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The Pharmaceutical Journal retains sole editorial responsibility.
RB provided financial support in the production of this content. UK/O/1118/0061
There are many modifiable lifestyle factors that contribute to sight loss and pharmacists should be able to advise patients on how to reduce their risk.
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There are more than 200 eye conditions, ranging from common problems (e.g. dry eye disease [DED], cataracts and glaucoma) to rarer diseases (e.g. ocular melanoma and vernal keratoconjunctivitis). Some of these have no symptoms and can cause loss of sight before patients even realise what is happening. There are 1.8 million people in the UK who are living with significant sight loss, 50% of which is avoidable[1]. As such, the government's Public Health Outcomes Framework has highlighted preventable sight loss as a health priority[2].
There are many services that pharmacists and healthcare professionals can signpost patients to that support the aim of reducing the incidence of preventable sight loss. This article describes how to identify patients in at-risk groups and counsel them on lifestyle changes and the treatments that are available. It also outlines the 'red flag' symptoms as well as when and where to refer patients.
In addition to increasing the risk of heart disease, liver disease and certain cancers, persistent alcohol misuse can also affect long-term eye health. Alcohol use has been shown to exacerbate the signs and symptoms of DED (also known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca)[3], a condition where the eyes do not make enough tears or the tears evaporate too quickly, leading to the eyes drying out and becoming red, swollen and irritated (see Box 1). A case–control study in ten patients following ethanol ingestion demonstrated that ethanol was detected in the person's tears and was associated with a decreased tear break-up time (through ethanol acting as a solvent), increasing tear osmolarity and disturbing cytokine production[4].
Box 1: Dry eye disease
The common chronic condition dry eye disease (DED) is estimated to affect between 1 in 3 and 1 in 20 people[5].
Symptoms, which usually affect both eyes, include:
Patients who present with the following symptoms should be referred to their GP or an eye care specialist:
For more information on identifying DED and treatment recommendations in the community pharmacy setting, see Wolffsohn et al.'s 'Identification of dry eye conditions in community pharmacy'[3] and Evans & Madden's 'Recommending dry eye treatments in community pharmacy'[6].
Heavy alcohol consumption has also been associated with known causes of blindness, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD; when the cells in the central part of the retina become damaged and central vision is impacted as a result). A meta-analysis of five published studies found that heavy alcohol consumption, defined as an intake of ≥30g of alcohol/day, was associated with an increased risk of early AMD[7]. Alcohol is thought to increase oxidative stress by modifying the mechanisms that protect against it, resulting in AMD[7]. The link with cataracts (clouding of the lens in the eye) is less clear, but an increased prevalence of cataracts has been reported in patients with heavy alcohol consumption[8].
Pharmacists should counsel patients in accordance with current NHS guidance: people should not drink more than 14 units of alcohol (a unit of alcohol is defined as 10mL of pure alcohol, roughly equivalent to 8g) per week and alcohol consumption should be evenly spread over three or more days, with several alcohol-free days each week[9]. Patients can be signposted to organisations that can help provide support alongside the NHS, including Alcohol Concern, Alcoholics Anonymous and Drinkaware.
A history of cigarette smoking has been associated with an increased risk of AMD and is related to both its incidence and progression[10]. Current smokers have been shown to be at an increased risk of developing AMD, compared with ex-smokers and non-smokers who are exposed to second-hand smoke[11]. Cigarette smoke has also been shown to have a dose-related relationship with the formation of cataracts[12]. It has also been linked to diabetic retinopathy (the blockage of blood vessels at the back of the eye), DED and glaucoma (a condition affecting the optic nerve).
A cross-sectional survey of 260 teenagers found that fear of blindness was just as compelling a motivation for smoking cessation as fear of lung cancer, heart disease and stroke[13]. Discussions relating to eye care could, therefore, help motivate patients to quit smoking.
Pharmacists and healthcare professionals should enquire on the smoking status of all patients at least once per year and should discuss it during routine consultations. They can even provide advice to patients outside of smoking cessation services or the provision of nicotine replacement therapy, including during the purchase of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, through medicines use reviews or during local or national campaigns (e.g. No Smoking Day).
High levels of exposure to ultraviolet (UV) A and B light are known risk factors for numerous eye conditions, including cataracts and cancer[14]. Most brands of prescription glasses now contain a UV filter, but not all sunglasses provide adequate protection. Patients should be counselled to ensure their sunglasses are either CE or BS marked (i.e. proof of conformity with European or British standards, respectively), and are the appropriate filter category for their use (filter categories range from 0 to 4, where 4 is the darkest lens). For further advice, see Box 2.
Box 2: Advice pharmacists can give patients on buying sunglasses
Source: The British Standards Institution. Sunglasses - not just about looking cool in the heat. 2002. Available at: https://www.bsigroup.com/en-GB/about-bsi/media-centre/press-releases/2002/6/Sunglasses—not-just-about-looking-cool-in-the-heat/ (accessed November 2018)
Increasing reliance on digital devices has led to a rapid increase in computer-related eye symptoms, known as computer vision syndrome (CVS)[15]. Symptoms of CVS can be divided into four categories:
For patients experiencing CVS, a range of pharmacy medicines are available over the counter, along with environmental management options, such as:
OTC treatments for eye conditions are available in a range of formulations, including sprays, drops, gels and ointments. Patients should be advised of the various products, their potential modes of action and administration methods, to allow them to make an informed decision. For further advice, see Barai and Hammond's 'Computer vision syndrome: causes, symptoms and management in the pharmacy'[15].
Pharmacists can reinforce the importance of regular sight tests; for the majority of adults, the recommended interval is every two years[17]. However, some higher risk patient groups are recommended to have more frequent sight tests (see Box 3). Some patient groups also have additional risk factors for glaucoma (e.g. Afro–Caribbean or Asian patients, or patients who are aged 40 years and over with a family history, are living with diabetes or high blood pressure, or are taking systemic or topical corticosteroids). These patients should be signposted to their local optician if they have not had a recent sight test or have any vision concerns.
Similarly to exemptions from NHS prescription charges, some patient groups are exempt from paying for sight tests. It is worth checking with patients to see if they qualify[18].
Box 3: Recommended sight test frequency
Source: College of Optometrists. Knowledge skills and performance domain/The routine eye examination. 2017[17]
Owing to the nature of introducing a foreign item onto the surface of the eye, and the warm and moist environment in the eye, improper use of contact lenses can lead to problems. Pharmacists should be aware of The Association of Optometrists's advice for contact lens wearers in order to counsel patients effectively:
All patients taking hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine should receive regular eye screening owing to the risk of hydroxychloroquine retinopathy, as stipulated by the Royal College of Ophthalmologists[20]. At least 7.5% of patients taking hydroxychloroquine for more than five years will have some retinal damage. Hydroxychloroquine screening schemes are still being developed across the UK; however, it is still important to remind patients about the importance of regular eye screening. The rule of five is a helpful reminder: if patients are taking more than 5mg/kg/day for more than five years, then annual eye screening is required[20].
Around 50% of patients with glaucoma are non-compliant with treatment[21]. Given the consequences of treatment failure, pharmacists should consider reasons for this and assist patients to overcome any barriers they may have; this will help prevent poor clinical outcomes and potentially unnecessary polypharmacy. The case study in Box 4 demonstrates how to do this.
Box 4: Eye drop compliance and technique case study
Mrs G comes to collect her repeat medication (metformin and ramipril) from the pharmacy. You note she also has latanoprost eye drops on her repeat medications, but has not requested these for some time. You decide to ask her about her eye drops, she states she no longer needs them as she does not have any symptoms and her glaucoma has "got better".
How to approach the situation
Glaucomatous damage is irreversible so it is important to highlight that glaucoma is a broadly symptomless disease. Intraocular pressure needs to be controlled in the long term, and kept below 24mmHg to prevent visual problems as a result of damage to the optic nerve.
As Mrs G also has diabetes and hypertension, she is at higher risk of glaucoma; therefore, it is important that all three conditions are adequately controlled. Following your discussion, it becomes apparent that Mrs G did not understand the importance of continuing to use the eye drops until her ophthalmologist agrees her intraocular pressure is acceptable or she is no longer at risk of developing visual loss within her lifetime[22].
What else to assess
It is important to check eye drop technique. Consider the wrist–knuckle technique developed by the Moorfields eye hospital #knowyourdrops campaign team[23]:
OTC treatment of common eye problems in the pharmacy is often limited to management of red, sticky, gritty and sore eyes. However, pharmacists should have a good awareness of how to treat DED and bacterial conjunctivitis[6],[24], and recognise red flag symptoms (e.g. visual loss; pain; flashing lights, floaters or halos; headaches; and co-existing diabetes or hypertension).
Where established, minor eye condition schemes (MECS) involve local accredited opticians or optometrists who offer urgent appointments (see Table 1 for an overview). Patients can self-refer or be referred by a pharmacist, GP or NHS 111. Those participating in the MECS can refer patients to eye casualty or hospital eye services if required[25]. Pharmacists are advised to check the details of MECS in their area for a definite list of referral criteria.
Table 1: Which service patients with eye problems should attend
|Minor eye condition service
|Eye casualty
|Swollen eye and fever (urgent)
|Painful eye*
|Penetrating eye injury/eye trauma
|Visual changes linked to headache (e.g. migraine)
|Foreign body in eye
|Sudden or dramatic vision changes
|Flashing lights*
|Eye pain interfering with activities of daily living
|Floating dots*
|Eye pain with eye bulging
|Ingrowing eyelashes
|Eye surgery within the past 30 days in the same eye
|Painful red eye with reduced vision/light sensitivity
|Painful red eye with vision loss and nausea/vomiting
|History of uveitis/iritis plus suspicion of a new episode
|Vision loss with headaches and scalp/jaw soreness
|Painful eye with droopy eyelid/double vision/abnormal pupil
|Contact lens wear with red eye/severe pain/reduced vision
|Flashers or floaters with veils/curtains/clouds, or reduced central vision
*Recent issue within the past six weeks
Source: Oxfordshire Local Optical Committee. Patient information leaflet for minor eye conditions scheme[26]
Supported by RB
RB provided financial support in the production of this content.
The authors were paid by The Pharmaceutical Journal to write this article and full editorial control was maintained by the journal at all times.
Citation: The Pharmaceutical Journal DOI: 10.1211/PJ.2018.20205702
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All the information you need to provide patients with evidence-based advice on sports and exercise related health matters.
An practical, integrated approach to the pathophysiological and pharmacotherapeutic principles underlying the treatment of disease.
Drugs and the Liver assists practitioners in making pragmatic choices for their patients. It enables you to assess liver function and covers the principles of drug use in liver disease.
Community Pharmacy Handbook is a survival guide for community pharmacists and students, answering your practical questions. Includes case studies.


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An enquiry has been received, via the Website in relation to the Headstones at Farnley, All Saints Church, from Roger Gill:
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New Website for Family History Group
The Wharfedale Family History Group has just launched its revamped website. Designed by member Stephen Miller the site now gives the searcher far more options in finding out more about their ancestors. For example, it includes a vast database of well over one hundred War Memorials and Rolls of Honour.
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A message to all our eJournal subscribers. The journal has now been uploaded to the website and is available for download from the Members Area.
This issue includes:
Regular Features: - (Regular features Programme & Family History Fairs and Events New members & change of addresses)
Articles: - (Programme for 2017, One Thing Leads to Another, The Mystery of D Joy, The Stephensons of Weston, Roll of Honour - Fewston Church records (cont'd), Dedication to Duty, 19th Century Timeline, Otley Cemetery Burial Registers Project, WFHG Research Evening, 200 years of Settle Zion Independent Chapel, War Memorials Project, Meeting report—My auntie was an evacuation train marshal, Jane Robinson—Author & Speaker, The Second World War Experience, Kettlewell Village Census 1851, The New WFHG Website, Member's queries, Member's interests)
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The Wharfedale Family History Group are commencing a new project and looking for volunteers to assist. We are transcribing the burial registers for Otley Municipal Cemetery. The burials are contained in 11 registers, which cover approximately 18,000 entries from 1st April 1862 to 17th January 1992.
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Hexoskin worked in collaboration with the NASA and the Canadian Space Agency to create the Astroskin, a high-end version of the Hexoskin. Indeed, just like the Hexoskin, the Astroskin Shirt is embedded with activity, cardiac and respiratory sensors.
The Astroskin smart garments are available in a wide range of sizes for men & women. The machine-washable garments include state-of-the-art monitoring of blood pressure, pulse oximetry, 3-lead ECG, respiration, skin temperature, and activity sensors for 48 hours of continuous real-time monitoring. The end-to-end system includes iOS apps for iPhones & iPads, data synchronization software, and a web dashboard. Hexoskin provides custom software, data hosting, data science & AI services to suit the most stringent requirements of any organization.
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In Delphi, is addition commutative?
Delphi Corner Weblog – Answer: no, not necessarily. Despite the existence of operator precedence, i.e. the fact that the following X := 3 + 4 * 5; results in 23 and not in 35, the order of operands can still have an effect. In my BigInteger code, I discovered an odd error, that only happened in some very rare cases, and only in PUREPASCAL code, i.e. code that did not use assembler, and only in 64 bit. It took me several hours to find out that this was the problematic expression: Value := NormDividend[I + J] + NormDivisor[I] + Value shr CDivLimbBits; CDivLimbBits is a constant with value 32, Value is an ...
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• Colonial Church • (C)
Over the course of more than four centuries, three different cathedrals have been built on the north side of the Zócalo. The latest incarnation of the cathedral, facing west, like all Dominican churches, overlooks the Alameda de León plaza, both plazas bustling with activity from early in the morning until late into the night.
Earthquakes quickly dispensed with the first cathedral, hastily constructed of mud bricks in the 1540s. Work on the second cathedral began in the 1560s and was completed in 1581. This one fared much better, surviving several major earthquakes in the 1600s, until the great earthquake of 1696 finally brought it down. Construction on the third and final cathedral began in 1702 and was completed in 1733.
Set between two massive bell towers, the wide and intricate retablo façade is laid out, like all retablo façades, in rectangular tiers, in this case three, arranged vertically, stacked one on top of the other, each tier divided into five sections. On the first tier, three arched main portals fill the middle and outer sections, two oval windows lying on their sides topping the outer portals. On the second and third tiers, three ear-framed sculpted reliefs fill the middle and outer sections of both tiers. Statues set in deep shell niches are interspersed between the portals and reliefs on all tiers. Interestingly, the outer sections of all three tiers are set back slightly from the front plane of the base of the towers, giving the illusion that the inner sections project out.
The three main portals open to an expansive interior — three long, parallel naves covered in low domes, a dozen side chapels and two side portals lining the north and south walls. A major renovation in the 1890s stripped the interior of most of its original ornamentation.
An interesting aside, entering through the main portal on the right, the first side chapel contains a small wooden fragment that is purported to be from the Holy Cross of Huatulco. As legend has it, when the English pirate Thomas Cavendish raided the port of Huatulco in 1587, he tried to destroy the cross, first by chopping it up with an axe, and then by burning it. Miraculously, the cross proved to be indestructible to him. Other supposed fragments of the cross are on display at the Cathedral of Puebla and the Vatican in Rome.
- North side of the Zócalo; Around the Zócalo, Centro Histórico.


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Cake-Pops – X-Mas-Style – Vistiting "Carlists' Secrets"
"Let us be happy and cheerful,
and rather rejoice us from the heart!
Funny funny tralalalala,
today Nicholas Eve is here,
today is Nicholas Eve there!"
While in Italy is an ordinary day today, many children in Germany could not wait that day. And, are you all been good and you found something in your boots or even at your doors? Usually we find indeed chocolate, tangerines and nuts in the boot. I have something modern prepared for you: Christmas Cake Pops with a Zimtfrosting!
The recipe is not the same to later find her, but at Carlin of "Carlists' Secrets", There I must be a guest and fill the sixth little window of her personal Advent Calendar today. In Advent we find not only recipes, but also craft instructions, tips on beauty & Lifestyle,… It is therefore provided for guests 😉 When they asked me if I would contribute something to their advent calendar I knew right away that it should be something sweet. The result is I think well done and not only tastes children 😉
So quickly over to the delicious Cake Pops!


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Today's competitive landscape demands that massive amounts of important data be stored, processed, monitored, and sent out using Information Technology. Here at Turbotek we pride ourselves in delivering the best small business IT service which we define as providing customers with technology and best practices that maximize revenue at the lowest cost.
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Through an emphasis on proactive IT support, Turbotek establishes an individualized process for each customer that eliminates the frequency of IT problems, thus reducing money spent on recurring issues.
Your employees will no longer be affected by excessively slow computer performance, slow downloading times, and slow system start-ups.


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The Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) recently undertook a thorough strategic review of the MOD facilities they manage, to buy hand dryers for their washrooms, including eco friendly hand dryers, outlining a number of sustainability objectives and energy saving target requirements set by their customers and regulators. This new contract is the culmination of months of work consulting with AWE for more sustainable building design compliant with BREEAM standards and in line with their energy management systems.
Andrew Kulka, Energy Manager, AWE said:
"We were very impressed with the performance and the energy efficiency of the SAVORTEX EcoSmart high speed hand dryer. The results were so impressive we have now made SAVORTEX eco friendly hand dryers the number one choice for AWE throughout the whole site.
Choosing energy efficient equipment will help us achieve our targets. All areas of energy consumption are being reviewed and choosing the SAVORTEX hand dryer has been seen as a quick win in the difficult task of reducing energy consumption – without compromise. We are also saving 82% of energy in comparison to the hand dryers we previously used.
I would also like to thank Michael and the accounts team at SAVORTEX for their hard work, support and dedication for making this happen at AWE."


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OCZ Octane 256GB SSD review
4. Benchmarks - page 2
Review Pages
The next software we used was the ATTO Disk Benchmark. The tool measures storage systems performance with various transfer sizes and test lengths for reads and writes. The benchmark performs file transfers ranging from 0.5 KB to 8192 KB.
The drive gave the expected performance with an average more than 280MB/s for write and more than 460MB/s for read , with files larger than 256 KB, in Queue Depth 4:
Generally, ATTO is the preferred standard benchmarking software as while it runs spot data is has several advantages over other HDD benchmarks including the fact that it shows the specific speed of each file size transfer and shows a true average, this benchmarking product also doesn't seem to favor SRAM over DRAM caches.
Below you see a comparison of the performances of some SSD's compared to the Kingston HyperX 120GB SSD.
As you see below, the OCZ Octane 256GB SSD was not reading nor writing small 4K files very fast:
The drive performed better with larger files (2MB), especially in the writing part:
The next benchmark is the CrystalDiskMark. The software provides throughput data based on sequential reads and writes, and random (512K/4K/4KQD32) reads and writes.
CrystalDiskMark with its fully random drive benchmark showed the Octane's incompressible data strength over the SandForce models. For moving compressed video, the Octane is hard to beat:
Review Pages


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Free Break-even PowerPoint template is a nice presentation template that you can use if you need to display break-even curves in the slide design.
Inside this presentation template you can find very useful curves created with PowerPoint shape that you can use to represent a break-even analysis in a PowerPoint presentation with detailed information about total revenue and total costs as well as variable costs.
License: cc by 2.0
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The Absolute Sound's Buyer's Guide to Affordable Audio 2016
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The NSW government announced the new package to assist First Home Buyers on 1st of June, 2017. Excellent news for NSW First Home Buyers!
Here is a summary of the changes coming to effect on 1st of July, 2017:
The NSW government announced the new package to assist First Home Buyers on 1st of June, 2017. Excellent news for NSW First Home Buyers!
Here is a summary of the changes coming to effect on 1st of July, 2017:
We do recommend that First Home Buyers should consider the following points when preparing finance:
1. Best to have at least 20% deposit (20% of the property price) in place. This helps you to avoid lender's mortgage insurance, and potentially allows for better deals with the banks.
2.If you don't have the cash needed for point 1, consider buying off the plan. See point 4 & 5 below.
3. If buying existing property, it is vitally important to do your own due diligence – for example, ask for a copy of recent strata report, have pest inspection report done and find out if there had been any maintenance/repair work done to the property. If there are anything significant, such as electric wiring or major plumbing issues, these are red flags that can cost you a lot more than expected.
4 .NSW Government provides an additional $10,000 for buying a brand new property (or Off-The-Plan). This is for building a new home up to $750,000, or buying a new property up to $600,000.
5.There are due diligence recommended when buying off-the-plan, such as buy an affordable property, consider good quality over cheap price, and have a clear understanding of the terms and conditions.
Your circumstance is unique to you. Parts of the information above are excerpts from the NSW Government website, for general considerations only. If you would like to find out more on how the new package could impact you specifically, contact us.
This is the NSW Government website covering the First Home Buyer Package announcement https://www.nsw.gov.au/improving-nsw/projects-and-initiatives/first-home-buyers/
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4. Understand your borrowing capacity before rushing into property.
Reserve your complimentary ticket NOW for early bird. $15 per person after 9-June (Friday)


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COMPUTEX Taipei 2010 – Today at AMD's press conference in Taipei, Rick Bergman showed the first publically seen AMD Fusion silicon wafer that combines the main CPU and GPU into a single chip solution that AMD is calling the Accelerated Processing Unit or APU for short.
Rick announced that we will see hardware based on AMD Fusion technology come out in the first half of next year.
This is a developing story and we will cover more after this press conference.
Last updated: Apr 7, 2020 at 11:17 am CDT


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Wine Adventure Trails and Hotel Accommodation
The Best of Both Worlds
For example, people could have an amazing adventure trail experience outdoors. Embrace the thrill of the trail and be one with nature. This is definitely a welcome change from the usual 9-to-5 existence of typical office workers. Here it will be possible to leave all gadgets behind and focus on the present moment. Spend all day exploring across the winding paths and seeing what lies in store in every corner. There is no need to hold back or worry because you can always return to one of the cosy farnborough hotels at the end of an action-packed day for a well-deserved rest, sumptuous meals, and a hot bath.
Click here for farnborough hotels
If you are going on a holiday, then consider a place that will take you close to nature. You don't have to go outside the UK just to have a nice vacation experience. Plenty of incredible spots in the region are waiting for those who seek time to recharge and unwind. For example, Farnborough in Hampshire is a relatively small town with a big personality. Locals and visitors alike have a number of spots to go to for recreation. These include nature and adventure parks that are sure to provide memorable experiences.
An Endless List of Activities
There are so many activities that you can try when you are out on the trail. If you feel like taking it slow and relaxed, then simply have a leisurely walk along the pathways. You can get hours of contemplation while enjoying beautiful sceneries this way. Rest when you need to and resume when you can. If you would like to go a bit faster, then you can always rent a bike and go cycling. Go by yourself or get something that has space for a companion. Stop by activity areas and play if you want to. You can also take food with you and have a picnic in this gorgeous park.
Great Fun for the Family
While you can certainly come here alone, you will probably want to return with loved ones the next time around just to share the fun with others. This is a kid-friendly facility so do not hesitate to bring the children with you. They will surely have a grand time on the trail thanks to all the activities possible and the simply joy of being at one with nature. Plan you next vacation today.


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| 8.1°C Belfast
An "extremely rare" aggressive cancer which went undiagnosed in 58 visits to doctors and killed a patient was not visible in scans, a coroner has ruled.
Jeanette Scully, 47, from Sunderland, suffered excruciating pain in the months before the rare tumour of her uterus was finally discovered, an inquest heard.
By then it was too late to operate and she died in August last year, having married David, her partner of 22 years, in hospital.
Assistant Coroner Andrew Hetherington has ruled that earlier detection was unlikely to have made a difference.
He concluded the cancer was in a position where it "could not be seen radiologically".
During a two-day hearing at Sunderland Civic Centre, Mr Scully explained how she had made 58 visits to doctors in five months, without being diagnosed.
She was under the care of a gynaecologist and a colorectal specialist and had made trips in agony to the A and E department at Sunderland Royal Hospital.
But none detected the sarcoma of the uterus. Instead she was diagnosed with fibroids.
Mr Scully explained how she had blood in her stools, how she lost up to two-and-a-half stones in around six months, and how she suffered stomach, leg and back pain.
Her widower told the hearing: "The pain she was going through was excruciating.
"She was literally screaming like a fan at a football match."
Mr Scully said the couple sometimes discussed whether she might have cancer. "We just thought, she's had that many people looking at her, it cannot be cancer," he said.
Consultant in obstetrics and gynaecology Simon Steele explained the form of cancer was very rare.
"I think I have personally seen a couple of cases of sarcoma in 20 years, one of which was Jeanette," he told the coroner.
Mr Hetherington concluded: "Jeanette Scully died following a diagnosis of an extremely rare form of aggressive cancer in a location in which it could not be seen radiologically and with symptoms which correlated with fibroids, for which she was being treated.
"It is unlikely that an earlier diagnosis could have been made and, if treatment was instigated earlier, it is unlikely the outcome would have been any different."
After the hearing, Mr Scully said he still had unanswered questions.
"I really didn't know what to do when Jeanette was in so much pain," he said.
"The impact of her death has been enormous and we have struggled to come to terms with what happened to Jeanette in the years before her death and her feeling that her health problems were not being taken seriously.
"We're glad that the coroner has now investigated her death but we are still left with a number of unanswered question about the treatment Jeanette received."
The family is bringing a civil claim against her GPs and the City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust.
Lawyer Michelle Armstrong from the firm Irwin Mitchell said: "We are continuing to investigate the treatment received by Jeanette and will continue to support her family through the legal process and we are determined to help them secure the answers they need about the care she was provided by her local GP and the City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust."


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Quick-Lock motorcycle luggage system
The Quick-Lock carrier systems from the German manufacturer SW-MOTECH offer maximum flexibility. If required, the side carriers can be removed without any tools thanks to the quick-release fasteners.
Attaching the retaining brackets
Fitting quick-release fasteners to side carrier
Aligning and fixing the side carriers
Cross-connector and relocating the turn signals
Installation of QUICK-LOCK and QUICK-LOCK EVO carriers
As well as being very high-quality, the SW-MOTECH QUICK-LOCK and QUICK-LOCK EVO carriers offer two key advantages: firstly, they can be removed in seconds via 6-8 quick-lock fasteners and, secondly, a range of adapters ensure compatibility with all popular brands of case. So you can simply carry on using your existing cases of a different make – and we think it's a no-brainer that installing such a flexible system will enhance the resale value of your motorcycle. The ALU-RACK top box carrier from the SW-MOTECH range blends perfectly with the lines of today's generation of motorcycles, instead of looking like a not very elegant afterthought.
Preparing the installation
Sort all parts into subgroups
Before you start, make sure you've got enough space to work and lay out all the parts. You will need a good socket wrench set (with ratchet) and, ideally, a torque wrench. First check that all fittings are present and correct by comparing against the accompanying instructions and sorting the parts into the relevant groups. A lot is explained with illustrations instead of written instructions. Check the pictures to see if there are any special steps to be taken into account, such as relocating the turn signals. Generally speaking, SW-MOTECH makes every effort to develop products that do not require any changes to the motorcycle.
Attaching the retaining brackets
Mount QUICK-LOCK bracket/luggage rack
Jack up your bike safely (e.g. on the centre stand). Start by attaching the QUICK-LOCK retaining brackets to the pillion grip. Check the instructions for possible variations in methods of detachment, depending on motorcycle model. During installation, only hand-tighten the screws initially. Once you have completed installation, align the carrier so that it is tension-free, and when you are satisfied that it's sitting correctly, tighten the screws to the torque specified in the instructions. This is important to prevent vibration damage to the carrier and also to ensure a symmetrical look.
Mount QUICK-LOCK bracket/pillion footrest
Then attach the footrest plates, using the respective parts from the relevant group.
Fitting quick-release fasteners to side carrier
Install quick-lock fasteners on side carriers
Now affix the quick-lock fasteners to the side carriers. The quick-lock fasteners are inserted through the holes at the end of the support arms. In order to minimise tolerance in the carrier system, the quick-lock fasteners sometimes need a little pressure to push them through the support arms. Make sure you push them through in the right direction. To prevent the quick-lock fasteners from falling out of the support arms, secure them from the other side with a lock ring. Once again, make sure you have the lock rings the right way round.
Note: Once installed, you will not be able to remove the lock rings.
Aligning and fixing the side carriers
Align side carriers on mounting brackets
Now click the left and the right carriers onto the installed retaining brackets, ensuring that the side carrier arms rest properly on the mounting plates. In the next step, you need to align the hand-tightened retaining brackets so that the carriers are positioned on the brackets free of tension. Then tighten the retaining bracket screws to the specified torque.
What is QUICK-LOCK?
QUICK-LOCK carriers use SW-MOTECH's quick-lock fastener technology. When the locking bolt is turned, the disc springs are tensioned (bayonet fitting).
Load capacities
Follow the case manufacturer's specifications for load capacities. The luggage rack specialist SW-MOTECH gives the permitted load on the product itself and/or in the installation instructions. Generally speaking, the permitted load is higher for side carriers than for top boxes. This is because a side carrier distributes the load more efficiently to the motorcycle frame. Top boxes should normally be used for stowing away clothing and helmets, while the side cases are suitable for heavier items and additional luggage.
Install cross-connector
Now attach the cross-connector to the rear mudguard (fender). To do this, remove the license plate, place the cross-connector behind it and remount both parts in the original position (see the box below for more details).
Screwing on case adapter
Screw on adapter for TraX case
You can now tighten the remaining screws fully. The correct torque is given in the installation instructions. Finally, you now need to attach the respective TraX case adapters to the side carriers.
Cross-connector and relocating the turn signals
The cross-connector should always be installed last. Click the cross-connector into position to determine the exact securing point on the mudguard. On older bike models, there is often no specific position on the mudguard for the license plate, in which case you will need to drill two holes in the mudguard, as for securing the license plate. The cross-connector serves to brace the left and the right side carriers against each other, thus giving the complete system the necessary stability. This is why the manufacturer does not permit attaching only one side carrier to the retaining brackets. You might think that a plastic mudguard is not strong enough for this task, but in actual fact the mudguard only serves as an additional attachment point. And in the event that you need to relocate your turn signals, the cross-connector often acts as the new securing point. This is not the case in the models shown here (Honda CB 1300 and KTM 990 SMT).
Function check
Click on the side case
Once you have installed all the components, attach the cases to the side carriers to make sure everything is fully functional.
Further Quick-Lock options
Install ALU-RACK
All side carriers can be combined and/or extended with an ALU-RACK. Check that the carriers are completely stable and there is enough clearance between them and fairings and exhaust system. Installation should take you around 45 to 60 minutes. Then you can test the amazing flexibility you have gained with the QUICK-LOCK carrier. Just click cases and carriers on and off – and hey presto! in seconds you have a tourer! The quick-lock fasteners are also available in a lockable version.
Download this tip
Simply download and use it offline.
The Louis Technical Centre
Problems getting spare parts? Or maybe you've got a technical question about your motorcycle or an accessory The Louis Technical Centre can help! Remember to quote all the necessary details of your vehicle – better still, send us a copy of your registration document.
We will get back to you as quickly as possible!
So: send us your technical problem!
- by e-mail to email@example.com
- or by letter to Louis Technical Centre, 21027 Hamburg
Please note!
These tips for DIY mechanics contain general recommendations that may not apply to all vehicles or all individual components. As local conditions may vary considerably, we are unable to guarantee the correctness of information in these tips for DIY mechanics.
Thank you for your understanding.
German Version
Louis DIY Mechanic Manual
The printed version
The big Louis DIY mechanic manual available in a printed version: in color and practical A4 format at cost price.


text: Home Travel Information Station Information Whitstable Whitstable Station Live times and facilities information for Whitstable Station AT A GLANCE Ticket Office Car Park Step Free Access Ticket Machine Bus Services Toilets Prepurchase Collection Taxi Rank Cycle Storage Availability WiFi Show Live Trains Close STATION DETAILS Accessibility and mobility access Accessible Booking Office Counter Dual Height counters Accessible Ticket Machines station forecourt Customer Help Points On platform Impaired Mobility Set Down Induction Loop National Key Toilets Platform 1 Ramp For Train Access Staff Help Available Monday to Friday – 06:10 to 19:00 Saturday – 06:10 to 19:00 Sunday – 09:10 to 16:00 Staff may not always be available during staffing times - booking in advance is advised although not compulsory Step Free Access No step free interchange between platforms. This station does not offer Accessible Public Telephones, Accessible Taxis, Wheelchairs Available Buying / collecting tickets Penalty Fares Applicable Operators: Southeastern Prepurchase Collection Staffing Level Parttime Ticket Machine Ticket Office Monday to Friday – 06:10 to 19:00 Saturday – 06:10 to 19:00 Sunday – 09:10 to 16:00 On way in to access trains Getting to / from the station Bus Services Information to plan your onward journey is available in a printable format Car Park Station Car Park - 43 spaces Monday to Friday – 24 hours Saturday – 24 hours Sunday – 24 hours Cycle Storage Availability You may leave your cycle in the rack provided however you do so at your own risk. Cycle Storage Sheltered Rail Replacement Services Rail replacement buses depart from outside the station (South side) off Old Bridge Road (see Buses and Taxis map). Taxi Rank office outside of downside Station Facilities Customer Service 0345 322 7021 Lost Property Toilets Platform 1 This station does not offer Left Luggage, WiFi LIVE DEPARTURES AND ARRIVALS Live departures Live arrivals Hull Trains All Train Operations Live departures Live arrivals Hull Trains All Train Operations View earlier trains Time Platform Operator Cancelled - Last updated: View later trains There are no trains running to your destination at the time you selected. Please try searching for a different time or day. SEARCH FOR ANOTHER STATION SEE STATION INFORMATION


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Dave, is it possible you could test/review the quality of the DAC/ADC in the Tiny Gecko board you received?
Quote from: McMonster on May 14, 2012, 06:32:33 amQuote from: EEVblog on May 14, 2012, 06:29:46 amPost number 4000. Don't exaggerate! Good chance it'll make #400 Dave.
Quote from: EEVblog on May 14, 2012, 06:29:46 amPost number 4000. Don't exaggerate! Good chance it'll make #400 Dave.
Post number 4000.
A quote fail. I was refering to number of posts on the forum, not the blog videos.
Quote from: Psi on May 11, 2012, 11:08:08 amThe twists and turns are what make it fun to watch.Yep, but not so much for for the person making it!It can be rather embarrassing because some things can be stupidly obvious with hindsight and a few more moments thought.Dave.
The twists and turns are what make it fun to watch.
So what is the status of the PSU project ?
I have not seen an update for a while. I hope it will come to a successful end :-)
I hope so too. It is certainly not abandoned, but new videos for it require several large leaps in terms of project completeness (e.g. the new re-spun board) so won't happen overnight.Dave.
Is it the programming? Last I kept up with the PSU series it had a couple of different buses to talk to a handful of different subsystems, if I remember right.
It's almost certain you'll see a spin-off supply project before the conclusion of the current one. That's why the other project will likely get a look-in first, there is fresh material there to be mined...Dave.
I was interested to take a look at it.. and it seems like it's indeed the SMD edition. But I suspect it is both PSU's combined (both a PC powered or battery). I recognize the same MIC2253 boost converter as in the supply rev C, an SOT-223 LT3080 (does it have enough cooling? Oh, too bad silkscreen doesn't work too good on bare copper ). I think the MCU is ofcourse an ATMEGA168/328 with the 6-pin ISP AVR header. Battery charger probably left on top..Seems like it has PC control because of 2 opto-couplers. I think a MCP2200 is used, or a recent FT chip (FT200 series?). I'm very interested how much I guessed right
what display are you going with in that rev? i don't see the DDDD anywhere.


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A vast, sea-like stretch of turquoise water painted across the glorious altiplano landscape, with an intense cultural and historical heritage set below huge, almost never ending skies, it's hard to find words that do justice to the sheer magnificence of Lake Titicaca.
A look at Lake Titicaca
The lake, the largest in South America and one of the highest navigable bodies of water on Earth, plays a central role in the mythical traditions of ancient Andean civilization. The Inca based the legend of their very creation on this inland ocean. It was from these waters that Viracoca, the God of Creation, emerged to create the sun and the moon, as well as mankind, and it was from here that the Inca began their long conquest of the Andes.
Stepping into this ethereal, high altitude world, where even the sunlight seems to shine with an unreal glow, it's easy to see why ancient civilizations attached such importance to the lake. Not only is Lake Titicaca overwhelmingly beautiful, it's also an abundant cradle of life, an environment that has sustained numerous tides of civilization over its long history.
Hop to these islands
Lake Titicaca today is an enormously popular Peru travel destination, drawing a steady stream of visitors year round. Using the city of Puno as a convenient base, it's easy to discover some of the enchanting islands that make the lake such a unique place:
The artificial islands of Uros are one of the most unusual and interesting aspects of the lake. For centuries the Uros people have lived on these man-made floating islands, built entirely from the Tortoa reeds which grow in Titicaca in abundance.
Originally built as an ingenious solution to aggression from the neighboring Aymara tribes, the islands provide a self-contained refuge with everything the Uros need to survive. Youngsters search for bird's eggs within the reed forests, the men hunt and fish, while the women use the reeds to construct virtually anything, from the islands and houses themselves to impressive double-story boats capable of holding a dozen people.
The islanders are hospitable and welcoming to visitors. During your tour you will be able to meet community members who are happy to describe their unique way of life and show you round their island. It's even possible to stay overnight in a small hostel, although most travelers prefer to move on to more comfortable accommodations elsewhere.
The Floating Islands of Uros on Peru's Lake Titicaca.
Photo by Matthew Barker, 2010
Compared to Uros, the island of Taquile is a metropolis, albeit one with no roads, cars and only intermittent electricity. All the same, the island is home to several thousand residents and is famed for its rich weaving and textile traditions. Islanders are famed for their extravagant clothing, with colorfully embroidered waistcoats, blouses and billowing skirts a common sight, as well as the ubiquitous wool hats. You can get to know this long history of expert weaving in the island's small but interesting textile museum.
There are also a number of Inca-era ruins on the island, but the Taquile's real attractions are the jaw-dropping vistas of vast expanses of shimmering water and the snow-capped mountains in the distance. Travelers can enjoy the views during long walks along the many trails that snake along the island's 3.5 mile length, or from the highpoint of the island which measures over 13,000 feet above sea level.
After exploring the relatively large Taquile, the island of Suasi appears as a microscopic dot in the vastness of Lake Titicaca. Suasi is a beautifully tranquil place to relax and enjoy the serenity. There are no permanent residents living here – other than a small herd of camelids, and it's possible to cross the entire breadth of the island in less than thirty minutes.
Suasi is also one of the few private islands on the lake, accessible only to guests of the island's single lodge, making this perhaps the most serene place in all of Lake Titicaca. But despite its diminutive size, the island packs a great number of activities and adventures for the visitor, from hiking the trails to sailing the surrounding waters, or simply enjoying the lodge's spa. But the biggest treat is saved for night time, when under the blackness of night, nature's spectacular light show of countless stars illuminates the entire island.
Islands Further Afield
Some of the lake's other islands are much less visited and can be reached by local boat services from Puno. Amantani is one such island, home to several interesting archeological sites, while the island of Anapia is hidden way off in the lake's far southern waters.
Meanwhile, on the Bolivian side of the lake are a duo if incredibly important islands, the Isla del Sol and Isla del Luna. It is actually on these islands that the Inca creation legends emerged and the islands are home to a fascinating complex of ruins and small settlements.
It is possible to hike along the route of an ancient pilgrimage, formally only open to the highest ranking of the Inca nobility, a trail that curves along the highest point of the Isla del Sol and passes some of the island's numerous ruins. Reaching the Bolivian islands is possible on trips directly from Puno.
Experience a tour of Lake Titicaca in Peru. Call and chat with one of our expert travel advisors to plan a dream trip!
Matt left England for Peru in 2008, originally planning to stay for just 12 months but ending up settling down in Lima working for Latin America For Less for three fun-packed years. He remains a perpetual traveller, working and writing his way through Europe, North America and Asia but he has always saved a special place in his heart for Peru and South America.


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No author cited
June 11 2019
According to the DKFZ, they have been detected up to now in cow's milk, cow's milk products and the blood serum of healthy cattle. From the scientific findings made up to now, it seems possible that an indirect connection could be interpreted between the consumption of various foods originating from cattle and the occurrence of several cancer types in humans.
Read more: https://www.sciencedaily.com/release...0611102708.htm


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Here it is! July's Degustabox!
Degustabox is a monthly subscription plan which contains 9-14 surprise food products with each box. The items are selected from name brands, will contain new flavors, and give you a new option to think about the next time you're looking for a break in your eating routine.
This month all the products are simple and summery, with on the go snacks and grilling being the theme.
WISE Extra Cheesy Cheez Doodles $0.50
"Wise Extra Cheesy Cheez Doodles delivers even more cheese into every doodle or a rich, creamy flavor that will satisfy your cheese cravings.
I was a big fan of cheesy snack when I was little, but we don't really eat them that much anymore, but I still love them. I have eaten all of these, and only shared a few of them, they are so good!
AIYA Matcha Zen Cafe Blend $17.80
"This is a sweet, delicate mixture of culinary grade Matcha and pure cane sugar, packed into single-serving packets.
Suited or Matcha lattes and smoothies, it provides all of the same nutritional benefits of Matcha, even or those with a sweet tooth.
I have recently discovered my love for the Matcha Lattes at Starbucks, so I was super excited to find this in the box! I have been really enjoyed making them at home, the only thing I would change is to make them a little sweeter.
CHOMPS Original Turkey Sticks $1.99
CHOMPS Original turkey sticks have 1g or protein and are made with 100% free-range turkey with no hidden nasties(no sugar, gluten, dairy, soy, nitrates/nitrites, antibiotics, hormones, MSG, and artificial preservatives/ coloring). CHOMPS Original turkey sticks are non-GMO project verified, Whole30 approved, Keto/Paleo-friendly, and certified gluten-free.
I'm not usually very fond of meat sticks, but this one was one of the best I've had, and the fact that it has good ingredients and no MSG definitely makes it more appealing to me.
GOETZE'S CANDY CO. Chocolate Caramel Creams $2.48
A chewy chocolate caramel with a cream center. A fun summer chocolate treat that doesn't melt with the heat.
Goetze's is a 5th generation candy company manufacturing quality candy for over 120 years. Proudly made in the USA. Nut Free, and trans-fat-free.
These went over very well in my house, everyone really liked them, myself not being a big chocolate fan liked the creamy center best.
SIR KENSINGTON Chipotle Mayonnaise $4.99
Condiments with character:
Sir Kensington's Chipotle Mayonnaise is made with the highest quality, Non-GMO ingredients like Certified Humane free range eggs, 100% sunflowers oil, and chipotle peppers.
Fun Fact, I have a serious dislike of mayonnaise bordering on a phobia so I haven't tried this but my family assures me that it's very good, and I have really like all the other Sir Kensington products I've tried.
LOACKER Cocoa & Milk Wafers $1.29
The intense cocoa tastes of three light crispy wafers form a union with the tender flavor of two layers of delicate, high-quality Loacker milk cream filling
I received some of the bite-sized espresso wafers in the March box, and I really liked them, these were equally yummy. I did end up sharing these and everyone loved them.
UNCLE DOUGIE'S Sweet N' Snappy Barbecue Sauce $5.99
With a tiny bit of sweet, a touch of smoky and a little "Snappy" zing, you'll want to put Sweet & Snappy's thick, rich, "stick-to-your-ribs" sauce on everything.
This sounds so good and I can't wait to use it next time we have a cookout.
LEE KUM KEE Plum Sauce $3.98
Lee Kum kee plum Sauce is made from quality Chinese plums, ginger, and chili. Perfect for stir-frying and dipping. An excellent dip for roast duck.
I'm so curious to try this out, I'm going to hunt down some recipes and try to make something with it very soon. I'll most likely post that on Instagram, so keep an eye out.
What would your favorite thing be in this months box?
This box was sent to me for review, all thoughts are my own.


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Falling Under336
As the Haden of both the night and the day beckons her closer one moment and pushes her away the next, the only thing Theia knows for sure is that the incredible pull she feels towards him is stronger than her fear.
And when she discovers what Haden truly is, Theia's not sure if she wants to resist him, even if the cost is her soul.
Product Details
|Penguin Publishing Group
|Publication date:
|Falling Under Novel , #1
|Sales rank:
|Product dimensions:
|5.40(w) x 8.10(h) x 0.90(d)
|Age Range:
|12 - 17 Years
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
Everything changed the night I saw the burning man fall from the sky.
I'd been reading well past a reasonable hour, the white eyelet quilt tented over my iPhone to block any escaping light even though my father was already tucked away in bed dreaming of new ways to make me safer.
The cell phone was a compromiseI added extra music lessons to my scarce free time in exchange for a phone. It was win-win for Father; the few hours a day I wasn't with him or sheltered in the safety of my pink and ivory room, decorated by a prestigious designer to gild my cage, I was now instantly accessible. In addition, there were now even fewer hours in which I might find trouble. He didn't know I could read e-books on the phone; he didn't even know what e-books were. Father just thought he'd finally broken me of reading by flashlight.
It would never have occurred to him that I hadn't been brokenI'd graduated. Every night I went somewhere new and pretended to be someone elsesomeone interestingon the device he'd purchased to control me more than he already did. A priceless freedom to a girl with a strange British accent living in the small town of Serendipity Falls, California, under her watchful father's thumb.
But the burning man falling from the sky pulled me from my faraway world. My gaze wandered to the window an instant before he appeared. And then, slowly, like a feather caught on a light breeze, he willowed past my window, turning his grotesque head towards me, his mouth open in a silent scream. He was more than on fire. He was fire.
Orange and red flames braided together in the shape of a man, but it was his eyes that caused me to suck in my breath and hold it as I ran to the window. His eyes, scared and imploring, told of a darkness and agony I couldn't begin to understand.
I leaned farther into the window, the glass surprisingly warm from his brush past it. Like I touched a trace of him. As he completed his unhurried, torturous descent to the lawn, he kept his gaze locked on mine. Beseeching me for something I couldn't give as the flames consumed him. So many things I should have felt, wondered, or worried about, yet I just watched, fascinated and compelled to see him to the end.
He landed in the yard, still burning alive. My father's pristine lawn would be scorched.
He'd be so disappointed.
Afraid to leave my perch, I was unsure what to do next. Surely what I was seeing was a figment of my overactive imagination. A dream caused by too much reading and not enough sleeping. But what if he suffered while I did nothing?
I turned and ran, as quietly as I could, through my room, down the stairs, and finally out the back door. The dew-covered grass beneath my feet reminded me of my state of undress. The nightgown felt thinner and more revealing than what my father had intended when he approved its purchase.
I shivered, not with cold but with nerves. The flames of the burning man sputtered and cooled, revealing charred bones and hunks of flesh. Yet he moved and groaned.
I sank to my knees, horrified that God would be so merciless as to let this poor human being endure such misery. The scent of cooked meat triggered my gag reflex. Strips of bumpy, burned flesh covered his bones here and there, buthis eyeshis eyes remained whole and lucid, giving him the garish appearance of a Halloween corpse.
The smell of sulfur stung my nose, making it hard to breathe. Yet the burning man continued to rasp and sputter.
How could he? His lungs had been incinerated.
For the first time, I noticed I still held the phone. Stupid girl. I should have dialed 911 a long time ago. I'd just pressed the 9 when he spoke.
"Don't bother."
I whimpered at the sound of his raspy, inhuman voice. "You need an ambulance."
The skeleton gurgled a bit, the sound grating and raw. "Too late. I don't have much time."
He shouldn't have had any time. I looked to the sky, but there was no sign of smoke or anything else falling. He groaned again.
"I…; I'm sorry." Lame, stupid girl. "I don't know what to do. I…; wish I could make you more comfortable."
"You must be so frightened." He whispered now, slowly yet with a carefully measured cadence. "I'm sorry you had to see this."
How could he worry about my comfort right now? "Do you want to…; um…; pray or something?"
His answer came too quickly, too vehemently.
"You'll stay?" he askedno, implored. "I have no right to ask it of you, but…; I'm afraid to be alone right now. Will you stay…; until…;"
"Of course."
Moisture from the cold, wet grass seeped into the material of my nightgown, promising ugly stains in the virginal white shroud. I already felt the weight of yet another of Father's disappointments.
"Do you want me to ring anyone for you? To say good-bye?"
"There…; is…; no…; one." His whisper weakened with each word.
No one to mourn him? I forced myself to look him, death, in the eyes, and leaned closer, blocking out the revulsion of his grotesque appearance. His last vision should be of someone caring that he died. Someone mourning him. He raised his bony fingers as if to touch me and I steeled myself not to flinch as his hand, still smoldering, neared my face.
He rattled and spoke his last words. "Worth…; the…; fall."
His hand dropped, and the grass sizzled beneath it.
Then his body turned to dust, leaving only a blackened scorch mark on my father's lawn.
I rolled away from the sunlight streaming through my lace curtains and burrowed my head under the pillow. It was a dream. It must have been. Burning men don't fall from the sky. Skeletons don't speak one minute and turn to dust the next.
I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and stared at the ceiling. I was going to have to look. Resigned, I walked the distance from my bed to the window, and it seemed to stretch farther and farther away, the way things do in nightmares. I touched the glass firstit was cool, of course. My fingers splayed on the window and I leaned into it, looking down, hoping to find the perfectly manicured lawn I'd known just yesterday. But the perfection was marred and the grass seared where he'd lain. The burning man.
My heartbeat sputtered and restarted, thumping wildly and faltering with its own rhythm. My mind raced to find an explanation that didn't include a fiery cadaver with scary eyes and a lonely soul.
What kind of…; people…; fell from the sky? Aliens? Fallen angels? Skydivers?
Maybe his plane crashed. But none of that explained his ability to talk with no lungs…; or skin, or organs, or…; No. I must have dreamt it. There was no other explanation. Best to put it out of my mind. Nightmares had no control over me and there was nothing to fear.
Besides, nothing happens in sleepy towns like Serendipity Falls. That's why Father bought a house here. His commute to the city wasn't bad, a half hour unless the fog blanketed us in. He did whatever it was barristers do in their offices all day and made it home for supper almost every evening.
He'd chosen this town precisely for its lack of drama, I reassured myself as I grabbed my pink robe off the hook. What devilry ever befell a girl in a counterfeitly cheerful Victorian house? Surely the heavy cornices and gingerbread trim were wards against all things evil.
It wasn't until I turned on the bathroom light that I remembered what day it was.
The familiar numbness that got me through this day every year painted itself over me. One foot in front of the other, one routine, then the next, lather, rinse, repeat. I'd go downstairs, drink my orange juice, take a vitamin, walk to school. It was just a day, after all.
Father would already be gone to his San Francisco office. It was easier that way, at least in the morning. Not having to face each other meant not having to acknowledge the significance of the day, this day.
The anniversary of my mother's death.
I struggled with my hair. The wild curls preferred to be loose and resisted the taming of elastic bands or clips. The wildness of my manea curse, according to my father, who'd tried unsuccessfully to convince me that I should style it shorter and sleekerwas a gift from my mother. The wildness of my heart was yet another unwanted motherly inheritance. Father tried to convince me that I should live carefully, and the struggle to rein in my spirit, as well as my hair, kept me battleweary day after day.
Wanting to please Father, I always pushed back my impulses. He needed me. Sure, he could be gruff and impossibly strict, but I was all he had. Things would have been different if my mother hadn't died, but there was no sense going down that road. Especially today.
I sprinted down the stairs and then chastised myself for the recklessness since Father wasn't there to do it for me. I took the vitamin he'd left out, drank the juice he'd poured, and ate the biscuitI mean cookieonly after I'd first double-checked that he'd actually left, and then made sure no stray crumbs would give me away. I avoided the greeting card left on the center of the polished table for as long as I could.
My hands shook as I opened our one exception to completely ignoring that this day existed. Happy 17th Birthday, Theia.
Love, Father
I put the card in my pack, grabbed a sweater, and walked to school.
Nobody at Serendipity High extended me birthday wishes because that was the way I wanted it. My friends, now that I had them, shot surreptitious glances at me all day, but respected my request. I was lucky for their friendship; my life had been so different only four years ago, when we had first moved to the States.
Life in London had been even lonelier. Our estate had been a cold place, steeped in Alderson history but not love, not laughter.
After all the years of homeschooling with a stodgy tutor, I had been surprised that Father had given in and allowed me to attend a public school when we moved to America. Surprised and grateful, until I realized that the strange girl with a funny accent was not going to be welcomed easily into a small school with cliques already firmly in place.
Everything about me was different from my American peers, starting, but certainly not ending, with my accent. Not having spent much time with my British peers either, I was as awkward as a foal taking its first steps when it came to interacting.
"Earth to Thei."
I blinked at Donny across the cafeteria table. "Sorry. What were you saying?"
DonnyDonnatella to those who dared call her thatrolled her eyes and stole another Tater Tot from my lunch tray. "I asked if you had figured out your prison-break plans for this weekend."
Father preferred I not spend much time with Donny. Which, when I was being honest with myself, I realized was part of the appeal. Donny was irreverent and maybe a little wild.
Okay, make that a lot wild. Why she wanted to be friends with me, a girl who worked so hard at being completely boring, was a mystery. Whenever I asked, she would reply with a comment about liking my hoity-toity accent, and then she'd wink at me mischievously. She'd taken me under her wing during a particularly bad experience in my PE class that first year, and I would do anything for her.
Donny's family was the kind I used to dream about. They lived in a much smaller house, but it was a lively, almost-too-loud house. Someone was always laughing…; or yelling. It was never quite clean, but there were always good things to eat and someone to listen to how your day was. I even envied her for her little brother, as mischievous and destructive as he was, and for her parents, who didn't put up with much but did it with a sense of humor.
Also, I envied how comfortable she was in her body. A couple inches taller than me, mostly due to her legs, Donny exuded this aura of confidence about her appearance that I would never have. Everything she wore was chosen carefully, as if to exhibit her assets. Her brown hair was layered around her face to draw attention to high cheekbones, and the part was on the side, accentuating her proud forehead. She always wore earrings that peeked out when her hair moveda whisper that there was more to see if you took the time to look.
"Why is it so important that I go to this club with you?" I asked. Donny was very social, whereas I was not. She often had her own plans on the weekend that didn't include me, and I was more than okay with that.
"Because you need to get out more. I swear to God, you are going to explode one day if you don't vent a little wickedness now and then. Does your father know what happens to daughters of overly uptight and strict parents when they get their first taste of freedom at college?"
"No, what?"
"Girls Gone Wild, that's what."
The thought of me flashing my breasts to a camera in exchange for a trucker hat made us laugh so hard we couldn't breathe. The funniest part was that we both knew Donny would do it for a stick of gum.
Our third musketeer, Amelia, joined us as the giggling subsided. As usual, she was dressed in what Donny liked to call "rebellious goth." Ame liked the alternative styles of the emo/goth kidsbut she hated black and dark colors. Instead, she looked like a rainbow with skull and spider accessories. "What's the laughing about, or do I want to know?"
"You don't. Trust me." Donny patted the bench next to her. "Ame, help me convince Theia that she needs to cut loose with us this weekend." She bit the tip of her pizza, the cheese stretching a mile before breaking. Only Donny could make that sexy. When I ate pizza, I cut it into bite-size pieces.
Ame unpacked her lunch from the reusable tie-dyed sack she brought every dayshe was very conscious of her carbon footprint. "Theia, if you don't cut loose with us this weekend, I will have to listen to Donny bitch about you all night and it won't be any fun at all. And I won't have anyone to talk to when she ditches me for the first pretty boy who comes along. You have to come."
Amelia wasn't joking. Donny really enjoyed her pretty boys. Amelia, on the other hand, had pined hopelessly for the same bloke since he'd moved to our school in seventh grade, the same year I did. She'd been stuck in "just a chum" purgatory for four years, but refused to tell him how she felt or give any other boy the time of day.
Ame carried herself differently from Donny. Donny was catlike and slinky, while Ame was more like a happy puppy. She bounced a lot and used her whole body when she spoke. She was also beautiful, but you couldn't tell her that.
Now that Amelia had let her hair grow back to the shiny black-brown it was naturally, and not the brittle blond she'd been trying to keep it, Donny and I both felt like she was the prettiest of all three of us. Amelia, however, saw only flaws with the features we thought made her exotic and outstanding.
Ame was born in Korea and adopted by a family perhaps even whiter than my own. Most of the time, I think she handled the diversity well. Sometimes she acted like we didn't see her wishing away her heritage. Other times, though, she talked about going to Korea someday, not so much to find her birth parents but just to walk where her roots had once been.
But when it was just the three of us together, roots were never an issue.
Donny put her hands together as if in prayer. "Pwetty please, say you'll come with us on Friday. You will love this club. It's the only under-eighteen club I've ever been to that didn't make me worry about our generation. It's actually fun. And not lame."
"I have nothing to wear to a dance club." And I didn't. Father's personal shopper chose my wardrobe according to a strict outline of recommendations—none of which included anything that would be suitable for dance clubs.
"I have your outfit all picked out," Donny answered a little too gleefully. "Oh, yeah, and Sandra Dee called; she'd like her sweater sets back."
That was low, but not wrong. Father's shopper believed thinking outside of the box meant three-quarter sleeves in place of long ones. And I have bottoms in every shade of khaki ever made. You know, for my wacky, carefree days.
All the same, Donny was not to be trusted as a replacement for the shopper. "Your clothes won't fit me, Donny. Your legs are a mile longer than mine."
"All the better to wrap around a boy with. Speaking of" She paused so Amelia and I could groan.
Donny really was certifiably boy crazy. I had no such aspirations. Aside from my accent and "strange" English ways, my real boy problem had less to do with my looks and more to do with my upbringing. As in: Father says no. I'd been segregated from boys my whole life, not allowed to have coed parties even as a child. And dating was out of the question.
I was untouchable.
He just wanted me to be safe, and he worried that boys would make me reckless and distract me from my music studieswhich were far more important to him than they were to me.
I love the violin, truly I do, but I'll admit to sometimes being bored by all the work involved in maintaining my skill level. However, musical proficiency is important.
To Father.
It didn't matter to him that I was beginning to feel less joy in the music. The more he pushed, the less I cared. In fact, I preferred playing modern music but could do so only when he wasn't home. Because modern music wasn't respectable. It didn't pay tribute to the deep roots of my family tree.
Aldersons were to be the best at whatever they did. Father proved that daily at his workplace, or so I heard from his colleagues at the picnics every summer. His company had transferred him twice to the States to fix its sorrier officesonce the year he met my mother, and again when I was thirteen. He was also unbeatable at racquetball and sailing. I was to follow in the grand tradition of all the Aldersons before me and excel.
Whether I wished to or not.
Donny continued, ignoring our groans. "My sources in the admin office tell me we are getting fresh meat tomorrow. All the way from New York City. God, I hope he's cute. We need new cute at this school."
Amelia picked at her salad. She hated salad but was on what Donny dubbed a foreverdiet. "We only need new cute because you have exhausted the population of already-here cute. Take it easy on the new guy, will you?"
"He's probably a sneetch anyway," Donny said.
"Sneetches" was what we called the in-crowd at school, the haves as opposed to the have-nots. We named them from a Dr. Seuss story in which the Star-Belly Sneetches, who were born with a green star on their bellies, thought they were better than all those who had no green staror in this case green money.
By current standards, I possessed all the right accoutrements to be a sneetch, except the ones that would have made me want to be one. Much to my father's dismay, the children of his business associates and fellow golf club members were not the chosen brethren of his daughter. Of course, he never helped me get accepted, since he resolutely shielded me from their activities and social situations, but try telling him that.
Donny pulled out her compact, checking for nonexistent damage before fourth period. "Amelia, if you tell me you want the new guy, sneetch or not, I'll stay away from him. But you have to promise to actually talk to him. Not just pine from afar. Reruns are boring."
"I'm not even remotely interested in the new guy, but thanks for the offer. I know how hard that must have been for you."
Donny started on me next, but I held up my hand. "Halt. I am not remotely interested in the new bloke we haven't seen yet either." On a whim, I asked them both, "Did either of you hear anything about a plane crash last night? Or maybe a meteorite?"
"Did you have dreams about aliens probing your secret places, Thei?" Donny asked, again much too gleefully.
"No, INever mind."
The bell rang, reminding me that my fourth-period class was on the other side of campus, but at least it smelled better than the cafeteria. We had to wait for a pack of sneetches, several of them in cheerleader uniforms, to file past our table. As per their social custom, they made no eye contact with those of us without stars upon thars.
When one of the varsity basketball players tried to pass without even seeing us, Donny drew the line. "Hey, Bill, did I ever tell you how much it meant to me that you made sure my needs were still met that one time you couldn't get it up? That makes you a real gentleman."
Of course, Bill did no such thing. Oh, he really did have a problembut he left Donny to finish things for herself when he didn't bring his A-game.
He grunted, someone muttered, "Bitch," and all was right in our world.
By the end of the evening, I was wiped out. I practiced for two hours after school with my new tutor, who knew within ten minutes that I was better than he was. So, like anyone with an overinflated sense of self, he punished me with futile exercises and extra practice time.
Dinner was a somber affair, as usual. Muriel, our housekeeper and cook, tried to sneak in a cakelike dessert to appease her own guilt at my lack of birthday celebration, and Father read his paper throughout the meal, stopping to tell me to "Sit up straight" and "Stop fidgeting so much."
"Father," I began cautiously, "I'd like to spend the weekend at Donny's."
"We'll see," he answered. And that was the end of the discussion.
I'm not sure how my mother could have fallen in love with him. He was so cold. And worse, I think he was trying to make sure I turned out as icily perfect as he was. Sometimes I felt the crystals forming inside, etching a pattern of frost on my heart, and I thought it would be easier to follow his path than diverge from it. If I was careful and cautious, dutiful and obedient, perhaps I could stop the wayward longings I had. The ones where I thought, There has to be more. More than this uncomfortable silence at a table too large for the two people who ate here every night.
But if there was more, Father wanted none of it. He retired to his study and I retired to my fancy decorated cell, finished my homework, looked at my violin and considered playing it for an hour, and then put myself to bed with no hope of falling asleep.
But fall asleep I did. I think. And that was when everything got worse.
Excerpted from "Falling Under"
by .
Copyright © 2011 Gwen Hayes.
Excerpted by permission of Penguin Publishing Group.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.


text: It's not the films you are anticipating that are usually exciting, it's the ones you don't know about yet. The ones that pop up at festivals, that sneak into cinemas in limited release, or go direct to VOD and get everyone talking. From my 2013 anticipated films list I ended up absolutely loving only one, The Place Beyond the Pines. What fruit will come from my 2014 picks? I guess I'll find out next year. My 10 most anticipated 2014 films are after the jump.


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Total Warrior Volunteer opportunities 2017!Posted on January 11, 2017
Total Warrior is coming back to Scotland and you don't have to run to be part of it!
Become part of the Total Warrior experience by volunteering with ProjectScotland on Saturday 16 and/or Sunday 17 September 2017 at the Balgone Estate, North Berwick.
What's in it for me?
Previous volunteer's have described this event as "the best volunteering experience", that not enough to convince you? You also get:
– free event parking
– lunch and refreshments
– free t-shirt and headband
– free or discounted place for a future event
– invite to the after party
– and much more!
If you're a ProjectScotland volunteer, we'll also cover your travel expenses!
What do I have to do?
As a Total Warrior volunteer you can get involved in a number of ways. From event set up, to marshalling the course (ever fancied watching 15,000 competitors diving down a slippery slide?) and much more. As part of the team you'll get all the behind-the-scenes insights of a mass participation event while having an excellent time.
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Shortly afterwards, minister Champika Ranawaka had resumed his duties at the ministry of Megapolis, his media secretary - Dhanushka Ramanayake stated to 'Sri Lanka Mirror'.
Once at the ministry, the minister had advised additional secretaries of the ministry to continue with their programmes.
During the meeting, an official had noted that the government of Japan has informed that they are stepping away from the US$ 1.4b light rail project.
In response, the minister had said they would reach out on a diplomatic level now that they have secured the parliament majority.
Meanwhile, the UNP states that 118 MPs have signed a proposal by party MP - Ajith P. Perera to convene parliament, which was seconded by MP Patali Champika Ranawaka.


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Dear Liberal Arts Alumni and Friends,
Supporting the College of Liberal Arts is an indication of your belief in our mission to provide our students with a liberal arts education preparing them for success in the 21st century. And every gift makes a difference! Annual and endowed scholarships attract talented and deserving students who might not otherwise attend our great university. Endowed professorships recruit and/or recognize stellar faculty. Unrestricted gifts meet our immediate needs such as providing funds for students and faculty to travel to professional conferences or purchasing state-of-the-art classroom technology. Program support enhances the opportunities our students have outside classroom, and planned gifts ensure that we continue to offer a world-class education for future generations to come.
There are a variety of areas that need your support. Our dedicated development staff is here to help you navigate the many ways that you may make a gift.
We thank you for investing in our college and enriching the educational experience of our students and faculty.
War Eagle!
Joseph A. Aistrup, PhD
Last Updated: June 25, 2018


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Afternoon Drive: We drove around looking for subjects to photograph, but as with the morning drive, no subjects initially presented themselves. At one point after lunch, everyone decided to take a bathroom break. The men went to the front of the first Land Rover, and the women went behind the third Land Rover. I didn't have to go, so I stayed in the vehicle. After everyone had been back in the vehicle for about ten minutes, simultaneous itching broke out among everyone who participated in the bathroom break. Lucky me. For once I wasn't afflicted with something. Upon close inspection, Len Sr. established that tiny, red mites were found to be the culprits.
We saw many zebras that afternoon, and I recorded on film, many different behaviors. I called one photo, "The Line-Up," as many Grant's Zebras were lined up, single-file, stopped. Then I photographed a solitary zebra drinking at the watering hole, then leaving by itself. Next, I saw two, three, and four zebra drinking together, at another watering hole. Then I noticed zebra reflections, in a small pool of standing water.
We also spotted a mother zebra, with her very large foal, still nursing. The foal was almost as big as the mother. Through my 300 mm lens, I noticed the raised, brown fur towards the back of the foal. This brown fur disappears, as the zebra matures.
We headed back to camp at dusk. When we arrived, there was a large canopy tent, and inside were the familiar card tables we used for dining. There were fluorescent lights that night, which provided much more light than the lanterns.
That night Lenny's stories went uninterrupted, as the lovely canopy kept out the nasty looking bugs. After the stories, he brought out his harmonica and began to provide us with some night music, after which, we all said good night.
Ann and I went back to our tent, and started our nightly ritual of journal writing, camera cleaning, and getting everything set for the morning so we could be ready, as fast humanly possible, for Lenny's wake up announcement. I got up, to use the "new," flush toilet, one last time before bed, and returned to our tent. As I was zipping it closed for the night, THE ZIPPER BROKE! (Lenny's story about the three men that went into a tent one night was fresh in my mind. (Please see my earlier journal entry, "Three Men in a Tent.") - You can find this story, in my Journal Entry #3 - August 13, 1988, at the third paragraph from the bottom.
"Ann, guess what just happened?" I asked. "What?" she answered. "The zipper just broke!," I said. We both laughed nervously. "What are we going to do?" she asked. "I'm going to tell Lenny. He'll probably have something to fix it with," I said optimistically.
Cliff and Don were the first people we saw on our way to find Lenny. We told them our dilemma. I don't know why Don thought to bring butterfly clips (like binder clips) but he did. I said, "Thank you Don. You're a lifesaver!" and we all laughed at this; a joke that went with Lenny's, "Three Men in a Tent," story. We borrowed all five of Don's clips, and clipped the tent flap closed, with them. Cliff lent us his Masai fighting stick, "Just in Case." The tent was once again, "secure." Ann and I went into the tent that night, and we both came out, in the morning.


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text:
State Senator Leland Yee says the creation of guns on 3-D printers must be restricted.
Similar rules are being considered in Congress following the first successful firing of a gun made by a 3-D printer this weekend.
A man named Cody Wilson of a group called Defense Distributed created the design which he made on a 3-D printer. The machines use plastic to create objects that are designed on computer software.
Gun control advocates fear the guns can be made by those who can't pass background checks and that they can be easily be made to be undetectable by metal detectors.
Yee said that technology is being used to produce guns that would normally be banned in California. The Sacramento Public Library has several 3-D printers which it is using in a program that will teach library patrons about computer aided design and how to create prototypes of inventions using the printers.
The library machines don't have the capability of making the guns. Library Director Rivkah Sass said the machines have great potential as teaching aids. She also said whenever there are new technologies, people tend to push the limits of what they can do, which includes making guns.
Yee says he favors new technologies because they can be used to create good.
"It turns out you can also use technology for bad," said Yee.
Yee has not worked out the exact wording of a proposed bill, but given that 3-D printer created guns are charting new ground he will have to be precise in crafting legislation. It is likely to be scrutinized carefully by gun rights groups.


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This Wednesday, the Joker returns.
But you should know that already, right? If not, here are the basics: The mega-talented BATMAN creative team of writer Scott Snyder and artist Greg Capullo are kicking off "Death of the Family" this week, a crossover affecting the entire Bat-Family and heralding the return of Batman's main nemesis, the Joker. That's right – the masterminds behind "The Court of Owls" and so much more bring in the Clown Prince of Crime. Can you say "Instant Batman Classic"?
"Why do we have to wait until Wednesday, though?"
Well, you kind of don't, as BUZZFEED has an exclusive first look at the issue. Swing over there and give those lovely pages a look and prepare yourself for an epic Batman saga!
And, if that's not enough for you, here's a must-read USA TODAY interview with Snyder and Capullo, another look at the JOKER die-cut covers and the NYCC-exclusive BATMAN #13 you can only get at the show. Enjoy!
This Wednesday, the Joker returns.


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- Search psychology
- Site analysis
- Effective meta data
- Copy and content
- Link strategy
- SEM business and account management
- Project immersion
Alas, since I'll be busy snatching marbles out of Ammon's outstretched hand and tracking search engine spiders while blindfolded and balancing buckets of water on my shoulders, I'll be missing PubCon in Vegas. If you're at PubCon, please buy a beer for Rand (you'll get 5 points!), Jeff, or Jane in my absence :)


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Kathy Gockel
Kathy Gockel is an independent policy analyst, who was previously a fellow in the U.S.-Muslim Engagement Project at Search for Common Ground. She is reviewing the Genocide Prevention Task Forces Preventing Genocide: a Blueprint for U.S. Policymakers, which is also linked below.
Preventing Genocide: a Blueprint for U.S. Policymakers states that because genocide equires planning and is carried out systematically then its signs and symptoms can be recognized and addressed. This linkage between planning and systematic action gets to the very heart of the report, reventing genocide is a goal that can be achieved with the right organizational structures, strategies and partnerships in short with the right blueprint. The problem for the U.S. Government? It currently lacks the blueprint. ()
Political will is then linked to the second major challenge: the lack of a coordinated, whole-of-government approach to policy formulation and implementation. The report offers concrete examples of how current aps impact U.S. policy. For example, there is no one person or group in the Administration with responsibility for coordinating genocide prevention efforts. As the report states, reventing genocide appears to be a responsibility held simultaneously by no one and everyone in the U.S. foreign policy apparatus. It goes on to offer specific recommendations as to how this gap can be addressed such as creating a standing interagency mechanism, an Atrocities Prevention Committee, directed from the White House and co-chaired by senior officials from the NSC and State Department.
Why Political Will is Not Enough: http://www.du.edu/korbel/hrhw/booknotes/index.html
Preventing Genocide: a Blueprint for U.S. Policymakers: http://www.usip.org/genocide_taskforce/pdf/FINAL%20REPORT.pdf