text:
Individuals county-wide form task force to fight childhood obesity. The group plans to introduce various healthy living projects to schools.
It�s a noticeable problem even if you don�t know the statistics. But the statistics about obesity in Lenoir County � the most recent figures indicate 32 percent of adults and 26 percent of children ages 2 to 11 fall into that category � made this a health issue that caught the eye of a number of county agencies individually.
The 2012 community health assessment � a survey undertaken by the county health department every three years � identified obesity as a top health threat.
Lenoir Memorial Hospital, a partner in the assessment, confronted obesity in its ongoing programs to curb the incidence of diabetes and heart disease.
Concerned about nutrition, the Lenoir County Cooperative Extension Service was looking for a way to get fresh food into school cafeterias.
A pair of doctoral candidates sought out project ideas for their childhood obesity and health studies in Lenoir County.
One of them, Linden Thayer, pursuing doctoral studies in public health at the University of North Carolina, hosted a photo project with Lenoir County students that ran through March. While in Kinston, she noticed a spectrum of agencies wanted to affect change in Lenoir County�s obesity rate � via youth.
�I was a catalyst to bring all these folks together in the same room who�d express separate interest in kids and obesity,� Thayer said in a telephone interview this week. �Somewhere in there, the task force kicked off.�
The Lenoir County Obesity Task Force � an alliance of county agencies working through the public school system � wants to combat childhood obesity through better nutrition. Working since January, it has launched two projects � a gardening program at Contentnea Savannah K-8 and a nutrition education program at Southeast Elementary � that are working independently toward the goal of growing healthier children.
�We were concerned about changing the nutrition and exercise in schools,� said J. Mac Daughety, a county commissioner and chair of the task force.
Both programs are early in their development and some key details � how to measure their effectiveness, for instance, or how to ensure the funding needed to sustain them and others the task force hopes to spread through the school system � are yet to be worked out. The task force sees itself as a source of ideas and, as representatives of public agencies, a resource for implementation.
�What we do as a task force is introduce a concept,� Daughety said. �So far we�ve had great success. It�s better to take it one piece at a time.�
A start
For instance, the gardening project � dubbed Project DIG, for Discover, Investigate and Grow � looked like it would work best at Contentnea-Savannah, the only K-8 school in the system. The idea was presented to CSS principal Frances Herring last spring.
�She embraced the project,� Daughety said. �They took what we offered as a template.�
In 16 raised beds sitting outside the K-5 wing of the school, lettuce, broccoli and cauliflower grow. A large row garden on the middle school side of the building has been plowed and the soil tested in anticipation of spring planting. Some of the raised beds were built as part of an Eagle Scout project; others, by a parent volunteer. The compost in them was donated by the Lenoir County Master Gardeners. The plants were donated by a nursery in Seven Springs. The row garden was plowed by a farmer who lives nearby.
The school system funds the position of Project DIG coordinator, but the program itself depends on grants, donations and volunteers.
�The task force actually has no funds,� Lenoir County Schools Superintendent Steve Mazingo, a member, said, �but what you have is, sitting around the table, people who have all these resources that bring those to the table.�
At Southeast Elementary, Lenoir Memorial Hospital is underwriting the Fuel for Success initiative, which introduces both students and parents to the essentials of good nutrition.
�Because we prioritized obesity as one of the issues, then we�re very interested in working in a number of different ways to that on our action plans,� Constance Hingle, the hospital�s director of community programming, said. �One of them is to work with Southeast Elementary and the youth obesity task force to try to improve the health and wellness of our school children.�
Lenoir Memorial also adds a physical activity portion to the task force through its connection with a Project Fit America partnership, a relationship that designed to bring fitness equipment and exercise classes to Southeast.
�It�s just a really good fit,� said Hengel, who is one of about 15 members on the task force.
Looking ahead
By connecting various funding resources to nutrition-related projects, the task force hopes ultimately to see a system-wide impact in the schools.
Pam Smith, director of nutrition for school system, has submitted a grant application for better equipment in cafeterias. The refrigeration systems have limited storage for fresh foods.
The county extension service has representatives in the group because it wants to decrease obesity through healthier food. It will serve as the agricultural component to the group.
�It all fits with what we�re doing,� Director Tammy Kelly said. �We brought to the table the agricultural facet to get healthy food in school.�
That�s easier said than done because of federal and state regulations concerning cafeteria food. Produce provided by farmers to cafeterias have to be certified as GAP (for Good Agricultural Practices), a process that can cost a farmer $1,000 a crop, Kelly said.
�I think we could take advantage of more local foods � if we could find a way around the GAP certification issue,� Mazingo said.
The anti-obesity initiative is expected to expand a school at a time. Ideally, the task force wants each program to take flight and become self-sustaining before it moves to the next school.
�It may take more than one year to gather that research to see if there�s an impact,� Mazingo said. �We�re in this for the long haul.�
He said the task force will collaborate with Thayer to track the effects of Project DIG as early as year�s end. Daughety said tracking will be more effective over the next five years, which is why the group started with young children.
�We�re doing K-5 and K-8 to change the health habits, nutrition and exercise at a very early age,� Daughety said. �We�re hoping they will carry this forward in their life cycle.�
Health agencies associated with the task force figure they can start looking at children�s weight and physical behaviors when they start kindergarten and see how they change over the years.
The committee planned for Thayer to track the body mass index, fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activities of students � at least at Contentnea Savannah.
�It�s still in the works,� said Thayer.
The group is scheduled to meet Nov. 28 to discuss the evaluation process.
�We�re not just trying to do a couple of things that we think might be fun and work,� Mazingo said. �We�re really trying to see if over some long period of time we can significantly impact what�s happening.�
No expected timetable has been established by the task force, but members across the board are anticipating noticeable results in body mass index and nutritional improvements in children by time they reach eighth grade if they start now.
�We need to start while they�re young so they don�t get into the problems of being obese when they get older,� Smith said.
Jessika Morgan can be reached at 252-559-1078 or firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessikaMorgan.


text:
Greetings Science Fiction Fans
Welcome to the website of Science Fiction writer Graham Clements.
Whether you arrived here on purpose or got caught in some rift in the space-time continuum, take the time to enjoy a free interactive story.
In the interactive story "IN SPACE NO ONE CAN HEAR YOUR FANATICISM", you decide the plight of Sergeant Jay Kline as he investigates an abandoned terraforming base on the planet Vega.
Website and story copyright 2005.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Timor-Leste Population: 1,261,0727 VISITORS FROM HERE!
« Previous Country | Next Country » Back to Flag Counter Overview
|The Portuguese began to trade with the island of Timor in the early 16th century and colonized it in mid-century. Skirmishing with the Dutch in the region eventually resulted in an 1859 treaty in which Portugal ceded the western portion of the island. Imperial Japan occupied Portuguese Timor from 1942 to 1945, but Portugal resumed colonial authority after the Japanese defeat in World War II. East Timor declared itself independent from Portugal on 28 November 1975 and was invaded and occupied by Indonesian forces nine days later. It was incorporated into Indonesia in July 1976 as the province of Timor Timur (East Timor). An unsuccessful campaign of pacification followed over the next two decades, during which an estimated 100,000 to 250,000 people died. In an August 1999 UN-supervised popular referendum, an overwhelming majority of the people of Timor-Leste voted for independence from Indonesia. However, in the next three weeks, anti-independence Timorese militias - organized and supported by the Indonesian military - commenced a large-scale, scorched-earth campaign of retribution. The militias killed approximately 1,400 Timorese and forced 300,000 people into western Timor as refugees. Most of the country's infrastructure, including homes, irrigation systems, water supply systems, and schools, and nearly all of the country's electrical grid were destroyed. On 20 September 1999, Australian-led peacekeeping troops deployed to the country and brought the violence to an end. On 20 May 2002, Timor-Leste was internationally recognized as an independent state. In 2006, internal tensions threatened the new nation's security when a military strike led to violence and a breakdown of law and order. At Dili's request, an Australian-led International Stabilization Force (ISF) deployed to Timor-Leste, and the UN Security Council established the UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT), which included an authorized police presence of over 1,600 personnel. The ISF and UNMIT restored stability, allowing for presidential and parliamentary elections in 2007 in a largely peaceful atmosphere. In February 2008, a rebel group staged an unsuccessful attack against the president and prime minister. The ringleader was killed in the attack, and most of the rebels surrendered in April 2008. Since the attack, the government has enjoyed one of its longest periods of post-independence stability, including successful 2012 elections for both the parliament and president and a successful transition of power in February 2015. In late 2012, the UN Security Council ended its peacekeeping mission in Timor-Leste and both the ISF and UNMIT departed the country.
Timor comes from the Malay word for "east"; the island of Timor is part of the Malay Archipelago and is the largest and easternmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands
|Southeastern Asia, northwest of Australia in the Lesser Sunda Islands at the eastern end of the Indonesian archipelago; note - Timor-Leste includes the eastern half of the island of Timor, the Oecussi (Ambeno) region on the northwest portion of the island of Timor, and the islands of Pulau Atauro and Pulau Jaco
|Geographic coordinates:
| total: 14,874 sq km
land: 14,874 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Size comparison: slightly larger than Connecticut
|Land Boundaries:
|total: 253 km border countries (1): Indonesia 253 km
|706 km
|Maritime claims:
| territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
|tropical; hot, humid; distinct rainy and dry seasons
|Elevation extremes:
|Natural resources:
|gold, petroleum, natural gas, manganese, marble
|Land use:
| agricultural land: 25.1% arable land 10.1%; permanent crops 4.9%; permanent pasture 10.1% forest: 49.1%
other: 25.8% (2011 est.)
|Irrigated land:
|350 sq km (2012)
|Natural hazards:
|floods and landslides are common; earthquakes; tsunamis; tropical cyclones
|Current Environment Issues:
|widespread use of slash and burn agriculture has led to deforestation and soil erosion
|International Environment Agreements:
| party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
|^Back to Top
| noun: Timorese
adjective: Timorese
|Ethnic groups:
|Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian), Papuan, small Chinese minority
|Tetum (official), Portuguese (official), Indonesian, English note: there are about 16 indigenous languages; Tetum, Galole, Mambae, and Kemak are spoken by a significant portion of the population
|Roman Catholic 96.9%, Protestant/Evangelical 2.2%, Muslim 0.3%, other 0.6% (2005)
|1,261,072 (July 2016 est.)
|Age structure:
| 0-14 years: 41.43% (male 268,578/female 253,897)
15-24 years: 20.11% (male 128,678/female 124,870)
25-54 years: 29.79% (male 180,750/female 194,916)
55-64 years: 4.88% (male 31,349/female 30,194)
65 years and over: 3.79% (male 22,852/female 24,988) (2016 est.)
|Dependency ratios:
| total dependency ratio: 92.3%
youth dependency ratio: 81.5%
elderly dependency ratio: 10.7%
potential support ratio: 9.3% (2015 est.)
|Median age:
| total: 18.8 years
male: 18.2 years
female: 19.4 years (2016 est.)
|Population growth rate:
|2.39% (2016 est.)
|Birth rate:
|33.8 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)
|Death rate:
|6 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)
|Net migration rate:
|-3.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)
| urban population: 32.8% of total population (2015)
rate of urbanization: 3.75% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
|Major urban areas - population:
|DILI (capital) 228,000 (2014)
|Sex ratio:
| at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2016 est.)
|Mother's mean age at first birth:
|22.1 note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2009/10 est.)
|Maternal mortality rate:
|215 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
|Infant mortality rate:
| total: 36.3 deaths/1,000 live births male: 39.2 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 33.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)
|Life expectancy at birth:
| total population: 68.1 years male: 66.5 years
female: 69.7 years (2016 est.)
|Total fertility rate:
|4.9 children born/woman (2016 est.)
|Contraceptive prevalence rate:
|22.3% (2009/10)
|Health expenditures:
|1.5% of GDP (2014)
|Physicians density:
|0.07 physicians/1,000 population (2011)
|Hospital bed density:
|5.9 beds/1,000 population (2010)
|Drinking water source:
| improved:
urban: 95.2% of population
rural: 60.5% of population
total: 71.9% of population
urban: 4.8% of population
rural: 39.5% of population
total: 28.1% of population (2015 est.)
|Sanitation facility access:
| improved:
urban: 69% of population
rural: 26.8% of population
total: 40.6% of population
urban: 31% of population
rural: 73.2% of population
total: 59.4% of population (2015 est.)
|HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
|HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
|HIV/AIDS - deaths:
|Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
|1.8% (2014)
|Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
|37.7% (2013)
|Education expenditures:
|7.9% of GDP (2014)
| definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 67.5%
male: 71.5%
female: 63.4% (2015 est.)
|School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
| total: 13 years male: 14 years
female: 13 years (2010)
|Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
| total: 14.8% male: 10.4%
female: 22.7% (2010 est.)
|^Back to Top
|Country name:
| conventional long form: Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste
conventional short form: Timor-Leste note: pronounced TEE-mor LESS-tay
local long form: Republika Demokratika Timor Lorosa'e [Tetum]; Republica Democratica de Timor-Leste [Portuguese]
local short form: Timor Lorosa'e [Tetum]; Timor-Leste [Portuguese]
former: East Timor, Portuguese Timor
etymology: "timor" derives from the Indonesian and Malay word "timur" meaning "east"; "leste" is the Portuguese word for "east", so "Timor-Leste" literally means "Eastern-East"; the local [Tetum] name "Timor Lorosa'e" translates as "East Rising Sun"
|Government type:
|semi-presidential republic
| name: Dili
geographic coordinates: 8 35 S, 125 36 E
time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
|Administrative divisions:
| 13 administrative districts; Aileu, Ainaro, Baucau, Bobonaro (Maliana), Cova-Lima (Suai), Dili, Ermera (Gleno), Lautem (Los Palos), Liquica, Manatuto, Manufahi (Same), Oecussi (Ambeno), Viqueque
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)
|20 May 2002 (from Indonesia); note - 28 November 1975 was the date independence was proclaimed from Portugal; 20 May 2002 was the date of international recognition of Timor-Leste's independence from Indonesia
|National holiday:
|Restoration of Independence Day, 20 May (2002); Proclamation of Independence Day, 28 November (1975)
|drafted 2001, approved 22 March 2002, entered into force 20 May 2002 (2016)
|Legal system:
|civil law system based on the Portuguese model; note - penal and civil law codes to replace the Indonesian codes were passed by Parliament and promulgated in 2009 and 2011, respectively
|17 years of age; universal
|Executive branch:
| chief of state: President Taur Matan RUAK, aka Jose Maria de VASCONCELOS (since 20 May 2012); note - the president plays a largely symbolic role but is the commander in chief of the military and is able to veto legislation, dissolve parliament, and call national elections
head of government: Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO - formerly Jose Alexandre GUSMAO (since 8 August 2007); Vice Prime Minister Fernando "Lasama" de ARAUJO (since 8 August 2012)
cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister and appointed by the president elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 17 March 2012 with a runoff on 16 April 2012; following parliamentary elections, the president appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as the prime minister
election results: Taur Matan RUAK elected president in runoff; percent of vote - Taur Matan RUAK (independent) 61.2%, Francisco GUTTERES (Frenti-Mudanca) 38.8%
|Legislative branch:
| description: unicameral National Parliament (65 seats; members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms)
elections: elections were held on 7 July 2012 (next to be held in July 2017)
election results: percent of vote by party - CNRT 36%, FRETILIN 30%, PD 10%, Frenti-Mudanca 3%, others 21%; seats by party - CNRT 30, FRETILIN 25, PD 8, Frenti-Mudanca 2
|Judicial branch:
| highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice (consists of the court president and NA judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court president appointed by the president of the republic from among the other court judges to serve a 4-year term; other Supreme Court judges appointed - 1 by the Parliament and the others by the Supreme Council for the Judiciary, a body presided by the Supreme Court president and includes mostly presidential and parliamentary appointees; other Supreme Court judges appointed for life
subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; High Administrative, Tax, and Audit Court; district courts; magistrates' courts; military courts note: the UN Justice System Programme, launched in 2003 in 4 phases through 2018, is helping strengthen the country's justice system; the Programme is aligned with the country's long-range Justice Sector Strategic Plan, which includes legal reform
|Political parties and leaders:
|Democratic Party or PD [Fernando "Lasama" de ARAUJO] Frenti-Mudanca [Jose Luis GUTERRES] National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction or CNRT [Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO] Revolutionary Front of Independent Timor-Leste or FRETILIN [Mari ALKATIRI] (only parties in Parliament are listed)
|Political pressure groups and leaders:
|International organization participation:
|ACP, ADB, AOSIS, ARF, ASEAN (observer), CPLP, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PIF (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WMO
|National symbol(s):
|Mount Ramelau; national colors: red, yellow, black, white
|National anthem:
| name: "Patria" (Fatherland)
lyrics/music: Fransisco Borja DA COSTA/Afonso DE ARAUJO
note: adopted 2002; the song was first used as an anthem when Timor-Leste declared its independence from Portugal in 1975; the lyricist, Fransisco Borja DA COSTA, was killed in the Indonesian invasion just days after independence was declared
|Diplomatic representation in the US:
| chief of mission: Ambassador Domingos Sarmento ALVES (since 21 May 2014)
chancery: 4201 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 504, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 966-3202
|Diplomatic representation from the US:
| chief of mission: Ambassador Karen STANTON (since 16 January 2015)
embassy: Avenida de Portugal, Praia dos Coqueiros, Dili
mailing address: US Department of State, 8250 Dili Place, Washington, DC 20521-8250
telephone: (670) 332-4684
|^Back to Top
Since gaining independence in 1999, Timor-Leste has faced great challenges in rebuilding its infrastructure, strengthening the civil administration, and generating jobs for young people entering the work force. The development of offshore oil and gas resources has greatly supplemented government revenues. This technology-intensive industry, however, has done little to create jobs in part because there are no production facilities in Timor-Leste. Gas is currently piped to Australia for processing, but Timor-Leste has expressed interest in developing a domestic processing capacity. In June 2005, the National Parliament unanimously approved the creation of the Timor-Leste Petroleum Fund to serve as a repository for all petroleum revenues and to preserve the value of Timor-Leste's petroleum wealth for future generations. The Fund held assets of $16.5 billion, as of December 2014. Oil accounts for 90% of government revenues, and the drop in the price of oil in 2014 has led to concerns about the long-term sustainability of government spending. The Ministry of Finance maintains that the Petroleum Fund is sufficient to sustain government operations for the foreseeable future. Annual government budget expenditures increased markedly between 2009 and 2012 but dropped significantly in 2013-15. Historically, the government failed to spend as much as its budget allowed. The government has focused significant resources on basic infrastructure, including electricity and roads. Limited experience in procurement and infrastructure building has hampered these projects. The underlying economic policy challenge the country faces remains how best to use oil-and-gas wealth to lift the non-oil economy onto a higher growth path and to reduce poverty.
|GDP (purchasing power parity):
| GDP (purchasing power parity): $4.975 billion (2016 est.) $4.738 billion (2015 est.) $4.545 billion (2014 est.)
note: data are in 2016 dollars
|GDP (official exchange rate):
|GDP (official exchange rate): $2.501 billion (2015 est.) note: non-oil GDP
|GDP - real growth rate:
|5% (2016 est.) 4.3% (2015 est.) 5.9% (2014 est.)
|GDP - per capita (PPP):
| GDP - per capita (PPP): $4,200 (2016 est.) $4,100 (2015 est.) $4,000 (2014 est.)
note: data are in 2016 dollars
|GDP - composition, by end use:
| household consumption: 43%
government consumption: 27.2%
investment in fixed capital: 17.5%
investment in inventories: 0%
exports of goods and services: 70.8%
imports of goods and services: -58.5% (2016 est.)
|GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
| household consumption: 43%
government consumption: 27.2%
investment in fixed capital: 17.5%
investment in inventories: 0%
exports of goods and services: 70.8%
imports of goods and services: -58.5% (2016 est.)
|Agriculture - products:
|coffee, rice, corn, cassava (manioc, tapioca), sweet potatoes, soybeans, cabbage, mangoes, bananas, vanilla
|printing, soap manufacturing, handicrafts, woven cloth
|Industrial production growth rate:
|-5% (2016 est.)
|Labor force:
|259,800 (2013 est.)
|Labor force - by occupation:
| agriculture: 64%
industry: 10%
services: 26% (2010)
|Unemployment rate:
|11% (2013 est.) 18.4% (2010 est.)
|Population below poverty line:
|37% (2011 est.)
|Household income or consumption by percentage share:
| lowest 10%: 4%
highest 10%: 27% (2007)
|Distribution of family income - Gini index:
|31.9 (2007 est.) 38 (2002 est.)
| revenues: $300 million
expenditures: $2.8 billion (2016 est.)
|Taxes and other revenues:
|12% of GDP (2016 est.)
|Fiscal year:
|calendar year
|Inflation rate (consumer prices):
|Inflation rate (consumer prices): -0.8% (2016 est.) 0.6% (2015 est.)
|Current account balance:
|-$248 million (2016 est.) $239 million (2015 est.)
|$18 million (2015 est.) $18 million (2015 est.)
|Exports - commodities:
|oil, coffee, sandalwood, marble note: potential for vanilla exports
|$647.7 million (2015 est.) $647.7 million (2015 est.)
|Imports - commodities:
|food, gasoline, kerosene, machinery
|Debt - external:
|$311.5 million (31 December 2014 est.) $687 million (31 December 2013 est.)
|Market value of publicly traded shares:
|Exchange rates:
|the US dollar is used
|^Back to Top
|Electricity - production:
|349.4 million kWh (2014 est.)
|Electricity - consumption:
|125.3 million kWh (2014 est.)
|Electricity - exports:
|0 kWh (2014 est.)
|Electricity - imports:
|0 kWh (2014 est.)
|Electricity - installed generating capacity:
|NA kW (2012 est.)
|Crude oil - production:
|67,150 bbl/day (2015 est.)
|Crude oil - exports:
|79,260 bbl/day (2013 est.)
|Crude oil - imports:
|0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
|Crude oil - proved reserves:
|0 bbl (1 January 2016 es)
|Refined petroleum products - production:
|0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
|Refined petroleum products - consumption:
|3,100 bbl/day (2014 est.)
|Refined petroleum products - exports:
|0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
|Refined petroleum products - imports:
|3,055 bbl/day (2013 est.)
|Natural gas - production:
|0 cu m (2012 est.)
|Natural gas - consumption:
|0 cu m (2013 est.)
|Natural gas - exports:
|6.45 billion cu m (2013 est.)
|Natural gas - imports:
|0 cu m (2013 est.)
|Natural gas - proved reserves:
|200 billion cu m (1 January 2006 es)
|Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
|500,000 Mt (2013 est.)
|^Back to Top
|Cellular Phones in use:
|total: 1.377 million subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 112 (July 2015 est.)
|Telephone system:
| general assessment: rudimentary service in urban and some rural areas, which is expanding with the entrance of new competitors
domestic: system suffered significant damage during the violence associated with independence; limited fixed-line services; mobile-cellular services have been expanding and are now available in urban and most rural areas
international: country code - 670; international service is available (2015)
|Broadcast media:
|1 public TV broadcast station broadcasting nationally and 1 public radio broadcaster with stations in each of the 13 administrative districts; 1 commercial TV broadcast station, 3 commercial radio stations, and roughly 20 community radio stations (2012)
|Internet country code:
|Internet users:
|total: 165,000 percent of population: 13.4% (July 2015 est.)
|^Back to Top
|6 (2013)
|Airports (paved runways):
| total 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
|Airports (unpaved runways):
| total 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2013)
|8 (2013)
| total 6,040 km
paved: 2,600 km
unpaved: 3,440 km (2005)
|Merchant marine:
| total 1
by type: passenger/cargo 1 (2010)
|Ports and terminals:
|major seaport(s): Dili
|^Back to Top
|Military branches:
|Timor-Leste Defense Force (Falintil-Forcas de Defesa de Timor-L'este, Falintil (F-FDTL)): Army, Navy (Armada) (2013)
|Military service age and obligation:
|18 years of age for voluntary military service; 18-month service obligation; no conscription but, as of May 2013, introduction of conscription was under discussion (2013)
|Military expenditures:
|1.5% of GDP (2014) 1.8% of GDP (2013) 2.92% of GDP (2012) 2.6% of GDP (2011) 2.92% of GDP (2010)
|^Back to Top
|Transnational Issues
|Disputes - International:
|three stretches of land borders with Timor-Leste have yet to be delimited, two of which are in the Oecussi exclave area, and no maritime or Economic Exclusion Zone boundaries have been established between the countries; maritime boundaries with Indonesia remain unresolved; in 2007, Australia and Timor-Leste signed a 50-year development zone and revenue sharing agreement in lieu of a maritime boundary
|Illicit drugs:
|^Back to Top
« Previous Country | Next Country » Back to Flag Counter Overview
Source: CIA - The World Factbook


text:
Marshall Islands Population: 73,3765 VISITORS FROM HERE!
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|After almost four decades under US administration as the easternmost part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the Marshall Islands attained independence in 1986 under a Compact of Free Association. Compensation claims continue as a result of US nuclear testing on some of the atolls between 1947 and 1962. The Marshall Islands hosts the US Army Kwajalein Atoll Reagan Missile Test Site, a key installation in the US missile defense network. Kwajalein also hosts one of four dedicated ground antennas (the others are on Ascension (Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha), Diego Garcia (British Indian Ocean Territory), and at Cape Canaveral, Florida (US)) that assist in the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation system.
The islands of Bikini and Enewetak are former US nuclear test sites; Kwajalein atoll, famous as a World War II battleground, surrounds the world's largest lagoon and is used as a US missile test range; the island city of Ebeye is the second largest settlement in the Marshall Islands, after the capital of Majuro, and one of the most densely populated locations in the Pacific
|Oceania, two archipelagic island chains of 29 atolls, each made up of many small islets, and five single islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and Australia
|Geographic coordinates:
| total: 181 sq km
land: 181 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: the archipelago includes 11,673 sq km of lagoon waters and encompasses the atolls of Bikini, Enewetak, Kwajalein, Majuro, Rongelap, and Utirik
Size comparison: about the size of Washington, DC
|Land Boundaries:
|0 km
|370.4 km
|Maritime claims:
| territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
|tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November; islands border typhoon belt
|low coral limestone and sand islands
|Elevation extremes:
|Natural resources:
|coconut products, marine products, deep seabed minerals
|Land use:
| agricultural land: 50.7% arable land 7.8%; permanent crops 31.2%; permanent pasture 11.7% forest: 49.3%
other: 0% (2011 est.)
|Irrigated land:
|0 sq km (2012)
|Natural hazards:
|infrequent typhoons
|Current Environment Issues:
|inadequate supplies of potable water; pollution of Majuro lagoon from household waste and discharges from fishing vessels
|International Environment Agreements:
| party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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| noun: Marshallese (singular and plural)
adjective: Marshallese
|Ethnic groups:
|Marshallese 92.1%, mixed Marshallese 5.9%, other 2% (2006)
|Marshallese (official) 98.2%, other languages 1.8% (1999 census) note: English (official), widely spoken as a second language
|Protestant 54.8%, Assembly of God 25.8%, Roman Catholic 8.4%, Bukot nan Jesus 2.8%, Mormon 2.1%, other Christian 3.6%, other 1%, none 1.5% (1999 census)
|73,376 (July 2016 est.)
|Age structure:
| 0-14 years: 35.48% (male 13,273/female 12,758)
15-24 years: 17.54% (male 6,545/female 6,326)
25-54 years: 37.4% (male 13,966/female 13,475)
55-64 years: 5.79% (male 2,160/female 2,086)
65 years and over: 3.8% (male 1,370/female 1,417) (2016 est.)
|Median age:
| total: 22.7 years
male: 22.6 years
female: 22.8 years (2016 est.)
|Population growth rate:
|1.6% (2016 est.)
|Birth rate:
|25 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)
|Death rate:
|4.2 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)
|Net migration rate:
|-4.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)
| urban population: 72.7% of total population (2015)
rate of urbanization: 0.59% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
|Major urban areas - population:
|MAJURO (capital) 31,000 (2014)
|Sex ratio:
| at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2016 est.)
|Mother's mean age at first birth:
|20.7 note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2007 est.)
|Infant mortality rate:
| total: 20 deaths/1,000 live births male: 22.5 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 17.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)
|Life expectancy at birth:
| total population: 73.1 years male: 70.9 years
female: 75.4 years (2016 est.)
|Total fertility rate:
|3.09 children born/woman (2016 est.)
|Contraceptive prevalence rate:
|44.6% (2007)
|Health expenditures:
|17.1% of GDP (2014)
|Physicians density:
|0.44 physicians/1,000 population (2010)
|Hospital bed density:
|2.7 beds/1,000 population (2010)
|Drinking water source:
| improved:
urban: 93.5% of population
rural: 97.6% of population
total: 94.6% of population
urban: 6.5% of population
rural: 2.4% of population
total: 5.4% of population (2015 est.)
|Sanitation facility access:
| improved:
urban: 84.5% of population
rural: 56.2% of population
total: 76.9% of population
urban: 15.5% of population
rural: 43.8% of population
total: 23.1% of population (2015 est.)
|HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
|HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
|HIV/AIDS - deaths:
|Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
|42.3% (2014)
|Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
| total: 11% male: 12.2%
female: 8.7% (2010 est.)
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|Country name:
| conventional long form: Republic of the Marshall Islands
conventional short form: Marshall Islands
local long form: Republic of the Marshall Islands
local short form: Marshall Islands
abbreviation: RMI
former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Marshall Islands District
etymology: named after British Captain John MARSHALL, who charted many of the islands in 1788
|Government type:
|presidential republic in free association with the US
| name: Majuro; note - the capital is an atoll of 64 islands; governmental buildings are housed on three fused islands: Djarrit, Uliga, and Delap
geographic coordinates: 7 06 N, 171 23 E
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
|Administrative divisions:
|24 municipalities; Ailinglaplap, Ailuk, Arno, Aur, Bikini & Kili, Ebon, Enewetak & Ujelang, Jabat, Jaluit, Kwajalein, Lae, Lib, Likiep, Majuro, Maloelap, Mejit, Mili, Namdrik, Namu, Rongelap, Ujae, Utrik, Wotho, Wotje
|21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)
|National holiday:
|Constitution Day, 1 May (1979)
|effective 1 May 1979; amended several times, last in 1995 (2016)
|Legal system:
|mixed legal system of US and English common law, customary law, and local statutes
|18 years of age; universal
|Executive branch:
| chief of state: President Hilda C. HEINE (since 28 January 2016); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Hilda C. HEINE (since 28 January 2016)
cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the president from among members of the Nitijela, appointed by Nitijela speaker elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the Nitijela from among its members for a 4-year term (no term limits); election last held on 27 January 2016 (next to be held in 2020)
election results: Hilda C. HEINE elected president on 27 January 2016; Parliament vote - Hilda C. HEINE 24, she was the only candidate
|Legislative branch:
| description: bicameral legislature consists of the Council of Iroij (12 seats; consists of tribal chiefs chosen by holders of the chieftainship among the constituent islands) and the National Parliament or Nitijela (33 seats; members directly elected by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms); note - the Council of Iroij advises the Presidential Cabinet and reviews legislation affecting customary law or any traditional practice)
elections: last held on 21 November 2011 (next to be held by November 2015)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independents 33
|Judicial branch:
| highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and other judges as prescribed by law) judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the Cabinet on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission and upon the approval of the Nitijela; judges appointed until retirement, normally at age 72
subordinate courts: High Court; District Courts; Traditional Rights Court; Community Courts
|Political parties and leaders:
|traditionally there have been no formally organized political parties; what has existed more closely resembles factions or interest groups because they do not have party headquarters, formal platforms, or party structures; the following two "groupings" have competed in legislative balloting in recent years - Aelon Kein Ad Party [Michael KABUA] and United Democratic Party or UDP [Litokwa TOMEING]
|Political pressure groups and leaders:
|International organization participation:
|ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO
|National symbol(s):
|a 24-rayed star; national colors: blue, white, orange
|National anthem:
| name: "Forever Marshall Islands"
lyrics/music: Amata KABUA
note: adopted 1981
|Diplomatic representation in the US:
| chief of mission: Ambassador Gerald M. ZACKIOS (since 16 September 2016)
chancery: 2433 Massachusetts Avenue NW, 1st Floor, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 234-5414
consulate(s) general: Honolulu, Springdale (AR) consulate(s): Agana (Guam)
|Diplomatic representation from the US:
| chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas H. ARMBRUSTER (since 16 August 2012)
embassy: Oceanside, Mejen Weto, Long Island, Majuro
mailing address: P. O. Box 1379, Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands 96960-1379
telephone: [692] 247-4011
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US assistance and lease payments for the use of Kwajalein Atoll as a US military base are the mainstay of this small island country. Agricultural production, primarily subsistence, is concentrated on small farms; the most important commercial crops are coconuts and breadfruit. Industry is limited to handicrafts, tuna processing, and copra. Tourism holds some potential. The islands and atolls have few natural resources, and imports exceed exports. The Marshall Islands received roughly $1 billion in aid from the US during 1986-2001 under the original Compact of Free Association (Compact). In 2002 and 2003, the US and the Marshall Islands renegotiated the Compact's financial package for a 20-year period, from 2004 to 2024. Under the amended Compact, the Marshall Islands will receive roughly $1.5 billion in direct US assistance. Under the amended Compact, the US and Marshall Islands are also jointly funding a Trust Fund for the people of the Marshall Islands that will provide an income stream beyond 2024, when direct Compact aid ends.
|GDP (purchasing power parity):
| GDP (purchasing power parity): $180 million (2016 est.) $176.9 million (2015 est.) $174.5 million (2014 est.)
note: data are in 2016 dollars
|GDP (official exchange rate):
|GDP (official exchange rate): $188 million (2015 est.)
|GDP - real growth rate:
|1.7% (2016 est.) 1.4% (2015 est.) 0.4% (2014 est.)
|GDP - per capita (PPP):
| GDP - per capita (PPP): $3,300 (2016 est.) $3,200 (2015 est.) $3,200 (2014 est.)
note: data are in 2016 dollars
|Agriculture - products:
|coconuts, tomatoes, melons, taro, breadfruit, fruits; pigs, chickens
|copra, tuna processing, tourism, craft items (from seashells, wood, and pearls)
|Industrial production growth rate:
|Labor force:
|10,670 (2013 est.)
|Labor force - by occupation:
| agriculture: 11%
industry: 16.3%
services: 72.7% (2011 est.)
|Unemployment rate:
|36% (2006 est.) 30.9% (2000 est.)
|Population below poverty line:
|Household income or consumption by percentage share:
| lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
| revenues: $116.7 million
expenditures: $113.9 million (2013 est.)
|Taxes and other revenues:
|62.1% of GDP (2013 est.)
|Public debt:
|51.3% of GDP (2013)
|Fiscal year:
|1 October - 30 September
|Inflation rate (consumer prices):
|Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.7% (2016 est.) -2.2% (2015 est.)
|Current account balance:
|-$14 million (2016 est.) -$6 million (2015 est.)
|$53.7 million (2013 est.) $58.1 million (2012)
|Exports - commodities:
|copra cake, coconut oil, handicrafts, fish
|$133.7 million (2013 est.) $120.9 million (2012)
|Imports - commodities:
|foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels, beverages, tobacco
|Debt - external:
|$97.96 million (2013 est.) $87 million (2008 est.)
|Exchange rates:
|the US dollar is used
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|Electricity - production:
|700 million kWh (2014 est.)
|Electricity - consumption:
|600 million kWh (2014 est.)
|Electricity - installed generating capacity:
|52,000 kW (2014 est.)
|Crude oil - production:
|0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
|Crude oil - exports:
|0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
|Crude oil - imports:
|0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
|Crude oil - proved reserves:
|0 bbl (1 January 2016 es)
|Refined petroleum products - production:
|0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
|Refined petroleum products - consumption:
|2,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)
|Refined petroleum products - exports:
|0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
|Refined petroleum products - imports:
|2,060 bbl/day (2013 est.)
|Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
|300,000 Mt (2013 est.)
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|Cellular Phones in use:
|total: 16,000 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 21 (July 2015 est.)
|Telephone system:
| general assessment: digital switching equipment; modern services include telex, cellular, Internet, international calling, caller ID, and leased data circuits
domestic: Majuro Atoll and Ebeye and Kwajalein islands have regular, seven-digit, direct-dial telephones; other islands interconnected by high frequency radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes) and mini-satellite telephones
international: country code - 692; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); US Government satellite communications system on Kwajalein (2005)
|Broadcast media:
|no TV broadcast station; a cable network is available on Majuro with programming via videotape replay and satellite relays; 4 radio broadcast stations; American Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) provides satellite radio and television serv (2009)
|Internet country code:
|Internet users:
|total: 14,000 percent of population: 19.3% (July 2015 est.)
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|15 (2013)
|Airports (paved runways):
| total 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)
|Airports (unpaved runways):
| total 11
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 1 (2013)
| total 2,028 km
paved: 75 km
note: roads are mostly unimproved (2007)
|Merchant marine:
| total 1,593
by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 524, cargo 65, carrier 1, chemical tanker 351, container 226, liquefied gas 88, passenger 7, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 297, refrigerated cargo 13, roll on/roll off 9, vehicle carrier 10
foreign-owned: 1,465 (Belgium 1, Bermuda 35, Brazil 1, Canada 8, China 14, Croatia 12, Cyprus 40, Denmark 7, Egypt 1, France 7, Germany 248, Greece 408, Hong Kong 3, India 10, Indonesia 1, Iraq 2, Ireland 6, Italy 1, Japan 59, Jersey 11, Kuwait 2, Latvia 19, Malaysia 11, Mexi (2010)
|Ports and terminals:
|major seaport(s): Enitwetak Island, Kwajalein, Majuro
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|Defense is the responsibility of the US
|Military branches:
|no regular military forces; Marshall Islands Police (2012)
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|Transnational Issues
|Disputes - International:
|claims US territory of Wake Island
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« Previous Country | Next Country » Back to Flag Counter Overview
Source: CIA - The World Factbook


text:
How does a daily deal site stand out in a crowded field? Here's one way.
Thrillist, the men's lifestyle focused newsletter, is offering a " strip and a steak" for $50 at Scores in New York.
(For what it's worth we've seen Groupon offer half-off lessons for pole dancing. Not quite the same thing, but similar, we suppose.)


text:
• A daily summary of global reports on security issues.
Gen. David Petraeus, the head of US Central Command (CENTCOM), warned Thursday that the past week's violence in Afghanistan was the worst since the NATO troops invaded the country in 2001. The new US commander in the country, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, is headed to Kabul to develop a new counterinsurgency strategy – likely drawing on the one General Petraeus implemented in Iraq, which dramatically increased security.
CNN reports that General Petraeus, the head of US Central Command, said in a speech Thursday that while the situation in Iraq has been improving, Afghanistan "is headed in the other direction."
"There is no question that the situation has deteriorated over the course of the past two years and that there are difficult times ahead," said Gen. David Petraeus....
"The past week was the highest level of security incidents in Afghanistan's history, at least that post-liberation history," Petraeus said in a speech at the annual conference of the Center for a New American Security, a Washington think tank.
Petraeus's comments came as the United States is embarking on new strategy in Afghanistan, with increased troop levels and a focus on counterinsurgency tactics. Petraeus said America should draw on the lessons learned in Iraq.
President Barack Obama has approved a "surge" of some 20,000 US troops in Afghanistan, reminiscent of the troop surge that Petraeus oversaw while he was head of the US forces in Iraq. The Washington Post reports that Petraeus notes that the surge in Afghanistan will follow a different course than the surge in Iraq.
The strategy draws upon, but does not attempt to duplicate, lessons from the troop "surge" in Iraq, where attacks have dropped from 160 a day at the peak of the fighting in 2007 to about 10 to 15 a day during the past six months, he said.
In one significant difference, Petraeus said that in combating the largely rural insurgency of Afghanistan, it will not be possible for U.S. forces to move into neighborhoods the same way they did in Iraqi cities.
"You don't live among the people in Afghanistan," he said. "First of all, there's no empty houses. Second, the villages particularly in the rural areas tend to be small." Instead, he said, U.S. troops will establish outposts on high ground from which they can oversee nearby villages as well as roads leading in and out.
This approach, which Petraeus called both "culturally and operationally correct," will reduce the likelihood that the presence of U.S. forces will draw the fighting into rural communities, which would lead to more civilian casualties.
Still, General McChrystal, who was confirmed as the new US commander in Afghanistan by the Senate Wednesday, told The Wall Street Journal that it is unclear whether the forces available will be sufficient to carry out the surge.
In the interview, Gen. McChrystal noted he's unsure whether the planned troop levels for the job he envisions will be adequate – despite the Obama administration's commitment to raise the U.S. presence to 68,000 by year's end, to go along with 35,000 allied forces. Iraq surge commanders had more than 170,000 U.S. forces.
"I know that I want it to be an effective traditional or classic counterinsurgency campaign by getting people down in among the population," the general said. "I know that's easier said than done with a limited-sized force."
Defense Secretary Robert Gates has given his new commander 60 days to come up with a campaign plan. Gen. McChrystal has indicated it will closely resemble the strategy used in Iraq by Gen. David Petraeus, now his boss as head of all U.S. troops in the region. Gen. McChrystal said he will push soldiers farther out of their bases and among residents, to bring a sense of stability to the people and to better develop nationwide intelligence.
The BBC reports that in an interview on BBC Radio 4, McChrystal emphasized the importance of the counterinsurgency strategy in Afghanistan, as well as protecting Afghan civilians both from the Taliban and "from the unintended consequences of our operation." McChrystal said:
"When we are in position, one of the things we'll do is review all of our rules of engagement and all the instructions to our units, with the emphasis that we are fighting for the population."
"That involves protecting them both from the enemy and from unintended consequences of our operation, because we know that although an operation may be conducted for the right reason, if it has negative effects it can have a negative outcome for everyone."
McChrystal's comments come as Agence France-Presse reports that six Afghan civilians were killed Friday in two separate incidents involving NATO forces: a car accident and a battle with insurgents.


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F1 left to muse reasons for small Hockenheim crowd
Elsewhere in Germany on Sunday, the Nurburgring hosted an event called the 'Truck Grand Prix'.
Watching the unwieldy trucks from the grandstands were about 100,000 excited spectators -- about twice the size of the crowd that gathered at Hockenheim for the 2014 German grand prix.
Bild am Sonntag asked Bernie Ecclestone where all the fans are.
"Obviously not here," the F1 supremo answered.
As far as some are concerned, notwithstanding the big crowds recently in Austria and Silverstone, the unpopularity of the Hockenheim race should be ringing alarm-bells for F1.
"The Austrian grand prix took at least 5,000 spectators from us," track boss Georg Seiler insisted to Bild am Sonntag newspaper.
"And the olympic games and the world cup have just taken place. The world cup was the number 1 issue, with newspapers saying hardly anything about formula one," he argued.
Ecclestone agrees: "Germany won the world cup, and all the sports-mad people bought a ticket to Brazil.
"They're just worn out after so many major sports events," he added.
Both Seiler and Ecclestone also rejected the theory that ticket prices are too high, insisting the prices all over the F1 calendar are similar.


text:
Dan Walters
Dan Walters: Anti-poverty advocates ramp up pressure for more spending
As the weather warms and legislative deadlines approach, the state Capitol comes alive with rallies and demonstrations of all ideological stripes.
Political expressionism was especially active on a sunny Tuesday with two rallies outside the Capitol and hundreds of Californians – plus one woman from Italy – packing hallways for a bill that, if it hadn't been softly sidetracked, would've ended marine park orca shows.
Crime victims and their advocates staged the biggest rally, an annual event seeking validation and sympathy, and politicians, including Gov. Jerry Brown, were there to utter the requisite bromides. What, after all, could be safer than empathizing with crime victims?
"Know you have a friend in that building over there," Brown told the assemblage.
Brown didn't venture, however, a couple of hundred feet away to a much smaller rally of anti-poverty groups and a few friendly politicians, supporting a wide array of bills and budget appropriations attacking "income inequality."
All would cost money, either from the state budget to boost spending on "safety net" services such as welfare grants and health care, or from employers for higher minimum wages and mandatory paid sick leave. Collectively, they represent Brown's biggest challenge this year as he seeks a fourth lease on the Capitol's corner office.
Not that Brown has to worry about re-election. He is likely to receive a record book-worthy landslide this year, and one reason for his broad and impregnable political standing is that he has been leery about joining his party's populist crusade on income inequality.
Nationally, Democrats are chanting the mantra in hopes of staving off what polls indicate will be a big Republican year – possibly strong enough to wrest control of the U.S. Senate. Embattled Democratic legislators and congressional members in California are joining the chant.
Brown, however, has been reluctant to add his raspy voice, in part because he's something of a skinflint and in part because he doesn't want to risk leaving behind a big budget deficit as his legacy five years hence.
His resistance, however, is becoming more difficult to maintain as the state's revenue surges from an improving economy and a temporary tax increase he championed, and as liberal advocacy groups and legislative allies ramp up pressure for action.
Brown wants to divert extra money into debt repayment and a rainy-day fund.
Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, is carrying a bill to boost the minimum wage higher and make future increases automatic, a top priority of the anti-poverty coalition.
Brown specifically rejected automatic wage hikes last year as he signed a two-stage increase from $8 to $10 an hour.
"It will still be legal in California to pay poverty wages," Leno told the rally.


text:
Sigma Jewels and Laureate rituals; Trudy Pickett's Home Solutions column
Sigma rituals honor members
Sigma, a social and service sorority, is part of Beta Sigma Phi, an international organization dedicated to life, learning and friendship.
The group�s spring activities, among others, included two ceremonies, a Ritual of Jewels for newest member Kathy Tucker, and a Laureate Ritual for Ora Mae Evans.
Laureate is the fifth degree and is bestowed on a member who has had eight years of active membership in Preceptor degree and has completed eight years of program work. Evans has been a member since 1994.
Home Solutions: What�s that orange stain?
Have you ever taken a shirt out of the washer and found it covered with mysterious orange stains? If so, you were probably stupefied.
What could have caused such a laundry mishap? Detergent? Dye from a different garment? An orange marker that made its way into the washer?
Although all of these are great theories, there is one likely culprit that you would never suspect. It comes in either a lotion or spray and you�ve been lathering it on since skin cancer became a well-known health threat. I�m talking about sunscreen � great for your skin, terrible for your clothes.
In all fairness to sunscreen, there is another compound needed to make these stains come about � the iron minerals commonly found in hard water.
Here�s how it happens: Sunscreen applied to your skin rubs off onto your clothing. Avobenzone, an ingredient in sunscreen, oxidizes the iron minerals found in the water. This reaction causes a colored stain (rust) on your garment.
So, what are thesolutions? Since your skin is by far more valuable than your clothing, eliminating the sunscreen is not an option, and buying brand new clothes all the time is not an option either. Instead, swap out your current sunscreen for one that is avobenzone-free.
Coppertone and Hawaiian Tropic both offer avobenzone-free lotions. If you don�t want to use a different sunscreen, take preventative measures like waiting for the sunscreen to completely dry before putting on your clothes.
To remove these stains when laundering, follow these steps.
If the stain is deeply saturated, soak the garment in an enzyme-breaking solution of water and oxygen cleaner for 12 hours. If the stain is light, apply an over-the-counter stain treatment and let it sit for five minutes. Bleach can be used on white clothing, if care instructions do not prohibit bleach.
Wash the item on the hottest setting tolerated by the fabric.
If the stain is still present, repeat the previous steps. Do not put it in the dryer! Heat from the dryer will cause the stain to set in.
Source: D. Douglas, Laundry Care
Trudy W. Pickett is extension family and consumer agent at the Lenoir County Cooperative Extension Office, 1791 N.C. 11/55. Reach her at 252-527-2191 or email@example.com.


text:
SAN FRANCISCO — The former president of Salinas Valley farming company has been sentenced to nearly a year in prison after pleading guilty to falsely labeling chemical-based fertilizer as organic.
Federal officials say Peter Townsley, who formerly operated California Liquid Fertilizer in Gonzales, was sentenced to 364 days in prison and fined $125,000 Wednesday in federal court. He had earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud.
Officials say Townsley admitted that he changed the ingredients of his fertilizer to include ammonium chloride and ammonium sulfate after it received an organic certificate from the Organic Materials Review Institute. Both chemicals are prohibited from use in products labeled organic.
The 50-year-old Canadian was also ordered to serve six months of house arrest upon his release from jail and perform 1,000 hours of community service.


text:
Preston Trail Farms coupon
Coupon From
Preston Trail Farms
Gunter, TX 75078
Map it
Phone Number
Have You Tried the Preston Trail Farms Cafe'?
Come by the Preston Trail Farms Cafe' while you are shopping in our General Store/True Value Hardware store. We offer Breakfast all Day and Lunch and Dinner options that are sure to please! Check out our Fried Catfish Special on the weekends. Don't forget, our Petting Farm is open year round!
Sep. 15th, 2019
Print This Offer


text:
Book Here
We ask that you prepay 50% of your stay, either by check or credit card. The balance may be paid by Mastercard, Visa, Amex or Discover upon arrival. We are not able to take checks for reservations that are made within two weeks of arrival date, or for balances paid upon arrival. You will receive a refund on non-holiday dates only if we are able to re-book your room if you cancel within 2 weeks of your arrival. There is always a $25 cancellation fee and a two-night minimum stay on weekends.
We can accommodate additional guests for a $25 extra charge per night. In the Pinon, there is a 2nd bedroom for additional guests. The Juniper, however, has only one bedroom. In this instance the bed will be a foam twin mattress pad on the floor, approximately 4" in thickness. This floor pad will be made up with cotton sheets, comforter and/or blankets, and feather pillows.
Check-in time is flexible to accommodate your traveling schedule, though we do prefer check-in after 2 pm. Please make advance arrangements for arrivals after 6pm. Check-out time is 11am. Please, no smoking inside the vacation rentals. Rates do not include room and sales taxes.
There is a 50% deposit to confirm your reservation, with the balance due 2 weeks before arrival (or paid in full one month before arrival for holiday reservations). One night stays require full payment in advance.
Cancellations require 14 days notice prior to arrival for full refund of deposit, or notice one month prior for holiday rentals.
Refund of deposit is subject to a $25 cancellation fee.
If you cancel with less than 14 days (or one month for holiday rentals) notice and we are able to re-book your room, we will refund your deposit, less the cancellation fee. If we are unable to rebook your whole reservation you will be responsible for each night not re-booked.
Guests will be responsible for the fully reserved date(s) regardless of late arrival or early departure.
We are not responsible for inclement weather.
One month's notice of cancellation is required for Indian Market and Holiday reservations (12/22 through 1/1). Indian Market and Holiday reservations are to be paid in full one month prior to arrival.
We welcome well-behaved pets at Alexander's Inn. There is a charge of $20 per pet, per stay. Should you desire housekeeping services during your stay, we ask that you either bring your pet(s) with you during housekeeping hours, or leave the pet(s) crated during these hours. In addition, guests are responsible for any damages that might be incurred by your pet during the course of the visit.
For our laundry, we use ECOS Plus Lavender Laundry Soap, which is Free of Phosphates, Formaldehyde and Petrochemicals. Bearing the "Earth Friendly Product" Seal, this laundry soap contains: All natural coconut kernal oil based surfactants, horsetail plant, coconut oil based fabric softener, N.O.P. Certified Organic essential oil of lavender, purified water. (This product is free of 1,4 Dioxane).
To clean rooms we use the probiotic cleaner: eMC Power Cleaner, a naturally fermented concentrate which contains lactic acid bacteria, yeast and photosynthetic bacteria.
We are a Certified Green Inn and go to great lengths to avoid all chemicals. However, if you have "extreme chemical sensitivity", we are not equipped for the necessary modifications. As not all of our guests are aware of this sensitivity, perfumes and lotions may be applied during the course of a stay, which can leave a trace in the carpeting of our guest rooms. We recommend that you find lodging that is specifically designed for people with serious chemical sensitivity.
Alexander's Inn • firstname.lastname@example.com • 505-986-1431 or 1-888-321-5123 • 529 East Palace Avenue, Santa Fe New Mexico 87501


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"Most Romantic Restaurants on Long Island " - Newsday 1/29
Come Celebrate Valentine's Day at the Cuban Crocodile; We have created a special cocktail to celebrate your special Valentine: The Cuban Kiss Cocktail; The kiss of a lifetime! We have our regular menu but we added a lovely dessert: Red Velvet Cupcake with a Cream Cheese Frosting.
Come celebrate with your someone special or with all friends and family that mean the world to you!!
Make reservations now at firstname.lastname@example.com


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Early Morning GlowI know the photo is dark in places. Plus it is not very viewable as a thumbnail, but I think It looks great full size.
SunrisesunNew MexicoSandiasOctober2009Pentaxist DLAdam Montoya
From Sunrises
Succulent Dreams #1
succulentice plantPentaxist DLDelosperma cooperi
The lightning was getting a little close for comfort here in Algodones. I did think about changing the white balance to get rid of the purple, but I kind of like the color.
Shocking Photo
ShockinglightningAlgodonesNew Mexico87001Adam MontoyaPESO
From Uncategorized 2010
In airsoft we have something called a minimum engagement distance(M.E.D. for short). This is a distance where using the gun is deemed safe to all the participants on the field. This player was shot from an airsoft gun which required a 100ft MED. The shot was made from significantly less than that, resulting in a torn nose. Obey the rules and things like this don't happen.
2013-01-26 Torn nose
20130126Torn noseAirsoftPOTDPentaxAdam MontoyaAlex KAirsoft New MexicoOak Flats Paintballblood
From 2013


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Officer Frank Bonifacio said the department is dedicated to identifying and rescuing victims of trafficking, arresting those who exploit them and hopes that the possibility of public exposure on the site will act as a deterrent.
Mug shots of suspected pimps and those charged with soliciting prostitutes will now be regularly posted on the Oakland police website, in hopes the chance of public exposure will serve as a deterrent.
The new page on the Oakland department's website launched June 27 with photos of six men charged as pimps and nine men charged with solicitation of prostitution or related offenses.
The page, titled "Enough -- Putting an End to Sex Trafficking in Oakland" will display booking pictures of suspects arrested and charged with soliciting prostitution and profiting from prostitution.
The website will also include the person's name, date of birth, city of residence and date of arrest. Photos and information will be updated twice a month.
It is another tool in the department's commitment to combating sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation, Officer Frank Bonifacio said.
Richmond and Sacramento police also post pictures of those arrested on suspicion of pimping and soliciting -- without charges being filed. Fresno police post pictures of those arrested who have also been charged, like Oakland is doing, officials said.
It is hoped that knowing their actions could result in public exposure will "deter (customers and pimps) from patronizing acts of prostitution or providing and profiting from prostitution," Bonifacio said. He said the department had input from the district attorney and city attorney's office before deciding to post the pictures.
Oakland unfortunately has a reputation as a centerpoint for human trafficking, with some of the rescued victims as young as 13.
Bonifacio said the department is dedicated to identifying and rescuing victims of trafficking and locating and arresting those who exploit them. Police also work closely with advocate groups to provide different services for rescued victims, he said.
©2014 The Oakland Tribune (Oakland, Calif.)


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A Beginner's Guide To Possum Merino Clothing and Why You Need It
A beginner's guide to possum merino and its qualities and uses in clothing.
Cashmere may once have been the go-to for luxurious clothing that is soft, warm and looks great but there's a new contender on the market that is threatening to take its crown. Possum merino is a blend of the finest merino wool and soft New Zealand possum fur, which is 35% warmer than cashmere (whilst still retaining that silky softness) and 50% warmer than merino alone. Intrigued? What to know more? Our guide to the whys, whats and wherefores of possum merino should answer all your questions...
The incredible warmth of possum fur and merino wool combined
Possum fur is so warm it doesn't freeze - the only fur other than polar bear fur that can boast such an attribute! Its hollow structure is to thank for this, a feature which, like merino, also traps warmth to keep you toasty, making it one of the best insulating fibres in the world. Possum merino is also incredibly versatile, keeping you warm in the winter and even continuing to create heat when wet, yet its breathability means that it functions well in warmer weather too.
Powers of durability
Possum fibres are stretchy, giving them a resistance to breaking and, combined with merino, the fabric will remain pill-free and anti-static. New Zealand possum fur in particular has a long life expectancy as it doesn't shed, ensuring it keeps that plush, new-looking texture and feel.
As soft and light as silk
The hollow nature of possum fur and super-fine merino wool makes possum merino 14% lighter than wool, a figure which gives it the distinction of being one of the most lightweight natural fibre fabrics in the world. It is also incredibly soft, hugging the skin without itching or irritating it in any way.
Both merino wool and possum fur wick moisture away from the body and release it into the air, giving the garment added comfort and ensuring it resists odours.
A resourceful solution to an environmental challenge
For those who may worry that wearing fur supports a cruel industry, it is important to note that possums are an introduced species which threaten New Zealand's unique flora and fauna. Unlike in their native Australia, possums have no natural predators in New Zealand and have therefore been able to breed unchecked, leading to astronomical numbers of the creatures. Their fondness for unique native trees, the eggs and chicks of endangered birds, and insects which form a vital part of the diet of many of the country's endangered birds, is having disastrous consequences.
21,000 tons of vegetation are demolished by possums each night and native bird life is being driven to the point of extinction. As a result, the New Zealand government has declared possums a serious threat to the country's biodiversity and an official pest, and has begun measures to eradicate them. Possum fur is most often a by-product of the government's cull on the animals, the majority of which are left simply to rot in the bush.
Clothing crafted from possum merino blends may still be emerging from their infancy but it won't be long until the rest of the world catches on to this luxuriously soft yet durable fabric. Cashmere is so last season.
The New Zealand Nature Company have a large variety of possum merino clothing available for sale on their website. NZ Nature are a mail order and internet shop selling their goods all around the world to over 70 countries. There are over 1,000 products online include ranges of clothing in Silk, Bamboo, Possum Merino and Pure Merino. Sheepskin boots and slippers are complemented by natural bedding and bodycare.


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Chocolate Marbled Energy Bars
I made these on TV with Dawn French for Comic Relief.
After that, school children were making them all over the country to raise money – and they were very popular. We also like them without the chocolate topping.
This recipe is from Delia's Cakes. Makes 15
- method
- Ingredients
First place the nuts, apricots, raisins and cereals in a bowl, then put the molasses syrup and condensed milk in a small saucepan and heat them gently until they are warmed through and blended together.
Now pour this mixture into the bowl and mix well with a wooden spoon till everything is thoroughly blended, and after that tip it into the baking tin. Press it down evenly all over and bake in the centre of the oven for about 25 minutes until it's golden brown. Then remove it from the oven and let it get quite cold.
Meanwhile melt the dark and white chocolate separately in bowls set over small pans containing about 5cm of barely simmering water – the bowls shouldn't touch the water. They should take 5–10 minutes to melt.
Now loosen the edges of the cake and turn it out onto a board, then turn it the other way up so the smoother surface is underneath. Using a tablespoon, put spoonfuls of the plain chocolate all over the top of the cereal cake, leaving space in between. Then do the same with the white chocolate, filling all the gaps in between.
Next take a small palette knife and, using a zig-zag motion, swirl the two chocolates together to give a marbled effect. Then lift the board and give it a gentle tap on the work surface to create a smooth finish.
Now you need to chill the mixture in the fridge for about one hour. Then, using a sharp knife, cut it into 15 squares. Store in an airtight tin until needed.
Pre-heat the oven to 180°C, gas mark 4
Using a fan-assisted oven? Click here


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Parent's Night Out is just one of many programs available to Help One Child network families. If you wish to become a member of the Help One Child network, simply attend a ministry orientation to learn about all our programs and services. Check the Help One Child Calendar for upcoming orientations or contact us via our webform or (650) 917-1210 for a private introduction to our organization.
All participants will need to sign and bring with them our childcare agreement. Parents will be required to remain accessible via mobile phone when not at the childcare site.


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What Sets UM-Flint's Clinical Physical Therapy Certificate Programs Apart?
UM-Flint's Clinical Physical Therapy Certificate programs assist practicing physical therapists with their DPT to prepare for ABPTS Specialist Certification in Orthopedics (OCS), Neurology (NCS), and Pediatrics (PCS). You will learn with a diverse group of clinicians who desire to collaborate in a learning process that advances clinical skills and decision-making. The most current and relevant evidence will be applied to individual patient management.
Required advanced clinical practice hours and mentoring happen wherever you are working as a physical therapist, providing the career flexibility to achieve optimal work/life balance while advancing your practice. Fitting in a clinical certificate program to advance your practice can be challenging. For this reason, all courses of the program are fully online, and most are offered in a semester (14-week) or accelerated (10-week) format.
Content is presented online from an evidence-based practice perspective using the APTA's Description of Specialty Practice (DSP) in each specialty area. The majority of the learning materials are delivered electronically using an online course management system (Blackboard) and through synchronous sessions using various technologies.
As part of the world-renowned University of Michigan community, you'll also have access to the full academic and research resources at the Flint, Dearborn, and Ann Arbor campuses.


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Topics :: cooking classes
1 thru 10 of 66 Stories
Molecule-R: A Scientific Experiment in the Kitchen
Molecule-R offers the adventurous home cook an opportunity to experiment with his or her selection of molecular gastronomy kits that will have one bubbling, extracting and emulsifying in no time.
Austrian Christmas Butter Cookies
Vanillekipferl have always been a favorite Christmas cookie of Austrians.Here is one Austrian grandmother's recipe, which is easy to make and really delicious. (They also make a great holiday present for friends and family. We're just sayin'...)
The Van Akens Co-Author "My Key West Kitchen"
Long before Jimmy Buffett wrote "Margaritaville" about Key West, James Beard award-winning chef Norman Van Aken had already pledged allegiance to the magical little scrap of land at the end of the rainbow
A Bengali Culinary Journey with New Cookbook
Bengalis are one of the most food and culture obsessed people in India. They are commonly compared to the French in that regard, as dining and entertaining are such an integral part of their culture.
A Culinary Day Trip from Quebec City to Charlevoix
Charlevoix, Canada, a picturesque landscape on the shores of the St. Lawrence River, is destined to become the next "hot" foodie destination. Located east of Quebec City, Charlevoix is in a 350 million year old meteorite crater.
Debut Book by Two Michelin-Starred Chef Sat Bains
The eagerly anticipated literary debut from chef Sat Bains reveals the first insight into the food and philosophies of the two Michelin-starred chef. "Too Many Chiefs Only One Indian" follows the celebrated tasting menu format of Restaurant Sat Bains.
Star Chefs Turn to Mexican Haute Cuisine
Christopher Kostow, whose restaurant in Napa Valley has three Michelin stars, wanted to sample the diversity of the country's ingredients: gray oysters from Baja California, lychee-like hairy rambutan from southern Chiapas, and bags of red flying ants.
'True Blood' Cookbook Full of Crimson Delicacies
"True Blood" fans can soon concoct their own blood-red beet bisque, crimson sweet tea and other Cajun delicacies inspired by the hit HBO vampire drama and compiled in a new cookbook.
Second Annual Mexican Culinary Festival to Be Held in Los Cabos
One&Only Palmilla will host its Second Annual Mexican Culinary Festival November 7-11, 2012, featuring some of Mexico's most talented chefs and highlighting wines from the Guadalupe Valley.
Cook Like a Frenchman
Those in the know are keenly aware that Laurent Gras, the former chef of Chicago's L20, where Gras earned an unprecedented three Michelin stars in 2010, is a master of French technique and modern interpretation.
1 thru 10 of 66 Stories


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A new study has called for the curlew, Europe's largest wading bird, to now be considered the highest conservation priority bird species in the UK.
The population has fallen by 43 per cent since the mid-1990s, and their global status is listed as 'near threatened' by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
A new report, by RSPB Scotland, assessing the status of all the UK's 244 birds – Birds of Conservation Concern 4 – has placed the curlew on its Red List under 'highest conservation concern'.
Birds of Conservation Concern is a report compiled by a coalition of leading conservation and monitoring organisations, reviewing the status of all birds in the UK.
Each species is assessed and placed on the Green, Amber or Red List – indicating an increasing level of conservation concern.
The Red List now contains 27 per cent of the UK's birds, an increase from 52 species in 2009 to 67 species in 2015.
The Eurasian curlew Numenius arquata, to give its full name, is a large wader, with long legs and a long downcurved bill.
There are around 68,000 breeding pairs in the UK. The RSPB and the UK's four national conservation agencies set out the case for focusing conservation efforts on curlews in a paper recently published in British Birds.
Dan Brown, conservation adviser with RSPB Scotland and lead author of the study, said: "To see curlew populations falling so drastically is a major concern.
"We are responsible for more than a quarter of the world's population in the UK, so the large declines currently occurring may be having a big impact on the global population.
"On this basis, the curlew emerges as our highest priority species from a global perspective – conservation success in the UK will go a long way to helping secure the global population.
"We also approach this work acutely aware that, sadly, two close relatives of the Eurasian curlew – the Eskimo curlew and the Slender-billed curlew – are highly likely to have become extinct in recent decades."
He continued: "We are working hard at home and across the curlew's global range to mobilise support and plan conservation work. We have just coordinated an international conservation plan – a list of conservation and research actions countries can do to help conserve curlews - through an intergovernmental conservation agreement called the African Eurasian Waterbird Agreement."
He added: "Meanwhile, at home, we have a Curlew Recovery Programme that started in earnest this year."
This programme of work includes a five-year research project at six sites across the UK, where land management techniques aimed at improving breeding habitats and increasing breeding success will be investigated.
Andrew Douse, senior ornithologist with SNH, said: "The drop in curlew numbers demonstrates well a more general issue: a worrying decrease of many upland birds, all of which have large populations across the Scottish uplands.
"Familiar species such as merlin, whinchat, grey wagtail and dotterel have all declined. These changes likely relate to habitat changes, climate change and in some cases, predation. We're working hard to understand the causes of these changes to make sure we conserve these important birds of the Scottish hills and mountains."
Puffins, kittiwakes and shags were some of the other species added to the Birds of Conservation Concern Red List in 2015, joining birds like the curlew, dotterel and starling.
However, the assessment does contain some good news and demonstrates that targeted conservation action can make a real difference.
Three species (bittern, nightjar and dunlin) have been removed from the Red list and added to the Amber. While an additional 22 species, including the red kite, have moved from the Amber to the Green list; meaning they are of the lowest conservation concern.


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New Zealand Travel Budget
What will my accommodation, activities, transportation and meals cost? Find out what a luxury trip to New Zealand will cost you.
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What do we offer? The South Pacific is an extraordinary place to visit complete with varying types of terrain, climates, cultures, scenery and gastronomy. Whether its New Zealand, Australia, Tahiti, Fiji or The Cook Islands, Luxury Adventures can help plan your vacation, honeymoon or getaway. One important factor helping us tailor make the perfect trip for you is budget, often a tricky question, but very important to ensure we end up with an itinerary thats just right for you. With that in mind we thought we would talk about some of the associated costs you need to consider. Generally our services include the planning of the itinerary, preparation of quote or quotes, (often we work with a guest for weeks or months prior to travel perfecting the ideal itinerary for their needs). We usually include all ground arrangements, accommodation bookings, domestic flights, transfers, private guides, activity bookings and if required we can perform a concierge service at additional cost. Our team continue to work with our guests whilst they are on vacation, by forward checking bookings, performing weather checks for the activities, making any necessary changes securing restaurant reservations and generally being on hand to answer questions.
What are my accommodation options? We work in the luxury market and utilise a high standard of accommodation, which are handpicked by our team. The tariff for these properties generally start from around NZD350 per night and upwards of NZD2,000 per night. Of course budget is a consideration when we are choosing a property to meet a guests needs but there are other factors as well, such as location and type along with, cuisine, activity choices, logistics, expectations, desired experience etc. For example do you want to be in the city, by the sea, close to mountains or wineries, prefer boutique hotels, luxury lodges, contemporary or traditional properties, private homes, a name or brand, or a real 'off the beaten track experience'? The tariff at the properties is often governed not only by the high standard of service offered but also inclusions, many if not all of the high end lodges include not only gourmet breakfast, but pre-dinner drinks, hosted evening meals, afternoon teas, some in room refreshments, and use of their facilities.
Budget no issue? If budget is not a consideration and you want to experience the finest on offer then there are a select handfiul of luxury properties that stand up to very best anywhere in the world. Examples of these properties are highly awarded and already well documented such as Huka Lodge in New Zealand, Southern Ocean Ocean Lodge in Australia to name a couple of the more well known choices. There are many more and also some you may not have heard of and thats where we come in. They may be new kids on the block or fly under the tourism radar for various reasons but offer exactly what you're looking for and you may not have considered unless suggested (based on your brief) by one of our travel specialists. We've also experienced many of the properties and activities we offer so you can talk to us directly about this also.
Where to go? Accommodation tariffs do vary in each of the destinations Luxury Adventures offer, for example Tahiti tends to be more expensive than Fiji or the Cook Islands, especially the overwater bungalow option. Australia generally tends to command a higher price than New Zealand for a similar given product or experience (Accommodation, activities and flights) in our opinion. If budget is a consideration then The Cook Islands are certainly worth considering as a less expensive alternative to Tahiti, whilst they offer a very similar tropical beach experience as found in Tahiti and Fiji it is both less expensive and also easier to reach from New Zealand – ask our team for more information about the Cook Islands. Similarly in New Zealand and Australia value can be achieved by picking and choosing however if you wish to experience the very best in the world which we do have a number of the these properties then budget will become secondary.
How about getting around, what are my options? Another important consideration is domestic travel, both air and land arrangements. Australia for example is a vast continent and travel between cities or destinations can take several hours by air, We normally advise to see between 3 – 6 destinations in a 2 week vacation rather than try and see everything and spend a good deal of your time travelling and not really experiencing the country. Our team have a lot of local knowledge and are happy to offer advice on which destinations would work best within time and budget restraints. New Zealand may not be as vast as Australia, however there is a huge diversity of scenery and things to do, many travellers underestimate how long they need to see the country. Again budget can be a large part of the consideration when our team tailor an itinerary for a guest. We need to consider the number of flights required to travel between the destinations, for example for a guest with a lesser budget who has expressed a love of nature and great scenery we may suggest just the South Island with 2 or 3 destinations within driving distance to eliminate the need for flights that can be costly. Self-driving can also be a great way to see the country, and is a more cost effective option than a private guide/driver. A standard vehicle hire would cost (depending on the travel dates and car type) in the region of $60-$100 per day, whilst a driver guide can cost $1,000 – $1,750 per day (again dependent on type of vehicle, standard of guide and distances travelled). More information about private transfers vs self driving can be found in this article.
Activities and experiences - what can they cost? Most of our guests err towards busier itineraries activity wise, or at least to make the most of their time in the South Pacific. Our team are more than happy to plan as many or as little activities into an itinerary as our guests wish for, once again budget can be a deciding factor with this. For example a private tour can cost $500 – $1000 plus per day, with an english speaking guide, (foreign language speaking guides are sometimes more expensive), whilst it is sometimes an advantage to have a guide, often also is the case that with advice from our team some tours can be carried out at a lesser cost if guests are happy to self-guide. This is not appropriate in all cases and we advise based on a variety of factors. To give you a rough idea the activities we would offer generally start at approximately $150 per person and go up from there. A good example of where budget is a deciding factor is a Milford Sound flight in New Zealand. Milford Sound, Fiordland and or Doubtful Sound are one of the "Must see" activities whilst staying in the Central Otago region (Queenstown, Wanaka), and we believe the best way to experience this is by air. There are a couple of options with this, a shared fixed wing plane flying to and from Queenstown, including a cruise in the Milford Sound would be around $450 per person, where as a shared helicopter for the same experience would be $825 per person. For the less budget conscious you can choose an exclusive private helicopter experience where the costs would be in the region of $4000 to see Fiordland, Milford Sound, experience multiple landings with a private picnic in a remote location and perhaps a small walking competent if desired. You can read more about exploring this region via helicopter in this article about Fiordland Helicopter trips. Generally speaking any thing involving a helicopter will cost you considerably more than if you were to keep your feet on the ground.
To give an idea of what your budget may include, below are some of the frequently requested excursions and an indication of the costs. The costs are based in NZ dollars.
- Accommodation options offered by us generally range from $350 to upwards of $2000 per night
- Whale watching by helicopter $450 per person
- Wine tour, with a small group from $150 per person
- Wine tour private, from $500 for a couple, varying on the region, length of tour and experience
- Guided hike, with a small group $130 per person
- Private hike based on two people $500
- Hot Air Balloon, from $350 per person
- Bungy jumps, dependant on the experience $190 per person
- Dolphin watching from $95 per person
- Scenic helicopter or fixed wing flights vary on the location, length of flight, whether its shared or private but start from around $400 per person
We are often asked the cost of more incidental day to day items, below are a few 'holiday items' to give you an idea.
- Glass of wine $10.00 – $15.00
- Local Beer $8.00
- Imported Beer $10.00
- Lunch at an inexpensive restaurant $20 per person
- Dinner for 2 at an inexpensive restaurant (3 courses) $100 – $150
- Dinner for 2 at an high end restaurant (3 courses) $200 – $300+
- Bottle of water $3.00
- Petrol $2.20 per litre (at time of posting)
- Sun tan lotion $15
Tipping is discretionary, and usually offered if good service is received.
We hope this information is of use when planning a trip to New Zealand, Australia or the South Pacific. Remember the team at Luxury Adventures are always happy to answer any questions you may have, and work with you to create a bespoke itinerary that meets all your requirements budget or otherwise.


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Jul 22
Birchtree is a K-8 public charter school guided by the core principles of Waldorf education located in Palmer, AK. In our school we use art, music, movement, and the teaching of foreign languages to support...Read more
Linen Theme by The Theme Foundry
Copyright © 2019 Birchtree Charter School. All rights reserved.


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This letter is to address the situation that arose over the past few weeks concerning the Carroll County High School freshman basketball team.
This class, though maybe not as talented as others, was a very hard-working and dedicated group of young men. Their season was not stellar, but, unlike their coach, they did not give up – no matter the score or circumstances.
If you currently subscribe or have subscribed in the past to the The News-Democrat, then simply find your account number on your mailing label and enter it below.
Click the question mark below to see where your account ID appears on your mailing label.
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I am delighted you want to check out my personal website, however
please talk to my agents about commissions as they handle all of that for me.
I look forward to working with you.
Based in sunny Los Angeles, Sunny Gu is an artist who's curious about culture. She loves to look for beauty in everything around her and then recreate it in her art. It certainly shows through in her work, which is full of colour, glamour, fashion and ornamentation.
Sunny was born in China but emigrated to the US when she was 13. She's loved drawing for as long as she can remember. Her nickname is 'Bee' because she's obsessed with flowers and if you look inside her wardrobe you'll be overwhelmed by the colourful floral prints and patterns inside. She has plenty of accessories to go with the garments - again, they form important elements in her illustration work.
Her overall aim is to preserve the beauty she sees around her.
Give us a few details and we'll get back
to you quickly with an idea of Sunny's
availability and fees.
Written a book?
Read our Guide for Authors and Private Commissioners that gives you a helpful idea of fees, briefing and timing.
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August 26, 2002
The fourth multi-family housing conference will serve as a forum for discussion, analysis and projection of the effects of strategic economic and demographic factors that will impact the industry during the next 12-18 months.
In the last two years, the predictions for the Los Angeles multi-family housing market have been right on target. This year, Dr. Stephen D. Cauley, associate director of the Ziman Center, will present the first forecast for the entire Southern California region. Cauley and his staff will apply their research to give attendees leading indicators affecting buy, sell, develop and hold decisions. Topics covered will include: demand for apartments, rents, capitalization rates and implications for the financial and social viability of the Southern California economy.
Panel discussions and workshops with leaders from the private, public and non-profit sectors will examine opportunities and challenges for housing Southern California's burgeoning population. The panels will address: forecasting implications for public housing policies and private development strategies, accessing debt and equity capital for the apartment industry, tracking opportunities for investment and development, and creating low cost and affordable housing in California.
Following lunch, conference attendees may choose three of five workshops from the subjects: entitlements, environmental issues, adaptive re-use, title and 1031 exchanges, or property management.
For more detail on the program and participants, as well as agenda updates, please visit www.zimancenter.com/conference.
Keynote Speakers:
Richard Banks, president, west division, Archstone-Smith, keynote address, "A REIT Perspective on the Opportunities and Challenges in Southern California's Multi-Family Housing Markets"
Jerry Brown, mayor, Oakland, Calif., luncheon address, "Oakland: A Case Study in Urban Revival"
Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2002
Registration: 7:30 a.m.
Conference: 8:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, Calif. 90049 (Located in the Sepulveda Pass between Los Angeles and the Valley and next to Mulholland Drive and the 405 Freeway)
Now in its fourth year, the Richard S. Ziman Center for Real Estate's Multi-Family Housing Forecast Conference is considered the preeminent event of its kind on the West Coast. It bridges the divide between research and practice, providing participants with strategies and information on which to base critical public policy and business decisions.
Please contact Mary Ann Lowe in the media relations office of UCLA Anderson at (310) 206-1877 or via e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.com for more information or to register for the conference.
Members of the public should contact the Ziman Center office at (310) 206-9424 or via e-mail at email@example.com or visit www.zimancenter.com/conference for further information, sponsorship opportunities or to register. The conference is open to the public at a cost of $225 prior to Sept. 6 or $265 after Sept. 6.


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Cordless circular saw with pendulum hood 18,0 V
Ideal for traditional applications in dry construction and refurbishing
Recip saws RS and RSP 13-32 less vibration more drive
The new FLEX recip saws RS and RSP 13-32 with anti-vibration system - reduces vibration up to 50 %
Red Dot Design awarded the new cordless polishers
Red Dot Design Award 2018 which is known as an international seal of quality, is awarded for the PE 150 18.0-EC and XFE 150 18.0-EC. Cordless polishing without compromise.
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FLEX. The Original.
Our success is based on innovation. That was the case in 1922, when we developed hand-controlled tools powered by stationary electric motors through flexible shafts. It did not change in 1954, when we launched the first high-speed angle grinder, the DL 9. To make our angle grinders even more reliable, effective, and user-friendly, we continued to develop them. In 1997 we were the first electric power tool manufacturer to introduce the long-neck sander for ceilings and walls – the FLEX Giraffe® - and the latest Giraffe generation is now available.
The WST 700 VV Vario-Giraffe®, with its telescopig function, interchangeable sanding heads, and perfect handling, sets new standards.
And we are keeping up the pace. FLEX is putting all of its experience toward new "problem solvers" and niche products. Come and discover what we have to offer!


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Teen paralyzed in car accident voted prom queen, graduating
Abby Marsh almost killed in car accident
For most high school students, May is a month of milestones. But it also marks great progress for one Northern Kentucky teen who was almost killed in a car accident.
Abby March was paralyzed in a car accident almost one year ago. But the high school senior isn't letting it get in the way of living her life.
"I'm graduating Friday, May 24, and I'm going to have a big party," Marsh said.
Marsh was also voted Prom Queen of the Ryle High School senior class.
"It was very exciting, very fun," Marsh said.
Marsh went back to school in August but since then she has been doing half days in class and spending the other half at physical therapy in Louisville. The accident left her paralyzed from the shoulders down.
"I've gotten a lot stronger in my arms. When I flex I got a little muscle going now," Marsh said. "I'm still working on my fingers, they aren't back but they'll get there."
Marsh said she was flattered to be voted Prom Queen.
"I love everybody at my school and I guess when you love people, they love you back," she said.
Marsh plans to attend Northern Kentucky University in the fall. She hasn't chosen a major yet but she said she's thinking about something to do with helping rehabilitate others.