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There are few albums that have ever come out that can be described as monumental. These albums are few and far between; often carving with the terrible swift sword of innovation, or trudging through with the tried and true tactics of perfecting an old formula – keeping sacred the secrets of the music itself. There are significantly less bands who can claim to have produced monumental albums that fall into each crevasse of the example. Rotting Christ is one of those bands.
Maybe it was their lineage? One linked to the Ancients, the torchbearers to the rest of the world, the heart of the Western idea of Truth, and the forefathers of blazing new, frightening trails upon which the rest of man will wander? Maybe the pagan moon was just in the right place upon their conception? That Rotting Christ was somehow blessed from their genesis, to be the bearers of genres and sounds unbeknownst to the rest of Europe? No matter the cause of their primitive genius, Rotting Christ stood tall as an incredible musical force, and the titan that would single-handedly drag the rest of their country along with them in their sonic pursuits; and as it stands, they are one of the few bands to walk the Earth who possess such a riveting and coveted title as monumental.
After a stint as an excellently crafted black metal band, Rotting Christ began to craft a new kind of metal, one that took the melodies and romanticism of black metal to a level that was unheard of, save a few bands. Perhaps this era can best be described using the antiquated term of "dark metal"; an ambiguous term used to detail the combination of black and gothic metal. Normally, I would refrain from using such restrictive terms when describing music, but in this particular moment, no other word seems quite as appropriate. Triarchy of the Lost Lovers is the quintessential sound of dark metal: a seemless blend of the grim and heavy aspects of black metal with the unbridled mysticism and (dare I say) religious/romantic/spiritual nature of gothic metal.
As you, my dear reader, may have guessed from the score, this album is a masterpiece. Triarchy of the Lost Lovers perfectly encapsulates the emotional aspects of heavy music. It is simple, almost bafflingly so. The lyrics are spoken in short bursts of couplets, in Sakis' standard shrill growls, but they detail incredibly profound moments in these simple stanzas. Just one example from "Snowing Still":
"All my dreams/take me backwards"
Has a profound Yeats-ean effect on the listener. There's an underlying sense of sadness ever-present throughout the duration of the album; a sadness that has yet to be remotely matched by any other metal album that this listener has encountered. Gone are the blasphemies and anger of the previous albums, instead replaced by a solemn, almost reverent, sense of self-examination. The melodies accent this dreary lyricism to a tee; possessing the perfect blend of power chords and metallic influence with bombastic melodies and sweeping soundscapes. No other album captures the harrowing and persistent sadness of loss quite the same way that Rotting Christ manages to do on this album. In a way, this album's funereal environment becomes the catalyst for a joyful celebration of loss and death of a loved one. In a way, Rotting Christ has created a profoundly personal, internal, and almost, religious album.
"A body becomes a prison.
An eternal soul
Come to me
You will be able
To go to everywhere
To see everything"
This is the essential line of the album. One that doesn't force the listener into anything. There is no bludgeoning, no blasting, no militaristic ideal or imperial attitude that normally drapes over the genre. Instead all of these aspects are replaced by the simple philosophy of "letting go" and letting Sakis and crew create the beautiful, weaving, textually rich melodies and intricate and intimate lyricism which will carry the listener away.
Each song on this album is perfectly and artisanly crafted to bring the listener new pleasures on a variation on a theme. The whole album, as it stands, is rather monochromatic. It reeks of grey and black, of the hollow and cold production, and the echoed and distant layering. But, with each listen, the listener is granted a new subtle aspect to appreciate. It is monochromatic, but with the blanketed color palette, Rotting Christ manages to make each song entirely memorable. The riffing is truly excellent, providing a complex and layered background for the breathtaking melodic leads.
I would dare say that this is Rotting Christ's finest moment in harmonizing and layering in their entire career. Sakis lays down the most hooks in his career and none come off as cheesy, overly dramatic or unnecessary. Each song is an excellent example of melodic metal, but without the frills and theatrics that many bands seem to pile on to make up for lack of songwriting skills. Rotting Christ allows each riff to breath, to dance around and to identify itself. This is a feat that few bands manage to accomplish over the span of their careers, and Rotting Christ perfected it on one album.
To detail each song seems to be trivial at this point; each one is memorable, yes, but to try to break it down track by track seems almost unfair. This is not album to be listened to in piece-meal. Triarchy of the Lost Lover is meant to be listened to as a whole, at it is the perfect length to do so. To give an anecdote about the nature of listening to this album, I will use a story about the first time I had ever heard it.
It was a cold northeastern Ohio winter, and I was a lowly sophomore in high school. I just moved out to my new house in the country, complete with twenty-three acres of deep forested land. I put on my thickest wool sweater and pea-coat and decided to explore the newly acquire property. I could only bring one CD with me in my Walkman, and I had just received Triarchy of the Lost Lovers so I decided on that.
I explored the forest, colored entirely white by the morning's snow, for the entire length of the album. I broke open the ice covering the rivers, revealing the immensity of life beneath the deadened snowfall, the small minnows swimming against the current, the invincible plants that thrived on the banks. I looked to the aging oak trees and saw that they were very much alive, in spite of their slackened appearance; there were animals creating their dens within them, feeding off of the plants buried deep within the earth. It was then, among what seemed to be a frigid and still wilderness, that I understood the nature of this album.
It is a definitively cold album. The production is hollow and tinny, the guitars razor-sharp and glacial, appearing to be dying amid the unbearable grey taciturnity. But, underneath its unforgivable textures, therein lies a living, breathing, organic structure; almost offensive in its sensitive and intricate nature, revealing a romantic and sweeping grandiose stage. To say that this album is emotional is a gross understatement. To say it is deep and touching is to do it an injustice. Simply put, Triarchy of the Lost Lovers is the sound of a band maturing beyond their years, understanding that the most heart wrenching and beautiful moments do not come from dramatic displays of emotion, but from subtle plays on the beautiful itself.
Maybe this review reads like a gushing love letter, rambling and scattered. I think that's appropriate, actually, and I don't think there's any other way to describe it. I do truly love this album. It represents the shift from where I stopped viewing metal as an amateurish and childish genre to a genre filled with incredible musicians and thinkers. It is a profoundly important album, one marking the shift of a band from a good band, to a collection of artists, bristling with talent and humanity.
I could not recommend this album highly enough. If the listener gives enough time to it, it will reward him or her with untold rewards, far beyond what most albums can do. Triarchy of the Lost Lovers is a triumph of the genre, and one of the most brilliant and perfectly crafted albums of all time. One would be remised if one passed it up based on the band name, or simply the fact that one thinks they may not be "into it". I truly believe there is something here for every type of listener; Triarchy is too powerful not to believe such a thing.
Continuing from Non Serviam's excellence, Triarchy Of The Lost Lovers is the start of an era where I personally get a kick out of Rotting Christ. While they wouldn't fully abandon their malevolent sensibilities, the band began pouring their efforts into creating more intricate, mournful songs that no doubt began to cement itself with this release. It's a blend of black metal with leads and atmosphere taking influences from primarily the gothic realm. There are bands that would take this route and trip over themselves trying to be something they aren't, but Rotting Christ took this route and created something that define who they were.
First off, this album marks a third run of dumb snare sounds. Granted, the first two were programmed drums, but there are ways to make it bearable. Triarchy Of The Lost Lovers is Themis' debut behind the kit, but the snare sound on here is probably the worst. It's the "tock" sound in full swing, which shouldn't come as much of a surprise since Non Serviam was much of the same. Snare sound aside, Themis' pounding style is at home with the mid-paced rhythms that make up the backbone of Rotting Christ's sound.
Second off, the production is louder and clearer than even Non Serviam's enhanced clarity compared to the Thy Mighty Contract. It certainly isn't polished, but there's a melodic death metal quality to it when bringing the riffs into the equation. Not in a sappy way, but certainly with an edge for melody over harshness. The dual attack of harsh riffs and harmonic leads is ripe with this album, and it's a style that'll continue for the remainder of the band's career. The woeful leads sweep up influences from gothic and doom metal realms, draping melancholic atmosphere over each song. The keys aren't to be forgotten, as they've been the synth-spice that's sprinkled over everything to augment the ghostly mood.
Sakis once more takes his vocals away from the center of the album. This isn't a problem with mixing, as the album's very balanced. It's just that his vocals have a bit of air between them that make them sound a tad farther than the instruments. I wouldn't consider it a problem, because nothing's holding him back from giving his tormented growls and jagged screams. Behind him is the bass support, which is starting to show itself more as a dual role toward blurbs and booming backdrops instead of just one or the other. This is another step in the right direction, although the clarity of this album restricts the capacity for first-rate bass.
Triarchy Of The Lost Lovers is certainly a transition album, much like Non Serviam before it. It shows a clearer, melodic sound while still retaining a black metal base, but not one that perfects what they accomplished with Non Serviam. Is it a better overall sound than Non Serviam? Maybe, but not by much because it is an attempt to transition from harsher black metal to a blend of ideas. Once that's perfected, it'll be the winning formula of winning formulas.
Rotting Christ are the heroes in their homeland, and no wonder why. The band took black metal, moulded it to sound their own and never showed any uncertainty.
Rotting Christ have matured a lot during the years. The band found mystical melodies already on their first works (not including those death/grind ones), which drift over rather simplistic song structures. By 1996, the band had abandoned those typical thrash/black metal riffs and found their unique style. Here epical, mystical, sombre and fiery atmospheres mingle into arcane Hellenic sounds. While it's melodic, it's also chunky. Rotting Christ's style is black metal, but so very different it is to the "typical" black metal sound. I'd call them a dark metal band perhaps. There are only a few keyboard lines, but no more are needed, as the band can easily build atmospheres with guitars, bass, drums and vocals. Pace of the music fluctuates between slow and mid-paced, 'Archon' being the fastest song with its blast beats (and probably my favourite of all Rotting Christ songs, simply perfect!). By the way, the digipak version includes three Kreator cover songs.
Sakis "Necromayhem" Tolis' growled throat vocals are easy to recognise. His bad English pronunciation doesn't matter to me, it simply gives him more character, and as you know that's what matters. He doesn't possess the ugliest, strongest voice ever, but he sounds like he's been possessed. The lyrics are inspired by nature, universe, inner self and mythology. The graphics get thumbs up, but vary on jewelcase and digipak editions.
The sound is organic, quite a lot cleaner than on the previous recordings. This isn't very heavy, but the bass and the kick drums give enough punch to balance the melodic guitar playing. When thinking of the band's past releases, they've never been "heavy", but in atmospheric way. Actually, I have not a single complaint about how this sounds. I love it how those drums sound. Magnificent. The album was recorded by Andy Classen of Holy Moses fame.
Ten years down the road, this album is still as spellbinding as it was in 1996. While the band has lost some of their edge on the newer albums, thanks to modern production values, just put 'Triarchy...' on and travel through the universe with Rotting Christ's magical music. This is the first professionally produced album from the band, but still totally soulful and true. Natural continuation from magickal 'Non Serviam' (1994). Not for "only hissing black metal for me" fanatics, but if you are looking for something with dark and mystical atmosphere and unique style, then give this a try ASAP!!!
(originally written for ArchaicMetallurgy.com in 2006)
Though I've often juggled it between my admiration for the debut Thy Mighty Contract, or its direct successor A Dead Poem, it is the Triarchy of the Lost Lovers which ultimately stands as my favorite Rotting Christ record. One of those mid-90s efforts (alongside Samael's Passage and Amorphis' Elegy) that helped restore my faith that creativity and composition were not dead propositions in the metal realm, it forged all of the qualities of the Greek band's debut into a refined, epic songwriting sensibility that to do this never ceases to impress upon me when I'm in the mood, and it's a credit to the scene that spawned it, not to mention a refreshing and unique milestone in all of European black metal...
Well, except for the fact that it's more or less a more polished re-enactment of the qualities that exemplified the band's 1993 debut, Thy Mighty Contract. Slow to mid-paced material which is nothing if not a tribute to that ever elusive hallmark of metal masterworks, 'the riff'. Each of the nine tracks is glazed in simplistic, sweeping bombast as steady as the march of a well armed and trained phalanx of antiquity, to the point that it carries this militaristic grace. The keyboards that fleshed out the band's earlier work return here, but they're relegated even more into the backdrop, serving only to support the strength of the guitars rather than compete with them. And what fucking guitars there are...written in surefire, memorable patterns of glistening mutes and cement rhythms, more of an uplifting nature than the negativity and dissonance so often courted by the genre.
Don't get me wrong, Rotting Christ still indulge in the darkness of their mythic and historical lyrical matter, but there's an unusual, upbraided elegance to how these riffs storm beneath the bloodcurdling bark of Sakis Tolis. Among the most 'dignified' of the tracks are "The First Field of the Battle", its Metallica-basted melodies soaring over its placid if thunderous thoroughfare; "King of a Stellar War" with an admixture of ascending chords and angelic backing synths; and "Snowing Still", for its swaying, unforgettable verse hooks spliced with somber melodies. But choosing such as favorites would neglect the tremulous rush of "Archon", with its amazing muted bridge sequence, or "Diastric Alchemy" and its magnificent, soaring eloquence. "One With the Forest" is one of my favorite tracks in the band's entire catalog, a swaggering dynamic of dour and tormented Tolis throat-work, squealing delights and brilliant if subdued melodies playing counter to the primary rhythms.
It says a lot that even the worst song of the lot, "The Opposite Bank" carries much of the boons of its neighbors, it's simply a fraction less unforgettable than the rest. Triarchy of the Lost Lovers sees the band at a new plateau of production values that the band would never retire from in the rest of their history (thus far), with brazen and clean guitar tones set at just the right amount of spring, step and overdrive. Solid, rock-based drumming with a modicum of double bass work added to the substrate. Perfect bass levels, never too and never obscured by the front and center guitars. Light keyboards for an airy atmosphere, and most importantly, one of Sakis' best performances on any album.
The lyrics are simple, but strung out in the poetic splendor of 'relightened stars', 'unwrought stones/amphoras and bones', 'freezing myths' and 'sallow mass', images of sadness and shelter in an enchanting universe that can consume the canny observer well beyond the confines of a single lifetime. The perfect companion to such bright and engrossing musical fare. Triarchy of the Lost Lovers might seem too 'clean' for some, who might prefer the dank drear of the earlier albums' and demos' productions and the slightly more malicious vibe therein, but it's a monument to individuality, somewhere shy of perfection, but the closest this long struggling entity has ever come to such an achievement. Abstain from its stately spires at your own loss.
When your formatives years in black metal where filled with the early works of bands like Mayhem, Darkthrone, Immortal, Gorgoroth etc, you`re pretty much led into believing that black metal is a fast paced, tremolo driven and grim music that offers little space for aestheticizing mellow melodies or exploration of less aggressive approaches to satanic music. We must stress that the aforementioned bands are not to be blamed for this misconception, but the self righteous way in which many black metal followers have created some sort of cult upon them, labeling them as the only "true" and legitimate black metal music you can listen to is. Some kind of Scandinavian worshipping going on, right? Hence, the innumerable amount of worthless and derivative darktrone-burzum clones springing up everywhere. (See Nargaroth)
When such a blatant name such as Rotting Christ is heard for the first time, ultra evil, devil worshipping fast paced music is expected. Then, how come a band with such a horrendous name could create such an enticing record where no references to Satanism or more evil than thou crap are to be found? Although the concept in treatment here is quite abstract and elusive, it deals mostly with Gnosticism and esotericism (As far as I am able to see). So if you`re looking for the clichéd "Satan rules the universe and Jesus Christ is his bitch" drivel, look elsewhere-
With an album like "The Triarchy of the Lost Lovers", Rotting Christ proved us that you can put non angering, beautiful and haunting melodies into an album and being black metal till your last bone!
When listening to Rotting Christ`s previous efforts and perhaps Varathrum, you realized that there was a solid school of black metal being developed in Greece with their own trademark melodic mid paced sound by the late 80`s and early 90`s. Somehow it seems to me that this 1996`s release was the culmination of this type of sound, as both bands started playing different variants of Greek black metal after that.
There is indeed, not a single second to be wasted on this glorious album, no fillers or absurd wankery going on in here, every single note is essential for the overall completion of the concept that`s being developed here both musically and ideologically. Rotting Christ endeavored with an honest (almost simplistic) production to accomplish something that overproduced crap like Behemoth would not do in a million years. There is no need for a thousand violins and cellos to over decorate music or hide deficiencies, just melodic layers of guitars intertwined with solid bass lines, effective drumming and atmospheric (almost marginal) keyboards put in to add atmosphere to the record instead of disguising the inability to compose convincing metal without garments. Solos are an important trait too, these are intelligently blended with the melodic riffing to be found throughout the album, and there is also a sense of consistency and unity to them. This is not soloing just for the sake of it; every single solo is justified if seen within the context of each song.
Not Many times, you are granted with the opportunity to see how all elements merge to create a completely successfully album, a piece of work unbiased by trends and with such artistic integrity.
Recommended for everyone!
I heard a lot of Rotting Christ and first i was sceptic because of the music style and at that time I wasn´t very into black metal. Greek black metal was always too little structured and way too aggressive for me. I tried a lot of different band with diverse black metal styles but I just wasn´t feeling it at all.
THIS ALBUM MADE ME CHANGE MY MIND! "Triarchy of the lost lovers" proves that you don´t have to put complicated guitar stunts into a song to sound professional and good.
I have noticed that Rotting Christ attaches importance to simplicity. A lot of bands in this genre of melodic black think it is necessary to always show what skills they have and what they can effect just using one instrument. That kind of song seems overdone because there are so many sounds you can hear out of something that should be one item. Mostly that doesn´t sound like a complementary package and more like different instruments, which try to drown out the other combatants.
Rotting Christ doesn´t have to "show off" because we already know that they make high quality tracks we can only dream of.
Especially "A Dynasty from the Ice" is a very calm almost cosy song, which also has an atmospheric note to it.
A lot of bands make the mistake to put the best songs at the beginning of the album and so while hearing it through it might lose power. When I started listening to the first song, I thought that I had nothing more to expect. But I was wrong! Especially "Archon" makes you almost taste the power which had been put into this song.
This album contains a lot of guitar solos and non-vocal pieces. These parts probably convinced me of this album. Another thing is that Rotting Christ seemed to emphasize the structure, so the songs don´t seem too cluttered.
The only negative little tiny point I have to mention, is that some riffs are being repeated again and again. I have nothing against simple guitar riffs as long as they aren´t playing twenty times consecutively.
I also have no complaint when it comes to the vocal performance. Newer Rotting Christ albums have the negative effect that the vocals mostly are very aggressive and loud, so you have no chance to listen to it while trying to do something relaxing or even to fall asleep, because everytime the singer starts his almost screaming growl, you can forget your sleep for the next 2 hours.
But in "Triarchy of the lost lovers" they found the perfect mean. The album is worth listening to and I guarantee a wonderful time while enjoying it.
Highlights: A Dynasty from the Ice, Archon, Shadows Follow, One with the Forest
Another great release from our Greek Black Metal masters. "Thy Mighty Contract" and "Non Serviam" were both pretty melodic, but quite raw in nature(I actually think that Non Serviam was quite a bit "rawer" than TMC). This time, though, they add something different to the mix. This album probably marks the turning point in Rotting Christ's career: More melody, cleaner production.
The gothic touches they'd stumble upon on "A Dead Poem" are not yet apparent, but the aforementioned melody-level has increased by quite a margin and the production is about perfect. Some black metal elitists might be turned off by it, but for my ears, it's the best they could do. Don't worry, it's not overproduced crap (see Trivium, etc.). Everything can be heard well and the main focus lies on the guitars.
Sakis vocals are a bit different, the high-pitched shrieks, which were very prevalent on Non Serviam are not very prominent anymore, some cleaner(not real singing, though) vocals appears from time to time. The trademark Rotting Christ guitar riffs are of course still there, but more leads are used than ever before, which add a lot to the melody. The drums have improved significantly compared to their prior releases(I'm not completely sure if they used a drum-machine on Non Serviam or not, though).
The song themselves are varied but all of them share the same great and unique songwriting of Rotting Christ. This album is one of the most consistent ones I've ever heard, every song displays great effort. I love them all, but my favourites are the slower, captivating "King of a Stellar War", the amazing, solo-driven "Shadows Follow" and the most atmospheric and beautiful "One With the Forest".
Triarchy of the Lost Lovers shows us a more melodic and better produced side of Rotting Christ, without losing it's aggressive edge and grand atmosphere.
I recommend this to all fans of Black Metal, even to fans of Heavy Metal in general.
This album is an essential listen and an all-time favourite of mine.


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At Old Vic Theatre
Price from € 33.10
M Synge's comic masterpiece and one of Ireland's greatest plays, The Playboy of the Western World will open at The Old Vic in September and will star Robert Sheehan as Christy Mahon, Ruth Negga as Pegeen Mike and Niamh Cusack as Widow Quinn.
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Venue information
Performance info
Evening performance
Monday to Saturday 7.30pm
Wednesday and Saturday 2.30pm
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(7mins) Take Mepham Street (100 metres) down to Waterloo Road. Turn right on Waterloo Road, but keep left as the theatre is 100 metres further along on the opposite corner.

subset: commoncrawl


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Factional disputes at the religious center of the Islamic world help change the course of history in West Africa when Wahhabi fundamentalists capture Mecca (1803) and Medina (1805). Their virulent opposition to mystical Sufism, the dominant form of Islam practiced in western and central Sudan, galvanizes African Sufis and strengthens the position of the Sufi orders Qadiriyya and Tijaniyya in sub-Saharan Africa. The responsibility to spread Islamic precepts among nonbelievers drives a wave of jihads that result in the formation of large-scale theocratic states stretching from the southern Sahara to the coast of present-day Guinea and the forests of northern Côte d'Ivoire. The importance of these movements to the cultural and artistic history of western and central Sudan cannot be overstated. Large-scale migration of populations fuels the stylistic development and exchange of sculptural forms as well as the consolidation of ethnic identity in reaction to foreign influences, while competing Islamic ideologies energize debates over urban design and religious architecture. This period also witnesses the imperial encroachment of France and, to a lesser extent, England and Portugal in the region. French military forces open central Sudan to European travelers, who leave documents describing urban centers such as Jenne and Timbuktu. By the end of the century, Senegal emerges as France's most productive and populous colony, with important mercantile centers located at Dakar and Saint-Louis along the coast.
Building on Islamic Fulani resentment of unfair treatment at the hands of their nominally Muslim rulers, Fulani cleric Shehu Usman dan Fodio (1754–1817) initiates an Islamic revival within the Hausa kingdoms of what is today northern Nigeria and southern Niger. The Hausa kingdoms are conquered by 1817, and consolidated as the Sokoto caliphate. Usman (and, after his death, his son Muhammad Bello) presides over the caliphate as the intellectual and religious leader, while lieutenants perform more secular political duties. Those populations living within the caliphate are profoundly affected by its strict religious rule. Converts throughout the state adopt the Islamic calendar, and a large body of literature addressing theological, legal, and astrological themes is written in vernacular languages using ajami, a modified form of Arabic script. Motifs such as the "magic square," used in Islamic astrology, are incorporated into local visual culture and appear on imported forms of costume, including colorful, elaborately embroidered robes worn by elite members of society.
The Mossi kingdoms of Yatenga and Ouagadougou, in what is today Burkina Faso, disintegrate.
The agrarian Lobi peoples migrate into the Upper Volta region from present-day Ghana.
Due to the British- and French-enforced ban on the international slave trade, slave exports in the region of Senegambia (present-day Senegal and the Gambia) are replaced by local products such as gum, gold, hides, ivory, beeswax, and groundnuts. By the 1830s, the average annual value of gum exports is five times what the slave trade was at its peak.
Political stability resulting from the establishment of Islamic states in the Futa Jallon region allows Sudanic peoples access to the West African coast in Senegambia and what is today Guinea and Guinea-Bissau, influencing coastal peoples such as the Baga and Nalu. Sculptural forms and styles associated with inland cultures are integrated into the artistic practices of local peoples. Reflecting the presence of foreign populations are masks such asdimba created by the Baga and Nalu peoples that appear to represent Fulbe women originating from the Futa Jallon area. Other works by Baga and Nalu sculptors exhibit stylistic elements associated with Bamana art in present-day Mali such as horizontally oriented masks representing composites of animal forms.
Muslim Fulbe (Fulani and Peul) populations living within the ethnically Bamana kingdom of Ségou revolt after years of onerous taxation imposed by tónzons, garrisons of Bamana warriors. The rebellion is inspired by the Islamic revolutions of the mid-eighteenth century that resulted in the establishment of Muslim theocracies in the Futa Jallon and Futa Toro, and by the recent Fulani conquest of the Hausa states in northern Nigeria. Led by Muslim cleric Cheikhou Amadou, Fulbe armies embark on a sweeping campaign of conquest, creating the Massina empire. The capital at Hamdallahi, meaning "praise to God," is established in 1820.
Cheikhou Amadou and his Fulbe army defeat the Ségou army and incorporate Jenne into the rapidly expanding Massina empire. Deeming Jenne's spiritual practices to have been degraded by trade and religious pluralism, Amadou enforces a strict, fundamentalist form of Sufi Islam known as Qadiri and embarks on a campaign to dismantle the city's traditional sites of worship. Forbidden by Muslim doctrine from actively destroying mosques, Amadou orders his followers to block the gutters of the city's adobe mosques, allowing the waterlogged buildings to crumble and collapse through neglect. Only the Great Friday Mosque is left standing, although by 1828 French traveler René Caillé reports that it is in poor condition and prayers are restricted to the exterior courtyard.
Having consolidated his control over Islamic leaders in Jenne, Cheikhou Amadou orders that the Great Friday Mosque in Jenne be abandoned and its gutters blocked, claiming that its height and size are the products of un-Islamic pride and vanity. The roof collapses in 1834. A new Friday mosque, designed by Ismaila Barey Traoré, is constructed near the site. Built according to Amadou's specifications, the building has a low ceiling and lacks minarets, which are considered an untraditional invention.
Cheikhou Amadou's army conquers Timbuktu. Amadou dies the same year, leaving the Massina empire, which extends from Hamdallahi to Timbuktu and includes the Bamana strongholds Ségou and Kaarta, to his son.
In present-day Côte d'Ivoire and Mali, non-Muslim Senufo peoples respond to continuous jihads by organizing themselves into small military states. The strengthening of Senufo cultural identity results in the proliferation of wooden sculpture associated with religious practices and social organizations such as poro.
Al-Hajj 'Umar (born 1794), a Sufi scholar of the Tijaniyya sect who had spent several years in Mecca, Medina, and Egypt, establishes an Islamic theocracy near the Futa Jallon. In 1853, he declares jihad against the infidels of western and central Sudan, and with an army of ethnically Tukulor Muslims from the Futa Jallon embarks on a course of conquest, overrunning Ségou and demolishing the Massina empire founded by Cheikhou Amadou. At its largest, the Tukulor empire stretches from Guidimaka to Timbuktu, and from Dinguiraye to the southern edge of the Sahara Desert. Confronted with French imperial encroachment in western Sudan (Senegambia), 'Umar repeatedly attacks French military positions, earning him a place in West African history as an anticolonialist hero. The empire is administered by Tukulor elites, creating ethnic tensions among the empire's non-Tukulor subjects that lead to a series of rebellions. 'Umar is killed in one of these uprisings in 1864.
The first Catholic mission is established in the Gambia.
France officially assumes an imperialist stance in the Senegambia region, and attempts to establish European-run groundnut and cotton plantations to supplant the area's economy, which is based on indigenously supplied beeswax and gum.
Samory Touré, a leader of semi-Islamized Dyula peoples, exploits the unceasing clashes between Muslims and practitioners of indigenous religions to augment his territorial control. He skillfully plays both sides of the conflict, utilizing short-term alliances with various parties to extend his empire from Bamako, in present-day Mali, to northern Côte d'Ivoire and central Sierra Leone. Although his early conquests are not marked by a religious agenda, by 1886 Samory proclaims his desire to impose Islam upon the peoples within his empire. Further military exploits, however, are checked by the growing influence of the French military.
Senegal becomes France's most important African colony, with 30,000 inhabitants. All residents within the colony, whether African or French in origin, have full French citizen status. The Dakar–Saint-Louis railroad opens in 1885, connecting the two main ports, strengthening the colonial economy, and setting the stage for French control of the interior.
"Western and Central Sudan, 1800–1900 A.D." In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ht/?period=10®ion=afu (October 2004)


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The People's Key
The Gramophone
4243 Manchester Rd
St. Louis, MO, 63110
Doors 7:30 PM / Show 8:00 PM
This event is 21 and over
In these great times we live in today, we as a collective whole have the opportunity to access more styles of music than we ever have been able to at any other time/space in Earth's epic history. Music is a personal journey/experience and each person holds a unique perspective of what good music might sound like. It is the vision of The People's Key to conceptualize the timeless art form that is jazz music in a way that the average listener can relate to by playing a wide variety of popular songs/styles from modern times in a jazz format that invites the listener to actively listen and participate.
Combining the happy swinging feel of the Kansas City Jazz scene with the hard, soulful, groove of St. Louis Funk/Soul/Rhythm&Blues, The People's Key blends the best of the two Midwestern styles into one coherent sound. Led by organ player Ryan Marquez, The People's Key swings in the traditional style of the jazz medium but provides the listener with the opportunity to ride along inside of the jazz vehicle with them as they relive sounds from yesteryear by sporting a songbook with newer tunes from modern times. The People's Key covers an assortment of styles/artists to deliver the listener a classic-vintage organ sound with a fresh, new twist. Whether a longtime lover/listener of jazz organ or a new friend to jazz in general, there are songs in the set for all ages/levels of ears to enjoy.
The band builds its repertoire out of artists/songs that the average listener will most likely have familiarity with. This creates a positive experience for the artist and the listener by encouraging active listening as well as crowd participation. The People's Key performs popular songs from the Pop/Rock(all styles)/R and B/Motown/and even Indie genres, presenting the melodies in the traditional format of a jazz combo then exploring the harmonies through improvisation. Artists covered include: Green Day, Radiohead, Beach Boys, Jimi Hendrix, Queen, Miike Snow, Mumford and Sons, Franz Ferdinand, Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye and more.
The band is excellent for all occasions and settings. Being able to adapt to the culture of the event they are performing at is something The People's Key prides themselves in. Continually updating their setlist with new tunes or themes, The People's Key works hard to provide the listener a very accessible and enjoyable musical experience. An experience that is sure to have them tapping their foot, singing a melody and leaving with a smile. With over 20 years of experience performing music The People's Key has the background experiences necessary to make any event a success.
Setting the foundation of the groove with his left hand while simultaneously harmonizing and melodizing a list of "new" standards in his right, Organist Ryan Marquez provides the basis for exploration through these newfound 'classics'. Singing the melody on his Tenor Saxophone, Charles Cerpa articulates his soulful Midwestern sound to bring these popular melodies to fruition throughout the set. Solidifying the groove with stylistic integrity and effortlessly steering the band through time, Drummer Michael Murano adds the dynamic contrast necessary to put it all together. From this core, The People's Key also offers the option to add a guitar player and/or vocalist.
Together, The People's Key unlocks the mysticism of the jazz tradition for the listener by swinging the music people know and love.
Listen. Remember. Love
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" Sightseeing Type: Castles / Palaces / Address: Chimay / Hainaut / Belgium "
Whilst on the International Air Cadet Exchange to Belgium a visit to the Castle of Chimay was on our programme.
To be quite honest the castle doesn't exactly look like a castle more like a large house as the original moat and drawbridge have been filled in and removed, as the castle itself is still lived in.
Being an International Group with a mix of 17 - 20 year olds from 6 different countries we were given a tour around the Castle by the Princess of Chimay. Tours are however available for everybody and are all conducted by the Princess herself.
The tour itself takes you into the castles own chapel were you learn a little bit of information about many of the items in there and are also told the story of how the cloth used to cover Jesus would still be there in the Castle of Chimay today had a Bishop in the area ordered the current owners to have it removed.
The tour then continues into the main house were you learn a little about furniture and decoration. You walk through the main lounge a dining area were soldiers used to stay, an anteroom and then finally into the custom built cinema. Here in the cinema you are shown a film about life in the castle throughout the ages and the film itself can be seen in French, Dutch or English.
Unfortunately this is however were the attraction finishes as unfortunately the upstairs of the castle was destroyed in fires that ransacked the rooms destroying most of the precious items contained there.
Despite the somewhat shortness of the visit I still thoroughly enjoyed it, as the tour was lively and interesting and the stories the Princess told us really made the Castle come to life. The décor and furniture seemed always appropriate and the numerous paintings were a real pleasure to see. Her love for the castle really shone through and the personal touch she brought to the tour was greatly appreciated
However I think my enjoyment was probably maximised the most by being with a group of 19 other people who I had spent the previous week and a half with.
This is not to say however that I would not recommend a visit to the Castle because I think that it still something very interesting to see. Furthermore the town of Chimay is also very beautiful and holds other attractions to be seen such as an Abbey that offers 90 minute tours around their cheese dairy and brewery, as well as some very nice eating establishments and bars.
Guided tours by the Princess start daily from Easter to 30th September between the hours of 10am - 11am and 3pm - 4pm.
The admission charge is 7 Euro per person unless you have a group of 20+ people in which the cost is 5 Euro per person.
The castle is one of twelve noble houses of Hainaut and was erected in 1607. It is also host to a beautiful theater which was built in 1863.


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The conference will be held at the Alexis Park Resort. The hotel is located across the street from the Hard Rock Cafe and Casino, and is within walking distance of The Strip. Although some might consider it a somewhat long walk. BE sure to insist on the ApacheCon conference rate when booking your room.
Rooms at the Alexis tend to be large (often with a sofa or second bed), in reasonable shape, but a bit dated; most have a small fridge (but no microwave). Broadband is available in all rooms for a fee. Wireless networking is available in some rooms, depending on exactly where you are. There are several outdoor pools at the hotel; one is usually heated for a morning dip. Be prepared for some walking; if you get your room late you'll probably be at the far end of the property with a 3 min walk to the conference floor.
There are a few other PlacesToStay where con attendees can be found - well, at least at night.


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August 3, 2013
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Bridge: Sometimes it helps when you guess well
Since bridge isn't always a perfect science, capable of exact calculation, every player has to guess occasionally. But when you have to guess, consider each sensible choice and try to select the one that you think will work most often.
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Cook Boiled Wife's Body After Killing Her in 2009
Chef David Viens is currently standing trial for the murder of his wife, Dawn, and jurors have heard horrifying testimony in the trial.
In 2009, Dawn Viens disappeared from her home and police began to suspect her husband in connection with her disappearance. When they announced he was an official suspect, David jumped off an 80-foot cliff, "feet first, arms raised, and screaming," the Los Angeles Times revealed.
He was taken to a hospital and treated for his injuries, which have left him confined to a wheelchair. Police conducted interviews with him while he was in the hospital, and now that interrogation has been played for jurors in Los Angeles.
David revealed that he actually "slowly cooked" his wife's body, and "ended up cooking her for four days," the Times reported.
After four days he took what was left of Dawn's body, the liquid, and other waste matter, and poured the mixture into a grease pit at the couple's restaurant, the Thyme Contemporary Café.
Dawn's skull did not liquefy and David instead took it to his mother's home and hid it in the attic. Police were not able to find any of Dawn's remains and have not located her skull.
He has given police two different reasons as to why he killed Dawn. One is that the two were using cocaine and she was bothering him while he attempted to sleep. In order to deal with Dawn's behavior, he reportedly taped her mouth shut and bound both her hands and feet.
David then fell asleep and "panicked" when he woke up next to Dawn's body. When asked why he was afraid, he responded, "She was hard."
But the other explanation David gave to police was that he simply "got violent." He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and the trial is ongoing.


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Johnson powers his way into final group at Open Championship
July 18, 2014
- Johnson made seven birdies and no bogeys Friday at Hoylake. (Mathew Lewis/Getty Images)
HOYLAKE, England -- Dustin Johnson overpowered Hoylake on Friday afternoon and in doing so recorded the week's best score, a 65.
It leaves him at 8 under and alone in second four stokes off the lead of Rory McIloy entering the weekend at The Open Championship.
"I hit driver when I could, when it was an advantage," Johnson said after making seven birdies and no bogeys. "I hit my ball really solid and gave myself opportunities for birdies."
In doing so, he moved the closest to McIlroy, who threatened to run away with the tournament after a second-straight 66.
Johnson did his best to keep pace, making four birdies on the back nine, including on each of the final two holes.
As a result, he will play alongside McIlroy in the day's final group on Saturday.
"I've been here before," said Johnson, who has seven career top 10s in majors, including a runner-up in the 2011 Open Championship. "I know what it takes."
As for the deficit?
"I can't worry about what (Rory's) doing," Johnson said. "I've got a pretty good game plan for this golf course; it's worked out petty good so far."


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Last week, we played at the park – a great, simple, and usually free activity. However, as much as we would like to be outside every day in the summer, the reality for most of us is that we just can't. Sometimes it rains (thank God), sometimes someone doesn't feel good, sometimes we all just get burnt out, or like many moms, sometimes we just have work to do.
Update 2017: Although we do still do some simple crafts for fun and learning, we have upped our game a bit and we opened an Etsy shop with our handmade items: LoveBySarah Etsy Shop.
Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links.
Rain, Rain, It Is OK You Are Here
Two of these things happened this June – it rained, which is a real shock here in Idaho – and mom needed a couple of quiet hours to write. With no money in the budget to purchase something, I looked around at our supplies and found:
4 of the least favorite colors of construction paper leftover from the school year
a drawer full of magazines, old cards and calendars
And there you have the makings of a classic collage project! I remember doing these in school many years ago.
Basically, you give the children a pile of pictures (mostly magazines), they pick out things that are interesting to them, then they cut out the pictures and paste them onto construction paper.
My children spent nearly two hours looking through the pile of pictures and cutting and gluing. Even the 3 ½ year old was able to do most of the project on her own and was occupied nearly that two hours.
A Little Psychological Insight
One side benefit of this project is that you learn something about your child after doing the project – what they like, what interests them, and why. My girls love pretty girly stuff, like pink bedding and kitties. But I also found that my oldest was becoming interested in weapons. I may want to give her archery lessons in a year or two, but I also realize that a few of the shows they were watching (Star Wars, for one) was more violent than they need to be seeing and so we will wait until they are older to watch such things.
The end result of the project was a great success – two hours of purposeful, useful time and some insight gained into the thoughts and likes of my children.
2 comments on "10 Things For Children To Do This Summer Under $10: #3 – Arts and Crafts With What You've Got"
Sometimes I forget about these simple activities and feel like I have come up with something new. This is great because I have a lot of old magazines I was planning to get rid of. Thanks for the idea!
I still have a huge pile, so I need to come up with another project using them!!!


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Alima Eye Detail Brush 35
3 reviews
100% would repurchase
Package Quality: 4.3
Price: $$
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Start your review
on 6/26/2008 3:03:00 AM
Age: 36-43
Skin: Oily, Olive, Warm
Hair: Brunette, Curly, Fine
Eyes: Green
I got the first of this brush as a gift with one of my Alima e/s orders. At first, I didn't know what to do with this brush. The bristles are synthetic, short, dense and slightly firm (but not harsh or scratchy.) I played around with it and discovered that it has many uses. ;)
Use it as a crease brush. Use it to apply a brightener (or highlighter) to the inner eye (near the tear duct) or under the brow bone. Use it as a liner brush when you want to apply a smudged powder line. Use it to apply a darker shade to the outer corner of your lower lid.....
I now own several!!! ;)
on 4/29/2008 6:56:00 AM
Age: 36-43
Skin: Dry, Fair, Warm
Hair: Brunette, Curly, Fine
Eyes: Blue
I received this brush and wasn't really sure what I was going to do with it. It seems really tiny compared to most of the brushes I was used to using... but I have found some perfect ways to use it. First, when I wear a wider liner, like a pretty color instead of black or brown, this is a great brush to use for that. It is also good for smudging liner that I put on with the brow/liner brush. It is stiff enough to control where you're going with the smudge, but soft enough to diffuse the color nicely. I also like this for my brow highlighter when I want the highlight to be tight on the brow. One sweep with this cute little brush and exactly the right width has been applied. Get this versatile little brush! :)
on 4/27/2008 10:24:00 PM
Age: 19-24
Skin: Combination, Fair, Not Sure
Hair: Brunette, Other, Other
Eyes: Brown
This is from Alima's new line of synthetic brushes that I cannot rave enough about. I bought them all when they first came out and I have to say I love every single one.
This brush retails for $12, and is a good brush but not a necessity IMO. I use this occasionally when I do a darker color on the outer V, but I don't reach for this everyday. It is flat and thin, making it perfect for precise details, and it picks up a perfect amount of eyeshadow. I use this mostly with darker colors to add in smaller places, like the outer V or right above my lashline.
Overall, a great brush but not a must-have.
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What does living the new paradigm mean in our relationships?
Submitted by gayatri on Thu, 08/07/2008 - 13:25.
We may have great ideas on what the new paradigm is theoretically, it's translating these ideas into living realities that is the real adventure. I believe doing this within our relationships provides a major opportunity for transforming our lives.... Put differently, when our relationships shift in the direction of unconditionality - allowing each individual freedom to discover and create their own journey, we truly have made great strides. Please share some of what you are actually doing in your peer relationships to express the new paradigm of oneness.
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"Relating" vs "Relationship"
Submitted by Layde Joyffre on Thu, 08/07/2008 - 16:24.
I am currently experimenting with the notion of "relating" rather than being in "relationship." This is a co-experiment in honoring the changeable, unpredictable dance with the unknown – when relating to a man who has chosen to be relating with me. How awkward to write/say it in this way – to not define and tidy up this dynamic exchange as a "relationship," or even use the posessive word "my."
When we part, we often don't plan our next rendezvous or phone contact, leaving room to anticipate meeting again - with the mystery of where, when or if ever. In the past I had a pattern of planning my schedule and focus around the man in my life. This is new.
So far, I feel surprisingly alert, a little precarious and very aware of my old patterns of definition and attachment. Who is this person to me? Who am I to him? Where is this going? How long will it last? All questions that take me out of this ephemeral slipping-by-moment.
I never liked the whole notion of impermanence. I couldn't believe that the Tibetan Monks who, after a week of devotedly creating a sand mandala (while sitting, hunched over on the floor), would eventually smoosh all the colors together and pour the sand into the nearby Bolin Creek. What was the point? All that beauty gone.
It's challenging for me to let go, especially of something that's good.
So, I'm practicing. I'm practicing paying exquisite attention to the aliveness of connecting, knowing that each moment is passing. I'm practicing making my own life my focus. And you know what? It feels better than I expected.
A Divinely Orchestrated Dance
Submitted by Liza on Sat, 08/09/2008 - 09:16.
Yes, yes, yes! Imagine that each day, each moment, is a divinely orchestrated dance between our hearts and those of each person we come into contact with - whatever the interaction. Imagine slowing down enough to fully be present in each moment, open to the whisper of what is right before us and trusting it holds the perfect offering, the perfect jewel of connection, for us at that time - whether we understand it at the time or not. Imagine...all of us as students in a cosmic "Conscious Relationship" dance class. Dosey doh.
Relating v. Relationships
Submitted by jkimwright on Sat, 08/16/2008 - 21:49.
I see this as the practice of being in the moment, the now. A "relationship" is either past or future. It is either about something we did or said in the past that we now have to live up to or it is something we're creating in the future. What if we just enjoyed the moment together?
Personal experience of relating within oneness
Submitted by gayatri on Sun, 08/17/2008 - 22:21.
Yes, these are all wonderful thoughts and I would love to hear about people's personal experience.
Part of being present in the moment for me is the practice of trusting that when someone else makes a choice that affects me, it also is beneficial to me. Sometimes it can be a stretch to really get, especially if their choice inconveniences or disappoints me initially....
For example, I rent to 5-6 people within our community and my preference is to have very little turnover. I used to take it personally when someone gave notice and fear loss of rental income. Then one day, after much practice, I noticed I had a whole different attitude when someone announced her leaving.
When Leslie told me of her upcoming departure, and how she wanted to return to Vermont to be with family, I actually felt excitement for her. Even though I had loved having her here and did have some of my old concerns, it felt right that she move there and my overwhelming response was to be joyful and trusting. It amazed me! I could even feel excitement at who might be our next community member. As it turned out, we had a series of wonderful temporary residents who paid more money for being here on a retreat basis, and then the right long-term resident showed up - all in perfect timing. And Leslie is very happy too!
The more I work with this principle of mutuality in oneness, the more I notice it and the more I trust the flow of life. I experience it in small ways every day - from suddenly realizing that I am to take a right turn at the next light only after a driver refused to let me into the left lane, to being home and receiving an unexpected important call because a friend canceled a lunch meeting.
Intellectually I truly understand the concept that what truly benefits someone else also benefits me within a paradigm of oneness, however actually LIVING it is beyond inspiring. Life is so much more of an adventure. Very often I can feel immediate gratitude at a driver I previously might have gotten upset with, and find myself wondering, "What sort of adventure will this facilitate?"
What are your experiences?
From the desk of
Gayatri Erlandson, PhD
managing editor of this site
Asheville, North Carolina
It is either about something
Submitted by wify on Wed, 07/07/2010 - 06:27.
It is either about something we did or said in the past that we now have to live up to or it is something we're creating in the future. Thanks for sharing.
Yes, these are all wonderful
Submitted by wify on Fri, 07/23/2010 - 11:07.
Yes, these are all wonderful thoughts and I would love to hear about people's personal experience. Thanks.
Creative indea!
Submitted by violet06 on Fri, 07/30/2010 - 00:47.
For certainly that, doing this within our relationships provides a major opportunity for transforming our lives.That is also necessary for each person to carry out in communication.
This is very useful info you
Submitted by wify on Sat, 07/31/2010 - 15:08.
This is very useful info you have provided us. I will bookmark this for future reference and refer it to my friends. More power to your blog. Thanks for sharing.
i agree
Submitted by stephaniwalker56 on Tue, 08/03/2010 - 16:23.
I agree on what you have said very true!
To this day I still have no
Submitted by Amila123 on Wed, 08/04/2010 - 09:42.
To this day I still have no idea what that means, and at the time.We can enter into relationships knowing that our partner does not complete.
I sincerely appreciate the
Submitted by maqq on Fri, 08/06/2010 - 01:16.
I sincerely appreciate the large number of holistic and natural healing alternatives that Ashe ville has, which many other places do not.
You are so right about this.
Submitted by inter4522 on Fri, 08/06/2010 - 10:39.
You are so right about this. You have to create your own journey in the future. This is a plan you have to stick to.
Submitted by Aiden101 on Sat, 08/07/2010 - 14:46.
Allowing each other to develop separately ultimately brings us closer together.
Submitted by bancs on Mon, 08/09/2010 - 22:20.
I believe doing this within our relationships provides a major opportunity for transforming our lives....
Very inspring and insightful
Submitted by credat on Tue, 08/10/2010 - 19:00.
I also wanted to thank you for this post - I have a recent realtionship that has benefitted from exactly what I've read here - almost everything here applies to my journey.
wow...thats deep
Submitted by mranteater on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 12:49.
Individuality is key and the base of our freedom. Without it, our world would be boring and communistic. Great post. Very moving and inspiring. :)
thanks for telling us about relationships
Submitted by norman on Fri, 08/13/2010 - 06:42.
thanks for telling us about new paradigm mean in our relationships...Love is the most profound emotion known to human beings. For most people, romantic relationships are the most meaningful element in their lives. But the ability to have a healthy, loving relationship is not innate. Almost all of us have experienced a failed relationship, and most of us have to work consciously to master the skills necessary to make them flourish...
Yes, sometimes we have to
Submitted by HealthyDiet on Fri, 08/13/2010 - 09:08.
Yes, sometimes we have to carefully think about this relationship. This is very important.
Youre not the average blog
Submitted by JoeDavids on Mon, 08/16/2010 - 15:35.
Youre not the average blog writer, man. You definitely have something powerful to add to the web. Your design is so strong that you could almost get away with being a bad writer, but youre even awesome at expressing what you have to say. Such a great blog. Ill be back for more.
cleaning company
Submitted by shimulh on Tue, 08/17/2010 - 12:44.
I found your site when I googled "barter network. Several years ago I was part of a barter group in Va. Having been in Asheville for three years now, and like you, (us all)realize that with things being a bit challenging now, it makes sense to reach out and help one another however possible.
Well this fits for me too
Submitted by jamesmitchellzz on Tue, 08/17/2010 - 14:02.
Well this fits for me too now I'm practicing paying exquisite attention to the aliveness of connecting, knowing that each moment is passing.
Great ideas, this article
Submitted by MDBob on Thu, 08/19/2010 - 10:12.
Great ideas, this article has really got me thinking forward and feeling much more positively, thanks.
Thanks for telling us
Submitted by Alicia09 on Fri, 08/20/2010 - 03:13.
thanks for telling us about new paradigm mean in our relationships?...gayatri i agree with you in each and every point...Thanks for providing for us.I read your article with my pleasure....
"Relating" vs "Relationship"
Submitted by emile on Sat, 08/21/2010 - 11:03.
This is like my coffee morning, I mean your blog, I've been an ignorant on so many topics but thanks to you I wake up.
Thanks for great post, I got
Submitted by eightminute on Sun, 08/22/2010 - 07:51.
Thanks for great post, I got lot of ideas with this, and i will bookmark this post.
thank you for this insight
Submitted by austin316 on Sat, 08/28/2010 - 15:49.
thank you for this insight
just catched this site from
Submitted by dlorrasipple on Wed, 09/08/2010 - 05:18.
just catched this site from google search . great article , i just registered in this site and grooming in all the post .anyway great fell..
Interesting post and thanks
Submitted by common on Fri, 09/10/2010 - 01:17.
Interesting post and thanks for sharing. Some things in here I have not thought about before.Thanks for making such a cool post which is really very well written.will be referring a lot of friends about this.Keep blogging.


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In an interview on CNN Thursday, Jake Tapper interviewed former Alaska governor Sarah Palin about the "upheaval" at Fox News over sexual harassment allegations, and the interaction has raised some eyebrows.
"I have to ask you a question and it's kind of sensitive," Tapper said, "but you are in a unique role being a strong woman who worked at Fox News channel as a contributor. Uhm, and I normally don't cover a lot of media stories, but obviously the upheaval going on there with the CEO and its biggest star ousted because of sexual harassment, not just an issue at Fox News channel, but an issue across the country. And it seems to be, with what happened with Bill O'Reilly, really a change in corporate culture in terms of what is tolerated. What do you make of it?"
"Well, I think the key there is, you said I used to be with Fox," Palin responded. "I used to be with Fox. Corporate culture there obviously has to change, y'know, women don't deserve, they should not ever have to put up with any kind of intimidating work space.
"At the same time if a woman believes that she is being intimidated and harassed," she continued, "she needs to stand up and do something about it and not stick around for a paycheck for years and years and years. And then after the fact complain about what she went through. As a strong woman, I say we should be feel more empowered than that. And we should take a stand and get out of the place, or blow the whistle on whoever is the perpetrator doing the bad stuff so that the culture will change."
"So yeah, obviously things are changing quickly at Fox News," Palin said. "There are some great great people who are there, though. And I appreciate what Fox News does, as CNN, you know, adding to the discourse and to the debate, which is a healthy thing for the society. You know, more power to the good things that Fox News is doing."
"But yep, culture had to change there," Palin concluded.
"Did you ever witness or experience, God forbid, anything like that at Fox?" Tapper asked her.
"I wouldn't put up with anything that would be perceived as intimidating or harassing," Palin replied.
"But you said your 'former,' so was that part of the reason you left?" Tapper pressed.
"Uhm," she paused, "you can ask them why I'm no longer with Fox, uhm, y'know I'm not gonna speak for them. My contract wasn't renewed, that's um, that's the line."
"I don't want to be a jerk," Tapper continued, "but it sounds like you experienced something."
"I just, y'know it was just time to part ways and, and, y'know, get out of there, in a, I guess, a more diverse arena to express views and to speak for the public, and that's what I've been able to do now."
"Alright, well I'm not going to push any further," Tapper concluded.
Bill O'Reilly was let go from Fox News after a string of sexual harassment charges and revelations about settlements in past charges. It's being reported that he is exiting with tens of millions of dollars from Fox News.
CNN political analyst Kirsten Powers related her experiences at Fox News on CNN Wednesday, although some have questioned why she didn't speak up earlier, and seemed to have denied such claims against O'Reilly prior to the current imbroglio.


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The House Health and Human Resources Committee held a hearing in Charleston Thursday on a bill that could legalize the use of medical marijuana.
Delegate Mike Mannypenny of Taylor County introduced the bill which would allow patients with serious illnesses to obtain and use medical marijuana, if doctors recommended it.
It currently has nine co-sponsors including two Republican delegates.


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It's not great but I haven't done digital art in a while. Using a mouse so that makes it 10x harder too. Please give feedback!! Like, yes? no? ish?
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Pretty draw! Lovely coloring! 5♥s


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June 21, 2016 - Every June, CareerSafe sponsors National Young Worker Safety Day (NYWSD) in conjunction with National Safety Month. This year's NYWSD celebration will be held on June 21, 2016 at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference. This annual event celebrates the safety achievements of students and educators while also raising awareness of youth injuries in the workplace. At this event, attendees are invited to sign the safety pledge to "StartSafe. StaySafe." in the workplace. CareerSafe invites all career and technical education students to participate in the events and receive a commemorative t-shirt. Each year the number of safety pledges received continues to grow. In fact, in 2015 over 6,000 students took the StartSafe. StaySafe. pledge. By promoting safety education in all situations, CareerSafe hopes to reach beyond the classroom and make a safety impact for students on the job, at home, and in their communities.
"Safety is a foundation that every workplace should be built on because all workers have the right to return home at the end of the day healthy and safe, regardless of their age or how long they are on the job," said Dr. David Michaels, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health. "Young workers are new to the job so it's especially important that employers make sure they receive the training and protective gear they need to stay safe on the job."
According to the CDC, there were approximately 20.3 million young people, under the age of 24, entering the workforce in 2015—but this does not mean that these young workers are necessarily prepared and able to handle risks and hazards that can occur in a work environment. Not being knowledgeable of hazards related to a specific job or knowing how to assess and correct a problem can lead to devastating injuries or even death for a worker. Safety training can make workers more conscious of hazards and risks such as falls, vehicle accidents, overexertion injuries, and workplace violence. Unfortunately, workplace safety has the potential to be unintentionally overlooked which can leave workers and others on the job site unprotected. Based on current statistics, young workers, ages 16-24, continue to have the highest rates of work-related injuries and illnesses; greater than any other age group.
"Young workers tend to be employed in some of our more dangerous workplaces and experience a disproportionate amount of workplace injuries. Every seven minutes a young worker is hospitalized, and every five days a young worker is killed on the job," states U.S. Senator Al Franken, D-Minnesota, "As a father, a grandfather and Ranking Member of the Senate Employee and Workplace Safety Subcommittee, I'm saddened by these figures. That's why today's event, the National Young Worker Safety Day, is so important. We need to prevent needless and tragic injuries and deaths and provide our younger workforce with the training and skills to protect themselves and others on the job. Today is a day to promote safety in the work place but also to acknowledge the sacrifices of those who have been injured or lost their lives on the job and honor their memory by working to create a safer workplace and prevent future tragedies. Thank you for your commitment to a safer workplace."
By preparing students for their first entry-level job and future career opportunities with safety and health training, young workers will be more capable of protecting themselves and others.
Students, Teachers and Industry Leaders can sign the banner pledge to StartSafe and StaySafe in the workplace. Everyone that signs the safety banner will be provided with a commemorative t-shirt and other optional giveaways.
Other giveaways include:
CareerSafe will also have a photobooth that attendees can take a picture trying on their favorite personal protective equipment or other silly props. We are also encouraging individuals to visit our video testimonial booth to share a personal account of what workplace safety means to them.
In conjunction with National Young Worker Safety Day and the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference, we will also be announcing the winner of our third annual National Youth Safety Video Contest.
For our video contest, Career and Technical Education students across the country submitted two minute, original videos demonstrating safety in the workplace.Videos creatively detailed strategies to increase safety in the workplace.
Videos were primarily judged using criteria set by CareerSafe, SkillsUSA, and OSHA Region VI. The top 12 videos were uploaded on our website to be viewed and judged by the public. First place will receive a $2,500 scholarship and $5,000 to school programs! To learn more about next year's contest or view the winners, visit our National Youth Safety Video Contest page.
There are several ways to be involved with National Young Worker Safety Day without attending the conference.The mission of NYWSD is relevant anywhere young adults are preparing for or engaging in workforce activities!
View our Top 10 Summer Job Safety Tips and pass them along to your students before the start of summer vacation! We want your students to have a safe and rewarding summer work experience.
Interested in learning more about our training programs and how you can help make "A Million Safer?" Look at the how you can incorporate the courses into your safety curriculum.
CareerSafe Safety Awareness Training
OSHA 10-Hour General Industry Training
OSHA 10-Hour Construction Industry Training
OSHA 10-Hour General Industry (Agriculture) Training
OSHA 10-Hour General Industry (Healthcare) Training
CareerSafe Professional Development Program
We hope to see you in Louisville. For more information regarding National Young Worker Safety Day or any of our events please contact our outreach team.


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Looking for recommendations for a mtb holiday destination in Wales or near (long myndd also sounds good) camping, a mixture of good natural trails and trail centres are what I am looking for to keep the family entertained, have heard of the doethie valley, but not sure what else is around there, thanks for any advice.
Bike Forum
Summer Holiday Mtb Destination in Wales
If you go out to Brechfa / Doethie Valley (see link below) you have the beaches and Pembrokeshire National Park to keep the family amused (bit of a drive) and you're near enough to the Brecon Beacons. More trail centres in South Wales than North, but bigger mountains in the North. For the mix/family holiday bit I'd probably favour South Wales - Afan/BPW/Brecon Beacons/ Crickhowell Loops. As for Long Myndd I don't think it's a week's worth of riding/family holiday certainly not as much as in Wales.
Thanks for that, Brechfa looks just the ticket, any good camping in the area, that is not to crowded.
One of our favourite spots:
Lovely spot in Mawddach estuary. Lower camping field allows fires. Upper field if you need hookup. They also have self catering,
Direct access onto Mawddach trail for family rides (good pub a 10 min, traffic free ride away). Nice beaches nearby and plenty of family friendly activities in Barmouth and the like.
Riding is great - it's possible to ride Cadair Idris from the door, just a short drive to Coed y Brenin. Mach trails are not much further, and loads of other natural options locally. Rest of Snowdonia is all within easy reach too.
John and Sarah are great hosts and can offer loads of advice on stuff to do locally.
Brechfa is a bit of a drive to Pembrokeshire really you're closer to the sea at Aberaeron. I wouldn't recommend taking the family down the Doethie valley, as it is quite committing and isolated (and technical in placs). But near Brechfa is Cwm Rhaeadr which is a nice little trail centre, and Coed Trallwm. Plenty of bridleway trails in the area, and castles and stuff. Nice and quiet too.
EDIT - but the Mawddach estuary is lovely and on the sea...!
I'd say Machynlleth is an excellent base for a family to mtb and generally explore.
machynlleth +1. more than just biking to keep the rest of the family occupied.
I'm from west Wales and I love riding Brechfa but I would say Machynlleth makes a better family destination.
Although...the Gower Peninsula is a decent Southern alternative. Natural riding, easy access to Afan and Glyncorrwg and plenty of opther stuff for the family too.
Topic Closed
This topic has been closed to new replies.


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Wallace and Gromit Studio Making Rabbids TV Show
That took a little longer than expected, but Raving Rabbids are finally getting their own TV show. At least, the studio behind Shaun the Sheep is making a pilot, which they (and Ubisoft) hope will become a TV show.
A press release has been issued, stating: Created by Ubisoft, one of the world's leading video game creators in 2006, the Rabbids have transcended video games, inspiring a series of viral videos on the Internet, plush toys and even award-winning ads for world-renowned brands like Renault and Coca-Cola. For Aardman, ground-breaking creators of television and film properties such as Shaun the Sheep and Wallace and Gromit, the project represents a rare foray into applying their creative talents to a licensed property. The animated pilot will be produced jointly by Ubisoft and Aardman.
Miles Bullough, Head of Broadcast at Aardman, says, "When the opportunity arose to work with Ubisoft on the Rabbids we leapt at it, we absolutely love the characters and can't wait to help bring them to a television audience."
"The not-so-subtle humor of the Rabbids has made them into icons in and beyond video games," states Xavier Poix, Managing Director at Ubisoft's French studios. "Aardman perfectly understands that humor and we are extremely excited to be working with them to bring the Rabbids to a new medium and a new audience."
Cartoon Network seems like the obvious choice, but then Nickelodeon or perhaps even MTV could be decent backup plans.


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Getting the Most Bang for Your Educational Buck
Engineering, computer sciences offer highest starting pay for the shortest period of training, but the army is a good shortcut.
Engineer, architect, psychologist, or lawyer: Which course of studies offers the highest beginning pay in Israel for the shortest...
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June 6, 2013 BY Aaron Hope
What does Vans have in store for the fourth quarter? The world's leading skate brand is big enough that it would take some time to fully answer that question, but here's a smattering of what's to come. We'll start in the OTW Collection, where the new Vans Bushwick makes a strong first impression. This hightop CVO has huarache-like ankle cutouts that provide support and reveal underlying materials, in this case, colorful leopard prints. Fellow OTWs the Alomar is back and another new model joins the bunch in the Lynwood hightop. Rounding out the preview are matching Eras and Buffalo Boots, so check out the whole set below and stick with Sneaker News for release info.
Photos: Allike
Filed under: Skate Upcoming Sneakers Vans
Tags: Vans Buffalo Boot Vans Era Vans OTW Alomar Vans OTW Bushwick Vans OWT Lynwood


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Lobbying needs public scrutiny
WILLIAM Hague's response to revelations of US spying on private communications is: if you've nothing to hide, you've nothing to fear. So why isn't this applied to lobbying, with all meetings between big business and ministers open to public scrutiny?
MICHAEL McCARTHY
By e-mail
Belfast Telegraph


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When the playoffs began, Duncan Keith wasn't even a father.
Keith's wife gave birth to a baby boy, Colton, between Games 3 and 4 of the Chicago Blackhawks' first-round series against the Minnesota Wild, making Keith a father for the first time. Of course, that playoff run ended with a Stanley Cup for Chicago on Monday night, so Keith celebrated in the most appropriate way possible.
Keith put a pair of headphones on his child and brought him down to the ice to revel in the glory at rink level. Keith even placed Colton in the Stanley Cup for a moment — which the infant didn't seem to care too much for.
Check out the still-adorable-even-if-you're-a-Bruins-fan scene in the video and image below.
Duncan Keith celebrates with wife, baby (video): youtu.be/vsxo_aqqlGg #Blackhawks—
John Beattie (@JohnBeattieNESN) June 25, 2013
Duncan Keith's baby didn't enjoy it at the time, but something tells me he will look back at this moment and smile http://t.co/ZEyVRdQgwb—
John Beattie (@JohnBeattieNESN) June 25, 2013
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The Firecracker Shoulder Tote Beach Bag is a Oversized Beach Bag made of woven reed with a zipper opening for easy access to water, keys or mobile phone. Bright colors match any beach environment. Large enough to pack all you will need for a day outing, the Firecracker Shoulder Tote Beach Bag makes the beach easy.
deck chairs | canopy chair | beach umbrella | folding beach chair | patio umbrella | beach chair loungers | rio beach chairs | pop up tents | beach bags and totes


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'The Importance of Being Earnest' To Be Presented July 28-30
The final production of the Southwestern College Summer Theatre Festival season, "The Importance of Being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde, will be presented Thursday-Saturday, July 28-30, in Messenger Recital Hall in the Darbeth Fine Arts Center. Dinner will be served prior to each performance.
The cast includes SC students Cody Davis, Cooper Hart, Lenita Krejci, Justin Tinker, and Lisa Prater. Also joining the cast are Southwestern College director of theatre Roger Moon and associate professor of theatre Allyson Moon.
"It's such a great opportunity to act with our directors and each other," said Lisa Prater, sophomore from Derby. "We've had so much fun."
The show is being put on as dinner theatre, as an effort to raise money for equipment for the newly renovated Richardson Hall. The dinner is themed to match the production. The menu consists of orange chicken, wild rice, and tarragon herbed green beans. There will also be an appetizer of cucumber salad, dinner rolls, and mock champagne, and for dessert, white velvet wedding cake.
Show only ticket prices are $10 for adults and $5 for students. Dinner and show ticket prices are $25 for adults, $23 for senior citizens, $20 for ages 13-18, and $18 for ages 12 and under. For tickets or more information about the performances call the SC box office at (620) 221-7720.


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I am with her 100%….besides….
I think it makes the whole wedding "journey" so much more meaningful to use creativity instead of cash!!
Two summers ago, our daughter got married in June and our nephew in August.The planning and preparations were almost more fun than the big days!
Both weddings and receptions were held at my brother and sister-in-law's beautiful Willow Ridge Gardens.But, you ask, "What's that got to do with Good Will?
Notice the stack of plates and the silver urn in this photo!
Pretty….and elegant don't you think?
We did our research….
- the cost of china rental for the two weddings….for almost 400 guests…at least $400…Yikes!
- OR…..paper products-less expensive….but not very elegant!
Soooo…..we began buying up lovely plates and glassware from GOOD WILL, THRIFT STORES and GARAGE SALES!
We had RULES!
- Nothing could cost more than a dollar…
- We needed dinner plates, salad plates, wine glasses and drinkware…
- Everything should be basic white or cream colored….
- Every piece should be something we might want to keep and use later….Here are just a few of the great pieces we found!
Much better than floppy paper plates to carry around!
For the more formal sit down dinner….it was fun to coordinate the china on the tables.
Every table was unique and lovely!We also used my collection of thrift store silver for serving and decorative accents!I think everything looks better on silver…don't you?Now for the best part!Both those Brides from two years ago split up the china pieces they liked….and they have enough lovely place settings to use at almost any gathering for years to come!
In fact….I might just have to borrow some of this from the Sweetwater daughter the next time I have a big party!
I have enjoyed sharing our fun way to save money on wedding china…and I hope it inspires you to get yourself out there shopping the thrift stores!
Remember….as you are in the midst of all the planning and preparation….be sure to enjoy the process! The day will be gone in a heartbeat….but the memories will be forever!
Don't miss the other post in my DIY Wedding series:
More than a Guest Book
Would you like your wedding post featured? Email me @
ChickenScratchNY (at) gmail.com


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Context and Characteristics of Rural Tourism
Rural tourism is a factor affecting the rural regions and the diversification of the Bulgaria's tourist destinations utilising unused resources. The main consumer of its product are the urban people living in a technical environment, losing their personal identity within the urban community and subject to the stress factors of modern occupations. Original elements of the rural tourist product are: the farmyard and the "open air room" consisting of trellis vine, garden arbour; the rural house with its friendly messages and recognition of man's importance; the contacts and communication within the rural community; a specific colloquial language introducing humanism into personal relationships; rural labour as an anti-stress factor stimulating and encouraging the expression of the personality; rural culture, fairs, dances and sports contests, creating opportunities for the expression of the personality and everyone's participation unlike the urban elitist sport; truthfulness of perception - an antipode of modern communications mediated by the media, creating a virtual world of computer screen images, Internet images and telephone voice reproduction; sports and health services in the farmyard including open air water treatment procedures, excursions, riding, hiking and cart trips, bicycle excursions, revived forms of placebo effect of the folk treatment methods, herbal treatment, etc. On the basis of empirical studies, the economic conditions for village people have been analysed, that allow them to make profits, to attain a liquidity level, etc., through rural tourism. By the capitalisation of the house can be activated a number of non-convertible assets, employment among unemployed people, etc.
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Volume (Year): (2006)
Issue (Month): 3 ()
Pages: 74-95
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Cobham was the last of that trio to connect with Davis, but his first great impact was to come with The Mahavishnu Orchestra. While the group, led by guitarist John McLaughlin, only produced two studio albums, they were a major force in defining the fusion sound, and Cobham's huge sound and technical command were major factors in that definition. Even while working with Mahavishnu, Cobham signed with Atlantic records and began putting together the music for Spectrum, a showcase for his skills as a leader and a composer.
Spectrum would be the opening blast in the six year run as a leader for Atlantic that is chronicled on Rudiments: The Billy Cobham Anthology. Rudiments is an apt name for the collection, since Cobham has always blended an emotional ferocity with a technical proficiency that is the legacy of his musical education in youth drum corps and U.S. Army bands at Brooklyn's Military Ocean Terminal and Fort Dix, New Jersey.
As much as his power and proficiency as a drummer, Cobham's skill and development as a composer is displayed throughout this collection. Twenty of the twenty-four cuts are Cobham originals. Equally impressive is the range of artists for whom he would assume the role of leader. From the initial Spectrum lineup of Jan Hammer (keyboards), Tommy Bolin (guitar) and Lee Sklar (bass) to the his last Atlantic release, 1978's Inner Conflicts, with Dawili Gonga, AKA George Duke (keyboards), John Scofield (guitar) and John Williams (bass), Cobham's groups would include the talents of a roster that included John Abercombie, Cornell Dupree, Randy Brecker, Michael Brecker, Tom Malone, Alfonso Johnson and others. The opportunity to hear the work of such a stellar collection of soloists and rhythm players is itself sufficient justification for this long overdue compilation.
Each of the seven Billy Cobham albums, as well as the Billy Cobham/George Duke Band's 1976 release, Live - On Tour In Europe, is represented on these two discs. In addition to the previously released material, there are outtakes form Spectrum ("All 4 One") and A Funky Thide Of Sings ("Neu Rock N' Roll") that will be essential for completists and satisfying for all.
Billy Cobham has continued as a major force in jazz performance, composing and education. Today, from his base in Switzerland, he maintains several performing and recording units scattered around the globe. In his fourth decade of making marvelous music, it's hard to remember a time when there wasn't a Billy Cobham. With Rudiments: The Billy Cobham Anthology, we're able to remember a time when the name was new, and the music was timeless.


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A new study shows that few health care professionals who care for HIV-positive patients can accurately match the majority of HIV genetic mutations as seen on genotypic resistance tests with the drug classes affected by the mutations, HIVandHepatitis.com reports. Researchers at Elmhurst Hospital Center in Elmhurst, N.Y., tested 100 providers, asking them to match 16 resistance-associated point mutations with six drug groups affected by the mutations. Only one provider correctly identified at least one resistance mutation for each of the six drug groups, and 36% failed to match any mutations with any of the drug groups. Among providers who considered themselves "experts" in HIV care, only 53% correctly matched drug resistance mutations for at least four drug groups.
Certain mutations in the virus are linked with the development of patients' resistance to anti-HIV medications. When those mutations are identified through genotypic resistance tests, the medication is usually replaced with a drug to which the virus is still susceptible. "Our data underscore the need to address the issue of provider knowledge with regard to genotypic testing and its potential effect on patient care," the researchers conclude. The full study appears in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.


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By Alister Bull
OMAHA, Nebraska (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve should begin reducing monthly bond purchases at a meeting later this month in order to set monetary policy on a course for "gradual and predictable" normalization, a top U.S. central banker said on Friday.
Kansas City Fed President Esther George, a consistent hawk who has argued for a tapering in bond purchases all year, also said policymakers should consider enhancing communication over how quickly the Fed will start raising interest rates, currently held near zero.
"An appropriate next step toward normalizing monetary policy could be to reduce the pace of purchases from $85 billion to something around $70 billion per month," George told a luncheon of business and community leaders.
Furthermore, remaining Fed purchases should be split evenly between Treasuries and mortgage-backed securities, she said.
"A decision to reduce the Federal Reserve's monthly asset purchases would be appropriate at that (September 17-18) meeting, as would clearer guidance about the path forward. It is time to begin a gradual - and predictable - normalization of policy."
George, a voter this year on the Fed's policy-setting committee, has dissented at every meeting since January in favor of winding back the U.S. central bank's aggressive bond purchase program. She worries that it could spur financial instability and future inflation.
Indeed, the Fed has said it expects to start scaling back bond buying later this year from a current $85 billion monthly pace.
Financial markets are focused on the policy meeting on September 17-18 for a small start to a tapering in the purchases. The Fed expects to halt these by mid-2014, when it forecasts that the U.S. jobless rate will be around 7 percent.
In fact, data released by the government earlier on Friday showed the unemployment rate creeping toward that target, with a decline to 7.3 percent in August, a 4-1/2 year low.
However, U.S. firms only added 169,000 new jobs last month, compared to a Reuters forecast for a 180,000 advance in the crucial monthly non-farm payroll report, and economists said the jobless rate drop was for the wrong reasons.
They cited a further retreat in labor participation, which has dwindled to its lowest rate since 1978 as discouraged workers gave up the search for employment.
George did not refer to the August jobs report in her prepared remarks, but acknowledged that the recovery in the labor market had been spotty and a return to full employment had been elusive.
But she said the economy had made sufficient progress in lowering unemployment to begin tapering and cautioned against allowing concern about potential financial market volatility from delaying action.
"Postponing the move to reduce asset purchases won't ease the inevitable adjustment. Taking action now, with a firm plan and clear commitment, will begin the long process of putting monetary policy to more-normal settings," she said.
Fed officials have consistently argued that tapering is not tightening policy, and that rates will remain near zero at least until unemployment hits 6.5 percent, provided the outlook for inflation remains under 2.5 percent.
But George said there was an understandable public desire to know more about the pace at which rates will rise once the Fed begins to raise borrowing costs.
"One way to clarify a path for future interest rate moves would be to include more information about future short-term interest rates in the FOMC statement," she said, referring to the Federal Open Market Committee.
One way it could do this would be to include policymakers' median forecast for rates.
"The challenges of exiting from such an extended period of near-zero interest rates are likely to require some form of guidance and could serve as a potentially important enhancement in our ongoing communication efforts," she said.
(Reporting by Alister Bull; Editing by Krista Hughes)


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- Workers Compensation Litigation Support
- Construction Defects Support (Fungal,Water Intrusion)
- Odor Investigations
- Engineering/Architect Industrial Hygiene Support
LEGEND's analytical laboratory network is accredited by the American Industrial Hygiene Association Laboratory Accreditation Program, LLC (AIHA-LAP,LLC) for environmental lead, microbiology, and industrial hygiene analyses. See accreditations page for fields of tesing.
Services Include:
- Review of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) and Sampling Strategy Development
- Extensive Analytical Services


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A good week for...
Lord Nelson
Having triumphed at Trafalgar, now comes even greater glory for the great admiral. He has been named Britain's top military hero after a poll by the UK National Defence Association, booting Field Marshal Montgomery of Second World War fame down into second place. Nearly half of the 18 to 24-year-olds asked backed Nelson. Nearly a quarter didn't have a clue who any of the military leaders were.
Truely wierd spelling (sic)
Dr Ken Smith, a senior lecturer in criminology, says he is fed up with correcting his students' 'atrocious spelling'. In an article for the Times Higher Education magazine he suggests that common misspellings such as speach, arguement and occured be allowed - if only to save on academics' red ink budgets.
Battery-farmed chickens
Ubiquitous chef Jamie Oliver has persuaded Sainsbury's to stop selling chickens raised on battery farms. The supermarket has vowed to phase out all chicken farming that does not meet RSPCA standards. Now for a campaign to phase out Oliver's annoying ad campaigns for the supermarket.
The celebrity magazine paid £7.5m to Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's children's charity to scoop the first pictures of the couples' new baby twins Vivienne Marcheline and Knox Leon. Brad and Angelina now have a six-strong brood. It's a great way to keep their charity's finances afloat.
A bad week for...
Love songs
Despite their divorce battle, Sir Paul McCartney has penned a song for Heather Mills. Called 'My Soul', it includes lines such as: 'We could climb every mountain, swim through every sea. When all the world is asleep, we could set ourselves free.' We prefer the acrimony.
Robbie Coltrane
The Cracker star featured on a New Zealand 'wanted' leaflet because the culprit, a 16-year-old Coltrane lookalike, is too young to be identified under local laws. Coltrane probably won't object to the leaflet's crime prevention motives, but may take umbrage at it referring to him as an 'English actor'.
The wealthy state was excluded from the Olympic opening ceremony on Friday. Ruling Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah had planned to attend in support of his country's two athletes, 15-year-old swimmer Maria Grace Koh and shot-putter Mohammed Yazid Yatimi Yusof. However, neither will be allowed to compete because Brunei's Olympic committee failed to register them.
Morgan Freeman
First the American actor was cut free from the wreckage of a serious car crash by fire crews. Three days later, his wife filed for divorce according to US reports. There had been a woman - 'a friend' as they customarily say - in the passenger seat of the car. But the final indignity might well have been the vehicle itself. Freeman was driving a 1997 Nissan Maxima.