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So you're interested in volunteering on your gap year. Maybe you want to help rehabilitate tigers in India, teach children in Peru or you want to build a school in the Congo? These are all worthwhile projects and doing any of them could result in the double win of you having an amazing, rewarding time whilst also benefiting the community you're working in. Just looking for volunteering placements is exciting, but don't get carried away and eagerly sign up for the first project that looks like your dream experience!
Volunteer on Your Gap Year
There are many mistakes you can make when approaching volunteering, and gapyear.com has put together this guide to help you avoid them. We're not going to tell you what kind of placement you want to do, but we can help you avoid getting ripped off, exploited or booking with the wrong company. So before you dive in at the volunteering deep end, take a few minutes to read our guide on what to consider, what questions to ask, and what important things you should think about before you yourself onto a volunteering placement.
Finding the Right Volunteering Organisation
The obvious place to start is working out which volunteer companies and placements look most worthwhile, most ethical, most fun and the best value. But how do you work this out?
What should you look at first?
The initial thing you should be looking out for when browsing placements is how ethical the volunteering organisation appears. Whereas many people will happily hand over their cash to a holiday company and not worry who is behind the organisation, how it runs and where their money is going, choosing a volunteer company should work very differently.
But how can you tell a good organisation from a bad one? You obviously can't judge a book by its cover, but you can gage a lot from first impressions. Look at the pictures and words the organisation uses to tell you about their placements and partners. What do these images tell you about the relationship the organisation has with its developing communities? What words do they use? Does the tone feel patronising? You should maybe be wary of companies that only use pictures of children and rather than young western volunteers working alongside adults from that community, or that generally portray the host communities in a child-like way, like people who need help.
Language is also really important. Look for positive, encouraging words describing the placement and community. Be wary of companies that describe the place you'll be going as a somewhere of 'poverty and need', and if any organisation claims you'll be 'changing the world', you should probably move on instantly!
How important is the size of the volunteer organisation?
There is nothing wrong with big organisations, but bigger isn't always better. Some of the best volunteer organisations are very small but have excellent, well established relationships with the projects and communities they work with. You shouldn't necessarily be put off choosing a company you've never heard of. Choose your placement based on substance, not reputation.
Similarly, it doesn't matter if the volunteer organisation is a commercial enterprise or a not-for-profit charity organisation. People might argue the latter can claim the moral high ground, but as long as the organisation is run ethically, openly and benefits both volunteer and the community are sent to, you shouldn't be worried about trying to choose a more 'worthy' organisation over a commercial one.
Does the organisation match your skills to the project?
Volunteering should not be about 'having a go' at things you'd never be able to do back home. A developing community in Africa or Asia is not the place to experiment or play at something you're under-qualified, under-experienced, under-skilled and unprepared to do.
If you are interested in teaching, for example, but have no teaching qualifications, below average general English qualifications and no experience in leading, working with or managing children or teenagers, be cautious about a company that seems prepared to put you straight in front of a class. Of course, you may start a project as a classroom assistant and end up as a teacher through merit or circumstance, but being out of your depth from the start is unhealthy.
Instead, be more receptive to volunteer companies that look like they want to match people up to an appropriate placement, based on your skills, experience and personality.
How does the organisation select its volunteers?
Do you feel like the company you are thinking of going with want to get to know you, or are they just interested in your credit card details? If it's the latter then alarm bells should be ringing in the back of your mind. Good volunteering companies want to send the right people to the right placements. At the very least, they should want to know about your background, your experience, your skills, your personality and your preferences.
Some companies may even require an interview with you to make sure you are the right person to send to their projects. It's not essential, but this can be a great indicator that they really care about both you and the placement, and that they don't want to send someone out to a project that will just want to be back home after a week.
How will you be treated before and after the placement?
A prepared volunteer is a better volunteer. If a company claim they will offer you training, guidance or will keep in contact with you prior to you heading off, it's usually a good sign that they are an ethical body, committed to providing quality placements. Similarly, if the organisation say they will be interested in your experience after you return, and may want you to complete surveys, write reports or talk to other potential volunteers after your placement is done, the signs are very positive. If all they want is your money, it doesn't mean that they're evil, but it doesn't give the impression that they care as much about you as they could.
Questions for the Volunteering Organisation
By this stage you will probably have narrowed your options down to a shortlist of volunteer organisations and their placements. This is the point where you want to be doing some research and asking questions directly rather than just in your head. But what do you need to ask them?
Where does all the money go?
If you've even had a casual glance at the cost of a volunteer placement, you'll have noticed they usually cost significant amounts of money. You should care where this money goes once it's left your bank account. Anyone you choose to volunteer with should have no issues about honestly explaining what it spends your fee on. How much goes on admin cost and overheads? How much is spent on each individual volunteer for transport, food, accommodation and training? How much of it is invested into host communities and projects? These are all vital questions, and you should certainly make sure you find out the answers.
But don't be put off a placement just because it seems pricey. The most important question of of all is, of course: is the placement good value? Like anything you buy, a placement could be expensive and poor value, cheap and good value, or vice versa. The price tag is only ever part of what you should consider.
Can the organisation tell you what you'll be doing day-to-day?
A good company will be able to tell you what you'll be doing and how long you'll be working for. This sounds fairly obvious, but there are plenty of volunteers who have been left tired and unhappy because they've had to work more than they were expecting to. Working less can be as equally unsatisfying. Make sure you're getting what you're paying for.
Does the organisation work with a local partner organisation?
An ideal volunteer programme will work with the local community, not enforce itself upon it. Find out who the local partner is. Do they have someone who works on the day-to-day project? That perhaps even manages it? These are important questions not just from an ethical perspective, but a personal one. You'll have a much more rewarding time feeling like you're working with the local community rather than working on them.
What are the environmental and ethical policies?
The best volunteer organisations are committed to necessary, accountable and sustainable projects. Make sure you find out how long a company has worked in the area you might be going to and make sure they have a long-term commitment to the people, project and area. You don't want to, for example, care for children for six months with no idea on what happens to them after you leave.
How much power to local people and partners have? Are they merely workers or do they have influence over the decisions and direction of the project?
Try and find out what the context is behind construction projects; the new school, bridge, hospital or whatever else you might be building: Is it needed? What problem will it solve? Who will actually use it? How much are you personally paying for? Make sure you are not taking work away from local people by volunteering.
And then there's the environment. What procedures have the company got in place to protect the local environment? What is the company's environmental record? What are their achievements, if any?
Can the organisation give you precise contact details for your chosen programme?
Broadly speaking, there are two main ways for a volunteer organisation to operate. First, they can build a relationship with a host organisation, identify local needs they can meet, arrange placements and projects and then fill the vacancies. Alternatively, they can wait for travellers to sign up (and pay), then find relevant placements. Can you guess which is the better approach?
A good company with well-run placements should be able to let you know a long way in advance where you will be going and what you will be doing. If they cannot, or will not, give you these details then be very wary of the quality of the project. Badly arranged placements can be disorganised, leaving both volunteers and local hosts with unsatisfying experiences.
What support will you receive?
We spoke earlier about training and support before and after the placement, but what about once you're over there getting on with it? Who's looking out for you? Are you on your own? While you might feel more independent with no one to fall back on, good organisations will often have a local contact on hand should you run into difficulties.
This person is potentially vital. While most placements will pass without a hitch, should you have any issues over how much you're enjoying the project, what you're getting out of it or what you're offering of value, these contacts can be incredibly useful. Needless to say, if you have more serious problems involving healthcare or the legal system, having access to a person on the ground nearby can be invaluable. If a company offers no support, it may be a sign that they are less committed to the safety and wellbeing of their volunteers.
Questions for Yourself
Volunteer organisations are not the only people you should ask questions of before you sign up for a placement. The most important person to question is, arguably, you.
First of all, you need to think about why you really want to do a volunteer placement. If you genuinely want to make a difference somewhere and develop yourself at the same time, it's a brilliant thing to do. If your main motivation is to impress people with your CV or convince everyone that you're a worthy person, you might be getting into this with for the wrong reasons.
There are lots of other personal questions you need to ask yourself, too. Are you ready to accept responsibility not only for your own health, safety and development, but that of the people, animals and environment you will be working with? Are you willing to learn and adapt to the working and social culture of your host community? Are you prepared to put others first? Are you ready to be mature, professional and committed to a potentially hard few weeks or months of volunteering?
Additionally there are some more work-specific questions to mull over. Below are a some of the questions you should think about when looking at the most popular volunteering options.
Contributing to someone's education is a fantastic thing, but do think over a few areas to make sure it's the right type of volunteering for you. If you're off to a school in Africa, for example, are you a teacher? If so, great, there's a good chance that your skills will be put to very good use; especially if you're staying for a while. If you're not a teacher, then do you have a TEFL qualification? This will at least have given you a basic grasp of how to go about making English more accessible to non-native speakers. If you're not a teacher, and you don't have a TEFL qualification, are your levels of English at an acceptable level? Just having a GCSE Grade C in English Language may not be enough to stand you in good stead.
On a very basic level, are you an engaging, positive person with some experience or idea of how to work with children and teenagers? If a class's last teacher was someone who taught them well, had excellent understanding of English and generally put life and soul into their education, and you come along feeling under-skilled, under-experienced and under-prepared, it will generally be more damaging than helpful.
Do you know much about animals, and have a particular interest in their welfare? Conservation can be tough, and often dirty. You might start at 7am and finish at 6pm, having spent the entire day cleaning enclosures, shovelling poo and feeding creatures that are trying to bite you. If that sounds too much like hard work, it might be that volunteering with animals isn't for you.
Of course all placements differ, and some might involve nothing more than cuddling cute koalas all day and then tucking them in bed at night. But by and large, much conservation work involves a lot of physical effort. It's often rewarding, but you have to be willing to put in the hours of sweat.
Are you prepared to get all the necessary vaccines you need? Remember that wild animals are wild, so if you were thinking of getting away with having the bare minimum vaccinations you would be advised to think again, particularly regarding rabies.
Do some research into what the project conducts animal welfare. Does the organisation claim they only rehabilitate elephants, but you find out they do tourist treks on the side? Do they claim to be a temporary shelter for animals but are actually engaged in a breeding program to create an attraction? Do they drug the animals to allow people to pet them? Make sure you are comfortable with the ethical behaviour of the project.
Finally, are you prepared to do the 'grunt' work while more qualified people carry out the more 'glamorous' tasks? Often you will be there as an essentially unskilled worker, so make sure the time you spend there is on activities which will benefit the project long-term. That could be cleaning enclosures, gardening, feeding and data collection while the 'real' conservationists get on with the other work. Remember you are a volunteer and therefore all your contributions should be in the long term interest of the project.
Sport coaching is growing in popularity. But before you sign up for a sport placement think about a few things. What coaching or activity leadership experience or skills do you have? What do you think you'll be able to do? How does that fit with how intensive or relaxed the volunteer placement is? Will you be over-stretched? Will you be bored?
It's important to be honest with your own abilities and comfort zone with sport coaching. If you sign up and everyone else has coaching badges or solid experience, you might feel out of your depth. Inexperience or being unqualified isn't a reason not to get involved with sport projects, however make sure you understand what the placement will involve and how well set you are to add value to that.
Advice from Volunteers
You've heard what we have to say, but what about other people that are experienced hands at volunteering? Below are two gapyear.com members that have taken part in several volunteer projects and can offer valuable words of both encouragement and caution.
Warrick Howard has experience of volunteer work with retired circus animals in Ecuador as well as Favella children in Brazil. He has been an active and helpful member of gapyear.com for many years, and has written numerous site articles and guides.
"I think volunteering is a fantastic thing to do, and every backpacker should donate some of their time to a worthy cause at some point on their trip. What I have a problem with is people who have unrealistic expectations of volunteering, or, more specifically, people who spend thousands of pounds on two-week placements purely so they can have a photo of them sat with a lion to put on Facebook.
"Volunteering can be a rich, rewarding experience. It's just a case of understanding where your help will mean the most. Personally, I think that unless you're a teacher volunteering during the summer holidays, if you want to volunteer teaching children, you should be prepared to commit 3 months-plus to the project. You need to build a rapport with the children, they need to learn to trust you, and you'll have a much more enriching experience if you actually get involved over a period of time. Obviously if you're a teacher by trade, then you'll be able to make an immediate impact as you already know how to deliver lessons and information to the kids; therefore shorter timescales are acceptable.
"Animal projects and green projects are different. If you're prepared to volunteer somewhere as 'a pair of arms', so you're happy to dig holes, plant trees and shovel poo, then you can make a big impact even in a couple of weeks. A lot of volunteering centres I've seen are in dire need of people who are prepared to just grab a shovel and get stuck in, without whinging that they haven't fed the monkey a banana yet.
"With volunteering, you need to ensure that the work you are doing right there, whilst you're physically present, is making some kind of positive difference. If so, then you can hold your head up high and know that you've made a difference to a life. I know, 100%, that whether it was cleaning up the poo, releasing animals back into the wild or building enclosures, the work I did at that centre made a difference to those animals' lives. So for that reason, I'm glad I did it."
Alexandra Quinton works in the travel industry for a company that organises short-term voluntary work. She has experience of working as a volunteer in Kenya, Tanzania, Romania and Peru and has been a member of gapyear.com for several years, moderating the boards and writing content for the site.
"With teaching, I think you should volunteer if you are either trained as a teacher, naturally good with young people and engaging, or have a TEFL. People that go into teaching overseas without any experience or idea how hard it can be can end up wasting time for the school and the children and be more damaging than helpful.
"Generally, if an organisation sends volunteers to a project year on year, month on month, the chances are there won't be as much work to be done there as somewhere you happen across on your travels that isn't in the glossy promotional brochures. Large companies are notorious for using the same project again and again.
"I visited one of these projects on a work trip to Tanzania and it was an incredible facility (orphanage) but I was astounded that volunteers were sent there – there would have been nothing for them to do unless they spoke Swahili (not hugely likely), as it was privately funded from a wealthy benefactor in the USA.
"Regarding getting there, UK companies which provide flights as well as volunteering packages should be ABTA or ATOL bonded. If they aren't, they are technically breaking the law and it is worth asking them about it.
"If you are organising your own project directly with the organisation, ask them questions about health and safety – you may have to sign a disclaimer. You'll also want to find out how you get to/from the project and what support they can provide you.
"Always remember, if you don't research the company/project yourself (that means getting online to Google and trying to discover as much info as possible), you won't find much out.
"The bottom line is that volunteering should not have anything to do with you – the warm fuzzy feeling of helping someone/something else should be a secondary thing to wanting to actually make a difference."
So there you have it; the gapyear.com guide to choosing a volunteering placement. We hope we haven't alarmed you or put you off. But it needs to be made clear that proper volunteering is not a holiday. Nor should it be. Without all the blood, sweat and tears, where is the reward?
Be honest with yourself, and be realistic with your expectations. You will not be able to change the world on your placement, but you might change the world of someone or something. Volunteering is hard work, but thoroughly worthwhile, and a great way of experiencing another country and culture. You just need to make sure you ask the right questions – of yourself as well as others – before you jump headfirst into a project that might not be suitable for you.
Images in this article were supplied by Projects Abroad.


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NWAA Winterthur: A Collaborative Exhibition
The Chris White Gallery, 701 Shipley Street, Wilmington, Delaware
April 5–April 26
NWAA Winterthur was an exciting collaboration that shows what can happen when we dare to mix new artists and old stuff. The project was conceived through a desire among Winterthur staff to both support and build relationships with the burgeoning Wilmington arts community and by the desire of a local arts organization to help emerging artists become more familiar with the many resources the Wilmington area has to offer.
Founded in 2008, the New Wilmington Art Association supports the creative interests, endeavors, careers, and lifestyles of local artists as well as fosters the development of a more diverse cultural landscape in Wilmington. Over the past three years, the NWAA has presented numerous public exhibitions, events, and performances in the city.
In the spring of 2012, NWAA members participated in an open house at Winterthur, which provided an introduction to our museum, garden, and library collections. Two artists, Nancy Breslin and Carrie Mae Smith, were subsequently selected to spend the next few months mining the collection for inspiration. Their work will be on view at the Chris White Gallery in a show that we hope will introduce new audiences to Winterthur as well as encourage long-time Winterthur fans to see the museum in a new light.
Artists' Statements
Nancy Breslin
Most of my work is in media that require the passing of time: pinhole cameras require long exposures and compress time into a single frame; gum bichromate and other antique processes need minutes of ultraviolet light to expose a print; video combines sound and images in such a way that the viewer must experience the piece over time; and my diary-like series capture events of a similar sort over a period of years.
Winterthur is very much about time. Items in the collection have gained a great deal of their value because of the time that has passed since their creation. The garden was designed to showcase the seasonal changes in color and texture, and the room décor reflected this with rotating slip-covers and draperies.
As an artist in residence, I have been inspired to pursue several ideas, working with my pinhole camera and video, as well as with my cell phone (simple tools can yield surprising results). I hope these projects will stir the viewer to compare past and present, to see overlooked beauty, and to experience time's movement more consciously.
Carrie Mae Smith
For me, the distinction between history and heritage is significant. Henry Glassie argues that history is recorded by a select few, and therefore constructed from limited perspectives. Heritage, on the other hand, is a cultural construction, built from our own needs and individual web of nostalgia. From history, we edit out what doesn't serve us and inflate the ideas we want to associate with. This process of reassessing history fills us with pride and allows us to abandon all undesired, shameful behaviors. Heritage is constructed through our needs in the present, selecting what is convenient to acknowledge in the past as support for the identities that we choose for ourselves. We do this as a nation and as communities of people. Heritage is the collective corrected historic past that we accept as reality in the present.
Looking at historical forms and structures as well as investigating methods of construction and materials, is a way in which I engage nostalgia, and interpretations of the past. It is the starting place for most of my recent works. I observe objects, furniture, and structures that are historic, and examine their construction, function, and what they communicate from that time period. I work from this place, re-creating the object or form, employing contemporary methods of construction and materials, producing my own understanding or illumination of heritage.
"Our view of the past, and our rendering of its patterns are closed down and conventionalized- limited in significance and utility- by the imp of simplicity…. We are beguiled into betraying the human being's complex reality in deterministic formulas," warns Glassie. However, the way out of this dilemma is to "make history the biography of a people or of people". Through the re-materializing of historic utilitarian objects and structures, I feel that I am uncovering forgotten or overlooked facets of history and people. In the process, my work gives a voice to the past by creating opportunity to reinterpret the relationship between history and the present.

subset: commoncrawl


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Now showing items 1-1 of 1
Genetic Variants of the MDM2 Gene Are Predictive of Treatment-Related Toxicities and Overall Survival in Patients With Advanced NSCLC.
(Clin Lung Cancer, 2015-09)
INTRODUCTION: Platinum agents can cause the formation of DNA adducts and induce apoptosis to eliminate tumor cells. The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of genetic variants of MDM2 on chemotherapy-related ...


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A collection of scholarly works about individual liberty and free markets. A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.
1632 - 1694
Historical Period:
The Early Modern Period
Samuel Pufendorf was born in Saxony in 1632, the son of a Lutheran clergyman. He studied at Leipzig and Jena and held the first modern professorship in natural law, at the University of Heidelberg. Pufendorf was successively professor of natural law at Lund in Sweden and Swedish historiographer royal. He ended his career as Prussian court historian and died in Berlin in 1694. In addition to fundamental works in Protestant natural law, much admired by Locke, Pufendorf contributed importantly to German constitutional theory and wrote major historical works.


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Treat someone special to an overnight stay, afternoon tea, spa day, golf break or simply choose a monetary voucher.
Ideally located 10 minutes from Belfast International Airport and 20 minutes from Belfast City Centre, the Hilton Belfast Templepatrick Golf & Country Club offers a complete countryside experience. Keep yourself busy on the championship golf course, relax at the leisure centre with indoor pool or get pampered with beauty treatments and hairdresser.
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Playable all-year round, the par-72 18-hole parkland golf course was designed by David Feherty and David Jones. Enjoyable at all skill levels, it also includes a 16 bay floodlit driving range, short game practice area and two practice putting greens.
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(RNS) A small Catholic college in Massachusetts has been pressured by the local bishop into cancelling an invitation to Sen. Ted Kennedy's widow to deliver the school's commencement address because of her support of abortion rights and gay marriage.
Worcester Bishop Robert J. McManus also told officials at Anna Maria College last week that the school should not give Victoria Kennedy an honorary degree, diocesan spokesman Raymond L. Delisle said Monday (April 2).
McManus believes that Catholic institutions "should be honoring Catholics for their consistent public positions with the church, not for contrary positions with the church, especially on core issues such as the right to life and the sanctity of marriage," Delisle said.
Kennedy is a lawyer and founder of Common Sense about Kids and Guns, a nonprofit organization that seeks to reduce gun deaths and violence among children. She has not been notably outspoken on abortion rights and gay rights, though her late husband was a prominent champion of those causes.
Commencement invitations often become a flashpoint in the Catholic Church's culture wars – the controversy over President Obama's 2009 address at the University of Notre Dame remains a sensitive subject – and a presidential election year only raises the stakes.
Kennedy, who was to have received an honorary degree in public administration, said in a statement that she was "disheartened" by the cancelation. She said that McManus had not responded to her invitations to discuss the matter, nor had the bishop spoken to her pastor.
"I am a lifelong Catholic and my faith is very important to me. I am not a public official. I hold no public office nor am I a candidate for public office," Kennedy said. "Yet by objecting to my appearance at Anna Maria College he has made a judgment about my worthiness as a Catholic. This is a sad day for me and an even sadder one for the church I love."
Kennedy said she understood the pressures faced by officials at Anna Maria College, a liberal arts school of about 1,100 students located in Paxton, Mass.
Anna Maria officials said in a statement to local media that they canceled the invitation after intense debate and with "deep regret." The executive committee of the college's Board of Trustees noted that "as a small, Catholic college that relies heavily on the good will of its relationship with the bishop and the larger Catholic community, its options are limited."
Victoria Kennedy wrote an Op-Ed in The Washington Post in 2004 arguing against denying communion to pro-choice Catholics politicians, a position many bishops accept.
Delisle said unnamed critics of Kennedy supplied McManus with "more local, Massachusetts-scene things where her position has certainly been public." He did not elaborate on the items or the critics. He said that while Kennedy is not an elected or appointed official who bears responsibility for public policy decisions, "she is a public figure insofar as she certainly holds a position of public prominence."
In 2010 Kennedy was given an honorary degree by Emmanuel College, a small Catholic liberal arts school in Boston, and there were no objections. "Vicki was a good choice. A great choice," Sister Janet Eisner, the school's president, told the Boston Globe. "I find it hard to believe in Massachusetts, in 2012, that this is happening."
Patrick Whelan, a pediatric specialist at Harvard Medical School who is president of Catholic Democrats, said he had spoken with McManus, and described the bishop as "combative" about denying the invitation to Kennedy.
"I am not happy about this; it has put me in a very difficult position," McManus told Whelan, who recounted the conversation to the Globe. "This is my decision and mine alone, and nobody's pressuring me to do this," McManus told Whelan.


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A book launch and reading by Mari Castañeda, associate professor of communications and director of diversity advancement for the College of Social and Behavior Sciences, is planned for the new book she co-edited, "Mothers in Academia." It will be held at Food For Thought Books in Amherst at noon on Saturday, Sept. 14.
The volume, just published by Columbia University Press, features other contributing authors from UMass Amherst as well: co-editor Kirsten Isgro, Brenda Bushouse, Wendy Wilde, Vanessa Adel and former doctoral student Allia Matta.
The book was recently featured in both Inside Higher Ed and Times Higher Education. It offers "forthright testimonials" by women who are or have been mothers as undergraduates, graduate students, academic staff, administrators and professors. "Mothers in Academia" intimately portrays the experiences of women at various stages of motherhood while theoretically and empirically considering the conditions of working motherhood as academic life has become more laborious. As higher learning institutions have moved toward more corporate-based models of teaching, immense structural and cultural changes have transformed women's academic lives and, by extension, their families. Hoping to push reform as well as build recognition and a sense of community, the authors and editors of the collection offer several potential solutions for integrating female scholars more wholly into academic life.
Castañeda is the co-editor of Soap Operas and Telenovelas in the Digital Age: Global Industries and New Audiences. Isgro, an assistant professor in communication studies at the State University of New York, Plattsburgh, has published essays in Women and Children First: Feminism, Rhetoric, and Public Policy; Fundamentalisms and the Media; Frontiers: A Journal of Women's Studies, and Feminist Media Studies.


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CREW TV brings you closer to the industry's
most influential leaders and thinkers. Click on the videos below to watch the interviews:
This episode of Investor Insight explores what if any negotiating room investors have in setting commissions for their Realtors, and what if any downside is there to doing that.
Video transcript below:
Jemima Codrington: The relationship between a realtor and an investor is one that can be mutually beneficial and profitable. But many investors are wondering if they can negotiate the standard commission rate and if so at what cost.
Hi, I'm Jemima Codrington and welcome to Investor Insight on Crew TV.
With the standard commission rate sitting around 5%, many investors are left wondering, what this fee is for. As an investor, do you need a realtor?
Shawn Maher, Maher Property Holdings Ltd.
Shawn Maher: I think it is very important to have a really good realtor on site with you if you are looking towards the investment market. A lot of people tend to overpay for properties not realising that they are overpaying for them. A good realtor will bring value to yourself when you are in the market place.
The best thing you can do is buy a property that's undervalued. That's the best way to actually increase your value of the property instead of a buy and hold strategy.
Jemima Codrington: But like everything in life, you get what you pay for. There are some potential pitfalls to avoid when negotiating the rates.
Tarik Gidamy, TheRedPin.com
Tarik Gidamy: Commissions are always negotiable based on performance and in a keen world, I think that the ideal thing is leave commissions out of it and you know because when you argue about commissions and an agent really lets himself down and gives you a reduced commission, that means technically that if they can't negotiate their own commission, then how are they supposed to negotiate the biggest transaction in your life. You want somebody strong.
Perkins Coie is pleased to announce that Devin P. McComb has joined the firm's Seattle office as a partner in the Real Estate & Land Use practice
Grimsby skyline to be reshaped by tallest buildings in city: two-tower residential complex
Connect Asset Management Challenges the Financial Community to Invest in Downtown Toronto Real Estate for a Good Cause


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Yesterday I spoke with a NCAA division I coach who shared the story of a recruit who was struggling to make a decision. The recruit wanted the academics of one school, the warm weather of another school and the coaching expertise found at a third school.
Wouldn't that be nice. Combine the best aspects of three different schools that are recruiting you and combine them into a Neapolitan ice cream type school.
Problem is you can't do that. And this is where it gets tough. Do you go with the prestigious education, knowing that you probably won't run as fast? Do you go to the warm weather school, knowing that not only won't you run fast but you also won't have the prestigious diploma after four or five years? Do you go to the school where you will run the fastest and have the best chance of becoming an All-American, something you've dreamed of, yet get an education that is not prestigious? [Read more…]


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By Jesse Griffiths, Oygunn Brynildsen, Alex Marriage and Jeroen Kwakkenbos
On 7 July, the European Commission released the latest in its annual series of "Accountability Reports" on financing for development (until 2010 called the "Monterrey Survey"), and issued a Communication setting out proposed follow up actions. While adopting welcome rhetoric that supports the importance of domestic resource mobilisation, long emphasised by Eurodad and members, the report makes pretty grim reading, with few concrete actions promised in key areas. Here's Eurodad's analysis of the main points and the crucial items which are missing :
OECD DAC figures had already told us that EU aid decreased in 2011 from €53.5 billion to €53.1 billion – or from 0.44% GNI to 0.42% GNI, a reduction of €342 million. Based on the current figures the report notes that by 2015 EU ODA "is expected to increase to 0.44% by 2015". This means that the EU continues to be way off track on its commitment to meet 0.7% by 2015, having already failed to meet its pledge to get to 0.56% by 2010. The picture gets worse when you consider that much of the money counted as 'aid' is questionable – the recent EU AidWatch report estimates that the real ODA figure should be lower as "in 2011 at least €7.35 billion (or 14%) of EU ODA was not invested in developing countries."
Though in June the European Council "reaffirmed its commitment to achieve development assistance targets by 2015", the accountability report underlines the scale of the EU's broken promises, noting dryly that there is "a delay equivalent to about 25 years on the path to 0.7%".
Rather than proposing ways to get EU governments to meet their commitments, the communication raises the prospect of using dubious accounting methods to further inflate ODA figures, asking the OECD DAC to develop "a clearer understanding of how the concessional character of loans is determined in accounting for ODA".
More EU member states have committed to using country systems and, as the report points out, the May Council conclusions "emphasise the commitment by the EU to use budget support to strengthen country systems." The communication, however, makes no mention of this. Instead, it focuses on country led results frameworks which have yet to be effectively implemented but may be promising, and notes that these frameworks should be used in the context of commitments made in Busan on usage of country systems and capacity development. The proposed new actions are desultory however, focusing on donor mapping. No mention is made in the Communication of how to deal with the issue of use of aid for domestic purposes highlighted in the Aidwatch report.
Debt: Problem fully identified, but solutions are partial
Importantly, the report expresses concern about new vulnerabilities and risks regarding developing countries' debt sustainability. The Commission also rightly highlights developing countries' increased vulnerability to external shocks, rising lending from new private and public creditors and more frequent use of lending mechanisms as key challenges to debt sustainability in developing countries. However the Communication presents solutions that do not fully respond to the problems.
One positive aspect is the continued emphasis on the need for responsible lending and borrowing practises, highlighting two key areas that Eurodad cover: "including in blending and in export-credit operations". Now the rhetoric needs to be followed with action: the Commission should use the following two opportunities to put their continued commitments to responsible lending into practice: the development of the EU Platform for External Cooperation and Development and the implementation of new EU regulations under which the European Commission will make its first report on Export Credit Agencies' activities. Policy Coherence for Development will be taken into account in the report, due out this year. The Eurodad charter for responsible financing and the report Exporting goods or exporting debts? suggest concrete measures for the implementation of robust standards.
However, the Communication has little to say about how to cope with any future crises. While the report rightly stresses that developing countries now engage a wider range of private and public creditors and that this broad creditor base creates challenges in terms of efficient debt workout once a crisis hits, its proposal to, "push for the participation of non-Paris Club members in debt workout settlements" does not promise any lasting or efficient solution. Any fair and efficient solution would need to gather all creditors in one single debt workout process where decision making is independent of the creditors: Eurodad has developed 10 principles that should form the basis for such a procedure.
Eurodad members have been pushing for all EU states to adopt strong laws against vulture funds who have preyed on developing countries – a demand picked up by the Commission, which calls for member states to "take national action to restrict litigation against developing countries by distressed-debt funds."
Again, some of the rhetoric is welcome, particularly the view that "domestic revenues tend to be the most important source of development finance directly available to governments" and the continued acknowledgement of the crucial role of good tax systems and tax collection capacities in domestic revenue mobilisation. It is encouraging that the Communication also points to the devastating development impacts of illicit capital flight.
However, while developing countries must enact solid tax systems and regulatory measures, it is crucial not to ignore the EU and
The EU should use ongoing legislative procedures to match their words with action: The EU Transparency and Accounting Directives are a vital opportunity to introduce full country by country reporting for all companies and the ongoing review of the Anti-Money Laundering Directive should make handling the proceeds of tax evasion an automatic money laundering offence and require that financial institutions make sure they know who they are doing business with.
Building on the EU's controversial Agenda for Change, the trend towards using development finance to support private investment continues, a recent Eurodad report has analysed this trend. There is continued pressure for the relevant measures from the Agenda for Change to be formalised through a new blending platform, an idea Eurodad has critiqued.The suggestion that the EU "make greater use of risk-sharing mechanisms such as guarantees that can unlock investments and … promote investments through instruments that entail improved risk management and equity participation in structured funds" brings us further down the road towards linking development finance to international capital markets, which Eurodad members and partners have warned against.
The Commission continues to push the Council to adopt a financial transaction tax (FTT) – though recent Council conclusions indicate that an EU-wide FTT is unlikely, they gave permission for a coalition of the willing to go ahead anyway, something Eurodad members and partners had pushed strongly. However, they repeat their move to capture all FTT revenues for the Commission itself – not share them between development, international environment and domestic revenue, as proponents, including the Robin Hood tax campaign have long demanded. Their argument that this could free up other resources "which could in turn make it easier for Member States to mobilise funding required for meeting aid targets and tackling other global challenges" is unlikely to cut much ice with campaigners.
Discussions about reform of the international financial architecture are notably absent from the Communication, though there is a brief overview of existing limited reforms in the background report.
See Eurodad analysis of the 2011 report here.


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Alice & Co Advent Day 7: Giveaway!
Regular price £0.00
Your chance to win our Quick and Easy Pattern Bundle! Head to our instagram to find out how.
Closing date: 8th December
How to download your Alice & Co Pattern
Alice & Co patterns are provided in three different page formats and are designed to be printed in colour.
Once you have purchased your pattern you will be given a download link. This will also be emailed to you so don't worry if you don't want to download it straight away!
The download will consist of a zip file containing 4 separate PDF files:1x Pattern Instructions
3x Patterns in A0, A4 and US Letter sizes
*Please make sure you read the following instructions carefully before printing!*
For A4/US Letter: it is vital to make sure your pattern prints at full scale or the sizing will not be correct. Your print settings should be set to 'full scale', '100%', 'actual size' or equivalent according to your printer software.
There are two test squares on the first page of every pattern: a 5cm and a 2" square.
Print only this page first and check your square measures up, before printing the rest of the pattern.
For A0 copy shop: follow the instructions given by your chosen copy shop. Services are also available online - we recommend Patternsy - who print on lightweight tissue paper with very speedy delivery to anywhere in the world! Once you have purchased your pattern from us, simply click on the link above to go to their website and follow the steps to upload your pattern.


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Do or Do Not, There Is No "Try"
Oh, look, Starlin Castro went and did something stupid. Surprise, surprise.
And, oh, look, Dale Sveum and the Cubbies brass talk the talk, but eschew the walk while doing something quite similar to twiddling their collective thumbs — thumbs that tend to be stuck in proverbially unpleasant places.
Hmm. Haven't we been here before with Castro? Yes.
Hmm. Haven't we heard the same old "we gotta change the Cubs culture" mantra before? Yes.
Hmm. Haven't we been bombarded with mythical imagery supposedly brought in on the wings of a SABR nerd? Yes.
And yet here we are, witnessing the same old Chicago Cubs.
I believe Albert Einstein was the one who said "the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results." Einstein was a pretty smart fella. Maybe it's time the Cubs took notice of that notable quip of truth.
Instead of threatening to bench a spoiled star with as much talent as he has cluelessness, why not just bench him? Why not teach him a lesson? Why not teach the entire team — a team that is continuously caught with its inflated head in the clouds — and show them that there are no more third, fourth, fifth chances?
I'm a Cardinals fan. To the death. Part of being a Redbird fanatic is jousting with our arch rivals; but our rivals to the north are so bad that it just isn't fun anymore. I long for the days when our regular season match-ups actually mean something.
Unfortunately, as long as the Cubs continue to simply "try" to get better mentally, with little effort, rather than actually DOING anything about it, I'm afraid we'll just have to rehash that same old "Brogglio for Brock" snafu.
Hate me 'cuz I'm deliberate, just don't hate me 'cuz I'm right.


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- Get everything the reviews about Healing Stones And Crystals For Creativity
- Know more gone our website
The gift of gemstones
At The Real Travel China, our gemstones and crystals have healing properties that encourage to credit body, mind and spirit. Healing crystals and gemstones have been used by ancient civilizations for thousands of years; the Egyptians, Aztecs and others used them in jewelry, cosmetics, decorative statues, amulets and much more – a testimony to their powerful achievement to release mental, physical and spiritual blockages.
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At The Real Travel China, our gemstones and crystals have healing properties that back to version body, mind and spirit. Healing crystals and gemstones have been used by ancient civilizations for thousands of years; the Egyptians, Aztecs and others used them in jewelry, cosmetics, decorative statues, amulets and much more – a testimony to their powerful capability to liberty mental, physical and spiritual blockages. Both our body and healing crystals have supple vibrations, which makes us naturally receptive to the vibrations of gemstones, as they can tie in our own vibrations bearing in mind theirs. For this reason, healing crystals and jewels have a strong vibrational effect once placed directly upon your body. This computer graphics flows from the crystal to you, which facilitates the clear flow of cartoon throughout your body. thoughtful and realistic.
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Gemstones & Healing Stones And Crystals For Creativity Meanings
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Healing Stones And Crystals For Creativity and Astrology
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When you choose a crystal , think approximately your plan that will help you to the absolute stone you infatuation at that special moment . By focusing on your needs, you can find the best stone that radiates determined feelings and emotions. In the compilation Crystal Muse by The Real Travel China founders Heather Askinosie and Timmi Jandro, you will locate a list of gems sorted by intention, from health and communication to wealth, focus and more. Using the tall frequencies of Healing Stones And Crystals For Creativity in your daily simulation can have a mysterious effect on your well-being. Whether you want to shift negative thoughts, attract love, or alive in abundance, gemstones can remind you to focus upon your set sights on while purifying and activating your energy.
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After effective with crystals for nearly 30 years, we have found that pact the meaning of numbers can also lump the faculty of your intentions. For example, if you tell that your intention considering means a other beginning even if it is repeated eight times, it symbolizes large quantity and power. From 1 to 10, every number has a meaning, from promoting unity to encouraging action. You can learn more very nearly numbers and what they represent in the book "Crystal Muse", which goes into depth.
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You've probably even heard people talk about these beautiful stones and brag more or less them. But maybe you realize not know what they could give you.
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Historically, crystals have been praised as ancient forms of medicine whose philosophies are borrowed from Hinduism and Buddhism. However, it is important to know that there is no scientific evidence for the use of crystals. Nevertheless, people are yet attracted by their colors and beauty.
The key to indulging in this experience of self-care is mindfulness, reflection and acceptance. For example, researchers at The Trusted Source found that a person's mind can have much more healing aptitude than is credited to it.
Although there is not much scientific retain for crystals, a number of people misuse by their powers. So if you are avid to try them out, keep an gate mind and locate out what each rock can pull off for you.


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The Houston Dynamo opened 2012 MLS Reserve League play with a 1-0 win over the Colorado Rapids Tuesday morning at the Houston Amateur Sports Park. Dynamo rookie Brian Ownby scored the game's only goal in the 80th minute to break the deadlock.
The game's best early scoring chance came in the 23rd minute to Colorado. Right back Eddie Ababio and forward Andre Akpan combined for a one-two combination that resulted in an Ababio shot off the right post.
Dynamo goalkeeper Tyler Deric made five saves for the game, including one in the 40th minute from a long-range blast from trialist Luis Eduardo Schmidt. Deric did well to knock down the 30-yard strike and pounce on the rebound before a Rapids player could reach the ball.
Houston was unable to muster much offense in the match and was outshot 15-8 by the visitors. Second-year midfielder Alex Dixon nearly broke the scoreless tie in the 77th minute when he picked up a loose ball and shot from 30 yards out, but his attempt sailed over the crossbar.
The Dynamo finally took the lead in the 80th minute off their first corner kick of the match. The attempt was cleared to Warren Creavalle who found an open Jermaine Taylor in the box. Taylor's left-footed strike was stopped by second-half goalkeeper Ian Joyce but Ownby snuck through to send home the rebound.
The Dynamo Reserves return to action on March 27 when they take on Sporting Kansas City at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park.
For more information on the Dynamo Reserves visit HoustonDynamo.com/Reserves.
Colorado Rapids (0-1-0) vs. Houston Dynamo (1-0-0)
March 13, 2012 – Houston Amateur Sports Park, Houston, TX
MLS Reserve League -- Central/Mountain Division
Scoring Summary:
HOU – Brian Ownby 1 (unassisted) 80
Colorado Rapids – Stew Ceus (Ian Joyce 46), Eddie Ababio, Tyrone Marshall, Scott Palguta, Dillon Serna (Steven Emory 62), Wells Thompson, Joseph Nane, Luis Eduardo Schmidt (Davy Armstrong 89), Ross La Bauex, Quincy Amarikwa (Josh Janniere), Andre Akpan (Kohei Yamada 80).
Houston Dynamo -- Tyler Deric, Warren Creavalle, Nathan Sturgis, Jermaine Taylor, Oscar Recio, Josue Soto (Colin Rolfe 69), Luiz Camargo, Alex Dixon, Mac Kandji, Calen Carr (Brian Ownby 69), Cam Weaver.
Substitutes Not Used: Alan Arellano, Christian Gonzalez, Erich Marscheider.
Misconduct Summary:
29' Joseph Nane – caution (reckless tackle)
All statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial


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DJ ANNA Reveals Wehbba Is Her Boyfiend ♥ Techno DJs Fall In Love
ANNA is a rising Techno DJ from Brazil with many club hits. She has been linked with Wehbba, another talented Techno producer. However, in the past, they have never talked about dating each other. In a recent video interview on YouTube uploaded by Intruders TV, she jokingly reveals Wehbba is her boyfriend and finally, we can all understand why the pair always displayed their love on Facebook. We wish them all the best in this beautiful relation, and maybe one day they can even get married as Adam Beyer and Ida Engberg did this year in a secret ceremony. Watch the full interview below!
This Is Damn Hypnotic! "Nu Acid" By HURTR Will Make Your Head Bang
Hurtr has been working their way up in the underground scene since 2010. The music production duo from Portland, Oregon just released "Nu Acid", and as you can imagine, the title says it all. The seductive vocals from Heidi Hull merge with acid synths and pulsating beats in a hypnotic way. Consequently, this tune could transport you into another realm for just three minutes.
Evoking a sheer sense of joy with its progressive soundscape is the cherry on top. Likewise, "Nu Acid" aims to bring energy wherever it's heard. Literally, if it doesn't make your head bang, then nothing will. Throughout its dark and nostalgic rave vibes, these creative artists will leave you captivated. For this reason, all I can say is long live Techno! Take a listen right here.
Oh, Yes! Paolo Virdis Offers Intense Techno For Your Ears On "Survive"
Today underground music aficionados have a good reason to stream Paolo Virdis' new tune "Survive". Created with his signature dark and intense Techno sound, he takes you on a sonic journey through twisted acid lines. The constant energy flowing makes me think it's a true work of art. If your heartbeat suddenly quickens, and the skin bristles then this banger didn't fail in its duty.
Add to this, devilish vocals that capture its particular macabre spirit. The Turin-based musician can easily remind ourselves of how cool was the Detroit era and the hardcore raves with these melodies. Stay tuned for more releases, and don't forget to watch his enigmatic visuals right here!
Fiin Teams Up With Brigado Crew & Jinadu For Driving Dark Progressive Single
Miami artist Fiin returns to Ultra Records with "Still In The Storm", his next single on the label in collaboration with Argentinian duo Brigado Crew and British singer Jinadu. Fiin's underground influenced style manifests in deep, driving basslines formed from a classic "four on the floor" rhythm. "Still In The Storm" is the kind of track that is right at home in dark basement clubs or intimate Techno festival stages. Haunting vocals from Jinadu and shaker-infused melodies bring an otherworldly element to "Still In The Storm," making this dark progressive gem with depth a sophisticated production. Fiin previously released on Ultra Records multiple times, including his debut single on the label "Calling Out" also with Jinadu, while Brigado Crew has released on Stil vor Talent, Diynamic, Katermukke, and more.
Fiin has been taking the Miami electronic music scene by storm as one of its youngest and most promising up-and-comers. His weekly "Relic" party at 1-800-Lucky every Sunday had become a staple in the community and served as a closing ceremony to the city's vibrant music scene. He cut his teeth as the youngest resident of Heart Nightclub. He played alongside some world-class DJs, including the opportunities to go b2b with Paco Osuna, Butch, Hot Since 82, Technasia, and more. In 2019 he played gigs through North America, Europe, and South America at BPM Festival, WMC, Lost Circus, to name a few. Known for his daredevil, risk-taking production style, we have no doubt that this is only the beginning of a very exciting journey for Fiin.
Alexis Salgues Surprises Everyone With His Techno Production, "Riders"
Alexis Salgues has stunned listeners with his energizing Techno production, "Riders". Enjoy a 4-minute, 51-second journey through pummeling bass and beats. One can literally go wild at any rave while hearing the track's heart-pumping drum patterns. Unfortunately, parties in this pandemic are highly prohibited, so you'll have to turn up the volume high within your home. On the other hand, hypnotic soundscapes and vocal samples will have you banging your head in no time. Stream "Riders" via SoundCloud down here.
This underground French artist is mostly self-taught and isn't really interested in technical ploys. Despite this, he achieves solid pieces of Techno almost always. Curiously, this year he is celebrating 10 years of experience as an independent producer. Without putting aside Alexis' additional passion for photography, you can conclude being creative is not only his hobby but also it is his way of life.
This Is Incredible! Toma Hawk & Dr.Acid Drop A Massive Techno Stomper
Definitely, two heads are better than one in the studio. That's the case of Toma Hawk and Dr.Acid who bring a massive Techno stomper with their latest jam, "Velvet". Its hard-driving nature leads you to imagine an underground rave party within your mind. Somehow, the original mix as well as the three remixes spark enthusiasm for dancing or just working out from home. What's more, the 10th release of the Lakota label, stands out for the sonic elements that come into action, such as pounding kicks, bassline, and robotic-esque vocal snippets. If you're a professional DJ, you must know this is an essential club material. Toma's career has spanned almost two and a half decades, and luckily he shows no signs of stopping. Press play right here.
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Vintage Aquila Canvas Kid's Shoes (Model018)
Aquila Canvas Kid's Shoes
Type: Canvas, for Kids Production Time: 4-6 days
- 17.64 Oz. Designed for fashion kids, stylish and personalized.
- Full canvas upper, round toe.
- Metal eyelets for a classic look.
- Soft inner lining adds to comfort, lightweight ensures easy movement
- Lace-up closure for an adjustable fit.


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Indicative Rate * AU$40 to AU$165
Ocean View Caravan and Tourist Park is situated in the heart of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. An opportunity to relax and unwind with views to Maroochydore and across to Bribie Island from the comfort of your veranda or caravan annexe. Centrally located, you can visit the historical Village Museum at Landsborough, take a walk in the National Parks, visit Australia Zoo and the Glass House Mountains.
They are just a short drive to Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve, Gardner Falls, Botanic Gardens and Aviary, popular restaurants and more. Venture over to award winning Kings Beach just a short 20 minute drive to the coast.
They have tourist maps, phone recharge, Swap'N'go Gas, ticket sales for Sunshine Coast attractions including Australia Zoo plus free discount vouchers.
A local bus service stops outside the park with connections to Cairns, Sunshine Coast beaches and Brisbane.
They offer ensuite cabin/villas, air-conditioning, fully self-contained, all linen provided and queen beds. Each unit has a deck/outdoor setting.
Caravan, campervan and camping sites also available with camp kitchen, amenities and laundry. Cleaned daily.
Follow Steve Irwin Way, turn off to Landsborough and head up the hill for three kilometres toward Maleny. They look forward to welcoming you.
Due to current health advice on social distancing, please contact the business for the most up to date information regarding opening times and services.
Studios offer a double bed, cooking facilities, crockery, cutlery, split air-conditioning, excellent views, parking beside unit. All linen supplied. Shared bathroom facilities.
Grassed sites and sites with cement slabs, renovated amenities, laundry with washing machines, dryers, iron and ironing board. Camp kitchen with microwave, fridge, barbecue, tables and chairs, and hot and cold water.
The Deluxe cabin has a queen bed, air-conditioning, ceiling fan, microwave, cooking facilities, crockery, cutlery, iron, ironing board, television, futon/lounge, toilet and shower. Bed made up with linen, car parking beside the cabin and a deck with great views.
The Family cabin has a queen bed, single bunks, futon/lounge, air-conditioning, ceiling fan, cooking facilities, crockery, cutlery, microwave, iron, ironing board, toilet, shower, television, and deck. Car parking beside the cabin. This cabin is also wheelchair friendly throughout.
Note: Information on listed products and services are provided by the operator and were correct at the time of publishing. Rates are indicative based on the minimum and maximum available prices of products and services. Please visit the operator's website for further information. All prices quoted are in Australian dollars (AUD).


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Log Cabin Republicans, a gay group, is running expensive full-page ads in the Washington Post and New York Times opposing Obama's nomination former Nebraska GOP Sen. Chuck Hagel as Secretary of Defense to replace Californian Leon Panetta.
Log Cabin cites a 1998 Hagel statement opposing Clinton-nominated Luxembourg ambassador James Hormel as "openly, aggressively, gay," Hagel's vote for the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, his support for Nebraska's constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, his 1999 opposition to repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," and his opposition to a judicial ruling in 2005 that the Nebraska marriage ban was unconstitutional.
California gay activist Rick Jacobs, head of the Courage Campaign, smells a rat.
In a telephone interview, Jacobs called Log Cabin a "self-loathing group" desperate to remain relevant and that the group "deserves a place in The Onion."
Jacobs pointed out that Log Cabin backed Republican Mitt Romney for president as recently as two months ago, despite Romney's support in the campaign for a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, not to mention Romney's support for DOMA.
Jacobs said former President Bill Clinton, a Democrat, imposed Don't Ask, Don't Tell and signed DOMA.
Asked about Hagel's comments about Hormel, Jacobs replied, "You mean the comments Bill Clinton made? Because Bill Clinton is the one who gave us Don't Ask, Don't Tell. It took us a generation and a half to dismantle what Bill Clinton gave us. Bill Clinton gave us DOMA. We are still fighting to dismantle that."
Hagel is a decorated Vietnam veteran and was a rare vocal Republican foe of the Iraq War during the Bush administration, speaking frequently and forcefully against the war from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. But while Democrat John Kerry's nomination to be Secretary of State is expected to sail through the Senate with GOP support, Hagel is facing stiff resistance from pro-war Republicans.
Sen. Lindsey Graham told CNN Sunday Hagel would be "the most antagonistic secretary of defense towards the state of Israel in our nation's history." Them's fighting words.
Jacobs a personal friend of Hagel, called him a man of "incredible integrity" whose appointment is critical "at a time when the future of the U.S. defense complex is on the table, or certainly should be. When we're looking at cutting budgets and when the Defense Department clearly needs to be cut because the whole mission of the military complex needs to be redefined."
The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force weighed in with "concerns." OutServe-SLDN, representing gay and lesbian military members, demanded that Hagel immediately extend full benefits to married LGBT military. The group took a slightly more pro-Hagel tone Monday, calling Hagel "exceptionally qualified," but said he must address "significant challenges" that remain for LGBT service members.
Panetta strongly endorsed Hagel as "a man of complete integrity and deep patriotism." Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-CA and Senate Intelligence Committee chair, endorsed Hagel Monday.
Feinstein said she found Hagel during his time on the Intelligence Committee from 2003-2008 "to be a knowledgeable and independent voice with a strong grasp of the pressing national security issues facing our country."
Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., sounds as if she has issues re Israel: "I will follow former Senator Hagel's confirmation process very closely to ensure that he shares the president's commitment to a secure Middle East, full equality for LGBT service members and their families, and equal opportunity for leadership roles and access to reproductive health care for women in the military."
Update Tuesday: GetEqual, an LGBT group that pressures reluctant Democrats on gay issues, came out solidly against Hagel, saying his voting record is "more troubling" than his comments, with a 4 percent score by the Human Rights Campaign.


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Looking for low-cost flights from Athens? At Volotea you can always book your flight at the best price up to 2 hours before the flight's departure, with all amenities and the best service. These are the low-cost flights we have for you departing from Athens in the coming months. Select the route you want that departs fromAthens and then you only have to select the departure date and number of passengers, and you will find the best flight from Athens starting from only .
*Price per flight, taxes included. Limited seats
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I want to start again!
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This is the only colour I picked up from the Essie Poppy Razzi (ughhhh what a name) collection. I don't wear neons on my fingers very often, but I ADORE colours like this on my toes in summer!
Like this? Click below to let us know!
I love that shade! Can't wait for this collection to arrive at our drugstores.
Alpine Snow is what I put all my neons over too! :)
I recently went for a pedi and had "Lights" from the same collection put on my toes- it is such a FUNN bright pink! Except now im on the hunt for a bottle and can't find it anywhere anymore :(
ooh wow! i must try this over white
Love the neons for summer! This color is great on you!
I like the purple ones. I feel too old to wear the yellows. This looks fantastic on you!
Love it! You are very inspiring dear.I just discovered your blog and really like it.! I just shared Arm Candy Party on my blog. If you have a minute, I would love to hear your comment.
Also, let me know if you want us to follow each other. I will definitely follow you back...
Blow a Rainbow
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Have a great day!
@Sabine T - I think its a pretty cute little collection, even though I just got one shade! I like the small 4-piece arrangements.
@BizzyGirl - Woo!! Great minds :)
@michela - I was super tempted by Lights! My drugstores and Ulta still have them.
@Mel - It's fab over white! Really helps it look truly neon
@Elaine - Thank you! Neons seem really appropriate in this heat.
@Shannon-Lee - Yeah I can't pull off the yellow either...
Priscilla - Thank you!
I need this! So bright :) you are right this would be a perfect summer pedi
Amazing pictures! beautiful!
Hi :)
I was wondering if to buy Camera or not, because I, just like you, don't wear neon colours often. I don't know still but it really may look well during summer. Such a positive nice colour :)


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Complete Story
Revenue flowing through pipe makes cable attractive
By: Kathleen Gallagher, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
For skeptical investors, two words describe cable's value: dumb pipe.
For Ann Miletti, cable provides more.
"They've become companies that have multiple revenue streams coming from customers," said Miletti, manager of the Wells Fargo Advantage Common Stock Fund. "Growth has slowed, but they're companies that grew through the recession and we think there's more growth potential."
Whether it's digital cable, high speed data, telephone, or even advertising, cable operators are collecting on a variety of products and services. They're also expanding from their traditional base of residential customers to small-and medium-sized commercial customers, Miletti said.
The commercial business opportunities and potential advertising revenue growth as the recession ends should drive earnings, she said.
Cable operators also are spending less on laying cable, Miletti said. Declining capital spending is driving more cable operators to pay dividends, and most of their stock prices are attractive, based on earnings and cash flow multiples, she said.
Here are two names Miletti has in the Wells Fargo Advantage Common Stock Fund:
Cablevision Systems Corp. (CVC, $23.39), Bethpage, NY, is a telecommunications, media and entertainment company.It is spinning off its non-cable businesses, which include Madison Square Garden and its sports teams, the New York Knicks, Rangers, and Liberty, New York's Radio City Music Hall, the Chicago Theater and other properties. Its shares have traded as high as $27.02 and as low as $9.34 in the last 52 weeks.
"Their point is to highlight the value in the entertainment piece of the business - we think it will highlight the value in the cable operating business," Miletti said.
Time Warner Cable Inc. (TWC, $41.28), New York, provides video, data and voice service to residential and commercial customers in the U.S. Its shares have traded as high as $43.13 and as low as $20.19 in the last 52 weeks.
It's very clear Time Warner Cable is focused on, and has good opportunities in, the commercial telephone market, Miletti said.
The company's shares are trading at about 5.5 times cash flow, in the low end of their historical range and below their average of eight times, she said. Cablevision is paying a dividend and Time Warner Cable appears poised to begin paying one soon, said Chris Miller, an analyst on Miletti's fund.
Free TV programming on the Internet is growing, but Time Warner Cable has a new program called "TV Everywhere" that allows content providers to deliver to mobile devices, but only for cable subscribers, Miller said.
"TV Everywhere still allows cable operators to be everywhere for the future," Miletti said.
The biggest risk associated with these shares is the possibility of another dip into recession, Miletti said. There's also the threat of more government regulation, she said.
Miletti and her team typically buy stocks at a 50% to 60% discount to what they calculate is their private market value, or the price an outside buyer might pay for the company. Time Warner Cable shares are trading well below their estimated private market value, Miletti said.


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Connecticut Supreme Court to weigh whether mentally ill can give consent to sadomasochism
HARTFORD -- Can mentally ill people consent to sadomasochistic sex? Can anyone consent to abusive and degrading sexual acts?
Connecticut's highest court has decided to take up those questions in the case of a Greenwich woman suing a man she alleges had an abusive sexual relationship with her daughter, who had multiple mental and physical ailments. Arguments before the state Supreme Court are scheduled for Wednesday.
While sadomasochism was glamorized in the popular 2011 book trilogy "Fifty Shades of Grey," the practice has long been on questionable legal ground.
Some lawyers believe people can't consent to being assaulted or abused under common law, while others say established legal principles provide sexual rights to most people, including elderly people in nursing homes and the mentally ill. There are few court rulings, however, dealing directly with BDSM, short for bondage, discipline, dominance/submission and sadomasochism.
In the Connecticut case, Mary Kortner sued fellow Greenwich resident Craig Martise in 2006, saying her daughter could not have consented to sadomasochistic and abusive sex acts with him because of her mental state. A state jury, however, found in favor of Martise in 2009, concluding there was a sadomasochistic relationship but no proof that Kortner's daughter couldn't consent.
"This was a shocker to everybody who was watching it," Kortner said. "All the allegations were true. He was guilty."
Caroline Kendall Kortner, who died in 2010 at age 39 from an undisclosed illness, had been diagnosed with clinical depression, borderline personality disorder, bulimia and anorexia, and she tried to commit suicide twice, according to court documents. She also had a stroke in 2001 that left her partially paralyzed from the waist down and incontinent, court records say.
In 1994, a probate court had ruled her incapable of managing her own affairs during a period when she refused to eat and appointed her mother as her conservator.
Martise, 49, was never criminally charged. His lawyer, Philip Russell, said the relationship involved two consenting adults and there is no merit to any of Kortner's claims.
"It's like 'Seinfeld.' It's the case about nothing," Russell said, referring to TV show famously labeled as being about nothing.
Russell accused Kortner of being upset at Martise over his relationship with her daughter and trying to publicly embarrass him after losing the lawsuit and failing to persuade police to arrest Martise.
"This case is everything that's bad about the legal system," Russell said.
Russell also said Caroline Kendall Kortner was a habitual liar who had made several unsubstantiated sexual assault claims against other men. Russell said she once appeared at a deposition in a wheelchair and neck brace, but surveillance video shows her later the same day walking happily around her neighborhood without the neck brace.
Caroline Kortner, known as Kendall, met Martise, a married man with children, on the Internet and their physical relationship spanned several months in 2003, court documents say.
According to Mary Kortner's lawsuit, the relationship included Martise dragging her daughter by a leash and dog collar, slapping her with his hand and a belt, pinching and twisting body parts, tying and gagging her and dripping burning hot wax on her. The jury in Stamford ruled there was no proof to the dragging and pinching allegations.
Mary Kortner alleges her daughter protested and objected to Martise's actions, but he continued the mistreatment. She said her daughter suffered physical injuries from the alleged abuse, and Mary Kortner once asked for a $500,000 judgment against Martise in the lawsuit.
Russell and other lawyers said they couldn't recall any legal precedents in the country on whether mentally ill people can consent to sex or sadomasochism. Russell said mentally ill or disabled people have the right to sexual activity under established legal principles.
But there are worries in the BDSM community about facing criminal charges because common law says people can't consent to abuse, said Valerie White, executive director of the Sexual Freedom Legal Defense and Education Fund in Sharon, Mass.
"You have to be very, very careful," she said.
In 2000, police in Attleboro, Mass., arrested two people on assault and other charges during a raid of a sadomasochistic sex party and seized paddles, whips, chains and other paraphernalia. But a judge later threw out the evidence and dismissed most of the charges because police didn't have the right to enter the premises.
In 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated sex-trafficking and forced labor convictions against a New York man dubbed the "S&M Svengali." But the court's ruling addressed technicalities and not the practice of S&M. The man, Glenn Marcus, was sentenced to nine years in prison for abusing a woman he photographed for his website dedicated to sadomasochism.


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Qt is the basis for the standard Linux desktop, KDE, and is used by around 150,000 open source developers worldwide. Qt 3.2 non-commercial for Windows is being produced specifically for this book, the authors of which are Qt pioneers and members of Trolltech.Jasmin Blanchette is the author of 'C++ GUI Programming with Qt 4 (2nd Edition) (Prentice Hall Open Source Software Development Series)', published 2008 under ISBN 9780132354165 and ISBN 0132354160.[read more]
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While doomsdayers predict the world will end on Dec. 21, 2012, based on the "end date" of the Maya calendar shown in ancient hieroglyphics, experts say these inscriptions point instead to the culmination of a 5,000-plus-year cycle of time — and the beginning of a new one.
So, what better time to visit Cancun — with its wealth of Maya culture and traditions — and experience one of the many renewing, transformative spa treatments that are influenced by ancient customs and use indigenous ingredients.
And hey, if the apocalypse does come, at least you'll be relaxed and looking fabulous!
Yhi Spa
This jewel of a spa, set inside the stylish ME Cancun hotel, prides itself on using Yucatan ingredients in treatments — ground Maya blue corn, Caribbean ginger, locally produced honey and herbs — rather than pre-packaged lotions and potions. That's especially appealing when it comes to facials, where going the natural, organic route always seems like the better option. For the Yhi Shine Face, the therapist uses a tailor-made mix of honey, lavender, grapes, arnica and calendula to cleanse, exfoliate and moisturize — resulting in skin that looks healthy, dewy and, fortunately (despite the treatment name) not at all shiny. Best is the awesome accompanying scalp rub, which leaves you all tingly and refreshed. 50 min. Yhi Shine Face, approx. $127; yhispa.com.
Thalasso Center & Spa
Set along a quiet stretch of beach in Puerto Morelos at the Zoetry Paraiso de la Bonita hotel, far removed from Cancun's chaotic hotel zone, this freestanding spa is dedicated primarily to Thalassotherapy (in which purified seawater is used to heal and restore the body). The outdoor saltwater pool is an ideal way to ease yourself into the holistic 80-minute Mayan Massage, which involves lots of vigorous rubbing, kneading and stretching, and even a slightly painful suction-cup treatment on your back that supposedly draws out toxins. Also part of the treatment: an abdominal massage, an ancient Maya therapy where your organs are moved around into their proper place to help with digestion (always a good thing when in Mexico). Mayan Massage, $250; zoetryresorts.com
Heavenly Spa by Westin
Looking for something a bit different, a bit more authentic? Try the Temazcal, a Mesoamerican purifying ritual that takes place in what is, in essence, a sweat lodge. The two-hour ceremony, led by an experienced guide, is meant to cleanse both your body (through sweating) and your mind (through chanting, singing and prayer). Duck to enter through the Hobbit-sized door of the stone hut; inside the dark, low-ceilinged, womb-like space (women indeed used to give birth in Temazcals), a pit in the center is gradually loaded with red-hot rocks. Then the door is closed, plunging you into total blackness. The guide leads you through a series of recitations, all the while beating the rocks with wet herbs to release steam and a heady herbal scent. A little freaky? Yes, but you might come away with a deeper understanding of things. And if nothing else, you'll have lost a few pounds. Temazcal, $200; starwoodhotels.com
Coral Beach Gem Spa
If we could marry a spa, we would choose to be joined in holy union with this one. Upon entering this gorgeous 43,000-square-foot spa in the Fiesta Americana Coral Beach, you'll spot the huge "sensory pool" framed at one end by floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the ocean. Cascading water beats you about the head and neck (in a good way); geysers popping up from below massage your feet; beds of bubbles support and massage your entire body. That's before you even start the 120-minute Mayan God's Ritual with Tiger-Eye Stone, a very long name for a very awesome treatment that pampers you from head to toe. It begins with a body exfoliation using copal (the resin from a native tree, said by the Maya to revitalize the spirit), followed by a body wrap and facial. And don't forget to take home the stone that represents your chakra. Mayan God's Ritual, $376; gemspacancun.com
Blanc Spa
Bar none, our favorite massage experience. The four-hand Kukulkan Massage is like no other rubdown, with two therapists stroking and manipulating your body in a continuous, rhythmic manner that mimics the movements of three sacred Maya animals. Long, smooth, S-shaped strokes represent the serpent (of the earth); there's also the walk of the jaguar (of the underworld) and the eagle (of the heavens). As for the benefits, the Kukulkan claims to release muscular tension, physical blockage and stress — it does all that and so much more: it's pretty much spoiled us for all other rubdowns. Kukulkan Massage, $205, leblancsparesort.com
Follow Jennifer Ceaser at twitter.com/mzjulius.