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This is the third part of a series of articles entitled 'Influences in Africa'. In this issue we take a look at the way the mass media and communications can influence Africa today.
There is no doubt that the various forms of mass media and communications have had a great influence in every part of the world. We are probably more aware of it in Europe and North America than anywhere else. Still, the effects of technological advances are felt in all parts of the globe. Being able to share information, to have almost instant access to news, and to be subjected to advertisements, has its good and bad sides.
How such means of communications are used will always be a topic for discussion, but the basic fact that they are with us and will continue to develop is obvious. Most countries in Africa, as with the majority of the developing world, have fallen behind in the communications race. The main reason for this is that investors do not see enough commercial potential to put money into creating networks in these countries. The situation is not improved by the tight control which most African governments have over all forms of media and communication. The result, as we see even in Europe, is that this area of our lives is often controlled by a few 'media moguls'.
There is no doubt that the most successful method of modern communication in Africa is the radio (see the table). Newspapers, television and films are not readily available to a rural population, but it is likely that there will be several radios even in the remotest of villages.
Most radio and T.V. networks in Africa are state owned or controlled, there are very few independent networks. Consequently, radio is often a means for the incumbent government to get across its point of view. This is done to varying degrees and effect to the extent of some governments distorting reports to suit their own ends. Because of this, the BBC's World Service programmes have become an essential part of events in Africa. They are often the only reliable source of unbiased news for millions of people.
Radio has been used for the good of people and for the bad. The role which 'Radio Libre des Mille Collines' (RMC) played in encouraging the genocide in Rwanda of 1994 is well documented. RMC was set up in July, 1993, and became the mouthpiece for the extremists of the former government. Mille Collines undermined the Arusha agreement, and was used to create fear and to incite people to kill their neighbours.
There are many examples of how radio has been used for the good in Africa. Inspired by the effect which the propaganda of RMC had on people 'Radio Espoir' (Radio Hope, Radio Umwizero in Kirundi) was established to spread balanced programmes. It is a joint venture between a French association and a local Burundi radio station. Radio Hope is based in Bujumbura and is run by three expatriates. It is targeted at the 15-25 age group, and broadcasts in the Kirundi language.
'The Voice of the Disabled' in Chad is another example of a good use of the radio. The programme is made by 'The Support Group for the Disabled' (AEHPT) and is broadcast nationally each week. AEHPT also produces various printed material but moved into radio to reach a wider audience of both the able-bodied and the disabled. The programmes are not difficult to produce and do not require a lot of technical, financial or human resources. At present it is only broadcast in French but it is hoped to put it out in Arabic and Sara soon.
At the end of the 1980s the Inter-Religious Meeting of Bishops of Southern Africa (IMBISA) started a local radio project. It involved local people in making the programmes, news and information about everyday life. A similar venture is 'Radio Pax', a Catholic radio station which broadcast to Mozambique up until 1977, began again just before the elections of October, 1994. Courses were run for the presenters from various towns. From this grew the 'Association of Independent Young Christian Journalists', which now runs the station. During the elections Pax journalists became a source of independent information, which was used by the international press and observers. Pax is now based at Inhamizua, 20km from Beira. The staff have continued their work and are also involved in teaching young people to manage radio stations, and to set up self-financing schemes. There are further plans to open local radio stations in other towns.
BBC World Service
The BBC's World Service was very much in the news for most of 1996. The annual financial cuts demanded by the government - which, it is claimed, would result in a short-fall of nearly £20 million in 1997-98 - were part of the story. Then the plans for restructuring the whole BBC organisation appeared. Under the new proposals the World Service would virtually disappear as a separate production entity and its news units would be absorbed by existing BBC news, though specific World Service news would still be produced. Bush House on The Strand would also be abandoned, before its lease runs out in 2004, and the World Service will possibly move to White City, west London.
The World Service began life as the BBC Empire Service on 19th. December, 1932, and become known as the World Service in 1988. It now broadcasts in 42 languages, including English, and has 133 million listeners a week. English speakers (35 million) are the largest group of listeners, then there are Hindi speakers (24 million), Urdu speakers (16.5 million) and Arabic speakers (11 million). In Africa and the Middle East the World Service has 42.5 million listeners, 14 million in English. Broadcasts are also made in Arabic, French, Hausa, Kinyarwanda/Kirundi, Portuguese, Somali and Swahili.
T.V. and Films
Once again, in general, television and films are tightly controlled in African countries. Neither of these forms of communication has developed to the same degree as radio. This is mainly due to the expense and technical expertise necessary. French-speaking West Africa, especially Burkina Faso and Senegal, has a thriving film industry and many films have been produced dealing with events in these countries and with their history. English-speaking African countries have to depend on South Africa and Zimbabwe since the Nigerian film industry has virtually collapsed.
The financial investment to establish a new television network, maintain high production standards and keep up with technological advances, is way beyond the means of most African states. Despite this some countries have their T.V. networks. With the advent of global satellite T.V. networks it is also possible for their programmes to be received in Africa - even if there is no national T.V. network. Channels such as CFI, T.V.5 Afrique, BBC World Television, Deutsche Welle, CNN, MTV and M-Net are beamed to various parts of Africa. It is difficult for African networks to compete with the sponsorship which the West's multinationals give to these large global networks.
The 'Africa Express' programmes, on the UK's Channel Four, are a new approach to reporting on Africa. The programmes involve African reporters and some of the documentaries have been made entirely by African production teams. Journalists from Kenya, South Africa, Namibia, Cameroon and Zimbabwe, have made films in various African countries on challenging and difficult topics. The programmes will be available for use in Africa at the lowest possible cost because of special concessions on their broadcasting rights. Channel Four collaborated with TVE and South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) but still had 80% control of production and editorial decisions. The latest series was regularly watched by up to two million viewers.
It is difficult for a newspaper in any country to remain 100% independent and more so in Africa. Most newspapers are subject to some form of censorship, even if this is not through direct government interference. Their production is restricted by all sorts of pressures such as the need for newsprint (paper), computers, printing presses, advertisements, a distribution network, trained staff. These factors can make the Press a monopoly and form a disguised censorship for the publishers. They can often end up just reflecting the opinions of a rich urban elite of a given country.
Some local organisations have been formed to help to counter the possibilities of imposed censorship and bias. These include the 'Publishers' Society' (SEP), which is based in Benin, and the 'Press Freedom and Professional Ethics Monitor' (OLPED) of the Ivory Coast. MISA (the Media Institute for Southern Africa) is a well established regional organisation for journalists. It promotes the training of local journalists and the circulation of news. MISANET is part of this and is a Windhoek (Namibia) based e-mail system which allows journalists to pass their stories around a wider global audience.
The influence which newspapers can have in bringing about change is extraordinary. In Malawi, for example, the Press scene changed completely after the Catholic Bishops produced their Pastoral Letter in March, 1992. Until then there had been two government-controlled national newspapers (one daily and one weekly), one Catholic biweekly and a Catholic monthly magazine. Within a matter of months this had grown to about twenty-two publications, most of them 'independent', appearing at various intervals. These papers stimulated political discussions which the country had never seen before and helped in the democratic process.
The Internet
One of the great demons of the 1990s, so many believe, is the Internet or 'The Information Super-Highway'. Opinions range from it being a way of spreading all that is evil in the world, to it being a marvellous tool for education and development. As with any form of communication it can be used to either end. The Internet reflects society and it is only a small minority of people that misuse it and give it a bad name. Due to the way in which the Internet has developed there is no one person, or organisation, in over all control. Despite this it is, in general, a well ordered and self-regulating arena for cooperation amongst people from all over the world. It is estimated that about thirty million people use the Internet at present (see the 'Backbone' diagram).
Origins of the Internet
The Internet began in the late 1960s when people involved in American defence matters decided that they needed to safeguard their computers from a possible nuclear attack. In 1969 the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), part of the US Defence Department, established a network of four computers so that their researchers could exchange information and that, in the event of a nuclear war, the systems could continue to function independently. These computers were at different places and became known as DARPANET. By 1972 there were thirty-seven computers and the network became known as ARPANET. The network had grown to pass information and mail around and took another step forward with MILNET, in 1983. This was a branch which carried sensitive military information. The National Science Foundation (NSF) established five supercomputer centres in 1984 which brought in the academic and educational circles. This was opened up to almost anyone who wished to use it in 1987.
Over the last ten years the Internet has gradually grown to link the whole world and is accessible to those who have a computer, a modem and a telephone connection. The development, once again, in Europe and many parts of the world has been from a network of educational establishments. It was done on an informal basis with the main intention of sharing information. In the last few years, the Internet has become commercialised and major multinational corporations have been attempting to carve out their area of influence within it. Most of these developments came on the scene at the same time as the 'Super Highway' really began to appear in the media of Western Europe - though in fact the first European connections to be established were with England and Norway in 1973.
What is the Internet?
One way to view the Internet is as a parallel to the world's telephone systems. Instead of there being telephones and facsimile (fax) machines at the end of telephone lines, there are computers. The Internet, like the telephone system, is not just a single unit but is made up of different networks based all over the world. For example, if we wish to make a telephone call to America from the UK we begin by dialling up, using the line provided by our local company - British Telecom, Mercury etc. The telephone call is transferred to the USA by undersea cable or satellite, and is picked up by another company there and we reach the number required. When we make a telephone call it is rare that we know how the message gets from A to B, nor do we give it a second thought, because we have grown so used to it.
The Internet also uses a system of telephone lines, satellite links and undersea cables to pass information around the world from computer to computer. Usually people have access to it through a local 'Provider'. A 'Provider' is a company which lets you use their equipment, almost as a telephone exchange, in order to get onto the Internet. In this way it is possible to contact anyone, to find information, and to send mail. People working or studying in most universities can have free access to the Internet as they are often directly linked to it. For others the cost is just that of a local phone call and an annual subscription to a 'Provider'.
Using the Internet
As with a telephone system how the Internet is used varies a great deal. It can be as useful as a 999-emergency call or as facile as a 0891-chat line - all depends on the users intentions.
The most common use of the Internet is as a postal service to send 'electronic mail' (e-mail). The great thing about it is that by this method anything which it is possible to produce on a computer - text, pictures, sound, even this whole magazine - can be transferred from one computer to another. E-mail is simply a fast and cheap way of sending and receiving information. It also saves a lot of time and duplication because the messages which you receive are in a form of text which can be used in most types of computer software, without any retyping.
It is possible to search thousands of computers for the information you want. By using various types of software you can 'browse' and find the information. There are also 'Yellow Pages' which may be referred to get the addresses of where to go. Once you have the address of the computer, you can get into it and look at the documents and even copy them to your own machine for future reference. A part of the Internet which lends itself to this is the World Wide Web (WWW or the Web). It is an easy way to look at what is on a computer and to get around it. Various organisations, such as universities, keep information on their computers and allow people to share it. These wells of knowledge are often known as Anonymous File Transfer Protocol (FTP) sites and documents amounting to thousands of pages can be found.
The above ways of using the Internet are often restricted to business, academic or research work. The system, as with the telephone or postal service, is also used for socialising. People who have similar interests and hobbies get together and form 'news-groups' or 'conferences'. These are space on the Providers' computers to which people can send messages to one another. These may be anything from trivial matters, to sharing resources about human rights or environmental issues.
Telephones in Africa
The development of the Internet in Africa depends greatly on the existing telecommunication networks within the continent. There are more telephones in Tokyo or Manhattan than in the whole of Sub-Saharan Africa. Despite having 12% of the World's population Africa has only 2% of its phones. Only thirteen countries have more than one phone to every one hundred people, and most of these are in urban areas. In comparison there are fifty to every one hundred people in the USA.
Efforts have been made over the last twenty years to improve and build up a communications structure in many countries. The UN has always encouraged this development, such as during the decade of 'Transport and Communication' (1978 to 1988). One of the aims was for Africa to have one telephone line per 100 people by 1988. The result was a 0.72 of a line and an estimated 0.91 by 1991. Other organisations such as the Pan-African Telecommunication (PANAFTEL), the Pan-African Telecommunications Union (PATU), and the Regional African Satellite Communications Organisations (RASCOM) have worked on a continent wide basis. In general all have had a degree of success but nothing to compare with the way they have grown in Western Europe and North America.
There is a great difference in accessibility to services in the various countries though here generalisations can be misleading. South Africa, as may be expected, is one of Africa's leading countries for telephones and the Internet. It has 146 phones per thousand people and ranks sixteenth, out of the 159 countries, in the world which have Web sites. South Africa is also developing as a communications centre for the whole of southern Africa.
Problems of connectivity also arise in Africa both within a country and from country to country. When telephone networks are gradually improved developing countries often have to rely upon aid - financial and in kind - from developed countries. This can lead to problems with the type of communications equipment used to the extent that the different levels of communication won't work together. In Zambia the international phone system is made up of Swedish and Japanese components. In the rural areas other parts are French, Japanese and Norwegian. This causes headaches for the engineers who have to work on it and difficulties in connecting calls.
Much of the existing telephone structure in Africa is built on old patterns which hail back to their colonial origins. Because of this some countries are often unable to talk directly to others in the continent and have to pass through Europe. For example a call from Dakar (Senegal) to Lusaka (Zambia) follows the route Dakar-Banjul (The Gambia), Banjul-London, London-Lusaka. This pattern is repeated in many cases and it means that much revenue from African telecommunication companies goes to carriers in Europe. It has been estimated that this adds as much as US$250m to Africa's phone bill, contributing towards making calls 40% more expensive than elsewhere.
Money may also be saved when a country's internal phone system is of a good standard. A World Bank study on Uganda found that 2,000 local government officials made 40,000 trips a year for business which could be handled by phone or mail, if reliable services were available. The time taken was estimated to be equal to 250 working years and to cost US$600,000 annually. It has been shown in other studies that there is a direct link between efficient telecommunications and economic growth. For improvement to be seen it is necessary to have at least one phone per hundred people. Certainly without efficient communications Africa is losing out all the time.
Government Control or Privatisation
As well as the problems mentioned above, most telecommunication networks have the added burdens of under funding and deteriorating equipment. Some are also plagued with corruption - such as bribery for services and installation. Many telecommunication companies are state-owned and they struggle financially. As a result governments are reluctant to allow people to connect with other, sometimes cheaper, sources, and so the state-monopolies hold firm. Authorities also fear the potential danger of allowing their country's communications into private hands. This is even more so with the advent of access to the Internet. Rather than seeing communication as a development tool, they view the free transfer of information as a means of undermining an autocratic regime.
The pros and cons between government ownership and privatisation in developing countries may be argued in different ways and both may be seen as a mixed blessing. With the imposition of Structural Adjustment Programmes by the World Bank and IMF the choice is usually made up for the debtor country as these two institutions favour privatisation. Thus, many state telecommunication companies are forced to face competition. The World Bank certainly sees communications as an area for investment and encourages it strongly.
Telephones in Ghana
Developments in Ghana show how a country's communications can be improved, through the influence of the major financial institutions, and with investment by multinational companies. The changes began in 1992 with the implementation of the World Bank's Economic Recovery Programme for Ghana. Part of the programme is to make the country self-sufficient in phones by the year 2000 and to place this in the private sector. Legislation is gradually being brought in to break the monopoly of the Ghana Post and Telecommunications Corporation (GPTC). The postal and telecommunications aspects of the GPTC are being divided, rather like the division of BT and the Post Office in the UK several years ago. The Ghana government will retain the majority of shares and the rest (49%) will be open to international bids and the general public.
Other initiatives have also taken place and go back to 1986 when the World Bank gave Ghana a loan of US$19m. This helped secure other loans, totalling US$170m. from different sources. Japan financed 36,500 new telephone lines in Accra, completed in June 1995, the Caisse Francaise de Development (France) financed 10,000 lines in Tema and AT&T (USA) provided all the equipment. The progress is checked regularly by the World Bank.
Ghana became the seventy-ninth member of the International Mobile Satellite Organisation (Inmarsat), the twelfth African country to join. Inmarsat is an internationally owned cooperative, with each member state sharing in the profits made, which provides worldwide communication through four telecommunications satellites. This means that it is possible, for those with terminals, to make a phone call to anywhere in the world.
The demand for telephones has also soared over the years: from 50,000 by the end of 1994, to 82,000 by 1995, and 120,000 by 1996. With the new developments it is beginning to be possible to meet these needs and those of the large multinationals, such as Coca Cola, which wish to open up factories throughout the country. Small communications bureaus have also blossomed in the larger cities. Those who can get the money to invest have set up offices, with staff and equipment, and cater for the needs of the urban small business man.
'Africa One'
A major initiative which is under way at present is the 'Africa One' project. This is headed by AT&T Submarine Systems, Inc., a part of American Telephone and Telegraph (AT&T). The plan is to lay 35,000 kilometres of undersea fibre optic cable circling the whole of Africa (see 'Communications Links in Africa'). The concept of 'Africa One' was first announced at the ITU's Africa Telecom conference held in Cairo, in April, 1994. The ITU (International Telecommunication Union of the UN) had approached AT&T for ideas the previous year and there had been discussions at various levels. Those involved so far are Pan-African organisations such as PATU and RASCOM. These both help to coordinate and link African telecommunications, through their networks of satellites and microwave dishes. They also help to develop various organisations throughout the continent. AT&T's role in the project is to supply the network.
There is already financial support from the United States, and the World Bank/IFC will help in financing country links to 'Africa One'. The major investment is to come from PATU and RASCOM and their global partners who will own and run the network. The basic work of contacting interested parties and putting agreements together has already been done. It is hoped that the actual construction work will begin this year, 1997.
The undersea cable will be laid beyond the continental shelf and the first stage will link forty-one of Africa's coastal countries and islands. From there the network will be integrated into the continent's existing, and planned, terrestrial and satellite-based regional networks, which are overseen by PATU and RASCOM, respectively. Connections to the rest of the world will be made through existing undersea networks to Portugal, Spain, Italy, Israel, Greece, and Saudi Arabia and the other continents. Already more than sixty countries are involved. This figure is expected to reach over one hundred by the end of the decade when the project will be completed.
'Africa One' may be seen as either a marvellous way to give Africa access to global communication or yet another monopoly created by one of the world's largest multinational companies - a form of technical colonialism. Whichever way we see it there is certainly great potential. It is hoped that the huge investment - of up to US$2.6 billion - will be repaid within five years as present demand for telecommunications outstrips the availability of suitable networks. The project's major drawbacks are that the cable only has a twenty-five-year life cycle and that, despite having the most up-to-date continental ring, the existing regional and national networks of Africa are doomed to deteriorate further without massive investment.
The Internet and Africa
The majority of African countries, as mentioned at the beginning of the article, are unable to keep up with much of the technological development of the Internet. The major reasons for this are a simple lack of computers, telephones and suitable telephone networks which are necessary to use the services available. It is virtually impossible for Africa to catch up with Western Europe and North America on the ratio of computers and telephones per head. Even if such basics were available telephone charges would make it impossible for the ordinary person to use it. Despite this it does not mean that the situation is hopeless.
Direct access to the Internet is only available in seventeen of Africa's countries (at the time of writing, October 1996) but there are other communication routes which link people with it. The subscription to a 'Provider' is also beyond the means of the ordinary person. The annual cost in the UK, around £150, would be that for a couple of months in in some West African countries - probably the annual average income for a subsistence farmer!
The APC Organisation and GreenNet
As with telephones there are many organisations which are helping to create the different forms of communications within Africa and to link them with the rest of the world. The Association for Progressive Communications (APC)(see the maps on pages 11, and 16 and 17) is a good example of the Internet in a microcosm, as it utilises all the various means of linking people together and works upon the previously uncommercial Internet ethic. APC is a consortium of more than fifty international networks. It is the most extensive global computer network dedicated specifically to serving non-governmental organisations (NGOs), church organisations, human rights networks, policy makers, community leaders and individuals concerned with social and environmental issues. APC supplies e-mail, conferencing and Internet facilities for about 22,000 people in 133 countries. In doing so it provides low cost computer communication and information services to individuals and local organisations and encourages them to develop their skills.
The APC networks have benefited from several United Nations projects and grew in 1987 when it collaborated with the UN Development Programme (UNDP) to establish computer network services for NGOs and academics in Latin America. The network is working closely with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on their ChildNet project. Several UN offices also use the APC networks to spread information. APC has been involved in the 1992 Earth Summit in Brazil, in 1993 at the UN World Conference on Human Rights in Austria, and the 1995 Fourth UN World Conference on Women in Beijing.
GreenNet is the London-based part of the APC organisation and helps to set up and support small PC systems. Since the late 1980s GreenNet has been assisting in the development of communications in several countries. It provides FidoNet and Internet connections for about twelve of them in Sub-Saharan Africa. This ensures that the systems are long-term local service providers. As with the original Internet, the networks are often university based because they have the equipment, and people who would benefit greatly from there use as well as technical expertise to maintain the links.
GreenNet's work is not restricted to English or French speaking Africa. Like all its partners and associated networks, it crosses many boundaries including that of language. It has always worked closely with other networks to help develop local initiatives and training programmes. Some examples of these are HealthNet (Satellite Boston), the Sustainable Development Networks (SDN) and the Capacity Building for Electronic Networks in Africa (CABECA) programme.
CABECA and PADIS
CABECA (Capacity Building for Electronic Communications in Africa) is part of the United Nations contribution to helping Africa along the 'Super Highway'. CABECA provides equipment and training to enable organisations, and countries, to improve their electronic communications, networking and to connect to the Internet. The main goal is to strengthen existing networks and to help to start new ones, in cooperation with other projects. Since June, 1993, such activities have been undertaken in sixteen African countries. CABECA is funded by a grant from the Canadian International Development Research Centre (IDRC), which is a public corporation created by the Canadian Parliament to support research designed to adapt science and technology to the needs of developing countries.
The CABECA programme is being carried out by the Pan-African Development Information System (PADIS) which is based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. PADIS was established in January, 1980 by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). It is a vast library of African development information to which is added to by governments and organisations. The information is open to the public and requests are received from all over the world. PADIS also helps in the collection of information and in its use so that a certain uniformity in standards may be maintained.
SatelLife and HealthNet
SatelLife is an international non-profit making organisation which was started in 1986. It uses satellite, telephone and radio networking technology to serve the health communication and information needs of countries in the developing world. SatelLife's main aim is to improve communications and the exchange of information in the fields of public health, medicine and the environment.
HealthNet is SatelLife's International Health telecommunications system which links about four thousand health care workers, in thirty countries, around the world. It provides access to the latest medical information, e-mail, conferencing, and other services. It makes available information and library resources to medical personnel in developing countries, and helps in remote education.
Through its satellites, which are also used by organisations such as GreenNet, HealthNet acts as a channel of communication. It is even used internally in some countries where the postal and telephone services do not extend to remote rural areas. It even enables a health care worker to contact colleagues in a neighbouring district. HealthNet produces a number of electronic publications on AIDS, child health, WHO information and abstracts from relevant papers, all of which would usually not be available to health workers in the field. HealthNet links twenty one African countries and gives them access to the world's networks.
The Internet Future
South Africa is the main centre for the Internet in Southern Africa and interest is growing all the time. In the six months of July-August, 1996, it grew by 50%, while by only 20% in France. The number of host computers rose by 147% in South Africa between 1994 and 1995. Over the same period in Taiwan and Australia the increase was 83% and 50% respectively. It is probably the one African country which uses the most electronic communication and which has recognised its future potential. This is not just in the field of commerce, but also in those of education and government. One proposed plan is for a mobile computerised classroom which would visit townships and rural areas. In this way children would be able to use libraries and other resources on the Internet which would be an impossibility in their ordinary circumstances.
African countries, in general, could also access the reference sources which are available on the Internet. In this way they could fill in the educational gaps which lack of finance and geographical isolation have caused. There is no way that any average university in Africa can compete with those in Western Europe or North America as regards the resources - libraries, course material etc. It is possible for the Internet to help to bridge this gap. At present it is estimated that up to 80% of information about Africa is held outside the continent and a great deal of it is compiled by non-Africans. Maybe now Africans can be given the opportunity to add more to their side of the story.
E-mail has many benefits and has proven to be of great help to Africa already. Malawi's draft constitution was e-mailed around the world to various constitutional experts. In this way an amazing amount of time was saved and it was possible for many more people to contribute to its formulation. A similar process has been used with the South African constitution. A great deal of the information on the 1995 Ebola outbreak in Zaire was picked up by a fifteen-year-old in South Africa. Together with the HealthNet links it was possible to pass this on to the medical people who needed it. The possibilities of using such communications links are colosal, what is needed is the investment and interest of those outside Africa to make a dream come true.
______________________ To be continued
This article first appeared in "White Fathers - White Sisters" (UK),
issue 332, of February-March, 1997.
The article may be published freely with due acknowledgements to the
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Online Module
The online module is intended to prepare students for successful service-learning partnerships. Completing this module is a required aspect of all APPLES courses and will provide insight aimed at making the most of a service-learning experience.
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The Service-Learning series is a comprehensive online faculty resource for service-learning pedagogy was developed by APPLES faculty and instructors, offering valuable information for both new and experienced service-learning faculty. This series is intended to offer foundational information about various key components of service-learning, its practice and implementation.
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The Service Learning Series: Guide to Service-Learning Pedagogy offers a primer on service-learning pedagogy and its practice within APPLES Service-learning courses. It includes an overview of service-learning, course development and reflection.
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The Service-Learning Series_Guide to Community Partnerships offers approaches to building and sustaining community partnerships in service-learning.
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The Service-Learning Series: Toolkit for Preparing Students is toolkit offers a variety of readings, lesson plans and information on topics that can help prepare students for service.
CORE CONNECTION Series
The APPLES Service-Learning program hosts the Core Connection Series to discuss successful models and practices of service-learning courses. Faculty, course instructors and community partners are invited to hear perspectives from within the field and network with service-learning colleagues.

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text: Comments on: Top Five: NBA teams with something to be thankful about Back to the article » Craig Stouffer • | November 20, 2012 | 12:00 am The entire NBA knows LeBron James and Miami will still be the team to beat when it comes to winning a league title. For now, there are five teams counting blessings of early-season success over their turkey dinners. 5. Milwaukee (6-3) » The Bucks are thankful Brandon Jennings (16.7 ppg, 7.7 apg) and Monta Ellis (21.1 ppg, 5.8 apg) are both still sharing the ball despite how much each of them... Web URL: http://washingtonexaminer.com/article/2514015 Share this article on Facebook or Twitter Print this article


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When Smarty Jones Shook the Earth
Until last weekend when the latest Kentucky Derby winner, California Chrome, shipped into Parx Racing, it had been a very long time since the old Philadelphia Park stepped onto the national stage. The first horse was a wonderful chestnut who got his start at the Bensalem Pa. track a decade ago, 2003 to be precise, when he began his career in the hometown of his owners, Roy and Pat Chapman, and his trainer, John Servis, who inherited the colt through happenstance via tragedy. The saga of Smarty Jones--from his career debut to his disappointing and controversial loss in the Belmont Stakes--has been revisited by HRI contributor Brendan O'Meara. It will appear here exclusively for the next six days. If you're unfamiliar with the story of this equine Rocky, you're in for a treat.--John Pricci, executive editor
Part 1
Bob Camac was a life-long horseman, the kind that thought 5 a.m. was sleeping in. In his sixty-one years on the planet he had memories of four Triple Crown winners—horses that won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes.
Citation, Secretariat, Seattle Slew, and Affirmed. Nobody gets into training horses thinking they'll win the Triple Crown, but it's always a dream with every new crop of horses. Like a dimictic lake in spring, horse racing renews itself every year.
Just as other successful horsemen do, Camac went to the horse sales, advised his clients, saddled his horses, and won horse races. He studied pedigrees and crafted recipes for success. And when it came to bloodstock, he was a wicked alchemist.
Camac had a handful of great horses over the years, but never the big horse—the runner that brings notoriety and fame, the one that makes all those early mornings worthwhile. Until then, he had to keep elevating his stock from bad into good, from good into great.
On race day, he'd report to the paddock sporting his classic Johnny Unitas flattop and aviator sunglasses above a tan suit, replete with white shirt and tie.
Over the years, Camac was supported by a series of loyal clients like the Chapmans, Roy and Patricia "Pat" Chapman. For them, Philadelphia Park was home.
Continue Reading Carryover 2.0 entry...
Written by
Brendan O'Meara
The Triple Crown Strikes Back
The new year is fast approaching, as they always do, faster with every year. We are riding a turbulent ascent toward May 3rd. This is the second year of the Kentucky Derby Points System. Hard to believe it's only the second year of this system, controversial as it was and is.
Add to that the New York Racing Association bumped the purse to the Belmont Stakes 50 percent to $1.5 million. An argument can be made that the Triple Crown races are so prestigious that they need no purse increase. Twenty horses will start the Kentucky Derby if they were running for nothing more than two free movie passes.
As it stands, the Derby sits at $2 million, the Preakness at $1.5 million and the Belmont at $1.5 million. That's all well and good. These three races in five weeks are an ideal narrative building window, or the continuation thereof.
The Triple Crown, in essence, is the middle movie in a blockbuster trilogy. It leaves us with the most uncertainty and, by the end, leaves us gripping the couch cushions saying, "Darth Vadar was once capable of intercourse!"
Continue Reading Carryover 2.0 entry...
Written by
Brendan O'Meara
Bayern Gets Some Help, Leaves Chrome in His Wake
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY, September 20, 2014—There are several questions that need answering in regard to the return of dual classics winner California Chrome in the Pennsylvania Derby Saturday at Parx Racing.
Was his defeat a function of pace? Was he too discouraged by continually having the door slammed in his face when he tried to get out of the box being sealed by Edgar Prado throughout the million-dollar nine furlongs?
Was he simply a short, tired horse when he began to shortening stride with about three-sixteenths of a mile remaining, fading back to sixth without being abused by Victor Espinoza in the final sixteenth?
Was there any discomfort from the hoof that required mending after he grabbed himself in the Belmont Stakes?
Is his pedigree beginning to catch up with him after a tough classics campaign, or was he an early developer conditioned by racing and now is starting to go the other way.
My hope is that it's A and B, not C and D, while all of the above remains in the mix. Since he appeared to be traveling well and comfortably throughout, a dislike for the surface is an unlikely culprit.
"The other riders, they worried about me, they didn't worry about the one in the front," said Espinoza. "I knew I was in trouble in the first turn. They were like blocking in front of me. Sometimes the other ones don't ride to win, they ride to beat horses."
Continue Reading Pricci's Morning Line Blog ...
Written by
John Pricci
Parx Getting the California Chrome Treatment
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY, September 16, 2014----The publicists have been touting this Saturday as the most important day in Pennsylvania racing history, and the truth is that the notion is more fact than fiction.
After all, the Kentucky Derby winner is coming to town to run for a lot of money in the Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby that on paper is more than a bridge to the Breeders' Cup Classic.
And a Derby winner has never will have run in this event until four days hence. Further, it will be a good spot to find out whether the California Chrome of fall is the same vintage as the California Chrome of spring.
What do you think?
Continue Reading Pricci's Morning Line Blog ...
Written by
John Pricci
Pa. Derby no walkover for California Chrome
Bob Baffert's decision to ship Bayern to the Pennsylvania Derby changes what loomed to be a richly paid workout for California Chrome into a real race. The Kentucky Derby winner will still be odds-on but the possibility of Bayern getting loose on an easy lead as he did in the Haskell adds intrigue to this weekend's most important race.
Continue Reading Jicha's Ante Post ...
Written by
Tom Jicha
3-year-olds in Horse of Year race for a change
Three-year-old males dominate the racing scene most of the year but recently they have fallen off the radar screen when Horse of the Year has been at stake in the fall. It has been seven years since Curlin won the top prize as a 3-year-old. Shared Belief and California Chrome appear poised to break that streak.
Continue Reading Jicha's Ante Post ...
Written by
Tom Jicha
Marc Lawrence College and Pro Upsets, Sept. 19-22
Georgia Tech over VA TECH by 8
We're going to put both feet in as our version of the 'Hokie-Pokie' has the revenge-minded Yellow Jackets (lost 17-10 last season in Atlanta as 6.5-point favorites) putting a sting on Beamer's boys. We're not sure if the Hokies are over the sting the Pirates handed them last week but it really doesn't matter as the Techsters from Virginia have been a good dog/bad favorite proposition of late. Upset wins at Ohio State, Miami and Georgia Tech the past two seasons have been tainted by a recent 4-13-1 ATS mark as chalk, including 0-5 ATS the last fi ve. It also doesn't help that the Hokies are just 1-3 ATS in conference home games of a SU home loss and 2-4 'ITS' since the end of last season. The SMART BOX also attaches itself to the rushing juggernaut known as Georgia Tech as it fades the host in a damaging Game Four spot. As does recent history, which shows the series visitor checking in with a spotless 4-0 ATS log since 2010. So with the Square, series history and the revenge factor all on our side, there's really not much more needed to 'shake it all about' and back a Ramblin' Wreck squad that showed some moxie last week after blowing a 25-point lead before coming back to defeat Georgia Southern. But it sure doesn't hurt having The Clincher: Paul Johnson is 17-2 ATS as a dog in his career in games versus an opponent off a SU loss.
Continue Marc Lawrence's 'Playbook...
Written by
Marc Lawrence
Marc Lawrence College and Pro Upsets, Sept 11--15
TEXAS STATE over Navy by 3
We'll gun for our third straight winning Upset Game by backing a veteran head coach who knows his way around today's role. Not only is Texas State's Dennis Franchione 4-1 ATS versus military schools, he's also on an impressive 19-6 ATS run as a dog versus foes off a SUATS win – including 6-0 ATS in non-conference clashes! If you're a fan of the forward pass, you may as well switch to another channel: Ken Niumatalolo's land-loving Swabbies have rushed for 857 combined yards in the season's first two contests while TSU rambled for 378 overland yards in last week's 65-0 walkover win against creampuff Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Translation? Expect to see a ton of rushing yards and a shortened game clock. Navy brings a not-so-seaworthy 0-6 ATS log as a double-digit favorite versus a foe off a SU win into the port of San Marcos today. And a glance at page 3 tells us the visitors have fallen out of favor with our very own SMART BOX, which usually spells big trouble for the offender. With assistance from the Capable Cube, we're off and running with the Bobcats. And if that's not enough, there is always The Clincher: Since 1991, there have been just seven teams to open the season on a neutral field and then go on the road in their next two contests. All seven teams lost straight-up in Game Three, while going 0-5 SUATS in lined matchups.
West Virginia over MARYLAND by 4
We're not exactly sure what goes on at the West Virginia state fair but it's a good bet that the kissin' cousins booth is the most popular. It's a better bet that the Terrapins won't post a second straight victory after committing six turnovers. Yes, Maryland turned over the ball six times last week against USF and somehow left Tampa with a SU win. That won't happen today – not with the Mountaineers looking to avenge a 37-0 whitewashing they suffered last year in Baltimore. And not with the Terps now 1-7 ATS at home versus an opponent with revenge and 1-6 ATS their last seven as home chalk. We expect QB Clint Trickett (720 passing yards) and a vastly-improved WVU offense to make amends for last season's beating and improve to 8-1 SU overall in the series and 4-0 SU in College Park since 2004. So before this long-running rivalry disappears (the series ends in 2017 with Maryland now in the Big 10 and WVU deeply entrenched in the Big 12), step right up and place your bet (i.e. grab the points) before they kiss this rivalry good-bye.
Continue Marc Lawrence's 'Playbook...
Written by
John Pricci
Track News Releases
Track News Releases
Gulfstream Today 9.20
Pletcher Arrives And Wins With First Starter
Sunday's Rainbow 6 Pool $50,000
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – The Todd Pletcher stable returned to Gulfstream Saturday with its first entrant of the season, picking up just where it left off – with a win.
Sep 21 | Categories: Gulfstream, |
Ol Donyo Leads 1-2-3 Wolfson Finish in Musical Romance Stakes
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Trainer Marty Wolfson enjoyed a black-type day Saturday at Gulfstream Park, where he saddled the first three finishers, including victorious Ol Donyo, in the $75,000 Musical Romance Stakes.
Sep 21 | Categories: Gulfstream, |
Dramatic run propels Artemis Agrotera to victory in Gallant Bloom
ELMONT, N.Y. - In her four previous wins, Artemis Agrotera had never raced more than 1 ½ lengths off the pace. On Saturday at Belmont Park, the 3-year-old made up a 9 ½-length deficit to win the Grade 2, $300,000 Gallant Bloom Handicap for fillies and mares by a head over La Verdad.
Sep 21 | Categories: Belmont Park, |
Belmont Park Notes: September 20
• Zivo, Last Gunfighter, Real Solution, Stephanie's Kitten, and Alterite turn in final TVG Super Saturday breezes for Brown
• Wicked Strong solid in six-furlong work for G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup
• Moreno breezes five furlongs in 1:03.31 in final work before Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup
Sep 21 | Categories: Belmont Park, |
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014) - Ken and Sarah Ramsey's Thank You Marylou commenced a winning move on the turn for home, grabbed the lead at the quarter pole and widened her advantage down the stretch to easily win Saturday's 39th running of the $112,000 Dogwood (Grade III) at Churchill Downs…
Sep 21 | Categories: Churchill Downs, |
Doors Slated to Open at Silks Simulcast Facility at 10:30 a.m. Saturday
Gulfstream Stars, Pennsylvania Derby, Featured in Parx Simulcast Card
Prado Set for Sunday Return to Gulfstream with Four Mounts
Saturday's Rainbow 6 Carryover Jackpot Pool Guaranteed at $50,000
Sep 20 | Categories: Gulfstream, |
Pair of New York-bred juvenile stakes highlight Sunday card
ELMONT, N.Y. - Sunday's card at Belmont Park will be highlighted by a pair of New York-bred juvenile stakes races - the $150,000 Bertram F. Bongard and $150,000 Joseph A. Gimma - which will both be contested at seven furlongs on the main track, and serve as a prelude for the Sleepy Hollow and Maid of…
Sep 20 | Categories: Belmont Park, |
Artemis Agrotera hunting for more in G2 Gallant Bloom
ELMONT, N.Y. - Artemis Agrotera, a dominant winner against Grade 1 competition in her most recent start, heads a group of six filly and mare sprinters in the Grade 2, $300,000 Gallant Bloom Handicap on Saturday at Belmont Park.
Sep 20 | Categories: Belmont Park, |
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Thursday, Sept. 18, 2014) – Fiftyshadesofgold, the winner of the $200,725 Eight Belles Presented by TwinSpires.com (Grade III) on Kentucky Oaks Day, has been made the 2-1 morning line favorite in a…
Sep 20 | Categories: Churchill Downs, |
Gulfstream Park News & Notes - 9/17
Undefeated Atreides Breezes Easy Half for Likely Run in Indiana Derby
Ohio Derby Winner East Hall Also Probable for Indiana Derby
Wildcat Red Departs to Remington for Run in Oklahoma Derby
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Stonestreet Stables' Atreides breezed a half-mile in 50.63…
Sep 17 | Categories: Gulfstream, |
20-Cent Rainbow 6 Survives A Close Call on Sunday's Card
Thursday's Rainbow 6 Carryover Pool Guaranteed at $50,000
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – The 20-cent Rainbow 6 survived a close call Sunday at Gulfstream Park, where any one of eight horses in the 11th race could have taken down…
Sep 15 | Categories: Gulfstream, |
Ashley T. Cole (NYB) Quotes
Christophe Clement, winning trainer of Lubash (No. 3): "He's a sound horse and he tries very hard. Junior [Alvarado] has a good relationship with the horse; he knows him inside out. This is fun. This is a very good group of New York-bred turf horses. King Kreesa and Kharafa are always tough."
Sep 14 | Categories: Belmont Park, |
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The Owensboro School Board voted unanimously to support raising the high school drop out age to 18-years-old.
On Monday, Governor Beshear signed a bill to raise the high school dropout age from 16 to 18.
The bill allows school districts to choose whether to increase the dropout age.
But after 55% of school districts sign on, it would be required statewide.
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Local News
Crime Scene, 11.20
Among reports filed with police: Burglaries * 100 block of Pine Lake Drive, Glynn County: A woman reported someone stole property from her house Sunday. She said the suspect entered her residence through the garage door and stole a lawn mower valued at $500 and $940 in coins. The garage door had been left open, but the interior door to the house was locked. The complainant's daughter said two males were inside the house two weeks prior to the incident when they asked her if she wanted them to do any lawn work. * 100 block of Horseshoe Lane, Glynn County: A man reported someone stole a video game console and a video game from his house Sunday. A window in the living room had been left open before the burglary. The stolen items were valued at $225. - Nick Nichols The Brunswick News


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1-10 of 10 properties for sale found
1 bed flat for sale
£749,995 Offers in Excess of
Offers in Excess of £749,995
2 bedroom flat for sale Old Street, London, EC1V
TWO DOUBLE BEDROOM FLAT - SOUTH FACING TERRACE, Split over two floors of a period building is this extremely well presented apartment overlooking St. Luke's church and gardens. (contd...) More details ›
3 bedroom apartment for sale Newland Court, Old Street, London, EC1V
This duplex three bedroom apartment offers generous living space with large rooms, ample storage space, a private balcony and is well maintained. The property is located in the heart of sought-after Clerkenwell. The property comprises entrance hall, spacious reception room, well equipped ans spac... More details ›
3 bedroom flat for sale Bath Street, Clerkenwell, London
SPLIT LEVEL THREE BEDROOM APARTMENT offering generous living space with large rooms, ample storage space and private balcony, all in the heart of sought-after Clerkenwell. The property comprises large reception room, fully fitted kitchen, three bedrooms, family bathroom and separate WC. The local... More details ›
Added on 20/08/2014 by Victorstone Property Consultants , City Road. Call: 020 8012 1351 Local call rate
1 bedroom apartment for sale Old Street, EC1V
A beautifully finished one bedroom first floor lateral apartment in this smart boutique development located on Old Street and close to the corner of Central Street. The apartment has solid wood floors, bespoke kitchen and underfloor heating. The accommodation comprises bright reception room, gall... More details ›
4 bedroom flat for sale BATH STREET, London, EC1V
Beautiful four bed flat with views across the City, and easy access to Clerkenwell, Old Street, Hoxton and Moorgate. More details ›
Added yesterday by Findlay Property, London. Call: 020 8012 2987 Local call rate
1 bedroom apartment for sale Old Street, London, EC1V
Recently refurbished to a high standard, this striking property is finished to an immaculate standard with stylish décor throughout as well as an envious Central Shoreditch location with it being located on Old Street, itself. More details ›
Added on 09/09/2014 by PJ Morgan, Shoreditch. Call: 020 8012 1231 Local call rate
1 bedroom flat for sale City Road, Old Street, EC1V
Stunning one bedroom duplex flat set in a secure developement with sylish and inviting interior and immediate accesss to Old Street Station. More details ›
1 bedroom flat for sale Godfrey House, Bath Street, Old Street, EC1V
We are delighted to offer the market this very well presented apartment located in heart of the City of London by Old St EC1. More details ›
1 bedroom flat for sale Godfrey House, Bath Street, Old Street, EC1V
443.25sq.ft./ More details ›
£59,000 Offers in Region of
Offers in Region of £59,000
Cafe for sale OLD STREET, London, EC1V
Café BusinessNewly Refurbished Central LondonA1 LicenseCommercial Fitted Kitchen Public W/C Room ∙Seating areaTakings approx. £2300pw ∙Lease 9.5 yearsRent 19,000paBusiness 5000paExcellent Transport Links & Connections More details ›
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Jessica Harper (born October 10, 1949) is an American actress and producer, as well as a singer and author of children's music and books.
She has appeared in more than twenty motion pictures, most notably Dario Argento's horror classic Suspiria, alongside Peter O'Toole and Mark Linn-Baker in My Favorite Year, as Phoenix in Phantom of the Paradise, and as Janet Majors in Shock Treatment, where she demonstrated great skills as a singer in the rock/pop style. She costarred with Steve Martin and Bernadette Peters in Pennies from Heaven. Woody Allen featured her in his films Stardust Memories and Love and Death.
She has written eleven books for children and made seven albums of songs for children. She was named by Parenting magazine as "Parent of the Month" in 2004. In 2000, she sang background vocals on selected tracks on the Dan Hicks album Beatin' the Heat.
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I want you to draw me like one of your French girls
La verdad, a mi si me gustó la pintura. Más que nada por la intensión de ayudar de la señora. Una pena que no haya quedado como muchos hubiéramos querido. Pero lo intentó.
Me gusta Malasaña, Me gustas tu.
Think about a price!
El Padrino III, en Paramount. #padrino #tv (tomada con Instagram en Cubelles)
Coppola, 1972
Let me walk you through the most relaxing city that we visited in Italy, Conegliano.
Conegliano is a town and commune of the Veneto region, Italy, in the province of Treviso. The population of the city is of around 36,000 people. The remains of a castle that was built in the 10th century remain…
Modiano, the major producer of Italian playing cards, offers this handy map of the various regions and their cards. At the very top of the map, in Northern Italy near the border with Austria, you can see a single region using a "Salzburger" deck. These use the German-style suits of hearts, bells, leaves, and acorns for (respectively) the hearts, diamonds, spades, and clubs of the Anglo-French deck. On the western side of Italy, you're more likely to find cards based on the familiar Anglo-French suits.
The Siciliane deck described in this post is shown on the eastern side of the island of Sicily.
Sacile, Italy.
W sacile


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Please note: These links will take you to FPA National's Web site.
Please note: These links will take you to FPA National's Web site.
Choose from 1,000s of financial planners, all of whom adhere to FPA's Code of Ethics.
Why Should Your Company Market at the Annual Symposium?
The FPA of Puget Sound Annual Symposium provides something of value for each company that participates as an exhibitor, sponsor, or advertiser. Whether you are new to this market or are a veteran at financial planning trade shows, your company should participate in this event because it is the only show that is specific to this influential segment of the financial planning profession and it:
Contact Reta Waldrop at firstname.lastname@example.com or call 206.686.4372


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trying hard
© kerry cooper, Apr 2008
Climbers: Will Atkinson
Camera used: Casio. EX-Z120


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Manchester, England (Sports Network) - Manchester United reached an agreement to sign highly-touted winger Wilfried Zaha from Championship side Crystal Palace on Friday.
The 20-year-old, who earned his first international call-up for England in November, will finish the current campaign with Palace before moving to Manchester in July.
"Manchester United, Crystal Palace and Wilfried Zaha have reached an agreement for the player to join Manchester United in July 2013," United said in a statement on its official website. "The player is having a medical in Manchester today. There will be no further comment by any party until Wilfried joins United in July of 2013."
Zaha, who agreed to a new 5 1/2 year contract with United, has been with Crystal Palace since he was a youth player and has made 124 appearances and scored 15 goals, since his first-team debut in 2010.
Crystal Palace are fourth in the Championship, two points behind Leicester, who fill the last automatic promotion spot. Zaha figures to help them make a push to get back to England's top flight before moving to the Red Devils.
"I have been at Palace for more than 10 years," Zaha said. "I will always love the club and I want to help them get back to the Premier League, particularly for the fans who have always been so good to me."
Following Wednesday night's Champions League win, we catch up with the Impact's Head Coach
We recap the UEFA Champions League Matchday 1 and sneak a peak at Tommy's legendary prediction ways.
Luke, Jason and KJ are back in-studio to talk Toronto FC dysfunction, Tim Leiweke's comments, the Whitecaps playoff push, EPL & more.
TSN.ca is Canada's exclusive home to highlight and feature programs from the Barclay's Premier League. Check out the latest programs on VOD below.
- Episode 4Previous episodes:3 | 2 | 1
- Week 5


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The birds of ancient days had wingspans the size of hillsides. When struck by lightning as they flew, they calcified, and in some places their magnificent wings remain, as stone outcroppings in the landscape.
This one comes from Turahalli Forest near Bangalore, India. Photo by Deepa Mohan.
This tumblelog is powered by Tumblr and was designed by Bill Israel.


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July 13, 2006
Camilla - - Think you're paying too much in property taxes? You're not alone. Lawmakers gathered today in Camilla to see what can be done to make sure you don't pay more than your fair share.
Seven members of the Georgia House, three Senators, and a slew of city and county leaders from across the state. They're meeting to figure out how much money Georgia takes in from local and state government and how to make the most of it. State Representative Richard Royal hosted the meeting.
"There's been a lot of conversation in past years about replacing the property tax for education with a sales tax. That will be part of our study. We're going to have an all inclusive study."
They're studying everything from property taxes, personal income taxes, to general sales tax. Valdosta city manager Larry Hanson says an additional statewide penny sales tax can be beneficial.
"What it would allow us to do is to roll back or cut other taxes that people like less like property taxes."
He made a presentation to the group about local governments and how cities bring in their revenues.
"Most cities have a very diverse revenue stream. They're not very heavy in one area and in fact no city would want to be very high in property taxes, that's a disincentive for economic devlopment."
So as the committee reviews the Georgia Tax Code and suggests revisions, they want to make sure it's helpful for the majority.
"Anytime you change the tax code you shift the tax burden from one class of tax payers to another so we got to be real careful to make sure we don't have unintended consequences."
Something they're working carefully to do.
Atlanta currently has a Municipal Option Sales Tax or MOST tax to help with the city's renovations to the water and sewer system. That's the penny sales tax Larry Hanson says more cities in Georgia can benefit from.
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Fashion's Favorite Online Shop
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Purple Asos Satin Peg Trousers with Front Pleat
These trousers by ASOS Collection have been crafted from a satin fabric. The details include: a high rise waist with a concealed closure, twin side pockets, deep pleat to the front, cropped ankle grazing length, rolled cuffs and jet pocket to back. The trousers have been cut with a tailored fit. Color: burgundy


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Today we taught the locals how to extract the oils from eucalyptus leaves and use it for medicinal purposes. This was done with a giant alembic. 30 kilograms of leaves makes only 150ml of oil. This process is also great to create essential oils that can be used in beauty products like body butter and moisturizer. I think their dry African skin loved it!
So to be there with the Quiksilver Foundation with a mission to educate and help create a sustainable life for these beautiful people in Anambe, I was feeling pretty warm and fuzzy!
To be continued…
Photos: Testemale/Maritxu
More information about this project: Quiksilver Foundation & Coeur de Forêt 2011 and 2010


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The Savage Animal 09.06.06: The Fake Bands that Rocked My World Part Two
Posted by
Mikey MiGo
on 09.06.2006
Mikey MiGo takes a look at movies about fictitious bands in part two of this count down series. We explore notable fake band appearances, and 8 thru 1 of The Top 15 List of Mikey MiGo's Favorite Fake Movie Bands.
I've had another week to think about the remainder of my list and ended up changing the top 8 at least a half dozen times. At one point I was making the list based on the best music, then based on the general census of opinion, and even soundtrack success. When it was all said and done I was confident with the list. And ironically, it was the same list I started off with.
Before I jump into the Top 15 list, there's a few non-music things I wanna ramble about. First, Thursday is the season opener for the FOOTBALL SEASON! And yes, I'm just like the other nerds out there and I'm participating in a Fantasy Football League. I kinda got hosed in the draft when I got 10th pick out of 10 teams. The only upside was back to back picks. I came in third last year and this year I'm going for the gold! When I say gold I mean the $200 Winners pot.
The whole Kurt Angle release situation is a hot topic in the wrestling world. I'm sure I'm not the only one who have noticed his pain over the past year or so. I've been worried he was going to get seriously hurt or even worse. His talents and contributions to the business are surely appreciated and will be missed. Missed, but not forgotten. My favorite wrestler of all time is Shawn Michaels and if he can take a few years off and come back, so can Kurt.
Okay. Back on topic now...
The final 8 of Mikey MiGo's Top 15 fake movie bands! There's a lot of fictitious movie bands out there, some made the list and some didn't. I want to stress that this list is my personal favorites. It doesn't reflect one as "better" than the other. This is where my movie watching and musical preferences kicks in. If anything, this should spark some memories and possibly get YOU thinking of your favorites. Send them in, we'll discuss!
8.) Band: The Lone Rangers
Movie: Airheads
411: Airheads is a comedy about a group of loser musicians called The Lone Rangers who take a radio station hostage in order to get their song "Degenerated" played. The Lone Rangers, the name itself is a humorous running joke in the movie, is made up of Chazz (Brendan Fraser), Rex (Steve Buscemi), and Pip (Adam Sandler). The guys are continuously turned down as they try to get their demo tape heard by producers. They finally decide to try and get the local rock station, Rebel Radio 103.6, to play it on the air, after they saw how Rebel Radio helped another band get a record deal. Their first break-in attempt is using Pip's ATM card and its PIN. Then, Rex tries to "short circuit" the electronic lock with Pip's Big Gulp. They finally get in when a station employee comes out (and goes back in) and they keep the door from shutting. Once inside, disc jockey Ian the Shark (Joe Mantegna) puts them on the air without them knowing. The station's sleazy manager Milo (Michael McKean) overhears them and intervenes. After Milo calls Rex "trash," Chazz and Rex shove water pistols (that look like Uzis) in Milo's face and demand airplay. After setting up a reel-to-reel for the demo, the tape starts...and is destroyed when the reel runs out and catches fire in an ashtray. The guys try to run, but Doug Beech (Michael Richards), a station employee called police and the building is surrounded. At this point the supporting cast that includes Chris Farley, Ernie Hudson, and David Arquette really get their time to shine. Farley is out on the streets looking for Chazz's ex-girlfriend, who has the only other copy of the song. Hudson plays the head honcho officer outside the studio trying to reason and meet the list of the demands of the band. The tape is found and all is well or so it would have seemed. Chazz and his ex get into an argument which again results in the playing of the song to be destroyed. Meanwhile, the popularity of the trio builds on the outside world. Hudson sends a fake producer (Harold Friggen' Ramis) to "sign them" but that fails. The band asks Ramis a very defining question, "If Lemmy and God got in a fight, who would win?" Ramis gets it wrong because I'm sure we all know the answer to this trick question is that "Lemmy IS God." Finally after more hilarity and character development, a real producer approaches them and signs them without hearing the song. The band is iffy on the situation so there's only one thing left to do, perform the song LIVE outside the studio in front of the thousands of people cheering them on already. All is set and the band realizes their instruments aren't plugged in and they're lip synching and playing to a taped track. In true rockstar protest, they stop pretending as the track continues and crowd surfs. We later find the band in prison and somehow having a successful music career. The movie is sorta hokey, but in the times it came out it worked very well. The Lone Rangers had that grungy metal look to them and their track "Degenerated" was pretty well done. If I catch it on TV at random, you're damn sure to believe I'm going to keep it on for the remaining duration.
7.) Band: The Wonders/The Oneders
Movie: That Thing You Do!
411: That Thing You Do! was one of Tom Hank's pets as he wrote and directed the film. The movie tells the story of a fictional one-hit wonder rock band from Erie, Pennsylvania. It's a journey the rise of the band to near fame on the heels of the British Invasion in the early 1960s, from local clubs and dances, to a major national tour and a record contract. The fictional band is called The Oneders (pronounced "wonders," the name combining "one" and "wonder"), but because almost everyone mistakenly pronounces it "Oh-nee-ders," they eventually change it to "The Wonders." The band members are Guy Patterson (Tom Everett Scott), James Mattingly III (Johnathon Schaech), Lenny Haise (Steve Zahn) and the bass player (Ethan Embry, whose actual name is never given - he is only referred to as "The Bass Player" and is credited as "T.B. Player"). The film also features Liv Tyler as Faye Dolan, Charlize Theron as Tina, Giovanni Ribisi as Chad, Hanks' wife Rita Wilson as Marguerite, musician Chris Isaak as Uncle Bob, and Hanks himself as Mr. White, the band's manager. In the film, The Wonders rise to brief stardom (after which they are referred to as "One-hit Wonders") on the strength of "That Thing You Do!", a song that is written as a wistful ballad but becomes an uptempo rocker during the band's first performance at a talent show. Remind you of someone? The Beatles had a similar situation with their hit "Please Please Me." Written and composed by Adam Schlesinger, bassist for Fountains of Wayne, and released on the film's soundtrack, the song became a genuine hit for The Wonders in 1996, and was nominated for the 1996 Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song and for the 1997 Academy Award for Best New Song. I've said it before, The Beatles were never my cup of tea, but based just on the one song, I'd be a fan of The Wonders if they were a legit music group. The entire movie, from the record label "Play Tone" to more fictitious bands than I can think of is in it's own little world. The way it's put together, written, and performed, it's a fake little world that could easily be considered perfect homage to that time period of music. If you've seen this movie you can't deny the fact that the song "That Thing You Do!" sticks in your head for days. If you haven't seen this movie, get up right now and go to your local rental store and get it. I don't care if you're still in your underwear or if you don't have money. Go nude and steal it. I promise you won't get in any trouble. None at all. *Disclaimer: The suggestions of nude theft are not to be taken serious. If you're nude you'd have no way of hiding the stolen item. Well, you could...*
6.) Band: Spinal Tap
Movie: This is Spinal Tap
411: Spinal Tap is a mostly fictional heavy metal band best known from the 1984 rockumentary/mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap. The band members are portrayed by Michael McKean (as "David St. Hubbins"), Christopher Guest (as "Nigel Tufnel") and Harry Shearer (as "Derek Smalls"); they first appeared in a 1978 ABC comedy special, The TV Show. The band is "mostly fictional" in the sense that its primary members have always been actors parodying heavy metal stereotypes, yet by playing concerts and releasing albums, they've blurred the line between fact and fiction. The film was accompanied by an album of the same name. The songs on the album include: "Big Bottom","Hell Hole" and "Tonight I'm Gonna Rock You Tonight". The drummer situation was classic. 'Listen to the Flower People' The film notes early on that Spinal Tap — "One of England's Loudest Bands" — have had a succession of drummers, all of whom have died under odd circumstances: one died in a "bizarre gardening accident." (By a strange twist of fate Toto drummer Jeff Porcaro suffered a heart attack and died in such a gardening accident in 1992, after using a pesticide and suffering an allergic reaction.) Another "choked on vomit" (which is immediately revealed as "someone else's vomit") though it may not have been his own (Tufnel notes that "you can't really dust for vomit"); and one seems to have fallen prey to spontaneous human combustion. St. Hubbins reports that "Dozens of people spontaneously combust each year. It's just not really widely reported." This run on drummers was a nod towards several bands; both Led Zeppelin's John Bonham and The Who's Keith Moon had died years before, the former having actually choked on his own vomit, whilst Judas Priest were, for a variety of reasons, on their seventh drummer at the time of the film's release. This Is Spinal Tap chronicles the group's waning popularity during a tour of the United States while promoting their latest record, Smell the Glove. The sexist, misogynist, and overly-masculinized elements the general public associates with heavy metal music are parodied throughout. David St. Hubbins and Nigel Tufnel were childhood friends, and they ran through many band names at the beginning of their career before settling on The Thamesmen, who had a hit with "Gimme Some Money." Renaming themselves Spinal Tap, they had an early hit with the flower power anthem "Listen to the Flower People" before turning to heavy metal. (This would seem to be an allusion to: Status Quo, who had started out as a psychedelic band before turning to the more traditional rock and roll sound that made them famous; Black Sabbath, who were originally a blues-based psychedelic band before turning to their current heavy metal stylings; or the evolution of The Yardbirds into Led Zeppelin.) The original name of the band was "The Originals" which they had to change to "The New Originals" because there was already another band going by the name "The Originals." A mildly serious thread running through the story is that Hubbins and Tufnel possess genuine and substantial talent as composers, but have utterly squandered their potential for a more broad commercial appeal with their crude, vulgar, and adolescent lyrics. To list all the bands they parordize and all the events that would be precursor to future events would be a five part column in itself. Spinal Tap would generally be considered the top fictitious band by most people. I can understand and respect that, but like I said in the beginning I'm doing this based on my favorites. Spinal Tap hit the screen when I was one years old. By the time I was old enough to fully take in the jokes and story of the movie it was dated. This doesn't take away from it being one of the greatest comedies of all time.
5.) Band: Hedwig and The Angry Inch
Movie: Hedwig and The Angry Inch
411:Hedwig and the Angry Inch started off as an off-Broadway musical theater play and later became a great film about a fictional rock and roll band fronted by a transsexual singer. The plot revolves around Hedwig, a transsexual wannabe rock star, leader of the band called The Angry Inch. In the story, Hansel, a German "slip of a girly-boy" who loves philosophy and rock music, is stuck in East Berlin until he meets Luther, a US Soldier. Luther falls in love with Hansel and the two decide to marry. This plan will allow Hansel to leave Communist East Germany for the democratic West. However, in order to be married, the couple must be a man and a woman. Hansel's mother Hedwig gives her child her name and passport, and finds a doctor to perform a sex change. The operation is botched, however, and her surgically constructed vagina heals closed, leaving Hansel — now Hedwig — with nothing but a dysfunctional one-inch long mound of flesh between her legs, "with a scar running down it like a sideways grimace on an eyeless face." Hedwig goes to live in America as Luther's wife. On their first wedding anniversary, Luther leaves Hedwig for another man. That same day, it is announced that the Berlin Wall has fallen and Germany will reunite. Had Hansel only waited a year, the anatomical change to Hedwig would not have been needed to escape East Germany. Hedwig recovers by rediscovering her love of rock music and forming her own band. She names it The Angry Inch, referring to her mutilated genitalia. Hedwig befriends the shy and misunderstood Christian teenager Tommy Speck (Michael Pitt), with whom she shares some of the songs she has written. Soon after Hedwig gives him the new stage name "Tommy Gnosis," he leaves her and goes on to become a huge star using the songs Hedwig had written. Meanwhile, Hedwig and her band are forced to support themselves by playing diners and sleazy bars. In the film, these gigs are played at a nautical-theme restaurant called Bilgewaters, which is based on the TGI Fridays chain. Hedwig's performances and stage presence is incredible. Lyrically, the songs are easily better than 90% of what's REALLY out there. Throughout the film, Hedwig refers to Aristophanes' speech in Plato's Symposium. This speech, retold by Hedwig in the song "Origin of Love," involves a myth about how human beings were once round, two-headed, four-armed, and four-legged beings. Angry gods split these early humans in two, leaving the separated people to forever long for their lost other half. Hedwig believes that Tommy is her soulmate and that she cannot be whole without him. She feels driven to either reunite with him or destroy him. Of all the fake bands on this list, Hedwig has the most complete collection of songs. "Tear Me Down," "The Origin of Love," and the ever so popular "Angry Inch" are just a few songs in the movie and on the soundtrack that stand out. In fact, the gothic industrial band Type O Negative even covered "Angry Inch" on their 2003 album "Life is Killing Me." I would have never thought I'd hear the deep demonic voice of Type O Negative singing the lyrics of "six inches forward/five inches back/I got a/I got an angry inch." The story is beautiful and inspiring, the stage performance and acting is unique and enthralling, and all of that just reflects a small morsel of the music in this film.
4.) Band: Stillwater
Movie: Almost Famous
411: The film is Almost Famous. Written and directed by Cameron Crowe and released in 2000. It tells the story of a teenage journalist (Patrick Fugit) for Rolling Stone magazine covering the rock band from Troy, Michigan, Stillwater, and his efforts to get his first cover story published. Along the way, he befriends a sweet-natured groupie (or as she prefers to refer to herself, "a Band Aid") named Penny Lane(Kate Hudson). The film is semi-autobiographical, as Crowe himself was a teenage writer for Rolling Stone. The fictional band is based on many bands whom Crowe (and/or his mentor and friend, the late Lester Bangs) wrote about: The Allman Brothers Band is the most immediately recognizable model since Stillwater's album cover is a parody of that of The Allman Brothers: At Fillmore East. There are obvious references to anecdotes from the careers of Led Zeppelin, The Who, The Doors, Grand Funk Railroad, Motorhead, The New York Dolls and several other bands. Billy Crudup, Jason Lee, and Noah Taylor as lead guitarist, lead singer, and band manager respectively, make up just a small part of this great ensemble cast. The movie and band had it made from the start. During breaks in filming, Peter Frampton would frequently entertain the actors and extras by giving live performances. Peter Frampton taught Billy Crudup how to play the guitar in preparation for the concert scenes. Frampton also appears briefly onscreen playing the manager of the band Humble Pie: in real life, as a younger man, he was a member of Humble Pie. With those influences and guidance's, Stillwater had a lot to live up to in being a believable 70's rock group. They live up to this nicely and with the track "Fever Dog," it's signed, sealed, and delivered better than one would have expected.
3.) Band: CB4
Movie: CB4
411: CB4 is a parodized rapumentary film about a fictional rap group named 'CB4,' named after the prison block the band was formed in (Cell Block 4). This film within a film begins with A. White (Chris Elliot) screening a rough cut of a documentary he has made of the notorious CB4 rap group -- consisting of group leader Albert, also know as MC Gusto (Chris Rock); Otis, also known as Stab Master Arson (Deezer D); and Euripides, also know as Dead Mike (Allen Payne). White charts the course of CB4's success, their superstar status a result of the fact that they are the only gangsta rap group who are, in fact, actual gangsters, coming direct from rap sheets to rap music. They are considered so bad that they even give rapper Ice-T pause: "I thought I was hardcore. But these guys are serious! What am I supposed to do now?" Unfortunately, at the height of their fame, their gangster pose is revealed to be a sham. Albert, Otis, and Euripides turn out to be a bunch of middle-class kids striking a gangsta facade to become famous. MC Gusto gets his name from a local crimelord. In order to get their name heard, they must appeal to nightclub owner, Gusto (Charlie Murphy). After a failed meeting with Gusto, the police rush in and throw him in jail. Gusto blames the group for the police raid and swears revenge when he is released from prison. However, while Gusto is locked up, Albert Brown(Rock/MC Gusto) takes on the name of the criminal. As the band falls apart things get even worse when the real Gusto (Charlie Murphy), is released from prison. The end of the film deals with the hi-jinks that ensue from this development at the same time finding themselves performing as themselves without any gimmicks. The movie parodies the rap group N.W.A. among other gangsta rap aspects. It was directed by Tamra Davis and can be seen as rap music's equivalent to the 1984 mock rockumentary about heavy-metal entitled This Is Spinal Tap. The movie also features a short segment featuring celebrities such as Halle Berry, Eazy-E, The Butthole Surfers, Ice-T, Ice Cube, Flavor Flav, and Shaquille O'Neal. With hits like "Sweat from my Balls" and "Straight Outta Locash" it's easy to tell who they're aiming their parody gun at. While many would just toss this movie into the bargain bin, it'll always have a special place in my heart. Growing up as a white kid in the murder capitol of the US Gary, Indiana, I had love for two things specifically: Rap music and Comedy. I don't think my mom really knew what she was getting into when she loaded up the van with myself and friends and took us to the drive in to see this movie. I was either ten or eleven at the time and the content wasn't something I should have been seeing, but I did and it'll forever have it's place in my collection.
2.) Band: The Blues Brothers
Movie: The Blues Brothers
411: The Blues Brothers is a 1980 musical/comedy film, directed by John Landis and starring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd as Joliet Jake and Elwood Blues, The Blues Brothers, and their supporting band. Aside from the band, the film features on-screen musical performances by Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Cab Calloway, Ray Charles, and John Lee Hooker. Carrie Fisher, Henry Gibson, Charles Napier, Kathleen Freeman and John Candy are featured in nonmusical supporting roles. The film contains many cameo appearances, including Frank Oz, Steven Spielberg, Joe Walsh, Steve Lawrence, and Twiggy. The movie is set in Chicago, Illinois, and revolves around two brothers, who are reunited at the beginning of the film as "Joliet" Jake Blues is released from Joliet Prison into his brother's custody. Over Jake's vehement protests, they then visit the inner-city Catholic orphanage which was their childhood home, and learn that it is to be shut down unless the back property taxes on the building can be paid within a short time. Although this is normally regarded as a goof, as church-owned property is exempt from property tax, it was actually based on a real bill that was being put through at the time of the writing of the film. The bill was never enacted into law. The orphanage director, a strict nun referred to as "The Penguin," emphatically refuses to accept any "filthy, stolen" money from the brothers. At the prompting of Curtis (Calloway), the elderly orphanage worker who originally introduced the brothers to the blues, a visit to an evangelical church service gives the duo an epiphany: they can legitimately raise the necessary funds by taking their legendary rhythm and blues band for a tour. As they drive home, Elwood attracts the unwanted attention of two Illinois state troopers with his reckless driving habits. He has 54 warrants for 114 parking violations. He then earns the pursuing officers' undying enmity by driving through a shopping mall to escape capture. With the assistance of John Candy's character, the two law officers track the brothers down to the flophouse where Elwood is living, but only after being thrown off the trail because Elwood had falsified his driver's license, giving a home address of 1060 West Addison Street, which is the location of Wrigley Field. Just as the three police are about to move in for the arrest, the flophouse is blown up by a "Mystery Woman." Miraculously, the Blues Brothers climb out of the smoking rubble unhurt and dust themselves off, still wanted by the police. The Blues Brothers spend the rest of the film's first half tracking down members of the Band and persuading them to rejoin, as well as playing venues to raise the requisite $5,000 needed to save the orphanage. Staged and spontaneous musical numbers spring up throughout their journey, not to mention several car chases, with an extremely large number of crashes. The duo collects additional enemies: a neo-Nazi group targets them after the brothers disrupt their rally; a Country and Western band called "The Good Ol' Boys" chase them after the brothers steal their gig at a bar called Bob's Country Bunker, where they play both kinds of music: country and western. The Blues Brothers band plays behind chicken wire and evidently repeats two songs all night long: the theme from Rawhide and "Stand by Your Man." And throughout, the Mystery Woman, eventually revealed to be Jake's jilted fiancee, reappears at regular intervals, attempting without success to kill Jake and Elwood using various methods including a rocket launcher, a flame-thrower and an assault rifle. The film culminates in a live concert, during which Cab Calloway opens with "Minnie the Moocher", and then the Blues Brothers perform two songs before escaping from the surrounding police cordon with the timely help of a record executive. This is followed by a final massive car chase in which, with the entire "Illinois law enforcement community" in pursuit, the brothers race to deliver the money raised from the concert to downtown Chicago in time to pay the tax debt owed by the orphanage. The target building is stormed by hundreds of police, firefighters, and the U.S. Military. Literally seconds after paying the bill, the brothers are arrested, and the film ends with the entire band, who have all been imprisoned in the same prison, playing Jailhouse Rock for their fellow inmates. You should already know this. This movie is a classic and if you have one ounce of humor in your soul you should know this movie like the back of your hand. This fictitious band turned out to be a real one after a while. With live performances, albums, and further notoriety The Blues Brothers gained respect from the music industry. Hell, the first album even went double platinum. I could comment on the Blues Brothers 2000 movie, but I'd rather not say anything negative in this column.
1.) Band: Wyld Stallyns
Movie: Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey
411: My all time favorite fictitious movie band is made up of Bill S. Preston Esq., and Ted "Theodore" Logan. Together known as the Wyld Stallyns! From the great movie Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure and Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey, these two owned my childhood. Bill (Alex Winters) and Ted (Keanu Reeves) are teenagers in San Dimas, California who are in danger of flunking out of high school. A guitar-playing guru named Rufus (George Carlin) arrives from a future San Dimas to help them pass a vital history test, because their band holds the key to world peace and ultimate truth. However, they will not achieve this destiny if the duo fail the exam and Ted's authoritarian father carries out his threat to ship him to Oats Military Academy in Alaska. Rufus lends them a time machine disguised as a phone booth, which they use to meet—and "collect"—various historical figures: Napoleon Bonaparte, Socrates, Billy the Kid, Sigmund Freud, Beethoven, Genghis Khan, Joan of Arc, and Abraham Lincoln, to help them with their vital history presentation. In the sequel Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey, the villain De Nomolos tries unsuccessfully to stop the band from creating a peaceful future by replacing Bill and Ted with robotic doubles. Later, Bill and Ted destroy the robots and make their world-wide debut at the 4th Annual San Dimas Battle of the Bands. As predicted by time-traveller Rufus, they bring peace to the world and eventually play a sellout tour on the planet Mars. The Wyld Stallyns creates a utopia on Earth. The founding members are later joined by Elizabeth and Joanna, two princesses from medieval England, The Grim Reaper, and "Station," a Martian, as well as two "good robot"s modeled after Bill and Ted. As "dimwitted" as many (not me) would consider the two characters to be, the story itself is quite elaborate and well defined. The creatively use the time travel and the theories of the related paradoxes to stream a long the story and plot. Seeing this movie as a kid, I was a huge Wyld Stallyns fan. There was a "Dress as your favorite historical figure and tells us about it" situation at school one year and I went as Socrates. I didn't know of his history other than he was from Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. I even said something to the nature of "I'm So-crate and..." in true Bill and Ted fashion. The point isn't my embarrassing story, but the impact that this movie has had on me. I would even go as far as this movie being a main reason for my love of music today. The idea that two kids could form a band that'd change the world is not only inspiring, but part of the American dream that we all desire. "God Gave Rock And Roll To You" indeed.
Ahhh. My first two parter. As fun and introspective as it was, it's very relieving to get this done. Now I can start doing trilogies and sagas! Okay, maybe not so soon. I'm actually not craving a good movie day where I can go back and relive what makes me love these bands and movies. I'm not sure where with the next column, but I have a few ideas. Like always, I'm open to feedback, column ideas, and the usual music discussion. Have a great week and enjoy football season! GO BEARS! *lowers head and walks away*
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