Can Sleep Be Improved By Supplemental Vitamin D?
Countless studies have shown time and time again just how important the quality and amount of sleep we receive is to our general health and well-beings. Although the exact amount of sleep that each person needs will vary slightly from individual to individual, almost all adults will require between about 7 and 8 hours of sleep each night to receive an optimum amount.
Sleeping for shorter periods than this each night can lead to a number of adverse conditions and outcomes, from a lowered performance levels at work, through to difficulties with problem solving, and even to issues with immune function, and increased fat levels.
The majority of people who suffer from sleep deprivation tend to have a lower satisfaction when it comes to social, family, and economic situations. Sleep deprivation isn't just a case of going to be late either, as conditions such as insomnia can make it almost impossible for those with the condition to get anywhere near enough sleep each night. As many as 10% of adults have had problems with chronic insomnia.
Due to how important sleep is to our health and everyday lives, it's little wonder that so many people do all they can to get the best night's sleep possible. From changing habits, through to investing in new beds, lighting, and even purchasing new gadgets, it seems that we'll go to any length to get the optimum amount and quality of sleep each night.
Recently, attention has turned to using Vitamin D supplements to help boost the quality of our sleep. It's been suggested that Vitamin D might play a key role in maintaining a good level of sleep, that low levels of Vitamin D can impair our quality of sleep. It should be noted that direct links between Vitamin D and sleep conditions are still quite lacking, although there is still plenty of evidence to suggest that higher levels of the vitamin can improve the sleep we get.
Some disorders, such as sleep apnea, have been linked to low levels of Vitamin D. Although the evidence was rather limited due to being observational, it seemed to be enough evidence to inspire other investigators to study the possibility in more details.
The study involved a randomized controlled plan on 93 people aged between 20 and 50 years old in a hospital in Iran. The individuals included where those who were believed to suffer from poor sleep, and who had received a sub optimum level of sleep over the previous month. To ensure that the trial was as fair as possible, the research team excluded smokers and those who were taking sleeping medication ,or had any high-dose Vitamin D supplement over the past three months. The team also excluded anybody with a serious sleeping condition from the results. Sun exposure levels were taken into account.
Those in the Vitamin D group were given four doses of 50,000 IU vitamin D3, with one dosage every two weeks. The placebo group were given edible paraffin oil on the same schedule. Blood levels were recorded for their level of Vitamin D at the beginning and end of the eight week period.
The results showed that at the end of the test, those taking the actual Vitamin D supplements, who therefore had higher levels of Vitamin D in their body, were sleeping for a longer period than those who were taking the placebo supplements.
This shows that the quality of sleep greatly improved for those taking the Vitamin D supplement.
So, if this experiment can be tested and proven enough for us to gather enough evidence to suggest that Vitamin D levels really does have an impact on the quality of sleep; and if sleep quality has such an impact on our wider health and well-beings, then this could be a profound step towards being able to use Vitamin D supplements to improve the length of sleep we can get, and the quality also. This could mean that it would lead to greater benefits for our general health, as well.
There are a few theories as to why higher Vitamin D levels result in better quality of sleep. They can reduce inflammatory cytokines that potentially interfere with sleep, and can interact directly with parts of the brain which regulate and mediate our sleep. This means that there may be clinical evidence which can be found to support the study.
As well as taking supplements, spending more time in the sun can result in greater Vitamin D levels. This can have a direct impact on our circadian rhythms which can play a huge role in the sleep that we get.
Because so much of our wider health and wellbeing can be affected by our sleep, it may well be that Vitamin D supplements, and spending a healthy amount of sun, can be beneficial to our sleep and welfare.


He and his wife were looking for a good business repair refrigerators, freezers in the Knebworth , not so long ago we ordered some corporation done personal task seemed to us that very well however equipment every few moments to break down .. Recently business established in the Knebworth and we are very pleased with it , our equipment has been running for over half a year and the wife does not get tired at the end of I repair this equipment , and you know the new hardware is not cheap , not any a can afford to buy a new better household appliances .I used to remember Dishwasher us to spoil every two days , it was a real tragedy , wash every few moments , instead of throw everything in the dishwasher , similarly ordered the company dishwasher repair and surprisingly managed and runs smoothly quickly so far , and it 's been two years ! The worst is how it breaks down washing machine, repair washing machines in the Knebworth is a real ordeal for me , I do not know what begin , there are so many of these cables , in the middle , it is best to order the company out of the Knebworth or the surrounding area who on the familiar and the cost of such repairs made . Buying a new machine is a very big expense and repair row much lower amounts , and certainly gone yet a lot of time, so it is worth investing in the repair of such equipment .


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13 People Who Say It's Not Too Late
Do you find yourself sitting at your 9-to-5 job feeling like you'll be stuck to that desk forever? There is hope for you, dear reader!
Some of the most successful people in the country didn't start out on a career path anywhere close to that which eventually made them happy, rich or both. In fact, the average American changes jobs 10 to 15 times between the ages of 18 and 46, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. So no, you're not alone if you're unhappy with where you're at.
To convince you that leaving your day job might just be the best thing you've ever done, we rounded up some of most inspirational career changes in recent history:
Walt Disney was a newspaper editor. Dreams didn't always come true for Walt. The founder of The Walt Disney Company started out as a newspaper editor, but was apparently fired because "he lacked imagination and had no good ideas."
Ellen DeGeneres was a paralegal and "oyster shucker." Before being named Showtime's Funniest Person in America in 1982, comedian and TV host Ellen Degeneres held these two much less glamorous jobs.
Julia Child was a spy. The famed chef wasn't cooking up delicious French cuisines until age 36. Before that, she worked as a CIA intelligence officer.
Harrison Ford was a carpenter. After his performance in "American Graffiti," Ford gave up acting for the financial stability of carpentry. That is, until George Lucas came calling about a little movie called Star Wars.
Ken Jeong was a doctor. Best known as Mr. Chow from The Hangover, actor and comedian Ken Jeong first earned his MD from the University of North Carolina and began a physician practice. In 2007, after a string of stand-up jobs on the side, Jeong made his first feature film debut in Knocked Up as—what else?—a doctor.
Elvis Costello was a computer programmer. The songwriter's singing may have made him famous, but his genius was by no means limited to just music. Costello first spent his days in an office operating an IBM 360.
Allen Ginsberg was a dishwasher. American beat poet Allen Ginsberg is best remembered for his bestselling poem, "Howl." But before he found success through writing, Ginsberg held a variety of odd jobs, working as a spot welder, night porter and cargo ship worker.
Andrea Bocelli was a lawyer. After graduating with a law degree from the University of Pisa, Andrea Bocelli worked as a defense attorney until the age of 34, when he left his job to sing full time.
Sylvester Stallone was a deli-counter assistant and lion-cage cleaner. Before stepping into the boxing ring, actor Sylvester Stallone was earning $1.12 an hour at the Central Park Zoo, among some other not-so-glamorous jobs.
Whoopi Goldberg put makeup on dead people. Before Whoopi's big break in 1985, Goldberg worked at a funeral parlor applying makeup to the deceased.
Brad Pitt was a limo driver. For strippers. Yep, Brad used to drive strippers to and from bachelor parties. Before this, he also dressed up as a giant chicken and stood outside of an "El Pollo Loco" restaurant waving to cars.
Joy Behar was a high school english teacher. The host of "The View" and "The Joy Behar Show" wasn't always the comedian we all love. In fact, Behar was a high school English teacher until the age of 40.
Anna Mary Robertson "Grandma" Moses sold potato chips. The American folk artist didn't even put paint to canvas until her 80s. For most of her life she worked on her farm in Virginia and practiced embroidery as a hobby. When her arthritis made it too difficult to hold a needle, she picked up a paint brush instead.
Taibi, C. (2013, June 26). 13 people who prove it's never too late for a career change. Retrieved September 7, 2013, from The Huffington Post website: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/24/never-late-change-careers_n_3460618.html. Used by permission.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Songo Ostinatos: 3/2 Rumba Clave
Modern Drummer: September 2002
Hudson Music is pleased to offer a series of educational articles in conjunction with Modern Drummer Magazine and the Modern Drummer Digital Archive.
This article originally appeared in the September 2002 issue of Modern Drummer Magazine.
The story of the songo rhythm began with Juan Formell, bass player and leader of the popular Cuban group Los Van Van. Formell was the first to conceptualize the songo rhythmic style. The founding drummer of Los Van Van, Blas Egues, played with the group for only a few months. When Blas departed from the group in 1970, the equipment he left behind included a basic five-piece drumset, but no cymbals or hi-hat. Instead the kit had a large piece of bamboo (cana brava) mounted on a stand. Drummer Jose Luis Quintana, better known by the nickname "Changuito," joined the band and began to develop the songo rhythm using this basic drumkit.
During the twenty-five years that Changuito played with Los Van Van, the songo rhythm went through many transformations.
The rhythm that most drummers play today started out as a variation of the songo rhythm that was only played during a particular section of a song. Changuito gave that groove the nickname bota, which means boot.
'Songo Lesson
It's important to realize that the songo style of drumming ismore of a concept than one particular beat. Songo is a blend of
folkloric and contemporary Cuban styles with elements of funk and jazz. In many ways, songo is the jazz of Cuban drumming.
The songo ostinatos in this article are popular grooves often played in the Latin-jazz style of music. The ostinatos will help you coordinate the suggested songo grooves against the two-bar bass drum phrases. The ostinatos are written in 3/2 rumba clave, but they can also be played in 2/3 by starting on the second bar.
Although the clave rhythm is not played in this particular drumset example, it's important to always be aware of the clave while playing the songo style.
Begin by practicing one of the ostinatos written below until you're comfortable playing it. To accomplish the correct feel, playthe ghost notes on the snare drum as softly as possible.
Songo Ostinatos
3/2 Rumba Clave
Bass Drum Variations
The following patterns are bass drum variations that can be played with the three songo ostinatos in the previous examples.
Once you're comfortable playing the songo ostinato, combine the suggested bass drum phrases written below. Play each combined songo ostinato with the bass drum variations in 3/2 (as written).
Then try playing the ostinato in 2/3 (starting on the second bar) and combining the bass drum variations.
Because there are so many ways to play and interpret the songo rhythmic style, I encourage you to listen to and analyze the music as much as possible. Los Van Van, Batacumbele, Michel Camilo, Paquito D'Rivera, Ruben Blades, and Gonzalo Rubalcaba are just a few artists that have recorded the songo style. Drummers who are masters at songo include Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez, Ignacio Berroa, Robbie Ameen, Alex Acuña, Jimmy Branley, Jose Martinez, and Julio Barreto.
The examples in this lesson are excerpts from Maria Martinez' Afro-Cuban Coordination For Drumset book/CD package, published by Hal Leonard. (Used with permission.) Martinez has performed with Barry White, El Chicano, Rita Coolidge, Nel Carter, Angela Bofill, and many others. She is also an active clinician and educator.
About the Modern Drummer Digital Archives
Click here to Learn more about and purchase the Digital Archive at Modern Drummer.com
MODERN DRUMMER READERS ARE FAMOUS for saving every back issue of their favorite magazine. And who can blame them? MD has covered every major drummer in history—and we've done it first, in greater detail, and with more insight than any other publication in history.
WHEN MD INTRODUCED THE FIRST DIGITAL ARCHIVE several years ago, PC users all over the world flocked to take advantage of lightning-fast access to every single page MD published in its first 25 years. That's 265 issues containing over 35,000 pages of peerless drumming journalism, news, advice, photography, printed music, reviews…. Basically, if it involves drums, it's in the Archive.
NOW MD'S DIGITAL ARCHIVE IS CROSS-PLATFORM, allowing Mac and PC users full access to MD's historic collection of features, educational columns, and reviews. For any drummer interested in the history of their craft, this is big news indeed.


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OFAC Recent ActionsCurrently selected
Complete List of Sanctions Programs and Country Information
Data and Charts Center
Home » Resource Center » Financial Sanctions » OFAC Recent Actions » Recent OFAC Actions
Recent OFAC Actions
The President has identified the following seven foreign persons as significant foreign narcotics traffickers under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act. They have been incorporated into OFAC's SDN list as [SDNTK]s:
DA COSTA, Luis Fernando (a.k.a. BEIRA-MAR, Fernandinho); DOB 4 Jul 1967; POB Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (individual) [SDNTK]
GONZALEZ QUIRARTE, Eduardo (a.k.a. GONZALEZ QUIRARTE, Lalo; a.k.a. GONZALES QUIRARTE, Jose; a.k.a. GONZALEZ LOPEZ, Gregorio; a.k.a. ORELLANA ERAZO, Hector Manuel; a.k.a. GOMEZ CHAVEZ, Gabriel); DOB 28 Aug 1962; alt DOB 20 Aug 1962; POB Jalisco, Mexico; Passport No. 96140045817 (Mexico), Passport No. 97380018185 (Mexico); SSN 550-63-9593 (U.S.A.) (individual) [SDNTK]
IBRAHIM, Haji (a.k.a. KHAN AFRIDI, Haji Ibrahim; a.k.a. KHAN, Haji Ibrahim; a.k.a. IBRAHIM, Haji Ehai); DOB 28 Sep 1957; POB Pakistan (individual) [SDNTK]
KNOWLES, Samuel (a.k.a. KNOWLES JR., Samuel); DOB 28 May 1959; POB Bahamas (individual) [SDNTK]
TUITO, Oded (a.k.a. TVITO, Oded; a.k.a. TUITO, Daniel; TVITO, Daniel; a.k.a. TUITO, David; a.k.a. MAMO, Eliyahu; a.k.a. REVIVO, Simon); DOB 27 Dec 1959; alt DOB 29 Nov 1959; alt DOB 27 Feb 1959; alt DOB 12 Dec 1959; alt DOB 25 Jul 1961; POB Israel (individual) [SDNTK]
VILLANUEVA MADRID, Mario Ernesto; DOB 2 Jul 1949; POB Quintana Roo, Mexico (individual) [SDNTK]
ZAMBADA GARCIA, Ismael (a.k.a. ZAMBADA, El Mayo; a.k.a. ZAMBADA GARCIA, Ismael Mario; a.k.a. LOAIZA AVENDANO, Jesus; a.k.a. GARCIA HERNANDEZ, Javier; a.k.a. HIGUERA RENTERIA, Ismael); DOB 1 Jan 1948; POB Sinaloa, Mexico (individual) [SDNTK]
In addition, the following entry has been removed from OFAC's SDN list:
AGUDELO GALVEZ, Lieride, c/o INVERSIONES GEMINIS S.A., Cali, Colombia; Cedula No. 6511576 (Colombia) (individual) [SDNT]
The following entry has been changed:
ABBAS, Kassim, Italy (individual) [IRAQ] -to- ABBAS, Kassim, Lerchesbergring, 23A, D-60598 Frankfurt, Germany; DOB 7 Aug 1956; POB Baghdad, Iraq (individual) [IRAQ]
All of OFAC's informational material has been revised accordingly, including OFAC's Narcotics brochure , and fixed-field and delimited versions of OFAC's SDN list. References to the changes are also included in OFAC's SDNEW02 file (including each "a.k.a." listed as a separate entry) and by clicking on the SDN changes link on OFAC's website.
In addition, OFAC has updated the legal portion of its website to include interim rules for 31 CFR Part 588 (the Western Balkans Transactions Regulations), which were published in Vol. 67 No. 104 of the Federal Register on May 30, 2002. The regulations allow for written comments which must be received no later than 30 days after the dates of publication. Comments may be submitted either via regular mail to the attention of Chief, Policy Planning and Program Management Division, Room 2176 Main Treasury Annex, 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20220 or electronically via OFAC's website. OFAC is unable to consider in the development of final regulations public comments accompanied by a request that a part or all of the material be treated confidentially. All public comments will become a matter of public record and will be made available on OFAC's website not earlier than sixty days after the date of publication of the interim regulations.
Last Updated: 12/2/2010 7:26 PM


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Farmingville, NY - On May 17, Supervisor Ed Romaine (pictured) stopped by the Town of Brookhaven Parks Administration building's electric vehicle charging stations to inspect two new Chevrolet Bolt all-electric cars that have been added to the Town's fleet. Currently, the fleet includes 3 all-electric and 24 hybrid vehicles. Electric vehicles are quieter, cleaner, and do not require the import and transport of fossil fuels. Along with the environmental benefits, electric cars have fewer moving parts, don't require oil changes, and cost less to operate. Estimates indicate operating costs to be about 40-50% less for EVs compared to gas vehicles. The cars and Electric Vehicle Charging Stations are part of Supervisor Romaine's "Energy Efficiency and Sustainability Initiative," a 5-year Capital Plan to achieve a 50% reduction of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions by 2020. The plan focuses on Town-owned Buildings and Facilities, Traffic Controls, Street Lights and Town Vehicles. Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Stations have also been installed at Heritage Park in Mount Sinai and the Moriches Bay Recreation Center.
Supervisor Romaine said, "I am proud to say that the Town of Brookhaven is leading the way to a more energy efficient fleet of vehicles that save money, conserve energy and are much better for the environment. We will continue to upgrade our fleet and I remain committed to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels to lessen our carbon footprint."
⇐Previous Councilwoman Bonner Joins Volunteers for the 12th Annual Great Brookhaven Clean UpNext⇒ Supervisor Romaine Joins Thousands of Volunteers for the 12th Annual Great Brookhaven Clean Up


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Platters include Corn Bread Muffins, Corn-on-the-Cob, and choice of two sides: Coleslaw, Drunkin' Apples, Wilbur Beans, Shack Fries or Potato Salad.
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Our Legendary Pit Bar-B-Que is perfect for any event you've got cookin'.


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Gaar Jackson widening won't get done this year
Jason Truitt
The Palladium-Item
WAYNE COUNTY, Ind. — Work to widen Gaar Jackson Road to accommodate the new Blue Buffalo plant likely won't begin until next spring.
Wayne County Engineer Bob Warner told the county commissioners this week that time is running out to be able to finish the project in 2017.
Work began last month on Round Barn Road between Industries Road and Gaar Jackson to widen that stretch, and paving there is set to get under way in the coming days.
After that, the Milestone Contractors crew will move to Centerville Road to add a passing blister to the west side, allowing southbound traffic to get around vehicles turning left onto Gaar Jackson.
"To get the two-mile stretch of Gaar Jackson itself doesn't look good," Warner said. "We're just afraid we're going to run into cold weather. It's taken about four weeks to get this stretch of Round Barn done and another couple of weeks in there for Centerville.
"If we take four weeks, we're well into December and it's past the time that we can pave, so we just don't see it happening yet this year. We're thinking it will be in the spring for the long section of Gaar Jackson, but we'll have the two ends done at both intersections there."
Delaying part of the project also will allow Whitewater Valley REMC and Frontier Communications more time to move utilities out of the path of the soon-to-be wider road.
Warner said work on Gaar Jackson likely will begin in April and continue for a full two months.
Commissioner Ken Paust pointed out Blue Buffalo has indicated its new facility might not go into production until March or later. And even if the plant gets up and running before Gaar Jackson is finished, semis still will be able to reach the site using Industries Road.
When deciding whether to come to Richmond, Blue Buffalo asked for the improvements to Gaar Jackson Road to shorten the distance that semis traveling to and from its plant will have to go to reach Interstate 70.
While the road work continues, so too does a court case involving the county's use of eminent domain to take control of land needed for the widening of Gaar Jackson.
Earlier this year, county officials filed suit against the property owners of three parcels of land needed to expand the roadway.
A settlement eventually was reached in one of those cases as county officials agreed to pay Douglas Eliason $28,500 for a little more than half an acre of his property on the south side of Gaar Jackson Road on either side of the intersection with Eliason Road.
Still pending is the other court case, which involves two parcels of land owned by members of the Pentecost family.
Jeffrey Pentecost originally was offered $1,878 for a little more than a quarter acre as well as two small spots needed as temporary construction easements.
Robert and Corrine Pentecost were offered $7,145 for nearly an acre as well as five small temporary easements.
A trio of court-appointed appraisers assessed the value of the properties and determined Jeffrey Pentecost should be paid $2,100 while the value of the land owned by Robert and Corrine Pentecost was set at $6,200.
Last month, a judge ordered the county could take possession of the property after paying the amounts set by the appraisers, allowing the road project to proceed.
But the Pentecosts still had 45 days to object to the amount they'll be paid for their land, a move that came last week. In both cases, the filings ask that a jury be allowed to determine the amount to be paid to the Pentecosts.
A status conference has been set for Oct. 23 in Wayne County Circuit Court.
"That'll probably give us an idea of a schedule for the case," County Attorney Ron Cross said.
Jason Truitt is the team leader and senior reporter at the Palladium-Item. Contact him at (765) 973-4459 or jtruitt@pal-item.com.


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IRW 009 [EXPLICIT CONTENT] In this episode T & T vist the best moments of past Survior Series and take a look at the upcoming 2016 Survior Series featuring Goldberg and Brock Lesnar!
Featuring music from Can't Stop Won't Stop and J1K.
Download and use the Survior Series score card made by @WWEBloggerDiva!


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Qualcomm Accuses Apple of Stealing LTE Modem Trade Secrets and Giving Them to Intel [Updated]
Qualcomm has accused Apple of stealing confidential information and trade secrets, and passing them on to rival chipmaker Intel, according to a court document filed Monday and reported by several media outlets.
For background, Qualcomm agreed that Apple could have access to its source code and tools for LTE modems, but with limitations. Qualcomm believes that Apple proceeded to share the information with Intel to help improve its LTE modems, allowing Apple to stop using Qualcomm's modems in the latest iPhones.
Axios's Ina Fried shared an excerpt from Qualcomm's complaint:
Although discovery is ongoing, it is clear that Apple's conduct went far beyond simply breaching the contract originally sued on. Indeed, it is now apparent Apple engaged in a years-long campaign of false promises, stealth and subterfuge designed to steal Qualcomm's confidential information and trade secrets for the purpose of improving the performance of lower-quality modem chipsets, with the ultimate goal of eliminating Qualcomm's Apple-based business.
Qualcomm already sued Apple in November 2017 based on suspicions the iPhone maker was using the chipmaker's trade secrets in wrongful ways. Now, Qualcomm is more confident and direct about its accusation.
Don Rosenberg, General Counsel of Qualcomm, in a statement provided to MacRumors:
Once again Apple has flouted its contractual commitments and misappropriated Qualcomm's property rights in an effort to improve its performance and increase its profits.
The code, tools and design details of Qualcomm's modem technology which are the subjects of this litigation represent the genius and labors of our dedicated engineers. We have only the rule of law to protect them.
The lawsuit is scheduled to be heard in April 2019, but Qualcomm's proposed amendment could delay the trial, which is one of over a dozen lawsuits waged between the two companies. Apple initially sued Qualcomm in June 2017 for $1 billion in unpaid royalties, and later for patent infringement.
iFixit's teardown of the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max uncovered an Intel modem in both devices, a few months after Qualcomm said Apple was unlikely to use its own modems in the latest iPhones. Qualcomm was Apple's exclusive provider of modems until Intel was added as a second supplier for the iPhone 7 lineup.
Update: MacRumors has obtained a copy of Qualcomm's motion, embedded below.
Qualcomm Filing Accusing Ap… by on Scribd
Tags: lawsuit, Qualcomm
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I got a text from my sister that simply said, "I want you to know, I love you".
Most times, you can't decipher whether the person texting you is trying to be funny, serious, sarcastic, or buttering you up to ask for something. For some reason with this text, I sensed there had been true weight behind her words. I texted her back, "I love you too" and hoped the substance of my text would be felt, in turn, by her.
Thankfully, we have moved past calling each other buttface or hinting, not so subtly, that one of us was adopted and thereby loved just a little less by our parents (neither of us were) unless the situation demands such words. We have adult conversations. We have arguments. We laugh at the inside jokes the two of us have shared since we were kids. We hold tightly the bond, tempered by a lifetime, a brother and his sister have. So while the text came as a slight shock it was not unprompted. The other night, we lost a family member.
My cousin Michael died. He died without warning and now my family is in mourning. Unfortunately, I wasn't close to Michael. Not for reasons built on grudges or hard feelings but Michael was quite a bit older than I am. And like life has a tendency to do, our lives kept us busy and away from each other's company. Before you have time to blink, the days had turned in to years.
Regardless of how long it has been, in my family, coping with death becomes almost like a reunion. Family members ignore distance and keeping schedules to gather together. We show up and come in. We bypass knocking on the door because our hands are full with food and our arms are prepared to embrace whoever is closest to us. We grieve together.
So I went to Michael's sister's house. I needed to go, and more to the point, I wanted to go. So I could bring food and I could fill my arms with whoever was closest to me when I walked in to the house. I reached out to hug Michael's sister, my cousin, and could see the hurt in her face. I could feel the fracture in her heart.
Her brother, her best friend, was no longer with her. He would no longer be able to laugh at the inside jokes, still find it funny to play 'Got You Last' at the most inappropriate times. Michael wouldn't be there to push the sibling rivalry (that never goes away). My cousin no longer has one of her shoulders to cry on and one of the people she knew would be there to pick her up when life hit too hard.
So I grieved, even though I knew so little about my cousin Michael. I grieved his loss and I grieved for his sister because while I haven't experienced it, I understand what she is going through. Across her living room, standing amongst the rest of our family, was my sister. I could see in her, the trials and tribulations we have been through. I saw the good times, the bad, the great times, and the times we have yet to experience together. I looked across the living room and there is my best friend and the thought of not having her would devastate me.
My heart breaks for my cousin. There are no condolences or masterfully woven words I can offer to her other than "I'm so sorry". Because the words escape me at the moment so all I can do is offer a shoulder to cry on, to have the strength to help her up if she ever feels like she can't do it on her own, an inside joke to laugh at, to start a game of "Got You Last" in the middle of church if that is what she needs, and to do all the things which come from a brother to a sister.
Even when they are moments away from breaking in to a Jets vs Sharks showndown in the living room, I can see it in Emma's eyes. As they are in a tug of war over the Nintendo DS, Emma has that look. When they play house, or dolls, or school together, it is definitely there. When Emma is trying to beat Hannah in a foot race. That look every younger sibling has for their older sibling. Emma is three years Hannah's junior and tries every day to close that gap. She wants to do the same things Hannah does (and doesn't understand why she can't). When Hannah isn't home, Emma is lost. When Hannah has friends over, Emma can be spotted not far behind, tagging along. I see that look Emma has in her eyes when Hannah is reading her a book or "teaching" her math. I can see it in her eyes because I have the same look at my sister.
I'm three years junior to my sister. From the moment I got that look in my eye, I have worked to close that gap. I have been the tag along. I have been lost when my big sister wasn't around. I have voluntarily been my sister's very own crash test dummy.
My big sister showed me how to go up the steps and then told on me for going up the steps. She taught me how to ride a bike (by taking off my training wheels and shoving me in the back down the sidewalk). I helped her win a bet by swallowing a worm (I don't remember sharing in the winnings). I played Barbie dolls when I wanted to play G.I. Joes and Transformers. I played doctor (actually I played the patient) and took my medicine, which was Scope…that I had to swallow or else get punched. I got in slap fights with her and lost. Making both of us laugh got both of us in trouble at the dinner table. It wasn't until I was a teenager did I truly believe I wasn't adopted like my sister told me I was. According to my sister, second child is just first loser. And I was lost when she wasn't around.
My big sister saved me from social embarrassment by keeping me updated on what was "cool" and what was not (everything in my closet apparently). She helped me when I didn't know what to do or say to an angry high school girlfriend. She took me back and forth from college (and always gave me $20 when she did). She was the one who told me our father would be going in to rehab (and who I held after finding out until my arms were weak). She has bought birthday, anniversary, and Christmas presents for people and put both our names on them for years. She was the first one I grabbed after our father died and held her again until my arms were weak and my eyes couldn't cry anymore. She was the one who told me it was now my turn to be the "man" of our family and she would be there to make sure I do it right. She has given me a niece (and goddaughter) and nephew that I hold as close to me as my own kids. She is the first one I call when I need an answer to anything (and she answers at anytime, day or night). She calls on snowy days to make sure I got to work safely. She is the one that I would give life and limb for. She is the one, if she asked, I would eat another worm for. And I would be lost if she wouldn't be around.
So when Emma is punching, pushing, or yelling, or crying to Hannah, I want to tell her I understand (right after I punish her for punching, pushing, yelling, or crying to Hannah). I want to tell her that it will get better. That at some point you won't be a tag along. You won't have to eat too many worms (but won't mind so long as she gets to win a bet), you'll be thankful she took your training wheels off and pushed you down the sidewalk (and no…you were not adopted). I want to tell Emma that it is all apart of growing up as the younger sibling. Like a rite of passage or a Fraternity Hell Week that goes on for most of your young life. But I want to tell her that it is all worth it because when you need $20, or a car ride back to school, or advice, or someone to lean on, or someone to hold on to when you are scared or hurt or lost until your arms are weak, or when you need a best friend, just like me, she'll have her big sister.


text:
Three French Police Injured After Attack By "Allahu Akbar' Yelling Man
GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT/AFP via Getty Images
Chris Tomlinson
Three police officers in the northern French commune of Valenciennes were injured after being attacked by a man who was shouting "Allahu Akbar" on Monday afternoon.
The man was spotted on the streets of the commune in the afternoon by witnesses who called the police after the man, who was driving a vehicle at the time along the Quai des Mines, was heard shouting "Allahu Akbar!" and "Allah is here, you will die!"
When police arrived on the scene they were able to quickly identify the driver who got out of his car and immediately assaulted the three officers with his car keys, hitting the officers in the face with them, Actu17 reports.
A knifeman who shouted "Allahu Akbar… France is ruled by the Islamic State" was shot by police in Paris on Monday evening https://t.co/rIpCbgKNyv
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) November 2, 2021
Police were able to subdue and arrest the 36-year-old but all three officers, two female police and a male officer, were taken to the hospital to deal with the injuries they had sustained in the attack.
The three received Total Incapacity for Work (ITT) certificates lasting from between two and five days. The 36-year-old, meanwhile, is said to be already known to the police and was ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation.
The incident is just the latest involving a man yelling "Allahu Akbar" and attacking French police or random members of the public in recent months.
In October, a 31-year-old man was arrested in Nice after witnesses saw him strangling a 40-year-old woman in the street while yelling "Allahu Akbar." Sources claimed that the arrested man could only speak Arabic but had no weapons on his persona at the time of the arrest.
Multicultural Europe Swept by Week of Migrant Violence and 'Allahu Akbar' Attacks https://t.co/AUNmFQjGvj
Just weeks later in November, a knifeman yelling "Allahu akbar" was shot at a train station in Paris after threatening four railway security officers with his weapon. the man had become confrontational with security officers when he refused to wear a facemask.
He is said to have pulled out a knife and yelled "Allahu Akbar!" and "France is ruled by the Islamic State" at the officials.
Follow Chris Tomlinson on Twitter at @TomlinsonCJ or email at ctomlinson(at)breitbart.com
Law and OrderLondon / Europeallahu akbaranti-policeanti-police violenceassaultFranceFrench policeValenciennes


From my island home of Stronsay I create traditionally made, cold-processed soaps, using natural, local ingredients where possible. My soaps are made to my own specific recipes. They help care for your skin, are long-lasting and I like to think each bar contains a bit of island magic. Making new and unique designs and scents is one of the things I love about soap-making. My soaps are all passed by chartered chemist Scott Grainger, as required by EU law. I am a member of the Guild of Craft Soap & Toiletry Makers.
I also love spinning and work primarily with the rare breed seaweed-eating North Ronaldsay sheep fleeces. From the spinning comes yarn and from that hand-dyeing, weaving, felting, knitting. I make wall hangings, bags, scarves, rugs – some practical, some whimsical. Each piece is unique and created much like a work of art.


Is there any culinary use for corn silk, besides composting? Are there any non-culinary uses for it?
Intriguing question. I never gave corn silk much thought but your post caused me to do a search for "recipes using corn silk" and I came up with this list of different choices. Might give you something to peruse. It certainly educated me in something I usually just toss into the compost heap.
It never even occurred to me to google it! "Recipes with corn silk" is like one of those phrases that you put into a search engine for that game that was popular a few years ago, to see if you'd get any hits. If you didn't get any, you won.


text:
Firefighters respond to chemical exposure
Published 9:54 pm Monday, October 11, 2021
City of Suffolk photo
Suffolk Fire & Rescue responded to a chemical exposure of a worker late Monday morning at the 100 block of QVC Drive.
Emergency Communications was contacted at 11 a.m., and the first unit arrived on scene at 11:09 a.m.
Engine 3, Ladder 3, and Medic 3 arrived to find a single patient complaining of difficulty breathing from an inhalation chemical exposure. The patient was unloading a container in the off loading dock when the exposure occurred. The patient was evaluated, treated and transported to a local hospital by Suffolk Fire & Rescue medics.
The container, still located in the off loading dock, was moved and isolated by the building's staff and Rescue 1 and Ladder 3's crew performed investigation, air monitoring and product identification in the container. Virginia Department of Emergency Management was contacted, and the Hazardous Materials Officer responded to the scene. The fire department was working with property management to isolate the chemical that was in the container and the contents.
The incident remains under investigation by the Suffolk Fire Department.
Responding units included Battalion 1, Engine 3, Ladder 3, Medic 3, Rescue 1, EMS-1, Safety 1, Car 1, VDEM HMO.
Crowds soak in Peanut Fest return


In 2015, Google introduced Google Educator certifications, giving classroom teachers an opportunity to be recognized by Google for their ability to implement Google for Education tools in the classroom. Many educators quickly started working through the training modules and obtaining Google Certified Educator status.
Other educators, like me, put off the the certifications saying things like "I know that I know it, so why take the tests?" or "I don't have time do mess with that". For a while I was in the latter group. However, after seeing so many of my colleagues and friends from other districts take the assessments and earn Google certifications, I dedicated a few days to working through Google's training modules and taking the Level 1 and Level 2 assessments. Now I'm glad that I invested time into the Google certification exams. Here are 5 reasons why YOU should work towards Google Educator certifications, too.
1. Google Certification gives teachers confidence in their abilities.
Over the years I've worked with hundreds of teachers on meaningfully integrating Google for Education tools and other technology into their classroom. One of the most common things teachers have told me about their reluctance to integrate technology into their classes is a lack of confidence in their abilities. Working through the Google training modules and passing the Level 1 exam gives educators confidence to implement new tools into their classrooms. Once teachers have the confidence to implement Google tools in their classroom, the sky truly is the limit for student collaboration and content creation.
2. OMG! Google can do that!!??!!
Google is known for regularly rolling out updates and improvements to their suite of products. With all of these updates, sometimes even the most Google-savvy teachers can learn something new from working through the training modules. As Jen Walter, a middle school Science teacher in my district, was working through the training modules she was surprised how many new skills, tips, and tricks she was able to learn, even though she had been implementing Google tools in her classroom for a few years.
3. Google certification can open the door for new opportunities.
5 years ago I decided that I wanted to start looking for a job in educational technology. At that time, Google for Education hadn't quite taken over classrooms with Chromebooks and GSuite for EDU accounts; it was rare to see schools issue Google accounts to all their students, so I wasn't advised to work to achieve Google certification. Now, though, whenever teachers ask me about getting into an edtech role, I suggest that they do as much learning as possible and as much PD as possible. Google certification goes hand in hand with both of those. Having Google certification on your resume can help get selected to present at conferences, lead building-wide PD, and even help get a tech coaching job!
4. Google certification gives teachers the skills to empower their colleagues.
For the past 6 years I have been leading PD around technology and innovation in my district and around the Midwest. One thing I have learned is that if you know what you are doing (or look like you know what you are doing), people will ask for help. Becoming a Google Certified Educator helps teachers learn the skills they need to empower their colleagues. After taking the Google Level 1 and Level 2 exams, Jen Walter said, " I like that I have been able to be helpful to my staff and co-workers. Now I feel more confident offering advice and troubleshooting assistance. "
5. Google educator certification is the first step to becoming a Certified Trainer or Innovator.
Many educators I talk to want to become a Google Certified Innovator and/or a Google for Educator Certified Trainer. The first step to either of those certifications is to pass the Google Educator Level 1 and Level 2 exams. These certifications show Google that an applicant knows their stuff and are great practice for the exams and applications for Certified Innovator and Certified Trainer.
What other benefits come along with being a Google Certified Educator? Sound off in the comments below and be on the lookout for an upcoming post where I share MY journey to become a Google for Education Certified Trainer!


text:
include_recipe 'dpkg_autostart'
include_recipe 'bcpc-hadoop::hadoop_config'
node[:bcpc][:hadoop][:mounts].each do |i|
  directory "/disk/#{i}/yarn/local" do
    owner "yarn"
    group "yarn"
    mode 0755
    action :create
    recursive true
  end

  directory "/disk/#{i}/yarn/logs" do
    owner "yarn"
    group "yarn"
    mode 0755
    action :create
    recursive true
  end
end

["", "done", "done_intermediate"].each do |dir|
  bash "create-hdfs-history-dir #{dir}" do
    code "hadoop fs -mkdir /user/history/#{dir} && hadoop fs -chmod 1777 /user/history/#{dir} && hadoop fs -chown yarn:mapred /user/history/#{dir}"
    user "hdfs"
    not_if "sudo -u hdfs hadoop fs -test -d /user/history/#{dir}"
  end
end

bash "create-hdfs-yarn-log" do
  code "hadoop fs -mkdir -p /var/log/hadoop-yarn && hadoop fs -chmod 1777 /var/log/hadoop-yarn && hadoop fs -chown yarn:mapred /var/log/hadoosp-yarn"
  user "hdfs"
  not_if "sudo -u hdfs hadoop fs -test -d /var/log/hadoop-yarn"
end

%w{hadoop-yarn-resourcemanager hadoop-client hadoop-mapreduce}.each do |pkg|
  dpkg_autostart pkg do
    allow false
  end
  package pkg do
    action :upgrade
  end
end

template "/etc/hadoop/conf/yarn-env.sh" do
  source "hdp_yarn-env.sh.erb"
  mode 0655
end

template "/etc/init.d/hadoop-yarn-resourcemanager" do
  source "hdp_hadoop-yarn-resourcemanager-initd.erb"
  mode 0655
end

bash "setup-mapreduce-app" do
  code <<-EOH
  hdfs dfs -mkdir -p /hdp/apps/2.2.0.0-2041/mapreduce/
  hdfs dfs -put /usr/hdp/2.2.0.0-2041/hadoop/mapreduce.tar.gz /hdp/apps/2.2.0.0-2041/mapreduce/
  hdfs dfs -chown -R hdfs:hadoop /hdp
  hdfs dfs -chmod -R 555 /hdp/apps/2.2.0.0-2041/mapreduce
  hdfs dfs -chmod -R 444 /hdp/apps/2.2.0.0-2041/mapreduce/mapreduce.tar.gz
  EOH
  user "hdfs"
  not_if "sudo -u hdfs hdfs dfs -test -f /hdp/apps/2.2.0.0-2041/mapreduce/mapreduce.tar.gz"
  only_if "echo 'test'|sudo -u hdfs hdfs dfs -copyFromLocal - /tmp/mapred-test"
  notifies :run,"bash[delete-temp-file]",:immediately
end

bash "delete-temp-file" do
  code <<-EOH
  hdfs dfs -rm /tmp/mapred-test
  EOH
  user "hdfs"
  action :nothing
end

service "hadoop-yarn-resourcemanager" do
  action [:enable, :start]
  supports :status => true, :restart => true, :reload => false
  subscribes :restart, "template[/etc/hadoop/conf/hadoop-env.sh]", :delayed
  subscribes :restart, "template[/etc/hadoop/conf/yarn-site.xml]", :delayed
end

bash "reload mapreduce nodes" do
  code "yarn rmadmin -refreshNodes"
  user "mapred"
  action :nothing
  subscribes :run, "template[/etc/hadoop/conf/yarn.exclude]", :delayed
end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Left behind by the HIV response
English (ENG) and French (FR) versions available to download
ENG-HIV-MSFKinshasa-Report-2017
FR-HIV-MSFKinshasa-Report-2017
Photograph by Guillaume Binet/MYOP
Advanced HIV in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Free care, adapted to patient needs, is essential for survival.
HIV prevalence in the Democractic Republic of Congo (DRC) is estimated to be 1.2%, yet access to HIV testing (50%) and ART coverage (38%) are also among the lowest in West and Central Africa region (PNLS 2016 figures). Consequently, MSF staff treat many patients with advanced HIV or AIDS at MSF's Centre hospitalier de Kabinda (CHK), where MSF provides the only free, high quality specialised hospital care for advanced HIV in Kinshasa. Due to a host of structural and community barriers, people living with HIV only seek care when they are very ill, and mortality rates remain very high.
The Left behind by the HIV response report presents MSF's clinical experience and epidemiological data from treating advanced HIV at CHK and other supported health facilities, along with recommendations for minimum diagnostic and therapeutic packages for advanced HIV at primary, referral and hospital levels, and costings for hospitalisation. The report calls for the funding and implementation of a referral system and free outpatient care and hospitalisation for advanced HIV in Kinshasa. The report also draws on the available literature and includes testimonies from patients who received hospital care in MSF's Kinshasa HIV project and healthcare professionals specialized in the treatment of advanced HIV.
This report comprises a joint contribution by our multi-disciplinary team and is intended for use by authorities in public hospitals, health care professionals, medical decision makers in the DRC's Ministry of Health and its partners, political decision makers and the country's major donors (the Global Fund, PEPFAR and USAID).
Effective and efficient supply systems are essential for a successful HIV response. Yet at the health facility level, MSF staff in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) witness regular stock outs and shortages of drugs and commodities for HIV and TB. For patients, this can cause viral resistance and greatly reduce chances of survival.
In 2016, in Kinshasa, a survey was conducted by MSF, the Ministry of Health and two civil society organisations of stock outs of HIV tests, first and second-line antiretrovirals and drugs for treating opportunistic infections among 94 public facilities, 33 zonal and 2 central warehouses in Kinshasa. The survey comprised face-to-face interviews with facility managers, using standardized questionnaires, followed by physical verification of stocks conducted from October to December 2016 by trained investigators.
The findings of the survey showed that on the day of the visit, 50% of visited public facilities had a stock-out of at least one ARV, 45% for at least one paediatric ARV and 38% for at least one adult ARV. The average ARV stock-outs lasted two months for 70% of the visited public facilities and for one third of the stock outs, patients left the health facilities with no treatment. One in two patients receiving second-line ARVs in the visited healthcare facilities had been affected by stock-outs. This survey also revealed that 13% of health structures had experienced a stock-out of HIV tests. All these commodities were in fact available at the central warehouse, and in 44% of cases, available in the health zone.
This survey report is available in French-only: Etat des lieux sur la disponibilité des intrants essentiels pour la lutte contre le SIDA à Kinshas


The statistic shows the youth unemployment rate in Tanzania from 2007 and 2017. According to the source, the data are ILO estimates. In 2017, the estimated youth unemployment rate in Tanzania was at 3.9 percent.


It's not often that a local road race draws a women's field as deep as Sunday's sixth annual 5K Turkey Run: Maureen Hall, Maria Pazarentzos, Marge Rosasco, Eleanor Simonsick . . .
"And Gina Porcaccio. I ran against her when she ran for Villanova," former University of Maryland runner Rosalind Taylor said shortly after she had crossed the finish line first in 16 minutes, 21 seconds -- 27 seconds ahead of Porcaccio.
"I needed to run a fast 5K," Taylor, 23, said. "I didn't know the field would be this deep."
Porcaccio, who lives in northern Virginia, and Taylor, who lives in Lanham, joined Pazarentzos (Hagerstown), Rosasco (Fallston) and Baltimoreans Simonsick and Hall for the annual run through Lutherville-Timonium. Taylor won a gift certificate for $200 from Pro-Am Sportswear, as did men's winner Dave Berardi (15:12).
"This is my first good race this season," Taylor said. "I haven't been having very good luck on the roads."
She made up for that Sunday in a race that she had won in 1989 in the same time. Taylor, a 1989 Maryland graduate who ran track and cross country for the Terrapins, is preparing for The Athletics Congress cross country championships in New York in two weeks.
Some will remember Taylor as the last winner of the 10K Human Race, part of the Maryland Marathon Festival in 1989.
Males: 1. Dave Berardi, 30, 15:12; 2. Rowland Bedell, 22, 15:28; 3. Ken Fowler, 34, 15:32; 4. Mike Sterling, 29, 15:35; 5. Jesse Smith, 26, 15:35; 6. Mark Anderson, 24, 15:38; 7. Doug Moyer, 31, 15:41; 8. Jack Peach, 25, 15:48; 9. John Stein, 23, 15:51; 10. Brad Uhlfelder, 29, 15:33. Masters: 1. Lou Chesla, 43, NA.
Females: 1. Rosalind Taylor, 23, Lanham, 16:21; 2. Gina Porcaccio, 26, 16:48; 3. Maria Pazarentzos, 28, 16:57; 4. Eleanor Simonsick, 32, 17:41; 5. Maureen Hall, 25, 18:05; 6. Marge Rosasco, 42, 18:14; 7. Pat Keeney-Ryan, 29, 18:31; 8. Carol Zimmerman, 31, 19:02; 9. Donna Lewis, 35, 19:53; 10. Sharon Heidel, 40, 20:17. Masters: 1. Rosasco.
Take it to the limit: The Flight Against Cystic Fibrosis Stair Climb -- a walk or run 27 floors to the top of 6 St. Paul Centre -- will be held Dec. 6 at 5 p.m. Individuals, corporate teams of five and relay teams of three are eligible to compete. The minimum tax HTC deductible registration is $35 per person; participants are encouraged to obtain sponsors to raise additional money. Volunteers are needed. For information or to volunteer, call Lora Gann at 771-9000.
SATURDAY WRRC Otterdale Mill 5-Mile Run At Taneytown Males: 1. Jack Weller, 35, 27:05; 2. Roger Kilgore, 47, 31:00; 3. Bob Leatherman, 38, 31:25; 4. Doug Ruffner, 31, 31:39; 5. Stuart Tarleton, 30, 32:32. Masters: 1. Kilgore.
Females: 1. Liuda Galinaitis, 33, 43:23.
York White Rose Run (5 miles) At York Males: 1. Joe LeMay, 23, State College, Pa., 23:17; 2. Steve Brown, 23, 23:37; 3. Brian Ferrari, 30, 24:13; 4. John Doub, 33, 24:23; 5. Jim Van Blunk, 31, 24:37.
Females: 1. Elaine Van Blunk, 26, 26:40; 2. Kathy Franey, 22, 26:46; 3. Barbara Swan, 30, 26:48; 4. Kirsten Harteis, 24, 29:56; 5. Ruth Reimenschneider,33, 30:01.
Saturday, BRRC A Place for Your Pace, Ashland recreational trail, 8 a.m., 566-RUN2.
Saturday, JFK 50-Miler, Boonsboro, (301) 790-3958.
Saturday, Sri Chinmoy 2-mile fun run, Patterson Park, 8 a.m., 467-3223.
Saturday, Tri-Maryland No Frills Biathlon (3 run, 18 bike, 2 run), Baltimore County, 10 a.m., 882-6103.
Sunday, Dundalk Community College 10K, Dundalk CC, 8 a.m., 494-8649.
Sunday, HCS Fall Series, Thunder Hill Elementary School, 2 p.m., 596-3173.
Sunday, MADD Red-Ribbon Classic 8K, Rockville, 9 a.m., (703) 264-0439.
Sunday, 10-Mile Turkey Trot, Millersville, Pa., 1 p.m.
Nov. 22, RASAC Turkey Trot, White Marsh Mall, 9 a.m., 529-1047.
Nov. 22, Turkey Trot 10K Prediction Run, Jeffers Hill Neighborhood Center, 9 a.m., 730-4499.
Nov. 24, BRRC North Central Trails Marathon, Sparks Elementary School, 9:30 a.m., 494-8649.
Nov. 24, MCRRC Turkey Burnoff, 2, 5, 10M, Gaithersburg, 11 a.m., 353-0200.
Nov. 25, Annapolis Striders' Cold Turkey 20K Run, South River High School, 10 a.m., 268-1165.
Nov. 25, Westminster Team Biathlon, Westminster, 2 p.m., 848-0904.
Dec. 1, Sri Chinmoy 2-mile fun run, Patterson Park, 8 a.m., 467-3223.
Dec. 2, HCS Metric Marathon, Columbia, 8 a.m., 381-6385.
Dec. 2, BRRC Cross Country, 6 miles, Herring Run, 9 a.m., 566-7862.
Dec. 2, Jingle Bell Run for Arthritis 8K, Candy Cane walk for children, Silver Bell walk for adults, Hunt Valley Mall, 8:30 a.m., 494-8649.
Dec. 2, RASAC Charity Run 5K, Harford Mall, 9 a.m., 877-0539.
Dec. 2, Jingle Bell Run 10K, Leesport, Pa., 10 a.m., (215) 375-4383.
Dec. 2, California International Marathon, Sacramento, Calif., (916) 933-4913.
Dec. 6, Flight Against Cystic Fibrosis Stair Climb, 6 St. Paul Centre, 5 p.m., 771-9000.
Dec. 9, WRRC Frozen Finger 4-Mile Run, Westminster, noon, 848-8332.
Dec. 9, RASAS Harmony Half-Marathon, Harmony, 9 a.m., 638-0324.
Dec. 9, HCS Fall Series, Thunder Hill Elementary School, 2 p.m., 596-3173.


Escape to a tropical island paradise! Every day will start and finish with incredible sweeping views of the ocean. Surrounded by coconut palms and vibrant Fijian greenery, you'll feel a million miles away, without a care in the world!
Does packing make you stressed? With us it won't! Fit everything you need in, our return flights include checked luggage per guest.
Start your days with a full stomach, ready to take on the world! The chefs at Fiji Hideaway Resort & Spa cater for all tastes with their truly astounding buffet breakfast feast in the main dining restaurant. No one morning is the same with something new and fresh to try each day!
Let us spoil you this holiday with a free room upgrade! Live like a VIP and enjoy a little extra with us. Spread out more and take in incredible ocean views. How good is that?
The last thing you want to do on your holiday is stress about how you're going to get to and from the airport. Enjoy vehicle return airport transfers and VIP concierge on us so that you start and end your holiday in the same way—at total ease, completely relaxed.
Do you struggle to pick just one meal to eat? Completely indulge and try it all! This exclusive bonus will have you sampling fresh produce and a variety of international creations during one glorious feast for two. Treat your tastebuds to a memorable experience on us!
Enter the world of the Aqua Lava Rocks spa. This traditional Fijian sauna-spa is unique to Fiji Hideaway and is manned by a team of specialised therapists. Sit back, relax and put your feet up—holidays are a time to be pampered and spoiled so, go on, give it a go!
Get into the holiday spirit immediately! We want you to completely relax and make the most of your holiday by starting it straight away—with a drink in hand, that won't be hard!
Is scuba diving on your bucket list? Book this deal and enjoy an introduction to scuba diving in the resorts swimming pool with experienced PADI-certified divers.
We know how much Aussies love a good cocktail! Hang out at Coco Bar for the General Managers cocktail party and sip away while enjoying the views over the beach.
Be entertained as the sun sets with evening entertainment! Enjoy happy hour at the bar, musical performances, activities, traditional Fijian ceremonies & heaps more every night of your stay!
Taking the family on holidays doesn't have to be expensive. With this exclusive package kids 4 – 12 years play free at the Hermit Crab Kids Club and 1-12 years eat free at Chiefs Restaurant!
Nestled in amongst swaying palm trees, Oceanview Bures offer comfort steeped in tradition. Step inside the bure to find a spacious layout featuring a Queen and a Single bed, an indoor bathroom with hairdryer, a minibar, tea/coffee facilities, air-conditioning and complimentary toiletries. The front decks of the bures are just steps from the beach and feature a peaceful sitting area that looks out over the ocean. There is also a unique private outdoor shower to really make the most of your environment!
Nestled in the carefully tended tropical garden, the Frangipani Bures offer comfort steeped in tradition. Step inside the bure to find a spacious layout featuring a queen and a single bed, indoor bathroom with hairdryer, a fridge, tea/coffee facilities, air conditioning and complimentary toiletries. The front decks of the bures are just steps from the beach and feature a peaceful sitting area. There is also a unique private outdoor shower!
Slip easily into island-life when you stay at the Fiji Hideaway Resort & Spa. Perfectly poised on the beachfront of Fiji's stunning Coral Coast, this sprawling resort features traditional thatched roofs, rooms and suites that face the ocean and palms swaying in the breeze. Take a deep breath, relax and indulge your mind, body and soul. Vibrant corals are just steps away, there are luxury facilities at every turn and warm, welcoming Fijian staff will take care of your every need!
The bures and villas at the Fijian Hideaway Resort & Spa epitomise what it means to escape on a tropical retreat. Facing the ocean and just steps away from the white sandy beach, you'll be instantly whisked away to the land of island dreams! Enjoy the cool that comes from being surrounded by lush tropical gardens and rest easy on lavish beds. There are balconies, unique outdoor bathrooms, air-conditioning, ceiling fans and more!
When the lapping waves call you from your slumber there's plenty to do and see around the resort. Unwind in the Day Spa, complete with reflection pool and lava rock sauna, or soak up the sun by the pool with a cocktail in hand. There are tennis courts to try out, a gym and a kids club, plus guests can go snorkelling with ease, just by walking off the shore! Learn to dive with the skilled PADI team on-site, take a tour to ride Fiji's famous surf breaks and enjoy incredible meals, drinks and entertainment at the resort's multiple restaurants and bars.
If I want to travel on a particular date but am not ready to provide full payment yet, can the booking be held for me until I am ready to pay in full?
Unfortunately, due to limited availability and high demand for these exclusive packages, we are unable to hold any bookings without payment.
What is included in the deal?
All inclusions and exclusive bonuses for the deal can be located under 'The deal' tab.
How many people can sleep in a room?
All room types generally cater for up to 2 adults. Extra beds may be available on request*.
*Fees, terms & conditions apply, please refer to resort information.
How do I make a booking once I have purchased a Escapes Guru voucher?
Customers will need to contact the Escapes Guru team. When you contact us to make your booking, we will endeavor to book and confirm all components of your package within 72 hours of receiving your booking details. Should we not be able to confirm any component, we will contact you with an alternative within 72 hours. For further details regarding the booking process please refer to our full Terms & Conditions (use the link at the bottom of this page).
Can I cancel or make changes to my booking?
Should you need to cancel for any reason once full payment is made, subject to clause 4 in the Terms & Conditions, you will not be entitled to any refund, including any extra purchases. Fees will apply should any amendments be required after booking your voucher (minimum fee of $100 per person). In addition to the amendment fees, any supplier terms and conditions will be applied. For full details regarding cancellation or amendments, please refer to our Terms & Conditions (use the link at the bottom of this page).
Can I purchase travel insurance through Escapes Guru?
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Identifying Sibling Influence on Teenage Substance Use
Joseph G. Altonji, Sarah Cattan, Iain Ware
Issued in October 2010
NBER Program(s):Program on Children, Health Economics Program, Labor Studies Program
A number of studies have found substantial correlations in risky behavior between siblings, raising the possibility that adolescents may directly influence the actions of their brothers or sisters. We assess the extent to which correlations in substance use and selling drugs are due to causal effects. Our identification strategy relies on panel data, the fact that the future does not cause the past, and the assumption that the direction of influence is from older siblings to younger siblings. Under this assumption along with other restrictions on dynamics, one can identify the causal effect from a regression of the behavior of the younger sibling on the past behavior and the future behavior of the older sibling. We also estimate a joint dynamic model of the behavior of older and younger siblings that allows for family specific effects, individual specific heterogeneity, and state dependence. We use the model to simulate the dynamic response of substance use to the behavior of the older sibling. Our results suggest that smoking, drinking, and marijuana use are affected by the example of older siblings, but most of the link between siblings arises from common influences.
(2201 K)
Published: Joseph G. Altonji & Sarah Cattan & Iain Ware, 2017. "Identifying Sibling Influence on Teenage Substance Use," Journal of Human Resources, vol 52(1), pages 1-47.
Altonji, Huang, and Taber w16579 Estimating the Cream Skimming Effect of School Choice
Blattberg and Broderick Marketing of Art Museums
Baye, De los Santos, and Wildenbeest Searching for Physical and Digital Media: The Evolution of Platforms for Finding Books
Hause Ability and Schooling as Determinants of Lifetime Earnings, or If You're So Smart, Why Aren't You Rich?
Poterba, Rauh, Venti, and Wise Lifecycle Asset Allocation Strategies and the Distribution of 401(k) Retirement Wealth


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UDD protesters fill the central commercial area of Bangkok. (AP/David Longstreath)
Dangers to reporters in Thailand creep closer
By Shawn W. Crispin/CPJ Southeast Asia Representative on May 13, 2010 4:46 PM EDT
New York Times reporter Thomas Fuller was literally in the line of fire on Thursday when a dissident Thai soldier he was interviewing was shot in the head and severely wounded mid-conversation.
Maj. Gen. Khattiya Sawatdiphol heads a paramilitary wing of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) anti-government protest group that has occupied different parts of the national capital for the past two months. According to the New York Times report, Fuller was standing just a couple feet away from Khattiya when he heard a "loud bang" and the fatigue-wearing soldier fell to the ground.
Government officials had earlier branded Khattiya as a "terrorist" for his alleged role in recent protest-related violence. Fuller's eyewitness account of the shooting underscores the rising risks reporters face in covering Thailand's escalating political conflict, which has resulted in some 26 deaths and over 900 injuries since the current round of street protests began on March 12.
A week ago, Fuller and I shared drinks to discuss politics and the deteriorating security situation journalists now face as Bangkok has morphed into an armed conflict zone. Fuller told me that he and his local news assistant had ducked behind a cement barrier when soldiers and protesters started to exchange gunfire and grenades exploded in the early evening of April 10.
They emerged unharmed from that night's firefight, but Reuters cameraman Hiro Muramoto was killed by a bullet fired from a high velocity rifle. CPJ is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding his death, which both the government and UDD have blamed on each other. Both Fuller and Muramoto had reported from other conflict zones, but the unpredictable nature of Thailand's armed and dangerous street fight is putting even the most seasoned reporters in high-risk situations.
Many freelance reporters and photographers, who contribute to a wide range of international publications and are often present at the UDD's crudely barricaded protest site, lack the training and equipment needed to mitigate risks to their security.
The Thai government has attempted to block people from entering the square-mile protest area, while the UDD requires that reporters show press credentials to enter the site's main stage. But until both sides make a stronger commitment to protecting reporters, and as the conflict appears to enter a dangerous new phase, more journalist casualties and injuries seem inevitable.
CPJ Senior Southeast Asia Representative Shawn W. Crispin is based in Bangkok, Thailand, where he has worked as a journalist and editor for more than 15 years. He has led CPJ missions throughout the region and is the author of several CPJ special reports.
UDD


IMPACT: In theory, 751 million acres of degraded land in the tropics could be restored to continuous, intact forest. Using current and estimated commitments from the Bonn Challenge and New York Declaration on Forests, our model assumes that restoration could occur on 435 million acres. Through natural regrowth, committed land could sequester 1.4 tons of carbon dioxide per acre annually, for a total of 61.2 gigatons of carbon dioxide by 2050. Only carbon stored in soil organic matter and aboveground biomass is accounted for; below-ground biomass is not included (Drawdown, 2018).


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Congressman Louie Gohmert calls for investigation into possible Charlottesville false flag
Virginia Democrats "facilitated the violence" in Charlottesville
Editors Note: This article in no way implies that Heather Heyer was not killed after she was mowed down by a white supremacist. Rather, it is about the known facts that point to elected officials allowing the original confrontations that lead to her horrific death to happen in the first place.
(INTELLIHUB) — In a stunning series of events, Congressman Louie Gohmert has called for a Department of Justice investigation into Governor Terry McAuliffe and Charlottesville Mayor Michael Signer amid mounting evidence that police were told to stand down while protesters from both sides violently attacked each other.
Appearing on Fox News Channel's "Fox & Friends Weekend," Gohmert cited numerous shady circumstances surrounding the day as reason why an actual investigation is needed.
"The way forwards not gonna be easy. And I think the Justice Department needs a full investigation of the governor, of the mayor. They said in court there would be violence at Charlottesville, and then the witnesses and the photographs show they herded these groups to create violence so they could brag," Gohmert declared.
The Congressman also took aim at Unite the Right march organizer Jason Kessler and his extremely suspicious background.
"We need a Justice Department investigation into Kessler. You don't just go all of a sudden from having multiracial roommates and a Jewish girlfriend to all of a sudden being a white supremacist that wants to join the Republican party. There's something very, very wrong in all of this."
He added, "Like they were with the violence at Trump events they may have been behind this violence getting started. They facilitated it, anyway."
Amazingly, Gohmert's claims directly line up with numerous reports in the alternative media that paint a picture of a classic deep state run operation of divide and conquer.
Shortly after the car attack, former intelligence operative and world-renowned expert in psychological warfare, Dr. Steve Pieczenik, went on the record with his belief that this was a pre-planned, staged confrontation carried out by the deep state.
Pieczenik took aim at Richard Spender and Charlottesville Mayer Michael Signer among others, noting that, "There is no question that each man was working for some federal agency [CIA, FBI], coordinating their activities with their respective political parties [Rep./Dems.], always maintaining hidden agendas writ in covert languages."
Additionally, numerous parties have already confirmed that their was indeed a stand down order given to police. In fact, as the Free Thought Project recently noted, the ACLU themselves confirmed it.
"The events that unfolded in Charlottesville, Virginia this Saturday were tragic, hateful, insidious and even deadly. Saturday will go down in history as the day America's hate reared its ugly face and proved to the world that this country is being divided — to be conquered. Adding fuel to the fire of hatred and violence were politicians who told police not to intervene and allowed the unchecked carnage to unfold before their eyes," wrote Matt Agorist.
"The stand down was confirmed by the ACLU who quoted a police source saying, "We'll not intervene until given command to do so."
Clash between protesters and counter protesters. Police says "We'll not intervene until given command to do so." #Charlottesville pic.twitter.com/UkRDlNn2mv
— ACLU of Virginia (@ACLUVA) August 12, 2017
On top of this, the life story of the organizer of the white supremacist rally, Jason Kessler, reads like one straight from a cointelpro deep state handbook.
Again the Free Thought Project noted, "The organizer of the massively Pro-Trump 'Unite the Right' march on Saturday in Charlottesville, Jason Kessler reportedly happened to also be an Obama supporter in the days of Occupy — and as recently as 2016. According to an archived post from his blog, he also has no problem openly bragging about being a professional provocateur."
The above facts are only a small portion of the information that has come out about Charlottesville which all point to the entire day being a deep state run false flag with the goal of allowing two extremist sides to fight it out with the hopes that something terrible would happen.
Goal achieved.
Featured Image: YouTube screenshot
Alex Thomas is an opinion journalist and editor for Intellihub News. He was a founding member of what later became Intellihub.com and an integral part of the team that destroyed the mainstream media blockade of Bilderberg in 2012. You can contact him here.
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My job here at SMASH is to help you Save Money And Stay Home with your kids. Frames for photos of your cute Kids can be big $$$. What I do to save on frames is buy Goodwill or second hand framed art and take out the old ugly art and replace it with photos and art I love.


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by DigitalGumballs | September 16, 2012 · 8:42 am
Seriously, How Unimportant Is Sound in Handheld Games?
I've been playing my shiny new 3DS (well, it's new to me) long enough to determine that, at its heart, it's really just a better DS. It's not trying to reinvent the wheel; Nintendo just stuck with what worked, and gave it better graphics, a simply terrific analog stick, and some 3D-ness. One thing in particular I had hoped they would improve, however, is the audio. The speakers are much better, for sure (have a listen on Nintendo Video or Netflix and compare it to any DS game if you don't believe me), but I still have exactly zero qualms about playing nearly any game with the sound off. When I think back to some of the incredibly catchy melodies from the original NES – over 25 years ago – this lack of advancement in the sound department is simply unacceptable.
This is one area in which Sony has always excelled – the PSP and the Vita have some pretty great speakers, and the games on those systems recognized that fact, so much so that investing in a decent pair of headphones to play games is actually recommended. (I'd expect nothing less from the creators of the Walkman.) The higher-capacity UMD format helped too, I think, as did the ability to play PSOne Classics on the systems. The CD format and the original PlayStation is when game technology finally made it possible to do sound design, spoken dialogue, and full orchestral soundtracks by real full orchestras justice, and the disc format has helped every console since do more with their games' sound and music. But the 3DS and DS aren't disc-based.
Even DS games where music is central to the gameplay have historically suffered due to handheld's shortcomings. Take Elite Beat Agents, for example. The music was central to the rhythm-based gameplay, but the tinny cover songs sounded pretty horrendous whether you were using the DS's built-in speakers or decided to make your ears bleed with headphones instead. The spiritual successor, Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure on 3DS, is better (you'll feel less like dying), but it's still not perfect. Another DS game I've been sinking a lot of time into recently, Chibi-Robo: Park Patrol, also features a very important rhythm-based flower-growing minigame that just sounds so, so awful, both on paper and when it stabs into my eardrums while I endure it to advance the plot.
All is not lost, however. Strangely, the only place that the average handheld gamer can play games with great sound today is on their smartphones (the average handheld gamer does not own a Vita). Between Super Hexagon and Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP, there are already twice as many iOS games in this sentence worth plugging in your headphones for than 3DS games. Seriously, all I can come up with on the 3DS is Bit.Trip Saga Complete. That's not great. The Vita, with some amazing new experiences like Sound Shapes, is holding its own on the audio front, but there just isn't enough to choose from on the Vita that isn't already playable on the outdated PSP.
Here's something to consider: the iPhone/iPod Touch does sound in a lot of games very, very well, and the iPod started out as "just" a music player. On the other hand, the Game Boy/Advance/DS/3DS have always been about games first, while the PSP/Vita tried to do multimedia games/movies/music simultaneously right off the bat (which is why these things have always been far too expensive at launch). Is it any wonder that the gadget that was originally solely a music player is doing music in games best, while the multimedia system comes in second and the pure gaming handheld is bringing up a distant third? I think not. This is actually lucky for me, though, not having to keep my volume slider turned up. I play most of my handheld games silently on slow work nights at the office, or I listen to Pandora on my iPhone while I play my 3DS on the too-l0ud BART train into the big city of San Francisco.
I guess we'll just have to keep waiting for the indie guys like Terry Cavanagh and the fine folks at Gaijin Games and Capybara to take our handheld gaming audio seriously, because as long as sound budgets continue to be pushed to the back room where they keep the game story writers, there isn't a lot of literal music to my ears to look forward to.
Tagged as 3DS, DS, iOS, Music, Vita
2 responses to "Seriously, How Unimportant Is Sound in Handheld Games?"
Bygjuce
I usually play my handheld games while watching TV or something online, and, when I do that, I have my volume off. Unless it's a rhythm game, of course.
You make a good point, though: Why did soundtracks kick so much ass back on the NES, but they seem to be just "there" nowadays? I don't know. It could be that we only had so many games as a kid, and their soundtracks became etched in our head, and we began to love them. Kind of like a Manchurian Candidate type thing? Maybe not, but something to think about.
DigitalGumballs
I think it might also be because the technology wasn't all there yet, so they HAD to get catchy and creative with their soundtracks. Otherwise it'd just be grating beeps and synth guitar all night, and nobody wants that. Melody, dude! But now in 2012, the Mario soundtrack still hasn't really evolved beyond the little ditties it had going in the 80s and 90s.
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Cutting off the nose to save the penis
J Sex Med. 2008 Aug;5(8):1932-40. doi: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2008.00867.x. Epub 2008 May 7.
Steven M Schrader 1 , Michael J Breitenstein, Brian D Lowe
1 Division of Applied Research and Technology, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH 45226, USA. sms4@cdc.gov
DOI: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2008.00867.x
Introduction: The average bicycle police officer spends 24 hours a week on his bicycle and previous studies have shown riding a bicycle with a traditional (nosed) saddle has been associated with urogenital paresthesia and sexual dysfunction.
Aim: The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of the no-nose bicycle saddle as an ergonomic intervention and their acceptance among male bicycle police officers.
Methods: Bicycle police officers from five U.S. metropolitan areas were recruited for this study. Officers completed: (i) the International Index of Erectile Function Questionnaire (IIEF); (ii) computerized pressure measurements at the points of contact on the bicycle; the handlebars, the pedals, and the saddle; (iii) one night of nocturnal Rigiscan assessment; (iv) penile vibrotactile sensitivity threshold assessed by computerized biothesiometery. Officers selected a no-nose saddle for their bicycles and were asked to use the intervention saddle exclusively for 6 months, at which point they were retested.
Main outcome measures: Perineal pressure, urogenital numbness, penile vibrotactile sensitivity threshold, erectile function as measure by International Index of Erectile Function Questionnaire (IIEF) and Rigiscan.
Results: After 6 months, 90 men were reassessed. Only three men had returned to a traditional saddle. The results are presented for those who used the no-nose saddle continuously for 6 months. There was a 66% reduction in saddle contact pressure in the perineal region (P < 0.001). There was a significant improvement in penis tactile sensation (P = 0.015). There was a significant improvement in erectile function assessed by IIEF (P = 0.015). There were no changes noted in the Rigiscan measures. The number of men indicating they had not experienced urogential paresthesia while cycling for the preceding 6 months, rose from 27% to 82% using no-nose saddles.
Conclusions: (i) With few exceptions, bicycle police officers were able to effectively use no-nose saddles in their police work. (ii) Use of no-nose saddles reduced most perineal pressure. (iii) Penile health improved after 6 month using no-nose saddles as measured by biothesiometry and IIEF. There was no improvement in Rigiscan(R) measure after 6 months of using no nose saddles, suggesting that a longer recovery time may be needed..
Bicycling*
Equipment Design
Erectile Dysfunction / etiology*
Erectile Dysfunction / prevention & control
Occupational Diseases / etiology*
Occupational Diseases / prevention & control
Paresthesia / etiology
Paresthesia / prevention & control
Pressure / adverse effects


This lovely property was only built 7 years ago so is still very new and has been maintained and decorated to a very high standard. The property has three bedrooms two with built in wardrobes and the master room has an en-suite. There is a spacious family bathroom and a flowing kitchen, living and dining room.
On approaching the property, you go through some electric gates, up the driveway and on to a paved space to the front of the house. The property has paving right the way around it, giving it a nice and clean look.
To the front of the property there is a nice lawn area and then the 10 x 5 metre swimming pool. The pool has also been paved right around so plenty of space for wining and dining around the pool side, and of course sun bathing as well.
There are various access points into the property. There is the front door which leads into the main hallway, there is a door which leads into the utility room and then another which gives direct access to the dining room.
Through a door off of the kitchen we have the dining room which has a large window and a set of patio doors which lead out to a covered terrace and the BBQ and bread oven area. From the dining room there is an archway that goes into the living room. The living room has a large window and a set of patio doors which go out onto the porch area. Here there is also a log burner.
The house's three bedroom are all good sizes and have lots of light given by the large windows. The wardrobes are all very deep and spacious and the master room has a large en-suite with a good size shower cubicle. The master bed room has patio doors which gives access to the front garden and pool area. The family bathroom is also a good size and has a bath with a shower over it.
The outside space to the front of the house has been nicely landscaped and has a nice layout down to the pool. To the back of the house there is a BBQ area which has a bread oven as well.
The house benefits from central heating, air conditioning, an alarm system and sprinklers in the garden.
The house is situated in the village of Adofreire, Torres Novas. Torres Novas which is only 7km away has everything, supermarkets, shopping centres, cinema, bowling alley, bars, restaurants and more. The town of Tomar is 33km away. Tomar, which is home to the UNESCO listed Convento do Cristo, is a bustling market town with a variety of supermarkets, shops, cafes, restaurants, bars, banks, health centres, hospitals, schools, bus and train station and university.


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About C&E Int'l Courier
C&E Int'l Courier is a sister company of C&E Innovational Services Limited (C&E) which was established February 2009 as an innovative service provider consequent on recognizing the need to provide more for less, during these harsh economic times, with exceptional customer-focused service.
C&E is comprised of highly trained industry experts and an experienced team dedicated to be "Always on Target" with individuals and organizations.
With over 10 years' experience, having provided courier services across the length and breath of Jamaica, we partner with our clients every step of the way to ensure complete satisfaction. You shop we ship and deliver.
She credits her success, to her grandmother, who helped her to realize as a very young girl, that she could transcend her circumstances by setting high goals and working very hard to reach them. Throughout public school, as an honor student, she won many awards. After graduating from Papine High School as the Head Girl she attended Oberlin Evening Institute where she obtained her CXC and GCE subjects.
Erica, being the entrepreneur she is, operated her own dressmaking shop at the age of 19 after giving birth to her son. The dressmaking shop started out of a need for prostitutes' evening wear. After operating her business for several years Wynter then decided to attend university to earn her Bachelors Degree.
Erica Wynter has a passion for success and has decided to dedicate her time to the development of small businesses in Jamaica. She is a product of the University of Technology, Jamaica where she studied Food Service Production and Management earning her Bachelors degree with honours. She is a certified teacher whom was awarded most outstanding future teacher in 2008 by the University of Technology, Jamaica. Wynter further studied Project Management at the Mona School of Business and completed her MBA in Entrepreneurship.
She has served on the board at B&E Catering and Training Institute where she contributed to the development and implementation of the various systems to ensure success. She is has also served on the board at the Small Business Association of Jamaica (SBAJ), Jamaica Employers Federation (JEF), Commonwealth Alliance of Young Entrepreneurs-Caribbean & Canada (CAYE), Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC), Self-Start Fund & MIDA and the Private Sector of Jamaica (PSOJ).
Erica is a trainer and motivational speaker who has travelled the island motivating young entrepreneurs in Jamaica and an agent of change who continues to contribute to the growth and development of her country via different associations. She was elected the President of the Young Entrepreneurs Association, Jamaica (YEA) in January 2014, Vice Chair of the Commonwealth Alliance of Young Entrepreneurs-Caribbean & Canada in June 2015, mentor for YUTE, the Heart Trust NTA and the Joan Duncan School of Entrepreneurship, Ethics and Leadership, member of the Rotary Club of Portmore. Ms. Wynter is also a lecturer at the University of Technology, Jamaica and a Business Advisor for the Heart Trust NTA.
Wynter has been working in the courier industry since 2009 and under her brand C&E has served and satisfied the courier needs of many corporate companies and individuals right across Jamaica.
Wynter was awarded The Jamaica Observer Mogul in the Making in 2012. Erica was chosen by the group of expert panelists who saw the innovation in her company and believe she will take the company a far way.
She is a family oriented person whom believes strongly in the power of God. She is a positive mother, trainer, daughter, friend, mentor and sister and has touched the lives of many.


Hundreds of years ago, King Suryavarman II conquered lands stretching from present day Thailand in the north to Vietnam in the east and Laos in the west, and built one of the most iconic temples of all time. Angkor Wat, the crown jewel of the Angkor archaeological complex, sits 7km from the town of Siem Reap, which literally means 'defeat of Siam'. The temple is an illustration not only of the power of the former-king, but also of the region's rich Khmer heritage. The temple is lined with Hindu tales, spritely apsara dancers and impressive Nagai.
I wanted to ride an elephant as a real mahout would, and after a ride around Bayon Temple, the mahout motioned for me to move to the driver's spot on the back of Ti Tohn, the 42-year-old elephant. Sliding into the spot the mahout had occupied, I guided the elephant to the right with a slight press of my right foot. Left to go left. Ti Tohn and I had bonded. As I rubbed the leathery skin of her forehead, she lifted her trunk and sniffed at me. After climbing down and giving her an apple, a whole pineapple and a hug or two, it was time to move on and explore the rest of the complex.
The Angkor complex is the largest in the world, rivalling that of Tikal in Central America. My guide, So Chea, was so knowledgeable and knew all the secret places. After hiking up a back road, we came to the Banyon Temple, a favourite of us both. Here, culture and nature both support and destroy each other, the roots growing through the large blocks and in some places stabilizing the temple, while in others knocking through its walls.
Perhaps the ruins or the landscape are what make this place special, but I don't think so; the people here are so warm and lovely, and want to teach you all about their culture. I was introduced to many of the traditions that make Cambodian culture so interesting; indigenous practices such as silk weaving, stone carving and even cooking here are talents of pride.
After a stroll around town, a boat ride to the fishing village at the Tonle Sap Lake and a Khmer barbeque with traditional Apsara dancers, I was in love with Cambodia, its traditions and its people. I can't wait to go back and explore more.