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The 2001 World Conference against Racism (WCAR), also known as Durban I, was held at the Durban International Convention Centre in Durban, South Africa, under UN auspices, from 31 August to 8 September 2001.
The conference dealt with several controversial issues, including compensation for slavery and the actions of Israel. The language of the final Declaration and Programme of Action produced by the conference was strongly disputed in these areas, both in the preparatory meetings in the months that preceded the conference and during the conference itself.
Two delegations, the United States and Israel, withdrew from the conference over objections to a draft document equating Zionism with racism. The final Declaration and Programme of Action did not contain the text that the U.S. and Israel had objected to, that text having been voted out by delegates in the days after the U.S. and Israel withdrew.
In parallel to the conference, a separately held NGO Forum also produced a Declaration and Programme of its own, that was not an official Conference document, which contained language relating to Israel that the WCAR had voted to exclude from its Declaration, and which was criticized by then United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson and many others.
The NGO Forum ended in discord. Mary Robinson lost the support of the United States in her office of High Commissioner, and many of the potential political aftereffects of the conference were annulled by the September 11, 2001 attacks. The attacks took place just three days after the conference ended, entirely eclipsing it in the news, and significantly affecting international relations and politics. The conference was followed by the 2009 Durban II conference in Geneva, which was boycotted by ten western countries. A commemorative Durban III conference scheduled to take place in 2011 in New York has also drawn significant criticism and will be boycotted by the UK, US, Canada and Israel.
The conference was authorized by United Nations General Assembly Resolution #52/111. Prior to the conference various preparatory meetings (PrepComs) were held in order to identify conference themes and to create initial drafts of the Declaration and Programme of Action. These PrepComs encountered difficulties from the start.[1]
The first problem was the question of what the conference theme was to be. The Western European states, along with the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan, all wanted the conference objectives to be those given in the authorizing resolution. The Africa Group, the Latin American states, and the Caribbean states wanted the conference objectives to go beyond what was in the resolution, and include items dealing with regional, national, and international measures for compensation for colonialism and slavery.[1]
Prior to the conference, there were also four Regional Conferences, in Strasbourg, Santiago, Dakar, and Tehran.[1]
The Durban Declaration and Programme of Action was adopted by the governmental delegates attending the Conference at the International Convention Centre.
The issue of Compensation for Colonialism and Slavery is addressed in ¶ 13, ¶ 14, ¶ 15, and ¶ 29 of the Declaration. It was one of the most controversial issues debated at the conference, one that had the potential to derail the entire conference. It was dealt with cleverly in the Declaration, containing rhetoric that satisfied the African bloc, without applying retroactively against the descendants of colonizers the principle of crimes against humanity and without establishing a clear responsibility for reparations on the parts of former colonial states.[2]
The wording of the Declaration struck a delicate balance. Whilst acknowledging historic and contemporary practices of slavery and the slave trade as morally outrageous, and something that would be a crime against humanity today, it did not apply that legal principle to an era before the principle actually existed.[2]
One of the contentious points at the conference related to the issue was that of apartheid. During the preparatory processes of the conference, South Africa stressed that it did not want to link compensation to apartheid. At the Tehran Regional Conference, a paragraph making such a link was inserted by Asian governments. This was deleted at the request of the South African delegation. Linking compensation to apartheid had the potential to polarize South African society, and produce the same effects as had the controversial land reform programmes in Zimbabwe. Domestic political pressures, and the aim of the South African government to foster reconciliation within the country, made South Africa's position difficult.[2]
The issue of compensation was thus a complex one, that was exacerbated by the President of Senegal, Abdoulaye Wade, calling campaigns to demand compensation for colonialism and slavery "childish".[2]
The earliest point at which the issue of compensation caused problems was during preparations in May 2001, when delegations came to the decision of where to place it on the agenda. At the time, the fourth item on the agenda, out of five items, was "Provision of effective remedies, recourses, redress, compensatory, and other measures, at the national, regional, and international levels". The European Union, represented by Portugal, wanted to place the entire language in brackets. The United States just wanted to place the word "compensatory" in brackets. The African Group, Armenia, and Cuba strongly objected to both proposals, with the African Group stating that if the topic were placed in brackets, they would move for the entire text to be placed in brackets also. In the end, the U.S. proposal was adopted, with the addition of a statement in the report indicating the different perspectives on the exact meaning of those brackets. Western European states discussed informally amongst themselves, outside of the formal preparatory proceedings, what measures and levels of non-cöoperation they might adopt if the issue of compensation gained momentum at Durban itself.[2]
Before the conference, the debate over compensation was seen as dealing with the transatlantic slave trade, and the colonization of Africa by Europeans, thus pitting Western European states (including the former colonial powers of Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom) and the United States against the African Group. The African Group was supported by Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean.[2]
Prior to the conference, on 2001-08-03, the African Group circulated a Non-Paper on the "Injustices of the Past", containing strong language but a generally reasonable position. To this paper the E.U. responded, on 2001-08-08, with a Non-Paper of its own that addressed most, but not all, of the issues in the African Group's paper. The United States circulated a Non-Paper as well, but this turned out to be less helpful than the E.U. one.[2]
The African Group circulated a second Non-Paper on 2001-09-03 that was substantially stronger than its earlier one, with language shifts from "debt cancellation" to "immediate and unconditional cancellation of debt", emphasis upon crimes against humanity, and calls for reparation (something which the earlier paper had not included in part because of a U.S. demand, made at a preparatory meeting in Geneva, that such language be excluded from the text).[1][2]
Several members of the African Group openly opposed calling for reparations. President Wade stated "We still suffer the effects of slavery and colonialism, and that cannot be evaluated in monetary terms. I find that not only absurd, but insulting.". Similarly, South Africa was more interested in devoting time and effort to more pragmatic ends, such as Western aid for the Millennium Africa Recovery Programme, which would be more palatable to the U.S. and the E.U.[2]
A consensus on the reparations issue was reached by late August. On 2001-08-24 President of the United States [2]
During preparatory meetings in Geneva, text that linked Zionism to racism was placed in brackets, with the expectation that it would be replaced by text that referred to violations of the rights of Palestinians. The U.S. had already threatened to boycott the conference should the conference draft documents include text that could be in any way interpreted as linking Zionism to racism. Mary Robinson had also said that regional political conflicts should not be imposed upon the agenda of the conference. The Australian, the Canadian, and some European delegations shared the U.S. view.[3]
The Arab position was stated by the Secretary General of the Arab League, Amr Moussa: "Israel's racist actions against the Palestinian people have to be dealt with in an international conference that aims to eradicate racism. Arab countries are not expecting the Durban conference to be a venue for dealing with the Arab- Israeli peace process, but they certainly expect that the Israeli racist practices against the Palestinian people will not be overlooked."[3]
The Arab delegates were not insistent upon language that specifically equated Zionism with racism. It had been suggested that they were trying to revive United Nations General Assembly Resolution 3379 (issued 1975, annulled 1991) which stated that "Zionism is a form of racism.". Their position was that they were, rather, trying to underline that the actions being committed by Israel against Palestinians were racist.[3]
This stance was in part influenced by the U.S. threat of boycott, which would have made it impractical to insist upon harsh language condemning Israel or equating the suffering of the Palestinians with that of holocaust victims. According to one Arab diplomat, no Arab state except for Syria had insisted upon any language linking Israel to racist practices.[3]
At the start of the Geneva meeting, text had been presented that comprised six bracketed paragraphs dealing with "Zionist racist practices", including an appeal for Israel "to revise its legislation based on racial or religious discrimination such as the law of return and all the policies of an occupying power which prevent the Palestinian refugees and displaced persons from returning to their homes and properties", and a suggestion for the need "to bring the foreign occupation of Jerusalem by Israel together with all its racist practices to an end".[3]
By the end of the meeting, all of this text had either been removed or toned down. One such phrase removed was a mention of "holocausts" suffered by other peoples, which had been seen as an affront to the memory of the Jewish victims of the Nazi holocaust. South African diplomats had already told Arab and Muslim countries that they would have to offer text that could describe the current situation without using such language as "ethnic cleansing practices against Palestinians".[3]
Nonetheless, the United States, objecting to the remaining text, decided to send a low-level delegation, headed by Ambassador Michael Southwick, to the Conference, rather than have United States Secretary of State Colin Powell attend himself. German officials criticized this decision, and the United States Congressional Black Caucus urged him to attend. The Anti-Defamation League urged him to stay away.[1]
On September 3rd, 2001, after four days of deadlocked negotiations that did not reach agreement on language, the United States and Israeli delegations withdrew from the conference. Both United States Secretary of State Colin Powell and Foreign Affairs Minister of Israel Shimon Peres stated that this was done with regret.[4][5][6]
This decision was criticized by several people, including Jesse Jackson and President of South Africa Thabo Mbeki, both of whom stated their opinions that it had been a mistake by the United States to send a low-level delegation to the conference in the first place, and Amnesty International, which stated that the U.S. was "letting down victims of racism". Jackson had been involved in earlier attempts to create compromise language.[4]
The low-level U.S. delegation had kept a low profile throughout conference proceedings until that point, with delegates working quietly in sub-committee meetings, without (unlike in earlier conferences) giving news briefings or off the record statements to journalists, to change the text of the draft declaration, to make it less forceful and less specific against Israel, and to bring it into line with U.S. foreign policy goals with respect to the International Criminal Court (see United States and the International Criminal Court) by removing language that strengthened the ICC.[7]
The draft documents had stated "deep concern" at the "increase of racist practices of Zionism and anti-Semitism" and talked of the emergence of "movements based on racism and discriminatory ideas, in particular the Zionist movement, which is based on racial superiority". Alternative proposals, which the U.S. had supported, from Norway, acting as a mediator, and Canada were rejected by Israel.[1][5][8][9]
Despite Colin Powell's denunciation of the "hateful language" that "singles out only one country in the world, Israel, for censure and abuse" in the draft text and U.S. delegate Tom Lantos's statement that the conference had been "wrecked by Arab and Islamic extremists", some saw the U.S. delegation's withdrawal as not being entirely related to the language on Israel, but attributed it also, in part, to a reluctance on the part of the U.S. to address the issue of slavery.[4][5][9]
The withdrawal of, the U.S. and Israel was taken as a warning by many delegates that there was a strong possibility of Canada and the E.U. states withdrawing as well if no compromise was reached. Several reports had the Europeans staying on solely in order to help South Africa salvage the Conference. After the withdrawal, senior conference officials became highly involved in the rewriting of the Declaration — something that critics maintained they should have also been doing before that point.[1]
In the end, the Conference delegates voted to reject the language that implicitly accused Israel of racism, and the document actually published contained no such language.[10]
Several countries were unhappy with the final text's approach to the subject, but all for different reasons. Syria and Iran were unhappy because their demands for the language about racism and Israel had been rejected by the Conference, the latter continuing its insistence that Israel was a racist state. Australia was unhappy with the process, observing that "far too much of the time at the conference [had been] consumed by bitter divisive exchanges on issues which have done nothing to advance the cause of combating racism". Canada was also unhappy.[10]
The language of the final text was carefully drafted for balance. The word "diaspora" is used four times, and solely to refer to the African Diaspora. The document is at pains to maintain a cohesive identity for everyone of African heritage as a victim of slavery, even including those who may have more European than African ancestors. The "victim" or "victims" of racism and slavery (the two words occurring 90 times in the document) are defined in only the most general geographic terms. The word "Jewish" is only used once, alongside "Muslim" and "Arab", and "anti-Semitism" is only used twice, once alongside its assumed counterpart of "Islamophobia" and once alongside "anti-Arabism". The difficulty that this generates is that it is politically impossible to act when the 219 calls for action in the Programme are couched in such generalities that only the "countless human beings" that the document explicitly talks of can be identified.[11]
Separate from the actual Conference itself was an NGO Forum, held in the nearby NGOs, attended by 8,000 representatives. It, too adopted a Declaration. However, this was not an official document of the WCAR and was not issued as such.[12][13]
The Forum's proceedings were highly disorganized, with several NGO delegates walking out of the Forum, to the jeers of other delegates, and ending in discord; and the resultant declaration had 62 paragraphs of introduction, followed by a document that appeared to commentators as being the result of every lobby putting its pet aversions in. It described Israel as a "racist, apartheid state" that was guilty of "racist crimes including war crimes, acts of genocide and ethnic cleansing". The document was not intended to be presented to the Conference, although a copy of it was intended to be handed over, as a symbolic gesture, to the Conference secretary-general, Mary Robinson, at the conclusion of the Forum. Ms Robinson refused to accept the document, citing concerns over its language. In a later interview she said of the whole conference that "there was horrible anti-Semitism present — particularly in some of the NGO discussions. A number people said they've never been so hurt or so harassed or been so blatantly faced with an anti-Semitism."[1][12][13][14] The Palestinian Solidarity Committee of South Africa reportedly distributed copies of the antisemitic forgery The Protocols of the Elders of Zion.[15]
Critics described the description of Israel as apartheid as the "Durban Strategy". They claim that this comparison was made with the intention of causing and encouraging divestment from and boycott of Israel.[16][17][18]
The NGO Forum was attended by U.S. NGOs, with financial support from the Rockefeller Foundation, the MacArthur Foundation, and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. The Ford Foundation provided USD10 million in support to the WCAR and the NGO Forum. These NGOs provided research assistance at the Forum and helped to develop declarations and resolutions that dealt with the issue of compensation for slavery.[19][20]
The resolutions adopted by the Forum dealing with reparations for slavery dealt only with the transatlantic slave trade, and did not mention the traffic in African slaves to Islamic lands in the Middle East. The Forum also called upon the United States to ratify all major human rights treaties that had already been ratified.[19]
One such treaty was the UN Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), which the U.S. had ratified in 1994, but (per the Supremacy Clause of Article Six of the United States Constitution, which does not permit treaties to override the Constitution) had attached a reservation that its ratification did not accept treaty requirements that were incompatible with the Constitution of the United States. The NGOs, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, demanded that U.S. drop its reservations and "comply" with the treaty. The U.S. Department of State had noted specifically that CERD's restrictions on freedom of speech and freedom of assembly were incompatible with the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. The United States was far from the only such country to do so, however. Incompatibility of the treaty with national constitutions, including the freedoms of assembly and speech guaranteed by those constitutions, is also noted by Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, France, Guyana, Jamaica, Japan, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Switzerland, and Thailand. Several, including France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malta, Monaco, Nepal, the United Kingdom, note that they consider the provisions of the treaty to be restricted by and subject to the freedoms of speech and assembly set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.[19][21]
One commentator noted that in order to comply with the interpretation of CERD created by the NGOs at the Forum, the United States would have to "turn its political and economic system, together with their underlying principles, upside down — abandoning the free speech guarantees of the Constitution, bypassing federalism, and ignoring the very concept of majority rule, since practically nothing in the NGO agenda is supported by the [U.S.] electorate", stating that these NGOs were "a new challenge to liberal democracy" that contested the principles of individual rights, democratic representation, and national citizenship, along with the contesting the very idea of a liberal democratic nation-state.[19]
Other NGO demands included demands for:[19]
Tom Lantos assigns the blame for the withdrawal of the U.S. in part to the radicalism of many of the NGOs at the NGO Forum, to an inadequate response thereto by U.S.-based NGOs, and to the reluctance of the U.S.'s European allies to take a strong stand.[22]
The Conference was largely overshadowed in the news and in international affairs by the September 11, 2001 attacks, which occurred 3 days after the Conference ended.
As a consequence of the Conference, the United States did not support the continuation of Mary Robinson as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, where once U.S. President Bill Clinton had called her a "splendid choice" for the post and the U.S. had considered her its favorite candidate for the job. She stepped down from the post in September 2002.[1][22]
Many faults were attributed to Ms Robinson, with cumulative effect on the U.S. position. Some people stated that she lacked mediation and bureaucratic experience, and thus was unable to resolve sensitive issues at the Conference. News reports attributed her differences with the U.S. to four things: First, her views on the Israel-Palestine conflict differed from U.S. policy. Second, the U.S. did not approve of the detached way in which she acted as secretary-general to the Conference. Third, she had openly criticized the U.S. on various matters including the treatment of prisoners at Camp X-Ray, the "unsigning" of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court by the U.S., and the administration of capital punishment in the United States. Fourth, she had opposed U.S. calls to reform the election process of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.[1][22]
Tom Lantos himself did not assign sole or even primary blame to Robinson for the breakdown of U.S. relations with the conference. That he assigned to the NGOs, as aforementioned, and to the member states of the
Bernard-Henri Lévy credits the conference with being one of the inspirations for his book, Left in Dark Times: A Stand Against the New Barbarism.[26]
The Institute for Global Jewish Affairs was founded, in part, as a response to the perceived Anti-Semitism of the Durban conference.[25]
United Kingdom and other European countries remain undecided. On 17 February 2009, Foreign Office Minister Lord Malloch-Brown said: "If we can't go forward now, we will withdraw. I was at the first conference. I have never seen such a disgraceful event in quite a long international life."
In resolution #61/149 of the United Nations General Assembly, passed in 1996, a Durban Review Conference was called. The conference took place in 2009, however, a number of countries expressed concern as a result of the 2001 conference. Some countries, including Australia, Canada, Germany, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, and the United States, boycotted the conference. The Czech Republic discontinued its attendance on the first day, and twenty-three other European Union countries sent low-level delegations. In an 18 April 2009 speech, President Barack Obama announced the United States' boycott of the 2009 Durban Review Conference, reaffirming the country's opposition to language perceived as anti-Israel and anti-Western.[24]
By resolution #2002/68 of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights an Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action was established, which held its first meeting in January 2003 and which meets on an annual basis.[1]
A Permanent Memorial Trust Fund has also been established for the creation of a memorial at the New York United Nations site. The sculpture, to be titled the Permanent Memorial to the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, or the UN Slavery Memorial, is set to be completed in 2012.
One such follow up provision is for national governments to provide the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights with reports on their actions towards implementing the recommendations in the Programme of Action. Another is for the Secretary General of the United Nations to appoint an expert body with the remit of following up on implementation. A third is a call for the establishment of a database of practical means for addressing racism, racial discrimination, and related intolerance.[1]
It seems unlikely to analysts that the United States will support another WCAR. However, the Declaration and Programme of Action did make provision for follow-up mechanisms. Mary Robinson stated in her closing address that the Conference was intended to be a beginning, not an end. Dr. Manning Marable, of Columbia University in New York, pointed out that one of the objectives of the Conference was to increase coordination in human rights activities, and to strengthen networks amongst those combating racism; and as such the actions of governments in response to the Conference are not the sole intended outcomes — actions by civil society and non-governmental agencies are also required.[1][23]
Several NGOs, including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights, disassociated themselves from the language of the NGO Forum's Declaration that dealt with Israel and with Jews.[1]
Judaism, Aliyah, Israel, Jerusalem, History of Israel
United Kingdom, Torture, Unesco, Sweden, Senegal
Saudi Arabia, India, United Kingdom, Canada, Italy
Switzerland, Zürich, French language, Lake Geneva, Canton of Geneva
France, United Kingdom, Israel, European Union, Czech Republic
Labour Party (Ireland), Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, Seanad Éireann, University of Dublin (constituency)
John Maynard Keynes, Ryerson University, World Bank, Religion, Fidel Castro
Israel, Canada, United Kingdom, Austria, Australia
Qualitative research, Afro-Peruvian, W.E.B. Du Bois, Double consciousness, Gloria E. Anzaldúa


text:
Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis
]]>Main Page]]> | ]]>Risk Factors]]> | Symptoms | ]]>Diagnosis]]> | ]]>Treatment]]> | ]]>Screening]]> | ]]>Reducing Your Risk]]> | ]]>Talking to Your Doctor]]> | ]]>Living With Rheumatoid Arthritis]]> | ]]>Resource Guide]]>
Joint symptoms usually involve three or more joints. The most commonly affected joints are the wrists, fingers, knees, feet, and ankles.
Inflamed Joint
Joint symptoms include:
- Increased pain and stiffness in the morning and after inactivity
- Morning stiffness and pain that lasts more than 30 minutes
- Pain and stiffness symmetrically (that is, both feet or both hands are affected, as opposed to only one)
- Red, swollen, warm joints
- Deformed, misshapen joints
Other symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include:
- Intense fatigue, decreased energy
- Muscle aches
- Decreased appetite
- Weight loss
- Fever and sweats
- ]]>Depression]]>
- Problems sleeping
- ]]>Anemia]]>
- Bumps occurring under the skin (rheumatoid nodules)
- Inflamed blood vessels
- Bleeding stomach ulcers
- Inflammation of the heart's sac ( ]]>pericarditis]]> )
- Inflammation of the heart muscle ( ]]>myocarditis]]> )
- Lung problems
- Eye problems
Arthritis Foundation website. Available at: http://www.arthritis.org/ .
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases website. Available at: http://www.arthritis.org/ .
Cecil Textbook of Medicine . 21st ed. W.B. Saunders Company; 2000.
Conn's Current Therapy . 54th ed. W.B. Saunders Company; 2002.
Last reviewed September 2009 by ]]>Jill D. Landis, MD]]>
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Copyright © 2007 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.

subset: commoncrawl


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City Projects 2017 Surplus
City Projects 2017 Surplus
Projected $759,000 Surplus in FY-2017 will further reduce General Fund deficit
Mayor Rob Rolison said today that the City of Poughkeepsie is projecting a year-end general fund surplus of approximately $759,000. The favorable result for 2017 will reduce the city's cumulative general fund deficit, and further builds on the success achieved in 2016. "This result not only continues our march in the right direction, but it validates our decision to stay under the tax cap in 2018, and to give our restructuring efforts time to take hold", said Mayor Rolison.
City Commissioner of Finance William Brady said "This is an encouraging finish to a year where we also adopted a strong debt management policy, and began to replace aging equipment, vehicles and infrastructure. We also note improving liquidity and more stable cash flow, which provides flexibility needed to take advantage of cost savings on an opportunity basis without resorting to short-term borrowing".


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Tipperary's Brendan Maher leads Elverys Youth Hurling Camp
The Elverys GAA/GPA Youth Camp Tipperary is being held in Dr Morris Park, Thurles from July 1st-5th.
This is a pilot project being held in selected counties all across the country for boys between the ages of 13 and 15 (inclusive).
The Tipperary camp will be hurling only and led by Tipperary hurler Brendan Maher.
All coaches will be players from the present Tipperary under-21 and senior squads.
The participants will get an insight into the life of an inter-county player in an action-packed week which will include conditioned games, skills development, mental preparation, sports nutrition and athletic development.
All participants will receive a limited edition Elverys sports pack and will have the chance to win a Lenovo laptop by taking part in an exciting skills competition.
This camp provides an excellent opportunity for kids at a very important age to stay involved in the GAA throughout the summer and to learn from some present heroes of the game.
Price is 55 euro. Places are limited so sign up now at www.elverysyouthcamps.gaa.ie


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Country music has established its own national anthem with Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the U.S.A." However, the last decade has inspired numerous country stars to salute our country in their own way, from Alan Jackson's somber reflections after 9/11 to the Zac Brown Band's hearty endorsement of fried chicken, family and our armed forces. Here are 10 of our favorite country songs from the last 10 years, chosen by the CMT.com staff.
"All-American Girl,"
Carrie Underwood
Being an all-American girl can mean different things to different people, but they all have one thing in common. Whether she's a girlfriend or a daughter, there is something about her that a guy cannot resist, and they will do anything for her. In the music video, Underwood represents a variety of all-American girls, from a firefighter to a nurse to a painter. To me, that is what being an American is all about — representing all different types of people and having the opportunity to be who and what you want to be. — Michelle Ferullo
"American Honey,"
Lady Antebellum
"She grew up good/She grew up slow/Like American honey." Every time I hear this song, I think about hearing the lyrics coming out of my 5-year-old cousin's little mouth, so sweet and innocent. I think in that moment, she was the perfect representation of "American Honey." One thing I remember well about my own childhood is running around barefoot in the yard chasing lightning bugs at dusk on summer days — when the air was still warm, but the grass was cool under my feet and I didn't have a care in the world. At some point, you're forced to grow up and lose that, but this song takes you back there. — Lacey Spears
"American Saturday Night,"
Brad Paisley
One thing that rarely comes up in songs dedicated to the good ol' U.S.A. is the idea that many things that make us uniquely American actually came from somewhere else. That's what I like about Brad Paisley's "American Saturday Night." Brazilian boots and a German car may not be part of the average American's everyday experience, but how about French kisses and pizza pies? Even horses, cattle, beer and country music itself owe their existence here to other parts of the world. My favorite line in the bouncy tune is a reminder that no matter where an idea started, Americans take pride in making it our own. "When my great, great, great granddaddy stepped off of that ship/I bet he never ever dreamed we'd have all this." — Chris Parton
Trace Adkins
Like many mothers, I've helped my kids research Arlington National Cemetery for curriculum fairs, reports and field trips. I became very well-versed in 21-gun salutes, the wreath laying and the intricate choreography of sentinels who guard the Tomb of the Unknowns. But until Trace Adkins released a song about Arlington and made a video showing him paying his respects around the cemetery, I'd never been so moved by the history of that peaceful property. Hearing this song makes me agree with Adkins: "And every time I hear 21 guns, I know they brought another hero home to us." God bless those heroes, all 300,000 of them, this Independence Day. — Alison Bonaguro
"Chicken Fried,"
Zac Brown Band
Good eats, first-rate friends, a cranked-up radio and a salute to our soldiers? Sounds like a recipe for country music success. The Zac Brown Band cooked up that winning combination with their chart-topping debut single, "Chicken Fried." Their signature dish also calls for one part beer, mixed with Friday nights, Mama's love and just-right-fittin' jeans. Add a heaping helping of patriotic pride for the stars and stripes, God and our American troops. Lastly, drop a dollop of buoyant beats and a spoonful of roll-off-the-tongue rhymes — and voila! What country fan doesn't enjoy this deep-fried favorite? — Whitney Self
"Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)," Toby Keith
Toby Keith's no-holds-barred tune, released following the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, was labeled by the Dixie Chicks' Natalie Maines as "ignorant" and a feud between the two ensued. Well, if loving this song makes me ignorant, then that's quite all right with me. No matter if it ruffled a few feathers, there's no denying Keith's patriotism when the video features footage from his USO tours. Personally, I get chills every time I see the soldiers cheering so enthusiastically for him and the song's message. It's a powerful reminder of the troops' constant sacrifices and ultimate goal, along with the mindset of many Americans following that tragic day. — Stephanie Pendergrass
"Everyday America," Sugarland
I like to think Jennifer Nettles is telling her own story, and the story of millions of others, in this catchy (and candid) song about big dreams, small towns, disappointing relationships and family pride. Even though many of us are still "just getting by," as the song indicates, I feel like optimism remains one of our country's most persistent traits. — Craig Shelburne
"If You're Reading This,"
Tim McGraw
"Looks like I only got a one-way ticket over here." That's all Tim McGraw has to sing to tell you exactly what this song is about: a soldier laying down his gun, hanging up his boots and saying goodbye to his family in a letter he wrote before he died. It makes me sad to my very core, and at the same time, so overjoyed to be an American. That was especially true when he debuted the song on the ACM Awards in 2007 with families of fallen soldiers onstage with him. I cried. The families cried. I think McGraw even cried. It was a memorable five minutes for America and country music. — Alison Bonaguro
"Only in America,"
Brooks & Dunn
"Only in America" was released a few months prior to 9/11 and became an anthem that highlighted Brooks & Dunn's concerts following the attack on the World Trade Center. Musical hooks abound as the lyrics provide a snapshot of people living their daily lives. Although the song celebrates the "promise of the promised land," it's not about waving flags. With lines about one kid potentially ending up in prison while another becomes president, the message subtly suggests that a person's ability to fulfill the American dream generally comes down to personal choices and attitudes. That alone is something worth celebrating. — Calvin Gilbert
"Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)," Alan Jackson
It is impossible to this day to overestimate the emotional impact that this song had and continues to have on the American psyche. In the wake of the devastation of 9/11, there remained a general hole in the center of many people's hearts. Alan Jackson filled that vacuum with this simple, yet eloquent song. Like many people in Nashville and across the country, I first heard "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)" when he performed it live at the CMA Awards on Nov. 7, 2001. I was at the Grand Ole Opry House that night and still recall the enormous emotional upswelling in the house. I was on my feet and crying, and so was everyone around me in the house. I cannot recall a single instance of a song having the instant healing effect that "Where Were You" had. And continues to have. — Chet Flippo


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Elixir – Blood Pressure · Cholesterol · Detox | Mount Athos Pharmacy
The Mount Athos elixir is extremely beneficial in regulating blood pressure. What is more, it cleanses the body of toxins and lowers blood cholesterol.
Net Weight: 30ml
Άμεσα διαθέσιμο - Παράδοση 1 έως 3 ημέρες
Mount Athos Elixir that regulates high blood pressure and reduces cholesterol levels!
The monastic elixir to regulate high blood pressure is one of the excellent preparations of the Pharmacy of Mount Athos.
The elixir with burr for blood pressure contains burr, hawthorn, knotweed, hypericum and oak.
It is beneficial in regulating blood pressure.
Furthermore, it helps protect the hypertensive individuals from fluctuations of pressure and its complications.
Mount Athos elixir for high pressure contains burr, the most useful medicinal plant and is included in many combinations for different treatments.
It is a natural balancer to the functioning of kidneys, cleanses the body of toxins and lowers blood cholesterol.
The elixir vetiver for blood pressure is produced naturally and with scientific expertise in the Mount Athos Pharmacy that is located in Karyes.
It is a 100% natural product that is extremely beneficial for the health of the human body!
Pour 15 drops in some water twice a day.
Suggested use:
At least for 1 month.
Origin: St George Kalathas Cell – Mount Athos Pharmacy
Net Weight: 30ml
Additional information
|0.15 kg


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Conn. bill requires study of road treatments
HARTFORD -- Connecticut lawmakers are considering a bill that would require the Department of Transportation to analyze any possible corrosive effects of chemical road treatments.
The Motor Transport Association of Connecticut has questioned the use of such winter road treatments over the years. Last year, the group called on the General Assembly to make deicers like magnesium chloride illegal, claiming the chemical has been corroding trucks.
DOT contends their mixture used to pre-treat the roads works well and it's up to motorists to wash their vehicles to avoid corrosion.
The Transportation Committee will hear testimony Friday on the bill requiring the analysis. It would examine the treatment's effect on state, municipal and private vehicles, bridges and highways, as well as the environment. DOT would also have to evaluate alternative products and treatments.


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Although not as popular as they once were, straw paper hats can still be purchased from retailers throughout the country. You may see straw paper hats worn at a political rally or at a county fair. You yourself may actually own a straw paper hat. If you do, it is important to clean the hat periodically to extend the life of the hat and allow you to wear it for years to come.
Brush the hat with a stiff bristle brush. This will remove a majority of the dirt and prevent damage if you are caught in the rain while wearing the hat.
Combine a mild dish soap with water and dip a clean rag into the mixture. Rub the hat following the straw to clean off any dirt or mildew that may be forming.
Combine three parts rubbing alcohol with one part water. Dip a piece of dark-colored velvet into the alcohol/water mixture and run the velvet down the straw. This will help brighten the color or add a glossy look to dark straw.
Allow the hat to air dry before wearing. If you wear the hat while it is still damp, mold may form inside it.


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The idea of I Will Run was conceived in the summer of 2010. My initial thought was to serve my friends working in the ministries who were often overwhelmed with doing good works in the community and yet neglecting their own personal health. Through the run clinic, my aim was to motivate everyone to regain some level of physical activities and raise awareness in pursuing an active healthy lifestyle by sharing my own journey of an once sedentary individual transforming into a health conscious avid runner.
The very first clinic was launched on the last Saturday afternoon of February in 2011. The program was slated to commence at 4:15pm and a good 20 participants had enrolled via email. A glance out the window from my study was a beautiful day with clear blue skies, I was eager to meet everyone in less than two hours at the Safeway parking lot. Just as I was gathering my bright orange whistle and other run supplies, I noticed big flakes of white fluffy stuff were falling off the sky. I procrastinated for a good thirty minutes, while the condition slowly turned into a small blizzard. My heart was shattered and I was ready to call off our inaugural session. After all, everyone's safety precedes anything else on a day like that. I was, however, determined to inform anyone persistent enough to be there that I would show up.
It was 4pm I slowly walked to the meeting place and was prepared to be left in despair expecting none to appear. The weather was at its worst with more snow dumping down and the temperature dipped below zero. I fixated at the entrance of the parking lot. To my amazement, I saw familiar faces were appearing one after the other. We had people traveling from different parts of the town with one runner even waited a long time for the bus that would take her here. In the end, sixteen people attended the first class.
That was the birth of I Will Run, a day that seemed impossible but made possible by individuals with determination and persistence. Our first run was freezing and somewhat painful to some but I was certain that everyone's heart was aflame with a goal to better oneself. Towards the end of the 4-month program, seven of us including myself ran our first ever half marathon at the Vancouver Scotiabank half marathon.
Since our first program, I Will Run has continued to offer many more programs helping people of all fitness levels and abilities to reach their health goals. Throughout the past four years, the program has also undergone several major modifications to further enhance the participant's overall experience. These included, for examples, inviting guest speakers of various healthcare disciplines to give running related topics and the introduction of Skechers Demo Day for participants to try out the latest foot-wears.
The biggest change happened in 2013 when the program got a new name and a new mission: I WILL RUN FOR A GOOD CAUSE. We've partnered up with Mission Possible, "a Christian humanitarian agency that transforms lives by helping those challenged by homelessness and poverty achieve a renewed sense of dignity and purpose through meaningful work." Over thousands of dollars were collected from the run clinic and donated to Mission Possible for a good cause.
I Will Run's motto, however, remains unchanged since its inception -"Learn to Run for Free; Make a Positive Social Impact;and, Live a Healthier Life." An approximate of 150 unique members of all levels ranging from the age of five and up to sixty had participated. Many, who have once found running to be challenging and painful, have come to realize and appreciate the joy and health benefits derived from the sport. The uniqueness of the run clinic is the strong emphasis on the building of a proper running form and bio-mechanics allowing one to run more efficiently and minimize any running related injuries.
The story of I Will Run began on February 26, 2011 but may it forever carries on in many more people's lives.
"Run to Inspire and to be Inspired"
I WILL RUN Program Founder,


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Create an Account - Increase your productivity, customize your experience, and engage in information you care about.
Support West Fest as a sponsor by filling out the sponsorship form today. Commitments are due July 24, 2020.
Support the West Fargo Street Fair by filling out a sponsorship form below before March 24, 2020.
Questions? Contact us at firstname.lastname@example.com or 701-433-5300.


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A wanna-be writer and musician from California has sued the Valley's own dark mistress of vampire fiction, Stephenie Meyer in what looks like a half-baked cry for attention.
The young woman, Jordan Scott, claims in a lawsuit filed in federal court on August 19 that a book she published online in 2006 has "striking, articulable and substantial similarities" to Meyer's fourth novel, Breaking Dawn. Scott says Meyer infringed on the copyright to her own novel, The Nocturne, and she demands that Meyer admit to the theft of intellectual property.
Oh, and she also wants a nice cut of Meyer's profits.
Although Scott claims she wrote her novel at the tender age of 15, (way back in the year 2003),
she admits her own exhibits show she didn't publish it on the Internet until 2006. (UPDATE: We tweaked this after a reader in the comments section below told us that "documents reveal" Scott published the book online as early as 2003. After a second look, we agree that Scott and her lawyer claim parts of Scott's book were published "in or about 2004" or maybe 2003, but "Exhibit A" states the book was published on July 5, 2006).
Meyer's first wildly popular vampire novel, Twilight, was published in 2005. Even if Scott's comparisons were truly "striking," (you can judge for yourself -- our verdict: Please...), she still comes off as too short in the fangs.
Here's an excerpt from Scott's bio:
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I commenced studies in a Harvard University Psychology program when I was 17, after which I wanted to major in Film and Theater, and transferred to UCLA. So these days I divide my time between music, college, and writing.
I have an award winning script, and three other scripts in various stages. Wow
I love school, writing, music, and of course Boys.
UPDATE DECEMBER 2009: A federal judge slams Scott's writing and kicks out her lawsuit.


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|This hymn was written by Jean Tisserand, O.F.M. (d. 1494) and originally had only nine stanzas. Stanzas "Discipulis adstantibus", "Ut intellexit Didymus", "Beati qui non viderunt" are early additions to the hymn. There are several different versions of the hymn. The one below is one of the more common versions.
|Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
|Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
|O filii et filiae,
Rex caelestis, Rex gloriae
morte surrexit hodie.
R. Alleluia
|Ye sons and daughters of the Lord,
the King of glory, King adored,
this day Himself from death restored.
R. Alleluia
|Ex mane prima Sabbati
ad ostium monumenti
accesserunt discipuli.
R. Alleluia
|All in the early morning gray
went holy women on their way,
to see the tomb where Jesus lay.
R. Alleluia
|Et Maria Magdalene,
et Iacobi, et Salome
Venerunt corpus ungere
R. Alleluia
|Of spices pure a precious store
in their pure hands these women bore,
to anoint the sacred Body o'er.
R. Alleluia
|In albis sedens angelus
praedixit mulieribus:
In Galilaea est Dominus.
R. Alleluia
|The straightaway one in white they see,
who saith, "seek the Lord: but He
is risen and gone to Galilee."
R. Alleluia
|Et Ioannes apostolus
cucurrit Petro citius,
monumento venit prius.
R. Alleluia
|This told they Peter, told John;
who forthwith to the tomb are gone,
but Peter is by John outrun.
R. Alleluia
|Discipulis astantibus,
in medio stetit Christus,
dicens: Pax vobis omnibus.
R. Alleluia
|That self-same night, while out of fear
the doors where shut, their Lord most dear
to His Apostles did appear.
R. Alleluia
|Ut intellexit Didymus
quia surrexerat Iesus,
remansit fere dubius.
R. Alleluia
|But Thomas, when of this he heard,
was doubtful of his brethren's word;
wherefore again there comes the Lord.
R. Alleluia
|Vide Thoma, vide latus,
vide pedes, vide manus,
noli esse incredulus.
R. Alleluia
|"Thomas, behold my side," saith He;
"My hands, My feet, My body see,
and doubt not, but believe in Me."
R. Alleluia
|Quando Thomas vidit Christum,
pedes, manus, latus suum,
dixit: Tu es Deus meus.
R. Alleluia
|When Thomas saw that wounded side,
the truth no longer he denied;
"Thou art my Lord and God!" he cried.
R. Alleluia
|Beati qui non viderunt
et firmiter crediderunt;
vitam aeternam habebunt.
R. Alleluia
|Oh, blest are they who have not seen
their Lord and yet believe in Him!
eternal life awaitheth them.
R. Alleluia
|In hoc festo sanctissimo
sit laus et iubilatio:
benedicamus Domino.
R. Alleluia
|Now let us praise the Lord most high,
and strive His name to magnify
on this great day, through earth and sky:
R. Alleluia
|Ex quibus nos humillimas
devotas atque debitas
Deo dicamus gratias.
R. Alleluia
|Whose mercy ever runneth o'er;
Whom men and Angel hosts adore;
to Him be glory evermore.
R. Alleluia


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Happy Face Lollipops the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.
Happy Face Lollipops
Makes about 2 dozen lollipops
|popsicle sticks or small wooden skewers (4 to 5 inches long)
|cups sugar
|cup water
|cup light corn syrup
|to 12 drops green food coloring
|Red cinnamon candies and/or other decors
- Line 2 large baking sheets with foil. Place popsicle sticks about 4 inches apart on foil.
- Combine sugar, water and syrup in heavy 2- or 2-1/2-quart saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring frequently. Attach candy thermometer to side of pan, making sure bulb is submerged in sugar mixture but not touching bottom of pan. Continue boiling, without stirring, about 10 minutes or until mixture reaches hard-crack stage (300° to 305°F) on candy thermometer. (Watch carefully so that mixture does not burn.) Remove from heat.
- When mixture stops bubbling, stir in food coloring, a few drops at a time, until desired color is obtained. Let stand 2 to 3 minutes or until mixture is slightly thickened and cools to 200° to 205°F on candy thermometer.
- Quickly drop sugar mixture by tablespoonfuls over popsicle sticks forming 3-inch lollipops. To make happy faces, immediately place red candies onto lollipops for "eyes" and "mouths." (Be careful because candy is very hot.) Use other decors to make "hair," if desired.
- Cool completely, about 10 minutes. Peel off of foil. Store in resealable food storage bags at room temperature.
Check out more recipes for Candy


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Over the next few days I'm going to show you how to upcycle an old sweater into 3 new projects. The first DIY is turning the sleeves into mittens. This is so easy and it only takes 10 minutes!
Old sweater
Mittens to trace
Sewing machine
|[Place your mitten at the cuff of the sleeve (I left a few inches at the bottom so my new mittens would be longer) and cut around it. You will be cutting through both sides of the sleeve]
|[Once the mitten is cut out, cut out another one on the other sleeve. You should have 4 pieces total]
|[Turn the mitten inside out and stitch around the sides and hand]
!function(doc,s,id){ var e, p; if(!doc.getElementById(id)) { e = doc.createElement(s); e.id = id; p = '//shopsensewidget.shopstyle.com/widget-script.js'; var cb = new Date().getTime(); p += '?cb=' + cb; e.src = p; doc.body.appendChild(e); } if(typeof window.ss_shopsense === 'object'){ if(doc.readyState === 'complete'){ window.ss_shopsense.init(); } } }(document, 'script', 'shopsensewidget-script');


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Our garden is pathetic. Usually I'm harvesting all sorts of things and feeling semi-overwhelmed come mid-July, but this year I'm practically twiddling my thumbs. The basil plants are anorexic. The chard got eaten by something evil and microscopic. The beans are so measly I get mad just thinking about them.
Even so, I managed to cook a garden meal last weekend. One zucchini, one yellow squash, a handful of cherry tomatoes, and three store-bought Romas. Working together, they pulled off dinner quite nicely.
This is a roasted meal, one that calls for a hot oven, something I generally avoid over the July dinner hour, but we've had some blessedly cool evenings after those hellishly hot days last week—I even made a hot soup for supper one evening. The roasting method is quite delightful: the veggies slump in on their juicy selves, the edges caramelize, the cheesy, bready top creates crunch, and the olive oil binds it all together.
My parents, popping in late Sunday night, ate the cold leftovers straight out of the pan. They seemed mighty pleased about it. In fact, my mom, after cramming an especially loaded fork-full into her mouth, yelled at the rest of us, "That's it. I'm not eating anything else tonight. No more food!" This is what she does—loud public announcements, especially in regards to food—when her internal resolve can not withstand.
Or maybe she was just fed up with me trying to foist all my leftovers on her.
Pasta with Roasted Tomatoes and Summer Squash
Adapted from The Wednesday Chef
I think the original recipe needs twice as many veggies as it calls for, so I'm adjusting the proportions accordingly. If you prefer a less veggie-to-pasta ratio, reduce the veggies by half. (In the photo, it looks like there are plenty of vegetables but that's because I, in a fit of greed, dug them out of the tangly pasta.)
You can switch up the veggies if you like, but I think that in order to provide enough juiciness, half should be tomatoes, cherry or Roma, preferably. Also, I'm not sure on the exact poundage. I filled a 9 x 13 pan in a single layer; if you skip the scales and just cover the bottoms of two 9 x 13 pans with chopped vegetables, you'll be fine.
1 pound of cherry or Roma tomatoes, bite-sized pieces
1 pound of summer squash (yellow and/or green), bite-sized pieces
1 handful torn basil leaves
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/3 - 1/2 cup olive oil
½ cup bread crumbs
½ cup Parmesan cheese, shredded fine
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 pound spaghetti, or other pasta such as penne, fettuccini, etc.
Divide the chopped vegetables, skin side down, between two 9 x 13 pans. Drizzle with some olive oil, perhaps a quarter cup.
In a separate bowl, combine the bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, garlic, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle over the vegetables.
Bake the vegetables at 400 degrees for about twenty minutes, or until fork-tender. Remove from the oven and toss with the torn basil.
While the vegetables are baking, cook the spaghetti according to package instructions. Drain.
Combine the pasta and vegetables and toss with the rest of the olive oil. Add more salt and black pepper, if needed.
Updated on August 2, 2010: Made this again, this time using 1 ½ pounds of cherry tomatoes. I stuffed them all into one 9 x 13 pan and they roasted up fine even though they were overlapping. The final tomato-pasta ratio was pretty good, but I still think it could have used more tomatoes, up to 2 pounds.
It really truly is a wonderful dish.
Updated August 17, 2010: This is soooooo delicious! We can't get over how delicious it is! Like, REALLY delicious. I made it for supper tonight---two pounds of cherry tomatoes, no squash, one 9 x 13 pan. Didn't bother to arrange the tomatoes in the pan skin-side down; just threw them in any which a-way. So easy and fast and---did I mention it yet?---DELICIOUS! I had three helpings and countless snitches post-dinner.
About one year ago: A girlie outing
About two years ago: The Baby Nickel, Cooked Oatmeal
Friday, July 16, 2010
From the garden
at 4:14 AM
4 comments:
Now this recipe went straight to the "recipe folder" in our e-mail. I don't have to taste it to know that it will be good and can't wait for all the ingredients to hurry up and grow so that we can try it.:)ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJuly 16, 2010 at 10:10 AM
Hahaha...I can just hear your mother making her loud public announcement! She's a gem.ReplyDelete
This looks like a winner! And I hear ya' on the garden. I'm in MD and it's been a rough ride here too.ReplyDelete
I'm making this tonight. Thank you.ReplyDelete
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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For testing power consumption, we took our test system and plugged it into a Kill-A-Watt power meter. For idle numbers, we allowed the system to idle on the desktop for 15 minutes and took the reading. For load numbers we ran three games at 1920×1080 and averaged the peak results seen on the power meter.
Power Consumption Results: The entire platform with the AMD Radeon R9 290 installed was consuming 111 Watts at idle and hit a maximum of 437 Watts when gaming. We'd expect all AMD Radeon R9 290 and 290X cards to consume about the same power at idle with the only difference being the variance between GPU's, but at gaming load we found the R9 290 using slightly less power since less compute units are active.


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Visiting ICUL?
Dave FlemingIndiana Credit Union Hall of Fame Inductee 2018
METHOD: The Awards Committee may select one person based upon the criteria relating to credit union, chapter, League, national, volunteer and community activities. Due to the criteria and qualification process, the Hall of Fame Award may not be presented every year. Nominations may be submitted by the Awards Committee or board of directors of any chapter or credit union in Indiana by completing a nomination form and returning it by the deadline. A Personal Data Form will be sent to each nominee.
RECOGNITION: Induction into the Hall of Fame takes place at the League's annual convention. A photo-etched plaque of each inductee will also be displayed in the Credit Union Hall of Fame, located in the League office.
ELIGIBILITY: Any person who has given long-term paid or volunteer service to the credit union movement is eligible. The immediate past chairman of the Indiana Credit Union League automatically will be considered for the Hall of Fame. Current directors and employees of the League and Servicecorp are not eligible to receive the award.
CRITERIA: To be inducted into the Indiana Credit Union Hall of Fame, the recipient must:
be an employee, official and/or member of a credit union that is a member of the League.
have served on the League board, a League committee, as a chapter official and/or on the national level.
have selflessly given exceptional time, effort and talent to the betterment of the Indiana credit union movement.
have served, assisted or been involved in the credit union movement for more than 20 years.
be in good standing in the community.
understand and personify the credit union philosophy of "People Helping People," promote the credit union ideal and actively demonstrate loyalty to the entire organized credit union movement.
Jeffrey McComasGeorge McNichols
Lori GonzalezRuth JenkinsLamoura MunseRobert "Smokey" Stowers
Copyright © 2019, Indiana Credit Union League.
5975 Castle Creek Parkway North Drive, Suite 200, Indianapolis, IN 46250 - 800.285.5300


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Run a Macro From the Toolbox Ribbon
Open the Exponential Data Set 2.jnb notebook and double click on the graph icon to obtain the following graph.
This is a different data set that we wish to fit.
Make sure the graph page is the current window (if it isn't you will get an error message; more about this later).
Run the macro directly from the Toolbox button that you just set up.
The macro runs, fits the exponential function to the two data sets and places the fit lines on the graph. If the graph window is not the current window and is hidden behind the worksheet, then click on it to view it (we will make a slight modification to the macro later to improve this behavior).
You have successfully recorded a macro that will save considerable time when analyzing your data. But the macro has the limitation that you must always fit two data sets — no more, no less. To improve this you can add a for-loop in the macro to allow any number of data sets to be analyzed.


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INSPEKT – Inspections & Audits Management Solution
What is Inspekt?
Inspekt is our SaaS solution to manage the entire value chain pertaining to Inspections and Audits Services. The solution is aimed primarily at small to medium sized Service Providers as well as Buying houses or Importers based in the sourcing regions that have their own in-house QC teams.
Key Features
The system offers rich master data management capabilities with an easy to use interface. This includes the ability to capture full Workforce information, Company (including Buyers, Factories, etc.), Client Programs and Contacts. On the fly MDM creation supported.
Establish your own Checklist items, On-site tests, Defects and pull them all together into comprehensive Section based Protocols and Checklists. You can create an unlimited number of protocols – both generic (product centric) or Client specific.
Our order management module also allows you to rapidly capture order information. Previous orders can also be cloned (copied) to create new orders saving significant time in the order capture process.
Orders can be visually scheduled with a clear view of inspector availability (green=available, red=booked) as well as one click view of the inspectors' calendars.
Order execution dynamically renders the assigned protocol and allows for rapid data capture. Item results are automatically rolled up to the section and overall level. Image attachments and captioning is easy & quick. Offline capability is also available!
Report generation is fully automated (with Word & PDF outputs in both long & abbreviated formats) saving hours of report typing. Report review workflows are integrated.
Rapidly capture detailed invoice information and generate a beautifully formatted invoice document in Word/PDF format with one click. Now with the ability to create consolidated invoices.
Provide access to your customers and contacts to place orders, view order status, results and download reports and invoices. Unlimited standard Client Portals included! Lots of capabilities planned for Client Portals on the roadmap.
Comprehensive operational reports included to query and view information. Lots more operations reporting and analysis tools are planned on the roadmap.
Other features:
- Integrated online help & support directly within the application.
- Comprehensive and additive role based security throughout the system
- Complete audit trail (revision history) of all activities in the system
- Intuitive and easy to use with streamlined & modern user interface
- Always updated dashboard view
Key Customer Benefits:
Inspekt provides tremendous benefits in terms of automating the inspection and audit workflow:
- A single integrated solution that allows management all of inspection and audit activities.
- Having all of the data in a structured format allows for better decision support and operational reporting.
- By automating a lot of the manual tasks around the process, users of Inspekt save time and money thereby allowing them to focus on core service delivery activities.
- Improved customer satisfaction aiding in capturing more business while improving margins.
- A robust, enterprise class solution with high degree of scalability, availability and security built in.
- Inspekt will evolve continuously – with a new release being put out once every month that either implements new features or addresses bugs/defects.
- No need for in-house IT teams – QualNimbus will take care of everything related to the system. All you need is a web browser.
We release a new update to the solution approximately once every 4 weeks. You can see the changes that are being implemented in every release in the Release Notes.
Our Pricing Rationale:
We are of the opinion that our growth should be tied to the growth of our customers. If our customers grow and are successful, then we grow as well. If they don't then we don't. It is a simple premise – but one that we take very seriously. Our pricing structure is fundamentally built around this premise. Most organizations in the TIC industry spend between 4% to 6% of their revenues to implement a robust IT systems and infrastructure setup. Using our solution should cost you substantially less than this amount – and should deliver benefits that far exceed the cost outlay (or the alternative of maintaining status quo).
Please visit the Inspekt Landing Page.


text: Syndicated Public Sector Wireless & IoT Telus drops hunt for Mobilicity Andrew Brooks @AndrewITWC Published: May 21st, 2014Sober second thought. That's what the Senate's there for, or so we're told. But you don't always need a plush red chamber full of politicians to prompt a serious change of heart, especially when you're being warned by the federal government to back down or else.Vancouver-based Telus announced early in April that it was trying to acquire Mobilicity for $350 million, its third attempt at a buyout. That drew a warning from Ottawa, which had already forcefully opposed the previous attempts. Ottawa said later in April that if Telus didn't abandonits latest attempt to acquire Mobilicity – and the frequencies earmarked for new wireless entrants – it would face serious penalties.Telus has apparently now decided to abandon those plans after all.According to an unnamed source in a Globe and Mail article on Wednesday, Telus told Mobilicity it was calling off its bid the day before, explaining that some conditions of the deal hadn't been met.The conditions weren't specified, but one known condition of the buyout was that Ottawa would approve the transfer of spectrum from Mobilicity to Telus. Ottawa has been on record opposing this transfer. Related Articles Moore casts doubt on Telus' latest try for Mobilicity The federal government has been engaged in a high-profile and expensive campaign to create more competition in the market, and viewed the buyout attempt by Telus as counterproductive.In April Ottawa issued a warning – via the Globe and Mail – that if Telus persisted it would face damaging penalties. These would have included the rejigging of an April 2015 auction of 2500 Mhz frequencies to cut Telus out of the running.When they issued their warning, federal authorities said that their warning to Telus was intended as a caution to Bell and Rogers, the other big incumbents, as well. To preserve and increase competition in the wireless market, Ottawa wants to make sure none of the big three acquire wireless spectrum allocated for new wireless entrants such as that held by Shaw Communications. Public Sector, Wireless & IoT Bell, Canadian government, carriers, mergers/acquisitions, mobilicity, Ottawa, Rogers, Telus, wireless news


text:
The European banking system is the biggest threat to global equities, according to a survey of investors by Barclays Capital.
60 percent of those investors polled by Barclays for its Global Macro Survey saw the fallout from the European crisis as a key threat, with a quarter believing that a break up of the euro zone is inevitable.
Although a greater number believe that fiscal union will occur – but only after greater monetisation.
"The majority of people expect massive monetisation of European debt by the ECB to be part of the process by which the problems will be resolved.
I think the ECB would be rather concerned about that," Paul Robinson, head of FX strategy at Barclays Capital, told CNBC Wednesday.
He said that this scenario would change the nature of the ECB's role dramatically.
"The monetisation of debt presumably would take the form of some sort of quantitative easing, which would therefore be extremely loose monetary policy and the currency would weaken significantly," he added.
The findings come amid widespread concern about the ability of European policymakers to address Europe's sovereign debt problems.
The survey revealed that a majority of respondents felt a restructuring of Greek debt to be a positive move rather than a negative for the euro zone region.
Discussions among experts regarding Greek debt restructuring have included extending the maturities on various bonds or imposing modest haircuts.
"Most people see restructuring as inevitable at some point so if it is done in some sort of coherent way soon it would actually be a positive for risky assets by moving some of the uncertainty out of the way," he added.
The survey also revealed that a majority of respondents do not believe that the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF), a key element of the euro zone's response mechanism, will be enough to resolve the crisis.


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Do you dream of becoming a professional music artiste who can play up to two musical instruments, sing excellently, dance and compose your own music, and even edit music videos? Then, this is the recommended program for you. This one year diploma program is designed to groom you for an exceptional future in music performance.
The following are the courses you wil take under this program:
- Learning of Two different musical instruments
- Voice training & Professional Singing Program
- Music Business Studies and Entertainment Industry Expo
- Theory of Music
- Artistes Development and Career Guidance
- Songwriting
- Music Video Editing
- Dance
Basic information for One Year Performance Diploma:
Admission Requirement: At least 4 O'level credits (English is Compulsory).
Lecture Holds: Four days in a week.
Sessions: Morning, evening and weekend sessions are available.
Course Fee: Three Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira (N320, 000.00).
NB: Payment must be made in full before commencement of lectures.


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Woof woof everyone.
Sometimes it is hard to write a blog. I mean my life isn't THAT interesting. I get up, I eat, I blog and then wait until Dad decides what we are doing today. That will change soon because our touring Coaster Bus is almost ready. On the road everything changes. Stuff happens by the hour. I remember one day when Dad was writing about a wily wily - thats what Australians call a twister - and suddenly a willy willy came spinning its way towards us. Amazing huh!
You will love being on the road with us and the Coaster is like a touring studio where we can make videos and write stories and take photos.
Yesterday I proudly announced the first annual Dingo Day. Lots of people said they would like to buy me a present like humans do on Mothers Day. Well I think that's a great idea. Dad thought it would be a good idea to make beautiful cards from our journey. We will make sets of me and landscapes and trees. Images from all over Australia. The same photos you all love. On the official Dingo Day you can buy a set for me and YOU get to keep the present. Brilliant huh?
Anyway, Dad is doing his books today. He hates it and starts to huff and puff and swear if things don't balance out. But we all have to do things we don't like. Well except for me anyway. I pretty much do what I want all the time because whatever Dad is doing that's what I want to do.


text: Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Lesley Maddison moved to Canada with her family in 1973. Her insurance career began in 1984 and in 1989 she obtained her CAIB. Lesley has held numerous industry positions including Manager, Westminster Savings Insurance; Manager of B.C. & Yukon for Scotia Life Insurance; General Manager of North Shore Insurance; and Executive Director of the Credit Union Insurance Services Association. A former Director, Treasurer and Vice-President of CUISA, Lesley also serves as a Chair of the CUISA MGA. Some of the many industry committees Lesley served on includes: The Memorandum of Understanding Council (MOUC), Broker Liaison, Autoplan Broker Finance Committee, Autoplan Broker Greater Vancouver Regional Committee, Independent Advisory Committee, Salute Insurance Person of The Year Committee, The Insurance Diploma Education Committee, multiple task forces, and was the Chairperson of the Autoplan Brokers Provincial Marketing Committee. In her current role as Vice-President, Insurance with Coastal Community Credit Union, she oversees Coastal Community Insurance Services (2007) Ltd. with 15 offices from Port Hardy to Victoria.


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This is a demonstration with music; a simple way to explain what Touch Drawing is without words.
Tags: spiritual, face
Deborah Koff-Chapin
Apr 30, 2007
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Oswestry Hospital unit uses Vitesse Plus pluggable and standalone presence detectors
The Brief:
The Montgomery Unit at The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital (RJAH) is one of five specialist state-of-the-art bone cancer centres in the UK. The Unit treats patients with bone and soft tissue sarcomas, bone metastases, benign bone and soft tissue tumours and tumour-like conditions.
Operating 24 hours a day, the Montgomery Unit needed a lighting control solution that would adapt to the staff and patient activity, maintain patient comfort, stay active in the event of a fault, and make the unit as cost effective as possible.
For this project, CP Electronics worked closely with the main contractor, Briggs and Forrester, with whom they have a long-standing partnership.
Our Insight:
"We went to the Hospital to analyse the building's usage and so we could thoroughly understand the Unit's needs before devising an intelligent lighting system. that would intelligently light each area dependant on its function.
"As we know from other Hospital projects we've worked on, there are several requirements to fulfil. Our solution in this case had to be fail-safe, simple and intuitive to use, easy to manage and maintain by Hospital staff, as well as reduce energy consumption and save cost where possible."
Our Solution:
"The Vitesse Plus range of products were the ideal solution for this unit. The 7-channel control system can be pre-programmed to perform different lighting functions dependant on the detection of staff and patient movements; the pre-program functionality also makes the Vitesse Plus simpler to install, saving time and reducing installation costs.
"We also used passive infrared (PIR) and the MWS3A adjustable head microwave detectors (with a 30 m detection range) to maximise energy efficiency by preventing the unnecessary use of lighting.
"The presence detectors control light levels in areas where lighting is not always required, such as corridors and common areas. The lighting will adjust based on natural light levels and eventually switch off after a set time. When movement is detected, the lighting will switch 'on demand'.
"As well as energy savings, our lighting control systems are also wired to ensure the lights stay on in the event of a fault. This is made possible by our unique Vitesse Plus Lighting Control Modules (LCMs).
"This double measure of protection against faults ensures the Hospital lighting is always working."
The Result:
"As we know, hospitals are busy facilities and any downtime can cost dearly', said Paul Chesworth, Northern Regional Sales Manager for CP Electronics. 'It was an imperative part of the specification that the lighting should not fail, be easy to manage and maintain, as well as save energy and cost where possible.
"With our Vitesse Plus lighting control system, we've ensured that the Montgomery Unit has met these conditions, and that the patients and staff have the best possible lighting control where needed."


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Even though it's no secret that Katherine Heigl "loves the romantic comedy genre," the star of "Knocked Up" and "27 Dresses" does try with each film "to bring a slightly different element to the table."
As she explains it, the June release "Killers," with Ashton Kutcher, "has the sentiment and personality of the romantic comedies I love doing, but also incorporates action. A definite departure from anything I've done so far."
Not that her character, Jen, is all that different — at least when auds first meet her.
Says Heigl, "She's just this really goofy, awkward girl who meets the man of her dreams" — surprise, he's a government assassin — "then she wakes up one day three years later to a reality she could never have imagined."
Come December, Heigl stars in "Life As We Know It," about a woman given joint custody of a young girl with a man (Josh Duhamel) she can't stand.
"Of course, throwing two people who can't stand each other under the same roof with a baby they have no idea how to raise ensures plenty of hilarity," she says, adding, "I loved how Holly has to grapple with the guilt she feels for having wanted this life and then getting it under the worst possible circumstances."
Heigl knows something about parenthood, having recently become a mom, which makes the moviemaking a bit tougher.
"Not a lot of down time," she admits, "but I remember that not too long ago I had plenty of time on my hands and am just really grateful."


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A wedding should be a representation of the couple getting married. I love attending a wedding and basking in the sweetness of little details like the hand painted reception welcome sign or the adorable signature apple martini so cleverly named "Happley Ever After." From the invitations to the table centerpieces, there are multifarious ways to give your wedding a little character and individuality. A wedding venue will often offer custom packages to allow you to be as hands-on as you want in adding certain details. For a DIY couple, here are some suggestions on incorporating some of your own style and personalities into your picture perfect
wedding day.
The first thing to consider is what sorts of touches you want to add to your wedding. Make sure you have your theme set and go from there. Is it a beach wedding? Modern? Rustic? Whatever the case, it's always helpful to take to the internet for some inspiration. I was lucky enough to have discovered Pinterest immediately prior to my engagement and spent every free moment obsessively scrolling, clicking, fantasizing and pinning to my own "Wedding-Minded" Pinterest board. There are also a million amazing wedding websites and blogs (too many to name in this article) but a few of the most inspiring were Style Me Pretty, Ruffled Blog, The Knot, Wedding Chicks, Green Wedding Shoes and Etsy. These websites were great because they all feature real weddings that I actually felt like I could aspire to mimic. You would be doing yourself a great disadvantage if you didn't visit any of these sites at least once!
Perhaps the most impactful way to add personality is through your reception décor. If family is very important to you, why not create a picture wall or table with old family wedding photographs? If you're having assigned seating, give the seating cards some interest by incorporating your theme—perhaps names written on rocks or sea shells for a summer wedding, or jars of hot chocolate that double as favors for fall or winter. Centerpieces don't have to be floral arrangements—what about a cool candelabrum on every table if you love vintage finds, or stacked books with a selection of flower vases if you are big readers. The table numbers can be customized to reflect your personalities as well. I have seen weddings where the numbers match up with a fun fact about the couple, or are names of countries or cities they have visited. If you're a bit crafty, create your own reception details! Most of my reception décor was handmade by me (with some assistance by my husband). From the table numbers to the favors, I know my guests appreciated all the personal touches.
Your ceremony and reception music is another chance for you show your guests that this wedding is all about you as a couple. Choose a not-so-traditional song to walk down the aisle to if that coincides with your style, or have your band or DJ play a special cake cutting song that is fun and unique. You could even surprise your friends and family with an entertaining first dance routine (I may or may not be speaking from experience)!
And let's not forget one of the most popular parts of any wedding—the food and drinks! Maybe you love popcorn…how about a popcorn bar with an array of flavors and seasonings for guests to nosh on? This idea could work for so many types of food that you just can't get enough of…tacos, sliders, even mashed potatoes! (Unless you can't get enough brussel sprouts, then maybe this isn't a good suggestion for you). Perhaps you and your beau are big on beer, why not offer a few interesting beers on tap with a special menu describing them. If wine is your beverage of choice, how about a signature sangria! And of course the crème de la crème, dessert! This should be easy because everyone has a favorite treat. From candy bars to sundae stations, I am really not sure you can go wrong here! At our fall wedding we had a table full of autumnal desserts and it was a huge hit. People may or may not have stuffed apple cider donuts in their pockets.
I could go on and on with the countless ways to add darling details to your wedding day, but I will leave it to you to decide what best reflects you. It's easy to get a bit distracted during the whole crazy planning process, but hopefully by incorporating more of yourselves and some of the things you love, you will remember what this day is truly about—making your special day all the more special!


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Make a Difference – One Wagging Tail at a Time
Many children throughout the state of Connecticut are in need of animal assisted therapy, Soul Friends staff is dedicated to providing these children access to this care.We believe in the power of the love from an animal friend to help children cope with major life circumstances, to help change behavior and to try something new to bring about hope.
As a nonprofit that stands strongly behind our mission, we need your help to continue to bring about this hope.Here at Soul Friends, we are in need of your support, please help by making a donation. Your donations will help provide these essential therapeutic services to many children in the state of Connecticut who are in need. Your donations will also help to provide food, blankets, and essentials for our animals.Please help, any donation would be greatly appreciated.Please donate now,
Thank You.


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/Film Interview: Guillermo del Toro Talks 'Pacific Rim', 'Haunted Mansion' and More
Posted on Friday, July 12th, 2013 by Peter Sciretta
Pacific Rim is awesome. I've seen it two times already on the big screen, and I plan to pay to see it a third time this weekend. I highly recommend you do as well.
I don't usually travel for junkets because I can usually get most of the interviews I want accomplished in Los Angeles without spending days away from home. But when Warner Bros asked if I wanted to come to San Francisco to interview Guillermo del Toro, I jumped at the offer. I flew to my former Bay Area home, screened the movie at the Metreon downtown, and was up bright and early the next day for roundtables.
I sat around in hospitality waiting for my afternoon interview. That time came, and went.
Forty-five minutes later, a rep informed me that they were running so far behind that my one on one interview was no longer go to happen. They offered to try to get me into a roundtable interview with del Toro alongside some of the other journalists who got cut. I thought maybe there would be another chance to interview him solo back in Los Angeles, though Warner Bros didn't think there would be time. I cant't tell you how disappointed I was; I flew out just for this interview.
I left with Alex from FirstShowing to grab a early dinner before jumping on the quick plane ride back to LAX. As I walked through the Four Seasons Lobby, there he was — Guillermo. He called us over and gave me a huge bear hug (ask anyone who has ever worked with him, Guillermo is notorious for his hugs). Del Toro asked why the interview didn't happen and I explained the situation. Without hesitation he said "Fuck that, let's do this now". I quickly removed my recorder and without my notes I conducted an eight-minute impromptu interview with del Toro on a couch in the hotel lobby. How cool is that? The man is one of the nicest people I've ever met in the industry.
You can read a transcript of the interview after the jump. We chat about the challenges he faced with ILM in making his giant mech robots feel huge and real, why is it always raining in Pacific Rim, the unreal neon supersaturated look of Hong Kong, his biggest disappointment with the final cut of Pacific Rim, deleted scenes, the possibility of an extended cut, and update on the development of Disney's Haunted Mansion, and more.
Peter Sciretta: In a film like Transformers it doesn't always feel like the robots are actually there. In your film it felt like the Jaegers are huge, actually huge where you can see the scale and they actually feel like they have weight and power to them…
GDT: That was one of the earlier discussions about the animation with ILM, but the other discussion, I do a thing that is very particular, which is I put little things in the atmosphere, like snow or rain, so that when the CG model moves they move the particles around it or I put water on the floor or I put… Obviously with the ocean there's dispersion and whatever. I put things that the model disturbs. In the instance of Pacific Rim I also use cars and buildings, but it's important for the model to interact with non crucial elements.
If a giant robot is moving through a street and crushing cars well that's good, but it needs to also maybe move the rain and create a void in the rain when it moves and so forth and that's very important. The way we tried to go about the photography and the cinematography of the digital animation is to treat it as if it was a live action beast rather than making it "perfect." We build imperfections in it and that makes it more real. We splash water on the lens, we have bad camera operation, this and that, and the way we light the model is we don't light it well like a product shot, we back light it some times, we leave it in the dark, expose the kaiju, but not expose the jaeger and so on and so forth. So we tried to disrupt the laws of not making it a product shot.
Yeah, I feel like people are going to be joking "Why is it always raining in Guillermo's Pacific Rim?"
GDT: Or in all of my movies. I don't know, it's a fixation I acquired when I was a kid. I was trying to afford rain and it was too expensive and so I always put rain in my movies.
I always love hearing what you think about films — other films and your own. You've been critical of your own films in the past. What are you most proud of with Pacific Rim?
GDT: I love the memory of Mako as a child, because it has sort of a fairytale feel of a girl being rescued by a knight in shining armor from a dragon, you know? I love obviously the design of the film. I love the battle for Hong Kong, which is about twenty-five minutes of incredible action.
That looks unlike anything I've ever seen before.
GDT: Yeah, the look of that is very peculiar, because I was scouting Hong Kong… We scouted Hong Kong at night on a helicopter and the neon lights illuminated the haze in the air and I thought, "This is it. This is where we will have the battle." I wanted the jaeger and the kaiju to be moving amongst supersaturated colors. I used to love this magazine, Heavy Metal with Richard Corbin and Anders Mackai and Chris Foss, all these guys that use really great primary colors and I wanted to bring that into the film.
What is your biggest disappointment with the final film?
GDT: I would have loved three more weeks of editing, but I'm not sure I wouldn't want that with every film. I mean my biggest disappointment is there's a couple of scenes that were character scenes that were really, really nice, but they slowed the movie even more than I wanted to. I wanted to keep the movie around two hours. I didn't want to go two hours, thirty or two hours, forty. I mean I think that I wanted to give it a one-fifty-nine, so I took them out.
I'm sure those will be deleted scenes on the DVD.
GDT: Some of them are and some of them aren't, because they are just extending the scenes that are there and it's not worth it.
So we're not going to get an extended cut?
GDT: No, we tried to and what happened is the scenes that were in the extended cut I put in the final cut and home video doesn't want to release them. I'm going to try to have them release them on the internet.
I'm such a Disneyland fanatic. I need to get an update on what's happening with Haunted Mansion.
GDT: Yeah, we are still pursuing a writer that is very hard to get. We are meeting with them. The problem is I don't want just anyone to rewrite the screenplay. I wrote the screenplay with Mathew Robbins and I really want somebody that will bring a lot to it, but Disney is aching to make it and I'm aching to make it. If we could… If you know of anyone who can write, because I'm only going to produce it, I would love to hear.
I went to Disneyland with a ten year old who had never been to Disneyland before last week and he went on all the thrill rides, he went on Screamin'… but his favorite ride was the Haunted Mansion.
GDT: That's incredibly heartening for me. That is really beautiful.
It was awesome that an attraction from so long ago not only connects, but competes with billion-dollar rides. Back to Pacific Rim, you said that some of the animated shots took thirty to… one shot was fifty takes, which is much more than you usually do on set. So what is the process of that? Why does it take so long some times?
GDT: For example I'm very obsessive about certain cues of integration of the images, because I want them to be photorealistic. I'm very careful about, for example, the color of the blacks, the level of the haze, the middle gestures of the animation. Like accumulating water and then when somebody that is in the middle of a rain storm hits something it displaces water not on the thing that it's hitting only, but on the fist and… little physical cues, jiggle, character moments like from the jaegers or the kaiju that made them a little more special or funny or how badass or whatever. I mean this movie I put right up there as one of the movies that I'm the most satisfied with and it's because I have all of that flexibility with ILM. We made it possible to stay on budget. The way we did the animation and the process, I could do the revisions as long as I stayed linear.
Peter Sciretta: Thank you very much.
GDT: Thank you, man.


text: The Sergei Mikhailovich Prokudin-Gorskii Collection features colour photographic surveys of the vast Russian Empire made between ca. 1905 and 1915. Frequent subjects among the 2,607 distinct images include people, religious architecture, historic sites, industry and agriculture, public works construction, scenes along water and railway transportation routes, and views of villages and cities. An active photographer and scientist, Prokudin-Gorskii (1863-1944) undertook most of his ambitious colour documentary project from 1909 to 1915.


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Super Powers
By Allyson Sutton
Susanne Norwitz has written speeches for Rudy Giuliani and C-suite executives at Fortune 100 companies. She's managed external communications for Dunkin' Brands, Kellogg's and the Savannah College of Art and Design. She's a Cornell graduate with a master's from Harvard. So what inspired her to swap an impressive corporate CV for the entrepreneurial hustle?
A tiny ingredient that you may have had in your morning smoothie.
"I was undergoing a detox several years ago and the doctor recommended taking chia seeds," Susanne says. "There was so much talk surrounding this superfood — I became really curious."
A self-proclaimed nerd, Susanne dove headfirst into researching the nutritional content of chia seeds, which offer more omegas than wild caught salmon and more antioxidants than blueberries. She read countless articles and clinical studies, discovering that chia oil could increase skin hydration and skin barrier function.
"I immediately thought, 'Is anybody using this powerhouse ingredient in skin care and if not, why not?'" she says.
In 2014, she answered her own question, launching Maya Chia with the company's first product, a chia face oil developed using a patented process that she says retains the purity and potency of the seed.
While it may have seemed like a dramatic career change at the time, the path toward Maya Chia had been subtly and slowly shifting into view for decades.
Even as a little girl, Susanne was endlessly curious about skin care.
"It was the first section I would go to at Barnes and Noble," she says. "I could never get enough information about skin and skin care and how to treat it."
And she's felt a deep connection to Central America and the indigenous Maya people since she was young.
"My father was a surgeon and for many years during my childhood, we would travel to Guatemala where he provided pro-bono cleft lip palate surgeries," she says.
When she realized that chia seed oil had been a staple in the Maya culture for thousands of years, it all just clicked.
It didn't take long for Susanne's passion project to become a successful skin care business. Shortly after launching, she gained a handful of local retail accounts and garnered national media attention, catapulting Maya Chia to cult favorite status.
"We were named one of the best clean face oils by Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop," Susanne says. "We didn't know a soul in the industry, it was the first product we introduced, and it was surreal."
The company was recently named a best indie beauty brand by Allure Magazine, and InStyle called Maya Chia "One of 5 Skincare Brands Doing Big Things."
Susanne credits her brand's success to a steadfast focus on quality, rather than "slick marketing or trends."
"We work very hard to find the most cutting-edge ingredients that have a lot of muscle and proven efficacy," she says. "And we put a great deal of thought in creating our formulations, so that they are different from what exists in the market. Otherwise, what's the point?"
On any given night, Susanne says you'll find her reading about ingredients. She works on the formulations in her Charleston studio, making countless iterations until finalizing with a chemist. Every Maya Chia product is made by hand in the company's North and South Carolina workshops, taking anywhere from an hour to half a day to blend.
"I'm not a trained chemist, so I realize my limitations," she shares. "But I have an unrelenting passion for this stuff, and it is just one of the best aspects of the business. I get to use the full base of my strengths in research and creativity."
Despite her global success, Susanne strives to be as intentional and present as possible each day.
"I try to practice mindful meditation when possible," she says. "It's important to just breathe sometimes – to just take a moment, put down the phone, step away from the computer and connect with your breath."
That concept of presence is woven into her business, where she tries to connect with customers on a regular basis.
"One of my favorite parts of the business is meeting people and hearing real-time feedback about the products and how they've transformed their skin," she says. "We never forget for a second what an honor it is to be in their home, and a part of their lives in even the smallest way."
As her skin care line continues to grow — both in products and popularity – she maintains strong links to the Maya culture that inspired its name.
Maya Chia donates a portion of all product sales to Adopt a Village in Guatemala, a grassroots organization that builds schools and teaches the Maya people sustainable and organic farming practices.
"The Maya culture has been oppressed for thousands of years. They are impoverished, and yet still have a vibrant, loving and kind spirit," Susanne says. "When we are at our best, we try to go about our business with a strong sense of gratitude — gratitude for the blessings we have, and for the people in our lives who make this company possible."
And as fate would have it, Susanne now has even more reason to grow this socially minded beauty biz.
"My adopted stepsons are of Maya descent and from a village very close to where my father volunteered so many years earlier."
You might also be interested:
Jayne Mattingly helps women with eating disorders choose recovery


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System update: We are updating some new forms on the site and some forms may not be available this weekend.
The API group is a diversified group of printing companies covering the world of print from digital to 10 color perfecting. We offer electronic pre-press, digital printing and conventional offset. We can fold, saddle stitch, die cut, perfect, wire-o or plastic coil bind. We offer storage and fulfillment of printed products through the use of web-based storefronts. Our clients consist of Advertising Agencies and Graphic Design firms, Public and Private Institutions, Colleges and Universities, Fortune 500 Companies as well as Small Business. We have been meeting clients needs since 1939 . Our newest area of expertise is commerce software solutions as well as direct mail and personalization.


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I'm upgrading from a much older version of OpenSuse to 13.2. Mostly I'm doing OK. But I'm having a problem with a color. Anytime KDE wants to highlight anything it uses one of several shades of bright greenish aqua whose official name I don't know, but which I am calling, for convenience, radioactive squid vomit.
Probably cool people, who wear sunglasses when looking at their monitors and whose aesthetic sensibilities derive from "Tron," love this color, but I'm not a cool person and the sight of it makes me queasy.
I would like very much for all the radioactive squid vomit to disappear from my screen. Anything else would be better, even traditional OpenSuse Gecko Green.
So is there a setting for this? Or are insane people like me just out of luck on this one?