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Ghana US Consular Information Sheet
Ghana is a developing country on the West Coast of Africa. The capital is Accra. Facilities for tourism are available in the population centers of the greater Accra regio Read More Show Less
, Kumasi in the Ashanti region, and in the Cape Coast area of the Central region, but they are limited in the more remote areas of the country. Read the Department of State Background Notes on Ghana for additional information.
A passport and visa are required, as is evidence of a yellow fever vaccination. Travelers should obtain the latest information and details from the Embassy of Ghana, 3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC
20008; telephone (202) 686-4520. Consular services are also available at the Ghana Permanent Mission to the UN at 19 East 47th Street, New York, NY
10017, telephone (212) 832-1300, and the Honorary Consulate of Ghana, 3434 Locke Lane, Houston, TX, telephone (713) 960-8806. Overseas, inquiries should be made at the nearest Ghanaian embassy or consulate. Visit the Embassy of Ghana web site at www.ghanaembassy.org for the most current visa information.
Due to the potential for violence, U.S. citizens should avoid political rallies and street demonstrations and maintain security awareness at all times. There will be frequent political rallies across Ghana in the run-up to the presidential and parliamentary elections on December 7, 2008.
Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. and Canada, or for other callers, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.
Pick-pocketing, purse snatching, and various types of scams are the most common forms of crime confronting visitors. U.S. travelers have reported these types of theft at crowded markets, beaches, parks, and tourist attractions. Incidences of violent crime, such as armed robbery, are on the rise, including reports of armed robberies in expatriate residential areas. Victims who resist attackers run a high risk of serious physical injury. Take security measures, such as traveling in groups and avoiding travel at night. Avoid travel in communal taxis. Travelers who limit their display of jewelry and handle their cash discreetly reduce their vulnerability to crime. Travelers are advised to carry limited amounts of cash and only photocopies of key documents.
Use of credit cards in Ghana should be avoided if possible, as a growing number of travelers have been victims of credit card fraud.
In recent years, U.S. citizens have reported substantial financial losses from questionable transactions involving gold and other precious metals. The Government of Ghana maintains strict regulations on these natural resources. All agents must be licensed and all transactions must be certified. (See Special Circumstances below).
Perpetrators of business fraud often target foreigners, including Americans. Such fraud schemes are now prevalent throughout West Africa, including Ghana.
Please refer to the Country Commercial Guide for Ghana at http://www.buyusa.gov/ghana/en/doing_business_in_ghana.html, for further information.
American citizens frequently consult the Embassy regarding questionable business offers sent by people in Ghana. These are scams and typically begin with an unsolicited communication (usually by e-mail) from an unknown individual who describes a situation that promises quick financial gain, often by assisting in the transfer of a large sum of money or valuables out of the country.
A series of "advance fees" must be paid in order to conclude the transaction, such as fees to open a bank account or to pay certain taxes.
In fact, the final payoff does not exist; the purpose of the scams is simply to collect money from the victim.
The Embassy has also received reports of fraudulent charities soliciting contributions through the Internet or direct mail. If you receive such business offers or charity requests, carefully check them out before you commit any funds, provide any goods or services, or undertake any travel. Check with the U.S. Embassy in Ghana at telephone (233-21) 741-100 for an assessment of the offer's credibility.
Another type of fraud is committed by persons claiming to live in Ghana or who claim to be traveling to Ghana on business, and who profess friendship or romantic interest over the Internet. Once a relationship has been established, the correspondent typically asks the American to send money for living expenses, travel expenses, or visa costs. Sometimes a "hospital" or "doctor" telephones to say that the friend has suffered an "accident" and needs immediate financial assistance to cover medical bills. There are other variations of this scam, but the common goal is to fraudulently obtain as much money as possible from the victim.
Americans have reported losing thousands of dollars through such scams. The anonymity of the Internet means that the victim cannot be sure of the real name, age, marital status, nationality, or even gender of the correspondent. In most cases reported to the Embassy, the correspondent turned out to be a fictitious persona created to lure Americans into sending money.
Visitors to Ghana should also be wary of overly-friendly locals offering tours, discounted lodging or other services that seem too good to be true.
Tourists are often targeted by touts and scam artists.
Some Americans have been the victims of false criminal accusations and have found themselves separated from time, money and trust as they seek to resolve these difficult situations.
For additional information, please see the Department of State brochure International Financial Scams.
Ghana maintains a specialized Domestic Violence Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) within the Ghana Police Service to assist victims of domestic violence, especially women and children. In addition to its law enforcement responsibilities, the Unit can refer victims to medical providers and counselors, as well as to community support services. Further information is available by following the DOVVSU link at www.ghanapolice.org
The local equivalent to the "911" emergency line in Ghana is: 191
Medical facilities in Ghana are limited, particularly outside Accra, the capital. Travelers should carry adequate supplies of any needed prescription medicines, along with copies of their prescriptions, the generic name of the drugs, and a supply of preferred over-the-counter medications. For information on avian influenza (bird flu), please refer to the Department of State's Avian Influenza Fact Sheet.
Documentation of Yellow fever vaccination is required upon arrival from all countries.
There are no HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to or foreign residents of Ghana.
Motor vehicle accidents, drownings and water-related accidents due to Ghana's rough surf, muggings and other violent attacks, and the development of sexually transmitted diseases—including HIV—are
health and safety concerns that have been reported by U.S. citizens and can be at least partially mitigated by using common-sense safety precautions.
The information below concerning Ghana is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.
Primary roads are generally paved and well maintained. However, some side roads within major cities and roads outside of major cities are in poor condition. The road from Accra to the central region tourist area of Cape Coast continues to be the site of many accidents. Travel in darkness, particularly outside the major cities, is extremely hazardous, due to poor street lighting and the unpredictable behavior of pedestrians, bicyclists and farm animals, particularly goats and sheep. Aggressive drivers, poorly maintained vehicles and overloaded vehicles pose serious threats to road safety.
The safety standards of the small private buses that transit roads and highways are uncertain. Travelers are encouraged to consider this when making travel arrangements.
Travelers are routinely stopped at police checkpoints throughout Ghana, and vehicles and passengers may be searched. Drivers must possess an international driver's license (available from AAA and the American Automobile Touring Alliance). Foreign nationals should carry documentation of their status, such as a passport and visa.
Please refer to our Road Safety page for more information. Visit the website of Ghana's national tourist office at http://www.touringghana.com/default.asp and the national authority responsible for road safety at http://www.mrt.gov.gh/
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the Government of Ghana's Civil Aviation Authority as not being in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for the oversight of Ghana's air carrier operations.
Service provided by a number of regional air carriers is reported to be unreliable. The airlines may alter scheduled stops, cancel or postpone flights on short notice, and regularly overbook flights. Travelers may experience unexpected delays even after checking in. Passengers should get the required seat reconfirmation stamped on the ticket, have enough emergency funds for food and lodging in case of unexpected delays, and arrive at the airport at least two hours before the scheduled departure time.
Effective July 1, 2007, the Government of Ghana redenominated the local currency, the cedi, introducing new banknotes (Ghana Cedi) and coins (Ghana Pesewa). 10,000 cedis = 1 Ghana Cedi = 100 Ghana Pesewas. The old cedi was taken out of circulation on December 31, 2007, and as of January 1, 2008, can be converted only at commercial banks or the Bank of Ghana. Travelers should be alert to persons who may try to defraud them with the old and new bills. The Government of Ghana established a web site in 2007, www.ghanacedi.gov.gh, to inform the public about the redenomination exercise. The web site includes a useful currency converter.
Visitors arriving or departing Ghana with more than $5,000 in cash are required to declare the amount at the border. Currency exchange is available at most banks and at licensed foreign exchange bureaus, but currency transactions with private citizens are illegal. The Government of Ghana also prohibits departing travelers from carrying more than 5,000,000 cedis (500 Ghana Cedis) out of the country. Ghanaian currency must either be spent or exchanged before departure, or it will be confiscated.
Strict customs regulations govern temporary importation into or export from Ghana of items such as gold, diamonds and precious natural resources. Only agents licensed by the Precious Metals and Mining Commission, telephone (233-21) 664-635 or 664-579, may handle import-export transactions of these natural resources. Any transaction without the commission's endorsement is illegal and/or fraudulent. All transactions must be completed through the commission at the price set daily by the London exchange. Any transaction that discounts this price, or includes a previously negotiated price, is either illegal or fraudulent. Export of gold dust is rare as it encourages dangerous and environmentally destructive practices, and transactions involving the export of gold dust are probably fraudulent. Attempts to evade regulations are punishable by imprisonment. It is advisable to contact the Embassy of Ghana in Washington, DC, or one of the Ghanaian consulates in the United States, for specific information regarding customs requirements.
In rare instances, visitors arriving in Ghana with sophisticated electronic equipment (video cameras and laptop computers) may have to deposit 17.5 per cent of the item's value with the Customs and Excise office at the airport. To get the deposit refunded, visitors must apply to the Customs and Excise Office in central Accra 48 hours before departure.
Taking pictures near sensitive installations, including military sites and some government buildings, is prohibited. These sites are not always clearly marked and application of these restrictions is subject to interpretation. Permission may be obtained from Ghanaian security personnel. Permission should also be obtained before photographing anyone in uniform (e.g., police officers and military officers). In some cases, film and cameras have been confiscated. For security reasons, taking photographs of the U.S. Embassy is also prohibited.
It is strictly prohibited to wear any military apparel such as camouflage jackets or trousers, or any clothing or items that may appear military in nature.
Persons violating Ghana laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned.
Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Ghana are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.
Americans living or traveling in Ghana are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department's travel registration web site so that they can obtain updated information on travel and security within Ghana. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency. The U.S. Embassy is located at No. 24 Fourth Circular Road, Cantonments, Accra; telephone (233-21)741-000. The public entrance to the Consular Section is No. 19 Fifth Link Road, Cantonments, Accra; telephone (233-21) 741-100; fax (233-21) 741-362 or 741-426; after-hours (233-21) 741-775.
This replaces the Country Specific Information for Ghana dated February 21, 2008, to update sections on safety and security, crime, information for victims of crime, and medical facilities and health information.
Ghana becomes second country to launch vital malaria vaccine
Disease Malaria Ghana - 2 months ago
By Stacey KNOTT
Cape Coast, Ghana, April 30, 2019 (AFP) - Ghana on Tuesday rolled out the world's only proven malaria vaccine for infants as part of a landmark campaign against the deadly mosquito-borne disease, one week after Malawi became the first country to do so. Malaria kills hundreds of thousands of people each year, mainly in Africa, and it is hoped a vaccine will bring down the toll. Children are especially at risk, and babies were Ghana's first vaccine recipients Tuesday in the town of Cape Coast, 150 kilometres (90 miles) west of the capital Accra. "I hope this will help us to be able to eliminate malaria, so Ghana can be a malaria-free country," said Justice Arthur, the doctor running the clinic.
The vaccines will be given to children between the ages of six months and two years, in a project run by Ghana's health ministry and the World Health Organization (WHO). "I am really hopeful that the vaccine is going to help me and my family," said Abigail Aguanyi, a woman waiting to get her child, Blessing, vaccinated. Many of her family members had previously been stricken. The vaccine, known by its lab initials RTS,S, has passed lengthy scientific trials which found it to be safe and effective at preventing about four in ten cases of malaria in infants -- the best ever recorded. To achieve this level of partial protection, four successive doses must be administered on a strict timetable -- a challenge for rural Africa.
- 'Exciting' -
The rollout in Ghana, Malawi, and soon also Kenya, will seek to evaluate the vaccine's effectiveness as a complementary tool, augmenting -- but not replacing -- measures such as insecticide-treated bed nets and the use of sprays. It will also test the feasibility of administering the four required doses in children in areas of the world with limited access to healthcare. Data from the programme will inform a WHO policy on the broader use of RTS,S. Malaria is spread to people by mosquitoes, which transfer the parasite while sucking blood from humans. RTS,S is effective against the Plasmodium falciparum parasite most prevalent in Africa. In Ghana alone, there were 5.5 million confirmed cases of malaria last year, and many more suspected.
Worldwide, the WHO says malaria killed 435,000 people worldwide in 2017. The number of cases climbed to 219 million in 2017, two million more than in 2016. Over 90 percent of cases occurred in Africa. "This is an exciting and long-awaited step forward to fight malaria and its devastating effects on the most vulnerable," said WHO boss in Ghana, Owen Kaluwa.
Outbreak of Haemorrhagic Conjunctivitis in Ghana
Disease Conjunctivitis Ghana - 8 months ago
Date: Sat 3 Nov 2018
Source: Ghana Web [edited]
<https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/health/Doctors-announce-Apollo-outbreak-in-Tamale-697640>
A new surge of the contagious viral eye disease known [locally] as "apollo" or haemorrhagic conjunctivitis has been confirmed by doctors at the Tamale Central Hospital in the northern regional capital. Apollo is an infection caused by the Coxsackie virus and presents with painful swollen red eyes, purulent discharges and headache, and affects the lining of the eyelids and eyeball. It usually affects both eyes but may affect one eye and later spread to the other. The disease affects people of all ages, particularly those in crowded living conditions (i.e., homes, schools, daycare centres, and work places) and those who engage in poor handwashing practices.
Apollo is spread by contact with the hands, towels, face cloths, goggles and other surfaces exposed to secretions that contain the virus. The symptoms of apollo include sore eyes, feeling of grittiness or burning, redness, watery discharge, swelling of eyelids and light sensitivity. The disease has damaged eyes of many people since its last outbreak 7 years ago in the country. A report of the outbreak has been issued by the senior optometrist of the hospital, Dr. Daniel Opoku, to the National Health Directorate in the region. The report said the hospital had received an increasing number of cases of the disease since last month [October 2018], without specifying a figure.
The statement also confirms some of the hospital staff have been affected in the outbreak and have been asked to visit the eye clinic for treatment. The hospital staff have been cautioned to be careful in their contact with patients and their folders. The staff have also been advised to practice proper hand hygiene to avoid being infected. The Ophthalmological Society of Ghana (OSG) in the region has not commented on the report, and there have not been any comments from the Red Cross Society. The Regional Health Service has confirmed the report but said the situation is being contained.
[Acute haemorrhagic conjunctivitis (AHC) was 1st described in Ghana in 1969 [1]. Its appearance coincided with the 1st Apollo moon landing, prompting the Ghanaians to give it the name Apollo 11 disease [2]. The etiological agent in this outbreak was identified as enterovirus 70 (EV70) [2, 3]. In the following year [1970], an outbreak of apollo was described in Singapore [4]; however, in this case, the cause was determined to be a Coxsackie virus A24 variant (CVA24v) [5].
Since then, numerous reports of AHC have emerged from across the world, associated with either EV70 or CVA24v. These 2 viruses are now recognized as the primary agents of AHC [6]. ... AHC usually resolves without sequelae, although secondary corneal infection has been reported after treatment with topical steroids [8].
1. Chatterjee S, Quarcoopome CO, Apenteng A. Unusual type of epidemic conjunctivitis in Ghana. Br J Ophthal 1970;54:628-630.
2. Kono R. Apollo 11 disease or acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis: a pandemic of a new enterovirus infection of the eyes. Am J Epidemiol 1975;101:383-390.
3. Mirkovic RR, Kono R, Yin-Murphy M, et al. Enterovirus type 70: the etiologic agent of pandemic acute haemorrhagic conjunctivitis. Bull World Health Org 1973;49:341-346.
4. Mirkovic RR, Schmidt NJ, Yin-Murphy M, Melnick JL. Enterovirus etiology of the 1970 Singapore epidemic of acute conjunctivitis. Intervirology A 1974;4:119-127.
5. Line KH, Yin-Murphy M. An epidemic of conjunctivitis in Singapore in 1970. Singapore Med J 1971;12:247-249.
6. Wright PW, Strausss GH, Langford MP. Acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis. Am Fam Phys 1992;45:173-178. …
8. Vajpayee RB, Sharma N, Chand M, et al. Corneal superinfection in acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis. Cornea 1998;6:614-617. Excerpted from Burr SE, Sillah, Joof H, et al. An outbreak of acute haemorrhagic conjunctivitis associated with coxsackievirus A24 variant in The Gambia, West Africa. BMC Res Notes 2017;10:692. - ProMED Mod.LK]
Ghana: <http://healthmap.org/promed/p/53>]
Ghana flooding kills 34 during heavy rains
Natural Disaster Ghana - 10 months ago
Accra, Sept 20, 2018 (AFP) - At least 34 people have died in northern Ghana during flooding caused by heavy rains and waters spilling from a dam in neighbouring Burkina Faso, relief agency officials said Thursday. Bagre Dam is located on the White Volta river that begins in Burkina Faso and which converges with the Black Volta downstream and feeds into Lake Volta in southern Ghana. The authorities open the dam's spillways during annual rains, but the excess volumes of water regularly flood communities along the rivers.
People living along the White Volta have been urged to stay away from its banks.Others have been told to move to higher ground. Seji Saji, deputy head of Ghana's National Disaster Management Organisation, said the situation was under control and teams were working flat out to reach those affected. "In all we have on record 34 deaths and two people missing. The affected people are over 52,000 and we are still assessing the situation," he added. "All these happened during the time that the river overflowed its banks but the rate of spillage has reduced considerably and fortunately since last week and this week there has not been any heavy rainfall."
Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo and his government have been criticised for not visiting victims of the floods. Aid agency Oxfam's inequality programmes and campaign manager in Ghana, Zakaria Sulemana, said the situation required "high-powered political attention". "People want to hear the president, in fact we should have seen the president visit the area to console them or better still initiate an action to ensure that this does not happen again," he added. Saji said Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia will be visiting flood victims this weekend. In 1999, flooding in the Upper West, Upper East, Northern and Brong Ahafo and Volta regions of northern Ghana affected more than 300,000 people, according to NADMO.
WHO group congratulate authorities in Ghana for elimination of Trachoma
Disease Trachoma Ghana - 1 year ago
Date: Wed 13 Jun 2018
Source: WHO, Regional Office for Africa [edited]
<http://www.afro.who.int/news/ghana-eliminates-trachoma-freeing-millions-suffering-and-blindness>
The World Health Organization (WHO) today [Wed 13 Jun 2018] congratulated Ghana for having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem, 2 decades after the World Health Assembly resolved to tackle the leading infectious cause of blindness. The announcement comes the day after a commitment from Pfizer, the manufacturer of Zithromax (azithromycin) to extend their donation programme for the antibiotic until 2025, if required, to finish the task of global trachoma elimination.
"It's been 20 years since the global health community committed to eliminating trachoma worldwide" said WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. "Although there's more work to do elsewhere, the validation of elimination in Ghana allows another previously heavily-endemic country to celebrate significant success."
Ghana is the 1st country in WHO's African Region to achieve this milestone.
"This success is a result of a tremendous amount of hard work by thousands of health, education and development workers to improve the lives of individuals with trachoma and their families", said Mr. Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, Ghana's Minister of Health. "The Government of Ghana is enormously grateful to its staff and to the many partners that have joined forces with us to eliminate trachoma and the cycle of poverty it triggers."
The global trachoma community learnt a lot from Ghana's experience. Innovations pioneered there include the use of height-based dosing for azithromycin; systematic active case-searches for trichiasis involving door-to-door, community-by-community fieldwork; and, intensive counseling of patients found to have trichiasis with an offer of immediate surgery, which produced considerable improvement in surgical uptake.
"Success in Ghana is a result of the strong leadership at all levels, implementation of the full SAFE strategy right from the outset, strong collaboration between Ghana Health Service and its many partners, and integration at lower levels of programme delivery, including community ownership," said Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. "Hearty congratulations are deserved for this achievement."
Trachoma: Ghana's story
Trachoma was identified in the 1950s as the most important cause of blindness in Ghana. By the 1990s, the disease was known to persist as a significant public health problem in the Northern and Upper West Regions. There were about 2.8 million people at risk of trachomatous blindness nationally, with an estimated 13 000 people suffering from trichiasis. In 2000, the Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Service set up a national Trachoma Elimination Programme.
Ghana's Trachoma Elimination Programme implemented the WHO-recommended elimination strategy, SAFE, which comprises Surgery for trichiasis, Antibiotics to clear infection, Facial cleanliness, and Environmental improvement to reduce transmission.
Trichiasis surgery was provided at no cost, a critical Ghana Health Service decision reflecting the socioeconomic disadvantage of people with trichiasis and the impact of the condition on future earning potential.
Azithromycin, donated by Pfizer through the International Trachoma Initiative, was distributed with support from FHI 360 (using funds from the United States Agency for International Development), The Carter Center, Sightsavers and other organizations.
Facial cleanliness was promoted through community events, dramas, the school health education programme, radio messages and radio clubs. Environmental improvement was coordinated by Ghana's Community Water and Sanitation Agency.
The disease
Trachoma, a devastating eye disease caused by infection with the bacterium _Chlamydia trachomatis_, is spread through contact with infective eye or nose discharges, either directly from person to person, or mediated by flies. Active (inflammatory) trachoma occurs as a result of infection, and is common among preschool-aged children. Women are blinded up to 4 times as often as men, mainly due to their close contact with infected children. Transmission is associated with poor sanitation and hygiene, which increase the availability of eye discharges and encourage the breeding of flies.
GET2020
In 1996, WHO launched the WHO Alliance for the Global Elimination of Trachoma by the year 2020 (GET2020). With other partners in the Alliance, WHO supports country implementation of the SAFE strategy and strengthening of national capacity through epidemiological assessment, monitoring, surveillance, project evaluation and resource mobilization. Elimination of trachoma is inexpensive, simple and extremely cost effective, yielding a high rate of net economic return.
Dr. Anthony Solomon MBBS, DTM&H, PhD, PGCAP, FHEA, FRCP
Medical Officer, Neglected Tropical Diseases
Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases
solomona@who.int
[ProMED-mail thanks Dr. Anthony Solomon for this submission. Dr. Solomon comments: "I'm delighted to share news of the validation of elimination of trachoma in Ghana - the 1st country in WHO's African Region to reach this mark."
For a discussion of trachoma, please see my moderator comments in a prior ProMED-mail post Trachoma - Nepal: WHO, eliminated as a public health problem http://promedmail.org/post/20180522.5810321.
HealthMap/ProMED-mail map of Ghana can be seen at
<http://healthmap.org/promed/p/53>. - ProMED Mod.ML]
Authorities in Ghana fight malarial chemical resistance with new spray
Disease Malaria Ghana - 1 year ago
Obuasi, Ghana, May 15, 2018 (AFP) - Bismark Owusu moves food and bowls from a bedroom and covers clothes and furniture with a large sheet before mixing a mosquito-killing chemical with water in his spray pack. He then puts on head-to-toe safety gear, straps the pack to his back and methodically sprays the walls, windows and corners of the room. Owusu's visit to Domeabra, a small community in the Obuasi area of the Ashanti region in central Ghana, is his latest stop in the country's fight against malaria.
The death of two of his friends from the disease spurs him on. "Why wouldn't I help if others are dying? I am here today helping to eradicate this deadly malaria," he told AFP. Malaria, which is spread to people through the bites of infected female mosquitoes, is one of the world's deadliest diseases. According to the World Health Organization, there were 216 million cases of malaria in 91 countries across the world in 2016 and 445,000 deaths. Most of those cases and deaths -- about 90 percent -- were in sub-Saharan Africa.
In Ghana, which is home to some 28 million people, there were 4.8 million cases and 599 deaths last year, a marked drop from the 2,200 who died in 2011. But with global concern that the fight against malaria has reached a plateau, African governments and development agencies are looking at new ways to step up the fight. That includes preventative measures such as distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets and developing a vaccine against the disease but also indoor spraying. Ghana is the first on the continent to introduce the large-scale use of a new "third generation insecticide" against mosquitoes, which have developed a resistance to other chemicals.
- 'Intelligent insects' -
As Ghana's rainy season approaches, when malaria cases increase, Owusu and his colleagues at the non-profit organisation AGALMal are working flat out. The organisation grew out of a social initiative by global mining firm AngloGold Ashanti and has a laboratory in the grounds of an old mining site in Obuasi. There, tiny mosquito pupae dart around in water in a white plastic container in a lab.
Soon they will transform into mosquitoes and be studied by scientists. Technologist Paul Osei-Bonsu said chemical resistance was a major issue for the spraying programme. If a population of mosquitoes is sprayed and just one survives and reproduces, the resistance will be passed on, he explained. "If you use the same spray over time you will have 90 percent of the population not dying," he added.
Programme director Samuel Asiedu says mosquitoes are "intelligent insects", so the new chemical -- SumiShield 50WG -- should be more effective when rotated with others. In 2006, after the first two years of the indoor spraying, the hospital in Obuasi saw a 75-percent decrease in malaria cases. That led to the programme being expanded with additional support from global health initiative Unitaid and the Global Fund partnership.
Currently, the indoor spraying programme targets the homes of 1.2 million people. "We are anticipating other chemicals to come on board by the end of the year so we can be rotating the use of chemicals to prevent resistance development," said Asiedu. Unitaid project director David McGuire said he hoped the scheme "will convince donors and national governments to increase their investment in this life-saving intervention".
- 'Peace of mind' -
Keziah Malm, who manages the national malaria control programme at the Ghana Health Service, says the new WHO-approved spray is considered safe and has been tested internationally and locally. It will be used in Obuasi and Ghana's far north -- all of the Upper West region and three districts in the Upper East -- which are high-risk zones for malaria.
Local communities still need to be convinced about the benefits of having their homes sprayed. But Asiedu says only a handful of people refuse. Sprayers themselves also speak to households about the work and the risks to health from the disease, which can lead to severe illness and death if not treated within 24 hours. "If I go to the whole house and someone does not want it I have to sit the person and let them know the importance of the spraying because malaria kills," said Owusu. "It's very important we all understand that malaria is a killer. We have to eradicate it and kick it out of Obuasi and the nation as a whole."
During the course of his work, he's found everyone has a story about the disease. "I sprayed a full house and the owner was telling me her son died some years go from malaria. He would be 18 years today. She was crying bitterly," he added. Children under five and pregnant women are considered most vulnerable to malaria. Seamstress Victoria Awuah lives in an eight-room house some 30 minutes from the lab. She is seven months pregnant and doesn't need much persuasion to have her room sprayed. "The spraying really helps. It helps us so that we don't get sick, give us peace of mind and rid this area of all these insects," she added.
French Guiana US Consular Information Sheet
COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: French Guiana is an overseas department of France. It is a sparsely populated tropical area located on the northern coast of South America. French is the pred Read More Show Less
minant language; English is not widely spoken. Tourist facilities are available, especially in the larger cities such as Cayenne and Kourou, but in some instances are not highly developed.
ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: Passports are required of U.S. citizens entering French Guiana. Visitors who arrive by land or on a commercial air carrier with a return ticket may enter for up to 90 days without a visa. See our Foreign Entry Requirements brochure for more information on French Guiana and other countries. Visit the Embassy of France web site at for the most current visa information, or contact the Embassy of France at 4101 Reservoir Road N.W., Washington, DC 20007; telephone (202) 944-6000; or the nearest French Consulate in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, New Orleans or San Francisco.
Find more information about Entry and Exit Requirements pertaining to dual nationality and the prevention of international child abduction . For further information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information .
SAFETY AND SECURITY: For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department's Internet web site , where the current Worldwide Caution Public Announcement , Travel Warnings and Public Announcements can be found.
Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S., or for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll-line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
The Department of State urges American citizens to take responsibility for their own personal security while traveling overseas. For general information about appropriate measures travelers can take to protect themselves in an overseas environment, see the Department of State's pamphlet A Safe Trip Abroad .
CRIME: Petty street crime occurs throughout the major cities. Individuals should make sure to keep valuables out of sight, especially if left unattended in an automobile.
See our information on Victims of Crime .
MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION: Medical care within French Guiana is limited, and hospital facilities are available only in major urban areas. Patients' rooms in hospitals are primarily open-air facilities; instead of glass panes, hospital windows are fitted with wooden slats.
Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747) or via the CDC's Internet site at For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization's (WHO) website at http://www.who.int/en. Further health information for travelers is available at .
MEDICAL INSURANCE: The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation. Please see our information on medical insurance overseas .
TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning French Guiana is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.
Primary roads in French Guiana are well paved and well maintained. Emergency call boxes are available at regular intervals on the main highways. Roads in rural areas are less developed. Roads leading to more remote regions in the interior are often improved dirt roads. French Guiana has a relatively moderate to high volume of traffic and police enforce traffic safety. Night driving can be dangerous, especially in the remote interior regions or on less-developed rural roads. Public transportation in the form of taxis and vans is relatively safe.
Please refer to our Road Safety page for more information. Visit the website of the French National Tourist Organization at http://www.franceguide.com.
AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the Government of France as being in compliance with ICAO international aviation safety standards for oversight of France's air carrier operations. For more information, travelers may visit the FAA's Internet web site at .
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: In addition to being subject to all French laws affecting U.S. citizens, dual nationals may also be subject to other laws that impose special obligations on French citizens. For additional information, please see our Dual Nationality flyer .
French customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation into or export from French Guiana of items such as firearms, medications, animals, etc. It is advisable to contact the Embassy of France in Washington or one of the many French consulates in the United States for specific information regarding customs requirements.
Customs authorities encourage the use of an ATA (Admission Temporaire/Temporary Admission) Carnet for the temporary admission of professional equipment, commercial samples, and/or goods for exhibitions and fair purposes. ATA Carnet Headquarters , located at the U.S. Council for International Business , 1212 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036, issues and guarantees the ATA Carnet in the United States. For additional information call (212) 354-4480, e-mail atacarnet@uscib.org, or visit www.uscib.org for details. Please see our Customs Information .
CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating French laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in French Guiana are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime, prosecutable in the United States. Please see our information on Criminal Penalties .
CHILDREN'S ISSUES: For information on international adoption of children and international parental child abduction, see the Office of Children's Issues website.
REGISTRATION / EMBASSY LOCATION: Americans living or traveling in Suriname are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department's travel registration website and to obtain updated information on travel and security within Suriname. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency. The U.S. Embassy is located at Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat 129, telephone (011)(597) 472-900, web site http://paramaribo.usembassy.gov. The Consular Section hours of operation for routine American citizen services are Mondays and Wednesdays from 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm, or by appointment, except on American and Surinamese holidays. U.S. citizens requiring emergency assistance evenings, weekends, and holidays may contact an Embassy duty officer by cell phone at (011)(597) 088-08302.
This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated November 2, 2005 to update all sections.
47yo Swiss national contracts Yellow Fever in French Guiana
Disease Yellow Fever French Guiana - 11 months ago
Date: Tue 14 Aug 2018
Source: France Guyane [in French, trans. ProMED Corr.SB, edited]
<http://www.franceguyane.fr/actualite/education-sante-environnement/un-cas-de-fievre-jaune-contracte-en-guyane-412398.php>
A 47-year-old man of Swiss nationality contracted yellow fever in French Guiana. He was diagnosed last weekend by the Institut Pasteur. The fact that he had been present in French Guiana for 4 months without having apparently left it makes it very likely that he contracted the virus in the department, and more precisely in the area of the County Bridge.
In a message addressed to certain health professionals, the Regional Health Agency (ARS) details the situation: "A new case of yellow fever was confirmed last weekend by the Pasteur Institute of Guyana, and after that diagnosed in France. After a visit to CHAR, the patient was transferred urgently to a liver resuscitation unit in Paris.
This is a 47-year-old man of Swiss nationality who had returned by land from Brazil but who had been in French Guiana for 4 months and who had not left the territory (of Guyana) since his arrival. Therefore, we can consider that this is a local infection. The patient was not vaccinated. According to information available at this stage, he was working on the marking of forest roads in the County Bridge area, and it can be assumed that he was infected in these areas, and investigations are underway to detect associated cases and to trace more closely the movements of the patient.
This new case confirms that yellow fever is present in Guyana. While awaiting more precise information, this also seems to indicate that the virus is present in the littoral zone and justifies the vaccination of the whole department's population.
[Sylvatic yellow fever (YF) is endemic in areas of 13 countries and territories of the South American region, including Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Panama, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana and the island of Trinidad.
A 20 Mar 2018 PAHO/WHO Epidemiological Update on Yellow Fever stated that there were confirmed cases this year [2018] in several South American countries including French Guiana (see Yellow fever - Americas (22): South America http://promedmail.org/post/20180321.5699760). Individuals traveling, working or residing in these areas should be vaccinated against YF.
Unfortunately, the Swiss worker was not. The patient's condition was not mentioned, other than that he was transferred urgently to a liver resuscitation unit in Paris, but was still alive. - ProMED Mod.TY]
[HealthMap/ProMED maps available at: Switzerland:
<http://healthmap.org/promed/p/105>
Region d'outre-mer de French Guiana, France:
French Guiana paralysed as tensions mount before strike
Strikes French Guiana - 2 years ago
By Marion BRISWALTER
Cayenne, March 26, 2017 (AFP) - French Guiana came to a standstill Sunday on the eve of a major strike which has elbowed its way into France's presidential campaign. Air France cancelled all flights to the South American territory for Sunday and Monday, when 37 labour unions were to launch a general strike demanding a "Marshall Plan" to improve public services and security. Barricades have been erected on roads since last week, and the US State Department has warned travellers to stay away, citing the risk of violence. The protests also led to the indefinite postponement of an Arianespace rocket launch at Europe's Guiana Space Centre in Kourou.
The French government has sent a delegation to negotiate with the strikers, asking them to lay out their demands. But 13 of the territory's 22 mayors have refused to meet the delegation, demanding along with the strikers that French ministers come in person. "This has gone on long enough! All we have is plundered, it's time to recognise the people of Guiana," a woman at the barricade blocking access to the airport at Cayenne, the capital, told AFP on Sunday. "I am listening to the Guianans," said Ericka Bareigts, the minister of overseas territories, though she has ruled out travelling to the territory for now. "We will be able to go to Guiana once the conditions are right and progress has been made," she said. The road barricades were temporarily lifted Sunday and some stores opened so that people could stock up on food and other supplies before the strike began.
- 'Failed policies' -
The "Collective to Get Guiana Moving" has called for better access to health services and electricity, economic development and job creation programmes, and renewed efforts to keep children from dropping out of school. The territory, with about 250,000 inhabitants, relies on huge injections of public funds. "The government must respond rapidly to these requests," Segolene Royal, the French environment minister, said after a recent visit to the territory. The visiting delegation has already had a scanner installed at the airport to help stop drug trafficking, and pledged to speed up the arrival of EU aide. But several of the candidates seeking the French presidency have pounced on the crisis just a month before the first round of voting. For Francois Fillon, the conservative candidate, "This situation is the consequence of the failed policies of Francois Hollande," the outgoing Socialist president.
Marine Le Pen, the far-right National Front candidate, condemned what she called an "cruel minimum service" of recent governments in Paris toward the territory. In response, Bareigts, the overseas territories minister, and Interior Minister Matthias Fekl said Sunday after a meeting with Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve that "We will not tolerate any exploitation of this social crisis, neither to disrupt public order nor for campaign purposes." A similar revolt gripped French Guiana in 2008 over soaring fuel prices, shutting down schools and the airport. The strike ended after 11 days, when the government agreed to cut fuel prices.
Up to third of flights cancelled in French aviation strike
Transport French Guiana - 3 years ago
Paris, March 21, 2016 (AFP) - Up to a third of flights were cancelled at French airports on Monday as air traffic controllers entered a second day of strikes. Low-cost airline Ryanair deplored what it said was the 41st strike by French air traffic controllers since 2009. Around 140 passengers spent the night in Paris's Orly airport where half of flights were cancelled on the first day of strikes on Sunday.
Authorities Monday asked airlines to cut a third of flights at Orly and Marseille airports, and 20 percent at Lyon, Nice and Beauvais near Paris. The striking union, which represents around a fifth of air traffic controllers, is campaigning against job cuts and the lack of investment in new technology. Air France said journeys out of Paris's other main airport, Charles De Gaulle, were not facing cancellations, but last-minute delays were possible. EasyJet said it had cancelled 90 flights and that more disruptions were possible.
Update report on Rabies in French Guiana
Disease Rabies French Guiana - 4 years ago
Date: Wed 2 Sep 2015
Source: OIE WAHID, weekly disease information 2015; 28 (36) [edited]
<http://www.oie.int/wahis_2/public/wahid.php/Reviewreport/Review?page_refer=MapFullEventReport&reportid=18558>
Rabies, French Guiana
Information received on [and dated] 2 Sep 2015 from Dr Loic Evain, Directeur General adjoint, CVO, Direction generale de l'alimentation, Ministere de l'Agriculture, de l'Agroalimentaire et de la Foret, Paris, French Guiana.
Report type: Immediate notification
Date of start of the event: 20 Aug 2015
Date of confirmation of the event: 31 Aug 2015
Reason for notification: Reoccurrence of a listed disease
Date of previous occurrence: October 2009
Manifestation of disease: Clinical disease
Causal agent: Lyssavirus (RABV vampire bat rabies types)
Serotype: RABV
Nature of diagnosis: Laboratory (advanced)
This event pertains to a defined zone within the country.
New outbreaks (1)
Summary of outbreaks:
Total outbreaks: 1
Outbreak 1: Cayenne, Cayenne
Date of start of the outbreak: 20 Aug 2015
Outbreak status: continuing (or date resolved not provided)
Epidemiological unit: Not applicable
Affected animals:
Species / Susceptible / Cases / Deaths / Destroyed / Slaughtered
Dogs / 1 / 1 / 1 / 0 / 0
Affected population: On Thu 20 Aug 2015, a 6-month-old dog was taken to the veterinarian since he was showing a decreased appetite without neurological signs and again the next day (Fri 21 Aug) following a deterioration of his general condition with convulsions, aggressiveness, visual loss and difficulties with movement. He was hospitalized and died on the night from Friday to Saturday. A rabies investigation was then launched and the Pasteur Institute confirmed the diagnosis on 31 Aug 2015.
Epidemiology:
Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection: unknown or inconclusive
Epidemiological comment: The virus isolated in the dog is a Lyssavirus of RABV species and of "vampire bat rabies" type. It is estimated that the virus excretion phase started on 5 Aug 2015. During this period, the dog was in a fully fenced house. No runaway was reported during the period. He just went out for some walks on a lead in the neighbourhood and some visits to the veterinarian. The dog did not bite but could have chewed or lick wounds or the face. The epidemiological investigation has identified to date 12 contact people and no contact animals. However, there are stray cats near the house where the rabid dog was. Although the origin of the contamination of the dog is still uncertain, the most likely hypothesis is the contact with a bat, since the dog has eaten dead animals found in the garden several times. Following confirmation of the diagnosis, a regulated zone was put in place in order to limit the movements of domestic carnivores, to establish increased surveillance and to strengthen the capture of stray animals. Carnivores improperly vaccinated that could have had contact with the case will be euthanized. Carnivores properly vaccinated that could have had contact with the case will be under clinical monitoring for 6 months.
Measures applied: movement control inside the country; screening; quarantine; zoning; no vaccination; no treatment of affected animals Measures to be applied: No other measures.
Diagnostic test results:
Laboratory name and type:
Institute Pasteur (Paris) (National laboratory)Species / Test / Test date / Result
Dogs / direct fluorescent antibody (FAT) test / 28 Aug 2015 / Positive
Dogs / pathogen isolation on cell culture / 31 Aug 2015 / Positive
Future Reporting: The event is continuing. Weekly follow-up reports will be submitted.
The location of the outbreak can be seen on the interactive map included in the OIE report at the source URL above.
[This immediate notification officially confirms the information communicated in the ProMED-mail report archive number 20150903.3620512.
"Rabies transmitted by the common vampire bat (_Desmodus rotundus_) is a major public health concern in subtropical and tropical areas of Latin America. Infected vampire bats can transmit rabies to domestic mammals and humans through their haematophagous behavior." <https://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_damage/nwrc/publications/12pubs/anderson121.pdf>
Pictures of the common vampire bat (_Desmodus rotundus_) can be seen at
<http://www.arkive.org/common-vampire-bat/desmodus-rotundus/photos.html.>. - ProMED Mod.CRD]
Alert as 6 month old puppy in Cayenne (French Guiana) confirmed to have Rabies
Source: France-Guyane [in French, trans. ProMED CopyEd.LMI, edited]
<http://www.franceguyane.fr/actualite/faitsdivers/un-cas-de-rage-confirme-257433.php>
Yesterday [31 Jul 2015], the Pasteur Institute in Paris confirmed a case of rabies in a 6-month old puppy living in Cayenne. The animal was hospitalized on 21 Aug 2015 at a veterinary hospital for nervous symptoms. He died the following night. 16 people in contact with the dog were sent to the anti-rabies center at the hospital in Cayenne.
The Director for Food, Agriculture and Forestry (Daaf) continues to investigate to discover the origin of the infection. He reminds people of the following guidelines:
- any sudden death of a domestic animal with no identified cause should be reported to a veterinarian;
- any dog, cat, monkey, bat, or other animal bite should be reported to the Daaf;
- early vaccination (starting at 3 months) of domestic animals, with a yearly booster shot is required.
As a precaution, a lot more will be done to catch stray animals in the neighbourhood and the entire area comprising the Zephyr bypass, Montabo, and Baduel roads, and Saint-Antoine path.
[Cayenne is the capital of French Guiana (FG), an overseas region of France on the northeast coast of South America, bordering, on the west, Suriname and on the east and south, Brazil (the Amapa State). See maps at <http://geology.com/world/french-guiana-map.gif> and <http://healthmap.org/promed/p/3486>.
According to French Guiana's reports to the OIE, rabies has been absent there in domestic animals since 2003 and in wildlife since 2009.
According to Ref 1 below, on 28 May 2008, the French National Reference Center for Rabies (Institut Pasteur, Paris) confirmed the rabies diagnosis, based on hemi-nested polymerase chain reaction on skin biopsy and saliva specimens from a Guianan, who had never travelled overseas and died in Cayenne after presenting clinically typical meningoencephalitis.
>From the Author Summary:
"Until 2008, rabies had never been described within the French Guianan human population. Emergence of the 1st case in May 2008 in this French Overseas Department represented a public health event that markedly affected the local population, healthcare workers, and public health authorities. The anti-rabies clinic of French Guiana, located at Institut Pasteur de la Guyane, had to reorganize its functioning to handle the dramatically increased demand for vaccination. A rigorous epidemiological investigation and a veterinary study were conducted to identify the contamination source, probably linked to a bat bite, and the exposed population. Communication was a key factor to controlling this episode and changing the local perception of this formerly neglected disease. Because similar clinical cases had previously been described, without having been diagnosed, medical practices must be adapted and the rabies virus should be sought more systematically in similarly presenting cases. Sharing this experience could be useful for other countries that might someday have to manage such an emergence."
Results of the investigation into the source of infection of the 6-month old domestic dog reported above are anticipated with interest.
The increased incidence of rabies transmission to humans by vampire bats in Latin America, specifically in the Amazon region of Brazil, is discussed in Ref 2 below.
1. Meynard J-B, Flamand C, Dupuy C, et al: First human rabies case in French Guiana, 2008: PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2012;6(2):e1537. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001537; available at <http://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0001537>.
2. Schneider MC, Romijn PC, Uieda W, et al: Rabies transmitted by vampire bats to humans: an emerging zoonotic disease in Latin America? Rev Panam Salud Publica. 2009; 25(3): 260-9; available at <http://www.scielosp.org/scielo.php?pid=S1020-49892009000300010&script=sci_arttext>. - ProMED Mod.AS]


Oohh the sweet smell of chocolate and coffee beans in the morning!
Our sugar scrub is a great combination of sugar and antioxidant rich Ethiopian coffee. Packed with caffeine to nourish, tighten and hydrate that tough skin! The vanilla essential oil adds a sweet touch, while the peppermint essential oil cools down any irritated skin. Vanilla essential oil also stimulates skin repair and protects from normal skin wear and tear.
Our scrubs are designed to gently exfoliate dead skin, while leaving it soft and smooth! We added organic grapeseed oil to moisturize and hydrate your skin back to health. With anti aging properties, gentle on sensitive skin and an excellent source of vitamin E to help nourish the skin.
Gently massage into wet skin after using your usual soap and rinse. Your skin will feel like silk! Follow with our Healthy Hair & Body Oils for a complete moisturizing treatment. If you have allergies, please do a 12 - 24 hour patch test on a small area of skin like the inside wrist area to check for skin sensitivity before applying to skin.


We enjoyed making the new dynamic commercial signage for Alton Tower's new ride Galactica. The ride consists of a new iconic rollercoaster using cutting edge virtual reality googles, to take you into space through wormholes and into new dimensions.
We also fit the impressive new signage for Alton Tower's Rollercoaster Restaurant. It the first of it's kind in the UK as the restaurant sits under a vast rollercoaster track, where you can watch as orders tackle two gravity defying loop-the-loops before dropping 8 metres – the equivalent of two double decker buses – down the tornado spiral to the table.


So in my previous post in the series, I described what soft delete is and what challenges need to be overcome when implementing it using Entity Framework (since EF has no explicit support for this).
And then you decide that you want implement soft delete for Person. What do you do?
This interface should be implemented by every entity that has soft delete enabled.
And you could say that you're done. But of course this way you have to be aware of which entities are soft delete entities and which are not. In case an entity is not a soft delete entity, you can use the .Remove() method as usual. But if it is a soft delete entity, you have to update the IsDeleted flag manually instead of calling .Remove(). This is a solution that has obvious abstraction leaking, which leads to another problem: the solution is not an automated one. So two out of the three technical requirements (identified in the previous post) are broken.
But not all is lost: if you know the change tracking mechanism of Entity Framework, you can implement a more automated solution.
This is not bad at all. It is maintainable, readable, the right abstractions are in place (you do not need to know if an entity is soft deletable or not when coding the business logic).
One might argue that is has a performance penalty because you have to check all the entries in the changetracker. I have to admit, I've never done any measurements to support or deny this claim with proper data. Also one might argue that this is still leaking some abstraction and this should be up to the database to switch up the operations. There is something to this; I mean, if you don't use the ISoftDelete property in the business logic, then why do you need to add the interface for the business entity. Do you see how the abstraction leaks up?.
These are all good points, which should be considered. But I have found that most of my clients and colleagues like this solution and most of the time don't go into the details of the design. That is, until you need cascade delete.
But I unfortunately, there's no point in even trying: to mark the entities as deleted, first you have to load them into the memory, if they are not already there. And this makes this solution a bad one: it involves a lot of performance overhead. Loading related entities just for the sake of marking them deleted is a performance penalty that I don't want to pay (especially if we consider the real cascading nature of the cascade delete, where you might have related records to the related records of the related records).
So if we evaluate this solution, we see that it does not support the deletion of related entities well enough (one of the business requirements), it is automated, but has abstraction leaking, and when it comes to cascade deletion, it has a considerable performance penalty. (Note how I have not discussed loading only active records to memory yet; I will do that in separate posts). So all in all, this solution is a 'good enough' solution if you don't have cascade deletes (even with the little bit of abstraction leaking), but let's be honest: you can do better. And when it comes to cascade delete, it all falls apart :( Maybe some stored procedures could help?


text:
Heavy Gear: Dreadnoughts Kickstarter is LIVE!
Posted by Fusion Core Studios
Kickstarter Announcement for Heavy Gear: Dreadnoughts
Fusion Core Studios' first Kickstarter has gone live. The Kickstarter will fund the manufacture of injection molded plastic miniatures for the Heavy Gear: Dreadnoughts tabletop wargame, as well as additional components for a complete retail starter box. Heavy Gear: Dreadnoughts is a fleet-scale science fiction game featuring landships: massive hovering fortresses that dominate the battlefield and support legions of troops and vehicles.
Each finely-detailed 1/2500 scale landship miniature has various options. For example, the Khagan-class ranger can be built with its gun decks open or closed, and the Susano-O-class besieger's turrets and thruster vanes are separate pieces that can be positioned however the modeler likes. Stretch goals for the Kickstarter will unlock even more options for the ships, like extended flight decks, command towers, and alternate weapons.
The game is set in Dream Pod 9's Heavy Gear universe, adding large-scale strategy to a game franchise spanning skirmish-scale miniatures battles, pen-and-paper roleplaying games, and past and in-progress video game projects. Heavy Gear: Dreadnoughts is a fully standalone product, requiring no previous experience with Heavy Gear. However, players of the skirmish-level Heavy Gear Blitz game will be able to integrate Blitz with Dreadnoughts, using the latter as a campaign system.
Designed for quick play on small tabletops, Heavy Gear: Dreadnoughts uses a turn sequence that progresses according to the players' needs; a player can end a turn at any time to allow their troops to regroup and repair, but doing so also grants initiative to their opponent, making each turn an important tactical decision that affects each player's overall strategy for the battlefield.
The Heavy Gear: Dreadnoughts Kickstarter will run for 30 days, until December 17 at 8:40 PM, EST.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1438910159/heavy-gear-dreadnoughts-plastic-miniatures-wargame
About Fusion Core Studios
Fusion Core Studios LLC is a game design and publishing company based in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our first product is a sci-fi tabletop miniatures wargame set in Dream Pod 9\'s Heavy Gear universe, planned for a Fall 2017 release.
View all posts by Fusion Core Studios →
Getting ready for DW 2.5!
Dreadball 2: New Teams Added to the Playtest Packet

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Business advice from is4profit | Small Business Act approved by EU |
Small Business Act approved by EU
The is4profit team	December 9, 2008
The Council of Ministers, the EU's most important decision–making body, has approved the Small Business Act (SBA) for Europe, which includes a three–stage action plan to help small firms through the economic downturn.
The three priorities highlighted were to give all SMEs in the EU better access to finance, reduce their administrative burden and help them to benefit from European and international market opportunities.
Though not legally binding on EU member states, the action plan includes a mixture of legislative proposals, such as giving those that trade in more than one member state new status as a European Private Company, as well as non–legislative commitments. The latter including providing small firms with better access to loans and introducing an 'SME test' to ensure all new laws are cost–effective for small firms.
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) welcomed the agreement but said that it did not go far enough. BCC European adviser Karen Clements said:
"We strongly approve of the SME test. It will make a difference in the longer term, as the EU Commission will have to quantify the costs and benefits for SMEs of each piece of its legislation. Legislators will become more aware of the disproportionate regulatory burden that SMEs bear compared to larger companies. They might now consider a more systematic approach to giving small firms exemptions or transition periods for new regulation.
"However, the Act does not go far enough — it should require all national governments to implement an SME test for all legislation. But the EU cannot force member states — it can only suggest that they do that," she added.
No timetable has been given for delivery of the action plan. It is likely to be implemented in stages as all 27 EU member states have not yet agreed to each proposal.
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) welcomed the SBA, but said it lacked a clear timetable. ICAEW head of medium–sector issues Clive Lewis said:
"In order to have an impact on the everyday life of enterprises, European and national governments need to take a more modernised approach to SMEs across all policy areas"
"The ICAEW's wish–list for the SBA made clear the importance of a timetable for action and a progress review mechanism to ensure accountability at EU and national levels. However, while accountability will be ensured via an annual review process, the SBA action plan falls short by not providing a timetable for delivery against all activities."
For more information about the Small Business Act proposals, visit the EU Commission's website
Tags:British Chambers of CommerceChartered Accountants in England and WalesCouncil of MinistersEuropean Private CompanySmall Business Act
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I have an unbridled creative spirit. My creative expression began as a young boy building elaborate sets with wooden blocks and playing theatre with my Fisher Price "Cabezones" (toys with big heads). My grandmother and great-grandmother would share stories of opening nights at the Old Met, dressed in fur and long coats. They sang me lullabies and songs of Spanish Zarzuela to go to sleep. My other grandmother had LPs of Broadway shows and on a Parcheesi Game Board I would play Evita and A Chorus Line. While my identical twin brother was trying to play war with his GI Joe's, I was simultaneously and fabulously play WAR! The Musical with my toys. My toys had soliloquies, dream ballets and grand finales. It is in response to this expression that I was a professional actor for 15 years.
When I was seven years old my family visited Disney World in Orlando, FL for my little sister's 4th birthday. It was the summer of 1984 and history was being made: Walter Mondale selected Geraldine Ferraro to be the first woman nominee for Vice President. I was raised in a rarity, a Cuban-American Democrat household. The rental house was completely quiet except for my father and I watching the delegates from the different states align with the Mondale/Ferraro ticket. There was confetti, balloons, bunting (let's face it a lot of POLITICS! The Musical) and I was mesmerized. My interest in political advocacy and leadership began. I got rid of styrofoam in the High School Cafeteria. I interned on Capitol Hill before college through an internship with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. As the son of immigrants who fled Fascism and Communism in the 20th Century, I have always had a keen interest and respect for the political system and the opportunities and responsibilities I believe we have as citizens to contribute to our fellow man.
When I was young my Spanish grandfather would summer in Miami Beach and my siblings and I would spend a month with him and my grandmother at the beach. This one summer he drove down to Miami from Delaware with a globe. That summer every night we would gather at the dinner table after dinner and he would dictate to me the countries of the world and their capitals. When your family is a product of historical events and your ancestors come from different parts of the world it becomes very helpful to have an understanding of where your family comes from and what the historical events were that shaped their journeys. The lens for these conversations were also in Spanish, my native language, and this awareness of literature, history and culture from Cuba and Spain was an exciting counterpoint to the literature, history and culture that I was learning about the United States and it's British history and lineage.
So what does all of this equal. A bilingual, theater loving, politically active, global citizen and do gooder. I decided to transition to Social Entrepreneurship full time in the late Fall of 2014. For several years I was feeling unsatisfied as a professional actor. I was living the expression of the little boy who loved to sing and dance. I was living LIFE! The Musical. But I was missing a desire to really be of service and make an impact on the world that I had so carefully studied since I was a little boy. To quote Whitman, "I too am not a bit tamed, I too am untranslatable . . . " I have sounded the barbaric YAWP and now I'm moving forward. Self expressed, unapologetic, and fearlessly in service of a better world.
At my first marathon in November 2015.
Running in the beach in Miami, FL. My curiosity for the world developed because my grandfather would travel with a globe and after dinner we would dictate to me all the countries and their capitals.
I'm an identical twin. The main difference is that I exercise and moisturize.
I have an acute case of "Showtunitis" and I spontaneously break out into show tunes at the drop of a hat.
I consumed all of Battlestar Galactica in a week and a half.
As a Mellon Minority Undergraduate Fellow at Penn, I spent a summer in London and saw 40 shows in 5 weeks.
I was in the Penn Glee Club when I was in college and directed their annual musical review for 4 years.
I completed my first marathon in November 2015.
It took me over 5 years to call myself an actor. I was a stage actor for 15 years performing primarily Shakespeare and Musical Theater in repertory companies all over the US.
It took me 2 hours to call myself a photographer. The first wedding I photographed was in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
I don't eat anything that lives in water - my grandmother took me to a fish market when I was 5 and since that day my twin and I swore it off.
Click here to see a video of the Penn Glee Club dance like no one is watching as a tribute to Whitney Houston's passing in 2012. I would lead the students in a line dance called the Cha Cha prior to every rehearsal to this song.


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Q: How to write a SQL function into Acces 2003 So I have an acces table : Data
Data is made of :

*

*Client ID

*Product ID

*Sell Category ( exemple : Sell Dones, Sell Planed ,Forecast Sales) ,written all in letters

*Quantity sold .

*unitary price.

I am trying to build a single Acces query which would display things like :
|Client ID||Product ID||Total Sell Dones||Total Sell Planed||Total Forecast Sell||Quantity Sell Dones||Quantity Sell Planed||Quantity Forecast|

How can I do that ?
Like if I had only one type of sell and one single quantity I could simply do :
SELECT (sells*quantity) AS [Total Sells]

But the thing here is have different quantity and different types of sells could I put IF into the select ?
Something like :
Select (IF Data.Sell Category="Planned Sell" THEN quantity Sold*Unitary Price
ELSE 0) as [Total Planned Sell] , etc etc (for every single one ?

The thing is I am using acces 2003 and I dont think I can create a sql function in acces 2003 and use it in my select , but if I can I am willing to do so , else if I can only use "select,delete,update " in acces 2003 I guess I will have to do it like this

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Plan ahead: These interstates and streets will be closed this weekend
Drivers should be alert for construction crews, closures and restrictions out on the streets and highways this weekend.
Plan ahead: These interstates and streets will be closed this weekend Drivers should be alert for construction crews, closures and restrictions out on the streets and highways this weekend. Check out this story on IndyStar.com: https://www.indystar.com/story/news/2019/06/21/indianapolis-traffic-highways-and-streets-closed-weekend/1525589001/
Kellie Hwang, Indianapolis Star Published 3:50 p.m. ET June 21, 2019 | Updated 6:06 p.m. ET June 21, 2019
The IndyGo Red Line is the first leg of a four-year plan to close gaps in the city's transportation system. Stephen J. Beard and Joe Tamborello, Indianapolis Star
Now that summer is here and the weather is warming up, more people are out and about on the roads.
But the nicer weather also means more construction crews doing much needed repairs to the state's roads and bridges.
This weekend, the Indiana Department of Transportation will have five highway projects happening simultaneously.
Also continuing is construction for the IndyGo Red Line, expected to begin service on Sept. 1. This has impacted traffic as workers pave streets, finish station structures and repair infrastructure.
Indy infrastructure: Central Avenue bridge to reopen in July. Here's why repairs took 2 years.
If you plan to be out driving around town or heading on a road trip this weekend, be on the lookout for the bright orange barrels and plan ahead for these closures and traffic restrictions.
A construction crew completes roadwork at Binford Boulevard and Rucker Road in Indianapolis on Thursday, May 30, 2019. The Binford Boulevard Project is expected to be finished by November 2019. (Photo: Jenna Watson/IndyStar)
I-65 closures
I-65 northbound from I-465 to I-865 will be closed through July 1.
The right three lanes of I-65 northbound from Southport Road to I-465, and on ramps from Southport Road to I-65 north will be closed from Friday, June 21 at 9 p.m. to Monday, June 24 at 6 a.m.
The left two lanes of I-65 northbound from Little Eagle Creek to Lafayette Road will be closed from Friday, June 21 at 9 p.m. to Monday, June 24 at 6 a.m.
I-465 closures
The left two lanes of I-465 eastbound from Allisonville Road to Fall Creek will be closed from Friday, June 21 at 7 p.m. to Saturday, June 22 at 7 p.m.
The two left lanes of I-465 westbound from Fall Creek to the White River, and the ramp from I-465 westbound to I-69 northbound will be closed from Saturday, June 22 at 7 p.m. to Monday, June 24 at 6 a.m.
The left three lanes of I-465 southbound from just south of I-69 interchange to U.S. 36 will be closed from Friday, June 21 at 9 p.m. to Monday, June 24 at 6 a.m.
The left three lanes of I-465 southbound from 96th to 46 streets will be closed from Friday, June 21 at 9 p.m. to Monday, June 24 at 6 a.m.
Other highway closures
I-70 eastbound from I-465 to the south split will be closed Friday at 9 p.m. through Monday at 6 a.m. All ramps in this section will be closed.
Red Line construction continues
These corridors are under construction:
Meridian Street from 18th St. to 38th St.
Shelby St. from Hanna Ave. to Prospect St.
Capitol Ave. from 18th St. to Washington St.
Virginia Ave. from Shelby to Delaware St.
College Ave. from 38th St. to 66th St.
Illinois Street, Washington St to 18th St
30th Street, Meridian St. to Illinois St.
COLLEGE AVENUE
Pavement resurfacing began this week on College Avenue at 66th Street, and will continue south to 38th Street, taking about four weeks to complete. Drivers should expect traffic and on-street parking restrictions, which may lead to diversions off College Avenue.
One-block segments on College Avenue will be closed for up to two hours each as the final layer of concrete is poured on station platforms. Here's the schedule:
June 25: Kessler Boulevard station.
June 26: 54th Street station.
June 28: 52nd Street station.
July 1: 46th Street station.
July 2: 42nd Street station.
WASHINGTON STREET, VIRGINIA AVENUE, SHELBY STREET
Pavement markings are currently being placed on these streets, causing temporary traffic restrictions. Station construction continues on Virginia Avenue and Shelby Street.
CAPITOL AVENUE
Traffic lane and parking restrictions will continue on Capitol Avenue from 19th to Washington streets. Driveways, entrance and parking lots will be accessible on the east and west sides of the street. Station construction continues along Capitol Avenue.
MERIDIAN STREET
Left turn lanes are restricted at these locations:
Both directions at 21st, 22nd, 28th, 30th, 32nd and 34th streets.
Southbound at 29th Street.
Northbound at 30th and 38th streets.
Construction continues on the east side of Meridian Street, with one lane of traffic in each direction still running. Station structure construction continues.
In late June or July, repaving will begin on Meridian Street, resulting in temporary lane restrictions.
ILLINOIS STREET
Crews continue to modify traffic signals, and work on curbs and sidewalks at 30th Street.
Kellie Hwang is a reporter at IndyStar. Contact her at 317-444-6032 or kellie.hwang@indystar.com. Follow her on Twitter: @KellieHwang.
Read or Share this story: https://www.indystar.com/story/news/2019/06/21/indianapolis-traffic-highways-and-streets-closed-weekend/1525589001/
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UFC Veteran Josh Grispi Sentenced To 5 1/2 Years In Prison
UFC veteran Josh Grispi is going to be serving to be serving the next five-plus years in a Massachusetts prison after being found guilty on 25 counts of assault and gun charges.
This is according to a press release issued by the Plymouth County District Attorney's Office.
Related Article Report: Ryan Hall Returns vs. Dan Ige, More News | Fight Announcement Roundup
The charges come from an August 2014 incident when Grispi assaulted his wife Kaitlyn by pulling on her hair and hitting her on the head multiple times. The victim suffered a sprained wrist, a concussion and several other injuries were also suffered by the victim.
Three days after the initial assault, police were sent to the pair's home after receiving an anonymous tip, which is where they found a host of guns that belonged to an unlicensed Grispi. The UFC vet would be arrested on gun charges and domestic assault, but would make bail a short time later.
"Domestic violence cases are difficult to prosecute and involve a particularly vulnerable set of victims, and this case was no different," district attorney Anthony Cruz said in a statement. "This was a severe case of abuse, not only the physical injuries Mr. Grispi inflicted, but the emotional abuse of isolating the victim from family. I am hopeful that with the time in jail and proper programming, Mr. Grispi can learn to control his anger and emotions and become a productive member of society."
Although Grispi was found guilty of 25 charges that were against him, the fighter was also found not guilty on some other charges. Those other charges included accusations of making the family dog attack his wife, three counts of assault & battery with a dangerous weapon and unlawful possession of ammunition.
"It's the worst case of domestic abuse I've ever seen," Harvey said.
Kaitlyn, who was on the receiving end of the abuse from Grispi, has stood by her husband throughout the trial and even testified on his behalf.
Grispi last competed over four years ago at UFC On Fuel TV 7, where he suffered a decision loss to Andy Ogle.


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2-Fundamental Principles of Astrology – Ebook download as PDF File .pdf), Text File .txt) or read book online. K.S. Krishnamurti carried the titles of Sothida Mannan, Jyotish Marthand. FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF ASTROLOGY (Hindu, Western, Stellar), 2nd. Books By K. P. Readers By Prof. K.S. KRISHNAMURTI. ental Principles of Astrology; ge, Married Life and Children; Astrology; 4.
You can send amount as DD in favor of K.
Tables for navamsa chart; Rationale of Krishnamurti Padhdhati Deposit principlew to our account: A general introductory text to astrology. Rectification of Birth Time 6. Astrology – an occult science; 4. Advice to administrator; 9.
In many cases, this involves asking the client to pick a number between 1 and Destiny, fate inevitable; Krishnamurti Publications, pages. Horary Astrology in Hindi 8. Registration Login Payment Option Interview. To locate a place on earth; 5.
How to use the Krishnamurti Padhdhati system to forecast specific events, using the natal chart. New Horizons on KP Constellation and their effects Medical astrology, Astro-meteorology, Judicial astrology, Natal astrology, Horary astrology, Electional astrology, Kabala astrology, Kerala astrology, omens; Karma – inequality in life; Astrological Diagnosis bu Diseases 2.
Table of Houses; Who can learn astrology; The Krishnamurti system uses its own ayanamsa. To find out the position of planets; Vedic and KP Astrology 4. It increases at a rate of 8 minutes per decade, or 83 minutes per century, or, to be absolutely precise, Shanti to ward off evil; KP — How to Interpret your Horoscope Efficacy of Stellar Astrology A new Light on Jyothisha 9.
Ayanamsa tables from to ; Sidereal time at the place of birth; Tables for sunrise at various northern latitudes in local mean time; Fundamental Principles of Astrology 2.
War time or civil time; As the title suggests, this is a book teaching how to cast a horoscope. The mother earth; 4. KP Stellar Astrology shows the way Letters to the author; 2.


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Soiled clinical linens may be source of surface C. difficile contamination, study finds
A new paper published in FEMS Microbiology Letters, resulting from an investigation of a laundry facility that services several Seattle-area hospitals, suggests that soiled clinical linens may be a source of surface Clostridium difficile contamination.
C. difficile is a hospital and community acquired pathogen. C. difficile are spore-forming anaerobic bacteria that have been identified in 2-3% of healthy, non-hospitalized adults and in 10-25% of hospitalized adults. Toxin-producing C. difficile is the most common cause of hospital-acquired diarrhea. It is estimated that 25% of all C. difficile infections occur from exposures in the community that may stem from potential sources including water, soil, livestock, meats, vegetables and pets. There is evidence that C. difficile infections are seasonal and are correlated with 151 respiratory illnesses in the winter, due to antibiotic use.
The study determined if C. difficile could be cultured from clinical laundry facility surfaces. A total of 240 surface samples were collected from dirty areas, which handle soiled clinical linens, and from clean areas, which process and fold the clean linens, within the University of Washington Consolidated Laundry facility in 2015.
All samples were collected at a laundry facility in Seattle, WA. This facility processes linens from six Seattle area hospitals, 30 local outpatient clinics and the Washington National Primate Research Center. Each week about 300,000 lbs. of laundry are processed. The facility is separated into two floors with the majority of the soiled linen handled on the 2nd floor and the clean linen handled exclusively on the 1st floor.
The dirty area surface sample sites included the receiving area, the primary sort area, the secondary sort area, and the customer owned goods area for a total of 30 samples at each visit. The clean area sampling sites included washers, the folding area, the processing area and the break area. Thirty samples per sampling time with 120 samples total were collected each from the dirty and clean areas.
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All of the samples that tested positive were in areas where dirty linens are handled; no C. difficile contamination was found in areas where only clean laundry was handled. Of the samples taken from surfaces in the dirty side of the laundry facility, 23% (25/120 samples) tested positive for C. difficile. Only 2% (2/120 samples) of sampled surfaces from the clean side were positive for C. difficile. The two surfaces that were positive for C. difficile both came from a small area where soiled linen is handled in small batches. While the area is distinct from where clean linen is dried, ironed, and folded, it is on the same floor as the clean side. This indicates that the dirty linens were the likely source of the environmental contamination in the laundry.
According to researchers, their data may be an underestimation of true prevalence and diversity of C. difficile on surfaces. The study is limited by the inherently poor recovery of microbes from environmental surfaces, difficulty in culturing C. difficile spores, differences in recommended incubation times and media used.
"This research supports the idea that its possible for the soiled hospital linens to contaminate the environment with C. difficile, which is the number one cause of hospital associated diarrhea," said study author Marilyn Roberts, PhD. "It's also extremely hard to remove from the environment. Due to this contamination, laundry facilities should be considered an extension of the healthcare environment when considering infection prevention and occupational health."
Oxford University Press USA
Posted in: Medical Research News | Disease/Infection News | Healthcare News
Tags: Antibiotic, Bacteria, Clostridium, Clostridium Difficile, Contamination, Diarrhea, Healthcare, Hospital, Microbiology, Occupational Health, Pathogen, Research, Respiratory, Toxin, Vegetables
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Blood vessels in women age quicker than men's
Structure of most lethal toxin produced by C. difficile bacteria identified
Study examines within-hospital racial and ethnic disparities in severe maternal morbidity rates
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New trial shows how parents can avoid bringing dangerous bacteria into the NICU
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Researchers discover how a new immune system works to protect bacteria from phages
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Ariel Louwrier discusses the development of pre-formed tau and alpha-synuclein fibrils for research into Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
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Bacteriophages could treat E. coli without damaging the gut, new study says


November 6 News | Jobs in Film, Radio, Audio.
One thing that stands out about Recording Connection student James Boucher (Venice, CA) is that he takes his time making major decisions—but once the decision is made, there's no looking back. As we'll see, it's just that sort of mindset that makes him a prime candidate to be a success in a music industry career. James' journey into audio engineering and production began at the end of a two-year stint at college, where he earned a two-year degree in electronic media communications, but knew he needed more. "After taking time off of college, I decided that I really wanted to pursue my music further, in a more professional way," he says. "So I started looking at opportunities and schooling, and I first looked at some academic schools. It didn't seem that they were going to provide me with the required hands-on experience that I think is necessary for music production. And as well as me being a hands-on learner, I thought it was more beneficial for my future for me to get in the studio and to really start doing things." But even after finding the Recording Connection and talking with the admissions team, James waited nearly two years before deciding to jump in. "After reading and speaking with several different people, I did take time to take a serious break and to think about if this was the best decision for myself," he says. During that time, however, James was anything but idle. "I worked for two years at a cafe as a manager," he says, "and I just worked hard, saving up every dime I could just to be able to have savings to move out here to pursue it." Once he decided to enroll in the Recording Connection, James went the extra mile, in a literal way—not only paying his tuition but also deciding to move cross-country from New York to do his training in Los Angeles. "Moving out here was definitely a transition," he says. "It was not only just a new experience for me, but it was a journey because I had to relocate from New York. I drove cross country for a week straight, and moved my first place to L.A." James was placed as an apprentice at Studio 1 Zero in Los Angeles, to be mentored by Grammy-nominated producer Eric Denniston (Carole King, 50 Cent). "In the beginning, it was definitely a little nerve-wracking, he admits. "I think especially when you're just getting to know someone, there's a level of uncertainty…[but] the first day it was a very welcome environment, open atmosphere, and things just sort of hit it off." Eric's mentoring approach definitely gave James the hands-on experience he had been looking for. "What I really like about his style of teaching is that he gets everything sort of started," says James, "he puts you in at that point to where you're at the session's beginning, and now you just have to begin. And you're basically showing him where you're at with the program…He answers questions when they're asked, even the ones that you might think are stupid. But he's very positive…He's also not afraid to tell you when you need to improve in this area, or if something's lacking. It's a perfect mix of ruling with an iron fist, but also having grace and patience." In addition to James' studies, Eric's also got him honing his skills on actual tracks. "I've been working on a couple of projects at the studio, because I'm actually a little bit ahead of the program…So a couple of the early weeks, he's given me a couple projects. I just got done mixing one of his songs, and actually got a pretty good report from it, you know, with his hand and guidance on certain things. I'm grateful to have him tell me, 'Good work,' at the end of it." Meanwhile, since making the decision to pursue his career, James is wasting no time. He's working on some projects of his own, thanks to the connections he's made since moving to L.A. "About four months ago, one of my friends that I met from Venice, she's an artist, she wanted to come over to do a song," says James. "So she freestyled over one of her friend's EDM tracks, and that was pretty cool…And then I have some of my own projects that may lead to further work in the future with some other friends that work for Sony and a couple other animation companies." Having now worked on his apprenticeship for several months, does James have any advice for others considering the program? "The best advice I could give…is to just really have a passion for what you want to do," he says, "and know that what you're getting involved in is going to be a great decision, but it's not going to be handed to you. You have to put the work in, you have to be responsible, show up early, meet deadlines, and there's even etiquette for being in the studio. You have to act the right way, and it's all a matter of providing the greatest service for your client. So I think the Recording Connection puts you in a great position now to learn all of these things before you're in the real life situation and make the mistake that might get you fired." As for his own choice to make the move to L.A. and pursue his music career…even after waiting nearly two years before jumping in, James not only sees the value of his decision, but also understands how his mentoring is helping him move toward his goals. "I think everything has an extent of nerves attached to them," he says. "But if we can convince ourselves to step off that ledge or to grab that hand that's reaching out, and to accept the help and not sit there in our own pride, but to sit there and take it with a grain of salt and allow people to critique us and correct us, and use that to our benefit…It's all about putting the right people in your life that are going to want the most and the best for you. "It's been one of the best decisions I have made," he adds.
Film Connection screenwriting mentor Ana Bendaña on organizing, trimming and developing a winning screenplay!
Based in San Antonio, TX, Film Connection screenwriting mentor Ana Bendaña is passionate about teaching her students how to make a script stand out—from character development to unique story arcs to knowing when and what to cut from the screenplay. In a recent conversation with RRFC, Ana peeled back the curtain a bit into her own process and offered some extremely useful insights. The best nuggets from that conversation are mined for you below!