202 Principles of Accounting II (3-0-3). A continuation of ACCT 201. An introduction to cost accumulations and allocations, financial statement analysis, and the use of accounting information for internal and external decision making. PR: ACCT 201.
301 Intermediate Accounting I (3-0-3). Financial reporting for business enterprises under GAAP. A review of the theoretical foundations of financial concepts and reporting, and their practical application to accounting procedures. Emphasis is on income and expense measurement, asset and liability measurement, and accounting for owners' equity. PR: ACCT 202, BUSN 240.
302 Intermediate Accounting II (3-0-3). A continuation of ACCT 301. Emphasis is on financial statements disclosure requirements under GAAP. A review of reporting requirements for long-term liabilities, stockholders' equity, revenue measurement, earning per share, leases, pensions, cash flows, and other contemporary accounting issues. PR: ACCT 301.
305 Managerial Accounting (3-0-3). Use of the internal accounting system in the preparation of relevant data for effective managerial planning and control decisions. PR: ACCT 202.
306 Cost Accounting (3-0-3). Principles underlying determination of cost and control of certain business activities. Manufacturing accounting is emphasized. PR: ACCT 305.
325 Taxation for Personal and Business Decision Making (3-0-3). This course provides a summary of income taxes at the federal and state level as they affect business and personal investment decision making. Emphasis is on income tax concepts and their effect on decision making, not form preparation. Topics covered include: types of taxes at various governmental jurisdictional levels; tax policy issues; fundamentals of tax planning; measuring taxable income; property acquisitions, cost recovery, and dispositions; non-taxable exchanges; taxes and the choice of a business entity; proprietorship taxation; partnership and Sub S taxation; corporate taxation; compensation and retirement planning; investment and personal financial planning; tax consequences of personal activities, and simple personal tax preparation. PR: ACCT 202; ECON 212.
350 Advanced Taxation (3-0-3). An in-depth coverage of federal and state income taxation of individuals, proprietorships, partnerships, and corporations, with emphasis on tax return preparation for each of these entities. Topics covered include gross income inclusions and exclusions, deductions for and deductions from adjusted gross income, business and employment related deductions, personal deductions, exemptions, credits, property transactions (in-depth acquisitions, cost recovery, and dispositions), AMT, and deferrals of income/expense recognition. PR: ACCT 325.
424 Accounting Information Systems (2-1-3). A study of the analysis, design, and control aspects of accounting systems. Topics include testing and reviewing accounting systems, identifying information requirements, and cost/benefit analysis. PR: ACCT 302, BUSN 260,
430 Advanced Accounting (3-0-3). Accounting principles and practices as applied to problems connected with consignment sales, installment sales, agency and branch accounting, consolidations, fiduciary relationships, interim reporting, SEC reporting, segment reporting, and foreign currency transactions. PR: ACCT 302.
431 Auditing Principles (3-0-3). Emphasis on various kinds of auditing techniques. Attention is also given to auditors' duties and responsibilities, reporting requirements, and ethics. PR: ACCT 302.
432 Advanced Auditing (2-1-3). A study of advanced auditing topics, including statements on auditing standards, statistical sampling applications, auditing computerized accounting systems, and internal auditing. PR: ACCT 431.
440 Governmental and Not-for-Profit Accounting (3-0-3). An Analysis of the environment and characteristics of government and nonprofit organizations, and an in-depth study of basic concepts and standards of financial reporting for such entities.
490 Topics in Accounting (3-0-3). A course dealing with the theory of accounting as well as emerging issues that the professional standard boards and other groups that promulgate accounting principles are currently dealing with.


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Submit topics or questions as comments that you have in regards to health, fitness, wellness, or any other related topic. The best questions and topics will be answered in one of our daily blog posts. Plus you will be entered to win free products or prizes. New winners will be selected every month.
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- Creative Bioscience is Here to Help - October 19, 2016
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Inspired by the Romans, it's Spa Bella.
Let the professional staff of Spa Bella take you to a place you never thought possible.
Nails, Pedicures, Waxing, Body Treatments, Facials, Hair and a Massage fit for Ceasar himself.
Spa Bella
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(940) 723-7070
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The Style Gallery is a great new way for you to view, love, and share outfit photos. It's meant to showcase
all the expressive, creative, and inspirational personalities of our community!
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Go ahead - grab your sweetie, turn off your cell, and step back from the computer to enjoy a relaxing day away while wearing this galaxy-printed dress, found exclusively at ModCloth! This simple, sleek A-line frock features a graphic universe pattern in navy, teal, and flashes of fuschia that completes any no-fail, all-day outfit. Whether you choose to spend your free time adventuring, lounging, or on a spontaneous trip, complement this versatile design with metallic brogue flats and glittering star-inspired earrings. Hopping into your vintage ride with a pair of oversized shades and a picnic basket, you and your ensemble ensure a dreamy day light-years away from reality!
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by Anton Shilov
Art Lebedev, a leading design studio from Russia, started to take pre-orders onto its next-generation Optimus keyboards with screens inside each key. Unlike suggested, the keyboards will still be rather expensive and will become available only in mid-2012 or late-2012, depending on the model.
First of the new keyboards to be released is Optimus Popularis, which will be shipping in June, 2012, for around $1086. The Poularis is based on one large screen incorporated inside the keyboard with transparent keys, each of which can be programmed separately and perform a unique function. Unlike its more expensive brethren, which uses separate OLED screens inside each key, the novelty relies on simpler design yet it has buttons with higher resolution (64*64 pixels, up from 48*48 pixels). Unfortunately, the device sports no additional/programmable keys and will hardly become popular among those, who used to full-sized keyboards.
The two add-on keypads, the Optimus mini six and the Optimus Aux, will ship in November, 2012, for $376 and $534, respectively. The mini six has six keys based on LCD technology, whereas the Aux has fifteen keys powered by separate OLED screens.
All three new Art Lebedev Optimus keyboards have taken years to develop and yet virtually all of them will not ship on time or in the pre-announced price.
Art Lebedev presented the first concept of Optimus Popularis in mid-2008 and promised to start its production in late 2008 or early 2009. The company did not initiate manufacturing of the keyboard either in 2008 or 2009, unveiled a new Popularis concept in late June, 2010, and again failed to ship the device in 2010. Nonetheless, in early-2011 Art Lebedev promised to finally release its keyboard with screens inside each key at sub-$1000 price-point this year.


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OCLC partnership with MatchWare offers high quality citation data in a mind mapping software tool
OCLC is pleased to add MatchWare to its growing list of WorldCat.org traffic partners in Europe and around the world. MatchWare produces MindView, a mind-mapping tool tailored to suit the needs of students in an academic environment.
MindView enhances an individual's ability to visually brainstorm, organize and present ideas. Known for its award-winning Microsoft Office integration (PC Magazine Editor's Choice), this mind-mapping software lets users be more productive by turning ideas into action faster than ever before. Now thanks to the integration of library holdings through the WorldCat Search API and Web services on the WorldShare Platform, MindView also connects users to their local libraries and provides citation information for library materials, based on WorldCat data.
While initially developed for Fortune 500 companies, education, government and business, MindView developers realized that university students with learning disabilities such as dyslexia were using it to generate written documents and presentations. As such, MindView software is currently used by more than 20,000 students at over 50 universities in the UK alone and by more than 15,000 students in Europe.
"OCLC's partnership with MatchWare once again demonstrates that adding library data to WorldCat via the WorldShare platform powers innovative learning applications for your patrons, with libraries embedded" notes Mark Allcock, OCLC Business Development Director, EMEA.
"Partnering with OCLC strengthens our marketplace visibility with one of our primary target audiences--education," said MatchWare Education manager David Kidd. "OCLC offers our users a high quality, reliable and secure bibliographic data platform for mind mapping. We are proud to be part of their partnership community."
MatchWare is a Danish software house founded in 1992, with offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and France. MatchWare is privately held and financially backed by its executive team. A world leader in cutting edge mind-mapping and productivity software, MatchWare continues to release highly intuitive, visually pleasing software--packed full of powerful features to help users achieve professional results without the complexity of traditional software programs.
MatchWare joins other WorldCat.org traffic partners to provide citations for their users that connect to libraries, including EasyBib, Mendelay and Citavi. For additional information about OCLC partnership opportunities, visit the OCLC partner Web site.


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5 Tips On How To Run A Successful Virtual Baby Shower
When it comes to Virtual Baby Showers they can either be a great experience or a complete flop. The information out there on How To Run A Successful Virtual Baby Shower is not as detailed as this video or this blog is on just what goes into planning and executing a Successful Virtual Baby Shower. In the video below I go through my 5 tips and give you a better background on the Virtual Baby Shower that I helped plan and execute.
*NOTE* All of the pannelists on this Virtual Baby Shower are experienced and seasoned Internet Marketers.
Why Virtual Baby Showers?
Virtual Baby Showers are an incredible way for you to include everyone in your Baby Shower. With times being what they are, not many friends and family from far away may be able to afford to be there. So Virtual Baby Showers are a great and inexpensive way for you to share this special moment with everyone. That being said there is quite a bit of planning that needs to go into a successful Virtual Baby Shower. I have put together my 5 Tips On How To Run A Successful Virtual Baby Shower. These are quite detailed and will assisst you in the planning of and execution of a successful virtual baby shower.
5 Tips On How To Run A Successful Virtual Baby Shower
- You are going to need to assemble a pannel of 10 people who will be hihghly commited to the planning and execution of your virtual shower. They should be able to do a little learning and be a little comupter savvy. You will be using a Google Hangout to broadcast your Virtual Shower. You may use FaceTime with the Apple Platform, but I am not familiar with it and these intructions are for using an Android Device and Google Platform. ~~~~~~>CLICK HERE TO LEARN HOW TO SET UP A GOOGLE HANGOUT<~~~~~ The awesome thing about doing a Google Hangout Via YouTube is that you can record it and share it. You will need a YouTube Account, Facebook accounts for the recipient of the sahower and anyone who wants to be on the planning committee for the shower. As they are going to need to be sending invites, creating groups and passing links.
- You need to have virtual games that people can interact with via Facebook. This is where the Virtual Invites and Groups come in. Through Facebook you can create an Event for the shower and invite all of the people you have invited to she shower who have Facebook Profiles. You are going to need to send out an email as well to everyone. Once you have your group and event up on FB you can put your links in your email and direct them to those pages on the day of the shower. Games can be anything such as the games played in Toby&Layla's Virtual Baby Shower. They need to be interactive. You want to be able to giveyour guests directions on where to go to interact with games. You could do a Virtual Baby Treasure Hunt and have people surf the internet for specific things in the baby shower theme. There are ton's of creative ideas and if a little thought and preperation is put in they can be quite fun.
- We have already mentioned that you need to set up groups and events and invites on Facebook and all other social platforms. Designate someone who will be able accomplish all or some of those tasks. When you work together it will show in the flow of your Virtual Shower.
- Make sure you have a three week gap between when the invites go out and the Virtual Baby Shower. This is because you want to have enough time for your shower to come together and also for people to be able to send cards and gifts.
- At the very end you can open it up to have other people besides the pannel hop on your hangout and offer mommy advice. This is really an awesome experience and was the highlight for me in Toby&Layla's Virtual Baby Shower. You have everyone who is on the pannel offer their mommy advice and then hop off. The link to the Google Hangout will have been put out in the group so people could hop on.
That sounds like a lot of work....
Absolutley it is. There was much more put into Toby&Layla's Virtual Baby Shower becuase we are a pannel of Professional Internet Marketers and have experience with putting together events like these. So the web pages that you see, the games that were played and the flow of this shower was accomplished by really good marketing and an awesome community that could make an event like this happen.
Want to know more?
Want to know more on how to learn how to market ANYTHING on the interent? On to be able to learn how to put together Online Events such as these as well as provide yourself witha skill that will allow you to make an income online.


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November 7, 7:00 PM
7 PM (2013) Who hasn't heard of "The Catcher in the Rye"? This documentary plays out like a mystery about the troubled author. PG13/120 min


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10 Obscure Marriage Laws
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State Of Matrimony1 of 10
By Woman's Day
Last year, the New York state legislature approved no-fault divorce, the last state to do so, siding with opponents who viewed the law as antiquated and passé. This landmark decision got us thinking about what other outdated marriage laws might exist in the U.S. Read on to find out which states have (or had) the wackiest rules around.
Montana2 of 10
Marriage by proxy, which means someone stands in for a bride/groom who can't be present at his/her wedding, is limited to members of the U.S. Armed Forces. But of the four states that allow the practice — California, Colorado, Texas and Montana — Montana is the only one that allows double-proxy weddings. Essentially, neither the bride nor groom has to show up. Call us old-fashioned, but it doesn't seem like the ideal start to the biggest commitment of one's life.
Arkansas3 of 10
For a few months between 2007 and 2008, anyone under 18 could get married in Arkansas with parental consent. (Yes, even babies — as their parents agreed!) The original law was meant to allow pregnant teenagers to get married if their parents approved, but lawmakers forgot to put in an age minimum. The law was corrected in April 2008, making the minimum age 17 for boys and 16 for girls.
Delaware4 of 10
Ever been dared to get married ... as a prank? Neither have we. But apparently this happens often enough in Delaware that it's actually an option when couples file for an annulment. Along with the basic reasons such as marrying "without the capacity to consent" or "under duress," couples can now check "because of a jest or dare" when applying to dissolve their nuptials.
Kentucky5 of 10
In Kentucky, it's illegal to remarry the same man four times. Honestly, good for Kentucky: If you've already divorced him three times, someone should step in. Of course, as long as it's different men, you can get married and divorced as many times as you like.
ON WOMAN'S DAY: The Most Ridiculous Laws In The U.S.
Massachusetts6 of 10
The infamous witch trials are long over, but religious conservatism is still alive in Salem. Apparently, married couples are not allowed to sleep in the nude in a rented room. In Truro, MA a groom-to-be must "prove himself manly" by hunting and killing either six blackbirds or three crows.
ON WOMAN'S DAY: 10 Things You Should Know About Marriage
South Carolina7 of 10
In South Carolina it's illegal for a man over 16 years old to propose marriage and not mean it. Doing so means he's committing a misdemeanor under the Offenses Against Morality and Decency Act. Not sure if that means he will be forced to marry the woman in question, or if he can't ask for a woman's hand as a way to seduce her. We hope it's the latter.
Kansas8 of 10
Many husbands would probably say their mother-in-law isn't their favorite person in the world. But for those who really, really dislike their wife's mother, moving to Wichita, KS, might be a good option. In this city, a man's mistreatment of his mother-in-law may not be used as grounds for divorce.
ON WOMAN'S DAY: The 5 Stages of Marriage
Connecticut9 of 10
Imagine it: You get a babysitter so you and your hubby can go out for a romantic dinner. Afterward you take a stroll around town. Caught in the moment, you lean in for a passionate kiss. Busted! The police can cuff you and throw you in jail — that is, if you live in Hartford, Connecticut ... and it's Sunday. Well, maybe not these days, but technically, it's still illegal in this city for a man to kiss his wife on the Lord's Day.
Louisiana10 of 10
It's most likely that your wedding was officiated by a religious figure or judge. Or, if you're a bit more eccentric than some, you had a friend become ordained so he or she could marry you. New Orleans has made it illegal for palm readers, fortune tellers, mystics and the like to officiate a wedding. Guess they don't want you peeking at your future — you'll just have to go into it with blind faith like everyone else!


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I am new here and need som advice...
My ds is 11 weeks old and has been gaining weight very slowly. He was 8.8 at birth and got down to 8.4 a week after birth. Since then he has been gaining two and a half ounces a week typically. I went on Domperidone for possible supply issues a month ago and he began to gain a bit more.At 8 weeks he was 9.13, nine weeks 10.2. He was 10.6 at 10 weeks and 10.6 agian this week.
He is a bit stuffed up and has not been sleeping as well as he had been. By well I mean more than 20 minutes. Lately he has been eating every 1-1.5 hours and at times comes off the breast crying and upset. He scratches his face and head like he is in pain. I know the domperidone has increased the speed of my let downs which has been giving him gas so I have been using ovol to help him in that area. He also chews on his hand like crazy or on my finger knuckles...could he be teething? My dd did not get one tooth until 11 months.
My dd (2 and a half years old) had a stomache bug that I think ds may have a bit of since his poops have changed from yellow and mild smelling to brown, watery, and stinky. He is still having plenty of wet dipes but all his poops are this yucky brown stuff.
So...any ideas? I hate going in to the breastfeeding group to weigh him when all these chubby babies his age are there. The other mom's always look at me pitifully and say, "So, is he gaining? He is so tiny." I also dread his three month appt.
Is there a bf baby weight chart out there?


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Contact: Nancy Dunker, associate director of public relations, 630-637-5306
March 7, 2011—North Central College will host a traveling exhibit about the real-life alchemists and physicians featured in J.K. Rowling's best-selling Harry Potter books.
Titled "Harry Potter's World: Renaissance Science, Magic, and Medicine," the free exhibit opens April 10 and runs six weeks through May 21 at North Central College's Oesterle Library Gallery, 320 E. School St., Naperville. The exhibit will be on display in the library's Dr. Lora L. Tyson Education Curriculum Resource Center during regular library hours; call 630-637-5700 for details. An opening reception is planned from noon to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 12.
On Saturday, May 7, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., students from local elementary and middle schools are invited to a Muggle Children's Day. Attendees will be sorted into houses, hear stories from the Harry Potter books, participate in Readers Theatre groups using selections from the books, make crafts to take home, and depending on the weather, play Quidditch on the library lawn. Children are encouraged to dress as their favorite Harry Potter character for a chance to win prizes. Visit noctrl.libguides.com/harrypotter for a full list of activities associated with the exhibit.
The exhibition is composed of six, full-color graphic panels developed and produced by the National Library of Medicine of the National Institutes of Health. Using materials from the library's History of Medicine collections, the exhibit explores Harry Potter's world, its roots in Renaissance science, and the ethical questions that affected not only the wizards of Harry Potter, but also the historical thinkers featured in the series.
Information about centaurs, unicorns and other fantastical beasts that were popular during the Renaissance is included in the exhibit, including photographs of real-life rare books featured in the series. In addition, quotes from Potter characters such as Sirius Black, Albus Dumbledore and the evil Lord Voldemort adorn the banners.
"We're all excited to host the 'Harry Potter's World' exhibit," says John Small, North Central's Clare and Lucy Oesterle Director of Library Services. "It will give everyone a chance to see this remarkable series from a different perspective and allow Oesterle Library to hold a series of interesting and thought-provoking events."
Several copies of the exhibit are traveling around the country; however, North Central College is the only host site in Illinois during the period February 2011 through April 2012.
To learn more about the exhibit visit www.nlm.nih.gov/exhibition/harrypottersworld. Educators for middle and high schools and higher education institutions can also visit the site to access instructional resources.
This exhibit is one of many ongoing programs hosted at North Central College to Sexchat enrich and broaden the academic and cultural outlook for the College and community. For a comprehensive schedule of art exhibits, musical performances, lectures and theatrical productions, visit northcentralcollege.edu/show or call the box office at 630-637-SHOW (7469).


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How to Schedule Your Activities
Although many of our activities and classes are included in your overnight package, there are some classes/workshops that require an extra fee. Your nightly resort credit can be used toward any fee-based experience. All fee-based experiences must be reserved in advance. Book your activities prior to arrival by calling 800.232.3969 or emailing email@example.com
Art & Photography
Unleash your creative spirit during your stay.
Learn tips and tools in hands-on workshops with our chefs.
The Miraval Equine Experience has delighted guests for 20 years.
Exercise Physiology
Explore the science behind exercise and your health.
Join a group fitness class in our newly renovated state-of-the-art Body Mindfulness Center.
Healthy Living
Get in touch with your intuitive self.
Integrative Wellness
Life in Balance starts here.
Start your own practice or gain new perspective.
Mindful eating is the core of our nutrition philosophy.
Outdoor Adventure & Challenge
Hiking, biking, climbing, zipline, and so much more.
Strengthen your core and lengthen your spine.
Work on your game in these high energy classes.
Increase self-awareness and mindfulness in our daily classes.
Miraval's bee programming offers guests a fun way to give back to the environment.
From Paula R.
"We especially loved Andrew Wolf's class called Making Weight Loss a Reality. He's adorkably funny & helped us to see that if we take the emotion out of the equation & focus on the numbers of heart health, all of the other aspects of weight loss fall into place."
– Paula R. Rancho Sante Fe, California
From Cara J.
And my most favorite memory was the Equine Experience with Debbie and Kelly. They were amazing at their jobs! I learned some wonderful things about myself, it has already changed how I approach my relationships. Thank you Miraval!
- Cara J. Queen Creek, Arizona


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Qualified parking exclusion and commuter transportation benefit
As a Washington, D.C. metropolitan region employer, you're fully aware of the competitive nature of attracting and retaining the best employees. With SmartBenefits®, you can offer your employees a better way to get to work - and save money doing it.
SmartBenefits® is a versatile and valuable benefit for both employers and employees. It's an IRS-compliant, web-based program that lets employers assign the dollar value of employees' monthly commuting benefit directly to reusable, rechargeable plastic SmarTrip® cards, which can be used for parking, rail, van pool and bus travel throughout the D.C. metropolitan region. It can be offered as a direct employee benefit, a pre-tax deduction, or a combination of both - it's as flexible as your needs, and available online 24/7.
Apply for a SmartBenefits® account. Collect your employees' SmartTrip® serial numbers. Enter employees' SmarTrip® serial numbers and benefit amounts for transit and parking between first and 15th day of the month for benefits for upcoming month.
SmartBenefits® participants who use a van pool, MetroAccess, MARC, VRE, D & B Bus/Quick's Commuter Service, National Coachworks/Martz, CommuterDirect.com, Arlington County Commuter stores or MTA commuter buses, do not download SmartBenefits® to your SmarTrip® card. Click here for passenger and operator instructions.
To claim or access your transit or parking benefits, just use your SmarTrip® card as if you are paying your fare or parking fee and the appropriate amount will be deducted from your SmarTrip® card account's transit or parking purse. It's that simple, just tap your card to a Metrorail faregate, bus farebox or Metro parking target and you're on your way. At the beginning of each month, a new benefit amount will be available for you to use.
Claiming the monthly benefit at the machine is for Official Travel and non-Autoload customers.
The SmartBenefits® program established through Metro is a free service for employers. Go to Employer login. Metro does not charge for anything other than the fares ordered. However, if you are interested in hiring a fee-for-service organization to manage your SmartBenefits® program, feel free to contact the following groups for additional information.
SmarTrip® and SmartBenefits® transactions, balances and password resets, call:
7 AM - 8 PM Monday - Friday


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US Peace Corps
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American Overseas Staff (FY2010): {{#ask:2010_pcstaff_salary::+country name is::Fiji
Latest Early Termination Rates (FOIA 11-058): {{#ask:Country_early_termination_rate::+country name is::Fiji
|Peace Corps Welcome Book
|Country Director:
|Program Dates:
|Current Volunteers:
|Total Volunteers:
|Languages Spoken:
The Peace Corps began its program in Fiji in 1968. It was closed in 1998 but reopened in 2003.
Peace Corps History
Main article: History of the Peace Corps in Fiji
The Peace Corps has had a long and highly successful history of service in Fiji. Prior to suspending operations in early l998, Volunteers served the country for 30 years without interruption. More than 2,200 Peace Corps Volunteers have worked with local communities and organizations in various sectors, including education, business, environmental resource management, health, fisheries, and agriculture.
Notable past achievements by Peace Corps Volunteers include introducing environmental themes into secondary school curricula, small business projects with the Fiji Development Bank and Junior Achievement, and programming with both the Ministry of Youth and Ministry of Women. Volunteers significantly impacted the highly regarded Management Planning Advisors project by training local government staff in organizational and project planning. Their contribution of management skills and tools are still evident in many provincial and district offices throughout Fiji.
In 2002, the government of Fiji requested that the Peace Corps return. An assessment team came to Fiji and found that Peace Corps could once again make meaningful and substantive contributions to the development of Fiji. In late 2003, the program reopened. Volunteers now work in two project sectors: integrated environmental resource management and community health promotion.
Living Conditions and Volunteer Lifestyles
Main article: Living Conditions and Volunteer Lifestyles in Fiji
You will be living with a host family during your 10 weeks of training in Fiji. You will soon discover that families are very important to the people of Fiji and that living with a host family can be both enjoyable and challenging. Going into the experience, you should definitely set some learning goals and make sure that you're getting the most out of your host family experience—including language, cultural, and other adjustment issues.
Your living accommodation is intended to be modest and comparable to that of your counterparts and neighbors. As in any country, housing in Fiji varies from place to place in architecture and amenities. Village houses (bures) may be constructed of coconut fronds or they may be made of wood, concrete block, or corrugated iron. Depending on assignment and project area, Volunteers will either live in a village, in a government compound, or in a rural housing area. In some cases, Volunteers may share accommodations with another Peace Corps Volunteer and/or with another international volunteer or host country colleagues. Please note that Volunteers may be required to live with a host family for the first few months at their site or all of their service based on site location and/or village resources.
Main article: Training in Fiji
Training is an essential part of your Peace Corps service. The goal is to provide you with the necessary support, information, and opportunities to acquire the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that will enable you to live and work effectively in Fiji. In doing so, we plan to build upon the experiences and expertise you bring to Peace Corps. We expect that you will approach your training with an open mind, a desire to learn, and a willingness to become involved. Peace Corps trainees officially become Peace Corps Volunteers after successfully completing training.
The 10-week pre-service training lets you learn new skills and practice them as they apply to Fiji. You will receive training and orientation in components of language, cross-cultural communication and adaptation, development issues, health and personal safety, and technical skills pertinent to your specific assignment. The skills you learn will serve as a foundation upon which you build your experience as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Fiji. You will have plenty of opportunities to experience local culture and customs on your own while living with your host family and during community-based training.
During the first few days of pre-service training, you will stay together at a central training facility where you will receive vaccinations and be introduced to basic language skills and to the cross-cultural adaptation process. After this initial period, you will shift to another training site to begin the next phase of training. During this phase, known as community-based training, the group will split up and live with host families in small villages. The host family experiences will help bring to life some of the topics covered in training and provide a chance to practice your new language skills and to observe and participate in Fijian culture. The host family experience is intense, but it can be one of the most rewarding aspects of your service in country.
The training goals and assessment criteria that each trainee has to reach before becoming a Volunteer will be clearly articulated at the beginning of training. Evaluation of your performance during training is a continual process, characterized by a dialogue between you and the training staff. The training staff, along with the permanent office staff, will provide feedback throughout training. If you are able to successfully complete pre-service training, you will then swear-in as a Volunteer and make final preparations for your departure to your permanent site.
Training is intense and sometimes stressful. The best advice we can give you is to maintain your sense of humor and try to get as much out of pre-service training as possible. We believe all the information and experiences you encounter will be valuable to your effectiveness as a Volunteer.
Your Health Care and Safety
Main article: Health Care and Safety in Fiji
The Peace Corps' highest priority is the health and safety of every Volunteer. Peace Corps medical programs emphasize the preventive, rather than the curative approach to disease. The Peace Corps in Fiji maintains a clinic with a full-time medical officer who takes care of Volunteers' primary healthcare needs. Additional medical services, such as testing and basic treatment, radiology, dentistry, and access to some specialists, are also available in Fiji. If a Volunteer's health needs cannot be met in Fiji, the Volunteer may be sent to Australia or to the U.S. for further evaluation and treatment.
Diversity and Cross-Cultural Issues
Main article: Diversity and Cross-Cultural Issues in Fiji
In Fiji, as in other Peace Corps host countries, Volunteers' behavior, lifestyles, background, and beliefs will be judged in a cultural context very different from our own. Certain personal perspectives or characteristics considered familiar and commonly accepted in the United States may be quite uncommon, unacceptable, or even repressed in certain host countries.
Outside of Fiji's capital, residents of rural communities have had relatively little direct exposure to other cultures, races, religions, and lifestyles of other countries. What is viewed as "typical" cultural behavior or norms may also be a narrow and selective interpretation, such as the perception by some that all Americans are rich and have blond hair and blue eyes. Foreigners justly acknowledge the people of Fiji for their generous hospitality; however, members of the community in which you will live may display a range of reactions to differences that you present. We ask you to be supportive of one another.
- Possible Issues for Female Volunteers
- Possible Issues for Volunteers of Color
- Possible Issues for Senior Volunteers
- Possible Issues for Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual Volunteers
- Possible Religious Issues for Volunteers
- Possible Issues for Volunteers with Disabilities:
- Possible Issues for Married Volunteers
Frequently Asked questions
Main article: FAQs about Peace Corps in Fiji
- How much luggage will I be allowed to bring to Fiji?
- Can I ship items to myself once I arrive?
- Should I bring my SCUBA gear or have it sent to me?
- What is the electric current in Fiji?
- How much money should I bring?
- When can I take vacation?
- When can my family and friends visit me?
- Will my belongings be covered by insurance?
- Do I need an international driver's license?
- What should I bring as gifts for Fiji friends and my host family?
- Where will my site assignment be when I finish pre-service training and how isolated will I be?
- How can my family contact me in an emergency?
- Can I call home from Fiji?
- Should I bring a cellular phone with me?
- Will there be e-mail and Internet access?
- Should I bring my computer and other electronics?
Packing List
Main article: Packing List for Fiji
This list has been compiled by Volunteers who currently serve in Fiji and is based on their experience. Use it as an informal guide in making your own list, bearing in mind that experience is individual. There is no perfect list! You can always have things sent to you later. You obviously cannot bring everything we mention, so consider those items that make the most sense to you personally and professionally. As you decide what to bring, keep in mind that you have an 80-pound weight restriction on baggage. And remember, you can get almost everything you need in Fiji.
- General Clothing
- For Women:
- For Men:
- All Volunteers
- Kitchen and Home
- Miscellaneous and Personal Items
Peace Corps News
Current events relating to Peace Corps are also available by country of service or your home state
The following is automatic RSS feed of Peace Corps news for this country.
<rss title=on desc=off>http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&scoring=n&q=%22peace+corps%22+%22fiji%22&output=rss%7Ccharset=UTF-8%7Cshort%7Cdate=M d</rss>
( As of Sunday December 11, 2016 )<rss title=off desc=off>http://peacecorpsjournals.com/rss/fj/blog/50.xml%7Ccharset=UTF-8%7Cshort%7Cmax=10</rss>
Country Fund
Contributions to the Fiji Country Fund will support Volunteer and community projects that will take place in Fiji. These projects include water and sanitation, agricultural development, and youth programs.
See also
- Volunteers who are currently serving in Fiji
- Volunteers who served in Fiji
- Friends of Fiji
- Inspector General Reports
- Pre-Departure Checklist
- List of resources for Fiji