text:
Thomson Reuters Tax & Accounting News
Featuring content from Checkpoint
U.S. IRS accused of obstruction over lost emails in Tea Party affair
Thomson Reuters Tax & Accounting News/
Reuters Tax & Accounting News/
U.S. IRS accused of obstruction over lost emails in Tea Party affair
June 24, 2014
By Kevin Drawbaugh and Moriah Costa
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republicans accused the U.S. Internal Revenue Service on Monday of hiding emails written by a former senior official and obstructing a congressional inquiry into a controversy involving past IRS treatment of conservative groups.
In an unusually contentious evening hearing on Capitol Hill, Democrats accused Republicans of rehashing baseless accusations for political theater in the so-called IRS Tea Party targeting affair that traces back to mid-2013.
The IRS reviews the activities of non-profits that apply for tax-exemption because U.S. law limits their political involvement. Non-profits have increasingly been used as conduits for political spending, especially by conservatives.
In May 2013, Lois Lerner, who headed an IRS unit involved in applying extra scrutiny to conservative political groups' applications for tax-exempt status, apologized in public for what she called "inappropriate" review of conservative groups' applications. Republicans have been investigating since then.
Although Lerner retired in September 2013, the controversy leapt back into the headlines last week when the IRS said a computer crash had caused it to lose emails written by Lerner, angering Republican investigators who want the emails for review.
Representative Darrell Issa, one of the Republicans' most aggressive congressional investigators, chaired the hearing and criticized what he called "obstruction by the IRS."
Issa accused IRS Commissioner John Koskinen, seated just a few feet away, of working to "cover up the fact that there were missing emails". Issa said to Koskinen: "I'm sick and tired of your game-playing in response to congressional oversight."
A former corporate turn-around expert confirmed as IRS chief in December in the midst of the agency's worst crisis in years, Koskinen said: "No one has been keeping this information from Congress."
Hundreds of thousands of documents and emails, he said, have been provided to Issa's House of Representatives Oversight and Government Reform Committee, as well as the tax law-writing House Ways and Means Committee.
The agency said last week that Lerner's computer crashed in mid-2011 and that some of her emails from January 2009 to April 2011 could not be recovered.
The IRS expects to salvage more of Lerner's emails by the end of June and turn them over to Congress, Koskinen said.
Democratic Representative Gerry Connolly said the hearing was political theater meant to stir the Republican voter base ahead of November's congressional elections. He called Republicans' conduct of the hearing "reckless and disgraceful."
Republicans have been intent on linking the IRS scrutiny to the White House, without success.
Issa's committee said on Monday that, as part of its inquiry, it had subpoenaed Jennifer O'Connor of the White House Counsel's office to testify on Tuesday. The subpoena followed a letter from White House Counsel Neil Eggleston, declining to make O'Connor available on a voluntary basis to testify, the committee said.


text:
Rachel Bilson, 'The O.C.'
Then: A nerd's wet dream, once she got over that "Ew, Chino!" phase of her life and stopped hot-boxing Luke's car. After the death of her BFF, Summer went from Newpsie in training to sarcastic bunny activist. We still want to be just like her. Now: Bilson dons a lab coat for one of our favorite dramedies, "Hart of Dixie," Tuesday nights at 8 p.m. on The CW. Her character, Dr. Zoe Hart, feels fresh, but retains that Summer sense of humor. It almost feels like Seth is just out of sight.
Copyright © 2018, Chicago Tribune

subset: commoncrawl


text:
HERCULES — With a $1.2 million deficit looming for the next fiscal year, and no more one-time, stopgap funding available, the City Council will hold a special meeting Tuesday to bounce around ideas to generate revenue.
Possibilities advanced by the city staff, some new, others already floated earlier this fiscal year, include expedited sales of city-owned properties, retail development, and increases in some existing taxes as well as some new ones, among them a pot club tax.
The city faced a similar deficit in the current fiscal year, but it managed to balance the $12.65 million general fund budget by tapping into other funds: $300,000 from the Fiscal Neutrality Fund; $450,000 from the Vehicle Replacement Fund; and $450,000 from the Equipment/IT Fund.
But no such money is available from those sources in fiscal 2013-2014, according to a staff report by City Manager Steve Duran and Finance Director Nickie Mastay.
Increasing the Utility Users Tax by 2 percent from the current 6 percent to 8 percent, with voter approval, could raise an extra $800,000 a year, according to the staff report. An LED advertisement sign on city property near Interstate 80 could rake in $200,000 a year; such a sign faces opposition from a vocal group of residents, mostly in the western part of the city, who say it would ruin their view of the night sky.
Other revenue opportunities cited in the staff report include an increase in the franchise fee the city collects from its garbage hauler, Richmond Sanitary Service; a parking district and parking permits; and a tax on medical marijuana dispensaries.
Hercules' city code does not specifically address marijuana dispensaries, also known as cannabis clubs. But a 2006 ordinance that requires any business in the city to conform to both state and federal law has been widely interpreted as a de facto ban. Even so, one dispensary, Hercules Health Center, has done business in North Shore Business Park since 2010.
Also somewhat cloudy is the development status of various vacant properties, some of them city-owned. The 11.43-acre, city-owned Sycamore Crossing, currently under a purchase-and-sale contract with Safeway, is encumbered by a deed restriction that bars grocery sales on all but three acres of the property; litigation with the beneficiary of the restriction, American Stores Properties, Inc., is pending.
The so-called Parcel C midway between San Pablo Avenue and San Pablo Bay, which is under contract with DeNova Homes, is the subject of what Tuesday's closed session agenda characterizes as "potential litigation." And negotiations over the 6.37-acre Victoria Crescent tract north of Highway 4 have proceeded more slowly than anticipated; the council, by a 3-2 vote this month, extended prospective buyer City Ventures' feasibility study period to March 31.
Also on the list of possibilities is a relocation of the city's Corporation Yard to enable sale of the property it currently occupies between the Bayside and Baywood neighborhoods near the waterfront.
The city also looks forward to the development of the 6.62-acre, former Market Hall at the junction of Highway 4 and I-80, where owner McNellis Partners wants to build a retail complex.
Tuesday's council agenda also includes a proposed memorandum of understanding with the city's unrepresented and confidential employees group, and a draft $19,000 design contract with an engineering firm related to the Bay Trail and John Muir Parkway.
Contact Tom Lochner at 510-262-2760 and firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow him at Twitter.com/tomlochner.
What: Hercules City Council meeting
Where: Hercules City Hall, Council Chambers, 111 Civic Drive
When: 6-9 p.m. Tuesday


text:
(CNN) -- Part of Havana's charm is that it plays by its own rules -- these tips will help you play along.
Traveling by the brightly-colored Cocotaxi is a kitsch way to explore Havana.
Hard currency
Parting with your cash can be a tricky proposition in Havana. Confusingly, Cuba has two currencies, convertible pesos and Cuban pesos, with the U.S. dollar no longer commonly accepted.
Tourists are perfectly entitled to use Cuban pesos, but you can't buy much with them and in practice, visitors will deal almost exclusively in convertible pesos.
You can convert foreign currencies into convertibles at hotels and money-changing booths, but if you're converting U.S. dollars you will be charged a 10 per cent commission. The sensible thing would be to get your money from an ATM, however, while Visa cards are accepted at some ATMs, other cards are practically useless in Havana.
Credit cards are becoming more widely accepted in Havana, but using them will incur a hefty surcharge and American credit and debit cards can't be used at all in Cuba. That ban applies even to credit cards issued by American-owned companies and companies with apparently scant connection to the U.S. The upshot is that you should check with your credit card company before traveling, or you may find you're carrying a lot of worthless plastic.
Getting around
The faded glories of Old Havana are best appreciated on foot, but to fully explore the city, and after nightfall in some of the sketchier areas, you're better off taking a taxi. The cheapest are the state-owned yellow and black Ladas, although these are not meant to pick up tourists within 100 meters of a hotel. Haggle over the price before you set off.
You can flag down metered tourist taxis along the Malecon and they also congregate outside the Hotel Nacional in Vedado. It's technically illegal, but easy enough, to flag down pretty much any passing car and pay for a ride around the city, although there's no guarantee of the car, or the driver, being roadworthy.
If your heart's set on ride in a 50s classic car a better bet is to take a Gran Car. These state-owned vintage cars are in good condition, although they're pricey for Havana. Cocotaxis are kitschy, bright yellow, three-wheeled novelty taxis that look a bit like a crash helmet on wheels. They're cheap and fun, if you like that kind of thing.
Also with three wheels, the pedal-powered bici-taxis are usually cheaper, and often more comfortable, than their four-wheeled motorized cousins. If you're lucky you'll get one with a salsa-blasting stereo strapped onto the back.
Do you have any Havana tips? Let us know
Havana's crowded buses are a pickpocket's paradise and are best avoided.
A rum time
Cubans do enjoy a splash of rum and their capital is home to one of the world's most famous brands -- Havana Club. There's no better way to cool down on a steamy Havana night than with a rum cocktail -- but which to choose? Here are a few you should sample:
Cuba Libre: A Havana classic made with cola, rum and lime.
Canchanchara: The locals' favorite -- white rum, lime juice and honey.
El Presidente: This mixture of rum, red vermouth, Curacao and grenadine is named not after Fidel, but after President Mario Garcia Menocal.
Daiquiri: The purist's daiquiri is a combination of rum, lime juice, sugar and maraschino, but if you're feeling impure you can have yours with added fruit.
Mojito: Ernest Hemingway's tipple of choice was this mix of white rum, lime juice, sugar or sugar cane juice, soda water and fresh mint.
Havana Special: A refreshing blend of white rum, maraschino and pineapple juice.
Saoco: Not unlike a turbo-charged milkshake, the saoco is a double whammy of white rum and coconut milk.
If all those cocktails haven't quenched your thirst for knowledge, you can carry out more rum research at the Museo del Ron, 262 Avenida del Puerto, on the corner of San Pedro and Sol.
Red tape
Unless you're from the U.S., all you need to visit Havana is a tourist card and a plane ticket, and the two are best acquired at the same time. The card will let you stay in the country for 30 days and if you don't get one when you book your trip you can pick one up from your local Cuban consulate -- although that can be a time-consuming process.
If you're a U.S. citizen planning to visit Havana, good luck! Before leaving you'll need to get a license from the U.S. government, and regular tourists aren't eligible.
Of course, there are U.S. citizens who travel to Cuba on a tourist card bought in Canada or Mexico, but it's a ruse that can result in a hefty fine and even a jail term. For the latest information see the U.S. Department of State Website.


text:
Every year I say this Christmas is going to be different and I will be organized and ahead of the game and have everything accomplished by December 15th. And every year…it doesn't happen.
Don't get me wrong, we are in decent enough shape. Our house looks nice and Christmasy, the carols have been pumping and the kids are still feeling very magical. But from my perfectionist perspective, it's beginning to look a lot like…panic mode. I know we are lucky beyond words this season and that the fact that my family is together and happy and healthy is all that matters. I also know that none of the stuff on the list below is important in the grand scheme. That said, I can't be the only one who woke up this morning thinking "how the $@&#! is Christmas three days away?" And so for anyone else feeling a little overwhelmed and behind and frazzled today, I give you my list of tis-the-season shortcomings. Hope this makes you feel better!
1. I just sent out Christmas cards yesterday, only I way underestimated my list and didn't order enough. So I took back the cards I'd sent to my sisters' and my parents and sent those out but there are still friends and family who won't get one. And considering how long I hemmed and hawed to make the card perfect, this really bums me out.
2. I haven't finished shopping. At all. Seriously, this is not a joke. I have ordered a lot of things and there are tons of boxes in my office waiting to be cracked so I'm hoping there's good stuff in there. I can't remember at this point. I'm at least hoping Al's violin is in there and maybe the wallet Nick asked for though that's probably not going to happen since I never actually ordered it—d'oh!
3. I am simultaneously overspending and under-spending, and both make me uncomfortable. My knee-jerk reaction to not being prepared is to overspend on certain people to make up for my lack of creative thought. On the flipside, when I feel backed into a corner by the epic list of to-buys, I do a little "it's ridiculous to be spending all this money" rant and start cutting back.
4. We haven't taken our kids to sit on Santa's lap yet. We decided we'd go tonight except tonight is the Friday before Christmas and driving all the way up to the mall just sounds awful. So this will likely remain on my to-do list through the weekend.
5. Two words: Wine consumption. It's not that I'm overdoing, it it's just that I'm not not doing it. Every day I think eh, I'm not gonna have any wine tonight and then every night, well, my mind is changed.
6. My housekeeping skills have gone to the dumps—literally. My friend brought a beautiful caramel tart to our Christmas party last weekend. It was delicious and there was some leftover, which Nick and I nibbled on for days. When it came time to toss what was left, the caramel was so caked onto my Christmas platter that I just dumped the whole thing in the trash. It wasn't a super nice platter or anything special but it was still beyond wasteful...(and I didn't recycle it, which makes me feel awful). Also: There is something sticky on my dining room floor and I keep stepping over it instead of cleaning it up.
7. Alex's Christmas cordoroys don't fit him. The length is perfect but he's been blessed with my shape—thin arms and legs, big belly. I don't care enough to take them back, which means he will probably be popping a button during Christmas morning mass.
8. My kids have eaten pizza and mac and cheese more nights than I care to count this week. Also: candy canes, peppermint bark, chocolate-covered pretzels, gingerbread houses, gingerbread men, and lots and lots of gelt.
9. My elf of the shelf skills suck. I can't decide if this deserves a plus or a minus on my mom scorecard.
10. There are still two boxes of "Christmas stuff" hidden somewhere in my garage that I haven't found yet. I'm thinking/hoping it's stuff I don't care about because I can't quite figure out what we're missing but I'm sure I'll discover post-Christmas that they're full of things I've recently re-bought because I didn't think we had.
11. I just sent Alex to school with his teacher's gift—including a fragile glass ornament—in his backpack because I wasn't sure how else to get it to her. What are the chances this will make it to her in one piece?
OK, the list goes on but I need to stop writing so I can go accomplish some things and right the Christmas ship. I hope all of you are doing well and enjoying and not stressing about any perceived (or, um, real) shortcomings. But if you are, please share them here so I don't feel so bad! Happy Friday, Happy Weekend, Happy Holidays!


text:
Artist's note: those are sheep. Sheep. They are not dogs with curly hair. They're sheep. So no smart remarks about dogs in the comment section. They're sheep.
Yes, I realize that sheep are cute. They're all fluffy and soft and you can turn them into sweaters and bleating sounds cool. But don't let them fool you. Sheep can make your life miserable in ways that are difficult to comprehend until you've experienced it yourself.
You see, sometimes I have a hard time sleeping. Either I'll toss and turn from the moment I get into bed, or else I'll fall asleep right away only to be woken up suddenly in the middle of the night. I'm never quite sure what it is that wakes me up...
...but it doesn't really matter.
What matters is that I'm awake in the middle of the night.
My first instinct is always to check the time. This is usually a mistake, as I then start calculating how much sleep I'll get if I fall back asleep that very instant.
And this is where the sheep come in.
(Please note: for the purpose of this story, we're going to assume that each sheep represents an infinite number of sheep of that particular colour. Making an infinite number of sheep would have taken way more time than I am willing to spend on making clay sheep. Although I should also note that the amount of time that I'm willing to spend on making clay sheep seems to be a lot higher than I would have originally thought.)
We hear it from the time we're little: when you can't sleep, count sheep.
So I try.
At first, it's ok.
The sheep jump over the wall in an orderly fashion,
one after another,
and I almost feel myself relaxing.
But then something happens. They start jumping faster and faster, one and then another and another, until they're just a blur. They're out of control, jumping much faster than I can possibly count them. I feel my stomach clench and the blood pump through my body. I squeeze my eyes shut tightly, trying to force the image of blurry flying sheep out of my head.
Too fast! Slow down! Stop jumping!
Listen to me!!!
I'm now further from sleep than ever, and still the sheep fly through my brain.
I do the only thing that I possibly can under the circumstances.
I tear down the wall.
Actually, I don't tear it down so much as break it in two,
leaving a hole just wide enough for a single sheep.
The hole is the perfect width: wide enough that a sheep can push through it, narrow enough that each one will have to pick its way carefully.
And all is well until an extra fluffy sheep tries to squeeze its way through the hole in the wall. It gets stuck halfway through, and no matter how much it squirms and wiggles, it doesn't budge.
The other sheep pile up behind it, pushing and shoving and crowding.
More and more of them join the group, until there's a big bleating pulsing jostling crowd. I wave my arms, trying to get their attention, but the sheep ignore me.
This really isn't working for me.
Oh well. I may as well get up.
I could do a load of laundry, or write another chapter, or answer my emails, or play minesweeper, or make sure that the bank account is balanced, or learn to speak Spanish, or work out, or clean out the fridge.
Or I could just look for funny animal videos on youtube.
Yeah, I'll probably go with that last one.


text:
11 times South African Freediving Record Holder, filmmaker and avid ocean adventurer makes her pledge!
"There is nothing quite like the heart-stopping beauty and power of a four-metre long tiger shark gliding towards you out of the dark, or the unmistakable silhouette of a whale shark from below," said Hanli Prinsloo to journalist Tammy Sutherns. As 11 times South African free-diving record holder, Hali has a unique connection to our oceans, one which she is doing her best to share.
As one of the founder members of the I Am Water Ocean Conservation Trust, Hali is also a long time supporter of Grahamstown based charity, the Sustainable Seas Trust (SST). From April 14 to May 9, the SST, will be making waves at 15 coastal South Africa towns, all in the name of our oceans. Partnering with the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), the SAMSA SEA Pledge Saldanha to Sodwana Tour will focus on education, poverty alleviation and marine conservation as the SST runs beach activities for the public.
Hanli will be sharing her gift of storytelling with SST and aiding them in the Western Cape section of the tour, where she'll address dignitaries, mayors and politicians on the importance of caring for our blue world.
A guest appearance from such an influential and driven person like Hanli will add one of the special touches sure to make this upcoming tour an amazing one.


text:
Comprehensive DescriptionRead full entry
Hummingbirds belong to the order Apodiformes, meaning, "unfooted birds." There are three families in this order: Trochilidae (hummingbirds), Hemiprocnidae (tree swifts), and Apodidae (swifts). The family Trochilidae belongs to its own Suborder, Trochili. Although the number of genera and species in this group changes continually, currently there are 102 recognized genera and 328 species of hummingbirds. The hummingbird family is divided into two sub-families: Phaethornithinae (hermits) composed of 34 species and a larger group, Trochilinae (trochilines or "typical" hummingbirds), with 294 species.
Hummingbirds feed primarily on the nectar of flowers and supplement their diet with small insects. They have evolved unique characteristics such as narrow elongated beaks, extendable tongues and hovering flight, all of which allow them to exploit nectar resources.
Most hummingbird species are polygynous (males mate with more than one female) and are sexually dimorphic (sexes do not look alike); males (especially trochilines) often have bright iridescent feathers while females have more cryptic coloration. Some male hummingbirds have elaborate ornamentation such as elongated tail feathers and iridescent crests. Male hermits display together in large groups called leks while trochilines are mainly territorial; their courtship often involves dramatic aerial displays.
Known for their small size (the smallest species of hummingbird weighs 2 g), rapid wing movements and heartbeat, hummingbirds can compensate for their high energetic requirements by going into torpor during cold nights. This is especially important for those species found at high elevation where nighttime temperatures can dip below freezing.
Hummingbirds are found in a variety of habitats and while their range includes much of the New World, most hummingbird species are Neotropical.


text:
As we all know by now, my loft faces Broadway, which means, I look directly into the windows of the Douglas Building. You might remember some of my neighbors (loosely speaking) from my post - I Am Not A Peeping Tom, Not!
Also, as most downtowners in-the-know know - on top of many loft buildings are these fabulous gardens and places to hang and swimming pools, and views to die for.
Well...I have no idea what the Douglas' roof is like - because I've never been there or seen anyone up there, until...I was on the phone last week, yakking away, minding my own business (again), when I looked up in the middle of the day and saw this naked man on the roof.
Granted it was warm out. Granted he was probably just sunning. Granted he thought no one could see him. Granted he was an idiot.
And I was across the street - looking. Telling the person I was talking to that even though this man was hundreds of feet away, I could see the outline of his .... if you know what I mean, and that in a past life I was probably a voyeur.
There he was, naked as a bat, standing up and splashing sun tan oil all over his tall, lean body. I mean, all over. And there I was with my mouth open (since I had gotten off the call quickly), so I could oggle.
Now before you go there - I did not take out a long lens camera, telescope, binoculars, or any other such paraphernalia, I just oggled. Innocently. For an hour or so until he left. And wondered to myself - that it was a miracle - that it took a year for this to happen.
You would think it would have happened long ago. Why?
Because when you live downtown - you face each others windows and with it comes nakedness, my friends, nakedness. In all forms. Nakedness.
And I say, "swivel that in your martini and shake it." Or something like that.
This adventure was better than the movies.


text:
It's Time For Some Google Glue
from the sounds-like-a-job-for-elmer's dept
A recent study shows that Yahoo! Mail and Yahoo! Messenger account for 42% and 22% of time spent at Yahoo!, respectively. GMail accounts for 45% of time spent on Google, pretty incredible for a product still in limited beta release. Communications applications like email and IM are always going to have more time spent than, say, search applications (and one wonders how exactly they measure IM time usage). As Google makes a play for a more (web 1.0 buzzword alert) sticky experience, Bambi Francisco thinks that it's time for Google to launch its own messenger. Well, first off, Google already has one. With its purchase of Picasa last year, Google acquired the Hello client, which has IM functionality, albeit downplayed. Although, maybe Google themselves have forgotten about Hello since rumors are percolating about a possible Skype acquisition (although they'd have to outbid News Corp's $3 billion offer). Whether Google builds its own messenger or buys one, they will hopefully do a better job of integration than they have with their existing products. Yahoo! Messenger does a good job of tying in Mail, Games, Sports and 360. Integration was the promise of Google Fusion, but so far the integration has been unexciting: Orkut, Blogger, Picasa, Maps, and other smaller products like Answers are nowhere to be found. Integration is not fun, and it's hard -- perhaps Google should take some of the famed 20% fun personal project time and apply it to this nasty integration problem.


text:
Hazard Maps
For instructions on how to use kmz hazard files and to know more about hazard assessment services available at PHIVOLCS, kindly allow us first to know you more so we could serve you better. Please fill out this form. Thank you.
antalya escorthttps://www.freespins99.com/
pornolarturk porn
turk sex sikis seyretporno hd izlemek icin en ideal sex sitesi.
pornolarturk porn
turk sex sikis seyretporno hd izlemek icin en ideal sex sitesi.
Awareness and Preparedness
|TAAL VOLCANO BULLETIN 27 June 2011 8:00 A.M.
The seismic network of Taal Volcano (14.0000°N, 120.9833°E) recorded one (1) volcanic earthquake during the past 24 hours. Field measurements conducted last 21 June 2011 at the western sector inside the Main Crater Lake showed that the water temperature increased from 32.9°C to 33.1°C, the water level increased from 0.33 meter to 0.60 meter and the water became more acidic (pH value from 2.88 to 2.62) as compared with the previous readings on 31 May 2011. Minimal bubbling activity was observed at the middle portion of the Main Crater Lake. Results of the ground deformation survey (precise leveling) conducted around the Volcano Island last 1 - 10 June 2011 showed that the volcano edifice is slightly inflated relative to the 26 April - 03 May 2011 survey. Measurement of carbon dioxide (CO2) gas emission rates last 03-04 May 2011 at Taal Main Crater Lake yielded a value of 2,057 tonnes per day (t/d) which is above the background level.
Alert Level 2 is still in effect over Taal Volcano, with the interpretation that magma has been intruding towards the surface, as manifested by the continuing high emission rate of CO2 being released in the Main Crater Lake and sustained seismic activity. Hence, PHIVOLCS advises the public that the Main Crater, Daang Kastila Trail and Mt. Tabaro (1965-1977 Eruption Site) are strictly off-limits because sudden hazardous steam-driven explosions may occur and high concentrations of toxic gases may accumulate. Breathing air with high concentration of toxic gases can be lethal to human, animals and even cause damage to vegetation. In addition, it is reminded that the entire Volcano Island is a Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ), and permanent settlement in the island is strictly not recommended. DOST-PHIVOLCS is closely monitoring Taal Volcano's activity and any new significant development will be immediately relayed to all concerned.


text:
Now that we've FINALLY hit the lazy, crazy, hazy days of summer here in the Big Windy, we are all about the house arts here at Chez Chic.
The incessant rain has grown the patio into a lush oasis; we have the escape we were planning when we put this together, what, two years ago now. Everything has filled in and matured, beautifully. My most excellent neighbor, Gene, who I swear is the doppelganger of my Polish grandpa (dzia dzia!), did the most amazing thing, hacking down and removing a really awful Tree of Heaven that was growing right through the fence between our yards. Now we just share a line of old-school daylilies, which are so very lovely and tall this year.
I have to admit, even weeding, after so much rain, is not so bad. Almost like magic, the weeds get even more gigantic than the ornamentals (why is that?), giving good purchase to yank them out by their thuggy roots. The spaces between the patio pavers was lush with all types of messy clover and wild ginger and now, after a good picking, only the lovely moss I've been sticking in the cracks over the last two summers paints the outlines with velvety emerald green.
That moss, and the self-seeded alyssum which is spilling over the east-end of the place, makes me smile…
But we have High Life over here too: deck culture in the Big Windy is finely honed as well. We had our three-story monster cleaned and sealed last month and I've just now put everything back out. My bedroom was stuffed with all the furniture and pots and cushions. It's all back in place now and nothing could be finer than to sit on the porch swing with a cool libation and some yarn stuck in the cup holders and delight in all I can see.
It's like being in a tree-house — my neighbor has two large trees in their backyard and since my deck is on the second floor, I'm airborne in their crowns.
But it's the pots full of color that are intriguing me the most. Even though it's very late to plant pots, I couldn't resist! There are three more months of summer, by my Chicago calculations (July, August, September), and it seems some stuff doesn't really get gorgeous until the very last. So I made a trip over to my favorite flower guy (he's in the Menard's parking lot over by Clybourn, north of Fullerton) and as always, his wares were STILL well taken care of and looking fine. To beautiful mediterranean music, in a fine misty rain, I picked out my plants. Then under the patio umbrella, I planted, while it was gently raining all about.
This is my current favorite, oxalis:
Coming in a close second, something we put in at the very end, purple-banded coleus:


text:
Financial institution - inaccurate credit rating - rectification - notification of third parties to whom incorrect data had been released
The complainants in this case were refused a loan from two financial institutions. They made an access request under the Data Protection Act to a credit bureau to see their credit records. The records indicated that they had in the past taken out three loans with a third financial institution ("Institution A"). While the two most recent loans were shown as having been paid off, the first loan (which had been taken out about six years previously) still appeared to be outstanding as it did not have a reference code to show that it had been paid. In fact, all three loans had been repaid on time.
The complainants took the matter up with Institution A, which had lodged the details with the credit bureau. On reviewing the details, the institution confirmed that the code, showing the first loan to have been completed, had been omitted from the record, and the institution said it had now returned the correct information to the credit bureau. Institution A also said that, notwithstanding the error, the individuals' credit record showed a satisfactory credit approval rating.
The individuals complained to my Office about the inaccuracy of their credit record. I asked Institution A for its views on the matter, in light of the requirement at section 2(1)(b) of the Data Protection Act that the personal data kept by a data controller "shall be accurate and, where necessary, kept up to date". Institution A said that, "due to an administrative error", a return had not been sent by the institution to the credit bureau when the loan had been settled. The institution also claimed that the omission would not have prejudiced the complainants in any way: any other financial institution considering the credit record would know that the first loan must have been paid, because Institution A would not otherwise have given a second and third loan to the same individuals. Finally, the institution said that the human error involved in the case could not be repeated, as the manual method of making returns to the credit bureau had since been replaced with an automated system.
Arising from my Office's investigation of the case, I issued a formal decision in which I concluded that Institution A had failed to keep personal data in respect of the complainants up to date, as required by the Act, and accordingly I upheld the complaint. I rejected the argument that other financial institutions could have inferred that the original loan must have been repaid, as I noted that the second and third loans had been issued before the term of the first loan had expired. While taking account of Institution A's prompt action to correct the inaccurate record as soon as the error was brought to its attention, I explained that the Data Protection Act places a clear and active obligation on data controllers to ensure that data is kept accurate and up to date. In the circumstances, I recommended that the institution should contact all parties who had accessed the inaccurate credit record, notifying them of the correct position. Institution A subsequently complied with this recommendation.
I would emphasise to all data controllers their obligation to ensure the accuracy of their computer records. This is especially important where, as in the case of credit records, inaccuracies can have a significant bearing on people's livelihood. In this regard, data controllers should be aware of section 7 of the Data Protection Act, which provides that individuals may take a civil action against a data controller, where the individual has suffered damage as a result of the data controller's failure to comply with the requirements of the Act.


text:
NetWellness is a global, community service providing quality, unbiased health information from our partners. NetWellness is commercial-free and does not accept advertising.
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Eye and Vision Care
Cataract Surgery
At age 71 should one be tested for macular degeneration before cataract surgery?
Yes. Indeed, at any age, a complete eye examination should be performed before cataract surgery. Part of a complete eye examination is careful inspection of the retina through a dilated pupil. Inspection of the retina includes examining the macula, the central part of the retina which is responsible for our sharpest vision. Signs of macular degeneration would show up during this dilated retinal examination.
There are more advanced tests of the macula that can be performed if macular degeneration is suspected or confirmed. These other tests can help determine if there are leaky, new blood vessels or other conditions that require treatment or more careful monitoring, especially if cataract surgery is being considered.
Roanne Flom, OD
Professor of Clinical Optometry
College of Optometry
The Ohio State University


text:
When Tyler Myers was first introduced to the Knockdown Center, he immediately saw the potential for the place to become a mecca for large-scale artwork.
"I was working as a project manager for Frieze Art Fair here in New York three years ago, for the non-profit wing," said Myers. "We were working on a project with Ulla Von Brandenburg and she wanted to do a shadow puppet tent, so we needed an area where her assistants could come over from Belgium and paint a really big tent."
David Sklar let Myers use the old factory floor of the Knockdown Center for the project, and that is when Myers realized the potential. While things started slowly at first, it wasn't long before he was overseeing the production of a fantastical mini-golf course commissioned by the center that had a very positive response from the surrounding community.
"I thought it offered a unique opportunity to New York and to culture makers of all stripes that I thought I could, with my combination of venue management and design experience and also my deep fine arts experience, I could make this a sustainable and welcoming generator of culture," he said.
Since then, the venue has been home to some of the coolest happenings in Queens, including a brief residency by Roberta's Tiki Disco – which lasted from 2 p.m. until 10 p.m. and caused no community complaints.
That is, until some Instagram pictures surfaced showcasing the alternative lifestyles of some of the Knockdown's patrons, resulting in severe backlash from the greater Maspeth community and the denial of permanent liquor and occupational permits.
Though Myers said these denials would make it harder for the Knockdown to produce the income they need for hiring staff and commissioning artwork, he and his colleagues are committed to seeing their vision through.
"In my mind, we have existed for two years, and done everything above board and safely, and had a good relationship with our neighbors," Myers said. "With the liquor license, it got very politicized, and to some folks I think it feels like a big change in terms of what's been here before – and it is – but I think it's appropriate. We have restored this building and want to keep it. We want to use its natural beauty and absolute uniqueness to deliver something amazing."
The next exhibition at Knockdown Center is being curated by Clocktower, an art collective established by MoMa PS1 founder Alanna Heiss, and will open on July 5.


text:
MONTICELLO — A fight over a young man's affections turned vicious Wednesday evening when, police and relatives say, one young woman stabbed another with her family's help.
MONTICELLO — A fight over a young man's affections turned vicious Wednesday evening when, police and relatives say, one young woman stabbed another with her family's help.
Nichelle Jackson, 19, and Kadajah Stewart, 18, got in a fight, and Jackson won, according to her grandmother, Sheila Jackson.
Later, Stewart went to Jackson's apartment on Cottage Street, with her mother, Dawn Tyler, 45, and a young man. They brought knives.
The three attacked Nichelle, police said. Nichelle's 15-year-old brother was stabbed in the neck, and they stabbed Nichelle nine times. A knife blade broke off in her back.
Nichelle's mother got home during the attack, and suffered some cuts and bruises trying to break it up.
Everyone was still there when police arrived around 6:15 p.m. It wasn't clear at first who was a victim and who was a suspect, said police Chief Robert Mir. Stewart was taken into custody at the scene; police told Tyler, who had suffered a deep cut to her hand, to stay put, but she slipped away in the chaos.
Police found Tyler just after midnight, when she called for medical help from a home on Thomas Street.
She was treated at Catskill Regional Medical Center, released and put in custody.
Police are still looking for the young man — Sheila Jackson said he was Stewart's brother, but Mir wouldn't confirm the relationship — who got away at the scene.
Nichelle and her brother were brought first to Catskill, then to Albany Medical Center, where she underwent emergency surgery to remove the blade. She is in stable condition, and her brother is out of the hospital.
Village Justice Josephine Finn arraigned Stewart and Tyler and sent them to jail on $50,000 cash bail.


text:
If you do not already know, every single particle that you come into contact with is at least partially absorbed by your skin. Unfortunately we cannot protect ourselves from the things we do not have control over, like what is floating in the air or resting on the railing at work. Wecan, however,protect ourselves from the products we have a choice to interact with, such as those for skin and hair care.
Chemicals are abundant in the cosmetic world and all work towards great outward results for your hair and skin–but at what cost inwards?
ZENMED has worked hard to formulate only vegetable-based formulations and using only ingredients that are minimally if not at all absorbed by the body. It is a conscious decision we made from day one being concerned individuals about environmental stressors to our well-being.
What if we told you that we have a product that can beat those big name brands in all of these categories and is an all-natural and chemical free alternative to many things sitting on your bathroom shelves?
Meet Argan Oil (INCI: ARGANIA SPINOSA OIL) – probably the most important skincare breakthrough in the last 5 years.
Before this starts to sound too much like a sponsored sales pitch it is important to say that Argan Oil is not new to the beauty industry but had simply gone unnoticed in the clutter of natural, organic, alternative treatments. And now since we have found the most nutrient-enriched, organic version, we want to introduce it to you. This miracle ingredient has people around the globe revering its properties, spanning from wrinkle reduction to de-frizzing and conditioning dry hair.
Why use ZENMED Essential Argan Oil?
You know how we mentioned protecting yourself from products that may be absorbed by the skin? Well, Argan oil is actually edible and nutritionally dense. Not only is Argan oil good for hair and skin, it also has a number of naturopathic and culinary uses as well (If you are choosing to use raw Argan oil as a beauty product, make sure you buy cosmetic grade and not culinary Argan Oil). Ergo, you can rest easy knowing that any amount of Argan Oil absorbed by the skin will not hurt you, in fact, it may help you.
ZENMED recognized the healing properties of this amazing oil and has taken the necessary steps to incorporate it, in its pure form, into their product catalogue. And, to secure more peace of mind for our customers, our Argan oil is Ecocert Certified organic. For more information on Ecocert and what it means for you please visit their website at http://www.ecocert.com/en.
It is also important to note that when buying Argan oil you should always look for a dark-coloured, UV protected glass bottle. This is not only more environmentally friendly than plastic but it does not react with the oil. It also prevents oxidation and degradation of the antioxidants. ZENMED makes sure to meet of these specifications for all of our Argan oil products.
And with that brief introduction, ZENMED brings you Argan Oil!
What can Argan Oil do for you?
Let me break it down into the 4 main cosmetic uses:
1) Face: Apply Argan oil to your face nightly to treat dry skin. If you need extra hydration it is also a good idea to use the oil in the morning as a base for your makeup. Alternatively you can apply it to dry or wrinkle-prone areas. You may also massage Argan Oil into chapped lips in place of lip balm
2) Nails: Massaging your cuticles with Argan Oil will both soften them and restore a healthy radiance to your nails. Soaking your nails in equal parts Argan Oil and lemon juice is an effective and natural way to strengthen weakened nails. It is also a good idea to rub Argan Oil onto your hands at night in place of a moisturizer.
3) Hair: Unlike chemical treatments where the product coats the hair to give it a healthy look, the natural ingredients in Argan Oil are absorbed into the strands, healing the hair from the inside out. Argan Oil works to mend split ends and return processed or dull hair to its natural shine. Apply 2 drops to hair daily.
Massaging Argan Oil into the scalp can advance hair growth through the absorption of nutrients through the skin.
Argan Oil can also be used as an intense conditioning treatment. Apply a generous amount of Argan Oil to the ends of your hair and work your way up (for dry hair, apply Argan Oil all the way up to your roots). Wrap hair in a warm towel and leave for a minimum of 30 minutes. Wash and style as usual
4) Body: Because our skin is so absorbent it is important to use products that will not harm us internally. Argan Oil is a healthy and effective alternative for body butters or drugstore skin lotions. A couple drops of Argan Oil can also be added to your current natural moisturizer for increased hydration. Massage into targeted areas of the body for the reduced appearance of stretch marks.
Argan Oil is a natural and organic alternative to massage oil and is ideal for after sun exposure (always use a chemical free sunscreen such as the ZENMED SPF 40 Mineral Sunscreen)
How much do you need?
We offer an ample-sized 4oz/120ml bottle of 100% pure and organic Argan Oil. That is so you can use is all over the body and face.
While our competitors offer small vials of oil at exorbitant prices (and many times mixed with other oils to dilute the Argan), we only offer the purest and best product for a reasonable price. That is because we have procured pricing directly from the manufacturer and cut all middle-men out.
Why is Argan Oil so amazing?
4 words and a letter: 'Essential Fatty Acids (EFA)' and 'Vitamin E'–the two things that keep our skin smooth and maintaining its strength. Without these two essential parts our skin would be dry, flaky, and wrinkly. With the naturally occurring amounts our body produces we still require an additional injection of both EFA and Vitamin E in most places on earth to counter the dryness of our environment and the damaging effects of the sun. We can get these injections through most beauty products on the market but with the vast majority of these come the chemicals. And if EFA's and Vitamin E are being absorbed, we can bet that the chemicals are too.
Therefore, the safest, most cost effective way to satisfy our skin and hair's needs for EFA's and Vitamin E is through the use of natural, raw, organic Argan Oil.
Argan Oil is also praised for its richness of Carotenes. Carotenes are found naturally in fruits and vegetables and is a precursor for Vitamin A absorption–a highly regarded vitamin in the beauty industry for its success in protecting against skin damage, reversing skin damage, and its large role in anti-aging. Carotenes also play a large part in strengthening and repairing damaged hair.
How is Argan Oil so amazing?
Squalene is naturally occurring in plants and animals and is a popular additive in cosmetics due to its penetrating capabilities and similarity to our body's own oils. Squalene is readily absorbed into the skin and hair without leaving greasy, irritating residues. Squalene is effective in treating scar tissue and preventing stretch marks as well as reducing hair loss. It is also a fantastic conditioning agent.
When can I buy the ZENMED Argan Oil?
We will be releasing it into your hands in July 2012. Please check our Facebook page and website for new information and links to our Argan Oil then.
Being that Essential Fatty Acids, Vitamin E, Carotenes, Sterols, and Squalene are what make up Argan Oil, it is easy to see why it is the only product needed for your daily beauty routine.


text: We went here to get away from it all for 3 nights. There's a couple of options for getting here from Vancouver Island...you can either park at Painters Lodge and use the free water taxi to come across to Quadra or you can take the Quadra Island Ferry (about $40 for 2+car roundtrip cost). We took the ferry across but... More


text:
- Inside Athletics
- Tickets
- Fan Zone
- Media Zone
- Social
- Shop
- E Fund
ETSU faces two ranked teams in week-long journey to UC-Riverside and Fresno
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (March 4, 2010) - Seniors Cheniece Cason (Moreno Valley, Calif.) and Marissa Hardy (Rocklin, Calif.) are set to make their homecoming this weekend when the Lady Bucs wrap up a long stretch of 22 straight road games out in California.
The ETSU softball team is set to see where they rank against some of the nation's elite programs this weekend, as the Lady Bucs' trip to California marks their longest road trip in program history. Along the way, ETSU faces two ranked programs, as well as teams from the SEC and BIG EAST conferences.
ETSU, who currently sits at 7-5 after its first 12 games, will begin play at the aTEN Construction Tournament in Riverside on Friday afternoon. The first game of the five-game tournament won't be an easy one for the Lady Bucs, as they face 17th ranked Ohio State at 2:30 p.m. inside the Amy S. Harrison Softball Complex. Following their game with the Buckeyes, the Lady Bucs take on the host Highlanders - who are coming off an upset over 5th ranked UCLA on Wednesday afternoon.
On Saturday, the Lady Bucs will look to pick up their second win over a BIG EAST foe this season when ETSU takes on reigning conference tournament champion Notre Dame at 2:30 p.m. The game with the Fighting Irish is the lone contest for the Lady Bucs on Saturday.
Then, on Sunday, ETSU wraps up play with Ohio State (noon) and Riverside (5 p.m.).
As a team, ETSU is coming off a 3-2 trip to Chattanooga last weekend at the Frost Classic where junior right-hander Jessica Duncan (Ooltewah, Tenn.) went 2-1 with a 0.79 ERA (2ER/17.2IP) in the circle. At the plate, sophomore infielder Amy Campbell (Chattanooga, Tenn.) enjoyed the visit to her hometown, as the Chattanooga native led the Lady Bucs with a .455 batting average (5-11). Campbell also recorded two doubles, two RBI and three runs scored.
Fans unable to make the trip to California can catch all the action online through live stats courtesy of UC-Riverside athletics. To access the link visit www.gohighlanders.com or click on the link above.
For more information on Lady Buccaneer softball, visit www.ETSUBucs.com.


text:
Always on, always connected—that pretty much sums up students today. Kids embrace their digital lifestyles consuming, curating, editing, and distributing content via the web and their smartphones consistently throughout the day. It's been a long time coming, but thanks to networked and open technologies designed for learning and a new zeal for collaboration, K-12 curricula is beginning to catch up with the everyday social habits of kids. Unique innovation labs and high tech high schools are laying the groundwork for 21st innovation for students and teachers.
Through the support of the Ford Foundation, New York-based EDesign Lab brings educators, technologists, and designers together to prototype tangible examples of interactive digital learning tools for K-12 students.
"In practice, the lab is basically like an extended and facilitated hackathon/designathon," shared EDesign Founder Hsing Wei. "The big idea is to shake up the K-12 learning technologies marketplace a little to be more learning and end-user focused. We wondered what would happen if we brought together teachers thinking deeply about the design of learning experiences with technologists thinking deeply about the design of digital experiences. Could they come up with ways to re-imagine digital education for K-12 students that neither could have come up with on their own?"
It appears they can. So far, the EDesign group has managed to rapidly generate and transform user-driven concepts into trial-able prototypes for schools. In their most recent cycle, the lab built two prototypes. They are Reading Robot, an iPad app exploring teachable agents to support active reading and Evidently, an open, youth scientific community.
Disqus: What challenges do technology-driven schools face?
Wei says she'd like to keep the projects as open source as possible. While the organization is still in the midst or refining some of the code, the objective is for other designers to potentially build upon specific prototypes.
Open technology platforms and project-based learning curricula are major drivers of collaboration for students at Southern California's High Tech High, a network of K-12 schools that integrate project-based learning into their classes.
"We're trying to put what we think is better teaching into core classes," shared High Tech High Chief Academic Officer Ben Daley. "So having our students make robots in physics class is standard."
High Tech High art teacher Travis Sevilla says on any typical day on campus, one might see students building algae biofuel reactors, designing solar-powered boats, writing their own plays in humanities class, or designing their own shoes made out of recycled materials.
In such a collaborative environment, the cloud lends itself nicely to High Tech High curricula. In addition to students using Google Docs to create and share work, instructors who work with schools in other countries use video conferencing technology to teach lessons. The students on location regularly publish their work online, using software such as Google's Sketch UP for 3D rendering in service of their projects.
While the integration of digital learning tools is becoming more sought after by educators in the U.S., Daley says he and his faculty are aware of how the "hype" around technology can lead to a skewed sense of security.
"We don't think technology is some kind of silver bullet," he said. "We don't automatically think that if you put technology in schools, it's going to make everything better. We try to use technology as a tool. Our big thing is we're trying to get kids to produce work for a real audience."
Another challenge High Tech High faces like other schools is coming up with funding for up-to-date hardware and software. Fortunately, more than 90 percent of High Tech High's students are accepted into college, giving the faculty and community plenty to celebrate. And, schools across the country have innovation from collaborative groups such as EDesign Lab to tap into for inspiration and new ideas.
The contents or opinions in this feature are independent and do not necessarily represent the views of Cisco. They are offered in an effort to encourage continuing conversations on a broad range of innovative technology subjects. We welcome your comments and engagement.
We welcome the re-use, republication, and distribution of "The Network" content. Please credit us with the following information: Used with the permission of http://thenetwork.cisco.com/.


text:
TOKYO (AP) — A government panel will urge Japan to allow its military to help allies that come under attack, in a major reversal of the country's ban on collective defense under its pacifist constitution.
The panel on Tuesday discussed ways that Japan can improve its defense capability and said it will present its near-final draft recommendation in coming weeks, before its final report is expected after April.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wants Japan to play a greater role in international peacekeeping and step up its defense posture, mainly because of potential military threats that Japan sees from China and North Korea. As China's influence rises and that of the United States fades in the region, Japan is trying to expand its defense alliance outside of its "cornerstone" ties with Washington and has signed defense agreements with several other countries, including Britain and Australia.
The 14-member panel, headed by former Ambassador to the U.S. Shunji Yanai, says the revision is possible if the government alters its current interpretation of the war-renouncing constitution. Formal constitutional change involves high hurdles, though Abe eventually hopes to achieve that.
The constitution, written under U.S. direction after World War II, says the Japanese people "forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation" and that "land, sea and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained." The government has interpreted those clauses as meaning that Japan cannot possess offensive military weapons such as ICBMs or long-range strategic bombers.
Abe and other supporters of the change believe that restrictions should be removed from the military, and that Japan's current self-defense-only policy is inadequate as the region's security environment becomes more challenging. They say U.S. warships may come under attack while in or near Japan, or there may be instances in which Japanese troops have to fight for allies during international peacekeeping missions, even when Japan is not attacked directly.
"Japan's preparation for national security threats in the region is not sufficient," Abe said during Tuesday's meeting. "We must cover all the bases to protect the people's lives and safety in any possible scenario."
Japan has repeatedly loosened restrictions on its military over time as it tried to raise its international profile and meet expectations from the U.S. and other countries. But its peacekeeping missions have been limited to noncombat roles because of its pacifist rules, and a change would allow its troops to do more.
The draft report is also expected to urge Japan to relax its restrictions on arms exports, participate more actively in U.N.-led security operations, and prepare a legal framework for its military to counter intrusions on remote Japanese-held islands, apparently including territory in the East China Sea also claimed by China. It would also urge Japan to strengthen its defense ties with its allies, most importantly the United States.


text:
EDMONTON - "It feels strange, having it out in the world," Jessica Kluthe tells me over the telephone. The Edmonton writer is talking about her baby: the bookish sort, a labour of love about her midwifing foremother and the Italian-Edmonton immigrant experience.
Rosina, the Midwife fits snugly in your hands, its cover soft and smooth as a newborn's cheek. Inside is blood that's written in ink, the muscles and bones of family stories that for years made Kluthe long for a boot-shaped nation across the Atlantic she'd never seen, a woman she'd never known. Is a love of olives, tomatoes genetic? Can a person inherit homesickness, love of country?
Kluthe's new work of non-fiction (Brindle & Glass) centres on Rosina, her great-great-grandmother, who lived in Italy between 1883 and 1969 and assisted in hundreds of childbirths. Kluthe never met her ancestor, and only knew Rosina through snippets of oral history on her mother's side of the family.
"My parents would be telling stories of her delivering babies," Kluthe, 27, recalls. The Morinville native began writing the book for her MFA at the University of Victoria, making it her goal to explore "the way we can tell true stories in a way that was just as compelling as any fiction."
Kluthe constructs and simultaneously unpacks the life of Rosina in this evocative, layered memoir, structuring the narrative in a way that permits the reader to unpack along with her, to share the same curiosity and discoveries, to pin personal history and women's history onto the map of world events and their own family tales.
Between 1870 and 1970, some 26 million Italians left their homeland, including Rosina's loved ones. We move forward and back in time as Kluthe bravely recounts her own life experiences (travelling to Italy with an old boyfriend; miscarrying at age 19) and imagines pivotal moments in Rosina's life (her son leaving for Canada; delivering a stillborn baby).
"I made a pact with the reader early on that I'd always cue the reader when I was slipping into imagination," she says as a means of explaining the invented within the framework of non-fiction. "There was a really clear reason for imagining: to bring Rosina onto the page. While we might have some documents that tell us when someone lived and died, these documents reduce someone's life. But we have the power to imagine them in a scene, rocking a baby, singing to someone, cooking something, and in that way we can make them more alive."
Recounting her own brush with parenthood, however difficult, was logical to Kluthe, fair. "The only way I could justify to myself telling Rosina's story without her permission was to equally put myself on the page and be vulnerable."
The threads of what it means to be a woman, a parent, one rung on a generational ladder makes this book complex, ambitious and relevant, especially in a city like Edmonton, where immigrant stories are stacked and rich as a lasagna. "We live in Canada where most people have recent immigrant history, and if their history isn't in Italy, it's about coming from somewhere else and rerooting yourself."
As someone who did not grow up in Edmonton, I enjoyed all the tidbits about my new-found city, such as the Italian architectural origins of Rexall Place (formerly known as the Coliseum — aha!). And because many of the scenes take place in this city, this book will feel homey to local readers, regardless of their ethnic roots.
It took Kluthe three years to deliver the book (ouch!) and demanded molto strength, especially when it came to respecting all the characters, some long gone, many very much alive.
"Certainly my next project will be fiction, because it's difficult to talk to someone and say, I'm going to turn you into a character, to say, you have to realize that I'm not capturing everything you are. It is difficult writing about people you love."
Even more difficult? Writing about how it feels to have a baby when you've never had a baby. Kluthe watched videos, interviewed people, drew on her own experiences of pain, but did worry she wouldn't get away with it. "The birth scene, I rewrote that a million times," she admits.
Her editor, Linda Goyette, a mom of two, helped Kluthe along, offering feedback to augment the authenticity. "I had this one part where I said the woman was coming out of consciousness as if she was in a dream, and my editor said, 'You need to take out the word dream, because there's just no way.' "
The launch for Jessica Kluthe's new book, Rosina, the Midwife, happens Saturday March 23 at 6:30 p.m. at Spinelli's Bar Italia (10878 95th St.).


text:
Start by entering your postcode to set up your FREE
account and read reviews about childcarers local to you.
You can then book childcare online – just select the
date, time and address for your booking.
Choose the local carers you'd prefer us to offer your bookings
to first and we'll keep you updated of progress by email.
Your childcarer will call you before the booking and you should pay
her for her time at the end. Rates start from just £7.85.
Pay nothing until after you have used Sitters - guaranteed. A booking
fee (£4-£6) and quarterly membership fee (£14.95) will only be
charged to your credit card after your booking has taken place.
Read reviews of approved Sitters local to you
Kelly needed directions to the house and had sensibly asked for these - it is not the easiest to find - which meant she arrived in good time. The house was busy with the tail-end of my daughter's birthday party, but she didn't seem fazed. She took time to get to know our children and, despite the commotion, took on board all my instructions. The babysitting went like clockwork: children went to bed on time and were fast asleep when we got home. Kelly has a pleasant personality and I would use her again.
This was the first time we had used Sitters. Debra was exactly what we were looking for in a carer for our son - the first time we had left him with anyone except very close family (no social life for nearly eight years!) - gentle, laid back and very friendly, we had no qulams about leaving her in charge. The best recommendation is that, having been upset about being left prior to our going out, our son is now very much looking forward to Debras next visit.
My husband and I are very pleased that we have had Gillian as our childminder lately. She is an extremely relaxed and joyful person, she was just great with our children. Gillian stayed late looking after our boys but was on the alert until the last min. She displayed lots of care and patience and was happy to take the boys to the playground nearby. We would recommend Gillian to anyone who uses the Sitters service. All the best, Anna and Ronald.


text:
Add vehicles to compare. You can compare up to 3 vehicles at a time.
Tax, title, license and dealer fees (unless itemized above) are extra. Not available with special finance or lease offers.All pricing and details are believed to be accurate, but we do not warrant or guarantee such accuracy. The prices shown above, may vary from region to region, as will incentives, and are subject to change. Vehicle information is based off standard equipment and may vary from vehicle to vehicle. Call or email for complete vehicle specific information. Tax, title, license (unless itemized above) are extra. Not available with special finance, lease and some other offers.
New 2018 Equinox Cars for sale near Cincinnati
Welcome to Mike Castrucci Chevrolet where you're sure to find the exact New 2018 Equinox car, truck or SUV you've been looking for. When considering the many Chevy dealers in Milford for your next new vehicle for sale or lease, one dealership stands apart from the rest, Mike Castrucci Chevrolet. We have an extensive inventory of new cars for you to choose from. Whether you're interested in the rugged Chevrolet Silverado or the popular Chevy Malibu, we're confident you'll find the right vehicle to meet your needs, budget and lifestyle. Once you've found the perfect New 2018 Equinox vehicle, don't hesitate to give us call and come on in for a test drive. We're just a short drive from Batavia or Mason. So choose the Chevrolet dealership that puts its customers first: Mike Castrucci Chevrolet.
Customer Reviews (2029 Reviews)
best gm dealership.
best gm dealership.
Kenneth C. CINCINNATI
Very professional and personal
Very professional and personal
Ronald S. CINCINNATI
My salesman Charles Krekeler. Made my...
My salesman Charles Krekeler. Made my purchase expierance very easy, I was in and out in less than 2hrs. Also the finance mgr. Rick Loomis did a great...
Steven G. MILFORD
My engine light came on i took my car in...
My engine light came on i took my car in talked to mike the service writer he said he will take care of it and he did it's not on no more Thank you!!
Walter M. CINCINNATI
I am treated like a person, not a number!
I am treated like a person, not a number!
Almajane B. CINCINNATI
It was a long day but all things...
It was a long day but all things considered, a day worth while.
William W. MILFORD
awesome service, great dealership
awesome service, great dealership
Marsha G. CINCINNATI
This was our initial service visit for...
This was our initial service visit for our vehicle purchased at the end of 2017. We were in and out before our actual appointment time! Could not ask ...
Laura W. COLD SPRING
Fast service. Very fry sales people
Fast service. Very fry sales people
Connie H. BATAVIA
My service advisor was very helpful.
My service advisor was very helpful.
Erik S. MILFORD


text:
Strategy: Easy Access to Prevention and Treatment Services
Strategy When a community provides easy access to prevention and early intervention services, these services reach youth and adults . . .
When a community provides easy access to prevention and early intervention services, these services reach youth and adults who would otherwise go unassisted.
Drug Problem Addressed
Because of family, social, economic, or environmental factors, some children, and their parents, are particularly vulnerable to using alcohol and other drugs. Some troubled families fail to get help because services are too expensive, inaccessible, or unavailable during convenient hours.
Key Components
High-risk young people often need special intervention and drug-related services. Often, their parents also need assistance. Easy-access prevention and intervention services can be located at schools, churches, housing complexes, day-care centers, community centers, or storefronts. They can provide free family advocacy services, tutoring, family counseling, parenting classes, assistance for students who have been suspended or are in danger of being suspended from school for drug-related offenses, and information and referral to other community resources. Neighborhood-based assistance can also be extended to runaways, homeless youths, juvenile offenders, and youths who have been removed from home for their protection.
Key Partnerships
Community-based service providers must be part of a network that includes schools, parents, youth groups, and the local juvenile justice system. These providers must share information and coordinate services to identify and serve high-risk individuals.
Potential Obstacles
Often, at-risk individuals do not seek assistance until there is a crisis, and parents who are burdened with socioeconomic difficulties are often unsupportive if their children are in trouble. Many parents find it difficult to attend meetings or counseling sessions because of transportation problems, lack of child care, or restrictive job requirements. Others are apathetic or fearful regarding assistance programs.
Signs of Success
An OSAP evaluation of one easy-access intervention program for high-risk youths found that four of five major risk factors--frequency and amount of drug use--had been reduced in participating youth. OSAP also reported improved adolescent-adult communication.
Applying the Strategy
Pittsburgh's Addison Terrace Learning Center is located in a public housing project where many youths and their parents are involved in drug use. The center teaches parenting skills through a parent forum, has a child-care program and on-site playroom for the children of parents who seek treatment, and offers an on-site, income-producing print shop and job training for adolescents.
In Atlanta, the Bridge (Operation Higher Ground) program provides emergency shelter and counseling for runaway or homeless youths. The goal is to replace high-risk behavior, which can lead to or exacerbate drug use, with healthy behavior. In collaboration with Atlanta's public school system, the Bridge also operates an alternative school for youth who cannot attend regular classes while in a shelter. The program is part of National Families in Action.
The House Next Door, in Deland, Florida, offers family therapy to youths in trouble with drugs and to their families, with parent-training services in the homes of participating families. The program has documented a high rate of client retention and a decrease in drug use among youths.
From 350 Tested Strategies to Prevent Crime: A Resource for Municipal Agencies and Community Groups


text:
Meyer insists there is no bad blood with Bielema, Badgers
- Written by MATT HAMMOND
With his relentless approach in everything he does, Urban Meyer ruffled some feathers around the Big 10 after he was named the Ohio State head football coach last November.
Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema, right, celebrates with running back James White after Wisconsin defeated Indiana 62- 14 on Saturday in Bloomington, Ind. (AP PHOTO | DARRON CUMMINGS)
Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema made public his issues with Meyer. He accused Meyer of being overly aggressive in his recruiting. The Buckeyes plucked offensive lineman Kyle Dodson away from the Badgers on national signing day.
Dodson had been verbally committed to the Badgers, but Meyer was able to get the highly regarded lineman to change his mind.
Bielema felt Meyer, who was a very successful recruiter while in the Southeastern Conference at Florida, bent the rules in his pursuit of Dodson.
"I can tell you this," said Bielema at the time. "We at the Big 10 don't want to be like the SEC — in any way, shape or form."
BUCKEYE INSIDER, exclusively in Tuesday's Examiner. CLICK HERE to subscribe today!


text:
A court in Beijing sentenced ten people to jail for running an illicit "black jail."
The offenders were sentenced to up to two years in prison for illegally operating the jail, CS Monitor reported. The unprecedented move came as a nice surprise to lawyers who believe it to be a step in the right direction to eliminate extralegal detention, a common practice in China.
"This is a good start in the legal fight against black jails," said Tang Hongxin, a lawyer who has assisted victims of illegal imprisonment. "I hope the government will step up this fight" after ignoring the problem for years, he says.
'Black Jails' are secret detention facilities designed to weed out threats to the communist party. The detention camps, which range from hotel rooms, to empty government offices, to schools, are used to imprison anyone who attempts to travel to Beijing to appeal to the central government.While in the jails, petitioners are subject to beating, sleep and food deprivation and psychological abuse. Then, they are sent back home.
According to Scotsman.com, the paramilitary forces' funding has exceeded the national defense budget for the past three years. The capital is used to pay for the regular criminal justice system, civilians to be on the lookout for potential trouble makers, bounty hunters to arrest petitioners who are on their way to Beijing, and the jails that holds them.
The ten people sentenced for running the 'Black Jail' were all from the poor province of Henan in Yuzhou and falsely imprisoned 11 petitioners also from Henan, Xinhua news agency reported yesterday.
"The court ruled that Wang Gaowei and the other nine respondents had infringed the personal rights of the 11 petitioners, which constituted the crime of false imprisonment," the publication wrote.
This is the first time that Beijing's officials take action against the paramilitary forces that run 'Black Jails,' CS Monitor noted.
The Chinese Government's sudden interest in eradicating or even acknowledging the existence of 'Black Jails' comes at the perfect time for their upcoming leadership transition as "the incoming officers want to be seen as determined to clean up their ranks" given the government's reputation of being corrupt and abusing its power, Al Jazeera points out.


text:
Rating: 2.3/5 (Total votes: 23)
New, animated live wallpaper 3D, for your phone and tablet! OXON L.W.Apocalypse Free 3D © some of the best 3D wallpapers for phones and tablets. Feel the real world and live 3D right in your phone or tablet. Soak up the atmosphere of the apocalypse, destroyed and deserted city.3D live wallpaper is great for new devices on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.
→ Main Feature OXON L.W.Apocalypse Free 3D:
● Real 3D
● Supports a wide range of devices (phones) + (tablets)
● Great crafted design
● Graphics and textures of high quality
● Support for HD and FULL HD displays for phones and tablets
● Support for installation on SD card
→ You can buy the paid (Pro) version with advanced functionality.
→ On some very old devices are possible of suspension animation.
Installation: The main screen (long press) → Live Wallpaper → OXON L.W.Apocalypse Free
→ Key words:
Live Wallpaper 3D, interactive wallpaper, animated wallpaper, wallpapers, 3D wallpapers, meteor, city, apocalypse, comet.
» show all
FreewareAndroid - Free Downloads Android Market Apps, Applications, Games, APK, WiFi, Sync, GPS for Google Android OS


text:
A new sports complex could be in the city's future.
A new sports complex could be in the city's future.
On Thursday, council members heard from Bob Bushyhead, president of Land3 Studio, a consultant firm who has been working for the past year to perform a parks assessment study for the city.
Bushyhead said the consultants looked at multiple factors, including peer communities and public input, to determine what Neosho's park system is missing.
"There was pretty consistent feedback that the facilities that you have currently for sports really don't meet the needs, either from a quality standpoint or just the numbers," Bushyhead said.
He presented the city with two similar conceptual drawings, featuring a four-field baseball complex, a four-field softball complex, three or four multi-purpose fields, which could be used for football and soccer, a 300-yard driving range, and a minimum of approximately 500 parking spaces, with the complex located on the west side of the Neosho Municipal Golf Course.
The entrance to the complex would be located on Waldo Hatler Memorial Drive, near the existing entrance to the golf course clubhouse parking lot.
Richard Davidson, Neosho mayor, noted that the complex would be located near the Neosho Transportation Development District, where road improvements, including the extension of Hale McGinty Drive, are proposed.
"With I-49 being just west of this property, and the improvements the TDD is proposing with retail, the tournament concept also gives us the ability, we hope, to be able to drive traffic to Neosho that otherwise wouldn't come here," Davidson said. "That can help tilt the balance on justifying the fast food chain or sit-down restaurants, hotels and economic growth from the tourism standpoint."
Davidson also noted that, not only could the complex allow the city to host tournaments for city sports, or Neosho Little League, but that the fields would also work for the collegiate level.
Tom Workman, councilman, said he remembered a time when the Neosho adult softball league had 45 teams signed up, while this year there are only five.
"It's kind of slacked off in the last couple years but I think the reason that has happened is because there's not a quality place to play adult softball," Workman said.
Troy Royer, city manager, said the adult league currently has to schedule field time around little league, with little league taking precedence.
Council members in attendance at Thursday's work session expressed interest in moving forward with the Land3 study.
Bushyhead said the next step is an economic impact study, at a cost of $3,950.
The needs assessment study totaled $7,350.
"I think we'll be pleasantly surprised with the economic impact," said councilman Steve Hart. "I think this is something that the people of Neosho deserve."
While the sports complex would move the programs away from Morse Park, Royer said taking the ball fields out would allow the city to come up with new ideas for that city park, to allow for activities such as fishing or other rural recreation.
"Very few parks anywhere in the city limits have two miles of freshwater white ribbon stream running through them, so Morse Park is a major asset to this town," Workman said. "But, it's not a major asset to our sports programs, not anymore."


text:
Read comments on this car
Last updated Mar 24, 2012
I bought this car when I was 16 years old in 1999. She had a frozen up inline six, no transmission and was destined to crusher one day. Until I bought her for $300 that I'd worked a summer job for. I then spent more hard earned dough on a 400 cu small block and a transmission. I bought all of the seals, a motor stand and began building a dream. I would often sit in it (on a cinder block) and dream of one day cruising down the highway in it. I quickly ran out of funds and began to realize that I had the rest of my life to build a project and I wanted to save up and get a 72 Nova or a 69 Oldsmobile instead. So I sold it for what I had in it to a buddy in a town 45 miles away. He sold it to another guy in a town about 20 miles away from him, and that man sold it to an old lady there in the same town. I never saw the car again.
As time passed I often missed the Nova. I had grown partial to the x-body, she was, after all, my first car. I would talk to people about the car I used to own and the big plans I had for her.
One day at college I found myself in just such a conversation. I talked about the engine I was building, the paint I wanted, and all the while remembering that the dream had sailed. But I didn't know what the Fates had in store for me.
On my way home (I commuted to college 60 miles one way), I saw in my college town a Nova like my old one for sale. I thought little of it at first, but like a splinter in my mind it began to fester and swell into a crazy idea before I made it home. Sixty miles later I could take no more, I turned around and drove all the way back to investigate the car.
I began looking her over. She had an engine, she had a transmission, she had a similar smell that I had once known. Some bafoon had disrespectfully painted her a darker blue and managed to botch overspray everywhere. I noticed a feature here, a feature there, a dent in the same place behind the fender, a crimp in the wheel, a missing trunk latch that could only be opened with a flathead screwdriver. I opened the passenger side door. I could smell 1978 and the confined vinyl that melted in the summer heat. I opened the glovebox to find O'Reilly's receipts from 1999 with my phone number on them. She was my old car. Upon this realization, the man selling her came out to see me scoping out his car and I said, "Where did you get this car." "Some old lady in Nacogdoches." It was her. I drove her for the first time, she didn't have the 400 small block I'd planned on-heck she didn't even have her passing gear engaged, the engine was a mess; a rat's nest on wheels. But it didn't matter, it was like going on a date with your first love.
I brought her home on her own power this time, not on a trailer like I watched her leave me on. She returned to me, she found a way back.
I've had her back since 2004 and I've been restoring her ever since. She's been an everyday driver too, not a show car. It is only now in 2012 that I have begun to put her in retirement to begin making her into a "show car". Her future will only get brighter, and she won't be hidden in a garage and never enjoyed. She came back to me to live, not slowly rot in the darkness.
Engine size: 5.0ltr, Edelbrock 4barrel,
Top Speed: Never topped it out, fastest I've been in it is about 110, but I estimate it will do around 130-140.
Gear Ratio: Unknown, but mid range - this car catches it's stride in 3rd
Transmission: Automatic (5 speed stick with o.d. is on my wishlist)
This car is a 78, Detroit stopped stamping out an official SS Nova in 76 I think. This car was a grandma's grocery getter...it was plain-jane and boring...I've upgraded everything on the car that you would find in a 75 or 76 SS trim package and therefore since Chevy was too stingy with the SS label in the last years of the Nova, I have taken it upon myself as an enthusiast to make her an SS in all but the sereal number.
Air Conditioning available (temporarily disabled for repairs and upgrades as seen in the engine pic)
Power Steering will be added this summer
Originally had a split bench, but I installed bucket seats from a 67 Camaro. The back seat is a hybrid of a Camaro and Nova backseat.
Here is an account to the best of my memory right now of what I've replaced on the Nova. This doesn't include work or repairs to existing things.
1.) rear bumper filler - ebay $100
2.) tail lights - ebay $300
3.) locks - ebay $30
4.) weather stripping - ebay $30
5.) 6 inch subwoofer - $0
6.) 2 pioneer 6x9s - $0
7.) interior plastic moldings - ebay $120
8.) dome light cover - ebay $10
9.) 74 model Nova plate for dash Bob's Transmission- $5
10.) windows tinted - Latexo $150
11.) carpet - ebay $75.00
12.) camero bucket seats and rear - guy I know's attic $175
13.) toggle switch for windshield wipers - $0
14.) window rollers- Autozone $10
15.) console - Oreilly's $10
16.) brake master booster - Oreilly's $50
17.) Yenko camero sports mirrors - ebay $100
18.) new windshield - Jacky Lewis $100
19.) new Edlebrock 4 barrell, intake, breather, valve covers, sparkplugs, spark plug wires and all the fixin's- Oreilly's $900
20.) core support, power pump and resevoir water jug - Albert's Auto $150
21.) headlight bezzels - ebay $40
22.) door handles - ebay $40
23.) multiple cans of black spray paint for interior and touch up areas - Walmart Oreilly's $100
24.) floor mats - oreilly's $35
25.) new radiator - oreilly's $100
26.) Nova SS badge - ebay $35
27.) blue paint - Jacky Lewis $500
28.) new shocks - Oreilly's $50
29.) cooper cobra white letter tires - Pattons' Exxon $250
30.) Oldsmobile 5 spoke wheels - Jacky Lewis $0
31.) oldsmobile wheel center-caps - ebay $30
32.) dual exhaust (y-ed off) - Tracy's $75
33.) dual exhaust flowmaster turbos (true dueled) - Tracy's $200
34.) misc hoses - Oreilly's $100
35.) Pioneer CD player - Walmart - $95
36.) window felts - Nova Source Magazine - $125
37.) 1978 POS Nova before TLC - Best Catch Huntsville $1500
38.) 1978 POS Nova before I sold it - Some guy in town $300
39.) originally planned 400cu in v-8 plus tranny - $100
40.) motor stand for original engine - Oreilly's $125
41.) valve cover gaskets for original engine - Oreilly's $50
42.) reupholstered split bench - Crockett Upholstry$200 (the buckets were cheaper go fig)
43.) powersteering mechanism -$0
Permanent Link to this Car


text:
Editor: Venezuela government trying to silence us
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — The head of one Venezuela's last two nationally circulating opposition newspapers accused the leftist government on Monday of trying to intimidate and silence it.
Miguel Henrique Otero, editor and publisher of El Nacional, was responding to a weekend announcement by Venezuela's chief prosecutor asking to have his bank accounts frozen.
"It is a brazen act" to call for "such a measure against someone via Twitter without me even knowing what I'm accused of," Otero told The Associated Press by phone.
Prosecutor Luisa Ortega Diaz used her official Twitter account Saturday to request that Otero's bank accounts be frozen. Her office issued a press release saying the action was related to a lawsuit by a former Caracas mayor who claims Otero owes him $3.5 million.
The former mayor, Alfredo Pena, fled Venezuela a decade ago and his whereabouts are unknown. The release said Ortega wanted to determine how Pena obtained the money and why Otero owed such a sum.
Asked whether freezing his bank accounts could affect El Nacional, Otero said, "I don't think so, but I haven't seen the court papers." His lawyers also hadn't seen the documents, he said.
That is not unusual in today's Venezuela, whose government is accused by international human rights groups of employing a pliant judiciary as a tool of political repression since the late President Hugo Chavez gained firm control of all state institutions.
Otero said he considered Ortega's action an attempt to "silence, intimidate (and) discredit" the newspaper.
"They have a policy of besieging, buying up and threatening news media," he said. "This is clearly part of that process."
One of Otero's lawyers, Juan Garanton, said it was highly unusual for the chief prosecutor's office to get involved in a private affair between two individuals. He also said the alleged debt doesn't exist and can't be confirmed by Pena because the former mayor long ago left the country.
The AP sought comment from the chief prosecutor's press office but was told by a spokesman that he had nothing to add. The spokesman would not identify himself. The AP also sought comment from the communications minister, who did immediately respond to an email request.
Maria Fernanda Flores, former general manager of Globovision TV, called Ortega's action part of a campaign to silence all media critical of President Nicolas Maduro's government.
"Out of panic, out of fear, it's meant to oblige censorship and self-censorship," said Flores, whose April resignation from the last remaining opposition TV station was a condition of its sale to businessmen friendly with the government.
Globovision's previous owners were repeatedly sanctioned by the Conatel telecommunications agency, which fined it millions of dollars for purported transgressions such as tax filing errors and running allegedly incendiary reports on a 2011 prison riot. The former owners said they simply could no longer afford to continue broadcasting.
Pro-government broadcasters now dominate Venezuela's airwaves, mostly drowning out dissenting voices.
Speeches by opposition leader Henrique Capriles, who claims fraud cost him a surprisingly tight April 14 presidential election, are no longer broadcast live by Globovision. So Capriles has taken to broadcasting weekly appearances on the Internet.
Flores expects the opposition to increasingly publish online. "The problem is that Internet bandwidth in Venezuela is so poor that streaming video freezes up," she said.
Chavez, who died March 5 after a long battle with cancer, had accused El Nacional of being among news organizations that backed the failed 2002 attempt to overthrow him.
Associated Press writer Fabiola Sanchez reported this story in Caracas and Frank Bajak reported from Lima, Peru.


text:
I don't have any military ancestors, unless you include Fijians from the time before Christianity ended tribal warfare. So when the National Archives of Australia put digitised World War I Service records online a couple of years ago I went looking for the siblings of my direct ancestors who were born in the years that would have made them eligible for military service.
I found four, three of whom didn't return from France.
Ernest Harold Goode (1885-1917), of Millthorpe, NSW, second son of William Goode and Elizabeth Grace Pascoe. Killed in action in France 25th February 1917.
George Harold Goode (1887-1918), of Millthorpe, NSW, third son third of William Goode and Elizabeth Grace Pascoe. Killed in action in France 2nd June 1918.
Douglas James Stewart (1899-1918), of Holbrook, NSW, eldest son of James Simpson Stewart and Annie Lawson. Killed in action in France, 10th August, 1918.
Eric Eason (1894-1976), of Blayney, NSW, eldest son of John Eason and Lily Adelaide Grace Goode. Discharged 4th September 1919 on disembarkation in Sydney. Hid mother Lily Eason, nee Goode, was the eldest sister of Ernest and George Goode.
I have started to examine one of these files in more detail. Douglas James Stewart was my grandmother's first cousin. He was born and raised in Holbrook, which is near Albury in southern New South Wales. He was just barely 18 when he joined the Australian Expeditionary Force in Sydney on Sunday, 18th February, 1918. My mother says she was told that he looked older than he was, and the women of the town used to give him white feathers, calling him a coward. He joined up as soon as he could:
Both parents had to sign the form as he was under 21 years.
The whole file is 61 pages, and although some pages are certified copies of other pages, most are original records. There is the correspondence the AIF Office received from his father James Simpson Stewart requesting further details about his son's death, requesting a photograph of the grave, and enquiring about medals. Copies of replies from the Office are there, as is an inventory of the personal effects sent to the next of kin.
It's very sad. I never knew Douglas James Stewart, nor did my mother, and I've never even seen a photograph of him. It's sad that he has been reduced to pieces of paper in an old file, but it's brilliant that he can be remembered now that the pieces of paper are available for me to view at home on my computer.
Lest we forget.