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APA-Bangui (Central African Republic) At least three mobile telephone operators provide services in each member-state of the Central Africa Telecoms Regulations Association (ARTAC) and telephone penetration has reached 13.2 percent.
ARTAC chairman Valeri Saï said in Bangui on Thursday that about 93.3 percent of the telephone owners are mobile telephone consumers and 1.7 percent fix telephone users.
He was speaking at the second general assembly of the ARTAC, which opened on Wednesday in Bangui.
Saï said the sub-region has made some progress with the opening of the telecommunication market to competition, noting that the sub-regional operators use their foreign partners services to sell their intra-community traffic.
"The volume of the intra-community traffic is not high. It falls on us to ponder on the ways and means to improve the sub-regional indicators," he said.
Central African Republic Telecommunications Minister Fidel Gouandjika urged the ARTAC to use telecommunications to achieve regional integration and ensure a balance between the market requirements and national interests.
Gouandjika said the member-states should embark on eliminating problems hindering free competition to enable the sub-region to become a leader in the digital revolution.
Created in November 2004, the ARTAC regroups the member-states of the Central African Monetary and Economic Community (CEMAC) and the Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC). Telephone penetration reaches over 13 percent in Central Africa.
Source: Cellular News based on ARTAC.
Saï said the sub-region has made some progress with the opening of the telecommunication market to competition, noting that the sub-regional operators use their foreign partners services to sell their intra-community traffic.
"The volume of the intra-community traffic is not high. It falls on us to ponder on the ways and means to improve the sub-regional indicators," he said.
Central African Republic Telecommunications Minister Fidel Gouandjika urged the ARTAC to use telecommunications to achieve regional integration and ensure a balance between the market requirements and national interests.
Gouandjika said the member-states should embark on eliminating problems hindering free competition to enable the sub-region to become a leader in the digital revolution.
Created in November 2004, the ARTAC regroups the member-states of the Central African Monetary and Economic Community (CEMAC) and the Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC). Telephone penetration reaches over 13 percent in Central Africa.
Source: Cellular News based on ARTAC.
The island nation of Cape Verde is due to get a second GSM network next week when T+ launches its services on the main island of Santiago - with national coverage due by the second half of 2008. The country currently has a monopoly operator, Cabo Verde Telecom.
The chairman of the board of the company, Marco Bento, told MacauHub that T+ would offer "competitive prices" and would be an alternative for mobile communications.
T+'s shareholders are Teylium Telecom (70%), Alexander group Telecommunications (15%) and Marco Bento (15%). Ericsson provided the network infrastructure.
T+ plans to invest US$50 million over the next three years, including US$15 million for 2007-2008 and plans to create 100 direct jobs and 500 indirect jobs.
The Mobile World reports that the incumbent operator, Cabo Verde Telecom had 134,000 subscribers at the end of September 2007 - which equates to a population penetration level of 32%.
Most of the nation's GDP comes from the service industry. Cape Verde's economy has grown since the late 1990s, and it is now considered a country of average development. Cape Verde has significant cooperation with Portugal at every level of the economy, leading it to link its currency first to the Portuguese escudo and, in 1999, to the euro.
Map of Cape Verde
Source: Cellular News based on Mobile World, MacauHub and T+.
The number of mobile subscribers in Senegal reached 3.434 million at the end of September, up from 3.320 million in June and 2.641 million a year earlier. According to the figures from market regulator ARTP, mobile penetration reached 32.46 percent and 99 percent of mobile customers were prepaid users. Orange is market leader with 2.443 million customers, up from 2.401 million in June, while Sentel, part of the Millicom group, increased its base to 991,631 in September from 918,830 in June. On the internet market, just 0.33 percent of the population or almost 35,000 people were registered users. Of the total, 96 percent used ADSL. Fixed-line penetration meanwhile was at 2.63 percent, or 278,119 lines, and has been falling for the past six months.
Source: Wireless Federation, based on figures of ARTP.
The top 10 network operators in the Caribbean & Latin America region now all have over 10m customers as 10th placed Telecom Personal of Argentina crossed the 10m customer barrier in the quarter. The composition and order of the top 10 has remained unchanged throughout 2007, with Telecel in Mexico leading from Vivo and TIM in Brasil. Telcel has pulled ahead of its rivals, extending its lead over Vivo from 12.0m customers at the end of September 2006 to 16.2m customers a year later, whilst TIM closed the gap between it and its domestic rival from 4.6m to 2.2m customers during the year.
The top five operators - the ranking completed by Claro in Brazil and Comcel in Colombia - all have more than 20m customers and together had a base of 157m customers at the end of Q3 2007, a year on year increase of 16.9% - some way short of the 23.8% regional average.
The operators occupying positions five to ten in the ranking were considerably faster growing, pushing up the annual growth rate to 20.7%, although this still meant that the proportion of the continental total accounted for by the top 10 fell from 62.9% to 61.4% over the course of the year.
Top 10 Operators by Customers
Top 10 Operators by Net Additions Q3
Taking its place in the top 10 at number seven was Telefonica Moviles Peru, the region's 14th largest operator by customers. Telefonica's Peruvian business did even better in the net additions ranking for the third quarter, attaining sixth place with 0.86m new customers, and beating its much larger Mexican sister business which registered 0.84m net additions in the process. Giving way this time was CALA's tenth largest operator by customers, Telecom Personal of Argentina, which fell to 15th in the quarterly ranking with 0.28m new connections.
Top 10 Operators by Net Additions Year to Date
Leading the quarterly ranking was America Movil's Claro Brazil with 1.73m new customers, from rival TIM with 1.68m. Telcel Mexico was third with 1.40m, ahead of a revived Telemar with 1.27m in fourth place and a resurgent Vivo in fifth place with 1.08m. In addition to the Telefonica businesses in Peru and Mexico, CTI Argentina, Telefonica Argentina and Comcel Colombia round off the top 10 in eighth, ninth and tenth places respectively.
Source : Cellular News.
ALGIERS (AFP)--Algeria has 25 million mobile phone subscribers, compared with just 54,000 seven years ago, the minister for the post and telecommunication services said Monday.
The penetration rate has now reached 75% of the population, according to a tally compiled at the end of September by industry-sector firms. In 2000, before the liberalization of the state monopoly in the telecommunications sector, the figure stood at 0.26%.
The blossoming of the industry is a result of fierce competition between the three operators in the country, which spent $47 million promoting their products, according to the minister, Boudjemaa Hiachour.
Those three competing operators are Mobilis, subsidiary of the former state operator Algeria-Telecom; Djezzy, subsidiary of the Egyptian conglomerate Orascom; and Nedjma, subsidiary of the Kuwaiti firm Watanya.
Djezzy claims more than 12 million network subscribers, with Nedjma on around four million. Mobilis currently has 9.5 million users, its commercial and marketing director, Lounis Belharath, told AFP.
Meanwhile, according to Hiachour, Algeria now has around three million fixed-line telephone subscribers, compared with 1.6 million in 2000.
By the end of September nearly 120,000 Algerians had high-speed Internet connections, with a total of four million being connected to the Web.
Source : Cellular News, based on the statement of Algerian Government.
The Dominican Republic ended the third quarter of 2007 with an overall telephony penetration rate of 65.5%, including both fixed and mobile lines, the country's telecoms watchdog Indotel said in a statement.
The country ended September with 903,335 fixed lines in service resulting in an overall penetration rate of 9.9% while penetration of mobile telephony reached 55.6%.
The country ended the period with 287,163 internet subscriptions meaning penetration of 18.1%.
Source: Cellular News, based on the statement of Indotel.
Source : Wireless Federation, based on figures from Telecommunication Carriers Association.
Algérie Télécom is the first African telecoms operator to put together a business strategy that includes Fibre-To-The-Home. Although the price of connecting households to fibre has dropped considerably elsewhere, it still remains an expensive way to provide a local connection. However, the prize it is seeking to create is a large user base for its forthcoming triple play offer. Russell Southwood looks at what its up to.The operator is deploying an FTTH network from French vendor Sagem Communication and on15 December it will be launching a triple play offer with voice, broadband Internet and television. The triple play service will initially be offered in Oran, Alger, Sétif and Constantine before being rolled nationally in 2008.According to Malik Hachelef, the Manager overseeing the FTTH roll-out:"The service will consist of a modem that can connect to the fibre network that will give very high capacities allowing either triple or quadruple play." Algérie Télécom has 500,000 ADSL lines in place and is on its way to 3 million lines by the end of 2009. According to CEO Slimane Kheiredine, a WiMAX service will fill in gaps in the company's service where it does not offer ADSL and allow it to consider new services such as IP-TV. The Algerian national operator is working with foreign partners like BT and Korea Telecom on developing new services and is also planning to launch digital terrestrial TV trials.
The drive to offer triple-play was triggered earlier in the year by a change in the French satellite Pay-TV market. Previously TPS and Canal Satellite could be received in Algeria using smart cards purchased in France by friends or relatives. But the merger between the two French platforms has created problems for Algerian viewers, as the unified platform uses a more secure encryption technology, eliminating the foreign smartcard option.This turn of events has helped Saudi-owned ART, the only digital pay-TV operator that officially sells subscriptions in Algeria, which offers 3, 6 and 12 month subscriptions for DZD 3,000 (Algerian Dinars, approximately US$ 42.00), DZD 5,000 (US$69) and DZD 9,000 (US$125). The only other option is satellite reception of the unencrypted French TV channels such as TF1, M6, France 2, France 5 and France 3.FTTH is considered the most expensive way to connect users at the local loop but it does offer extremely high speeds, both up and down unlike DSL. The average price per household connected in the USA varies between an estimated US$750-1,000. Actual turn-out figures for one US scheme were between $809-3682, with an average of US$1171. What is extremely hard to estimate is how much lower these figures can be taken in a developing world context.Algérie Télécom recently saw off SNO Lacom which retired hurt, saying that the incumbent had been given undue advantageous in the competition between the two companies. If Algérie Télécom succeeds with its current business strategy, it will have built itself an almost impregnable position in the market.
Source: Balancing Act 383, 07.12.2007.
The drive to offer triple-play was triggered earlier in the year by a change in the French satellite Pay-TV market. Previously TPS and Canal Satellite could be received in Algeria using smart cards purchased in France by friends or relatives. But the merger between the two French platforms has created problems for Algerian viewers, as the unified platform uses a more secure encryption technology, eliminating the foreign smartcard option.This turn of events has helped Saudi-owned ART, the only digital pay-TV operator that officially sells subscriptions in Algeria, which offers 3, 6 and 12 month subscriptions for DZD 3,000 (Algerian Dinars, approximately US$ 42.00), DZD 5,000 (US$69) and DZD 9,000 (US$125). The only other option is satellite reception of the unencrypted French TV channels such as TF1, M6, France 2, France 5 and France 3.FTTH is considered the most expensive way to connect users at the local loop but it does offer extremely high speeds, both up and down unlike DSL. The average price per household connected in the USA varies between an estimated US$750-1,000. Actual turn-out figures for one US scheme were between $809-3682, with an average of US$1171. What is extremely hard to estimate is how much lower these figures can be taken in a developing world context.Algérie Télécom recently saw off SNO Lacom which retired hurt, saying that the incumbent had been given undue advantageous in the competition between the two companies. If Algérie Télécom succeeds with its current business strategy, it will have built itself an almost impregnable position in the market.
Source: Balancing Act 383, 07.12.2007.
By 30th September 2007, about 7.7 millions Tanzanians had a telephone service according to figures published by the regulator, the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA). This is an increase of about 12% from June 2007. Mobile telecommunication is by far the largest part of the market (98%) compared to fixed line services (2%).
While the population of Tanzania is growing at the rate of 2.7% annually, the annual number of Tanzanian buying a telephone service is growing at an average rate of 47%. However, at least 80.6% of Tanzanians still do not have a telephone service.
Market share amongst operators has remained broadly stable. Vodacom is leading the market in terms of number of subscribers with 48% of all subscribers (50% last June). Celtel ranks the second with 29% (28% last June) followed by Tigo with 13%, (12% last June), Zantel (7%, the same as in June) and TTCL with 3% (2% last June).
Source: Balancing Act 383, 07.12.2007.
The number of SMS message send by Germans is expect to grow from 22.5 billion in 2006 to more than 23 billion during this year, according to the German federation for ICT and new media Bitkom in a release to celebrate the fifteenth birthday of SMS. The average number of SMS message sent by German inhabitants has grown from 44 in 1999 to 280 in 2006.
Source : Wireless Federation, based on Bitkom
The Dutch mobile market is on track for 5 percent growth in services revenues in 2007, but could see a slowdown in 2008. In the third quarter of 2007, mobile services revenues grew 1.1 percent from Q2 and were up 4.3 percent from a year earlier, to a total EUR 1.620 billion. The market added 471,000 new customers in the quarter, for a total 18.914 million at the end of September.
Market leader KPN had the best performance in terms of subscriber additions in the quarter with 293,000 new connections, while number two Vodafone added just 2,000 new customers. T-Mobile also underperformed, adding just 1,000 new customers, while its merger partner Orange gained 38,000 customers, of which almost half were postpaid. MVNOs such as Tele2, UPC and Lycamobile also performed well in postpaid, boosting their combined postpay market share to 4.7 percent from 3.1 percent a year ago.
Revenue growth in the third quarter came from the postpaid market, which posted a 7.0 percent rise in services revenues compared to a year ago, to EUR 1.37 billion. Prepaid revenues were down 8.6 percent from a year earlier, with all four network operators showing lower prepay revenues. Non-voice services such as SMS and data also helped revenue growth in Q3, increasing 21.6 percent from the year-earlier period to EUR 337 million. Voice revenues meanwhile fell versus Q2 and showed only a small rise year-on-year, to EUR 1.28 billion.
Source: Wireless Federation.
The Portuguese market added around 50,000 new broadband subscribers in the third quarter, for a total 1.57 million at the end of September. Thats up 16 percent form a year ago, according to figures from market regulator Anacom. ADSL represents 62 percent of total accesses, while cable was responsible for 37 percent. Around 49 percent of new broadband clients opted for services from alternative providers. Portugal Telecom however remained market leader with 43.9 percent of subscribers, followed by TV Cabo with 22.9 percent, Novis with 14.7 percent, Cabovisao with 10 percent and Oni with 0.6 percent. Broadband penetration at the end of Q3 stood at 14.8 percent.
The Canadian market looks set to reach 20 million customers by the end of the year, having added 0.54 million customers in Q3 to hit 19.54 million at the end of the quarter. Traditionally Q4 is the strongest quarter of the year, so it will be surprising if Canada does not break the 20 million barrier in the current quarter. This impending milestone should not be treated with anything like jubilation, however, since the Canadian market is still extremely underpenetrated by reference to its socio-economic peers, with a rate of just 58.4% at the end of Q3. Since Q3 06, penetration has only risen by 4.2pp, and the total market has grown by just 8.7%.
In terms of market rankings, nothing has changed since the end of Q3 06.
Rogers remains the market leader having broken through the 7 million barrier in Q3 to finish the quarter on 7.16 million, while closest rival Bell Mobility surpassed 6 million to finish on 6.02 million. Third-placed TELUS had 5.41 million customers at the end of Q3 while regional operators Sasktel and MTS had 0.43 million and 0.38 million respectively.
Quarterly Customer Growth, Top Three Operators, Q2 06 - Q3 07
Although the market remained clearly segmented with no sign of any imminent changes, there has been some movement in terms of the gaps between the top three operators. At the end of Q3 06, the difference between first-placed Rogers and second-placed Bell was almost exactly the same as that between Bell and TELUS, at just under 0.83 million. Since then, Rogers has extended its lead over Bell to 1.13 million, while TELUS has narrowed the deficit between it and second place to 0.62 million. Its annual growth rate of 10.9% was the highest in the market, and was almost double that of Bell (5.6%). Rogers posted a respectable 9.5%, while its quarterly rate of 3.5% was the best of any operator in 2007 so far. Moreover, quarterly net additions of 243k almost matched the Q4 06 figure of 245k. Both TELUS and Bell were well behind with figures of 135k and 137k respectively, although Bell will be delighted with this result since it is the first quarter in which it has beaten TELUS since Q2 05.
In terms of annual net additions, however, TELUS is still well ahead with 532k compared to Bell's 317k - although market leader Rogers leads the way with 621k.
As the chart shows, Rogers was by far the fastest growing of the top three in Q3 07, repeating its performance of Q3 06. Despite beating TELUS in terms of net additions, Bell did not manage to outpace its rival in terms of proportionate growth, recording a rate of 2.3% to TELUS's 2.6%. The chart also shows that all three operators are subject to the same seasonal variations, but TELUS has put in the most consistent performance of the three, taking first or second place for quarterly growth in each of the past six quarters.
This is even more impressive given that it has a significantly higher blended ARPU than Bell, with a quarterly average of Can$64.8 per month at the end of Q3 compared to Bell's Can$56.0. Having said that, Bell has shown a Can$3 improvement compared to Q3 06, while TELUS has lost Can$0.9. Moreover, Bell's Q3 07 figure was its highest ever. Rogers does not release a blended ARPU figure, but its contract and prepaid figures both represented record highs of Can$75.2 and Can$18.2 respectively. As we commented in Issue 79 of The Mobile World Briefing, it is imperative for the operators that they maintain this growth in ARPU in the absence of significant expansion in their customer bases.
Having said that, by this time next year the criteria for success in the Canadian market may have altered quite dramatically, since the Canadian government has recently announced that it is preparing to allow the entrance of a fourth nationwide operator, with a spectrum auction pencilled in for May of next year.
Source: Cellular News.
GSM customer numbers in North America topped 100m in early September to reach 100.52m by the end of the third quarter, 1.97m up over the three months. Connections to networks operating using the global standard have more than doubled in number over the last three years, having stood at just under 50m at the end of Q3 2004. Over that time-frame GSM has been without doubt the fastest growing technology in the North American market; however, over the last year it has in fact been the slowest growing. In the year to 30th September, GSM customer numbers rose by 9.7%, which is the lowest ever recorded growth rate for the technology, and the first time the annual figure has dropped below 10%.
Before CDMA stalwarts get too hot under the collar, however, we should point out that this is of course because of the huge increase in W-CDMA 3G customers in the US market. Taking the GSM and W-CDMA bases together, the increase in customers amounted to 16.8% in the year to 30th September 2007 - well above the regional average growth rate of 10.2% and 1.2pp in excess of the percentage increase in the number of CDMA customers in North America over the 12 month period.
Click here to see full article
Customers by Technology, Q3 04 - Q3 07
The growth rate in the CDMA customer base improved from 14.9% for the 12 months ending 30th June to 15.6% for the 12 months ending 30th September, taking the total base to 136.6m at the end of Q3 2007. CDMA customers make up the 51.0% majority of customers in North America, a proportion that has risen from 48.6% over the last year after the above average growth in subscriber numbers. However, GSM/W-CDMA networks did almost as well, despite starting with a customer base only just over three quarters the size, accounting for 40.2% of the North American market by customers at the end of Q3 2007, 2.3pp on the year before.
The above average growth in both the CDMA and GSM families is of course explained by the fact that North America has not one but two legacy technologies in decline. In the year to 30th September there was a 60% reduction in AMPS/TDMA numbers to under 4m and also a 14.6% decrease in iDEN numbers to under 20m.
3G Customers by standard, Q3 04 - Q3 07
If we were to include SprintNextel's "dual technology" handsets in the United States (which we currently count as CDMA, this being the other technology) the iDEN figures would look a little more healthy, but the trend is undeniable. Strictly speaking there is also a third atrophying technology in the North American region in the form of the NMT standard network still operating in Greenland, although this played host to only 850 or so customers at the end of Q3 2007.
The fastest growing technology in the region in the year to September was W-CDMA, despite having only two active supporters in the form of AT&T Mobility and Rogers Wireless. Given that the base a year ago amounted to just 0.44m, however, this feat is hardly surprising.
AT&T accounts for the vast majority of the growth and has done a tremendous job this year, increasing the size of the base in the first nine months of the year almost ten-fold. Customer numbers were up by almost 2m in Q3 2007 to almost 7m, rising to over 7m with the inclusion of Rogers. The total number of additions and conversions to the global 3G standard at AT&T exceeded the number of its own net additions by almost a third in the first nine months of 2007, with over 6.2m new W-CDMA connections compared with a net increase of just 4.7m in the base as a whole. The US market leader still has some way to go before it can match the 3G penetration of nearest rival Verizon, but is not far off out-doing third-placed Sprint, at least if a stricter definition is applied and only EV-DO enabled connections are counted.
Overall, CDMA2000 1x customers still outnumber W-CDMA customers by more than 13 to 1, although this ratio is down from 216 to 1 at the end of Q3 2006. In terms of EV-DO customers, the ratio has gone from 42 to just 5.6 over the same time period, despite a doubling of the base to over 39m in the year.
New data from the annual TeleGeography study of the international voice market shows that international traffic growth slowed sharply in 2006, to 10%, the lowest level in more than 20 years. Since prices are falling while competition and complexity are continuing to grow, international carriers may be in for a rough ride in the coming years.However, not all is bleak: cross-border VoIP traffic grew more than 30% in 2006, and VoIP emerged as the key driver of overall market growth. In fact, 2006 may have been a tipping point in the international market: VoIP traffic increased as much as TDM volumes, and VoIP is poised to overtake TDM traffic growth in 2007.
The Romanian telecoms regulator ANRCTI says that the countrys mobile networks carried 9.7 billion minutes of traffic in the first half of 2007, up 24% from the second half of 2006. On average, Romanian users register one hour and 23 minutes of voice traffic each month and send 13 SMS text messages. The countrys fixed networks carried 3.9 billion minutes of traffic in the first half, down 8% compared to the previous semester. Alternative providers accounted for 1.23 billion minutes of traffic, up 5.3% on H2 2006.
Source: Telegeography, based on the ANRCTI's statement.
According to figures published by the regulator, the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), the number of Tanzanians with mobile phones reached 7.562 million by 30 September 2007, up from 6.720 million at the end of the previous quarter. Vodacom led the way with 3.693 million customers, ahead of Celtel with 2.251 million, Tigo (992,036) and Zantel (553,975). In the fixed line sector the incumbent, Tanzania Telecommunications Company Limited (TTCL), reported a drop in the number of main lines in service from 169,135 to 160,964 in the same period.The TCRA said that while the population of Tanzania is growing at the rate of 2.7% per annum, the annual number of Tanzanians subscribing for a telephone line is currently rising by around 47% per year. Nonetheless, it notes there is still a huge gap in terms of universal telecoms access, and says that at least 80.6% of the population do not have a telephone line at all either fixed or mobile.
Source : Telegeography, based on the figures of TCRA.
Mexico's telecommunications sector saw revenues grow 31.1% in the third quarter of 2007 compared to the same period last year, making it the strongest quarter in seven years, the country's telecoms regulator Cofetel said in a statement.
According to Cofetel's production sector index ITEL, the telecoms sector outstripped the local economy 8.4 times in Q3 versus 2Q07. The economy grew 3.7% in the third quarter versus Q2.
Cofetel attributed the growth to an increase in mobile phone and trunking traffic as well as the strengthening of competition in the satellite communications segment, the statement said.
Some 2.36mn mobile phone users were added in the quarter, reaching a total of 64.35mn, or a teledensity of 60.8 lines for every 100 inhabitants.
Boosting mobile phone calls were a reduction in rates and growing popularity of text messaging.
In the quarter, the trunking segment saw its strongest growth in five years due to more competitive promotions and increasing coverage in the country.
Source: Cellular News based on Cofetel's statement.
Brazil's mobile operators are likely to achieve 100% coverage of the country by the end of 2009, local press reported, citing information from telecoms regulator Anatel.
Today, mobile coverage is limited to cities with more than 30,000 inhabitants, according to the report.
Anatel expects coverage of neglected areas to get a boost this year as a result of upcoming auctions for mobile licenses dedicated to small towns and municipalities. The idea is to start bidding at minimum prices that are much lower than sought on previous occasions.
Mobile operators are not obliged by local regulations to contribute to universal access, and prefer to provide services in densely populated areas, whereas the concession contracts of fixed line operators include obligations to provide coverage in neglected areas.
According to Anatel, the mobile penetration rate in the country was 60.4% at end-October, compared to 59.5% at end-September.
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Project Eternity - Interview @ RPGFrance
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Deaconess Healthier U Walk
Evansville Department of Parks & Recreation
Evansville In Motion (maps)
Evansville Trails Coalition
Vanderburgh Health Department "Weigh Down" program
Learn some healthy shopping tips from registered dietitian Debbie P. from Deaconess Weight Loss Solutions.
Lu Weil, Injury Prevention Coordinator, Deaconess Regional Trauma Center
Walking is one of the best things we can do to stay healthy, but only if we put safety first. We are seldom more vulnerable than when walking. It is important to pay attention to what is going on around us.
Jessica Martin, Deaconess Registered Dietitian, Clinical Dietitian
Summer is in full swing! Its presence surrounds you with the warmth of the sun and humidity in the air, children enjoying outdoor activities, outdoor grilling, and the wonderful fruits and vegetables the season has to offer.
Michael W. Luy, MD, Internal Medicine, Deaconess Clinic Downtown
In Part One of this article, I discussed making the most of your doctor's visit, the dangers of tobacco, the benefits of exercise and sleep, and how you can best monitor your salt intake.
Dr. Jung Smith, Family Medicine, Deaconess Clinic Mary Street
If you've not been physically active, you may be wondering how to get started. For many people, walking offers a great way to become more active. And Deaconess is getting ready to begin our annual Healthier U Walk series—see the schedule and more at www.deaconess.com/walk.
Terry Gehlhausen, DO Deaconess Clinic Family Medicine, Oakland City
People who follow a few simple steps to improve their health have less cancer and heart disease compared to other Americans, and their overall death rate is significantly reduced compared to other people under age 65. Here are ten choices you can make that will lead to a longer and healthier life:
By Dr. Lori Sieboldt, Bariatrician; Carolyn Burns, Dietitian; Sarah Bishop and Jennifer Knight, Exercise Specialists, all from Deaconess Weight Loss Solutions
Weight loss is a common topic this time of year, but the best-laid plans for New Year's resolutions can go by the wayside if you try to take on too much at once! There are several small changes to your nutrition and physical activity to implement over the coming days, weeks and even months to help you reach your weight loss goals
By Terry Gehlhausen, MD Deaconess Clinic Family Medicine, Oakland City
Feel better in a year, month, day, even minute! These are simple tips that can lead to increased health and improve your quality of life.
Dr. Emily Krajec, Family Medicine, Deaconess Clinic Princeton
Summer months naturally lend themselves to clean eating. It's important to know how to take advantage of this. Summer also brings cookouts, traveling, and family vacations. It is possible to continue clean eating by remembering a few tips and tricks.
My name is Sandy, and I am a gastric bypass patient of Deaconess Weight Loss Solutions. I underwent surgery in September 2014 and am 116 pounds lighter than I was a year ago! I'm so excited to share my story. If I can help and inspire someone in the same way that I've been inspired by this process and the staff at Deaconess Weight Loss Solutions, then I'll have made a difference.
Dr. Emily Krajec, Deaconess Clinic Family Medicine
Do you feel like food controls you? Are you looking for a solution to weight issues or to your overall health? Are you exercising but not seeing or feeling the results you want? If so, I want to share with you about eating clean.
According to recent studies, it's believed that up to 1/3 of cancers can be prevented through specific actions and lifestyle modifications. Learn what the four most preventable cancers are and what you can do to lower your risk.
Dr. Mark Graves, Deaconess Clinic Internal Medicine
According to the CDC, more than one third of American adults are obese. Since the obesity epidemic began, Americans have tried an endless amount of techniques to drop extra pounds. From group meetings to home delivered meals to medically supervised weight loss, the battle of the bulge has yet to be conquered. The onslaught of programs, clinics and plans has left us confused and, more importantly, still obese.
A new year can mean new resolutions, but what's the best way to set realistic goals you can actually accomplish? Read on for some useful tips and direction to keep your resolutions, reach your goals, and have a new year that's happy and healthy.
Family dinners and holiday parties are just around the corner. If you don't have a plan for balancing food choices with enjoying the festivities, you may find yourself really frustrated. Try these 9 tips for making healthy holiday choices and you may find yourself having a Happy New Year
The winds of autumn are upon us, and they have already blown away the heat and humidity of summer. It's time to prepare for a new season, and the same applies to your health.
Like so many people, Polly struggled with my weight for years, trying many diets only to lose some weight and regain it, and more. At her heaviest, she actually weighed over 300 pounds.
Dietary changes will reduce your risk of breast, colon, and prostate cancers, and also reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease by up to 80%! Read this blog for seven "guidelines" to give your body a "tune up."
I want to help anyone reading this know more about how eating habits and activity levels can impact weight loss. The first point to make, which is what the rest of this conversation will be about, is that weight loss is a matter of taking in fewer calories than you use during the day.
Take Shape for Life is a new program at Deaconess Weight Loss Solutions. This is an effective, relatively-easy way for people to lose weight—in a non-surgical program. Many people don't qualify for or NEED weight loss surgery, but instead would benefit from a medically-directed weight loss program.
Dr. Christopher Haughn, Bariatric Surgeon at Deaconess Weight Loss Solutions discusses the types of surgical weight loss methods performed at Deaconess. Learn more about: Gastric bypass, Sleeve gastrectomy and LapBand.
Health Risks of Obesity
Obesity in Children


text:
The Iguodala rumors are heating up, there's talk the Cavs are still in the mix, someone floated the idea of the Clippers being interested. Apparently there may be a market for Lou Williams no as well. None of that matters in the least. Check after the jump for the only rumor that actually has me excited.
I'll give you the text before the source:
The struggling Sixers have been mentioned in the Tracy McGrady sweepstakes, but the bigger rumor involving the team is that ownership wants to clear out president Ed Stefanski and coach Eddie Jordan at the All-Star break. If that's the case, they'd probably install Tony DiLeo for a second straight season as the interim coach.
The source is the NY Daily News (in the Slam Dunks portion, middle column. Thanks to RobSTC for sending me the link.)
I have no idea why the Daily News would get this and not one of the Philly papers, so my gut tells me it's probably baseless. My heart, though, desperately wants it to be true. Nothing would make me happier than clearing out both Eds and not making a foolish trade at the deadline.
Nets game at six tonight. I'll be there, my preview will be up at around 4pm.
by Brian on Jan 31 2010
Tags: Basketball | Ed Stefanski | Eddie Jordan | Rumors | Sixers |
Tags: Basketball | Ed Stefanski | Eddie Jordan | Rumors | Sixers |


text:
Condos: Official Election Results May Be Delayed
Secretary of State Jim Condos says the official results of the upcoming election could be delayed past Thanksgiving by a lawsuit brought by the U.S. Justice Department.
The federal government is suing the state to push back the deadline for overseas voters to return their ballots.
That's because a recount in the primary election led to a delay in mailing out ballots to some overseas voters.


text:
Cracked has discovered Twitter
Well not discovered it as I knew what it was but signed up for it and already made 2 tweets - I have a feeling it is going to be both fun and addictive.
The only thing is I am not sure what I am meant to tweet about - I mean I tweeted about the cost of cans of tomatoes whilst everyone else is talking about the England football manager or Syria. Perhaps I need to revise my content of tweets in order to get more followers (sounds a bit culty that). But to me the cost of tomatoes is very important
I already have one follower - OK it might be a bit weird because she says she is going to have sex on the moon but she is a follower and I will be able to try out the retweet function on her lol.
And I am following Stephen Fry amongst others
So Cracked the tweeter has taken off...
Hope you are all well


text:
Sometimes when I've been traveling by myself, particularly in a country where I don't speak the official language, I can feel invisible. There you are in X country in a park and no one seems to notice meanwhile your friends and family back in home-country continue on without you. I'm not saying this is exclusively how I feel when I travel or that I never have social interactions, but I was curious if you ever feel invisible or like ghost when you're traveling? How so? How does it make you feel, positive or negative or neutral?
Thanks for sharing fellow travelers!
Tess Malijenovsky


text:
Despite a looming lockout for the upcoming season, the Buffalo Sabres have announced that their mini packs are now available.
Fans can choose anywhere from 5-40 games and can receive several benefits for purchasing a mini pack. Those benefits include:
- 10% discount off box office prices
- No ticket service charges
- The ability to purchase playoff tickets before the general public
Any questions regarding the mini packs can be directed to Accounts Services at 1-888-G0-SABRES.Tags: Buffalo, Buffalo Sabres, Hockey, NHL


text:
Scientists with NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory reported that "this flare had a GOES X-ray magnitude of X6.9, meaning it was more than 3 times larger than the previous largest flare of this solar cycle — the X2.2 that occurred on Feb. 15, 2011."
A coronal mass ejection, also known as a CME, has been associated with this flare. CMEs are solar phenomena that send solar particles into space and can affect satellites as well as electronic devices on Earth. This CME was not earth-bound, so no effects are to be expected.
"Because of its position, the CME is going to shoot out into space and not be Earth-directed, and we don't expect any big geomagnetic storm with this," says Joe Kunches, a space scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, "We did luck out. If this would have happened a week ago, who knows?"
We recommend:
Florida has long been known as the gateway to space and key location for trade with South America,
For small businesses around the world, the process of delivering goods to consumers often requires
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text:
It was a quiet morning as kate walked down to the lake with a stick in her mouth,
she swirled it round on the surface of the lake, unaware of humphrey watching
her from afar.
He crept up behind her and
pounced her on the grassy bank and sat on top of her
legs, edging, unseen, slowly to her ribs
kate: humphrey, what are you doing, why did you pounce on me, get off!
no, wait stohohohohp, don't tickle meheeheeheehee.
humphrey: you're cute when you laugh
kate: ahahahahahhahahahha, no more humphrehehehehehhey aaahahahahahhah
ahahha heehee
humphrey: what's a matter, alpha queen can't take tickling
kate: NO, NOT MY BELLY!!
humphrey: i do believe i cracked your tickle spot, now what's bothering you?
kate: it's lily, it seems like forever we've watched each other's backs, but i hardly
see her anymore
humphrey: is she ticklish?
kate: yes, i get your picture
they went back to where lily was still sleeping and tied several vines
around her arms, binding her to a big branch,sitting up, and around
her ankles, so she couldn't move them as the vines worked as stocks,
attached to broken logs, her hindpaws stuck in the holes of the logs.
kate: wake up lily
humphrey: i'll get her underarms and ribs, you get her feet
lily: *groan* wh-what's going on?
humphrey: this'll get her to notice you kate
kate: heehee
lily: HEY! what's going on, get me out of here!
kate: say please little sis
lily: *growl* plehehehehehehehehhehhehehehe no waiahahahahhat
stohohohohohohohohop ahahahahahahahhaha
humphrey: say please lily, kate get her feet
lily: no stop dohohohohohohohn't ahahahahahahahahahahah EEEAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHSSTAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHGYRAH
kate; ticklish little sis?
humphrey: pit tickle time!
lily: HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA NNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOHOHO
kate: is that your tickle spot?
lily; yes, that's my tickle spot, please get me out
humphrey: ahhhh, i wanted to tickle you more
lily: tickle my sister
kate: what!?!
she darted out of the opening and back to the lake, giggling as hunphrey
gave her slight tickles as they both ran, at the end of the stream, kate
could not go any further and was tickled again.
kate: humphrey, i swear to god if you tickle me now i will destroy you
humphrey: oh good you're angry, now i can ruin that, now i think i
oughta start at your belly?
kate: RREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE DOOOOOOOOOONOHOHOHOHOHO
humphrey: last time i never tickled your paws
kate: HEEHEEHEEHEE HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA DOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHON'T PLEEHEEHEEHEEHEESE
lily: that looks like fun, can i help?
humphrey: sure, hold down her arms, we'll switch later
kate: no
now kate was completely immobile, until she burst out of lily's grip and shot after
her shrieking sister, leaving humphrey in the dirt
humphrey: hey, where ya' going?
kate: NOW YOU ARE GONNA GET IT!
lily: please kate, it was just a little fun
kate: NO EXCEPTIONS
lily: NOOOOOOO
kate leapt on a panicking lily, who grabbed a big lump of treebark and done
her signature turtle impression, it protected her for 2 seconds, before her
raving sister broke through her defence and pinned lily on the floor
humphrey: kate, don't hurt her
lily: listen to the coyote!!!
kate: she is so dead
humphrey knocked kate off lily and pinned her, then told lily to run as far as
she could, kate broke out and tickled lily half to death (i'm skipping that part,
no time sorry)
lily, still panting got up she eyed her sister with a terrified look in her eye,
she began weeping ( kate scratched her several times and screamed at
her while tickling her) then she burst out of the opening, and still crying ran
back to the lake
kate: i...i almost feel bad
humphrey: you let your anger overwhelm you, she was bleeding
kate: i'll go apologise
humphrey: i'll go so no-one dies
kate: lily?
lily: *gasp* kate, no more, please
kate; i won't hurt you, i'm so sorry for what i did, it was wrong of me
lily: then can i tickle you
kate; i've been tickled enough
lily: you tickled me for four hours!
kate; hmm
lily: piranha jump
she dived at her sister and nibbled her neck
kate: heehhe lileeheheehehehehehe i sehehehehehehehehehhed
humphrey: kate's turn
kate: shshshsuhuhut uhuhuuhuhuuhuhuuhp ahahahahahhahahah
quit ihihihit lilyhehehehehehehheheh
lily: ok
she let kate up, then they both broke out in a big tickle fight, as humphrey watched, smiling, as the girls tickled each other to death, shrieking and giggling
alpha and omega tickle story by shadowmaster120Watch
©2010-2017 shadowmaster120
this is the last one (finally) so now my message, WHOEVER IS READING THIS MAKE A TICKLE STORY OF ALPHA ND OMEGA PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE, EVEN A TICKLE PIC WILL DO!!!
What happend to Garth,Kate, and lily tickle story's 😢
HAHHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!! Really cool! And, hey! If yo go to my account gallery, you'll find an Alpha and Omega tickle pic!
Meh I will try but anyone who is here better not laugh and ill have to make a second account because I forgot the pass for this but I never logged out so yeah
Greifers My brain is whirling from the werid laughing words
ZOMG! I thought I was the only one who made an Alpha and Omega tickle story! Nice to see someone else made one too! Because I recently did one aswell! Yours is good. You can check out mine if you want. :3


text:
Justice Anthony Kennedy has been called the most libertarian member of the Supreme Court (though Ilya Shapiro finds his libertarianism "faint-hearted"). So maybe it's no surprise that in the Lawrence (2003), Windsor (2013), and Obergefell (today!) cases, Kennedy wrote a majority decision finding that gay people had rights to liberty and equal protection of the law.
As I note in The Libertarian Mind and in an article just posted at the venerable gay magazine The Advocate, libertarians and their classical liberal forebears have been ahead of the curve on gay rights for more than two centuries:
As the Supreme Court prepares for a possibly historic ruling, most of the country now supports gay marriage. Libertarians were there first. Indeed John Podesta, a top adviser to Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Hillary Clinton and founder of the Center for American Progress, noted in 2011 that you probably had to have been a libertarian to have supported gay marriage 15 years earlier.
Just seven years ago, in the 2008 presidential campaign, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and Hillary Clinton all opposed gay marriage. The Libertarian Party endorsed gay rights with its first platform in 1972 — the same year the Democratic nominee for vice president referred to "queers" in a Chicago speech. In 1976 the Libertarian Party issued a pamphlet calling for an end to antigay laws and endorsing full marriage rights.
That's no surprise, of course. Libertarians believe in individual rights for all people and equality before the law. Of course they recognized the rights of gay people before socialists, conservatives, or big-government liberals.


text:
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text:
390: Return To The Giant Pool of Money
Sep 25, 2009
In which we mark the anniversary of the economic collapse and the anniversary of Planet Money: Recapping some of the original episode, The Giant Pool of Money, and finding out what's happened to all those guys in the year since.
- Cut ThisClip and share your favorite moments
You can check out all of our shows on the economy here.
- We catch back up with the people we met in 2008, to see how they've fared over the last 18 months. We talk to Clarence Nathan, who in 2008 received a half million dollar loan that he said he wouldn't have given himself; Jim Finkel, a Wall Street finance guy, who put together and managed complicated mortgage-based financial securities; Richard Campbell, the Marine who was facing foreclosure; and Glen Pizzolorusso, the mortgage company sales manager who led the life of a b-list celebrity. (19 minutes)


text:
TMG-L ArchivesArchiver > TMG > 2002-07 > 1027543544
From: "Peter Goldfield" <>
Subject: RE: [TMG] Visual Chartform
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 21:51:47 +0100
Not sure if I should be butting in here and even more unsure whether I'll
get to see the results as the TMG digest list is so difficult to read with
separate e-mails for each thread - however...
My main (personal?) problem with genealogy, per se, is the insistence on
"blood line" as a measure of social inheritance. OK, OK I know that the term
is strictly Darwinian but the practice is certainly not. I have friends and
"false" uncles and aunts and Victorian "Nannies", who though not related by
genes (at least not before William the Conqueror), are at least as important
(if not more sometimes) in my family history than those who are.
Globally I think this oversight in research, is damaging in a restricting
and somewhat fascisistic (spelling please?) sort of way. No offence meant,
you can tell I'm not a monarchist, merely think there should be another type
of entry and chart that closely ties friends in a "descendant" sort of way.
Like Richard Dawkins's "memes" we probably need a new word to describe those
people who have an effect on our phenotype, which through personal (family)
education extend to future generations. Might I suggest Memer and Femer or
Memis and Memer or something more friendly for non gene "family"!
On the more specific side of things, I'd love to stop my Dear childhood
Nanny who lived with the family for 70 years and was as influential on my
life as my Mother, as appearing as my spouse as I have to enter her as a
relation to get her (and her ante and de scendents) to appear on charts in a
meaningful way. Not to mention Ralph, David, Barry and Little Pete and their
families who are still best friends after 50 years and had far more
influence on me, my wives, children and even my parents than the distant
uncles and aunts or the brothers I never had!
Please give me a way of entering these memerelations as a matter of course
rather than exception!
Hope this gets through
very best
Peter Goldfield
-----Original Message-----
From: Ole P. Bielefeldt [mailto:]
Sent: 22 July 2002 17:44
Subject: RE: [TMG] Visual Chartform
They might not be legal related, but we still invite them to family
gatherings, even if they are not yet married.
Therefore they ought to be on the charts we show.
Ole P. Bielefeldt
Ry, Denmark
This thread:
|RE: [TMG] Visual Chartform by "Peter Goldfield" <>


text:
The claims of violence which forced the South America Cup final in Sao Paulo to be abandoned is a "warning" to the organizers of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said on Saturday.
Argentine team Tigre refused to emerge for the second half against their Brazilian hosts, later alleging that armed police had barged into their dressing room, beaten the players with batons and threatened the goalkeeper with a gun.
"Such an incident I have to say is a warning for the organizers of the World Cup," Blatter told a news conference in Tokyo.
"It is a warning to all organizers (about) what can happen," he added, a day after the FIFA Executive Committee's final meeting of the year.
The South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) is investigating the claims by Tigre players of police brutality, which were denied by a Brazilian military police commander who said that some of his "unarmed" men were wounded.
The astonishing accounts came two weeks after the draw was held in Sao Paulo for June's 2013 Confederations Cup in Brazil, and only 18 months before the World Cup is due to kick off.
Blatter said soccer organizations could give guidelines on safety in stadia but that security "is definitely a matter for the police or the army".
"It is a pity if you cannot play the second half of a match for any reasons, but it can happen in football," Blatter said.


text:
For a complete listing of publications click here.
PiN Faculty Member - Maxwell Heiman, PhD
Maxwell Heiman, PhD
Assistant Professor of Genetics
Center for Life Science, Room 14-047
3 Blackfan Circle
Boston, MA 02115
Tel: 617-444-9629
Email: email@example.com
Visit my lab page here.
My brain does not look like yours – the arrangement and connectivity of our nerve cells differ due to stochastic developmental noise and experience-dependent plasticity. However, layered under these differences are fundamental similarities that we share, and that are shared among most human brains throughout history. What are the basic rules of neuronal shape and connectivity, and how are they encoded in our genes?
To get at this question, we study the nervous system of the nematode C. elegans, which we chose for two remarkable properties. First, it contains a small, defined set of neurons – exactly 302 in the adult hermaphrodite – which always arise by the same series of cell divisions. Second, the shapes and wiring of these neurons are nearly identical in every individual. Thus, since the anatomy of its nervous system is largely hard-wired, C. elegans is a useful model for identifying genes that control neuronal morphogenesis and connectivity.
We use live imaging and forward genetics, to directly observe neuronal morphogenesis and to find the relevant genes. Recently, we saw that sensory neurons get their shapes by an unusual mechanism: a neuron is born at the nose, "drops anchor," and then crawls away, stretching its dendrite out behind it. We isolated mutants that disrupt anchor components, causing dendrites to be too short. Our long-term goal is to understand how the complete sensory anatomy of this simple animal is encoded, with an eye to eventually learning how genes encode the basic rules that wire our own, much more complex, brains.
Last Update: 8/17/2016
For a complete listing of publications click here.


text:
|Home Company Programs Healthcare Partnership Success Stories Community Enrichment Contact Us
Body Evolution is a personal training company specializing in weight-loss services. Our programs are developed and implemented by an Exercise Physiologist and are based upon the latest medical research. As members of the American College of Sports Medicine, we are involved in the initiative "Exercise is Medicine" and are fast becoming the largest provider of supervised exercise programs within the medical community. Our partnership with physicians enables us to take a "team approach" when creating a customized weight-loss program for your needs.
Although our services are medically based, a doctor's referral and/or insurance are not necessary to participate. However, our fees may be tax deductible based upon individual needs. All our training is provided in a private medical environment with no distractions, no crowds, and no waiting for equipment. As part of our mission, we continually strive to provide the highest quality of customer service and are committed to developing long lasting professional relationships with our client base.
NEW! Body Evolution now offers hormone replacement programs for fat-loss!
See Andrew Hedrich featured on NBCchicago.com!
|Copyright © Body Evolution, 2017


text:
TEL AVIV (May. 10)
Israeli security forces have placed Gaza under curfew following the fatal shooting today of an Israeli civilian. Menachem Dadon, 24, a member of a nearby kibbutz, was shot at short range in the neck as he was shopping in Gaza's central marketplace, military officials said. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Military officials said he was the victim of an apparent Palestinian terrorist attack. A search of the area was immediately launched.


text:
This event is exclusively for Museum Council Fellows and Patrons and in partnership with the SMFA Medici Group.
Visit the studios of SMFA Master of Fine Arts and Post-Baccalaureate candidates and discuss the experiences and processes that shape their work. Come for hors d'oeuvres, wine, and conversation with current SMFA graduate students and socialize with Museum Council Fellows and SMFA Medici members.
Photo courtesy of Samara Pearlstein, a current Master of Fine Art candidate at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts.
About Fellows Bonus Events: Additional occasions to enhance your experience at the MFA. Fellows-level Bonus Events have complimentary wine and hors d'oeuvres receptions.


text:
By 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry DivisionJanuary 25, 2007
FORWARD OPERATING BASE PROSPERITY, Iraq (Army News Service, Jan. 25, 2007) - Most Soldiers have been to Iraq more than once. Second Lt. Jeremy Reyes has been twice, his first time as a civilian with the Coalition Provisional Authority in 2004.
Now an intelligence officer with the 1st Cavalry Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team, Reyes has taken an unlikely path to his current status as a Soldier in Iraq.
While earning a bachelors degree in history at Penn State University, the Williamsport, Pa., native developed an increasing interest in politics. He soon found himself working the polls for President George H.W. Bush's 1992 bid for re-election.
The election's outcome did not go the way he had hoped, but Reyes said it so deepened his interest in politics that he moved to Washington, D.C., in 1996. There, he landed an entry-level job as a research analyst for the Republican National Committee. Reyes said he spent his days examining news articles and identifying what political figures were saying about various topics.
"I did little profiles on things these politicians said, and they were catalogued for later use," he explained.
Reyes also did an internship in Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum's office, which eventually led to a full-time position. He said he started there just taking phone calls and answering mail, but over time moved up the ranks.
Then Reyes' life was directly affected by the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Like most mornings, he was heading to work at Capitol Hill; unlike most days, he'd taken the Washington Metro instead of driving.
"I boarded the train about the same time the planes hit the World Trade Center, but I didn't know anything about it," Reyes said. Then he stopped at the Pentagon station to switch trains.
"It will always stick in my mind," Reyes said of that moment. "A Soldier, in what I now know to be a Class B uniform, screamed out to everyone that there was a bomb and that we should get out of the station."
He said everyone quickly cleared out of the station, running up the escalator to the surface, where they were enveloped in thick smoke and shocked by the scene before them.
"The airplane hit the other side of the Pentagon, but the smoke was thick and black," he said. "It was thick enough that you could smell it and get the taste in your mouth. That whole experience is certainly something you don't ever forget."
Contributing to the war effort
Having witnessed the destruction firsthand, Reyes was soon fueled with determination to contribute to the war on terror.
"The thing that I faced was that I wasn't a Soldier yet, and didn't know what I could do as a civilian to help," he said.
He found an answer in 2004, when a friend told him the Coalition Provisional Authority was looking for civilians to work in Iraq with visiting members of Congress.
"Since I was already working for a member of the Senate, it worked well to just come over here and do some of that," Reyes explained.
Reyes arrived at Baghdad in April of that year, and said because he spent much of his time working in an office, his day-to-day life had many similarities to that of his life in Washington.
"I worked in the protocol office and escorted members of Congress when they came over to visit the troops," Reyes said. "We did their scheduling and worked with the folks who did the security arrangements."
While in Iraq, Reyes said he began thinking he could make a bigger contribution if he were in uniform. After returning to Washington in October, he visited a recruiting station to explore his options.
"They don't get many recruits who walk in during wartime and say 'yeah, I know what I'm in for. I've been there before and am going to sign up to go back,'" he said.
Reyes soon signed up for the officer candidate school program with a preference for going into military intelligence.
Back in Iraq
In June 2005, Reyes left his civilian life behind and reported to basic training at Fort Benning, Ga., which he described simply as "quite a shock."
"I was very civilianized and had a long history of acting independently," Reyes said. "I went from being able to make significant decisions in my workplace to having to ask to go to the bathroom."
To add to the shock, Reyes, who turned 34 the first day of basic training, found that he was twice as old as some of the Soldiers he was training with.
While the training was tough and at times he questioned why he was there, he never though about quitting.
"The training was necessary to do what I wanted to do, which was to come back here and do my part on the uniform side," Reyes said.
After graduating from OCS Dec. 8, 2005, Reyes was sent to Fort Huachuca, Ariz., for military intelligence training, before finally moving to his permanent duty station at Fort Hood, Texas, in July 2006. Then in early November 2006, Reyes made his return to Baghdad.
In the short time that he has been back in Iraq, Reyes said he has noticed some drastic differences between his previous role as a civilian, government employee and his new role as a Soldier.
"There's a side of military service that you just can't understand from the outside," Reyes said. "The pressures: what it means for family life and then also being here and seeing what happens on a daily basis."
Reyes describes his new job as helping to target terrorists and "identifying who these people are and seeing that we are able to stop them from doing some of the destructive things they're doing in this country."
Having been in Iraq before in such a different role provides Reyes with a unique perspective and he credits some of his past experiences with helping him find success in his new role as an intelligence officer.
"My knowledge from the past, both some of the academic knowledge from school and the knowledge from having been here before, has been helpful to me in being more effective in the jobs I do here," he said.
Reyes said he hasn't made any decisions on whether he will return to civilian life or continue with his Army career once his term is finished.
"There are a lot of good things happening back in Washington D.C. on the civilian side where people are working to keep us safe in conjunction with our military," Reyes explained. "I think this experience will lend itself well to making a contribution there."


text:
A dreamy new music video uses a fairy tale approach to loosely chronicle singer Christina Linhardt's romance with the Prince of Saxony who unfortunately can't transform himself into a prince. Instead, he remains a frog.
BENEATH THE MIRABELLA by Christina Linhardt - YouTube
Current Status: Published (4)
Seeded on Sun Aug 12, 2012 9:25 PM
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