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Protected birds, animals sold openly inside Asia's 'biggest cattle fair'
The Sonepur Mela in Bihar, advertised by the government as the biggest cattle fair in Asia, strikes as being just like any other rustic fair, at first. Only it is not. It is a hub of illegal trade in protected animals like elephants, langurs, nilgais and birds like parakeets.india Updated: Dec 08, 2014 20:06 IST
For a split second the humans froze, feeling as caged in as the birds and animals around them. Then began the desperate struggle to escape. "Close Chidiya Bazaar!" an elderly shopkeeper shouted. Others pushed and punched terrified visitors as they tried to make their way out of the crowded market before the gates were pulled shut. The few policemen present stood around watching helplessly. Somehow, I found myself outside the gate, as did activist Gauri Maulekhi and her companions. We were soon to find, however, that we were far from safe.
The Sonepur Mela or Sonepur Cattle Fair in Bihar's Saran district is as far from the idea of "shining India" - the image projected by successive central governments at international platforms - as can be. Here, might is right, and the law exists only on paper. This seems to be true for those legalities that apply to humans and is doubly so for those that apply to animals. Bihar tourism advertises the month-long event at Sonepur as the "biggest cattle fair" in Asia. Ironically, despite numerous wildlife protection laws, government propaganda and the presence of police at the grounds, the mela - held this year from November 5 to December 4 - continues to be a hub of illegal trade in wildlife.
At first sight, the mela strikes a casual observer as being just like any other rustic fair. Families dressed in their glittery best stop to buy cotton candy or coffee. A man with a microphone calls out to visitors to witness stunts on a motorbike for just Rs 10.
Chidiya Bazaar where trade in protected species like munias, mynas and parakeets is common.
The make-shift theatres feature large posters of numerous skimpily-dressed dancers, some of whom go by the unlikely names of Kareena and Katrina. Ferris wheels and small shops selling bangles and household knick-knacks complete the picture. Then there are the cattle pens, stalls for horses and goats that is the USP of the Sonepur mela and the Chidiya Bazaar, where a number of protected birds are openly sold.
The Sonepur Mela traces its history to the era of Chandragupta Maurya (340 BC - 298 BC), who, it is believed, used to buy elephants and horses across the Ganga. The original venue of the fair is said to have been the neighbouring area of Hajipur. Only the puja was originally performed at the Harihar Nath temple of Sonepur which, locals believe, was built by Rama while he passed through the area on his way to win the hand of Sita. The venue of the fair was reportedly shifted to Sonepur during the reign of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.
Trade in elephants remained an important part of the Sonepur Mela until recently, even though the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 prohibits their sale and purchase. "Those who owned elephants before the Act came into effect were given registration numbers for the animals, but were forbidden from selling them," says Shekhar Niraj of TRAFFIC , a wildlife trade monitoring network. Acting under pressure from animal rights activists, the Bihar government has put a curb on the sale and purchase of elephants at the fair. However, elephants continue to be brought for display to the fair and activists believe the venue now acts as a meeting place for buyers and sellers, with only the actual handing-over of the animals taking place outside the mela grounds.
Protected species like niligai (above) being sold at the fair this year. (Photos: Raj K Raj / Wildlife Trust of India)
Kerala is a popular destination for these elephants. "There is a huge demand for tuskers during temple festivals in the state. A good tusker can fetch up to Rs 50 lakh in Kerala," says an activist who does not wish to be named. The animals are also sold outside India. "Two years back at Sonepur Mela I saw a mother elephant and its calf being sold to a buyer from Nepal for Rs 35 lakh. The buyer owned a resort and an elephant safari in Nepal," says the activist. Ownership doesn't change on paper. "The buyer is shown to have received the animal as a gift, or got the animal on lease," says the activist. Not all elephants at Sonepur Mela are those that were captive in 1972. A local source reveals that, of the approximately 40 elephants that visited the fair this year, 10 were unregistered.
The Chidiya Bazaar occupies a small part of the fair, but sees high footfall. Unlike most of the fair, this is an enclosed space. Just outside the entrance, a notice put up by the government shows pictures of the species of birds that are protected. Trade in these birds is banned or restricted. Pictures of parakeets, mynahs, hill mynahs, shikras and munias are prominent. Hardly anyone spares a glance at the notice and a brisk business in exactly these species is conducted inside the bazaar alongside the legal trade in varieties such as the lovebird.
Monkeys and langur, both of which are protected under the Wildlife Act, are also sold here. "I also saw a porcupine being sold," says a local activist. Hostile to curbs on their illegal trade, traders do not allow photography inside the market. It's only the prospect of a sale that makes these taciturn men turn chatty.
"He's only six months old. He will be domesticated easily. I will put him in a gunny bag and help you carry him to the car," says a shopkeeper, eager to sell me a monkey, even as the little creature desperately tried to break out of its cage. In the next cage, a forlorn langur sat curled up. Every stall in Chidiya Bazaar is a study in cruelty to animals. The shikras have their eyes stitched shut. "You need to speak to it so that it gets used to the sound of your voice. Then you open its eyes in the presence of the entire family," explains one shopkeeper. While most traders insist the birds and animals are bred in captivity, a few, such as Ashraf, admit that many are caught from the wild. Egged on by the prospect of a sale, he even gives me his mobile number. The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, does not differentiate between protected animals caught in the wild or bred in captivity as far as trade is concerned.
"The act puts a blanket ban on the trade in animals mentioned in schedules I and II of the Act. Restricted trade may be permitted in animals mentioned in the other schedules of the Act with the legal permit of the chief wildlife warden, but investigation has shown the traders at the Sonepur fair do not have such permits," explains Niraj of TRAFFIC. TRAFFIC has been tracking the illegal wildlife trade in Sonepur Mela for the past 10 years. Activists point out that several species were sighted at the fair for the first time this year.
"This includes porcupine and nilgai," says Gauri Maulekhi, animal rights activist and co-opted member of the Animal Welfare Board of India. On the issue of whether the traders have the permission of forest officials to trade in these protected animals, Maulekhi says, "They wouldn't be so hostile if they were authorised sellers. Also, they provide no valid deeds of sale to buyers." Buyers at Chidiya Bazaar get receipts at the exit that mention the name of the trader but not which animal was bought or its price.
Shikras being sold at the fair. The shikra's eyes are stitched shut. Buyers are advised to remove the stitches only after the bird has grown accustomed to the presence and sound of its new owner's voice.
On Sunday, November 30, Maulekhi filed a written complaint at the Chidiya Bazaar police camp inside the fair against the illegal trade. But the activist and her companions, along with the team from Hindustan Times that accompanied her, barely escaped assault by the traders when she went there with the police and tried to shoot videos of the illegal trade. "We have tried to raid Chidiya Bazaar before but have been beaten up by the traders," said a police official at the fair on condition of anonymity. Maulekhi also met the District Magistrate (DM) and repeated her complaint. "The DM ordered an immediate raid but all the banned species had already been removed from the market," she rues.
"Fifteen days ago I had met Bihar's principal secretary (environment and forest) and told him of the illegal animal trade at the fair. He rubbished my claims. Illegal trade of such a magnitude can't be carried out without political patronage. The authorities are hand in glove with the traders and receive a share of the profits." On his part, Vivek Singh, principal secretary (environment and forest), Bihar, says checks are carried out routinely. "The divisional forest officer is present at the fair. Trade in elephants has been curbed. It is true that some birds are being sold illegally, under the guise of trade in permitted species, but we are trying to stop it," he says.
Maulekhi insists that Sonepur Mela is only the tip of the iceberg of illegal wildlife trade that's taking place in the country. There are hubs of illegal wildlife trade in almost every city. "Lalkurti in Meerut, Mir Shikar Toli in Patna, Galiff Street and Raja Bazaar in Kolkata, and Shivajinagar in Bangalore are infamous for illegal trade in live wildlife," says Jose Louies, of Wildlife Trust of India. Maulekhi agrees. "80 per cent of the illegal trade in wildlife is concentrated in Mir Shikar Toli in Patna and Kolkata," she says.
Illegal exports are also made to China, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and the countries of the Middle-East, Europe and North America, says Niraj. Birds, snakes, star tortoise, spotted deer and even scorpions are in demand. "People buy them as pets, collector's items and for the products derived from them. There is also a demand in the underground scientific community for research purposes," says Louies. While there is no doubt that big money is involved, there are no authentic estimates of the worth of the market. "Globally, wild animals and products derived from wild animals are the second most-smuggled item. The estimated worth of the global trade is $ 15 billion per annum. We have no estimates of India's share," says Niraj.
While Louies pushes for better scanning to curb trafficking, Neeraj points to the lack of resources. "We don't have enough manpower at the frontline field enforcement level and what we have is not properly equipped to carry out effective raids," he says. Meanwhile, Maulekhi has written a letter to the chief secretary, Bihar urging him to raid Mir Shikar Toli. "We need a centralised uniform law to monitor all such animal fairs," she says. The principal secretary is preparing to act on her complaint. "We are in the process of putting together a team. We need to be well equipped because the area is sensitive," says Singh. The risk is high. Last Sunday, minutes after escaping Chidiya Bazaar, Maulekhi, her companions, my photojournalist colleague and I found ourselves pursued by a mob waving sickles. I dived into a stall hoping to get lost in the crowd.
"Where is the other woman, the one with the activist?" I heard someone shout. I had been identified. It was only by wading into a swamp and hiding in its cold, dirty water that Maulekhi and I managed to give them the slip. Activists in Delhi had warned of the hostility of these traders. This time, a young activist was roughed up and cameras were broken. The police and government officials were of little help and escorted us out while the traders were busy removing their stock. We escaped. The wild animals we had hoped to free continue to suffer in their wire prisons.
Now, relive some of the scenes at Chidiya Bazaar, where trade in protected species like munias, mynas and parakeets, as well as niligai and shikras is common, in the photos below:
First Published: Dec 07, 2014 11:57 IST


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I signed up to Audible recently, and it's pretty cool (listen to The Things They Carried, it's narrated by Bryan Cranston), but what I noticed was the 'Me' section on the Audible App. It had a Badge Collection, a listening counter, and a listening level, based on how many hours you listened. It seems like a cheap incentive to carry on with the service, but it's clever in the way that it has counters and progress bars for something as arbitrary as listening to audio books. You see this a lot in games, too. You grind through the next activity just to push that progress bar. The activities you're doing are often unfun or mundane, but you just want to push that progress bar up to the next level. A progress or XP bar can be incorporated into any activity, especially school. It's not fun playing through a dungeon or a level that requires repetitive play, but then having a bar to represent your effort, it feels like tangible progress; like you're actually moving forward. This is called 'gamification'.
Audible aren't the only ones doing this. The popular language-learning app Duolingo had courses like levels in a game. You had 10 stages, a certain amount of lives, and a score for every level. There's an XP count, a streak counter, but most interestingly there are tests. The game equivalent would be boss fights; a test that accounts for all you have learned up to that point. Learning another language is certainly difficult, but having an XP bar with an app that teaches you Spanish is genius. For a difficult task, you need motivation otherwise you could easily just give it a pass. You need an incentive. Duolingo has that incentive. It feels like you're making progress with every lesson you do.
For us gamers, we know that leveling up is awesome, but there has to be an incentive for leveling up, like in Call of Duty you can unlock new guns or somesuch equipment, or on Dota 2 where you're more likely to pick up rare items. Figure that out: you need an incentive for the incentive, but it makes perfect sense. You can't just keep leveling up with nothing to go on, you need a reward. You have put in loads of effort to reach the next level, so some sort of reward would be necessary.
It really depends on what you're implementing it into. For Duolingo, perhaps you could get little things like a translating pack for every level that you progress too, that translates a word you're stuck on, kind of like a health pack in a shooter. For Audible, if you exceed a certain level, you could get a free book token. Maybe you do, I haven't got that far yet. Level incentives are important for gamifying your application.
Think about all the good it can do on a broader scale. It's already done good for me; I plough through my school work with the same work ethic I use in matches in Dota or dungeons in World of Warcraft, Skyrim, or Torchlight 2. It's something the younger generation is accustomed to; they're familiar with games like Call of Duty or Skyrim that require level grinding. Incorporating this into something like Mental Arithmetic application for a school will really encourage the younger generation into learning. Winston Church said "I am always ready to learn although I do not always like being taught." Maybe gamification will solve this understandable attitude toward learning.

subset: commoncrawl


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We've all heard the saying "a picture is worth a thousand words", but do we really take to heart the true meaning? If we each made a book of all the pictures taken of ourselves from day one, I'm sure we'd all have a great story to tell. With today's technology and the evolving of photographers' creativity, there's never been a better time than now to create and preserve new memories!
Hi, I'm Aaron!
As a dad, I've always tried to take the occasional snapshot to record milestones and cuteness of my daughters. Eventually, I invested in a professional camera and once I learned how to really use the thing, it was like I was given this power to freeze time. Not just with pictures but with beautiful portraits... capturing adorable expressions, innocence and beauty. I soon began to do the same with nature. It's amazing to me how no two pictures could possibly be identical!
Eventually, I began taking pictures for others and was later asked to photograph a wedding after the couple's photographer didn't pan out. I was nervous at first but when the day was done, I couldn't wait for the next one! Since then, I've invested more in equipment and covered numerous weddings from small gatherings on the beaches of Destin and Okaloosa Island to full on, full day wedding events... from the bride and groom getting ready in the morning to their departure that night.
I've also taken on the soon to be graduates for their High School Senior pictures along with expecting parents for their maternity shoots and later on, their newborn/infant photos.
Though I'm my worst critic, I take great pride in my photography. I don't just take pictures. I seek out the art in each of my clients, pose them to perfection and compose them with the background and scenery so that every shot taken is a work of art. I'm continuously improving my techniques and skills as well as providing the best customer care which exceeds my clients' expectations. I also keep myself grounded and appreciate photography more as an art than a business.
So, whether you and your lucky other half are planning a Destin Beach Wedding or a beautiful indoor wedding and will be seeking one of the areas most creative wedding photographers, I would love to talk to you and share ideas with you!
Same goes for you High School Seniors and parents! I would love to hear all about you and put together a High School Senior Picture package to help you show off your awesome achievement! Whether you're in Niceville, Choctaw, Crestview or any High School nearby, I've got several packages to choose from!
New and expecting parents will benefit greatly from any one of my Maternity, Newborn/Infant and 1st Year packages. Contact me for more details!
If you have any other photography needs not mentioned here, please get in touch with me soon and together we can tailor a package to meet your needs! I regularly serve the areas of Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Niceville and Crestview. I also cover the Pensacola and Santa Rosa Beach areas.
I would be interested in being a Birmingham Wedding Photographer for the occasional weekend!
For those looking for a destination wedding photographer, I do keep my passport up to date!
I look forward to speaking with you!
Based in Crestview, FL... Beachfront Photography is anything but your average Destin / Fort Walton Beach wedding and portrait photographer. Each wedding and portrait session is treated with care and creativity not found with most other Destin, FL wedding & portrait photography studios. Your wedding day or portrait session is carefully crafted to offer unique photography services in the Destin, FL area. This is Destin & Fort Walton Beach wedding and portrait photography at it's best!
Aaron's plan is to become one of the most demanded wedding and portrait photographers in the Northwest Florida Panhandle. Offering coverage in Crestview, Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Pensacola, and Panama City Beach, FL. Beachfront Photography will also consider traveling abroad.
Creative, Stylish and having a great eye for the details are what makes Aaron at Beachfront Photography stand out from the others. He takes great pride in offering his clients the type of Destin / Fort Walton Beach wedding and portrait photography they are looking for. He doesn't just "take pictures"... he creates art for his clients.
Beachfront Photography is currently based in Crestview, FL, a smaller town outside of Fort Walton Beach and Destin, and covers the entire Northwest Florida Panhandle.
Areas included are Pensacola, Navarre, Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Crestview, Niceville, Santa Rosa Beach, Defuniak Springs, Panama City Beach and the 30A area.
To learn more, ask questions or to book your wedding or portrait photo session in Fort Walton Beach / Destin, call Beachfront Photography at (850) 398-7734 ... email us... Or... just drop us a quick note and we will be happy to discuss with you how we can make your experience one to remember for years to come!


text: Aromas of fresh tomato, citrus peel and red fruits are a touch austere, but the mouth and flavors are more generous. The palate is well balanced and the flavors run sweet, ripe and chewy, with berry fruit and creamy licorice notes on the finish. A blend of 60% Syrah and 40% Garnacha from Catalonia.


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Sam here wishing everyone a belated happy new year and posting about what 2016 has in store for Six Up Save.
Last year saw the beginning of six up save, a new member to the group, our first group tournament and lots of laughs. This year we almost mirror that in the first two months by hosting a tournament in february and welcoming our tenth member Cat to the group.
It is our current aim to host three tournaments this year. Starting with back to basics in February which limits everyons cad in a minimalistic and nostalgic way. In june we hope to run a doubles tournament in which everyone counts as allies of convenience for some awesome yet unbroken alliances. Finally in september we aim to run another skirmish event, a competitive free for all similar to last years.
As well as our own tournaments we plan on attending Bristol Vanguards Vanquish on the 2nd-3rd of April. Last year Sam, Bruce, Damien and Matt went and had a great time.
We will begin our batman league soon after that which will feature most of Six Up and several other friends from our FLGS Worcester War Games. Details, scores and batreps for this will be posted onto the blog.
And as well as all of this we are working away on all of our armies.
I am adding lots to my krieg this year and aim to finish the regiment before moving onto completing my iron warriors.
Bruce is creating a 30k blood angels force and is thinking about starting necrons.
Damien is collecting a lot of daemonkin and painting them in the style of the word bearers.
Jamie shouler as usual has lots of projects on the go but is focussing on his world eaters.
Jamie Stevens has began painting his orks and has recently added some armour to his snake bites.
Martin has a few more units to complete before his 6000 eldar are finished. Then onto dark eldar.
Charles is in the process of making his tau army and plans to field it at back to basics.
Paul is nearly finished with his speed freaks and is eying up badger riding dwarves from kings of war.
Matt is repainting his dark eldar to match a new scheme he has chosen, working on his inquisitorial allies for his iron hands and has began work on his corsairs.
Cat is getting her first 1500 of eldar fully painted for back to basics.
So we all have a lot of hobby going on at the moment. Stay tumed for updates from each of us and we hopefully will see you at the Wocester War Games or at tournaments.


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TMJ and TMD Specialist El Cajon
When someone experiences severe chronic facial pain + ear pain, or neck pain, this may occur; as a result, Temporomandibular Disorder can also be called TMD. TMJ is an abbreviation for temporomandibular joints this connects the lower jawbone to your skull. As we speak, chew, bite, swallow and yawn we put the joint through a lot of use all the day. Pain around and within these joints can make someone uncomfortable, and level of movement may be limited. You could suffer excessive pain, but with neuromuscular dentistry, Dr. Korel takes a proactive approach to TMJ treatment. The aim is to decrease the pain in the next possible period, afterward find out the cause of pain so that relief can be permanently made.
What Causes TMJ syndrome?
Trauma, disease, awful oral state of health, wear and tear due to aging are the significant causes of TMJ
Trauma: Trauma is categorized into microtrauma and microtrauma. Microtrauma occurs at the innermost part of the jaw, including effects such as bruxism (grinding the teeth) and jaw tightening (clenching). The alignment of the teeth can be altered due to constant pounding on the temporomandibular joint. Membranes around the joint could be inflamed once the muscles are involved. People whom give reports of pain in a temporomandibular joint or have facial pain that includes the muscles involvement while chewing (myofascial pain) are correctly diagnosed of their teeth grinding and clenching habits. Microtrauma, the jawbone can be broken when something terrible takes place such may be a punch towards the jaw or huge effect in an accident may lead to dislocation of the TMJ, or damage the cartilage disc of the joint.
Bruxism: Bruxism also known as teeth grinding, is a habit that can cause involuntary muscular contraction and inflammatory reaction that can cause the initial pain. Temporomandibular joint changes may occur due to changes in average stimuli or teeth height, improperly arranged teeth, and use of chewing muscles repeatedly. Occasionally, someone who has attained the habit of grinding his or her teeth will do so while even at sleep. In other situations, you may disturb people around you as grinding may be so loud.
Clenching: Someone whom continuously squeezes or bites on things while awake with his/her. Some people are quite used to chewing or biting their gums, a pen or pencil, most often their fingernails. The causes of the pain are due to the continual hammering on the joint. The tension in the jaw occurs as a result of stress leading to a clenched jaw.
Osteoarthritis: Jaw joint tends arthritic changes just like any other joints in the body. These changes set in as a result of joint malfunction (breakdown) or the general wear and tear of natural aging in people that are older. There is a hindrance to the formation of new bones and slow loss of the cartilage's productivity because of chronic broke down the joint disease.
Rheumatoid arthritis: Rheumatoid arthritis is a primary autoimmune disease. In this case, the joints are inflamed and cause an impact on the TMJ. The diseases constantly damages of cartilage, erode bone and eventually leads a deformed joint as it progresses. Several diseases are generated in a variety of organs which are characterized by retained inflamed joint. Particularly this impacts the TMJ in children young kids. Other causes of TMJ syndrome include infection of the joint, cancer, and bone deformity that occurs at birth.
What Are TMJ syndrome Symptoms and Signs?
+The neck or shoulders may be affected due to the pain in the facial muscles and jaw joints. When joints become overstretched, and muscle spasms can occur. The pain may occur with talking, chewing, or yawning. Pain usually appears in the joint itself, in front of the ear, or it may move elsewhere on the face, scalp or jaw and lead to headaches, dizziness, and even symptoms of migraines. TMJ syndrome can lead to ear pain, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), and loss of hearing. At times when people have TMJ pain mistake it for an ear infection, though the ear is not the problem at all.
+A sound is produced as the joint move which includes clicking, popping or grating. This means that the disc may be positioned abnormally. No treatment is required if the pain is not caused the sound. The affected part of the face and mouth may look swollen.
+The jaw might not entirely be opened at all or maybe lock in a fully open position which indicates that it is dislocated. The lower jaw might also deviate to one side, upon the opening. Favoring one painful side or the other by opening the jaw may be experienced by some victims. Sudden changes may occur. The bite may feel unusual, and the teeth may not fit properly together. Muscle spasms related to TMJ syndrome may lead to swallowing difficulties. Also, TMJ syndrome can result in pounding headache and dizziness, potentially leading to nausea and constant vomiting.
There are many other best treatments for TMJ in El Cajon for treating TMJ syndrome; surgery is not always the first choice treatment. The use of a needle to clean and spray the joint is entailed in Arthrocentesis. TMJ specialist dentist might induce local anesthetic or steroid into the joint as the procedure is performed. When there is suspicion of an internal problem with the TMJ, an Arthroscopy operation is carried out. It does need the use of anesthesia and has a tremendous success rate in reducing the pain.
Physical therapy
+You may be referred for physical treatment if you have recurrent or chronic TMJ syndrome.
The TMJ specialist dentist can help restore the movement of the joint, enhance muscle strength, and relieve pain.
Other treatments
+A variety of different treatments are also available for chronic TMJ syndrome and includes friction massage, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), and cognitive behavioral treatment.
+The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) suggests that if surgery is to be performed, you need to find other independent opinions before commencing. Professionals recommend the most conservative and reversible treatment possible.NIDCR advises that treatments which are irreversible have may potentially worsen the condition as they are yet to be proven effective.


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Mobster Anthony "The Saint" St. Laurent Sr. has pleaded guilty in federal court that he attempted to solicit a hit on a rival and acknowledged his role in a Mafia extortion ring in Taunton, a scheme that landed his son in prison.
Mobster Anthony "The Saint" St. Laurent Sr. has pleaded guilty in federal court that he attempted to solicit a hit on a rival and acknowledged his role in a Mafia extortion ring in Taunton, a scheme that landed his son in prison.
St. Laurent Sr., 69, who admitted to being a "made" man in the Rhode Island-based Patriarca crime family, attempted to hire an unidentified Taunton man to murder rival mobster Robert "Bobby" DeLuca.
A sentencing date has not been set for St. Laurent Sr., who is currently incarcerated and faces maximum penalties of 10 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release following his prison term.
Angered that DeLuca has accused him of being a government informant, St. Laurent Sr. approached multiple potential hitmen, including the Taunton man, and told them he had permission from New England La Cosa Nostra boss Luigi "Louie" Manocchio to carry out the murder, according to the court filing.
In 2006 St. Laurent arranged to meet with the unidentified Taunton man, to whom he offered a payment to kill DeLuca, the court document states. Later in the day, prosecutors said, the two drove into Providence, where St. Laurent pointed out a restaurant DeLuca was known to frequent.
Once his rival was killed, St. Laurent expected to take over an Attleboro extortion operation DeLuca had been running, according to the court document. As compensation for killing DeLuca, St. Laurent offered the Taunton man a cut of the "protection" payments he expected to extort from an unidentified illegal bookmaker, the document said. A portion of that money would also have to go to Manocchio, St. Laurent allegedly told the Taunton man.
St. Laurent Sr.'s wife and son were sentenced late last year after pleading guilty to federal charges that they helped run a Mafia extortion scheme that shook down Taunton area bookies for protection payments.
Anthony St. Laurent Jr. was sentenced to 78 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Dorothy St. Laurent was sentenced to three years of probation, the first six months of which will be served in home confinement. Each was also sentenced to perform 500 hours of community service during each year of supervised release.
Contact Gerry Tuoti at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Regulating the temperature of your head is a key part of staying comfortable while working out. That means keeping sunburn at bay, and also moving sweat away from the scalp to prevent both overheating and the chill that comes when sweat cools.


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Hello, friends! Korean beauty products have been all the rage for quite some time now, and for good reason. They are innovative, have super cute packaging, and in my personal experience with most of the products I've tried, very effective! When you're first starting to try out K-beauty products, it can be a little overwhelming because there are a ton of products out there. Korean makeup looks are usually more on the natural side because they focus mainly on skincare. If you've never heard of the crazy Korean beauty routines, one of the most popular ones is probably the 10-step skincare routine. Yep, 10 different products for one skincare routine. It works though. I mean, have you seen their youthful glow?
Whether you're a K-Beauty addict like me or just wanting to dip your toes in the (very dangerously addictive) K-beauty waters, these are the 16 Korean Beauty Products You Need Right Now!
1. Nature Republic Aloe Vera 92% Soothing Gel – This stuff saved my skin. No kidding. I used to have those pesky tiny bumps all over my forehead that just don't seem to go away. I put on a thick layer of this on my face before heading to bed every night and washed it off when I woke up. My skin cleared up within two weeks! Even though those little bumps have cleared up, I still use this to prevent them, keep my skin moisturised and looking glowy. Because aloe vera has natural soothing properties, it also cools down the skin after a long day and helps with sunburns too.
2. MIZON Snail Repair Intensive Ampoule – Ampoules are basically concentrated serums that are targeted toward a specific problem. This MIZON one has anti-aging properties and helps to lift the skin. The cool thing about this product is, the effect is very noticeable very quickly (many Amazon reviews agree!). It helped with my skin elasticity and gave me bouncy, glowy skin. This also makes my face feel very smooth and soft.
3. Etude House Bubble Tea Sleeping Mask (Strawberry) – Sleeping masks are one of my favourite Korean beauty products in general. You apply it before going to bed and wash it off in the morning with your usual morning cleansing routine to reveal soft, glowy skin. I've been using this Etude House one for a while and I love it because it doesn't feel sticky on my skin and is very lightweight. Also, how cute is that packaging? Makes me crave bubble tea! It also comes in 3 different "flavours", Strawberry, Green Tea, and Black Tea. They also have a 3 pack one, with one of each "flavour".
4. Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask – If you have very chapped lips, you need this in your life! I use this as a lip balm when I wake up, and also before I go to bed. I apply a thin layer in the morning and a thicker layer at night so it can work its magic to reveal soft lips when I wake up. I swear by this stuff – my lips have never been chapped again. Love!
5. Su:m 37 Miracle Rose Stick Cleanser – This cleanser is everything I want in a cleanser – it lathers up easily, it doesn't feel drying on the skin, it takes off any dirt or leftover makeup, and it has a very fresh scent that I love. I use this as my second cleanser, after a cleansing water, and it's amazing. It cleans my skin so well and brightens up my skin too. This is also great for travelling since it's not a liquid and you can just bring it on the plane for long flights.
6. VDL Lumilayer Primer – If you have combination/oily skin, but you still love a good healthy glow when it comes to your foundation, you need to try this out! After putting this on, any foundation you put on top of it will look radiant and naturally glowy. It has a very soft glow effect that doesn't look greasy or oily. This is definitely one of the best "glowy" primers for combination/oily skin.
7. TONYMOLY I'm Real Sheet Masks (11 Pack) – Sheet masks are a must in every Korean skincare routine! I really love these ones because they're so effective and very affordable. They have so many different ones, but my favourites are definitely the moisturising and the brightening ones! The moisturising ones help with the dry flaky skin on my cheeks and the brightening ones leave a healthy glow on my skin.
8. Banila Co. Clean It Zero Sherbet Cleanser – I use this cleansing balm in place of my cleansing water when I have more makeup on my face. It removes all traces of makeup, even waterproof mascara and long-wear liquid lipsticks. I scoop out a small amount and rub it gently on my skin. It melts immediately upon contact with the skin and melts all the makeup off with it. I use a cleansing foam after this, and my skin feels super clean but not dry. This also comes in a BIG size tub of this, if you're interested!
9. TONYMOLY Petit Bunny Gloss Bar – Take a break from the drying, liquid lipstick trend and use this instead! It's a highly moisturising lip product that gives a subtle pop of colour to the lips. And have you seen this packaging? I have two backups of this in my collection! It's one of my favourites "no makeup" makeup products.
10. Labiotte Wine Lip Tint (6 Colors Pack) – The packaging of this lip tint is a wine bottle and it comes in 6 different colours to choose from. This dries down to a matte finish and is very long-lasting. There is also a sample kit with 3 of these wine lip tints available on Amazon. If you're a beauty product lover AND a wine lover… this is for you! No reason not to get it, right? Better yet, you could even wear your new wine lip tint while you drink wine!
11. Neogen Dermalogy Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Wine – This is an exfoliating pad that is amazing for sensitive skin. If physical scrubs are too harsh for your skin, check this one out! Not only is it super effective, it also has a wine scent! Can you tell how much I love wine? #sorrynotsorry haha!
12. Etude House Tint My Brows Gel – If you cherish every minute of sleep you have in the morning, you need to get this! I LOVE this stuff! This is a brow tint that lasts about 3 days before fading. I apply it and leave it on for about 2 hours, then I peel it off (yes, it's a peel off but it doesn't hurt at all and it doesn't pull out your brow hairs, promise!). It usually takes me around 15 minutes to do my brows each morning so using this product saves me a ton of time.
13. The SAEM Cover Perfection Tip Concealer SPF28/PA++ – This concealer is creamy, high coverage and doesn't crease! It's very lightweight yet covers every single blemish. It's also really great for concealing undereye circles. I haven't tried the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer, but a ton of reviews say that this is an exact dupe of the NARS. It's very affordable, and it works amazingly. I featured it in my Half Drugstore, Half High End post if you want to see it in action!
14. Kailijumei Flower Jelly Moisturising Lipstick – When I first saw this lipstick, I was pretty sceptical because it looked gimmicky… But I was actually proven wrong! It's a colour changing lipstick that depends on the temperature. It's very moisturising on the lips and it stains the lips so it lasts all day! If you love gorgeous lipsticks and long-lasting stains, this is definitely for you!
15. belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb – This is my favourite moisturiser EVER. It really hydrated my skin, balanced out the oils, and best of all… it helped me clear my skin! It has a really aromatherapeutic scent that I absolutely love! I have a full review of this up if you're interested to read more in depth information about it and how well it worked for me.
16. Missha Time Revolution Night Repair Science Activator Ampoule – If you're a fan of the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair, try this one out! It's much (and I mean muchhhhhh) lighter on your pocket and is just as effective. I love how this brightens my skin and also keeps my skin moisturised and looking glowy.
So those are the 16 Korean Beauty Products You Need Right Now! I've tried my fair share of K-beauty products and I think these are some of the best. If you're just wanting to start trying Korean beauty products, these are definitely the products to try first! If you're a K-beauty addict, and you have more recommendations on your favourite Korean beauty products, let us know in the comments!
Have You Read These?
Shaving 101: The Lazy Girl's Guide to Body Hair Removal
What is a Low Shampoo + Why You Need One!
Best Face Masks for Oily & Acne-Prone Skin
Thanks for reading, xoxo


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Five Benefits Of Using A Gaming Mouse
If you think that a gaming mouse is just like any other ordinary mouse, then you are completely wrong. A Gaming mouse is designed keeping modern gamers in the mind. A typical gaming mouse contains various features and buttons to make the life of gamers easy. Now let us briefly look into the top five benefits of using a gaming mouse. Gaming mice are manufactured using high quality materials and hence they are durable. These mice do not show slack in their performance, even after using for many hours.
Gaming mice have agronomical design to ensure comfortable use for many hours. With a gaming mouse, you can enjoy gaming for many hours, without feeling any strain on your hand. Therefore, gaming mice are ideal for both gamers and non-gamers. Gaming mice can also easily increase your work productivity. Gaming mice contain many buttons than an ordinary mouse. These buttons can be used to perform various functions like cut, copy, delete, etc. These buttons avoid the need for using the keyboards, thereby saving your time. Moreover, the gaming mice offer smooth cursor movement.
These features are sure enough to boost your work productivity. Gamers should never hesitate to buy a gaming mouse. Though they are more expensive the regular mouse, the gaming mice are surely worth the money you spend. Gaming mouse can make your gaming experience better. There are many models of gaming mice available in the market. Each model vary by size, price, feature and specification.
Given the big line of options, it would be very difficult to choose the right one for you. There are many things to check, when buying a gaming mouse. Are you a beginner or expert? Some mice are designed exclusively for beginners, while some designed for seasoned gamers. You should also choose a mouse based on the type of game you play. For example, some mice are made to suit for first person shooter game, while some made for third-person shooter game.
Gaming mice are available in both wired and wireless version. Wireless mice offer freedom, but they are expensive and require periodic battery replacement. Some of the popular gaming mice manufacturers are Logitech, Razer, Corsair, Turtle, etc. To find more details about ideal gaming mice, you have to search the Internet. There are online guides for choosing a right gaming mouse. These websites list the popular mice models and their advantages and disadvantages.
Using a gaming mouse has become standard for computer gamers. Gaming pros using this one as it offers lot of comfort and convenience. It does not matter whether you are a novice gamer or experienced gamer, you should buy an ideal gaming mice. Apart from gaming, a gaming mouse can also make your more productive on computer.
Investing in a gaming mouse is certainly worthy. However, to enjoy more benefits, you should select a right mouse rather than choosing a one blindly. Online computer mice guides are specifically designed to help you in this regard. You can check the online guide anytime and they are completely free of charge.


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The Horn of Plenty: Fall Festivals Ancient and New
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Join an experiential event celebrating the Autumnal Equinox as we look back to the fruits of the past and prepare for what is coming toward us from the future. See the website.


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Thursday, November 19, 2009
Day 18
I'm getting impatient. I want to feel better and look thinner by large strides each day, but it is small steps. I need to keep this impatience under control. I have not eaten this healthfully in consecutive days for, well, ever. I guess at 41 it does not fall off you as quickly.
Yesterday I had a couple of bananas for breakfast, and then my vegan wrap at The Coffee Shop for lunch. I really do like that meal! I went over to the book store to pick up another edition of Dr. Fuhrman's "Eat to Live." While at the book store there were rows and rows of books on dieting and health. It really is overwhelming how many books are there. Each with their own shred of truth, and each with a heavy marketing angle. Bottom line, even though I have not read "Omnivore's Dilemma" or "In Defense of Food" I buy into Michael Pollan's simple mantra: Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants
Dr. Fuhrman's book is wonderful in not only explaining the vital importance of a nutrient dense diet, and how it will accelerate your weight loss and prevent diseases, but he debunks conclusively all the other fad diets out there.
Last evening I had a work dinner at our galleries and though the catering staff was very accomodating with my vegetable plate, since short ribs was the only main course, it is still weird for waiters to loudly ask me, "Are you the vegan?" I am not ashamed, but it was said in such a manner as to sound like, "Are you the guy that had to be different than everyone else? Like one small piece of meat is going to kill you? Are you that guy that wants to eat like a rabbit?" OK, so I am still a little touchy.
My drinking temptations continued on with a going away party at a bar called Bourbon Street. It was an industry event so I might as well have been dressed up like the Geico Caveman without my drink - in a room full of heavy drinkers I am the last person to be standing there with a glass of seltzer. Oh, well, many friends promised me they look forward to hanging out with me again....in April.
1 comment:
Yeah, someone told me once, too, that patience is a virtue.
But at the end of the day, slower loss is more permanent. The quick fixes and fad diets don't work, and so many of them are bad for you. I never understood about Atkins that you can eat all the red meat you want, but things like carrots, strawberries, and brown rice, are off limits.
I'd imagine the not drinking at these events is as hard as, if not harder than, eating more healthfully. Good for you for sticking to it.
- November 19, 2009 at 5:21 PM
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I look absolutely wild. My hair and clothes have taken on a life of their own.
What am I wearing?
On a good friend's advice, I went out to 'hit the bars' last night. I've been told I need to add more meat to the blogs. A few gutter stories and a little bit of outrageous behaviour.
So a girl walks into a bar... (before I go on, I need to let you know that 'thank you' in Spanish is 'gracias', pronounced 'grutheeus'. So it's like you have a lisp, until you get to the end of the word, and then you don't. Say 'grassy arse' with a lisp and no one will notice the difference he! he!)... but I digress...
A girl walks into a bar. It's packed with rich Spanish people, all grabbing their pintxos off the bar (pronounced 'pynchos', think of hors d'oeuvres and then double the size) and yelling their drink orders. Girl pushes her way through the herd to the food infested bar, with little hope that anyone will see her and knowing that if someone does, she will have to break into a phrase book scenario that will probably not be appropriate for this scenario.
The barman raises an indifferent eyebrow at her, so she orders a red wine. He looks at her as if to say 'can you narrow that down for me?'
Girl looks back blankly 'I can't help you with that.'
Barman pours a glass of whatever's closest. Actually 'pour' is not the right word. The barmen here don't pour, they throw. The wine is thrown into the glass. Girl tastes thrown wine. Excellent! Now she must thank him for his excellent choice and accurate throwing.
'grassy arse!'
Girl laughs out loud at her hilarious joke and then realises she can never come here again.
No meat. Sorry to disappoint.
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Friday, November 13, 2009
Sirens of Jewish Penicillin
Some urges for food and drink transcend the need to be sated and goes to the core of being programed by tradition.
I visited The Coffee Shop at lunch for my favorite vegan wrap. It was a chilly, windy day with a slight drizzle. Looking at the specials one perfect item jumped out -- chicken soup. There was never a more perfect day for hot bowl of chicken soup. Healthy, tasty, traditional - just right. Ignoring my desire for a healthy bowl of soup loaded with chicken was no different than ignoring an urge for a slice of pizza, or a martini with friends. It's not part of the program, and the more I practice this self control, even when sirens are calling for a bowl of Jewish penicillin on a cold wet afternoon, the stronger I will be during this 6 month experiment.
The vegan wrap was still delicious - wheat tortilla filled with zucchini, summer squash, tomato, onion and hummus.
On a Friday night after work the ads in the subway for bottle of beer played their part on my programmed desire for a mug - no go. I went to the movies tonight, and obviously a box of popcorn is as traditional as buying your tickets - no go...yet. Saw "Pirate Radio," fun flick. Back at home and not getting my fill of film I popped in "Citizen Kane." Not only did I cave on my urge for popcorn (no butter of course), but my vice mirrored Mr. Wells and I lit up my pipe.
Still vegan, relatively healthy, and I punctuated the evening with a nod towards the hurricane brewing off the coast by eating an Ida Red apple.
Finally, don't want to spoil it for you, but Rosebud is a sleigh.
2 comments:
You might want to consider explaining what pipe you lit up. Some may think of a different kind of pipe. You know?
- November 17, 2009 at 12:07 PM
- Terrence said...
the only one I have - tobacco!
- November 17, 2009 at 2:57 PM
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Better value for everyone
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WordPress in facts and figures
Today WordPress is preferred by many businesses in different countries. It is a free content management system based on PHP and MySQL. As of today, WordPress is the most well-known and used content management system in the world.
Loonar Studios is a WordPress development company and WordPress design company. We can offer our customers quality tailor-made WordPress solutions at reasonable prices.
Here are some interesting facts and figures about WordPress:
- According to estimates, WordPress is used by almost a quarter of the top 100 million websites.
- Surprisingly, not only small business companies work on WordPress platform. Many of the biggest brands, such as Coca-Cola, McDonald's and Sony use WordPress.
- In general, almost 75 million websites in the world are depending on WordPress.
- WordPress has the biggest market share in content management systems — 53.8% (in comparison, Joomla!'s market share equals 9.2% and Drupal's 6.7%).
- WordPress website development is one of the most requested skills among developers.
WordPress benefits for business
Today creating WordPress websites is a very popular service. Companies, ordering WordPress website development services, get many benefits:
- It is simple. WordPress is easy to use and brings you many convenient options at the same time. You do not need to understand programming to work with the CMS. That's why website on WordPress development is one of the simplest choices for business.
- Easy to maintain. The CMS is updated almost every few weeks. There have been more than 100 versions of WordPress released.
- Affordable and budget-friendly. WordPress offers more than 30,000 free themes and 19,000 free plugins. In general, one WordPress plugin is added every hour. As mentioned above, WordPress updates are also free and easy to install. That's one of the reasons why a WordPress website company can substantially reduce costs. All you need is to place an order with one of WordPress development companies.
- SEO-friendly. As long as you are creating unique content with proper keywords, your WordPress website will rank high in search engines.
- Social media friendly. Websites on WordPress platform can be easily integrated with popular social media, such as Facebook, Twitter and others.
- Mobile. WordPress is available for almost all mobile operating systems. It can automatically adjust your WordPress site design for viewing on mobile devices.
- Multilingual. WordPress is available in more than 70 languages.
Why Loonar Studios?
Loonar Studios is a WordPress website development company. Our team consists of experienced WordPress designers and developers. We can offer our customers tailor-made solutions using the platform and WordPress websites design. As of today we have been working with many companies and organisations.
Our portfolio as WordPress website developers and WordPress web design company includes
Our client's satisfaction is very important for us. Whatever the project is, we work closely with each of our clients, providing constant feedback and recommendations from our WordPress designers and developers. We succeed at meeting our clients' requirement and criteria for WordPress development services and provide the best and budget-friendly solutions for your business.
Also, our services include but are not limited to
- WordPress CMS management
- WordPress plugin development
- WordPress theme design
CMS Management
Loonar Studios is a team of developers who have considerable experience in WordPress CMS management. We know how to customize your WordPress CMS admin panel according to your wishes and needs. Our WordPress CMS management services are provided with end users in mind. Our goal is to provide well-crafted websites for our clients, both front-end and back-end.
Loonar Studios is a WordPress plugin developer. We specialize in customized WordPress plugins development and provide other related services.
As mentioned above, there are thousands of WordPress development plugins on the web, most of which can be used for free. For example, some of the most well-known WordPress plugins are OptinMonster, used for getting email subscribers, MailChimp, used for creating and sending email newsletters, Google Analytics plugin, which provides access to your website's statistics, and many others.
Loonar Studios WordPress plugin developers are able to create a custom-made plugins for different goals and users.
Our WordPress plugin development services include but are not limited to
- Customization and improvement. As a WordPress plugins developer Loonar Studios can customize one of the multiple existing WordPress plugins.
- Development of high quality custom-made WordPress developer plugins. It enables adding more capabilities to your website. We will analyze your needs and your customers' needs and will offer you experts' recommendations concerning the functionality. Also, we can add your plugin to the market. Any of our WordPress development plugin is designed with your marketing needs in mind, with the option of future updates. Whatever your request if, we will make sure that your WordPress developer plugin is functional and increases your website's efficacy.
Despite there are many free WordPress themes on the Internet, you may need to create your own theme which will reflect your business identity and satisfy your customers' needs. To create a unique design for your project you will need to use services of one of the WordPress theme companies which specialize in WordPress themes design.
As a WordPress theme designer Loonar Studios can offer the following services:
- Customization of existing themes according to your marketing needs and wishes.
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Our prices for WordPress development and WordPress website design can vary greatly depending on your wishes and requirements, and are set for each customer individually. If you are interested in WordPress development for business or website design WordPress, feel free to fill out the form at our website and we will contact you as soon as possible.


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LANGELY, Va., Nov. 8 (UPI) -- The CIA took to Twitter on Friday to correct plot points of the movie Argo in a "reel vs. real" series of tweets.
The spy agency has been tweeting since June, and they apparently decided to point out flaws in the plot of the movie Argo while they were celebrating the 35th anniversary of the Iran hostage crisis, which the film is based on.
The crisis was a diplomatic one, where 52 American diplomats were held hostage by Iran for 444 days, until negotiations assured their release. The film is based on a mission where a few of the hostages were rescued by the CIA.
Reel #Argo: When the US Embassy is overtaken the 6 US diplomats go right to the Canadian ambassador's residence to live for the 3 months.— CIA (@CIA) November 7, 2014


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Publisher Blurb:
Battle Dress 1 presents four all new battle dress for soldiers, military units and private owners: the Krieg designed for heavy weapons combat, the Wind Dancer for high jumps and agility, Thunder optimized for law enforcement, and Wolf built for snipers to evade detection. As a bonus it details the Hummingbird compressed sonic rifle. Protect yourself with the best in defense.


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You are reporting the following comment to the PledgeBank team:
Maybe consider combining with other "online private repository" tools, like sugar sync, for instance.
The other bookmark tools suck. I haven't found an online calendar that didn't suck. I'm skeptical of gmail and other shared mail and what they do with my private mail. So even a fee for a low-spam IMAP service would be nice. Bundle then all up for $5 - $15 per month.Charlie Patterson, 8 years ago.


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Benny Y. Yee, a real estate broker and president of a San Francisco real estate and development company bearing his name, has become the first Asian to be elected chairman of the Contractors State License Board.
John H. Moore, president of Electro-Test Inc. of San Ramon, was elected vice chairman. Moore is president of the National Testing Assn. and a member of the International Assn. of Electrical Inspectors.


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Most dangerous animals in the world
Sea wasp
Jellyfish, sea anemones, coral polyps, annelid worms, sea cucumbers, sea urchins, starfish, sponges can "burn" or stabbing of a person in contact with them. The range of consequences — from burning the skin before the heart stops.
The most venomous jellyfish is the sea wasp, lives off the coast of Australia. The venom of this beautiful jellyfish paralyzes the heart muscle, death occurs within 1-3 minutes. It seems to be a normal jellyfish light green in color but very poisonous. Its 60 tentacles, each a little less than 40 cm long, has 5,000 flowing down the stings and venom enough to kill 60 people. Australian fishermen, in whose nets such "fish", beware to use these networks again – you can easily go to the hospital, so strong poison secreted by jellyfish. Continue reading
The main industrial fish species
In the seas and oceans of our planet are populated with over 21000 species of fish. About ten percent of them belong to the industrial types. Breeding allows you to obtain not only the fish as a commodity, it is the raw material for the production of medicines, fertilizers, pet food. Industrial fish are divided into freshwater and marine.
Freshwater species are fish that inhabit the ponds, lakes, rivers. The main industrial freshwater fish species are catfish, carp, perch. To artificial breeding of well adapted to black bass, trout, carp, Amur, silver carp. Such kinds of fish as pike, perch, catfish, carp, crucian carp, bream, take the first place in terms of industrial production in our country.
Particularly valuable of freshwater species of fish are:
sturgeon and stellate sturgeon, Beluga, sturgeon, this species of fish has a very tasty and fatty meat, and from them collect valuable Beluga caviar;
salmon – humpback salmon, chum salmon, Steelhead, these fish species are given, in addition to high demand of red caviar, delicious meat. Continue reading
Shark fish
Sharks are found in open and coastal ocean waters. These mysterious creatures appeared on Earth 400 million barrels. years ago. Belong to cartilaginous fish. as their skeleton consists of cartilage. Cartilage is durable, and unlike the bones of fish, more flexible and light. They have no swim bladder. Afloat fish holds, thanks to its large but lightweight the liver. Her need to constantly move in order not to drown.
She swims, arching his whole body from side to side. Almost all of them when hunting using the electric field. Sharks capture him with the help of numerous electrical sensors that are on her face.
Many of them, it is not strange, they eat plankton. Plankton is a conglomeration of various microscopic and small organisms. Mainly unicellular plankton contains algae, which absorb solar energy, thereby transforming inorganic substances into organic food. Continue reading


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Useful Links
Useful links
Below are links to publications and websites offering information about the NHS and medical negligence which provide further information and support to patients and families.
Action against Medical Accidents
Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA) is a UK charity that provides support to patients and families who have been affected by medical negligence and poor care. As well as running a helpline for victims AvMA has campaigned for safety initiatives such as the legal duty of candour, which is due to come into force in 2014 and will force healthcare organisations to be open and honest with patients and families when mistakes have been made. www.avma.org.uk.
Ten Years of Maternity Claims
This report from the NHS Litigation Authority, the organisation which pays compensation on medical negligence claims, analyses maternity medical negligence claims from 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2010. It provides useful background to the types of claims that have and can be brought. It also contains information on the amount of compensation that was paid out on these claims for the 10 year period. In total this amounted to £3.1 billion, 70 per cent of which was for mistakes made with the baby's heart rate monitor (CTG), the management of the labour and for mistakes that led to the baby developing cerebral palsy. You can read the Ten Years of Maternity Claims report here.
The Patients Association
The Patients Association is an organisation gathers opinions from patients and campaigns for improvements to health and social care services. Patients can call 0845 608 44 55 to speak to the Patients Association about any concerns they have, as well as access help with navigating healthcare services. www.patients-association.com.
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman is a government organisation that exists to investigate complaints from individuals who have been treated unfairly by the NHS in England, government departments or other public bodies. Patients are able to ask the ombudsman to investigate their case if they have pursued an official complaint against a healthcare trust which they are dissatisfied with. Pursuing an official complaint and asking the ombudsman to investigate does not prevent a patient or family from pursuing a claim for compensation. www.ombudsman.org.uk
The Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust Public Inquiry
After the Stafford Hospital scandal, which involved the avoidable deaths of hundreds of patients, a public inquiry as set up. A final report with 290 recommendations for NHS change to improve care and prevent another such scandal from occurring was published in February 2013, written by head of the inquiry Robert Francis QC. You can find out more about the inquiry and read the final report at http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20150407084003tf_/http://www.midstaffspublicinquiry.com//.


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President's Ice Cream Social
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
Adanti Student Center
Adanti Student Center
Join President Joe and his leadership team for a sweet treat as you begin the semester. Stop by the Dunkin Patio and grab a sundae with your favorite toppings, and meet the SCSU Top Owl!
Adanti Student Center
345 Fitch St
New Haven, CT 06515
New Haven, CT 06515
Phone: 203-392-8975
Website: Visit Website
ContactJoseph Linebarger
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Broadbridge Heath manager Steve Painter praised his side for a dominant display against Wick despite being without his regular defence.
He had glowing words to describe the way his team stepped up to the challenge.
The Bears gained a 3-0 lead with goals by Jake Holmes, Ollie Moore and Tim Martin.
Wick did pull back a late consolation goal from the penalty spot, put away by Robert Hutchins.
Reserves player Chris Copestake made his first team debut at left-back after Jamie Robinson pulled out with illness.
Joe Holvey, who is normally a full-back, switched to centre-back and right-back Ross Swaine played despite not having played much football recently.
Painter revealed: "It was a convincing win as we had six players unavailable and had a makeshift back-four.
"Marlon Maxwell, Andy Howard, Rob Godfrey and Scott Weller were all missing, and Piers McDermott had to go off injured at half-time.
"I was pleased with the whole back-four. Chris, Joe and Ross all played really well.
"We were a little bit unlucky to concede a penalty - we very much deserved to keep a clean sheet.
"(Goalkeeper) Michael Chester didn't have to make a save all night except for the penalty. We fluffed our lines a bit at the end."
Painter was happy with attacking midfielder Ollie Moore who scored their second goal on 50 minutes.
He added: "Ollie did very well and it was good to see him score, after being sidelined for much of the season having fractured a cheekbone playing in pre-season."
Heath made a perfect start with a goal after five minutes scored with a stooping header by Holmes.
They then went 2-0 up five minutes into the second half when Moore stabbed home the ball from a long free-kick.
Holmes turned provider half-way through the second half when he put Martin through to score.
Wick replied in the last few minutes from the end when Hutchins netted a spot-kick after Moore brought an opponent down in the area.
Painter added: "We've had some indifferent performances, but I think we've turned the corner.
"It's just consistency which has been a problem - if we could put out our best 11 each week we would be a lot higher up the league."
Heath: M.Chester, Swaine, Copestake (Balfour 80), Holvey, S.Chester, McDermott (Martin 46), Moore, Findlay, Holmes (McNab 75), Wright, Sultan.
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In all of the excitement I missed posting this final Afterburner last week. See the Green Cube! Meet the crew! See my all-time favorites!
It's the final sales pitch for a while, so if you've been on the fence regarding membership I hope this will gently lower you over the edge and join the Common Sense Resistance as we put out the best conservative messaging out there.
Published May 16, 2016


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We've all heard horror stories about the iPhone breaking. Whether it's because it's so bendy…
…or scarily easy to shatter…
Surely, the new $ 1,000+ iPhone X would be a more stalwart handset that won't shatter after slipping from your fingertips?
Well, actually, that's not the case. There are some unfortunate souls who've purchased the phone, on launch day, and have been simultaneously let down by its break-tastic design and their own clumsiness.
And if you thought that fixing an iPhone's screen was expensive before, just wait till you hear how much it costs to replace the X's, Essential Phones-esque screen
$ 275, (or $ 25 less than price of a brand-new Moto G5 Plus) is what it costs to replace your iPhone X's screen. Which makes watching these videos of people dropping them all the more painful to watch.
This guy drops the iPhone on purpose, but it doesn't make it any easier to see.
Regardless of the phones' well-documented fragility, people are still flocking to buy them. Will you save up to purchase an iPhone X? Or are you happy enough with your current phone?


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Office Listings
1509 - 1539 176 Street in Surrey: Pacific Douglas House for sale (South Surrey White Rock) : MLS®# R2252083
1509 - 1539 176 Street Surrey V3S 9S7 : Pacific Douglas
Location! Ideal property for home based business. Perfect setting for family. 10.3 Acres at the south corner of 16 ave and 176 st. (Pacific Hwy) 5 mins to US border, 10 mins from Morgan crossing Mall/ White rock beach. Lots to offer! There are several buildings/barns and workshops on the property. 2 of two story barn appox. over 44000 SF. 2 warehouse/work shop, generator equip, Flat land, well drain and would support a variety of crops and much more. Lot of room for a growing family w/ Super clean, well built and good care, 4 bdrm home w/3200 SF, beautiful landscaping w/ varieties of plants and flowers by owner, ready to move in plus appox.1500 SF rental home for extra revenue. Call today for your personal show.
Listed by Lana Wu - PREC of RE/MAX Colonial Pacific Realty
Listing information last updated on December 10, 2018 at 06:12 PM (UTC)
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Those who have confirmed gender, what symptoms did you have with a boy?
With my son, I craved red meat and I'm not a meat lover but all I wanted was ribs, steak or any kind of cheeseburger. I cried one night because I bought Philly pretzels and my young cousin asked for one and I was so upset because I didn't want to share that was when I knew something was up and I found put I was pregnant lol. This time around my husband doesn't want to find out but I've been craving sour stuff, pomegranate and pineapple, I'm obsessed with sour patch kids and the other day I had a jolly rancher and I felt the baby move so he or she enjoyed it too. I've had horrible MS with both so Idk though with my son it eased up by the 2nd trimester this time it hasn't eased up at all.
With my son, I craved sourcream and that was it, I was NEVER sick, never had nausea or anything, i only got sick 3 times and everytime was from something I ate. I was always full of energy and happy! I had an amazing pregnancy with him. I am now 11w pregnant and it is completely opposite. Im nauseous all day every day, tired, no energy and so far I've only craved cinnamon rolls and sweets. (hoping for a girl on this one lol ) night and day difference.


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Jaron Lanier
Dreading Methods
Thank you for the response. You appear to have a similar hair type as Mr Lanier.
Thank you for the response. You appear to have a similar hair type as Mr Lanier.
Can anyone tell me what kind of methods may have been used in the creation of Jaron Lanier's dreads?
does shaking dreads tighten them?
I have read through these replies and still can't understand who you think is attacking SE; I just wanted to be clear though that I was referring to the DHHQ franchise, because of its apparent "We understand and solve every problem with our products" philosophy. No disrespect to anyone
amethyst777 said:
I was just reading through some of these comments and I wanted to say....
What's wrong with the ones of you that bash Soaring Eagle? I've only been on this site for a short time.. couple of months maybe. I've seen SE offer advice all day long free of charge! Yes, I have seen him angry or frustrated when someone comes on with their hair all waxed up, because the followed dreadhead or knottyboymarketing (which is all it is). It's just theirgimmick to make money. I've also seen SE send someone some wax remover FREE, because their hair was in such bad shape. There also hasn't been a single time that I've messaged him when he didn't messageme back, and pretty damn quick too! And I'm broke right now and he knows this, and hasn't asked for a thing in return.
Now to be fair, SE doesn't mince words. He's gonna tell you exactly how it is. Personally, I like that in a person. He's passionate about this site and about helping people with their dreads. You have to realize that people pop on this site and go straight to the chat and ask the same questions over and over without even bothering to READ the wealth of topics here at their disposal, again, for FREE! I can assure you that you won't get that at those other sites. SE could push all sorts of products and prob'ly make a lot of money that way, but he doesn't. He says if you can afford it, try the shampoo from this site, if you can't afford it, he offers FREE advice on how to use BS and ACV to have great looking dreads. What more can you ask of a person, really?
Sorry for the little mini-rant, but it's so frustrating to see someone doing nothing but trying to help, and getting attacked (pretty much daily) for just helping.
SE, I think you're great and I appreciate all the advice and friendship you offer every single day!
Some people need something to believe in, many do; some like the idea of investing in a franchise that tells them every need is taken care of. Even if the only value of this is that they are being TOLD every need will be taken care of, regardless of its effectiveness.
Yeah I put them in a cloth bag and chuck them in the bath, at first I didn't think they were getting me clean, but later realised that they were simply leaving a lot of natural oils behind, which has had a beneficial effect on my skin. My hair is only four inches long, but I do get the feeling it may be too oily for dreads. They are a great chemical free laundry soap though, same principal of just chucking them in a bag when you put a load on. I may look into the soap nut powder extract for my hair or something.
My main problem with Sodium Laureth Sulfate is tht it is a product of experimenting on animals
My hair still isn't long enugh to dread but the soap nuts leave a lt of natural ils in the hair. I'm still gonna hold out with them though because one opinion isnt enough for me (and besides I have a sack of the things still in my kitchen)


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Naibor Wilderness Honeymoon Package
Enjoy Naibor Wilderness Honeymoon Package. Naibor Wilderness is situated within the immediate vicinity of Main Naibor, and is made up of three luxurious double tents making it ideal for honeymooners and those looking for a perfect romantic retreat.
Photo Gallery
Each guest tent has a private unit complete with shaded verandah, wash basins, en-suite bathroom with flush toilet and safari shower, which are filled daily with hot water on request.
The tents nestle amongst a riverine forest and are spaced so that each has a unique view of the surrounding bush and wildlife. The tents are well furnished with solid comfortable furniture so that you have the ultimate in camping-luxury to come back to after exciting game drives.
- An authentic tented camp in the heart of the Maasai Mara
- Within easy reach of the main wildebeest crossing points
- Has only 3 tents
- it is small and intimate
- Simple but very comfortable tents
- Complete privacy in an exclusive camp area
- Private mess tent for meals
- Safari showers and flush toilets
- Dedicated staff
- Comfortable furnishings
- Solar-powered lamps for evenings


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Absence of BRCA/FMR1 correlations in women with ovarian cancers.
Study of BRCA1/2 mutation did not show correlation between low FMR1 alleles and BRCA-positive ovarian cancer patients.
Citation Page #: 9(7): e102370.
Journal: PLoS ONE
Author Publication: Gleicher N, McAlpine JN, Gilks CB, Kushnir VA, Lee H-J, Wu Y-G, Lazzaroni-Tealdi E, Barad DH.
Publication Link: http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0102370
Date: 2014


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You say that I'm just a girl?
You say that I don't care?
You say that I am numb?
How dare you, how dare you!
You wouldn't live if not for me.
You wouldn't scream if not for me.
You wouldn't exist if not for me.
Shut up, shut up, shut up--you need me!
You're the one I'll run from.
You're the one I will end.
You're the one I'm fighting now--
So get out of my sight!
I'm just a kid, that much is true.
God knows I say that
As much as you.
But just because I'm young
Doesn't mean
I'm not strong.
I'll be the one to kick your ass.
I'll be the one to burn you down.
Back off, you don't want to fight
Someone who's lost it all!
I'm not the one who will fall.
I'm not the one who will end.
I'm not the one who will give in.
I am the one who will win.
Back off, shut up--you're not me.
Madness, dark one--you're not me.
I am so much more than you.
I'm in control, not you.
I've had you here my whole life.
Sure we've danced, but that's not right.
We'll never dance again, this game is done!
Shut up darkness, let me be.
I'm a kid, and this is me.
I am beautiful and I am amazing.
I don't care what you say--I've earned
A right to peace!
And peace is not what I'll get
If I let you take me down.
So please understand me when I say:
I don't need you any more!
I've gotten so far now, so much more than you.
I've lived my life without you.
I don't need you. You're not my strength.
To put it simply, you're not me!
I'm everything, and you are nothing.
Understand that, and be quiet.
I will watch you burn.
I will win.


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Game Day 5: Sens vs Bluesby Craig Medaglia @craigmedaglia / Ottawa Senators
We've got 5 things to help you get ready for tonight's tilt against the St. Louis Blues including details on Hockey Talks and DIFD Night at the game.
1. Starting Goalies
Andrew Hammond gets the call in net for the Sens which gives Mike Condon a rare night off. Hammond's last start came way back on December 18th, 2016 against the Islanders where he suffered a high-ankle sprain that would sideline him for nearly two months. He won't be coming in completely cold though as Hammond did get a small portion of Saturday's game in relief against the Sabres.
The coach confirms that Andrew Hammond will start in goal tonight against the Blues.- Ottawa Senators (@Senators) February 7, 2017
At the other end of the rink, it looks like Jake Allen will start for the Blues. Allen has started the bulk of the games for St. Louis this season but has struggled at times, compiling an 18-14-3 record to date.
2. Projected line-up
One small change up front for the Sens tonight as Chris Neil returns to action after sitting out the past two games. Curtis Lazar comes out of the line-up to make room.
Here's a look at the forward lines and defence pairings for tonight's game:
Here's a look at tonight's #Sens projected line-up against the Blues: pic.twitter.com/ACW3UtH44v- Ottawa Senators (@Senators) February 7, 2017
3. From the coach
Sens head coach Guy Boucher met with the media this morning and touched on a variety of topics including Andrew Hammond getting the start, Craig Anderson's status and more...
On Hammond getting the start tonight:
After the last game, I already had it in mind [to put Hammond in net] but I wanted to make sure with the goalie coach that he had the 100% okay. We've wanted to give Condon a break, but it was more about when Hammond would be physically ready. We have to play our guys so that we have as many tools sharpened in the tool box. A week from now, if things are not going as planned we need to adjust and be ready. If Hammond never gets a game and later on and has to play many games for whatever reason, I don't think we would have taken the opportunity to sharpen one of our tools. Now he is ready, so he's in.
On Craig Anderson's progress:
We're ready for anything, that's how we've been since day one. We know the circumstances that Anderson has to live with his family and at any moment he could be in or he could be out. But if everything goes accordingly, as it's been very positive for his family, obviously Anderson will have the net and he will have it very, very often.
Bouncing back from last game:
We didn't like our first period in the last game. I didn't like our D-zone which was uncharacteristic for our team. We certainly want those details back today. This is a team that's pushing hard for playoffs, so every one of our games matter.
On facing the Blues:
When there's a coaching change, obviously players react a certain way. I'm sure the team is surging now to do anything they can to make those playoffs. They're in it right now, but like most of the teams, including ourselves, the minute you win one or lose one, your portrait changes and the pressure is on. I think right now they have that urgency from the coach change and where they are at in the standings. Looking at the tapes from the last games they've played, a few things are different but it's still the same players. We don't want to change our game too much. They have big defensemen that box you out so we definitely have to fight to get inside. They've got some forwards that have some skill on their top three lines. They play hard and physical games, especially back with their D's. So that doesn't change because their personnel is the same. One thing I saw that we have to look out for is that they now tend to take off and try and get high and fast, and on their breakouts too so we can't get caught by that. All around, it's the same players with a coach that was there already. I don't think we'll be surprised by how they play…having said that, we need to focus on ourselves. We know about them but it's us. Right now we want to make sure we come out strong in the first period, compete right from the beginning and maintain that for sixty minutes.
Video: Feb 7: Sens vs. Blues - Boucher Pre-game
4. Previous meeting
It was a track meet the last time these two teams faced off back on January 18th, with the Sens outgunning the Blues 6-4 in St. Louis. The Sens had 5 players record multi-point nights including Mike Hoffman and Mark Stone who each notched a pair of goals in the victory.
Check out the full highlights from that game below:
Video: Sens score three in the 3rd to seal 6-4 road win
5. At the game
The Sens Foundation is hosting their Hockey Talks / DIFD Night tonight to continue to raise mental health awareness. To support the initiative fans can text message DIFD to 45678 for a $5 donation with all proceeds from will be directed to the Ottawa Senators Foundation in support of The Youth Services Bureau.
Can't make it to CTC tonight? Catch all the action on TSN5 and RDS2.


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What To look Into When Breeding French Bulldogs For a lot of French bulldog owners, they are interested in breeding their beloved dogs. Many owners also have different reasons why they will be wanting to have puppies. You have to see to it that when you will be breeding these dogs, then you will consider a number of factors. It is when you will be breeding French bulldogs that you have to commit to it. It is by knowing these factors that you will be on the right track when breeding them. And that is why in this article, we will be talking about the different factors that you should be considering when breeding French bulldogs. The very first factor that you need to look into when breeding these dogs is the very reason why you are doing it. It is very crucial that you will not be breeding your dogs for financial reasons only. Another reason that you should also have is the love for the breed as well as to improve its lineage. Appreciating the whole process can be done when you will have these reasons in kind. It is when you will be planning to have a breeding that it is also important that you will be considering the breed purity. Since the breed is not that many, you have to make sure that you will determine the lineage of your dog. Complications after breeding can be avoided when you will determine this one. You have to see to it that the bloodline will not be that close It is a must that you will be producing puppies that will have g good traits. The moment that the dog will not be able to get t the show quality status, then they can be considered as pet quality dog. It s a must that when you have pet quality dogs that you have to make sure that you will neuter them. It is this one that you should be dong beer selling them as pets.
Short Course on Services – What You Should Know
It is crucial that you will be taking into consideration the medical status that your fog have. It is when having a breeding is what you want, ten you should see to it that your dog is in tip-top condition. Before breeding takes place, you have to see to it that your vet will check them first. It is your plans of breeding that your vet should know so that he will be able to advise you of the things that you should do. It is a must that you will let your get take hold of the whole procedure so that you will be able to prevent complications.
Finding Similarities Between Animals and Life
It is very important that when you are breeding dogs to make sure that you will be involving the right people on the whole process to make it easier.


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Smart Tips For Finding Trips
The Essential Tips You Require for Your Safety on a Travel Vacation
Travel advice and advisories are a common issue and subject we hear of quite often. Travel advice and the advisories are important and informative guides for the travelers more important to those who intend to tour international destinations you can visit these places with the Andy Berke Insider Trading. These guides cover a number of subjects and topics that are relevant for anyone who is going to pay visit to such destinations and some of these include culture and customs, security, laws of the host country, entry and exit requirements, health and safety, weather and many more. From the above mentioned facts about these travel advisories, it becomes evident that there is a lot of need for any person planning to take a tour to the various destinations around the world to take a look at the advisories and advice so as to make sure that all that they need is at hand.
As has been hinted above, travel advisories and advice are given on an annual basis. These may be at times seem obvious going by the security issues and threats as are in some areas and at times you may have some rather unnecessary, but all in all it would be vital for any traveler going out to any destination to seriously consider them anyway for any case of neglecting them may just lead to you ending up in a very serious situation that you may not have wished for with your travel and you can choose the Andrew M. Berke There are quite a number of the travel advisories and we will be taking a look at some of these following. The areas include topics such as travel documentation and insurance, health and medical bulletins and preventative measures, Security threats, local weather conditions and natural calamities, traveling with children and elders, local holidays and festivals, and the many others. Take a look at the answers that address the significance of the travel advisories following.
A number of the issues that are addressed are often touching on general information and alerts. In as much as the most common causes for issuing of travel advisories and advice is where there is an issue of security threat such as caused by economic conditions, political unrest, disease outbreaks, natural disasters and such issues, there are as well those cases which may lead to an issue of a travel advice like the case where there happens to be a frosty relationship between the bilateral ties between two countries which as such may stand to expose their citizens who may intend to tour the particular country.
You need to note the fact that treating travel advisories with disdain and as such landing yourself in dire situations, blaming your parent government will have some serious consequences and a hefty price to pay for and as such it is so necessary that you pay attention to the issues on a travel advisory.


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Speculation game
If I had a dollar for every time I'd heard the words "Ingram Micro is buying Tech Data Middle East" this week then I'd have enough money to purchase a modest IT distribution house of my own. But is it a piece of gossip that carries any weight, a case of mistaken identity, or another classic example of the ever-vivacious Middle East rumour mill going into uncontrollable overdrive again?
If I had a dollar for every time I'd heard the words "Ingram Micro is buying Tech Data Middle East" this week then I'd have enough money to purchase a modest IT distribution house of my own.
But is it a piece of gossip that carries any weight, a case of mistaken identity, or another classic example of the ever-vivacious Middle East rumour mill going into uncontrollable overdrive again?
Hearsay is part and parcel of life in the Middle East IT channel, particularly in dynamic markets such as Dubai where the presence of so many companies and individuals fosters a culture of intimacy.
The endless conveyor belt of innuendo and rumour requires a degree of caution to be taken when assessing information that finds its way onto the proverbial grapevine, but even by local market standards the speculation surrounding TD and IM has reached such an epic level in the past week that it has become impossible to disregard.
I even understand that it got to the point where Tech Data's local management team had to inform employees that the market was rife with rumours about a takeover, but to continue focusing on their jobs.
Hanspeter Eiselt, managing director at Tech Data Middle East, laughed off the Ingram speculation. "I'm not sure where that [speculation] comes from, but certainly I'm not aware of anything," he said. "I can assure you that nothing is true with the Ingram rumour."
Tales of Ingram Micro entering this region have been floating around the market for the last couple of years to the extent that some parties have become quite obsessive about it.
But forget whether Tech Data would sell the operation, would Ingram actually want to buy it? For me, there are far too many reasons why it wouldn't make sense — not least because Ingram would simply inherit the same set of challenges currently facing Tech Data.
Building a purposeful and profitable business outside of the UAE represents a monumental task, while the risk and exposure attached to doing business in this region still remains high, especially for US companies with strict corporate guidelines to adhere to.
It is also debatable whether the volumes on offer are attractive enough. The Middle East contributed little more than 3% of the US$11.5 billion sales that Tech Data generated in the EMEA region during the past 12 months.
My point is that if Ingram was to take on this business it would encounter an identical set of circumstances confronting Tech Data because it originates from exactly the same broadline mould. We are talking about companies living on gross margins of between 4.7% and 5.5%, and operating incomes that barely exceed 1.5% of their revenues.
Is Ingram's business model that fundamentally different from Tech Data's that it could come in with an alternative approach? To be honest, I struggle to see where it could add any extra value. And once you factor in the integration costs and return on capital employed that a merger of this nature would involve then the argument becomes even less convincing.
Ingram is also in the process of trying to start a joint venture business in Africa based out of Johannesburg. A move like that involves a level of risk that gives Ingram more than enough to think about for now. Taking the plunge in the Middle East would really test its resources.
Speaking to Channel Middle East from California, where he had been attending an executive meeting at the company's HQ, Ingram Micro's EMEA president Hans Koppen denied speculation of a move on Tech Data. "First of all, we never comment on rumours and secondly I don't even know who is running that business today so I have no clue," he commented.
"I can tell you that, in principal, we have an interest [in the Middle East market] but it is also about waiting for the right moment and the right opportunity," he continued. "That hasn't really presented itself yet. We have been looking at some things and if the right opportunity came up we definitely would be interested to look into it. But we will also be very careful."
Tech Data has reiterated its commitment to the Middle East this year, but even if that was to change would it really be comfortable opening its books to its fiercest rival? I can recall few instances where the pair have sat down at the table together to talk transactions.
Ingram Micro to buy Tech Data Middle East outright? Highly improbable in my opinion.
But does it mean an end to this story? Not necessarily.
The market has also been buzzing with speculation that Aptec could have an eye on Tech Data to further its growth in the region, either by way of strategic partnership or acquisition.
At the time of writing, Aptec management could not be reached to comment on these rumours. Would Aptec really pursue such a move? After all, what would it get for its money? Tech Data's VAD business may be an attraction, but let's not forget that its logistics are outsourced to a third party provider and the customer base is still very UAE centric.
Interestingly, four years ago Aptec announced a collaboration with Ingram Micro following the launch of a new components division. Could we see Aptec getting hold of Tech Data Middle East and then, further down the line, forming an extended partnership with Ingram? With Ingram's appetite for JVs — particularly in markets where it is keen to minimise risk — I wouldn't rule it out.


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A bit late again. And the worst part is I have had my notes sitting on the table all week :s. Still, I am in front of the computer for the first time in 4 days so here goes...
You can probably tell that the month, for me, was all about the football. 4 weeks of 22 men playing with a ball. And, for the first week, 2 games a day, every day, which coincided perfectly with my break between nights. Needless to say, all other activities were suspended for me from 5pm onwards unless they involved a pub with the football on the telly....which a few times, it did the
|The decorations in the pub
Being a Brit living in Ireland, I couldn't hang my flag out the window, so I made one out of felt that I had inherited from the bosses late Gran.
I made an Irish flag out of cardstock, then with the newly embellished Radio Times wallchart attached, I sewed the 2 together. I am thinking of using it as a cover for a minibook for the tournament as I am loath to throw it out.
It had pride of place on the wall by my chair for the month....the boss, while he enjoys football, doesn't have the same
Now, before I chuck some numbers at you, I better tell you that I am including the final, even though it was played on the 1st July. It might be cheating a little but since I wanted to get the whole tournament stats in, then I guess, today, I am a cheat!
Ok, 25 games were played overall with 18 of them in the group stages. There were 16 countries involved overall.
Spain scored the most goals....12 in total, with a third of them being in the final against Italy. Incidentally, that was the 2nd time in the tournament that those 2 countries met, the first being in the group stages where they drew 1-1.
Italy and Spain both had to go through penalty shootouts to get to the final, Spain winning 4-2 against Portugal in the semis and Italy beating England of course, like we could ever get through a tournament of any kind without having to play at penalties :( 4-2.
There were 3 red cards shown and 119 yellow cards.
6 players scored 3 goals each to get the Golden Boot...Torres, Gomez, Dzagolev, Mandazukic, Balotelli and Ronaldo.
France v England had the ball most in play during any one game -76%
England stats were: 4 games, 2 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss, 1 penalty shootout, 5 goals scored.
Spain have won 3 major tournaments in a row: Euro 2008, World Cup 2010, and this one. They are the first country ever to do this. Iker Casillas, who plays for Spain, is also the only player ever to have played in 100 winning international games.
I guess that will do you, before I seriously bore all you non football people. I will now send you on your merry way to Julie who will tell you more about Month in Numbers for those of you who are new to this and want to join in.
And, I will leave you with my feet...well, my very patriotic Docs to be exact. yes, I wore them to the pub for the France v England game and it was very tempting to wave them in the air when we scored but I didn't, much to the relief of the boss lol
All stats taken from The Irish Sun.