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Boko Haram: Stray bullet kills 4-year-old, injures 3 others in Magumeri
The Secretary of Magumeri Local Government Area of Borno state, Alhaji Wakil MallamTawu, has denied the reported taking over of the Council Area following Boko Haram invasion on Saturday evening, insisting that it was a failed attempt on a military base by suspected group of insurgents who were repelled.
Magumeri is about 45 kilometer drive and north of Maiduguri, the state capital which had witnessed series of boko haram attacks including the abduction of NNPC staff and Lecturers at the Geology Department, University of Maiduguri during an ambush in a failed Oil exploration mission in the area couple of months ago.
Speaking with DAILY POST on Sunday on the incident which took place at about 5.30pm on Saturday, the Secretary said, only a teenage boy of four years old died, with two women and a young man sustaining injuries as a result of stray bullets.
He also said, one Mosque, a clinic and some shops were razed down as a result of Rocket Propelled Grenade and explosions during the encounter.
"It is unfortunate that Magumeri came under attack by insurgents yesterday (Saturday Evening). Though the insurgents attempted to infiltrate a military base in the town, they were repelled by gallant troops with support from members of Civilian JTF.
"I am not in a position to tell you casualty either from the side of the troops or the insurgents, but one teenage boy was killed and two women including a young man were injured as a result of stray bullet exchange during the encounter.
"It will interest you to note that I am just coming from Magumeri to Maiduguri, and the situation is under control as people were going about their normal businesses.
"It is not true that the attackers have taken control of the town as been reported in some sections of the media," Tawu stated.


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Interisti SI
We build a web portal for Inter fan club from Slovenia. Few pages are basic club introduction, but additionally there's also news part, management of club matches and league table, as well as embedded forum. Managing schedule of matches and league table is semi-automated. Data is collected from free web services for sports data. Forum has a custom theme, which reflects portal design.
Interisti SI
Custom website, Custom web application, Forum, HTML5 Website, Website Design, Logo, Laravel

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text: Sick and tired of being cooped up in the house due to the coronavirus? We have the perfect social distancing destination. Country Cabins in Chariton Iowa is the top rated small resort in Iowa and we are open for business. 237 acres of ponds, timber and trails to roam on and 8 themed cabins and 8 themed suites to choose from. 600+ acre State Park directly across the highway with nice lake and another 900+ acres of public access heavy timber and two more nice large lakes joins our property just down over the hill. Huge bass, bluegill, crappie and State record catfish just waiting to be caught. Sit on your deck and watch the sunset beside your blazing campfire and enjoy some relaxing family time while you can and while you are going stir crazy at home. We guarantee a great time to be had by all. See ya'll soon at the cabins! Country Cabins Resort in Chariton Iowa.


text: I don't have any links to share about Aleppo, and I feel terrible about that. "Massacre" seems too light a word to describe what's happening there. Learn more about the White Helmets, the ordinary Syrians who are helping rescue people from bombed-out rubble; donate if you can. When we say never again, we should mean it.Continue reading "Things I'm Verbing: Power plays, bad burgers and the real problem behind all this"


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Avoiding carbohydrates is a trendy approach to weight loss, with celebrities like Halle Berry, Gwyneth Paltrow, and the Kardashians reporting great results. And out of all the diets you can try for slimming and fitness, the no-carb regime requires more discipline than most (because who doesn't love pasta?). That's why good preparation is key.
So how can you make sure not to fall prey to carb cravings? What goes into planning a no carb diet? And how do you push past fatigue (sometimes called "keto-flu")?
And if you can do all of that, should you? Is that a sustainable option?
Your body is used to metabolizing carbs
Usually, our bodies get more than enough carbs to metabolize for easy energy access. The cells turn glucose (which is easily derived from carbohydrates) into energy and water. Once we stop eating carbs, the body is forced to use fat as its primary fuel source, in the form of ketone bodies (also known as ketones). This state is also referred to as ketosis.
While a low carb diet doesn't necessarily mean that you'll reach and stay in full ketosis all the time, fats will still make up the majority of your calories (up to 75%).
In order for most peoples' bodies to enter ketosis, a maximum of ten percent of the total amount of calories can come from carbohydrates. On a standard American diet, this number is closer to around 45% to 65%. Hence, your body will need to switch gears – which it might not like to do.
No carb diet plan
The first two to four days is usually especially challenging — physically and mentally. Once your body is used to burning ketones, following a no carbs or ketogenic diet is going to get much easier.
To make the first few days enjoyable, it is particularly important to meet your caloric needs while eating foods you really enjoy. An example of a diet plan for the first four days could look like this:
Day 1
- Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs cooked in butter with fresh tomatoes and lettuce
- Lunch: Chicken fried in coconut oil with asparagus
- Snack: Almonds
- Dinner: Salmon fried in coconut oil with spinach
Day 2
- Breakfast: Hard boiled eggs and black coffee
- Lunch: Beef burger patty fried in coconut oil with sauteed green beans
- Snack: Macadamia nuts
- Dinner: Chicken curry made with coconut milk and broccoli
Day 3
- Breakfast: Omelette made with eggs and spinach, fried in butter
- Lunch: Roasted salmon with green vegetables
- Snack: Celery sticks
- Dinner: Beef steak with asparagus fried in coconut oil
Day 4
- Breakfast: Baked eggs with sauteed mushrooms and parmesan and bulletproof coffee
- Lunch: Roasted pork belly with green vegetables
- Snack: Strawberries with whipped cream
- Dinner: Cod with cauliflower mash and a creamy sauce
Staying on track – days 5 – 7
After you get through the first four days, the hardest part is over – but you still need to stay motivated and strong. Getting together with like minded people online or in person can be hugely beneficial to staying on track.
Day 5
- Breakfast: Omelette with cheese and avocado
- Lunch: Pork chops with creamy broccoli
- Snack: Apple slices with almond butter
- Dinner: Green salad with shrimp and an olive oil and vinegar dressing
Day 6
- Breakfast: Fried eggs with baby spinach
- Lunch: Tuna salad with tomatoes and cucumbers and a lemon dressing
- Snack: Chia seed pudding made with almond milk topped with berries
- Dinner: Red cabbage salad with pork tenderloins
Day 7
- Breakfast: Hard boiled eggs with a side salad
- Lunch: Miso soup with sashimi
- Snack: Cashew nuts
- Dinner: Striped bass with vegetables
One week down. Are you getting the hang of it?
Now that you're through the first week, you should be sensing a pattern. Eggs with some form of vegetable and / or cheese for breakfast are an absolute staple. For lunch and dinner, a source of protein can be combined with more vegetables and greens. Snacks can include small amounts of fruit of berries, but be sure to keep the servings to a reasonable size.
When going into the second week, why not get creative? With Noom, you can get creative, delicious low carb meal recipes to inspire you – and personalized, one-on-one coaching to keep you motivated.
Things to shop for when entering week two
A good low carb shopping list includes: Eggs, fish, chicken, pork, beef, (green) vegetables, salad, mushrooms, some fruit, nuts, cheese, berries, avocados, coconut oil, butter, coffee.
Aiming for a full two weeks of very low carb intake is a great first step. Once you have completed week two while following your own diet plan, it is time to assess what the diet change has done for you and your body. Has the initial fatigue passed? Do you wake up each morning ready to take on the world?
Long-term low carb: Some food for thought
Some studies have shown that following a very low carb diet doesn't bring greater health benefits than simply reducing carbs to around 40 percent. Researchers from Arizona State University found that the two diets (very low carb and slightly low carb) both helped people to lose fat and reduce their weight without significant differences.
If you happen to be very physically active, your body simply might require a larger amount of carbs for you to perform at your optimum. A complete carb cleanse can be an interesting experiment, but be aware that there is no "one size fits all," and that going back to eating some or even a high amount of carbs might just be what fits you best.
And of course, the low-carb diet is like any other restriction-based diet. It's simply not likely to deliver long-term, sustainable benefits. Once you give up the diet, the weight will almost certainly come back. That's where Noom comes in. If you want to lose weight for good, you need to reimagine your relationship with food and change your deep habits. We can help you do that – whether you're trying low-carb or some other approach. Come see what we have to offer!


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LSUA police seek help Friday to wrap gifts
The Louisiana State University of Alexandria Police Department needs help wrapping Christmas presents on Friday.
It's part of the 2015 LSUA Toy Drive, which collects donations for needy children and those in local hospitals at Christmas. And since all gifts are better when wrapped, the department is hosting a wrapping party Friday at 10 a.m. at its new location, 8210 Tom Bowman Drive, on the campus.
Refreshments will be provided.
Officer Marty Brown is heading up the drive for the third year in a row. He said donations are down a bit this year, but they are accepted through Dec. 23.
Brown took over when the officer who had done it left the department. He's learned a lot about how to bring the donations in, but the effort has a deeper meaning.
"Walking into a hospital room, these children light up," he said.
He recalled a little girl from last year who ended up with a doll "that was double the size of the little girl." It was the girl's first stay in a hospital and her first IV, he said.
"It made that one moment better for her."
People can donate a new toy valued at $10 or less or a monetary gift of any amount. Brown said donations come from students, staff, LSUA Foundation members or the public. He and the other officer who heads up the drive, Donald Collins, start trying to get donations in the first part of November, he said.
The toys are meant for children from months old to 10 years.
Any cash or check donations received go to the LSUA Foundation, and then gifts are purchased through the foundation, said Brown.
At the same time they start soliciting for toys, the department also asks for suggestions on who should receive the gifts. Some toys are set aside, and officers go to local hospitals on Christmas Eve to deliver gifts to children.
If any toys are left over after that, they'll be donated to local groups.
Brown retrieved some toys from a nearby closet — a basketball, dolls, musical toys, a tea set. It wasn't a lot, but Brown said they haven't been shopping yet. For the second round of wrapping, after the shopping, student organizations will pitch in to help the department.
Chief Dwayne Rogers stood and watched, saying he's excited to see the toy drive for the first time. Rogers became the LSUA department's chief in April.
The department moved to the former home on Tom Bowman Drive a few months ago because the old department — former instructional space — ended up being needed again as the university and the University Academy of Central Louisiana expanded.


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Home › Forums › Romans Among Us › Romans Among Us › Reply To: Romans Among Us
Salvo, classmates.
This isn't an answer to the question, but I want to point out the significance of one of the images. The image of Aeneas carrying his father away from Troy to found Rome may be representative of Aeneas bringing the traditions, wisdom, and way of life of the old State to the new State he will found. The old state was crumbling, losing its sight and hearing in the way that a centralized government does when it grows too large or too secure in its power. The State is vulnerable to death, and must be taken — like a cutting from a tree — to grow and regain its health in new soil.
Roman art is found in our older architecture, such as capital buildings and learning institutions. It's also found on our money, not only in the borders, but in the style of portrait busts that commemorate our founding leaders. In Roman art, Rome itself was represented by the figure of a beautiful woman, and Americans often associate their country with the statue of liberty.
America is one of the greatest powers in the world today, as Rome was in its own day. As a monetary power, our culture is exported and emulated all around the world. Our government consists of a council of elders, as in the Roman Republic. Yet we also have a president with veto power, as with Emperor Augustus in the Early Empire. America is generally welcoming to anyone who legally immigrates, no matter what your genes are or your god looks like, "welcome to America, pay your taxes.' We both see our national character as fantastic — despite having some problems. For both of us those problems include running out of viable candidates for the military. A couple other problems that faced Rome when it was declining – and America now – are the loss of value of family and the loss of religious belief and behavior.
We have a class system, as the Romans did, but unlike them we have a middle class between the Plebs and the aristocracy. In Western culture we know that it is possible (yet statistically improbable) for a person of lower economic class to move upward to a higher tax bracket, just as you could in Roman culture. It just takes a strong will, hard work (or a catch phrase), and luck.
Rome built a great system of roads, we do the same. Their roads were for common use by traders, and for easier access to conquered lands. Our roads are more for common use by traders. We also share a knack for building multi-level shopping spaces such as malls for trade.
Like the Early Roman Empire, our government provides food and encourages engaging in entertainment so that the Plebs don't become restless and revolt. By providing a set amount of food stamps to people of low economic status, the use of activism to change the government is disincentivized and the desire to move up in economic status is slowly killed. We each have a miniature version of the Colosseum in our living rooms to keep us complacent with entertainment: a television — or another type of screen. Entertainment is something that triggers our brains to produce reward chemicals, which is what happens if we watch our favorite team win the Superbowl, or our favorite gladiator kill some Christians. If we become dependent on a source of dopamine and seritonin, we will work to earn money to keep purchasing the reward — a Hulu subscription for instance. Subsequently, we remain complacent and pay our taxes.


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Quotes tagged "polite"
Mark Zuckerberg: I'm sorry I don't have a rowboat, so we're even.
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Mark Zuckerberg: I don't want friends.
Erica Albright: I was just being polite, I have no intention of being friends with you."
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This page was created by our editorial team. Each page is manually curated, researched, collected, and issued by our staff writers. Quotes contained on this page have been double checked for their citations, their accuracy and the impact it will have on our readers.
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Feel the Surge of Adrenaline; Play Basketball Online!
Feel the Surge of Adrenaline; Play Basketball Online!
Basketball fanatics have something in common: basketball is in their blood. They watch, play, and make their own track of the events and news about basketball and their favorite player and team. Addicting, that is basketball. But this is an outdoor game that when the gym or the outdoor court is not available, you are forced not to play.
That is no longer the case now as even small children can play this game right in their rooms and working fans can play it right inside their offices! That is because basketball games are now downloadable and even if there are just what they are, software, you can play basketball online in virtual reality.
There are a lot for you to choose from like those that are played by buying software to run the online game or those that are already saved in the disc and played offline. There are major differences though between these types of software depending on the feel you have for your favorite game. Some of these are as follow:
– PLAY BASKETBALL ONLINE: This type of software helps you get into a live game and you actually have an opponent, usually someone across the world who is also in the same site as you have. You can offend and defend your ball just like the way you do it outdoors. You will really feel the surge of adrenaline in your veins and entire body, the way it is when you are on the bench watching your favorite team as well as the way when you do your own thing on the court.
– PLAY BASKETBALL OFFLINE: This type of software is also great but with limited strategies and resources as you will be playing against saved defenses and offenses within the character made by its manufacturer. You also feel the adrenaline, works your way to the basket, play all your might but that's just about it. It's like playing and getting immune to the tactics and talent stored in the computer game. This are highly recommended to kids and amateurs in the field, but not to those who are fanatic by heart and mind.
There are many places you can find and play basketball online, even if you don't own a computer. But if you do have one, you are in luck as there are many online sites offering virtual reality basketball games. All you have to do is register and submit to their minimum requirements and you are done. You can even find free games, betting ones, and earning sites though their play basketball online rooms. Almost all of these sites provide 24-hour game room and a pool of tournament real players around the world waiting for an opponent in you.
So if you are really into basketball and the rains, school, or work is taking you off it, why not indulge to the magic of technology and its play basketball online games? Aside from it's a virtual reality, you also keep yourself from the real physical risks and pains that you might incur in true-to-life basketball games.
It follows that you save effort, your body from harm, time, and your daily routine by simply logging on to reputed sites where you can play basketball online. Feel the rush now, find your choice from among the sites in the web and never lose sight of your favorite game!


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Friday night equals music night, we don't go every week but it is nice to get out and enjoy some live music in our favourite pub now and again. It was about 8 o'clock when we arrived and the band (all 3 of them) were just setting up. By that I mean the drummer in his short blue sports shorts and red t-shirt was setting up all the while chatting to the guys at the nearest table. It is a small bar so his conversation carried to all there. He began by opening up his bass drum to stuff pillows and cushions inside to muffle the sound a little. I did wonder why he hadn't done this at home. He then proceeded to put his kit together making a big thing of having to guess exactly how high to set each drum etc. Surely if you have been playing for years (he has had his snare drum since he was 12 he is now late 50s) it would be second nature by now.
I was beginning to feel uneasy. The lead guitarist and his daughter (the 'goth' bass guitarist ) were now setting up around the drummer, speaking to each other in hushed tones. Finally at a minute to 9pm it appeared that the band were ready to begin. But no, first the drummer stripped off his red t-shirt swapping it for a round necked yellow t-shirt then added sweat bands to his head and wrists. Now in my mind he shouldn't have done this in front of his audience. He should have gone to the gents or even out to his car, certainly not sitting behind his drum kit.
The music began to resonate through the small room (loudly). By the time the first song was over the Landlord told the band to turn the volume down a bit. The drummer complained to his guitarist that he wasn't able to hear himself over the guitar sound. A minute or so later the band resumed playing. During the next hour they played some Who, Free, Nicky Moore, Thin Lizzy and various others. The Lead guitar was well played, the bass guitar was well played, even the drums were good. The singing was not so good.
But the worst thing that occurred was when the drummer……………………….
………..decided that he was too hot and took off his yellow shirt. I was wondering what he was going to replace it with. It soon dawned on me that the answer was………..nothing. He played the remainder of the set bare chested. From where I was sitting I couldn't see the guitarist's face as it was blocked from my line of vision by a speaker. I could see the drummer but directly in my line of vision was the bass guitarist. I have never seen a musician looking less like they were enjoying themselves. There was one moment when I thought she almost cracked a smile but not quite.
Anyway the band stopped for a break and the Landlord told the drummer that he would pay them up but they wouldn't be playing a second set. Most of the small gathering of people in the pub had either left or were preparing to leave so there was no point in continuing.
This afternoon we popped into the pub for a quiet drink and guess what the main topic of conversation was. Yes you got it…..the weather, in particular the snow that has descended once again in various parts of the country considerably late in the year. Oh and also the dreadful band from last night.


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Lazy stud earns cash
The stud confessed that it was not easy to sell his cute girlfriend but he coped with that task as he simply did not have another way out. He stayed to watch a rich dude and his sexy beloved chick fucking like sex fiends. He pretended to be ashamed but he loved earning money in that way.


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"Fewer Than 7,000 People Have Heard of Jesus"
It's a slightly shorter episode this week, thanks in large part to Audacity eating one of our guest's audio, forcing us to edit them out completely. But the podcast that burns shorter burns more brightly as our host I "Wicky Wicky Wild Wild" Coleman is joined by Bethany "The Punisher" Meadows, Anthony "Trapped in Bad Anime Hell" Spivey, and Jonathan "I. CARE. A LOT." Trussler to discuss some controversial topics this week, including racism, anti-semitism, and the ever-dreaded feminism. But it's not all seriousness, as we also chat about dogs, anime booby games, Shadow Warrior 2, and a long-awaited conversation about Luke Cage. We even got to some news this week!
Day-One Talking Points: Life in hell, Princess Maker 2, Mafia III, how to address racism in games, superhero maternity leave, terrible anime, ReLIFE, DLC for Dogs, Westworld, Shadow Warrior 2, Luke Cage and the Marvel Netflix shows, giving the Klan a zero out of five, Red Dead Redemption 2 teaser, RockStar games, Beyond Good & Evil 2 pre-production, the Ubisoft Expanded Universe, Feelreal VR, the barriers of virtual reality
Have a question or coded message for the Hey Poor Podcast? Send it to @LastSpaceMarine on Twitter or post on the forums!
The Hey Poor Podcast can be found and subscribed to on iTunes and Stitcher. In addition to the website, Hey Poor Player can be found in page and group form on Facebook and Twitter, creating Let's Play and video review goodness on Youtube (which is where I normally lives), and playing away for your entertainment on Twitch.


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Jose De Sousa produced the performance of his career to claim his first European Tour title with an 8-4 defeat of Michael van Gerwen in Sunday's European Darts Grand Prix final.
The fast-emerging star from Portugal lived up to his "Special One" nickname by going all the way to glory in only his third appearance on the European Tour since joining the circuit full-time in 2019.
Having whitewashed Germany's Ricardo Pietreczko to begin his Sindelfingen challenge on Saturday, De Sousa then showed his title credentials with a fine 6-3 third round defeat of Gerwyn Price.
He backed that up with a 98 average in a 6-4 quarter-final defeat of Darius Labanauskas, before surviving one missed match dart against Ian White in a thrilling semi-final.
White took out finishes of 126, 120 and 118 as he moved 6-5 up, but missed double 16 for the match in leg 12 before De Sousa fired in an 11-darter in the deciding leg to move into the final.
There, the 46-year-old claimed the scalp of the world number one to take the £25,000 title, joining Price and Devon Petersen as a European Tour winner this season in style.
De Sousa averaged almost 106 in the final, finishing eight doubles from 13 attempts and hitting seven 180s in a brilliant performance.
The pair traded 84 finishes in the opening two legs and were locked after four before De Sousa took three in a row, including an 11-darter to break and finishes of 87 and 86.
Van Gerwen replied with two 14-darters in the next three legs, but a huge 146 checkout from De Sousa moved him 7-4 up before he wrapped up the win by taking out 88 for a 12-darter.
"It can't describe my feelings because it's unbelievable," said De Sousa. "I'm really emotional.
"Every title I win, it's a dream because it's so difficult, but this is my biggest title and I'm very, very happy.
"I thank the crowd, they were wonderful and this title is for me and all of them. I want to share it with them and all the people who support me; my management and my family.
"I can do anything right now, that's what I think. It doesn't matter who I play against, I just play my game. I know that I can do it and I have so much confidence in my game."
Van Gerwen survived missed match darts from both Vincent van der Voort and Nathan Aspinall on Sunday, but hit top form with a 170 checkout and seven doubles from 11 attempts in his 7-1 semi-final win over Mensur Suljovic.
However, the Dutchman was afforded only five darts at a double by De Sousa in the final - hitting four - as he missed out on a first European Tour title of 2020.
Suljovic edged out Jamie Hughes as he survived five missed match darts in coming from 5-0 down to claim a remarkable win, before whitewashing Rob Cross as he reached his third semi-final of 2020 on Sunday, while White defeated Michael Smith and Maik Kuivenhoven as he won through to the last four.
Aspinall and Lithuania's Darius Labanauskas joined Cross and Kuivenhoven in losing out at the quarter-final stage, while Premier League champion Glen Durrant lost out 6-3 to Kuivenhoven in round three.
The PDC European Tour season concludes next weekend with the International Darts Open in Riesa, Germany, from October 23-25. The tournament will be streamed in PDCTV as well as through bookmakers' websites worldwide.
Click here to see match stats with Sportradar.
2020 European Darts Grand Prix
Sunday October 18
Afternoon Session
Third Round
Maik Kuivenhoven 6-3 Glen Durrant
Ian White 6-2 Michael Smith
Darius Labanauskas 6-2 Joe Cullen
Jose De Sousa 6-3 Gerwyn Price
Mensur Suljovic 6-5 Jamie Hughes
Rob Cross 6-1 Martijn Kleermaker
Nathan Aspinall 6-2 James Wade
Michael van Gerwen 6-5 Vincent van der Voort
Evening Session
Ian White 6-4 Maik Kuivenhoven
Jose De Sousa 6-4 Darius Labanauskas
Mensur Suljovic 6-0 Rob Cross
Michael van Gerwen 6-5 Nathan Aspinall
Jose De Sousa 7-6 Ian White
Michael van Gerwen 7-1 Mensur Suljovic
Jose De Sousa 8-4 Michael van Gerwen
The International Darts Open in Riesa from October 23-25 will be broadcast on PDCTV, as well as through a series of bookmakers' websites worldwide.


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Individuals accused of their second, third or fourth driving under influence (DUI), known also as driving while intoxicated (DWI) offense are generally familiar with the seriousness of their charges. They have already faced their first offense, which can involve the loss of driving privileges, payment of fines and court costs, public service and attendance in remedial courses in alcohol and drinking. Second offenses can lead to mandatory jail time, the loss of driving privileges for multiple years, 60 to 120 hours of public service, and up to $1,500 in fines. Consequences increase even more with third and fourth offenses.
At the law office of Prendergast & Associates, P.C., Link to Home Page we are prepared to help you face your challenges. We have helped hundreds of people accused of DWI and DUI offenses, and we understand the many factors that can lead to this violation. Our job is to use our experience, knowledge and dedication to minimize the impact of these charges so that you are able continue with your life.
Competent and Comprehensive DWI and DUI Offender and Repeat Offender Criminal Defense.
We offer a comprehensive approach to multiple offense DUI offender defense. A frequent option is to push the courts to allow time for entrance to a drinking and driving class or rehabilitation program that 1) helps people change behaviors and 2) demonstrates an effort to halt violations, allowing the court to show leniency.
Programs and courses of action include residential rehabilitation, AA classes, individual therapy, daily reporting of blood or breath tests and random monitoring. Programs are often paid for by employers. As you move from the district attorney to the probation officer to the judge, we can work with you to complete the steps that show you are working to prevent future offenses and to make a positive change. Effective treatment is always preferable to punishment.
If you are accused of a DUI, call us for a free initial consultation before you speak to the police. We will explain your options, possible defenses, options for improving your standing with the court, and potential penalties and punishment.
Do not face the criminal justice system alone.
We are experienced in all matters of complex criminal law.
1901 West Littleton Boulevard, Suite 200
Littleton, CO 80120
Phone: 303-797-3300
Fax: 303-795-3546
Map and Directions
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Suite 210,
Parker, CO 80134
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Prendergast & Associates, P.C. provides legal services to the cities of Littleton, Denver, Brighton, Castle Rock, Centennial, Cherry Hills Village, Commerce City, Elbert, Englewood, Golden, Franktown, Greenwood Village, Highlands Ranch, Kiowa, Lakewood, Lone Tree, Parker and Sheridan, and Jefferson County, Arapahoe County, Adams County, Denver County, Douglas County, Elbert County and Lincoln County, Colorado.
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Alakija Others Unveil Africa Cinematography Festival
As part of efforts geared towards re-positioning Africa's film industry to international standard, the Africa Cinematography Festival of Training Workshops, Conference and Film Technology Expo, a platform which focuses primarily on capacity-building for budding and professional players was unveiled recently in Lagos.
Nigerian entrepreneur and founding Grand Matron, Africa Cinematography Festival, Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija led other notable personalities among who include Frank Adekunle Edwards, CEO of FMA Productions; Henry Emenike, CEO of Germany-based Legacy Empire Management (LEM); Mrs. Judith Alakija, founding ambassador and Director General, Event Coordination, Africa Cinematography Festival and Sunnie Odafe, Co-founder, Africa Cinematography Festival (ACF) at the unveiling.
Speaking at the unveiling, Alakija said that the platform speaks to the Nigerian spirit as well as the yearning of many talented men and women who presently appear to have hit the crossroads between their dreams and their realization
Alakija also called for the empowerment of the younger generation of the nation's huge populace as a way of guaranteeing a productive economy.
Her words, "I share the view that the future of a country, nation or people is a direct function of what the younger generation makes of it. This fact, as common a cliché as it may have become in our national discourse, stresses the need to prioritize the empowerment of those within the bracket. Our youths need to be taught life skills and be empowered with adequate capacity required to enable them become major contributors to the economy and society. Achieving this of course, requires strategic participation from players in both the public and private sectors. It is no mean feat, but the reward is greater and this is the satisfaction".
In her own remarks, Mrs. Judith Alakija who doubles as the project's founding ambassador and Director General of Events and Coordination, said the platform through its capacity-building role will "champion a departure from the old model of film-making, sound production, light production, and entertainment, to a new all-inclusive one that will promote youth entrepreneurship and accord our country a place among the leading nations with a healthy film making and entertainment economy."
While speaking on the birth of the initiative, the project's co-founder and chief executive officer of Germany-based Legacy Empire Management (LEM), Henry Emenike described the Africa Cinematography Festival as "a child of necessity" that will put the industry on track for the desired impact.
He regretted that the erosion of trust has resulted in the reluctance of foreign companies to partner with the local players in the area of technical assistance for the development of the industry.
"Through the ACF, we want to provide a platform for trust and partnership between the manufacturers of these equipment and film makers. There is a huge technology gap in our local film production. With the ACF, we are hopeful of bridging this gap by creating a meeting point for both cinematography equipment manufacturers and film makers. The Africa Cinematography Festival envisions a new era and embodies an industry buoyed by technological advancement", he said.
The maiden Africa Cinematography Training Workshop, Conference and Technology Expo Festival (ACF), is a beneficial training conference and marketing platform for exceptional professional development in filmmaking, film entrepreneurship and networking. It is designed to be an annual rallying point for all stakeholders in the film economy of Nigeria in particular and Africa at large.
The Festival is expected to provide the platform for the convergence of relevant stakeholders in the film-making industry for the optimization of the inherent potentials and prospects of technological advancement in audiovisual and still productions. It will feature contemporary issues in filmmaking, networking and business opportunities.


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ABC network has announced that the XFL opener between the Seattle Dragons and the D.C. Defenders scored an average of 3.3 million viewers.
Last year, the Alliance of American Football drew 2.9 million viewers for its first game. The AAF never reached anything remotely close to that again and shut down before completing its first season.
It is also interesting to note the rating beat WWE Raw and Friday Night SmackDown.
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The fear of being exposed to COVID-19 has deterred many from airport travel. But for one 36-year-old Indian-American, staying at the airport seemed safer than going home.
On 16 January 2021, two United Airlines employees found that an Indian-American man, Aditya Singh, was living in a secured part of Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, reports Chicago Tribune. He had stayed undetected for the last three months at O'Hare, which is the world's sixth-busiest airport.
Singh was wearing an airport ID badge that had been reported missing by an operations manager on 26 October 2020. Singh was arrested, and charged with felony criminal trespass to a restricted area of an airport and misdemeanour theft. At his court hearing the next day, prosecutors said that he had been "scared to go home due to COVID."
A California resident of Orange, a half-hour drive from Los Angeles, Singh has a masters' degree in hospitality and is unemployed. He lives with roommates and has no criminal record. He had flown from Los Angeles to Chicago's O'Hare airport on 19 October 2020, stayed on in the restricted airport area, and survived on food from other passengers.
Singh has been barred from entering O'Hare airport if he is able to post the $1,000/Rs73,300 bail for release. Judge Susana Ortiz said, "The court finds these facts and circumstances quite shocking for the alleged period of time that this occurred. Being in a secured part of the airport under a fake ID badge allegedly, based upon the need for airports to be absolutely secure so that people feel safe to travel, I do find these alleged actions do make him a danger to the community."
US authorities have noted that Singh had not posed a security risk. The Chicago Department of Aviation said in a statement on 18 January 2021: "CDA has no higher priority than the safety and security of our airports, which is maintained by a coordinated and multilayered law enforcement network. While this incident remains under investigation, we have been able to determine that this gentleman did not pose a security risk to the airport or to the travelling public. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners on a thorough investigation of this matter."


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About Cherry Gardens
Cherry Gardens is a living community nestled in the bustling Gulfton area of Houston. These apartments offer an ability to be in the center of a vibrant neighborhood while offering a quiet and private space to relax. Spacious and affordable 1 or 2 bedroom apartments provide options for any need. The units include wall-to-wall carpeting, large walk-in closets, and a pantry.
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SPORTS COLUMN: OPINION – The 2018 World Cup: Football and Islam
THE hope of Saudi, Egyptian and Moroccan fans that the end of the Muslim holy month of fasting, Ramadan, and the ensuing festival of Eid-ul-Fitr would bring good luck to their national teams playing in the 2018 Fifa football World Cup in Russia over last weekend, dissipated in disappointment as all three lost in their opening matches.
Spare a thought for the Saudi football team and fans. The Kingdom played the hosts, Russia, in the opening match of the World Cup last Thursday at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on the last day of Ramadan on the eve of Eid. The Saudis' "shameful" defending, in the words of coach Juan Antonio Pizzi, precipitated a 0-5 drubbing at the hands of an ordinary Russian team, which was made to look much better than its low Fifa ranking.
The faces of Saudi Crown Prince Muhammed Bin Salman, who together with host President Vladimir Putin and Fifa president Gianni Infantino, attending the match, could not better contrast the agony and ecstasy of the fans. Muhammed had to suffer the indignity of having to congratulate Putin five times after each goal.
Despite the fact that Pizzi stressed that: "I believe that we have arrived here well prepared. My players have shown they are ready to play a World Cup. This game cannot be the reference." I doubt whether the Saudi players were really in the right frame of mind, given the timing of the opening of the global football 'spectacle'.
Diehard football fans in Jeddah or Riyadh, and those who turned up in Moscow would no doubt support their team come what may. It is no understatement that the country, being the site of Islam's two holy cities, Makkah and Madinah, would be preoccupied with the advent of Eid. The Saudis, like millions of Muslims and Christians, carry their faith in their hearts and on their football shirts. To what extent the rigours of fasting played a role in the preparations of the Saudi and the six other Muslim nations playing in the World Cup finals only the players can tell. But in the Luzhniki Stadium and the other venues, the players looked visibly tired, lacklustre and disinterested.
This is not an excuse for their performances — Saudi Arabia and Russia are the two lowest ranking teams in the tournament — and look what the Russian team conjured up. Fifa, and its parent organisation, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), should realise that sport is not only about commercialisation, kicking out racism and corruption, and developing country, grassroots and gender inclusion, but also about real people (fans) and their faith and cultural traditions. This is not to say that each and every tradition no matter how small should be accommodated. That would be unrealistic.
But when the football associations of 56 of the 57 member countries of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) are members of Fifa — with only civil war-torn Somalia not a member of Fifa — and which a quarter of Fifa's 211-member associations, then surely cultural sensitivity has to come into consideration.
After all, there are an estimated 1.5 billion Muslims in the world, and as the Mohamed Salah Ghaly or Mo Salah success at Liverpool has shown, Egypt and the Muslim in the street all over the world are not only going Mo Salah-mad but also football crazy, perhaps understandably expectant of heroics (some would say miracles) on the field of players such as Saido Mane, Mesut Ozil, Ilker Gundogan, to name but a few.
Fifa could have started the tournament on Saturday instead of Thursday thus bypassing the coinciding with the last day of Ramadan and Eid. Such is the lack of cultural sensitivity at football's governing body, The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (Fifa), and the IOC. Can one imagine the World Cup or for that matter the summer or winter Olympics coinciding with Easter or Christmas?
Instead, Muslim fans attending the opening matches were reduced to holding Eid prayers in the parks in St Petersburg, Moscow and the other venues. Mo Salah's Egyptian team in Yekaterinburg for their opening match last Friday even invited the imam of the city's Copper Mosque to hold an Eid service in the conference room of their hotel.
The 2018 World Cup has the participation of a record seven Muslim countries, the highest number since the start of the competition in 1930. They are Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran, Senegal, Nigeria, Tunisia and Morocco. None of them, short of a miracle, stand a chance of lifting the World Cup in the final at the Luzhniki Stadium on July 15.
This is not a question of mixing football with religion or whether the beautiful game is a secular affair. Just look at the increasing faith expressions of global icons such as Neymar, Lionel Messi, Alexis Sanchez and a host of mainly Catholic players who always do the sign of the cross when they come on to the pitch, or the prostration (sujood) of the likes of Mo Salah, Saido Mane, Paul Pogba and a host of other Muslim players after they score a goal.
Football, like politics, finance and other aspects of society, is already inextricably woven with belief and value systems. As such, it is impossible and foolhardy for football and its administrators to delink socio-cultural considerations from sport and its processes.
Fifa's new vision supposedly is "to promote the game of football, protect its integrity and bring the game to all". One of its guiding principles is "inclusivity" with the promise that "Fifa will reflect the world and the communities in which it operates." Clearly in Russia 2018, Fifa has scored an own goal in this respect.
[email protected] / June 19, 2018 @ 8:08am
The writer is an independent London-based economist and writer


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With the rise of secularism and forces antithetical to the Christian faith, believers are faced with the question of how to follow Christ in the modern world. Os Guinness, Christian philosopher and social critic, has spent his writing career seeking to help Christians understand how they can both be faithful to Jesus and engage with the culture. In these works, Guinness critiques both the church growth movement and the rise of postmodern secularism. Those who want to confront the issues will find no better guide than Guinness.
For more works on apologetics, check out the Crossway Apologetics Collection (10 vols.)
In the Logos edition, these volumes are enhanced by amazing functionality. Important terms link to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and a wealth of other resources in your digital library. Perform powerful searches to find exactly what you're looking for. Take the discussion with you using tablet and mobile apps. With Logos Bible Software, the most efficient and comprehensive research tools are in one place, so you get the most out of your study.
In one of the world's great ironies, the Christian faith contributed decisively to the rise of the modern world, but has been undermined decisively by the modern world it helped to create. The Christian faith has become its own gravedigger. In the 25 years since philosopher and social critic Os Guinness first published The Gravedigger Files, much has happened: the fall of the Soviet Union, the rise of the computer age, the reemergence of China and India, the rise of Islamic terrorism, and the worldwide revitalization and politicization of religion. The central mystery of Dr. Guinness' spy novel inspired by his affection for John le Carré thrillers remains unsolved: Can Christians regain the full integrity of faith in Christ while fully and properly engaged in the advanced modern world? This new edition of The Last Christian on Earth, which includes previously unpublished top-secret memos, is Dr. Guinness's parable about the future of the Christian church in the West. Written in the grand tradition of le Carré, Fleming, and Clancy, this thriller pays homage to the genre while transcending it—because the real-life ending has yet to be written!
What shapes the message of the church? The Bible and Spirit or society and culture? Os Guinness points out perils of compromise in the church growth movement. Critiquing the worst excesses of the movement while desiring for the growth of God's kingdom, this work provides a much needed antidote for the idea that God cares only about the size of an individual church.
Os Guinness is a philosopher, social critic, and the author of many books, including Time for Truth, The Call, and Long Journey Home. He was born in China, educated in England, and has worked in the Washington, DC area for more than 25 years. He has been a freelance reporter for the BBC, a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution, and a guest scholar at the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Studies. In 1991, Dr. Guinness founded the Trinity Forum, which hosts discussions with senior leaders in business and politics. He speaks widely at universities and business and political conferences around the world.


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Chania is a town on the western side of the Greek island of Crete. It has a long history of rulers, evident in its Venetian Harbour and Egyptian lighthouse. It is renowned for its high-quality regional produce, hospitable locals and varying landscapes.
Chania is a town on the western side of the Greek island of Crete. It has a long history of rulers, evident in its Venetian Harbour and Egyptian lighthouse. It is renowned for its high-quality regional produce, hospitable locals and varying landscapes.
And just outside of town, there are two brothers. Gianni, aged 50, is tall, slim and balding; Stelios, aged 55, is short and stocky with a full head of hair. We arrive at their shop known only by the name, Stelios Lagoumitzakis. Not much has changed since it's opening in the 1950's. There is nothing flashy here. They are both wearing white T-shirts with blue jeans and a belt. Despite their matching clothes, it is hard to believe they're brothers. Aesthetically, they're the complete opposite.
"Kalos ta paidia," said Stelios, meaning 'Welcome to the kids'. In their eyes, we must have appeared young.
They walk us through to the workshop. For them, this is where the hard work takes place. For us, this is where the fun begins. It is a special privilege to be here. This filo pastry shop is the only one of its kind still operating in Chania.
After showing us the commercial-sized mixing bowl and pastry roller used to prepare the dough, Gianni takes a small piece of filo pastry that had been rolled out to the size of a pizza base. There are stacks and stacks of these piled on top of a bench at the back of the workshop.
Gianni dusts some flour on the first sheet of pastry and begins picking up the dough with one hand while laying the pastry onto his other forearm. He then maneuvers the pastry rapidly from right to left in a circular motion. The smell of flour fills the room.
The process stretches the dough out, not only making it bigger in size but thinner in consistency. He continues to do this for a few minutes. It's an intensive exercise that requires good upper body strength. When he is happy with the size of the filo (the dough is now about the size of a double fitted bed sheet) he turns away to face a large table covered with a hessian cloth. He swiftly flings the pastry onto the table and to our surprise, there isn't a single tear.
As the pastry lay on the table, Gianni begins to stretch it out even more by pulling on it, bit by bit, using only the tips of his fingers until it's paper-thin. By the time this process is complete, the filo pastry is about the size of a king bed flat sheet. While working, he tells us why he uses his preferred flour supplier, Cretan Mills and the best ways to use this type of filo pastry in cooking.
Cretan housewives (who still do most of the cooking) will use it to bake desserts such as baklava (a nut-based filo pastry cake with walnuts and almonds) or galaktoboureko (a custard pie wrapped in filo pastry and covered in a cinnamon and clove sugar syrup). Or they will make pies such as Cretan kalistounia, which are filled with wild greens that grow in abundance in Crete (over 120 different varieties have been identified) and myzithra (a local cheese similar to ricotta).
Together the two brothers lay another hessian cloth on top of the finished pastry and trim off the excess. This time, it's Stelios' turn to demonstrate his expertise. "Are you going to record me on camera?" he asks. "Of course," I reply. Stelios begins to repeat the filo stretching process in the same way that Gianni does, but with a little more vigor. I sense some friendly family rivalry, so I record the whole process to make them feel equally important.
Finally, the pastry is cut into A3-sized sheets, folded in half, then in quarters, rolled up, wrapped in paper and sold fresh for a couple of euros. Unfortunately, we didn't get to taste the finished product because it is not baked on site.
Few tourists visit this part of town and those that do would most likely walk past the shop without any idea as to what goes on inside. We found it by asking a local for a cultural and culinary recommendation.
While aesthetically the complete opposite, the two brothers share the same purpose: preserving the art and cultural tradition of filo pastry making by hand for their local community to enjoy.
By Kelly Michelakis
*For more delicious travel features and food recipes head to The Hellenic Odyssey


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About the Aged Health Network
Our People
Shalini Balram
Co-Chair (Allied Health)
Allyson Waird
Co-Chair (Nursing)
The Confused Hospitalised Older Persons (CHOPS) program
The overall aim of the Confused Hospitalised Older Persons (CHOPs) program is to improve the experiences and outcomes of confused older people in hospital. It is a collaboration between the ACI and the Cognitive Decline Partnership Centre. The specific objectives of CHOPS include:
- designing and prioritising principles for best practice care for older confused people in hospital;
- tailoring implementation to the needs of the older person, carers, families and the hospital teams;
- sharing achievements, innovation and knowledge, and embedding systems into practice to sustain and spread improvements in the care of older confused people in hospital.
Volunteer Dementia and Delirium Care Implementation and Training Resource
The ACI developed the Volunteer Dementia and Delirium Care Implementation and Training Resource. The resource was published in 2016 and aims to facilitate the establishment and implementation of a dementia and delirium care hospital volunteer program. The program looks to provide emotional support and practical assistance to vulnerable patients with dementia and delirium, or those patients with identified risk factors for delirium and reduce their risk of adverse outcomes.
Allies in Dementia project
Through widespread consultation with people with a dementia, carers and allied health professionals, the Allies in Dementia project developed resources which provide an overview about the vital role of allied health in supporting people with a dementia. The Allies in Dementia project was a joint initiative of Alzheimer's Australia (now Dementia Australia) and the ACI. Two guides were published in 2016: Allied health professionals and you: a guide for people living with dementia and their carers and Better health for people living with dementia: a guide on the role of allied health professionals.
Building Partnerships project
In 2013, the ACI commenced work on Building Partnerships: A Framework for Integrating Care for Older People with Complex Health Needs in response to the NSW Ageing Strategy. The Framework was published in 2014 and aims to support local health districts and local partnerships of agencies to redesign and implement improved models of care for older people. The Framework introduces the vision and guiding principles underpinning the work to improve care for older people in NSW. The focus of the framework is to support local decision making and community partnerships with older people, their carers and families, NSW Health services, primary health networks, general practitioners, and community and residential aged care service providers.
Dementia Carers' Experience video
The Dementia Carers' Experience video was jointly produced by the ACI's Patient Experience and Consumer Engagement (PEACE) team and the Aged Health Network. It explores the experience of dementia from the perspective of carers. This resource complements other resources which have been developed under the banner of CHOPs. It can be used for training and orientation of healthcare workers and other staff involved in the care of patients with dementia and their families and carers.
NSW Aged Health Collaborative
The NSW Aged Care Collaborative hosts an annual forum which is a collaboration between:
- the NSW Ministry of Health, Aged Care Unit; Nursing and Midwifery Office; Older People's Mental Health Policy Unit; Whole of Health Program
- the Agency for Clinical Innovation
- the Clinical Excellence Commission
- the Health Education and Training Institute.
The aim of the Aged Health Collaborative Forum is to provide an opportunity to share knowledge, experiences, and innovation in aged health across NSW by:
- sharing achievements in aged health across the continuum of care
- empowering local teams to overcome challenges and building partnerships in caring for older people
- providing an opportunity for professional networking and building a culture of sharing, support and leadership in aged health in NSW.
Consumer and carer stories are also shared and discussed at the forum.
The ACI Aged Health Network is building on the work of the Greater Metropolitan Clinical Taskforce's Aged Care Network. The network was renamed in May 2010 to Aged Health to reflect the breadth of specialist services provided for older people across NSW.
Aged Health Network
Glen Pang
Aged Health Network Manager


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Large cats
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I've just got back from the most perfect getaway adventure: a week in a small town just outside Munich with one of my best friends, Fiona Potter (or barefootfiona to the virtual world) We had an amazing time eating lots of great food, swimming in lakes, speaking 'tons of Deutsch, planning our lives, listening to inspiring music and soaking up the bavarian sun. I've returned to Bracknell, rather unwillingly, but generally happier and healthier in body and in mind. Here are a few extracts from my holiday journal with photos :-) Enjoy!
Day 1 - So today we learnt a lesson which I'll affectionately recall as 'Die Katastrophe du fromage'. We went a bit crazy in the Supermarkt and bought Bergkase - are really strong, mountain smelling cheese. Now it tasted INCREDIBLE, but we being silly naive teenage girls placed the leftovers in my bag, then decided to go swimming leaving the STRONG smelling mountain cheese to swelter and expand in my belovedblack leather shopper. Basically, all my possessions reek of Bergkase (disclaimer: my preciousNew Yorker bore the brunt of the cheese eruption but my camera and my i-pod were not entirely exempt from this cheese reeking epidemic either.) It's disgusting.
Just woke-up, it's about 3am. The scorching, stinging pain of my sunburn has forced me out of the attic bedroom and into a hammock - I'm in absolute agony! I can't shove the pain killers down my throat fast enough!
Day 2 - Today we visited the town of Grafing (aka Fiona's childhood). It was a bit like a Bavarian version of Lintorf (the town I lived in 2000-2002) so both of us were submerged in nostalgia. Potter got us hideously lost as we trecked around the town in the midday heat (this did wonders for my sunburn!) We eventually found the Freibad (outdoor swimming pool) and after failing to swim more than 10 lengths, decided to hanging off the metal bridge and siding down the children's slide.
The highlight of the day was definitely Kaffee und Kuchen with Muhme, Fiona's 90-year old grandmother. She's the most inspiring old lady I have ever met. She has that air, that presence of someone who has an impact on everybody she meets. I mean, a photographer once stopped her in the street and told her she had the most beautiful face and that she had to let him take some professional photos of her. How awesome is that!?
I also met Fiona's brother Niel who is basically a male version of me. Awesome. The amount of multilingual word vomit escaping our mouths about Italy, film and theatre was, in a word, revolting. He also showed incessant (bordering on annoying!) pity concerning my allergies. Every time my eyes watered or cake was put on the table he turned to me and said 'ELLIE your life must be SO HARD. NO WHEAT!? How will you EVER survive in Italy!?'
Day 3 - Too hot to be tourists in Munich. I hate being a tourist in Germany, it seems so unnatural. Anyway, we were chased screaming out of the Stadtmuseum by a creepy mechanical clown in the Oktoberfest exhibition (much to the amusement of the staff!) then stumbled into the Englishe Garten like overheated zombies and decided to do as the Germans do and go swimming in the river - we made sure our underwear stayed dry! I then whipped out my new H&M dress and attempted to speed-dry my leggings by spinning round and round like Pippi-Longstocking in the weird american remake. So fun.
Another mission was to find my Birkenstocks, a mission which, unfortunately, didn't result in any success despite searching frantically through about twenty shoe shops. Guess I'll have to settle for the bright-green ones that are waiting for me back home (gotta love mothers, right?!)
Day 4 - We went into the mountains, decided not to hike because it was 35 degrees, so sat in the shade trying to avoid the naked men running in to the water, ate ice-cream, sweltered and then jumped into a freezing cold lake. Awesome.
Day 5 - Back to Grafing to make the most of the previous day's Bayern-Train-Ticket. We used the freibad (I swam MORE than 10 lengths and jumped off the top diving board *proud face*) then Niel treated us to yogurt ice-cream (YUM!) and earned the name 'Mucke-Junge' (Mosquito Boy) because he was so good at scaring away all the nasty insects trying to eat us alive as we walked through the 'biggest forest in Europe' (according to Niel!) It was absolutely tiny. Doofus. We then met up with Muhme and had MORE ice-cream at the Gasthaus am Schloss (basically a pub by a castle). She showed us an Eidelweiss flower she had pressed and told us that they used to only grow in mountain caves and so were seen as a symbol of love because the lover would have to go so far to fetch it. Yes I did want to burst into song when she said the world 'Eidelweiss'. On return to Seefeld we grabbed bikes and cycled to the lake to watch the sunset on the pier. GORGEOUS.
Day 6 - Woke up ridiculously late. Caught up on some reading. Had Kaffee und Kuchen with our hostfamily and a discussion, in german, about the impact of linguistics on society and history (yeaaah mate!) Potter and I then caught a late train into Munich, had dinner at one of the oldest restaurants in the city, were served by an Italian who spoke german with a bavarian accent and then successfully pinched two coasters (aren't we outrageous!?) We then stumbled upon this gem of a cafe with little balcony seats for two over looking a gorgeous fountain. I ordered an Espresso, Fio-Fio ordered an non-alcoholic cocktail and we sat there watching the sunset and enjoyed our new found sophistication. The perfect end to the holiday.
Our Playlist:
Regina Spektor - On The Radio/Fidelity
Dixie Chicks - Cowboy take me away
Joni Mitchell -
Eros Ramazzotti - La Sombra Del Gigante
Simple Plan - Take My Hand
John Mayer - In Your Atmosphere
Taylor Swift - Our Song
Terra Naomi - Say it's possible
Authentic Brecht poster
2 Newspapers
Der Spiegel (left-wing magazine)
Spring Awakening - Frank Wiederkind (in German)
The Manifesto of the Communist Party - Karl Marx/Friedrich Engels (in German)
2 copies of german Glamour
A stolen coaster
A cloth bag with old german print


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Rennie and I have spent an emotion-filled couple of weeks leaving our home and friends in Montreal and flying across the globe to our new temporary home in Kufunda Village, Zimbabwe.
Contrary to the title of this post, Kufunda is quite land-locked, nestled under a large canopy of trees on a farm outside of Harare, with very little water even to drink. But the feeling of entering into the village is a lot like the feeling of washing up onto a beach, where boundaries and edges are blurred and it is up to you to find your own unique relationship and alignment with the new landscape.
This unbound quality shows up in lots of ways at Kufunda.
Its overarching role is beautifully unclear. Much of the energy of Kufundees is centred around living the change they want to see in Zimbabwe. Yet it is equally outwardly focused- working closely with other villages in the region through skills-building workshops, community organizing, and youth leadership. And they prefer to define their mission very broadly- as a learning village- rather than wed themselves to any particular issue or target group.
Kufunda is just as much a village as it is an organization. Some people live here. Some don't. Some take on roles that closely resemble community organization staff, while others are engaged in micro-enterprise activities or core sustenance activities for the village like cooking, cleaning, transportation, security and maintenance. And individual roles are fluid, emergent and guided just as much by passion as by practical necessity.
We were particularly struck by how quickly we were welcomed into all aspects of community life- the light and dark. After only four days here, we were invited to join their quarterly review- an all-day village-wide meeting to check in on how village life is going. We dove right into the thick of things, witnessing and contributing to conversations on even the most sensitive topics like interpersonal conflicts, personal economic hardships, and community-wide tensions.
I'll end this post with two passages from the Southern Wall that beautifully convey my experience here at Kufunda:
The organization rarely concerns itself with boundaries in any explicit, meaningful way. The boundaries that do exist are of the moment, generated by anyone who wants to belong and defined by the ways in which they see themselves as belonging. So these boundaries are tenuous, shifting, and yet they are also permanent in that once you have declared yourself, once you have announced your belonging in word or in gesture, you continue to belong in a very real way.
Shores, unlike boundaries, are made less for protecting than for receiving. They receive serenely and without question whatever washes up: plant and bone, trash and treasure. And perhaps the most striking thing about shores is that, ultimately, they are illusions. The land never stops; it simply extends itself under water, connecting, in the end, everything with everything.


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Top 10 Hot Springs Getaways in the Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest of the US boasts of natural hot springs. Besides the undeveloped 'wild' hot springs in the middle of the forest or a rocky scrub, there are many resorts where you can enjoy mineral water more comfortably, and they are also secure to children. These curative mineral-rich waters attract many visitors, couples as … Read more


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3 Vitamin C-rich foods that kids will love
In many households, parents are often heard urging their kids to take their vitamin C. That comes as no surprise because ascorbic acid, as it is otherwise called, is only one of the many nutrients your child needs.
But a 2010 study by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute says seven out of 10 kids lack vitamin C—which can result in children being easily tired and weak, as well as being susceptible to diseases such as the common cold. This makes the daily dose of vitamin C more important than ever for growing kids.
But apart from oranges and supplements, what other foods are good sources of vitamin C? And how will you make them appealing to children's taste buds? Here are three options:
Make mango shakes
Similar to oranges, mangoes are fruits filled with vitamin C. They're perfect for kids because they're free from fat, sodium, and cholesterol. Not only is mango rich in vitamin C, it also has superfood status because of its multi-vitamin and multi-mineral content.
Eating a mango alone is already satisfying for kids and adults alike, but you can make it a sweeter treat by turning it into a fruit shake. It's a great refreshment to serve to kids, whether it's for an afternoon snack or a lunch partner drink.
Serve strawberry pops
Strawberry is another superfood that is a good source of vitamin C. Apart from that, the fruit is also a great way to naturally whiten teeth, according to lifestyle website Health.
Although strawberries are not the top fruit choice of children, there is a variety of kid-friendly recipes that you can do such as fruit pops. Popsicles are cold treats that kids cannot say no to. For your strawberry delight, blend the fruit with water and freeze the liquid in cute molders.
Prepare a glass of milk daily
You might be thinking, "There's vitamin C in milk?"
In a glass of Bear Brand Powdered Milk Drink, there is. Because of its fortified formula, children can get 100% vitamin C by drinking one glass daily. This is in line with the FNRI's recommendation that advises parents to give their kids milk every day because of the essential nutrients it provides.
Apart from vitamin C, Nestle Philippines has formulated Bear Brand Powdered Milk Drink to include iron and zinc—Tibay Resistensya nutrients important to a child's growth—which can help fight micronutrient deficiency in kids.
But for children to get the appropriate nutritional content of the drink, it is recommended to follow the Food and Drug Administration-approved step to put in three heaping tablespoons of powdered milk in a glass of 200ml water.
Make the most out of the milk drink and pair it with three complete meals every day for kids to get the nutrients they need.
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Sullivan says Racing Victoria's policy is pushing big punters away
Bluebet boss Michael Sullivan has blasted Racing Victoria's race fields policy labelling it as "wanting to bring back the old days of SP bookmakers" as the regulatory looks to lift its fees.
Victoria might be proposing to have the lowest point of assumption tax at eight per cent, but proposed changes to race fields fees from July 1 is set to split product fees for bookmakers into three categories: parimutuel, tote derivative and non parimutuel.
Rates to rise: Racing Victoria set to lift its race fields fees from July.
Each will be charged individually at the highest rate between a turnover model and a gross revenue model every day.
"They have already totally closed the high-rollers market with the way they charge their fees," Sullivan said. "They want to be friendly to bookmakers but all they want to do is take, take, take. We had to close a half dozen accounts of our biggest clients because it is not viable for us to have them.
"It looks like they are wanting to bring back the old days of SP bookmakers and send the big punters to them. If you have anyone winning at around five per cent, you don't want their business because of the fees and the way they are charged.
"The daily calculation is what kills you because one day you win and you pay gross revenue and the next you loss and pay on turnover. It would be our least favourite state to bet. My boys take great pride in reducing the fees we pay to them every month. The system is better, fairer and simpler in NSW."
Racing Victoria says it is in a consultation period about its new race fields fee but the proposed schedule targets tote products, while leaving exchange betting at 35 per cent of revenue.
It is obvious Racing Victoria, based on a fee schedule obtained by Fairfax Media, are targeting the more popular forms of betting.
From July 1, Racing Victoria will look to lift the standard meeting races on parimutuel and tote products from 1.5 per cent on turnover and 15 per cent on revenue to 2 per cent or 20 per cent of revenue, whichever is higher. The turnover fee reflects the Racing NSW fee.
Premiums are set to be charged on black type meetings going from 2 per cent to 2.5 per cent with the gross revenue option to go to 20 to 25 per cent. Premier meetings will go from 2.5 per cent or 25 per cent to 3 per cent on turnover or 30 per cent on revenue.
Non parimutuel is set to rise from 1.5 to 1.6 per cent of 16 per cent of revenue on standard meetings, while the fees on black type meetings and premium meetings stays at 2 per cent of turnover or 20 per cent of revenue. Premier meetings will drop from 3 per cent and 30 percent to 2.5 percent turnover and 25 per cent revenue at the top end.
It is another slug on bookmakers, who are preparing for the introduction of point of consumption tax around the country.
The NSW government announced on Tuesday it would be at 10 per cent of gross profit with the racing industry guaranteed to get $40 million of up to $100 million in revenue.
It is understood that the government is preparing to commit a large percentage of the remains to regional and suburban sporting facilities.
Source: Read Full Article


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Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common joint disorder with varying degrees of inflammation. The ideal anti-OA drug should have immunomodulatory effects while at the same time having limited or no toxicity. We examined the anti-inflammatory effects of Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb) in interleukin-1 (IL-1)-stimulated human chondrocytes. Chondrocytes were prepared from cartilage specimens taken from patients with osteoarthritis who had received total hip or total knee replacement. The concentrations of chemokines and the degree of cell migration were determined by ELISA and chemotaxis assays, respectively. The activation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), activator protein-1 (AP-1), and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) was determined by immunoblotting, immunohistochemistry, and electrophoretic mobility shift assay. We found that EGb inhibited IL-1-induced production of chemokines, which in turn resulted in attenuation of THP-1 cell migration toward EGb-treated cell culture medium. EGb also suppressed IL-1-stimulated iNOS expression and release of nitric oxide (NO). The EGb-mediated suppression of the iNOS-NO pathway correlated with the attenuation of activator protein-1 (AP-1) but not nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) DNA-binding activity. Of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), EGb inhibited only c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). Unexpectedly, EGb selectively caused degradation of c-Jun protein. Further investigation revealed that EGb-mediated c-Jun degradation was preceded by ubiquitination of c-Jun and could be prevented by the proteosome inhibitor MG-132. The results imply that EGb protects against chondrocyte degeneration by inhibiting JNK activation and inducing ubiquitination-dependent c-Jun degradation. Although additional research is needed, our results suggest that EGb is a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of OA.
|Original language
|Article number
|PLoS One
|Issue number
|Publication status
|Published - Dec 11 2013
|Externally published
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)


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Next year at this time, students planning to attend one of the 14 state universities in the fall of 2020 will know how much they'll be paying in tuition for the upcoming academic year.
Not only that, they also will have a good idea what the rate will be for the following year as well.
The State System of Higher Education's governing board on Thursday approved a new tuition policy that requires universities to provide current and prospective students with more predictability by setting tuition rates earlier.
It calls for tuition rates for the next academic year to be approved in April, rather than waiting until July as has been its practice. At that time, the universities also will announce tentatively what the cost will be for the following academic year, too.
System board Chairwoman Cynthia Shapira called this new policy "the first real thing" that grows out of the system redesign underway to put the state universities on a more financially sustainable path and make them more student-centered.
"This policy will allow the universities to better plan, budget and allocate their resources over multiple years, helping to ensure their long-term stability and success," she said. "By making tuition more predictable, it will allow students to plan for their educational expenses."
Additionally, the new policy allows universities the option of either using the base tuition rate that the board sets or propose a tuition plan of their own that takes into account the regional economic differences, the competition from other higher education institutions in their area, the varying cost of academic programs, and the specific financial needs of students.
Millersville University President Daniel Wubah and Indiana University of Pennsylvania President Michael Driscoll signaled that their universities plan to be among the first ones to propose a customized tuition plan that would take effect in the fall of 2020.
Shippensburg University President Laurie Carter was non-committal about if and when her university would make that move, saying any decision it makes will be focused on what is thought to be in student's best interest.
"We're certainly going to look at it now that it's been approved," Carter said. "Everything we do is based on data and that's how we make our decisions. We don't want to run into anything until we know it benefits the students."
The idea of differentiating tuition based on campus, major, and class standing (meaning freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior year) is the direction that public universities across the nation are heading.
In fact, some of the system's own universities in recent years strayed away from the one-size-fits-all approach that existed for decades. Millersville, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and Mansfield offer tuition plans that charge students by the number of course credits they are taking. East Stroudsburg offers a four-year guaranteed tuition price.
Plus the system's vice chancellor for administration and finance Sharon Minnich noted that when building in the cost of room, board and fees, the cost of attending a state university varies significantly from $18,906 at West Chester University to $25,405 at IUP, based on the lowest cost housing and minimum meal plan students take.
Part of this policy allows for the universities to more fully engage in tuition discounting.
That again is a direction more public universities are heading to minimize the financial barriers that prevent low-income students from going to college. Minnich shared data from the College Board that indicates the percentage of universities using institutional grant aid to lower students' net price has grown from 32% in 2004 to 48% in 2014.
But this move to encourage broader use of this discounting practice doesn't sit well with the parent of a Millersville University student.
"My objection to this scheme [also known in the industry as 'tuition set-asides'], is that hard working families who save diligently to be able to pay the price of tuition at one of the state system universities will be charged more and then 'forced' to subsidize other family's kids," said Meretta Marks, who retired from the pharmaceutical industry and has become developed a strong interest in higher education.
But system officials argue that providing institutional aid is critical to the state universities' ability to reach the low- and middle-income families it was designed to serve. Data recently released for 2017-18 shows a continued decline in the number of Pennsylvania college students from families with incomes between $48,000 to $110,000.
System Chancellor Dan Greenstein said in an earlier interview that gives him concern. He understands the argument about it being unfair to make some students pay more in tuition than others but added, "it's a feature of our life."
"It's been going on in private higher education forever," Greenstein said. "The challenge that we face, we're not able to compete. It's going on in public education as well. It's very rare an institution isn't doing tuition discounting. We are not doing it very much so we are actually not competitively positioned in the market."
With a decline in the number of students graduating Pennsylvania high school and a large number of higher education institutions vying for the ones that do, being competitive is essential to the state universities' survival which has seen its enrollment drop from 120,000 in 2010 to nearly 99,000 this year.
The change in the system's pricing policy grows out of the work of a task force comprising students, faculty, staff and administrators. They released their recommendations last year on how to make the state universities more affordable to attract and retain students. But the system board chose to hold off on implementing those recommendations to allow the system redesign plan to more fully develop.
Joar Dahn, a Bloomsburg University student who is a member of the system's board, said he thinks students will welcome this new tuition pricing strategy.
"It gives our campuses individually more flexibility in how to price their different programs," he said.
Another student board member Rodney Kaplan Jr. urged the university presidents that decide to propose a customized tuition plan for their campus to seek student input right from the start.
"Sometimes the student voice it just comes at the end," he said. "But having the student voice involved in the beginning I think will be helpful."
Faculty union President Ken Mash is encouraged the system is focused on affordability but also looks forward to hearing more about how it will work in light of the move toward being a "sharing system."
"What does that mean as far as having different tuitions at 14 universities with regard to sharing programs and a student's ability to take courses at different universities? I think that's a missing piece of the puzzle," he said. "I think there has to be a more sophisticated analysis."
Shapira admitted during the meeting the process for rolling out this tuition policy remains a work in progress and tweaks may be needed as it goes along.
The State System, also includes Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, Edinboro, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Slippery Rock and West Chester universities.
Jan Murphy may be reached at email@example.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy.
Paying for college: Have questions about how to pay college tuition without going broke? Financial aid expert Mark Kantrowitz will take your questions in a Reddit "Ask Me Anything" forum Tuesday, April 9 at 12 p.m.
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A Crash Course in Empathy and Leadership
Diversity in the workplace is a hot topic and deservedly-so, as businesses both large and small attempt to broaden their perspective by building a more gender-, age- and race-diverse workforce. But it's no easy task, especially within firms unused to embracing such inherent differences.
Whether there's a rift between a roomful of Baby Boomers, a handful of Gen X-ers and an onslaught of Millennials, or an influx of women and minorities into a mostly all-White, all-male space, Michael Ventura, CEO & Founder of Sub Rosa, believes that Applied Empathy is the one thing that can help bridge the gap, appreciating how people expect to be understood in ways that are nuanced and personal. On stage, he'll share seven Empathic Archetypes and explain strategies for dealing with each.
Programming descriptions are generated by participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SXSW.
Programming descriptions are generated by participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SXSW.
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Music Badge
Platinum Badge
Artist Wristband
Film Badge
Interactive Badge


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How to Win a Short Fiction Contest*
by Shawn Proctor
*Winning not guaranteed.
In project management, the key is to begin with the end in mind. So maybe I should have foreseen that my flash story "A Good Egg" would be a winner of the 2017 Podcastle Flash Fiction Contest and would go on to become published by Flash Fiction Online as a reprint. Unfortunately, writing with the end goal in mind has never worked for me.
Instead, here's a template I follow when entering any fiction contest:
Learn the Rules, Follow the Rules:
After being a fan of Escape Artists for years, I heard Podcastle was hosting a flash fiction contest, so I joined the forum to learn more. I didn't have an idea yet. I needed to know how the contest was held and whether I could compete. That means knowing the story's length, deadline, format, submission method, and judging criteria.
I've learned long ago that it's better to not compete than to disqualify myself or submit an entry that doesn't meet my own standards.
Ideation is Not a Straight Path:
The creative process is different for many people. Some need the rush of impending doom–I mean, a deadline. Others go for walks, work out, or sit in silent contemplation. But my ideation, the process of forming an idea, usually needs something unexpected or new to introduce itself.
In this case, ideation came in the form of a Snapple cap, which contained "Real Facts." (Their quotation marks, not mine.) One morning I read "Real Fact" #1334: "Nowhere in the Humpty Dumpty nursery rhyme does it say that Humpty Dumpty is an egg." The riddle stuck in my brain: why was I convinced it was about an egg anyway?
Research the Story, Research the Contest:
I spent a few hours reading everything Humpty Dumpty. The more I read, the more I wondered. If Humpty was an egg, how did he fall? Who was the king at the end? Perhaps it was the recent royal weddings, but I began to picture my egg protagonist at a marriage ceremony. In my early draft, Humpty was heartbroken that the princess was getting married.
As I kept thinking over my small, rough story concept, I read entries from other Escape Artists podcasts, especially winning stories. I noticed the elements and themes that stood out or repeated. Luckily, my still-rough idea about Humpty didn't appear to have been done before. Yet re-tellings are somewhat common, so mine couldn't simply tell the expected scenario about Humpty.
Revise, Expand, Cut, Compress
Once I had a draft that was around the 500-word limit, I shared it with my beta readers. The initial responses were good, but I kept thinking about that king. Why would the king be so desperate to put fix Humpty? What if the "breaking" from the rhyme was emotional? A new idea became obvious–the future king had been in love with Humpty, not the princess.
I expanded the section where Humpty talks to the king as well as the relationship between the Humpty and the princess. When the story had everything I wanted, I took my editing blade and cut every sentence that didn't advance the story and characters. When I felt I couldn't stand to cut anymore, I kept finding new places to trim. What I didn't cut was compressed.
Polish and Rethink
Even when a story seems done, I know that there are places that could be improved. For some people, it's dialogue tags. For me, it's titles, beginnings, and endings. While I thought my beginning was effective, I kept redrafting the end to make it hit harder. To make sure it was clear and felt like the action went beyond the last sentence.
I also made lists of titles. Then one morning I was listening to a podcast and the host mentioned that a character in a film was "a good egg." I felt my ears perk up. Turns out "a good egg" is an old-fashioned term meaning a good person with good standards. Just like my protagonist, who is a literal egg.
Sometimes you find the right title. This time the right title found me.
Play by the Rules
The contest had several rounds, and Podcastle's forums strictly regulate voting procedures. You should vote for your own story, but you must not influence others to vote for you or reveal yourself as the author of a story.
During several of the EA fiction contests, the moderators had sussed out situations where contestants had used friends or family or technology to manipulate voting. Cheaters get disqualified. The point is cheating means never knowing how far the story may have gotten on its own merit. My story, "A Good Egg," never placed first in any round during the contest. It advanced by narrow margins, ultimately placing third out of 196 stories. Two other stories in the finals were only three votes behind. Turned out "A Good Egg" was more like a tough cookie.
Be Gracious and Listen Well
The tricky part about a fiction contest–whether or not it is judged in closed sessions or open to the public–is there's no way of knowing what could happen. I entered the very next contest hosted by Pseudopod with a story that had followed a similar process…it was eliminated in the first round.
Still, the feedback in the forum helped me understand what had gone well and what needed to be improved. And I know that it will help me keep improving the stories that I write. And my goal is always to write a darn good story that grabs the reader and won't let go. After all, an original, engaging story is always the best way to compete well and (sometimes!) win. And it can take you places that you never expected when you twisted opened a random bottle of raspberry ice tea.
Shawn Proctor's writing has been published in several literary journals and anthologies, including Podcastle, Flash Fiction Online, Daily Science Fiction, and Galaxy's Edge. He is also the 2018 Champion of WYRM's Gauntlet, a multi-round indie writing contest.


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Recent Posts
- Teens' brains make them more vulnerable to suicide
- Everyone Can Play a Role in the Conversation about Mental Health: Faith-Based Organizations Fact Sheet
- Information for Faith-Based and Community Leaders: Mental Health Talking Points for Faith-Based Communities
- High rates of suicide in Chicago, suburbs raise red flags, Chicago Tribune
- Talking About Suicide and LGBT Populations
Recent Comments
Teens' brains make them more vulnerable to suicide
Teens' brains make them more vulnerable to suicide. Boston Globe.
Most of us have heard that teen brains aren't fully developed until their mid 20s, and it turns out that the parts of the brain that develop last are also the one's best suited for handling situations that might otherwise lead to suicidal ideation or action. Learn more at the Globe.


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Different signs of aging pop up in different places, and not every issue impacts all of Us. Crow's feet appear around the eyes, "11 lines" frequently occur on the forehead and the lip area struggles with its own set of stubborn concerns.
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One of the most common signs of aging include the vertical lines that extend from the top of the lip as far as right underneath the nose. Those lines aren't just a frustrating reminder of the clock ticking — they can even dictate what type of lip color you wear. Brighter lipsticks may bleed into those lines, but helping to smooth them out may help fix that problem. One shopper, who notes that they're in their 70s, is thrilled to be able to "wear red lipstick again" — all thanks to this treatment!
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The treatment also includes brightening agents that may help with discoloration that can occur on the upper lip. Dermelect recommends that you apply it at least twice a day to get the best possible smoothing effects in the area. Reviewers say that this product has become a permanent part of their "anti-aging tool kit," and are simply amazed with the results they have seen in such a short period of time. Given that many of Us do feel insecure about our lip area, this treatment couldn't come at a better time. Let's get ready to smile confidently again!
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