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Tourist arrivals up 16 percent
TOURIST arrivals into Zimbabwe climbed by 16 percent during the first half of 2011 to 657 302, from 568 706 during the six months to June 2010, driven by significant easing of the global financial crisis, a new report said this week.
The growth in arrivals was led by Africa, which pushed volumes up by 11 percent to 567 000, from 510 300 during the prior comparative period in 2010.
However, South Africa, the continent's largest tourist market, declined by 33 percent, according to the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA)'s Tourism Trends and Statistics Report released on Tuesday.
"Zimbabwe recorded a 16 percent increase in tourist arrivals in the first half of 2011," the ZTA said.
"The continued growth in arrivals can be attributed to the increased confidence in Zimbabwe as a tourist destination. This has been necessitated (by) continued marketing efforts by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority. The economic recovery by the country and the increased trade within the region also contributed significantly to this increase," the report added.
Hotel room occupancy levels increased to 38 percent during the review period from 35 percent during the six months ending June 2010, with holiday travelers dominating.
Business travelers increased by 44 percent to 136 000.
Britain, Zimbabwe's former colonial power that led an aggressive global onslaught against the country's political establishment over a chaotic land reform programme that resulted in a sharp fall in foreign tourist arrivals into Zimbabwe, reported a 141 percent rise in arrivals at 10 720.
The report indicated that a marked recovery of Zimbabwe's economy since dollarisation in 2009, significant improvements in international trade and aggressive marketing strategies had helped restore tourist confidence on Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe's economy grew by 8,1 percent in 2010 and was projected to grow by 9,3 percent in 2011, bolstering domestic tourism as disposable incomes improved. Fourteen percent of arrivals during the review period were overseas tourists, from 10 percent during the first half of 2010.
The Americas, where the ZTA had intensified its marketing drive and opened a marketing office in Brazil, together with a plan to lure about 14 million African Americans in the United States, had a 37 percent rise in Zimbabwe arrivals to 22 290.
Asia reported a 104 percent increase, Europe increased by 51 percent, the Middle East increased by 125 percent.
Tourism Minister, Walter Mzembi, had a highly publicised trip to Iran during this period.
The ZTA said there were positive signals of a significant rise in arrivals by year-end.
"The year 2011 promises to bring positive results to Zimbabwe's tourism industry in line with the anticipated growth in international tourist arrivals by between four and five percent and the regional growth of 13 percent," the ZTA said.
"Tourist trends are expected to rise following the stabilisation of the economy and the demand resulting from the expected increase in arrivals in 2011," said the authority.
Source: Tourist arrivals up 16 percent (11/11/11)
ZTA moves to repossess 5 hotels
THE Zimbabwe Tourism Authority is withdrawing five hotels from the Rainbow Tourism Group, as it moves to enhance its business thrust in line with its economic turnaround project.
In an interview here yesterday, ZTA chief executive Mr Karikoga Kaseke, said ZTA was withdrawing Rainbow Towers and New Ambassador Hotel in Harare, Rainbow Bulawayo, Rainbow Victoria Falls and a lodge in Hwange, as part of its new business thrust.
But RTG chief executive Mrs Chipo Mtasa said she was not aware of any such moves "so we have no comment to make".
Said Mr Kaseke: "We cannot be a tourism authority without a single hotel or lodge. We have made a decision to repossess Rainbow Towers, Bulawayo Rainbow Hotel, New Ambassador Hotel in Harare, Rainbow Hotel Victoria Falls and a lodge in Hwange. I can't name the lodge but it's a good one in Hwange.
"At the peak of the Economic Structural Adjustment Programme, the ZTA leadership of that time surrendered these facilities to the Ministry of Public Construction and they were leased out."
Asked if the ZTA had the capacity to run the hotel facilities, Mr Kaseke said it could subcontract someone to run or lease them out.
"We must make money out of those facilities. Even if we make US$100 000 a month from them, we will be fine," said Mr Kaseke.
He said the ZTA had already started working on the necessary modalities to ensure that the hotels become the ZTA's a cash cow. It had largely survived on Government grants and levies paid by the tourism and hospitality industry.
Mr Kaseke said it "made sense" to repossess the facilities since his organisation had, over the years, rebranded and repositioned itself to market, promote and develop the tourism industry.
ZTA, which hosts many local and international celebrities and media houses as part of its National Perception Management Programme, needs hotel and lodge facilities of varied sizes and comfort.
Over the years, ZTA has been either paying cash or relying on the benevolence of hoteliers to accommodate its visitors.
"As an authority we need to invest in the industry as well, so that we get first-hand experience on the situation on the ground.
"We need to work on serious investment projects elsewhere in the country's tourist resorts, so that we generate income for ourselves," said Mr Kaseke.
Source: ZTA to repossess 5 hotels (16/10/11)
Labels: tourism insights, zimbabwe
Victoria Falls charms Knight Rider
From Patrick Chitumba in Victoria Falls
POPULAR American actor, singer and businessman David Michael Hasselhoff, popularly known as Michael Knight, was in the resort town of Victoria Falls on a three-day private visit.
He was expected to leave Zimbabwe yesterday.
The Hoff, as he is known these days, rose to fame in the late 1980s and early 1990s as the leading actor in the popular television series Knight Rider, alongside his famous car KITT.
He was also part of another popular series – Baywatch – alongside blonde beauty Pamela Anderson.
Hasselhoff, who was in the company of his fiancée Hayley Louise Roberts and his cousin Nicholas Jean Corjon, said he was in the country to enjoy the splendour associated with one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Victoria Falls Rainforest and the mighty Zambezi River.
These are among other adventures that make the resort town the tourism hub of Southern Africa.
In an exclusive interview at the five-star Victoria Falls Hotel, where he booked in soon after his arrival from South Africa, Hasselhoff said this was his second visit to Victoria Falls.
"I was here in 1986 with my father and I will always want to visit this place. "I am here to show them the beauty of what God made, the Falls, it is so beautiful."
He added that he had fond memories of Victoria Falls with the most vivid one being when a monkey entered their hotel room.
"Back then, there was a sign written that when a monkey enters a guest room, you should report to management.
"So one day we walked into our room and found the monkey. We called management and they came and took it out and it was such an experience," he said.
He said he also remembers that he once bartered a pair of tennis shoes for an elephant tusk but was quick to note that things had changed.
"Right now there is the moratorium on the trade of ivory and I believe it is good for the protection of the wildlife. The last time I was here I traded my pair of tennis shoes for ivory," he said.
Hasselhoff added that he was touched by the fact that people in South Africa and Zimbabwe still recognised him for the role he played in Knight Rider.
"I also visited South Africa during the apartheid era to show support for the people who were fighting against it and what I have learnt is that the people want to see a happy world where there is love and friendship."
Hasselhoff also said his visit to Victoria Falls might prove worthwhile since he intended to propose to his fiancée while bungee jumping.
"I proposed to her when we were in South Africa when we were under the ocean in a cage watching sharks and she refused even after I had told her that I was going to open the gate of the cage and we will be eaten by sharks.
"I even proposed to here in front of charging elephants and she still said no so I will again propose, as I do bungee jumping or the swing," he said.
Hasselhoff also said that he was hoping to do white- water rafting in the Zambezi River together with his fiancée.
"For the next three days we are here in Victoria Falls and we intend to do a lot of adventure activities as we have a lot of fun with my fiancée and my cousin, as we see the world together.
"So basically we are having more of fun than anything here in Victoria Falls it is very spiritual. I think that sitting on the edge of the falls is the closest that you'll ever come to God. And you're going to want to jump. It is so powerful, you'll just want to give yourself back to God ," he said.
Source: Victoria Falls charms Knight Rider (27/09/11)
Labels: tourism, victoria falls, zimbabwe
Vic Falls reports an upswing in arrivals
Vic Falls in Zimbabwe is reporting an impressive turn around with a big increase in occupancy levels. According to occupancy records at seven hotels, covering a total of 1 008 rooms, levels were up by 20% based on the same seven month last year (January to July). This translates into 13 193 extra rooms occupied over the same period in 2010.
Several hotels reported having their best July since 2000 with occupancies at 70% and above. Furthermore, going forward August to November is looking promising with greater occupancies forecast. There are reports of 80% and upwards and average room rates and REVPar are rising in tandem.
According to Ross Kennedy, CEO of Africa Albida, "Victoria Falls Safari Lodge had the best July occupancy in 10 years at 70%. The Boma Place of Eating had its second best July ever. Only July 2007 saw more covers per night at an average of 183, while 2011 had on average 163 per night."
Meanwhile Ilala Lodge Hotel General Manager, Roddy Meiring, advised that "the hotel saw a massive 87% occupancy in July 2011, which is up 15% on last year".
General Manager of The Victoria Falls Hotel, Karl Snater, says "we have seen an increase in occupancies from 2010, for all months except March, with July showing a massive 21% increase in occupancy from last year".
According to Kennedy, there are several reasons why Vic Falls is seeing an upswing while many other destinations continue to struggle to fill beds. "The settling and stability of the economy since dollarisation in 2009 has meant that the supply chain has normalised and is thus operating to international standards. In addition it has meant that use of foreign currency, pricing and access to goods has normalised and we are once again a tourist-friendly destination," he says.
Kennedy adds that the UK market, along with other markets that stopped supporting the area, have started to come back after "staying away" for most of the last 10 years and many operators who moved business across to Zambia between 200 and 2010 have now moved their clients back to Vic Falls.
"Destination marketing campaigns such as the Go To Victoria Falls campaign have also paid off, along with international and regional awareness and education campaigns with the travel trade and consumers," concludes Kennedy.
Source: Vic Falls reports an upswing in arrivals (30/08/11)
Victoria Falls reports good occupancies
Feedback from Go To Victoria Falls members reveals that arrivals into Victoria Falls have seen a turnaround. The monthly fair market share statistics at the end of July show a substantial increase from last year as well as previous years. This is in direct contrast to the current tourism arrival figures in other Southern African destinations.
According to occupancy records at seven different hotels, covering a total of 1 008 rooms, arrivals into the destination were up by 20%, based on the same seven-month period last year (January to July). This translates into 13 193 extra rooms occupied (63 per night) over the same period in 2010.
Several hotels reported their best July since 2000, at 70%+ occupancies, and in some cases, July was among the best three or four months ever experienced at these hotels.
Forecasts for August to November look promising for the destination, with even greater occupancies predicted according to the in system occupancies for these hotels. There are reports of 80%+ and perhaps even the possibility of a few at 90%+. In addition, average room rates and Revenue Per Available Room (Revpar) are rising in tandem.
The economic and downstream benefits of this arrival trend are obvious as international and regional tourists, along with Zimbabwean visitors, spend ever increasing amounts of disposable income on their holidays. All areas of tourism, which include hotels, transfers, activities, restaurants, national parks, curio sellers, fuel stations, supermarkets and suppliers of goods, should see an upswing in revenue as a result of these increased arrivals.
According to Ross Kennedy, CEO of Africa Albida, "Victoria Falls Safari Lodge had the best July occupancy in 10 years at 70%. The Boma Place of Eating had its second best July ever. Only July 2007 saw more covers per night at an average of 183, while 2011 had on average 163 per night."
Ilala Lodge Hotel GM, Roddy Meiring, says: "The hotel saw a massive 87% occupancy in July 2011, which is up 15% on last year."
GM of The Victoria Falls Hotel, Karl Snater, adds: "We have seen an increase in occupancies from 2010 for all months except March, with July showing a massive 21% increase in occupancy from last year."
These statistics show that while many destinations in Southern Africa might be seeing a decline in visitors, Victoria Falls on the Zimbabwe side is on the up and once again being recognised as a world-class destination.
Source: Victoria Falls reports good occupancies (23/08/11)
Labels: accommodation, industry news, tourism, victoria falls, zimbabwe
Victoria Falls Occupancy levels 15 August 2011
Feedback from Go To Victoria Falls members is that arrivals into Vic Falls have seen an impressive turn around, with the monthly fair market share stats at the end of July [2011], showing a huge increase from last and previous years. This is in direct contrast to the current tourism arrival figures in other Southern African destinations. According to occupancy records at seven different hotels, covering a total of 1008 rooms, arrivals into the destination were up by 20%, based on the same seven months last year (January to July). This translates into 13,193 extra rooms occupied, (63 per night) over the same period in 2010.
Several hotels had their best July since 2000, at an astounding 70% + occupancies, and in some cases, July was amongst the best three or four months ever experienced at these hotels.
Furthermore, going forward August to November is looking extremely promising for the destination, with even greater occupancies forecast, according to the in system occupancies for these hotels. There are reports of 80% + and perhaps even the possibility of a few at 90% +. In addition, average room rates and Revenue Per Available Room (Revpar) are rising in tandem, which is fantastic news for the destination.
The economic and downstream benefits of this arrival trend are obvious as international and regional tourists, along with Zimbabwean visitors, spend ever increasing amounts of disposable income on their holidays. All areas of tourism, which include hotels, transfers, activities, restaurants, national parks, curio sellers, fuel stations, supermarkets and suppliers of goods, will be seeing a direct upswing in revenue as a result of these increased arrivals.
Meanwhile Ilala Lodge Hotel General Manager, Roddy Meiring, advised that "the hotel saw a massive 87% occupancy in July 2011, which is up 15% on last year".
General Manager of The Victoria Falls Hotel, Karl Snater, says "we have seen an increase in occupancies from 2010, for all months except March, with July showing a massive 21% increase in occupancy from last year".
These statistics show that while many destinations in Southern Africa might be seeing a decline in visitors, Victoria Falls on the Zimbabwe side is on the up and once again being recognised as the world class destination, it has always been proud to be.
Source: Victoria Falls Occupancy levels (15 August 2011)
Thrills of the Victoria Falls Bridge tour
(eTN) - The Victoria Falls Bridge was alive with youngsters who had come to bungee jump, to slide across the gorge, or to swing on a cable. For the more sedate people, like myself, there is also something to do – a Bridge Story and Tour.
We were taken into the storytellers' room covered with pictures of the construction of the bridge in 1904. There we found a man sitting at a desk drawing. The man was George Imbault, the engineer of the bridge... that was what he told us, anyway... the fact that he would have been about 150 years old, didn't seem to matter.
George Imbault got up from his desk and told us the story of the bridge. It was most entertaining. He was quite an actor. And he got all his facts right and told us things I didn't know.
After our story, we were togged up in harnesses to go for a walk under the bridge. The harnesses are attached to straps and carabiners (metal clasps). These we were to use to attach ourselves to a rope as we walked along the pathway.
Crossing the railway line and road, we took the steps down the side of the bridge, attaching our harnesses as we went. The footpath under the bridge is a metal grill, and looking down between my feet, I could see the water below. I felt a bit woozy, but I think the harness gave me a sense of security, and it really wasn't that bad.
Mr. Imbault came with us on the walk, too, and continued his fascinating stories of the bridge. The most interesting bit was the explanation of the vibrations of the bridge as a truck or train passes along it. The four pillars, which hold the bridge in position, have bearings under them to allow for movement of the bridge. If they weren't there, the bridge would soon crack and break.
Mr. Imbault told us that the very last rivet to be used in the construction was made of gold. I looked for it among the thousands... but I didn't see it.
We walked right across the bridge underneath and climbed up the ladder at the other end. Wandering back across the bridge, this time on the road, we stopped to watch the "jumpers" and "sliders."
Back at the reception, we took off our harnesses and then retired for a cool drink on the deck. The deck overlooks the gorge and the bridge, and it is a great spot for a couple of hours of viewing. I watched a few bungees, swings, and slides. A good afternoon's entertainment... especially from this side of the gorge.
Source: Thrills of the Victoria Falls Bridge tour (19/07/11)
Labels: history, tourism, victoria falls bridge
Baboon Causes Man to Fall to His Death
(Victoria Falls)
ZAMBIAN TRAGEDY - Date: 10th June 2011 - Early in June a tragic incident occurred on the Zambian side of the Victoria Falls. Following a stand-off with a baboon, which had taken an interest in a plastic carrier bag a tourist was carrying (which we understand to have only held a camera and no food), an American tourist slipped and fell to his death from the edge of the gorge.
The baboons on the Zambian side have long been far more troublesome than their relatives on the Zimbabwe side, often hi-jacking food stuffs from local people crossing the bridge near the border post and causing problems for tourists walking between the Falls and the Hotels located very close by.
Care should be taken when encountering baboons, even in Victoria Falls town and surrounds, especially if you are walking on your own and carrying food in plastic shopping bags. A sudden snatch-and-grab attack can leave you shaken and holding a torn plastic bag with a few less items of shopping. A backpack is probably safer (and reduces the plastic rubbish created by the town) and often locals are around who will be more than happy to walk with you if you are unsure. If re-using plastic bags for carrying non-food items, ensure the bag is clean and has not recently carried fruit or other fresh food stuffs which may leave behind an inviting smell to baboons. Certainly never feed baboons or any other wild animal.
Large male baboons can be extremely powerful and intimidating, especially if running straight towards you, with obvious intent in their eyes. If you find yourself in this situation, drop the shopping bag and step away. Do not attempt to wrestle with baboons for the ownership of your bag.
Residents of Victoria Falls walk past baboons every day, often within a few metres, without event. Knowing your baboon behaviour helps, and if you can't observe baboons in the wild, watch a few wildlife documentaries to help you read their behaviour and reactions. Animals also read our behaviour, and it is important not to show fear or panic and to walk with confidence, purpose and direction. Keep an eye on all the baboons around you but avoid prolonged direct eye contact with individuals as this can be seen as a challenge or threat.
The key thing to remember in all animal close encounters is respect. Wild animals can be dangerous. However many animals will react with calm acceptance of your presence if you do not push their boundaries of tolerance. Whilst this varies with species and individuals, learning to read animal behaviour and react accordingly is a key requirement of any bush guide or ranger, or indeed anyone living in close proximity to wild animals – such as the residents of Victoria Falls.
Source: Baboon Causes Man to Fall to His Death (June 2011)
Labels: accidents, tourism, victoria falls, zambia
Plans approved for Victoria Falls ground
Zimbabwe's plans for a third Test ground in the country to complement those in Harare and Bulawayo are set to come to fruition after the Victoria Falls local council granted planning approval for a stadium near the iconic site. Zimbabwe Cricket chief executive Ozias Bvute and chairman of selectors Alistair Campbell confirmed the council approval, and said that construction work will begin early next year.
"This is one of the great natural wonders of the world and playing international and first-class cricket there will cause a lot of excitement among visiting players and fans," said Bvute. "Tourism is on the up in this country and sporting tourism especially so.
"We had eight or nine thousand for a recent Twenty20 tournament in Harare and that has given us additional confidence to go ahead, apart from other factors," added Campbell. "People now go to Dubai for cricket. We will soon be an alternative to that. There is a lot of vision here at the moment."
As well as hosting Tests and ODIs, the ground will also provide a second home, after Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, for domestic side Matabeleland Tuskers. In addition, ZC are hoping that other teams - particularly English representative and county sides - will be attracted to use the facilities for pre-season tours.
Widely considered to be one of the seven natural wonders of the world, Victoria Falls sits on the Zambezi river on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, and is also a World Heritage site. At the height of Zimbabwe's tourism industry it attracted several hundred thousand visitors a year. Those numbers dwindled as the country's political situation deteriorated, with most travellers opting to reach the Falls through Zambia, but amid relative stability in recent years the number of tourists has started to pick up again.
Development on both the Zimbabwean and Zambian sides has not been without its problems in the past, and in 2007 plans to build 500 chalets in a national park on the Zambian side, and the collapse of infrastructure in Zimbabwe, prompted Unesco to warn that the area could lose its World Heritage status. That never happened, however, and the development of the cricket ground will utilise the latest ecologically-friendly features.
Approximations of the total capacity of the ground range between 4,000 and 12,000 and no cost estimates have been made available so far, but architects are said to be drawing up plans for a clubhouse. Once completed, it will be accessible by road, rail and air in Zimbabwe, while several airlines offer flights from Johannesburg, the journey taking under two hours.
Source: Plans approved for Victoria Falls ground (9/6/11)
Labels: development, tourism, victoria falls, zimbabwe
Elephants cause death of two in Victoria Falls
VICTORIA FALLS ELEPHANT TRAGEDY
Two deaths caused by elephants, within the space of a week, have shocked residents of Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
The first death, of a young man in Chinotimba, Victoria Falls, occurred on the evening of 3rd June. The man, an apostolic sect member, was trampled to death by a bull elephant soon after dusk while praying.
In the second, unrelated incident, a professional guide was killed by a bull elephant at the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge while he was accompanying a client during a safari walk. The elephant was believed to be on 'musth', a period where a bull elephant has higher testosterone levels that heighten aggressive behaviour, charged at the two prompting the guide to fire warning shots. The guide however, tripped and the charging elephant trampled him.
As reported in our recent Newsletters and stories, residents of Victoria Falls town have been plagued by garden-raiding elephants. Of concern is that as patience has worn thin with their nightly visits residents have resorted to harassing the animals more and more, from throwing stones to using loud fireworks, in order to move them on.
Residents now look to ZimParks to offer advice and guidance on elephant-human interactions and how they can protect their properties from the attentions of elephants. Local conservationists are recommending non-lethal measures which will discourage the elephants from visiting residential areas. They are working on various alternatives such as qualified teams being set up to deal with elephants and a hotline for residents to call 24 hrs a day.
Clearly shooting all the elephants involved is not an option that the tourism industry, or international community, will support, and yet something must be done before another tragic loss of life occurs.
Tourists walking in Victoria Falls are recommended to always carry a torch at night-time and to take special care on roads frequented by elephants (the tell-tale signs are usually more than evident to sight and smell). Ask around and find out if elephants have been around - if so take a taxi. If elephants are encountered on roads, retreat to a safe distance. Do not throw stones or other objects. If you are close enough to throw stones and get a reaction from the elephant, then you are too close!!
Source: VICTORIA FALLS ELEPHANT TRAGEDY (08/06/2011)
Labels: elephant, people-wildlife conflict, victoria falls, zimbabwe
Elephant Kills Victoria Falls Safari Lodge Guide
On June 8, tragedy struck at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, when the lodge's Head Guide Tendekai Madzivanzira was killed by an elephant in full musth.
Madzivanzira, who had years of experience, had escorted an international guest from the hotel to the nearby Siduli Hide on an armed walk at 16h00. The hide is close to a waterhole frequented by a variety of game and while the guest was inside the hide, a number of animals visited the waterhole, including a bull elephant in full musth.
The bull chased off another four elephants that had made their way to the water to drink and, after some time, the bull elephant started to move off. It was at this time (18h00) that, while Madzivanzira was escorting his guest back to the lodge, the bull spotted them and started to charge. According to the guest, Madzivanzira grabbed her arm and instructed her to run but by this stage the elephant was too close. Madzivanzira then instructed her to climb a nearby tree and stumbled as he turned to face the elephant as he discharged his weapon. The elephant hit the guide tossing him to the ground.
Efforts by observers and staff whistling and shouting from the lodge's balcony to try to distract the charging bull elephant were to no avail. The elephant eventually ran off and staff members and a medical team were on site to rescue the guest from the tree and attend to Madzivanzira, who had been fatally wounded. Senior management from Victoria Falls Safari Lodge and experienced wildlife experts, in co-ordination with the National Parks and Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), were called to secure the area and to conduct further investigations into the matter.
Once news of the incident had reached Africa Albida Tourism's head office by 18h30, Madzivanzira the various management staff were deployed to assist with contacting family and immediate grief counselling ensued with the guide's family and the guests.
While in transit today to Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, Ross Kennedy, Africa Albida Tourism's Chief Executive, said: "It is a very sad and shocking thing to have happened and we will do everything we can do to provide support for Tendekai's family. I've been told the staff at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge have been amazing in dealing with the situation and I have to say a big thank you to all of them. This is the first time in the 17 years of the lodge being open that something like this has ever happened and as much as we train our staff for a worst case scenario when living in the bush with wild animals, you still never think an incident like this is ever going to take place. Tendekai was a skilled professional who had the respect of his wildlife peers and conservation colleagues, along with all clients, staff, and the community as a whole"
Source: Elephant Kills Victoria Falls Safari Lodge Guide (08/03/11)
Labels: accidents, elephant, people-wildlife conflict, tourism, victoria falls, zimbabwe
Victoria Falls Zambia dedicated for Peace through Tourism
What has tourism got to do with peace? One might say, Peace, that's the government's job. Louis D'Amore believes otherwise.
He is the founding president of the International Institute of Peace through Tourism.
The Canadian government commissioned him to develop a code of ethics and guidelines for sustainable tourism that has become an international model. D'Amore says, "World leaders are now beginning to realize that if we want peace, we must prepare for peace.
And if we are to prepare for peace, we must have, and share, a common, positive vision of peace."
Louis D'Amore of the "Coalition of Partners for World Peace through Tourism" with partners who are each committed to a "Millennium Project."
"The tourism industry has the potential to become the world's first "Peace Industry"; an industry that recognizes, promotes and supports the belief that every traveler is potentially an Ambassador for Peace."
The president of Zambia H.E. Rupiah Bwezani Banda declared the week of May 15 as a national week of Peace Through Tourism in honor of Louis D'Amore 5th Africa Conference in Lusaka.
20 delegates from the 5th Africa Conference for the International Insitute for Peace through tourism (IIPT) went to Victoria Falls, Zambia on May 18,2011 to re-dedicate the IIPT Peace Park. IIPT delegates and their founder and president Louis D'Amore were joined by Zambia's Minister of Tourism, Environment and natural resources Hon. Catherine Namuga,Zoltan Somogyi , Executive Director for Member Relation Services, UNWTO, and local dignatories from both Zambia
and Zimbabwe.
And speaking at the re-dedication ceremony in Livingstone, IIPT Founder and President, Louis D'Amore said the falls is an important part of global tourism.
And World Tourism Organisation Executive Director, Soldan Somogoyi reiterated Mr. D'Amore's sentiments.
The Victoria Falls was last rededicated in 2005 during the 3rd IIPT conference.
And speaking at the same occasion, Tourism Minister, Catherine Namugala said the re-dedication of the Victoria Falls shows government's commitment to the sector.
H.E. Namugala has further noted that tourism is one of the major sectors under the economic diversification agenda hence needs to be supported. She also stated the need to push for the agenda of peace through tourism.
Source: Victoria Falls Zambia dedicated for Peace through Tourism (31/05/11)
Labels: conservation, peace park, victoria falls
Lion attacks tourist at Victoria Falls
A dream vacation to Zimbabwe turned into a nightmare for a woman from East County, San Diego in the US after she was attacked by a lion while on a safari with her husband at Victoria Falls.
Colleen Garbaczewski and her husband were on a lion walk at Victoria Falls when she was attacked, according to a family friend.
Videos of lion walks show people walking near lions. Some even sit with the lions and even pet them.
But for Garbaczewski, something went terribly wrong. Though the details remain unclear, the attack left Garbaczewski with what her family said were non life-threatening injuries.
"It's terrible. That's horrible," said Joseph Kalfayan, who has lived near the couple for 10 years.
Garbaczewski is an executive with Pacific Coast Rentals and is also involved in the community.
Kalfayan had this message for his friend: "I wish her good health, the best of luck and a quick recovery."
A member of the Garbaczewski family said Garbaczewski is recovering well and should be home soon.
Source: Lion attacks tourist at Victoria Falls (08 May 2011)
Labels: accidents, lion walks, tourism, victoria falls, zimbabwe
Tug of war over Falls tourists
"Tourists are back!" said Knowledge, all smiles at the Victoria Falls tourism office.
His sentiment is shared widely in this resort town on the edge of the mile-wide waterfall, where it's hard to remember that three years ago Zimbabwe was trapped in a seemingly endless spiral of hyperinflation, hunger and political violence.
Victoria Falls had become a ghost town as tourists opted for the comforts and safety of resorts on the Zambian side of the Zambezi River, where the once sleepy town of Livingstone enjoyed a tourism boom as Zimbabwe collapsed.
"The Zambian side has definitively profited from all the problems in Zimbabwe," said Sarah, who sells excursions for at the Zambezi Sun, part of a South African hotel chain that opened on the Zambian side in 2001.
Hotels, lodges and other tourist attractions have mushroomed over the past decade around Livingstone, which became so popular that it now boasts several daily direct flights to South Africa.
But a brand new curio market on the main road lies empty as tourists fly in and hop across the border.
"We are not happy, the situation is bad," said the Livingstone Tourism Association. "They come here for activities and they go to Zimbabwe for accommodation."
Livingstone still runs a brisk trade in business travel by hosting conferences and corporate team-building workshops, but now faces stiff competition with Victoria Falls for leisure travellers.
Zimbabwe's tourism earnings jumped 47 percent last year to $770 million, as the number of visitors rose 15 percent to 2.3 million nationally, with Victoria Falls the country's biggest attraction, according to the tourism ministry.
Tourism minister Walter Mzembi hopes to grow that number to five billion dollars by 2015.
"However, this is on condition that the current peace and stability in the country prevails and the country is able to spin a more positive image of itself," he told reporters last month.
Since Zimbabwe adopted the US dollar two years ago, prices are lower in Victoria Falls than in Livingstone, where entrance to the derelict Railway Museum costs $15 for foreigners.
"It is cheaper here, and people can walk to the falls. They don't have to take a taxi or whatever," said Duni, a Victoria Falls hawker offering sunset cruises, helicopter rides, rafting, bungee jumps and safaris to passers-by on the sidewalk.
While Victoria Falls sits at the river edge, Livingstone is 10 kilometres (six miles) away, with a fleet of blue taxis shuttling visitors around for $10 a pop.
Opinion is divided on which side offers the better view of the 108-metre (360-foot) high falls, though the Zimbabwean side has a greater variety of viewpoints.
Confident in its renaissance, Victoria Falls has asked for Chinese aid to expand its airport to accommodate bigger planes.
But the throngs of street vendors trailing tourists are a constant reminder that it's still not business as usual.
Among the souvenirs on offer, a 100-trillion-dollar note from the old Zimbabwe currency, a worthless amount during the age of hyperinflation. Its relegation to the trinket shelves is what allowed to Victoria Falls to welcome visitors again.
Source: Tug of war over Falls tourists (23/04/11)
Labels: tourism insights, victoria falls, zambia, zimbabwe
Tourist arrivals rise by 11 percent
According to the latest report titled "Tourism Trends and Statistics Report 2010", which was prepared by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) market research and product development division, the effects and after effects of last year's world soccer jamboree — held in Africa for the first time — largely contributed to the significant rise in tourist arrivals and hotel occupancy levels.
The report indicates that tourist arrivals were 2 239 165, representing an 11 percent increase from the 2009 figure of 2 017 264; pushing up tourism receipts to US$634 million from US$523 million recorded in 2009, representing a 21 percent increase from the comparative period.
Of the 2 239 165 arrivals received by Zimbabwe in 2010, Africa contributed 87 percent followed by Europe (6 percent), the Americas (3 percent) and Asia (2 percent). The Oceania and Middle East contributed less than 2 percent.
Average hotel room occupancy levels also increased from 46 percent to 52 percent while average bed occupancy levels rose from 35 percent to 36 percent last year compared to 2009.
Almost all of the country's regions experienced increases in room occupancy levels except Harare and Midlands. Harare and Bulawayo and other regions recorded increases in bed occupancy except Beitbridge that remained unchanged.
The border town of Beitbridge had the highest room (62 percent) and bed (59 percent) occupancy rates while Victoria Falls remained with the highest foreign clientele composition at 63 percent probably because almost all foreign tourists want to catch a glimpse of the majestic Victoria Falls.
In interview last week, ZTA head of public relations and corporate communications Mr Sugar Chagonda confirmed that Zimbabwe's tourism sector recorded an increase in arrivals spurred by some of its Southern
African markets such as South Africa, Mozambique and Swaziland.
"Most of our tourists came from neighbouring countries and South Africa remains the major source market in Africa with a market share of 70 percent of arrivals from the African continent.
"The increase is attributed to an increase in tourist arrivals in 2010 to our vigorous marketing campaigns both in traditional and potential source markets. The economic stability obtaining in the country since 2009 is also a major contributor to the rise in tourist arrivals and room occupancy levels.
"It is also important to note that the peace prevailing in the country since the consummation of the inclusive Government has played a pivotal role in luring tourists. A lot of tourists have changed their perception of Zimbabwe since the formation of the inclusive Government," said Mr Chagonda.
The report indicates that tourist arrivals from the Americas rose by 19 percent in 2010 with the United States, arguably the country's second biggest rabid critic after the United Kingdom, increasing arrivals by 30 percent.
The US continues to lead as the major overseas source market for Zimbabwe while Britain has maintained second position since 2006.
It is believed the 2010 soccer World Cup, "to some extent", resulted in an increase in Mexican and Argentinian arrivals. However, the Asian region recorded a 36 percent decline in arrivals with all major markets except Japan and Malaysia recording a decline in the period under review.
Statistics show that Japan is the largest Asian market for Zimbabwe followed by China with a market share of 25 percent.
Europe also recorded a 20 percent decline last year with most major markets recording declines in tourist arrivals. Spain had the highest increase in arrivals (70 percent) followed by Britain and Ireland.
Going forward, Mr Chagonda reckons the country's tourism sector has the potential to do better and probably contribute significantly to Gross Domestic Product if Government supports the ZTA's marketing initiatives.
"I still feel we can do better as an industry if Government avails more funds for the Tourism Board's marketing initiatives. There is no doubt that funds are heavily required to enable the ZTA to attend travel shows around the world.
"Last year, we requested for US$12,5 million from Treasury but we only got US$400 000 which is not enough for us to remain visible in source and potential markets. So far this year, we have taken our marketing of the country to Russia, China, Germany and recently the Seychelles where we did well," said Mr Chagonda.
The report suggests that 2011 promises to bring positive results to the country's tourism industry in line with the anticipated growth in international tourist arrivals by between 4 percent and 5 percent riding on the back of economic stability.
Source: Tourist arrivals rise by 11 percent (26/3/11)
Multi-million dollar mall for Vic Falls
Developers of a shopping mall in Victoria Falls have invited businesses to forward their input into the building of the structure which they say would take shopping to a new level in Zimbabwe's premier resort town.
The Mosi-oa-Tunya Gateway Shopping Mall, that will accommodate shops of all sizes, is being developed by Calwood Investments Private Limited, through their project managers, Knight Frank, who have invited prospective tenants to indicate their interest.
Knight Frank managing partner in Bulawayo, Oswald Nyakunika, said the shopping mall would be located at the intersection of Livingstone Way and Kazungula Road at the entrance to Victoria Falls town.
"The development will be highly visible and abutting these major roads from Kazungula, Bulawayo and the airport into town," Nyakunika said. He said with store sizes ranging from 40 square metres to 1 800 square metres, the shopping mall would accommodate a full complement of shops from pharmacies to banks, to restaurants, clothing stores, hardware and electrical appliances shops.
"Customers will also have access to curio and art wares, medical suites, tour operators and travel agents, as well as an Internet café," he said.
The largest shop will be approximately 1 800 square metres and can accommodate a large retail warehouse, a wholesale cash and carry, superstore or large supermarket.
The mall is expected to service Victoria Falls and the nearby towns of Hwange and Lupane, as well as Livingstone in Zambia, Kasane in Botswana and Kazungula at the borders of Zambia, Botswana and Namibia.
The estate agent expert said amenities would include ample parking in a secure environment, tastefully designed street furniture, vendor stalls and shopping benches.
"The shopping mall is expected to be a blue tooth and Wi-Fi hotspot, allowing patrons to be in touch with the centre events and surf the web free of charge," said Nyakunika. He said what makes the town attractive is that it is the centre of attraction in a vast tourist region that straddles across the borders of Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana and Namibia.
"Victoria Falls has a local population of 65 000 inhabitants complemented by tourist arrivals estimated at 300 000 per year and forecast to reach 1 million per year by 2015," he said.
The development by Calwood Investments is a giant step as the property market lumbers on a recovery path after a decade of struggling.
On the state of the property market in the country, Nyakunika said development had been affected by the liquidity crunch.
"Even though development costs have stabilised there is a severe liquidity crisis and as such there are very few development projects going on.
"This huge development that we are undertaking is one of the few in the country," he said.
Nyakunika said they were hoping to marry the staying power of the property market with the allure of the tourism sector.
Source: Multi-million dollar mall for Vic Falls (07/02/2011)
New Shopping Mall for Victoria Falls
Developers of a shopping mall in Victoria Falls have invited businesses to forward their input into the building of the structure which they say would take shopping to a new level in Zimbabwe's premier resort town. The Mosi-oa-Tunya Gateway Shopping Mall, that will accommodate shops of all sizes, is being developed by Calwood Investments Private Limited, through their project managers, Knight Frank, who have invited prospective tenants to indicate their interest.
"Customers will also have access to curio and art wares, medical suites, tour operators and travel agents, as well as an Internet café," he said. The largest shop will be approximately 1 800 square metres and can accommodate a large retail warehouse, a wholesale cash and carry, superstore or large supermarket.The mall is expected to service Victoria Falls and the nearby towns of Hwange and Lupane, as well as Livingstone in Zambia, Kasane in Botswana and Kazungula at the borders of Zambia, Botswana and Namibia.
The estate agent expert said amenities would include ample parking in a secure environment, tastefully designed street furniture, vendor stalls and shopping benches."The shopping mall is expected to be a blue tooth and Wi-Fi hotspot, allowing patrons to be in touch with the centre events and surf the web free of charge," said Nyakunika. He said what makes the town attractive is that it is the centre of attraction in a vast tourist region that straddles across the borders of Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana and Namibia.
"Victoria Falls has a local population of 65 000 inhabitants complemented by tourist arrivals estimated at 300 000 per year and forecast to reach 1 million per year by 2015," he said.The development by Calwood Investments is a giant step as the property market lumbers on a recovery path after a decade of struggling.
On the state of the property market in the country, Nyakunika said development had been affected by the liquidity crunch."Even though development costs have stabilised there is a severe liquidity crisis and as such there are very few development projects going on."This huge development that we are undertaking is one of the few in the country," he said. Nyakunika said they were hoping to marry the staying power of the property market with the allure of the tourism sector.
Source: New Shopping Mall for Victoria Falls (Feb 2011)
Labels: development, tourism, victoria falls
Botswana project poses fresh threat to Victoria Falls
THE attractiveness of the mighty Victoria Falls, one of the natural wonders of the world, is under threat if Botswana goes ahead with its planned extraction of large volumes of water from Chombe River for use
in its interior, a cabinet minister has said.
This would affect foreign currency inflows for both Zimbabwe and Zambia pumped in by tourists who throng the falls annually to witness the 'smoke that thunders.'
Botswana has notified other southern African countries of its intentions to abstract some 30 cubic metres from the Chombe River where it meets the Zambezi River for a planned irrigation scheme in the Pandamatenga area and for domestic water supply.
The Minister of Water Resources Development and Management, Samuel Sipepa-Nkomo recently told parliament that Zimbabwe was considering Botswana's submission.
He, however, noted the project might have serious repercussions on Victoria Falls, the largest curtain of water in the world, which is 1,708 metres wide.
"They have notified us because the Zamcom (Zambezi Watercourse Commission) agreement requires them to do that and we are now considering their submissions," said Sipepa-Nkomo. "Though more studies may be necessary, it looks like 30 cubic metres is a lot of water which might deprive the attractiveness of the
Victoria Falls."
Remarkably preserved in its natural state, Victoria Falls inspires visitors as much today as it did to David Livingstone in the 1860s. The falls and the surrounding area have been declared National Parks and a World Heritage Site, thus preserving the area from excessive commercialisation.
The local people call it 'Mosi-oa-Tunya' - the smoke that thunders.
Presently, Victoria Falls World Heritage Site status is at the centre of huge furore following the construction of a restaurant in the rain forest. The National Parks and Wildlife Authority of Zimbabwe partnered with
Shearwater and constructed a new development within the core zone of the Victoria Falls World Heritage Site.
During the festive season, more than 14 000 tourists visited the Victoria Falls rainforest while major hotels and lodges were fully booked.
Sipepa-Nkomo said Mozambique had also notified Zimbabwe of its intention to construct Mphanda Nkuwa Dam which is set to generate some 2275MW of electricity for the country. The dam site, which is on the Zambezi River, lies between Cabora Bassa dam and the City of Tete in Mozambique.
"This project is an advantage to Zimbabwe because we can import more power from Mozambique," Sipepa-Nkomo said.
Source: Botswana project poses fresh threat to Victoria Falls (11/01/11)
Labels: botswana, victoria falls, water extraction, zambezi
Victoria Falls Zambia dedicated for Peace through ...
Botswana project poses fresh threat to Victoria Fa...


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Recently I learned an inside secret: Teal is one of Ashton Woods' favorite pops of color! Knowing this, I dove into a Pinterest frenzy to see how teal inspires me and learned that this color is quite the character. It's a fantastic combination of both bold drama, and light whimsy!
The bold and dramatic is seen flawlessly in the Naples Reserve, Minorca model. The teal velvet sofa invites me to dive into the deep Mediterranean and its surroundings or a good Netflix drama. It bursts with strong yet delicate elegance. You can explore more details of this model here.
But the fun doesn't stop there! The drama can spill into so many aspects of design. Look at these velvet pumps with acrylic jeweled heels (amazing!), the velvety teal wall accenting a bold copper tub, the playful velvet tie for the fashionable man, and West Elm's new velvet bedding—talk about depth, texture and a touch of color-blocking drama!
Source: West ElmThe light and whimsical can be seen perfectly in our bright and playful Hamptons Avenue, Riverside model. Looking at pictures of this home takes me back to memories of summer days canoeing down the Weeki Wachee River in Florida— it's so fun how design can transport you to a place and time. There's something nostalgic here with the nautical pendants, and Verner Panton S chairs accenting the head of the dining table. A timeless throwback!
Visit The Hamptons Avenue, an Ashton Woods community in Orlando, FL.
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Source: Art.comIt's no wonder why teal is one of Ashton Woods' favorite colors! When it comes to home décor, no matter your mood or favorite color, always be bold in your expression.


Read the emails the author insists I make available as his response to my review..
In a departure from the normal standard of author response, Harry Nolan chooses to attack my review but - exactly the same as his attacks on Delta's former CEOs - declines to give specifics.
For reasons best known to himself, he feels the following email chain represents his best form of response to my review.
If you persist in publishing your 'review', then I insist you publish the email below in its entirety as my rebuttal.
I'm dismayed by your comments, but I will publish the review, updated to reflect your vaguely worded comments about 'turned this matter over to my attorney' below.
If your attorney has substantive matters of concern, I urge him to contact me soonest.
It appears to me that my straightforward style of responding to your questions about my book has been misperceived as trying to pick a fight.
That is the only logical explanation I can find for what seems to be – to me as well as others to whom I have shown your draft – an attack in the name of a review.
The "review" has many flaws – factually and professionally. However, I have learned my lesson that any response from me would invite an even more intense attack. Therefore, I do not intend to write a rebuttal.
My professional and ethical values would not permit me to run a review of anyone's book like that in the draft. However, you need to make your own decision whether you can look in the mirror or sleep soundly at night if you choose to run it.
This is not a threat and I hope you do not perceive it to be. However, in fairness to you, I must inform you that I have turned this matter over to my attorney. He is quite knowledgeable about commercial aviation (probably knows more than you and I combined). In addition, he is very familiar with Delta and the facts about that company. I would not have printed the book without his having reviewed the manuscript.
My request is you forget you ever read my book and quietly give the "review" a proper burial by pressing delete.
We publish tonight - is there anything you'd like to add or comment on?
Thanks for sending this to me. I appreciate your taking the time to think about my book.
I have looked over the review briefly…and am a bit overwhelmed at the length and volume.
Tomorrow I will be on plane and will give your review the time it deserves.
I strongly request that you hold off putting the review online until I have gotten back to you.
Thanks…and I will get back to you over the weekend.
They say there's no such thing as bad publicity, so perhaps there's also no such thing as a bad review. But - as you can see - while I have few problems with your underlying premise, I struggled with the lack of 'hard evidence' in your book.
I'm pleased to add a second page of response/rebuttal from you if you wish, and if you feel anything I've said unfairly/incorrectly misstates your views and commentary, I'll of course either correct such things or add your perspective to those comments too.
The review is currently on a pre-production server, it will go live sometime next week.
For what it is worth, I've spent a great deal more time on this review than most, and also, I see, written a great many more words on the topic too! Thanks for the thought-provoking read.


Ms. Heinsen is an expert in the environmental field, particularly in the area of the management of solid waste. She is dedicated to the protection and conservation of natural resources through investigation and education regarding the correct management of solid wastes, with the application of the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recicle) and Basura Cero (Zero Garbage) .
Since 2004, Ms. Heinsen has been the Director of the 3Rs Program and the Project Coordinator for the Centro para el Desarrollo Agropecuario y Forestal, Inc. (CEDAF). Also, since 2010, she has served as the Coordinator of the RED3Rs of the Dominican Republic, a public/private entity in collaboration with the Japanese Agency for International Cooperation (JICA). In 2009, Ms. Heinsen was the Coordinator of the Dominican Delegation to the United Nations Forum on Forests (FNUB). She served as the Director of the National Zoo of the Dominican Republic (Zoodom) in 2008.
Diploma in Health and Environment, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, 2011. Universidad Católica de Santo Domingo.


text:
Home › Ebooks › A Treatise on Astrology, Liber 536 by Aleister Crowley, 1917 ›
Ebook Title: A Treatise on Astrology, Liber 536 by Aleister Crowley, 1917
Uranus in Pisces
On the surface, there is not much sympathy between this planet and this sign. The only point which they seem to have in common is the suddenness; but the suddenness of Pisces is that of the will-of-the-wisp, a better word might be elusiveness. Pisces is an exceptionally receptive sign – there is no driving force in it. It is the precise antithesis to the aggressiveness of Uranus. There is, of course, a great deal of subtlety in Pisces, but this is a different kind of quality to the secretiveness of Uranus. We shall consequently not expect to find very many men of the first-class with this position of Uranus. Occasionally, the dispositions of the planets may be such that it is completely dissolved in, and its influence spread throughout, the sign, and where this occurs there will be an extension of the occult influence of Uranus in the psychic menstruum 0S of Pisces. There is fortunately one example of this in its perfection – William Blake.
Here Cancer is rising with the lower edge of the Moon touching the cusp of the Ascendant, semi-sextile to Neptune and trine to Uranus, but in opposition to Venus, which is sextile to Uranus. We have often pointed out that the opposition of two planets is very much mitigated by the presence of a third, trine to one and sextile to the other. The personality is therefore extremely well suited to the temperament. The general influence is, of course, watery; and Uranus being in the ninth house, it is only natural that religion, and particularly that extremely personal and true religion which lakes the form of direct vision, should be the key-note of the career.
Curiously enough, Swinburne, who discovered Blake and introduced him to his own blind countrymen, has the same position of Uranus. Cancer again is rising 3 degrees earlier than that of Blake, and Uranus is 12 degrees earlier than Pisces, but still in the ninth house. The Moon of Swinburne, however, is in close conjunction with the Sun in the tenth house, and Mars occupies the Ascendant in conjunction with Jupiter. Uranus receives no more assistance than the semisextiles of Venus, Mercury and Neptune and the Ascendant is evidently much stronger than the ninth house. We have a personality of extraordinary force and violence, far more creative than that of Blake, but entirely without inspiration in any sense in which Blake would have understood the word. The sympathy between the two poets is confined to the Ascendant and the position of Uranus, and this proved strong enough to get one to appreciate the other. But in spite of the warmth of the appreciation, there is not the remotest trace of Blake's influence in the work of Swinburne.
As an example of the visionary quality or thought produced by this position of Uranus at its worst, where it is little better than muddle-headedness, we may look at the horoscope of Sir Edwin Durning-Lawrence. Here Sagittarius is rising, with Jupiter near the conjunction of Mars, squared by Saturn, and in opposition to the Sun and Mercury. Uranus is near the cusp of the third house and can show nothing better than the semi-sextile of Neptune to help him. The mental disturbance is consequently well-marked, and the personality is shown as eccentric, obstinate, violent and lacking in all sense of proportion. It is a lamentable figure.
An even more unfortunate example of the weakness and flabbiness and sponginess of Uranus in Pisces is Henry VI of England. Here, Taurus is rising with the Moon, and Venus is in the house of her abomination, Capricornus, sextile to Uranus. The Moon is afflicted by the opposition of Mars, and there is nothing whatever to set off against these disabilities. There is no lack of harmony between personality and temperament, there is not enough strength in either to create any unpleasantness. Uranus, too, is in the twelfth house. Thus his influence is not great. The Lady of the Ascendant being in the ninth house in " Saturnian sign, we get a form of religious devotion not far removed from Melancholia.
Another unfortunate monarch of very" similar temperament was Louis XVI. The weak Virgo is rising, with Mercury imprisoned in the twelfth, and Mars just under the cusp of the Ascendant. Jupiter and Sol are in close conjunction with Mercury, but although these planets are benefic, in such an instance it may be held that they rather overpower the planets. A trine aspect would have been far preferable, especially as Uranus is close to the opposition. of his conjunction, and though he is benefited by the trine of the Moon, this is not sufficient to make him really strong, when he is in a watery sign. It needs some warmer planet to kindle his fire. Hence we sec, the temperament of a mild-mannered person who passed his time making watches, while his throne crumbles beneath him; and when it came to the point where his personality was put to the test, it proved entirely weak, and unable to cope with the situation. His no less unfortunate Queen has Cancer rising, Mars in the Ascendant, and the Moon squared by Saturn. Uranus has a trine of the Sun and Venus and is situated in the tenth house, Sol and Venus being in the fifth house. We get a somewhat faded though voluptuous type, intensely pleasure-loving and causing scandal through this quality. The pamphlets written against his queen, Marie Antoinette, did more to bring about the revolution than almost any other single issue.
A little better is the horoscope of Tchaikovsky. Here Cancer is ascending, and the Moon though near the cusp of the third house, has nothing between her and the Ascendant. Uranus has a square of Saturn, which is not altogether bad, and a trine of Jupiter which is distinctly good, and he is also helped by the sextile of the Sun and Mars in very close conjunction. The Moon has no particular dignity but that of her mundane position, and even that is not very strong. The result is a rather insignificant man, turning out great work_ Uranus and his aspects are all-important in his horoscope.
The greatest singer of our times Adelina Patti, has also this position of Uranus; Leo rising, the Sun in conjunction With Neptune, ruled by the Moon; and although squared by Mars may be counted strong, since Mars has the trine of Uranus. On the whole, however, the temperament is stronger than the personality; a supreme artist with no interference from any eccentricity or self-will.
We may now consider two writers, singularly sympathetic to each other, Alphonse Daudet and Thomas Hardy. Daudet has Scorpio rising with Mars in his detriment in Taurus in the seventh house in conjunction with the Sun. Uranus, on the other hand, has a square of Saturn, which is one of the better aspects of these planets, and he is near the cusp of the fifth house. The temperament is consequently very)' powerful and it expressed itself natura1ly in an artistic form.
Thomas Hardy has Libra rising with Venus in Taurus near the conjunction of Mercury and Mars, but otherwise; not particularly strong, nor is the eighth house a1together a desirable place for her. As with Daudet, Uranus has the square of Saturn. This aspect will have to be taken to indicate the clear-sighted and philosophical realism which is to be discovered in the works of both authors.
To return for a moment, to the Middle Ages, let us look at the horoscope of Nostradamus. Here Aries is rising, with Mars In no way assisted by aspect or dignity. Uranus is in the twelfth house, giving a great secretiveness, and the only thing which can be called help to him is that he is pretty close to a trine of the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn. The man is accordingly much less than his prophecies. With Solon the cusp of the mid-heaven and Neptune occupying it, his fame was assured, and considering the trine referred to above it has been perhaps not altogether undeserved.
We shall now proceed to a consideration of the nativities of a pair of very clever, successful and unscrupulous politicians, one born to a throne and the other to a screw factory, Edward VII and Joseph Chamberlain.' The late King of England has 28 degrees of Sagittarius rising , with Jupiter just touching the cusp of the Ascendant. It is square to Uranus, but the latter has a trine of Sol, and Jupiter has a sextile of Venus, all of which things make for success. The subtlety and astuteness with which he engineered the Triple Entente and isolated Germany will long be remembered in history, as the principal cause of the Great War.
In the horoscope of Joseph Chamberlain, on the other hand, we find little beyond chicanery and selfishness. There is no indication of true statesmanship or enlightened patriotism. He changed his politics as another man would change his neck-tie, and he did it so success fully that, in spite of the intense hatred and distrust with which he was regarded by the more intellectual classes of his countrymen, he always managed to be on the side of the majority. Cancer is rising, with the Sun on the cusp of the second, Mercury on the cusp of the Ascendant, the Moon exalted in Taurus, square to Neptune, which gives a certain trickiness, for which indeed he was celebrated. Mercury is trine to Uranus, and is exactly on the cusp of the Ascendant. Thus we see an extraordinary degree of concentration on the aggrandisement of self, and the marvellous skill in engineering schemes to attain purely personal objects.
Our next pair should prove exceedingly instructive. Here the influence flows to a purely financial channel, and we see emphasis laid upon the fact that Pisces is the house of Jupiter. The pair consists of Jay Gould211 and J. Pierpoint Morgan. The former has Gemini rising with Mercury just below the cusp of the Ascendant, very strong in his own house with a trine of the Moon and Saturn-. This is a very cold and heartless combination. There is no warmth from any source. The Sun himself is imprisoned in the twelfth house and forms a square with Uranus. It is the very picture of a greedy, calculating, cold-blooded, unscrupulous financier. Venus and Jupiter being in the second house turn the affections towards money, and assure its gain. The afflict ion of Uranus removes all trace of constructive intelligence from that planet, and as he is situated in the tenth house, it is easy to understand that the financier could not escape from the reprobation of his fellowmen.
J .P. Morgan has Leo rising and the Sun is in very close conjunction with Mercury. He is exalted in Aries, and culminating, which renders him suddenly powerful. There is no particular help to Uranus, but on the other hand he suffers no damage. The personality is far finer and nobler than that of our last example, not nearly so concentrated upon pure gain and in no way inhibited from undertaking constructive work.
In France, we have al ready had two persons prominent in the political world, and we now strike a whole group, equally prominent though not born to the purple. They range through all degrees of failure and success, probity and improbity. It should be well worth our while to examine their nativities in detail.
General Boulanger, -here Cancer is rising with the Moon in Aquarius, within 9 degrees of the conjunction of Uranus, which is on the cusp of the tenth house. Beyond a sextile of Sol and Venus and a semi-sextile of Neptune, which applies to Uranus rather than to Luna, there is no particular assistance. We find, in fact, that it was the personality of the man which failed him ; at the critical moment he wavered and broke down.
Contrast him with the great Gambetta, who has Scorpio rising and Mars in his own house Aries, quite close to the conjunction of the Sun and Mercury. Saturn is rising within 7 degrees of the trine to Mars. Uranus is in conjunction with Venus in her exaltation but in opposition to Jupiter. The personality appears extraordinarily forceful – the temperament not so markably so. In fact, his work was an obvious one. It was merely that of rallying the French in the hour of their defeat, an idea which might have occurred to anyone. The amazing energy and success with which he carried out his task an: due to the great power of the Ascendant and the good aspects of its lord. It will be noted, of course, that the affliction of Uranus Jed in this instance to a manifestation upon the material plane – violent death.
The three very commonplace politicians are Presidents Carnot, Faure and Loubct.21 S Carnot has Capricornus rising with Saturn, semi-sextile to Mars and trine to Uranus. No planet is ascending except the latter. There is consequently great harmony between the personality and temperament, but there is no development of any extraordinary force. There is success but only ordinary success.
President Faure has Libra rising and Venus is within seven degrees of the conjunction of Uranus. Venus is squared by Saturn and Uranus by Jupiter, and though there is no particular lack of unity involved in these configurations, they are not strong and the presence of Mars in the Ascendant, would seem to outweigh them. There is energy and capacity shown, but once again, no very great tendency towards any development of the Revolutionary qualities of Uranus.
Emile Loubet is an even softer type. That he should have permitted himself to be publicly smacked upon the face at a race-course is not indicative of a force of personality such as commands universal respect, more particularly a ruler. '" The passive and easy-going Cancer is rising, the Moon is touching the cusp of the Ascendant, with the lower edge of her silver orb, and she is almost exactly in opposition to the Sun and Venus. She has the trine of Uranus and this assures that general harmony of character of which we have been speaking. It also assures success, but that kind of success which comes to a man, as an Irishman or a philosopher might say 'through no fault of his own'.
The last of our group will be found to remind us far more of Joseph Chamberlain than of any other. It is Robespierre. Here Aquarius is rising, Saturn just under the cusp of the Ascendant and Uranus a little below him. Saturn has the semi-sextile of Venus and the square of Mercury, which indicates a successful and plausible lawyer with a sense of reality, but no load of scruple sufficient to hinder his march toward power. Uranus receives only the doubtful assistance of a semi-sextile of the Moon, and though Jupiter is in the tenth house, in his own house Sagittarius, trined by Mars, we can only regard this as adding executive force to his ambition without making, in any way, a harmonious combination with it. Here is a picture, one may almost say a clinical picture, of a cold, harsh, overbearing, ambitious, unscrupulous man, and so, as in all the cases that we have been considering, we find the clearest possible witness of history through the truth of astrology.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Hummingbirds are one of the smallest aves in America. These dainty birds lack the sense of smell; essentially they rely on their fast pace and keen eyesight to find vibrant flowers that are filled with nectar. Hummingbirds primary nourishment is nectar from flowers and sweet drink from feeders, in addition they eat bugs for protein. Aphids and other small insects are a delicacy, but swiping a bigger bug from a spiders web is an option too. The rapid flap of their wings makes the familiar hum we associate with, the light buzz and dance that amazes us. They hover, dart and fly backwards with these wings of tempo and beauty, but like every creature on earth they need rest.
Hummingbirds are drawn to rich, radiant colored flowers that are trumpet-shaped (a flower that is formed like a tube with flaring ends). The design of these blooms are great for the hummingbird's long bill and tong to dip and take a sip. Trumpet-shaped flowers make the perfect little cup for the nectar to pool in. Deep pink fuchsia and brightly colored honeysuckle attract the hummingbird into the garden for drink. Sweet nectar allows the hummingbird maintain their rapid metabolism. This delicate specie must eat their body weight in order to sustain their strength, nectar is the fuel that keeps these energetic birds going. According to Cisco Morris, a well known garden expert in the Seattle area, the hummingbird can visit over a 1,000 flowers on a daily basis.
Hummingbirds unique coloration, acrobatic aerodynamics and sound are attractions for humans. There are two Northwest hummingbirds that we can observe here in Washington State, the Anna and the Rufous. The Anna is a yearlong resident, while the Rufous comes and goes. "The Rufous travels to Mexico and returns in March when the native Red-Flowering Current blooms, followed by the Salmonberry," according to Jeannnie Brown a retired naturalist who lives in my neighborhood. She explained that the Anna has the ability to feed and remain active year round, unless our winter is unusually colder. She showed me a wintery picture of an Anna sipping from her garden feeder covered in snow. The Anna is adaptive and knows how to maintain strength and find food in her northwest habitat unless there is a major freeze or extreme weather. In those instances the Anna will go into torpor, which is a state of inactivity where the bird reduces it's heart rate, metabolism and body temperature.
I first remember seeing hummingbird feeders in Leavenworth, Washington. My husband's grandmother had a feeder hanging from a tree in her backyard. It was located right outside her sewing room window, so she could observe their beauty in flight and feeding. As you sat in her grassy garden area you would feel the gentle presence of the hummingbirds whipping in and out, taking a sip from the feeder and dancing among garden flowers.
Erik's grandfather had a green thumb and he worked hard to keep his grounds pleasant for all. It was refreshing to sit on a blanket and just watch the squirrels and birds- best of all was when the gentle breeze would come to cool you off on a hot day. The tiny hum would flit in and out, to and fro looking for its next sip of nectar. Splashes of color would bounce from one bright flower to the next and then off it would go- enjoying the sweet life.
Many people find joy in hummingbirds, my dear friend Aly who lives across the street is one of them. Despite the fact that we have curious bears in our neighborhood, she faithfully keeps her hummingbird feeders clean and full of the perfect blend of eau sucrée (sugary water). Aly has her feeders carefully placed so she can watch them as she washes the dishes or dines on the deck. She is one of the few people that I know that keeps her hummingbird feeder's going year round- she has a true appreciation for these darling creatures. Perhaps it is because she can relate to the Hummingbirds. Aly herself is fast moving - dancing and singing through life with ease. Moving, doing, working- she is always going, focused on a big project in her home & garden or heading a work task with a quick deadline. She is upbeat and busy- never perched in one place for long.
Aly's hummingbirds generally come to her deck area where she has feeders and flower pots. Birds & Blooms suggest you use moving water and specific flowers to attract the hummingbirds to your garden, deck or small patio area. In the July 2017 edition, they reported that hummingbirds cannot resist Petunia, Lantana, Salvia, Verbena and Impatiens. These are flowers that can be planted in containers and placed on your deck or patio (if you do not have a garden). They also encourage you to attract hummingbirds with moving water- misters, fountains or rippling bird baths will do the trick. Another tip is to have a perch. Although it looks like the hummingbirds never slow down, they do like to rest on a perch that is high up.
It is hard to catch a picture of these dynamic creatures as their movement is so lively and quick. However, Hummingbirds need both nectar and rest to fuel their flight and the rapid beating of their wings. This picture is compliments of Michael Brown, he captured this hummingbird visiting his backyard feeder on a sunny day. The rim on this feeder provides a nice resting place for the birds.
I went to our local nursery called the Gray Barn. They provided me with an informative handout on blooms that attract hummingbirds. Fuchsia, Foxglove and Gloxinia are just a few plants that are common in Pacific Northwest gardens, you can plant them in your yard or set up a container garden to entice these beautiful birds. The local gardeners at the Gray Barn can recommend specific flowers to plant in each season to keep the hummingbirds visiting your garden throughout the year. If you are local - go for a visit, even if you don't want to buy plants you can walk through the nursery and garden shop.
This is a picture of how Aly uses rot iron hangers to create a feeding and resting area for the hummers. She suggests that you use four cups of water to one cup of sugar to make the hummingbird juice, this is the basic recipe that almost all gardners use.
Here is the another feeder, if you look close you can see that bottom part of the feeder and rim are plastic (but they appear metal). Aly suggests that you buy feeders with those details, if the whole base is metal, rusting occurs and that is "No Bueno!"
Nectar is simple to make, all you need is two ingredients sugar and water. Don't forget your pot, a measuring cup, wooden spoon and funnel. Pictured are two of Aly's feeders, notice they are brightly colored - hummers like bold colors.
Boil 4 cups of water on the stove top. If you use an extra large pot you can double or triple your recipe depending on how many feeders you need to fill.
Once the water comes to a boil, turn off the heat and add 1 cup of sugar.
Stir immediately, until all the sugar is dissolved. Remove the pot from the stove top, allowing the nectar to fully cool. Use the funnel to fill your feeders.
As we are making our way through summer I started think about what I need to keep myself energized. Just like the hummingbird, I also enjoy a sweet energy boost throughout my day. I use a Young Living product called Ningxia. This super juice and essential oil blend was introduced to me by Jen after I did a 24 hour (fully awake) sick/hospital shift with my youngest this winter. Truly, this is my go to since Jen introduced it to me. I use it consistently when kids are sick or when life is busy and my days are too long. It tastes great out of the refrigerator and it is refreshing in the morning and post lunch. Now that Summer is in full swing and the three kids are at home every day, all day – I am taking it twice daily.
Another thing that Jen introduced me to was her HAPPY blend. She made me a roll on essential oil blend that boosts my wakefulness in the morning. I put it on after I get out of the shower and it invigorates me. After I apply it, I feel just a bit brighter - I think the various citrus essential oils give me that happy energy I need. Happy roller ball recipe: Put in a roller ball container 10 drops Lemon, 10 drops Orange, 10 Drops Grapefruit, Bergamont and then fill with carrier oil like fractionated coconut oil.
I am going to end on this note. Every day I try to make space to stop and be still (that means to not move or make a sound), just like this butterfly. All things in nature, the butterfly, the hummingbird and humans need rest. All living things need to pause, to perch, to relax and recover one's strength. With that, comes being still and quiet. The summer is naturally filled with many exciting activities and longer days which often over extend our natural daily output of energy. Finding time to pause, sit quietly, pray, read a book, listen to music, reflect on the beauty of the earth or just be - quiet moments are essential for summer time peace. To live a balanced life we must make time for rest and refreshment. This time allows us to recover our strength and peace of mind in order to live each day with pleasure. As humans we cannot take on the speed and intensity of the hummingbird life (remember they only live 3 -5 years). We need to make space for breathing deep, being calm and finding our tranquility.


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Washington Nationals Rewind: Nats Call Taylor Jordan & Erik Davis Up; Option Chris Marrero And Jeff Kobernus To Triple-A
The Washington Nationals claimed a big come-from-behind victory last night in Citi Field and this afternoon they send a debuting right-hander out to face the New York Mets in the second game of three on the road against their divisional rivals. Taylor Jordan debuts at 1:10 pm EDT in NY.
By Patrick Reddington@federalbaseball Jun 29, 2013, 11:28am EDT
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Taylor Jordan's call to the majors to make his MLB debut this afternoon was officially announced when Davey Johnson talked to reporters yesterday about bringing the 24-year-old right-hander up to face the New York Mets in Citi Field. After Washington's late-inning come-from-behind win in NY last night, the Nationals' manager announced the corresponding move that would clear room for Jordan.
"It was a big win," Johnson said, "that might have been our biggest win of the year right there. Guys battled." - Davey Johnson on Nats' comeback win over the Mets
"The move is Taylor Jordan," Davey Johnson told reporters last night, "and we're sending out Chris Marrero. And I needed to talk to him and, you know, it was a tough situation for a young player that's having a heck of a year and I have to take his spot for the roster. And I told him, keep his head up and keep having a great year.
In 55 games and 228 plate appearances at Triple-A Syracuse this season, Marrero, the Nats' 24-year-old, '06 1st Round pick, has a .306/.355/.502 line with nine doubles and 10 home runs. Over the eight games the first baseman got into when he was up with the Nats, Marrero was 2 for 16, leaving him 29 for 125 in 39 major league games in his career. Marrero returns to Syracuse so that the Nationals' '09 9th Round pick, Taylor Jordan can start this afternoon's game against the Mets' Dillon Gee. In his second stop this year after beginning the season at High-A Potomac, Jordan was (7-0) in nine games, eight starts and 54.0 innings on the mound for the Double-A Harrisburg Senators before being called up, in which he's put up a 0.83 ERA and a 2.39 FIP, with nine walks (1.50 BB/9) and 43 Ks (7.17 K/9).
The move to bring Jordan up wasn't the only one the Nationals made today. The team also announced that it had optioned IF/OF Jeff Kobernus back to Triple-A and recalled right-hander reliever Erik Davis who was up in the Nats' bullpen earlier this year:
The #Nationals today selected RHP Taylor Jordan (Harrisburg), recalled RHR Erik Davis (Syracuse), optioned JKobernus & CMarrero to Syracuse.
— Nationals PR (@NationalsPR) June 29, 2013
Jordan and Davis join the Nationals after the big comeback win last night in Citi Field which saw the Nats dominated by Mets' right-hander Matt Harvey before they came up big against New York's bullpen with three runs in the eighth on a bases-clearing double by Ryan Zimmermann and two more in the ninth on back-to-back doubles by Jayson Werth and Ian Desmond and a sac fly by Kurt Suzuki. A 4-1 Mets lead evaporated on Zimmerman's double and Werth and Desmond combined to put the Nationals ahead.
Davey Johnson was impressed with the Nats' fortitude. "It was a big win," Johnson said, "that might have been our biggest win of the year right there. Guys battled. [Mets' manager] Terry [Collins] was making every move he could to try to have the edge, and guys got key base hits and that's what we're capable of. Zim got the big blow and then I thought the at bat that [Desmond] put on there, that was outstanding. And that's what we're capable of doing, and so it was a big, uplifting win."
"Zim got the big blow and then I thought the at bat that [Desmond] put on there, that was outstanding. And that's what we're capable of doing, and so it was a big, uplifting win." - Davey Johnson on Nats' late-inning comeback
Before Zimmerman came up with the big double, however, the Nationals did load the bases in front of him with Roger Bernadina singling to start the eighth before Denard Span doubled off left-handed reliever Josh Edgin and Anthony Rendon walked against the third Mets' pitcher of the inning, Brandon Lyon. Span's hit, in particular, was indicative of what Johnson said his team can do, but hasn't this season. "His history is he hits [lefties] equally as well [as right-handers]," Johnson said of Span, who has a .146/.222/.171 line against lefties this year after last night's hit, and a .278/.360/.375 line vs LHP in his career. "But everybody's been down on what they're capable of doing," the Nats' skipper said, "and so this was a good jumpstart. Guys didn't know what they're capable of doing. And I know the team was fired up. It was a big win."
Luckily for the Nationals, Matt Harvey looked tired in his final inning of work after dominating the Nats to the tune of three hits and one run allowed with 11 Ks collected in seven innings of work before he handed the ball and a 4-1 lead to the Mets' bullpen. Getting Harvey off the mound was a big boost according to the Nationals' 70-year-old manager. "No doubt about it," Johnson said. "All we wanted to do was just stay close. And he pitched a heck of a game. I knew he was at the end of his rope and I was hoping that we could tack something on him, but he's a heck of a pitcher."
"He wasn't giving us much," Johnson said of the one run the Nationals scored on Desmond's solo home run in the fifth. "And I know his history is they usually take him out around 100 pitches, so there was a little leeway in there to get them and our guys did, so it was big." As for Desmond's big night (2 for 4, HR, RBI double), the Nats' skipper said it was good to see his hard-hitting shortstop come through. "His tendency sometimes is he tries to do too much," Johnson said, "and when everybody's not doing a whole lot he tries to do too much, he'll chase bad pitches... but when he stays within himself, I mean, he hit the heck out of that ball, that first home run he hit... that was a bomb. And that was off [Harvey's] breaking ball."
Nats 6-4 Over The Mets In Citi Field
Photo © Mike Stobe/Getty Images
"But I think just the way we finished that game, that was the key," Johnson continued, "because everybody had good at bats. And Zimmerman was outstanding. I like seeing him rifle those balls through the infield, that's more what I'm used to seeing."
Can the Nationals keep the momentum going this afternoon with their debuting right-hander on the mound in Citi Field? We'll find out at 1:10 pm EDT.
AUDIO: FBB + District Sports Page = Nats Nightly w/ Doghouse Tonight:
#Nats Nightly = @NationalsDSP + @federalbaseball: featuring FBB's Doghouse tonight w/ @NationalsDSP off for the night http://t.co/Df1Wq8GpKs
— federalbaseball (@federalbaseball) June 29, 2013


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Home » Incheon Airport Selects Smiths Detection in Phase 4 Expansion
Incheon Airport Selects Smiths Detection in Phase 4 Expansion
Smiths Detection has been selected by Incheon International Airport Corporation (IIAC) to deploy its high-speed explosives detection system (EDS) HI-SCAN 10080 XCT for hold baggage screening at Incheon International Airport (ICN) Terminal 2 as part of its Phase 4 Expansion Construction Project. The contract includes an equipment service agreement.
The expansion is projected to increase ICN's capacity to allow 29 million more passengers and create 60,000 new jobs. This will make Incheon International Airport the third-largest airport globally.
"The expansion will help Incheon International Airport maintain its competitiveness as a world class aviation hub while establishing an airport-centered economic zone where major industries converge, boosting areas of the airport industry," said H. S. Kim, director, BHS Engineering and Construction Team, IIAC. "A safe and secure airport environment is vital for such growth, IIAC is glad to have the trusted expertise and support of Smiths Detection in meeting our unique needs and future-proofing ICN's security capabilities and resilience."
The hold baggage screening system, HI-SCAN 10080 XCT features a dual-view dual-energy X-ray line scanner with full 3D volumetric computed tomography (CT) imaging and reconstruction for more accurate analysis, delivering a low false alarm rate. The system offers a high throughput of up to 1,800 bags per hour for a faster and more efficient screening process. Deployed in major airports like Heathrow Airport and Frankfurt Airport, the HI-SCAN 10080 XCT is both ECAC EDS Standard 3 and 3.1 approved and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) certified, the highest defined industry security standards.
"As air travel gradually resumes, there is no better time to introduce new security technology," said Aurelien Guilbert, managing director, North Asia, Smiths Detection "Incheon International Airport's expansion bodes well for the region and Smiths Detection is proud to support the region's recovery journey by providing security of the highest standard."
Installation is expected to be completed by October 2024. IIAC is keen on exploring adoption of Smiths Detection's iCMORE capabilities using Artificial Intelligence algorithms and advanced material discrimination to automatically detect an ever-expanding list of dangerous goods and lithium batteries to achieve maximum detection performance.
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Patient with statin-associated immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy presenting with subcutaneous edema, persistent bulbar weakness and absent anti-HMGCR.
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Island nation of Kiribati moves due to rising seas
by piotr | Mar 8, 2012 | General | 0 comments
By Sarah Parsons
The Pacific island nation of Kiribati is moving up in the world — but not in the good way. The small country is looking to relocate to higher ground in order to escape rising seas brought on by climate change.
Some of Kiribati's 32 coral atolls have already started to disappear beneath the waves. President Anote Tong and his countrymen fear that continued sea level rise will wipe their civilization out entirely unless they relocate to Fiji lickety-split. Tong is reportedly in discussions with Fiji's military government to buy 5,000 acres of land on the country's second largest island, Vanua Levu.
"This is the last resort, there's no way out of this one," Mr Tong said. "Our people will have to move as the tides have reached our homes and villages."
Depending on when Kiribati makes its big move, the country could be the world's first modern climate-induced migration.
Becoming a climate refugee is bad enough, but what's worse is that Kiribati is one of the greenest nations on the planet. The island boasts only 113,000 people and scant industry, so its carbon footprint is a teensy speck compared to greenhouse gas-spewing powerhouses like China and the U.S. And in 2010, Tong closed a whopping 150,000 square miles of sea to fishing in an effort to give the world's struggling ocean ecosystems a much-needed break. How's that for taking one for the (global) team?
Kiribati illustrates a sad-but-true trend happening across the globe: Nations that have little to do with spurring climate change are often some of the hardest hit by its disastrous effects.


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The Used recruit FEVER 333's Jason Aalon Butler on biting "Blow Me"
The Used are currently working on their eighth studio album.
Koltan Greenwood
[Photo via Spotify]
Scene veterans The Used are back in a big with a new single and video "Blow Me". The song and video both feature Jason Aalon Butler of FEVER 333.
"Blow Me" is the first new music The Used have released in two years. They are currently working on their eighth full-length album.
Read More: Spotify Wrapped 2019 is here—find out how to see all your listening stats
The Used are fucking back, spitting venom and gnashing teeth about a very real issue. The song "Blow Me" explores the consequences of gun violence and the harsh realities therein.
"Whether metaphorically signifying the power of words in general or magnifying concern for the situation of societal gun violence, we urge the fans of our music to find individual and personal meaning in all of our songs." Bert McCracken says. Watch and enjoy The Used's return with "Blow Me" in the video below.
In addition to being a banger, the song and video both feature Jason Aalon Butler who couldn't be happier to appear on a track with The Used.
"If I'm being honest, I've been a fan of [The Used] since the first single they put on an Atticus Clothing comp CD back in 2002," Jason Aalon Butler says. "I heard Box Full Of Sharp Objects and thought, 'This is it. This is the next step in heavier music with melodic sensibility."
"I loved it. I studied it." Butler continues. "Then I met the man that produced it, John Feldmann. Loved him. Studied him. Then a couple of months ago I was asked by the band and John to sing on a track from the new album. They played me some songs and, no bullshit, I got that feeling I felt when I first heard Box Full on that comp 17 years ago. For any and all The Used fans; they're back again. In a big fucking way."
For all information regarding The Used, head here.
What do you think about The Used's triumphant return? Tell us your thoughts on "Blow Me" in the comments below!
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bert mccracken
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Kanye West Says Original Album Only Available On Tidal Regarding 'Life Of Pablo' Lawsuit
Posted by WORLD WRAP FEDERATION on July 18, 2017 at 5:30pm
Kanye West is currently being sued by his fans over the release of his Life of Pablo album from 2016, as they believe he falsely promised it being exclusive to Tidal. The "Wolves" rapper is now responding to the class action lawsuit, claiming that he released the original version of the album to the streaming service, while other platforms have alternate versions.
According to TMZ, new documents show that Yeezy is insisting that the original version of Life of Pablo is only available to Tidal users, and that other streaming platforms have the project after changes were made to it. The fans filing the lawsuit claim that the My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy entertainer misled them into signing up for Tidal and broke his promise, as they believed the project would only be available to them on the platform.
Kanye is also pointing to an old tweet where he said the album is a "living breathing changing creative expression" to bolster his argument, as he has made multiple changes to the project following its official Tidal release. Those changes can be heard on Apple Music and Spotify releases, while the original version is still on Tidal.
TMZ reports Kanye wants the lawsuit dismissed, but we'll have to see what happens moving forward.
As of right now, Yeezy's other fans are awaiting his next album, which he has been working heavily on throughout the past few months. He reportedly recorded new music on a mountain in Wyoming earlier this year, and alleged leaks have been hitting the Internet.
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"WHAT'S NAUGHTY; WHAT'S TERRIBLE?" 🤐a poem a.k.a.: "Who's In Charge Now? Still Them?!" October 27, 2018 – SATURDAY!
UNLESS WE CHOOSE TO JUDGE OURSELVES; can't we whine or cuss?
INTO our minds and bodies – and souls and spirits too?
Qualities and mores which-were-PASSED* to me and you!
"A PERFECT FIT!" a poem Oct. 27, 2018 – Saturday!
The OWL – likes to sleep-quite-late; the-HYENA-don't-much-care!
Cuddling! and-Kissing! In any kind of weather!
And-that placates-the (horny) hyena!! You-can-prob'ly-guess-the-rest!!
Now, Halloween – is-the-birth she had?
And carve things, painfully, IN-TO YOU!!
And "blow-you-away," my Wayward Son!
Drownings – Mayhem! and Widespread Lootings!
(grabbed her hand & squeezed TOO hard & startled look on Alicia's face.
Fell from bicycle – intersection of Hendricks & Alley.
motel rooms (drugged, snoring, refrigerator) – sound amp.
Forced to perform on cello in Helena front room.
Dad playing guitar for Grama Mazie, prone & in drugged state.
There's nothing here; there's nothing there!
Why-do-you-persist? Please! Stop your stare!!
I "clicked" again – A SONG CAME ON!!
If-I-"click"-again? or – Will it stay?
SOMETHING FROM NOTHING! But – How can that be?
So! Who-am-I-speaking-to? IS IT YOU I SEE?
Or – Have you vanished? Are YOU – then – ME?