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Lived her entire life in Morgan County
Reva D. Alumbaugh, age 70, of Gravois Mills, passed away Tuesday, April 30, 2013, at her home. She was the daughter of Hayden and Sadie Bland James.
She was born and spent her entire life in Morgan County working at the Harbour, U.S. Lawn Products and the Western Hills Motel among others. She was also a member of the West Union Baptist Church.
Reva married Forrest "Shorty" Marple in 1960 and they had three sons, Forrest, Chuck and Bryan. In 1967, Reva and sons were united in marriage with Robert "Red" Alumbaugh and made their family complete with a daughter, Diana.
She is survived by her sons, Forrest Alumbaugh and wife Frances of Eldon, Claude "Chuck" Alumbaugh of Gravois Mills and Bryan Alumbaugh of Tipton; daughter, Diana Morris and husband David of Gravois Mills; nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Wayne James, Melvin James and Dale Edward James, her sisters, Wanita Christian and Mildred Marriott, daughter-in-law, Sheila Alumbaugh and a granddaughter, Melissa Sue Alumbaugh.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 7th, at the Kidwell-Garber Funeral Home in Versailles with Pastor Tony Corado officiating. Graveside services and interment will follow in the Versailles Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, at the funeral home. Expressions of sympathy may be left online at www.kidwellgarber.com. Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Kidwell-Garber Funeral Home of Versailles.


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Free e-Course: Everything You Need to Know About Climate Change in a Nutshell [1]
21 February 2014, Geneva, Switzerland - The UN CC:Learn partnership has just released a new self-paced e-learning course on climate change. The course is free-of-charge and covers 6 modules including climate science, policy, adaptation, mitigation, finance and planning. It provides 10-12 hours of interactive learning and uses a mix of different approaches including visuals, explanatory text, videos, and quiz questions. Learners receive a certificate once they have completed and successfully passed all 6 modules. It also comes with downloadable PPT based versions that can be used as an instructional tool for face-to-face events.
The course has been developed and peer-reviewed through UN CC:Learn, a One UN partnership involving 33 organizations.
To make a start just click on the link below and register. Please note that the course works best with Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome.
http://unccelearn.org [2]
About UN CC:Learn
UN CC:Learn is a partnership of 33 multilateral organizations which supports Member States in designing and implementing results-oriented and sustainable learning to address climate change. The Secretariat for UN CC:Learn is provided by UNITAR. An important aspect of UN CC:Learn is to support countries develop a National Strategy to Strengthen Human Resources and Skills to Advance Green, Low Emission and Climate Resilient Development through a multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder process. During the course of 2012-2013, Benin, the Dominican Republic, Indonesia, Malawi, and Uganda have participated as UN CC:Learn pilot countries. Core funding for the 2011-2013 implementation phase of UN CC:Learn has been provided by the Swiss Government.

subset: commoncrawl


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Last night, we had the advanced students in our dojo demonstrate kata for the beginners. We wanted the beginners to get an idea about what they would be learning.
I was very proud of all our students, but naturally noticed some errors. Here is a list, in hopes that it will help our students, and other students who might make the same errors:
- Moving too quickly. Give yourself time to "set" each movement.
- Feet not straight enough in Naihanchi dachi.
- Not turning the head in the direction you are looking. Don't look "side eyed". If you turn your nose in the right direction, your head will also be correct.
- Looking down. You should look straight throughout the kata.
- Stances too high. Even for our style which is based on natural stances, you have to get down low enough in Naihanchi dachi, zenkutsu dachi, neko ashi, etc. Sometimes high stances are also a result of rushing.
- Weak kicks. Kicks should whip and stab.
- Moving too fast. I know I said this already, but it is the main problem. Take your time to "set", and then throw the movements quickly. The pace between movements is a walking pace.
Charles C. Goodin


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A motorist who lost control of his car and crashed into a cottage in Pilsley has been fined and ordered to pay £185.
Chesterfield magistrates' court heard on Monday, June 2, how Derek Pollard, 77, of Marston Avenue, Meden Vale, near Shirebrook, crashed into the cottage on Hardstoft Road, Pilsley, causing an estimated £5,000 of damage.
Prosecuting solicitor Angela Hadfield said: "Mr Pollard was driving a VW Caddie and came to a junction on Hardstoft Road and went across into the cottage's conservatory and there was a large crack left in the rear of the property with the cost of damage estimated at £5,000. All parties are believed to have been insured."
Mr Pollard pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention after the accident on January 12.
He said: "I tried to brake but nothing happened and I collided with the cottage. I was driving at 30mph and it started to rain heavily. I always travel that way from Pilsley and I know the junction and at the time there was a frost alert and perhaps I should have taken more notice."
Pollard told the court how he injured his knee and bruised an arm and he was hospitalised after the accident.
District Judge Andrew Davison accepted the accident was down to a lapse of concentration and bad road conditions and chose not to disqualify Pollard from driving. However, District Judge Davison fined Pollard £130, ordered him to pay a £20 victim surcharge and £35 costs and imposed four points on his licence.


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LONDON: Chelsea captain John Terry is doubtful for the club's busy holiday schedule after being ruled out of the Premier League trip to Aston Villa on Sunday.
Terry injured his knee against Liverpool last month in his first game back after serving a four-game ban and is still to feature under new manager Rafa Benitez.
The injury, which also ruled Terry out of the World Club Cup in Japan last week, is proving more complicated than first thought, Benitez told a news conference on Friday.
"The knee is quite complicated," Benitez said. "At least he's now on the pitch — that is positive news — but we cannot say, we cannot predict how long it will take." "I hope so but I am not a doctor," added the Spaniard when asked whether Terry might return to face Norwich City on Boxing Day. "I cannot guarantee anything."
Terry still sidelined by knee injury
Updated 21 December 2012


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Disclaimer: When I was twelve, I was forced to study Latin in school. The "powers that be" thought it was an excellent means of teaching both vocabulary and etymology to young nerds like myself. Thankfully, my Latin teacher was a young woman with a funny sense of humor so we always used to play games where we'd modify or make up our own Latin phrases. It was all very "Dead Poets Society."
Anyway, this random post is in her honor. Wherever you are, Ms. Allison, thanks for making 7th grade a little more bearable!
DOMINO VOBISCUM ("The pizza guy is here!")
It's almost axiomatic to state that, when dealing with a toddler, you have to pick and choose your battles. Do you want to fight over what she's going to wear? Over when she's going to take a bath? Or over how long before she has to go to bed?
Personally, I battle with the Peanut over ALL those issues. So when it comes to feeding her, I often feel like taking the path of least resistance. These days, BossLady and I don't care WHAT she eats...as long as she eats it without complaining!
Unfortunately, in the real world, this means that I'm alternately feeding my daughter a steady diet of pizza, mac-and-cheese, and cupcakes. It just hit me today that I actually can't remember the last time she ate a vegetable or a single piece of fruit. Seriously! Am I a bad father?
And more importantly, do you think it's possible for 2.5 year-olds from Tribeca to get scurvy?
IDIOS AMIGOS ("My friends and I are idiots.")
Sometimes I look at myself and my friends, and I'm simply amazed. We're all in our late 30's and, on the surface, we're all successful productive members of society with children and mortgages. So how come we're still all so juvenile?
Last Saturday, a buddy and I took our kids up to a park in the South Bronx for a little picnic. While drinking his apple juice, my buddy's kid accidentally burped so loudly that the Peanut started laughing her ass off. So, for the next 15 minutes, my buddy and I ingested a liter of Diet Coke and regaled the kids with some non-stop belching. Things really got crazy when we started farting on the kids' hands. All four of us were laughing so hard that we had tears streaming down our faces!
I didn't think anything of it until we got home and the Peanut ratted me out. When the BossLady asked the Peanut how our day was, my little daughter immediately yelled out, "Daddy burped and tooted on my hand!"
Needless to say, I felt like the biggest 3-year-old in history. Mature, eh?
CARNE DIEM ("Seize the Meat!")
Up until recently, I've always done a modified version of the Atkins diet. I would literally eat 3-4 steaks per week. Over the past few months, I've been eating so much steak that it got to the point where my favorite waiter from the steakhouse around the corner didn't even have to ask me what I wanted. We'd just make eye contact across the room and he'd know what to bring me. Embarrassing but true.
However, I've finally reached a point where I decided that life wasn't worth living if I couldn't eat bagels, pizza, sushi, or my buddy Rocco's homemade gnocchi. So now I'm doing a modified version of the Zone Diet. The only problem? BossLady has decided that SHE wants to try Atkins. So while I'm sitting there picking at my frisee salad with goat cheese, she's chomping down on some scrumptious short ribs.
Man, if there's one thing I miss about my youth, it's the ability to eat everything I wanted and still not gain a single ounce of fat. Now, I have to constantly watch what I eat AND work out like a madman. Anyone know where the heck my metabolism went? I'm thinking about issuing an Amber Alert for it.
QUIP PRO QUO (to be filed under "Overheard in New York")
Tuesday evening was one of those gorgeous May nights that were made for baseball so, at the last minute, I decided to head out to Shea Stadium by myself for the Mets-Cubs game.
I love going to Shea. It truly attracts almost every single type of person that you could ever imagine: tough homeboys, butch lesbians, young families, Asian nerds, spicy boriquas, WASP bankers, Italian goombas...you name it. Sometimes, people-watching at Shea is more entertaining than the game itself.
Sitting by myself in the stands, I overheard the following comments:
"Why can't I get another hot dog? It's not like it's going to make me any fatter!"---fat kid to his mother
"Get that goddamn pink shit away from me!"---tough drunk guy to the cotton candy vendor
"C'mon! My freaking grandma pitches better than that...and she's been dead for 20 years!---heckler
You gotta love New York baseball fans. They're truly like no other fans around the country. Anyway, BossLady and I are headed out to Shea tonight for the Subway Series against the Yankees. Hopefully, my Mets will sweep those crosstown posers. (You feeling me, Chag and Hank?)
CAVEAT EMPTY ("Beware of returning empty-handed.")
Quick question---Do other men occasionally buy clothes for their wives? Sometimes if I'm out by myself and I see a cool shirt or a funky dress that would look great on the BossLady, I'll get it for her. I mentioned this to a buddy of mine last week and he thought it was the weirdest thing that he'd ever heard of. Is it? I can't be the only guy who does this, right? Seriously?
DICTUM FACTUM ("When it's all said and done")
The Peanut is at an age now where I am simply amazed at the things that come out of her mouth. Often times, she'll be so excited that she speaks in total gibberish. Other times, she elucidates thoughts so clearly, I feel like I'm speaking to a 40-year-old. It's downright freaky I tell you. Herewith are some recent pearls that have come out of the Peanut's mouth.
"Go away, daddy. I need to be alone right now."
"Are you going to the office, daddy? Bring home my computer, ok?"
"We're going to the restaurant? Can I get some edamame and miso soup, please?"
Two seconds later, she'll revert to being a babbling toddler again. Like nothing ever happened! It's the strangest thing. Sometimes, I half-expect her to turn to us and say, "Ok, guys. I'm going out for a drive. See you later. Don't wait up!"
Man, it really is true what they say about having kids---the days may be long but the years sure do go by fast.


text: 2012 Mid-Year Hearing of the Erie County Legislature, Finance and Management Committee at County Hall. This meeting took place on Wednesday, July 18, 2012. These meetings are a normal part of the Legislature's duties, which include monitoring the county budget Here are the written comments from Library Chair Jack Connors and Library Director Mary Jean Jakubowski (read by Joy Testa Cinquino in Mary Jean's absence). The mid-year financials, also attached were presented by Chief Financial Officer Ken Stone. Chief Operating Officer Carol Batt was also on hand to answer questions. Click here for the Mid-Year Library Financials.


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Linus hasn't actually looked at the code yet. It's driver code, low-risk and he isn't very interested in driver code anyway. He trusts the maintainers will do their jobs. "I'll likely look at it when the code is actually submitted to me by the maintainers (Greg [Kroah-Hartman], in this case), just out of morbid curiosity," Linus adds.
As most of you will be aware of, Linus is very forthright, and generally doesn't hold back when it comes to his opinions. He's also very pragmatic, and both of these qualities come forward quite clearly when Linus talks about Microsoft's code drop. I'm not going to squeeze his words into running text.
I may make jokes about Microsoft at times, but at the same time, I think the Microsoft hatred is a disease. I believe in open development, and that very much involves not just making the source open, but also not shutting other people and companies out.
There are 'extremists' in the free software world, but that's one major reason why I don't call what I do 'free software' any more. I don't want to be associated with the people for whom it's about exclusion and hatred."
There is not a single word here that I can disagree with. While I think it's perfectly acceptable to for the Free and open source community to be a little more vigilant when it comes to Microsoft's forays into this world, the outright blind hatred is nothing but a detrimental force that holds the Free and open source community back.
Something else that many people wondered about was that Microsoft seems to have published the code for purely selfish reasons; they are drivers to make Linux work better on Microsoft's Hyper-V technology, allowing it to compete more effectively with competing offerings. Linus' opinion on this is a pretty clear "duh!"
So complaining about the fact that Microsoft picked a selfish area to work on is just silly. Of course they picked an area that helps them. That's the point of open source - the ability to make the code better for your particular needs, whoever the 'your' in question happens to be.
Does anybody complain when hardware companies write drivers for the hardware they produce? No. That would be crazy. Does anybody complain when IBM funds all the POWER development, and works on enterprise features because they sell into the enterprise? No. That would be insane.
So the people who complain about Microsoft writing drivers for their own virtualization model should take a long look in the mirror and ask themselves why they are being so hypocritical.
It's always refreshing to hear someone level-headed discuss issues like this. I guess this is also the reason why, after so many years, Linus is still the undisputed benevolent dictator of Linux.
And we wouldn't want it any other way.


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Ron Paul's the only one.
That is, the only major Republican presidential hopeful who hasn't stumped in South Carolina's Beaufort County, just a few miles over the Talmadge Bridge.
Stops in the county have been fixtures on candidates' schedules as they've criss-crossed the state, campaigning for Saturday's primary.
In Georgia, presidential candidates focus on vote-rich Atlanta; Savannah's unlikely to see much of them. So its media snap up chances to cover them across the river.
Local Republicans have made the pilgrimage, too. And, last week, some local Democratic stalwarts showed up to have their pictures taken with — believe it or not — Texas Gov. Rick Perry.
Former U.S. House Speaker and Georgia congressman Newt Gingrich is due to return for the third time today with stops in Bluffton and Beaufort, the county seat. First stop: Sun City Hilton Head, a regular venue for political wannabes.
One of his five South Carolina campaign offices is on the Promenade in Bluffton. He's held two fundraising events on Hilton Head Island.
"This entire county has become a remarkable center of votes," he said last fall when the office opened, citing "the growth and population here, the size of the Republican vote here."
He has been running second in Palmetto State polls to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who campaigned last week on Hilton Head Island.
Romney was in tow with South Carolina Gov. Nicki Haley and Arizona Sen. John McCain, the GOP's 2008 presidential nominee. Last summer, Romney's wife, Ann, stood in for him in Bluffton.
Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, has been to Bluffton three times and to Hilton Head Island twice. His brother, Dan, who lives on Hilton Head, introduced him when he spoke last week.
Perry's been to Bluffton twice, and once to Beaufort and Hilton Head.
Even Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, who have dropped out of the race, visited the county.
2008 visits
The phenomenon isn't new.
McCain worked the county in 2008 repeatedly before and after winning the nomination. Romney, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani courted voters in Bluffton.
Then Sen. — now President — Barack Obama made two stops in Beaufort, and his main rival for the Democratic nomination, then Sen. Hillary Clinton, was there once.
Just before the primary, her husband, former President Bill Clinton, spoke on St. Helena Island, vowing he'd have no role in the administration if his wife were elected.
University of South Carolina political science professor Robert Oldendick isn't surprised that many candidates come to Beaufort County.
"If you look at most of the candidates' schedules," Oldendick said, "you can see that they're going almost everywhere where there's some Republican voters. So they're sometimes going to end up in Beaufort County."
He said Paul, a Texas congressman, likely hasn't been there because he hasn't campaigned in the state as often as some of his opponents. Paul's campaign didn't respond to requests for comment,
The county ranks only ninth among the state's 34 counties in voter registration — seemingly too low to make it a high priority for candidate visits.
But if — as seems possible — it gets more than its per-capita share of visits, Charles Bierbauer, dean of the School of Mass Communications at USC, thinks he may know why.
"I'm just speculating," Bierbauer said, "but the area is relatively upscale and there are a lot of retirees down there and especially military retirees. Those folks tend to vote."
And, as Gingrich contended, rapid growth may make the county more attractive than it used to be.
Bluffton grew almost tenfold
Census figures show its population grew by more than 34 percent from 2000 to 2010, reaching more than 162,000.
The population of Bluffton — two decades ago a sleepy artsy-craftsy burg along the bluffs of the May River — grew almost tenfold during the decade — to more than 12,500.
Sun City, a retirement community outside Bluffton's town limits but nearby, also has about 12,500 residents.
Almost 80 percent of the registered voters in the county are white, which in South Carolina — as in Georgia — is a good sign the area trends Republican.
Of course, the action is all Republican this year because Obama is unopposed for renomination.
In any case, Republican Haley took almost 59 percent of the vote in Beaufort County last year and McCain took 54 percent in 2008.
The Squat 'n' Gobble, a down-home diner near the heart of Old Town Bluffton where a sleek mannequin greets visitors, has drawn Perry and Giuliani.
But the biggest magnet for candidates has been the Sun City Republican Club, which has about 500 members. Gingrich drew about 550 people when he spoke to the group in October; people were turned away when the room filled up.
Going back to 2008, the group also has hosted Romney, Perry, Giuliani, Santorum, and Huckabee.
Club member Sherri Zedd, who recently became the grandmother of triplets, thinks it's not surprising the group's invitations are so often accepted.
"The candidates know that our people turn out to vote in huge numbers,"
Zedd explained. "It's that simple."


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Firing All The Smart People Isn't Working: Circuit City Sales Down 12%
Circuit City's same store sales for the month of December are down 12% in the U.S., causing some to speculate that firing all the people who understand the products you carry might not be a winning sales strategy.
From the WSJ:
Chief Executive Philip J. Schoonover said, "Our sales performance, while disappointing, was in line with our expectations. The company saw significantly improved performance over the last two weeks of the month, but the sales improvement was not enough to offset the weakness experienced at the beginning of the month."
So why aren't you shopping at Circuit City? Tell us what's wrong.
We'll get you started with, "Where the hell do you pay?" Every time we're in a Circuit City there is no one stationed even remotely close to anything that resembles a register. If you do manage to spot someone who is employed by the store, he's usually c*ck-deep in boxes behind some sort of counter, trying not to cry. If there is something that appears to be a check out aisle, it's roped off like a museum exhibit. "Gather round, kids. This is what people used to use to execute retail transactions, back in the early 21st century."
Actually buying something is a 12-step process that involves little public library catalog kiosks that are randomly placed all over the store. Finding someone to able and willing to help you purchase your item is like finding a 1UP in Super Mario Bros., except instead of a free life, you get a sales pitch for an extended warranty. And you're just buying AA batteries.
Your turn.
Circuit City Sales Fell in December [WSJ]
Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.


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IPCV 2013 International Conference on Image Processing, Computer Vision, and Pattern Recognition
February 27, 2013
IPCV is an international conference that serves researchers, scholars, professionals, students, and academicians who are looking to both foster working relationships and gain access to the latest research results. It is being held jointly (same location and dates) with a number of other research conferences; namely, The 2013 World Congress in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, and Applied Computing (WORLDCOMP). The Congress is the largest annual gathering of researchers in computer science, computer engineering and applied computing. We anticipate to have 2,100 or more attendees from over 85 countries.
The 2013 Congress will be composed of research presentations, keynote lectures, invited presentations, tutorials, panel discussions, and poster presentations. In recent past, keynote/tutorial/panel speakers have included: Prof. David A. Patterson (pioneer, architecture, U. of California, Berkeley), Dr. K. Eric Drexler (known as Father of Nanotechnology), Prof. John H. Holland (known as Father of Genetic Algorithms; U. of Michigan), Prof. Ian Foster (known as Father of Grid Computing; U. of Chicago & ANL), Prof. Ruzena Bajcsy (pioneer, VR, U. of California, Berkeley), Prof. Barry Vercoe (Founding member of MIT Media Lab, MIT), Dr. Jim Gettys (known as X-man, developer of X Window System, xhost; OLPC), Prof. John Koza (known as Father of Genetic Programming, Stanford U.), Prof. Brian D. Athey (NIH Program Director, U. of Michigan), Prof. Viktor K. Prasanna (pioneer, U. of Southern California), Dr. Jose L. Munoz (NSF Program Director and Consultant), Prof. Jun Liu (pioneer, Broad Institute of MIT & Harvard U.), Prof. Lotfi A. Zadeh (Father of Fuzzy Logic), Dr. Firouz Naderi (Head, NASA Mars Exploration Program/2000-2005 and Associate Director, Project Formulation & Strategy, Jet Propulsion Lab, CalTech/NASA; Director, NASA's JPL Solar System Exploration), Prof. David Lorge Parnas (Fellow of IEEE, ACM, RSC, CAE, GI; Dr.h.c.: ETH Zurich, Prof. Emeritus, McMaster U. and U. of Limerick), Prof. Eugene H. Spafford (Executive Director, CERIAS and Professor, Purdue University), Dr. Sandeep Chatterjee (Vice President & Chief Technology Officer, SourceTrace Systems, Inc.), Prof. Haym Hirsh (Rutgers University, New Jersey, USA and former director of Division of Information and Intelligent Systems, National Science Foundation, USA), Dr. Flavio Villanustre (Vice- President, HPCC Systems), and many other distinguished speakers. To get a feeling about the Congress's atmosphere, see delegates photos from past events available at: http://worldcomp.phanfare.com/
An important mission of the Congress is "Providing a unique platform for a diverse community of constituents composed of scholars, researchers, developers, educators, and practitioners. The Congress makes concerted effort to reach out to participants affiliated with diverse entities (such as: universities, institutions, corporations, government agencies, and research centers/labs) from all over the world. The Congress also attempts to connect participants from institutions that have teaching as their main mission with those who are affiliated with institutions that have research as their main mission. The Congress uses a quota system to achieve its institution and geography diversity objectives."
One main goal of the Congress is to assemble a spectrum of affiliated research conferences, workshops, and symposiums into a coordinated research meeting held in a common place at a common time. This model facilitates communication among researchers in different fields of computer science, computer engineering, and applied computing. The Congress also encourages multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary research initiatives; ie, facilitating increased opportunities for cross-fertilization across sub-disciplines.


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Skip to comments.More Dem voter fraud(maybe) from IOwa
Posted on 10/22/2002 11:12:36 AM PDT by Pappy SmearEdited on 05/25/2004 2:46:39 PM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
In most cases, residents simply forgot that they filled out an absentee-ballot application over the summer, when political parties were making their big push, officials said.
But William Radosevich, 73, of Altoona insists that it's voter fraud. He said he turned Iowa Democratic Party members away from his door in July. He was enraged when he, his wife and son recently received ballots in the mail.
(Excerpt) Read more at dmregister.com ...
The website does not appear to have that photo.
Interesting postscript on the signatures too. This really has to stop...
When has the law ever stopped Democrat fraud??
Absentee ballots should now be scrutinized carefully in all 50 states.
DALEY said????
'Nuff said. Sounds like another chip off the old block.
Ummmmm, the county attorney's office would be a lot more likely to take this case to court if the old geezer had held onto the evidence.
... and mass emailed it to the usual suspects in 'netland... anyone else interested in a little activism, go here:
Ignorance Making You Ill? Cure It!
for links, tools, & instructions about how to contact a pile of different people, and how to send a link to this story right here ( or anywhere else ) to a "mass email" using Outlook Express.
And let me add a mini-editorial... folks, we are down to the wire here, with this election- it's now, or never, march- or die.
Vote fraud could be a lever to use against the left- it's always been around, but in the last 10 years ( I still think it's one reason behind the clintons slither to power...) it has become blatant and in your face.
But there's one difference in this election cycle- stories about it are being told before the election.
Talk radio, the web, and citizen-activists... like you... are responsible. It's time to drive home the idea that we are aware of it, and won't tolerate it any longer. Get activated!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.


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VANCOUVER – Unbeaten in five league games and riding a club-record 395-minute shutout streak, the New England Revolution will pay its first-ever visit to BC Place on Saturday night when the club takes on Vancouver Whitecaps FC for the only time in 2013.
The Revs (5-4-5, 20 pts.) and Whitecaps (4-5-4, 16 pts.) will kick off at 10 p.m. ET, with regional coverage on both Comcast SportsNet and 98.5 The Sports Hub's HD2 channel.
Current Form: As Revs try to continue unbeaten run, Whitecaps try to stay unbeaten at home
Kelyn Rowe continued his scorching U.S. Open Cup form with another pair of goals in the Revolution's 4-2 triumph over the New York Red Bulls on Wednesday night, sending the Revs into a quarterfinal-round meeting with D.C. United. The win extended New England's unbeaten run to seven games (5-0-2) in all competitions, including a pair of U.S. Open Cup victories.
The Revolution's unbeaten run in the league reached five games (3-0-2) in last weekend's 0-0 draw with D.C. as the Revs pushed their shutout streak to a club-record 395 minutes. But just one week after putting up five goals against the defending champion LA Galaxy, the Revs were disappointed not to break through offensively and secure the full three points against United.
"I think our tempo was good at times against D.C., but it's been better," said head coach Jay Heaps. "How quickly we play, the movement – it ended up being a little bit better than I thought, but the final ball obviously let us down. I also think we were a little narrow. I think we've got to use the field a little bit more to our advantage, use some of our width a little bit better."
Vancouver had a three-game unbeaten run snapped last weekend in Seattle as the Whitecaps couldn't make their 2-1 second-half lead stand up in an eventual 3-2 loss to the Sounders. But the Canadian side is still unbeaten at home (3-0-3), making the Whitecaps one of just three MLS teams yet to lose on their home ground.
Past Meetings: Revs unbeaten in three previous meetings with Whitecaps
The Revs and Whitecaps have met just three times since Vancouver entered MLS as an expansion side in 2011, with the Revs holding the upper hand in the series. New England has won both meetings at Gillette Stadium and picked up a 1-1 draw in the only previous visit to Vancouver in a match played at Empire Field in 2011. Saturday night will mark the Revolution's first-ever visit to BC Place.
It will also mark Lee Nguyen's first return trip to Vancouver since being waived by the Whitecaps last March. In his first appearance against his former team last year in Foxborough, Nguyen notched MLS player of the week honors with a two-goal, one-assist performance, including a stunning strike which finished fourth in league-wide goal of the year voting.
"Any game I play, I'm always trying to prove myself," said Nguyen. "There might be that little extra edge going into Vancouver. We'll see."
Injury Report: Simms remains sidelined for NE: Whitecaps short on defenders
Revolution midfielder Clyde Simms will miss his fourth straight match while recovering from a right knee sprain, while Juan Toja – who has started the last four games in central midfield – is listed as questionable with tightness in his lower back.
The Whitecaps have been hit by a glut of injuries to central defenders as captain Jay DeMerit (torn Achilles tendon), Andy O'Brien (hamstring) and Brad Rusin (calf) have all been ruled out of Saturday night's game, while 2011 top overall SuperDraft pick Omar Salgado (foot fracture) is also sidelined.
Another early SuperDraft pick – 2012 second overall selection Darren Mattocks – will also be unavailable for Vancouver while on international duty with Jamaica.
Final Thoughts: Goncalves says Revs are ready for "a big challenge"
"We progress every week and that's very important for the team," said captain Jose Goncalves. "I think everyone is focused. We know it will be a hard game, specifically because they haven't lost at home and it will be a good crowd. So we have to take that as a big challenge, very seriously, and I think if we go that way we can take points."


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SCOTTSDALE, AZ — Motion DNA Corp. in Scottsdale, AZ, is no stranger to fitness, but its new venture positions it as owner of a health club. Motion DNA develops diagnostic testing products for medical professionals and sports organizations to help prevent and diagnose injuries. Late last year, the company opened Women in Motion Fitness Center in Arizona and plans to open two other clubs this year.
The landlord of some Naturally Women Fitness Centers approached Zig Ziegler, Motion DNA president and CEO, about taking over the businesses. Motion DNA acquired all of the assets of the first location including the customer revenue stream of more than $50,000 per month, Ziegler said. Motion DNA also inherited the 1,000 charter members of the former club and has added more than 150 new members.
Motion DNA has mostly worked with high school and collegiate athletes to help them improve their movements in running, baseball, softball, golf and soccer. The company will offer its BioTrainer wireless motion analysis system and BioCap human movement analysis system to the club members, most of whom are women over 40, to help make their workouts more efficient.
"Based upon our experience, women are more likely to seek objective testing offered by MotionDNA," said Linda Ruiz of Women in Motion. "This is a great place to beta test Motion DNA testing and show other health clubs how to benefit their membership base."


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Smith was a 14 yo boy & could give no evidence as to the circumstances of the collisison. The only witness was found to give an account that was inherently unlikely.
Egan was a bit older at 16 & whilst he suffered brain damage, it was difficult to distinguish from a personality disorder and other defects that existed before the accident.
He was run over by a bus & unsurprisingly his other injuries however make sobering reading, Right above knee amputation, Compound fracture of left ankle, Left femoral fracture, Pelvic fractures: bilateral inferior and superior pubic rami, Left sacral ala fracture, Left scapula fracture, Left clavicle fracture, Left neck of humerus fracture, Right sternoclavicular joint dislocation, Right radius and ulnar fracture, Bilateral rib fractures, Bilateral haemopneumothorax. His economic loss was assessed at over $6m, however as he failed on the question of negligence, he recovered no damages.
Once again the critical issue was how the collission occured. It seems Egan's bike was not damaged by the collision and that somehow Egan became separated from the bike. Even Egan's own counsel accepted that he was 50% responsible for the colission. The court held that the cyclist failed to establish that the bus driver was not keeping a proper lookout and has failed to establish that the bus drver was in breach of the duty which he owed to the cyclist by not making an emergency application of the brakes on the bus.
It also seems that Egan's bike maintenance skills were sub optimal
Police COPS Report wrote:A racing bicycle, however it has a mountain bike tyre fitted to the front which is of smaller diameter than the bicycle was designed for. As such, the front brakes do not make contact with any part of the front wheel.
The rear brakes were tested and found to be functioning correctly. However, the tyre was completely bald.
How much is a front and rear camera worth ?


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Medical Marijuana, Inc.'s portfolio company Red Dice Holdings CEO, Tripp Keber in an Exclusive Interview on StockTradersTalk.com
Feb 15, 2013, 09:00 ET
SAN DIEGO, Feb. 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Medical Marijuana, Inc. (OTC: MJNA) a leading hemp industry innovator, is pleased to announce that Tripp Keber, CEO of portfolio company, Red Dice Holdings will be a featured guest in an exclusive interview today on StockTradersTalk.com.
The interview will be held today, February 15th, at 1:00 pm EDT. An archived recorded version can be found by clicking on the following link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8atfW84MWjc
or on the homepage of Stock Traders Talk at www.stocktraderstalk.com, following the interview.
During this interview, Mr. Keber reviews the overall set of portfolio companies under the MJNA umbrella and how they inter-relate to each other. Further, he discusses the Dixie brand of products, both medical marijuana infused Dixie Elixirs and the hemp wellness products known as Dixie Botanicals, and the growth each are experiencing as a result of industry expansion throughout the US.
About StockTradersTalk:
StockTradersTalk specializes in radio interviews, and believes that when a CEO has the ability to demonstrate their passion, and personally cover talking points for their company it serves as the ultimate delivery platform. Press Releases have value, however, they lack the effectiveness of a webcast in helping a CEO connect with both current and potential shareholders on a personal level.
Stock Traders Talk Radio is an uncensored, comprehensive approach to disseminating vital facts about public companies trading on the OTC Markets.
About Medical Marijuana, Inc.:
Our mission is to be the premier cannabis and hemp industry innovators, leveraging our team of professionals to source, evaluate and purchase value-added companies and products, while allowing them to keep their integrity and entrepreneurial spirit. We strive to create awareness within our industry, develop environmentally friendly, economically sustainable businesses, while increasing shareholder value.
Medical Marijuana Inc. does not grow, sell or distribute any substances that violate United States Law or the controlled substance act.
For more information, please visit the company's website at:
Corporate Contact:
Medical Marijuana, Inc.
Toll Free: 888-OTC-MJNA (888-682-6562)
Investor Relations Contact:
Stuart T. Smith
SmallCapVoice.Com, Inc.
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Skype: SmallCapVoice.com
AIM: SmallCapVoice7
Stock Traders Talk
Peter J. Nicosia - Director of Marketing
Tel#: 561-228-1924
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements are based on the current plans and expectations of management and are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks that could significantly affect the company's current plans and expectations, as well as future results of operations and financial condition. A more extensive listing of risks and factors that may affect the company's business prospects and cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the reports and other documents filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
SOURCE Medical Marijuana, Inc.


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Injectableimplants are injections of material into the urethra to help control urine leakage (
Alternative Names
Intrinsic sphincter deficiency repair; ISD repair; Injectable bulking agents for stress urinary incontinence
The material that is injected is permanent. Coaptite and Macroplastique are examples of two brands.
The doctor injects material through a needle into the wall of your urethra. This isthe tube that carries urine from your bladder. Thematerial bulks up the urethral tissue,causing it to close up. Thisstops urine from leaking out of your bladder.
The type of anesthesia (pain relief) you receivefor this procedure may be one of the following:
- Local anesthesia (only the area being worked on will be numb)
- Spinal anesthesia (you will be numb from the waist down)
General anesthesia(you will be asleep and not able to feel pain)
After you are numb or asleep from anesthesia, the doctor puts a medical device called a cystoscope into your urethra. The cystoscope allows your doctor to see the area.
Thenthe doctor passes a needle through the cystoscope into your urethra. Material is injected into the wall of the urethra or bladder neck through this needle. The doctor can also injectmaterial into the tissue next to the sphincter.
Theimplant procedure isusually done in the hospital. Or it is done in your doctors clinic. The procedure takes about 20- 40 minutes.
Why the Procedure Is Performed
Implants can help both men and women.
Men who have urine leakage after
Women who have urine leakage and want a simple procedure to control the problem may choose to have an implant procedure. These women may not want to have surgery that requires general anesthesia.
Risksof this procedure are:
- Damage to the urethra or bladder
- Urine leakage may get worse
- Pain where the injection was done
- Allergic reaction to the material
- Implant material moves (migrates) to another area of the body
Before the Procedure
Tell your doctor or nurse what medicines you are taking. This includesmedicines, supplements, or herbs you bought without a prescription.
You may be asked to stop taking aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) warfarin (Coumadin), and any othermedicines that make it hard for your blood to clot.
On the day of your procedure:
- You may be asked not to drink or eat anything for 6- 12 hours before the procedure. This will depend on what type of anesthesia you will have.
- Take the medicines your doctor told you to take with a small sip of water.
- Your doctor or nurse will tell you when to arrive at the hospital or clinic. Be sure to arrive on time.
After the Procedure
Most people can go home soon after the procedure. It may take up to a month before the injection fully works.
It may become harder to empty your bladder. You may need to use a catheter for a few days. This and any other urinaryproblems usually go away.
Outlook (Prognosis)
You may need 2 or 3 more injections to get good results. If the material migrates, you may need additional treatments in the future.
Implants canhelp most men who have had transurethral resection of the prostate (
Appell RA, Dmochowski RR, Blaivas JM, Gormley EA, et al. Female Stress Urinary Incontinence Update Panel of the American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc, Whetter LE. Update of AUA Guideline on the surgical management of female stress urinary incontinence. J Urol. 2010;183:1906-1914.
Herschorn S. Injection therapy for urinary incontinence. In: Wein AJ, Kavoussi LR, Novick AC, et al., eds. Campbell-Walsh Urology. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2011:chap 74.
Review Date:
Reviewed By:
Louis S. Liou, MD, PhD, Chief of Urology, Cambridge Health Alliance, Visiting Assistant Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School. Also reviewed by A.D.A.M. Health Solutions, Ebix, Inc., Editorial Team: David Zieve, MD, MHA, David R. Eltz, Stephanie Slon, and Nissi Wang.


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We do a limited number of weddings here at the ranch each year utilizing the garden, the pastures near the house, the creek and the large wooden hay barn.
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Romantic and relaxed weddings in charming Italian "Country-inn" style in a historic stone building near the Sonoma Plaza. Light-filled dining rooms open onto a lovely garden with Italian Pergola, reflection pool, and outdoor fireplace. French, Italian, and Wine Country cuisine. No facility fees
Healdsburg Golf Club's wedding and event center provides a picturesque location for the perfect Wine Country wedding.
Nicholson Ranch is an architecturally stunning winery surrounded by vineyards, open hillsides and ancient oak trees. We are available as a venue for private functions, including weddings and private parties. The gorgeous setting provides a romantic backdrop for weddings and parties.
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Petaluma Golf and Country Club is the perfect Wine Country venue for outdoor weddings, receptions, and parties up to 150 guests.
The Fountaingrove Inn is a boutique-style hotel offering indoor and outdoor event space, seasonal menus created by our award-winning chef and accommodations for your overnight guests.
Nestled in the hills above the Dry Creek Valley of Sonoma County, Madrona Manor is an exceptionally lovely Victorian estate surrounded by wooded and landscaped grounds creating the perfect location for your wedding and honeymoon.
If you're organizing a luncheon, seminar, meeting, wedding, company party, or other gathering for a group of up to 200 guests, Foxtail Golf Club is the perfect spot.
Located within the wildlife and recreation area called Shoreline at Mountain View, the historic Rengstorff House offers natural garden areas, brick patios, sweeping lawns, and 19th century décor and furnishings. Maximum occupancy: 150 guests for wedding ceremonies, receptions, and special events.
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We will embrace you with extraordinary service, top notch accommodations, relaxing warm surroundings and flexible contemporary facilities, all to create the perfect location for your wedding.
Our landmark building is a lovely venue for private parties, weddings, recitals, and off-site meetings.


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Andrew and Adam have been fileting the Weekly Standard already today, but while I'll happily defer to them on education policy, the Standard's blog is advancing some honest-to-goodness foreign policy nonsense that shouldn't go unremarked.
Here they are grousing about Obama's claim that "the continuation of a presence in Iraq as Sen. McCain has suggested is exactly what, I think, will fan the flames of anti-American sentiment and make it more difficult for us to create a long-term and sustainable peace in the world." Now, this is so painfully obvious as to be banal, but here's the Standard's response:
Never mind that farm subsidies–as in the policy Obama defended vociferously while pandering to Iowans a few months back–leave the poorest people in the world starving and without jobs.
Now, farm subsidies are truly a terrible idea. But if the Standard somehow believes that we're hated in the Islamic world because of sugar subsidies, I've got a bridge I'd like to sell them. The list of evidence to the contrary is too long for this forum, but here's just a start:
"American direct intervention in the Muslim World has paradoxically elevated the stature of and support for radical Islamists, while diminishing support for the United States to single-digits in some Arab societies…Muslims do not 'hate our freedom,' but rather, they hate our policies."
-Defense Science Board, Report on Strategic Communication, 2004.
"All of our panelists agreed that U.S. foreign policy is the major root cause behind anti-American sentiments among Muslim populations and that this point needs to be better researched, absorbed, and acted upon by government officials."
-Government Accountability Office, "U.S. PUBLIC DIPLOMACY: State Department Efforts to Engage Muslim Audiences Lack Certain Communication Elements and Face Significant Challenges," May 2006.
"[Deputy Defense Secretary Paul] Wolfowitz also estimated the U.S. cost of Iraqi 'containment' during 12 years of U.N. sanctions, weapons inspections and continued U.S. air patrols over the country at 'slightly over $ 30 billion,' but he said the price had been 'far more than money.' Sustained U.S. bombing of Iraq over those years, and the stationing of U.S. forces 'in the holy land of Saudi Arabia,' were 'part of the containment policy that has been Osama bin Laden's principal recruiting device, even more than the other grievances he cites,' Wolfowitz said.
Implying that a takeover in Iraq would eliminate the need for U.S. forces in Saudi Arabia, and thus reduce the appeal of terrorist groups for new members, Wolfowitz said: 'I can't imagine anyone here wanting to spend another $ 30 billion to be there for another 12 years to continue helping recruit terrorists.'
-Washington Post, March 2, 2003
We could go on like this for days. Farm subsidies are dumb enough on their own, we don't need to delude ourselves into thinking they're what's to blame for 9/11. In fact, if the Standard and its adherents continue with this sort of fantacism, we're going to continue avoiding the real root of our terrorism problem, which is evident enough that the above sources and anyone else paying attention can see it all too plainly.


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About Us
Company Profile »
Why Safari Consultants? »
Awards »
Meet the Team »
Company Profile
Since 1983, Safari Consultants have always been leading specialists in tailor-made safari holidays. We use a very wide range of accommodation options and safari providers, from adventurous tented camps to luxurious safari lodges, and our ability to do this is based entirely on our extremely in-depth knowledge of the regions in which we specialise, and of the safari industry in general.
In addition to dedicated tailor-made 'wildlife safaris', we also specialise in more general self-drive holidays through South Africa and Namibia, as well as beach holidays to wonderful places such Mauritius, Mozambique, Zanzibar and The Seychelles. It is easily possible to combine a wildlife safari with other interests. We genuinely tailor-make each holiday, starting with a 'blank canvas' and finding out what your requirements are and what is going to suit you.
As we offer such a wide range of holiday options across fourteen very different countries, our customers vary enormously in age, interests and requirements. Single travellers, couples, families, groups of friends, honeymooners and photographers all travel with us, from not just the UK, where we are based, but from across Europe, North America and further afield. Each of our customers are unique and individual, and to read what they say about us, please visit our testimonials page.
Back to top »
Why Safari Consultants?
Having been in business since 1983, we continually strive to offer four key elements for all our customers:
- The best advice possible. Really good advice is the cornerstone requirement for any 'specialist' safari holiday, and will turn your experience of Africa from a 'good' holiday to an 'exceptional' holiday. We only specialise in Africa (and the Indian Ocean Islands) and our team of safari specialists are continually travelling to check up on places, visit new destinations and learn about the practicalities of travelling around the African continent.
- A friendly, personal and caring service. Planning and booking a specialist safari holiday should be a fun and energising experience. We have always been a small company offering a very personal service. All of our customers are extremely important to us and treated as such, and we meet many of them in person, either when planning their holidays (where practical), at travel shows or at social functions we arrange. We are passionate about Africa and genuinely care about the success of every holiday we arrange.
- A totally professional service at all times. We endeavour to provide prompt responses to all enquiries and questions, clear and correct information at all times, flexibility throughout and attention to detail with your preferences and requirements. When you travel with us, you always have our full support and back up, as our management team are on hand 24/7 in case of any difficulties or emergencies.
- Good value for money. All our customers require good value for money and fair pricing every time they travel. On a more subtle note, our specialist knowledge is crucial in ensuring you really make the most of your holiday budget.
- We are members of the Association in Independent Tour Operators (AITO) and adhere to their strict Quality Charter guidelines.
And finally, we provide 100% financial guarantees through our ATOL licence (No. 3783) and our membership of ABTOT (No. 5246). Back to top »
As members of The Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO) all our customers receive feedback questionnaires at the end of their holiday, and also have the opportunity to rate their experiences direct with AITO. The results are collated each year (separately for small and large companies) and a 'Tour Operator of the Year' award is presented to the most successful company in each category. We won the award in 2006, and have been within the top 5 small operators every year since.
Back to top »
Meet the Team
Bill Adams, Director
Bill founded Safari Consultants in 1983 having moved to London from his native South Africa. Growing up in Johannesburg, schooling in the Eastern Cape, and spending two years doing national service in South West Africa (now Namibia) had allowed him to experience much of what that region has to offer, gaining a natural understanding of the African bush. Bill spent the 'eighties' and early nineties exploring East Africa in depth, whilst continuing to visit new and developing regions of southern Africa. At various stages in the 'early years' he was instrumental in helping to develop the African tourism industry, whether supporting the opening up of remote parks (Ruaha) or promoting individual safari initiatives (bush homestead stays and portered safari walks). His knowledge on all things Africa is deep, and being involved with the continent for so long has allowed him to explore some really remote and interesting regions – there are few places in East and Southern Africa where he has not been. Bill has travelled frequently to Africa with his wife and children and has a keen interest in birds.
Robert Slater, Director
Rob grew up on a farm in Suffolk and has always had a passion for the great outdoors. On leaving school, his first big adventures took him to the Nepal Himalaya, South Africa and Zimbabwe, and he has never looked back. A few years later came a two month back-packing trip around Kenya and northern Tanzania. Outside of Africa, he has returned to the Nepal Himalaya many times since, watched tigers in India and trekked through the rainforests of Peru, Venezuela and Borneo in search of wildlife. Rob joined Bill in 1995, and to add to his previous experiences, has been travelling to Africa three to four times a year ever since. His knowledge and experience cover all corners of 'safari' Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands, from the primate-rich forests of Uganda to the harsh wilderness of Namibia's Skeleton Coast. He has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya, rafted and canoed the Zambezi River and has led friends and family on self-drive trips through Botswana, Tanzania and South Africa. He is our resident scuba-diving specialist and has dived in Mauritius, Seychelles, South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya and Malawi. Rob has a real passion for Africa – don't expect a short reply on anything – and is a perfectionist when it comes to organising anything. Married with two boys, his interests closer to home (when time permits!) include country walks, country pubs, golf and rugby.
Michele Seamark, Director / Senior Sales
Michele was born and grew up in Harare, Zimbabwe. After school she completed an intense secretarial course before things started to go rapidly 'down hill' for the country. Aged 18, she made the decision to leave and arrived in Suffolk in November 2001 to start a new life. Michele joined Safari Consultants as a personal assistant in 2002. Having been with Safari Consultants for two years and gained an intimate understanding of the business, she needed a different challenge and joined the sales team. She has never looked back, and has travelled over 30 times to Africa, including returning to Zimbabwe to see family. Seychelles, Namibia, South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Mauritius and Rwanda have all been covered, often several times, with her favourite regions being the South Luangwa in Zambia, and the Selous and Ruaha in southern Tanzania. Gorilla tracking in Uganda also remains a personal highlight (although she has seen them in Rwanda). With her southern Africa 'roots' Michele is passionate about her job and is meticulous in her organisation, always willing to go that 'extra mile'.
Mary Grimwood, Sales Consultant
Mary grew up in Surrey with (very!) Scottish ancestry (neé Mackenzie). Having studied modern languages at university she leapt head first into the travel industry and built up a wealth of experience with visits to around 35 different countries worldwide. Her career has included leading tour groups in Europe, working for a worldwide tour operator and more recently working for and managing an independent travel agency in London. Mary joined Safari Consultants in 2006 having spent a season working in a bush camp in Kenya's Masai Mara, where she really cemented her love of Africa. In 'safari' Africa, she has now visited Namibia, South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania, Madagascar, Uganda and Rwanda. Throughout her extensive travels, she has many favourite spots, such as the Namibia's Namib Desert and Mozambique's Bazaruto Archipelago, but due to her time living and working there, Kenya and its people hold a very special place in her heart. Mary enjoys dealing with people and really getting to know her clients, a key part of tailoring the perfect holiday. She claims her spare time is spent trying to understand the laws of rugby to be able to support her referee husband.
Jane Walker, Sales Consultant
Jane has been travelling with her husband to Africa for over 20 years, visiting 12 different countries on over 40 separate trips. Her main career was with British Telecommunications, but in 2005 she gave that up to concentrate full time on two of her great loves – Africa and horse-riding. As Africa offers some incredible horse-riding safaris, she is now our horse-riding specialist and has ridden with 12 horseback safari operators throughout East and Southern Africa. Of all her riding experiences, cantering alongside plains game and giraffe in the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro and through the shallow waters of the Okavango Delta in flood rank amongst her best. However, Jane is passionate about all aspects of the African wilderness and the outdoors in general. She is a keen birder and an experienced walker, having climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, and trekked in the Drakensberg, Simien Mountains and the Nepal Himalaya. Out of the saddle, canoeing on the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe and exploring Zambia's Luangwa Valley on foot remain two of her personal highlights. Her favourite sound in the bush is "a leopard calling at night, ideally from directly under my bed", which has happened!
Josie Lewry, Head of Administration and Flights
Josie grew up in Kent, moving to Suffolk when she was 13 years old. On leaving school she took her first overseas longhaul trip to Australia, which gave her a real taste for travel. She subsequently travelled to South Africa to see family and also took a return trip to Australia, this time also including a visit to New Zealand. Her career in travel began when she joined Virgin Atlantic and spent 3 years working in their customer sales team, often travelling to America. In January 2005 Josie joined Safari Consultants to run our flight bookings and help in administration, and in 2015 she was promoted to manage both departments. Josie has travelled to Kenya's Masai Mara and to see the mountain gorillas in Rwanda.
Michaela Liron-Spratt, Administration
Michaela was born in Jersey where she lived until she was 26, when she moved to Chelmsford in Essex and then later to the north Essex countryside. Previous employment has included working for a distribution company, security firm and more recently she spent 11 years with PriceWaterhouseCoopers accountants. Michaela joined the administration team at Safari Consultants in February 2006. Her hobbies include walking/running with her dog Sophie, and riding her motorbike with her husband and friends. Michaela has travelled to Kenya's Masai Mara, which she loved, and to Rwanda to see the mountain gorillas.
Frances Gwyther, Sales Consultant and Marketing
Frances grew up in Essex but did university in Scotland where she graduated from the University of Edinburgh in Italian and English. With a father from Zimbabwe, and family based in Cape Town, she has spent a number of summers (ours – their winter!) in South Africa, as well as independently spending a few months on a voluntary work programme in a game reserve near the Kruger National Park. Frances started in administration but has now moved into sales having travelled extensively through South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania and Kenya during her time with us. Frances also leads our social media initiatives and email marketing side of the business.
Roland Evans, Administration and Flights
Originally from Southend-on-Sea, Roland moved to Suffolk in 2010 where he now lives with his wife and their two children. He has over 15 years of experience in the travel industry having worked for companies in both the retail and business sectors and joined Safari Consultants in mid-2013. He enjoys travelling to unusual destinations, especially on cruises. Roland has joined our administration department with a particular focus on helping out in our flights department. He is also fast becoming our resident IT specialist.
Eloise Leney, Administration
Eloise is a local girl having grown up in our beautiful Suffolk countryside. She enjoys travelling and has explored Indonesia and Thailand, as well as Ireland, Holland, Spain, France, Italy and The Med. Kenya was the latest destination on her list – for her honeymoon! Out of the office, Eloise loves the outdoors and enjoys walking with her Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla called Flare through the countryside, mountain biking with her husband and the dog or trying to conquer her fear of manoeuvring on her road bike! She is also keen on flower photography, singing & baking, and her enquiring mind has seen her research her family history back 8 generations (yet to find a real 'skeleton in the cupboard').
Julia Morgan, Sales Consultant
Julia grew up in Sydney, Australia and first discovered Africa at the age of 17 on a family trip to Zimbabwe and South Africa. To see elephant, lion and hyaena for the first time in the bush was a truly exhilarating feeling and she was hooked! After University, she travelled extensively and a four month overland trip from Egypt through Sudan, Eritrea, and Ethiopia to Kenya changed her life. She then became a tour leader based in East and Southern Africa, spending 13 months driving and escorting travellers through Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa. Spending a precious hour with the gorillas in Uganda, tracking rhinos on a walking safari in Matobo National Park and silently gliding past a pod of hippos in a mekoro through the Okavango Delta are a few of her most exciting wildlife encounters to date. Julia has also rafted the mighty Zambezi and Nile Rivers, floated over the Serengeti on a balloon safari and snorkelled the beautiful coastline off Zanzibar. Julia counts spotting a martial eagle (the largest in Africa), a wild dog running past at sundowners and seeing 12 lions from the Marsh pride as moments never to be forgotten.
Joe Corder, Sales Consultant
Joe grew up in Stamford, Lincolnshire and first experienced Africa at the age of four when visiting family and friends in Kenya. More trips cemented his passion for Africa and he has since travelled to 12 different countries across southern and eastern Africa including Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Botswana, South Africa, Madagascar, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Before embarking on his Geography degree at university in Newcastle, he travelled independently through eight African countries – from Cape Town to Nairobi. Joe has bungee jumped off Victoria Falls bridge, tracked wild dogs in Kwa-Zulu Natal and is passionate about all things African.
Away from work he plays cricket and golf, loves skiing and follows Newcastle United.


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Chemistry Professor Novak Embraces Gentleman's Rule• October 29, 2010 Share:
Second-year Chemistry Professor Walter Novak may be new to Wabash College but has embraced the concepts of the Gentlemen's Rule.
Novak delivered Thursday's Chapel Talk by looking at the history of the College's only rule governing the behavior of students.
"What it means to be a Gentleman means different things to different people," he began with before exploring the historical changes in the wording of the rule.
He made the talk personal by sharing a story of how the Gentleman's Rule influenced his job search.
"It's something that works well enough here that I thought there was a difference between Wabash students and students at other institutions," he explained. "Adherence to the Gentleman's Rule makes life easier at Wabash. I don't have devote my attention to discipline; I can put all of my energy into my lectures."
You can watch all of Professor Novak's Chapel Talk on the Wabash College YouTube channel.


text: There are many different reasons why a man will chose to get or try out a glans or cock ring. The purpose of a cock ring is to slow the blood flow to make the erection be more sensitive and last longer. The cock ring can be placed anywhere on the shaft of the penis however it works better if it is put on the penis closest to the body. Some men just enjoy the pressure caused by wearing a ring and some like it for the looks of it. A glans ring is supposed to be positioned right after the head of the penis. The most important part in selecting a glans ring or a cock ring is make sure to get the right size for you. Serious issues can arise if the ring is too tight.


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Definitely not financial problems. They had the best year ever, in 2010. I think they are too busy, grinding out the mainstream cameras, to fool with mirrorless.
Too bad for them and for me though!
I'll invite everybody in this and other forum to drop Ikelite a mail. If we can do 100 or even more mails, maybe Ikelite will reconsider ??
I have allready dropped 10 mails !!


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Style # 212137
Call of the styled! Shaggy chic faux fur and a flattering cropped fit make this open vest a statement piece you?ll add to countless outfits. Pair with a shirt and denim, or add to a dress for a look that?s far from tame.
- 70% acrylic, 30% polyester
- Center back to hem: 19" (48 cm)
- Dry clean
- Imported
- Model is 5'9" and is wearing a US size S


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Chelsea have been overtaken by Manchester City as the biggest payers in the Premier League, the Stamford Bridge club's accounts have confirmed.
The overall wages paid out by Chelsea in the year ending June 2012 actually fell by £18million to £171million - compared to Manchester City who saw their wages break through the £200million barrier.
Chelsea announced last year they had made a profit of £1.4million - the first time they had finished in the black in the Roman Abramovich era. The full accounts lodged with Companies House reveal that was aided by a one-off £18.4million boost from the cancellation of shares owned by BSkyB.
Copyright (c) PA Sport 2013, All Rights Reserved.


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Within the realm of economic development in Davidson County, it's no secret code names, shielded information and confidentiality are basic and expected components.
This is the first in a series of stories on the Davidson County Economic Development Commission. Saturday: the proposed county industrial park in Linwood.
In the beginning, there was "Project K." That was refrigeration manufacturer Arneg.
Then, there was "Project SI," the alias for paperboard manufacturer Summer Industries.
Lately, there was "Project Plus," or TIMCO Aviation Services, and Project Lynx, or Save-A-Lot.
The veil remains closed on "Project Plum," "Project Hem" and "Project Z13."
Within the realm of economic development in Davidson County, it's no secret that code names, shielded information and confidentiality are basic and expected components.
The director of the Davidson County Economic Development Commission, Steve Googe, works with companies that are exceptionally private in nature, which often require their names, industries and financial information be concealed from the public.
At the same time, taxpayers shell out hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to fund the commission and the cash and land incentives its top employee asks government boards to approve. Some members of the public want to know how and why their money is being spent and put their trust in business savvy folk and elected officials who are supposed to be in the know.
However, it appears economic development commission members are often not even enlightened to specifics about prospective projects, including the names of companies and their financial information.
Elected officials, too, have often not been informed of specific details about projects before routinely approving millions of dollars in incentives in recent years.
One former EDC member and several elected officials are now calling out for change, saying they need more specifics to properly discern the next "Project Bank" from "Project Bust."
Former EDC member calls for 'accountability'
For the past 27 years, the Davidson County EDC has been the taxpayer-funded authority for recruiting and promoting industry in the county.
Since 2002, Googe has carried out the main operational function of that agency, meeting and working with consultants from companies throughout the world in hopes of landing new investment and jobs in the county.
Googe, who did not respond to multiple telephone and in-person requests for an interview, answers to a 12-member board, which is responsible for managing all of the agency's affairs, according to a copy of the EDC's bylaws.
While the bylaws also vest all powers in the board and allow members to inspect all books and records, one former member, Burr Sullivan, said that wasn't always reality.
Sullivan, president of the Lexington Area Chamber of Commerce, served on the commission from 2003 to 2010. While he weighed in on the agency's annual budget, officers and other administrative functions, Sullivan said board members did not formally vote on projects moving forward or the incentive packages that Googe drafted.
"I see the great need for keeping company information out of the hands of the public until they decide to locate," Sullivan said. "They don't want information in the paper until they know where they want to go. There is a great need to keep that information out of public view. There is not a great need to keep that information from the other EDC or political leaders who will be making decisions."
After departing from the EDC board, Sullivan served two years on the N.C. Economic Investment Committee, which was tasked at making decisions on state incentive grants to companies. He said he received dense information on about 90 projects during his tenure on the state committee, including audited financial statements, environmental data and extensive background information.
"Some of the information was up to 500 pages," Sullivan said. "I liked the process, and there was a lot of accountability. Their financial records were reviewed by looking at three years of audited statements. We'd know all about them, yet every bit of that was confidential because the government would always announce that award. It's what I think ought to take place here, that vetting of whether this is a good company we want to come here or not."
Veteran EDC members like board chairman Tommy Hedrick say that "vetting" is usually taken care of by Googe and those he asks to assist him. They also say board members receive at least some information about every project, but not necessarily the company's name or financial information.
Hedrick, who has served on the board for close to 20 years, said Googe presents all projects using overhead slides at the board's regular monthly meetings, but not necessarily paper documents. The information includes the number of jobs and investment a company is looking to create, the size of their plant, the type of incentive package he is considering offering and what incentive package the state is considering.
Hedrick, who has also spent time on the state economic development board, said when it gets down to the "nitty-gritty," Googe will have a CPA look at a company's financial information.
"I think it is fair because you have the best industrial recruiter in North Carolina looking after it, and he wants every job he can get to come to this county," Hedrick said.
From January 2001 to June 2012, the number of employees working in Davidson County decreased by nearly 8,700 workers, compared to a decrease of about 1,000 workers in Davie County, a decrease of about 5,000 workers in Randolph County and a decrease of about 1,463 workers in Rowan County, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Despite a decrease in county workers, national magazines consistently ranked the former Lexington-Thomasville Micropolitan Area in the top five for new and expanded corporate facilities. The publication that makes that annual ranking, Site Selection magazine, uses project reports filed by economic development officials with the state department of commerce to make those delineations for areas in North Carolina. The state gathers its data from local economic development officials.
Executive committee features veterans
The EDC also has an executive committee, which consists of Googe, Hedrick, Davidson County Commissioner Larry Potts, Thomasville Mayor Joe Bennett, EnergyUnited Chief Executive Officer Wayne Wilkins and Bank of the Carolinas Executive Vice President Ed Jordan.
Potts, Wilkins, Bennett and Jordan have all served on the board for at least the past 10 years.
EDC board members are appointed by the county's various governmental agencies, and the Davidson County Board of Commissioners gives that list final approval. While board members serve staggered three-year terms, there are no term limits, according to the bylaws.
Hedrick said the executive committee, which is appointed by other board members, handles special duties, such as personnel matters, but does not know any more information than the regular board members.
Potts, who has served on the EDC's board since 1994, said all board members can access additional information about projects, if they ask for it.
"We have bank CEOs, energy CEOs, CPAs, a doctor, elected officials, none of whom are bashful," Potts said. "If they wanted more information or needed more information to make a decision, they'd request it and would get it. But these individuals don't make decisions lightly. They are all professionals in the business world."
Other voting members of the EDC board are Lexington Mayor Newell Clark, Wallburg Town Councilman Mark Swaim, Lexington resident Tom Smith, physician and Thomasville resident Dr. Wayne Herrick, financial advisor Steve Jackson, Denton Mayor Scott Morris and Midway Town Councilman John Byrum. The board also has a nonvoting liaison group, which is made up of the county manager, the Lexington and Thomasville city managers, the Denton town manager, the mayors of Wallburg and Midway and the chairman of the Davidson County Board of Commissioners.
The EDC board does occasionally meet in closed session, and only voting members and invitees take part in that gathering, Potts said.
Potts said there are reasons the names and detailed information about companies aren't released during the recruitment process, including issues with union and nonunion areas and potential ramifications on stock prices. He also said while the board does not take a formal vote on projects, it does take a consensus for a project to move forward.
In the past two decades, Hedrick can think of only two times when the EDC board did not approve a project, one for a company's questionable financial information and a second for a company's poor environmental health.
Sullivan said he didn't recall too much debate while he was a member of the board.
"When it got down to what we were offering 'A,' 'B' or 'C,' and you started asking questions about what 'A,' 'B' and 'C' are doing, you'd often get the cold shoulder," Sullivan said.
Elected officials voice concerns
When projects move from the EDC boardroom, they sometimes go to governmental boards that consider economic development incentive grants.
Since the mid-2000s, the names of prospective companies have not generally been revealed to commissioners, council people or the public at public hearings, according to government records. The information that is revealed is usually limited to the number of jobs and investment a company is looking to create and the type of incentive package the EDC is considering offering, according to the records.
Government boards have approved nearly every proposal in unanimous fashion, according to government meeting minutes and other records.
The Davidson County Board of Commissioners, for example, have approved about $8 million in cash and land incentives for then-unidentified companies since April 2007, when the board approved about $1.06 million in total incentives for "Project K," or Arneg, according to government records.
Davidson County commissioners Todd Yates and Steve Jarvis have both approved incentives without knowing the name or extensive details about a company since joining the board in the past three years.
Yates, who was elected to the board in 2010, said he and other elected officials should be privileged to all the information in order to make a just decision.
"As a commissioner, I can keep a secret," Yates said. "If you need me to sign a confidentiality agreement, then I will. I would like to do a little research about the companies coming here before I tell you, 'Yeah, you can come and take the farm and do business here without knowing anything about them.'"
Jarvis, who was elected to the board last year, said he, too, would be willing to sign a confidentiality agreement to know the details about a company that's potentially going to locate in the county.
"Every one of us is striving for the same goal," Jarvis said. "We all want to make Davidson County a better place and encourage business, but I feel like sometimes we limit what could potentially be done by leaving it in the hands of three or four, or a small percentage."
The Davidson County Board of Commissioners showed divide over the information the EDC provides, or does not provide, earlier this year, when Yates and Jarvis brought up their issues during the board's annual retreat. At the meeting, Yates said he needed more data before he could commit to allocating the $10 million Googe is requesting commissioners dedicate toward loans and other infrastructure costs for a proposed industrial site near Linwood.
Last week, commissioners were again at odds over the information about the Linwood industrial site, this time drafting questions for Googe to answer when they next discuss the issue May 14.
Potts, who is in his 17th year as a commissioner, said some board members need to be more detailed in the information they are requesting.
"Everything (Googe) has, he shares it in closed session," Potts said. "If his goal is, 'If it's a good company, then get it approved,' he'd have no incentive not to share all the information he has. If it was bad information, Steve Googe does not like to look bad and make bad decisions, so he would share all the information that he had.
"All seven of us have the same information. I may have heard it previously, because I'm on the executive committee with the EDC. (Yates) and (Jarvis) have the same information that the other five have. If they think they need some more information and they are specific, Steve (Googe) can get it to them if they are specific."
Company names and other details haven't always been shielded from elected officials considering incentives.
Up until the mid-2000s, government boards and citizens were often told the names of companies at public hearings, in addition to the line of business they were involved in. Davidson County commissioners, for instance, have approved more than $30 million in incentives after first being provided the name of a company since January 1994, according to records.
Leakage leads to confidentiality
Several leaks of information may certainly be part of the EDC's informal policy on confidentiality.
One leak occurred about 19 years ago, Hedrick said, when a division of Mitsubishi was considering locating near Linwood and bringing a $100 million investment and 400 employees along with them.
Hedrick said members of the EDC board and several elected officials were informed about the company and even participated in accompanying Japanese executives throughout the county.
"We told them that all this was confidential and don't breathe a word to anybody," Hedrick said.
Hedrick said after the company left on good terms, one of the informed officials took a TV reporter to the site and revealed that the company was a division of Mitsubishi.
"The company called and said, 'If you people can't keep a secret of what we plan to do, then we are not coming,'" Hedrick said. "That is an example of how critical it is for some of our other board members not to know."
According to newspaper archives, former Davidson County Commissioner Sue Hunter told at least one publication that a subsidiary of Mitsubishi was considering a site in the county as a possible location for a new manufacturing plant.
Hedrick said he told Jarvis that same story about leaks last week, when he and the executive committee had a special meeting with him in Lexington. The executive committee also wanted to meet with Yates, Hedrick said, but he did not attend.
While he understands what happened in the past, Jarvis said he still thinks more people should be involved in the process.
"I've had citizens come to me with questions about development," Jarvis said. "Whenever I reference that to some of the other board members, I was told that I was trying to micromanage and that was none of my business and, 'Had I called Steve Googe?' I said, 'No, I haven't called Steve Googe.' I was elected and they are looking to us to help them, and I don't think that's something we can totally wash our hands of and be at a distance.
"I'm not saying that at some given point through talks with an individual that I would not say, 'Let's meet with Steve Googe.' I'm not trying to exclude Steve Googe in any way, but I feel like we have to be as much or more a part of economic development."
While the EDC receives the majority of its funding from the county, Lexington and Thomasville, the county's smaller municipalities have provided annual allocations to the nonprofit agency. Government boards in those areas have also considered economic development incentives in the past 20 years, but on a less frequent basis than the county, according to government records.
Thomasville City Councilman Joel Pierce, who was appointed to the council in 2011, said he's not sure that the best steps are being taken to benefit Thomasville residents.
"I understand that there are companies that don't want their names out there when they are searching for a place to relocate or do business, but you can't take the people out of the process," Pierce said. "I think it's better when you have the people in the process. The people are represented by their elected officials, and you have to include them in the process. Whether that means we create a separate economic board, or someone they work with on a regular basis, I think that's something we need to look at."
On the contrary, Lexington Mayor Newell Clark, who is also a member of the EDC board, said he has been pleasantly surprised by the amount of information he's been able to receive after simply asking for it.
"It goes back to trust and is what he's (Googe) telling you, 'Is it for real?'" Clark said. "He's trying to bring industrial businesses to this area. That's manufacturing, that's his background, that's what he knows, and he's very good at that. He's going where he has those connections to bring those folks here.
"If he hears someone's looking at coming to the Southeast, he's going to go after them. That is his daily job, and he's in that circle. Commissioners and council members are not, every day, eating and breathing economic development. I work on a recruitment of a business, but I'm also working on a cat up the tree and getting a fire department over there and working on a pothole. There are so many things that the elected officials are doing. It's not that he's making decisions that we are all dealing with, he's making that decision of, 'I've heard this business is looking at moving to the Southeast, and I'm going to run that down. I've heard this is moving to North Carolina, and I'm going to run that down.'"
Clark said Googe brings the projects he's working on to the EDC board and elected officials and presents basic information to them.
"Are we making decisions of, 'Go after this and go after that?' We're not," Clark said. "In that sense, is it fair that one person is making all these decisions? We have an entity that is actively recruiting business that he's aware that might be coming here, but at the end of the day, he has to defer to the elected officials on what they want to do."
Nash Dunn can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 227, or at email@example.com.