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With the noted exceptions, graduate students who believe they have been subjected to unfair treatment in the administration of academic policies may seek resolution of their complaints as described below. Graduate School Memorandum No. 33 applies to, but is not limited to, the application of departmental, college or Graduate School policies, deviations from stated grading practices (but not individual grade challenges), unfair treatment, and related issues.
Timing: Students seeking resolution of their complaints under this policy must initiate either an informal conciliation or file a formal complaint within 3 months of the complained of incident.
Informal Conciliation: The student is encouraged, but not required, to first attempt to resolve a grievance with the faculty or staff member(s) most directly concerned. If the student attempts informal conciliation, the student must initiate this process within 3 months of the complained of incident by requesting one of the following persons to conciliate the grievance: director or chair of the unit, or the appropriate college dean.
If discussion with the faculty or staff member(s) concerned, facilitated by the director or chair of the unit or the appropriate college dean, does not resolve the grievance, the student may request the Graduate School to assist in an informal resolution. In such a case, the Dean of the Graduate School shall designate an Associate Dean as the informal conciliator for the Graduate School. The Associate Dean may either facilitate conciliation directly or involve the Ombudsman. If the Associate Dean attempts informal conciliation directly, he or she may not be involved in a subsequent formal complaint. If the student is dissatisfied with the informal conciliation, he or she may file a formal complaint with the Dean of the Graduate School within 10 days of the conclusion of the attempted informal process.
Formal Complaint Filing: Within 3 months of the complained of incident or, if informal conciliation was attempted, within 10 days of the conclusion of the attempted informal process, a student may file a formal complaint with the Dean of the Graduate School.
Chair of the Academic Grievance Committee: The Dean of the Graduate School shall designate an Associate Dean of the Graduate School as Chair of the Graduate School Academic Grievance Committee ("Committee"). If the Associate Dean attempted to facilitate informal conciliation directly in a particular case, then the Dean of the Graduate School shall appoint another Associate Dean or a Graduate Faculty member as Chair of the Committee in that case.
Graduate School Academic Grievance Committee Panel Pool: Prior to the first day of the Autumn Quarter, the Dean of the Graduate School shall appoint to the Panel Pool twenty (20) members of the Graduate Faculty. At the time the formal complaint is filed, all registered graduate students shall constitute a pool from which twenty (20) full-time graduate students who are in good academic standing shall be randomly selected by computer at the direction of the Committee Chair and appointed to the Panel Pool. From this 40-member Panel Pool, the Committee Chair will appoint a Hearing Panel to provide a fair and impartial hearing on the formal complaint filed with the Dean of the Graduate School.
Hearing Panel: A formal grievance will be referred to the Committee Chair who shall within five (5) days of its receipt designate two (2) faculty and two (2) student members from the Panel Pool to serve as Hearing Panel members. The Committee Chair or his or her designee shall act as Hearing Panel Chair. The student and the faculty or staff concerned shall each have the right to exercise one preemptory challenge against the Hearing Panel members, other than the Hearing Panel Chair, within five days after notification of the names of the members. If a challenge is made, the Committee Chair shall designate another faculty or student member to replace the member challenged. All members of the Hearing Panel shall be present for the hearing and shall have the right to vote upon any matter that may come before the Hearing Panel. No member of the Hearing Panel shall be from the department of any of the parties to the grievance. There shall be no ex parte communications between any of the parties and any member of the Hearing Panel.
Hearing Preparation: The Hearing Panel Chair shall distribute a copy of the formal complaint to the member(s) of the faculty and staff concerned, the dean of the college or school, the chair of the department and the Graduate Program Coordinator of the department, and members of the Hearing Panel. The Hearing Panel Chair shall establish a time and place for a hearing to be held no later than fifteen (15) days from the date of final determination of the Hearing Panel membership, unless for good reason stated in writing to the complainant and other concerned parties the Hearing Panel Chair schedules the hearing for a later specified date. The Hearing Panel Chair shall announce the time and place of the hearing to the student, the member(s) of the faculty and staff concerned, the dean of the college or school, the Chair of the department, the Graduate Program Coordinator of the department and include a list of persons so notified, who shall comprise the "mailing list." At least seven (7) days before the hearing, the parties must submit to the Hearing Panel Chair any documentary or any other physical evidence that will be presented at the hearing and any witnesses to be called.
Hearing: Hearings will be conducted, with the Hearing Panel Chair presiding, in closed session except when and to the extent mutually agreed upon by the student and faculty or staff concerned. All parties may present evidence and testimony. Only evidence timely submitted to the Hearing Panel Chair will be considered in determining the validity of the complaint. Hearings will be conducted with reasonable dispatch and terminated as soon as fairness to all parties involved permits.
An attorney is neither necessary nor recommended. The Graduate School Academic Grievance Committee Panel described herein operates as part of an academic hearing, not a judicial proceeding. However, if the student elects to have counsel present, the University's attorney must also be afforded an opportunity to attend. Accordingly, the student must notify the Graduate School, in writing, at least seven (7) days prior to the hearing if he/she intends to have an attorney present. The attorney (ies) presence at the hearing does not change the proceeding. The attorney (ies) will not be able to examine witnesses, ask questions or otherwise take part in the proceedings, except in an unobtrusive manner, in an advisory capacity to their clients.
Within fifteen (15) days after the hearing adjourns, the Hearing Panel shall present to the Dean of the Graduate School its report, including findings, conclusions, and recommendations for action. The report will be simultaneously transmitted to the student and to the faculty and staff member(s) concerned. A written summary of the proceedings will be kept for at least one year and shall include a tape recording of testimony.
The Dean of the Graduate School, within ten (10) days after receipt of the Hearing Panel report, shall issue his or her decision as to the action to be taken on the grievance. The Dean's decision shall include an evaluation of the validity of the grievance and a statement of the action to be taken. Copies of the decision shall be transmitted to the student, the faculty and staff member(s) involved, the dean of the college or school, the chair of the department, and the Graduate Program Coordinator of the department.
The decision of the Dean shall become final at the close of the seventh day after issuance, unless the student or any other party directly involved files a written request for consideration of the findings by the Provost, whose review will be limited to the hearing record.


text:
Meet Cara North! She might be new as a published author, but she has a great future ahead of her.
Cara is really nice and I'm thrilled she's our guest this weekend. If you have any questions for her, feel free to ask!
Sit back and meet Cara...
What is the title of your latest release and what's it about?
The latest release is The Art of Ethan. It is about Grace, a schoolteacher who seems to be stuck in a rut with her life. She has a routine and nothing breaks it, she has settled into being who she is though she deperately wants something more. When her cousin Megan brings Chase, Megan's Fiance and his older brother Ethan to visit, all bets are off. Ethan hasn't had to work for a womans attention in a long time so Grace is a challenge he hopes to win- and win over forever.
What made you decide to become a writer?
I've always journaled. When I was a kid I would make up characters and stories. My mother said I wrote a book when I was little and the school kept it. I know it is something I have to do to be sane. If I go long periods of time without writing in some fashion, I start to get irritable and cranky and man I am no fun to be around then.
For you, what comes first, the characters or the plot?
Characters. Once I know who they are and what they want it is easier for me to make it hard for them to get it. LOL!
Which authors have influenced you over the years, whether for their writing or for their friendship?
Lori Foster is my all time favorite author, her characters drive the stories and I love that. As friendship/mentoring goes I would have to say that Judi McCoy has a huge influence on me, Crystal B. Bright/Bridgette Midway reminds me to keep pushing and keep promoting. Stella Price is a very good friend of mine and her artwork and promotional ideas know no bounds. But Diane Merlin is the person who I have to credit with starting all of this for me. I found her phone number on a bookstore door and thought if this lady is brave enough to put her number on the door then she is serious about writing and she is- I love her, she is one of my very best friends now and though it is years later, we still try to meet and critique, just not as often as before when we were not published.
Finally, what's coming up in the near future for you?
Sanity? LOL! I wish. I will have both the Beaufort Series and The Cowboy Series out in print by the end of 2008. I have several other stories competing for my attention in my head right now, who knows which will win by the time I get to sit down and write them.
Please let me say thank you for this interview and for those who came to the blog to read it. I am a small fish in a small pond and I know that, so every opportunity is valuable to me. For that reason I will send Patti one print copy each of The Art of Ethan and Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off as soon as I get them so she can give them away to the readers. In the meantime you can see what else I am working on at http://www.teasepublishingllc.com/teasepub2.htm
Hugs to you all,
Thanks Cara! Check out Cara's website here.
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Ask Five with....CARA NORTH!!
Meet Cara North! She might be new as a published author, but she has a great future ahead of her.
13 comments:
- Unknown said...
I checked out your website and am really looking forward to the Beaufort series. One question: Is THE ART OF ETHAN the first in the series or do Chase and Megan have their own story?
Thanks for introducing me to Cara, Patti! :D
- Unknown said...
thank you Patti for introducing me to another wonerful author.. i will be looking for your books for sure. They sound awesome.
I love discovering authors that i havent tried before.
- Rachelle said...
Here are 5 questions from me:
How long does it actually take you to sit down and write a novel?
If you were given the opportunity to write an anthology with any four authors, alive or dead, who would you pick and why?
How do you balance your personal and writing time?
Do you have any special rituals to help you get in the mood to write?
If you were stranded on an island, what hero from your books would you
want to be stranded with?
Both books sound great. Can't wait to read them.
- Cara North said...
Jackitoo: Ethan is the first in the series, (bad Cara) I didn't write one for Megan and Chase- though I might now you mentioned it... :)
Nascarandbeans: Thank you and I love Patti she always introduces new books to me too, you know she is a writer also? I can't wait to buy her stuff!
Rachelle: 1. I wrote the Beaufort Series all 3 books in about a 12 month period. I was obsessed and had to get it out so I spent every waking available minute writing. Tequila took me 6 months to write by itself becasue of my work schedule so I guess it depends on how much time I get to give to the computer. I would write all day and night if I could. 2. Lori Foster, Megan Hart, Emma Holly, and Judi McCoy, because they have been some of the greatest influences to my life as a reader and an author. 3. I give my husband the playstation, or I write when he is in the field. (We are a Marine Coprs family) 4. I have to have a coke-cola or some tea and something to snack on- otherwise I am good to write anywhere any time.5. Yikes. What a loaded question! LOL. hmm, Ethan would make it interesting, Jack could rustle up something, but I would have to say Ayden Wolf from the last of the Beaufort Series, he is a prior Navy Seal and FBI agent, he should be able to get us out of ther, or at least make living there acceptable. LOL!
Stacy S.: Thank you
Wow, I am truely grateful to Patti for blogging about me. I will check in over the weekend to see if yo have more questions, ask me anything- wanna know the weird stuff you get if you write one erotic romance? My sister-in-law bought me "The Encyclopedia of Unusual Sex Acts" for research she said. LOL I told her I was intrigued and a bit frightened that this is what my gifts have turned into. LOL
Have a great day!
- Cherie J said...
I enjoyed the interview. It is always great to learn about a new author. I took a look at your website Cara and your books sound great. Thanks for being here!
- kim h said...
sounds hot
- Patti said...
Hi Cara..
LOL about your sister in law's book gift.
I have a copy of the Complete Idiots Guide to Amazing Sex. All pure research. :-D
Do you find it hard to write sex scenes? Or to be original?
- Unknown said...
hmm i need to find a copy of that one and give it to my husband...
- Cara North said...
I really enjoy reading a good steamy sex scene. One that has a surprise, that takes me some place I would not dare go with the lights out and the hottest man on the planet in my own bed. LOL! It is about the escape, the fantasy, and the voyeristic element as a writer to watch the scene in your head and hopefully capture it, the good and bad on the page. I write based on the movie reel rolling in my brian. It is weird and a little hard to explain but I have to watch how things play out. Like a filmmaker I can have final edit and cut or re-shoot a scene if need be, but I try to just let the characters act out and then if it is original it is, but I doubt I have written anything that hasn't been written before, it just has my own take or spin to it. They are my characters and the emotion between them is what makes it different. At least that is what I hope. LOL
- tetewa said...
I'm always looking for new authors to read, enjoyed the interview and exerpts!
- Unknown said...
I love your covers and titles do you get to pick your own titles, and have any say in the covers?
- Cara North said...
Thank you all for having me and for being so kind.
To answer one last q: Yes ma'am I do get to pick my own titles and thanks to my cover artist Stella Price I get to put a whole lot of input into the cover, she is very determined that we love the cover we have on our work. She has done the majority of the tease covers. Check em out at www.teasepublishingllc.com
Thank you all again for having me.
I'll send Patti copies to give away when I get them in my greedy little paws-- heeheheehe
Meet the Author: Lexi Post is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of romance inspired by the classics. She spent ...
Release Tour for MAYBE EVER AFTER by Cassie Graham Maybe it'll never happen, or maybe they'll get their ever after all in MAYBE EVE...
Meet the Author: Sheryl Nantus is an award-winning romance writer published by Entangled, St. Martin's, Samhain, and Harlequin...

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Designer aus der ganzen Welt reichen kreative Designs für rollie in Logo Design - custom ein.
We make and sell a proprietary hand / skin sanitizer and anti-microbial that is effective the entire day. Our competitors products (Purell) are only effective for about 10-15 seconds. It is sold in a variety of forms (wipes, individual use sprayer/spritzer bottles, commercial dispensers -think Purell stations- and refills for the commercial dispensers).
Because our product is effective for the entire day at killing and protecting against harmful bacteria, molds, fungus, viruses and other germs, our product lasts up to 10 times longer than our competitors (a 2 oz bottle of ours has 30-60 days use, a 2 oz bottle of our competitors has 5-10 days use).
We are also an environmentally sound product. We have a low alcohol content (18% vs 65% for competitors)
1. Institutional users: Healthcare (hospitals, medical offices), Education (schools, university), Fitness Centers, Day Care and Senior Care.
2. Retail Customers: pharmacy and check out counter sales at drug stores, grocery superstores and specialty stores. These are sold in indivudual use sizes and are in POP display boxes.
We would like an eye catching logo design that is able to convey our long lasting effectiveness. Additionally, we want it to look professional and have a medical/"doctor recommended" look.
This logo will go on all of the products, from individual wipes to small and medium spray bottles, to institutional dispensers and refill bottles, as well as our website and marketing collateral.
Good Luck. email me with ???? firstname.lastname@example.com
Finden Sie heraus, wie ein Designwettbewerb funktioniert, oder lernen Sie mehr über unsere Logo-Design-Angebote.


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This is an excellent article on why we will have an evil man continue to "lead" this country for four more years! I can only surmise that God has allowed this to let the body of Christ know, that rapture is imminent. Let there be no doubt, that Israel's Benjamin Netahyahu knows full well that the die has been cast!
Divided GOP Resulted in Obama VictoryAs we all know, Barack Obama has been re-elected for a second term. Right about now, Republicans need to ask themselves, "What went wrong?" How could Obama have won? His track record was abysmal. The economy is tanking, unemployment continues to rise, civil government debt has reached a level from which we will probably never be able to recover, foreign relations in the Middle East have only become more treacherous… On almost every issue upon which Obama campaigned, he has proven worse than his predecessor. Yet he has been elected for a second term. Why?
Let's look at the numbers. The race was almost split 50/50. Obama got less than one percent of the votes more than Mitt Romney. Of interest, libertarian Gary Johnson got right at one percent. Gary who? Right. How did a guy with almost no presence during the primaries get one percent of the votes? The only other Libertarian to get this much traction was Ed Clark in 1980 with 1.1 percent. But this wasn't so much a victory for the Libertarian Party as it was a loss for the GOP. How did Gary Johnson get so many votes? Ron Paul. Sorry, but that's just the truth.
Most disillusioned Ron Paul supporters chose either to not vote, to vote for Gary Johnson, or to write in Ron Paul even though such a vote would be largely symbolic. But before you start talking about how lame Ron Paul fans are, let's really assess this issue.
Tea Party candidates in the Senate lost big this election. Joe Walsh and Allen West lost their seats in the Senate. Akin and Mourdock, as expected (or ensured), also lost. Almost all the members of the GOP who operated on a principled conservative Republican "Tea Party" platform did poorly this election. Why? Because the party establishment abandoned them. The Tea Party didn't cause the split. The Tea Party represents the majority of active grassroots Republicans. The GOP power brokers caused the split. And they added insult to injury by pretending like they didn't need the Tea Partiers any more. Say what you will, but the GOP is going through a major identity crisis. And I think it's choosing to become Mr. Hyde. But it doesn't have to be this way.
Consider that most of the people, if not all, who voted for Mitt Romney would have voted for whomever the GOP nominated. No matter what. Anyone but Obama, remember? These people voted pragmatically… er, not so pragmatically now that all is said and done. So most of the people, if not all, who voted for Romney would have voted for the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man if he had been on the ballot with an "R" next to his name. So they really don't matter in the end. Despite all of the media drivel about electability, any Republican candidate would have gained at least the number of votes that Romney did. But I believe a few of the primary candidates could have gained more. The Republican Party was trying to get some extra votes from the middle, so they chose a big-government-lite candidate with largely liberal social policies that could appeal to "moderate" voters. Wrong plan of action. Moderate voters swung to Obama anyway. All the Republican Party did by putting all its eggs into the middle-of-the-road candidate was jettison the swing voters they should have been appealing to instead: the conservative idealists.
The Republican Party may hate the conscientious and often contentious idealists at their base, but as this election proved, they cannot afford to ignore them. It is illogical to do so anyway. Let's think about this. What if Ron Paul had been nominated? The hold-your-nose-and-vote Republicans would still have voted for him. And if they wouldn't, they have no place whatsoever to criticize idealists who wouldn't vote for Romney. If the GOP machine had gotten behind him like they did Romney, there's no indication that Paul would have fared any different than Romney. At least as well, as I said. But on top of the hold-your-nosers, Ron Paul had a rabid base of extremely motivated supporters (at least a million, actually… just ask Gary Johnson) who certainly would have voted for him though they refused to support Romney. (Oh, if only we had fewer Americans with unshakeable convictions. They're such a plague on this country. Yeah. Whatevuh.) He also attracted many moderate voters who liked his states-rights stance on illegal drugs and homosexual marriage. Colorado just voted to legalize marijuana, by the way… and it went to Obama this election… again. So, bottom line: if Ron Paul had been nominated, in all likelihood we would have a Republican President-elect right now. But he's not electable… And Romney is? Hello!? Any of the candidates would have done at least as well as he did, and I think any of them would have actually done better. Romney wasn't the voters' first choice. He was the GOP establishment's first choice. Let's not kid ourselves on that one. And this is the same group that gave us McCain. Remember that guy? He was "electable" too. When will we ever learn?
Why was Romney crammed down our throats? The GOP establishment wanted him in. And they're also the reason why so many Tea Party candidates suffered losses this election. They refuse to support conscientious Republicans with constitutional convictions because it seems they have an agenda to rewire and reform the Republican Party in their own image whether or not Republican voters agree with them. They are forcing the Republican Party to become something it never was before, and they are promoting their agenda with fear, force, and manipulation. They have commandeered the energy and resources of men of conviction while trampling those same convictions underfoot. They think we will go along with them no matter what because the alternative is so intolerable. And so far, they have been right. They have betrayed this party using our votes, our voice, our power.
Don't blame the Paulbots or the independents for four more years of Obama's national trainwreck. Blame the GOP establishment power brokers. Their stubborn unwillingness to listen to their constituency and their blatant disregard for the traditonal federal constitutionalism that once made the GOP "grand" has cost us yet another election cycle, perhaps the most critical to date. We can't afford to place our trust in them anymore. Let them know loud and clear: "Give us candidates who fully support our values, not your agenda! And back these candidates with your full endorsement. We won't be fooled again. We won't accept another Romney, and if you give us one, we will not vote for him." Do we have the courage to do this? We didn't have that courage this election. We thought too much was at stake. Too much was at stake. And we lost it because of fear. If we don't gain the courage necessary to stand on conviction, this country is most assuredly doomed.


text:
I am using the desktop version of ShipRush Discount Postage. The Setup Wizard runs on almost every launch of the application. It prompts me to create a new account or use an existing account for Discount Postage. If I select my previous account, I receive a message of the account is already on the system. Creating a new account does get past the issue, but then the next time I relaunch the application the Setup Wizard starts again.
I am doing testing using the desktop Visual API and the Setup Wizards launches from there as well. I also get occasionally get errors about postage balances when there is a balance and an access violation. I have attached images of those errors.
I am not sure if there is something wrong with my installation but I have tried uninstalling and reinstalling and that has not helped.


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[Samui hotels]
中 文
日 本
Poolsawas Residence
171 Moo 2, T. Bophut
Koh Samui, Suratthani 84320
Hotel category:
Traveler ratings
Summary of 11 reviews :
Room :
Facilities :
Service :
Location :
Poolsawas Residence is conveniently located in the major business, shopping and entertainment district in the center of Chaweng. Tongtip Mansion offers 68 comfortable air-conditioned rooms in a 3-storey building. Each room features a television with 30 channels, hot shower, terrace, mini bar or fridge. You can choose between doublebed or twinbed rooms. The hotel has a garden spa and traditional Thai massage center for your ultimate indulgence. Downstairs you will find a Thai - Italian restaurant, an internet café, a tour desk, a mini-supermarket, a pharmacy, a laundry and a gift shop.
Hotel summary
Rates & Reservation
Pictures & Facilities
Travel reviews
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Travel reviews for Poolsawas Residence
Date of stay:
Mar 20, 2018
Accommodation and facilities:
great hotel for the money stayed there 5 times no complaints good location reasonable rates
Reservation service:
Mar 23, 2018
written by:
Mr Gary Burmeister
Date of stay:
Dec 11, 2014
Accommodation and facilities:
We were not warned that the hotel is being renovated. In the morning could sleep, but we woke sounds of construction
Reservation service:
Dec 16, 2014
written by:
Bazhenov Sergey
Date of stay:
Feb 18, 2014
Accommodation and facilities:
The place to go for small budget expecting good quality, and not far from the center of chaweng
Reservation service:
Feb 21, 2014
written by:
Date of stay:
Feb 06, 2014
Accommodation and facilities:
No wifi at the room..cause of near by contraction issue there was no water for a day.. Only location and staff good..
Reservation service:
Feb 09, 2014
written by:
Aziz Basaran
Date of stay:
Feb 05, 2014
Accommodation and facilities:
good Hotel friendly staff less than 5 minuets to the heart of the main beach road shop laundry chemist located at Hotel, have re-booked from the 5/02/14 to the 12/02/14
Reservation service:
excellent no problems or concern s about paying on line would recomend.
Feb 08, 2014
written by:
Robert Jones
Date of stay:
Sep 23, 2013
Accommodation and facilities:
Nice cheap hotel with very good service. Very good location and you have a farmacy, restaurant, tattoo shop, laundry, shops and a small supermarket on the hotel area. The main street with bars, clubs, shops and restaurants is only a 2 minutes walk away. To walk to the beach takes max 5 minutes. The only negative is that the shower is situated right over the toilet, and that you can hear some loud music from the clubs at night. I would recommend this hotel for sure :-)
Reservation service:
Very good site
Sep 27, 2013
written by:
Renathe Karlsen
Date of stay:
Sep 03, 2013
Accommodation and facilities:
We stayed 7 nights here. The front desk welcoming service is good. Their staffs have poor command of English, it s hard to communicate with them, but it s not a big deal. We stayed in a triple bed room. The room is very convenient for 3 people. They served nescafe, tea and ovaltine, as well as hot and cold drinking water to refill at ground floor. The hotel itself provides cars and motorcycles for rental at a good price. Shampoos and soaps are not refilled or be given a new one even we request for housekeeping after 3 days stay. Various channels on TV are provided ranging from Thai channels to Russian and Deutsch channels are also available, including English news channels. Air-conditioner and refrigerator are in good condition. Convenience store and pharmacy located just at the ground floor of the hotel. The location is good, strategically located near to the Chaweng beach, only around 10 to 15 minutes walk to the beach. Quite noisy at night as it is nearby to some of Chaweng s great night clubs. Overall, it is a value for money stay for us!
Reservation service:
The booking service is good. It is just when I have paid online through PayPal, the receipt sent to me is quite late, but still within an hour. As this is my first time booking hotel through Sawadee.com, to receive the receipt in more than 30 minutes makes me doubt at Sawadee in the beginning. The doubt has been deleted in my mind as the overall service is better than expected.
Sep 08, 2013
written by:
Azril Hafifi Bin Mohd Yusoff
Date of stay:
Jun 21, 2012
Accommodation and facilities:
It was nice stay. Not far away from Chaweng Beach and mango square. Room facing hill temple is very good and no noise from mango square. Quality of room is good. If they provide internet facility it will be an advantage.
Reservation service:
It was helpful and good
Jun 29, 2012
written by:
Date of stay:
Feb 10, 2012
Accommodation and facilities:
lady on desk very helpful tkar room at back if you are ols like me as dsxco can be heard from front rooms
Reservation service:
quick effective will use again
Feb 14, 2012
written by:
brian fenton
Date of stay:
Jan 02, 2012
Accommodation and facilities:
It was very nice. The hotel is very clean and in the middle of nightlife.
Reservation service:
Jan 05, 2012
written by:
Pankratov Rostislav
Date of stay:
Jul 01, 2010
Accommodation and facilities:
good hotel but if you look around possible have hotel no same expansive.....in reception have mind very strong....no very good
Reservation service:
Jul 05, 2010
written by:
enrico canepa
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Poolsawas Residence
a budget hotel conveniently located in Chaweng, offers comfort and accessibility. It is close to the main entertainment and shopping centers of Chaweng Beach, 10 minutes drive from Samui airport and 30 minutes from Nathon pier.
A three floor hotel with 68 air conditioned rooms, Poolsawas Residence is for tourists who prefer budget rooms, without compromising comfort and a bit of luxury. The hotel features a garden spa and a traditional Thai massage center for your ultimate pampering. There is also a Thai - Italian restaurant, an Internet cafe, a tour counter, a mini convenience store, a pharmacy, laundry and a souvenir shop at the ground floor.
We have a free daily shuttle service to Chaweng beach at 11 am and back at 4 pm. Chaweng Beach is the best place in Samui to do swimming and sunbathing. Most of the tourists visiting the island spend more of their time on this beach.
Aside from being air conditioned, all 68 air conditioned rooms are fully furnished. Each room has a TV with 30 channels to enjoy, hot and cold shower, private glass door to tiled terrace, mini bar, refrigerator and daily maid and room services. You can choose from double bed or twin bed. Rental is available on a daily and monthly basis.
A friendly atmosphere welcomes you as you enter the hotel. An English speaking staff awaits you.
Poolsawas Residence offers 68 air conditioned rooms for your accommodation needs as you enjoy the bliss of the island. You can choose a twin bedroom or double bedroom with hot and cold shower inside. Rooms are furnished and maintained regularly without any extra charge for you.
:: Standard Room, Double Bed ::
:: Standard Room, Twin Bed ::
We offer daily, monthly, or yearly room rates. Every room is fully furnished with modern facilities:
Fully furnished
Private window / door to tiled terrace
30 channels cable TV.
Individually controlled air conditioning
Mini bar / fridge
Hot and cold shower
Mayawee Fish Spa:
Protect and beautify your feet and make it look healthier with "Doctor Fish", intended to relax your tensed muscles. It works by opening your skin pores to allow essential herbal essences gently press onto your body with Thai herbal steam massage which can improve blood circulation and re energize your body and mind. It's the way of total relaxation, "Mayawee Fish Spa" is pleased to welcome everyone to experience a special service in the garden atmosphere at Tongtip mansion's ground floor.
Traditional Thai Massage:
An ancient art of applying pressure onto specific points of your body, and manipulating muscles. The sense of well-being this gives, as energy and flexibility are brought back into your body, is extraordinary.
Herbal Steam room:
Relaxing, open your skin, opening your breathing with herbal steam gently press onto your body.
Other Facilities:
Safety box at reception
24 hours convenience store
Free Wi-Fi
Laundry service
Daily maid service
Room service
Transfer service
Conveniently located in the main commercial, shopping and entertainment areas, Poolsawas Residence is only minutes away from Chaweng Beach.
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Cranberry Doughnuts
When cranberries are in season, I get this recipe out and make these tasty doughnuts. When my children were small, I'd usually double the recipe and sometimes the doughnuts would all be gone before they could cool.
Total TimePrep/Total Time: 20 min.
Makes1-1/2 dozen
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon butter, melted
- 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh or frozen cranberries
- Oil for deep-fat frying
- Additional sugar
- In a bowl, beat egg; add sugar and butter. Combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt; add to sugar mixture alternately with milk. Stir in cranberries.
- Heat oil in an electric skillet or deep-fat fryer to 375°. Drop tablespoonfuls of batter into oil. Fry doughnuts a few at a time, turning with a slotted spoon until golden, about 2 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels; roll in sugar while still warm.


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Select your departure terminal to see the range of products available
Duty Free Shopping - UK
Duty Free Shopping
Duty Free is the term commonly used to products that are exempt of excise duty (& tax); these are exclusively available to international passengers who are travelling outside of the European Union (EU).
In-store these items are identified with tickets which have a green box on them with the wording 'Only available to passengers flying OUTSIDE the European Union'.
These items include cigarettes, machine-made cigars, rolling tobacco and a range of selected spirits.
Flying within the UK & European Union
The good news for those travelling within the EU & UK, there are great many products still available to purchase including an extensive range of spirits, wine, champagne, fragrance, skincare and confectionery – in fact everything in-store is available to purchase with the exception of cigarettes, tobacco and select range of spirits designated as 'duty free' for those passengers flying outside the EU.
Additionally, unlike duty free purchases, there are no allowance restrictions on the amount that can be purchased for personal use.
The countries which are part of the European Union
The EU includes the following 27 countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain (including the Balearic Islands - Mallorca, Ibiza and Menorca), Sweden, the Netherlands, the UK.
Please note: There are a number of other islands or territories which, despite being within the "footprint" of the EU, or being sovereign states of those 27 members of the EU, are not within the tax territory of the EU. This means that whenever you are flying to those countries/areas listed below, you can buy relevant goods at "Duty Free" prices. The destinations are: The Canary Islands - Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura (these are part of Spain), the Channel Islands - Jersey & Guernsey and Gibraltar (these are part of the UK).


text: The Two-Layered GUI Toolkit is a library of GUI helper classes which is designed in a way to simplify development of separate interchangeable front-ends. For every supported dialog box type, there is a settings class (independent from a GUI toolkit) whose options can be used by one of the implementations for a specific GUI toolkit (bindings for Gtk#, WPF, and WinForms are provided, but custom ones can be added). That is, the dialog definition can be prepared by the application's core component and passed to the front-end, which uses it to instantiate the dialog box using whatever GUI toolkit it likes.


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Meet Donathan Brown
Professor Donathan Brown's classes that focus on intercultural communication, elections, and campaigns have inspired students to get involved with local governments and law offices and have made them reflect and question socio-political conflicts. He is the current editor of the Journal of Race and Policy.
Q: What research are you working on now?
A: I'm looking at the far-reaching policy domain housed under the term "immigration reform." Just recently, I authored an article in the Harvard Journal of Hispanic Policy pertaining to English-only laws in Arizona and the fallout pertaining to the Escamilla v. Cuello case. A colleague and I are just completing a book examining contemporary debates on both the state and federal level pertaining to immigration policies and how race continues to steer such policies in a misguided direction.


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Product Highlights
- Reproducible – consistent results between technical replicates for increased confidence in results
- Specific – antibody-mediated hot-start DNA polymerase minimizes non-specific amplification for improved assay sensitivity and reliability
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- Fast – delivers reproducible, accurate assay results in as little as 30 minutes
Product Description
The SensiFAST™ SYBR Hi-ROX Kit has been developed for fast, highly accurate real-time PCR and has been validated on all commonly-used real-time instruments that require a high concentration of the passive reference dye ROX.
A combination of the latest advances in buffer chemistry and PCR enhancers ensures that the SensiFAST SYBR Hi-ROX Kit produces reliable assay results under fast thermal cycling conditions. An antibody-mediated hot-start DNA polymerase system promotes highly-specific amplification, in turn improving assay sensitivity and dynamic range.
The SensiFAST SYBR® Hi-ROX Kit has been optimized to deliver optimal performance in tandem with the SensiFAST cDNA Synthesis Kit, which offers fast, unbiased cDNA synthesis, without compromising cDNA yield or coverage.
- Gene expression analysis
- DNA / RNA target detection
- miRNA profiling / quantification
- Copy number variation (CNV) analysis
SensiFAST Products Customer Review
SensiFAST SYBR No-ROX One-Step Kit Customer Review
One-step Vs. Two-step real-time RT PCRA discussion of the pros and cons of each detection strategy.
I had a very good experience with the SensiFAST SYBR. It was quick and easy to use, while also providing me with near perfect R-squared values and dissociation curves. Even when compared to other, more expensive, master mixes, I obtained results of equal or better quality.
Mariah Meyer, University of Montana, DBS, US
Instrument CompatibilityPlease refer to the Real-Time PCR Selection Chart to confirm the SensiFAST SYBR® Hi-ROX Kit is compatible with your instrument.
Certification of Analysis (COAs)
500 x 20 µL Reactions
2000 x 20 µL Reactions
SensiFAST SYBR® Hi-ROX mix (2x)
5 x 1 mL
4 x 5 mL
- BIO-92005: 500 x 20 µL Reactions: 5 x 1 mL
- BIO-92020: 2000 x 20 µL Reactions: 4 x 5 mL
Storage & Stability
All kit components should be stored at -20°C upon receipt for optimum stability. Repeated freeze/thaw cycles should be avoided. Avoid exposure of the SYBR® Green I to light.
When stored under the recommended conditions and handled correctly, full activity of the kit is retained until the expiry date indicated on the outer box label.
Shipping conditions
SensiFAST SYBR® Lo-ROX Kit is shipped on dry/blue ice
Human - Rosato R.R., et al. Cancer Res. 67: 9490-500 (2007)
Rat - Remund K., et al. Expt. Lung Res. 35: 359-370 (2009)
Drosophila - Brown A.E., et al. PloS ONE 4: e4490 (2009)
Nitrogen-fixing bacteria - Bahlawane C., et al. Mol. Plant-Microbe Inter. 21: 1498-1509 (2008)
Diphtheria bacteria - Jochmann N., et al. Microbiology 155: 1459-1477 (2009)
Green algae - Wobbe L., et al. PNAS 106: 13290-13295 (2009)
Bovine virus - Park S-I., et al. J. Virol. Methods. 159: 64-6 (2009)
For cDNA/DNA templates SensiFAST SYBR® and Probe kits are used. To give you some idea of a few of the types of templates used with these kits:
Stem Cell - Bernardo A.S., et al. Stem Cells 27(2): 341 -351 (2008)
Cow - Baumert A., et al. J. Dairy Research 76(3): 356-364 (2009)
Mouse - Hoyles R.K., et al. Arthritis Rheum. 58(4): 1175-88 (2008)
Quail - De Winter P., et al. British Poultry Science 49(5): 566 – 573 (2008)
Insect - Bass C., et al. Malaria journal 6 111 (2007)
Fish - Miller M.R., et al. J. Nutr. 138(11): 2179-2185 (2008)
Crab - Wilcockson D.C. & Webster S.G. Gen. & Comp. Endo. 156: 113–125 (2008)
Nematode - Murray S.L., et al. Mol. Plant-Microbe Interactions 20(11): 1431–1438 (2007)
Plant - Hecht V., et al. Plant Physiology Preview DOI:10.1104/pp.107.096818 (2007)
Yeast - Kawauchi J., et al. Genes & Dev. 22: 1082-1092 (2008)
E.coli Bacteria - Saeed H.A., et al. Research J. Microbiology 4(4); 173-177 (2009)
Virus - Muscillo M., et al. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 191: 1-4 (2008)


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WEDNESDAY, Aug. 17, 2011 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers have found an antibody that might someday be useful in identifying women who have a higher risk of ovarian cancer, or possibly diagnosing early ovarian cancer.
This particular antibody, which was detected in blood, develops as an immune system response to a protein called mesothelin. This protein is present in advanced ovarian cancer. Although mesothelin is found in normal tissue, it's found in abundance in ovarian cancer cells.
The current study found that infertile women, who are known to have an increased risk of ovarian cancer, were more likely to have the mesothelin antibody. The researchers also found that women with ovarian cancer were more likely to have this antibody.
"We're taking a novel approach to try to identify earlier biomarkers of ovarian cancer by looking at high-risk women," said study author Judith Luborsky, a professor of pharmacology, obstetrics and gynecology, and preventive medicine at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.
"This study found that there are antibodies to mesothelin circulating in women that have infertility," noted Dr. Len Lichtenfeld, deputy chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society. Exactly what these findings mean isn't yet clear, however. "Are these women who will develop ovarian cancer? Are these antibodies related to infertility? This research gives us some clues, and leads to many more questions," he said.
As for an individual woman who's currently concerned about ovarian cancer, Lichtenfeld said, "I would be very cautious about drawing any conclusion about the meaning of an elevated antibody level in an individual woman."
Results of the study will be published Aug. 17 in the online version of the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
Almost 22,000 American women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year, and more than 15,000 women die each year as a result of this disease, reports the American Cancer Society.
Most women who develop ovarian cancer aren't diagnosed until the disease is advanced. If it's found early, ovarian cancer has a five-year survival rate of 94 percent, according to the cancer society. Two tests that experts hoped would help change that -- a combination of transvaginal ultrasound and a blood test for CA-125, a marker associated with ovarian cancer -- haven't reduced a woman's risk of dying from ovarian cancer, according to a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Luborsky and her colleagues wanted to try to find a way to detect early cancer or a screening test for who's at high risk for ovarian cancer before the cancer develops. Testing for mesothelin wouldn't work, because it isn't found at high levels until the cancer is advanced.
So, instead of looking for mesothelin, the researchers looked at a group of 109 infertile women, 28 women with ovarian cancer, and 24 women with benign ovarian cysts or tumors to see if these groups had antibodies to mesothelin. They also compared the three groups of women to healthy women to see if mesothelin antibodies were present.
Significant levels of mesothelin antibodies were found in women with ovarian cancer and in women with unexplained infertility or women who were infertile due to premature ovarian failure or ovulation problems. Women who were infertile due to endometriosis didn't have significant levels of mesothelin antibodies, according to the study. Healthy women, and women with benign ovarian growths also didn't have significant levels of mesothelin antibodies, the investigators found.
"There's a lot more we have to learn, but our aim would be for a screening test that could improve detection," said Luborsky.
More information
Learn more about ovarian cancer from the American Cancer Society.


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We need to manipulate a set of records returned from a select query. This can be done in :
- Either by saving the whole record to a table variable and then do the required process.
We can do like this
Select * from (select * from table where conditions) AS results where results.RowNum between ....
So what is the best method in this case.. using a table variable or the 2nd method. Is there any performance issues in using the second method compared to first?


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Browsing Conference papers by Author "Reisch, Lucia A."
Now showing items 1-3 of 3
Reisch, Lucia A.; Gwozdz, Wencke (Frederiksberg, 2011)[More information][Less information]
Abstract: To understand the rising prevalence of obesity in affluent societies, it is necessary to take into account the growing obesity infrastructure, which over past decades has developed into an obesogenic environment. This infrastructure is a direct reflection of the mainstream economic growth paradigm that the literature on consumer culture characterizes as chronic overconsumption. This study examines the effects of one of the constituent factors of consumer societies and a key contributory factor to childhood obesity: commercial food communication targeted to children and its impact on their food knowledge and food preferences. Because evaluations of traditional information- and education-based interventions suggest that they may not sustainably change food patterns, we combine insights from behavioral economics and traditional consumer behavior theory to formulate seven hypotheses, which we then test using a subsample from the IDEFICS study. The results reveal not only that advertising has divergent effects on children's food knowledge and preferences but that food knowledge is unrelated to food preferences, a finding that has important implications for future research and public policy. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10398/8333
Files in this item: 1Reisch_Gwozdz_2011.pdf (142.5Kb)
An Analysis of Factors Influencing Diets of European ChildrenGwozdz, Wencke; Reisch, Lucia A.; DeHenauw, Stefaan; Lissner, Lauren; Moreno, Luis; Tornaritis, Michael; Molnar, Denes; Siani, Alfonso; Veidebaum, Toomas; Pigeot, Iris (Frederiksberg, 2011)[More information][Less information]
Abstract: Because interventions related to diet and other health behaviours are seldom successful and/or sustainable, it is extremely important to identify the individual factors that contribute to a healthier or unhealthier diet. To this end, we use cross-sectional data from the IDEFICS study to analyse the dietary behaviour of children aged between 2 and 9 years in eight European countries. We model the complex nature of these individual factors using structural equation modelling. Our results show that both sedentary behaviour and food exposure are strong contributors to children's dietary choices. However, although we find a positive relation between a healthy diet and weight status for girls, weight status appears independent of diet quality for boys. These outcomes, although they permit no firm conclusions on health policy strategies, clearly suggest that further research based on longitudinal data could provide valuable insights for the design of successful prevention and intervention strategies. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10398/8334
Files in this item: 1GwozdzReisch_2011.pdf (273.6Kb)
Müller, Tina; Gwozdz, Wencke; Reisch, Lucia A. (Frederiksberg, 2014)[More information][Less information]
Abstract: The current fashion system is highly unsustainable, as continuous overproduction and overconsumption is contributing to environmental as well as social degradation. The aim of the study is to investigate the relationship between consumers' perceived responsibility for the non-sustainability of the fashion industry, diffusion of responsibility between different actors, label knowledge and use, perceived external barriers and environmental apparel consumption. Theoretically, we combine the Motivation-Opportunity-Ability-Model with norm activation theory. We use a representative sample of young Swedish consumers for our analysis. Findings show that perceived personal responsibility as well as label knowledge and use enhance environmental apparel consumption. The small but significant negative effect of perceived responsibility diffusion on environmental apparel consumption indicates that responsibilities between relevant actors might have to be delegated more explicitly than it happens today. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10398/9023
Files in this item: 1Gwozdz2014.pdf (975.7Kb)
Now showing items 1-3 of 3


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21 March 2014 at 10.16am | Comment on this article
The devil crops up in opera from around the mid-19th century, as composers increasingly turned to gothic stories and folktales for inspiration. To begin with, he was a minor presence – like Samiel in Weber's Der Freischütz (1821), who exists only as a threatening voice in the Wolf's Glen scene. However, by 1831 he had taken centre stage, as Bertram in Meyerbeer's Robert le diable. Bertram's progress from Act I's jocular-macabre prankster, through Act III's terrifying hell-raiser and finally to the melancholy father of Act V is one of the most interesting aspects of Meyerbeer's masterpiece.
An explosion of musical interest in Goethe's verse-drama Faust led to yet more fascinating devils stalking across the operatic boards. Each operatic interpretation of Goethe's devil, Mephistopheles, is different. Berlioz (La Damnation de Faust, 1846; originally a dramatic oratorio, now often performed as an opera) makes him a pitiless villain, who tricks Faust into their pact, then sweeps him to the infernal regions in the terrifying ride to Hell. Gounod's Méphistophélès (Faust, 1859) can be almost as vicious, as in the Act IV cathedral scene with Marguerite, but has a dandyish charm, exemplified in his Act II aria 'Le Veau d'or' and the Act III quartet. Boito made the title character of Mefistofele (1868) a nihilistic philosopher, who enters the pact with Faust after he has made a wager with the heavenly host that he can corrupt a good man. He expresses his contempt for both mankind and heaven in his Act I aria 'Son lo spirito che nega sempre tutto' – a thrilling piece, both frightening and blackly humorous.
Offenbach learnt from Gounod and Boito that devils are at their most compelling when they combine malignancy with charm and wit, and used his knowledge in the creation of the four villains (usually sung by one performer) in Les Contes d'Hoffmann (1881). Offenbach's devils are thoroughly unpleasant – and yet we appreciate their dry humour (as in Counsellor Lindorf's 'Dans les rôles d'amoureux langoureux') and suave repartee (as in Dapertutto's elegant 'Scintille, diamant'). Nothing, though, stops them from being merciless – like all demonic figures.
Unless that is, they are devils from Russia and Eastern Europe. These are usually more cheerful and tameable than their western counterparts. The devil in Tchaikovsky's The Tsarina's Slippers (Cherevichki, 1887) is more interested in courting the witch Solokha (with whom he has the delightful folksy duet 'Osedlayu Pomelo' in Act I) than in causing destruction. True, he tries half-heartedly to get the hero Vakula's soul, but once Vakula vanquishes him with a crucifix he becomes docile, and plays a vital part in bringing the story to its happy end. Meanwhile in Dvořák's comic opera The Devil and Kate (1899) the devil Marbuel turns out to be a coward; no match for the sharp-tongued village girl Kate, who uses his terror of her to win wealth and status.
Though the 19th century was really the devil's operatic heyday, he had one final great incarnation as Nick Shadow in Stravinsky's The Rake's Progress (1951). Like all great devils, Nick has his attractive side. What could be more enticing than his promises to Tom of wealth and loyal service? And his jolly banter with his master (as in the Act II duet 'My tale shall be told, Both by young and by old') certainly shows his diabolic humour. Even when he plays cards for Tom's soul in Act III Shadow maintains a certain charm. However, he's certainly not to be trusted, and once he's lost at cards (despite cheating) he reveals a terrifying malignancy in his closing infernal aria 'I burn! I freeze!', condemning Tom to insanity as he descends to Hell.
However charming they may appear, and whatever they promise you, devils are not to be meddled with!
Faust runs 4–25 April 2014. Tickets are still available.
The production is a co-production with Opéra de Monte Carlo, Opéra de Lille and Fondazione Teatro Lirico Giuseppe Verdi, Trieste. It is given with generous philanthropic support from David Hancock, Spindrift Al Swaidi, Martin and Jane Houston, Mr and Mrs Christopher W.T. Johnston, The Tsukanov Family Foundation, The Connoisseurs' Series and The Friends of Covent Garden.
Find out about the other events in the Royal Opera House's Faustian Pack.
The Royal Opera's productions of Robert le diable and Cherevichki are available on DVD and Blu-ray.


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Mickie James spoke with Scott Fishman of The Miami Herald. Here are some highlights.
On her new album entitled Somebody's Gonna Pay: So much has changed not only in my life, but in my career as well since the release of the first album. I wanted the album itself to represent and relate to that…I was getting such great songs, so I wanted to make sure the songs that I did write for the album measured up to these songs. I learned a lot from that first album, and I'm still learning."
"I feel like this one is a little bit more rough around the edge. The first album I had written some of the songs on there, but I didn't know who I was as much as a performer off stage and stylistically who I was. So I went more for the traditional style of country and what was playing on the radio. This time, with the people who were beside me and the changes in my life, I'm a little more fearless as far as breaking down boundaries and walls and not caring about what everyone as a whole thinks."
On fan perception of the album: "I do hope that they do love it, but it was more about putting out music that I love, that I want to hear and hopefully that my fans want to hear. I'm trying to be a little more true to myself because I am a little rough around the edges. My story is different than a lot of people, so for me to stay in some type of mold that a female country artist is supposed to be is ridiculous because that is not who I am. With the right people behind me and guiding me and telling me it's OK to be who I am. That's what makes it different and me unique."
"If nothing came of it, then that was fine. Music was always something I wanted to do. I was always passionate about it. I just didn't know the first thing to begin on that road. So I took the songs to Nashville thinking that even if the album ended up on my mom's coffee table and nothing comes of it, at least I did it. At least I can say I did it because it was the one thing in my life that I wanted to do but never have done. All these doors started to open."
On comparing WWE and TNA: "I hate to compare the two companies, but I will say my schedule has been much lighter with TNA, giving me more time to work on that album. [TNA President] Dixie [Carter] has been super supportive. When I first got signed to TNA that was one of the things she wanted to embrace was music. Not a lot of people know this, but Dixie represented Tanya Tucker for 20 or so years I think. I don't know the timeline, but she was working with her forever. So she comes from the country music world and knows how it works. She was able to lend a ton of advice and help me out as far as that aspect goes. TNA let me do my own music video and helped write my entrance music, which we added to the album as a bonus track for fun for all the wrestling fans."
On her aspirations now that her album is completed: "I still have more stuff I want to do. I've accomplished a lot, but I haven't accomplished everything. I would like to hold the knockouts championship for a respectable amount of time. That would be nice. I would like to perhaps win the knockouts tag team titles or in that avenue, but I don't know what we are doing with those titles. I would love to go to Japan and wrestle there. I have a million and one things I really want to do."


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New York Red Bulls Academy product Adam Najem and Akron advanced to the NCAA Final Four in Kansas City with a win in the Quarterfinals last weekend. Eleven teams, made up of 24 New York Red Bulls Academy products, qualified for the NCAA Tournament and three of those teams made it to the Elite Eight.
The following is a list of New York Red Bulls Academy products in the 2015 NCAA Soccer Championship:
No. 4 Akron: Adam Najem (MID) – Adam Najem scored the game-winning goal on a free kick in the 102nd minute to lift his team over No. 12 Creighton in the Quarterfinals, 3-2. The double overtime goal sends Akron to Kansas City as a member of the Final Four. The junior has tallied one goal and two assists in three 2015 NCAA Tournament matches. Akron will face No. 8 Stanford in the Final Four on Dec. 11 at 8:30 p.m. ET (TV: ESPN U) for the right to advance to the NCAA Championship.
No. 10 Maryland*: Mael Corboz (MID) – Maryland tied No. 2 Clemson, 1-1, but were eliminated in penalty kicks, 3-1. Mael Corboz recorded four shots, played the entire 120 minutes of the match and converted the Terps' lone penalty kick in the shootout. The senior had three assists in three 2015 NCAA Tournament games.
No. 1 Wake Forest*: Steven Echevarria (MID), Kevin Politz (DEF) – Top-seeded Wake Forest fell in overtime to No. 8 Stanford, 2-1. U.S. international Jordan Morris opened the scoring early for Stanford in the 18th minute, only to see the Demon Deacons level the match in the 70th minute. Stanford grabbed the winner in overtime at the 97th minute to advance to the Final Four. Steven Echevarria and Kevin Politz did not play in the match.
* – Eliminated from NCAA Tournament


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All photos: Matthew Albanese
When I first saw Matthew Albanese's art, it really struck me as beautiful on the first degree, like a well-composed nature photograph that tells a story and reveals the charms of nature (as if Mother Earth had put on her best evening gown and jewels — fair trade and conflict free, of course). But then, when you find out how Albanese creates his pieces, there's a second degree of cool; his work is all about tromple l'oeil optical illusions. The amount of detail in his work, including small light effects and reflections to fool our brains, is impressive.
I hope you'll enjoy his work, as well as the behind-the-scenes photos that show a little bit how the magic happens. (In this case, I feel like knowing the tricks enhances the appreciation.)
A bit of background on Albanese, the artist who created these, and who you can see above: "Matthew Albanese's fascination with film, special effects and movie magic — and the mechanics behind these illusions — began early. Born in northern New Jersey in 1983, Albanese spent a peripatetic childhood moving between New Jersey and upstate New York. An only child, Albanese enjoyed imaginative, solitary play. He loved miniatures and created scenarios intricately set with household objects and his extensive collection of action figures."
This piece is titled "A new Life #1."
This is a behind-the-scenes look at "A New Life #1."
Doesn't it look like the kind of place where you'd want to spend some time? Maybe with a good book, toes in the sand...
The clouds were made with cotton balls from the drug store.
This one is titled "How to Breathe Underwater." Matthew describes it like this: "Diorama made out of walnuts, poured and cast candle wax, wire, glitter, peanut shells, flock, plaster, wire, dyed starfish, compressed moss, jellybeans (anemones), sponges, wax coated seashells, toothpaste, clay, figs, feathers, Q-tips, nonpareils."
And here's the scoop behind the scenes: "Surface of the water was created using vinyl shower curtain, plexiglass and clear epoxy. The reflected sunlight effect was created using a video projector through fake fog. The white balance was set for tungsten allowing the sunlight to appear bright and clear while the strobes provided a deep blue shift in the fill light regions. The lens was covered with a piece of blue stretch wrap which created subtle distortions throughout the image. A total of 11 light sources were used including the projector."
How did he get the waterfall to look like that? The title of the piece, "Salt Falls," provides a big hint.
Says Albanese: "The waterfall was created from a time exposure of falling table salt."
The weather's turning nasty on Matthew's tabletop.
And how did he make it? It's a "Diorama made of steel wool, cotton, ground parsley and moss."
This is a dynamic and colorful forest fire scene titled "Wildfire." I love those reflections in the water.
Albanese's description: "Diorama made from wood, moss, yellow glitter, clear garbage bags, cooked sugar, scotch-brite pot scrubbers, bottle brushes, clipping from a bush in bloom (white flowers) clear thread, sand, tile grout (coloring), wire, paper and alternating yellow, red and orange party bulbs."
If you like Matthew's work, you can follow him on Facebook and check out his book, "Strange Worlds," which is described on the book jacket this way:
"There is more than what meets the eye in Matthew Albanese's captivating photographs. From an erupting volcano to a sweeping tornado to the landing on the moon, nothing is quite what it appears to be. Welcome to the extra-ordinary world of Matthew Albanese, where glaciers are not made of ice but of sugar, salt, egg whites, food coloring, flour and, light.
"Albanese meticulously fabricates and then photographs small-scale models of complex panoramic vistas, such as wind-blown willows on stormy rivers and raging forest fires, using humble materials including cotton batting, boiled sugar candy, sand, and feathers. By masterly manipulating the scale, depth of field, balance and lighting, he alters the appearance of the materials to create dramatic and emotionally evocative landscapes.
"This beautifully designed book brings together for the first time all the photographs in the 'Strange World' series, including a new work made especially for the publication. The book features an engaging essay by David Revere McFadden, behind-the-scenes images of the miniature worlds, and insightful text by the artist on the process of his work."
All images reproduced with permission. Many thanks to Matthew Albanese!
Related on MNN:
- 10 amazing images of alcohol as art
- Bioluminescence: Beautiful bacteria glow in the dark
- 6 examples of living art


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Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due, Benz or Marcus? Pre WWII Automotive Histories on Who Invented the Car
In response to my post about how the Nazis tried to write Austrian inventor Siegfried Marcus (who was Jewish) out of history by ordering German encyclopedia publishers to replace Marcus' name and credit Gottlieb Daimler and Carl Benz as the inventors of the automobile, some of our readers felt that I was unfairly diminishing Daimler and Benz's contributions to automotive history. My point that in pre-1938 Austria Marcus was considered the inventor of the gasoline powered automobile was dismissed as the result of Austrian chauvinism – as if Germans haven't been eager to accord their own countrymen the same honor.


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British woman dies in snowmobile accident in Canada
A British woman has died in a snowmobile accident in Canada.
Charlotte Mei Ling Lee, 31, from Bristol, was with her boyfriend, Domynique Tamaire, who was also injured in the incident in Quebec.
Messages of support to Mr Tamaire have been left on Facebook.
One from Bon Rayment read: "I don't know what to say to you Dom as no words will make this tragedy any better but I wanted you to know that we are thinking of you and send you lots of love.
"I hope you make a speedy recovery from injuries. Thank you for making Charlotte so happy since she met you."
Another, from Annabel Stewart, said: "I'm so sorry she is gone as you made each other so happy. We are all thinking of you and sending you love."
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said it was aware of an incident on January 5th and was providing consular assistance.


text: please contact me via my websitewww.eldafyre.comIF YOU LIVE IN AUSTRALIA CONTACT ME DIRECTLY BECAUSE I LIVE ON THE GOLD COAST.....WE CAN ARRANGE MUCH CHEAPER POSTAGE AND HANDLING :)Gday, my artistic name is ELDAFYRE. I write music, books and take artistic photography designed for the installation onto walls within the home. PLEASE ENJOY ..my other works can be found at..www.eldafyre.comwww.storybookfranklinford.com


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For only the second time in Fox News' tracking of the theoretical — and now real — matchup between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, the latter has surged to a two-point lead.
In the latest Fox News poll, Romney holds a 46 percent to 44 percent lead over Obama, though that is well within the poll's margin of error.
First, the reasons for Obama and Democrats to take a step back and put everything in perspective: The poll is an outlier of almost every other recent poll. Now you're either thinking, "See?! Fox News is the only fair and balanced one!" Or you're thinking, "See?! Fox News is lying!"
The latest Gallup poll has Obama at a 49-45 percent advantage. The latest Washington Post/ABC News poll has Obama up even more, at 50 to 41 percent.
However, as we warned with the WaPo poll (WaPoll?), Voters trust Romney to handle the economy more than Obama, by a 47 to 43 percent margin. On the No. 1 (economy) and No. 3 (deficit) issues in the upcoming election, voters trust Romney to handle them a lot more than Obama.
But this Fox News poll is important because the poll was taken after Rick Santorum dropped out of the race on Monday. This could be some sort of temporary boost for Romney, or it could be more of a sign that the Republican Party is rallying behind Romney. Indeed, 42 percent of Republicans said they were "extremely" interested in the upcoming election, compared with 32 percent of Democrats.
And in this Fox News poll, there is more bad news for Obama: First, he's losing among Independents. He trails Romney in that group by a 43 to 37 percent margin. For what it's worth, in the Gallup poll, he leads Romney by eight points.
The poll also shows that the gender gap may not be as wide as perceived in other measures. Obama leads in the women vote by 8 percentage points, but lags behind on the male vote by 14 points.
In the Gallup poll and data from the Pew Research Center earlier this month, both showed that Obama enjoyed huge leads among women, especially with young women.
The last sign of trouble: Obama's approval rating is down to 42 percent, a five-point drop from last month. And it's not because of Republicans. Rather, Democrats are the ones changing their minds. A Gallup poll, taken over the month of March, had his approval rating at 46 percent.
The kicker:
Among voters who say the economy is "extremely" important, Romney has a 55-37 percent advantage over Obama, and a 62-29 percent edge among those who say the same of the federal deficit.


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"San Francisco, San Francisco, San Francisco," chants !!!'s Nic Offer as he struts onto the Chapel's glowing red stage, facing a screaming sold-out crowd. The practicality of Offer's typical performance outfit — tonight he is wearing beat-up, bone-white monk strap loafers, short white shorts emblazoned with the Rolling Stones' Some Girls cover art, and a black crewneck tee — quickly becomes apparent as he races back and forth across the stage, light brown curls flying, wrapping the mic cord around his neck. Before the first song is over he leaps on the center monitor, thrusts his pelvis forward, and generously pulls his very short pant leg open so a fan can get his money shot. Now that's showmanship.
The Sacramento natives, whose careers have spanned 18 years at this point, initially earned a spot in the hearts of heathens across the country for drug-jam favorites like "Hello? Is This Thing On?" and "Me and Guiliani Down By The Schoolyard — A True Story," both tracks off of 2004's Louden Up Now. The band quickly became synonymous with the ambiguous genre "dance-punk" — a classification they shared with other saxophone aficionados, The Rapture, as well as fellow Californians, Moving Units — but with their more recent efforts !!! has made a departure from their christened moniker and has adopted a warmer, less anxious sound. Crisp disco beats and a smooth sax mark this transition on their newest album, 2013's Thr!!!er, a record that encourages slinky grooving as opposed to unruly slamming on the dance floor.
Saturday's second song of the evening, "Californiyeah," had Offer jumping into the crowd (as he does) and gyrating with, and at, fans who were apparently already drunk enough to not protest the lyrics that went, "Now I miss California almost as much as I miss you/But why would I live somewhere/Where the bars close at 2?/That ain't right, that ain't right." The set consisted of mostly new material, with performances of the spiraling, clap-fest "Slyd" being among the favorites.
The rest of the band let their musicianship take the front seat throughout the evening and appeared reserved, even stoic, though perhaps it only seemed that way in contrast with vocalist Offer's tireless presence (his dancing can best be described as traffic cop-meets-cheerleader). Other highlights included "One Girl/One Boy," a poppy, bass-heavy number that's reminiscent of last summer's inescapable hit "Get Lucky" — in fact, it could be said !!!'s track acted as an aperitif of sorts for the Daft Punk onslaught we were going to experience, being released only two weeks prior to the disco-doused behemoth).
The Chapel was packed (this was a sold-out show) and the band had the crowd sweating it up before long, exuding impressive control over the room even on songs that teetered at the edge of chaos. One would think that things would mellow out somewhat as they started to play "AM/FM," a considerably more reserved track off their fourth album, Strange Weather, Isn't It?, but the fans' enthusiasm was relentless and unavoidable, as hands jutted into the air and girls in the front danced like battling robots. Right before the obligatory encore, the overwhelming feeling could best be described as clammy. Anyone with hair past their shoulders unfortunate enough to not have a rubber band was sporting the Cher Horowitz side-flip hair in efforts to cool off — as if. Meanwhile, Offer resembled a '70s gym teacher/porn star with his once-white-now-grey-sweat-stained shorts and a white gym towel draped around his neck. He laughed into the audience, his lyrics from earlier — "I miss Sac and I miss the bay (Ain't that right)" — resonating into the night.


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2019 NISSAN NAVARA ST D23 Series 4 $36,990
ABN PRICING! Experience the next generation Navara. It combines a tough, working pedigree, with premium ride comfort, smart technologies, and sleek, modern styling. All of which means you can step from a day on the job to weekend activities with ease. The Nissan Navara, power with class leading diesel fuel economy and modern 5-Link rear suspension as standard on all Dual Cab models, it?8099s in a class of its own. Available in Single, King and Dual Cab form, with 4x2 and 4x4 options and a choice of 6 speed Manual or 7 speed Automatic, there?8099s a model to suit every need. Loaded with the state of the art features including: - Fuel Efficient 2.3lt Turbo Diesel - APPLE CARPLAY AND ANDROID AUTO - 3.5 Tonne Braked Towing Capacity (All Diesel Models) - 5 Link Dual Rate Rear Suspension (Dual Cab only) - Brake Limited Slip Differential (BLS) - Vehicle Dynamic Control - Side steps (SL, ST and STX) - Around View Monitor (STX only) - Rear Camera - Cruise control - Bluetooth hands free system - AUX/iPod connectivity - Multi functional steering wheel - Rear Air Vents (King and Dual Cab) - LED Daytime Running Lights Located on Road in , close to public transport and freeways, and only a 25 minute drive from the CBD, we have been selling and servicing Nissan vehicles across Melbourne for over 25 years. All new Nissans come with a 5 year unlimited kilometer warranty, 5 years Roadside assist and 6 years/120000km Service Certainty pricing. Demonstrators carry the balance of the Nissan New vehicle warranty and roadside assistance!
OverviewPrice$36,990Year:2019Kilometres:9 kmCondition:NewRegistration:UnregisteredManufacture:NISSANDrivetrain:NAVARABadge:STSeries:D23 Series 4Body Type:UTILITYSeating Capacity:5Exterior Colour:BlueDrive Train:RearEngine:2.3Gears:7Fuel Type:DieselTransmission:Sports AutomaticVIN:MNTCB2D23A0016982SN:N102041
Nissan Navara ST Dual Cab Pickup Key Features:
- 140kW Twin Turbo Diesel Engine
- LED Headlights with Signature Daytime Running Lights
- Satellite Navigation
- Reversing Camera
- 16" Alloy Wheels
Engine YS23DDTT 2.3 litre intercooled twin turbo-diesel, DOHC Displacement (cc) 2298 Bore x stroke (mm) 85.0 x 101.3 Maximum power (kW@rpm) 140@3750 Maximum torque (Nm@rpm) 450@1500-2500 Common rail direct injection Common rail direct injection
7-speed automatic with manual mode Transfer case – Dual range 4×4 with electronic 4WD selection Ratio 1st (manual/automatic) 4.685/4.886 Ratio 2nd (manual/automatic) 2.478/3.169 Ratio 3rd (manual/automatic) 1.623/2.027 Ratio 4th (manual/automatic) 1.207/1.411 Ratio 5th (manual/automatic) 1.000/1.000 Ratio 6th (manual/automatic) 0.808/0.864 Ratio 7th (automatic) 0.774 Ratio Reverse (manual/automatic) 4.709/4.041 Final drive (manual/automatic) 3.692/3.357 Transfer ratio – low 2.717 Transfer ratio – high 1.000
Overall length (mm) 5255 Overall width (excluding mirrors) (mm) 1850 Overall height (without roof rail) (mm) 1810 Wheelbase (mm) 3150 Track front/rear (mm) 1570/1570 Min. turning circle (kerb to kerb) (m) 12.4 Ground clearance unladen (mm) 226 Overhang – front 870 Overhang – rear 1235 Approach angle (degrees) 32.2 Departure angle (degrees) 26.5 Ramp breakover angle (degrees) 23.7 Cargo Bed – length floor (mm) 1503 Cargo Bed – length top (mm) 1465 Cargo Bed – width floor (mm) 1560 Cargo Bed – width top (mm) 1490 Cargo Bed – width between wheel arches (mm) 1130 Cargo Bed – tailgate opening width (mm) 1360 Cargo Bed – height (mm) 474
Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM**) (kg) 2910 Gross Combined Mass (GCM#) (kg) 5910 Kerb mass~ manual/automatic (kg)
+11kg with optional sunroof on ST-X
1920/1925 Payload∆ manual/automatic (kg)
-11kg with optional sunroof on ST-X
990/985 Gross front axle (kg) 1320 Gross rear axle (kg) 1750
Towing Capacity†
Trailer without brakes (kg) 750 Trailer with brakes (kg) 3500 Towball download (kg) See table
Diesel 80 6.5/7.0 172/186 Front brakes – ventilated discs Rear brakes – drum Front suspension – Independent double-wishbone with front stabiliser bar Rear suspension – 5-link with shock absorber Power steering 16″ alloy wheels with 255/70R16 tyres Full-size spare wheel (steel)
Seating capacity 5 6-way driver seat with manual slide/recline/height adjustment Front passenger seat with manual slide & recline Front headrests with up/down adjustment Second row headrests (2) Seat trim Cloth Flip up rear seats Single CD player, AM/FM radio, AUX & USB/iPod^ connectivity Steering wheel audio controls Satellite Navigation with 3D Mapping and 7″ integrated colour display with touch screen Speakers 6 Bluetooth® handsfree phone system via steering wheel controls Bluetooth® audio streaming Cruise control Manual tilt adjustable steering column Air-conditioning with heater controls Rear air vents in centre console Remote keyless entry Leather accented‡ steering wheel Chrome interior door handles Front passenger assist grips (2) Second row passenger assist grips (2) Centre console storage Glove compartment Dashboard upper storage tray Front door storage pockets Rear door storage pockets Front row cup holders (4) & bottle holders (2) Second row bottle holders (2) Driver & front passenger sun visors Driver & front passenger illuminated vanity mirrors Sunglasses holder (overhead console) Power windows with driver auto up/down button Day/night rear view mirror with electric anti-dazzle &
Front map lights (2) Interior room light Door operated interior lights Rear window demister 12 volt power socket (3) Floor carpet – front and rear
Speedometer, tachometer, odometer, trip meter Advanced Drive-Assist™ Display (inc: Instant & average
fuel economy, distance to empty, average speed)
Digital clock
Reversing camera Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Brakeforce
Distribution (EBD)
Traction Control System (TCS) Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) with Brake Limited Slip
Differential (BLSD)
Active Brake Limited Slip (ABLS) Brake Assist (BA) Electronic rear differential lock Driver & front passenger front-impact SRS airbags Driver & front passenger side-impact SRS airbags Driver knee airbag Front to rear SRS curtain airbags 3-point Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) seatbelts
(all seats)
Driver & front passenger seatbelts with load limiters
& pre-tensioners
Driver & front passenger seatbelt height adjustment Driver & front passenger seatbelt warning Second row seatbelt alert Second row child restraint anchorage points (3) LED signature daytime running lights Automatic on/off headlights – twilight detection Hazard warning lights LED high mounted stop light Collapsible steering column Child safety rear door locks Door side intrusion bars Front variable intermittent windscreen wipers Door ajar warning light (all doors) Nissan Anti-Theft System (NATS) vehicle immobiliser Vehicle Security System (VSS) alarm
Alloy sports bar with integrated high mounted stop light Privacy glass (second row & rear window) LED projector headlights Front fog lights Tie-down points inside bed (4) 12V outlet inside bed Side steps Antenna Chrome door mirrors Heated door mirrors with power adjustment &
manual folding
Front bumper body colour Chrome bumper with rear step Chrome door handles V-Motion chrome front grille Rear power sliding window Rear spoiler with protective finisher Front and rear mudflaps Front towing hook Electromagnetic lockable fuel lid Manual lockable rear tailgate (key)
** GVM = Gross Vehicle Mass. GVM is the maximum laden mass of a motor vehicle. ~ Kerb mass = unladen mass of vehicle with full fuel, excludes tray body for Cab Chassis vehicles. Δ Payload is the GVM minus the Kerb mass. The kerb mass does not include passengers, luggage, cargo, any accessories fitted or any towball download (as appropriate). Payload is distributed across both the front and rear axles, never exceed the GVM or the axle limits. * Indicates a premium paint, which is available at extra cost. ∞ Figures tested in accordance with ADR81/02 (combined test). Figures stated for the purposes of comparison amongst vehicles only. Actual fuel consumption depends on factors such as traffic conditions, vehicle condition, how you drive and any accessories fitted.† Towing capacity is subject to towbar/towball capacity and vehicle laden condition. The capacity may be reduced if a non genuine Nissan towbar is fitted. The permitted download is directly relatedto the laden mass of vehicle. All illustrations, information and specifications presented and referred to in this brochure are for Series II Navara models (October 2016 production onwards), and were correct at the time this brochure was approved for printing. The colours in the photographs may vary from actual colours. However, Nissan Motor Co (Australia) Pty. Ltd. reserves the right, subject to the laws of Australia and/or the regulations of any competent authority which may apply from time to time, at its discretion at anytime and without prior notice to discontinue or change the models, features, specifications, designs and prices of the products referred to in this brochure and any optional equipment therefore without incurring any liability whatsoever to any purchaser or prospective purchaser of any such products. Some of the items referred to herein are optional at extra cost. Some options may be required in combination with other options. Always consult your Nissan Dealer for the latest information on models, specifications, features, prices, options and availability. Nissan Motor Co (Australia) Pty. Ltd. ACN 004 663 156. Updated June 2017. NAV0919
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Results:* The calculations performed and the results provided by the calculators on this website are estimates only and should be treated as a guide. The calculations and information provided using the calculators should not be your only source of information and advice when making financial decisions. For a quote or to apply for finance please contact us.
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The golden years. A time to relax. Maybe even indulge in a few luxuries. That's what these grannies dreamed of, but circumstances have been unkind.
Of the more than 11 million African children who lost parents to AIDS-related illnesses in the past decade, according to the UN, 40 to 60 percent are cared for by grandmothers.
Here in one of South Africa's poorest townships, Ingrid Moloi decided to help lessen the burden they face. For a handful of grannies – or go-gos as they're called here – her support group has become a lifeline.
"These meetings are about talking about what's inside our hearts," says Tabitha Mokoena, who has eight orphan grandchildren ranging from age 3 to 20 sleeping on the floors of her two-room shack.
"Sometimes when I start to talk, I cry," says Ms. Mokoena. "We all start to cry … about the stresses in our hearts. I don't know how these children will grow up."
Ms. Moloi, 33 years old, is unlikely to become a grandmother. Raped by her father at age 12, she contracted HIV and, a few years ago, was on her deathbed.
But, then, she says, her body began to respond to treatment. She gained weight, got up on her feet, stopped coughing, combed her brittle hair into a fashionable do, and came to Friends for Life, a local nongovernmental organization, for counseling. Soon, she became a volunteer counselor herself. "I feel," she reflects, " … like I asked God for a second chance at life, and when he gave it to me, I needed to make a difference."
Moloi soon realized that not only the sick needed help, but so did their caretakers. And that, five years ago, is when she put a small notice on the community center bulletin board, calling for a grannies get together.
The go-gos meet twice a week. On Wednesdays they go to a nearby vegetable garden and plant together, dividing and taking home what they manage to grow – a small but invaluable supplement to diets consisting mostly of cornmeal.
And on Fridays, they gather at the Friends for Life offices, pull plastic chairs into a circle and, guided by Moloi, speak about events of the week at home.
Sometimes someone has advice about how to help kids with homework, or how to maneuver through government bureaucracy to apply for orphan grants ($33 a child a month). Mostly though, they just offer each other empathy and friendship.
Moloi, boisterous, loving, dramatic and irritable all at once, does not let any conversation here become too bogged down in self-pity. "Please, please, let's not forget how strong we are," she repeats like a mantra.
Today is the grannies' New Year's party, and the go-gos are dressed in their finest for a feast provided by Moloi. Mokoena wears a fancy traditional hat. Johanna Mlambo sports a necklace of broken pearls that her employer gave her. Tryphina Sibiya – the self-anointed babe of the crowd – has come in fishnet stockings. "These were expensive stockings. But I don't want to look old," she explains, flipping her short hair.
Ms. Sibiya once had six children – today all but one are dead. She lives with her last remaining son, Thoko, and three orphan grandchildren. Thoko works, she says, but she does not know where. He comes home only to sleep. "He does not help me. I ask him to but he doesn't want to. What can I do?" she asks.
One o'clock comes and goes but Moloi, who has bought the entire holiday meal out of her own $340-dollar-a-month salary, is running late, foiled by an electricity outage that has interrupted her cooking.
Soon, Sibiya begins to sing, first slowly, and then, her voice rising, she stands up and belts out a Zulu classic: "I will never forget my God." Mlambo joins in, singing alto. Mokoena gets up on her feet and shuffle-dances across the room. Someone yells Hallelujah, and for the next hour, the group sings together, one song stumbling into the next. They wave their arms, and rock side to side in unison, their voices intertwining. "Your child is my child," they melodize. "God is making wonders, he hears our sick children," they croon.
At 3 p.m. Moloi, in her best party dress, rushes in – Friends for Life staff hauling in pots of food and panting behind her. Soon, everyone is seated around a long table, piling massive quantities of rice, fried chicken, beets, and cabbage smothered with mayo onto one another's plates. There is sudden silence as the women tuck in, washing it all down with grape Fanta.
Around the table, two grannies, sick with AIDS, can barely manage to eat a bite. Most of the others can't finish either – scraping leftovers into plastic bags they brought from home.
As the eating frenzy subsides, Moloi stands up to give a blessing. "It is an honor to lead you grannies ... even with all your complaining and crying," she begins, teasing. "I wish there were bigger presents I could give you, but I give you all my respect." The grannies nod and cry out, "Yes."
"Some in our group have died this year, but we remain strong here, together," continues Moloi.
"The grannies of today are not the grannies of yesterday. You are still bathing the children. You are still struggling," says Moloi, her voice rising like a preacher. "I know one day you will go…. I know one day I will go. But we have time now. We must fill that time and work for the children." "Amen," cry the grannies, dabbing away tears.
One by one, the elderly ladies stand and give testimony to the young woman they call Mama. "We tell jokes here, and we laugh," says Sibiya. "This is our only time to reflect. And we thank you Mama, for making this other home for us."
Moloi is beaming. A slow improvised song begins: "Thank you, God, for small pleasures," they all sing.
Over in the corner of the room, Mokoena is snoozing, exhausted from the food and the general excitement.
Soon, she will have to go back to the kids. But for the moment, she is in no hurry.


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Toy Loan
What is Toy Loan?
The Toy Loan Program is a free service which allows children to borrow toys from a Toy Loan Center in the same manner in which they borrow books from the public library. The Children borrow toys once a week. It is a voluntary community effort sponsored by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and the Department of Public Social Services. There are many Toy Loan Centers throughout the Los Angeles County.
The Toy Loan Program also helps:
- To develop a sense of responsibility in children through the observance of an honor code and merit system that gives praise and recognition when toys are returned on time and undamaged.
- To foster positive attitudes in children by providing them an accepted means of obtaining toys.
- To benefit children by keeping their spare time wholesomely occupied with a variety of toys.
- To involve the adult and teenage community in the needs of youth in their areas through voluntary commitment of time and resources to assist the children.
The success of this concept has been demonstrated over the years and is supported by the fact that the majority of children who borrow toys from the centers return them in good condition and on time.
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Llanelli Footpath Tarmac Repairs
Llanelli Footpath Tarmac Patching - With UK Coverage
We receive many enquiries regarding footpath tarmac repairs. Ensuring our public footpaths are safe to use is of upmost importance to us. We are an approved footpath surfacing contractor and carry out many pathway repairs across Llanelli. Repairing a tarmac pothole on a path and restoring it to it's original condition is generally easy to do, with results that can far exceed your initial expectations.
10 year guarantee on our work and the repaired area (subject to site inspection)
Our engineers are on call 24 hours a day 7 days a week to provide a full service, whether getting emergency work carried out or just to ask for some advice, we are here to help 24/7.
Get a Free Quote
Emergency Tarmac Repairs Llanelli
Welcome to Coast & Counties pride ourselves on our all our tarmac repair & re-surfacing work. We strive to accommodate to our clients' requirements and are happy to work with you to achieve a satisfying, long lasting result. If you're looking for reliable, trusted Tarmac / Tarmacadam company in Llanelli, then look no further.
We have years of experience in surfacing and re-surfacing, roads, car parks, school playgrounds, factory floors in fact anywhere that required hard standing providing perfectly leveled tarmacadam. If you are looking for a professional finish then please give us a call for a free no-obligation quote.
Llanelli & National Asphalt Tarmac Surfacing Contractors
We offer a full range of asphalt surfacing services to both domestic and commercial customers. Asphalt being such a great product; it's hard wearing (if installed right), comes in a range of colours, looks fantastic and will last for years. We typically are either laying new or repairing asphalt areas on:
- Driveways
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Our Road Surfacing Stats:
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Other services we provide in Llanelli
Other locations we provide Footpath Repairs & Resurfacing Services
- Footpath Repairs & Resurfacing in Ewloe
- Footpath Repairs & Resurfacing in Kesgrave
- Footpath Repairs & Resurfacing in Devon
- Footpath Repairs & Resurfacing in Paddock Wood
- Footpath Repairs & Resurfacing in Port Talbot
- Footpath Repairs & Resurfacing in Wantage
- Footpath Repairs & Resurfacing in Amesbury
- Footpath Repairs & Resurfacing in Keswick
- Footpath Repairs & Resurfacing in Potton
- Footpath Repairs & Resurfacing in Heywood


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31-year-old arrested Thursday
PALM COAST, Fla. – A 31-year-old Palm Coast man is facing five counts of sexual battery on a child younger than 12 and three counts of lewd and lascivious acts on a child younger than 12.
Thomas Underwood was arrested Thursday afternoon at his home.
Flagler County detectives said Underwood began molesting his victims more than 16 years ago. They said some of the victims, who were 8 and 10 years old at the time, are now coming forward to report being victimized by a younger Underwood.
One victim, who was 8 at the time, said that Underwood, who was then 15, sexually molested her while he was babysitting her, according to detectives. Her story is similar to the other victims, who said Underwood managed to be alone with them while they were being babysat or while they were mutually visiting at someone's home. The victims were male and female.
One victim, who is now 22 years old, said that he was 10 years old when he was sexually abused by Underwood, according to detectives. The victim estimated that he was abused between 200 and 300 times over several years. The abuse occurred while Underwood was babysitting him, detectives said.
Underwood is being held in the Flagler County Inmate Facility without bail.
Detectives think there may be more victims.
Anyone who thinks they may have been victimized by Underwood is asked to call the Sheriff's Office at 386-313-4911.
Copyright 2012 by News4Jax.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Ford Granada 2.0 Type F Gearbox Oil Seal Set
- The product featured is a high quality aftermarket replacement Ford Granada 2.0 Type F Gearbox Gearbox Oil Seal Set.
- Autogear Limited only supply premium quality aftermarket replacement oil seals, making them suitable for high speed and high temperature applications.
Availability: In stock
If you are unsure about your vehicle transmission compatibility please contact us and we can confirm this for you.