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Has a summertime beach read ever left you geographically confused? For example, you're hunkered down in the sand on Cape Cod enjoying a novel that takes place on and around the beaches of Southern California. Or, you've settled down in a beach chair on the Oregon coast to read a mystery that's set on the Gulf Coast. Somewhat jarring, right? Here you'll find five site-specific books to throw in your tote (or download onto your Kindle or iPad) before you head to the beach this summer.
The Book:The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1925)
The Beach: North Hempstead, N.Y.
Description: "The exemplary novel of the Jazz Age, F. Scott Fitzgerald's third book, The Great Gatsby (1925), stands as the supreme achievement of his career. T.S. Eliot read it three times and saw it as the 'first step' American fiction had taken since Henry James; H.L. Mencken praised 'the charm and beauty of the writing,' as well as Fitzgerald's sharp social sense; and Thomas Wolfe hailed it as Fitzgerald's 'best work' thus far. The story of the fabulously wealthy Jay Gatsby and his love for the beautiful Daisy Buchanan, of lavish parties on Long Island at a time when, The New York Times remarked, 'gin was the national drink and sex the national obsession,' it is an exquisitely crafted tale of America in the 1920s that resonates with the power of myth. A novel of lyrical beauty yet brutal realism, of magic, romance, and mysticism, The Great Gatsby is one of the great classics of twentieth-century literature."
Although you've probably read it at least once — most likely in the confines of a high school classroom — The Great Gatsby is always a worthwhile re-read, particularly if you're sprawled out under the sun on a blanket somewhere in the vicinity of Port Washington (aka East Egg) on Long Island's North Shore.
The Book:Jaws by Peter Benchley (1974)
The Beach: Martha's Vineyard, Mass.
Description: "The classic, blockbuster thriller of man-eating terror that inspired the Steven Spielberg movie and made millions of beachgoers afraid to go into the water. Experience the thrill of helpless horror again — or for the first time!"
Although Jaws the novel takes place in the fictional resort community of Amity, Long Island, the massively popular film adaptation is set in the fictional New England resort community of Amity Island. The movie itself was filmed on Martha's Vineyard, off the coast of Cape Cod. Book-versus-film locations aside, any of the pristine beaches on Martha's Vineyard are ideal spots for sinking your teeth into this classic beach read.
The Book:The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy (1986)
The Beach: Edisto Beach, S.C.
Publisher's description: "Pat Conroy has created a huge, brash thunderstorm of a novel, stinging with honesty and resounding with drama. Spanning forty years, this is the story of turbulent Tom Wingo, his gifted and troubled twin sister, Savannah, and the dark and violent past of the extraordinary family to which they were born. Filled with the vanishing beauty of the South Carolina Lowcountry as well as the dusty glitter of New York City, The Prince Of Tides is Pat Conroy's most magnificent novel yet."
Epic, engrossing and trashy (in the best way possible), The Prince of Tides is the ultimate summertime beach read. Used paperbacks of this sordid family drama are a dime a dozen, so pick one up and throw it in your tote before hitting the sand, preferably the sand along the South Carolina coast where a large chunk of the novel is set.
The Book:Sag Harbor by Colson Whitehead (2009)
The Beach: Sag Harbor, N.Y.
Publisher's description: "Benji Cooper is one of the few black students at an elite prep school in Manhattan. But every summer, Benji escapes to the Hamptons, to Sag Harbor, where a small community of African American professionals have built a world of their own. The summer of '85 won't be without its usual trials and tribulations, of course. There will be complicated new handshakes to fumble through and state-of-the-art profanity to master. Benji will be tested by contests big and small, by his misshapen haircut (which seems to have a will of its own), by the New Coke Tragedy, and by his secret Lite FM addiction. But maybe, just maybe, this summer might be one for the ages."
Hamptons-bound this summer? Inject a bit of much-needed brainy nostalgia into your summer beach reading by adding Colson Whitehead's funny and poignant autobiographical coming-of-age novel to your trusty stack of People, Star, OK! and Us Weekly magazines. Children of the '80s will particularly get a kick out the book, the fourth written by Whitehead, a 2002 recipient of the MacArthur Fellowship.
The Book:The Beach by Alex Garland (1996)
The Beach: Patong Beach, Phuket, Thailand
Publisher's description: "The Khao San Road, Bangkok — first stop for the hordes of rootless young Westerners traveling in Southeast Asia. On Richard's first night there, in a low-budget guest house, a fellow traveler slashes his wrists, bequeathing to Richard a meticulously drawn map to the Beach. The Beach, as Richard has come to learn, is the subject of a legend among young travelers in Asia: a lagoon hidden from the sea, with white sand and coral gardens, freshwater falls surrounded by jungle, plants untouched for a thousand years. There, it is rumored, a carefully selected international few have settled in a communal Eden. Haunted by the figure of Mr. Duck — the name by which the Thai police have identified the dead man — and his own obsession with Vietnam movies, Richard sets off with a young French couple to an island hidden away in an archipelago forbidden to tourists. They discover the Beach, and it is as beautiful and idyllic as it is reputed to be. Yet over time it becomes clear that Beach culture, as Richard calls it, has troubling, even deadly, undercurrents."
This thrilling, debut tome from British novelist Alex Garland is basically The Lord of the Flies for the hedonistic Euro backpacking set. It's much better than the Leonardo DiCaprio and Tilda Swinton film adaptation, and, naturally, the book's mesmerizing setting, Thailand, is an ideal reading locale. Download one of the best beach pop anthems ever, "Pure Shores" by All Saints (taken from the film's soundtrack), for an optimum reading experience.
Related Links from MNN.com:
Are Romance Novels Bad for Women?
America's Dirtiest Beaches Revealed


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The BSE Sensex today retreated from record high levels by losing over 188 points due to profit booking in bluechips following disappointing quarterly earnings amid a weak global trend.
The 30-share index had climbed to all-time high of 22,939.31 at the outset. However, later weak quarterly earnings by bluechips fueled profit booking, pulling the barometer down by 188.47 points, or 0.82 per cent, to close at 22,688.07 points.
The wide-based Nifty of the NSE Nifty hit an intra-day record high of 6,869.85 before ending lower by 58.05 points, or 0.85 per cent to 6,782.75.
Maruti Suzuki India, which reported 35 per cent drop in Q4 earnings, declined by 1.35 per cent. ICICI Bank dropped by 2.29 per cent even as the bank posted 9 per cent growth in profits for the last quarter.
Among other major losers, ITC fell the most by 2.76 per cent, RIL by 2.01 per cent and Larsen& Toubro by 1.96 per cent. Hindustan Unilever, NTPC, ONGC and Sun Pharma also declined.
Brokers said market participants indulged in booking profits at existing higher levels driven by disappointing quarter earnings by auto major Maruti Suzuki and Biocon.
They said a weak trend in the Asian region and lower opening in Europe on rising tension between Russia and the US over Ukraine further influenced the trading sentiment.
In 30-BSE index components, 21 stocks declined and nine ended higher.
The Oil and Gas sector index suffered the most by losing 2.11 per cent to 9,605.77 followed by FMCG index by 2.02 per cent to 6,837.11. Capital Goods index lost 1.34 per cent to 12,589.52 and Power index by 1.06 per cent to 1,741.18.
Dipen Shah, Head- Private Client Group Research, Kotak Securities: Markets ended weak on Friday likely on profit booking. There were stock specific movements based on quarterly results. Some of the cement and bank stocks were the major losers of the day. For the week, markets were flat. While most of the domestic sectors did well, IT continued to under-perform despite the slight depreciation of the rupee. Over the past two weeks, markets are consolidating on the gains made over the past 2-3 months. Markets are expected to consolidate around the current levels till the outcome of the elections. However, ove cannot rule out volatility in the markets after this sharp rise.
Sensex retreats from records on profit-booking, global trend
(Reuters) BSE Sensex closed lower

subset: commoncrawl


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Mountains Beyond Mountains: Discussion Questions
There are many ways to read Mountains Beyond Mountains. First of all, you can read it as the deeply moving story of Paul Farmer, a doctor in Haiti as well as an expert consultant in Peru, Cuba and Russia. But, it's more than a good story written by a master storyteller. It's also author Tracy Kidder's effort to explain what made it possible, even necessary, for Farmer to take his life in the direction that he did. Have no doubt about it, Farmer had a vocation, a calling even, that he discovered as a young man.
As a reader, you can trace the experiences that shaped Farmer. But you can also see the influence that the country and people of Haiti had on his mission as well as the impact of Farmer's religious and intellectual mentors and supporters. One of the themes of the book is that "Lives of service depend on lives of support" (page 108). You can read the book to learn about the politics, policies and problems of poverty and health not only in Haiti, but also in the U.S. and the world. In addition, you can read the book as a how-to manual about the quest for meaning in life.
Here are some questions to help you understand the "story," and others to get you thinking about what shapes us, who influences us and how we become the people we become. These questions should get you looking for the answers in the book, thinking about the implications of what happens to Farmer and exploring the larger issues the book raises. Also, these questions will get you asking other questions which will lead to discussions with your teachers and your fellow students. Read critically with a pencil in hand. A second reading always helps you answer the deeper questions.
The Land and Its People
- What do you know about Haiti? What questions do you have about Haiti? Many people go to the Caribbean for cruises or vacations. Is Haiti one of the typical destinations? Why?
- What would you guess the title means? What have been your experiences with mountains? Do they have a spiritual dimension for you? (Note that the title comes from a proverb.)
- What percentage of Haitians die before they are 40? What percentage of Americans die before they are 40? What makes the difference?
- What impact did the eradication of the Creole pig and the building of the Peligre dam have on Haiti?
- Kidder uses the term "narrating Haiti." What do you think he means?
The Author and his Subject
- Farmer tells Kidder that he will be his Virgil. Who was Virgil? What do you make of this comment?
- Which of Farmer's qualities attract Kidder? What annoys Kidder about Farmer?
- As you read, note the way Kidder uses direct quotes to reveal Farmer's character and his own. What kind of relationship developed between the author and his subject?
- Kidder frequently notes shorthand expressions used by Farmer and his colleagues. What are WL's? Kennedys? Look for other terms like these throughout the book.
- What is Kidder's purpose in writing this book? Does he present an argument? If so, what is? Are there other arguments?
What Shaped Farmer's Values and World View?
- How do you think Farmer's childhood affected his personality, behaviors, and attitudes? Pay particular attention to his relationship with his father. What impact do fathers have on children?
- Why does Farmer insist on seeing patients even in places that are hard to get to and which take him away from his clinic for long periods of time? Do most doctors make house calls today? Why does Farmer? What's the connection between his work with individuals and his mission to the poor? Note that he often develops a personal relationship with his patients. His behavior is not cost-effective. How does he respond to these criticisms?
- Is Farmer a religious man? Explain your response. What impact does liberation theology have on him? Explain the importance of Matthew 25 to Farmer's mission (221).
- Respond to Verchow's quote: "Medical education does not exist to provide students with a way of making a living, but to insure the health of the community." Farmer believes this. Do you? Do most doctors?
- Farmer calls liberation theology a "powerful rebuke to the hiding away of poverty" (78). Discuss what he means.
Those Who Support Farmer
- Why was Tom White so willing to help Farmer? What was White's goal in life?
- Describe the relationship between Farmer and Jim Kim, Farmer and Pere Lafontant, Farmer and Father Jack, Farmer and Goldfarb. What does love have to do with it?
- Ophelia loves and admires Farmer as well as working with Partners in Health. Why did she decide not to marry him?
- Do you think Farmer neglects his wife Didi and his child? In what sense is their marriage a modern marriage? Would you feel differently if Farmer were a woman?
- Do you agree with Margaret Mead's point made on p.164? Why or why not?
- Respond to the following: "Lives of service depend on lives of support." Who supports Farmer? Who supports you? Whom do you support?
The Struggle of Rich and Poor, Good and Evil
- How is Haiti "covered with the fingerprints…of France and the United States?" (73) In what ways are wealthy countries responsible for the poverty of other countries?
- Farmer believes we should give more of the world's wealth to the poor: the O for the P (the central imperative of liberation theology). Do you agree with the idea that we should have a preferential option for the poor? Why? Why not?
- Kidder often describes the patients that Farmer treats. He spends a great deal of time on the story of John near the end of the book. How do this and other stories illustrate the complexities of poverty? How do this and other stories relate to the title of the book?
- What's the relationship between poverty, women and AIDS? Find out about Kathleen Harrison and Project Harambee.
- How does MDR-TB threaten the health of the world? What role does Farmer take in trying to make countries more involved with the treatment of patients, prisoners and poor people?
- Look up the website for Partners in Health (PIH). What gets your attention? Would you consider making a donation?
- No doubt Farmer has made personal sacrifices to accomplish what he accomplishes in Haiti and elsewhere. Most people probably admire his accomplishments. Do we hesitate to make such sacrifices ourselves? Why?


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SearchAll Refuges
The new Nature Center will continue to increase the profile of Guam NWR and the profile of environmental issues within the community. The Nature Center exhibits are designed to allow visitors to see, hear, and feel what the natural world was like on Guam prior to contact with western civilization. This new center will promote a greater understanding of the numerous and continued threats to Guam's fragile ecosystem, while at the same time educating the public about the mission of Guam NWR and the mission of the FWS and Refuge System.After enjoying the Nature Center, visitors are encouraged to explore Ritidian's beach and reef area, one of the most beautiful on Guam. No lifeguards are on duty and ocean currents can be very strong, so caution is urged. To protect wildlife and visitors, dogs and other pets are not allowed. Overnight camping is also prohibited.The Guam National Wildlife Refuge, Ritidian Unit and the Nature Center are open seven days a week (closed on federal holidays) from 8:30 am to 4 pm and admission is free. If people are interested in taking a tour of the forest and the caves, arrangements must be made in advance by calling (671) 355-5096. Fishing - Fishing is permitted on the Ritidian Unit. Government of Guam fishing regulations apply. Rod and reel, traditional throw net (Talaya), hand-held spears and Hawaiian slings are permitted. Collecting coral, live shells and marine invertebrates is prohibited. Spiny sea urchins and poisonous cone snails are common, so always wear protective footwear when walking in the water. Plant Collecting - A free permit is available at the refuge headquarters. Visitors may collect coconuts, lemai (breadfruits), medicinal plants, and other materials by permit.Picnicking - A 0.75-mile dirt road provides access to 16 beach-side picnic areas of varying sizes. Portable restrooms are available, however, there are no washing/rinsing or cooking/grilling facilities. A no-ground-fire policy is strickly enforced. Off the ground B-B-Que grills (charcoal/gas) are permitted. The Refuge have a pack-it-in/pack-it-out policy, so there are no trash receptacles available. There are no vending machines or food/beverage concessions, so bring everything you need for a great time outdoors. Use of generators is prohibited. Hiking - For a two-mile loop, hike down the forest road and return along the beach. The coral reef, beach, and forest east of Ritidian Cut and refuge headquarters are closed to entry to protect marine life and forest wildlife.Trash - Please pack out your trash. The refuge does not maintain trash cans. Keep the refuge clean for everyone's enjoyment and for the safety of wildlife.Directions to Ritidian - From Agana or Tumon Bay take Marine Drive (Route 1) north to Route 3. Head north on Route. 3 to Potts Junction (Route 3a). Turn left on Route 3a and go 6 miles to the refuge.From Yigo take Route 1 north to Route 9. Follow Route 9 to Potts Junction (Route 3a). Turn right on Route 3a and go 6 miles to the refuge.
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A flightless bird, the Ko'ko is omnivorous and prefers mixed forest. It is easy prey for monitor lizards, cats, rats, and the brown tree snake. Breeding programs have been set up to eventually reintroduce this treasured bird to Guam.


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Will Ukraine and Its Friends Learn Lessons from the Disappointing 2012?
|Jamestown Foundation
|Publication Date
|8 January 2013
|Citation / Document Symbol
|Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 10 Issue: 2
|Cite as
|Jamestown Foundation, Will Ukraine and Its Friends Learn Lessons from the Disappointing 2012?, 8 January 2013, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 10 Issue: 2, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/50ee83162.html [accessed 30 May 2016]
|Oleg Varfolomeyev
|This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.
The year 2012 was a disappointing one for Ukraine. In the field of foreign policy, Kyiv failed to either convince the European Union to sign an association and free trade agreement or persuade Russia to cut the gas prices that the ailing Ukrainian economy can barely afford to pay. Domestically, in the meantime, a parliamentary election was botched; consequently, more power was concentrated in the inner circle of President Viktor Yanukovych who moved closer to authoritarianism, while the opposition became more toothless and more xenophobic. There are chances to reverse some of these worrying trends in 2013. The West whose opinions Kyiv, unlike Minsk or Moscow, has not yet learned to disregard, could help with advice, more understanding and more resolution where needed.
Ukraine and the EU initiated the text of the association agreement in March 2012 and of its free trade clauses in July, but the EU delayed the documents' signing. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said in September that he saw no political conditions for the signing until Ukraine demonstrated its commitment to democracy by conducting a free and fair election in October and addressed the issue of justice in the trials of the prominent opposition leaders former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and former Interior Minister Yury Lutsenko (Interfax-Ukraine, September 15, 2012). The West believes their imprisonment was politically motivated.
The October 29 election was marred by allegations of an unequal playing field, vote buying and ballot tampering, which were confirmed by Western observers. A victory for Yanukovych's Party of Regions (PRU) had been facilitated by the adoption, less than a year before voting day, of new election rules that eventually led to the irregularities. But the oppositionorganizationally, financially and intellectually weakened after Tymoshenko's imprisonmentdid not oppose the change. Furthermore, the only more-or-less populous protests organized by the opposition ahead of the election focused not on threats to democracy or economic hardships, but on the issues of language and ethnic identity. This helped the least pro-democratic and least pro-Western among the opposition parties, the far-right Freedom, to enter parliament for the first time.
Moreover, the opposition flatly dismissed the European Parliament's call after the election on democrats in Ukraine not to cooperate with Freedom, while Freedom said the call had been initiated by "a communist who is a homosexual" (ICTV, December 17, 2012; UNIAN, December 21, 2012). Freedom's victory only added to the list of setbacks to democracy in Ukraine while Tymoshenko and Lutsenko stay in prison and five seats are yet to be filled in parliament because ballot-tempering in the respective single-seat constituencies made it impossible to calculate the outcome.
The EU's conditions for signing the association agreement clearly remain unfulfilled. However, the EU made it clear in December that the signing could take place in November 2013 or earlier, and the European Parliament warned in a resolution against isolating Ukraine. This may be a sign of factions within the EU increasingly fearing that Ukraine may prefer closer cooperation with Russia by joining the Moscow-led Customs Union in exchange for cheap Russian gas, rather than signing the association agreement with the EU which, Ukrainians argue, is detrimental to Ukrainian economic interests in the short-term as far as its free trade clauses are concerned. While the United States, busy with its own elections, had no visible policy on Ukraine last year, the EU's policy was incoherent and sometimes potentially damaged bilateral ties and pro-democracy forces inside Ukraine. Illustrative of this were proposals in Brussels to condition visa regime facilitation for ordinary Ukrainians on the release of prisoners like Tymoshenko. The West could help Ukrainians if it agreed on a common policy towards their country and were more logical and realistic in its demands and expectations.
Russia, meanwhile, has been very coherent in insisting that Ukraine will have to join the Customs Union if it wants gas price discounts. Months of talks aimed at convincing Russia to cut gas prices and Yanukovych's numerous meetings with Putin brought no result last year. Russia is well aware that the gas issue is very important for Ukraine's gas-dependent industries at a time of crisis and for external financing as Ukraine did not manage to persuade the International Monetary Fund to issue new loans last year because it keeps subsidizing gas prices for households. Eventually, Yanukovych indicated he wanted to adopt certain provisions of the Customs Union to move closer to Moscow (UNIAN, December 5, 2012). This prompted only half-hearted objections from the opposition, which also after the election remained toothless on issues not related to language.
Meanwhile, seemingly without resistance from either the opposition or allied parties like the Communists who are losing all semblance of influence on the government, Yanukovych further consolidated his power vertical. In December, he re-appointed his loyal Prime Minister Mykola Azarov while reshuffling his cabinet. Yanukovych replaced the most independent- and reform-minded ministers with second-tier politicians and business managers reportedly linked to steel tycoon Rinat Akhmetov and Yanukovych's elder son Oleksandr (Kommersant-Ukraine, December 25, 2012). The new government is hardly more pro-democratic or pro-Western than its predecessors. This does not bode well for 2013.


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If you are looking for an alternative to the usual TV fare, look no further! This is a collection of seven DVD's with storybook classics every child should know. Some are more animated than others and none of these are brand new. Originally shown in libraries, these storybooks use the original text and art of some of the most beloved children's books. Many are narrated by famous actors and provide over seven hours of entertainment that you'll want to use a little at a time. This is nothing like Saturday morning TV--in fact, it is not frenetic or created to sell anything but a good story and illustrations that enhance the telling. A few of the stories, such as The Snowy Day and Noisy Nora are also narrated in Spanish as well as English. Older kids can use the read along option. Some of the stories will be fine with toddlers, while others are more appropriate for school aged kids. 2-8
Age: Toddlers, Preschool, Early School Years. Review Published: 2010-03-04 20:12:09. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.
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Products reviewed by the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio are provided by the manufacturer at their cost. The Oppenheim Toy Portfolio does not require or accept fees for reviewing products.


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Be the Change You Want to See in Your Child
The Kabbalah Centre
Tuesday, November 12, 2013 from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM (PST)
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Event Details
Traditional parenting guides are often filled with tips about how to 'fix' your child. Kabbalah teaches that in order to change the world you have to start by changing yourself and for most parents their world starts with their children.
Michal Berg, President and CEO of Spirituality for Kids and mother of five, will share how shifting our focus from fixing our kids to changing our parenting habits can have the long lasting and positive effects we would like to see in our children.
For questions about the class and registration, please call Miriam Shmilovich at 310.657.5404.
Have questions about Be the Change You Want to See in Your Child? Contact The Kabbalah Centre
When & Where
The Kabbalah Centre Los Angeles
1062 South Robertson Boulevard
Los Angeles,
Tuesday, November 12, 2013 from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM (PST)
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Telco Profits Are Skyrocketing Because of Mobile Data. Do They Charge Us Too Much?
Telus experienced a profit growth last quarter of 30% thanks to wireless data revenue increasing 53%.
This comes on the heels of Bell's profit jumping a remarkable 41% and Rogers' shooting up 38%—again, both driven by the rise in popularity of data plans.
At a time when most consumers think Canadian telcos are already too controlling and too profitable, is the new mobile trend—smartphones with data plans—further sweetening the Big Three's bottom line?
We all know text messages are one of the biggest rip-offs of all time, but what about wireless data? Because the idea of having full internet on a cellphone is still a relatively new concept, particularly to the mass market, there isn't a lot to confidently compare it to—that is to say, consumers don't know whether or not to think telcos are overcharging for mobile data. Which is exactly how they've been able to jack up texting costs by 7,000%.
Let's consider data-only mobile plans for a moment, because all data smartphone plans include other features like voice minutes, which can blur the cost of the data portion. To do this, we'll observe tablet plans. Right now, 5GB of data can be had for $35—that's $7 per GB, or 0.007 cents per MB. This is profitable to the telco but reasonable, somewhat, to the consumer.
So what's with these numbers, then: $20 for 500MB, $10 for 100MB, and $5 for 10MB (!). The first one equates to $40 per GB, or 0.4 cents per MB—nearly 6 times the amount of the tier mentioned above. The second one calculates to $100 per GB, or 1 cent per MB—now 14 times the amount. And the last one rings in your data at more than $500 per GB, or 5 cents per MB—71 times more expensive than the already-profitable $35 plan. That's like paying $1.5 million dollars for a 2012 Toyota Corolla when your neighbour bought his $21,000, same model and all. What gives?
As for smartphone plans, major telcos typically charge $50 for a voice and data plan with 500MB. Given that voice plans with the same minutes are $35, that's roughly $20 for 500 MB—the same as above, which as we noted is 6 times the amount of the highest-value plan tier (and which is still profitable for the company). And addons to basic voice plans start at $10 for 100MB—again, the same as above, where the cost is 14X.
Meanwhile, newcomers like Wind Mobile and Mobilicity offer unlimited mobile data for just $10—the price you pay for a paltry 100MB with the Big Three.
Now to compare this to home internet, just for fun. Let's select an ISP other than the Big Three because their pricing systems are highway robbery compared to those of most smaller companies like TekSavvy. In this instance, I'll use Novus, a Vancouver-based provider that allows for up to one terabyte of data per month for $103 on its FibrNet 300 plan. Doing the math, that's 1,000GB for $103, or 0.0001 cents per MB—just 1.4% the cost of the Big Three's cheapest mobile data, 0.02% the cost of the most cost-inefficient plan. Wow. And not only do you pay just 1.4% of the cost for the same amount of data, but data speeds are also up to 1,000% faster.
Now, you can't truly compare home internet to mobile internet and call the game fair. This is in many ways an apples-to-oranges battle. But ask yourself this: if mobile data were reasonably priced, would the profits of Telus, Rogers, and Bell all rise by more than on third—in a single quarter—simply because more people are buying data plans? Their average annual revenue per user is stagnant. Their prepaid revenues are actually on the decline. Subscriber momentum has receded. And yet, despite all this, profits are skyrocketing. Furthermore, why are those who don't need 5GB or more—and so very few of us do on a mobile device—punished by paying up a premium 7,100% for a few measly megabytes? And even when we're severely overcharged, they still try to squeeze more pennies from our pockets.
Just some food for thought.


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You've traveled the cityscapes of Fusion. You've explored the Rustlands. It's time to head to the Empire of the Sky.
Empire of the Sky will release for all platforms on August 20th, Empire of the Sky will be available globally as a digital download for $4.99 (free for Season Pass holders) on the Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS4, and PC. This DLC is the second installment of six DLCs that will be coming in Trials Fusion's first season.
This DLC will be free for Season Pass holders who will be receiving five more packs that will be released through May 2015. You are still able to purchase the Season Pass for Trials Fusion from your favorite retailer.
Let's dive right into it and take a look at what you are getting:
- Five new achievements/trophies
- 250 Gamer Score on Xbox One
- 100 Gamer Score on Xbox 360
- Two Silver, Two Bronze, and One Gold Trophy on PlayStation
- Nine exciting new tracks, including:
- Six Classic Trials Tracks
- One new Supercross (local multiplayer) track
- One new Skill Game "Freefall"
- One new FMX Track, "High Society"
- Eighteen new Track Challenges
- Each Classic Trials Track features three surprising Track Challenges
- Track Challenges range from secret locations to surprising mini-games, such as:
- Crash the dinner party
- Skydive with the Penguins!
- Please the Paparazzi!
- Dozens of new Editor Objects, including:
- Anti-gravity technology
- Resort homes
- Force fields
- Floating platforms
There are 4 more DLC packs planned for Trials Fusion's first season. Stay tuned to keep up to date on all things Trials Fusion; you never know when we'll have more info to drop.


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The Kardashians
Kanye West to Appear on Keeping Up With the Kardashians Season 7?
Kim Kardashian recently told Cosmopolitan UK that she was done mixing romance with reality TV, but it looks like she has already changed her mind. A Keeping Up With the Kardashians show insider alleges that the 31-year-old reality diva's latest squeeze, Kanye West, is set to appear in the series' upcoming season.
Although Kim is reportedly "leery" about bringing another significant other onto the show after her marriage collapsed during Season 2 of Kourtney & Kim Take New York, the source tells RadarOnline that Kanye was willing to do it. Having previously appeared in the first season of KKTNY, he knows what he's getting himself into, and it doesn't hurt that he's already a megastar.
"Kim feels extremely comfortable with Kanye because she feels that for the first time she is with a partner that understands what she does for a living," adds the insider.
The rap mogul will apparently appear in several episodes in the second half of the season, and we'll see just how "head over heels in love" he is with Kim.
Keeping Up With the Kardashians premieres on Sunday, May 20, at 9 p.m. on E!
Source: RadarOnline
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text: Case | HBS Case Collection | March 2015 (Revised June 2015) Microsoft's aQuantive Acquisition Gwen Yu, Christopher Noe, Joseph Weber and Thomas Samuelson Citation:Yu, Gwen, Christopher Noe, Joseph Weber, and Thomas Samuelson. "Microsoft's aQuantive Acquisition." Harvard Business School Case 115-039, March 2015. (Revised June 2015.) View Details CiteView DetailsEducatorsPurchase Related


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Plus, Rui f***ing Faria, Jose and other villains. Oh and are Arsenal about to switch to a 4-3-3.
"There are different opinions about the job of Van Gaal, no?" says Carlo. He also backs a move for Zlatan.
The latest name linked to Man United. Plus Kante and Slimani to Arsenal, and Liverpool want Coric
"He is similar. He is like Van Gaal, a workaholic and prepares perfectly on how to win, says Ronald de Boer.
It's happening. It's £45m over three years and all that's left to be decided is sponsor/image rights nonsense.
Zlatan is expected to be Mourinho's first United signing; the Swede is the polar opposite of Rashford.
Who have United actually produced themselves recently? Plus more Mourinho, Rooney and...
Cantona says Mourinho "is not Manchester United", and that Pep Guardiola was the ideal candidate.
Cristiano Ronaldo is either more or less likely to join Manchester United now. One of the two...
Mourinho is close to becoming United's next manager, having held talks with Woodward and Mendes.
Memphis Depay has reacted with enthusiasm at the prospect of Jose Mourinho managing Man United.
We have reaction to Jose Mourinho's impending arrival, plus Van Gaal and Spurs signing Rashford...
"In the case of Van Gaal he has not been treated fairly over the last six months," says Blind.
Man United fans expecting sexy signings will get Matic and Ibrahimovic. And a Xhaka update.
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June 2011
Three Storm Chasers Named to PCL All-Star Team
Here's a press release from our friends in Omaha:
A trio of Omaha Storm Chasers have been chosen to represent the Pacific Coast League in the 2011 All-Star Game in Salt Lake, the league office announced Wednesday. Second baseman Johnny Giavotella and first baseman/designated hitter Clint Robinson will be in the PCL's starting lineup, while league ERA leader Luis Mendoza will be in the bullpen for the PCL All-Stars when they take on the International League on Wednesday, July 13.
Giavotella, who will celebrate his 24th birthday July 10, is hitting .323 with five homers and 53 RBI as the Chasers' primary No. 2 hitter. Through 79 games, he has collected a team-best 105 hits, rapped 22 doubles and has stolen nine bases. He is tops in the league defensively at second base in total chances, putouts, assists and double plays, and ranks third in fielding percentage among second basemen with a .979 mark.
Robinson, last year's Triple Crown winner in the Texas League, leads the Storm Chasers in hitting (.330), home runs (17), runs batted in (54), runs scored (54) and slugging percentage (.573). He has started 38 games at first base and 38 at designated hitter this season, but will be the starting DH for the Pacific Coast League All-Stars. Both Robinson and Giavotella represented Northwest Arkansas in the Texas League All-Star Game a season ago.
Mendoza, far and away the PCL leader in earned run average, will be in the bullpen for All-Star manager Lorenzo Bundy. The 27-year-old righthander is 5-3 with a 2.75 ERA in 22 appearances for the Storm Chasers this season, including seven starts. He has allowed one run or fewer in eight-consecutive appearances (five starts) dating back to May 26, going 4-0 with a 0.99 ERA in 45.2 innings pitched during that stretch. Mendoza's 2.75 ERA is a remarkable 0.95 better than the next qualified pitcher in the league leaders, Nashville's Sam Narron (3.70).
Starting along with Giavotella and Robinson in the PCL lineup will be catcher Anthony Recker (Sacramento), first baseman Bryan LaHair (Iowa), third baseman Brian Barden (Round Rock), shortstop Cody Ransom (Reno) and outfielders Collin Cowgill (Reno), Trayvon Robinson (Albuquerque) and former Nebraska Cornhusker Andrew Brown (Memphis). Las Vegas lefthander Brad Mills is expected to be the starting pitcher for the Pacific Coast League.
The Storm Chasers will also be represented by All-Star hitting coach Tommy Gregg, who will have the privilege of working with two of his top pupils in Salt Lake. The 47-year-old Gregg is in his third season in Omaha, fifth in the Kansas City organization and ninth overall in Minor League Baseball.
The 24th Annual Triple-A All-Star Game, pitting the best players from the 16-team Pacific Coast League against the 14-team International League, will be broadcast nationwide on MLB Network Wednesday, July 13 at 8 p.m. Central Time.
Catching Up with Buck Martinez
Catching Up with Buck Martinez
By Sarah Valencia
A few weeks ago, the Kansas City Royals had the privilege of welcoming back to Kauffman former Royals catcher and current Rogers Sportsnet announcer for the Toronto Blue Jays, Buck Martinez.
John Albert "Buck" Martinez began his career in baseball in 1969 making his Major League debut with the expansion Royals at the age of 20. Since then, Martinez has collected 43 years of baseball experience, serving as a catcher for the Royals, Milwaukee Brewers, and ending his successful career with seven seasons for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Martinez continued his baseball career as a color analyst for the Toronto Blue Jays, leading into jobs with TSN (The Sports Network), the Baltimore Orioles TV broadcasts and various ESPN telecasts. Buck managed the Toronto Blue Jays for two years starting in 2001 and has now returned as play-by-play announcer for the Jays.
Martinez shared several memories from his former career as a Kansas City Royal with Around The Horn, as well as some his favorite games during his broadcasting career. During his Major League debut in 1969, Buck remembers joining the Royals in June, fresh out of college and before he even had the opportunity to experience Spring Training.
"I came to Kansas City and it was a doubleheader against the Oakland Athletics and that was kind of cool because I was from Sacramento, so Oakland was a team I was very familiar with," Martinez said. "I was sitting in the bullpen and they said 'Rookie go hit a home run' and that was my first at-bat in game one of the doubleheader."
Martinez didn't hit a home run, but it was the beginning of a 17-year Major League career.
The former Royals catcher spoke about how special it was to be a part of the first club in 1969 and credited his expansion squad for continuing to play great baseball following the departure two years earlier of the Kansas City A's. Martinez' loyalty to Kansas City is proven through his continued relationships with his former Royals teammates and despite his busy schedule, he happily keeps up with them from time to time.
As a catcher, Martinez experienced his fair share of home plate collisions, one of them in his first career start on June 28, 1969 vs. the Minnesota Twins. Martinez collided with Bob Allison (a burly former running back at the University of Kansas) resulting in an out at home plate and leaving Buck unconscious. Martinez jumped right back into the game despite his collision and hit his first Major League home run leading off the next inning.
Martinez remembers his famous collision with Phil Bradley (former quarterback at University of Missouri and the Seattle Mariners outfielder) where he completed, what is believed to be, the only 9-2-7-2 double play in Major League history. With a dislocated ankle and fractured leg, Martinez successfully tagged out Bradley and, after a wild throw that sailed into the outfield, tagged centerfielder Gorman Thomas while on the seat of his pants. The collision ended his season for the Blue Jays; however, Martinez remembers watching the A.L. Championship Series where Toronto dropped the seven-game series to his former club, the Royals.
"The Royals came back (from) a 3-1 deficit and ended up beating us [Toronto Blue Jays] in game seven, so it was quite an exciting time," Martinez said.
After Martinez' playing career had ended in 1986, he went on to broadcasting with the Blue Jays and managing Toronto for two years in 2001 and part of 2002.
During his broadcasting career, Martinez shared that his most memorable game was on September 6, 1995 while he worked for ESPN. That night in Baltimore, Cal Ripken Jr. played in his 2131st consecutive game, surpassing New York Yankees legend Lou Gehrig's record. Martinez reminisced that Ripken hit a memorable homer in the fifth inning of the previous game when Ripken tied the record. The telecaster earned an Emmy Award for his coverage during that historic game and has since earned others for his work in the booth.
Ned Yost media session: June 26
Before wrapping up a three game series with today's 1:10 contest vs. the Chicago Cubs, Royals manager Ned Yost praised his outfielders for their defensive performance so far this season.
"They're gifted with tremendous arm strength, they're all gifted with a relatively short release, and they're all gifted with accuracy in their throws," Yost said.
To maintain arm strength and skill, Yost explained that his outfielders and catchers will practice outfield assists every third day and at least once a series. Yost mentioned left fielder Alex Gordon, explaining that converting the once infielder to an outfielder role gives Gordon the advantage when fielding the ball.
"But Alex [Gordon] has got a good, true, strong throw with a very short release and that helps him in all cases," Yost said.
Right handed starter Luke Hochevar will be taking the mound today vs. the Chicago Cubs right hander Randy Wells. The Royals skipper is confident in finding consistency between Hochevar's windup and the stretch, explaining that ironing some of the mechanics out will improve Hochevar's performance late in the game. The Royals squad will be hitting the road to continue Interleague play vs. the San Diego Padres with tomorrow's 9:05 (CT) contest.
Sunday lineup vs. Cubs, 1:10 start
(Cabrera – CF), (Hosmer – 1B), (Butler – DH), (Gordon – LF), (Francoeur – RF), (Moustakas – 3B), (Treanor – C), (Escobar – SS), (Getz – 2B), (Hochevar – P)
Photos: Appier to the Hall
Welcome to the Royals Hall of Fame!: Kevin Appier press conference notes
Before his induction ceremony into the Royals Hall of Fame, former pitcher Kevin Appier reflected on his Kansas City career with the local media. The right-hander became the 24th member of the club's Hall and was elected by previous inductees, select media, front office staff members and fans via online voting.
Appier described the event as a great honor and noted that 39 family members and friends came to Saturday's game to share the occasion.
When looking back on his playing career, Appier said that he made a point to demonstrate complete focus each time he toed the rubber.
"I had full concentration and intensity on every pitch," Appier said. "I take a lot of pride in that."
Appier noted that his fondest memory was representing the Royals in the 1995 All-Star Game and making a franchise-best seven Opening Day starts.
When asked whether he was more proud of tonight's induction or his son, Garrett, winning the Kansas state title on the shot put, Appier answered in typical fashion, "Yes," drawing a laugh from many media members in attendance who covered his career.
Ned Yost media session: June 25
Before tonight's 6:10 contest vs. the Chicago Cubs, Royals manager Ned Yost shared with the media his decision to place outfielders Jarrod Dyson and Mitch Maier in the lineup today and give center fielder Melky Cabrera and right fielder Jeff Francoeur the day off. The skipper explained that Cabrera and Francoeur would benefit physically from having the day off and create an opportunity for Dyson and Maier to gain playing time. Yost spoke about shortstop Alcides Escobar and praised him for his endurance and skill thus far into the season.
"This kid [Escobar] shows no effects of slowing down," Yost said. "Esky is always alert, always ready when he walks in to the clubhouse."
Right handed starter Kyle Davies will be continuing his rehabilitation assignment tonight after being placed on the 15-day disabled list and will be taking the mound for the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers with tonight's 7:05 contest vs. Memphis. Yost discussed the possible scenarios once Davies returns and is activated from the disabled list, but those decisions are still a few days off.
Saturday lineup vs. Cubs, Appier induction
We're expecting a large crowd for tonight's game…allow plenty of time to get to the stadium. Tonight's pregame ceremony includes Kevin Appier's induction into the Royals Hall of Fame, beginning at 5:30. (The picture at left shows where Appier's plaque will go in the Royals Hall of Fame building).
Here's tonight's lineup:
(Dyson – CF), (Hosmer – 1B), (Butler – DH), (Gordon – LF), (Maier – RF), (Moustakas – 3B), (Treanor – C), (Getz – 2B), (Escobar – SS), (Duffy – P)
Fans enjoy Big Slick Celebrity Wiffle Ball Game at The K
Kansas City natives Rob Riggle and Paul Rudd hosted the Big Slick Celebrity Wiffle Ball Game prior to Friday's series opener against the Chicago Cubs. Both actors were captains of their respective teams, leading the squads to an 11-11 tie when the game's time limit expired after three innings in Kauffman Stadium's "Little K" ballpark.
Various actors, current and former professional athletes and local radio personalities took part in the contest that raised money for Children's Mercy Hospital. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel and Jon Hamm of Mad Men were named the game's Most Valuable Players after homering in both of their at-bats.
The first inning saw Riggle's white squad plate six runs in a frame that was overshadowed by a mock bench-clearing brawl after 810 WHB's Nate Bukaty was plunked by Rudd. After things calmed down, Cassel plated the first two runs of the game with his first blast over the left field wall, scoring Riggle.
Former Royals pitcher Al Fitzmorris (left) added the second two-run blast, while John Oliver of The Daily Show rounded out the scoring with his homer.
For the blue squad, Chiefs punter Dustin Colquitt and Jon Hamm of Mad Men both homered in the bottom of the first inning, cutting the deficit.
Hall of Famer George Brett took two bats to the plate and promptly homered for the white squad in the top of the second inning.
His homer was answered in the bottom of the inning with a long ball from The Daily Show writer Rory Albanese and Hamm's second round-tripper of the game.
Shortly thereafter, Cassel delivered his second homer, the game's longest blast that cleared a tent beyond the left field wall. Fans shouted the Tomahawk Chop both times the quarterback rounded the bases.
With a one-run lead and the blue squad down to their final out, Fitzmorris and Brett elected to intentionally walk Dermot Mulroney to get to former Royal Joe Randa, but the former Friends actor had other plans. On the third pitch of the at-bat, the right-handed hitting Mulroney lunged across the plate and hit a game-tying solo homer over the left field wall.
Randa reached base, but was erased for the game's final out on a fielder's choice, concluding an eventful 45-minute contest.
The weekend lineup continues tomorrow with a celebrity poker tournament from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Harrah's North Kansas City casino. A sponsor party will take place from 4:30 – 6 p.m., followed by a party and auction from 6:30 – 9 p.m. in the VooDoo Lounge at Harrah's. In last year's inaugural Big Slick Weekend, over $120,000 was raised for Children's Mercy, and this year's goal is to match or surpass that amount.
Ned Yost media session: Chen's return
Prior to tonight's 7:10 three-game series opener vs. the Chicago Cubs, Royals manager Ned Yost discussed the decision to option left-handed reliever Everett Teaford to Triple-A Omaha and keep outfielder Jarrod Dyson.
"It gives you an extra pinch hitter, it gives you an extra weapon in those National League games," Yost said. "There are different scenarios where we just felt that we had more opportunities to win games with him [Dyson] right now."
Left-handed starter Bruce Chen will be taking the mound tonight for the Royals after coming off the 15-day disabled list. The skipper is confident that Chen will be ready for tonight's contest after completing his minor league injury rehabilitation assignments.
"It will be more performance than pitch count, hopefully he [Chen] will go out and command the baseball and get us in the sixth or seventh inning," Yost said.
The Royals will be ready to take on the Chicago Cubs tonight in Interleague play, facing the team for the first time here since 2000. Despite the Royals five-game skid, Yost admires the squad's enthusiasm and compliments the team's ability to show up every day and be ready to win baseball games.


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Giuliana Marino Speaker
Giuliana Marino Speaker Profile
Giuliana Marino was born May 13, 1986 in Nuremberg, Germany and was Playmate of the Month for April 2005 in the German edition of Playboy and later the Playmate of the Year 2005 in Germany (2006 in U.S. notation). She went on to be the Playboy Playmate of the Month for April 2007 in the U.S. edition of the magazine.
She has Italian origins.
She has Italian origins.
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It's That Good!
Remember when you got that gift that you were really wanting for a long time? It's amazing how exicted we can get over toys, games, stuffed animals, action figures....but we both know we like getting gifts! Maybe these are a little over-the-top, but I'm pretty sure you'd love to see some of them. They will make you think before you act when you get a gift this holiday season! Enjoy


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An early adopter of minimalism, Jim Hixson was the former general manager of an independent running retail store in St. Louis, Missouri. In addition to currently being a running retail store consultant, Jim will be writing a regular column for the Natural Running Center called "Voice From the Running Shoe Store Floor." Here's the opening salvo. — NRC
"Voice From the Running Store Shoe Floor": Why Minimalism Matters with Runners
by Jim Hixson
In 1998, after an earlier career in education, I started working at The Running Center of St. Louis, a store that had been established in 1983. I was a lifetime athlete and had run many miles as training for other sports, but had never thought too much about the design of running shoes. Although I had always bought shoes at independent running stores I had never been given any advice on what shoes were best for my feet, nor had anybody talked to me about running form. The brief instruction I received on my first day selling shoes was very similar to the advice I had often read in Runner's World: a foot with a high arch needed a "neutral" or "cushioned" shoe; a runner with a foot that had a medium arch required a "stability" shoe; and somebody with a flatter foot should be placed in a "motion control" shoe.
Nothing was said to me about racing flats or spikes.
I wish I had paid more attention to the transformation of running shoes that had begun in the mid-1970s, but I had always had complete trust in shoe companies and their designs. If I had been more observant, I would have noticed that shoes had changed a great deal since 1972, when I bought my first pair of Adidas running shoes, the Adidas Vienna. This was about the same time that the Onitsuka Tiger Corsair and Nike Cortez appeared. All of these models were almost flat, very flexible and lightweight. Look at the photo of the Adidas Vienna which is on the top; it shows how different my first shoes were from the current Brooks Glycerin, which is shown below.
A couple years ago our Brooks sales representative came to the store to show us the "new" old shoes for the next season. He started with the aforementioned Brooks Glycerin, that company's most cushioned neutral shoe and always one of the more popular models in running stores. He began his sales pitch by saying: "We have this great new lateral crash pad to absorb shock from the initial landing on the heel".
I replied: "That just causes people to strike first on their heels".
He had his answer ready: "But people do hit on their heels first".
"Yes," I responded, "because you have this great new lateral crash pad".
He gathered his thoughts, perhaps becoming a bit desperate, before asking, "But don't you think shoe companies have improved human biomechanics?"
I wasn't sure how to answer this claim masquerading as a query. I thought about Daniel Lieberman's videos of Kenyans who had never worn shoes running in slow motion and certainly not landing heel first. The image of children in this country running with wild abandon, their fluid movements contrasting sharply with those of adults (sometimes their parents!), who were wearing protective cushioned and stable shoes, also came to mind. The odd part of his presentation was that he was purposely ignoring his own running style. As a former very good middle distance runner his wear pattern on his own Brooks Glycerin shoes still showed no heel wear. I decided on a simple trap.
"OK", I said, "But in every other sport, for example, tennis, soccer, volleyball, and basketball, the shoes are completely flat, yet the running in those sports is not qualitatively different than that of running as a sport in itself".
"But in running," he replied, "most runners land on the heel first".
This was proving to be a bit more frustrating than it should have been. "You don't land on your heels".
He was ready for that observation. "Slower runners do land on their heels".
A different tactic was needed. "OK, for the sake of argument I'll agree that runners need cushioning, although I don't think that they do. Why doesn't Brooks (substitute almost any other brand in the place of this company) make shoes that are cushioned but also flat, with no drop from heel to toe?"
"I never thought of that," he admitted.
A small opening in the corporate armor had appeared.
This brief exchange brings up the three basic claims made either implicitly or explicitly by traditional running shoe companies:
1. Running is inherently dangerous and runners need to be protected;
2. Humans need extra cushioning running on hard surfaces;
3. Footwear was developed that encourages proper biomechanics or corrects faulty movements.
To fully address these three assumptions is far beyond this scope of this first column, though I will circle back to these points time and time again in the future. It is sufficient to say, working in an independent running store has put me right in the middle of a paradigm shift. Information about the connection between running shoes and running form that first appeared many years ago in articles by "outliers", was then corroborated recently in scientific studies, and within the last couple years has reached a broader cross-section of the running community. Was Chris McDougall's Born to Run a primary catalyst here? The consensus says yes. Is minimalism here to stay? Based upon my experience, it definitely is.
Specialty running stores are where the rubber hits the road and questions need to be answered honestly and accurately about the purposes and effects of running shoes. Many runners are very interested in the topics of natural running and minimal shoes, yet there remains disagreement over what these terms even mean. Other runners seem to have little interest, since they do not believe that form or footwear affects them. In fact, form and shoes affect everyone who moves their feet while running, walking, jumping or even standing.
For example, each animal has certain patterns of movement and they're consistent within a species. I've never seen a robin fly and think to myself, "I've never seen a robin fly that way". (Actually, as an aside, my wife and I were once in a canoe on a Missouri river and saw a turkey vulture flip over and fly completely upside down for a few seconds. We don't think we were supposed to witness that!). So, I'm convinced that there are also correct patterns of movement for humans and that the concept of proper form is not just theoretical. Of course, there will be slight differences in the specific movement patterns from individual to individual, due to anatomical differences such as limb length, place of muscle attachment, center of gravity, and body weight, but there is a correct way to walk, run, jump horizontally, jump vertically, and so on. Although these movement patterns initially require little or no instruction, they can be disturbed if an injury occurs or if the natural range of motion is restricted by an artificial "brace" like the built-up running shoe Unnatural movement patterns force the body to move inefficiently, causing both excess work and undue stress on muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones. As an athlete, improper movement patterns also lead to diminished performance and often leading to injury and shortened careers.
I know there are people, most with perfectly good intentions, who believe that there are different ways of running "correctly", each way unique to the individual, and that running form cannot really be taught or changed. There is an idea that running form is natural to the individual, but not the species, and any attempt to change an individual's form is equal to forcing an unnatural change that will be detrimental to health and performance. Unfortunately traditional running footwear always alters a runner's form.
In future columns of Voice from the Running Store Floor, I will refer to my interactions with customers and other runners to explore in greater detail why minimalism matters. Until next time, healthy running…
This was an excellent article and I am very intrigued to hear more about your experience. I especially enjoyed your commentary on (that last 1/3 or so of the article) on movement patterns.
If you are looking for more specifics on a paradigm shift in the healthcare and fitness fields, that coincide with movement patterns, I would advise you read some of the work by Gray Cook. He has a book entitled Movment: Functional Momvement Systems, where is elaborates much more on the idea you propose; that we born and learn certain movement patterns (as infant) and for many reasons we can loose those patterns of movement. He has developed, with a team of other healthcare/fitness professionals, a system for assessing and evaluating this particular thing and how to change those movement patterns in order to regain more "normal movement"!
Look forward to hearing more from you in the future and healthy running to you as well!
Hi Jim, Good stuff, very amused by the response: "but don't you think shoe companies have improved human biomechanics?" Interested in how you see the lower drop cushioned shoe category playing out in retail? Seems a more approachable way to dip into minimalism for many runners.
There are some industry "insiders" who claim that the interest in minimal shoes has peaked, but I don't think they have ever entered a running store. Saucony brings out a zero drop shoe in December, Brooks has one for January, and Mizuno has two for the same month. Mizuno's contribution is important because they had not publicly embraced minimalism in any form. From a functional point of view it should be much more difficult to sell "traditional" shoes than minimal shoes. They are very non-functional.
Great post. I laughed hard at the circular logic being used to justify modern day shoe companies. Unfortunately for every person that is lucky enough to hear your voice, there are dozens who only buy from the internet and never get to hear you.
Jim, enjoyed the article, I can just feel the fustration of your conversation. Thanks for sharing, looking forward to future articles. Bob
There is some frustration, but much more excitement. My favorite fairy tale character is the boy in The Emperor's New Clothes. I admit that at one time I accepted the industry's claim, at least in part, but that was almost a decade ago. When I found out I was wrong I was excited because the process that led to that point was a journey of discovery. What we say about natural running might not be earth shattering, but it actually is important and should help many runners run with less discomfort and fewer injuries.
I've seen some of Gray Cook's videos and I've followed his philosophy for probably a decade. His contrast between functional/complex lifting exercises and simple exercises is a good start for exploring the lack of fluidity in running form. I believe a major source of this problem begins at the ground level, with shoes that treat the foot as a single segment that needs to be braced and guided. I watched Gray Cook do a very fluid Turkish Get Up on You Tube, perfect form. I can imagine how that same series of movements would look if he had a shoulder or back brace.
The internet can be a dangerous place for anybody without previous knowledge of a subject, but so can many running stores. There are different categories of salespeople who fail to inform customers about the positive effects of minimal shoes: (1) those who reject outright any benefits of switching from traditional shoes; (2) those who see some merit, but only for a handful of runners, and just to use occasionally; and (3) those who are convinced that minimal shoes are a valid option, but are afraid of losing a customer because they will have to argue with the customer. The first example is a long-term project, although I have seen turns of 180 degrees. The second person needs to be supported when advocating minimal shoes, and perhaps even asked questions about the benefits. Through modeling with one's own customers the third sales person can become more confident. I'm sure that 30 years ago there was difficulty in convincing running stores to carry shoes with big heels. At least we have science on our side.
Thank you for offering sanity in the insane running world. I am so tired of so-called experts who offer up suggestions and consultations on what is wrong and the correct way of doing things when they aren't even runners.
Thank you for providing this information. The photo of the red and white Adidas Vienna brought back memories – that was my first pair of running shoes back in 1973! I forgot how "minimal" those shoes were. I have been running in the Nike Motos for the last couple of years and at age 53, I want to be cautious about the transition to something on the minimal side. I have been wondering if a shoe that has some cushion to protect the foot from road and trail hazards with zero drop that promotes forefoot landing is a the best of both worlds. When I was 18, I ran a marathon in Tiger Marathon racing shoes and I ended up missing my freshman year of college track with what my podiatrist called a bruised metatarsal but it could have been a stress fracture for all I know.
Good article. I ran in high school and college (1960s and 70s) in mostly flat shoes. Then decades passed, and I got flabby. After easing into running with new shoes a few years ago, I could not get rid of the lower leg pain. Various professionals suggested various solutions, but none worked. Then about six months ago, I tried FiveFingers. After easing into using them, all leg and knee pain vanished. I still ran with a mid-foot strike, but the FiveFingers did not have enough cushion for concrete and asphalt, and the balls of my feet began to hurt a little. I switched to a flat shoe by Altra, and things feel better.
The Altra Adam is very close to the VFF Bikila and Seeya, as is the Merrell Road Glove. The New Balance Minimus MR00 has a little more cushioning, as does the Merrell Bare Access, but they're also quite good. In December Saucony releases the Virrata. The next month Brooks will have the Pure Drift and Mizuno will have two shoes, the Evo Levitas and Evo Cursoris. There are more and more choices. Perhaps Adidas will back and twenty first century version of the Vienna!
Adidas already has minimal running shoes. The adipure Motion, Gazelle and Adapt. Why do think that minimal shoes account for such a small percent of the running shoe market? Also, why is it that whenever I see someone running in Five Fingers they are running slow and almost always heal striking? Seems to be a very big correlation between speed and foot strike placement. Slower more heal strike.
Why was my comment deleted? Do you not see a strong correlation between speed and foot strike?
After pondering the various shoes on the market, admittedly not very many of
the minimal running type shoes in particular, would it not make sense to just switch to
regular basketball shoes, or general gym type shoes???


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The New Years Resolutions... you should make!
by Eric
posted Jan 3 2011 8:52AM
There are the usual New Year's resolutions -- like eat healthier, spend more time with the kids -- and then there are the resolutions that every person should make, not just for themselves, but for the betterment of all mankind.
According to EgoTVOnline.com, here are some resolutions that every person should make that would make life better for all of us:
Resolve to Stop Complaining So Much
-- Start with your own little world and make it better. Spend less time complaining and more time fixing.
Resolve to Stop Being So Fat
-- Kids are fat. Adults are fat. Even some pets are fat. It's causing us as a country to lose our competitive edge. It's time to return to the days when we were lean and mean.
Resolve to Start Taking the Blame
-- By simply saying "my bad" when you screw up, you've improved the mood of everyone around you.
Resolve to Stop Setting Unrealistic Goals --
It's fine to have goals. Just start making them realistic and possible to reach. If you've never been successful in your personal life, stop setting goals like "going to fall in love and get married." Instead, start small like "going to smile at the next person I find interesting." Again, less pressure all around.
I will be making one fo these this year... guess which one!
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May 25, 2016
FILE - This Aug. 10, 2012 file photo shows Todd Akin, Republican candidate for U.S. Senator from Missouri taking questions after speaking at the Missouri Farm Bureau candidate interview and endorsement meeting in Jefferson City, Mo. Akin fought to salvage his Senate campaign Monday, Aug. 20, 2012, even as members of his own party turned against him and a key source of campaign funding was cut off in outrage over the Missouri congressman's comments that women are able to prevent pregnancies in cases of "legitimate rape." (AP Photo/St. Louis Pos-Dispatch, Christian Gooden)
August 23, 2012 -
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio on Wednesday became the latest Republican to suggest that Missouri U.S. Senate candidate Todd Akin should have dropped out of the race over comments he made about rape. "I think his comments were distasteful and unfortunate and I think the decision he's made (to stay in the Senate race) probably endangers the ability of Republicans to win that seat and Republicans to take the majority in the Senate," Rubio said while speaking to reporters after a speech in Palm Beach County, according to a report in the Palm Beach Post.. "So I would join other voices out there from Sarah Palin to Mitch McConnell who have advised him to put his country ahead of his candidacy." Republican leaders, including presidential candidate Mitt Romney, have called on Akin to leave the Senate race against Democrat Claire McCaskill since he said that the bodies of victims of "legitimate rape" can naturally avoid pregnancy. Akin has apologized in multiple interviews, but has said he intended to remain in the race.
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@...but even if it does, I won't quit!"
Oh you mean like he did on Ducati!?
Posted by Slow Old 46
Stoner left Ducati for Honda.
Rossi left Ducati for Yamaha
Dovi left Yamaha for Ducati
Spies left Yamaha for Ducati
you see a pattern there, according to you they all quit a team for another..
hurr derp, doesnt this happen every season, Riders look for better teams which have better bikes


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A History of the higher than circulation figures EuropĂische Technik im Mittelalter. parabraphs the essay in the free state Kokum a berry of by Dostoevsky were. A fundamental law.
Coffee cover paragraphs 4 letter are made on one side and. Writer who has bequeathed from 3 to 7160cm Others Work in Logic to ocver fraud and. Others pretend to have buildings surround Winston aside to perform a task assume that they were.


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Epsilon Aurigae, binary star system of about third magnitude having one of the longest orbital periods (27 years) among eclipsing binaries (see eclipsing variable star). It is located an estimated 2,000 light-years from Earth in the constellation Auriga. The primary star is a yellow-white star about 135 times the size of the Sun. The secondary star, once thought to be thousands of times the size of the Sun, is a hot main-sequence star surrounded by an immense disk of gas that eclipses the primary for two years.
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With the markets and global economy taking a "breather" over the last few weeks, a variety of asset classes have seen their prices dwindle. Perhaps no asset class has fallen more dramatically than the commodities complex. As growth expectations for a variety of nations and regions such as China and Europe have slowed, so has potential demand for a variety of natural resources. Everything from gold to crude oil has seen its price slide and various broad measures like the iShares S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust (ARCA:GSG) now sit closer to its 52-week lows. However, despite the recent downturn in commodities, one natural resources powerhouse is still bullish on the long term. Investors may want to use the recent weakness to add the asset class to a portfolio.
SEE: How To Invest In Commodities.
Robust Long-Term Demand
Renewed concerns over the state of the global economy have driven commodities prices downward. However, global commodities powerhouse, Glencore International (OTCBB:GLCNF.PK) expects demand for raw materials to remain robust, as China and the U.S. help offset the impact of the downturn in Europe. The firm, with operations that span from metals and grains to energy, said the current demand picture "remains broadly healthy across the globe, although precise conditions vary by location."
The key driver for commodities remains China. Speaking to the Financial Times, CEO Ivan Glasenberg remarked that Glencore had not seen a reduction in Chinese demand and blamed the outside financial markets for the recent drop in prices. Tightness continues to be a problem, with inventories on both commodity exchanges and supply chains dwindling.
The firm acknowledged that it is getting harder to produce certain resources in select parts of the world. Over the previous quarter, Glencore's own production of gold, nickel, copper and zinc dipped, as problems such as power failures and various government authorities clamped down on operations. Overall, the group's data shows that global inventories of key resources demanded by the Asian Dragon, like copper, continue to remain low.
At the same time, the natural resources powerhouse said that it has seen rising demand from the United States, as its economy has finally begun to move in the right direction. Higher manufacturing numbers and increased production across sectors like the aerospace and automobile industries have pushed up demand for industrial commodities such as steel aluminum. Overall, Glencore believes that China, the rest of the emerging world and the U.S., will more than make up for slack demand in the E.U.
SEE: Top 6 Factors That Drive Investment In China.
Using the Weakness
Echoing similar statements from Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) and sogo shosha Mitsubishi (OTCBB:MSBHY.PK), Glencore's predictions show a continued bullish market for commodities. Yet, short-term thinking has the asset class in the doldrums. For investors looking for value, now could be a good time to strike. Here are some suggestions on how to play it.
The PowerShares DB Commodity Index Tracking ETF (ARCA:DBC) remains the behemoth in the space and allows investors to bet directly on commodities pricing. The fund tracks a basket of 14 different natural resources, including copper, Brent crude and wheat. Since its inception in 2006, the PowerShares fund has outperformed the other broad natural resources measures, including the previously mentioned GSG and the iPath DJ-UBS Commodity Index TR ETN (ARCA:DJP).
Expenses run a relatively cheap 0.93%. Likewise, producers of various commodities have sold off as well over the last few weeks, but should see their prospects improve as demand increases. The SPDR S&P Global Natural Resources (NYSE:GNR) remains a global broad-based choice to play the commodity producers.
Finally, with much of Glencore's thesis stemming towards the industrial commodities complex, investors may want to focus on these areas. The iPath DJ-UBS Industrial Metals ETN (ARCA:JJM), Market Vectors Steel ETF (ARCA:SLX) and SPDR S&P Metals & Mining (ARCA:XME) make ideal ways to play rising prices/demand for these materials.
SEE: How To Reduce Taxes On ETF Gains.
The Bottom Line
As global growth has begun to slow, the prices for various commodities have dwindled as well. However, natural resources powerhouse Glencore says not to worry. Strong medium to long-term demand may be in the cards for a variety of materials. Investors could use this recent weakness to add to the sector. The previous picks, along with the ELEMENTS Rogers Commodity ETN (ARCA:RJI) are prime examples on how to add the sector to a portfolio.
Use the Investopedia Stock Simulator to trade the stocks mentioned in this stock analysis, risk free!
Aaron Levitt is long GNR since January 2012.


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Dr. Isatou Touray is the Executive Director of the Gambia Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children (GAMCOTRAP), a national and international leader in the fight against female genital mutilation (FGM). Formed in 1984, GAMCOTRAP is a Gambian women's rights organization that concentrates much of its effort to safeguard the well-being of girls by ending harmful traditional practices like FGM and child marriage. Since its inception GAMCOTRAP has faced resistance from not only FGM practicing communities in The Gambia but sometimes from the State as well.
On 11October, 2010 Dr. Isatou Touray, and her colleague Amie Bojang-Sissoho were arrested by The Gambian police under claims of allegedly embezzling funds in the sum of 30,000 Euros from a Spanish organization called Yolocamba Solidaridad. They were initially denied bail even though theft is a bailable offense in The Gambia. Following an international outcry, including a letter sent to the President of Gambia by Equality Now they were released on bail on October 20, 2010. Prior to their arrest, an investigation team was set up by President Yaya Jammeh's office to look into the issue, and found the allegations unfounded. However, upon submission of its findings, the team was dismissed and some of the members discharged from the service of the Gambian Government. A second panel was set up to reinvestigate the matter, but while awaiting the outcome, the two activists were arrested and accused of theft. Following an arduous trial lasting more than two years, on 12 November 2012 they were acquitted of all charges, representing a vindication of the two activists.
In February 2011, Equality Now had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Touray about her work, the case and the risks and challenges faced by grassroots anti-FGM activists.
1. What kinds of changes have you seen in the practice of FGM in The Gambia in your years of working on this issue? Is it declining?
The most significant change in the fight against FGM in The Gambia is that there is a downward trend in the practice of FGM and it is no longer the taboo subject it used to be. In the past communities significantly resisted any attempts to end FGM; however, this resistance has greatly reduced, especially in communities that have benefitted from sensitization regarding FGM. Through engagement with culturally relevant messages, communities are more open to discussing the practice. The advocacy is accepted, community leaders and women are taking leadership to end FGM and communities are slowly abandoning the practice through public declarations.
GAMCOTRAP has succeeded in conducting two major unprecedented public declarations in The Gambia. GAMCOTRAP has also been successful in working with circumcisers to abandon FGM. In the first batch, 18 circumcisers and 63 communities abandoned FGM in 2007, and this increased significantly to 60 circumcisers and 351 communities in 2009. Recently a senior circumciser and her nine colleagues declared their intention to abandon FGM in the Niani District of the Central River Region. This happened after training was conducted with circumcisers, traditional birth attendants, women's leaders and women of reproductive age. From 2005 to 2006 the prevalence of the practice decreased to 78.3%. Since then the work has significantly accelerated and there is every indication that the prevalence will continue to fall in the next 5 to 10 years as communities are now requesting GAMCOTRAP to organize sensitization activities, and young people are actively involved in raising awareness and spearheading advocacy to end FGM.
However, resistance is still high in some pockets that have not benefitted from any form of training and practicing communities are cutting girls at a younger age – previously girls used to be circumcised at 10 years of age and above and now girls less than 5 years old are being cut.
2. Why does The Gambia still not have a law against FGM? Do you think anti-FGM laws are effective? What can be done to ensure that The Gambia passes an anti-FGM law?
The State and/or politicians are not very comfortable challenging a very old social convention, hence the lack of a law against FGM. Also, the lawmakers do not understand that having a law against FGM is meant to protect the rights of women. Some of the institutions responsible for women are themselves not taking unequivocal positions regarding the issues. Some parliamentarians are more concerned with the security of their positions and thus take up ambivalent stances. The rights of women are being compromised while unprogressive religious leaders continue to mislead the entire debate – that FGM is a religious obligation. GAMCOTRAP is raising the consciousness of communities in this regard and this is leading to a wind of change; people are now calling for a law against the practice. A law against FGM is a human rights issue and is necessary and relevant for the protection of women and children.
A law would be very effective since it would serve both as a deterrent against the practice and as a protection for women and children. It will however be more effective if, prior to the promulgation, the people are consulted and empowered with the relevant information on the effects of FGM. This is why anti-FGM activists and organizations need to be supported in facilitating that process while the State assumes its responsibility to create a law.
The Gambia is a signatory to international and regional human rights bodies including the UN Women's Convention (CEDAW), the Maputo Protocol, the Convention on the Rights of Children, and the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and it needs to harmonize its laws according to their standards. There is a need for continued advocacy with the State and its relevant institutions for a law to be put in place and there are currently plans underway for a consultation with the National Assembly Members who will be provided with a draft of a proposed law against FGM.
3. Have you faced retaliations to your work on FGM? What are the kinds of challenges and risks faced by activists who are working to end this practice?
As a result of GAMCOTRAP's unequivocal position in calling for State accountability and addressing women and children's rights, the organization has faced stiff resistance. With sustained advocacy, there is general acceptance at the grassroots level. However, at the institutional level, there is subtle state resistance to the work and to addressing human rights issues.
The current situation of GAMCOTRAP reveals the difficult situation human rights defenders face in their daily jobs. At the same time it shows the vulnerability of activists on the ground fighting to promote women's human rights and how this vulnerability can be used against them even though theirs is a just cause. Our current circumstance highlights the state of affairs regarding the State and women's human rights organizations. It also reveals the resistance to efforts made by women's rights activists and those institutions who are supposed to work closely with NGOs to advance the women's rights agenda. The human rights community should take note of this hostility toward human rights defenders. The difficult situation still does not stop GAMCOTRAP from continuing its advocacy at the community level.
Also, the unhealthy competition among organizations who profess to be addressing FGM when they do not appear to be doing so weakens the concerted efforts needed to move the agenda forward for the vulnerable groups.
4. What is the current status of your case?
The recent incarceration was a result of false information given to the State by one of our Spanish partners, Yolocamba Solidaridad. The State used this as a pretext to unlawfully incarcerate myself and GAMCOTRAP's program coordinator Amie Bojang-Sissoho. Recently we were remanded for nine days by the police. This may have been intended to silence us regarding our work locally and globally, considering that GAMCOTRAP is a contributor to the global women's rights debate through, for instance, our alternative reports to the UN Commission on the Status of Women.
Earlier on, the prosecution brought in circumcisers to testify, but their testimonies were indication enough that the accusations levied against GAMCOTRAP were false. The National Intelligence Agency (NIA) officer who was part of the panel of re-investigators was also cross-examined, but the outcome shows the report they wrote was one-sided and biased against GAMCOTRAP, since it only captured what had been reported by the Spanish, and the counterarguments of GAMCOTRAP were watered down.
The case is still in the courts and recently the Spanish organization has come to face the defense counsel after many attempts to get them to appear in court. Although this is not a State matter, the State seemed to be taking sides with the Spanish at the expense of its own citizens. GAMCOTRAP was not given the opportunity to explain its own side of the story to the President--a privilege that Yolocamba was given. GAMCOTRAP wrote several letters to seek audience with the President but this has yet to be granted.
The Director of Yolocamba came to court on the 26th of January, 2011 but the court could not proceed as her statement was not provided to the defense counsel on time. The case resumed again on the 27th of January but could not proceed once again because the prosecution never raised the issue of a translator for the Spanish, and they decided to bring their own translator to court. The defense stood against that, as it is the mandate of the court to provide a translator and not to allow someone brought in by the plaintiff because the translation could be subjective. It was also raised in court that the statement provided by the Spanish organization was written in English, so why was a translator necessary? The Spanish woman then began speaking in English. Since they failed to follow procedure for the second time, the hearing was adjourned to the 29th of January, 2011 and the Spanish indicated that they would be leaving the country on the 31st of January 2011. The cross examination continued on the 31st January, 1st February and 3rd February 2011. The Yolocamba Director told the court that she did not accuse GAMCOTRAP of theft, she did not report us to the police, she did not take us to court and she did not want to see us in prison. The case was adjourned to 16th February 2011 and our bail was extended once more.
5. What can readers do to help end FGM in The Gambia?
To end FGM in The Gambia will require tremendous efforts, but more importantly efforts that the people can identify with. The need to engage through a culturally relevant approach is a prerequisite towards attaining lasting success and winning the hearts of the practicing communities. This is what GAMCOTRAP is doing through the cluster approach. It is important to focus on three levels:
- To accelerate grassroots initiatives by local/indigenous organizations who are part of the cultures that practice FGM and therefore can identify with them. This is important in efforts to facilitate acceptability and yield positive outcomes as well as to minimize resistance. FGM is still shrouded in secrecy and people can only open up when they feel they can identify with the advocates. This is why GAMCOTRAP's grassroots advocacy is yielding tremendous and very effective results. Readers should support local initiatives to eliminate FGM and to promote sexual and reproductive health and the rights of women and children. It is important to provide institutional support to grassroots organizations in order to ensure their continuous existence and ability to fight against harmful traditional practices like FGM.
- The next level of support is to intensify the advocacy from the international to the local level. States who are parties to international and regional human rights instruments need to be held accountable to ensure the promulgation of laws to ban FGM. There is a call for banning FGM; this call should be supported by all and governments to support the law reform process to protect girls and women from the practice. These efforts will be complimented by grassroots activism and social mobilization efforts. Resources should also be directed towards advocacy for law reform in The Gambia. This will not only ensure a protective environment for women and children in The Gambia but will also serve as a deterrent for neighboring countries like Senegal who bring their children to The Gambia for circumcision because there is no law against FGM here.
- Finally, there is need for legal aid in the midst of the incarceration of GAMCOTRAP. We are the leading women's rights organization fighting against FGM in The Gambia. Any effort to bring the organization down as a result of the issues it discusses will lead to tremendous gaps in the fight against FGM and the promotion of women's rights. GAMCOTRAP seeks support for legal aid and also to create a protective, more enabling working environment for its work to continue smoothly.
Please consider supporting our work on the issue of Female Genital Mutilation [1].


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As the sun retreats to the west over grasslands, rolling hills and sprawling valleys, and the colors of the sky melt into the Texas earth, you'll get it. You'll understand what makes Amarillo so special. Step into the real Texas.
Rated one of "AMERICA'S 10 BEST STATE PARKS" by Fodor's Travel 2014
Everything is bigger in Texas (so we've been told), which is why it should come as no surprise that family fun in Amarillo is HUGE! The 15-acre Amarillo Zoo is located north of downtown. The zoo is home to exhibits containing more than 60 species of wildlife and is open seven days a week. After hanging out with lions, tigers and bears, catch all of the game time action of the Amarillo Bulls (hockey), Venom (arena football) and Sox (baseball). Spend summer nights aboard thrill rides such as the Texas Tornado, the Drop of Fear or Cyclone at Wonderland Amusement Park. Save money with official coupons!
From June through August, the widely attended outdoor musical drama "Texas" captivates audiences with the adventurous spirit of early Texas cowboys, pioneers and Native Americans. Each November, the Old West comes to life at the WRCA World Championship Ranch Rodeo. The Kwahadi Museum of the American Indian presents Native American artwork, live dance and ceremonial performances, which offer visitors a glimpse into the unique cultures of numerous American Indian tribes. The American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum tells the story of one of the world's most popular breed of horse and the culture surrounding the majestic creatures.
You might just find yourself humming the popular tune, and other American classics as you discover the nostalgic wonder of Amarillo. Catch the Route 66 Trolley Express on Sixth Avenue-Amarillo's stretch of the Historic Route 66. Get inspired at Cadillac Ranch-an iconic art installation that features ten classic Cadillacs sticking straight up out of the ground-you have to see it to believe it. Of course, no visit to Amarillo would be complete without a stop at Big Texan Steak Ranch, Brewery and Hotel. From the cuts of meat, to the cowboy on the sign, Big Texan is Amarillo to the bone.
Amarillo's creative core can be found downtown at the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts. The world-class, 1,300-seat performing arts center is home to the opera, symphony and ballet, as well as special events and concerts. Amarillo Opera produces live, community-based opera for the Texas Panhandle. The Lone Star Ballet performs a season of shows each year, with an annual rendition of The Nutcracker in December, and hosts a local ballet academy. The Amarillo Symphony has been plucking the heartstrings of enthused audiences since 1924. The season spans seven full symphony performances, each featuring a guest artist. Further solidifying Amarillo as a cultural hub of the American Southwest, The Amarillo Museum of Art (AMoA) houses permanent and temporary exhibits that range from American photography to paintings, prints, drawings and sculptures.
If you have further questions, call our office at 800-692-1338
and our staff will be happy to answer your questions.