Uttarakhand, the Abode of Gods aka Devbhoomi is a beautiful northern state of India. It is a land nestled in the majestic Himalayas- Nanda Devi, Panchachuli, Trisul to name a few and locked among the mighty rivers- Ganga and Yamuna in its varied forms. Snow clad mountains, lush green forests, meadows, and valleys come with fresh, non-polluted mountain air. While the state is popular and loved by all people alike for what it has to offer – be it temples, pilgrimage centers, adventure or peaceful getaways, most of the regions in Uttarakhand are still unexplored.
For the last five years, I have been fortunate to explore this land which is mighty rich in its culture and heritage. We were stationed at the Garhwal region before and is now at Kumaon, making us feel humbled and blessed because back to back postings in the same state is definitely kind of a miracle in Defence Forces.
Uttarakhand meaning Northern (Uttara) Land (Khand) was formerly known as Uttaranchal. It was part of the state of Uttar Pradesh but the BJP government of 2000 headed by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee made Uttarakhand a separate state. It has thirteen districts and is broadly divided into two regions, mainly for administrative purposes – the Garhwal division in the west and Kumaon division in the east.
The Garhwal Region of Uttarakhand gets its name from the word 'Garh' meaning the Land of 'Forts'. It has its name and fame from the Puranic period, having referred in Mahabharata and Skanda Purana.
In the 15th century, King Ajai Pal diminished the minor territories and brought together the 52 separate realms into one kingdom of Garhwal, with each realm having its own 'Garh' or fortifications. Ajai Pal and his successors ruled the kingdom for around 300 years. Mind you, it wasn't a piece of cake. They were under constant attack by the Mughals, Kumaon, and Gorkhas. In the 18th century, the Garhwali soldiers succumbed to the brutal attack of Gorkhas who had also captured Kumaon.
The 12 years of the reign of Gorkhas is known as Gorkhyani, synonymous to their brutal attacks, massacres, ravage and marauding of armies. They ruled with an iron fist imposing excessive taxation policy, an iniquitous judicial system, slavery, and torture of people.
In the Gurkha War of 1814, the British attacked the Gurkhas and the region of Garhwal and Kumaon came under the British empire. The Garhwal rulers gave 60 percent of their kingdom to the Britishers for their support in chasing the Gorkhas away. Thus, the Britishers ruled in the eastern part of the Garhwal region, then known as the town of Dehra and later became popular as the Dehra'dun'. The western part of Garhwal – the Tehri region was restored to the Garhwal kings.
Garhwal is culturally colorful and the hospitality here is heartwarming. The people of Garhwal region are known as Garhwalis and they primarily speak Garhwali language with varied dialects of its own. It belongs to the Indo-Aryan language and most of the Garhwalis also speak Hindi and Sanskrit. The region celebrates music, dance and a number of festivals and fairs. The folksong 'Bedu Pako' is quite famous and yeah, once in a while you can find me humming the tune.
Uttarakhand is popular for its food too. The Garhwali and Kumaoni food is something that you should discover and relish when on a trip to this state. The cuisine is made of simple ingredients, mostly cereals and grains, and local produce. Winter calls for heavy meals. I wait for winters for it brings fresh greens in the form of Fenugreek leaves (Methi), Mustard greens (Rai), Spinach (Palak), Radish Greens (Mooli ke pathe) and more. Mandua (finger millet) ki Roti, Chainsoo (made with black Urad Dal), Phaanoo (made from a mix of different lentils including Gehat), Rajma, Kafuli (made with spinach and fenugreek leaves) and Jholi (a thin gravy made of potatoes, tomatoes and curd) are some staple food.
Non-vegetarian foods are loved too, primarily curries (Jhols) made with river fish and gravies with red meat and chicken. Dessert options include Jhangore ke Kheer (made from millet) and Arsa (sweet balls made with jaggery and curd).
The meadows, valleys and lush green forests come with rich flora and fauna as well. The feline family including Tiger, Snow Leopard, and Panther is bountiful in the mountains. You can also spot Jackal, Musk Deer, Bear, Monkey, and Flying Squirrel among many others.
Oh, don't get me started with birds. One can spot over 400 different varieties of winged creatures including Bulbul, Kingfisher and Jewel Thrush.
From Oak, Fig, Deodar, Pine, Chestnut, and Poplar, to medicinal plants and over 500 varieties of flowers, Garhwal Uttarakhand is home to rich flora.
A large part of Uttarakhand is occupied by some mighty mountain peaks. A part of the Himalaya Shivalik Hills can be seen in Garhwal mountain ranges. Chaukhamba peaks come with three mountains and rest at the Gangotri glacier. Swargarohini boasts itself along the Saraswati range in Uttarkashi along with Gaumukh, a treasured glacier. The Shivling and Kedarnath peaks are part of Gangotri.
The two most holy rivers, Ganga and Yamuna have their origin in Uttarakhand. The Yamuna originates from Yamunotri glacier and is the longest river that does not end up in a sea. The river Yamuna merges with Ganga at the Triveni Sangam in Uttar Pradesh – the confluence of three rivers- Yamuna, Ganga and Saraswati, the latter now believed to be in invisible form.
The Ganges has many streams including Bhagirathi and Alaknanda and forms the five holy unions in Garhwal Himalayas namely, Vishnuprayag, Nandprayag, Karnaprayag, Rudraprayag and Devprayag. Ganga hits the plains at Rishikesh.
The districts that fall under Garhwal region are Chamoli, Dehradun, Haridwar, Pauri Garhwal, Rudraprayag, Tehri Garhwal, and Uttarkashi.
With lofty snow-covered peaks, enchanting rivers, rich flora and fauna, and sacred temples and pilgrimage centers, the Garhwal division of Uttarakhand gives you the option of relishing and quenching the travel lust in you.
Whether you are an admirer of nature, or is keen to undertake adventure activities or want to go on a pilgrimage or simply wants to take some time off your busy schedule and relax, Uttarakhand provides them all.
The four pilgrim destinations – Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath is collectively known as Char Dham or 'Four Abodes'. Many thousands of devotees take up this pilgrimage every year where each destination is devoted to one deity. Yamunotri is dedicated to Goddess Yamuna, Gangotri to Goddess Ganga, Kedarnath to Lord Shiva and Badrinath to Lord Vishnu. The pilgrimage is considered to complete only if one follows this exact order, commencing from Yamunotri towards Gangotri, Kedarnath and finally at Badrinath. You are to experience Moksha/inner peace and absolute bliss after taking up this spiritual journey.
Counted as one of the seven holy places for Hindus, Haridwar aka Gateway of God is situated at the base of the Shivalik Range of Himalayas. Come June and July, millions of Lord Shiva Devotees gather to attend the Kumbh Mela. Take a holy dip at Har ki Pauri and you do not want to miss the Ganga Aarti.
Hemkund Sahib is popular not only for its stunning landscape but it is said that Guru Gobind Singh meditated here for years before leaving for the heavenly abode. This place is of great significance for the Sikhs and is thus an important Sikh Yatra center.
Staying true to its name, Auli or 'meadow' is an offbeat but popular destination for winter sports enthusiasts. Why head to Switzerland if you can go to Auli! The meadows are a beautiful green in summers and covered with snow in winters. Auli is a favorite destination for skiing.
Known as the Yoga Capital of the World, Rishikesh is home to both spiritual as well as adventure tourism. Take a break from the hustle and bustle of life and enjoy a quiet introspection of life in this place. Go on solitary walks along the banks of the Ganges, walk across the Lakshman Jhula or go kayaking, bungee jumping or river-rafting. Chat with travelers from around the world, sip a cup of ginger tea at cafes overlooking the brilliant landscape. Ah, there is so much to do in Rishikesh.
The International Yoga Week from 2nd to 7th Feb is held here on the banks of Ganga and attracts participants from all over the world. The Rishikesh International Film Festival is another event to look forward to every year. It screens films and videography of eminent filmmakers, conducts cultural workshops and also emphasizes music and dance. You can find more details on their Facebook event page.
Like Rishikesh, Uttarkashi is famous for both its pilgrimage importance as well as adventure sports. It is said that at one point, there were over 365 temples here. Home to ashrams, it is also a trekker's paradise.
One of the popular hill stations of the country, Dehradun is also home to some of the finest education centers in India including the Indian Military Academy, Doon School, and Forest Research Institute. It also houses some busy shopping streets like Paltan Bazaar, Tibetan Monasteries, and nature's hideout at Lal Tibba and Robber's Cave.
This quiet hill station is a biker's paradise. Surrounded by pine and oak forests and hills, Lansdowne is loved by nature lovers. The picturesque town is also easily accessible by road. There are many beautiful churches, lakes, and museums. The Garhwal Rifles Regiment is situated in this town and the Regimental War Memorial is a must-visit.
Dhanaulti is around 24km from Mussourie and is another sought-after hill station. It is one of the best places in Uttarakhand to watch snowfalls.
Known as the 'Queen of Hills', Mussoorie is one of the favorite honeymoon destinations of India. When in this hill station, don't forget to take a walk down the Mall Road, take a ride on a cable car to GunHill, take in the remarkable view of the Doon valley, take bath in the stunning Kempty Falls, relish momos and treat your palate at various quirky restaurants and of course, meet Ruskin Bond if on a Saturday.
Being close to Delhi, Mussourie is a favorite place to celebrate New Years. However, since thousands flock to this hill state at this time of the year which forces the authorities to close down the place due to massive jams and bumper-to-bumper traffic. Trust me, it isn't a pleasant scenario. We were fortunate to visit the place and get back on time than getting stuck in this chock-a-block traffic which may last for a day until revelers are cleared and asked to return mid-way.
Another wonderful destination known for its picturesque picnic spots, Chakrata is home to some fun and adventure activities. One can trek your way to Tiger Falls or go camping in this quaint hill station. Waterfall rappelling, river crossing, and mountain climbing are some of the popular activities one can undertake here.
The Department of Uttarakhand Tourism has taken special measures to develop New Tehri which engulfs some popular tourist attractions. This includes the spiritual tour of many revered temples and also watersports including jet skiing. The Tehri lake Festival boasts of Asia's biggest lake festival and includes a plethora of fun and frolic events. The 3-day Tehri Lake Festival of 2018 included activities such as Light and Sound show, Yoga and Meditation, Stargazing, Paragliding, and Water Zorbing among many others. The region also houses one of the highest dam projects called the Tehri Dam.
Situated in the Chamoli district near Badrinath, Valley of Flowers is a stunning national park with beautiful meadows of alpine flowers. The Valley of Flowers is open only from the month of June till October as it is covered with snow the rest of the year. That said, the best time to visit is in the months of July and August when the flowers are in full bloom. To reach the Valley of Flowers, one should go on a 13-hour trek from Govind Ghat which is the nearest you can get to by road. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a true paradise on earth with the view of melting glaciers, snowclad mountains, and rich flora.
Mythological legends say Lord Hanuman visited this valley to collect the 'Sanjeevani' herb to save Lakshman's life.
Mana is the last village of India near the Indo-China border. It's one of the best destinations for bikers and is home to tiny yet quaint houses.
The Garhwal region is dotted with many treks routes which you can go on including Har ki Dun Valley Trek, Nanda Devi, Nachiketa Tal, Dodi Tal, Sat Tal, Kedar Tal, Gangotri, Gaumukh, Nandanvan Tapovan and to Yamunotri in Garhwal.
There are many budget-friendly hotels in and around most of the iconic places in Garhwal. However, be rest assured that you would find a GMVN – Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam Guest Houses at prime locations across this region. They provide deluxe, luxury bungalows as well as budget room accommodations.
The Garhwal region of Uttarakhand is well connected by rail and road. The cities of Haridwar and Rishikesh has got good rail connectivity as well. Public transport in the form of taxis and buses are available in almost all the places. The Jolly Grant Airport at Dehradun is also a saving grace.
Have you been to the Garhwal Region of Uttarakhand? Share your experiences with me. Stay Tuned for more in this series of Exploring Uttarakhand.
I can honestly say I never heard of this place until now reading this blog. You did a great job with this travel guide and giving me a feel of this country.
An informative and comprehensive post,Shaalu. I am yet to explore UK fully and this guide is gonna come handy for sure. Have friends living and working in every region of UK but just that somehow my plans don't materialize. Hope to explore the Dev Bhoomi soon, again!
What a beautiful place to visit. Those temples are incredible as is the landscape. I would love to visit one day and experience everything this unique location has to offer.
This is such a comprehensive post with detailed information and great pictures too, Shalini. Bookmarking this post!
Shalini, you have listed the places so artistically, I would love to visit each place. Last Summers happened to go to Rishikesh, hope I can check more in upcoming holidays.
Lovely post with beautiful pics and great details. I had visited Uttarakhand years ago and your post has reminded me those days.
Wow…it looks so beautiful! I think the next time I visit India, I might need to complete a side trip there.
Wow! This is so perfect place to visit and to explore! Thanks for letting know all about these! Stunning!
Honestly saying, I haven't been to Garhwal hills yet, but this blog was more than enough for me to make me think to plan a trip there, loved the blog and the way it has been explained is just damn fab, loved reading the same.
Uttarakhand is surely a beautiful place in the lap of hills. And it looks more beautiful from your eyes. You have added awesome pictures to your blog giving it life.
Look at those antlers! I love that you can see so much wildlife.
Wow..it is a complete travel digest. You have explained it very nicely. I have been to Dehradun, Rhishikesh, Massorie and Haridwaar. Still remember the yummy Aloo paratha at Chotiwala.
I've never heard about this place but your pictures make it seem absolutely amazing to visit. Thanks for being so thorough with the travel guide!
That is such a beautiful place full of history and traditions. Sounds like there food is amazing! I always incorporate greens on my diet.
The Kempty Falls seems like a great place to visit!
What a detailed and beautiful post Shalini. I haven't visited this place so definitely book marking it for later use.
This post is like a digest on the state. Loved the information, description and pictures. I have been to Rishikesh , Dehradune and Mussorie but I was a little girl back then. I want to go once again and see Uttarakhand. I remember the times, UP got split. I wanted to study in Pantnagar but then one day – I became a resident of UP and had lesser chances of getting admission in another state. Old times.
I loved your post and I will come back to read more.
What a detailed post. Being a globetrotter, I have visited all the mentioned places except Yamunotri. This post made me nostalgic.
This is such an exhaustive post but it made me sad because since ages I am trying to visit Garhwal. My best friend is a Garwali from Rishikesh and I always wanted to visit her home, I have my itinerary ready yet the trip is just not happening. Hope it happens this year. Thanks for this lovely post will use it as my travel guide.
Yes, I forgot this is a travel blog, too, coz I only remembered reading your army-experience posts! I know I have read your travel posts, too, but what stands out is the experience you shared as an army wife and thus the blunder.
You could start a proper travel blog, Shalini…like your food blog! The kind of places you get to visit, thanks to the army, it's something not everyone gets to enjoy! Places like Uttarakhand are not on everybody's places-to-be-visited lists.
Such an informative post this is! Thanks a lot!
What a comprehensive post, Shalini! Auli is one place I've been wanting to visit since a long time; also the valley of flowers – just the thought of the trek worries me a bit!
I didnt know it was the land if first. I always was under the impression that it was the mountains and its charm. Theres so much to do here. From the valley of flowers to Haridwar, it works as a travel destination fir allmkinda of people. And look at those awesome pictures u have clicked, especiallybthe Chital.stag.
I have never heard of this place before but it sounds amazing. Thank you for sharing the history of it! That often gets so overlooked by tourists and it is a part that really helps us appreciate it!
This is a comprehensive post, Shalini, packed with a lot of information. Bookmarking it for later use.
The Abode of the Gods – what a beautiful name! I can see from the photos that it really fits. The place looks amazing!
I have been to India but never been to this part, look pretty serene which is nested in the Himalaya. Glad to learn that the air is non-polluted and we are breathing in with mountain air which is purely fresh. Great place for city people to getaway meditating few days there.
A place i had never heard of, but full of wonder. How many wonderul places in thw world do not know?
This is very useful! I'm planning for a trip to north India for next year. Thank you for the guide!
You are giving me some serious wanderlust. I so want to explore these northern beauties. Absolutely loved your description and the charm with which you have described the places. Yes, the peak seasons usually mar the joy of visiting these places. But definitely one day I would like to walk along the streets and the tall trees.
Such beautiful views and I love the architecture from the buildings. I really need to start travelling at this rate.
The valley of flowers would be so cool to see. So many places so little time.
I am planning to visit the place. Mostly next year. This post is useful for me.
Very informative and detailed post, Shalini. We had been to Binsar in 2010 for a family trip with a 5-year-old in tow, who fell so sick that we had to cut short our 10-day trip and return to Bangalore the very next day. So, one trip is definitely due and I know I'm going to bookmark your detailed post for that. Those beautiful photos have perfectly complimented your writeup, Shalini.


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The classic Disney Channel show featuring the twin brothers who lived in the Tipton Hotel along with London and everyone's favourite employees of the Hotel. Remember Mr Moseby and 'Esteban Julio Ricardo Montoya De La Rosa Ramirez.
Eloise the fun-loving six-year-old girl with a knack for finding adventure every place she looks. She plays matchmaker and tries to brighten up everyone's stay at the grand and wonderful Plaza Hotel.
The summer job we all wanted after watching this movie. A resort where all your frinds work, the perfect recipe for the perfect summer + everyone singing and dancing in the kitchen sets you up for a great day ahead.
Bedtime stories coming to life, to change your life and give you a fighting chance to get what's from your wildest dreams.
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Dance the night away and place your cards right at Caesars Palace.There is a magic that happens when you dance, everything lines up the world is in sync and for one perfect moment you feel totally alive. What do tigers dream of when they take their little tiger snooze?


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Improving Accountability in Canada's Health Care System: The Canadian Medical Association's Presentation to the Senate Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology
The CMA appreciates the opportunity to appear before this committee as part of your review of the 10-Year Plan to Strengthen Health Care. An understanding of what has worked and what hasn't since 2004 is critical to ensuring the next accord brings about necessary change to the system. Overview of 2004 Accord On the positive side of the ledger, the 2004 accord provided the health care system with stable, predictable funding for a decade - something that had been sorely lacking. It also showed that a focused commitment, in this case on wait times, can lead to improvements. However, little has been done on several other important commitments in the Accord, such as the pledge that was also made in 2003 to address the significant inequity among Canadians in accessing prescription drugs. Along with the lack of long-term, community and home-based care services, this accounts for a major gap in patient access along the continuum of care. We also know that accountability provisions in past accords have been lacking in several ways. For instance, there has been little progress in developing common performance indicators set out in previous accord. i The 2004 accord has no clear terms of reference on accountability for overseeing its provisions. Vision and principles for 2014 What the 2004 accord lacked was a clear vision. Without a destination, and a commitment to getting there, our health care system cannot be transformed and will never become a truly integrated, high performing health system. The 2014 Accord is the perfect opportunity to begin this journey, if it is set up in a way that fosters the innovation and improvements that are necessary. By clearly defining the objectives and securing stable, incremental funding, we will know what changes we need to get us there. Now is the time to articulate the vision- to say loudly and clearly that at the end of the 10-year funding arrangement, by 2025, Canadians will have the best health and health care in the world. With a clear commitment from providers, administrators and governments, this vision can become our destination. As a first step to begin this long and difficult journey, the CMA has partnered with the Canadian Nurses Association, and together we have solicited support from over 60 health care organizations for a series of "Principles to Guide Health Care Transformation in Canada." These principles define a system that would provide equitable access to health care based on clinical need; care that is high quality and patient-centred; and that focuses on empowering patients to attain and maintain wellness. They call for a system that provides accountability to those who use it and those who fund it; and that is sustainable - by which I mean adequately resourced in terms of financing, infrastructure and human resources, and measured against other high-performing systems, with cost linked to outcomes. Based on our experience working within the provisions of the 2004 accord, we would like to suggest three strategies to ensure the next accord leads to a sustainable, high-performing health care system. They are: a focus on quality; support for system innovation; and the establishment of an accountability framework and I will touch briefly on each one. Focus on quality First, the crucial need to focus on improving the quality of health care services. The key dimensions of quality, and by extension, the areas that need attention are: safety, effectiveness, patient-centredness, efficiency, timeliness, equitability and appropriateness. Excellence in quality improvement in these areas will be a crucial step towards sustainability. To date, six provinces have instituted health quality councils. Their mandates and their effectiveness in actually achieving lasting system-wide improvements vary. What is missing and urgently needed is an integrated, pan-Canadian approach to quality improvement in health care that can begin to chart a course to ensure Canadians ultimately have the best health and health care in the world. Canadians deserve no less and, with the resources at our disposal, there is no reason why this should not be achievable. The CMA recommends that the federal government fund the establishment and resource the operations of an arms-length Canadian Health Quality Council, with the mandate to be a catalyst for change, a spark for innovation and a facilitator to disseminate evidence-based quality improvement initiatives so that they become embedded in the fabric of our health systems from coast to coast to coast. To help expand quality improvement across the country, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement's Triple Aim provides the solid framework. Our health care systems will benefit inordinately from a simultaneous focus on providing better care to individuals and better health to populations, while reducing the per-capita cost. There is ample evidence that quality care is cost effective care. This approach, when adopted and applied as the pan-Canadian framework for any and all structural changes and quality improvement initiatives, will not only serve patients well, but will also enhance the experience of health care providers on the front lines. System innovation The second strategy revolves around system innovation. Innovation and quality improvement initiatives are infinitely more likely to be successful and sustained if they arise out of a commitment by frontline providers and administrators to the achievement of a common goal. We need to shift away from compliance models with negative consequences that have little evidence to support their sustainability. Innovative improvements in health care in Canada are inadequately supported, poorly recognized, and constrained from being shared and put into use more widely. This needs to change. The 2014 accord, with a focus on improving Canadians' health and health care, can facilitate the transformation we all seek. Building on the success of the 2004 Wait Times Reduction Fund and the 2000 Health Accord Primary Health Care Transition Fund, the CMA proposes the creation of a Canada Health Innovation Fund that would broadly support the uptake of health system innovation initiatives across the country. A Working Accountability Framework And, third, there needs to be a working accountability framework. This would work three ways. To provide accountability to patients - the system will be patient-centred and, along with its providers, will be accountable for the quality of care and the care experience. To provide accountability to citizens - the system will provide and, along with its administrators and managers, will be accountable for delivering high quality, integrated services across the full continuum of care. And to provide accountability to taxpayers - the system will optimize its per-capita costs, and along with those providing public funding and financing, will be accountable for the value derived from the money being spent. We have done all of this because of our profound belief that meaningful change to our health care system is of the essence, and that such change can and must come about through the next health accord. Therefore I thank this committee for your efforts on this important area. I would be happy to answer your questions. Appendix A Issues identified in 2004 Accord and Current Status [NOTE: see PDF for correct dispaly of table] Issue Current Status Annual 6% escalator in the CHT to March 31, 2014 Has provided health care system with stable, predictable funding for a decade. Adoption of wait-time benchmarks by December 2005 for five procedural areas Largely fulfilled. However, no benchmarks were set for diagnostic imaging. The Wait Time Alliance is calling for benchmarks for all specialty care. Release of health human resource (HHR) action plans by December 2005 Partially fulfilled. Most jurisdictions issued rudimentary HHR plans by the end of 2005; F/P/T Advisory Committee on Health Delivery and Human Resources issued a paper on a pan-Canadian planning HHR framework in September 2005. First-dollar coverage for home care by 2006 Most provinces offer first-dollar coverage for post-acute home care but service varies across the country for mental health and palliative home care needs. An objective of 50% of Canadians having 24/7 access to multidisciplinary primary care teams by 2011 Unfulfilled: Health Council of Canada reported in 2009 that only 32 per cent of Canadians had access to more than one primary health care provider. A 5-year $150 million Territorial Health Access Fund Fulfilled: Territorial Health System Sustainability Initiative (THSSI) funding extended until March 31, 2014. A 9-point National Pharmaceuticals Strategy (NPS) Largely unfulfilled: A progress report on the NPS was released in 2006 but nothing has been implemented. Accelerated work on a pan-Canadian Public Health Strategy including goals and targets F/P/T health ministers (except Quebec) put forward five high-level health goals for Canada in 2005, although they were not accompanied by operational definitions that would lend themselves to setting targets. Continued federal investments in health innovation Unknown-no specificity in the 2004 Accord. Reporting to residents on health system performance and elements of the Accord P/T governments ceased their public reporting after 2004, and only the federal government has kept its commitment (at least to 2008). Formalization of the dispute advance/resolution mechanism on the CHA Done but not yet tested. i P/T governments ceased their public reporting after 2004, and only the federal government has kept its commitment (at least to 2008).Government of Canada. Healthy Canadians: a federal report on comparable health indicators 2008. http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hcs-sss/alt_formats/hpb-dgps/pdf/pubs/system-regime/2008-fed-comp-indicat/index-eng.pdf. Accessed 06/21/11.
Patient navigator models
The Canadian Medical Association supports the development of patient navigator models, particularly for vulnerable patient populations.
Cost of neuropsychological assessments
The Canadian Medical Association supports inclusion of the cost of neuropsychological assessments of all patients suspected of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder as an insured-benefit.
The Canadian Medical Association calls on each province and territory to implement a Patient Charter within a national framework that includes: - the rights and expectations of patients with respect to the quality and timeliness of health care - the responsibilities of patients with respect to their health and health care - a mechanism for patients to register concerns and complaints about the quality and timeliness of their health care - a mechanism for the redress of patient complaints.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


After watching a night at The Oscars, I am like so many who love movies, I love seeing my favorites and I get excited about new movies coming out every year, especially in the spring. Good stories are a magical thing and when I see something on the big screen I fall in love with, it is truly a special time for me. I get inspired by the ideas and creativity produced from a lot of hard work. I am biased with the types of stories, movies, and directors that I think of as great; just ask me and I will tell you which ones are the best.
Hollywood counts on us loving movies and it would be a sad day for me not to love at least one new movie, but the thing is they aren't all new. The remake has pervaded Hollywood for so many years now it seems normal and that is a shame. Don't get me wrong, some of the remakes are good and I'm happy to see them if the remake made sense and was done well, but some are remade and remade to the point of absurdity. I can't say this loud enough, some movies should never be remade, period; I believe there are certain ones that are so iconic it's a crime to attempt it. If you don't understand which movies I'm talking about, then you don't know some of the great movies. We all know the reason they do remakes, the story is tried and true, it has a following, the platform is already there for some level of success, they don't have to spend more for an original story. At least that is why I think they do remakes so often and I don't believe I'm far off.
This is the part where I make a pitch just so I'm clear. I am a writer, a hack, a beginner, a dreamer, but someone who desperately loves telling a story. I have more ideas in my head than I have time to write down on paper, that is a shame but I'm trying. There are so many like myself who have some amazing stories, some finished, some in progress, and like I said, some we desperately want to tell. So Hollywood, take a look at these wonderful stories however small or weird or far-fetched, maybe a gem will be found and you will grow your audience. Like I said, I love movies and for the most part I love Hollywood, after all they're responsible, if you include the writers. Yes, you need the big wigs with the backing, money, and any innumerable things to make the magic happen but you must have writers, you must have stories that attract the attention of the audience. How awesome would it be to have such a wide variety of movies out instead of the formulaic system of expectation we have now. I know we need the blockbuster action movie, we need the horror films around Halloween, we need the romantic comedy etc…but for me I would prefer to have something at the theater every season that is completely different than anything we are familiar with already. Is that asking too much? Is that a herculean task? Maybe but with the dearth of material out there is it possible? The answer is yes, absolutely. I can think of just a few books in my meager collection that would qualify.
Oh Hollywood, we love you, I love you, don't stop making great films just be sure to shine that spotlight on the untold stories. My soul hurts every time I see a movie that is completely void of any soul, story, or breathe of experience. I need two things in life besides the obvious, books and movies; they give me a reality that is far more preferable to what I see every day. My books give me the quite retreat where my imagination is alive and well, my movies give me the visceral visual experience I need sometimes and is made that much better by the incredible talent out there. I think there should be a place on every motion pictures website where there is a feedback section, where anyone can voice input on stories out there that could be made into a movie. How awesome would that be if some of the truly deserving stories found their way onto the big screen because of the support generated from everyone who cared, and not some of the truly tragic ones that arrive every year for us to endure. I honestly believe with the right story, regardless of budget can make an impact given the right direction. To quote the man himself, George Lucas, A special effect without a story is a pretty boring thing. I agree whole heartedly, a special effect is needed to translate something visually but if you pair it with something that has meaning it is extraordinary in the effect. Isn't that the point of a movie? Please, let's not lose our focus in this beloved medium we call film, movies, or the cinematic experience. Oh Hollywood, we implore thee, the little guy or girl, with a big story with more heart than something we just endured for a couple of hours. We don't fault you for trying, but when we constantly redo we aren't really trying are we?
I'm a writer and a foodie who loves to experience life.
My goal is to invite people into my worlds, and I hope there will be many different ones. Please join me in the fun that begins now.


"Nordic Light" is an original artwork by Charlotte W. Brixen. It's handmade on acid free paper, framed in a white wooden frame by Nørrebros Indramning in Copenhagen. Framed measurement: 23,2 x 22,7 cm. The materials are a mix of liquid ink, pen, pencil, acrylic, aquarelle and gouache.


The first piece of advice here has nothing to do with the interview itself; clients that we work with, and others that we speak to, can have a tendency to take their foot 'off the gas' when an interview (or two) are happening. So our advice here is to continue to allocate the same time as you have normally been doing, whether it's a couple of hours a day, or a couple of hours a week (Hint: the former is better!). Human nature can put us into that comfort zone; the taking the foot off the gas scenario can almost be in-perceivable, but can happen, so be aware and stay on track right up until the ideal next role is offered.
Find out all you can about the company, including, values, aims, their footprint in the relevant sector, competitors, annual report and financials, and on the day before the interview, and as a 'top tip', do a Google news search for any last minute snippets that you can bring into the conversation at interview if the opportunity presents itself. preparation is key. don't skip over this piece of advice; you would be surprised at how many senior level executives don't adequately prepare for interview.
Do you have any contacts (LinkedIn or otherwise) who might be able to offer an inside track as to why this role is currently available. This additional layer of knowledge can be very useful; you can allude to relevant points at interview, e.g. for say an MD role, and you discovered that the last MD had been let go, can you establish why? Let's say it was due to not having enough of a commercial focus for the job – you can then bring out how commercially minded you are at the interview – with over egging it.
I hope that at least a week before you will have written and rehearsed the most likely questions and rehearsed aloud your answers to these. If you haven't, why not? Those of you that know me will know that I bang on incessantly about this. Whether you're an interview 'natural' or a bag of nerves, this simple tip will ensure you have some practiced answers to bring out when necessary, even if they don't come out in exactly the way you have practiced.
Having prepared as above, the night before ensure you stay off the caffeine and alcohol, and get a decent night's sleep. Whether you're reading advice about fitness, weight loss, whatever it is, sleep is the often overlooked element, so ensure you get a good eight hours if you can.
So those are some thoughts around preparation and mind-set. What about 'on the day'?
Time: Give yourself plenty, allow for delays. If the interview involves a potential overnight hotel stop, but means you will be definitely able to make it on time, then I suggest going with that option. If it's an international location you're heading to for an interview, then weaving in a few recruiter/contact meetings over a two/three day trip makes sense in terms of capitalizing on the time spent away from home, depending on your circumstances.
Ensure you look the part.. You need to look sharp. A tailored suit, smart shoes, and being well groomed might seem basic, but the first impressions count rule still applies.
If you tend to get a bit nervous, some long slow controlled breaths (half a dozen at least, during the obligatory pre interview toilet visit will work) will help your physiology to come more under your control. But don't forget, adrenaline (from nerves) is a natural fight or flight response; it's how you use that adrenaline that matters.
I strongly suggest having the mind-set that this interview is the only opportunity you have at the moment. It might well be! But if you have a few on the go at once, viewing each one as if it were your only opportunity will help you to focus, and prepare properly. This is not about appearing needy at the interview, but being 100% in command of your focus, answers, and relationship building within the context of the interview itself.
During the interview be mindful of "Tell me about a time when…" type questions. Here's where the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) format of answering kicks in, but if you remember nothing else on the day, remember to close your answer with the Result at the very least. Using examples rather than generic answers will impress the interviewer.
Have some relevant questions to ask, but also foster a 'constant enquiry' mind-set, where you can react to what's been said at the interview, and to form questions based around this too. Asking about the company culture is also a great question to enable you to get a feel for this critical aspect.
The first phase after the interview is to get your notepad and pencil out… Ok, your iPad! Make a mental run through of everything from the moment you entered the building until you left. Is there anything you'd do differently next time, if there needs to be a next time?
The thankyou email can include any points that came out during the interview which you subsequently identified as being critical to the role.
Follow up? An old chestnut. The important factor here is not to be seen as 'needy' (difficult if you're in a situation where you need the job yesterday!), and not to over follow up, i.e. chase. Agree next steps at the interview, and if you're going via a head hunter then speak to them of course, but I return to my very first point of the article. Put this one to bed, and just crack on with fresh research, fresh roles, and fresh opportunities. If you've been successful, believe me you'll hear, and in the meantime… on with the next application, interview prep, networking connections.
If you found these tips useful, could you kindly share the article via the social sharing buttons below.


Despite the known harmful consequences, the use of tobacco is one of the largest public health threats world over. Tobacco which is primarily used in smoked and nonsmoked forms, it is one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality, killing more than 7 million people per year with half of all deaths occurring in developing countries. According to a report, in India, a developing nation, with a large section of the population belonging to low socioeconomic status, various forms of tobacco use leads to 800,000–900,000 deaths annually in India due to use of different forms of tobacco.
The World Health Organization has emphasized the prevention of tobacco use and tobacco cessation counseling guidelines as the priority goals in dentistry today. The United State Public Health Service has issued clinical practice guidelines for treating tobacco use and dependence. Despite these, there continues to be confirmation that dental professionals do not possess the appropriate education and training needed to assess the use of tobacco and provide proper tobacco cessation interventions. Fortunately, in recent years, dental education has made good progress in preparing the next generation to offer effective tobacco cessation interventions during their clinical training. Overall implementation of tobacco cessation as fundamental in dental practice is generally lacking.
This necessitates the involvement of dental students in playing a pivotal role in reducing tobacco use by counseling their patients. The present study was designed to assess the attitude, practice, and barriers of dental students in SCA to the patients. Education and training regarding tobacco use and cessation are desired to be provided to the dental students throughout the dental curriculum in both theoretical and clinical perspectives.
A questionnaire-based survey was conducted among clinical dental students (3rd year BDS, Final year BDS and House surgeon) of Hazaribag College of Dental Sciences and Hospital; Hazaribag, Jharkhand, India. All the students and interns present on the day of the survey were included in the study. The study populations were approached directly by the researchers and asked to answer the questionnaire in the presence of the researcher. Before the survey, the ethical clearance was obtained from the Institutional Ethical Committee of the college and informed consent was taken from participating students.
All the clinical dental students and researchers were present on the day of the survey.
1st and 2nd year students as they are not exposed to clinical works yet.
The prefabricated questionnaire consisted of 25 multiple choice questions, based on Likert scale. These consisted of questions for assessing attitude (6), Practice (14), and barriers (5) regarding SCA [Figure 1] and [Figure 2]. The questions used were mainly close-ended. In the beginning of the questionnaire, the personal information regarding the respondents was obtained such as year of study, gender, and age.
Among the 217 participants in the study, 56% (n = 122) were female and 44% (n = 95) were male [Graph 1]. The participants were aged between 20 and 27 years.
Over 37% (n = 80) of the number of respondents were final year students. 34% (n = 74) were 3rd year students and 29% (n = 63) were house surgeons [Graph 2].
Students showed positive attitude toward "How much is your responsibility as a dental student in smoking cessation counseling?" And "How confident you are in your ability to effectively offer smoking cessation counseling?" with maximum balloting toward considerable (35.94% and 42.86%) and great extent (56.68% and 23.96%). Whereas for some questions like "How effective do you think smoking cessation counseling provided by dentist?" "Do you think patients expect SCA from dentists?" "How optimistic you are in patient's ability to change their smoking habits?" And "Are there adequate opportunities available to you for training in smoking cessation and prevention counseling? Majority of students trusted on neutral answers of "to some extent" (50.23%, 39.17%, 40.55%, and 25.35%, respectively) [Figure 3]. Overall, the attitude of house surgeons was better than that of third and final year students for questions based on attitude toward smoking cessation questions like: How effective do you think smoking cessation counseling provided by dentists? (P < 0.05) [Table 1].
Practice in tobacco smoking cessation designates the attitude and practice among the student population. The present survey displayed that most of the students were having constructive attitude toward tobacco smoking cessation by balloting "considerable and great extent." Students displayed their confused or balanced opinion by balloting "to some extent" option to the questions such as "Do you offer smoking cessation counseling to your patients?" "Do you assist the patient who smoke to give up?" "Do you refer patients to appropriate services to help them stop smoking?" "Do you keep record of patient smoking status?" and "Do you recommend the use of approved pharmacotherapy accept in special circumstances?" [Figure 4] Overall based on practice in tobacco smoking cessation for questions like: Do you refer patients to appropriate service to help them stop smoking? P < 0.05 were statistically significant. There was a positive opinion on practice in tobacco smoking cessation in house surgeons followed by final years and 3rd year students [Table 2] and [Table 3].
Majority of students agreed on the fact "that smoking is the major health issue" and "you are comfortable to asking people about their tobacco status" (96.77% and 82.95%) and also showed their neutral opinion on "The discussions are too time-consuming" "You lack knowledge on the subject" And "You fear that patients may leave practice if counseled to give up smoking" [Figure 5]. Among clinical students 3rd year and final year faced maximum barriers in as they fear that patients may leave practice if counseled to give up smoking [Table 4].
The dental professionals can play an important role in smoking cessation and prevention. This survey of clinical dental students regarding knowledge, attitude, and practice toward SCA clearly show that the dental students have good knowledge of the effects of tobacco use on oral as well as on general health. They have shown positive attitude toward providing SCA to their patients. A study done by Wyne et al. revealed confusions in the dental community regarding the extent of the dental professionals responsibility and role in tobacco intervention. Only a minority of them thought of tobacco intervention as their responsibility to a "great extent." Several other studies in other countries have also led to similar results and reported that the dental professionals were uncertain of their role in providing SCA to the patients, and believed that it was not a part of dentistry.,,, The attitude of dental students in taking responsibility for smoking cessation in the present study was generally promising.
The result of the present survey is in line with similar to several other studies previously carried out in different parts of the world,,,, where dentists generally believed that it was also their responsibility to help their patients in smoking cessation or to prevent tobacco use in their patients. The dental team could play an important role in encouraging patients to quit using tobacco as they recognize and point out the damage caused by tobacco to the oral tissues and could highlight the general health benefits of quitting and to refer to professional cessation services if appropriate. The present survey revealed that the participating clinical dental students had a good level of knowledge about potential health implications for tobacco users. The majority of participants correctly identified tobacco use with a variety of dental and other pathologies. Considering that at the time of the survey some of the students of the 3rd year had not completed the clinical posting in the department of oral medicine, the results of this survey are encouraging. Although the majority of students stated that their education should include SCA, only half of all respondents felt adequately or better prepared in providing advice to their patients. This result is in conformity with those of previous surveys which found only 40%–60% of students felt adequately trained.,, Currently, standardized tobacco cessation educational curriculum does not exist instead tobacco use, and its effects are integrated into several chapters of the BDS curriculum. As part of the periodontology subject, smoking is identified as a risk factor for periodontal diseases, and there is emphasis given on the effect of cessation on treatment outcome throughout 3rd year, final year and during the internship. In the curriculum as part of oral medicine and oral pathology, the effect of tobacco on oral health is mentioned. During clinical postings of 3rd year, final year and house surgeons, chair-side teaching students are acquainted in details about the health consequences of tobacco use. In addition, deleterious effects of tobacco use and health promotion through camps and rallies such as on "world oral health day" (20th March) and world "No tobacco day" (31st May) are introduced as part of the public health awareness. The revision of the curriculum would provide an opportunity for greater emphasis to be placed on tobacco cessation as a core learning outcome. Until adequate emphasis is placed on integrating the principles and practice of providing SCA into the undergraduate experience including the existence of national specialist smoking cessation services, we can expect there to be a continued dearth of practitioners willing to undertake such work with enthusiasm.
The authors would like to express their sincere thanks to all the clinical students who participated in the study. Thanks are also due to Dr. Ujjal Chatterjee, Principal, Hazaribag College of Dental Sciences and Hospital for the permission in conducting survey and Dr. Praveen Shrinivas, Secretary, Hazaribag College of Dental Sciences and Hospital, Hazaribag, Jharkhand for their help and encouragement.
Amit S, Bhambal A, Saxena V, Basha S, Saxena S, Vanka A. Tobacco cessation and counseling: A dentists' perspective in Bhopal city, Madhya Pradesh. Indian J Dent Res 2011;22:400-3.
Desalu OO, Adekoya AO, Elegbede AO, Dosunmu A, Kolawole TF, Nwogu KC. Knowledge of and practices related to smoking cessation among physicians in Nigeria. J Bras Pneumol 2009;35:1198-203.
Twyman L, Bonevski B, Paul C, Bryant J. Perceived barriers to smoking cessation in selected vulnerable groups: A systematic review of the qualitative and quantitative literature. BMJ Open 2014;4:e006414.
Albert D, Ward A, Ahluwalia K, Sadowsky D. Addressing tobacco in managed care: A survey of dentists' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. Am J Public Health 2002;92:997-1001.
Ibrahim H, Norkhafizah S. Attitudes and practices in smoking cessation counselling among dentists in Kelantan. Arch Orofac Sci 2008;3:11-6.
Sham AS, Cheung LK, Jin LJ, Corbet EF. The effects of tobacco use on oral health. Hong Kong Med J 2003;9:271-7.
Raja M, Saha S, Krishna-Reddy V, Mohd S, Narang R, Sood P. Effectiveness of oral health education versus nicotine replacement therapy for tobacco cessation – A parallel randomized clinical trial. J Clin Exp Dent 2016;8:e64-70.
Thawani V, Pande S, Turankar A. Pharmacotherapy for treating tobacco dependence. Indian J Pharmacol 2003;35:402-3.
World Health Organization. WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic, 2008: The MPOWER package. Geneva:World Health Organization; 2008.
Warnakulasuriya S. Effectiveness of tobacco counseling in the dental office. J Dent Educ 2002;66:1079-87.
Rice VH, Stead LF. Nursing interventions for smoking cessation. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2008;23:CD001188.
2008 PHS Guideline Update Panel, Liaisons, and Staff. Treating tobacco use and dependence: 2008 update U.S. public health service clinical practice guideline executive summary. Respir Care 2008;53:1217-22.
Walsh MM, Ellison JA. Treatment of tobacco use and dependence: The role of the dental professional. J Dent Educ 2005;69:521-37.
Martin LM, Bouquot JE, Wingo PA, Heath CW Jr. Cancer prevention in the dental practice: Oral cancer screening and tobacco cessation advice. J Public Health Dent 1996;56:336-40.
Chestnutt IG. What should we do about patients who smoke? Dent Update 1999;26:227-31.
Davis JM, Ramseier CA, Mattheos N, Schoonheim-Klein M, Compton S, Al-Hazmi N, et al. Education of tobacco use prevention and cessation for dental professionals – A paradigm shift. Int Dent J 2010;60:60-72.
Singleton JA, Carrico RM, Myers JA, Scott DA, Wilson RW, Worth CT. Tobacco cessation treatment education for dental students using standardized patients. J Dent Educ 2014;78:895-905.
Huggett KN, Westerman GH, Barone EJ, Lofgreen AS. Substance use and dependence education in predoctoral dental curricula: Results of a survey of U.S. and Canadian dental schools. J Dent Educ 2011;75:1003-9.
Mecklenburg RE. Tobacco prevention and control in dental practice: The future. J Dent Educ 2001;65:375-84.
Wyne AH, Chohan AN, Al-Moneef MM, Al-Saad AS. Attitudes of general dentists about smoking cessation and prevention in child and adolescent patients in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. J Contemp Dent Pract 2006;7:35-43.
Brothwell DJ, Armstrong KA. Smoking cessation services provided by dental professionals in a rural Ontario health unit. J Can Dent Assoc 2004;70:94-8.
Mullins R. Attitudes and smoking habits of dentists in Victoria: 16 years on. Aust Dent J 1994;39:324-6.
Tomar SL. Dentistry's role in tobacco control. J Am Dent Assoc 2001;132 Suppl. 1:30S-35S.
Skegg JA, McGee RO, Stewart AW. Smoking prevention: Attitudes and activities of New Zealand dentists. N Z Dent J 1995;91:4-7.
Clover K, Hazell T, Stanbridge V, Sanson-Fisher R. Dentists' attitudes and practice regarding smoking. Aust Dent J 1999;44:46-50.
Stacey F, Heasman PA, Heasman L, Hepburn S, McCracken GI, Preshaw PM. Smoking cessation as a dental intervention – Views of the profession. Br Dent J 2006;201:109-13.
Logan H, Levy S, Ferguson K, Pomrehn P, Muldoon J. Tobacco-related attitudes and counseling practices of Iowa dentists. Clin Prev Dent 1992;14:19-22.
Yip JK, Hay JL, Ostroff JS, Stewart RK, Cruz GD. Dental students' attitudes toward smoking cessation guidelines. J Dent Educ 2000;64:641-50.
Cannick GF, Horowitz AM, Reed SG, Drury TF, Day TA. Opinions of South Carolina dental students toward tobacco use interventions. J Public Health Dent 2006;66:44-8.
Chestnutt IG. Smoking and Oral Health. Cardiff University School of Dentistry; 2008.
Binnie V. Smoking cessation. Br Dent J 2004;196:188.


We met almost eight years ago when a mutual friend introduced us at a holiday party. We exchanged Facebook info, and kept in touch from time to time. Then four years later, Nick commented on one of my photos from a Coldplay concert, and sent a message that he loves Coldplay too, and we should hang out next time there's a concert. We made plans to attend a music festival together later that month, and it's all history from there. For our anniversary, we decided to go to Sandals Royal Bahamian to celebrate, and Nick proposed, and I of course said "Yes"! Here we are now planning to return to Sandals Royal Bahamian to host our destination wedding! It's been an amazing ride, and we are looking forward to spending the rest of our lives together. We hope you will join us in celebration of our love. Thank you!
From the moment we locked eyes eight years ago, I knew Elissa would have a special place in my life forever. I remember how awesome it felt that night when we met … we literally were introduced and spent the whole night standing in the kitchen area, just talking the night away. There was something about her, I knew she was the one. Unfortunately, soon after we met, I moved away for a job opportunity, but I kept in touch. When my career path led me back to my hometown, I was thrilled to reconnect with old friends, especially with Elissa. I made my move through facebook, of course, and we have been together ever since. I am so excited to spend the rest of my life creating new memories.
Sandals Royal Bahamian is a blend of European sophistication with an exotic offshore island adventure. Once a favorite of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, today it offers two sky-sized colonnaded pools overlooking the emerald sea, Global Gourmet dining at 10 specialty restaurants, and an award-winning Red Lane Spa. Experience the royal treatment at this glamorous all-inclusive resort featuring the all-new River Pool Swim-up Suites with butler service, two pristine white-sand beaches, and exclusive VIP airport transfers in a Rolls-Royce or Mercedes-Benz for butler guests.
Shoes to go with it!


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Kendrick Johnson and the coming battle of expert witnesses regarding cause of death
Good evening:
Although I have been away all day attending to various matters, my mind has never strayed far from Kendrick Johnson and the coming battle of experts regarding whether his death was accidental, which is the medical examiner's opinion, or a homicide, which is the opinion held by the forensic pathologist Kendrick's parents retained to determine Kendrick's cause of death after his body was exhumed. The outcome of this battle will determine if the inquiry into his death will turn into a criminal investigation in search of a suspect or suspects to be charged and prosecuted or be closed on the ground that it was a tragic accident and not a homicide.
If the medical examiner loses the battle of the experts, I doubt the United States Attorney will prosecute the case because he lacks jurisdiction to prosecute a murder case unless it was a hate crime, which is the same barrier that the Department of Justice is facing in deciding whether to prosecute George Zimmerman. I think an independent special prosecutor will have to be appointed to replace the current prosecutor because his objectivity will have been been compromised by the position he took backing the medical examiner. I believe the same is true for the Lowndes County Sheriff's Office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation that employed the medical examiner and endorsed his conclusions. To say that a lot is riding on the outcome of the battle of the experts is a vast understatement.
Without discovery, I cannot predict the outcome. Nevertheless, I know a lot about autopsies and how they are conducted, so I can provide you with an accurate idea of what to expect and a preview of the coming battle.
Right now the dispute appears to concern whether Kendrick sustained a blunt force traumatic injury to the right side of his neck. The forensic pathologist retained by Kendrick's family concluded that he did and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's medical examiner apparently did not find such an injury. He and the GBI have reviewed the report of the second autopsy and they have issued statements saying they stand by his original report.
The dispute likely will be about the detection of subcutaneous bruising in an African American male. Bruising is easier to see on a white person because the skin is a lighter color. The darker the skin, the more difficult it is to spot bruising. In any case where blunt force trauma is suspected, it's a good idea to cut into the skin with a scalpel and visually examine the tissue beneath the skin for evidence of broken blood vessels. If you find it, the next thing to do is to photograph what you found and attempt to determine the boundaries and shape of the bruised area. Then section the tissue and prepare slides for viewing with a microscope.
Although the medical examiner's office did the right thing to section organ tissue on slides for preservation and viewing, he may have screwed up by not doing the same thing with Kendrick Johnson's neck tissue. This will likely be the hotly disputed issue with the medical examiner claiming that the so-called evidence of blunt trauma was really due to a post mortem impact or an advanced state of decomposition, or both.
The loss of Kendrick's internal organs is inexcusable. If the medical examiner was responsible, that will severely hurt his credibility
The manner in which he conducted the autopsy will be fair game. You will want to check and see if he followed standard operating procedure. For example, the body must first be placed on butcher paper to prevent the loss of trace evidence and then x-rayed to spot bullets, assorted shrapnel and the like, objects in pockets and broken bones.
Then the body must be visually examined and photographed from head to foot, face up and face down, before the clothes are removed and visually examined for evidence of an injury, such as a bullet hole, puncture or cutting and bleeding. Underwear should be examined for ejaculate and discharge. Clothing should be dried if wet and packaged in brown paper bags sealed with the exhibit number, date and initials of the person who packaged the article written across the seal. This is done to document chain of custody and to discourage tampering.
The photographic process is repeated after the clothes have been removed with special attention given to any injuries, including bruising.
It's vitally important to follow this procedure during every autopsy to avoid missing something important. Nothing should be assumed and every possibility must be considered before it is ruled out.
The failure to spot a significant injury, even if it did not actually cause death, is inexcusable and is the sort of mistake that could result in an erroneous conclusion such as accidental death due to positional asphyxiation instead of a homicide committed by blunt force trauma to the neck disabling the victim followed by rolling the victim up in a mat and stowing it in an upright position with the victim upside down inducing death by positional asphyxiation.
Right now we have a battle between two forensic pathologists. No doubt each side will attempt to sign-up at least one and possibly several experts who will support the conclusion reached by its expert. Does this mean we are likely to hear from Dr. Vincent DiMaio again?
I sincerely hope not, but only time will tell.
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152 Comments	| Autopsy, Justice for Kendrick, Kendrick Johnson	| Tagged: Justice for Kendrick, Kendrick Johnson, Kendrick Johnson autopsy	| Permalink
New information revealed in Kendrick Johnson case
I have new information to report in the Kendrick Johnson case.
CBS Atlanta hosted a show yesterday called Powertalk with Mrs. Lorraine Jacques-White reporting. Attorney Benjamin Crump called in to the show to report new developments in the investigation of Kendrick's death.
He said Kendrick had been dating a white girl at the school in 2011. He got into a fight with a white boy at the school and apparently won the fight. Although the article does not say what the fight was about, I get the impression that it may have had something to do with Kendrick dating the white girl.
The white boy was unwilling to let the matter drop and challenged him to another fight to take place at the white boy's house. Kendrick declined.
The white boy's father or mother may be a police official.
Kendrick's death occurred not long after that.
This report is similar to information provided by a commenter here several weeks ago when I first wrote about this case. The person said Kendrick was dating a white girl who had been dating the son of the Sheriff of Lowndes County.
I do not yet consider this information to be established fact. I am going to need more verification.
I certainly do not believe he crawled down the tube opening in the mat to retrieve his athletic shoe, got stuck and asphyxiated by accident. That story is ridiculous.
However, if this new information is true, it could explain who killed Kendrick, why he killed him, and why the murder was covered up. I doubt the kid with the grudge and score to settle acted alone.
Hopefully, Benjamin Crump will solve this mystery soon.
I am not buying the school district's argument that the videos from the CCTV cameras do not show anything because none of the cameras were aimed at the mat in which Kendrick's body was found, but they cannot release the videos to confirm that claim because other students appear in them and they have not consented for the videos to be released.
There are ways to ghost out faces, so identities can be protected.
Lowndes County is looking incredibly corrupt and not doing well in the court of public opinion.
Time to stop playing hide-the-ball and let the chips fall where they may.
154 Comments	| Benjamin Crump, Justice for Kendrick, Kendrick Johnson, Lowndes County High School, Lowndes County School District, Lowndes County Sheriff	| Tagged: Benjamin Crump, Justice for Kendrick, Kendrick Johnson, Lowndes County Georgia, Lowndes County Sheriff, Lowndes High School, Lowndes School District	| Permalink
Coroner's inquest demanded in Kendrick Johnson case
We have a new development in the Kendrick Johnson case.
On behalf of Kendrick's parents, Benjamin Crump is requesting a coroner's inquest.
USA Today has the story:
The parents of Kendrick Johnson, the student-athlete found dead in a rolled-up gym mat, are petitioning a Georgia judge to order a coroner's inquest into their son's death, the couple's lawyer said Tuesday.
Kenneth and Jacquelyn Johnson believe the surveillance video taken inside the Lowndes High School gym will show what happened to their son. So far, only a short clip of the video has been made public.
/snip
Crump said he believes the findings of an inquest would support the family's belief that Johnson's death was a homicide.
In a press conference Tuesday, lawyers said there are at least four video cameras in the gymnasium, one of which was aimed toward the corner where Kendrick's body was found.
Officials have said they must wait for consent from other minors in the video before they can release it.
The U.S. attorney's office has the video and is reviewing the case.
Georgia Statute § 45-16-27 (a)(1)(C) authorizes the Coroner of Lowndes County to conduct an inquest before a jury into Kendrick's cause of death even though the Medical Examiner at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation determined that the cause of death was accidental due to positional asphyxiation.
This is a very interesting move that I fully support. Early on in the investigation, the Lowndes County Coroner protested the Sheriff's failure to notify him immediately about the discovery of Kendrick's body, which is required by law.
32 Comments	| Coroner's inquest, Kendrick Johnson	| Tagged: coroner's inquest, Justice for Kendrick, Kendrick Johnson, Lowndes County Coroner	| Permalink
Kendrick Johnson was not alone in the gym
Kendrick Johnson was not alone in the gym.
Victor Blackwell, who has been doing a splendid job of covering the Kendrick Johnson case for CNN, explains how he reached that conclusion in this CNN video with Anderson Cooper
He explains why he wanted to view additional CCTV video:
Lieutenant Stride Jones, who has been the face of the investigation for the Lowndes County Sheriff's Department, at least for the media, and we have the official record from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation from the Medical Examiner's office and they recount a conversation with Stride Jones on January 16th and here it is.
The decedent was seen on the school video going into the gym around 1300 hours alone. The video did not show any other children or staff in the gym with the decedent at that time.
Here's what Stride Jones told the Valdosta Daily Times on May 4th.
He [Kendrick] comes down the hallway, and he essentially enters the gym. He's following another kid. The first kid comes in and goes to the left. Kendrick goes in and off to the right where the mats are.
A clear discrepancy between those two statements.
Blackwell wrote this letter to the attorney who represents the school district asking the following question:
Are minors for whom Lowndes County has not received consent to release educational records depicted in the surveillance video recorded inside the Old Gym at Lowndes High School on January 10, 2013 between 1:09 pm and 1:20 pm?
He told Anderson Cooper that he received the following answer to his question:
We chose 1:09 pm because that is the time this picture was taken. In the response by the attorney for the school district. he writes, I answer your pointed question with, "Yes." So confirmation that Kendrick was not alone in the gym.
We not only know that Kendrick was not alone, we know that Lieutenant Stride Jones lied about that on January 16th.
28 Comments	| Justice for Kendrick, Kendrick Johnson	| Tagged: Justice for Kendrick, Kendrick Johnson	| Permalink
Crane and I were gone most of the day. Since we returned, we have been reading and talking about the awakening and renewed commitment to seek justice inspired by the shocking injustice in Kendrick Johnson's case that so many of you have so clearly expressed.
We feel the same way and we intend to use this blog to not only seek justice for Trayvon, but to seek it for Jordan Davis, Kendrick Johnson, their grieving families and everyone else who has been denied their inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness in a just and color blind society. Justice for Trayvon is the name and symbol of our quest.
In a comment this afternoon, Mary Davis said,
I know what happened in Trayvon's case knocked the sails out of us, but we can't stop now.
She is right and her comment got me thinking.
This is my answer.
The result in Trayvon's case disappointed me, but it did not knock the sails out of me.
I have learned how to be patient doing death penalty work. In the Darrold Stenson case, for example, where material exculpatory evidence was withheld by the prosecution from me (I was defense counsel) resulting in a guilty verdict and a death sentence, the Washington State Supreme Court finally agreed with our argument and reversed the conviction and death sentence in the spring of 2012. The sentence was imposed in 1994, so justice took 18 years.
I am convinced that something far bigger than ourselves is dictating the direction and pace of events. Racism, corruption and injustice are rampant. Innocent people are being murdered and the perpetrators are not being held accountable.
Necessary change must happen but it cannot happen all at once.
Justice for Trayvon must necessarily be sought outside the legal system because the Double Jeopardy Clause prohibits a retrial and the prosecution is not going to appeal a case that it did not intend to win and cannot retry.
Justice for Trayvon will be found in the court of public opinion. I think this week's episode of South Park capitalized on widespread interest in the case and the pervasive belief that George Zimmerman got away with murder. He did much to hang himself after the acquittal by swaggering around like the cowardly bully that he is. Result: he was portrayed as the government's go-to weapon when it wants to silence a black troublemaker because he's an expert at murdering black kids and getting away with it. However, he killed a white kid disguised in black face, so he was summarily executed in the electric chair.
Rather than offend our national sense of justice, which would have been the case if a majority of Americans believed he was a hero for defending himself against a crazed black thug who attempted to kill him, most people understood that the result of his trial would have been different if Trayvon were a white kid and they laughed at his execution on South Park.
I don't believe anyone needed to have that explained to them.
I believe the only people who were offended by the show are the white right wing racists that make up the right wing hate machine.
I don't know how the writers managed to pull that off in a nation of people shocked, dismayed, and still grieving about the injustice of the verdict, but they did.
And they mocked George Zimmerman and got us to laugh at him.
Nothing will bring back Trayvon Martin. I think a nation shocked by Trayvon's death, the injustice of the verdict, and thoroughly disgusted with George Zimmerman is actually a better result than a conviction and life sentence.
George Zimmerman's life will be a living hell, which is his just reward
Now we are witnessing a call for help to right a wrong in Valdosta, Georgia. Word is spreading like wildfire through the power of instant communication via the internet to reopen the investigation into Kendrick Johnson's suspicious death. Experts in death investigation and forensics are stepping forward and speaking out. They are identifying the problems with the investigation and calling his death a homicide.
The cover-up is falling apart exposing yet another corrupt and incompetent local police department (the Lowndes County Sheriff's Office) and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, which conducted the autopsy and reached the utterly ridiculous and indefensible conclusion that his death was accidental due to positional asphyxiation.
Unfortunately, during the long course of human history, most people have been far too willing to accept corruption and injustice as just the way it is, even when they, or someone they know, have been victimized. They felt too isolated and powerless to fight back. For example, more than 80 innocent defendants pled guilty to felonies they did not commit during the late 1990s and agreed to serve lengthy prison sentences without complaint. Every one of them was framed by corrupt members of the out-of-control Ramparts Division of the Los Angeles Police Department. At least one of them sustained multiple gunshot wounds for allegedly resisting arrest even though he submitted to arrest.
The horrible story unravelled when one of the rogue police officers was arrested for possessing cocaine in his locker. He snitched on his fellow officers in exchange for favorable treatment. Eventually the truth was revealed and all of the wrongful convictions were set aside.
Even though they were represented by counsel, not one of the more than 80 innocent defendants believed he had a realistic chance to be acquitted and not one of them was even willing to go to trial.
Tragically, corruption and injustice tend to thrive and be tolerated until some terrible tragedy occurs that so offends people that they finally say enough is enough.
George Zimmerman's cold blooded execution of an innocent and unarmed Trayvon Martin screaming for help and his mother and begging for his life was such a tragedy. People all over the world were shocked and horrified. It brought us together here and it brought many others together at other sites. All of us watched the trial and we ultimately saw through the pretense of a serious prosecution. We have been changed forever by that experience.
Nine months after Zimmerman murdered Trayvon, we were horrified again when Michael Dunn murdered Jordan Davis at a gas station because Jordan refused to turn down the music he was listening to and did not show Dunn enough respect. Ironically, Dunn will be prosecuted by Angela Corey, the State Attorney who oversaw the failed prosecution of George Zimmerman and expressed satisfaction with the result.
We will be watching that trial and calling her out every time she fails to do something she should have done or does something she should not have done. I and others like me who are experienced trial lawyers will be watching every move she makes. She has a lot to prove and everything to lose. She will not get away with another lackluster effort to create the appearance of justice. We will call her out, if she allows another racist right wing nutcase like B-37 to get on the jury. We've seen the movie and we are familiar with the script. Never again.
And now we have Kendrick Johnson's shocking case to grab our attention and galvanize us back into action.
Nothing will ever change unless we take action and make things change. Unfortunately, humans have to be shocked out of their generally passive and accepting everyday lives before they will come together, focus on solving a problem, and take action to git 'r done. These three horrific cases are waking us up to what we must do to reclaim our inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness in a just and color blind society. We cannot ignore these tragedies. We cannot shrug our shoulders and turn our backs on Trayvon Martin, Jordan Davis, Kendrick Johnson and their grieving families because those three beautiful, young, and innocent children could just have easily been our children or even ourselves.
Justice for Trayvon is justice for everyone and we now have three crystal clear examples that racism is alive and well in this country and our criminal justice system is aiding and abetting it rather than producing just results.
I could no more ignore the message conveyed by these three tragedies than stop breathing.
By working together using the power of the internet to communicate, we can and we will make the mountains tremble.
90 Comments	| Jordan Davis, Justice for Everyone, Justice for Jordan, Justice for Kendrick, Justice for Trayvon Martin, Kendrick Johnson, South Park, Trayvon Martin, World War Zimmerman	| Tagged: Angela Correy, George Zimmerman, Jordan Davis, Justice for Jordan, Justice for Kendrick, Justice for Trayvon, Kendrick Johnson, South Park, Trayvon Martin, World War Zimmerman	| Permalink


text:
United States Capitol The White House Washington
Cars get trapped in tumbleweeds on Washington state highway
Unfortunate drivers in Washington found themselves struggling in all new conditions while traveling on New Year's Eve. While combinations of wind, rain, snow or ice often force road closures in January, the culprit from Tuesday night and Wednesday morning was a new one: tumbleweeds. Starting around 9 p.m., local time, and extending into New Year's Day, portions of State Route 240 near West Richland, located in the south central part of the state, were shut down after strong winds blew hundreds of tumbleweeds onto the roadway. Photos and video from the incident showed numerous abandoned vehicles being unearthed on Wednesday morning. Drivers were forced to flee their cars and ring in the new year under far different circumstances than they likely intended. The wall of natural debris reportedly soared to heights of 20 to 30 feet and closed the highway in both eastbound and westbound directions, according to Washington State Patrol Trooper Chris Thorsan.
"In the 20 years that I have worked here, I have never seen it as bad as this," Thorson told National Public Radio. "I've never seen six to eight cars, including a semi-truck, actually stopped and trapped on a highway because of tumbleweeds." The strong winds continued into Wednesday morning, only complicating the cleanup efforts for crews. "The strongest winds were recorded shortly after 5 a.m. Wednesday morning, when a rain shower moved through," Deger said. "The duration of the strong winds was likely a contributing factor to the hundreds of tumbleweeds that built up and buried cars." While no injuries were reported, the tumbleweeds caused traffic nightmares and forced the state to utilize multiple snow plows and other forms of equipment to remove the weeds. Trooper Thorson told The Seattle Times that snow plows drove slowly in order to avoid crashing into potentially hidden, buried cars.
Thorson told a resident on Twitter that the vehicles became stuck when drivers were forced to slow down and eventually stop due to the thistles. Some people spent their New Year's Eve trapped on a Washington state highway after tumbleweeds blocked their route, authorities said. YakTriNews reported that the Washington State Patrol announced via Twitter at about 6:30 p.m. that night that State Route 240 was closed in both directions near West Richland. Trooper Sarah Clasen told KAPP-KVEW that vehicles were trapped in a pile of tumbleweeds that stood up to 15 feet (4.57 meters) tall. The state Department of Transportation used snow plows to clear the scene.
Trooper Chris Thorson said it took about 10 hours to clear the road, which opened again around 4:30 a.m. Wednesday. Thorson says five cars and one 18-wheel semi truck were trapped in the tumbleweeds. "People were still stuck at midnight and rung in the new year trapped under the weeds," Thorson said. Thorson said Wednesday that troopers found one abandoned car that was trapped in the tumbleweeds at daylight but no one was inside. We partner with third party advertisers, who may use tracking technologies to collect information about your activity on sites and applications across devices, both on our sites and across the Internet.
You always have the choice to experience our sites without personalized advertising based on your web browsing activity by visiting the DAA's Consumer Choice page, the NAI's website, and/or the EU online choices page, from each of your browsers or devices. To avoid personalized advertising based on your mobile app activity, you can install the DAA's AppChoices app here. Even if you choose not to have your activity tracked by third parties for advertising services, you will still see non-personalized ads on our site. By clicking continue below and using our sites or applications, you agree that we and our third party advertisers can: Perhaps no one had a stranger New Year's Eve than motorists and state troopers who spent the night on a lonely stretch of highway in Washington state where a freak windstorm left several cars buried under a mountain of blowing snow tumbleweeds. The blizzard of brittle bushes struck on State Route 240 near Richland, Wash., late on New Year's Eve, according to Washington State Patrol Trooper Chris Thorson.
Thorson posted video footage and several photos of what he called "tumblegeddon" on Twitter, saying the tumbleweeds were piled "20-30 feet" (6.1 to 9.1 metres) high in some places. "In the 20 years that I have worked here, I have never seen it as bad as this," Thorson told NPR. "I've never seen six to eight cars, including a semi-truck, actually stopped and trapped on a highway because of tumbleweeds." A motorist sits in his vehicle while transportation workers try to dig it out from a pile of tumbleweeds in Washington state on Dec. 31, 2019. Thorson said tumbleweeds occasionally interfere with traffic on SR 240 because it runs through a desert plateau. "The only time they really become an issue is when we have high winds," he said. The trouble likely started when a few tumbleweeds got caught in bushes at the edge of the road, Thorson said. Cars slowed down to avoid the weeds, then strong wind blew more weeds onto the road, effectively burying all the stationary cars. Police started receiving calls about the tumbleweed traffic jam around 6:30 p.m. State troopers and transportation workers arrived at the scene to find some of the vehicles completely hidden from view. Authorities shut down the road and brought in heavy plows to help remove the tumbleweeds. A plow arrives at the scene of a traffic jam caused by tumbleweeds in Washington state on Dec. 31, 2019. "A pretty incredible sight," the Washington State Department of Transportation East tweeted after the road had been cleared. Police say there were no collisions or injuries, although one driver abandoned her car at the scene. Enlarge Image Washington State Department of Transportation Drivers in Washington state are used to contending with rainy conditions, but a different sort of road hazard appeared this week: a freakish storm of tumbleweeds. State Route 240 in eastern Washington shut down on New Year's Eve when a massive pile of wind-blow tumbleweeds inundated the roadway, trapping cars and a semitruck in piles of plants up to 30 feet (9 meters) high. Chris Thorson, public information officer for Washington State Patrol District 3, tweeted a video of workers clearing the spiky plants from around an abandoned car. #tumblegeddon After 10 hours of SR 240 being closed last night on New Year's Eve, it was opened around 0430 thanks to @WSDOT_East We still have one abandon car trapped in the tumbleweeds that was found at daylight, luckily no one was in it. The Washington State Department of Transportation was able to clear the road after 10 hours with the help of a snow plow, but continued to caution drivers on the conditions as of Wednesday. "Please take care if you choose to travel through this area as winds continue to move the tumbleweeds around," the agency tweeted. They will be patrolling through this evening to help keep the road open to traffic. Please take care if you choose to travel through this area as winds continue to move the tumbleweeds around.