text:
Here are Rankin's opening thoughts about the project—and about a place in which he has found "the basic, beautiful business of life."
I first visited the DRC with Oxfam in June 2008. I expected to be depressed. I had done my homework; the statistics were horrific. I could only imagine what the human face of those statistics would look like. The people I met confounded my expectations. I met fathers, mothers, children... all getting on with life, making it through, even having a laugh and a joke. These people didn't see themselves as victims, despite the bad hand that fate had dealt them. They were human beings, exactly the same as you and me.
I wanted my portraits to do something different. The West has been anesthetized to traditional pictures of disaster zones. My style of portraiture is always about bringing people out of themselves, getting them to share something. I chose to photograph the people against a stark white background instead of in their physical environment. The expressions in their eyes and on their faces—their humanity—was what I wanted people to notice and relate to.
It didn't seem morally or politically right to just go and take pictures. So I decided to put on a show in the refugee camp, and give the people prints of their portraits. Give them something back. It was incredible. One guy said to me, 'This photograph is amazing. I wanted to let you know that I will use it on my coffin when I die.' No-one has ever said anything so moving to me.
The overriding feeling I had while I was out in the DRC was one of anger and powerlessness. That taking a few snaps was inconsequential in the face of the insurmountable problems that were being faced there. But when I got back, we put on an exhibition. I pushed the images, did press interviews, raised awareness. I believe that it made a difference to the people I met.
I was inspired to return to the DRC in October 2009. I didn't want to do the same thing as I had done the year before and, as on my first trip, I felt that it was important and right to give something back. So this time I held photographic workshops. I gave out cameras so that the people could have authorship over their own images—show us what was important in their lives. The collection of shots from my second trip builds on those from the first one, but focuses on the relationships that bind people to each other—a mother's love for her child, a husband's love for his wife, two friends. The basic, beautiful business of life.
I hope that these photographs can aid understanding. They are neither ugly images of brutality, nor sentimental images of suffering. The world needs a more sustainable form of imagery that, instead of encouraging pity and powerlessness, promotes understanding, connection, and ultimately action. It's about making people accessible to each other."
]]>"These disasters have left millions of people in need of assistance from groups like Oxfam," said Michael Delaney, director of humanitarian response.
"This week's emergencies come at time when we are already responding to many ongoing disasters around the world—including a crippling drought in East Africa, floods in West Africa, and drought in Central America," Delaney added.
Oxfam America is launching an appeal to support its response to the earthquake in Sumatra, Typhoon Ketsana and for the South Pacific tsunami. With extreme weather in the forecast, Oxfam expects to respond to more destruction in the coming days.
Oxfam is sending an emergency response team to Padang, Indonesia, following the devastating earthquake on the island of Sumatra yesterday. They will join staff from local partner organizations who are distributing Oxfam's pre-positioned emergency stocks, including 5,000 tarps for shelter.
The Sumatra earthquake came in the wake of Typhoon Ketsana, which swept through the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos earlier in the week, causing severe flooding. An estimated two million homes were inundated with floodwater in Manila, and more than 400,000 people are now homeless.
"According to current forecasts, a super-typhoon is set to strike the Philippines again within the next two days, so for us it's all hands on deck," said Delaney.
Right now, Oxfam is helping 25,000 of the worst-affected families in the Philippines by providing clean water and emergency materials like blankets, soaps, cleaning equipment, clothes, and water containers.
Oxfam is also responding to the South Pacific tsunami, which hit the islands of Samoa and Tonga on Tuesday. Waves flattened villages and swept people and cars out to sea. Oxfam has emergency supplies on hand for up to 10,000 people and expects to help coordinate the supply of clean water and sanitation for those affected by the disaster.
"This is a time of great need around the world, and particularly in the Asia-Pacific region," said Delaney. "Americans have always shown incredible generosity when disasters strike."
To support Oxfam's Asia Pacific Emergency Response please donate online or call 1 800 77-OXFAM.
Oxfam says poor sanitation and little access to basic services such as water and medicine due to an ineffective response are creating a public health emergency in camps, which needs to be urgently addressed.
"Somalis flee one of the world's most brutal conflicts and a desperate drought, only to end up in unimaginable conditions in camps that are barely fit for humans. Hundreds of thousands of children are affected, and the world is abandoning the next generation of Somalis when they most need our help. Why does it seem like you matter less in this world if you are from Somalia?" said Robbert Van den Berg Oxfam International's spokesman for the Horn of Africa.
Somalia has recently seen a major increase in conflict, and the country is suffering its worst drought in a decade. The failure of the international community to address adequately these overcrowded and unsanitary camps is shameful given the level of need and human suffering,
In Northern Kenya, each and every month, around 8,000 Somali refugees pour into Dadaab camp. Now home to 280,000 people, the camp was originally built to only house a third of that amount. The severe overcrowding means many families do not have regular access to latrines or clean water, and in some of the worst parts of the camp over 20 families share one single latrine. "The Kenyan government has repeatedly promised to provide more land to ease the overcrowding but has so far failed to do so, despite the urgent and critical needs. More pressure from the international community is needed to make it happen", Van den Berg continued.
In Ethiopia's Bokolmayo camp, almost 10,000 people are already in the camp and nearly 1,000 people a month continue to arrive. Yet the current infrastructure and services are insufficient to cope with more arrivals, and there is still an important funding gap for the operation. The UN refugee agency's response to the impending crisis has been weak and inefficient. Oxfam called on the agency to exercise much greater leadership in ensuring Somalis get adequate assistance by supporting host countries to respond effectively to the humanitarian crisis.
In Somalia many of those fleeing Mogadishu have looked for refuge in the nearby Afgooye area, which with up to at least 485,000 people sheltering on a 15km strip of land is now said to be the world's densest concentration of displaced people. The high insecurity makes it extremely difficult for international agencies to deliver enough aid to meet people's needs. Somalis themselves are now on the frontline of delivering aid through their local organisations, yet they lack funds to carry out their life-saving work and need much more support from donors.
"In all three locations – Afgooye, Dadaab and Bokolmayo – the services being provided to vulnerable and desperate people are far below international standards. While NGOs need to scale up their response, donors cannot shy away from providing funding for this emergency. This is a human tragedy of unthinkable proportions where countless people have now been deprived of a home and a sense of normality for months and months," said Van den Berg.
"Ultimately, the root cause of the problems in all of these camps is the ongoing conflict, lawlessness and humanitarian disaster inside Somalia. Our governments must put Somalia top of their list and do more than simply keeping the country on life-support. What we need is a different approach and sustained senior level commitment to end this outrageous human suffering that has been going on for over 15 years," he said.
]]>After speaking to nearly 100 IDP women in focus group discussions held in camps and host communities over the last two weeks, Oxfam International found that despite a strong desire to return home, many still fear for the safety of their families. The displaced women living in Swabi and Mardan districts said that relatives in Swat district contacted them by mobile phones to say that homes and livelihoods have been destroyed and sporadic fighting is continuing. Others spoke of confusion on the returns process and its implications, with only limited information provided at short notice. "We hear that we should return to Swat. But there are no options for us except to go and sit on our destroyed house," said Zemit, 52, after she learned that her family home was bombed last week.
Oxfam Country Director in Pakistan Neva Khan said, "After the largest internal displacement crisis in Pakistan's history, everyone wants to see a return to normalcy including a secure and dignified return for all displaced people. We are encouraged that the Government has agreed to international guidelines but stress that the information campaign is also vital to the repatriation process."
The voluntary, safe, informed and dignified return of the IDPs is a paramount consideration for Oxfam International which, along with other members of the humanitarian community, is working with the government to help meet the needs of displaced people and particularly vulnerable women. Oxfam International is providing water, cash, cooking materials, latrines and hygiene kits for up to 360,000 men, women and children affected by fighting.
Adhering to the three-phase plan of return set up by the government, buses and security vehicles have been taking families back to the NWFP since 13 July, first from displacement and spontaneous camps followed by those staying with host families. As the IDPs return to their villages, Oxfam International will shift its focus with local partners to help provide shelter in devastated areas. In particular, assisting people who have lost their crops, livestock, shops and other livelihoods.
Between July 15th and 25th, Oxfam International staff spoke to nearly 100 IDP women in focus groups discussions in Yar Hussain camp in Swabi district and in three host communities in Mardan district. The displaced women came from Upper Swat villages including Aliadab, Khalam and Khabal. Their stories include:
"I fear my husband and son are dead. I have no income and five daughters so I must get them married quickly." When Zwahara and her five daughters were given just 30 minutes notice to vacate their village, she had to leave her paralysed son behind with his father. Taken in by a distant relative living in Swabi district, her family and 20 others of the extended family are sharing one toilet and water tap. The women are sleeping on the ground in the courtyard and desperately want to be allowed into one of the official camps for displaced families, where they believe conditions will be better. Because Zwahara has no male family member with her and no official ID card, the family have been turned away from the camps. Every member of the family suffers from diarrhoea and skin infections due to the heat and poor hygiene. Zwahara has learned from former neighbours that her house has been destroyed. No one has seen her husband or son for several weeks. The family do not plan to return to Swat.
Rahmatun's husband returned to their village several weeks ago. He told her that there is shooting in their village and the curfew makes it too dangerous for him to go out to buy food. He plans to leave their village and travel south to join her in Mardan if they can find a place to live. Rahmatun said, "The militants will behead us if we peek our heads outside of the door—we cannot send our girl children to school or anywhere with this being the case. They warned communities that if they fled during the fighting that would mean that they had sided with the Government." Rahmatun and her three small children were staying in Yar Husseim displacement camp in Swabi district.
Eighty-year-old Sahib, her daughter and granddaughter walked for two days and two nights to escape the fighting in Swat. For the last three months they have been living in the empty home of a wealthy family in Swabi district, the relatives of a family friend in their home village. All the family suffer from diarrhoea and the skin rash scabies because of the intense heat and lack of mobility from living in purdah. Sahib said: "I don't know what will happen to us if we go back. I want to stay here—there are too many problems in Swat."
"We hear that everyone should return to Swat. But there are no options for us except to go and sit on our destroyed house," said Zemit, 52, after she learned that her family home was destroyed by bombing last week. Living with 90 family members in a temporary home, Zemit says that she misses baking bread for her family at home and desperately wishes to return. But family members who remained in Swat tell her not to return because fresh hostilities coupled with a volatile curfew order makes it dangerous for them to get food and other necessities. A local administrator in Marden district invited Zemit and her large family to stay in his guesthouse, where they've lived for nearly three months and relied on the generosity of neighbors.
]]>Many of the displaced people are now sheltering with host families and often crowded into single-room houses with poor access to clean water and sanitation. To help meet their needs, Oxfam has set up a rapid response office in Bukavu, a city in the province of South Kivu, and is scaling up its work in North Kivu province.
Together with a local organization, Oxfam is now trucking 200,000 liters of clean water each day into major population centers, such as Lubero in North Kivu, where many displaced people have sought refuge. The organizations are also working to rehabilitate the water systems in those communities and Oxfam is distributing essential household items such as soap and buckets.
Though Oxfam is now helping 130,000 additional people, insecurity is making the delivery of this life-saving aid difficult in some areas. Fighters have cut off the roads to places such as Walikale in North Kivu and also to parts of South Kivu. Oxfam is calling on all parties to the conflict to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law and let aid through.
The harsh conditions many displaced people now face follow on the heels of the escalating violence they have endured in the months since the military offensive began. In a recent survey Oxfam conducted, villagers recounted the horrors of rape, torture, forced labor, and reprisal attacks. One woman told Oxfam she had been raped nine times. Other people talked about underground rooms where villagers were beaten and plunged in barrels of salt water. Residents of one community said their entire village emptied out at night, with everyone preferring to sleep in the fields rather than in their own homes. It was safer in the open, they said.
Who is attacking the civilians in Congo? In the survey, which included nearly 600 interviews, villagers reported that both the Congolese army and members of the FDLR were responsible for the atrocities. Earlier this year, members of militia and a rebel group were hastily integrated into the Congolese army, which has led to human rights abuses. Civilians surveyed said that one of the solutions to the trauma they have endured would be to improve the discipline, pay, and training of the Congolese army many of whose members—especially those newly integrated—have not been paid. As a consequence, extortion is widespread.
The UN's peacekeeping force—known as MONUC and the largest of its kind in the world—has a broad mandate in this conflict. While MONUC is reportedly providing rations and logistical support to the Congolese army, Oxfam maintains that the force's main priority should be to protect civilians, and it's concerned that there are not enough safeguards in place for that protection. Oxfam is calling on MONUC to set conditions for its involvement in these operations which, at the moment, are having a devastating impact on civilians.
For example, Oxfam says that MONUC should ensure that the Congolese government is taking clear steps to minimize the impact of this military initiative on civilians by not deploying officers with a documented record of human rights violations and by punishing violations committed by its own forces. The peacekeeping force should withhold its support of the operation if abuses continue, says Oxfam.
The organization also says that the international community needs to recognize that military action alone will not provide the answer for the insecurity that has plagued eastern Congo for so long. In the Oxfam survey, the vast majority of communities affected by the FDLR called for peaceful dialogue, and only two favored forced disarmament. Time and investment need to be put into non-military methods of disarming militia. And there needs to be a widespread recognition that sustainable peace will come to Congo only when the root causes of the conflict have been addressed.
]]>The survey of 569 civilians living in 20 conflict-ridden communities across North and South Kivu shows that the Congolese government's military operations against the rebel Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwanda (FDLR) are resulting in escalating insecurity for civilians, who are being attacked by all sides. Many in the Congolese army are committing abuses, with the FDLR increasing its retaliation against civilians for the offensive, the agency said.
Some 800,000 people have been displaced in North and South Kivu since the offensive was launched at the beginning of the year, according to the UN.
"The war is far from over for ordinary civilians. Over 80 percent of the people we interviewed said that security is worse now compared to a year ago," said Marcel Stoessel, head of Oxfam in the Democratic Republic of Congo. "The offensive against the FDLR was supposed to bring peace to eastern Congo, but our survey shows people are living in constant fear of violent attack. This suffering is not inevitable. It is happening because world leaders have decided that collateral damage is an acceptable price to pay for removing the FDLR. But as the people we met can testify, that price is far too high."
Half the communities surveyed said sexual violence had increased dramatically since the offensive began in January, and it was found to be widespread in all communities. Women were at most risk of sexual violence, but cases of children, some as young as four, being brutally raped were reported in more than half of the communities. Three of the 20 communities reported rape against men, including eight recent cases of male rape in one community in South Kivu.
A quarter of the communities spoke of torture. People were reportedly being buried up to their necks in holes in the ground by the FDLR until they agreed to pay a 'fine' in exchange for their release, with a few communities speaking of underground rooms where people are beaten and plunged in barrels of salt water. In addition, other militias were reportedly carrying out torture, as well as looting and child recruitment.
Abuses by large sections of the Congolese army were reported in every community. Half of communities spoke of forced labor, with mostly men and adolescent boys made to carry goods for the army. Communities in North Kivu reported particular aggression by newly integrated units made up of ex-rebel soldiers from the disbanded Mai Mai and the National Congress for People's Defense (CNDP), who have not yet been paid and justify extortion as "contributions" to their up-keep. In North Kivu, the Congolese army was identified as the main perpetrator of sexual violence.
All communities with an FDLR presence reported an upsurge in attacks on civilians by the militia in response to the recent government military operations, with one group describing the operations as "like waking a sleeping devil." In Mwenga region, South Kivu, communities taking part in an earlier survey in March 2009 had reported that violence by the FDLR had diminished, but just two months later they were reporting high levels of death threats, sexual violence and violent looting. People had reportedly been killed for saying the rebel group should return to Rwanda. Many of these villages have now been abandoned.
All communities feared reprisal attacks, and looting and extortion were widespread. Both the FDLR and large parts of the Congolese army were reported to force civilians to hand-over money and possessions. When opposing forces arrived, the civilians were then branded as collaborators for this and subjected to attack.
All communities surveyed asked to be protected better by the Congolese army and peacekeepers. More foot patrols by MONUC peacekeepers were requested, especially in the fields and small roads where violence was a great threat. The majority of those surveyed supported dialogue and peaceful repatriation of foreign armed groups, and in four communities, respondents went so far as to call for the military action against the FDLR to be abandoned. Only two communities supported forced disarmament.
"The results of this survey should be a wake-up call to those in the UN Security Council supporting the current military offensive, said Stoessel. "In only five communities, people said the Congolese army was keeping them safe. Many interviewees said they feared the army and the FDLR equally. The Congolese people need an army that protects on them, not preys on them. Oxfam welcomes the Congolese government's recent announcement that there will be zero tolerance of abuses in the army, and urges them to keep to this bold commitment. The peacekeeping force should withhold support from the operation if abuses continue or go unpunished, and must insist that known human rights abusers are removed from participating in the operations."
]]>I flew into Mogadishu in a plane full with nine tons of Oxfam aid. We took blankets, mosquito nets, medical supplies, and plastic sheets for families to build temporary shelters. We also took 3,500 buckets: Many of the families who have fled the fighting have lost everything they had, so they can use the buckets to carry clean water and store milk for their children.
At Mogadishu airport, I was met by some of our local Somali partners who quickly unloaded the aid for distribution. We carry out all of our work in the country through partners like them.
People are still fleeing the capital. Every day more buses, vans, and donkey carts carry families out of the city along a road called the Afgooye corridor. In the past few weeks, tens of thousands of people have fled down this road to escape the violence. They are settling in camps nearby, where about 400,000 people have taken refuge in the past two years.
The living conditions in the camps in Afgooye are some of the worst I have ever seen. Families are sheltering in tiny huts, pieced together from plastic bags and sticks. When the rains come, the huts are washed away. Oxfam is about to provide 10,000 new shelters, which will improve the lives of about 70,000 people.
The most urgent need is for shelter, but people also desperately need clean water, food, and medicine. The fighting has had an enormous impact on children's health. One doctor told me that there is so much gunpowder in the air in Mogadishu at the moment that it is making children sick.
When people leave the city and arrive in camps—which are so basic and overcrowded—diseases can quickly spread, and there are few health services. I saw young children lying on the floor of the shelters, too ill to move. Many children are suffering from diarrhea and cholera. Oxfam has helped set up an oral rehydration treatment center where mothers can bring their children for help. Oxfam has also distributed mosquito nets to mothers to help them protect their children from the spread of malaria.
To help address the critical need for water, Oxfam recently expanded its water system—which features large, circular holding tanks—to reach an additional 78,000 people. In total, we now provide water to more than 200,000 people in Afgooye—and we hope to increase the supply in the coming months. Despite these efforts, the need for water remains huge. People line up for hours to get clean water.
But it was the terrible condition of people's shelters that struck me most.
"Our biggest problem is shelter," Halima Abdi, a mother of six children, told me. "If people see this house and the conditions that we live in they will be shocked. It is raining heavily during the nights. Without shelter it is a disaster for us. My children are sick and I'm worried what will happen to them. They don't have enough water or food either.'"
]]>Many women in Darfur no longer have homes. They are living in crowded camps for displaced people where the simple stoves on which they cook define their days—days filled with treks for firewood that expose them to attacks and sexual assault, with dangerous hunts for work to earn money for stove fuel, with painful decisions about selling some of the food donors give their families so they can use the cash to buy fuel to cook the rest.
All of these choices are grim. But in Darfur, where more than six years of conflict have set 2.8 million people adrift, this is the reality. And that's why Oxfam America is launching an initiative, together with the Darfur Stoves Project and an in-country organization called Sustainable Action Group, to bring a new kind of wood-burning stove into the camps, a stove designed to reduce dramatically the amount of firewood families need each day.
The initiative is the latest step in Oxfam's ongoing program to help women in Darfur find cheaper and more efficient ways to cook. The goal is not only to keep them safer by cutting the amount of time they spend searching for wood beyond the safety of the camps, but to reduce the demand for the resource which is leading to severe deforestation in some areas.
"A huge issue for Darfur is its fragile environment," says Emily Farr, Oxfam's humanitarian livelihoods specialist who is overseeing the stove project. "Firewood is becoming more and more scarce, and large tracts of land—especially around some of the camps—have lost all their trees."
Called the Berkeley-Darfur stove, this new device could go a long way toward addressing that problem.
Made from sheets of metal, the new stove incorporates ideas provided by women themselves in the camps. Its design looks deceptively simple. A small opening for the firebox prevents too much fuel from being stuffed inside. The stove has tabs that can hold a plate for baking bread. And vents have been designed to limit the amount of air rushing in on gusty days.
Many women still cook on traditional stoves: three stones lodged into the ground with a chunk of firewood or charcoal burning in the center and a pot resting on top. The Berkeley-Darfur stove is 75 percent more efficient than the traditional stove and 50 percent more efficient than the clay models some families use. The metal stoves, which cost $20 each to make, last about five years—a good deal longer than the clay versions which can collapse after just four months.
Oxfam's plan calls for the distribution of 9,120 of the new stoves. Kits with all the parts are being manufactured in India, but the stoves themselves will be assembled in Darfur—with the help of local hands. That's one of the key objectives of the program: to offer displaced people training and a chance to earn a little income. Expectations are that each worker will be able to build about six stoves a day.
In a place that gets so much sun so much of the year why not provide people with solar cookers?
"In each of the camps where we work we have to consider what suits the situation best," says Farr. "Solar stoves can't be the only kind people have because there are many foods that can't be easily cooked using the existing affordable solar technology. If people can't cook their normal foods, they won't use the stove."
Likewise, in regions where there is a reliable supply of gas, it makes sense to equip people with gas stoves because they can be a lot cheaper for a family to operate than a traditional wood stove. In camps near urban areas, families can spend between $55 and $95 a month on wood for their traditional stoves. It's their second biggest expense after food. Refilling a gas cylinder costs $18, and the gas can last between one to two months. Gas stoves are also cleaner than wood—and women appreciate not having their clothes and bodies shrouded in smoke.
Oxfam and the Sudan Action Group also provided gas stoves to some of the families in Al Salaam and Abu Shouk camps outside El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur.
"People loved the gas stoves because the fuel is cheap, it burns clean, and food cooks very quickly," says Farr. "However, there are challenges with the supply chain: gas stoves are only an option where gas is readily available, such as in more urban areas." She notes that one local entrepreneur started a business ferrying empty canisters from a camp into El Fasher where he would have them filled and then return them to the camp –for a fee of 45 cents per canister.
While the majority of people who tried the stoves could afford them, some families found the monthly cost of the gas at $18 a canister too steep.
The cost of fuel—whether it's gas or wood—and its availability are things all stove projects have to take into account. If gas is available, will people have the money to purchase it? If not, then a smart stove project will include a way for people to earn an income, says Farr.
"In a place where we're using a model that burns wood and people are collecting it, we need to integrate peace-building and protection. Even if a stove uses less wood, women still have to go out and collect it—and they need protection," says Farr.
And so does the environment, she adds. Good stove projects, like Oxfam's, include public education about the environment and steps to protect it such as asking community members to plant and nurture tree seedlings.
]]>The agency had previously planned for a £2.2 million (about $3.4 million) program reaching 175,000 people. Now, as the numbers of people needing urgent assistance mounts, Oxfam has boosted its efforts to a £5.3 million (about $8.29 million) program reaching 360,000 people with clean water and sanitation, food and public hygiene information.
"We've been seeing thousands of families continuing to flee their homes, many walking great distances to find food, water, medicine, shelter and other essential items. This is now a massive humanitarian crisis. We have never witnessed such huge numbers of people fleeing conflict inside Pakistan before. With the Pakistani authorities and aid agencies already severely stretched, a further influx could turn this crisis into a catastrophe," said Neva Khan, Oxfam country director in Pakistan.
Yesterday, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced a $110 million commitment in emergency aid for displaced Pakistani civilians. This is in addition to the nearly $60 million the United States has provided to Pakistan since last August.
"The announcement is critical as we now have a full blown humanitarian crisis on our hands. The international community needs to follow suit and recognize the urgency of the situation in Pakistan. If we do not act fast, this crisis will overwhelm the aid effort already struggling to cope," said Raymond C. Offenheiser, president of Oxfam America.
Since the fighting started in April, more than 1.5 million people have fled their homes, bringing the total number of those displaced by conflict to over two million since August of last year. While many are housed in official camps, most are staying with host families, with large numbers in temporary shelters such as schools or spontaneous camps. It is estimated that nearly half of those displaced are children.
Conditions in official camps are still extremely difficult with shortages of essential items, including food, water, sanitation facilities, shelter and health care.
Oxfam is concerned about people staying with host families. They are less visible than people in camps but have urgent needs, so special efforts are required to ensure they are not neglected. Conditions in spontaneous camps are very poor. They are scattered across the region and harder to assist, but local people and organizations are generously providing help. Displaced women and girls are especially vulnerable wherever they find themselves.
]]>"We're seeing a flood of families arriving from the conflict area, carrying whatever possessions they could bring," said Neva Khan, Oxfam country director in Pakistan.
"The provincial authorities and aid agencies are working hard to cope with the huge influx. But with clashes continuing and thousands more families on their way, much more needs to be done—especially to meet the needs of the most vulnerable, such as women and girls.
"The lack of sufficient water and sanitation facilities is causing problems for many people. With the current hot temperatures set to rise and torrential monsoon rains just six weeks away, the risks of illness and disease are rising fast. The Pakistani authorities, donors, and aid agencies need to respond quickly and effectively to prevent further suffering."
Working closely with local partner organizations, Oxfam is providing essential items and services, such as water and sanitation facilities and health information, not only to people in camps but also to those staying in cramped, difficult conditions with host families whose resources are already overstretched.
"Although they are less visible, around three-quarters of displaced people have sought refuge outside camps. We need to ensure that they are not neglected," said Neva Khan.
More than 360,000 people have registered in camps and special centers for displaced people in recent weeks, with another 200,000 estimated to be on their way following renewed fighting between government forces and armed groups in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province.
This latest exodus comes amid renewed fighting between Pakistani government forces and armed groups and is in addition to more than 550,000 people who have fled their homes since August 2008 to escape previous clashes. Oxfam assisted more than 15,000 women, men, and children who fled their homes in NWFP after battles erupted in the region last year.
Scores of civilians have reportedly been killed or injured in recent weeks of clashes and many thousands more have lost their homes and livelihoods.
An estimated 200,000 civilians are thought to be trapped in areas where intense fighting continues. The humanitarian community has no access to these populations. Oxfam calls on all sides in the conflict to take special care to avoid harming non-combatants and to allow humanitarian workers safe access to assist civilians affected by the conflict wherever they are.
Oxfam also calls on the international community to support efforts by the government and aid agencies to provide displaced civilians with emergency relief as well as plans to help them return to their communities to rebuild their homes and livelihoods.
Aiming to reach the most vulnerable women, men, and children, Oxfam has been providing humanitarian relief and development in Pakistan for more than 35 years.
]]>According to Oxfam, while a solution is needed to halt appalling levels of human rights abuses committed by armed rebels, the answer cannot be action that knowingly increases levels of human suffering.
Marcel Stoessel, head of Oxfam in DRC, said:
"Four months ago an offensive against the FDLR set in train a spiral of violence against civilians which has forced 250,000 to flee their homes and caused untold death and suffering that continues to this day. By any yardstick it has been a humanitarian disaster, and one the world has ignored. The UN force's top priority in Congo must be to protect the lives of innocent civilians. The UN needs to be aware of the full implications of continuing to support military action in the present circumstances."
Oxfam said any military action should ensure that risks to civilians are kept to an absolute minimum and, in accordance with international humanitarian law. The agency also called for appropriate sanctions for any violations of international humanitarian law noting that for too long human rights abuses, including by government soldiers, have gone largely unpunished.
The aid agency urged the UN to set out and stand by clear preconditions, based on rigorous observance of international humanitarian law, for MONUC support to any military action by the FARDC. It also called for greater emphasis on non-military efforts to disarm rebel groups, which present less risk to civilians but so far have not been given sufficient priority.
The previous joint offensive against the FDLR in North Kivu, launched in January 2009, has already created immense suffering for thousands of civilians. An estimated 250,000 people are still unable to return to their homes. Villagers have reported that thousands of homes have been burned to the ground in reprisal attacks mainly by the FDLR. Rape and looting by all sides, including government forces, has also been reported. According to recent reports, 100,000 people have already fled their homes in South Kivu, even before the new offensive has started. Aid agencies are planning for the possible displacement of a further 400,000 people in South Kivu.
Oxfam had to expand its programs in North Kivu after the first offensive, bringing life-saving assistance to at least a further 85,000 people, in addition to those that it was helping already. Oxfam has also opened a new rapid response office in Bukavu, South Kivu, to be prepared for possible humanitarian fallout there. The international agency urged all major donor countries to give sufficient attention to the humanitarian crisis, which has been raging since January.
Oxfam is helping to support more than 500,000 people affected by the conflict.
]]>It was in late March that I started receiving increasingly worrying reports about alleged atrocities in remote areas of North Kivu province. Military operations by the Congolese army against a rebel group known as FDLR—Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda—had continued (Rwandan troops deployed in a joint operation with the Congolese army withdrew in February); and reports suggested that the offensive was likely to expand to South Kivu.
I heard about reprisal attacks, the burning of houses, sexual violence, looting, and people being prevented from accessing their fields—their only source of food. Many of these reports were coming from areas where Oxfam teams had begun carrying out life-saving work with a local partner, helping to provide safe drinking water, clean latrines, and public health education.
I could not believe what I was reading: Up to 250,000 people reported to have left their homes since January.
Some of our senior staff, as skeptical as me, went to the field and came back with a clear report: It is true, they told me; it's just not on TV yet. Our immediate response was to scale up our emergency operations in South Lubero, which is in North Kivu. Water trucks were sent to provide clean water to displaced placed and the families who hosted them. Hygiene items were distributed, and health promoters were deployed to help prevent the outbreak of epidemics.
We also decided to open an emergency response office in the neighboring province of South Kivu where we were getting reports of another military build-up, indicating that a similar tragedy could happen there.
A few days later, I was on a plane crossing this vast country towards the conflict zone to support our field staff and to get a first-hand view of what was happening. After two flights and a trip by road I finally arrived in Lubero. The government representative there told me people needed urgent help.
I continued by road southwards into what the United Nations called the "red zone"—an area where military escorts are recommended. Oxfam refuses such escorts, due to concerns that we may be perceived as supporting a particular side in any conflict. It was one day after an attack on the town of Luofu, where 255 houses were burned to the ground.
We met some displaced people on the road, who were fleeing the fighting, carrying the few possessions they could take with them. They were exhausted and desperate. They were heading to a town called Kirumba, which was also our destination. Several thousand people had gathered there for an Oxfam emergency distribution of essential hygiene items.
Through an interpreter, I heard some of their stories. One woman witnessed another being gang-raped by three armed men. The victim died later, the witness told me. The witness—an old woman—ran away from her village with her children, but had become separated from her husband, who fled in another direction. She told me the few items she had managed to carry with her were taken away by soldiers.
As the Oxfam distribution of hygiene items continued, we travelled further south to a town called Kanyabayonga, where Oxfam was distributing water. The town's population has more than doubled during the recent fighting, and Oxfam is trucking in 180,000 liters of clean water every day.
Village chiefs gathered to tell me their stories. Since the start of the military operations, civilians are seen with suspicion by both warring sides, and accused of being collaborators. People have had no choice but to leave their villages—but they also have had nowhere safe to go.
They arrived in Kanyabayonga, they said, terrified, tired, and in need of protection and help. The fighting had not stopped. One day before we arrived, the FDLR rebels had attacked Kanyabayonga itself.
People were living with host families—in some cases, up to five other families in a house. I tried to imagine how it would be—no clean water, only basic squat latrines, with little money and a war going on around me.
But what really broke my heart was to hear about the systematic burning of houses in these remote areas of North Kivu province. Villagers reported that many thousands of homes had been burned to the ground.
There are about 17,500 UN peacekeepers stationed in Congo—but with little visible presence here to give these vulnerable people any sense of safety. People I spoke to wanted to see UN peacekeepers patrol on foot, to be present in their communities. To protect them.
Now I'm back in the eastern provincial capital, Goma, where Oxfam coordinates its emergency operations in Congo. I am happy that we have managed to scale up our emergency work in South Lubero. More help will come, if the security situation permits. If only the world would not look away.


text:
Sir Alex Ferguson insists Shinji Kagawa will only get better for Manchester United following his hat-trick heroics in the 4-0 win over Norwich on Saturday.
Kagawa struck just before the break at Old Trafford then added two more in the second half to inspire the win before Wayne Rooney added a long-range strike in the final minute.
The victory sees United stretch their lead at the top of the Premier League to 15 points and Ferguson was full of praise for the Japan international, who arrived at the club from Borussia Dortmund last summer.
He told Sky Sports of the forward, who was out with injury earlier in the season: "He's a good finisher, the lad. His second and third goals were terrific and he showed great intelligence for the first one and composure.
"He's gradually getting his form back because he missed that period of football in October and November which set him back a little bit.
"He's going to be a good player. Next year he'll be far, far better too."
Ferguson was also pleased with Rooney, who was making his first start following a sinus problem after appearing as a substitute in the win over QPR last week.
The boss added: "He needed a full game, he came on a sub last week. Scoring a goal is always important for strikers and it'll help his confidence."
Ferguson was relieved his players all appeared to come through the encounter unscathed, with the second leg of their UEFA Champions League tie against Real Madrid looming in midweek.
There were some close calls when Robin van Persie appeared to hurt himself stretching to set up the opening goal, while Patrice Evra and Danny Welbeck were victims of physical challenges from the visitors.
"There was a few hefty tackles out there today," Ferguson added. "It was surprising; normally the pitch is too big for that kind of football. Everyone is ok I think."

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Vermont Restaurant Week: 'Big Night'
- Friday, April 29, 7PM;
- Saturday, April 30, 5PM;
- Sunday, May 1, 5:30PM
at Palace 9 Cinemas in South Burlington. $7-9.
Contact Info:
- 802-660-9300
- Event Website
Seven Days Says:
Foodies screen Stanley Tucci's 1996 cult flick about a failing Italian restaurant and the owners' plan to save the biz. Special cocktail hour including timpano, cheese samples, a cash bar, prizes and more before the movie on Sunday, May 1, 4:30 p.m.


text:
You're watching...
Luxurious Antique Cars Gaining International Attention
Gooding & Co. president David Gooding shows luxury, restored cars at the Concours D'Elegance.
Aug 17, 2012
You're watching...
Gooding & Co. president David Gooding shows luxury, restored cars at the Concours D'Elegance.
Aug 17, 2012
Also in this playlist...
Auto-advance: ON
Auto-advanceThis transcript is automatically generated
Back on -- markets now a lot of car talk actually this a particular part of the shell and first of all the who's who of the luxury car industry gathering at the annual concorde did they don't see in this weekend out in California -- affairs reporting live from the persistence his car show and pebble beach California Adam good to see you again.
It's good to see you -- can we told you about two hours ago about this famous 1936 Mercedes that is coming up for auction David Gooding from Gooding and company.
Actually first encountered this car in 1991 why is this car which could sell for between ten and sixteen million getting international attention.
Special roasters one of the most important cars from the prewar era but this one is probably the finest point in the world.
The most original two -- from new it's been completely restored freshly.
It's just a lifetime once a lifetime opportunity.
Baroness -- Krieger of the -- recluse who owned this car when you first sought in 1991 there were still cigarette butts with lipstick in the -- from the 1950s.
That purchaser gets all of that material absolutely cigarette butts and all maps.
Her driving gloves.
It all comes with the car yeah.
Let's talk -- -- the American cars for instance he's Cadillac V6 -- we see one being polished right now and then a beautiful convertible these cars.
We're very popular and very powerful what kind of interest are they drawing well sixteen cylinder lot of interest they're extremely rare cars.
Both cars have been restored the convertible has had -- incredible restoration.
Restoration alone is over half million dollars and if you've got half million dollars what a bargain but now the real kind of other star of your show you've got two cars getting international attention the other.
Is a car Hollywood buffs will love Clark gables Duisenberg tell me more about this car.
It's in 1935 Dusan -- Gable and Carol Lombard courted in this car they dated in this car.
And when he first got it and didn't look quite like this and she gave him a hard time about it so he -- customized to his specification and design.
And then they really -- love with the card they drove it from Hollywood up to Vancouver.
Now what's the horse races up there in the know when she passed when -- and any plane accident.
He never want to deceive the -- again very important car.
If you've got a couple million dollars could have that Mercedes you could have the -- -- -- real quick take a look we got all of these cars that are you don't need a couple million.
Maybe just one million taxi cars here day again and -- For 5060000.
Dollars in -- just as lovely as what we've just Sonia somehow though I kinda think that that Mercedes is just.
That's the ticket -- thank.
No that Ford GT it's the second I think there was -- -- interpreted strike you're SP -- yeah now I got the catalog in my office Adam thank you so.
Filter by section


text:
Opening MTS Files for Post Processing
Many high resolution digital video cameras record their data as .MTS files, which are containers for H.264 encoded video and audio. However many video editors are not able to open these files directly for further processing. If you have a codec that can play the file in a DirectShow compatible video player you can also open it with another program such as VirtualDub. All you have to do is to install AviSynth and then paste the text below into a batch file in a directory containing MTS videos. All the files will then be made available through an .avs file as a single, virtual video. Resizing and other pre-processing through AviSynth is optional. Before executing the batch file, you should make sure that all the .mts videos are of the same resolution and frame rate.
@ECHO OFF SETLOCAL ENABLEDELAYEDEXPANSION SET COUNT=0 SET AVSFILE=video.avs SET COMMAND=video_splice = AlignedSplice( IF EXIST %AVSFILE% DEL %AVSFILE% FOR %%a IN (*.mts) DO ( SET /a COUNT=!COUNT! + 1 ECHO video_!COUNT! = DirectShowSource^("%%~fa"^) ECHO video_!COUNT! = DirectShowSource^("%%~fa"^) >> %AVSFILE% IF !COUNT! NEQ 1 SET COMMAND=!COMMAND!, SET COMMAND=!COMMAND!video_!COUNT! ) SET COMMAND=%COMMAND%) ECHO %COMMAND% ECHO %COMMAND% >> %AVSFILE% ECHO ReduceBy2^(video_splice^) ECHO ReduceBy2^(video_splice^) >> %AVSFILE% START "" /MAX "VirtualDubPortable.exe" "%AVSFILE%" |


text:
The weather today is glorious, and what Sunday afternoons are made of; windows open, natural lighting, and a comforting candle to fill the room with it's invisible embrace.
Spiced pumpkin floated through my apartment 5 minutes after lighting the wooden wick, and I am obsessed with it's strong scent and crackling features.
It is heavenly.
Breakfast was a bowl of egg white oats, ground flax, sliced banana, blueberries and cinnamon.
Perfect fuel for tackling the wild beasts that inhabit the aisles of Stop & Shop on a Sunday morning.
They swerve around you in the parking lot, charge and leap towards the ticket dispenser at the deli, and sneakily stare as you proceed through self checkout.
It's quite a scene, but the fridge must be filled.
Matt's side. My side.
At least I got him eating organic yogurt
After my grocery store safari and the daunting task of putting everything away, I needed a small snack to hold me over till lunch.
Today is my day off from the gym, but my appetite is anything but tamed
Grape tomato meet cottage cheese. Cottage cheese, meet grape tomato.
It's important to keep fueling your muscles, even on rest days.
Don't listen to that voice that tells you to eat less because your moving less. Eat as you normally eat, snack as you normally snack, and go about your day.
This is how we repair and change our body. It needs rest, just as we need sleep.
While relaxing last night, I finally finished Insurgent, and I cannot wait for the third book to come out.
If you loved The Hunger Games, you will love love love the Divergent and Insurgent. They are full of suspense from start to finish.
Well, this gorgeous is day is creeping by, and we have the Pat's game and Sunday dinner to look forward too.
Simply the best.


text:
10th February
Prayer for Pregnancy.
Dearest Mary, I look to you now for the help of your maternal love. You understand my trials as an expectant mother. You bore Jesus in your womb. You know the doubts and anxieties that beset me; you know the bodily suffering I endure. Like you, may I turn all these sorrows into joy. You overcame anxiety by a loving trust in God; you overcame doubt by gentle resignation to His will.
Your motherhood lifted your mind above earth and kept it close to God.
So speak to Jesus now with me, beloved Mother, as I seek prayerfully to learn to bear the trials of motherhood with joy.
Mother of Perpetual Help, Pray for me!


text:
You're watching...
'Glee' to blame for student's suspension?
Bob Jones University says show is morally bereft
May 2, 2012
You're watching...
Bob Jones University says show is morally bereft
May 2, 2012
Also in this playlist...
Auto-advance: ON
Auto-advanceThis transcript is automatically generated
Last Thursday Christopher Peter and says he was getting ready for -- -- and which was just over a week away.
I was sending my graduation announcements that day.
I had an already.
They were already to -- in the mail.
That's until he got called it to a meeting and suspended from Bob Jones University I had no idea -- this can happen.
He said he had to pack -- his dorm room and find housing with someone off -- this.
I'm not allowed back on campus and if I if I return.
They will call the police and have me arrested.
Peterman says the problem at the university began several months ago a tough -- -- -- master he started a group called you right BJ you in November 2011.
To support sexual abuse awareness on campus he says the silent protest in December -- -- some problems.
First he claims he had to start attending counseling with the dean of -- After Christmas break he was required to read entire books of the Bible every day it right out of the oceans.
Bob Jones students are allowed 150 to -- -- before being suspended from school.
He says that the -- start it small for things like not -- returning to his dorm room late.
FaceBook violations and forgetting to make it's bad.
And then infractions got bigger until he topped out at 170.
The merits last week but this student only claims less than half are legitimate.
But I would say about.
Maybe sixty -- it.
Earlier this month he got in trouble every studio recording and watching Fox's television show -- -- -- can't this.
They said that the nature of Cooley with so morally reprehensible.
The the content itself not the show not me watching a show but they said the content of -- itself was so wrong.
That they were gonna give me fifty demands to -- -- -- -- Bob Jones university and they released this statement quote we do have our expectation of our students the year listed in the handbook.
They all signed -- -- covenant in the handbook.
We expect them to honor the covenant in spirit and letter and we also do everything to help them succeed in quotes even -- -- he violated some rules.
But all he wants is to return to school finished his exams and gradually -- To functions within the comeback of his many fans I would gladly come back.
Filter by section


text:
April 10, 2012
Edward Lewis BruinSportsReport.com
UCLA quarterback Kevin Prince spoke with the media about the QB competition and the new coaching staff last week. ...More... To continue reading this article you must be a member. Sign Up Now for a FREE Trial
Already a member? Click here to sign in


text:
Summary: Although arterial complications during or after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are rare; however, their sequelae can be disastrous. This case report describes the injury to an anomalous anterior tibial artery during total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and its successful surgical management. The operation was quite uneventful, but on release of the tourniquet at the end of the procedure, excessive bleeding was encountered. Further exploration to locate the source of the bleeding revealed injury to the anterior tibial artery, which was taking off quite higher off from the popliteal artery (Figure 1). The vessel was however successfully repaired with prolene sutures with no postoperative vascular complications and an uneventful recovery.
Anomalous anterior tibial artery
A digital subtraction angiogram showing high take-off of right anterior tibial artery, making it prone to iatrogenic injury along with popliteal artery during TKA.
Arterial injuries are twice common during total knee replacement than during total hip replacement.1 The most commonly affected arteries are popliteal artery and common femoral artery respectively. Literature search shows the incidence of popliteal artery injury to be 0.03% to 0.05%.2,3,4 However, abnormal location of arteries make them more prone to injury as happened in our case. Similarly the incidence of arterial injuries is much more in patients with peripheral vascular disease mostly related to tourniquet use.
Ninomiya5 et al has shown that use of posterior retractors during TKA make popliteal artery more prone to injury. Similarly hyper-flexion and hyperextension of the knee joint during TKA causes kinking of the popliteal artery with possible injury to it especially in the presence of atherosclerosis. In our case, because of the high take-off of the anterior tibial artery (Figure 1), one of the above factors may have contributed to the arterial injury.
To prevent arterial injuries, thorough preoperative assessment with emphasis on peripheral vascular system can identify at-risk patients. Similarly, during operation, knowledge of the anatomic relationship between popliteal artery or other anomalous vessels (eg,anterior tibial artery in our case) and the tibial plateau can reduce the incidence of arterial injury during orthopedic surgery.


text:
So here is my list of things I am going to try to finish in December:
Feedback on the next 3 chapters that I am beta reading. I have been a bad reader and would not be surprised if this is the last I will get to read. Sorry about that.- Clean out "Studio" make it a usable room. This one is going to be a huge task, one that I have been putting off but needs to be done.
- Finish scarf for DS
Wrap and pack everything to be shippedShip stuff to AZ and PA this would be stuff for ChristmasMake BFF's hula hoop, this will be sent to PA along with other gifts.- Move out of second storage unit.
- Make wreaths for people.
- Make skirt that I have been putting off.
- Make Steampunk hat for Fat Dragon Store.
- Make handmade crocheted dish cloths for everyone. I have completed 9 that leaves me 6 more to complete by 12/24.
Fix the caulking behind the kitchen sink.Get old papers shreddedSend out a few holiday cards. Maybe take a family photo to go with them.Christmas shopping of course this one cannot really be put off, but would like to get most of it done sooner than later.Tree up
We are now on week-4. While this list is not done I did get some of the things that have been lingering out there done or at least started.
I was able to get started on the "Studio", this is going to be a task that will take a while longer. I need to pack all the craft stuff up to take it to the storage. Then I need to get the rest of the room set up and get a bed. This is going to be a while still but I think I may have it done by the end of January.
The other 3 items are things that I will, just work on as I have a free moment.
I think over all this was a pretty good month for Getting Sh!t Completed. I may do this again in June if you want to join me then. I hope you Got Sh!t Completed on your list. Thanks to @Dutchbeingme for joining in this month.


text:
Hotel staff is very nice. Tim (night shift clerk) was very nice and personable. Rooms are clean and hotel is in the middle of remodeling. Beds are a but on the soft side for my taste, but some may enjoy then. Rooms have separate sink area from shower and toilet. No coffee pots in room. No newspapers available except for... More
- Also Known As:
- Red Roof Inn London
- London Red Roof Inn
- Reservation Options:
- TripAdvisor is proud to partner with Expedia, Red Roof Inn, Priceline, Travelocity, Hotels.com, Otel, Venere and Tingo so you can book your Red Roof Inn London I-75 reservations with confidence. We help millions of travellers each month to find the perfect hotel for both holiday and business trips, always with the best discounts and special offers.


text:
Low Price Guarantee - Find it Lower and We Match It!
We constantly search for the lowest prices so you don't have to. If you find a lower price, call us at 1.866.868.5855. Expert staff check prices daily.
New Balance Adult High Heat Half-Zip Pullover Jacket
• Embroidered flying 'NB' logo.
• Back vent with mesh lining.
• Elastic cuffs at wrists.
• Raglan sleeve with mesh inset for better fit and mobility.
• Underarm ventilation for improved breathability.
• 91% polyester/ 9% Spandex.
Sizes: M, L, XL, XXL, S, XXXL, 4XL.
Colors: Black, Scarlet, Royal Blue, Navy.


text:
The Delta City Council has formally extended the commencement of alternate truck route construction from Feb. 1 to no later than April 1 of this year. SEMA Construction, Inc. will then have 15 months for completion of the project known as Confluence Drive.
Late in 2011, public works director Jim Hatheway told Delta City Council members that right-of-way acquisition and agreements with the Union Pacific Railroad are taking longer than anticipated. A design change at the Palmer Street intersection added to the delay.
blog comments powered by Disqus


text:
The Central Coast Mariners have snapped Sydney FC's club record...
Get your evening Sports news hit.
Jamie Whincup has cruised Holden to victory in a dramatic opening...
Melbourne Heart have defied the A-League form book to earn a...
Paceman Mitchell Johnson has claimed an impressive 7-40 firming...
Get your afternoon Sports news hit.
Highlights of day 3's play from Adelaide Oval in the 2nd Ashes...
Mitchell Johnson has claimed 7-40 to bowl England out for 172...
3:00 PM - Thu, 05 Dec 2013
CLUBHOUSE BLOG: Quade Cooper has turned around his attitude and commitment helping the Wallabies find some validity in what they are trying to achieve.
Read Full Post
Tell us what you think
1:00 PM - Sat, 30 Nov 2013
CLUBHOUSE BLOG: Nigel Owens erred when he allowed All Black Aaron Cruden to re-take his botched kick against the Irish, says former Wallaby Matt Burke
6:00 AM - Thu, 28 Nov 2013
CLUBHOUSE BLOG: Getting your sports team noticed in Australia's most populated city is perhaps the hardest task of all
3:00 PM - Thu, 21 Nov 2013
It was a case of double it up for the Wallabies on the weekend with the victory against the Irish, but it came with a cost.
12:00 PM - Wed, 20 Nov 2013
CLUBHOUSE BLOG: Australia's sportswomen are leading the way in setting a positive example for our children to follow, writes Bill Woods
2:00 PM - Thu, 14 Nov 2013
CLUBHOUSE BLOG: As the Wallabies prepare to take on Ireland this weekend, there are three factors that they would like to rectify for this game.
3:00 PM - Wed, 13 Nov 2013
CLUBHOUSE BLOG: Rugby league fans might yawn at the prospect of a quarter-final between Australia and the USA, but they should consider the possibilities.
6:55 AM - Fri, 08 Nov 2013
CLUBHOUSE BLOG: Gai Waterhouse could have given up after 20 years of Melbourne Cup failures, but her persistence paid off


text:
Phone: 503-823-7300
1900 SW 4th Ave, Portland, OR 97201
Phone: 503-823-7300
1900 SW 4th Ave, Portland, OR 97201
The Alternative Technology Advisory Committee, authorized under Portland City Code 24.10.087, assists the Bureau of Development Services in reviewing innovate sustainable building technologies and methods for compliance with the Building Code requirements. The Committee reviews requests submitted by applicants to determine if emerging technologies can be found to meet the building code, as well as promote a positive impact to the earth's natural systems. The Committee makes non-binding recommendations to the Director (or designee) of the Bureau of Development Services that can be considered as part of a building code appeal.
The Committee consists of a minimum of three members who are experts in both sustainable technologies and construction practices. The Committee members serve voluntarily and without compensation. The Committee members must be design professionals, construction contractors or persons associated with a university that has an engineering school. The members are appointed by the Director of the Bureau of Development Services. Appointment to the Committee is for a three-year term, with a maximum of two complete terms allowed.
The Committee meets as applications needed.
Current members of the Alternative Technology Advisory Committee are:
Name | Membership Category | Term Expires |
Members Kathryn Bash Vacant Aron Faegre Ronald Hays Joshua Klyber Samir Mokashi Edward Vranizan |
Design Professional Associated with University Design Professional Construction Contractor Construction Contractor Design Professional Design Professional |
November 30, 2014 [2nd full term] November 30, 2013 [Partial + 1st full term] November 30, 2013 [Partial + 1st full term] November 30, 2012 [Partial + 1st full term] November 30, 2012 [Partial + 1st full term] November 30, 2014 [2nd full term] |
Staff to the Alternative Technology Advisory Committee: Terry Whitehill at 503-823-7639 |


text:
Share this:
$10.00 Debit Card Mail in Rebate valid from 2013-12-08 to 2013-12-31 Download the PDF
CPU • 64bit AMD® FX, Phenom II X6/X4/X3/X2, Athlon II X4/X3/X2 and Sempron CPU.Please refer to CPU Support for compatible CPU; the above description is for reference only.Hyper Transport Bus
• HyperTransport 3.0 supporting speed up to 5200MT/sChipset
• AMD® 760G and SB710 Chipset
Main Memory • Supports two unbuffered DIMM of 1.5 Volt DDR3 800/1066/1333 DRAM, 16GB Max
• 1 PCI Express x16 slot with x16 operation (PCI Express Bus SPEC V2.0 compliant)• 1 PCI EXpress x1 slot• 1 PCI slot, support 3.3V/ 5V PCI bus Interface.
On-Board SATA • 6 SATA 3Gb/s (1~6) ports by AMD® SB710- Supports storage and data transfers at up to 3Gb/sRAID Function - SATA 1~6 support RAID 0, 1, 10 or JBOD mode by AMD® SB710
• Chipset integrated by Realtek® ALC887- Flexible 7.1-channel audio with jack sensing- Compliant with Azalia 1.0 Spec
LAN • Realtek PCI-E GbLAN controller RTL8111E- Supports 10Mb/s, 100Mb/s and 1000Mb/s- Compliance with PCI-Express Bus specification v1.0a
Internal I/O Connectors
- 1 x ATX 24-pin power connector- 1 x ATX 4-pin 12V CPU power connector- CPU x 1 / System x 1 FAN connectors- 1 x Front panel audio connector- 1 x Front panel connector- 1 x Chassis intrusion switch connector- 2 x USB 2.0 connectors- 6 x Serial ATA II connectors- 1 x Serial port connector- 1 x Clear CMOS jumper - 1 x SPDIF-out connector- 1 x TPM module connector
Back Panel I/O Ports
- 1 x PS/2 mouse port- 1 x PS/2 keyboard port- 6 x USB 2.0 ports - 1 x Graphic Card port- 1 x DVI-D port- 1 x RJ45 LAN jack- 1 x 3 in 1 audio jack
• 24.4cm(L) x 20.5cm(W) Micro-ATX Form Factor
• 6 mounting holes.
In Stock, Same Day ShippingThis product is in stock in our warehouse. You have a choice of Ground Service, 2nd Day Air, or Overnight Delivery for domestic orders.
UnavailableThis product is currently unavailable. If you would like suggestions for similar products, please contact our sales department at firstname.lastname@example.com or at 1-408-350-1484.
Available for our in-store pick up option only If an item that you are interested in states that it is only available for in-store pick up, the option to ship the product to your address is unavailable. Our in-store pick up feature allows you to order online 24 hours a day and pick up the order at your nearest Fry's Electronics store. In-store pick up is fast, easy, and free (no shipping charge). To learn more about in-store pick up please visit our Frequently Asked Questions. If there isn't a store near you and you need further assistance, please call one of our friendly Sales Associates at 1-408-350-1484.
Available for our shipping option only If an item that you are interested in states that it is only available for our shipping option, the option to pick up your order at our local Fry's Electronics store is unavailable. However, Frys.com offers competitive shipping prices to have your orders conveniently delivered to your home. For further assistance, please call one of our friendly Sales Associates at 1-408-350-1484.
Over Size Shipments Televisions 50" or larger, and any item exceeding 150lbs will ship through our alternate courier (ABF). Tracking information and delivery instructions will be provided via e-mail. Residential delivery is available within the continental U.S by ground shipping only with an average delivery time of 5-10 business days. Second day and Express service is unavailable. Standard ground shipping includes curbside service (delivery). Inside delivery, debri removal and delivery by appointment is available at additional cost.
Special Orders Special order products are not stocked in Fry's Electronics stores, but products can be ordered through the Frys.com website or by visiting a local Fry's Electronics store. The special order program allows Fry's to provide you with a larger product selection for your convenience. A credit card authorization will be processed when your special order is placed through the Frys.com website and will be shipped to the address you specify in your order. However, your credit card will not be charged until the product is shipped. Special orders processed in a Fry's Electronics store are billed when the order is processed. Orders placed in a Fry's Electronics store are shipped directly to the store. When your order arrives at the store, we will call you to let you know your product is ready for pickup. Special order products can take up to 6 weeks to arrive. Special order items are non-refundable.
Backorders This product is currently not in-stock in our fulfillment center. We are accepting orders for this product, but we do not have an estimated arrival date. Our buying team is working diligently to obtain this product from our supplier. A credit card authorization will be processed when your order is placed. However, your credit card will not be charged until the product is shipped.
Ship by (Ships with estimated date provided) This product is currently not in-stock in our fulfillment center. The date provided is an estimated date and is subject to the manufacturer's availability. A credit card authorization will be processed when your order is placed. However, your credit card will not be charged until the product is shipped.


text:
Check out the PCMA Northern California Chapter's 2013 Marketing Opportunities and plan on spending some of your marketing dollars next year to amplify your company's image and reputation in the local marketplace.
If you have done some renovations or have a new hotel or facility coming into the marketplace there is no better time to support PCMA and to contribute to your continuing education and business development.
We have opportunities starting as low as $50 (speaker gifts) up to $7,000 (Sponsoring the BAMIES).
We are also happy to customize a Sponsorship Opportunity for you.
Please contact Pat Zollman at email@example.com or 925.736.9015 or Louis Veliz at firstname.lastname@example.com or 650.271.1069
Thank you for your support!
Official Photographer
Audio Visual Provider
Transportation Provider
35 East Wacker Drive Suite 500 Chicago, Illinois 60601-2105
877.827.7262 (toll-free) 312.423.7262 Fax: 312.423.7222
Attend & Learn
Be In the Know
Connect & Grow
PCMA Defined


text:
http://newsdoors.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-sword-and-sovereignty.html Well, Ladies and Gentlemen in the ethereal realm, once again another natural disaster—Hurricane Sandy in this case—has exposed the insouciance, ineptitude, and incompetence of America's...Secession, National Sovereignty, and Territorial Integrity
By Sam Vaknin Editor-in-Chief of Global Politician I. Introduction In July 2011, South Sudan became a new state by seceding from Sudan, follwing decades of civil war and a referendum. When Kosovo attained its independence in February 2008, some pundits warned against this...14 States Across US Sue To Block Health Care Law
"Attorneys general from 14 states across America on Tuesday filed lawsuits challenging an overhaul of America's $2.5 trillion healthcare system, 7 minutes after President Barack Obama signed the landmark legislation." The joint suit was led by Florida and was filed with a...Hawaii: 50th State is 50 Today
There are unconfirmed rumors President Obama was born in Hawaii.Hawaii is about the size of New Jerseyor about half the size of Nova Scotia with a population of 1,300,000.It is a major tourist destination for...Sovereign Citizens As our Founding Father's intended!
In my various writings I have made reference to a Concept of the Founding Father's known as Sovereign Citizens. Based on the feedback I have gotten, especially from younger persons, it appears our government...
opinion by CynicalPatriot | 4 years ago | updated 4 years ago
5201 views | 37 recommendations | 7 comments
5201 views | 37 recommendations | 7 comments
Jerusalem Post Publishes 'Must-Read' Editorial
Amidst serious post-election turmoil in Iran, President Barack Obama has been quoted during the last 24 hours as saying that the United States respects that country's sovereignty. It's too bad he...Moving Sovereignty NOT People
" Part 1 As the efforts to square the circle of a proposed Israeli cabinet created out of sometimes opposing party ideologies a proposal for land exchange between Israel and a proposed future Palestinian state...An analogy of what kind of change we need...
All I hear everywhere is "we need change!" "we need change!" But when you start talking to folks all they're looking at is some little bit of the problem that's currently in their face - here's an analogy that may be more understandable for you... You're...China welcomes UK Tibet decision
"China welcomes UK Tibet decision Zhu Weiqun speaks on Tibet A senior Chinese official has welcomed the UK's decision to recognise Beijing's direct rule over...
created by Pagoda Phat Hue | 5 years ago | updated 5 years ago
229 views | 0 recommendations | 0 comments
229 views | 0 recommendations | 0 comments
The Real Debate: Crony Socialism or Economic Sovereignty?
Ellen Brown, author of "Web of Debt" about the monetary system, comments here on the Wall Street Bailout, the economy and the monetary, and presents options for making it work for the public interest, instead of only for crony capitalist corporate socialist bankers....How Gilani played firm with US top soldier
" Prime Minister Yousuf Gilani played firm with United States military chief Admiral Mike Mullen and his other generals in their meeting this week emphasising that President George Bush had personally made a commitment to respect democracy and the sovereignty of Pakistan...Rights watchdog to Pakistan govt: Ask US to halt strikes in tribal region
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has asked the Pakistani government to take meaningful steps to prevent loss of life and property in the tribal areas of the country in raids by US-led coalition...Pakistan furious over U.S. Raid
Pakistan is furious over a United States forces raid that violated the counties sovereignty. The helcopter raid out ground forces in a remote border villiage of Angor Adda.This was the first known U.S....
created by Albert Milliron | 5 years ago | updated 5 years ago
273 views | 19 recommendations | 5 comments
273 views | 19 recommendations | 5 comments
US-led troops kill 20 people in Pakistan in operation from Afghanistan
It seams that the Caucasian desaster was not enough for some mad guys out there.By the way: the German "defense" minister is in Afghanistan, right now. "PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AFP) — A Pakistan provincial governor Wednesday confirmed coalition troops from across the Afghan...
created by Daniel Neun | 5 years ago | updated 5 years ago
339 views | 7 recommendations | 2 comments
339 views | 7 recommendations | 2 comments


text:
A federal government website managed by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, S.W. - Washington, D.C. 20201
Renewal of Determination that a Public Health Emergency Exists
Because the 2009 H1N1 flu outbreak remains a worldwide public health threat and the Department should use all available tools to ensure that we are prepared, on this date and after consultation with public health officials as necessary, I, Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services, pursuant to the authority vested in me under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C § 247d , do hereby renew the April 26, 2009 determination by then Acting Secretary Charles E. Johnson, which I previously renewed on July 24, 2009, October 1, 2009, and December 28, 2009 that a public health emergency exists nationwide involving Swine Influenza A (now called 2009 H1N1 flu) that affects or has significant potential to affect national security.
March 23, 2010
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius


text:
Tag Archives: right to privacy
Social Media Series: Using Social Media As Evidence In Lawsuits
This article is part of an on-going, social media series. When litigating against a former employee, the Internet can lead to an evidentiary goldmine for an employer. A former employee's social media activity may provide evidence of the employee's breaches, such as a violation of a non-competition provision or breach … [Continue Reading]


text:
/ Full Nest Incorporated
/ Jeralyn Victoria Mohr
/ 6 5 1 . 4 4 2 . 5 5 9 6
Full Nest Incorporated offers creative, interior design and decorating, as well as original artwork, custom murals, and affordable consulting options.
Full Nest is available to contractors and homeowners alike on an as-needed hourly basis for consulting during renovation projects to help you choose materials, paint colors, lighting/hardware, etc. to help guide the overall aesthetics and save on costly mistakes.
Call for rates and to schedule your consultation.
Serving the Minneapolis, Saint Paul metro area.


text:
Drop (11)
Fashion Studs (2)
Hoop (2)
Diamond (8)
No Stone (7)
Multi-Color (1)
White (7)
Gold (7)
Sterling Silver (8)
Compare up to 5 Items
Receive a $50 Offer When You Sign Up for Email*
No Thank You
*Valid for new registrations only. A welcome email will be sent with your offer information. Privacy Policy


text:
"In 2002, the CDA played a very important role in bringing Walmart to town," said attorney John Rea, who serves as attorney for the city and the Commercial Development Authority.
CDA members Jeff Jones, Dennis Brooks and Bala Baptiste were at the meeting and members Ray Miller and Matthew Pope were absent.
Rea said in 2002, the CDA entered into a lease with the Walmart development.
"The city of Pell City bought the property and gave it to the CDA," he said. "Walmart paid $250,000 up front and has been paying $25,000 per year in a 10-year lease. When the lease ends in September, Walmart has the option to purchase the acreage for $250,000. Walmart has not said if they are exercising the option, but I think it would be shocking if they didn't exercise that option."
Rea said the 23.38 acres is the only property in the shopping complex that the CDA owns.
Baptiste asked if the CDA had any options in the lease contract.
"This is a one-way Walmart option for them to choose," Rea said. "The CDA is locked into this deal."
Rea said if Walmart chooses to exercise the option, the money would go to the CDA but then be transferred to the city, as per the agreement.
"They also may want to close earlier than the expiration of the lease (if they choose to exercise the option)," he said.
Jones said he felt closing earlier would not be a problem.
"In my mind, the best thing is for them to exercise the option," Brooks said.
The CDA approved a motion authorizing Rea to send a letter to Walmart's attorney stating that the CDA is ready to close when Walmart is and allow them to close earlier than the end of the lease if they choose, provided all money is paid.
Rea said the Walmart option is the only matter currently before the CDA, but the members could choose to have the CDA become active in its purpose, which is commercial recruiting in Pell City.
CDA members said they plan to discuss it further at future meetings, and the members are expected to hold an organizational meeting and elect a chairman at the next meeting when all members can be present.
Contact Elsie Hodnett at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
Trees For Troops At New River Air Station
Posted: 6:25 AM - A nonprofit organization is bringing live Christmas trees to some Marines at the New River Air Station.
Posted: 6:25 AM - A nonprofit organization is bringing live Christmas trees to some Marines at the New River Air Station.
Posted: 12/12/2013 - A federal affidavit accuses a Minnesota National Guard member of stealing classified information from his former military unit at Fort Bragg, N.C.
Posted: 12/07/2013 - Thousands gathered at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii Saturday to mark the 72nd anniversary of the Japanese attack that launched America into World War II.
Posted: 12/06/2013 - A long-awaited study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirms a link between tainted tap water at a U.S. Marine Corps base in North Carolina and increased risk of serious birth defects and childhood cancers.
Posted: 12/06/2013 - The U.S. Navy says it has successfully launched a drone from a submerged submarine, another big step toward developing new military spying and reconnaissance capabilities.
Posted: 12/02/2013 - A Superior Court jury on Monday convicted 22-year-old Michael Poth of Washington in the death of 24-year-old Philip Bushong (pictured here), a lance corporal based at Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Updated: 11/28/2013 - Camp Lejeune and Cherry Point Marines performed in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade with the Marine's Corps East Coast Composite Band. The 87th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade coverage started at 9:00 a.m. and will air again at 2:00 p.m on WITN.
Posted: 11/26/2013 - CBS has ordered "60 Minutes" correspondent Lara Logan and her producer to take a leave of absence following a critical internal review of their handling of the show's October story on the Benghazi raid.
Updated: 11/22/2013 - The Coast Guard said multiple search and rescue boats hit the water for nearly three hours Thursday afternoon after what they now believe may have been another hoax call.
Posted: 11/21/2013 - Three female Marines are the first women to graduate from the Corps' tough enlisted infantry training school in North Carolina.
Posted: 11/21/2013 - A federal appeals court is rejecting a North Carolina widow's lawsuit blaming the Coast Guard for failing to save her husband's life, saying the agency does not have an obligation to launch life-saving rescues.
Posted: 11/21/2013 - Marines and sailors who have spent the last seven months abroad are returning home just in time for Thanksgiving.
Posted: 11/19/2013 - The Navy has canceled an environmental study on a proposed airfield for jet landing practice on sites in Virginia and eastern North Carolina.
Posted: 11/17/2013 - A former Fort Bragg helicopter pilot has been sentenced to three years in prison for stealing $1.3 million in military equipment during overseas deployments.
Posted: 11/13/2013 - Marine Corps officials say four Marines have been killed in a training accident at Camp Pendleton in Southern California.


text:
Former Windows boss lands teaching gig at Harvard
Steven Sinofsky, who recently left Microsoft after running the Windows division for six years, tweeted this morning that he will teach at Harvard Business School this spring.
"Excited to return to @HarvardHBS to teach again this spring!" Sinofsky wrote. "New perspectives, recharge, share experiences, write."
In response to a question on Twitter, Sinofsky said he intends to teach "product development" as well as write articles about the topic.
Sinofsky has some history at Harvard Business School. He served as a "visiting scholar" there in 1998. He also co-authored a book on organizational … Read more


text:
We Need Some Maury Povich Up In Here
Michael Jordan's mistress just wont quit. Lisa Miceli is opposing a February injunction, forbidding her from having contact with Jordan because the crazy beeyotch won't leave him alone about her baby, and is calling for a third paternity test. A third! Twice before MJ has been tested and twice before it has been determined that he was not the father of her child like she is still trying to claim.
You know what this means of course…MJ needs Maury. Obviously going on the Maury Povich show is the only way that this woman will believe that he is NOT the father and quit her golddigging ways. Someone needs to make this happen. I want to see MJ do this
From Popcrunch


text:
There are many companies out there that test content for authenticity and verify sources, like Attributor, PlagiarismDetect, the Viper and Plagiarism-Detector scanners for Windows, CopyScape, TurnItIn.
A Mozilla Firefox plugin could make content on websites with stickers, similar to Tom Scott's real-world stickers for newspapers – mark unverified content from Wikipedia, or brain-less RTs from twitter, copy-and-paste from press releases or website description. Revenue streams could from recommended more original content, advertisement from keywords, and traffic data collection and intelligence…
It would be interesting to see in real time who is copying from whom. Which is also interesting information to identify early movers and shakers, or give credit to the real sources.


text:
Siberian Husky Puppy
Receive an email alert when additional Siberian Husky puppies are added. It's easy and free!
BREED: Siberian Husky Puppy
INCLUDES: Upgrade now for complete access
Puppies come with FREE Pet Insurance when adopted from NextDayPets.com! *Please ensure your breeder participates
Delilah Brown
Member Since: September 2006
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
• Male • $100
• Male • $200


text:
Great news – DREAM 2011 was an amazing success:
We had almost 800 at some of our gatherings and the feedback has been very encouraging. So much so that we have booked the 2012 conference already!
DREAM 2012 will be Mon 9th – Wed 11th April 2012
…click this link for more info on DREAM 2012
2011 – info
DAVID SHEARMAN – International Speaker
David did our daily Morning Bible Study
PJ Booth – National Leader Designate and local Pastor
Shared with us about bring the old way and the new way together on Monday the opening night.
JEFF LUCAS – International Speakers & Author
spoke on Tuesday night, in his unique way
MCNAMEE – Convoy of Hope & Prayer for Europe
Beryl with her wealth of experience taught on Prayer on the Tuesday morning Session, followed by Michael speaking about the church in action.
Gary Davidson – National Leader
Shared with us his unique passion for Ireland on the final night


text:
Double delivery takes Emirates A380 fleet to 44Dubai's national carrier Emirates said it has received delivery of its 43rd and 44th A380 aircraft with a double delivery from Airbus' Finkenwerder facility in Hamburg, Germany. The new A380s will offer 14 seats in First More… |
Emirates expands European Tour portfolioDubai-based Emirates has extended its deal with the European Tour for an additional ten tournaments until the end of the 2017 season. The carrier will also assume the status of 'Official Airline' of the European Tour, More… |
Emirates launches Kabul routeDubai-based Emirates has landed its first flight to Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, marking the airline's 138th global destination. Emirates flight EK 640 touched down in Kabul International Khwaja Rawash Airport today (D More… |
Emirates launches longest A380 flightDubai-based Emirates airline has launched its longest 380 flight to Los Angeles. The 16 hours and 20 minutes double-decker flight crossed the Russian Federation, the North Pole and Eastern Canada, to touch down in Los Angeles, bec More… |
Emirates Islamic launches 'Innovation Challenge'Emirates Islamic, a leading Islamic financial institution, has launched "The Innovation Challenge," a competition that calls on students of UAE universities to devise new social media solutions for the banking world. A More… |
Fujairah silos to start operation soonThe United Arab Emirates will start operating new grain silos at Fujairah within the coming months and has picked a private company to manage them, the managing director of Abu Dhabi's Food Security Center said. The silos loca More… |
Gulf carriers eye prize as Australia airlines duke it outThe bad-tempered battle between Virgin Australia Holdings and Qantas Airways over Australia's skies is a proxy for increasingly tough regional competition among carriers including ambitious Gulf airlines Etihad and Emirates. T More… |
50 A380s? Emirates could have bought 10 more!Emirates' whopping order for 50 of the world's biggest jets should end doubts about the A380 that have tested the nerve of manufacturer Airbus, the airline's chief said -- adding it was so sure of filling the planes it might have bou More… |
Emirates academy to address pilot demandEmirates Flight Academy will help address the need for 40,000 pilots in the Middle East over the next two decades in support of a fast growing aviation sector. Representatives of the academy explained its latest developments at th More… |
Dubai may move one airline to new airportDubai could move the base of one of its two airlines - flydubai and Emirates — to the new Al Maktoum International at Dubai World Central by 2020, a senior official was quoted as saying. In an interview with the Gulf News, S More… |


text:
To upload an avatar photo, first complete your Disqus profile. | View the list of supported HTML tags you can use to style comments. | Please read our commenting policy. |
Free Research and Reports
- Forrester Study: The Total Economic Impact of VMware View
- Securing Executives and Highly Sensitive Documents of Corporations Globally
- Operating in the Cloud with Confidence
- HP Datacenter Care: Enterprise-Wide Support For Business-Critical IT
- The BYOD Opportunity: Say "Yes" to Device Diversity and Enable New Ways to Drive Productivity
Upcoming Events
Dark Reading Digital Magazine
In This Issue
- Who's Who In Your Cloud: Managing and securing user identity in the cloud is complicated. Here's how to keep it under control.
- Security's Pain The Neck: Evolving Users: Enterprises need to build access management strategies that recognize changing user roles.


text:
NO GAGA?: Executives at Coty Inc. denied a report circulating online that the company has signed a fragrance deal with Lady Gaga. "I know nothing of this project," said Steve Mormoris, senior vice president of global marketing for the firm's Coty Beauty division. "It is a totally false rumor." Gaga's involvement in beauty includes acting as a spokeswoman for the MAC AIDS Fund. She collaborated with the Estée Lauder Cos. Inc.-owned MAC Cosmetics brand to create a signature Viva Glam lipstick in a "bubble-gummy" pink shade, which hit stores in February. Despite Coty's denial, speculation continues to percolate.
Coty has pioneered the celebrity fragrance craze of the past several years. Through its prestige and beauty divisions, the firm has produced and markets fragrances from some 16 celebrities — Jennifer Lopez, Beyoncé Knowles, Sarah Jessica Parker, David and Victoria Beckham and Halle Berry, to name a few — plus a host of fashion designers and brands, including Marc Jacobs, Calvin Klein and Vera Wang.
Sign in using your Facebook or Twitter account, or simply type your comment below as a guest by entering your email and name. Your email address will not be shared.Ads by Google


text:
Gardens at BeachWalk in Fort Myers
- bedrooms 2
- baths 2
- sleeps 6
- pool yes
- hot tub yes
- pets allowed no
- type Condo
- community Gardens at Beachwalk
- rates (USD) $ 1,200 - $ 2,600 / month
vacation rental description
Beautiful 2bedroom 2 bath 2nd floor condo with deck over looking
lake and clubhouse/pool. completly furnished with king bed in master
and two twins in 2nd bedroom with private bath. there is a queen
pull out sofa in living room.Unit is only 2 years old.
condo rental amenities
The unit has washer and dryer/ microwave in the kitchen with full
appliances.club house with nice gym,large pool with jacuzzi
activities and attractions in Fort Myers Gulf Coast South
You are located 5 minutes from Ft Myeres Beach and 5 minutes to the
Sanibel Causway. There are plenty of stores for shopping,
resturantes,and old downtown Ft Myers. The locatin is excellent.
Joe Uzzolino 609-517-0187
accepted payment methods
Prior to paying a reservation deposit, always verify payment instructions by calling the phone number displayed on this listing page. By contacting the owner directly and paying by an approved method - credit card, paypal, check or bank transfer - your reservation payment will be protected up to $1,000.
Learn more in our Security Center


text:
News Releases by Email
June 21, 2010
The FWC's mission since the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil platform in late April has been reconnaissance: tracking the movement of oil along the coast.
Six special-opportunity dove fields will be open to the public this season through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's special-opportunity Dove Club Program.
FWC Facts:The Saltwater Fishing "Hot Sheet" gives the latest regulatory information for state and federal waters, as well as season updates and other current events in Marine Fisheries.
Learn More at AskFWC


text:
- Connect with LRI:
- YouTube
- Change.org
Scripps Research Institute Scientists Find a Key Element of Lupus, Suggesting Better Drug Targets
Monday, February 11, 2013
A team led by scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) has shown that blocking a particular pathway in lupus-triggering cells could be a way to fight the disease.
Results published in the online Early Edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences the week of February 4, 2013 found that "the absence of a certain type of immune cell, or of a key signaling molecule within the cell, greatly reduces the development of autoimmunity in mouse models of lupus. Mice with these protective changes showed little impairment of their normal immune functions."
Two highly respected members on the research team, Argyrios Theofilopoulos, PhD, and Dwight Kono, MD have served on the Peer Review Task Force to evaluate submissions for the Lupus Research Institute Novel Research Grants.
On the go?
Text INFO to 50555 and opt-in to receive breaking news about lupus on your mobile phone.
Message and Data Rates May Apply. Text STOP to 50555 to STOP. Text HELP to 50555 for HELP. Full Terms


text:
Get a Seagate Backup Plus 1TB portable hard drive for $79.99
Most external hard drives are on the big, bulky side, and they require their own power supply, which is a hassle to say the least.
Portable external drives run off USB power, which is convenient -- but it usually means a lower-capacity drive and higher price.
Not today. Newegg has the Seagate Backup Plus 1TB portable USB 3.0 hard drive for $79.99 shipped. That's after applying coupon code EMCXWVV26 at checkout.
Now, anyone who follows hard drives like I do needs to get a hobby knows that 80 bucks for a 1TB drive isn't all that … Read more


text:
_ Genesis
_ Kamelot
_ Pure Reason Revolution
_ VNV Nation
_ More Tribe
"And onward now, and on forever, all great things to come"
Didn't read the entire thread....but I'd add (if they weren't there already)
Johnny Cash: Personal Jesus (Depeche Mode)
Junior Brown: Surf Medley (Pipeline, Run Don't Walk, Secret Agent Man)
Junior Brown: 409 (Beach Boys)
Cake: I Will Survive (Gloria Gaynor)
Devo: Satisfaction
Am I the only one who enjoys the Presidents of the United States version of Video Killed the Radio Star?
Addicted to bad movies since 2008
yes you are, however the Ben Folds Five version is great
I don't think I really care about PUSA enough to like or dislike them.
Official Sonic the Hedgehog Fanatic
Film/Music Snob Extraordinaire
The Replacement's "Bastards Of Young" covered by The Cribs
This is the recent acoustic version much better than their earlier one.
English Civil War, original by The Clash.
Official Sonic the Hedgehog Fanatic
Film/Music Snob Extraordinaire
That link seems familiar.
I like this version but still not over The Clash.
<3 Jibs
"Stm is cool." -gurl
"STM is supersexyguy" -Jibs
I love their cover of Cleveland Rocks
Last edited by MagicMurderBag7; 07-16-2012 at 05:47 PM. Reason: better vid.
Tubbs has a new home


text:
The proposed project will reconstruct S.R. 30/ U.S. 98 from Bayshore Road to Portside Drive with a six-lane divided, urban roadway that will include four-foot bike lanes and six-foot sidewalks. Other improvements along the project will include the construction of stormwater management ponds. Additional right-of-way will be required at some intersections and at the locations for the stormwater management ponds. The project extends from the eastern edge of the Naval Live Oaks Reservation to just east of the Portside Drive intersection, a distance of approximately 4.25 miles. Construction is currently not funded in the department's Five Year Work Program.
Maps, drawings and other information will be on display. FDOT representatives will be available to explain the improvements and answer questions. There will not be a formal presentation or public testimony period. Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability of family status.


text:
By Rick MarshallProvided by
The arrival of Valentine's Day in a few weeks will certainly prompt the standard mix of love and hate from Facebook users, but this year could involve a little more anger than usual, thanks to the debut of Angry Birds.
Yes, Rovio plans to launch its hit game on the social media network next month on a day when the majority of users will be either celebrating or complaining about the February 14 holiday. And when you think about it, it's actually a great idea. What better way to work out your annoyance than toppling a few pigs' fortresses?
According to Penn Olson, the latest iteration of the game will take advantage of the full-screen capabilities of Facebook with high-quality animation, and offer a few new power-ups that can be bought or earned through the game — including an earthquake or higher-powered birds.
Beyond Facebook, the report also described Rovio's plans for Angry Birds to become a regular part of every new Samsung Smart TV , and to eventually make games seamless across all platforms. Progress made in the game on an iPad would then cross over to users' phones, televisions, or other platforms.
This article was originally posted on Digital Trends
In Case You Missed It:
Zynga IPO imminent?Angry Birds to break through to FacebookIs FarmVille-maker Zynga really worth $10 billion?Zynga cutting Mafia Wars, other titles from MySpace