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Testing for Non-Linear Dependence in Univariate Time Series: An Empirical Investigation of the Austrian Unemployment Rate
The modelling of univariate time series is a subject of great importance in a variety of fields, in regional science and economics, and beyond. Time series modelling involves three major stages:model identification, model%0D estimation and diagnostic checking. This current paper focuses its attention on the model identification stage in general and on the issue of testing for non-linear dependence in particular. If the null hypothesis of independence is rejected, then the alternative hypothesis implies the existence of linear or non-linear dependence. The test of this hypothesis is of crucial importance. If the data are linearly dependent, the linear time series models have to be specified (generally within the SARIMA methodology). If the data are non-linearly dependent, then non-linear time series modelling (such as ARCH, GARCH and autoregressive neural network models) must be employed. Several tests have recently been developed for this purpose. In this paper we make a modest attempt to investigate the power of five competing tests (McLeod-Li-test, Hsieh-test, BDS-test, Terävirta''''s neural network test) in a real world application domain of unemployment rate prediction in order to determine what kind of non-linear specification they have good power against, and which not. The results obtained indicate that that all the tests reject the hypothesis of mere linear dependence in our application. But if interest is focused on predicting the conditional mean of the series, the neural network test is most informative for model identification and its use is therefore highly%0D recommended.
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|Date of creation:
|Aug 2001
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| Postal: Welthandelsplatz 1, 1020 Vienna, Austria
Web page: http://www.ersa.org
References listed on IDEAS
Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:
- Lumsdaine, Robin L. & Ng, Serena, 1999.
"Testing for ARCH in the presence of a possibly misspecified conditional mean,"
Journal of Econometrics,
Elsevier, vol. 93(2), pages 257-279, December.
- Robin L. Lumsdaine & Serena Ng, 1998. "Testing for ARCH in the Presence of a Possibly Misspecified Conditional Mean," Boston College Working Papers in Economics 370, Boston College Department of Economics.
- Brock, W.A. & Dechert, W.D. & LeBaron, B. & Scheinkman, J.A., 1995. "A Test for Independence Based on the Correlation Dimension," Working papers 9520, Wisconsin Madison - Social Systems.
- Barnett, William A. & Gallant, A. Ronald & Hinich, Melvin J. & Jungeilges, Jochen A. & Kaplan, Daniel T. & Jensen, Mark J., 1997. "A single-blind controlled competition among tests for nonlinearity and chaos," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 82(1), pages 157-192.
- William A. Barnett & A. Ronald Gallant & Melvin J. Hinich & Jochen A. Jungeilges & Daniel T. Kaplan & Mark J. Jensen, 1996. "A Single-Blind Controlled Competition among Tests for Nonlinearity and Chaos," Econometrics 9602005, EconWPA, revised 29 Jan 1997.
- William Barnett & A. Ronald Gallant & Melvin J. Hinich & Jochen A. Jungeilges & Daniel T. Kaplan & Mark J. Jensen, 2012. "A Single-Blind Controlled Competition Among Tests For Nonlinearity And Chaos," WORKING PAPERS SERIES IN THEORETICAL AND APPLIED ECONOMICS 201219, University of Kansas, Department of Economics, revised Sep 2012.
- Bollerslev, Tim, 1986. "Generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 31(3), pages 307-327, April.
- Tim Bollerslev, 1986. "Generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity," EERI Research Paper Series EERI RP 1986/01, Economics and Econometrics Research Institute (EERI), Brussels.
- Lee, Tae-Hwy & White, Halbert & Granger, Clive W. J., 1993. "Testing for neglected nonlinearity in time series models : A comparison of neural network methods and alternative tests," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 56(3), pages 269-290, April.
- Tom Doan, "undated". "REGWHITENNTEST: RATS procedure to perform White neural network test on regression," Statistical Software Components RTS00183, Boston College Department of Economics.
- Tom Doan, "undated". "REGRESET: RATS procedure to perform Ramsey RESET test on regression," Statistical Software Components RTS00181, Boston College Department of Economics.
- Brock, William A. & Sayers, Chera L., 1988. "Is the business cycle characterized by deterministic chaos?," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 22(1), pages 71-90, July.
- D. A. Peel & A. E. H. Speight, 1998. "The nonlinear time series properties of unemployment rates: some further evidence," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 30(2), pages 287-294, February.
- Engle, Robert F & Lilien, David M & Robins, Russell P, 1987. "Estimating Time Varying Risk Premia in the Term Structure: The Arch-M Model," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 55(2), pages 391-407, March.
- Craig, Steven G & Kohlhase, Janet E & Papell, David H, 1991. "Chaos Theory and Microeconomics: An Application to Model Specification and Hedonic Estimation," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 73(2), pages 208-215, May.
- Hsieh, David A, 1989. "Testing for Nonlinear Dependence in Daily Foreign Exchange Rates," The Journal of Business, University of Chicago Press, vol. 62(3), pages 339-368, July.
- Granger, Clive W J, 1991. " Developments in the Nonlinear Analysis of Economic Series," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 93(2), pages 263-276.
- Enrique Sentana, 1995. "Quadratic ARCH Models," Review of Economic Studies, Oxford University Press, vol. 62(4), pages 639-661.
- Sentana,E., 1995. "Quadratic Arch Models," Papers 9517, Centro de Estudios Monetarios Y Financieros-.
- Burgess, Simon M, 1992. "Asymmetric Employment Cycles in Britain: Evidence and an Explanation," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 102(411), pages 279-290, March.
- Engle, Robert F, 1982. "Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedasticity with Estimates of the Variance of United Kingdom Inflation," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 50(4), pages 987-1007, July. Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)
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Turn Your Smart Phone Into A Game BoyIt may have started out as a cruel April Fool's joke, but now, thanks to the twisted mind of Hyperkin's Chris Gallizzi, the "Smart Boy" has turned out to be a real thing.
'Grand Theft Auto' Game To Be Adapted Into Television DramaGrand Theft Auto, one of the biggest video games in the world, is going to see a new format soon—television.
Fry's Food Store and KOOL FM
Jay-Z Uses U2's 'Elevation' On 'NBA 2K13' Video Game SoundtrackU2 have battled alongside Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (for 2001's "Elevation" video) and written songs for Batman ("Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me" from the "Batman Forever" soundtrack), but now the Irish rockers will help soundtrack an NBA video game.
Paul McCartney Working With 'Halo' Video Game CreatorsThe former Beatle announced via Twitter on Saturday that he is creating new music with video game developer Bungie, of Halo fame.
Looks Like Its Becoming A Theme (Park)

subset: commoncrawl


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At Gemvara, we believe that the jewelry you wear should be one of a kind, like you. That's why we make each piece to order, one at a time, just the way you want it. Choose emerald and platinum or garnet and white gold: it's your choice. Mix and match gems and precious metals for a look that's exactly you. It's jewelry for all life's occasions, from an engagement or Valentine's Day to your own personal milestones and celebrations. Our inspired gift ideas with a personal touch will make this Hanukkah memorable. Gemvara uses only the highest quality materials to craft your platinum blue gemstone jewelry design with meticulous attention to detail. Our precious metals are recycled or responsibly mined. Pure, rare, and eternal, platinum is the most precious metal. Its density gives platinum unequalled durability, keeping gems secure. Our wide selection of platinum blue gemstone jewelry by Jessica Behzad, Ruzanna Davtian, Jeet Palavwala, and other talented designers means you can find jewelry that's exactly your style. You can also shop by style, choosing our Antique-Inspired, Delicately Detailed, or Lucky Charm Collections. Gemvara's fine quality platinum blue gemstone jewelry is designed to be passed down for generations to come, crafted by hand in the United States.
We can help right away. Chat with a jewelry expert now!


text: Muscle-Tendon Surgery in Diplegic Cerebral Palsy: Functional and Mechanical ChangesBohn, MollyPediatric Physical Therapy: Winter 2002 - Volume 14 - Issue 4 - pp 217-218 Departments: Critical Reviews of Current Research Author Information Article Outline Northwestern University Critical Reviews of Current Research: Manuscripts for this department should be sent directly to Ann F. VanSant, PhD, PT, Temple University, Department of Physical Therapy, College of Allied Health Professions, 3307 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140. Purpose Methods Results Discussion Limitations and Implications Muscle-Tendon Surgery in Diplegic Cerebral Palsy: Functional and Mechanical Changes, by M. Abel, D. Damiano, M. Pannunzio, and J. Bush, Journal of Pediatric Orthopedics, 1999;19:366–375. Back to Top | Article Outline Purpose Common impairments in patients with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy are impeded gait and decreased joint mobility. According to the authors, diminished ambulation results from the patient's muscular hypertonicity, decreased motor control, decreased equilibrium, and muscular weakness. Spasticity contributes to decreased joint mobility. Muscle tendon surgery may mediate these impairments by increasing joint motion and allowing for normal musculoskeletal alignment during gait. It is expected that these improvements will also lead to improvements in day-to-day function. Past researchers have found that joint mobility increased and joint alignment improved after muscle tendon surgery. However, these have been retrospective studies and did not use valid tests to assess the gains in parameters such as velocity and stance time during ambulation or function. This study is designed to determine the effects of muscle tendon surgery on joint alignment during gait, and to examine how change in joint motion alters the velocity and stride length in gait. In addition, gross motor functional abilities were measured and assessed for improvements. Back to Top | Article Outline Methods Subjects in this study had a diagnosis of spastic diplegia and were able to walk with or without an assistive device for 10 meters. In addition, subjects qualified as surgical candidates based on kinematic abnormalities detected during gait analysis that were secondary to decreased dynamic or passive joint mobility. Subjects were excluded who demonstrated moderate to severe mental retardation, disorders involving the extrapyramidal motor system, use of medications that might affect motor function, or skeletal deformities requiring osteotomies. Subjects underwent either recessions or releases of one or more of the following muscles: hamstrings, gastroc soleus, gracilis, adductor longus and iliopsoas. The same surgeon performed all procedures. Subjects were encouraged to walk starting on the first postoperative day two to three times a day. Physical therapy began the day after surgery with the goals of regaining muscle strength and promoting ambulation. After 12 weeks, the subjects resumed working toward preoperative therapy goals. Evaluation was conducted through passive range of motion of hip extension and abduction, knee extension and ankle dorsiflexion. A three-dimensional gait analysis consisted of subjects walking barefoot for 10 meters at a volitional speed. The velocity, stride length, cadence, percent support time, total sagittal joint excursion and joint angles were computed for each subject. The Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM), which measures the functional domains of 1) lying and rolling, 2) sitting, 3) crawling and kneeling, 4) standing, and 5) walking, running, and jumping, was administered and scored for each subject. All measures were gathered from all 30 subjects preoperatively (average of two months before surgery) and postoperatively (average of nine months after surgery). Twenty-one of the subjects were also evaluated at three and six months postoperatively and 27 of the subjects were evaluated for gait changes approximately 26 months after surgery. Data were analyzed by determining the mean of each variable for each subject at each assessment and repeated-measures multiple analyses of variance (MANOVA) were performed for the gait variables and GMFM scores by time postsurgery. Back to Top | Article Outline Results Nine months after surgery, functional status improved in most of the 30 subjects with 20 showing ≥10% improvement in velocity and stride length, whereas three subjects presented a loss of >10% in these same areas. GMFM scores increased in domain four (standing) and domain five (walking, running and jumping) by an average of 3.8% and 3.1%, respectively. The scores in the other three domains did not change. The muscle-tendon recessions and releases resulted in improvements in passive range of motion in the lower extremities nine months postsurgery. On average for all subjects, hip extension, knee extension, and ankle dorsiflexion increased whereas hip abduction and popliteal angle did not change. Hip abduction with hip extended, popliteal angle, and passive knee extension increased significantly in subjects who only had hamstring surgery. Subjects who only had gastrocsoleus release showed improvement in ankle dorsiflexion with the knee extended and flexed, but passive range of motion at the knee did not improve significantly. Subjects who had either proximal gracilis or adductor longus release, in addition to another procedure, demonstrated increases in hip extension as well as hip abduction with the hip extended. Overall trends in gait analysis at nine months after all surgeries include an anterior tilt of the pelvis, increased knee extension during stance, and decreased knee flexion during swing. Maximal ankle dorsiflexion was achieved later in stance and maximal plantar flexion during stance was decreased. At two years postsurgery, the younger subjects and those with prior limited community ambulation showed increases in velocity and stride length. However, the majority of changes occurred during the first year and not the second year after the operation. Back to Top | Article Outline Discussion The results indicate improvements in some measured variables after muscle tendon surgery. The gait speed demonstrated a larger percentage of gain after one year as compared with increases in velocity normally seen as a child ages. The GMFM also increased in domains pertaining to walking (domains four and five), and no change was found in the other domains indicating that other functional activities were not sacrificed for the gait improvements. Passive range of motion did increase, although this increase was not as large as that shown in other studies. This smaller gain may be due to the decision of the investigator to lengthen muscles by muscle-tendon recession to preserve strengths of the lengthened muscle. Joint dynamics of the knee were altered by an increase in knee extension during stance and a decrease in knee flexion during swing. However, foot clearance was not affected since hip flexion and ankle dorsiflexion were sufficient for clearance. Changes at the ankle joint included an altered position during late stance, demonstrated by maximal dorsiflexion occurring later during stance phase. This allows for tibial progression over the foot to approach standards that are more normal. Back to Top | Article Outline Limitations and Implications These authors investigated the effects of muscle tendon surgery on joint mobility, gait, and daily function. Recession and releases of muscles are proposed to lessen contractures and decrease the effects of spasticity in muscles, which will consequently enable the child to assume a more upright posture during ambulation and increase stride length. However, children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy have other impairments as well, such as poor balance, decreased strength and abnormal timing, and recruitment of muscles. These additional impairments will also affect gait and posture and were not controlled in this study. Another uncontrolled variable was the level of spasticity and contractures. In addition, the subjects underwent a variety of surgical procedures, each having specific results depending upon which muscle(s) were released and/or lengthened. The subjects also varied in age from approximately three to 20 years and the gait, musculoskeletal alignment, and functional abilities of individuals in this age range vary a great deal. The functional status of the subjects before surgery was not controlled. Some subjects may have been very limited in activities of daily living whereas others may have been much more independent. All of these factors may influence the outcomes of the study; hence, the generalizability of these results must be questioned. The investigators did not use a control group, and this is another limitation of the study. The subjects of this study underwent intensive physical therapy after surgery. A control group who received intensive physical therapy on the same schedule but did not have surgery would have been beneficial to examine the implications of this study. In this study, the same surgeon performed all procedures and made all decisions which permits control of many factors. However, different facilities and surgeons use different techniques and have varied opinions regarding the proper time for surgery and the management of the patient after surgery. These differences will influence the outcomes of muscle tendon surgeries, thus limiting the implications of this study for other populations. These authors AFFILIATIONSed the important aspect of function and how function is influenced by muscle tendon surgery. Function is an important outcome and needs to be properly studied and analyzed considering the current state of health care. This work establishes a foundation, but additional studies are needed to supplement the present information on the effectiveness of muscle tendon surgeries in patients from this population.© 2002 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.


text: jmakitalo 668 Report post Posted August 25, 2013 I'm trying to create a texture array of DXT1/DXT3/DXT5 compressed images loaded from separate dds files (compressed, with mipmaps). I load the dds file with a function unsigned char *load_dds(const char *filename, int &w, int &h, int &nmipmaps, GLenum &format, int &size); where format is GL_COMPRESSED_RGBA_S3TC_DXT*_EXT and size the the total size of the data (including mipmaps). I have tested this for basic 2D textures and it seems to work. I then create the texture and allocate data for all layers by calling glCompressedTexImage3D with no input data: GLenum target = GL_TEXTURE_2D_ARRAY; glCompressedTexImage3D(target, 0, format, w, h, nlayers, 0, size, 0); This gives "invalid value" error. I'm not sure what size should reflect here. Should it include mipmaps and all layers? Is it allowed here to give NULL data pointer? After allocating the data, I call for each image i int mipWidth = w; int mipHeight = h; int blockSize = (format == GL_COMPRESSED_RGBA_S3TC_DXT1_EXT) ? 8 : 16; int offset = 0; for(int mip = 0; mip < numMipmaps; ++mip){ int mipSize = ((mipWidth + 3) / 4) * ((mipHeight + 3) / 4) * blockSize; glCompressedTexSubImage3D(target, mip, 0, 0, i, mipWidth, mipHeight, 1, format, mipSize, data + offset); mipWidth = max (mipWidth >> 1, 1); mipHeight = max (mipHeight >> 1, 1); offset += mipSize; } where data is pointer returned by load_dds. This generates error "invalid operation". Is it necessary to call glCompressedTexImage3D prior to glCompressedTexSubImage3D to allocate the memory? What else could be wrong here? I would appreciate any hints. 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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Latest update : 2012-12-03
Politicians, activists and researchers debate the issues facing the EU and a 'guest of the week' offers their insight in a long-format interview that gets to the heart of the matter. Saturday at 12.10 pm.
2017-11-11 Brexit
'It seems very difficult for London to come to terms with the reality of Brexit'
How much should the UK pay to leave the European Union? Does the current turbulence in Westminster undermine French confidence in the Brexit negotiations? Should the EU intervene...
Can Europe meet its climate commitments?
It's almost two years since the historic Paris Agreement on limiting global warming was signed. Now, at the COP23 summit in Bonn from November 6 to 17, the world is waiting to...
2017-11-04 European Union
Exclusive: Nick Clegg explains how to stop Brexit
Former British deputy prime minister Nick Clegg wants to stop Brexit – and he thinks he knows how to do it. In an interview with FRANCE 24's European affairs editor Catherine...
2017-11-04 European Union
Cash, corruption and justice: A new public prosecutor for Europe
Fraudsters and public money-siphoners beware: there's a new sheriff in town. That's the message that the European Union is trying to send, as it creates a new public prosecutor's...
2017-10-28 Croatia
Andrej Plenkovic, Croatia's Europhile prime minister
His country is the newest addition to the European family: four years on from becoming an EU member state, Croatia's Europhile Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic tells FRANCE 24...


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Efficient and Generic Construction of Certification-Based Encryption in the Standard Model Based on the NIZK Proof System
Certificate-Based Encryption (CBE) is a new public key encryption paradigm which combines traditional PKI-based Public-Key Encryption (PKE) and Identity-Based Encryption (IBE), and preserves some of their most attractive features. CBE provides an efficient implicit certificate mechanism and allows a periodical update of certificate status. It eliminates third-party queries for the certificate status and simplifies the certificate revocation problem in the traditional PKI, while it solves the key escrow problem and the key distribution problem inherent in IBE. In this paper, the authors propose a new generic construction of CBE schemes from PKE and IBE, and prove it to be CCA-secure in the standard model.


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The Sketchiest of them All!
March 17, 2013
in Comedy Articles
At last night's Sketchubator, the troupes crowned sketch comedy's new freak-flag bearers. Fratwurst is officially "The Sketchiest Sketch Troupe." The title is a peer-nominated honor (?), that goes to the sketch troupe in each festival that best embodies what sketch comedy is all about. Come see what all the fuss is about as they take to the stage on the festival's closing night along with The Reception and Short Form Richards.
Sunday, March 16 – 7pm
Comedy Bar
The Reception / Short Form Richards / Fratwurst


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wikiHow to Make Oven Roasted Broccoli
]Roasted broccoli can turn even hardcore broccoli haters into broccoli lovers. Serve it as a side dish or enjoy it as a nice—but slightly messy—snack. You can dip it in any of your favorite condiments or eat it plain.
- 1 bunch broccoli
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon sea salt (such as Celtic Sea Salt®)
1Preheat oven to 400 °F (204 °C).
2Wash the broccoli and separate it into florets with long stems.
3Toss the broccoli into a large bowl with olive oil and salt.
4Spread the broccoli out on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
5Bake for 12–15 minutes until tender and slightly browned.
6Serve with condiments or sauce of choice.
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- Try creating a healthy dip or sauce to go along with this recipe.
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- Parchment paper
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- Recipe shared with permission from Elana's Pantry
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Contact Us
Enquiry Form
for canoe hire use this form here
Enquiry Form
for canoe hire use this form here
Please ensure that you read our terms and conditions before making a booking or enquiry. We will repond to your enquiry promptly with availability and confirm your booking and prices by e-mail. If you would like a copy of our brochure you can download it here. We look forward to welcoming you to Balmaha House.
Del and Nikki


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Our local sangha is searching for a Dainichi Nyorai (Vairocana) statue for use on our shrine. We're having trouble locating an appropriately sized and priced one.
Any suggestions will be warmly welcomed. Thanks.
Vairocana / Dainichi Nyorai Statue...
Casual conversation between friends. Anything goes (almost).
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A TWO-TIME Oxfordshire beauty queen is heading to Devon in her last chance to be crowned Miss England.
Amelia Watts, of James Street, will be representing the county for the second time at this weekend's national beauty pageant.
The 24-year-old first won the Oxfordshire title in 2012, but this will be her final chance to secure the national prize as the contest is open only to those 24 and under.
Miss Watts said: "I was completely overwhelmed to be able to secure my place. I had a lot of people coming behind me.
"I love being on stage, I love the atmosphere of these events. It's just a whirlwind."
Wiltshire-born Miss Watts scooped the regional title earlier this year after winning the Oxfordshire heat at Witney Lakes Resort in April.
She said: "I had that classic beauty queen moment when you think you're going to cry.
"It's wonderful to be given this chance to be Miss Oxfordshire again.
"I'm honoured to be chosen. I have grown up a lot in Oxford and I just love this city."
Miss Watts came to Oxford in 2008 to start a primary teaching degree course at Oxford Brookes University.
After graduating, Miss Watts worked as a teaching assistant at East Oxford Primary School for a year, before spending the next year as a supply teacher.
She is now studying for a Masters degree in Business Management at Brookes and is due to graduate in January.
At the two-day Miss England final she will compete alongside 60 other contestants for the Miss England crown and the chance to represent the nation at December's 64th Miss World Final in London.
Winner represented England
In 2002, Miss Oxfordshire winner Daniella Luan went on to win Miss England.
The 2003 Miss World contest began in Nigeria, but human rights issues at the time led to a change of location to London half way through the contest.
Miss Luan, an Oxford Brookes University student at the time, later gained a first class degree in Human Biology and Nutrition.
In 2006, Miss Oxfordshire winner Eleanor Glynn won the Miss England crown and reached the final 20 at Poland's Miss World Finals in 2007.
- Our top stories:
- Helicopters land on school field to launch Oxford Poppy Appeal
- WESTGATE: Major clothing brand announces it will open store
- Veterans remember soldiers who died at Battle of Passchendaele
- American-style restaurant chain wants to open at the new Westgate Centre
- New faces around the county council cabinet table
- Oxfordshire detective is a contestant on Channel 4 survival show The Island with Bear Grylls


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The Oscar race continues with Hollywood's beauties vying for the title of Best Actress at the 83rd Annual Academy Awards. Who is your favorite in the category? Will Natalie Portman's riveting performance in Black Swan earn her the golden statue? Vote on who you think will win!
Actresses nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role:
Annette Bening: The Kids Are Alright
Nicole Kidman: Rabbit Hole
Jennifer Lawrence: Winter's Bone
Natalie Portman: Black Swan — K-EARTH 101's pick for the win!
Michelle Williams: Blue Valentine
Vote on your favorite!


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Last week, we posted a list of ten items to bring while camping, ensuring that you'll be the envy of your peers. While I'm sure that people found a few things to purchase immediately, many of you may have been more likely to have saved items to a wish-list instead. (Half of all that stuff started – and still exists – on my own wish-lists).
While it's fun to sit around a campfire and discuss cool gear you'd love to have, your trip won't be as fun if you're left empty-handed. So, here is the budget-friendly version of those ten awesome camping gadgets. Although these more affordable options (by comparison) may have a few less features, they are still tops for performance and fun. So you might find yourself ordering some right away.
1. Sport-Brella Recliner Chair ($60)
You've put in your time with those basic camping chairs, probably while you were a kid growing up. You deserve something better and a lot more relaxing; doubly so if you planned the trip and/or set up camp. It's a recliner chair, so you have a place to put up your feet while enjoying drinks from an insulated pocket. There is an additional storage pocket for gadgets. Best of all, you get your own personal, adjustable umbrella to keep you shaded all day.
2. High Sierra Loop Backpack ($30)
With pockets on the inside and outside, this backpack provides sufficient space for all your personal gadgets and equipment. If you don't plan on using all the room available, compression straps squeeze it down to a more portable size. The ripstop fabric has a water-resistant coating to keep everything dry. High Sierra is known for quality, so this bag is ready for even the toughest of adventures.
3. Anker 14W Foldable Solar Panel ($46)
Anker is well-known for their high-quality products and accessories. This solar array can charge up to 5V/2A, which is almost wall-speed for tablets. Since you might be using gadgets during the day, it would be easier for these solar panels to charge an external battery instead (that's coming up next). These panels are weather-resistant, and even have eyeholes to hang them on backpacks, tents, or wherever. When not in use, it folds up to a very convenient 8.5" by 11" inches for storing.
4. Limefuel Blast L130X Battery Pack ($40)
If you're careful with your gadgets (like I am), you probably don't need everything to be rugged. The Limefuel L130X gives the best bang-for-the-buck in terms of capacity, features, dimensions, and price. It's about the size of a flask, which makes it easy to pack. The dual USB ports are universally compatible with devices and can charge up to 5V/2.4A each, which is perfect for tablets. The battery efficiency is top-notch too (read the review here), so you know you're going to get the most out of it.
5. Eton Rugged Ruckus Solar Bluetooth Speaker ($63)
As much as we'd all love to own Eton's larger, Xtreme version, the original Rukus is still fantastic for camping and outdoor fun. Connect to any Bluetooth-enabled smartphone or tablet, and let the music flow. The carabiner loops let you attach it to a backpack to carry around without worrying about space or busy hands. As long as you have sun, the Eton Rukus is completely self-sufficient in terms of power. It also has a USB output port to charge up other gadgets in a pinch.
6. GeChic 13.3" TFT LCD Portable Monitor ($170)
There is something about watching movies out in the wilderness that makes it extra exciting. It could be the open space, lack of city light pollution, crisp air, or all the above! A small group of kids is not going to deal with video from a smartphone, which is why this portable LCD screen is awesome. It's USB powered and connects to a mobile device via HDMI. Plug both devices to an external battery pack (previously mentioned) for power, connect together with HDMI, and pair up a speaker (also previously mentioned) and you've got yourself a mini outdoor theater set up! The bonus is that you could probably find great use for this monitor at home, too.
7. MPOWERD Luci Inflatable Solar Lantern ($15)
This is a backpacker/minimalist's ideal lantern for illumination. It folds up flat when not in use, and blows up to the size of a grapefruit. Although it only outputs 80 lumens, the LEDs are bright enough to cover a 15' by 15' foot area. Since it's solar-powered, all it takes is a bit of direct sunlight to power up the Luci lantern for hours of use. It's 100% percent waterproof, and unless you're completely careless it won't puncture easily either.
8. Mini Cree LED Flashlight ($4)
You won't find any other flashlight under five bucks to match the performance of this Mini Cree. It's pocket-sized (with a clip!), water-resistant, durable, and has an adjustable beam. All it takes is one AA battery, and it delivers 300 lumens of light. You might as well go buy two; one for camping and one for your home/car. I happen to own three of them. Once you get a feel for how convenient it is to have such a compact, bright flashlight around all the time, you won't want to wait for the second to arrive later in the mail.
9. CamelBak Groove Bottle ($30)
While some of us like to trek off into the wilderness and pitch a camp like that, many more are content to book spots at a nearby campground. As such, there isn't much need to filter or purify the drinking water provided at these parks. However, you may not prefer the taste, which is what this CamelBak Groove bottle is for. This 20oz bottle has a taste filter built right in, making the water more palatable. The bite valve helps to prevent spills, and the bottle is easily carried by attaching a carabiner clip to it.
10. Kershaw Skyline Knife ($38)
The best tool (arguably) you should have on you when out on adventures is a solid knife. Camping, backpacking, whatever. A quality knife is going to make life much easier. But if you're on a budget and want one of the best, you couldn't do much better than the Kershaw Skyline. The deep finger choil provides a secure grip, and the blade length is long enough for virtually any task. It has a great feel in the hands, yet is slim enough to go unnoticed when slipped in a pocket. This has been my everyday carry (EDC) knife for months and hasn't let me down.


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Jul 15, 2014 at 9:12 am
ST. CLOUD, Minn. (KNSI) The bonding bill signed by Governor Dayton this spring included just over one million dollars for St. Cloud Metro Bus to replace the roof and build an addition onto their primary operations center on Franklin Avenue.
Spokesman Tom Cruikshank says the actual construction work won't begin until next year though. He says they're doing the paperwork on the project right now. He says the project has to follow the state's, "sustainable building guidelines process, so we're going through that right now, getting all of the paperwork out of the way."
He says the roof replacement will begin next summer, and the building addition will follow.
Metro Bus recently added 23 new buses to its fleet that are powered by compressed natural gas. Cruikshank says, "our buses need to be stored indoors here in Minnesota. We can't leave them sitting out at night. Especially in the winter time. They simply won't start in the cold."
Metro Bus requested $1.8 million for the project. The estimated cost is $2.1 million. Cruikshank says Metro Bus will worth with the Minnesota Department of Transportation to "backfill" the unfunded portion of the cost.
Temp: 39°F (4°C)
Dewpoint: 33
Wind: 6 S
Weather: Mainly Cloudy


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28.5'' Heavy Duty Campfire Pit Grate
Availability: In stock
- Extra thick steel construction for years of reliable use
- Use with your Fire Ring or standalone
- High temperature Paint
- Heavy Duty Square Bar construction
- Height: 4"
- Width: 28.5"
- Weight: 24 LBS
- Material: 1/2" Steel
WARNING: Fuels used in wood or charcoal burning appliances, and the products of combustion of such fuels, contain chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.
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Ground Shipping: Most of our items are shipped through common ground carriers (UPS, FEDEX), we may also use USPS Priority Mail for smaller items. Items shipped via ground shipping normally are delivered in about 2-4 business days or less but in rare cases delivery can take up to 10 days. If we expect shipping to take longer than usual, we will contact you alerting you of the status of your purchase.
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Go cat is a well known cat food brand, it can be purchased in most supermarkets, pet shops and online pet shops. They are known for their quality and reasonable prices. They has distinct yellow packaging with pretty ginger cats on the front. They offer lots of varieties i.e kitten food, adult, mature, sensitive stomach, indoor cats etc.
We have always fed the Go Cat adult food to our 4 year old cat, he always enjoys it and i also find it doesn't smell too bad.
When we got our new kitten the lady who we got him from he told us she had been feeding the kitten go cat kitten so we were happy because it's cheap and a good quality food.
But when we got our kitten home he wouldn't eat the Go cat kitten and the smell of the food was unbearable i wasn't impressed at all.
We went and bought a packet of whiskas kitten dry food and he absolutely loves it. I don't know why he wouldn't eat the Go cat.
Thanks for reading
Let's face it all kittens are cute... cute adorable bundles of fluff.. but please think carefully before getting into it.
Some negatives of having a kitten:
-They take a lot of looking after
-They require a lot of attention (they have been taken from their mummy so you are now their parents)
-They do scratch and damage sofas, carpets, furniture etc
-They can have little accidents until their litter training is 100%
-They do cost money (food, neutering, flea treatment, worming, vaccinations, cattery if you go away)
-They don't state cute forever they do grow into cats (more cost in food)
Some plus points of having a kitten:
-Lots of love and affection
-They are fun to play with
-Really cute
When you are ready and happy and have 100% decided a kitten is for you now its time to decide the kind of kitten you would like.
There will always be plenty of tabby no breed kittens available from irresponsible owners who havent had their female cats neutered. If you do get one of these make sure the kitten is at least 12 weeks old, often owners are keen to get them off of their hands asap but a kitten should be with its mum until 12 weeks to make sure its been taught habits, has had enough milk and grown well.
Check the kittens eyes, ears, check it is the sex you require.. check for balls etc.
Ask if the cat has been wormed, de fleaed etc.
Check which food it has been fed and try to stick to the same to avoid upsetting the kittens tummy, make sure he/she has lots of fresh water, a comfy bed and a small space he can call his own until he gets used to his house. Maybe a puppy cage, bathroom, utility room etc... Remember a kitten will give you no sleep so there is nothing wrong with putting him/her to sleep in its own space at night. They will get used to it.
As soon as you get the kitten home use a flea comb and check him for flea dirt, eggs, live fleas. Use a flea treatment (check it can be used on a young kitten) and give him a worming tablet... (the powder is hopeless just hold him like a baby, open the mouth and pop in a tablet, he will swallow it).
Remember your kitten will need lots of toys to play with to keep him occupied and you need to keep him entertained.
We recently took a kitten from a lady who was apparently selling it for a friend... she said he had a flea treatment on him and wormed... when we got him home we combed him and the poor thing was absolutely infested with fleas.. i combed 35 fleas out of him!! Also she said he was 12 weeks old.. but our vet told us he was barely 8... please make sure you choose correctly.
Try going to a rescue centre they have plenty of kittens who need good homes.
Good luck :) remember they are good fun!!
* Packaging *
The packaging is typical of asda smart price, white with green information, but I noticed that asda have now upgraded their smart price packaging and it is a little more attractive to the eye.
The chopped tomatoe come in a large 400g tin can with a ring pull lid which I find much easier to use. I cannot stand tins that require a tin can opener it is such a pain.
* Price *
You will pay 31p for a tin of these smart price branded tomatoes. This is around half the price of a more branded product.
* Product *
I use chopped tomatoes all of the time in pasta sauces, lasagnas etc and I am always looking for a cheap and quality tin. I usually use lidls chopped tomatoes which are around 35 pence and are perfect but now and then when we do an asda shop I use these.
The taste of the tomatoes are fine and they do the job but they are extremely watery and if you don't drain them and really squash the water out first your pasta dish will also be full of water.
I also find there are a lot of stalks and ends of the tomatoes in the tins whereas I do not get these in other brands. They are cheap but you get what you pay for and they are fine if you are happy to drain them first.
* Packaging *
The packaging is typical of asda smart price, white with green information, but I noticed that asda have now upgraded their smart price packaging and it is a little more attractive to the eye.
The garlic bread is 170g and comes in a plastic wrapper. It is very basic and you get one baguette.
* Price *
The price for this was £0.34 which compared to other similar branded breads Is around £0.20 cheaper.
* Product *
I had never purchased this product before, I was cooking a lasagna for my family and asda had sold out of the garlic bread I chose and they sent me two of these as an alternative. I didn't have time to find something else so I accepted them and hoped for the best.
To be honest they were pretty awful. I have had garlic baguettes in the past that have not been particularly garlicy but these may as well have been branded as a French stick because they were very dry.
I cooked exactly as per the instructions and the bread was chewy and they didn't taste garlicy at all. My sister suggested putting extra butter and garlic sprinkles on it and putting it back in the oven for a minute, this did improve it slightly.
My advice would be pay an extra 20 pence for a better brand or make your own. I would never buy these willingly again.
* Packaging *
The packaging is typical of asda smart price, white with green information, but I noticed that asda have now upgraded their smart price packaging and it is a little more attractive to the eye.
The corn comes in a large 326g tin can with a ring pull lid which I find much easier to use. I cannot stand tins that require a tin can opener it is such a pain.
* Price *
I have noticed the price has recently increased, this will now set you back 44p. Around 2 months ago it was only 38p so it has increased a fair bit.
* Product *
Like most people I am trying to cut back on grocery costs and I often look to the smart price or value options. I have tried the sweet corn from tesco and it was very large and quite hard but I was pleasantly surprised by asdas alternative.
The can is very large and the corn is full to the brim, there is just enough liquid in the can so you really are getting value for money.
The sweet corn is perfect with any meal, this can either be cooked in a saucepan or microwave. Or why not just drain off and use cold in a salad, pasta salad or with tuna mayonnaise in a jacket potato. I make the sweetcorn last 2 or 3 days in my salads.
I always used a cash back website that was linked to my employer but when I moved to a new job I was forced to look elsewhere for my cash back. I was recommended topcashback by a friend and she received £10 for recommending me. I had read a few bad things on here about the site but money saving expert recommended them so I gave it a go.
We have just moved back from living abroad and spending a small fortune on furniture, kitchen appliances etc so the cash back has been mounting up.
The site is easy to navigate and has most suppliers and companies on there that you can think of.
We have now received over £60 from argos, £110 from sky and pending is nearly £100 in other companies.
It does take a little while to have them confirmed but once they were they went into my bank account within a few days.
There are also incentives for signing up to free things such as lovefilm trials and dating sites.
It is a genuine website and the custom service department are very helpful indeed.
I haven't been to paultons park for about 15 years since I was a teenager, but our nieces are super crazy on peppa pig so we all had a family day out.
My partner and I paid £43 for two adults booking online and to be honest we were disgusted. It's only a few pound more to go into Alton towers if you book online and we can go on everything there. My brother and sister in law and older niece paid £69 on the door for a family of 3 and my younger niece was free as she was under a metre.
We took a picnic, which you can return to the car for getting your hand stamped.
The park is excellent now compared to how it was back in my day and I have to say peppa pig world is fantastic, the girls were in awe of it. We also had a good day because we were able to go on most of the rides with them and there was a few more grown up rides. I just cant understand how they can charge so much. If you live locally there is a annual ticket price which I think seems a good deal but that depends on how bored you would get of visiting.
Peppa pig world seems to be the biggest attraction nowadays but there are also other rides aimed at children or us big kids too.. There is a number of roller coasters, log flumes and go carts which are an extra £3.50 each.
Tips: bring your own food, bring towels and swimming costumes for the kids, wear comfortable shoes and arrive at opening time and stay till closing because there's a lot to see.
All in all a good day out but could be priced slightly cheaper.
Firstly let me say that this villa is privately owned by Dean and Nicola Gatrell from Porstmouth. It is not owned or maintained by the Bahiazul complex (unfortunately)
This villa is called Watamu and is number C4-3.
Myself and a friend decided to book a few quiet days away in a nice villa in Fuerteventura. We live in Lanzarote but it's always nice for a change in scenery.
We have stayed at the Bahiazul complex before and it truly Is very lovely and in a great location.
We contacted a number of private villa owners on the complex asking for quotes for a 3 night stay. They ranged in price but we really liked the look of this villa from the photos and even though It was slightly more expensive than some of the others I really wanted to stay here because the photos made it look so modern, clean and appealing.
When I spoke to the owner dean via email I said the stay was for 2 people, we were not asked how many bedrooms were required we just assumed we would have the whole villa which is the usual policy everywhere. Also I asked specifically if the pool would be heated, as we know our own pool this time of year is very cold. He assured me that it would definitely be heated.
I also double checked with him again and made it very clear that we only wanted the villa if it was heated and again he promised it was.
So we agreed on terms and bank transferred him the funds straight away and were looking forward to our stay. We paid Euro350 for 3 nights and a Euro75 deposit also which was to be refunded after we left.
In the welcome email dean told us to ring his management company "home from home" a few hours before the check in time of 4pm to see if it was available any earlier. We weren't to worried about this but because it was suggested, at 2pm I phoned the company and spoke to a woman named Anne. Well she was one of the rudest people I have ever spoken to. She told me she didn't have a clue if it was ready yet, neither did she care and then gave me a huge lecture about how owners shouldn't be telling tenants to ring early because they have until 4pm to clean it etc etc. she said to go to the property and if there was no car outside it would be ready. I wish I hadn't bothered ringing and I wouldn't have if the owner hadn't of suggested it.
At 3.15pm we arrived at the complex and the cleaners were still there, so we waited patiently at the end of the little road in our car. Excited to get into the property and to have a lovely swim.
At 4pm on the dot the 2 cleaning men came to speak to us. They proceeded to tell us that the people who had been in there before us had been absolutely filthy and the place had been in a terrible state but they had just about got it cleaned in time etc I thought this was quite unprofessional as we didn't need the story we just needed to know it was ready and we could go in. This didn't fill me with much confidence to start with.
When we entered the villa our first impression was this awful smell of cheese. It was very strong and considering the men had just spent hours cleaning it was quite surprising.
The first room you enter Is a large open plan living room and kitchen with a small bathroom off of it. As we had a look around we found the extractor fan absolutely covered in grease, the oven itself was filthy and clearly had not been cleaned And also the fridge had a terrible disgusting pungent smell that was almost unbearable. The kind of smell where it's been cleaned with a dirty cloth and not aired for some time. We found that the cheese smell was coming from some wicker mats on the floor which had obviously been there for quite some time and laid down on to wet floors etc.
There is one master bedroom which leads off of this main room and two large sliding doors that go out on to the terrace which lead to the two further bedrooms.
The master bedroom was also filthy. There were thick layers of dust everywhere including the glass bedside lamp, the artificial flowers, remote control for small tv etc.. There was dirty marks all over the bottom of the curtains and large mouldy patches all over the walls. There is an ensuite bathroom leading off of the bedroom which didn't get much better, the toilet was stained brown, the sinks were dirty, the shower had brown grout and a mouldy shower head and there was ants everywhere. On the ceiling was a strange brown sticky patch which had hundreds of ants crawling on it. The place looked like it hadn't had a proper deep clean in years. It was awful.
We went in search of the two further bedrooms (one of which was required because as I mentioned before we were two friends). The other bedrooms lead off of the terrace which have their own sliding doors. We entered the first bedroom and it got worse...
There was tobacco all over the floor and bedside table, stained bedside lamps, dust everywhere and the small ensuite bathroom had not been cleaned at all. There was beard trimmings all over the sink, splatters all over the mirror, dirty foot prints in the shower and a shower head that was bright green and must of been years old!! We couldn't believe it We were so shocked. The third bedroom we found to be locked but the curtains up at the window had two massive holes in them.
In the welcome email from dean it said to contact the management company should there be any problems during the stay. So once again I phoned the "lovely" Anne at home from home.
I explained the situation that we were two friends and the second bedroom was dirty. She proceeded to tell me that we had only booked one bedroom so the other rooms had not been cleaned for us... I then again explained we were friends so needed another room and she started literally screaming at me down the phone telling me it wasn't her problem and to contact the owner if I had an issue with it. I was so upset at the way I was being spoken to I hung up on her and started to cry.
My friend suggested we calm down and have a swim and then he would get the wifi code and then I could email dean the owner and have the whole problem sorted!! So we got into our swim wear to have a swim... After entering one foot I jumped back. The pool was absolutely ice cold even after being promised a heated pool!! The pool had also not been clean prior to our arrival. By this point I was fuming...
We got the free wifi code from the people at the reception of the complex (which I have to say are lovely people, but unfortunately nothing to do with the villa itself). I started to email dean the owner To explain how upset we were and my friend started to prepare our chicken to cook for dinner. This is when we realised that the oven didn't work. One of the reasons we also went for this villa was because it had an actual oven rather than just a hob which is what a lot of them have. So we couldn't even cook our dinner.
I proceeded to email dean about all of the problems.
He was quite apologetic and said he would have the second room cleaned and he had just assumed that we were a couple. Also he would have the oven replaced and that he would have the pool heater switched on.
But none of this would be until the next day... So one of us was going to have to spend the first night on the sofa.
He also said he had told the management company about our concerns of the dirt.. And apparently the two men said we had told them we were happy when they had left.. Well yes we were but we hadn't even entered the villa then!!
Dean said "I have done all I can now" which felt like he was saying do not contact me again!
We tried to make the most of it and decided to have a dip in the hot tub on the roof.. This is where we discovered the absolutely filthy cushions on the sun Loungers.. They hadn't been replaced or cleaned in sometime. They did not look inviting at all.
The hot tub was at a great temperature but we couldn't sit in there for more than a few minutes because the chemicals were so high which made our eyes sting badly. Also the tub had not been cleaned or drained in some time as it was absolutely full of dead skin from previous guests.
I spent the first night on the sofa with a dressing gown to keep me warm, which turns out was the better option. The bed was terrible. The mattress is so bad that you can feel every slat through it, the awful blue sheets were polyester and are so bobbly they are terribly uncomfortable, also the top layer throw had not been cleaned it smelled of sweat and also had a ladies sanitary towel sticker stuck on it. I know mattresses cannot be replaced all of the time but these were well beyond the end of their life, also 100% cotton sheets are not expensive, wash up much better and will last for years. We had seen dean mention on another review reply that he had given permission for brand new white sheets to be put in the villa, well there was no sign of these at all.
In the morning at 9am the men from the management company arrived again to clean the second bedroom and replace the oven.
We had to change our dinner plans the night before, but of course it was not deans fault he did have this replaced so we cannot fault him for that.... But what we can fault is John from the management company who said when he came to replace it "oh yeah we have had a few complaints about that I was meant to check it but you have done that for me now haha" why didn't he then??
He also then proceeded to complain that he might have to drive all the way to puerto del Rosario for an oven (30 min drive) and if he had to he would not be impressed at all! I have never met such an unprofessional chap especially considering he is meant to be the owner of the company. I would be quite embarrassed If I thought someone was complaining to my guests in such a way.
They managed to replace the oven, and clean the second bedroom but there was still beard trimmings everywhere and still a bright green shower head. so I have no idea how they thought this was clean. I used the bedroom the further two nights and the bed is just as bad in there too... We never got to see the third bedroom as it remained locked.
To be honest we nearly went back to Lanzarote but as we would have had to pay extra for the ferry back we just tried to make the most of it. (this was not easy) we spent a lot of time out and about on the island!
In the whole time we were there the pool heater was never switched on as promised.. I feel very mislead regarding this issue and feel dean should of researched more into this before promising it would be warm.
The villa is generally very un kept and dirty, there is damp patches everywhere on the walls and the management company are clearly doing a very bad job...and as the owner is in the UK he probably doesn't know what is going on so we took some photos to send to him when we returned home.
A week had passed and we did not received our deposit back so I contacted dean for this and he did refund it straight away
After this we wrote an email to dean explaining all of our concerns and sent every photo for him to see. His reply was he was very embarrassed and apparently had sacked the management company (I do not know if this has been done or not) but he told us he could not afford to give us a refund for our stay, but we could have a free stay there some time. .
I told him thank you for the offer of the free stay but we wouldn't want to visit again after being put off by our first stay and would prefer a refund.
A few days went passed and it was clear I was being ignored. So I contacted dean again asking for the refund that was quite clearly deserved.. His reply was "I will think about it". I was getting quite angry by this point as I felt his tone was quite unprofessional.
I told him that he is effectively running a business and I am a client who is unhappy with the service. If he returned a faulty product to a shop would he accept it if they turned around and said "sorry we can't afford to give you a refund"?
I was getting Very upset and explained to dean that he clearly thought we deserved a refund especially as he had sacked the management company and he wasn't disputing this he was just saying he couldn't afford it. Being a villa owner surely he should have some sort of contingency fund for situations such as this?
I think I had been quite fair, I could have kicked up much more of a fuss during the actual stay and also I believe I gave him the benefit of the doubt by bringing the state of the villa to his attention, assuming he didn't already know.
His reply (in all caps) was that I was bullying him, I don't know his personal situation and that he only rents the villa out because he is forced to and doesn't actually enjoy it at all.
I told him I was not bullying him I was just trying to get back what was owed to me after such a bad experience.
Finally he emailed me saying he would make a payment to me next week if I stopped sending him abusive emails. I have to say not once was I abusive I was just clearly putting my views across to him and attempting to resolve the situation whilst he seemingly wanted to bury his head in the sand.
A week went past and still no refund or contact from dean again. So I contacted him again asking what was happening with the refund. At the end of that day I received a payment of Euro175 (half of what we paid) and an email stating that he was giving us only that and he considered the matter closed.
Dean blames and hides behind the management company for all of the problems in the villa and If he has dismissed them fair enough I do hope he sorts the issues but the after service and attitude from dean was shocking and it is still his responsibility to deal with unhappy guests due to the management company he appointed (who deny all responsibility) and the villa does after all belong to him!
I will still be perusing the rest of my refund and I recommend anyone who is considering staying here to avoid it at all costs and definitely choose one of the other villas on the lovely complex.
My Ipod nano is my baby and i wouldnt be without it! I have to admit i am slightly apple mad and have nothing bad to say anyway but the nano is the best!!
I am very into my sunbathing, walking and the gym so this is a must for all 3!
The worst thing about the product (and there isnt much) is the headphones that come with the product.. unfortunately this is just an apple fault.. their headphones are shocking. The quality is terrible, they are too big too even fit in your ears and everyone else can hear it!! Get yourself on ebay for some quality in ear headphones and you are sorted.
The sound quality on the nano is fantastic, the base and the volume is fab.
Battery life is pretty amazing, obviously after time the battery quality will fade but that is expected.
I would never look back..
I recently purchased a Nad C 521 for our family entertainment room. I received a pretty good deal and had read some good reviews online so thought it would be a very good quality player.
The first 2 days went fine, the CD quality was fantastic and we were all very happy with the purchase.
However after 3 days the CDS started skipping. Obviously at first we thought maybe it was the CD in question so we tried others and the same thing continued to happen. Including on brand new CDS.
We packaged everything back up and returned it to the shop we purchased from. They were helpful and said it must of been a faulty model so gave us a brand new one.
The new one seemed 100% fine for about a week.. and then it started doing the same thing again.
Once again we returned to the shop and were offered a third unit.. i am not much of a believer in third time lucky so i declined.. we purchased a different unit and are very happy now.
I have recently read other reviews and it seems this may be a common problem with the unit.. such a shame because it had a really stylish look too.
I have been a regular customer of yoursclothing for a couple of years now. Using only their online store because the shops are too far away from where i was based.
The quality of their clothes really varies from item to item. Some are fantastic quality and after 2 years i still have them and they still wash well. Others are terribly sized and you could literally shoot peas through the material.
Also some of the photos online are quite deceiving and it is very different when it turns up.
The first bad thing about yoursclothing is the cost of sending back returns. Unlike EVANS, SIMPLYBE etc they do not offer free returns.
The first time i had to return a dress i was not told i had to send it special delivery to cover myself.. only told i had to get a proof of postage. This went missing in the post and because i could not actually prove it was received etc i didnt get anything.. they don't actually tell you this when returning though.
I ended up having to file a royal mail claim and only got a few £1 back towards my £40 dress.
A few weeks back i ordered a dress that was for a party.. i ordered it well in time for it to turn up. However nothing arrived.. i checked the tracking and it said it had been delivered... but i had not had a card, nothing had been left and i hadnt signed for anything. I contacted customer service they said they would start an investigation that would take a week and then they would contact me. 3 weeks later i still hadnt heard anything so i contacted them again and they told me the same thing! So i got fed up and started a paypal claim instead! They are dealing with it now...
Yoursclothing customer service department is shocking and it has put me off shopping there again.
Myself and partner live in Lanzarote and decided to book a last minute weekend away to Fuerteventura.
We had spent a while looking at various hotels and locations and decided to go for the Barcelo Castillo. The Barcelo "brand" helped us with our choice, and also we have relatives that work for Barcelo who constantly praise them so we were looking forward to our stay.
We booked a self catering bungalow with terrace, and also decided to book breakfast as it was only 5 euros each per day through the website we used Hotelopia.
On arrival we parked easily in the large carpark next to the main entrance. We entered the large reception area and were greeted by a very friendly receptionist who spoke fantastic english. She dealt with all the necassary paper work and then gave us a map to guide us to our bungalow.
We were located directly across from the reception area right in front of the road, number 1062. I think if we had been staying longer than 2 nights we would have asked to of been moved because it wasnt very private for sunbathing on the terrace at all because people were constantly walking past on the footpath. Also it was very noisy with coaches constantly arriving to drop off and pick up.. also on our last morning there was a road sweeper at 7am that vibrated through the whole place. But we didnt intend on being in much as we were only over to explore the island.
The Bungalow itself was very spacious and clean. A small but well equipped kitchen, inside dining table, large sofa which was also a sofa bed, flat screen tv (ONE english channel sky news, the rest was either spanish, german or polish). Nice modern bathroom with large shower and plenty of fresh clean towels, complimentry shower gel etc.
The bedroom was perfectly fine with large built in wardrobe (with a safe which was available to hire from reception) but the beds were very very hard!! My partner likes the firmer mattress but i think if i had to spend more than 2 nights on it i would have been crippled!
The living area and bedroom both have sliding doors and shutters to the terrace and the bungalow is fitted with air conditioning.
The terrace has two very comfortable sunbeds, a table and 2 chairs. Also a washing airer that pulls out from the wall.
All in all apart from being on the road we were pleased with the accomodation.
As i mentioned above we booked breakfast, and was really looking forward to this on our first morning... We shouldnt have bothered!! It really was quite terrible!!
It is served between 8am - 10.30am.. the first morning we went down at 9.45am and the second morning at 8.15am and both times we had no problems getting seating. The tables are cleared away quickly and are clean.
There is a large selection of food.. but most of it was awful!
The Choice of drinks are "orange, apple and pineapple" juice.. which was basically watered down juice! The hot chocolate wasnt bad.. we didnt try the tea or coffee. You can have freshly squeezed juice but this does cost extra.
My partner loves his cereal and he was happy to see they had a few choices.. coca pops, sugar puffs and all bran. Well the sugar puffs were absolutely disgusting and once they had milk on them they turned to mush! The next day we tried the "coca pops" i have nooo idea what they were but they were NOT coca pops! They were the most disgusting thing i have ever eaten.
There was lots of choice of fruit, yoghurts, cold meats, cheeses, croissants and breads all catering for the germans but being British we wanted our full english..They had attempted at this if you can call runny scrambled egg, vegetables (yes runner beans and all, probably left over from last nights dinner), bacon swimming in grease, frankfurter sausages and salty beans a full english...
There is a really miserable chap on a grill cooking fresh pancakes which u can cover in chocolate sauce if u so wish but they were very bland and soggy.
Anyone who tastes this food would realise it was awful so i cannot understand why on earth they are serving it.
I am just thankful we didnt go for the all inclusive because i dread to think what the evening meal was like!
We wish we had just gone into town for breakfast where you can get a decent full english for 5/6 euros.. or there is always mcdonalds down the road (turn left at the roundabout as you come out of fusta)
The area around the hotel is nice enough, there is a lovely beach right next to the complex and a short 5 min walk takes you to local restaurants, bars and gift shops. We didnt find the choice of restaurants too wonderful.. living in a holiday resort ourselves on lanzarote we tend to compare a lot and it really didnt....
However we did find a nice italian called La Bodeguita (carry on past the other Barcelo hotel, turn left after the farmacia and its the restaurant with the gorgeous fairylights and white awning). The food was lovely and service was fab.
The second night we found a restaurant the Aberdeen steakhouse (Carry on past fun planet and other restaurants, go to your right of the upstairs chinese and legends, carry on up that road and its the first restaurant on your right opposite the british shop) They have a menu 7,95 for 3 courses. We were expecting it to be rubbish but the ribs i had for main course were the most delicious i have ever eaten!! (Be careful tho they do charge for the bread rolls they give you which seem to be a freebie but only 70c each) Also the drink prices were really reasonable 2,20 for a large beer.
Day two we visited Oasis park Zoo, bit of a drive but well worth it.. i think they run free buses! Its 28 euros for adults and 12 euros for children.. a bit steep but if you plan a whole day its fab. We are residents so pay half price but i still would have paid full to see the wonderful animals.
Apart from that we didnt think much of the island at all and probably wont return.. Maybe we are biased because we live on Lanzarote but the island is much nicer, more welcoming and things to do. If you get the opportunity to visit Lanzarote on a day trip definitely do it, its very different.
As for the Barcelo Castillo I would avoid all inclusive.. and i think there are hotels out there that are just as nice and much cheaper..
This is currently £5.69 in Boots or on the 3 for 2 offer (12/02/11)
This foundation comes in a a stylish black bottle with pump action with silver writing on the bottle.
How to use:
Apply evenly to a well moisturised face either using the finger tips or an application sponge.
What is claims to do:
17 Super Wear Long Lasting Foundation conceals blemishes for a perfect finish that lasts all day. Whether its a sheer, dewy finish or something completely matte, your base is the first step to achieving beautiful make-up.
My opinion:
I don't have the best skin, i have the odd spot and uneven skin tone so i am always on the look out for a great long lasting and affordable foundation. I thought i had found that in this foundation when i first applied. The liquid when on with a great even coverage and left my skin looking fantastic and flawless. That is as far as it goes..
I took this on holiday and after maybe 2 hours of being out in the sun my skin looked as pale as it did before i started applying the foundation.
My opinion, spend a little more and buy a better quality foundation and that actually does what it says it will do.
Myself and partner stayed here on 19th August for 3 nights.
We booked the hotel through "Hotelopia" and managed to get 3 nights for £80 which is much cheaper than booking directly through the holiday inn website so we were more than happy. This rate was for room and buffet breakfast.
We chose this hotel because we were attending a track day at brands hatch on the Thursday but also wanted somewhere close to Bluewater and pretty central for things to do.
Upon arrival we were greeted by a friendly receptionist who took our details and pointed us in the direction of our room.
We took the lift up to the second floor and was pleasantly surprised by a spacious clean modern room.
There was plenty of wardrobe space, desk, tv with limited freeview channels and the option to pay for movies, double bed, sofa bed and a spacious bathroom with shower.
Everything was clean and well maintained.
The view out of our window looked out on to the car park with an excellent view of the Dartford bridge.
The breakfast in the morning was pleasant. There is a great choice of hot drinks, fruit juices, cereals, croissants, toast and two hot choices of sausages or scrambled eggs. The only thing i say is lacking is possibly some beans because the hot breakfast was a little dry.
There is an evening restaurant but we didn't use this option.. also an ice machine in reception that doesn't work, a microwave and the chance to buy some cold snacks and overpriced drinks. I think this is mainly because there is no local shop that is less than probably a 45 minute walk and 10 minute drive.
There are a few restaurants within 10 minute drives if you would prefer to avoid the microwaved food in the hotel.
The staff were all friendly enough, apart from a few of the breakfast waiters who looked like they had come in from a heavy night who made a few grunts in the morning but definitely looked like they wanted to be somewhere else.
All in all the hotel is good value for money if you can get a cheap deal and very close to bluewater.
Stratford Manor hotel
Date of stay: 18th July 2009
Number of nights: 1
Number of guests: 2
Cost: £59 through last minute.com
Reason for stay:
It was our nieces birthday and we needed somewhere to stay nearby to where they live.
Originally we booked a room at the Alverston manor through lastminute.com. But a few days before they phoned us to let us know the booking was cancelled because of over booking and that they had re located us to the Stratford Manor. We were a bit annoyed at first but after looking at more information on the hotel we were happy.
The hotel is situated on the Warwick Road. It is a bit out in the sticks and not ideal for exploring the main town. You would definitely need to drive into the town centre.
But it has quiet surroundings and the area around is very peaceful and pretty.
The hotel offers its own free car park. It was very busy on arrival so we had to park right at the end. But there are a few disabled spaces near the hotel entrance.
Some very very nice porches, Lamborghinis and Ferraris in the car park as well.
On arrival the reception area was very busy. We waited about 10 minutes to be dealt with. Mostly because they had some "moaners" to deal with in front of us.
The welcome at reception i have to say i found a bit strange!
Usually we stay at travelodge, premier inns etc and i believe that the welcome is better in most of these hotels.
The receptionist was a Brown haired South African male who just seemed like he wanted to be somewhere else!
Don't get me wrong he was friendly he was just a bit "odd".
There was no instruction as to where anything was, no times for breakfast etc. I just felt it wasn't very personal and like he was almost trying to just get rid of us so he could get back to whatever he was doing before the mad rush!
The room:
Our room was very lovely indeed..
It wasn't the biggest room in the world but it was very well equipped.
On the left hand side there was a lot of wardrobe space with plenty of hangers (which is usually what hotels lack).
On the right hand side there was a large bathroom with shower over bath, sink and toilet. Also plenty of complimentary items (shampoo, conditioner, shower cap, shower gel etc.) The bathroom was very clean and tidy.
In the main area of bedroom there was a large very comfortable bed, large desk with writing paper etc, table and two chairs.
Overall the room was very comfortable and well equipped.
Breakfast the next day was really delicious and quite possibly the best breakfast i have had in a hotel before.
The room it was based in was slightly dingy and lacking daylight BUT the food was amazing.
The host greeted us and showed us to a table and told us where everything was (maybe he should be on reception!).
There was a great deal of choice on the buffet. Plenty of cereals, yoghurt, fruits, croissants, toast etc.
There was as much tea and coffee as you could drink but if you asked they would also bring hot chocolate (highly recommended)
Then there is your choice of English cooked breakfast which you could help yourself to as much as you can handle! Fried egg, scrambled egg, sausages, bacon, mushrooms, tomatoes, beans, fried bread and black pudding.
Lets just say we were stuffed when we left!
The hotel has a number of facilities such as a swimming pool but unfortunately we didn't have much time available so we didn't use them!


text:
Fashion Magazine
Wilder Style: Window Shopping the NET-A-PORTER 50% Off SaleBy Thewilderthings @TheWilderThings
The great thing about having a blog is that I get to write about whatever I want whenever I want to. That freedom means that if I'm lusting after oh, say, $10,000 worth of beautiful clothes from the NET-A-PORTER 50% off sale, I can just post about them instead of spending far more money than I could possibly afford. It's surprising how the act of posting about a dress or a shirt can make me want it less; by saying "I WANT THIS!!!" on TWT, I curb the craving in real life.
The result is this: you get to see all of the beautiful things I want so that I don't virtually shake my bank account out all over the internet. Beginning with the Jason Wu dress above. Isn't it stunning? The cut, the black detailing on the gorgeous floral print, and the coral piping work so well together (more after the jump).
Shocking that I want something by Isabel Marant isn't it? These are like cool versions of MC Hammer pants. I take that back; they're an updated version. Hammer pants will always be cool. If you're trying to look like a 90s music video. And that is a move that I would fully support.
Ah yes, an awesome, straight-forward, striped hoodie from Aubin and Wills. I actually might buy this because at $62.50 it seems like kind of a steal. Thoughts?
We Are Handsome can do no wrong, is what this suit says to me.
Now I'm getting a little fancy, I realize, but I'd feel very much like Joan from Mad Men wearing this belted Gucci number, and I think I would like that feeling #sexytimesabajillion
Gucci kind of killed this sale. This sweater reminded me of the yellow sweater post I did earlier this spring...ah, the memories.
I mean, YES PLEASE, Jill Sander. This is one good looking anorak (love that word).
I love Philip Lim and this sweater is a great example of why. Clean but interesting lines, great cut, lovely weave. Baboom.
Be still my heart, because this Joseph sweater is one of the most elegant things I've ever seen. A sheer material with mohair stripes? Talk about texture.
And to top it all off (or bottom it off, since it's the end of the post), I present to you the above tee from Sandro. That's one store I didn't go into in Paris, and I wish I had...isn't that leopard (this is a leopard, right?) adorable? He's a little bit aloof, as a cool cat should be. I just kind of melt for this. Maybe I'll buy this too. So perhaps it turns out that while this method of curbing my cravings helps, perhaps it's not %100 effective.
Oh well.
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text:
The Economics of a Lost Deal: Kyoto - The Hague - Marrakesh
This paper examines prospects for compromise between competing perspectives on four key climate change issues: costs, level of domestic action, environmental integrity, and developing world involvement. It focuses on the policy issues stemming from uncertainty about abatement costs. Based on extensive simulations of a model integration tool, SAP12 (Stochastic Assessment of Climate Policies, 12 models), the analysis considers options for fine-tuning the Kyoto Protocol, such as concrete ceilings or levies on carbon imports; "environmental restoration payments" to be made on excess emissions; and credits for sequestration activities in Annex B countries. It demonstrates that a restoration payment (implemented through a safety valve) emerges as a superior means of addressing the cost uncertainty issue. The paper concludes that had this approach been taken at the COP6 climate negotiations in The Hague, there would have been substantial room for compromise on payments of $35 to $100 per ton of carbon. Examining the Marrakesh (COP7) climate accord, it derives some lessons for attempts at completing Kyoto's unfinished business or at moving on to a new framework.
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Volume (Year): Volume23 (2002)
Issue (Month): Number 3 ()
Pages: 1-26
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text:
The other day, I saw a report that nearly half the USA GNP (Gross National Product) is based on intellectual property. That means software, music, movies, novels, and related things. If you look at the other stuff, namely durable goods, like refrigerators, cars, furniture, etc., many or all of the parts in there come from other countries. Probably 90% of the clothes are made outside the USA. Even much of our food is grown in other countries. And certainly, these days, a lot of hi-fi equipment comes from Asia. All those products being shipped from overseas are costing more, because fuel prices are going through the roof.
The price of crude oil has just reached $110 a barrel. Gas is approaching $4 per gallon. OPEC is no friend of America, as they recently have refused to increase production, saying it is our economy that is the problem. Yeah, and our economy is a problem because oil is getting so expensive. Next time one of the OPEC nations is invaded (remember The Gulf War – Kuwait in the early 1990's?), we will agree to come to their rescue under the following conditions: They pay the cost of the war materials plus $1 million in non taxable cash to the families of each American soldier killed in action, $0.5 million if disabled, $0.25 million if wounded to the extent of requiring hospitalization or blood transfusion in the field, and all the oil we want to purchase for the next 10 years, at a cost not to exceed $10 per barrel. The oil would be sold to the US government, who will sell it to the oil companies at the same price, providing that the price at the pump is reflected (back to less than $1 per gallon).
We also need to have more telecommuting, with at least 30% of company employees working at home, and the rest working at branch offices set up within five miles of where there are the largest numbers of employees of any particular company living. Factory workers would be given incentives to live within five miles of the factory. That would reduce our gasoline usage by at least 50%, not to mention cutting pollution.
I am spending twice as much on gasoline as I did a couple of years ago, and this makes it more difficult to purchase all that hi-fi intellectual property I mentioned above. I don't like that one bit. However, I do plan to continue the pleasure of music and movies, even more so, and I will explain why in my next blog post.


text:
Pegasus Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 3L
Pegasus Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 3 L
This olive oil is harvested by hand and pressed within twenty-four hours of being picked. It is a cold-pressed oil with low acidity and high quality. This premium olive oil has a rich and flavorful taste, making it ideal for salads, pastas, meats, fish, poultry, hearty soups, pizza and more. Pegasus Extra Virgin Olive Oil is also great for dipping bread and seafood.
Product contains select high-quality extra virgin olive oils from Greece, Italy, Morocco, Spain and Tunisia
We Also Recommend


text:
by James Brumley | January 4, 2013 6:15 am
So let me get this straight: Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX[1]) is on pace to post a 90% decline in its bottom line between 2011 and 2012, subscriber growth for last year was 28% shy of the company's goal … and the CEO's pay is doubled for 2013[2]?
Yup. Only in America.
The board of directors' decision has — surprise, surprise! — become a hotly debated one; why reward a severe lack of progress? But in the interest of fairness, let's look at the news from both sides of the table.
Maybe Reed Hastings deserves a bigger paycheck for other reasons.
Just in case some of you were wondering, yes, I'm the same guy who has hammered away at Netflix several times over the last few months, predicting its demise last March[3], scoffing at Carl Icahn's plans in November[4], and pointing out why the new venture between RedBox and Coinstar (NASDAQ:CSTR[5]) would pour salt in the wounds early last month[6].
It goes without saying that I'm not a fan of the stock, though I'd be the first to admit I'm a subscriber to the service.
Yet, true to my personal "call 'em like I see 'em" mantra, I have to acknowledge there might be a little more fairness in Hasting's pay hike than critics would care to believe.
The details of the new deal are simple enough: In 2013, Reed Hastings will receive a base salary of $2 million, and a stock option allowance worth $2 million at the time it's issued (though the options could end up being worth much more, if NFLX rises). All told, that's twice 2012's compensation of a $500,000 salary and a $1.5 million stock option allowance.
Considering approximately 0.00% of you were given a 100% raise at any point in 2012, to see the CEO of a struggling company receive that kind of paycheck is an outrage — particularly to investors in the company. Thing is, while a $4 million package is twice as big as $2 million, $4 million still isn't much for a company generating $3.6 billion in revenue.
Said another way, there are plenty of other under-the-radar CEOs out there who are making a lot more running a company doing a lot less than Netflix is.
Chesapeake Energy (NYSE:CHK[7]) CEO Aubrey McClendon comes to mind. The guy took home $21 million two years ago and banked $17.9 million last year to run a natural gas company that generates around $10 billion in annual revenue. And he did so in a manner that showed anything but shareholder respect and candor[8]. Granted, Chesapeake Energy likely will be considerably more profitable in 2012 than Netflix. But Netflix is in the midst of some expensive growing pains right now that might well pay off nicely later. In a good year, Netflix has earned well over $100 million, and is projected by some to return to its glory days.
Or if you don't want to use Aubrey McClendon as a yardstick, just consider this: Last year's compensation of $2 million for Hastings is roughly in the 75th percentile of CEOs running comparable companies, according to Netflix, anyway. Doubling the figure in 2013 isn't likely to move the percentile needle to a significant degree.
That's not cheap, but you could do worse.
All that being said, there's an overarching reality with the giant pay increase that has to grate on shareholders: The company is falling apart.
If — and that's a huge if — Netflix can restore its income to the glory days of … well, 2011 … the pay hike scandal will become a forgotten footnote.
But therein lies the rub. Hastings is enjoying the spoils of what's yet to become a victory.
Sure, sure … Netflix recently scored a major content deal[9] with Disney (NYSE:DIS[10]), and in so doing also landed exclusive access to the new Star Wars movies. Netflix also added Marvel (Comics) digital content to its library, upping the quality of its content offer at a time when complaints about its low quality were starting to pile up.
Problem: None of that content will be available to subscribers until 2016, and Netflix is already starting to see its margins shrink to paper-thin levels right now thanks to rising content costs and a slowing growth in its subscriber base.
In other words, Netflix can't wait until 2016 to draw a bigger paying crowd — it needs the money now, as on-demand video is becoming a commodity[11], price-driven rather than premium-driving. Giving Hastings more (or less) now won't change any of that reality.
There aren't too many ways to slice this — Hastings' pay hike is premature. Were it more stock options-heavy rather than salary-heavy, it might almost be palatable; at least there would be lots of incentive, and the CEO would pretty much be in the same boat as shareholders.
But as it stands now, Hastings is getting a lot more something for nothing, and the pay package is starting to push the limits of good taste.
As of this writing, James Brumley did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.
Source URL: https://investorplace.com/2013/01/did-netflixs-hastings-earn-a-payday-doubler/
Short URL: http://invstplc.com/1nuHgV2
Copyright ©2017 InvestorPlace Media, LLC. All rights reserved. 700 Indian Springs Drive, Lancaster, PA 17601.


text:
Mississippi Department of Corrections officials were in Corinth on Wednesday and performed a surprise search of the facility that houses 240 state prisoners.
More than 100 cellphones were recovered in the raid, but despite the search one inmate was able to keep a smuggled cell phone and recorded the wrecked facility after MDOC officers left.
MDOC contacted Alcorn County Sheriff Ben Caldwell after the inmate's video appeared in a newscast on WLBT, Jackson's flagship TV station.
The prisoner, 32-year-old Devin Johnson Jr., was immediately placed in isolation, said Caldwell. He has since been transported from Alcorn County to the Mississippi State Penitentiary in Parchman.
Johnson is serving seven years for a 2016 armed robbery in Harrison County.
According to WLBT, the video shows a large area of inmates on bunk beds and walking amid items scattered on the floor. Sent to WLBT by a viewer who received the video in a text message from the inmate, Johnson shows his face and voices his opinion of the shakedown.
"I lost my charger," he said in the video. "We just got shook down ... Shook down my whole house."
Caldwell said he's not surprised that all contraband was not found by MDOC during the shakedown.
"Since they left, we have already found three more cell phones hidden in the facility," the sheriff told the Daily Corinthian. "A water bottle with a hidden compartment was also found."
On Wednesday, MDOC officers also recovered cellphone chargers, large bags of tobacco and numerous other contraband items, including shoes and shanks.
It was the largest regional jail bust this year, according to MDOC.
The jail remains on lockdown until Caldwell and his staff can send MDOC a corrective plan of action.
"Controlling contraband is one of the hardest things we do," added Caldwell. "It's a daily fight that never ends. Mainly because these state inmates are constantly thinking of new ways to get contraband into the facility."


text:
Oarfish (Regalecus glesne), large, long, sinuous fish of the family Regalecidae (order Lampridiformes), found throughout the tropics and subtropics in rather deep water. A ribbon-shaped fish, very thin from side to side, the oarfish may grow to a length of about 9 metres (30.5 feet) and a weight of 300 kg (660 pounds). It is shiny silver in colour, with long, red, oarlike pelvic fins and a long, red dorsal fin that rises as a manelike crest on top of the head. Seldom seen at the surface, it is credited as the "sea serpent" of some reported sightings.
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