text:
Parajumpers Spring Summer 14
The Parajumpers Spring-Summer 2014 collection is one of the most traditional, yet innovative ones ever. In the collection you can find the historical, iconic styles such as the Newport (the classic bomber) or the Desert (the 4-pocket field jacket), but also some really new styles, such as the Ike (a light field jacket, with 2 pockets and a hideaway hood), or the Jersey, a new cotton jacket with round pockets.
Confirming the brand's tradition, in the new styles you will find the usual maniacal care for detail, style and function, since Parajumpers' aim has never been to create the trendiest jacket of the moment, but to design garments that remain elegant and wearable for life. The weightless Super Light jackets, incredibly successful in the past two seasons, are re-proposed with few stylistic changes, but with an extended colour card featuring interesting, new colours.
Furthermore, an even lighter weight has been added, called Feather Weight, with a minimum down fill that offers the perfect protection, even in the warmest months. The elegant Windbreaker series and the sporty Masterpieces are re-proposed with some improvements in the fabrics and fit, as well as the introduction of new styles, and so is the Leather series, this season presented in very supple goatskin. The new Californian series revives the classic diamond quilting of the traditional American sportswear. The cotton Maritime series is also completely renewed and inspired by the Italian Navy world: a vintage character, sturdy fabrics and a stone-washed finish for a sharp look that is always in fashion.
- Shop the Spring/Summer 2014 collection for Him
- Shop the Spring/Summer 2014 collection for Her


text:
My kids LOVE this brown rice recipe. But, before I give details, you have to know that it is actually NOT brown rice. It is white rice, but since it is brown when you make it, my kids call it brown rice. It is definitely delicious, I can attest to that.
Ingredients needed:
1 1/2 c. White Rice
2 cans Beef Consommé
1 can Hot Water
1 Tbsp. Butter
1 Tbsp. Minced Onion
Black pepper to taste
Add all ingredients into a pan with a lid. I use my glass CorningWare and it works great. Place it onto your stove and cook and stir on high until it boils rapidly. After it is boiling stir it well one more time and put on the lid. Turn the heat down to low and cook for 20-25 minutes. You can also put it in the oven and cook it on 325 degrees for 40-45 minutes.
My kids absolutely love this stuff. It's a great side dish with sooo many dinners. We use it a lot when we are grilling outside. So, if you are grilling chicken, pork, or fish this recipe is PERFECT!
Remember that all Recipes shared on All Things Delicious share the "stamp of approval."
STAMP OF APPROVAL DEFINITION: I never share a recipe that is not tried and tested and approved personally by me.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Chicago (Dec. 23)
Funeral services were held here today for Abraham Weil, one of the leaders of Chicago's clothing industry, who died yesterday at the age of eighty-four.
Mr. Weil had resided in Chicago for forty-nine years. He was an honorary vice president of Temple Isaiah-Israel. Interment took place at the Rosehill cemetery.
Mr. Weil is survived by his widow and four children. Mrs. G. C. Strauss. Mrs. Charles Sachs, Herbert M. Weil and Earle Weil.
Milton M. Unger of Newark, N. J., has been elected president of the Essex County Bar Association, Mr. Unger is a member of the Board of Education and conspicuously identified with the Jewish Anti-Tuberculosis Leage in Newark.


text:
Drop, cover, hold still the best advice
News release
Thursday 3 March 2011
Drop, cover, hold still the best advice
Following last week's Christchurch earthquake, lots of advice is being circulated about how best to survive when an earthquake strikes. While much of this advice is well intentioned, some is not particularly accurate or even useful, Wellington Region Civil Defence Emergency Management Chairperson Jenny Rowan said.
"One theory that is currently doing the rounds through email or social networking media is called the 'Triangle of Life'. Proponents of this theory often use it to debunk the 'drop, cover, hold' advice provided by civil defence agencies in New Zealand and overseas.
"The Triangle of Life theory has been discredited in the US where it originated. However it generally reappears every time there is a major earthquake somewhere in the world.
"Drop, cover, hold will protect people in most earthquake scenarios. In a severe earthquake it is absolutely vital that people respond immediately. Confusion about what to do can result in people getting seriously injured or killed.
"The principles of 'drop, cover and hold' are straightforward. Drop to the ground – before the earthquake drops you! take cover by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and hold on to it until the shaking stops.
"People should identify safe places in their home, office or school before an earthquake so that when the shaking starts they can respond quickly. That safe place should be within a few steps or two metres to avoid injury from flying or falling debris," Jenny Rowan said.


text:
THE first UK-wide post-Olympic survey to look at legacy reported that only 17% of parents of children under 18 think support for sport has improved under the current government.
Only 24% think their support for sport in schools and communities has increased since the Olympics and Paralympics.
The survey of 2000 people for a Sunday newspaper followed recrimination on failure of legacy from sports cut adrift from funding. Labour claimed legacy was "in tatters". Well, they would, wouldn't they? But it was surely no coincidence that the Prime Minister and his perceived leadership rival Boris Johnson mounted a rare display of unity, going on a joint offensive to refute the claims.
Loading article content
The survey, which had respondents from across Scotland, England, and Wales, was damning. It came as elite sportsmen such as the double gold medallist Mo Farah and the NBA basketball icon Luol Deng castigated the government for reductions in budgets ranging from school sport to elite performance.
Farah's wife, Tania, criticised cuts in primary school physical education and school sports partnerships. Deng attacked the refusal of UK Sport to bankroll a squad for the 2016 Olympics. UKS has since agreed to fund the squad for a year, before reviewing progress. Sports including volleyball and table tennis, rejected once again, seem likely to lodge formal appeals.
Undeniably, some legacy targets have been missed. There is notable failure to maintain investment in some sports, failure to meet school physical education targets and government vandalism of school sport partnerships that are envied around the world.
Yet legacy thrives, with booming participation and enthusiasm for sport in the wake of 2012. Entries for the London Marathon (the world's biggest marathon) and the Great North Run (the world's biggest half-marathon) continue to rise, while the Great Scottish Run last autumn enjoyed a record entry.
Glasgow is certainly keeping sport and recreation at the top of the agenda. Glasgow Life report that attendance at their sport facilities last year was up 8% to almost 6m. There has been a big surge in membership of the Glasgow Club (people using the city's 25 fitness facilities); a steady increase in demand for places on sport development programmes (just short of 750,000 attendances last year); and a 15,000 rise in numbers on the free-swim programme, to 270,000.
They believe this is all part of the Olympic legacy, but also helped by the 2014 Commonwealth Games. "Another key legacy is the ability to bid to bring the Youth Olympic Games to Glasgow in 2018," said a spokesperson. Spectating is at record levels. The Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome sold out in just 25 minutes for the UCI Track Cycling World Cup which attracted 20,000 people to the five sessions, and the Revolution cycling event was also at capacity.
The World Cup gymnastics at the Emirates sold out. Attendance surpassed the previous year's two-day total at the Kelvin Hall, and last month's indoor athletics event attracted double the previous Kelvin Hall record. Record crowds attended the national badminton championships and World Premier Club Challenge netball.
Entries for this year's Virgin London Marathon have never poured in quicker. They reached the ballot maximum (125,000) in just over 17 hours last April, before Olympic fever had even peaked, beating the previous record by 20 hours. Registrations for the Ride London cycle festival have also boomed.
Applications for the Great Scottish Run and BUPA Great Women's 10k in Glasgow have only recently opened but numbers are "encouraging", said Dave Hart, communications director of Nova International who organise them in partnership with Glasgow Life.
The GSR has grown from 20,868 entries in 2009 to 23,386 last year. Entries for the women's 10k dipped slightly last year, but it remains the biggest in Britain. Nova also organise the Great North Run, for which applications closed on Monday. "They are significantly up on last year's 100,000, which produced a record field," Hart added. "We operate a reminder service –emailing people when entries open – and that was up 20%. "We also do the Great North Swim Series, and entries for that are ahead of previous years. Our reminder service for the Great Manchester Cycle [Britain's biggest timed ride] has also grown significantly higher, which suggests entries for that will also increase."
The public appetite for sport seems unabated. When TV figures dropped after the Olympics, the televised GNR audience last October increased. And volunteers – they are critical to the success of 2012 – cannot get enough of it. Sport could not function without them; at least that part of the Big Society is flourishing.
Hart pays tribute, saying: "We have our own band of volunteers who return year after year. We are in our 33rd year, and we have guys who were there at the start."
Another leading mass participation sports events company, Human Race, organise 60 events annually, with more than 70,000 competitors. They recently surveyed 1500 people on legacy. More than 76% feel more inspired to participate, mostly in cycling and triathlon, and 87.7% feel performances such as those of Victoria Pendleton and Jessica Ennis will inspire more female participation. They cite evidence from their women-only events. The two highest-attended cycling events (supported by Pendleton) took place after the Olympics and enjoyed particularly significant growth.
They report a post-Olympic entry spike, with their first event of 2013, the Iceman (a duathlon and trail race), attracting 789 participants, up from 630 last year.
The public is on-message on legacy. It is central government who are letting the side down.


text:
In coming months, the line will begin charging $3.95 per room service order delivered between midnight and 5 a.m. The new policy will be rolled out fleetwide in July for the line's eight ships sailing from U.S. ports and in August for its two Europe-based vessels, Norwegian Sun and Norwegian Jade.
NCL spokeswoman AnneMarie Mathews tells Cruise Critic that the charge is being instituted in order to cut down on food waste, which she said was more of an issue during the early a.m. hours. Passengers with late-night cravings will still be able to get their fix without any added fees, provided they're alert enough to leave the cabin. The line's signature 24-hour diner-style restaurant (O'Sheehan's on Norwegian Epic, Blue Lagoon on NCL's other ships) will remain surcharge-free.
Cruise Critic readers first noticed the coming fee on Norwegian's Web site. A "Freestyle Dining Guide" dated May 19 mentioned the surcharge -- but not the amount.
If NCL's new late-night surcharge seems familiar, that's because Royal Caribbean instituted a nearly identical fee 2.5 years ago. At the time, RCI's fee sparked vigorous debate on the Cruise Critic message boards about the extra costs of cruising.
In other food-related news, NCL also announced that it would be rolling out 24-hour pizza delivery fleetwide. The for-fee dining option -- $5 for a 16-inch pie (cheese, pepperoni, veggie) delivered anywhere on the ship -- debuted on NCL's Norwegian Epic. One note: Passengers who order pizza (or beverages) between midnight and 5 a.m. will not be charged the late-night service fee in addition to the $5.
--by Dan Askin, News Editor


text:
Rutgers Partners with New Milford High School for a High-School STEM Symposium
Six Rutgers University faculty, led by Prof. Waheed U. Bajwa of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, teamed up with the Principal, Eric Sheninger, and Guidance Counselor, Michelle Harle, of New Milford High School for a STEM Symposium for high-school students on January 10, 2014 at New Milford High School.
The symposium offered high-school students in Bergen county a unique opportunity to listen to some of the latest research being carried out in the labs of Rutgers University and to ask questions from the participating faculty regarding the students' future options and career choices. Four high schools from Bergen county participated in the event and benefited greatly from the talks given by Professors Pierce, Najafizadeh, Linqvist, Spasojevic, and Bekris.
See also


text: BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) ¿ The Shaw Group Inc. has taken a second round of cuts in two months in its pipe fabrication business, bringing the number of lost jobs in Louisiana and Oklahoma to 410. The company said it cut 40 workers from a shop in Walker, La., last week and is closing a plant in Tulsa by the end of August, ending another 168 jobs. In late April, Shaw said its closure of a pipe fabrication shop in West Monroe would end the jobs of 202 employees. The cuts are due to a reduced number of orders at each shop, said Shaw spokeswoman Gentry Brann. "The piping, fabrication and construction industry has always seen an influx and outflow of employees based on the quantity of work at any one given time," Brann said. The company had been ramping up pipe fabrication before the recession. Last year, Shaw opened a 370,000-square-foot pipe fabrication facility in Matamoros, Mexico ¿ just across the U.S. border from Brownsville, Texas ¿ but the company said then that it didn't expect that expansion to close other shops. Shaw had operated the Tulsa plant since 2006. The company is holding a job fair next week in Lake Charles, where Shaw is filling a 1,400-job payroll for a nuclear reactor components plant. Workers who lost their jobs will be eligible to apply for the jobs in Lake Charles or elsewhere within the company, Brann said. ___ Information from: The Advocate, http://www.2theadvocate.com


text:
Your browser does not support iframes.
A Registration Fair is scheduled for Friday, May 9, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Head Start building, located next to Trimble County Middle School. Trimble County Head Start/Preschool serves 3 and 4 year old income eligible children who live in Trimble County. A limited number of tuition-based slots for children who are four-years old by the public school cutoff date (October 1, 2014) may be available for families who do not meet income guidelines. Please call (502) 255-3620 to schedule an appointment for your child for the Registration Fair.
Molds produce tiny spores that travel through the air and either settle on surfaces to create new mold colonies or are inhaled creating allergic reactions or asthma in certain people. Molds can grow almost anywhere as long as moisture is present (including wood, paper, carpet and food). In your home, the key to controlling mold growth is controlling moisture. Walls or ceilings that are moldy may be discolored, show signs of water damage and/or have black or green spots. A musty, earthy odor or foul stench may also be noticed in an area with mold.
To prevent mold growth:
With spring finally arriving, followed by over six inches of rainfall, pastures are beginning to green up. For most cattle producers, that is a welcome event that leads to less reliance on feeding hay. But University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment specialists said this is also the time for producers to watch out for and prevent a condition called grass tetany in their cattle.
Good communication skills are an asset no matter what you plan to do in life. What's the best way to develop good communication skills? Practice!
Offered @ Breakfast Daily: Milk/Juice/Fruit/Cereal/Toast
Breakfast -- free
Lunch -- $1.95
Milk -- .45
Offered Daily: Milk / Juice / Chef Salad / Yogurt
All bread is whole grain
Monday, Apr. 14: Corn Dog (WG), Baked Beans, Potato Smiles, Carrots w/dip, Fresh Fruit or Pears.
Tuesday, Apr. 15: Chicken Tenders, Broccoli w/cheese sauce, Baked Potato, Kiwi or Fruit Cocktail, Bread.
April 12, 1984 (30 Years Ago)
Trimble County High School juniors Amy Andrew, Mark Perkinson and Jamie Proctor have been selected to attend the 1984 Governor's Scholars Program by Governor Martha Layne Collins. The five-week special enrichment program will be held this summer at the University of Kentucky and Centre College. The program, held last year for the first time, offers a broad range of courses, speakers and activities.
Each year the Bedford Rotary Club selects a person from the Trimble County area for its "Citizen of the Year Award." The purpose is to highlight achievements of an individual who has contributed positively to our community.
"Service Above Self" is the general theme for the Rotary International Organization.
The club is soliciting suggestions from the community for a potential recipient of this award. This involves sending in a recommendation outlining the achievements. The deadline for receipt of the recommendation is Tuesday, May 6, 2014.
Thursday, April 10
The Milton City Commission will meet at 7 p.m. at the Milton Municipal Building.
Friday, April 11
Monday, March 31
9:44 a.m., animal complaint, Mosser Rd
12:04 p.m., suspicious incident, 4300 block U.S. 42E
2:13 p.m., miscellaneous complaint, 100 block Green Briar
Wednesday, April 3
1:42 p.m., assault, 800 block Lower Middle Creek
Thursday, April 4
7:58 a.m., suspicious incident, 3600 block, U.S. 421S
12:04 p.m., drug information, Mosser Rd
6:07 p.m., illegal burn, 100 block Ridgetop Dr
6:47 p.m., disturbance, 10505 U.S. 421
9:28 p.m., process service, Hunters Height
Friday, April 5
Items published in court news are public record.
The Trimble Banner publishes all misdemeanors, felonies and small-claims judgments recorded in district court, as well as all civil suits recorded in circuit court. Juvenile court cases are not published.
Crime reports are provided by local law enforcement agencies. Charges or citations reported to The Trimble Banner do not imply guilt.
The following cases were heard the week of April 1, 2014.
Copyright © 2017
The Trimble Banner is your source for local news, sports, events, and information in Trimble County, KY and the surrounding area.


text:
The Georgia Straight presents Spirit of the West at the Commodore for St. Patrick's Day
Live Nation has announced that Vancouver-based folk-rock group Spirit of the West will be performing at the Commodore Ballroom on Saturday, March 16, 2013, in celebration of St. Patrick's Day, as well as the band's 30th anniversary.
Spirit of the West began as a folk trio 30 years ago in Vancouver, but has since grown to include John Mann, Geoffrey Kelly, Hugh McMillan, Vince R. Ditrich, and Tobin "The Gull" Frank.
Thirteen albums later, and with singles such as "(And if) Venice is Sinking", "Five Free Minutes", "Save This House", "The Crawl," and "Home For a Rest" under its belt, Spirit of the West has certainly earned its status as a beloved Canadian band.
Tickets for both shows are priced at $34.50 (plus service charges and fees) and go on sale this Friday (December 7) at 10 a.m. on the Live Nation website.
Tickets for the show are also available for purchase by phone at 1-855-985-5000, at all Ticketmaster Outlets and Rogers Wireless Box Office.
Don't forget to become a fan of the Georgia Straight on Facebook and sign up for THE LIST newsletter for more concert announcements, contests, and exclusive "beat the lines" presale passwords.For the latest concert announcements follow twitter.com/vanhappenings


text:
Much of Munster's prediction hinges on Apple's well-known dislike of netbooks. In October 2008, CEO Steve Jobs ridiculed current netbooks as "a piece of junk" and said Apple simply would not compete in the $500 PC market. "Our DNA will not let us ship that," he said at the time.
Last month, Apple's chief operating officer Tim Cook, who in the absence of Jobs is running the company, also scorned netbooks. "When I look at what is being sold in the netbook space today, I see cramped keyboards, terrible software, junky hardware, very small screens, and just not a consumer experience, and not something that we would put the Mac brand on, quite frankly," he said during an earnings call with analysts and reporters.
Munster is not concerned about the relatively long time that Apple will be without an entry in the netbook-priced market. Historically, he said, Apple takes a wait-and-see approach, scopes out the competition, then designs something different enough to separate it from the pack.
"A netbook would not differentiate Apple's product from other netbooks entering the market, and as we have seen with the iPod and the iPhone, Apple prefers to enter a market once [it] can offer a significantly differentiated and often premium version of the product," Munster said.
Although Gottheil agrees with Munster on some points, he disagrees on others. Back in March, Gottheil said Apple would likely use what he called an "iPod Touch on steroids" to compete with in the netbook market. Like Munster, he believed then that Apple would do without a physical keyboard and rely on multi-touch.
But he doesn't think Apple will wait until 2010 to put something in customers' hands.
"This is not a life-and-death matter for Apple," said Gottheil, citing the deferred revenues from already-sold iPhones that Apple has yet to post on its books. "But there's no doubt that netbooks are chewing up a substantial piece of what they'd get if they were playing in the market."
Munster, said Gottheil, may be right on the timeline, but he thinks a touch tablet will come sooner. "I don't think Apple is playing with a new processor," Gottheil said, "and although some upgrade [of the Mac OS] is necessary to support this functionality, I don't see it as a year's worth of work."
Rather than rely on another processor family for the tablet, Gottheil believes that Apple, which has made tighter ties to graphics chip maker Nvidia of late, will instead off-load some of the chores to the graphics processor.
"I don't quite see what will take so long," Gottheil said, referring to Munster's 2010 date. "I think that Apple wants to be out there, if they can. This would take a lot of pressure off the declining Mac sales.
"They'll have something this year," Gottheil predicted.
This story, "Analyst: Apple Is Working on a Tablet, Not a Netbook" was originally published by Computerworld.


text:
A HARD-HITTING campaign encouraging smokers to quit their habit has been backed by Buckinghamshire County Council.
The new Smokefree national advertising from Public Health England aims to show the damage that toxins from smoking do to the blood, lungs, heart and brain.
"It's never too late to quit smoking," confirms Director of Public Health for Buckinghamshire, Dr. Jane O'Grady. "Quitting smoking at any time is good for your health and wellbeing. As soon as you stop smoking, the health risks associated with the habit begin to reduce.
"After six months the risk of heart attack, cancer and other smoking related diseases begins to fall. After ten years the risk of lung cancer falls to about half that of a smoker, with the risk of heart attack around the same as someone who has never smoked at all."
Although many smokers have successfully quit in recent years, smoking remains the largest cause of preventable ill health and premature death. Around 600 smokers die each year as a result of their habit in Bucks.
"We know the harm that smoking can cause to individuals and their families," says Patricia Birchley, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing at Buckinghamshire County Council, "but we also know how we can help those who do smoke to make a positive change and quit.
"We have excellent smokefree support services in Buckinghamshire, and if smokers use these, they are four times more likely to quit than trying to do it alone. I'd like to appeal to smokers to get in touch with our local services and make 2014 the year that they act to stop their habit seriously damaging their health."
The new Smokefree ad campaign seeks to reveal uncomfortable truths that show how smoking increased your chances of a heart attack or stroke, and that the toxins released can also affect the brain, leading to accelerated decline in memory and mental abilities later in life.
Contact the free Bucks smokefree support service by visiting smokescape.org, calling 0845 27 07 222 or emailing email@example.com


text: On July 11, 2011, Pasadena City Council unanimously approved amendments to the City's Tobacco Use Prevention Ordinance to prohibit smoking in apartments and condominiums to protect residents from drifting tobacco smoke. The new law became effective on August 13, 2011, with provisions that take effect on certain dates. For more detailed information, please review the available documents from our Pasadena Tobacco Control Program webpage at:


text:
New and returning customers: securely link to www.loccitane.com.mx with your preferred social network and share one login for both!
Select Product:
This item is in your bag
This effervescent cube, enriched with peach extract, dissolves into the bath while gently perfuming it with a fruity and delicate fragrance.Tested under dermatological control.
Complete your routine with these products.
Price for all :
Write a testimonial !
Your rating:


text:
Eileen Fisher Off-White Skinny Jean
White brushed denim skinny jeans. 5 pockets and button and zip fly closure. Brand: Eileen Fisher Fiber Content: 97% cotton, 3% spandex
Eileen Fisher SYSTEM Slim-Fit Ankle Jeans, Regular & Petite
These sleek white wash jeans are the perfect wardrobe staple you'll turn to again and again. From Eileen Fisher. High rise Slim fit through hips and thighs Slim leg; cropped at ankle Front zipper and button closure; belt loops White wash Approximate inseam: 28"; Petite: 27" Available in regular & petite sizes The SYSTEM consists of 8 simple shapes & versatile fabrics that will work with almost everything in your closet. Organic cotton/spandex Machine washable Imported Web ID: 2672784


text:
- 5 total posts
- 5 comments
Recent comments from Nymommy07
You look awesome! Congrats! READ COMMENT
Looks amazing! READ COMMENT
Is this a real picture? Makes no sense to me. READ COMMENT
Can you tell me what is the cost for just the tummy tuck ( not the lipo)? READ COMMENT
Hi, I was reading your tummy tuck story - looks amazing! Could you give me a ball park price of how much it cost? I live in NY also and I have read so many great things about Dr. Shafer. Thanks so much! READ COMMENT


text:
I need to make this!
This is my go-to French Toast recipe. It came about after I made an amazing dessert for Christmas dinner a couple years ago with poached pears and a cream cheese topping that had both vanilla and almond extract added to it. The combination wowed me, and it sprung to mind when I made a French Toast breakfast a few days later. Ohhhh yess, perfection.
I don't normally need a certain brand in any recipe, but I no longer make French Toast with anything besidesAce Bakery Organic Granary bread. I keep a loaf of it in the freezer so that if people stop by for breakfast I always can put something together. It's a glorious whole wheat loaf with tons of nuts and seeds — to my mind, the sunflower seeds are the best part.
And my dear friend, Pemma, is a super-fan of this recipe. In fact, she special-requested…
View original post 259 more words


text:
Longer, More Aggressive Interferon Regimens Best Strategy Against Chronic HCV Infections
Longer, More Aggressive Interferon Regimens Best Strategy Against Chronic HCV Infections
NEW YORK--Aggressive new interferon (IFN) treatment strategies aimed at combating chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are roughly twice as effective as the standard thrice-weekly, six-month IFN regimen.
"A 12-month to 18-month course of Intron A [IFN alfa-2b] nearly doubles the sustained response among HCV patients," Robert G. Gish, MD, said during a press briefing funded by an educational grant from Schering Oncology Biotech.
Dr. Gish is medical director of the Liver Transplant Program at the California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco.
Left untreated, HCV infection can result in cirrhosis, and once cirrhosis has begun, current treatment regimens are unlikely to clear the virus, he said. However, recent data suggest that treating HCV-infected cirrhotic patients with IFN may decrease their risk of developing liver cancer and delay the time to death or transplantation. Thus, he suggests aggressive IFN therapy for patients with early cirrhosis.
"Among cirrhotic patients with liver cancer, the five-year survival rate is only about 5% to 20%," Dr. Gish said. However, patients with this lethal disease combination have approximately an 80% survival rate if liver transplant is performed. Unfortunately, many of these patients are not candidates for transplant because their liver tumors exceed 10 cm.
Overall, he said, the management of HCV infection is promising given IFN's proven efficacy and new combination treatments. Slow-release polyethylene glycol (PEG)-bound IFN formulations under development may prove useful, since they offer a convenient once- or twice-weekly dosing schedule.
Combination HCV Therapies Emerging
Ribavirin (Virazole), a guanine nucleoside analog approved in the US for use as a pediatric aerosol treatment for respiratory syncytial virus, is now being evaluated in combination with interferon alfa-2b (Intron A) for HCV treatment.
Although the mechanism for the favorable synergistic effect is not yet understood, there appears to be an immunomodulatory action that maintains or stimulates cell-mediated immune function.
Approximately 40 US trials of the combination are underway in HCV patients who failed conventional IFN therapy. One study of 50 IFN-naïve HCV patients, presented at the press conference by Douglas Dietrich, MD, of New York University, showed that combination therapy doubled the response rate, compared with IFN alone.
After six months of treatment, 52% of patients in both groups had no detectable HCV. After another six months of follow-up, 36% of those receiving combination therapy remained without detectable viral levels versus 18% of the mono-therapy patients.
Said Dr. Gish: "HCV therapy must be started early in the disease process, be aggressive, and continue for the long-term. It is important for all physicians to realize that this approach will improve survival, and even cure the disease in many cases."


text:
Mon 14th Oct 2013 9:00amConstantinesurf's Harlyn Surf Report
Surf conditions at 7.35 a.m. on Monday 14th October 2013: It's pretty tiny and sloppy around here this morning, six inches to maybe a foot of sloppy junk surf. It's not pretty on this dark morning! But that will change soon enough. Harlyn is likely to be our 'go to' spot within a few days as that wind changes and the swell rises! WWW.CONSTANTINESURF.COM is the place to go for our early bird SURF REPORT for Constantine Bay and Harlyn Bay as well as the surf forecast for tomorrow and the week ahead! Click on over and check out our shop while browsing images and info from the area. WWW.CONSTANTINESURF.COM
View the Harlyn Surf Report and Forecast. Constantinesurf's Reports have received a total of 1648200 views.
This report has received 353 views since 14/10/13.


text:
Beach Boulevard, Azusa Avenue, San Gabriel Canyon Road
Runs from SR-1 in Huntington Beach to SR-2 at Islip Saddle with a break from SR-72 to I-10
See Also:
Route 39 is one of the more varied state highways in the Los Angeles area. It starts right at the beach at Pacific Coast Highway (SR-1), runs along Beach Boulevard for many miles through the cities of Huntington Beach, Garden Grove, Stanton, Buena Park, and La Habra only to end abruptly at the corner of Whittier Boulevard and Harbor Boulevard. State 39 reappears on the north side of the Puente Hills at the junction of I-10 and Azusa Avenue. It continues north from there, passing through the city of Azusa, onto San Gabriel Canyon Road.
North of Azusa, State 39 takes on a different look as it turns from a city street into a twisty mountain road. It slowly climbs along the canyon wall, using many sidehill viaducts, passing two large reservoirs and dams. After the junction with East Fork Road, State 39 climbs even faster, rising from about 2000 feet up to 6000 feet in a matter of a few miles. Just after passing the Crystal Lake turnoff the highway is blocked by a large gate. About 4.5 miles of State 39, the rest of the way to State 2, have been closed since 1978 due to a number of landslides. The roadway is passable but isn't a full two lanes wide all the way up.
According to some sources at Caltrans District 7, there are plans to reconstruct State 39 over the closed segment to open it to the public again. Construction was slated to begin around mid-2005 but was delayed due to funding. More recent information shows that Caltrans wants to abandon the highway, though they may not be able to.
Beach Blvd
San Gabriel Canyon Road
Closed Section


text:
Johnson's Dillard nets volleyball honor
Published 11:42 pm, Sunday, December 25, 2011
Photo: Kin Man Hui, ~
Johnson senior outside hitter Carnae Dillard has been named the Texas Sports Writers Association's Class 5A Player of the Year. A North Texas signee, she had 738 kills, more than 650 digs, 81 1/2 blocks and 41 aces while helping lead the Jaguars to their first state tournament appearance.
New Braunfels' Angela Lowak and Johnson's Jessica Teel were named to the organization's third team in 5A.
In 2A, Poth's Jordan Kotara was named to the first team. Teammates Micah Weaver and Avery Acker were on the second team, while Jessica Dziuk was on the third team. Poth's Patti Zenner was named Coach of the Year after guiding the Pirettes to the state title.
La Vernia's Natalie Baker was tabbed for the 3A third team.
Sports Channel
- Terrence Thomas


text:
Propper Kid's BDU Trouser
$19.99 $16.99
The PROPPER Kid's BDU Trouser mirrors a traditional adult BDU down to the stitching. Whether running through the woods or wearing as a costume, expect these trousers to perform like the real thing. The military inspired construction includes a six-pocket design, zipper fly with button closure, and adjustable waist tabs for a secure fit.
- Militaryinspired construction
- Fade, shrink and wrinkle resistant
- Four front cargo pockets with buttonthrough flaps
- Button front
See more: Pants


text:
TFCU offers loan products for your every need. Whether you're in need of a mortgage loan, home improvement loan, auto loan, major credit card, or personal loan, TFCU can help with competitive terms and rates to fit your budget.
In addition, there are never any pre-payment penalties on our loans. When applying for your loan, the following tips should prove helpful in expediting your loan request:
* All loans are subject to credit approval. Rates and terms may vary and certain restrictions may apply. All loan rates stated as Annual Percentage Rates.
Mortgage Loans


text:
By KALYN SHELLYThe Wilson Post
The three candidates vying for Wilson County Mayor presented their views yesterday morning at a forum hosted by the Lebanon/Wilson County Chamber of Commerce at Cumberland University.
Candidates Don Fox, Randall Hutto and Phillip Warren participated in a question and answer discussion led by Chris Crowell, vice chair of the government relations committee for the Chamber.
All three candidates agreed that creating jobs is the first major issue facing the county along with fire protection and emergency service.
On a question posed about solving the issue of fire protection across Wilson County, two of the three candidates, Fox and Hutto, primarily focused on Mt. Juliet saying that there are a couple of options to help solve this problem, one being for the City of Mt. Juliet to create its own fire department and the second contracting with county government for fire protection and emergency services.
Fox and Hutto said they believe the decision on this issue rests with Mt. Juliet's City Commission as to which route they should choose. Warren said, "not one size fits all" and this is not just an issue for Mt. Juliet but is inclusive of all of Wilson County. He added that there are lots of ways to address the issue across the county.
On the challenge of the county facing a decrease in property values and therefore declining revenue from property taxes, each candidate suggested ways to cut spending.
Hutto said that he would call upon each county department to perform a self audit to see where to cut spending in their budget. He urged residents and government officials to "take the time to communicate their wants and needs" in order to "encourage unity" across Wilson County.
Hutto said if elected, he would use his resources to "encourage communication and help get everyone on the same page." He said he would host regular meetings with department heads to "learn their goals."
"There needs to be clear communication on what the agenda is so we can come together and work as a community," Hutto said.
Fox placed the responsibility for this issue "on the people spending the money, not the taxpayers." He said he would challenge county departments to take a 1 percent cut if that was the amount necessary in order to balance the county budget. If the requirement was more, he said he would ask for additional cuts.
He also specifically focused on the development of the area around the Nashville Superspeedway. He said the Speedway has been "neglected" and he proposed that if elected, he would create a committee to see that things "get done" in the area creating an increase in revenue and jobs for the county. In another response to the same issue Fox said, if elected, he would not accept compensation for chairing county commissions or committees.
"I see Wilson County is at a standstill. We need a different kind of leadership to instill a new spirit," Fox said.
Warren said if elected, he wants to "offer something different" and would help come up with innovative ways to help all parts of the county with their needs. He said since announcing his candidacy, citizens have approached him with ideas and he wants to "provide them the opportunity to be heard."
"We need to actually talk about issues. It's not about me, it's about Wilson County and I plan to make it a better place," Warren said.


text:
James Blunt is about to perform at Elton John's Oscar bash and has been added to the list of Grammys performers.
His high rising singing career brings James Blunt more and more interesting offers. Early in this year, the singer has already secured at least two big projects, first is the Elton John's AIDS Foundation Academy Awards celebration and the second is the 49th annual Grammy Awards.
Blunt, who was a former military man, has been billed to perform at John's 15th annual Oscar bash, which will take place Feb. 25 at the Pacific Design Center. The event will be co-hosted by John himself with the companion of David Furnish and is co-sponsored by Audi, Chopard and VH1.
Prior to the event, the singer will first perform at this year Grammys which is to be hold Feb 11th at LA's Staples Center. Blunt will be joined by the likes of T.I. and R&B legends Earth, Wind & Fire, all of whom were announced Thursday Feb 8th as the additional Grammys performers.


text:
Disney Parks Travel Tumbler
On the go
Our Disney Parks Travel Tumbler will accompany you on all your adventures! Your favorite Park attractions surround this durable travel mug that features a handy handle and no-spill lid. See more
It's added to your bag!
Not eligible for in-store reservation.
Magic in the details...
Created especially for Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort
- Screen art of Disney Parks and attractions include Pirates of the Caribbean, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World, Jungle Cruise. Disneyland, Dumbo, Paradise Pier, Cars Land and more!
- Double wall design keeps beverages hot
- Sipper lid fits tight to avoid spills
- Grip handle
The bare necessities
- Wash thoroughly before first use
- Not microwave and dishwasher safe
- Acrylic
- 8 1/2'' H x 3 /14 Diameter
- Holds 18 oz.
- Imported
WARNING: This product contains bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical known to the State of California to cause harm to the female reproductive system.
Most items ordered via Standard Delivery will arrive within 5-7 business days, personalized items within 9-11 business days. Exceptions include items shipped from locations other than our main warehouse. Express Delivery is available for an extra charge.


text:
The Slim Shady is going to premiere 'No Love' music video about a bullied kid on September 30.
Eminem is going to debut a new music video this week. Ahead of the premiere, the rapper offers sneak peek for his fans, featuring him recording "No Love" in the studio. A bullied kid and his featured guest Lil Wayne are additionally flashed in separate scenes.
"No Love" samples Haddaway's "What Is Love" and is taken from the Slim Shady's double-platinum album "Recovery". The music video will come out in full on Thursday, September 30 at 8 P.M. EST on VEVO.
Eminem is going to roll out "No Love" for digital download in early October while he is still all over the chart. He currently has "Recovery" staying at No. 6 on Billboard Hot 200 and enjoys the on-going success of Rihanna-assisted single "Love the Way You Lie" which sits at the runner-up place on Hot 100.


text:
Have Mercedes Questions? Ask a Mechanic for Answers ASAP
Hi, it sounds like you have a bad cooling fan control module. If the module shorts out the fan will run continuously.
Actually on your car there may not be a module. Do you have the two fans in front of the radiator?
Ok, try removing fuse #44 in the fuse box and see if the fans turn off.
under the hood
sorry I was pulled away
Did the fan turn off when you removed the fuse?
Ok, then you may have a bad fan relay. Let's try removing the relay and swapping it with a similar relay in the fuse box. I will post a picture.
I need to change computers. Don't go away.
Remove that relay and replace with another one of the same kind in the fuse box.
You will just need to remove one that looks just like it.
This is only for a test
Ok, did the fan remain off?
Ok, then the relay is bad.
Go ahead and get a replacement and you should be fine.
You're quite welcome
Please don't forget to click Accept so I can get credit for my help today.


text:
How thick is your skin? Leather or paper? It can be difficult to tell from the outside. For example, I have this one friend whose actual skin is covered in tatts. He's big, burly and looks quite a lot like a bouncer. He is also wildly successful in his chosen career (not bouncing) and yet he's the first to admit that his skin is of the paper variety.
Criticism of his work wounds him deeply to the point where he struggles to get past it and keep doing his job. This is a problem (albeit a first world one) because he has a public profile and that means feedback is incessant. And even though correspondence runs the full gamut from abuse to praise, it's the negativity that's most potent. "I reckon I'd get 50 nice emails for every bad one but it's only the bad ones I remember" he tells me. "And I'm not even on Twitter or Facebook – for exactly that reason. Just the thought of it makes me want to be violently ill."
My skin used to be thin. It was worn down by a particularly bruising stint in a bad job that had a sandpaper-like effect on my confidence. How interesting – or possibly stupid – that I chose that time of my life to begin a career online. It took ages for the layers to grow back but the dynamics of social media and writing daily online certainly fast-tracked the process. It was either that or slam shut my laptop and hide under the bed. Anyone who works online or has their work published regularly on the Internet quickly grows skin thicker than the average bear. Or elephant.
You have to or you'd end up in the foetal position on your therapist's carpet most days. Actually…
Let's file under 'irony' and 'karma' the fact that journalists, columnists and writers often cop the worst of online abuse, particularly if they write opinion pieces. I was recently discussing this with a journalist friend after one of us had endured a particularly bruising bout of social media 'feedback'.
In ye olden days things were so very different. If you were a journalist, you simply filed your copy and people loved it, hated it or ignored it. Whatever they thought, you rarely found out. "Remember when the worst that could happen was the occasional pissed off reader would ring and get put through to the editor's secretary?" reminisced my friend as I nodded wistfully. "Or a grumpy piece of correspondence might be buried in the letters page."
Those were gentler times. And less distracting. Someone once said to me "What other people think of you is none of your business". I think that's excellent advice but it's not always easy to follow. Because no matter how much you try not to care or be diverted by mindless abuse from strangers who can't spell and use exclamation points with gay abandon, it can be tricky to look away.
To paraphrase: opinions are like bums, everyone's got one. And expressing your opinions, all of them, IN CAPS LOCK is now an option for anyone with a spare three seconds and an internet connection. BYO expletives.
And what's with the death threats? One guy I know who was involved in a popular TV show was surprised to receive death threats over it. Death threats? In Australia? "What about you just change the channel?" he mused. "Why must it be 'No! I don't like your show! You must die!'"
I often wonder what people used to do with the explosive anger they now hurl around on the Internet behind the very brave sobriquet "Anon". Did they kick their dogs? Punch holes in their bedroom walls? Pull the wings off flies? Were they road ragers?
Journalist and author, Peter Fitzsimons, has a theory about this. Having copped some charming online abuse in his time, he delights in playing the occasional mind game with the trolls. "It's like people just throwing open their window and shouting out 'Peter FitzSimons is a dickhead!!!!!'" he explained to me. "If you just quietly reply 'Hello, I'm here' they get such a shock and they slam that window shut in one hell of a hurry." This is mostly true in my experience. It's as if they don't expect you to be real or something and they're often rather sheepish when they discover you are.
Still, it can be challenging to find the balance between remaining open to feedback while protecting yourself from abuse.
Years ago I had a boss who gave me some invaluable feedback about feedback. "Mia, you're motivated by criticism," he said, explaining that he worked with a lot of editors and as a publisher he had to determine how best to motivate each of them. "Some need praise and go to water if you criticise them but others use it to push themselves." He wasn't wrong but the key to the success of his approach with me is that the criticism was never mindless, never personal and came from someone I respected.
Anonymous trolls are a whole other bowl of cereal.
How thick is your skin?


text:
Includes information on how to apply for visitor visas, bridging visas and transit visas and what you can bring into Australia.
Information on how to buy over the internet, import goods by post, and clearing goods.
Information on Australia's refugee and humanitarian programme and ImmiCard.
What to expect at the border and what you can bring into the country.
Information on how to apply for student visas, studying in Australia and bringing family with you.
Information on how to apply for Australian citizenship as well as information for Australian citizens.
What you need to know as an Australian permanent resident or citizen.
Information on how to apply for work visas, licensing and registration requirements.
Use the Visa Finder if you are unsure of which visa is right for you.
Contains a listing of Australian visas.
Information on ImmiAccount, Migration scams, eMedicals and fees and charges.
Information on how to bring your family or partners to Australia.
Reforms to modernise Australia's visa processing system.
Provides an online service to check your visa details and entitlements.
Includes information on how to comply with your obligations.
Cargo Support
Exporting prohibited and restricted goods
Importing prohibited and restricted goods
Tariff classification of goods
Education providers
Employing and sponsoring workers
Migration advice professionals
Panel physicians
Travel for business and events
Advance Passenger Processing (APP) System
Australia's entry requirements
Requirements for aircraft entering Australia
Passenger Movement Charge
Tourist Refund Scheme
Application forms, guidelines for Tariff Concession Orders
Importing Goods
List of Tariff Concession Orders
Tariff Concessions Gazette
Contracts and tenders
Calendar of events
Committees and fora
Industry Engagement Strategy 2020
Industry Summit
Includes information about the establishment, structure, role and intent of the ABF and the ABF Commissioner.
Contains information about working in the ABF, includes roles, attributes and eligibility requirements for Border Force officers and ABF College.
Includes contact information for general enquiries, cargo support, providing feedback and reporting suspicious behaviour.
Includes information about how and where the ABF works to protect the border across Australia's airports, seaports, maritime jurisdiction and in the community.
Includes a link to the ABF newsroom containing media releases, speeches and other publications.
Information about who we are, our history, our ministers, fact sheets and forms.
Immigration detention is an important part of strong border control and supports Australia's migration system.
Includes the corporate plan, service standards and information about integrity, freedom of information, public information disclosure scheme and chief executive certification for government advertising campaigns.
Operation Sovereign Borders (OSB) is a military-led, border security operation supported and assisted by a wide range of federal government agencies.
Contains News and media resources, links to social media, copies of speeches and presentations, and subscription services.
Contains Annual reports, budget and information, reviews and inquiries relating to research and statistics.
What you need to know about working with us including employment opportunities and information about the Department's Enterprise agreement.
On this page you will have access to information and support material to help you with using LEGENDcom. The resources available on this page are:
We provide
free face to face training sessions to all current and prospective subscribers located in Australia.Note: Face to face training is not provided to subscribers outside Australia.
The duration of each training session is approximately two hours.
As sessions are scheduled, an expression of interest is emailed to all subscribers in the state where training is to be held. This occurs two weeks before the training date.
Additionally, a notice is placed on the
LEGENDcom home page which includes the location and dates.
If you need more information on LEGENDcom training options you can contact our LEGENDcom Help Desk by:
Places will be offered on a first come first serve basis. Priority will be given to current subscription holders. Early registration allows sufficient time to finalise session numbers, dates and times.
We will attempt to provide all registered participants with a place in their preferred session.
Once participants have been finalised you will receive confirmation details by email.
The interactive 'Getting Started' training module and associated activity module used in our face to face classroom training sessions are also available in LEGENDcom are located under the Help tab.
The following tip sheets provide assistance for using
LEGENDcom and are designed to assist new users.
These tip sheets are also available in
LEGENDcom and are located under the Help tab.
If you have any questions or you would like to provide feedback on the LEGENDcom tip sheets and instructional videos contact the helpdesk on
The following instructional videos are for new users. These demonstrate the basic functions in


text:
Boosting public trust in banks through deposit insurance was the key theme of a seminar that brought together domestic and international banking representatives at Kandawgyi Palace Hotel in Yangon last week.
The seminar, titled Deposit Insurance: Sharing Experiences With East Asian Countries, was jointly organised by the Ministry of Finance and Revenue, the Central Bank of Myanmar and Myanmar Economic Resources International, and was held on Thursday, November 15 and Friday, November16. The event was sponsored by Malaysia's Maybank.
The value of deposit insurance was thrust into the public spotlight in Myanmar when rumours concerning Kanbawza Bank threatened to start a run on the bank in early October, bank representatives said during the seminar.
Domestic banks were urged to invest in local companies to increase the capacity of those firms to expand, while boosting the banks' holdings and earnings.
Maybank has sponsored two other banking seminars this year – in July and September – that focused on banking sector stability and financing for small- and medium-sized enterprises respectively.
Mr John Wong, the managing director of Maybank, said the bank provided a wide range of presenters with extensive experience in East Asia to share their understanding of banking in the region.
He said Myanmar's banking sector offered "tremendous opportunities" and he wanted Maybank to assist the country's economic development.
Maybank made agreements to cooperate with five Myanmar banks to offer money remittance services six months ago, and will further assist those institutions by drawing on its 52 years in the industry, he said.
Central Bank of Myanmar deputy director general U Thein Zaw said deposit insurance could create strong cooperation between banks and insurance.
However, the banking sector needs to shore up public confidence and added that deposit insurance was one mechanism that would help it to do so.
"Deposit insurance is essential for stabilising the banking business, even though this is a new product in Myanmar," he said. "We will have a lot of challenges [to implement] this, but this seminar converts these challenges to opportunity."
Some leading private banks, including Kanbawza and Co-operative Bank, have offered deposit insurance, provided by state-run Myanma Insurance, since 2011.
However, private bankers said that the insurance offered benefitted neither the banks nor consumers.
"If a bank faces bankruptcy, the insurance company will agree to pay out its policy but that will take three to four months, which is a long time," said U Pe Myint, managing director of Co-operative Bank.
"And the insurer will never repay the full amount," he said, adding that most payouts amount to 80 percent of the total deposited with the bank.
Domestic private banks buy government-issued treasury bonds from the Central Bank to be used as liquidity during times of crisis. The bonds pay 9.5pc interest annually, while the banks offer from 8-10pc interest on deposit accounts, although most pay 8pc he said.
"So we can get 1.5pc in profit from that, and we have a look at what else we can invest in, whether that's buying paddy [rice] or gold. But paddy prices are unstable and we have to keep an eye on what's happening with the draft of Central Bank Law to see whether it will allow us to buy gold."


text:
จาก Brain Bank : Saint Louis School Chachoengsao
Dog are like among our family member and its our responsible to take a good care regarding their health. As pets might get damage anytime and anywhere, the pet owner should be aware of pet health conditions. Some owners are able to pay not only 1000s of dollars but additionally hundreds on their pet health without understanding that the statement build up. To compare additional info, consider peeping at: ftp zapier. The pet owner have to know how much actually they made a decision to invest in their pet health as shelter and food isnt just the thing which your pet need. Its our responsibility to maintain its health. Choose as every pet health insurance varies from one another, first which kind of insurance youre trying to find your pet. Pet health insurance shows your deep love for pet and are willing to spend a substantial amount of money on the health. Discover which company gives the most readily useful pet health insurance and which insurance company will Give you quick reimbursement. Read each of the policy and keep a file to keep an effective information regarding the premium which you are paying. To explore more, people might need to take a peep at: read zapier ftp. Your duty dont ends o-n shelter and food beyond that your pet requires his health warranty. Visit go there to read how to look at this activity. Pet medical insurance may give your pet an extended and healthy life to live and in return your pet can give you more time of enjoyment and happiness in your family which a healthy atmosphere aware of all your family member including your pet. I am Free-lance writer and currently with this website Pet Health.. Ive just started to write report and press announcements which are related to this site. This article is prepared o-n the basis of reliable sources. This elegant zapier ftp paper has several fine aids for how to see this concept. If you learn any error or mistake in this report please email us immediately at this email address annajosephsgmail.com to ensure that we are able to take immediate action..


text:
QuestionLoading ...
American Family Denies Family Membership To Lesbian Couple
August 3, 2010
Read More: American Family Fitness, Business, Equality, Gold's Gym, Jewish Community Center, LGBT Rights, RAC, Richmond Athletic Club, Richmond Balance, YMCA
While trying to renew their family membership last week, Karen Hardison and her partner Amy found American Family Fitness had a strict definition of what they considered a family.
For the couple, life had gotten busy. Between trying to have a child and the day-to-day, they let their gym membership slide.
Fast forward to last week and now with a daughter, the couple looked to renew. They wanted a gym with a pool so their almost five-year-old could begin taking swimming lessons. Amy returned to American Family Fitness's Northside location on Brook Road to discuss membership.
Karen contacted GayRVA last week to share the couple's experience.
Her partner Amy was greeted with warmth and hospitality at the fitness center. When she made her request to renew the family membership, she said the salesperson's face dropped.
"He seemed embarrassed to tell her that we could not join Am Fam as a family," Karen says. "The best he could offer was for her to join as a single parent with our child and me to join separately."
GayRVA contacted American Family Fitness to find out their policy on family memberships.
State Matters
"We just base the memberships and guidelines on what Virginia state law calls a family – a woman and a man, a husband and a wife," James, a membership director at the location, says. "At this present time, we don't have that because it's not in the writing of what a family is."
Karen told GayRVA her and her partner didn't have a problem renewing their family membership in the past and believes this new stricter policy is discriminatory.
James said some memberships may have slid in the past, but the club tries to prevent abuse of the system from people listing members that are not family.
Northside General Manager DeAnn Estes-Gray says the policy has been enforced for several years. In fact, this has happened before (to another Karen).
"As a general manager, when I am asked about this, I can only refer to the membership agreement," Estes-Gray says. "It just simply is a married couple as recognized by Virginia state law.
When a gay or lesbian couple is not eligible for the family membership, she says the club offers individual memberships.
Estes-Gray notes that the club has plenty of gay and lesbian members and couples that utilize the individual membership. She ensures that they are never discriminated against using the facilities.
She says in the last year, she knows of two e-mails where perspective members have expressed their dissatisfaction because they are not legally married.
As of publication, club owner Brian Evans did not return calls from GayRVA.
The club, operated by Richmond Fitness, Inc., serves over 110,000 members within its eight locations throughout Fredericksburg and Central Virginia.
"Families Run On A Spectrum"
After being denied the family membership they had hoped for, Amy followed her visit with one to the Weinstein Jewish Community Center. According to the couple, the experience couldn't have been more different.
"It is self evident and crystal clear to the folks at JCC that we are indeed a family," Karen said.
Randi Amar, Membership Director at the JCC, says the center understands that families come in all different shapes and sizes.
"There are many ways that families come together. If there is a couple in the same household and they have children, we consider that a family," Amar says. "Whether it's gay and lesbian, a grandparent that takes guardianship of the child, or a grandparent that looks over the child. Families run on a spectrum. There's not just one definition."
She says the JCC's stance is not uncommon and is a policy held by most fitness centers – if two people live together and run a household, then they are a family.
Amar says from personal experience of registering members, the JCC welcomes a nicely-sized gay and lesbian population.
"Personally, in the membership office, we love seeing different families," she says. "We're a community center, so the more diverse we are, the more beautiful it is."
While the JCC is not open 24 hours and is slightly more expensive, Karen says the benefits are worthwhile.
"It is a small price to pay for spending our time and money at a place that honors our family."
Open For Business
When Richmond Balance opened, they didn't expect to have a family membership. In 2008, the club decided to open up a partnership membership to include everyone. Married, straight, or gay.
As a boutique gym in Shockoe Bottom, club manager Brandyn Webster says they don't have corporate rules and policies to affect their membership.
"This area, especially downtown and over at VCU – there's a lot of different ethnicities, people, orientation, and overall diversity," she says. "From a business standpoint it makes sense – why wouldn't we make it easy for couples to signup together regardless of who it is?"
At the Richmond Athletic Club, new owner Yedda Stancil doesn't put a cap on the relationship the family holds.
"The number one reason we decided to do that is because health and wellness is our top priority," Stancil says. "Your family is not just flesh and blood. It can be people that you care about. Your family gives you support. It's common sense to me."
Stancil operated thirteen clubs in DC before moving to Richmond to practice integrated medicine. In May, she moved her practice to RAC and is working towards creating a comprehensive wellness center.
As for Karen and her partner, since speaking out, she has heard from several straight families that plan to drop their membership, write, and protest American Family Fitness's policy.
While the fitness club can choose their own membership policy, the couple has made it very clear that they have exercised their own power of choice.
Gyms With Gay & Lesbian Inclusive Family Memberships
Gold's Gym (The Fan, Mechanicsville, Willow Lawn) Two adults living at the same address. Membership policies vary by franchise. Contact gym for specific membership savings. Willow Lawn: (804) 285-4653
Richmond Balance Two adults living at the same address. For an annual members, family membership can save $10-$20 per month based on type of contract. (804) 343-1234
Richmond Athletic Center All families welcome – open to immediate and extended family. Family membership saves $20 to $47 based on length of contract. (804) 355-4311
Weinstein Jewish Community Center Family Membership includes access to the center's amenities including art gallery, theater, education programs, and fitness classes. Additional fee per person for access to cardio and strength-training equipment. Family membership saves cost at registration. (804)545-8635
YMCA of Greater Richmond A Family Membership includes any two adults living at the same address and their dependents. Family memberships can save $30 – $40 per month. Downtown location (804) 644-9622.
Know more? Leave a comment.
Kevin Clay is the editor and publisher of GAYRVA.COM. He is a Richmond native, loves the city and knows it's on the edge of greatness. Don't hold back RVA. You can follow Kevin on GAYRVA's Twitter or e-mail him at email@example.com.
Related Stories
Internal emails show RVA beat Charlotte for CoStar Group's 700 jobs because of discriminatory law
While there had been rumors that about 700 jobs were coming to RVA because of NC's HB 2, new documents FOIA'd by the The Charlotte Observer show the city and the real estate company fought over the discriminatory law. "It is my understanding that we lost the project. I have selected the following reason for this status change: [...]December 6, 2016
- VCU celebrates LGBT History Month with parties, panels, pride athletic games and more, October 8, 2015
- Transgender inmate of Maryland prison wins landmark suit against officials who called her "some kind of animal", September 28, 2015
- Grindr users love Bernie Sanders and The Donald, September 25, 2015
33 Comments
Posted August 3, 2010 at 2:43 am | Permalink
How very, very disappointing to hear! You know I had considered changing to AFF when my membership was up with Gold's, but having heard this, I feel no motivation whatsoever to change now.
Who is AFF (or really, the bigger question, who is the state) to define what a family amounts to? There are plenty of unique families–gay and straight. They're alienating a major segment of the population. The "new family" is everywhere these days.
By doing this, AFF is clearly sending out the message that they can afford to lose business. I say good riddance. See y'all at Gold's!
Posted August 3, 2010 at 7:07 am | Permalink
I'm not shocked. I was harassed by a male member several times to the point where I felt uncomfortable being in the establishment on Brook Road and when I complained to management they said if they didn't "see it" then there wasn't much they could do. Of course I was locked into a year long contract so I attempted to go to the Short Pump location and ran into the same stupid guys there, as well as even more ignorant management and this has happened to several of my friends as well. It doesn't surprise me that since they promote male sexual harassment that they would stand behind Virginia's backward view about same sex marriages. I ended up ditching the contract and having a lawyer contact them after they threatened to put the remaining balance on my credit report. AF is a meat market, it's like a singles club and is far from family friendly
Posted August 3, 2010 at 9:32 am | Permalink
Great article Kevin! Good insight to something I didn't know about.
Posted August 3, 2010 at 10:22 am | Permalink
I must say that I disagree with the statement made by the general manager, "She ensures that they are never discriminated against using the facilities". When I inquired about a family membership for my partner and myself during a phone converstion I was informed I might need to re-evaluate my lifestyle – how ironic.
We have joined Gold's Gym (southside locations) and the customer service is night and day. I wish the "plenty" of gay and lesbian members and couples would not renew their memberships!
Not good enough to be a "family" for AFF but good enough to take your money.
Posted August 3, 2010 at 10:58 am | Permalink
I just wanted everyone to know that Midlothian Athletic Club (formerly Robious Sports & Fitness) also has family memberships and recognizes same-sex couples who live together or are married as families. They also have great facilities and low membership fees. My husband and I pay only $59/month for the family membership which includes use of everything (cardio, weights, indoor/outdoor pool, and sauna) except tennis facilities.
Posted August 3, 2010 at 12:06 pm | Permalink
ACAC in Chesterfield County off of Robious Road accepts lesbian and gay families. It's a great facility with a lot to offer.
Posted August 3, 2010 at 3:27 pm | Permalink
If a club is privately owned, then they have the right to do as they please. In this case, it's obvious where the owner's biases are. Saying that you do as Virginia does just perpetuates the problem – and crying "might be abused" is a joke. Other clubs are doing just fine with it – without "abuse" – and it speaks volumes to me that American Family stands apart with their policies. I wonder what would happen if all their gay employees and members stopped supporting them? It would be amazing how fast their policies would change.
Posted August 3, 2010 at 7:57 pm | Permalink
Seems to me that AFF has the right to do what they want as long as it is within the Virginia state law, which it is, so people have the right to choose where they go to the gym, and you have the right to voice your opinion, but they set the rules for their establishment and they have to follow them until they change it, just like the other gyms set their rules….they all will never be the same, the world is not the same where ever you go so don't expect richmond, virginia to be any different….
Posted August 3, 2010 at 8:13 pm | Permalink
Great article Kevin.
Doesn't surprise me. They've held steadfast to this policy for years and no one has bothered to call them out on it….until now.
As someone else mentioned, seemingly every other club defines the couples membership as "Two individuals living at the same address". Frankly, regurgitating the VERY lame excuse of "Virginia, as defined by law" says to me, at a minimum, that AFF is insensitive to the needs of it's LGBT members, or worse, believes as a company, that gays and lesbians aren't equal in their eyes.
Posted August 3, 2010 at 8:57 pm | Permalink
Great article. IMPRESSED!
Posted August 3, 2010 at 10:20 pm | Permalink
Well as a long time member of the Richmond Athletic Club, my partner and I have felt very welcome for several years, and have a family membership that is cheaper than any other In the area. It is a wonderful, non threatening place to workout.
Posted August 4, 2010 at 12:22 am | Permalink
hooray for american family fitness as a parent with children with memberships at several centers it makes me appreciate aff mor knowing that when i am there with my family (wife and kids) that i dont have to worry about explaining the facts of gays and lesbians to my kids As long as family fitness continues to operate a morally responsible operation i will be a member Go AFF you have many many supporters
Posted August 4, 2010 at 12:26 am | Permalink
Personally most straight people and their families dont want to be around gays and lesbians anyway I f gays and lesbians want to work out so badly why dont they get together and start the gay and lesbian fitness centers they really need to stop trying to convince us that their lifestyle is okay its not and we would prefer not to have it shown in public take it back in the closet where it belongs
Posted August 4, 2010 at 7:24 am | Permalink
Great article! You are so awesome for doing the work that you are doing! And I can say that Gold's Gym has been super, super nice to me and my partner. Not only did we get a family membership, but the manager went out of her way to express her disapproval of how we were treated at American Family Fitness and to make sure we felt welcomed at Gold's Gym. I am a loyal Gold's member now. I firmly believe that my money is my vote and AFF will never get another dime from me!
Posted August 4, 2010 at 9:53 am | Permalink
I work for the location that this happened at. It is an embarrassment and inexcusable. From time to time I see exceptions being made to the so called "rules" and it makes me furious when those who deserve it are denied. I have already signed a cancellation form so that when my membership expires, they will no longer have my business. I am also now looking for a new job. I dont want to be part of a company that does not honor loving families.
Posted August 4, 2010 at 11:08 am | Permalink
I love how American Family falls back on VA state law. Companies should realize that families/partners come in a variety of types, not just an antiquated viewpoint. If that were the case, then more major companies would be following that. when I moved here with my opposite sex partner and he went to work with Verizon, the only way that I could be on his insurance would be if i were a same sex partner, even though T-Mobile in another state recognized our "partnership." Knew there was one more reason not to like American Family.
Posted August 4, 2010 at 11:14 am | Permalink
regarding the comment about amf being a meat market made me laugh. when i was a member there for 2 years, the only "meat" i saw there was older, out of shape that I had no desire to have. i think most people who go there just go to say they belong to a gym and don't know what fitness is.
Lloyd up above seems like a sad case, he'll probably be the one who will be surprised when his wife cheats on him and his child ends up pregnant b/c he can't "talk about things." if anything should be outlawed in Virginia, it should be being an idiot!
Posted August 4, 2010 at 1:46 pm | Permalink
I'm happy to see so many of my friends, both gay and straight, share this link on their facebook page and express their outrage. Having been a former member myself I can tell you that there is a very significant number of gays and lesbians who are members there. If every one of them were to decide not to renew their membership and explained to management exactly why they are doing so I believe that it would have a significant impact on their bottom line. It would be great to see a mainstream publication like Style magazine expose this to the general public, as I think many of our straight friends would be just as outraged as we are. In the meantime, thanks for writing this article and getting the word out to our community about other gyms that are more welcoming of our community. I think this is one of the best and most significant articles yet written for Gayrva. Keep up the good work Kevin and to everyone who reads this and is equally pissed off please help spread the word though sharing this link on your facebook page!
Posted August 4, 2010 at 2:22 pm | Permalink
Thank you for bringing out AFF's bigoted policy.
Bravo on the added touch in the article to not just expose (quite deservedly) AFF, but to go the extra mile and share info on the gyms in the area that are doing the right thing!
Posted August 4, 2010 at 9:17 pm | Permalink
Well hope people cancel their memebership or not renew them. They are are private business and can do as they please. But I can also spend my money where I please.
Posted August 4, 2010 at 9:47 pm | Permalink
While I get a business can set their own rules… it's poor business practice and certainly not industry standard.
Based on their rules, my (opposite sex) fiance and I do not yet qualify for a family membership (we tried as a way to save $$) even though we live together… AFF is closest to our home and we have friends that go. We're now with Gold's and make the little bit farther drive. It's completely worth it. We'll be staying put and recruiting other AFF members to Gold's!
Posted August 4, 2010 at 11:56 pm | Permalink
I wrote to American Family fitness. you can find the email addresses of each of the Directors on their website. I encourage others do to so also. Particularly members. Here is my letter:
Dear Jill,
I am a member and regular patron of AmFam West End, and I am really upset about the recent media attention bringing to light the discriminatory way in which American Family defines "family". After reading the article posted on the GayRVA website: http://www.gayrva.com/2010/08/03/american-family-denies-family-membership-to-lesbian-couple/ I strongly believe that defining family according to the legal stance of Virginia state is a cop out. It is American Family fitness' choice to stand by that (bigoted) view, when they really could define family in a way that suits the families that attend the Gym. Estes-Gray states the obvious in saying that "the club has plenty of gay and lesbian members and couples that utilize the individual membership". But we do not have a choice? We join on a single membership because your organization will not recognize us as couples and families in the way it does for straight couples. How is this fair? in the year 2010? Really?
It really is insulting given you have so many gay people working with you, and since there are a great many gay people in membership. I seriously recommend that this be reconsidered and your policies changed. Even if you need to require a little more documentation for a gay couple to apply for a family membership. We deserve to be treated equally. And I think it is embarrassing that a a religious organization, such as the Weinstein Jewish Community Center, would offer a lesbian couple and their child a family membership, considering that American Family fitness is a business non publicly or directly connected with a religious order. Other than the argument of Virginia law, what are the other reasons why American Family fitness will not join gay an lesbian families, as so?
I would like to add, that many of your staff have been very approachable and genuinely interested in my life, and often ask after my partner. I have never felt discriminated against directly by any of your staff. Quite the opposite really. American Family fitness staff generally support and embrace homosexual people. But this makes your policy all the more ridiculous. And it is outright discrimination.
I hope you will see that this letter is considered seriously, because I certainly will not be renewing my membership if this policy is still in practice. In fact, it may even be worth canceling my membership if this kind of discriminatory treatment of people is practiced as a so called "family" fitness facility.
Phil Evans.
Posted August 5, 2010 at 2:57 pm | Permalink
it never ceases to amaze me how backward RVA can be sometimes. And using the law to back up a poor business practice! Although a different situation, I have have been frustrated for years that the YMCA does not have a 1 parent/1 child membership. As a single mother I must enroll as an individual or a family, paying the same thing that a family of 4 or more would pay? Come up YMCA, step into the 21st Century.
Posted August 5, 2010 at 8:42 pm | Permalink
Wow! That's exactly what happened to us! We decided to go with Gold's Gym…glad to see we weren't the only ones in the "no family" membership rule with them, and glad someone decided to give us all a voice. :)
Posted August 9, 2010 at 4:13 pm | Permalink
Thanks for this article and to ConnectRichmond for featuring this story in today's weekly update. This is important reporting. I'm a Gold's member anyway, but the next time someone says they're on the fence, I'm going to add discriminatory policies at AFF to the list of reasons to consider a different gym.
Posted August 10, 2010 at 9:25 am | Permalink
Nicely done, Kevin! I've been a RAC member for a number of years; glad to read (but not surprised) that new owners share same philosophy of the previous ones. Shame on AFF – but heartening to read that so many others are more enlightened when it comes to defining "family."
Posted August 10, 2010 at 9:00 pm | Permalink
I had no idea that AF was doing this, and I regularly go to the Northside location. Thank you, GayRVA,com for bringing this story to the community. When my membership is up, I'm moving to Gold's!
Posted August 13, 2010 at 2:04 pm | Permalink
Hey Kevin!
Great to see that you went from The Gavel to writing for good causes such as this! I personally am disappointed in American Family!! I was actually about to join their new Woolridge Road location since I live right beside it but think my money should go to the YMCA that is also right beside me. I am also a leasing consultant for an apartment community and American Family has info that they want us to include in our move in packets but I am now throwing it away! TAKE THAT!
Posted August 15, 2010 at 7:19 pm | Permalink
I am thrilled that this has been brought to light. My wife and I had the same problem with AFF several years ago. I spoke to the membership rep and manager about it and got no where. I got the name and phone number of the owner and called him. I explained the plethora of reasons why we should be permitted to join as a family. He replied, "It is my business and I will run it how I want to and I don't want to allow this." Neither maturity nor tolerance could be listed among his virtues.
Posted August 17, 2010 at 4:55 pm | Permalink
Yea that's crazy. People got to wake up its a new day. Hopefully soon it will be unlawful for a business to discriminate like that. More power to you!
Posted September 30, 2010 at 4:42 pm | Permalink
I fell so sorry for all those people, but I think that is an amazing opportunity for other establisments start to considering open 24h. Why not???
Posted October 28, 2010 at 12:11 am | Permalink
Posted January 13, 2012 at 11:27 am | Permalink
Hello all,
We just posted an update to this article. As of Dec. 26, 2011 – American Family Fitness updated their policy.
Leave a Comment
- Prev No Butts About It
- Next It's Getting Hot In Here
- Topics
- Back to top
Recent Posts
- Trump's pick for head USDA scientist is an anti-LGBTQ talk radio host
- Alice: A New Musical brings new life & meaning to a surreal children's classic
- RTP's The View UpStairs remembers past tragedies, inspires present-day vigilance
- Carytown's LGBTQ History explored in walking tour Sunday
- Texas 'Bathroom Bill' meets its demise in special summer session
Friend Activity


text:
Related Topics:
Related Suppliers
DMC America will introduce its FM 50V vertical machining center at the show, intended to meet the need for a fast, functional machine with high-speed processing controls. The machine supports production machining with multiple workpiece positions or cases in which the tooling process requires the speed of linear ways, but the rigidity of boxed ways. Using the 40-taper Big Plus system, a 25-hp direct-drive spindle provides 15,000 rpm in the Y and Z axes. The VMC offers a rapid traverse rate of 60 m/min. The chip conveyor, triple light stack and wash-down flood coolant with 1,000-psi delivery ease machining. Additional features include lubricated ballscrews, roller guides, dual chip augers and fourth-axis capability. The VMC is suitable for use in the automotive, tool die/mold, aerospace and medical industries, or applications requiring high-volume production, high-speed machining, tight surface finishes or fast cycle times.
Editor PickDMG MORI Opens New Tech Center and Showroom in Southwest Ohio
Site to provide customer support and training for technologies such as five-axis machining and multifunction turning centers.


text:
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 23/11/2012 (1732 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
The first-ever biography of Group of Seven artist Lawren Harris is long-overdue and a delight.
McMaster University professor James King accomplishes for this silver-spooned artist-mystic, silver-tongued nationalist, and latter-day wife-swapping celibate what Ross King (no relation) did for the Group of Seven as a whole in Defiant Spirits (2010).
Inward Journey is written in a sympathetic tone for a broad audience without skimping on footnotes and references, proving at once an energetic read and a valuable resource.
King -- who has made inward journeying his career, having already published numerous biographies on the likes of Virginia Woolf, William Blake and Margaret Laurence -- is a deft and subtle narrator.
The book is well illustrated with images of Harris's work from throughout his career. It also contains numerous photographs of the artist at his sometimes dapper, other times pugnacious, yet always charming best.
King hits all the touchstones of development upon which Harris's reputation as a painter is built: the estheticized slums of Toronto and Halifax; the icy portraits of those for whom the artist felt deep spiritual connection; wilderness landscapes, from the rioting colours and roiling contours of Algoma, to the encrusted whiteness of the Arctic; the geometric abstraction, at once a perfect expression of Harris's transmigratory mindset and utterly impenetrable to anyone lacking taste for theosophy, Harris' spiritual Kool-Aid.
One writer, Robert Linsley, has called theosophy the "ideological inversion of Marxism." It proffered an ersatz radicalism, envisioning social equality through cosmic, rather than class consciousness.
Theosophy lies at the crux of Harris's art, and spiritual solace at the heart of his life story. The proto-new age movement whose doctrine is a cobbled assortment of Eastern mysticism, philosophical Idealism and American Transcendentalism, was Harris' spiritual navigator.
It was the fount that allowed him to maintain intellectual integrity -- his nationalism, the progressive socio-spiritual role he envisioned for art -- and kick back righteously at godless materialism, both economic and metaphysical.
Theosophy also supplied Harris a recipe for marital happiness. Born in Brantford, Ont., in 1885 into means (his family was the Harris in Massey-Harris Co. Ltd.), he also married into wealth and was made miserable by it.
Beyond his membership in the Group of Seven, beyond his crucial defence of modernism at a time when Torontonians could still find a way to agonize over nudity in art, Harris is known for the indiscretion of fleeing his equally well-heeled first wife Beatrice (Phillips) for (Brandon-born) Bess (Larkin), who at the time was herself was wed-locked to Harris's friend, fellow theosophist and Group champion F.B. Housser.
The turmoil and controversy only increases when Harris maintains that their relationship is one of "real spiritual oneness" without sexual intimacy -- "There's to be none of that," he asserts to his tennis partner, artist Peter Haworth.
Prudish and salacious all at once, the story gets better. Harris and Bess flee Canada for the United States, New Hampshire and thence New Mexico. Over a span of six years, from 1934 to 1940, Harris comes to abandon everything he hitherto held dear in his painting -- cascading waterfalls, forests in the throes of autumn, crystalline icebergs -- for sparse geometric landscapes, spatial abstractions.
The couple returned to Canada with the outbreak of the Second World War, but this time they settled in Vancouver, where, as you might expect, they were a hit.
Harris, who died in 1970 at age 84, is not an easy subject. His life harbours many highlights and accomplishments, but it also sustains an undertow of cynicism.
It is tempting to see the son of entrepreneurial Baptists, the promulgator of what one critic called "aristocratic spirituality," as pre-emptively shielded from the world.
He was never a starving artist. His life and art may have been heart felt, but some might say they weren't exactly hard won.
While King sometimes phones it in with phases like "He was a born artist," and does not always chose the most assiduous terms in his formal analysis ("surrealistic" seems at times to be his last descriptive resort), he is neither perfunctory nor aggrandizing.
Inward Journey successfully conveys a sense of something almost preordained, archetypal, about Harris without becoming too inward; that is, without loosing the detail of the everyday, the tip of the iceberg.
Andrew Kear is the curator of historical Canadian art at the Winnipeg Art Gallery.


text:
It is easy sometimes to forget to indulge in the beauty of the worldview that humanism offers, though these words do little justice to the image I would like to convey, allow me to present them anyway:
We are what we are, and what is, is. As we fall from one moment to the next, who we are and how we perceive the universe which supports us changes ever so slightly. Yet, as we look down into the mists of future time, we see paths so innumerable as to become a writhing ocean of choice, a billion motes of future selves and future universes waiting to be discovered and explored. Behind us our trajectory reminds us of who we were, yet more astoundingly is criss-crossed by the flights of thousands of other divers through time. Through them we learn of vistas unexplored and the wisdom of millions, as we in return relate our travels through the voices of our future selves in the ocean below. As we peer down below, notice how those areas of peaceful beauty and complex splendour are those in which we have held hands and worked together to set ourselves and our world to reach such places: motivated by compassion, inspired by beauty, and empowered by reason and evidence.
Though our lives may be long or short, none can contest that the view is amazing. Let's make it even better. Together, the world becomes a more beautiful place.


text:
If you read us through Bloglines, you may have noticed our feed didn't update after November, 16th. Readers report it working now.
Personally, we we had to unsubscribe and resubscribe to show the new posts.
Give it a whirl, and as they say, y'all come back now, ya hear? — BEN POPKEN


text:
The winners are: Local River of Words Poetry and Art Contest winners were recognized at the Newton County Board of Commissioners meeting on March 17. Sponsored by Keep Covington/Newton Beautiful and judged and funded by the Covington Service Guild, students were invited to create art and write poetry about water. First place winners received $100 savings bonds, second place winners received $75 savings bonds and third place winners received $50 savings bonds. Winners were entered in the national and state River of Words contests.
From left to right: (front row) Christopher Gomes, first place in Art, Kindergarten-Second grade; Katherine Piper, second place in Art, Kindergarten – Second grade; Hudson Bryant, third place Art, Kindergarten - Second grade; Karsten McMichael, first place Poetry, Kindergarten-Second grade; Chloe Evans, second place Poetry, Kindergarten – Second grade; Carson Daniel, second pace Art, Third-Sixth grade; Sydney Sellers, third place Art, Third-Sixth grade; and Jennifer Stephens, second Place Poetry, third-sixth grade; (middle row) Jayla Porter, first place Art, Third-Sixth grade; Madeline McCanless, first place Poetry, third-sixth grade; Amanda Manowski, first place Art, Seventh-Ninth grade; Micaela Stegall, second place Art, Seventh-Ninth grade; Abrham Bogale, first place Poetry, Seventh-Ninth grade; Shantel Seaman, second place Poetry, Seventh-Ninth grade; and Mariah Clay, third place Poetry, Seventh-Ninth grade; (back row) Commissioner Mort Ewing, Commissioner Earnest Simmons; Commissioner Tim Fleming, Chairman Kathy Morgan, Commissioner Nancy Schulz, and Commissioner J. C. Henderson. (Submitted photo)


text:
What children really want, according to new research, are mobiles, DVD players and gadgets instead of "uncool", more traditional toys like action figures.
Street cred
Traditional toys are boring and just don't have street cred, especially with 8 to 12 year olds.
And experts say toy manufacturers have to make them more attractive to stop sales going down.
Shiny entertainment gadgets like mobiles, MP3 players and DVDs are attracting the cool-kid shopper instead, reports the Independent on Sunday newspaper who had the research done.
"Children over 10 are no longer interested in buying toys - or at least do not want to be associated with what they think of as 'children's toys'", say the researchers.
But what do you think? Vote now by going to the links to the right of this story