text:
Atlantis - Paradise Found
When visionary hotelier Sol Kerzner proclaimed his core value No. 1 "blow away the customer", never was that phrase more apparent than in his utopian masterpiece, Atlantis.
Located on Paradise Island in the Bahamas, this massive water-world resort which opened in December, 1998 boasts 1,201 guest accommodations set in the two majestic Royal Towers and the Coral and Beach Towers, 2,300 rooms, 35 restaurants and bars, fountains, waterfalls, watersheds and the largest marine habitat in the world (besides the actual ocean). And let's not forget a world-class casino, spa, children's learning center, shops, a comedy club, convention facilities, a movie theater and more! So where do you start? Anywhere you want.
But first, for those of you who are unfamiliar with the vast island empire called Atlantis, here's a little background about the fabled city, the theme of this spectacular resort, and the island where it lives.
A Little Background Music
About Paradise Island
Paradise Island is located on the northern edge of Nassau (New Providence) the capital of the Bahamas. The island is 826 acres, 4 1/2 miles long and 3/4 of a mile wide. It used to be known as Hog Island and first became a tourist attraction in 1921. In 1962, it was renamed "Paradise Island" since the Bahamian Parliament and commercial developers didn't think the name Hog Island would be appealing to tourists. (Hmmm.."Hog Heaven" maybe?) Ever since 1962, Hog Island has been Paradise Island. Good move.
About Atlantis
Atlantis was first mentioned by the Greek Philosopher Plato. The empire was said to have stretched from the Straits of Gibraltar at the mouth of the Mediterranean all the way to the Americas. It was where Poseidon, the God of the Oceans, ruled with his five sets of male twins. (My heart goes out to Mrs. Poseidon cooking for 10 teenage boys and a god, but of course, they never mention her).
Atlantis was known as a thriving utopian society where inhabitants enjoyed a life of harmony and abundance going back as far as 10 centuries B.C. According to the legend, around 1,500 B.C., a massive earthquake destroyed Atlantis and it disappeared under the ocean named for it, the Atlantic.
For years people have searched for traces of this wonderful civilization and some believe Atlantis was the island of Crete, while others believe it to be the Canary Islands, Scandinavia or the New World.
But what Atlantis really is, is a larger than life, dramatic, extraordinary playground for humans of all ages, interests and homelands. If Atlantis was to have been a place where people lived in harmony and enjoyed all the gifts life and nature had to offer, then rest assured, Atlantis lives. More gloriously than ever.
The waterscape surrounding the Atlantis resort is over 11 million gallons of water, more than 50,000 sea animals that represent over 200 species that live in 11 exhibit lagoons.
NOTE: So our journey here won't be too word intensive, I've bolded certain names and words in red that could do with a bit more background or explanation. Just click on the bolded word(s) in RED and a pop-up box will appear with more info on the subject. (Go ahead do it now on these previous red words.)
3 Days in Paradise
Day 1
Upon arriving at Nassau airport, my assistant and I were met by a limousine sent by Atlantis. Michael, our limo driver who came to us by way of Bahamas Experience, a combination limo and tour guide service, was a pleasant and talkative native Bahamian, happy to share his knowledge of the Island. For those of you wanting limo service to Atlantis or a private tour of the island, you can email Bahamas Experience for more info.
After a 30 minute drive from the airport we arrived at our destination. To say Atlantis is magnificent, is an understated understatement. Count on having your jaw in the dropped position for at least... the whole time you're there. The wonders never cease. Atlantis is delicious visual banquet that you can never seem to get enough of.
The first thing we saw upon arrival (besides the gigantic scope and structure of the buildings) were the brilliant bronze Flying Horses sculpture by Dani de Jager at the at the Porte Cochére entrance to the Royal Towers.
Making our way inside, we found ourselves in the Great Hall of Waters, the main lobby area of the Royal Towers.
You could easily spend some time roller-blading around this huge rotunda (although, don't). The ornate Atlantean pillars and the gleaming marble floors are highlighted by a domed ceiling that displays eight murals that tell the story of Atlantis from its days of glory to its impending destruction. The murals were painted by artist Albino Gonzalez.
Immense carved pillars lead up to a 70-foot domed ceiling made from golden shells. One side of the hall leads to the casino, another leads to the Royal Towers and another side leads to The Dig—an awesome display of archeological findings about the lost city.
After checking in, we were shown to our room in the Royal Towers. The Royal Towers has 1,201 guest facilities including 120 suites, and the amazing 5,000 square-foot Bridge Suite located in an archway high above the resort.
All rooms have mini-bars, in-room safes, hair dryers, iron and ironing board, color satellite TV and movies on demand.
Our room offered an incredible view of the grounds and the ocean. After many "oohs" and "ahhas" from our window, we unpacked and began our journey.
Although our time here was limited, and we couldn't sample everything (which is why you MUST come here a second, or more, time!) I'll give you a first hand account of our experiences. If you need more info on Atlantis, I'll be listing the Atlantis website for you to explore at the end of this article.
Next, we decided to visit The Dig, the archeological adventure that uncovers the remains of the ancient city of Atlantis. I guarantee you, you will dig The Dig.
Still reeling from the initial shock over the splendor that surrounded us, we realized we were starving! The question wasn't what to eat—but where. With over 35 restaurants and bars, it was a dilemma. We decided to explore The Lagoon.
The Lagoon is a round, shell topped bar and eatery, with the most marvelous pastel colors and aquatic designs. It looks like a big Atlantean cake. An intricate serpentine railing winds its way around the entire structure. You get to the Lagoon through an underwater glass tunnel that runs directly beneath the Predator Lagoon and Reef, so you can eat while watching things you could be eaten by.
And don't forget to look up. The inside of the Lagoon's dome is painted in a very specific style depicting an array of sea creatures that almost seem to be talking to each other. The ceiling looks as if it has been there for thousands of years, complete with age spots and imperfections. The images, however, are vivid, as if in defiance of the fate of their city.
The food here is deli sandwiches, salads and lots of great drink specials. We ordered the Crab Salad, made with a harmonious blend of crab, avocado and lime chili; Conch Salad which was marinated in lime and a pepper salsa of vegetables, and a Philly Cheesesteak, made with thinly sliced sirloin, melted mozzarella cheese and pepper and onions. All of it? Fresh, fresh, fresh. And delicious.
I tried the Junkaroo Rush which is the favorite tropical drink here; a Bahamian Pina Colada layered with a strawberry daiquiri. Mmmm... No dessert. Too full. But will indulge later...
One more thing about the Lagoon. Through our entire trip, if one employee stood out more than the rest, it would have to be the Lagoon's hostess, native Bahamian, Judy Demeritte. She is a rare treasure. Judy welcomes you into the restaurant like you're coming into her home; with charm, grace, and a heartfelt feeling of hospitality. It was very crowded when we arrived, and Judy never lost her cool. Smiling, cheerful and genuinely happy about where she was, Judy is, in a phrase, good for business.
After our more than satisfying lunch, we decided to waddle over to The Entertainment Center. Covering 100,000 square feet, this adult playground boasts over 980 slot machines, 78 gaming tables, including baccarat, roulette, craps, blackjack and Caribbean stud poker. There's also a high limit table area called the Baccarat Lounge. The casino here is the largest in the Bahamas and it is the focal point of the gaming area.
In the Casino are two magnificent glass pieces by famed American glass artist, Dale Chihuly. One is the Temple of the Sun and the other, The Temple of the Moon. Amazingly structured with pieces of blown glass, these two works of art serve as a reminder of elaborate Atlantean temples.
To relieve the cricks in our necks from staring at the Chihulys, my assistant and I decided to try our luck gambling. Yesssir! I was feeling lucky. Here we were in the middle of the most magnificent resort hotel in the Bahamas (the world?) surrounded by beauty, splendor and just great vibes. I decided to take a chance. Gamble on this good feeling. Throwing caution to the wind, I sidled over to the 25-cent slot machines (sure there are 5-cent slot machines too, but I felt daring!).
I picked one called "Whale of a Time" which I thought appropriately described our trip so far. After about 45 minutes of that sheer adrenaline rush of pulling the "arm" (okay, I'm not much of a gambler) I counted my quarters and found I had $30 dollars extra in my pocket! (So what if the pocket was a tad heavy and noisy, I was happy.)
So what do you do with all that extra cash? Go shopping of course! The shopping area, called The Crystal Court, features such upscale designers as Lalique, Ferragamo, Cartier, Façonnable, Gucci and Bulgari.
However, if I were to purchase my heart's desire in one of these stores, I'd have to go back to the casino and parlay my winnings by pi squared. So, not wanting to take a chance and blow my fortune, we decided to go to one of the little gift shops in the Royal Towers. Here I found the most wonderful fragrance for women called "Ancient Evenings". It's made exclusively for Atlantis and comes in an adorable seahorse shaped spray container. And it's under $20. What a find. (There's a larger size as well). And the gents are not left out. A wonderful men's fragrance called "Essence of Atlantis" is available in both sizes as well.
After our waterfilled day, we decided to dine at Water's Edge and enjoy a seafood buffet. We found everything from fresh steamed mussels to shrimp to lobster tails. Again, everything was ultra-fresh and plentiful. After dinner we decided to go to Jimmies, an old-fashioned ice cream parlor serving up all your favorites; shakes, cones and sundaes. We indulged in a couple of good old fashioned hot fudge sundaes while letting the wonderful events of the day soak into our minds.
The Dig
The Dig is the underwater world of the ruins of Atlantis. It is where the once bustling boulevards of the ancient city now reside. There are corridors of limestone, hallways with murals and hieroglyphics, city maps and storerooms for 5,000 year old supplies. Here you'll find a laboratory showing evidence of electricity and astronomy. In the submarine room is where the Atlanteans launched their underwater vehicles to explore the ocean's depths. Divers' suits loom at the edges, accompanied by a diving bell.
The diver's suits really make you stop and stare. The suits are powerful looking but with a foreboding, almost eerie edge, as if they knew of the city's impending doom. And the suits are massive. I wondered if any Atlantean women, put them on, looked down at themselves and asked, "Do I look fat in this?"
Around every corner, from behind glass walls, we see the city's ancient ruins. Toppled statues, artifacts, underwater streets; all of them surrounded by hundreds of varying species of marine life. Piranha, eels and iridescent jellyfish and other exotic seas creatures are found in tanks at nearly every turn. The Dig is truly one of the focal points of Atlantis. It's really the base from which all else was built. When you're walking through the darkened tunnels and see all a the remnants of what was once a vibrant, bustling society you get a sense of the realness of Atlantis' existence. You can almost see the Atlanteans hurrying down the street, going about their business.
The Dig can be visited again and again. Each time, you'll see something new. The iridescent down fish (named so, because their mouths are shaped in a sad or "down" shape) were my favorites.
Dinner tonight would be at Murray's Delicatessen. Murray's is an inviting New York style deli done in a 1950's Miami decor with pastel booths and terrazzo. The food is typical deli style overstuffed sandwiches, shakes and good 'ol American cuisine that includes burgers, fries and hot dogs. After our dinner we walked around the inside and outside of the resort for a few hours, just admiring the artifacts and decor and familiarizing ourselves with Atlantis. The decor, artwork and light fixtures are all amazing and placed and positioned with great care. Nothing at Atlantis is left to chance. Every detail has been given careful attention, right down to the handrails. (See photo gallery)
Tomorrow is water day. On the agenda is snorkeling and the Mayan Temple water slide called, quite aptly, Leap of Faith. The LOF is located in a re-creation of a Mayan Temple. The slide shoots you down a 60-feet almost vertical drop at the front of the temple. But wait! There's more. You get propelled at a tremendous speed, not just down the slide, but also through an acrylic tunnel submerged in a shark filled lagoon. I mulled it over... Shot at a nerve-wracking speed through an acrylic tunnel under a shark filled lagoon? I am there! I've been dating for 20 years, this is nothing!
Day 2
Today is water day! For those of you who love marine life, this is the place to be. Today we'll spend the morning going on a tour of the lagoons and all the fabulous sea creatures that inhabit them, the afternoon will be spent on a snorkeling trip and finally, a trip down the much talked about Leap of Faith water slide at the Mayan Temple. First a quick tour of some of the lagoons.
Reef Lagoon - Located outside of the Reef Wing at the Coral towers, this is the home of the nurse sharks (I'll resist the temptation to say you can spot the nurse sharks by their little hats with the crosses). The nurse sharks sleep at the bottom of the lagoon during the day, and at night they forage around for food.
Hibiscus Lagoon - Here you'll see green and hawksbill turtles. This lagoon is located right outside the Beach Tower.
Estuary Lagoon - My favorite! Baby sea animals born at Atlantis live here. You'll see baby sharks and rays swimming around until they are old enough to move to the other lagoons safely. They are so CUTE! Located outside the reef wing of the Coral Towers.
Stingray Lagoon - Here guests can get an up-close look at southern stingrays. During the stingrays' feeding times, you are given the opportunity to touch and feed the rays. This sandy, shallow lagoon is right outside the Beach Tower.
Royal Stingray Lagoons - These are awesome! Here you'll see the black and white potted eagle rays (that almost have a leopard-like look to them) and the southern stingrays. These creatures just glide along as if they're flying in water. Watching them is mesmerizing. The lagoon is outside the Royal Towers on either side of the Royal Walk.
Water's Edge Lagoon - Ever see a bonehead shark? You will, along with bonefish and cownose rays. Located outside the Coral Towers.
Mayan Temple Lagoon - This is the lagoon you'll zip through going down the Leap of Faith water slide. The water is filled with silky sharks, nurse sharks, and Caribbean reef sharks. The decks around the temple give you a clear view of all of them. If you're skilled enough to be able to open your eyes in the tunnel as you're shot through, you can see them that way, too. The deck is probably a more leisurely setting. (smile)
Ah, now it's our turn to swim with the fishes...
Snorkeling and Sliding
Seahorse Sailing Adventures, at 1-800-821-4505, offer morning and afternoon snorkeling trips that leave from the Atlantis Marina on a big catamaran. We opted for the afternoon trip. It takes about an hour to get to the reef, and you're given a couple of hours to snorkel. So plan on about four hours or so from start to finish.
The crew provides all the snorkeling gear and briefs guests as to safety rules and precautions, and how to don your equipment, so even if you're a novice, you'll feel comfortable. One word of caution: wear sunscreen! You get more sun than you may think and you don't want to spend the rest of your trip on ice.
Snorkeling in the reef was nothing short of euphoric. The gorgeous tropical fish, apparently used to having humans around, swim uninhibited all around us, and at times, it even felt like they were posing for pictures. (Take an underwater camera, it's worth it! Disposable ones can be purchased at the Atlantis gift shops if you don't have one.)
After the snorkeling, on the way back, beer, wine and other beverages can be purchased. We opted for water, since we had yet another adventure in front of us, that we wanted to experience with a clear head.
The Leap of Faith at The Mayan Temple and Other Water Wonders
The Leap of Faith water slide cannot be accurately described; it really must be experienced. But I'll try. First you must physically climb the steps up the temple. You become religious as the steps continue: "Please God, let me make it to the top without passing out." No elevators here. So get ready for a little bit of aerobics. Once you get to the top, attendants will instruct you as to the proper way to go down the slide. From watching other "sliders" you might think the proper way to go down is "screaming, with eyes tightly clenched". Well, that's one way.
Don't Peek and Freak
As you prepare for the plunge, don't look down. I mean it. The top of the slide where you initially get on, doesn't readily show the plunge. It's kinda covered at the top. You sort of have to lean forward and peek to appreciate the vertical-ness of it all; that long, long drop. Don't peek. I peeked. I peeked and freaked. Don't. Or you may never go down. Just fold your arms, lay down and go with the flow like they tell you. Forget that the flow is going warp speed. Just do it grasshopper, and you will have faced your fear. I did. Four times.
The first time all I could think of was: Omigod! Omigod! Omigod!
The second time: I'm still ALIVE!!!
The third time: I'm gonna try opening my eyes this time!
The fourth time: I wish these little kids would stop trying to cut in front of me!
This is an exhilarating ride folks and not for the faint of heart. But so is life. I wish I had one of these things in my back yard. What a way to start the day—WAKES YOU RIGHT UP!
The next water ride we tried was The Challengers, two high-speed dueling slides, right behind the Leap of Faith. Although fun, not as awesome as the Leap and it ends in a plain pool of water.
So if you miss the sharks, grab an inner tube and hop on The Serpent Slide. As you sit in a rubber tube, this slide spins you into the darkness of the temple's core before you are deposited into a tunnel that lets you enjoy a "leisurely shark viewing pace". I never thought, in my whole life, I would use the phrase "a leisurely shark viewing pace" let alone experience it, but Atlantis is full of surprises.
If slides aren't your thing, or if you prefer a gentler aquatic atmosphere, you can also enjoy a half-mile lazy river ride, a formal pool, a zero-entry pool, a children's pool and of course the ever-inviting Atlantic ocean.
Day 3
Although today was our last day, our flight didn't leave until the evening, so we decided to do a photographic sweep of the resort. And even though we didn't get a chance to personally visit everything the resort had to offer in our short stay, we took quite a few images of Atlantis for you to enjoy through the Photo Gallery.
Some of these images include the suspension bridge, the baby pool for newborn marine life, the ballroom, and some of the amazing light fixtures, art and artifacts throughout the resort.
Accommodations - You can opt for world-class luxury or opt for more moderately priced accommodations. There are many options.
The Bridge Suite - The Mothership
The Bridge Suite at The Royal Towers is thee most luxurious suite; the crème de la crème of the crème de la crème. It connects the two buildings of the Royal Towers and offers panoramic views from its floor-to-ceiling windows. It is a 10-room suite with twelve foot ceilings, hand painted stenciling, gold gilt and glass, and intricate architectural detailing that comes together for an extraordinary display of grandeur. There's a 50 x 25 foot living room that includes a sitting area, his-and-hers baths and closets, a desk and activity table and an entertainment armoire. The four-poster bed is more than 10-feet in height and is decorated with hand painted linens, plush pillows and custom coverlets. The bathrooms have chaise lounges, picture windows, marble showers and tubs, vanities and more. The suite has its own butler service. Yes, butler service! To me, that is about as good as it gets (short of having Keanu Reeves being the butler). All my life I've wanted to say, "Jeeves, my good man, bring us a brandy, and please, use the baccarat snifters." (Maybe it'll happen, one never knows...)
Resort Rates
The room sizes and pricing varies. Rates can be subject to change and there's always some sort of special going on, so the best thing to do is call for the most up to date price quotes. There are several different packages to choose from, whether you are traveling with one other person or your spouse and children, and the rates change seasonally. So again, call the resort directly. That number is 1-800-ATLANTIS.
The restaurants are plentiful; everything from beach and pool side takeout to gourmet. Visit the website for a complete list of restaurants or call the resort.
Remember folks, there's so much to do and see here, it's highly unlikely a visitor will ever get bored. There's all sorts of sports, both water and land to indulge in, a spa to soothe your aching muscles afterwards, and some of the finest gourmet restaurants in the Bahamas to dine in. One other great thing here is, if you're bringing your kids there's the Discovery Channel Camp for children as young as one year old and older. There's also a Seagrapes Circus, held Thursday through Saturday evenings. Teens can enjoy Club Rush, where they have access to computers, the Internet, video games, DVD movies and popular music in a safe environment. And if you enjoy comedy, visit The Joker's Wild Comedy Club featuring the country's top comedians. The Golf here is extraordinary. On the grounds is a 18-hole putting course and there's the Tom Weiskopf designed 18-hole championship Ocean Club Golf Course. The Sports Center also features tennis, basketball, volleyball, and a four-lane lap pool. At Atlantis, nobody gets left out.
My assistant and I had an exceptional time. The staff at Atlantis was nothing short of first rate: polite, attentive and extremely competent. If you have questions or need assistance they are always more than happy to help you—with a smile.
Sadly, our journey was at and end. But we vowed to someday return. We need to! We couldn't get to all of it. As we were whisked back to the airport in our limo, it occurred to me, Atlantis truly has it all, and like it's ancient predecessor, it will continue to be remembered for years to come, as a utopian world where harmony, beauty, great food and FUN abound.
See you next time! -xxooxx
for more info: www.Atlantis.com


text:
When we think of the transition from Poetry Month to Short Story Month, we always think of that very real moment in Florida literary history when Ernest Hemingway and Wallace Stevens got into a fistfight in Key West. There isn't much literary significance to this infamous scuffle, though it does serve to remind us of the bad old days when such macho bullshit was actually tolerated.
On that fateful day in Key West, poetry broke its hand on fiction, and fiction hit back pretty hard. It could have only happened in Florida, a place that didn't figure too much into Papa's body of work, left a strong impact on Stevens' poetry, and, it probably goes without saying, is ripe for literary interpretation.
As Poetry Month has passed and Short Story Month comes to a close, in the spirit of genre reconciliation and to celebrate the literature of Florida, here are some of our favorite short stories and poems set in Florida.
"Naples, Not Italy"
by John Brandon
Collected in Further Joy.
Representative sentences: I tell the gals about how Florida used to be, since I'm the one who's from here–how there used to be orange groves everywhere you looked and now there's Home Depots and chain bakeries. I tell them it used to be pleasant to drive on 41–people did it for fun–and now it's a traffic jam of senile Long Islanders.
"Resurrection, or: The Story Behind the Failure of the 2003 Radio Salsa 98.1 Semi-Annual Cuban and/or Puerto Rican Heritage Festival"
by Jennine Capó Crucet
Online at BP Review. Collected in How to Leave Hialeah.
Representative sentences: The nun might have rushed to stop her, but her eyes are soft with understanding, so she only stands and steps forward. You can see from the way she bows her head to stare instead at the mosaic of tiny tiles encrusted in the floor that the nun lets many thirsty people drink when the church is empty. This church is too close to South Beach, and like the clubs, it's open all night. And like the clubs, the water is free. But here, at the church, there is never a line.
"Scarliotti and the Sinkhole"
by Padgett Powell
Online at The Collagist. Collected in Aliens of Affection.
Representative sentences: The horse Yankees who clipped him were in a world of hurt and he wanted them to be. They were the kind of yahoos who leave Ohio and find a tract of land that was orange groves until 1985 and now is plowed out and called a horse farm and buy it and fence it and call themselves horse breeders. And somehow they breed Arabian horses, and somehow it is Arabs behind it all. Somehow Minute Maid, which is really Coca-Cola, leaves, and Kuwait and Ohio are here. And the Yankees are joking and laughing about grits at first, and then they wise up and try to fit in and start eating them every morning after learning how to cook them, which it takes them about a year to do it. And driving all over the state in diesel doolies with mirrors coming off them about as long as airplane wings, and knocking people who live here in the ditch.
"I Can See Right Through You"
by Kelly Link
Online at McSweeney's. Collected in Get in Trouble.
Representative sentences: (1974) Twenty-two people disappear from a nudist colony in Lake Apopka. People disappear all the time. Let's be honest: the only thing interesting here is that these people were naked. And that no one ever saw them again. Funny, right?
by Derrick Austin
Online at New England Review. Collected in Trouble the Water.
Representative lines:
Mist hangs over shoddy condos.
Beachcombers scan the quartz burrows
of ghost shrimp. A drunken couple
stumbles somewhere. Before they were expelled Choctaw called this place Okalusa,
"dark water."
"Fabliau of Florida"
by Wallace Stevens
Online at Poetry Foundation. Collected in Collected Poems.
Representative lines:
"On Cocoa Beach"
by Major Jackson
Online at NY Times Magazine. Collected in Roll Deep.
Representative lines:
I am revisiting the idea of Florida, giving my vertebrae
a vacation from all the faded bouquets of urine in New York
and the darkened policies of snow in Vermont.
"Variations on a Text by Vallejo"
by Donald Justice
Online at Poetry Foundation. Collected in Collected Poems.
Representative lines:
This is in no way a complete list, just a handful of favorites. We've most definitely left a lot out, so feel free to add your favorite Florida poems and stories in the comments. If you can link to a free version online, all the better.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
noun: impetus
- the force that makes something happen or happen more quickly.
- plural noun: impetuses
"The recommendation to streamline operations was the impetus to the company's improved profit margin"
- plural noun: impetuses
Impetus Consulting Group strives to be the force for change that delivers better information and decision-making capabilities to our clients.
The Impetus Consulting Group was founded with the belief that a consulting firm should exist to serve its clients' interests first and foremost without being burdened by costly overhead. We operate under a lean management structure which is focused on delivering the best possible solution for our clients. This approach serves our clients well but also keeps our team fresh, challenged and driven to deliver the best solutions for our clients. Simply put: we are focused on doing for a purpose rather than just doing.
Who We Are
Impetus Consulting Group is a professional services firm focused on driving improved bottom-line profitability to our clients through actionable analytics and sustainable processes leveraging best-in-class tools and proven solutions. The Impetus Consulting Group team has a long history of implementing integrated solutions for Planning & Forecasting, Profitability, Strategic Cost Management and Business Intelligence. Through partnering with the Impetus team, our clients have achieved sustained ROI on their performance management initiatives. Impetus combines deep technical skills with broad industry and functional knowledge. The Impetus Consulting Group team has a track record of delivering sustainable solutions for our clients.
Conscious Capitalism
We regularly volunteer with community service organizations around the country, and we seek out opportunities to help non-profit organizations with limited resources who need assistance with performance management. We believe it is important to give something back to the communities where we live and work.


text:
About Me
An aspiring author currently studying Media Studies in Kathmandu University School of Arts. My former work was a content writer and social media manager at Red Circle Creative Solutions. I'm a Rising Star at Wedu and a former writer at Women's e-News (Teen Voices). I'm interested in writing. I hopes to touch hearts of people through my words.
My Vision
To write and be a part of the lives of people maybe just for minutes when my piece is being read.


text:
Today is Tuesday, Feb. 24, the 55th day of 2009 with 310 to follow.
The moon is waning. The morning stars are Mars, Jupiter, Mercury, Neptune and Saturn. The evening stars are Venus and Uranus.
Those born on this day are under the sign of Pisces. They include Wilhelm Grimm, historian and, with his brother Jacob, compiler of "Grimm's Fairy Tales," in 1786; painter Winslow Homer in 1836; John Philip Holland, inventor of the modern submarine, in 1841; Irish author George Moore in 1852; baseball shortstop and Hall of Famer Honus Wagner in 1874; Adm. Chester Nimitz, World War II commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific, in 1885; actors Abe Vigoda in 1921 (age 88); James Farentino in 1938 (age 71), Barry Bostwick in 1945 (age 64), Edward James Olmos in 1947 (age 62) and Helen Shaver in 1951 (age 58); Steven Jobs, founder of the Apple computer company, in 1955 (age 54); TV personality Paula Zahn in 1956 (age 53); and the Kienast quintuplets of Liberty Corner, N.J., in 1970 (age 39).
On this date in history:
In 1920, a group of Germans organized the National Socialist party, forerunner of the Nazi party later led by Adolf Hitler.
In 1922, Henri Landru, better known as "Bluebeard," was executed in France for killing 10 of his girlfriends.
In 1945, U.S. troops liberated the Philippine city of Manila from the Japanese.
In 1946, Juan Peron was elected president of Argentina.
In 1986, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional an Indianapolis law that defined pornography as discrimination against women.
In 1988, the U.S. Supreme Court defended the right to satirize public figures when it voted 8-0 to overturn a $200,000 settlement awarded the Rev. Jerry Falwell over the parody of him in Hustler Magazine.
In 1989, nine people were killed when a 10-by-40-foot section of a United Airlines 747 ripped away from the jetliner's outer skin while en route from Hawaii to New Zealand.
In 1991, U.S.-led forces began a lightning, multipronged ground assault against Iraq.
In 1992, General Motors announced a record $4.5 billion loss in 1991 and said it will close 21 plants and idle 74,000 workers over four years.
Also in 1992, the U.S Postal Service unveiled two designs for a commemorative stamp honoring Elvis Presley -- one showing him as young rock-and-roll singer, the other at the height of his success in Las Vegas.
In 1993, rock veteran Eric Clapton took home seven Grammys for his emotion-packed "Tears In Heaven" and bluesy "Layla."
In 1995, diver Greg Louganis, who won four gold medals in the Olympic Games in 1984 and 1988, revealed he had AIDS.
In 1996, Cuba shot down two unarmed planes flown by pilots belonging to a Cuban exile group who were looking for boat people to rescue.
In 1997, a nationally televised funeral for China's "paramount leader" Deng Xiaoping was held at a military hospital in Beijing.
In 2001, Colin Powell arrived in the Middle East on his first overseas trip as U.S. secretary of State.
In 2002, the Winter Olympics concluded at Salt Lake City with the United States winning 34 medals, 10 of them gold, its most medals in Winter Games history and one fewer than medals champ Germany.
In 2003, at least 260 people were killed in an earthquake in northwest China as the tremor flattened thousands of houses and other buildings. The quake measured 6.8 on the Richter scale.
Also in 2003, Britain and Spain submitted a resolution to the U.N. Security Council declaring that Iraq's Saddam Hussein has missed a "final opportunity" to disarm peacefully.
In 2004, U.S. President George Bush called for a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages in the United States.
Also in 2004, an earthquake struck Morocco, killing about 600 people and injuring hundreds more.
In 2005, Pope John II underwent a tracheotomy at a Rome hospital to ease the 84-year-old pontiff's breathing problems.
In 2006, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared a state of emergency and ordered the arrest of military officers suspected of plotting a coup.
In 2007, a bombing near a Sunni mosque outside Baghdad killed at least 35 people, apparently signaling an end to a downturn in sectarian violence.
In 2008, at least 52 Shiite pilgrims headed to the shrine of Imam Hussein in Karbala to celebrate Arbaeen were killed in an attack at a rest stop. Four others were killed the next day by suicide bombers.
Also in 2008, consumer advocate Ralph Nader announced he would run for president again as an independent. He ran on the Green Party ticket in 2000 and was accused by many Democrats of pulling votes away from Al Gore to help George Bush win.
A thought for the day: Harry Millner said, "There are many paths to the top of the mountain but only one view."


text:
it's a rare event, we must document this
(Users Browsing this Thread: )
The shocking thing is really how there are posts every hour
just wait until you guys go on tinychat later, activity drops off a cliff then.
it has now been one hour since the last post on nhc.
let's try for two now
quiet you
It was actually inactive 2 hours yesterday or 2 days ago, but I forgot to report it.
Originally Posted by scully apologist;bt39949
No proof
Not as rare an event as it should be!
Goddamn it, forum... Not again!
EDIT: Double-damn it! You posted, Alias. Now you ruined it.
it's like a ghost town at tha nhc
so the NHC was a bit dead in the past 5 or so hours
ok time for bed
mfw the NHC is inactive at 2 am oh no
nhc is DEd
Originally Posted by kupomog
i know you live in The Village Down Under but you posted that at fuckin 4 am in American Time
6:05pm ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
that's the cool thing about living here, I get to watch everyone wake up and come online
I didn't know that you slept on the right side of the bed comeau
really? that's not where he wakes up.
bed? shit i wish.
R.I.P. forum...
dude how the FUCK did you make the board look like that
somebody should post something
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)


text:
How it works - Domestic Worker UIF Registration
- By selecting Option 2 you will be taken to the UIF Registration form.
- You will need to complete this form in order for us to get the correct details about yourself the Employer and the Employee you wish to register with the Department of Labour for UIF.
- Upon finalising the Registration and validating your Email account, you will receive an Email with a secure link back to DomesticSA so you can make payment to us so we can start the whole UIF registration process.
- Once Payment has been made we will keep you informed to the progress and send you your UIF registration number and any arrears information you my need
- By selecting Option 1 you will be taken to the DOMESTICSA Registration form.
- Upon finalising the Registration and validating your Email account, you will receive an Email with your security Login information that you need to enter into the Member Login section on the Home screen.
- After successful Login, you will have access to the DomesticSA Back-office system
- Employer Profile – DomesticSA™ works for the Employer
- Employee Profile – Fully manage up to five Employees for R69.00
- Online Payroll System – Easily create monthly Payslips, Track leave, UIF, Earnings & Deductions
- Legal Documents – Customised Employment Contracts, Duty Sheets, Certificate of Service etc.
- Disciplinary – Personal Online Labour consultant for Warning letters, Termination of Service etc.
- Support – Personal Online support on any related issues by a qualified Labour Consultant
- Payment. Use any of our easy payment options to make annual or monthly payments.
- Access the following online:
- Setup each Employee in your Employ (Domestic, Garden, Care Taker, Nanny etc.)
- Configure Payroll per Employee for all Earnings, Deductions and Lave management
- Print Employment Contract that is automatically configured per Employee
- Configure, save and print Duty Sheet/s that needs to accompany the Employment Contract
- Print monthly Attendance Registers
- Configure, Edit, Print, Save monthly Payslips
- UIF Registrations and payments are automated for your convenience.
- Login on a monthly basis and update Attendance, Leave and Payroll.
- Experiencing Disciplinary problems? No problem!
- Access our Disciplinary Guide and have access to your personal online Labour Consultant that will assist in all disciplinary matters and procedures.


text:
Ustekinumab effective for IBD with concomitant psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis
Ustekinumab, delivered subcutaneously, is effective for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) receiving concomitant treatment for dermatological or rheumatological conditions, a recent study has found.
Researchers conducted a multicentre, retrospective analysis of 70 IBD patients (median age, 41.75 years; 45 percent female; 91.4 percent Crohn's disease) who were initiated on ustekinumab for concomitant active psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis. The primary study endpoint was overall persistence of ustekinumab, defined as therapy maintenance due to sustained clinical benefit.
The median time on ustekinumab was 10.7 months. Twelve patients (17.1 percent) withdrew from the medication, all of whom had CD. Median time to withdrawal was 7.4 months. Half of the withdrawals were due to the lack of benefit for the skin or joint disease, four due to lack of benefit for IBD, and two due to adverse events.
At baseline, 56 patients had active disease. At the last follow-up after ustekinumab treatment, majority of these participants (60.7 percent; n=34) were in clinical remission. The cumulative probabilities of achieving remission at 6 and 9 months were 84.7 percent and 63.9 percent, respectively.
Disaggregating according to comorbid conditions did not meaningfully change the results. Ustekinumab induced clinical remission in majority of patients with either psoriasis (82.2 percent; 37 of 45) or psoriatic arthritis (60 percent; 15 of 25).
Ustekinumab likewise had a favourable safety profile. Only 10 cases of adverse events were reported in nine participants. Three adverse events needed emergency care: acute intestinal obstruction, dehydration due to acute gastroenteritis and acute renal colic.


text:
Social Media Toolkit – Spread the Word!
Here are a few simple ways you can help the Environmental Health Trust spread the word about environmental health and how and why to #PracticeSaferTech
Share, Share, Share
Link to ehtrust.org on your personal website or social media platforms.
Each article on EHTrust.org includes buttons that allow you to e-mail, print, or share content with others on social media. Check out the resources below for tips on posting to specific social media platforms.
With more than 1 billion monthly active users, Facebook is a key place to share information.
Please go to the EHT Facebook page and share our posts.
Repost EHT's timeline photos! Feel free to download them and share in your community.
Repost EHT's videos! We have uploaded several short video clips and expert talks that you can share on your timeline.
EHT's Twitter handle is @saferphones
Retweet EHT's Posts! — Including any Posted Media using a few of these suggested hashtags:
#PracticeSafeTech #Screentime #LapsNotApps #EMFsafety
EHT's Instagram handle: Environmental_Health_Trust
Share EHT's photo-oriented posts! Try using a few of these hashtags:
#cellphoneradiation #cellphonesafety #kidsandtechnology #screentime
EHT's YouTube Channel:
Environmental Health Trust
Please like and share EHT's Videos!
Thank you for linking to Environmental Health Trust!
Whether you link to specific pages or simply provide the URL for our homepage, you will make a huge difference.
Here are some links to help you get started:
10 Tips to Reduce Cell Phone Radiation: http://bit.ly/2nV7xlp
Share Environmental Health Trust materials.
American Academy of Pediatrics Recommends…
A few suggested hashtags include:
#PracticeSafeTech #EMFsafety #screentime #kidsandtechnology
Did You Know…
A few suggested hashtags include:
#PracticeSafeTech #EMFsafety #screentime #cellphoneradiation #cellphonesafety
See more EHT's Printable Safety Postcards & Posters at this link
Note: If you want to print them, please look at the options and choose the downloads for printing.


text:
Office N324
School of Chemistry,
Cantock's Close, Bristol BS8 1TS
(See a map)
Tel. +44 (0) 117 928 7660
Natural products isolated from bacteria, fungi and plants from both marine and terrestrial environments are a rich source of compounds of medicinal and agrochemical importance. We have published >130 papers which centre upon:-
Professor Willis is a supervisor in the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Chemical Synthesis
Edit this profile If you are Professor Chris Willis, you can edit this page. Login required.
All details on one page > for printing etc.


text:
Australia's intelligence services have been happy — at least in principle — to share raw data about the communications of Australian citizens with espionage partners in the U.S. and Britain, according to the latest NSA leak published by the Guardian.
Australia is part of the so-called Five Eyes alliance, which was set up in the turbulent 1940s as a way for a core group of English-speaking nations to share signals intelligence with one another and to avoid spying on one another. The other members are the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand.
The latest piece of surveillance-related information, brought to light by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, records a meeting held by the five countries' intelligence services in 2008. At that meeting, the services discussed how comfortable they were with sharing metadata – the fragments of recorded information that tell the spooks who contacted whom and when.
It seems…
View original post 233 more words
The link below is to an article reporting on the incredible foolishness of North Korea in getting ready for a war with the US and it's allies.
For more visit:
There is no doubt in my mind as to the complete separation of the state and the Christian church. The United States government, the Australian government and all other governments involved in the war against terror are not acting as Christian Crusaders, but as responsible modern nations seeking to bring freedom from terror to oppressed peoples around the world. Having said that, in light of such articles as that previous in this Blog, perhaps it is time that the allies in the war on terror, reassess their policy on Afghanistan (and the same would be true of Iraq and Pakistan). Clearly, should the allies withdraw from the country, it seems relatively clear that it would only be a matter of time before the country moves towards an oppressive Islamic regime.
Why should western nations promoting human rights, democracy, freedom from terror and other worthwhile goals, continue to pour resources (human, financial, etc) into a country where overall, its citizens continue to espouse the rhetoric and policies of the enemy? Already it seems clear that the principles of our freedoms are despised by the vast majority of the Afghan nation. Without a long-term commitment to police the country and keep the policies being promoted by the western allies, there is no point continuing the current mission in Afghanistan (or Iraq, Pakistan, etc). Do we have the capacity and the stomach to pay the price for such a continuing mission, when the undoubted price in human lives, finances and other resources, will continue to mount and become such that our own people will be unable to bear the dearness of the cost?
28 indigenous Colombian Christians have been imprisoned since October for refusing to denounce their faith, reports MNN.
Logan Maurer with International Christian Concern says the central government gave local governors relative autonomy. "They have devolved power to a governor there who has outlawed Christianity. He has said that if anybody there is a Christian, they're going to go to prison."
With that announcement, the local governor over the Kogui (ko-gee) called the Christians together on October 27th. "He was holding a meeting to discuss this issue," said Maurer, "and he surprised these Christians by saying, 'You're all under arrest.'"
The governor wants them to maintain more of the traditional identity to the tribal region, which includes animism. The group is still being held because they refuse to reconvert.
Christian Solidarity Worldwide says at last report, two of the kidnapped infants were seriously ill. The governor and his allies also humiliated non-Christian leaders who had supported the Christians in the community and protected them from being expelled.
What's especially odd about this case is that the Colombian government has apparently refused to act on behalf of the Christians. That's prompting outcry from human rights watchdog groups. Maurer adds that the Colombian government is "willing to ignore its own Constitution and its international agreements, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the ICCPR, the ICSECR, and the American Convention on Human Rights–all of which explicitly protect the right of individuals to choose their own faith and to convert of their own free will."
ICC remains concerned about what this means for other believers. Maurer explains, "There's over 100 individuals that consider themselves Christians and would be affected. If this governor continues to imprison men, women and children, as he has done, you could be looking at up to 100 people in prison for their faith."
Report from the Christian Telegraph
Current space programs may set their sights on Mars, but a team of astronomers and a biochemist at the science-faith think tank Reasons To Believe (RTB) publicly encourage NASA and other space agencies to revisit the lunar surface—to look for the remains of Earth's oldest life-forms, reports Maureen Bell and Kathy Ross, special to ASSIST News Service.
Astronomer and RTB president Hugh Ross says, "The Apollo program helped researchers solve the mystery of the Moon's origin. Return missions to the Moon could solve the mystery of life's origin."
According to biochemist Fazale Rana, "Chemical signatures confirm life was present on Earth in fair abundance back to 3.8 billion years ago." What's missing, he says, are the fossils. "Wind and water erosion and plate tectonics have destroyed the fossils of Earth's first life. [But] there are good reasons to expect them in abundance in pristine forms on the Moon."
Ross and fellow astronomer Jeff Zweerink point out that when the Earth was young, it was "bombarded" by asteroids and large meteorites. "These collisions sent large amounts of the Earth's surface material into outer space, and much of that material landed on the Moon—about a million kilograms on every 100 square kilometers of the Moon's surface."
New research by British earth scientist Ian Crawford indicates that at least some of this Earth material made it to the Moon with its fossil structures still intact. Crawford affirms that "substantial survivability is to be expected."
In their book Origins of Life, Rana and Ross present their model for the origin of life. This model, totally compatible with the Bible, predicts that (1) Earth's first life would be both complex and diverse; and (2) the origin of life occurred suddenly, as soon as Earth's physical conditions permitted. Non-theistic models predict the opposite.
As Ross stated in a lecture at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, "We are thrilled with the prospect that lunar missions could put our creation model to the test, either affirming or showing us wrong. Finding and analyzing pristine fossils of Earth's first life could help settle, finally, one of the great creation-evolution controversies."
About Reasons To Believe
Reasons To Believe is a California-based science-faith think tank. Founded by Hugh Ross in 1986, the organization strives to demonstrate that science and faith are, and always will be, allies, not enemies. Through myriad resources—including books, print periodicals, podcasts, and a content-rich website—speaking engagements, and radio and TV interviews, RTB scholars present reasons for confidence in the findings of science and in the authority of the Bible. For more information and resources, visit www.reasons.org
Report from the Christian Telegraph
Christians concerned as rightwing factions splinter to form militant outfits.
PUNE, India, October 29 (CDN) — After more than a decade of severe persecution, India's Christian minority is growing increasingly concerned over the mushrooming of newer and deadlier Hindu extremist groups.
Gone are the days when Christians had to watch out only for the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council) and its youth wing, Bajrang Dal, which are closely linked with the most influential Hindu extremist umbrella organization, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). With voter support faltering for the RSS's political wing, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), moderate and extremist sections within the Hindu nationalist movement are blaming each other, and militant splinter groups have emerged.
Claiming to be breakaway factions of the RSS, new groups with even more extreme ideology are surfacing. The Abhinav Bharat (Pride of India), the Rashtriya Jagran Manch (National Revival Forum), the Sri Ram Sene (Army of god Rama), the Hindu Dharam Sena (Army for Hindu Religion) and the Sanatan Sanstha (Eternal Organization) have launched numerous violent attacks on Christian and Muslim minorities.
The Sri Ram Sene was one of the most active groups that launched a series of attacks on Christians and their property in and around Mangalore city in the southern state of Karnataka in August-September 2008, according to a report, "The Ugly Face of Sangh Parivar," published by the People's Union of Civil Liberties (PUCL), in March 2009. In Jabalpur city in the central state of Madhya Pradesh, suspected extremists from the Abhinav Bharat attacked the Rhema Gospel Church on Sept. 28, according to the Global Council of Indian Christians. They had earlier attacked Pastor Sam Oommen and his family in the same city on Aug. 3.
The Hindu Dharam Sena has become especially terrifying for Christians in Jabalpur. Between 2006 and 2008, Jabalpur was plagued by at least three anti-Christian attacks every month, according to The Caravan magazine. In the western state of Gujarat and other parts of the country, the Rashtriya Jagran Manch has also violently attacked Christians, according to news website Counter Currents.
At an ecumenical meeting held in New Delhi on Saturday (Oct. 24), the secretary general of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India, Archbishop Stanislaus Fernandes, said the rise of fundamentalism was "seriously worrying" the church in India. The meeting was held to discuss prospects for immediate enactment of federal legislation to counter religious extremism with the proposed Communal Violence (Prevention, Control and Rehabilitation of Victims) Bill.
RSS 'Too Mild'
The new groups, formed mostly by former members of RSS-connected outfits, find the Hindu nationalist conglomerate too "mild" to be able to create a nation with Hindu supremacy.
The Sri Ram Sene, mainly active in south India, was started by Pramod Muthalik after he was expelled in 2007 from the Bajrang Dal, one of the most radical groups in the RSS family, for being an extremist, according to the daily newspaper DNA. The Hindu Dharam Sena was started by Yogesh Agarwal, former worker of the Dharam Jagran Vibhag (Religion Revival Department) of the RSS, also in 2007, as he felt "the RSS did not believe in violence," according to The Caravan. He had earlier launched the Dharam Sena, an offshoot of the RSS, in Madhya Pradesh and neighboring Chhattisgarh state in 2006.
The founding members of the Abhinav Bharat, which was started in Pune in 2006, also believe that the RSS is not militant enough. Outlook magazine notes that its members were planning to kill top leaders of the RSS for their inability to implement Hindu extremist ideology. The Rashtriya Jagran Manch, also a breakaway group of the RSS founded in 2007, has close links with the Abhinav Bharat.
Based out of Goa, a western state with a substantial number of Christians, the Sanatan Sanstha provides the ideological base for Hindu militant groups. It has close links with the Sri Ram Sene and publishes a periodical, Sanatan Prabhat, which occasionally spews hate against Christians.
Media reports warn of tensions due to the recent spurt in activity of the splinter groups.
"The hardliners are now getting into more extreme activities," The Times of India daily quoted V.N. Deshmukh, former joint director of India's Intelligence Bureau, as saying on Oct. 21.
The most extremist sections are disillusioned with the way the RSS is functioning, said Mumbai-based Irfan Engineer, Director of the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies. Most RSS cadres were mobilized with an ideology that called for elimination of minorities, mainly Muslims and Christians, he told Compass, adding that many of them were highly disappointed with the way the movement was being led.
He said the BJP was restricted when it led a coalition government at the federal level from 1998 to 2004, keeping it from effectively working towards a Hindu nation. A majority of the BJP's allies in the National Democratic Alliance were not Hindu nationalists.
"One section of the [Hindu nationalist] movement believes in acquiring state power by participating in parliamentary democracy, and the other wants to create a Hindu nation by violent means," Engineer said.
It is believed that the divide within the RSS family may deepen even further.
Analysts believe that Hindu nationalism is losing relevance in national politics, as was evident in the two successive defeats of the BJP in the 2004 and 2009 general elections. Consequently, the RSS and the BJP may distance themselves from the hard-line ideology or make it sound more inclusive and less militant.
After this year's elections, the RSS increasingly has begun to talk about the threat China poses to India and the need for development in rural areas, instead of its pet issues like Islamist terrorism and Christian conversions. This has disappointed sections of the highly charged cadres even more, and the splintering may accelerate.
For the next few years, "we will see more new names and new faces but with the same ideology and inspiration," said Anwar Rajan, secretary of the PUCL in Pune.
Whether the new groups truly have no connection with the RSS is not fully known – that appearance may be an RSS strategy to evade legal action, said Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer, chairman of the Centre for Study of Society and Secularism in Mumbai.
He said relations between the RSS and the new groups can be compared with the ones between Maoist (extreme Marxist) rebels and the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) in India. While the CPI-M distances itself from Maoist violence, it speaks for the rebels whenever security forces crack down on them.
At base, the newer rightwing groups surely have the sympathy of the RSS, said Pune-based S.M. Mushrif, former Inspector General of Police in Maharashtra, who has been observing Hindu extremist groups for years.
Report from Compass Direct News
Christians bear no grudges, fear no threats from accusers.
TUXTLA GUTIERREZ, Mexico, October 12 (CDN) — Alonso Lopez Entzin, a Tzotzil-speaking Christian in Chiapas state, Mexico, spent 11 years and eight months in prison for a crime he did not commit. Accused of participating in the tragic "Acteal massacre" in December 1997 in which 45 persons died near San Cristobal de las Casas, he and more than 80 of his neighbors were summarily arrested and charged with the murders.On Aug. 12, the Federal Supreme Court of Mexico ordered that Lopez Entzin and 19 other indigenous men accused in the Acteal killings – 18 are Christian, including Lopez Entzin – be freed from El Amate Penal facility in Chiapas. Their release came as a surprise to him and his fellow prisoners, as well as to thousands of people in Mexico and around the world advocating their release.
Of the 18 Christians released, only five were Christians when they were arrested; the rest came to trust in Christ while in prison. At least 27 innocent men who were Christians at the time of their arrest remain in prison, according to advocacy organizations.
"I thank God that I have been granted freedom," Lopez Entzin told Compass. "We are no longer imprisoned thanks to the power of God. There is no other person that has this kind of power, only God."
The court is reviewing the cases of another 31 men convicted in connection with the massacre. Six more defendants will be granted new trials.
"Right now we see the first fruits of our prayers," said Tomas Perez Mendez, another of the 20 freed prisoners. "We are confident in the Lord that the rest of the brothers are going to obtain their freedom as well."
Lopez Entzin added that winning their freedom will not be easy.
"When we were inside El Amate, we began to pray, fast and glorify our Lord Jesus Christ. There are thousands and thousands of brothers who prayed for us inside the jail – thank God He answered those prayers," he said through tears. "That's why those brothers who remain behind in El Amate believe that if God's will is done, they will soon be free."
Most of the remaining Acteal inmates are evangelical Protestant Christians sentenced to 25- and 36-year prison terms. For years, human rights advocates and legal experts have presented legal arguments showing that the men were convicted on dubious evidence. The district court of the state of Chiapas, however, has consistently ruled against the defendants in appeals.
Attorneys for the defendants finally succeeded in bringing the case before the Federal Supreme Court in Mexico City. The justices who reviewed the case found clear violations of due process and on Aug. 12 overturned the convictions in a 4-1 decision.
The court ruling stated that the decision was not a determination of the guilt or innocence of the men, only that their constitutional rights had been violated during their arrest and conviction.
Though grateful to be free at last, Agustin Gomez Perez admitted that prison was "very difficult, very difficult indeed."
"There inside the jail, everybody loses," Gomez Perez said. "I saw it. Many lost their wives, their families, their homes. In the years I was in jail I lost my son. It was May 7, 2005. Twelve families were traveling in a truck to visit us in El Amate. They had an accident, and my 3-year-old son Juan Carlos was killed."
Inmates expressed gratitude for church groups and international organizations that lent support to their families during their incarceration. Some groups supplied chicks, piglets and coffee plants for wives and children to raise on family plots. A volunteer team of doctors and nurses from Veracruz provides free treatment to prisoners and their dependents.
The prisoners said that one of the greatest helps was regular visits from their families. International Christian organizations raised money for bus fares and chartered vehicles to ensure that the prisoners' families, who could not otherwise afford the travel, saw their husbands and fathers as often as possible.
Normalcy Not Returned
Despite being freed, the 20 men have yet to resume normal life with their families.
"When I left jail, I didn't think I would be stuck half-way home," Gomez Perez said. "I was thinking I would come home and see my wife and children. But we haven't got there. We are left here half-way home."
"Half-way home" for the released men is the market district in hot, bustling Tuxtla Gutierrez. They are living in makeshift half-way houses provided by the federal government, awaiting resettlement on land that state authorities have promised them.
Compass met with seven of the former inmates in a rented building they occupy with their wives, children and, in some cases, grandchildren. The families share windowless, sparsely furnished rooms with bare cement floors. Government food rations sustain them. While the half-way house is better than prison, it is nothing like the lush, green Chiapas mountains to which they long to return.
The men agreed to the relocation scheme because the farms they worked before going to prison have long since reverted to their heirs or, in some cases, neighbors. They welcome the assistance to get back on their feet financially.
Government officials, however, insist that the Acteal prisoners must relocate to new communities because they fear violent clashes will flare between them and their old rivals.
The seven freed men were unanimous in their opinion that such confrontations would not happen.
"In the first place, we do not agree with what the government is saying," Gomez Perez said. "We hold no grudges against those who accused us. What happened, happened. We are not thinking vengeance."
Perez Mendez agreed with Gomez Perez that the men feel no ill will against those who accused them and no resentment for what they suffered in jail.
"God does not want that we hold grudges or take vengeance against anyone," he said. "There is not really much danger out there in our communities either. When people saw the news on television on Aug. 12 that we were getting out, they were happy. Well, now we hear that they found out we are not coming home, that we are here in Tuxtla, and some are saying, 'Why don't they come home? Tell them to come.'"
The Acteal prisoners have reason to hold grudges. Their attorneys say many of them were arrested in random police sweeps in the days following the massacre simply by being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Public indignation over the brutal slayings, fueled by numerous inflammatory press releases from Las Abejas, a civic group whose members were primary targets in the massacre, as well as by the left-leaning human rights organization Fray Bartolomé de las Casas, swelled to fever pitch in December 1997.
Authorities responded by arresting dozens of "suspects," without evidence or warrants, to quell the outcry.
Some Acteal defendants found themselves accused of the crime by allies of the rebel Zapatista guerrilla army. A land dispute between Zapatista sympathizers and opponents of the rebels intensified during the waning months of 1997, claiming the lives of 18 indigenous men, the majority of them Protestant Christians. Attorneys say indifferent law enforcement officers failed even to investigate the murders, let alone arrest the perpetrators.
Frustrated with the authorities' foot-dragging and desperate to defend themselves against further aggression, nine indigenous young men armed themselves and confronted their enemies on Dec. 22, 1997. The ensuing firefight and subsequent massacre at the Catholic hermitage in Acteal ended with 45 dead, many of them women and children who were participating in an Abejas-sponsored program that day.
Five of the nine armed men have confessed to participating in the Acteal shootings and insist they acted alone. Those five are serving prison terms in El Amate. Two others were arrested and released because they were minors at the time of the crime. Two more remain at large and, ironically, have reportedly come under the protection of the Zapatistas.
Las Abejas and its allies continue to assert that that the Acteal killings were carried out by "paramilitary" units equipped and assisted by the Mexican army. With the passage of time, many of those who hold this thesis have admitted that most of the Acteal prisoners did not, in fact, participate in the shooting. Nevertheless, they insist that until the "intellectual authors" of the atrocity come forward and confess, not one prisoner – even though innocent of the crime – should be released.
That strange logic has helped to keep more than 50 innocent men in prison for nearly 12 years.
"It is certain that we suffered an injustice for nearly 12 years," Perez Mendez said. "A lot of people tell us that we are guilty. But as far as we are concerned, God knows all. We did not commit that crime.
He implored Christians to pray for the innocent men who have yet to be released.
Pray as well for we who are not at home in our communities," he said. "I ask that you not forget us."Report from Compass Direct News
Azerbaijan's repressive new Religion Law slid in under the radar, reports MNN.
Joel Griffith with Slavic Gospel Association says it's been modified since the last time they saw it. "It appears that this is a little bit worse than what we thought it was going to be. Just looking at parts of this legislation, now in force as of May 31, it seems like there have been some new offenses that have been added to it as well as some new penalties."
Some of the changes include severe censorship and harsher punishments. These were introduced for religious activities and agencies the government does not like.
Griffith went on to say that all registered religious organizations must re-register by 1 January 2010, the third time re-registration has been demanded in less than twenty years. Earlier re-registration rounds saw many churches and ministries fail to regain their legal status.
He agrees with the assessment of Forum 18, that the wording implies unregistered organizations are illegal.
As it is, under the existing rules, Griffith says they've already felt the heat. "We've had several evangelical pastors jailed because of their ministry. So it seems, at least within Azerbaijan, that there is an intent to try to crack down on evangelical churches."
However, there are some unexpected allies. According to Forum 18, Parliamentary Deputy Fazil Gazanfarolgu Mustafaev said, "the new Religion Law will limitpeople's rights to freedom of conscience – that is clear."
Gazanfarolgu added that public pressure may force parliamentary deputies to take another look at the Religion Law, given public unhappiness over the way religion is controlled.
Griffith adds that while it looks bad, it's too early to know how much evangelistic work could be at risk. "How this new law is going to be enforced, only time will tell. As I say, we have seen at least some in Parliament who are wanting to believe that there will be some public pressure brought to bear to have this re-examined, so I think this needs to be our chief hope and prayer."
Report from the Christian Telegraph
Beleaguered minority has much to lose, gain in polls.
NEW DELHI, May 1 (Compass Direct News) – With elections underway in India, its 2.3 percent Christian minority – which faced a deadly spate of attacks in the eastern state of Orissa last year – is praying for a secular party to come to power.
Along with the Muslim community, Christians fear that if the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies form the next government or an ideologically loose coalition comes to the helm, their already compromised welfare may further deteriorate.
Dr. John Dayal, secretary general of the All India Christian Council, said that the end of the Congress Party's monopoly on power in the 1990s led to the rise of several major individual groups, including the BJP, political wing of the Hindu extremist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) conglomerate.
"The rise of regional and linguistic or caste-based parties spells a danger for pan-national minorities, as parties with a narrow and localized outlook will have neither the strength nor the political need to come to their defense," Dayal told Compass. "What is at stake now, as never before, is the stability and consistency of India's constitutional institutions in their response to critical situations, their zeal to correct wrongs and their commitment to the welfare of the weakest and the lowest."
Religious minorities, Dayal said, were hoping for a strong showing by a secular party, "possibly the Congress [Party]," supported by regional groups of a secular character.
"Personally, I would even welcome a Third Front [a grouping of anti-Congress Party and anti-BJP parties led by the Communist Party of India-Marxist] government supported by the Congress Party," he added. "Certainly, a BJP-led government is the least desirable, as we fear major erosion and even regression in issues of freedom of faith, Dalit liberation and affirmative action for the poor."
With the BJP in power, directly or as part of the ruling alliance, in 10 states – Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Punjab in the north; Chhattisgarh and Bihar in the east; Gujarat in the west; Nagaland and Meghalaya in the northeast; and Karnataka in the south – he said Christians believe it is important that a strong, secular government comes into power at the federal level.
The federal government can issue warnings and ultimately dismiss state legislatures and state executives if they fail to protect the lives of their people or major unrest erupts. The federal government can also make laws applicable across the nation.
The BJP-ruled states have become "absolutely inhospitable" and "hostile" to Christians thanks to the "inaction of the federal government," said Sajan K. George, national president of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC).
Orissa, Andhra Pradesh
The eyes of Christians are also on state assembly elections in Orissa state.
Orissa is ruled by the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), which on March 7 broke its 11-year-old alliance with the BJP over the latter's involvement in Kandhamal district violence. Elections in Orissa, held on April 16 and 23, are particularly important given that the results will either embolden Hindu nationalists to launch more attacks to polarize voters along religious lines or compel them to abstain from violence.
In December 2007, a series of brutal attacks began in Kandhamal. The violence that lasted for around 10 days killed at least four Christians and burned 730 houses and 95 churches under the pretext of avenging an alleged attack on Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, a leader of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council).
Violence re-erupted in the district following the killing of Saraswati on August 23, 2008. A Maoist group took responsibility for the murder, but BJP supporters claimed that Christians were behind the assassination.
The BJP has made the killing of Saraswati its main election plank. The party's two candidates from Kandhamal – Manoj Pradhan for the G. Udaygiri assembly seat and Ashok Sahu for the Kandhamal parliamentary constituency – contested the elections from jail. Pradhan, a primary suspect in the August-September 2008 violence, has been in jail for the last few months. Sahu, a former senior police official, was arrested on April 14 for delivering a hate speech against Christians in the run-up to elections. He was released on bail on April 17.
In its election campaign, the BJD promised to provide protection to the Christian community in Kandhamal and elsewhere in the state, putting the blame of the Kandhamal violence entirely on the BJP.
"It was important to break up with the BJP because I don't consider them healthy any longer for my state after Kandhamal – which I think is very apparent to everyone," Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik told CNN-IBN on April 19. "Before Kandhamal, we were lucky in the early years of the state government not to have a serious communal problem at all. But Kandhamal was very tragic and serious."
According to the CNN-IBN private news channel, the Congress Party could benefit from the divorce of the BJD and the BJP. Nevertheless, the BJD is expected to form the next state government in Orissa.
The Congress Party, on the other hand, blamed both the BJD and the BJP for last year's violence.
Elections in Kandhamal took place despite the fact that over 3,000 Christians were still in relief camps and hundreds of others had fled to others parts of the state fearing more tensions. Father Ajay Kumar Singh of the Catholic Archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar reached Kandhamal from the neighboring Gajapati district early on April 16, election day.
"Along the way, we came across numerous felled trees blocking the road in at least six places," Fr. Singh told Compass. "The roads were deserted, and my colleagues and I were scared. But we somehow managed to reach Kandhamal."
He added that in Dharampur in Raikia Block and in Kattingia near Tiangia in G. Udaygiri Block – where eight Christians were killed during last year's violence – Christians were threatened if they did not vote for the BJP.
In Nilungia village, seven kilometers (four miles) from G. Udaygiri, where a Christian was killed, at least 40 Christians did not cast their votes out of fear of a backlash, Fr. Singh said.
"They feared tensions if they returned to their village and stayed out of the district," he said.
The Catholic Church in Orissa had urged the Election Commission of India to postpone elections in Kandhamal, but polls were held as scheduled.
According to the district administration, the poll turnout on April 16 in Kandhamal was around 55 percent.
The violence following Saraswati's murder lasted for over a month, killing more than 127 people and destroying 315 villages, 4,640 houses, 252 churches and 13 educational institutions, besides rendering more than 50,000 homeless.
The incidence of Christian persecution is high in Andhra Pradesh, too. Analysts anticipate a neck-to-neck competition between the ruling Congress Party and the regional Telugu Desam Party (TDP), which recently allied with Left parties in the Third Front. The BJP is also in the fray but doesn't appear strong enough to stake claim to power in the state.
Obscure Prognosis
With election results not due until May 16, the outlook at this point is murky.
"About all that can be said with certainty in the resulting alphabet soup of political parties is that the BJP won't be aligning with Congress, or with the Left. Beyond that it's a numbers game," The Times of India noted in an editorial today. "Most observers agree that alignments determining who will form the next government will be decided only after the elections."
The national daily added, "As India's long, hot election summer grinds on, with the third phase held yesterday and the fifth and final phase not scheduled before the 13th of this month, it's regrettable that no overarching themes have emerged even at this late stage, which can define the election."
With 714 million eligible voters of the more than 1 billion people in the country, the five-phase elections for the 15th Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament) and for the state assemblies of Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and the north-eastern state of Sikkim began on April 16.
The three main parties are the left-of-center Congress Party (officially known as the Indian National Congress), which leads the governing United Progressive Alliance (UPA); the Hindu nationalist BJP, a leading party of the opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA); and the Third Front.
A party and its allies need 272 members to rule in the 545-member Lok Sabha.
Expediency over Ideology
The regional and caste parties involved include the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), headed by Dalit (formerly "untouchable") woman Mayawati, chief minister of Uttar Pradesh state in the north; and the Samajwadi Party (SP), also a powerful party in that state.
Other significant parties are the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) party and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) party in the eastern state of Bihar; the BJD in Orissa; the Trinamool Congress party in the eastern state of West Bengal; the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Shiv Sena party in the western state of Maharashtra; the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) party and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party in the southern state of Tamil Nadu; the TDP and Telangana Rashtriya Samiti (TRS) party in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, and the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) party in the southern state of Karnataka.
The Congress Party is hoping that it will be supported by the SP, the RJD, the Trinamool Congress party, the NCP, the DMK, and the TRS in case it emerges as the single-largest party post-elections. The JD-U, the Shiv Sena and the AIADMK, on the other hand, are likely to extend their support to the BJP-led NDA. The BSP, the BJD, the TDP, and the JD-S are expected to join the Third Front.
Most of these smaller parties, however, are keeping their options open and will formally declare their allegiances only after the results are announced on May 16.
Decade of Persecution
The concern of Indian Christians can be understood against the backdrop of the decade since 1998, when the BJP, under the aegis of the NDA, came into power at the federal level, marking the beginning of systematic persecution of Christians.
In January 1999, an Australian missionary, Graham Staines, and his two young sons were burned alive in Orissa's Keonjhar district. From 2000 to 2004, around 200 anti-Christian attacks were reported each year from various parts of the nations. In March 2004, India's second massive spate of anti-Christian attacks took place in the Jhabua district of the central state of Madhya Pradesh.
The incidence of persecution remained high despite the change of the federal government in mid-2004 – after the Congress Party-led UPA defeated the BJP-led NDA.
At least 165 anti-Christian attacks were reported in 2005, and over 130 in 2006. Including the Orissa attacks, the total number of violent anti-Christian incidents rose to over 1,000 in 2007. And 2008 turned out to be the worst year for the Christians as violence returned in Kandhamal.
"The results of the elections on May 16 will show whether the ideology of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the father of the nation who promoted communal harmony, will prevail in India, or that of his killer Nathuram Godse, allegedly a member of the RSS," said George of the GCIC.
Report from Compass Direct News


text:
Historian: Proclamation Naming Pa. State Gun Gets Facts Wrong
A Maryland historian and author, who used to live in Berks County, fired off an angry letter to a Lancaster newspaper recently, and it ran Monday. Patrick Hornberger — a member of the Pennsylvania Antique Gun Collectors Association, the Kentucky Rifle Association and the Arms and Armor Club — believes the recently signed proclamation naming the Pennsylvania long rifle the official state gun is riddled with errors.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett signed the bill into law recently. It originally designated the Piper J-3 Cub the state's official aircraft, but was amended to add on the state gun designation. It passed the house 157-39 earlier this year. Hornberger says House Bill 1989 makes a mockery of history.
What a shame Pennsylvania — the nationally recognized home of the American long rifle — would celebrate one of its finest artifacts by passing a proclamation in which the history as written is fundamentally wrong. The bill rambles with platitudes containing unproven attributions, historical errors and opinionated statements.
For example, the long rifle did not play an important role in the early years of the industrial revolution — it was handmade — not part of a trend toward manufacturing. The Pennsylvania rifle is not the first American firearm — the New England musket holds that title. It was not developed solely by those gunsmiths in Northampton County as this bill implies.
The bill also designates "artistic riflemaker Martin Meylin" as one of the first to make the Pennsylvania long rifle, but Hornberger says he has not been proven to have been a gunsmith at all. "As no rifle has ever been positively attributed to Meylin," he writes, "how can his rifles possibly be called 'artistic'?" A good point.
Hornberger wants the bill to be rescinded and re-written with correct information.
Previously: House Votes to Name Official Pennsylvania 'State Firearm'
[Lancaster Online via Tara Murtha]


text:
You probably haven't heard of the shad, a fairly small fish that is now having a huge impact in the South West. This endangered seawater fish was once a fairly common sight along the River Severn and was more highly regarded than even the salmon, but the species went into decline after physical changes to the river in the 1820s. Its virtual disappearance almost 200 years ago has now inspired a £19.7 million project, Unlocking The Severn, which has been described as one of the largest of its kind ever attempted in Europe. The project is a combined effort between the Canal & River Trust, Severn Rivers Trust, Environment Agency and Natural England that is targeting the return of the shad to the upper Severn thanks to funding from the EU and Heritage Lottery Fund.
"The shad is a sea-dwelling herring that used to come up the river to spawn, rather like a salmon," explains Jennie Hermolle, the project's communications and marketing officer. "It used to be a big sight on the Severn, they came in their hundreds of thousands and they were sent to kings for feasts. Then in the industrial revolution they put in weirs to make the river navigable for boats." This proved fatal for the shad. Unlike the salmon, the shad is not much of a swimmer and the fish couldn't leap the weirs to reach their old spawning grounds. A fish that once fed the king – Henry III was sent a load in 1257 to help get him through the meat-free tribulations of Lent – was now virtually extinct. Although recent monitoring has revealed that a small population of around 15,000 still exists in the Severn below Worcester – one of very few populations in UK rivers – the shad, which once dominated the river from Gloucester to Shrewsbury, has completely disappeared from the upper stretches.
Unlocking The Severn hopes to change that. The project will construct a number of state-of-the-art fish passes specifically created for the shad in six places along the Severn and its tributary, the Teme. These fish passes will create alternative routes through and around the physical barriers that currently prevent migration. The work will reopen a vast stretch of river -–158 miles – to the shad and also many other fish. The Canal & River Trust's programme director Jason Leach says, "This project has been in the waiting for over 150 years. We now have the opportunity to return the eco-system on this stretch of the river to as close as possible to its natural state."
It's hoped that as well as the shad, other species such as the salmon, eel and lamprey will start to make their way further along the river, and this will have a positive impact on the eco-system in general. The project also creates an opportunity to engage local people with their river. An ambitious heritage, education and science programme aims to target eight million people, reconnecting them with the Severn. This involves 200 school classes and 100 community groups, and will create thousands of volunteering opportunities.
The fish passes will take several different forms. In some cases, such as at Powick Weir on the Teme, a tributary to the Severn, the weir has simply been removed to improve access for fish. Elsewhere, channels are being cut through weirs or fish by-passes will be constructed. Some of these will have rocks or boulders installed, providing spaces for the fish to rest before they continue their journey. Work will start at Diglis and Bevere in April and May. At Diglis Island, the scheme will also create an exciting new learning space that will restore life to a disused heritage building. There's a plan to install an underwater viewing area here, so scientists can monitor the migrations and school parties and the public can, on select occasions, get a glimpse of life beneath the water. This will provide a unique perspective on the river and the life of the shad, allowing thousands of school children and other visitors to see one of these huge fish passes in action and learn about industry and conservation on the river.
An open day is being held at Diglis Island on February 17, which will allow locals to learn about the shad and the project's wider aim, see inside the buildings and meet project staff. Visitors will also be able to find out about a number of volunteering opportunities, as the project wants the public to help count the shad to keep track of numbers, and to pass on knowledge regarding heritage and local history.
Read more about Unlocking the Severn or join us for an open day at Diglis Island on 17 February 2019.
Ed Tucker


text:
I am totally the kind of person who would swap their cow for some magic beans proffered by a stranger encountered on a road. I suspect this is why Iggy Pop is rather suspicious of me at times. However, I am not the kind of person who would climb a giant beanstalk. It isn't so much that I am scared of heights – which I am – but really beanstalks are not the most stable of structures.
The broadbeans in my polytunnel of dreams grew prodigiously and then they kept on growing. Here is an appalling selfie of me next to one so you get an idea of their height. Please don't mock me, I know I have dirt on my face and I am grimacing, but this was my best attempt at a smile as I was utterly exhausted.
The beans were more than 6 foot tall. I didn't give them supports because when I planted them they were little and I have a hard job imagining the future. This of course meant that the beans collapsed – and they did this dramatically. They are now lying prone over the carrots, potatoes, some struggling tomato plants and the giant, basically freakishly large, kohlrabi.
I know you can't really see their spectacular collapse in this photo but if you look at the back right – there should be a block of tall beans and instead there is a low-level mass of tangled green – trust me it is a prone broadbean forest smothering all other plants in a six foot radius. The astute among you will notice that there is one lone bean plant standing tall.
Anyway, my point is, we are doing our best to eat lots of beans. To this end last week I made a trout and broad bean tart – furtling around in the back of a freezer I came across the trout, ditto with regards to the internet and the idea for the recipe.
Trout and Broadbean Tart: packet of filo pastry, some trout fillets (you could use salmon or leave the fish out all together), broadbeans (cooked and podded out of their tough skins), pot of double cream, 4 eggs, handful of dill, butter, seasoning
Use six sheets of filo to line a tart tin – brush each sheet with melted butter before laying the next on top. Break up the trout fillets into small pieces and arrange on the base. Add the broad beans and chopped up dill. Whisk the cream and eggs together and season. Pour the egg and cream mix over the trout and beans, fold the edges of the filo pastry into the centre and cook in a hot oven until done.
We ate it with lettuce as we have a lettuce-a-day rule round here.
For those interested, the beans in the polytunnel were Leidse Hangdown from Real Seeds and I will definitely be trying to save some seeds from these plants.
N.B. I used the rest of the filo pastry to make a dill borek, but more on that later – and yes, I promise to do a polytunnel update soon, I know I have been remiss, but things are crazy busy here at the moment…
N.B. definitely one for the food truck


text:
The Meet The Doula Event in Buffalo, NY was a beautiful event organized by Shannon Johns of Calming Nature Doula Services. Thank you Shannon. So many great services for pregnant women in Buffalo. Moms were pampered with samples of massage, and facials. There were presentations all day regarding pregnancy-related subjects such as placenta encapsulation, what a Doula does, rebozo, midwifery, chiropractic, and of course a presentation on pregnancy massage benefits and myths by yours truly. The Postpartum Resource Center of New York's Western New York Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders Task Force was there to educate our community to really ask moms how they are doing and to be aware of signs mom is having a hard time and how to get her help. https://postpartumny.org/wny/
It was fun and informative. We really are fortunate in Buffalo New York to have so many supportive services for families and mothers. If you ever have any questions about pregnancy massage or how I do look and help you in your birth, please shoot me an email and we can chat.


text:
Dole Italian Blend
Easy-open. Thoroughly washed. Preservative free. All natural. Salad Guide: Mild (2) taste, crunchy (4) texture. Pairs well with white balsamic vinaigrette, grape tomatoes, shredded asiago cheese, and a pinch of Italian herbs. Perishable. Make it fresh! For more than 100 years, Dole has been committed to our environment, our employees and the communities in which we operate. Superfood for your immunity. Dole Italian Blend is a superfood for your immune system. This tasty blend contains vitamins A and C as well as antioxidant phytonutrients which all help support a healthy immune system. Produce of USA.


text:
We turned up the heat with Franks® Red Hot seasoning, adding a hot buffalo sauce inspired flavor to this crunchy mix.
Featuring: Rye Chips, Micro Mini Pretzel Twists, Roasted & Salted Cashew Pieces & Salted Sesame Sticks all mixed with a Frank's® Red Hot Dry Seasoning.
Candy purchased on our website is offered in bulk packaging and/or retail packaging. Our bulk products are packaged in clear zip bags with the Albanese logo. Our retail packaging is what you would purchase in a retail store.
Thanks for sharing your experience with everyone!
5/5 (Tuesday, 26 February 2019)
Excellent! Goes great mixed with habanero and buffalo ranch corn nuggets!


text:
Thanks to all attendees, speakers, sponsors and exhibitors who participated in ICPHSO's 2017 Annual Meeting and Training Symposium in Orlando, Florida. More than 650 attendees participated in the Symposium. Keynote presentations featured, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Acting Chairman, Ann Marie Buerkle; Florian Beerli, Sr. Vice President, Recalls, Chubb Insurance; Dr. Takashi Tatsumi, President, National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NITE) in Japan; and John Godfrey, Sr. Vice President, Public Policy, Samsung Electronics America, LLC. There were more than 100 expert speakers on numerous plenary, breakout and tutorial panels over the four days of the Symposium. The Symposium theme: "Evaluating & Managing Risk in Product Safety" was present throughout the Symposium. We are still interested in hearing from you on your evaluation of the Symposium and will keep the evaluation link open until March 27, 2017 in order to give you some additional time to provide that feedback. You can access the evaluation at: 2017 Symposium Evaluation.
We are accepting proposals for presentations for the upcoming 2017 North America Regional Product Safety Training Workshop being held on June 28, 2017, in Toronto, Canada at: Call For Presentations. Registration, hotel reservations (at the Toronto Airport Marriott Hotel), sponsorship and exhibitor information has also been posted on our website at: 2017 North America Regional Product Safety Training Workshop.
Our Toronto planning committee will be reviewing all proposals over the next couple of weeks and deciding on the content for this important one-day training workshop. If you are a member of ICPHSO, we invite you to participate on this committee as well as others within ICPHSO so you can help shape our future. The Regional Workshop will include many different product safety community members from all segments of the community including North American regulators. If you haven't already submitted a proposal, I urge you to do so before the March 24, 2017 deadline.
I look forward to seeing you in Toronto!