Just something I found. If you go to Gas Buddy you can do a trip calculator that you put in the type of car and driving to and from, it will tell you how much gas you will need and where to get it the cheapest.
Me, me... I'm going. SO excited this will be my 1st.
Julie supplied me with some good links on cheap airfare. I did some digging of my own and found round trip tickets for $300 and thats from FLL (Fort Lauderdale which is about 40 mins from me) straight to LEX in KY.
I'll have to look into their hotel information too. And a rental I suppose.
On the SGGA website the hotel will provide transportation to and from the airport.
What would you need a rental for?
I was unaware they were providing transportation.
Mike and I are hoping to attend this year. We are looking into carpooling with another couple from IA and driving a rental all the way there.
yay, Janie i cant wait to see you either!!! Oh and Bryan too. I enjoyed our time last year!!!
What state is Coeli in?
Whitney dude that is insanely cheap - you should totally come!
Coeli is in MD, I think. Are you keeping the list updated? Cuz, I'm being lazy right now.
We will be there with our party pants on.
What state is Karen in - and I didnt add people in less they posted here specifically saying they are going because I wanted to avoid the confusion and adding and subtracting. You can slap me at the SGGA! <3 What state is Karin in?
LOL. No slapping, just belly rubbing.


text:
Food Retailers Eye Wireless
Inventory control seen benefiting most from mobile technologies, survey shows
Portland, OR — May 29, 2003 — Food retailers are likely to expand their use of mobile and wireless technology as they seek to improve their inventory control and customer service, according to a recent survey.
PSC, a provider of integrated data-collection solutions and services for the retail supply chain, conducted the survey among the 4,000 attendees during the three days of the Marketechnics tradeshow in February. Survey participants included senior executives, merchandisers, in-store information technology managers, operations personnel and logisticians of leading food retailers from across the country, the majority (48 percent) of whom were from the grocery sector.
More than one-third (38 percent) of the survey participants ranked "inventory control" as the application area where mobile and wireless technology can make the most significant impact on their business over the next two years, while 16 percent cited "customer service" and 14 percent named wireless point-of-sale (POS).
Asked to rank the benefits of mobile and wireless technology, over one-third (37 percent) of respondents identified "real-time data/information" as most essential, while "increased productivity" (22 percent) and "improved customer service" (21 percent) were ranked second and third respectively.
The survey also revealed key features of mobile and wireless systems food retailers plan to deploy over the next two years. "WinCE/Pocket PC" was ranked first for operating systems, but survey respondents also indicated that demand will continue to be strong for mobile systems with alternative proprietary and open standards operating systems.
For communications, 67 percent of food retailers plan to utilize wireless local area network (WLAN) capabilities, while over 25 percent revealed they will utilize wireless wide area network (WWAN), Personal Area Network (PAN, or Bluetooth) or voice-over-IP (VOIP). Additionally, nearly half of respondents (49 percent) plan to deploy systems with radio frequency identification (RFID) to handle data collection applications, but also pinpointed Mag Stripe, Smart Card or Debit PIN PAD as anticipated capabilities.
"Clearly, mobile and wireless technology will continue to be a key enabler for improving operational efficiency in the food retail sector," said Brad West, vice president of mobile and wireless for PSC Inc. "While traditional applications such as inventory control, shipping and receiving and price management will still drive operational improvements, it is also evident that food retailers are strongly interested in taking advantage of the latest technology to deploy new applications, such as mobile POS, that will elevate customer service to another level."
Added West, "It is also particularly noteworthy that in the area of emerging applications and technology, nearly half of the respondents plan to deploy mobile systems that integrate RFID capability over the next two years."

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
<?php namespace Orchestra\Html\TestCase;

use Orchestra\Html\Grid;
use Illuminate\Container\Container;

class GridTest extends \PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
{
    public function testMetaData()
    {
        $app  = new Container();
        $stub = new GridStub($app);

        $refl = new \ReflectionObject($stub);
        $meta = $refl->getProperty('meta');
        $meta->setAccessible(true);

        $this->assertEquals([], $meta->getValue($stub));

        $stub->set('foo.bar', 'foobar');
        $stub->set('foo.hello', 'world');

        $this->assertEquals(['foo' => ['bar' => 'foobar', 'hello' => 'world']], $meta->getValue($stub));
        $this->assertEquals('foobar', $stub->get('foo.bar'));
        $this->assertNull($stub->get('foobar'));

        $stub->forget('foo.bar');

        $this->assertEquals(['foo' => ['hello' => 'world']], $meta->getValue($stub));
        $this->assertNull($stub->get('foo.bar'));
    }
}

class GridStub extends Grid
{
    public function find($name)
    {
        //
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Rapper Films Music Video Inside Police Department Without Their Knowledge
SNLS | September 14, 2019
(TMU) — South Florida rapper IV Leo Little recently released a music video that was filmed partly inside of a local police department, reportedly without the knowledge of the police.
The video begins with Leo Little getting into a fight with a convenience store clerk who insulted his mother. After a quick altercation, Leo Little can be seen sitting on the ground next to a Broward County Sheriff's Office patrol car, with his hands behind his back, as if they were handcuffed.
Next, Leo Little and his entourage can be seen dancing around with a variety of guns, displaying very poor trigger discipline. In one scene, Leo Little hangs out of the passenger side window of a car swinging a handgun in the air. Then in another, he plays air guitar on what appears to be a shotgun.
Things get really interesting when Leo Little walks right through the front door of an empty Aventura Police Department, before he begins to dance around the lobby. Leo Little then looks into an office to see that no one is there, and begins jumping up and down, dancing on top of a desk.
The video, called "Bus," was reportedly not approved by the Aventura Police Department, and the footage was actually shot about two years ago.
According to Aventura Police, they used to leave the front doors of the department open in case someone needed help at night. The offices were usually empty but there was a buzzer available if assistance was needed.
The department has since changed its after-hours policy and keeps the building secure at night, requiring visitors to ring a buzzer from the outside if the building.
Surprisingly, the cops were cool about the situation.
Police Maj. Michael Bentolila said that the rapper did not damage property or try to gain access to any sensitive areas. Bentolila also pointed out that Leo Little did not enter the department with a weapon.
"There was no damage. It would have been petty on our part. He didn't try to gain access. He just came in and acted the fool," Bentolila said, according to the Miami Herald.
Steadman Stahl, president of Miami-Dade's Police Benevolent Association, agreed that the act was not criminal, but he was still not pleased that it happened, saying that measures were taken to prevent similar things from happening in the future.
"It's hubris, but in the age we live in, a video can be made in just a couple of minutes. And with today's heightened security, now you have to secure that area," Stahl said.
Back in 2014, two former inmates were able to return to the Nassau County jail, in New York, to film a music video that mocked the prison system. The video called "I Be About It" featured a number of artists including Dj Self, Maino, Vado, Uncle Murda, and Big Bz.
If you want more people to see this information, please remember to share it on social media. Thanks for reading!
By John Vibes | Creative Commons | TheMindUnleashed.com


text:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<Keyboards>
    <!-- Dictionary attributes:
     "nameResId" : the name of the keyboard. Should be short. Reference to a string in values.xml
     "defaultDictionaryLocale" : the ID of the keyboard's (ISO) locale, e.g., "en", "iw", "ar", "ru", etc. The dictionary should declare the same locale.
     "id" : UUID for this keyboard. Obtain from here: http://www.famkruithof.net/uuid/uuidgen
     "iconResId" : a reference to a drawable which can be used to show a flag in the notification bar.
     "layoutResId" : a reference to a keyboard layout XML. See res/xml/qwerty.xml
     -->
    <Keyboard nameResId="@string/persian_qwerty" iconResId="@drawable/ic_status_persian" layoutResId="@xml/persian_qwerty"
            landscapeResId="@xml/persian_qwerty"
            id="57fe6e29-f514-4ae8-a268-88fe2c1d8332" defaultDictionaryLocale="fa" description="Persian QWERTY" index="1" />
    <Keyboard nameResId="@string/persian_qwerty_compact" iconResId="@drawable/ic_status_persian" layoutResId="@xml/persian_qwerty_compact"
            landscapeResId="@xml/persian_qwerty_compact"
            id="777b856e-2b9a-4c81-8df8-268d4f131d6e" defaultDictionaryLocale="fa" description="Persian QWERTY compact for smaller screens" index="2" />
</Keyboards>


Did you miss the lottery jackpot because the planets were in the wrong alignment... er, no! Could it be that you did something bad and this is your punishment... er, no! I know, maybe you won a little bit last week so it really isn't your turn again just yet... no, No, NO!
The reason you didn't win the lottery jackpot, is simply because the lottery is just so damn hard to win. It may not look like that many combinations -- but when you do the hard math, your chances of winning are somewhere in the region of 1 in 13 million, depending on which lottery you play. Even worse for a Powerball type draw!
That's why you haven't won yet. FACT: it's the only reason.
Well, here's my biggest, best, darkest lottery secret of them all. It's actually an utterly obvious technique to significantly improve your chances of winning the jackpot -- but only obvious in that "so obvious we just stop seeing it" kind of way.
Forgive me for it also sounding dull and uncomplicated -- no math degree required to understand this. But whatever you do, don't be blinded to the sheer value and importance of this under-appreciated fact. OK, here goes, brace yourself... Buy More Tickets. Whoa, there we go, I've said it. I've given away not only the best, but the ONLY way to improve your lottery chances, just like that. I must be crazy huh?
OK, before I upset too many vendors of dodgy lottery 'systems', I'll take my tongue back out of my cheek!
Fact is, and big ugly fact it is too, but really the fact is -- the only way to increase your chances of winning the lottery jackpot is to cover more of the possible combinations in any one draw.
But, that's how the lottery works too. Buy two lines, and you really do double your chances. The jackpot odds are still horrendously against you of course -- but two lines in one draw is better than one line in two draws. (Makes my head hurt too when I think about it too long, but that statement is entirely correct).
Oooh, did you notice I let another little secret slip out there. Yes, playing less often but more lines does boost your overall chances of winning -- yet costs exactly the same. That's a wise way to play.
What if you don't know enough lottery players to make it worthwhile? Find a commercial syndicate that plays your lottery -- or plays another countries lottery (lotteries are pretty much the same the world over!).
So make today the day you choose a wiser way to play. Then perhaps winning the lottery jackpot won't seem quite so 'out there'.


The Smithsonian's National Zoo says it will review and work to improve its safety procedures following a shooting just outside its gates Monday afternoon.
"We are very concerned about the incidents yesterday on Connecticut Avenue. People -- of all ages -- come to the zoo to see the animals and enjoy the festivities," said National Zoo spokeswoman Annalisa Meyer. "Our number one priority is safety. We're going to do whatever it takes to ensure the safety of our visitors."
The shooting was reported at 5:17 p.m. on a busy stretch of Connecticut Avenue in northwest D.C.
According to D.C. police, a large group of between 30 to 50 people was traveling southbound on Connecticut Avenue when shots rang out.
Families returned to the National Zoo one day after a shooting that sent 2 men to the hospital. The National Zoo says it's working with police on security as investigators work to find the shooter. News4's Kristin Wright spoke to visitors.
Police are reviewing security camera footage from businesses near the zoo, in hopes of finding the gunman.
"We have no indication that there was an argument that precipitated the shooting," D.C. Police Cmdr. Michael Reese said during a news conference about an hour after the shooting.
Jim Battagliese with WTOP-103.5 FM said he heard two shots and saw parents diving to the ground to protect their children.
Police are reviewing security camera footage from businesses near the Smithsonian's National Zoo, in hopes of finding the gunman who shot two men outside the zoo's gates Monday afternoon.
One 18-year-old man was shot in the hand and found outside the zoo. Four blocks down, another man, also 18, was found with a gunshot wound to his arm.
Both injuries are non-life-threatening, and no suspect information has been released. Additional police presence spread to neighboring Metro stations immediately after the shooting.
The zoo hosted Easter Monday: A Washington Family Tradition event throughout the day, with family-friendly activities and live entertainment.
News4's Jackie Bensen reports from northwest DC, where two people suffered non-life threatening injuries in a shooting outside the National Zoo.
"We were scared because we do have our kids out here," a mother who was at the zoo at the time told News4.
"We were not expecting [a shooting] but we had a heavy police presence up here," Reese said. "We had multiple agencies... this is a very festive event. Numerous times nothing happened up here, but it's important for us to show a force and that's what we did."
On Easter Monday in 2011, a 16-year-old stabbed a 14-year-old at the zoo. Mshairi Alkebular received an 82-month sentence after pleading guilty in that stabbing.
News4's Jackie Bensen reports live from Connecticut Avenue NW where police are possibly transporting a second shooting victim.
On Easter Monday in 2000, a 16-year-old shot seven people near the zoo entrance. That teen was sentenced to 25 years in jail.
RAW VIDEO: Police detail what they know after a shooting at D.C.'s National Zoo that injured two people.


Box scores may best be viewed horizontally on mobile devices due to their width, or view the old desktop version.
TD	5:40	Romar Morris rush for 2 yards for a TOUCHDOWN.
TD	8:08	Ralph Abernathy rush for 15 yards for a TOUCHDOWN.
TD	3:32	Romar Morris rush for 1 yard for a TOUCHDOWN.
TD	14:26	Shaq Washington rush for 10 yards for a TOUCHDOWN.


text:
20,000 Days on Earth: Nick Cave "Documentary" at Sundance
The leader of the Bad Seeds remains an enigma, but more is revealed in this fictitious day-in-the-life take on a cult hero
By Jon Dieringer Jan. 16, 2014
Courtesy Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard
Nick Cave takes a ride with Kylie Minogue in "20,000 Days on Earth."
Premiering January 20 at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, 20,000 Days on Earth is a documentary-fiction hybrid feature portraying a fictionalized day in the life of Nick Cave, the Australian bandleader of Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds. Deftly balancing the ordinary and the uncanny, the film's ostensibly 24-hour span comprises the entire lifecycle of Cave's 2013 album Push the Sky Away from writing through recording and performing.
Artists Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard, here making their feature directorial debut, have previously queried the contradictions and mythmaking structures of rock music through film, video, sound and installation. Having already collaborated with Cave on audio projects and music videos, they turned their cameras on Push the Sky Away's recording sessions with the assumption they might contribute some sort of promotional material for the album's release. Responding to a biographical calculation from one of Cave's journals, the artists' began to develop a fictional narrative structure around their footage.
Nick Cave in "20,000" Days" on Earth."
Amid sessions, Cave traverses the landscape of his adopted U.K. home of Brighton in his Jaguar XJ. Appearing in the back seat as if apparitions, friends such as Kylie Minogue, Ray Winstone and former Bad Seed Blixa Bargeld engage Cave in pensive conversation, provoking revelatory and amusing exchanges that belie Cave's history as a touchy interview subject given to personal distortions.
And yet these unguarded moments happen within a highly constructed visual vocabulary. As Pollard explains, "We were always looking for a way to make something special happen in the room, then we began to develop strategies for how we could capture this on camera. Often for us this means scripting the camera and not the performer."
One key sequences takes place in the Nick Cave Archive, fictitiously transposed to Brighton from its home in Melbourne. Photographs of a 1981 show by Cave's influential post-punk band the Birthday Party are projected on to a concrete wall, each sequentially detailing the trajectory of a fan's urine spilling onto the stage. Cave speaks to the advancement of images as each frame from this fleeting moment of chaos presents a new avenue of introspection, historical reminiscence and personal history.
Deconstruction of such moments — moments whose incorporation into popular mythology illustrates the mutual exchange between anarchic spontaneity and the often rehearsed structures of rock and roll — is Forsyth and Pollard's forte. Among their body of work is File Under Sacred Music (2003), which recreates a widely-bootlegged video of a performance by the Cramps at Napa State Mental Asylum, down to the minutiae of camera movements and damaged-video aesthetic. Within this carefully supervised context, genuine reactions occur — a response to what Pollard calls "the magical contradiction on which all rock and roll is founded: a band can play the same set for 100 nights in a row … and every night the room is full of people having a unique, genuine, and occasionally life-changing experience."
Nick Cave on the set of "20,000 Days on Earth" with Jane Pollard (left) and Iain Forsyth.
It's little surprise, then, that Cave's own history of images is carefully woven throughout the story, most notably in archival live footage the artists draw on during the film's climactic performance of Push the Sky Away's "Jubilee Street" at the Sydney Opera House.
"It seemed to use that in the climax of that performance, in that mass of summoned energy, there was the possibility for the past to break through the surface of the present," Forsyth said. "And though these cracks, the mythology reveals itself."
Jon Dieringer is a filmmaker, independent curator and the editor and publisher of Screen Slate, a daily online resource for listings and commentary of New York City repertory film and independent media.


Southern senior Ryan Mills (55) sacks Red Devils quarterback Max Hilton, during the Tornadoes' 35-19 victory on Friday in Ravenswood, W.Va.
Southern senior Auston Colbun (67) recovers a fumble in front of RHS sophomore Joe Chambers (27), during the Tornadoes' 35-19 victory on Friday in Ravenswood, W.Va.
RAVENSWOOD, W.Va. — A rivalry is born.
The Southern and Ravenswood football teams met for the first time on the gridiron at Flynn Field on Friday night, with the Tornadoes rolling to 390 yards of offense and a 35-19 victory.
Southern (6-1) got the ball first and needed less than two minutes to break the scoreless tie, covering 65 yards in eight plays. With 10:04 left in the first quarter, Logan Drummer tossed an 11-yard touchdown pass to Brody Dutton, and then kicked the extra point to give the guests a 7-0 lead.
The Red Devils (2-4) had to punt after six plays on their first drive, and Dutton returned the kick 71 yards for a touchdown. Drummer found Weston Throla on a two-point conversion pass, giving SHS a 15-0 advantage with 7:00 left in the first.
Ravenswood cut its deficit to seven points less than a minute later, as Chase Hood broke a 69-yard touchdown run, and Tanner Snodgrass followed with the extra point.
The Tornadoes had to punt for the first time after seven plays on their next possession, but Auston Colburn recovered a RHS fumble on the play, restoring possession for the guests.
Five plays later, the Red Devils came up with a takeaway of their own, as Max Hilton intercepted a pass on the RHS nine. Ravenswood made it 29 yards before being forced to punt, and Southern's offense took over with 9:46 left in the half and 71 yards to paydirt.
The Tornadoes moved across midfield on the sixth play of the drive, with Drummer rushing for three yards to complete a fourth down conversion. Five plays later, the Drummer found Gage Shuler for a 31-yard touchdown pass, that gave Southern a 22-7 lead with 5:18 left in the half.
The Red Devils went three-and-out on their next possession, but Southern fumbled on the punt return and RHS recovered near midfield. Still on the 50 after two plays, Hood took the third down hand off all the way to the end zone, but the Tornadoes stopped the two-point conversion to keep their lead at 22-13 with 1:58 left in the half.
The remainder of the first half featured a trio of turnovers, including interceptions by Thorla and Hilton, and the Tornadoes headed into the break with a nine-point edge.
Defense ruled the third quarter, as each of the first four drives resulted in a loss of downs. Ravenswood broke the offensive drought on the second play of the fourth quarter, as Sam Sturm scored on a nine-yard quarterback keeper. The RHS point-after kick caromed off the goal post, and Southern held a 22-19 lead with 11:29 to go.
Southern made it 35 yards on its next drive, but penalties caused the drive to stall out at the 50. The Purple and Gold defense came up with a three-and-out, however, and Southern regained possession at its own 26.
On the third play of the drive, Drummer found Trey McNickle for a 54 yard pass, and two plays later, the duo hooked up for a 10-yard touchdown. Drummer's extra point kick gave the guests a 29-19 lead with 4:49 to play.
Ravenswood lost possession on downs after just four plays on its ensuing drive, and Southern took over at the RHS 26.
The final touchdown of the night came with 1:47 to play, as Drummer tossed an 11-yard pass to Thorla.
Following the victory, Tornadoes head coach Cassady Willford talked about how big this victory was for his team, especially coming against against former SHS assistant coach and current RHS head coach Eric Hupp.
"This win is very important to us," Willford said. "Coach Hupp has a great ball club here, they're well-coached and very disciplined. With him being a coach of our kids before, it was a special night for our guys. Coming across the river, playing in the Friday Night Rivals Game of the Week, the lights, the fans, the TV, it was a lot for our guys to handle.
The Tornadoes enjoyed a 390-to-295 advantage in total offense, including 261-to-26 in the passing game. Southern lost the turnover battle by a 4-2 tally, but doubled up Ravenswood to the tune of 22-11 in first downs. Both teams were penalized nine times, with SHS being sent back 65 yards and RHS losing 85 yards.
McNickle — who received Player of the Game honors postgame — led the Tornadoes in both rushing and receiving, carrying the ball 15 times for 80 yards, while hauling in five passes for 71 yards and a touchdown.
Drummer — who carried the ball 11 times for a total of 14 yards — was 19-of-32 passing for 261 yards and four touchdowns. Shuler carried the ball five times for 35 yards and caught four passes for 50 yards and a score.
Austin Baker had four receptions for 46 yards in the win, Dutton hauled in three passes for 45 yards and a touchdown, while Thorla earned 43 yards and a score on three grabs of his own.
Hood led the Red Devils with 158 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries, while catching one pass for 21 yards. Jacob Anthony had 40 yards on seven totes, Luke Jackson added 33 yards on six carries, while Wayne Stephenson earned 27 total yards on three carries and one catch.
Hilton was 2-of-6 passing for 26 yards, while gaining 12 yards over seven carries. Sturm finished with 18 yards and one touchdown over seven carries in the setback.
The Purple and Gold will head to Waterford in Week 8, where the Wildcats wait with a 5-2 record.
Ravenswood will try to snap its four-game skid at unbeaten Doddridge County.


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text:
YOU ARE HERE: Resources | All News
25 October 2018 | NEWS
Open Government Partnership – Prime Minister Lauds UCA
As part of an Open Government Partnership (OGP) conference in October 23rd, Mukhammedkalyi Abylgaziev, Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan, presented the "Achyk Okmot" National Action Plan for 2018-2020 to build an Open Government in Kyrgyzstan. At the conference, he presented a certificate of recognition to Dinara Musabekova (right), Head of UCA's Civil Society Initiative, for her contribution to the development of the First National Action Plan and the formation of the National Forum.
Kyrgyzstan Hosts International Youth Mountain Forum 2018
The University of Central Asia (UCA) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in the Kyrgyz Republic conducted a Youth Mountain Forum (YMF 2018) at the National Museum of Fine Arts on October 22nd. The Youth Forum was organised as an important part of the World Mountain Forum (WMF) that takes place on October 23-26 2018.
Discovering Gorno-Badakhshan History
The University of Central Asia's sophomore students at the Khorog Campus went on a field trip to visit this Boghev fortress as well as a fire temple in the Shugnon district in October.
Life in Kyrgyzstan Conference Ends on High Note
Over 150 participants from 11 countries gathered in Bishkek for the fourth Annual Life in Kyrgyzstan (LiK) conference on October 17-18, organised by UCA's Institute of Public Policy and Administration (IPPA), in partnership with the Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (IGZ), and the International Security and Development Center (ISDC).
Cross-Debate Format Training in Khujand
The University of Central Asia's (UCA) Aga Khan Humanities Project conducted a Cross-Debate Format training (CDF) for 23 participants in Khujand, Tajikistan. It aimed to strengthen the skills and knowledge of debaters and build their knowledge capacity of CDF.
Cultural Heritage and Tourism Development in Kyrgyzstan
Altyn Kapalova, Research Fellow at the University of Central Asia's Cultural Heritage and Humanities Unit (CHHU) delivered a lecture on "Cultural Heritage and Tourism Development in Kyrgyzstan: Global Practices and Local Opportunities" on October 15th at the Sulaiman Too Museum in Osh.
Skill Development in Tekeli
Thirteen students completed the University of Central Asia (UCA) School of Professional and Continuing Education's (SPCE) Crushing and Sorting Machines operator course in Tekeli, Kazakhstan.
Cross-Debate Format Training in Kazakhstan
The University of Central Asia's (UCA) Aga Khan Humanities Project (AKHP) organised a Cross-Debate Format (CDF) training in Almaty on September 29-30 for students from Kazakh Ablai Khan University of International Relations and World Languages, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, KIMEP University, Kazakh Academy of Transport and Communication and the Kunaev Eurasian Academy of Law.
'Bam-e-Duniya Network' Connects Mountain Landscapes along the Silk Route
The University of Central Asia (UCA) is one of its founding members the Bam-e-Duniya Network (BDN), whose purpose is "to harmonize and strengthen integrated landscape management for long-term conservation and sustainable mountain development in the Hindu Kush Karakoram Pamir Landscape."
Addressing Social Problems Through Art
The University of Central Asia's (UCA) Cultural Heritage and Humanities Unit (CHHU) conducted a workshop on October 13th in Jalalabad, Kyrgyzstan on using art as a tool for raising awareness and solving social issues.


Online libraries. There you can find much more than articles about different issues. You can find samples of different types of essays that are written by well known authors. They serve as inspiration for students who need some extra help during study. Make sure to not copy the information exactly like you find it. Re-write it in your original way, so your professor will not notice the similarities.
Educational platforms. There are many good ones on the Internet and you can find almost everything you need there. The only thing you need to watch out for is the information that you find; since no one is verifying these samples, the information is not always correct. Furthermore, grammar is very important and it can have many flaws in these compositions. Proofread the sample before even thinking about using it.
From your classmates. They wrote many research papers before, right? Well, I bet that they kept some of them. You can ask them to show these papers to you so you can get inspired to create your own. Avoid copying any sentence; your professor will notice immediately and it will not be a nice situation for any of you. Rather than that, just focus on the important points of their text and include them in your own composition.
Your school teacher. He is there to help you study, so he will do everything he can to improve your knowledge. If this means providing some samples, then no problem at all! Tell him directly that you can't handle very well your assignment for the law course and that you could use some help. Believe me, he will give you many materials that will be helpful now and in the future. Even more, he can explain to you any concept that you did not understand first time.


We are very happy to be a strategic customer and early adopter for ReliScore,and have been using it since 2012. The ReliScore solution has helped us tremendously in improving our recruiting related assessment process and has resulted in excellent hires.
Reliscore testing was a great way to ensure we got competent people for the interview. I was able to save a lot of time, hired 2 strong developers after just 5 interviews – once they had cleared Reliscore test.


text: 105 STAT. 880 PUBLIC LAW 102-142 —OCT. 28, 1991 of the Department of Agriculture, repairs and alterations, and other miscellaneous supplies and expenses not otherwise provided for and necessary for the practical and efficient work of the Department of Agriculture, including employment pursuemt to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), of which not to exceed $10,000 is for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109: Provided, That this appropriation shall be reimbursed from applicable appropriations in this Act for travel expenses incident to the holding of hearings as required by 5 U.S.C. 551-558. OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR CONGRESSIONAL RELATIONS For necessary expenses of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations to carry out the programs funded in this Act, $1,307,000. OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS For necessary expenses to carry on services relating to the coordination of programs involving public affairs, and for the dissemination of agricultural information and the coordination of information, work and programs authorized by Congress in the Department, $8,925,000, including emplo3ment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), of which not to exceed $10,000 shall be available for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109, and not to exceed $2,000,000 may be used for farmers' bulletins and not fewer than two hundred thirty-two thousand two hundred and fifty copies for the use of the Senate and House of Representatives of part 2 of the annual report of the Secretary (known as the Yearbook of Agriculture) as authorized by 44 U.S.C. 1301: Provided, That in the preparation of motion pictures or exhibits by the Department, this appropriation shall be available for employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225). INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS For necessary expenses for programs involving intergovernmental affairs and liaison within the executive branch, $468,000. OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL For necessary expenses of the Office of the Inspector General, including employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended, $62,786,000, including such sums as may be necessary for contracting and other arrangements with public agencies and private persons pursuant to section 6(a)(8) of the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended, and including a sum not to exceed $50,000 for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109; and including a sum not to exceed $95,000 for certain confidential operational expenses including the payment of informants, to be expended under the direction of the Inspector General pursuant to Public Law 95-452 and section 1337 of Public Law 97-98. OFFICE OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL For necessary expenses of the Office of the General Counsel, $24,554,000.


Thanks for giving me the opportunity to reclaim my pool furniture. My grand dog, a 95 lb American bulldog, stayed with us for a few months till my daughter got established in North Georgia this past winter. He slept and chewed my lounges to pieces, but now they are back to brand new. With two coats of quality paint on the frames and new slings from you, they are gorgeous.


You're About To Discover How To Quickly & Easily Raise Money On The Internet!
Hi, this is Dave Lavinsky, and in this letter, I'm going to tell you about the single biggest new development in raising money for your business since 1957.
I'm talking about a new way to raise money that anyone, anywhere can use to quickly and easily get the money you need for any type of business you want to start or grow.
You see, according to the SBA, the # 1 reason why entrepreneurs fail to launch and grow successful companies is "lack of funding".
I mean, if you don't have any money or funding, you can't even start your business in the first place.
And even if you do start it, if you have too little funding, chances are you'll go out of business!
But now, there is finally a new money source that was NEVER AVAILABLE BEFORE.
And I'm going to show you how to get it.
Well, I am the President of Growthink. For over a decade, Growthink has helped thousands of entrepreneurs like you raise money for their businesses.
And that's why I have been interviewed by every major news source on all types of ways to raise money for businesses.
Well that $70,000 turned into $355,000,000.
And when others found out about that, they too started investing and the "venture capital" industry was formed.
Because there are too few venture capitalists, and there are too many entrepreneurs who need money.
Now, imagine a scenario where the tables were completely turned.
Where there were more investors than entrepreneurs.
Where investors lined up to fund you. and they came from all over the world.
And you didn't even have to give them a business plan. and the money was yours with no strings attached.
Well, this dream scenario has finally arrived. And that's why I'm so excited!
This is the biggest game changer to raising money in over 50 years!
So what is this amazing new funding source?
Crowdfunding is funding or money that is given to entrepreneurs from friends, acquaintances, and the general Internet crowd who is interested in what they're doing.
So, she posted her project on the crowdfunding platform RocketHub.com.
And within days was given $5,890 to start her company by 38 acquaintances and total strangers.
These students posted their request on crowdfunding platform Kickstarter.com.
And raised $200,642 from 6,470 folks. most of which they've never met but who found them and funded them online!
and you can quickly raise all the money you need!
And if that's not cool enough, crowdfunding has another amazing benefit.
And you don't give up shares in your company.
This is because all the money is donated to you.
Sight Unseen, an online magazine about creativity, raised $3,895 from 52 backers.
For donations of $200 or more, they gave backers a link and mention on Sight Unseen's "list of sites we love."
That didn't cost Sight Unseen a penny, but they got several people to donate $200 each to get it.
Or My Friend's Mustard who raised $4,293 from 54 backers.
For donations above $80, this mustard manufacturer gave folks an invite to their launch party.
Or Love Cupcakes who raised $7,240 from 41 backers.
For donations of $50, they gave donators a dozen cupcakes. And for donations of $500, the cupcake shop named cupcakes after the donators.
And yes, I would probably donate $500 to know that people can walk into a shop and order the Dave Lavinsky cupcake.
Now if you're looking for anywhere from $2,000 to $200,000 to start or grow a business, I have something important to tell you.
I mean, there is no faster way and no easier way to raise money.
And, you don't have to pay the money back!
You don't need to have tons of money in your bank account.
Or an amazing credit history.
Or a house you can use as collateral.
You don't need any of those things.
But, I must warn you.
In fact, 71.3% of entrepreneurs who have tried so far to get crowdfunding HAVE FAILED!!!
There are simply too many details that you need to get exactly right.. or it doesn't work..
And you only get one chance.
I mean, if you ask someone to donate the wrong way and they say "no," chances are slim to none that you'll get a second chance..
But, if you do it right, you can raise all the money you need quickly and easily..
Crowdfunding Formula gives you a step-by-step blueprint for quickly and easily raising money from Crowdfunding.
Specifically, Crowdfunding Formula is a detailed online video course that walks you through the precise steps you must follow to raise money from crowdfunding.
Let me tell you exactly what's included in Crowdfunding Formula.
• The 6 key points you must include in you project summary listing.
• How to determine the precise amount to raise and the right donation time (get this wrong and nothing else matters).
• How to develop a killer list of rewards that gets everyone to want to donate to you (I even give you the 20 best ideas to choose from).
• How to create great project visuals that get more people to donate (you'll learn exactly what visuals you need and the 7 best tools to create them).
• Exactly how to promote your funding project to your existing networks using email, Facebook, Twitter and other tools.
PLUS, I'm even going to give you my proven fill-in-the blank templates for you to post on Facebook and/or send via email to your contacts.
I mean all you need to do is quickly fill in the blanks, email out the message or post in on your Facebook account and you'll start receiving donations instantly.
And then I'll show you the 4 things you must do AFTER you launch your crowdfunding project to make sure it succeeds.
Now this last point is huge. Tons of entrepreneurs have raised $5,000, $10,000, $20,000, even up to $200,000 using crowdfunding.
But most crowdfunding raises are in the $5,000 to $25,000 range.
Well, I'm going to show you how to multiply whatever crowdfunding amount you raise by 10 to 20 times using other money raising techniques.
So for example the $25,000 you raise with crowdfunding can quickly turn into $250,000 or $500,000. How does that sound?
Basically, I'm handing you everything you could ever ask for in order to quickly and easily get all the money you need for your business!
How much would you expect to pay for something like this -- aproven "turn-key" method for quickly raising tons of money from crowdfunding that you never even have to pay back?
In addition to the complete Crowdfunding Formula program, you'll get 1 year of email coaching from me and my senior team to get answers to any crowdfunding question you might possibly have.
Have a question, want to run an idea by us, or anything else, and all you have to do is email us at the special email address I'll give you.
I'm also going to give you my private recording of the closed door interview I recently did with RocketHub founder VladVukicevic.
In the interview, I got Vlad to answer all of the toughest crowdfunding questions I could come up with, and reveal amazing insider secrets so you can raise more money, more easily from crowdfunding!
I'm also going to give you my recording of the private interview I did with LendingClub founder RenaudeLaplanche.
Laplanche is pretty much the grandfather of the "social lending" industry.and in the interview, I got him to reveal how you could get rich folks to lend you $50,000 simply by filling out a form.
That's more quick money you can raise for your business.
But there's still more I want to give you when you get Crowdfunding Formula.
As you could imagine, the more people that know about your crowdfunding project, the more people that will donate to you.
I know that some of you already have Twitter accounts with tons of followers.
And with a simple tweet, you can get hundreds or even thousands of folks to donate to your company.
But for those of you who don't have a Twitter account, or would like thousands of more followers that might want to donate to you, I'm going to hand you an invaluable tool.
When you get Crowdfunding Formula today, I'm also going to give you my two special reports.
Why wait to get started when you could begin following Crowdfunding Formula today and start bringing in money to grow your business right away.
If you're not 100% thrilled with how quickly and easily you raise money with Crowdfunding Formula ... then at any time within the next year - 365 days - just let me know and I'll refund 100% of your money.
I'm offering you my proven Crowdfunding Formula... so you can quickly and easily raise money.
If you don't like it, you get your money back... And even if you ask for a refund, you can KEEP the bonuses, just for giving Crowdfunding Formula a try!
If you're ready to take your business to the next level.click the"Add to Cart" button below.order through my secure online shopping cart ...and gain access the funding your business needs. covered by my 100% money-back guarantee.
P.S. Now, if you're on the fence right now just imagine what might happen if you DON'T take action.
If your business idea is good, then you can bet that right now, someone else has the same or a similar idea.
And if those other people raise capital before you, and get a leg up on you, your chances of success may fade.
Don't let competitors be the ones to raise money and leave you in the dust.


Val Ackerman: In the fall of 1996, the WNBA announced Ackerman as its president and its tip-off plans for the inaugural season starting the following summer. READ MORE about the President of the WNBA as she shares her story of success.
Sue Bird: Women's basketball's favorite imp and athlete! Former UCONN Husky where she was a member of NCAA Division I Championship Connecticut 2000 & 2002. Two-time All-American. 2002 Associated Press and Naismith Player of the Year. Recipient of the first annual Senior CLASS Award, presented to the nation's most outstanding senior basketball player. Three-time Conseco/Nancy Lieberman-Cline National Point Guard of the Year Award winner. Sue Bird is currently playing with the Seattle Storm as a guard. Gold Medals: 2004 Olympics, 2002 FIBA World Championship, 2000 R. William Jones Cup. Bronze Medal: 2002 FIBA World Championship. WNBA Highlights: 2004 WNBA championship, 2002, 2003, 2004 All-WNBA first team, 2002, 2003 & 2005 All-Star Games, Western Conference All-Star starter in 2003, 2002 No. 1 draft pick.
Babe Didrickson Zaharias: Multi-sport athlete who won three Olympic medals and 31 LPGA titles. Hall of Fame in track and field and in golf.
Chamique Holdsclaw: Helped to lead the Tennessee Lady Vols to the women's NCAA's first ever three consecutive Women's Basketball Championships in 1996, 1997 and 1998. Four time Kodak All-America. All-time leading scorer and rebounder at Tennessee in men's or women's history, the all-time leading scorer and rebounder in SEC women's history, and the all-time leading scorer and rebounder in the NCAA tournament women's history. In 1999, won the James E. Sullivan Award as the top amateur athlete in the United States. Won the Naismith throphy for player of the year twice, in 1998 and 1999. In 2000, named Naismith's Player of the Century for the 1990's. Picked as one of the 5 greatest players in the SEC of the past 25 years. #1 pickof the 1999 WNBA Draft - selected by the Washington Mystics. Named the Rookie of the Year. Named as a WNBA All-Star and won a gold medal with the 2000 Olympic team. She is currently a forward for the Los Angeles Sparks.
Nancy Lieberman: Basketball player, coach, mother, two time Olympian, broadcaster and writer. Silver medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics. Two consecutive Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women National Championships (AIAW) (1979,1980). Two-time winner of the Wade Trophy. Broderick Award winner for basketball as the top women's player in America. Three consecutive Kodak All-America awards (1978,'79,'80). Lieberman played for the Dallas Diamonds, Women's Pro Basketball League (WBL), and eventually the WABA, winning the 1984 WABA Championship and the league's MVP award. In 1986, Lieberman became the first women ever to play in a men's league (USBL)- United States Basketball League's Springfield Fame and with the Washington Generals. Lieberman was drafted in the inaugural season (1997) by the Women's National Basketball Association's (WNBA), playing for the Phoenix Mercury. In 1998, she was hired as General Manager and Head Coach of the WNBA's Detroit Shock. She has served as president of the Women's Sports Foundation. She was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 1996 and to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999. n 2004, she became the Head Coach for the Dallas Fury of the National Women's Basketball League (NWBL). The Nancy Lieberman Award is given each year to the best female point guard in Division I basketball. (Previous winners included Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Temeka Johnson, and Ivory Latta.). She is now a full-time analyst with ESPN for men's and women's college basketball and both the men's (NBA) and women's (WNBA) National Basketball Association's development leagues.
Diana Taurasi: Women's basketball's favorite imp and athlete! Former UCONN Husky. Drafted in 2005 by the Phoenix Mercury, DT continues playing in Phoenix as a Guard. Gold Medals: 2004 Olympics, 2000 Junior World Championship Qualifying. Bronze Medals: 2006 FIBA World Championship, 2001 FIBA Junior World Championship. Honors: Awarded the 3-point shooter trophy at the 2006 World Championship, 2001 All-FIBA Junior World Championship Team, July 2001 USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Month.
Women's Sports Foundation: Read about the notable challenges and accomplishments of female athletes.
This section is under constant development. Please email your suggestions to village@nedv.net.
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There are a few things that differentiate how humans evolved compared to the other animals. One of the first things that Humans learnt were to walk and to talk. Walking led to movement, it led us to explore more efficient ways of movement and that's how travel evolved. Similarly talking led to conversations which led to transactions & commerce, which helped build Economics around civilisations.
Conversation is the most basic, original means for a transaction. But as civilisations evolved, we explored new ways to make transactions through indirect conversations and other tools — paper, organisations & most importantly Information Technology. It helped us scale transactions beyond the limits and capabilities of the human mind. Almost all sorts of transactions started to adopt IT – Banks, Travel, Hospitality, shopping etc. The IT slowly evolved into self-serve technology. Anyone with an internet connection could transact, buy or sell anything anywhere in the world. We built on interfaces and experiences and thousands of customisation options; simplified a lot of things and complicated some more. We also made conversation complicated with systems like IVRS.
But conversation still remained a preferred way for transactions. It's always easy to ask someone what you want than going through multiple filters and sorting through lists. Imagine looking for a hotel near the city centre, with an indoor pool, gym and rooms with balconies. You might find it but it's not a very easy process. But that's what you want. And as different is every person, so are their needs. Isn't technology supposed to help you find what you want in a comfortable way? How can we enable better customisation? or can't we just talk to the machine, ask what we want!
This is exactly what we're doing at Waylo — Enabling conversations for booking hotels. The goal is to make travel planning faster and easier, to help the customer get what they want; as quickly and easily as possible. . You talk to the machine, ask what you want and the machine will give you the exact option. No filters, no sorting, no looking through endless lists.
No installs, no sign-ups required. Waylo works directly from the messenger app; You don't need to install a new app or create an account.
You don't need to learn the interface. It's pretty simple and like talking to a friend. If you feel stuck, you can type in 'help' or 'support' and an agent will help you. Ask what you want and you shall get it.
It's faster coz it reduces the time you would spend scrolling or moving the mouse pointer all around the computer screen. And because it's texting, it can be a parallel process; you could be doing something else while you do this.
But beyond the conversation, here's the biggest advantage of using Waylo: Price. Waylo predicts the price drops of future and lets you book hotels at that rate today.
Waylo uses Artificial Intelligence in two ways. One, for the chatbot — using NLP to process user input and generate messages, hotel cards and payment link. Two, for the price prediction — using machine learning to learn price drop patterns and effectively predict the lowest prices.
The price prediction can help you save lots of money depending on the hotel, city and dates. Earlier this year, one user saved 78% on their hotel. That's like Five nights at the rate of One!
You can start with the messenger bot here or try the web app and look for a specific hotel in a city here.
Our customers love the chatbot. Read the reviews here.
Let us know what you think about the app and also your thoughts on how messaging as a medium of conversation can be the future of transaction and commerce.
This story was also published in Chatbots Magazine on Medium.


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Virgin Islands Attorney General Curious Why Leon Black's Name Keeps Coming Up In Her Jeff Epstein Investigation
Denise George has some questions (and document requests) for the billionaire.
Jon Shazar
Leon Black doesn't want to talk about Jeffrey Epstein, and if you were the Apollo Global Management co-founder, you wouldn't either: Having a two-decade-long personal and professional relationship with a notorious convicted sex criminal whose business bona fides are questionable at best is never a good look, even if you pinky swear the pedophile never got anywhere near Apollo itself. It's especially troubling when you claim to have been "completely unaware" of the allegations against your buddy when you maintained your ties to him long after the aforementioned conviction, however gingerly it was handled by future Trump Administration Cabinet officials.
Unfortunately for Black, his name and his money keep turning up in the investigations into the now-dead creepy massage purveyor. So now he's going to have to talk about it—and do a good deal else besides—whether he wants to or not.
[U.S. Virgin Islands Attorney General] Denise N. George, informed a local court on Thursday that she would issue civil subpoenas to Mr. Black, a founder of the private equity firm Apollo Global Management, and several entities connected to him, the chief clerk of the court said.
The subpoenas, copies of which were filed with the court, seek financial statements and tax returns for a number of entities, including Black Family Partners and Elysium Management, which oversee some of Mr. Black's $9 billion fortune. Subpoenas will also go to Apollo and entities that help manage Mr. Black's extensive art collection….
The requests represent a significant step in Ms. George's efforts to unravel the mystery of how Mr. Epstein amassed an estate valued at more than $600 million. They are part of a civil forfeiture suit she filed against his estate in January, claiming Mr. Epstein had misled government officials in the Virgin Islands to secure lucrative tax breaks for his businesses while engaging in sex trafficking and the abuse of underage girls.
Among the matters George is attempting to understand is the millions paid to Epstein's U.S.V.I.-based Southern Trust Company, which, in spite of its financial-sounding name (again, the extent to which Epstein was actually a financier is open to question), was said to have a grosser, more Epstein-y sounding purpose.
Mr. Epstein had told territorial officials that Southern Trust was developing a DNA data-mining service, although he said the company would also have a "financial arm." Financial reports filed with the territory show that Southern Trust collected $184 million in fees from 2013 to 2018, although it was not clear how much of that came from Mr. Black.
Virgin Islands Will Subpoena Billionaire Investor in Epstein Case [NYT]
Southern Trust CompanyDenise GeorgePrivate EquityU.S. Virgin IslandsApollo Global ManagementcrimeDNA Data MiningLeon BlacksubpoenasJeffrey Epsteinlaw
New York Times Quantifies Exactly How 'Limited' Leon Black's Relationship With Jeffrey Epstein Was
It's measured in eight figures.
Leon Black Did Nothing Wrong, Will Stop Being Apollo CEO Anyway
He did do twice as much not wrong as previously reported, and is almost 70, so…
Leon Black, Jeffrey Epstein Have More In Common Than An Interest In Tax Efficiency
Now, they share an experience of legal trouble around their exploits.
Leon Black Has Regrets
Like having to send this regretful letter to clients, assuring that he never lied to them about Jeffrey Epstein.
Leon Black Just One Of Many Illustrious People To Ignore Jeff Epstein's Sex Criminal Past
It could have happened to any political leader or captain of industry, if you think about it.
Leon Black's Ties To Noted Sex Criminal Totally Innocent And Definitely Not Problematic, But Apollo Global Will Have A Look-See Anyway
Definitely nothing to worry about, dear limited partners!
Leon Black To Spend Even More Time With His Alibis For That Visit To Jeffrey Epstein's Sex Island
And Jay Clayton gets to be called "Mr. Chairman" again.
Leon Black's Mistress Says He Tried To Do For Jeffrey Epstein What Epstein Did For So Many Others
What are "best friends" for, after all?


The main purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of the substance abuse on Adama Science and Technology University (ASTU) undergraduate students' academic performance. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative research methods where purposive sampling was used. Data for the study was gathered using questionnaire, interview and documents obtained from health centers and local police office. In addition, focus group discussions were also made with selected students. The data analysis was triangulated to obtain meaningful results. The analysis showed that about 62% of the students abused khat, 51.1% of the students abused cigarettes and 26.1% of them abused alcohol. The percentage of students who chew khat between 5-20 days/month was found to be 46.3, and the remaining 15.7% abused khat for more than 21-days in a month. The study also revealed that students in the first year of their study abused mainly khat but they got in to abusing other substances too as they progressed through their study in the University. It was noted that most students who chew khat did not regularly go to classes and that had an adverse impact on their academic performance. 61.9% of the khat chewing students were absent from class and 43.5% had lost interest in their daily activities because of drug abuse. On the contrary, the study also showed that the students who chew khat since their primary education stage were so much habituated that they could not perform well in studies unless they chew khat. It is recommended that the University should raise awareness of all students during the orientation week about the ill effects of drug abuse and make strict rules and host guidelines on student's code of conduct for eliminating drug abuse from the campus. University should also encourage students, admissions and registration office to monitor students' performance on a regular basis and provide one on one help to drug abusers. University may also consider starting a 'student consular cell' backed by team of professionals who may help the affected students to come out of the drug abuse.
Alebachew, M., Drug Abuse Amongst Street Youth in Addis Ababa, the case of Yeka Sub-city, M.A Thesis, Indira Gandhi Open University, 2014.
Alem, A., Kebede, D, Kullgren, G., The Epidemiology of Problem Drinking in Butajira, Ethiopia, Acta Psychiatrscand Suppl; 397:77-83, 1999.
Deressa, W., and A. Azazh, Substance use and its Predictors Among Undergraduate Medical Students of Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia," BMC Public Health, Vol. 11, Article 660, 2011.
Ethiopian Forum, Ethiopian Youth Enslavement to Chat, Shisha, and Alcohol – www. Topix.com, July 2012.
Fact-fish Research Made Simple, Fact-fish Tobacco Production Quantity for Ethiopia.http://www.factfish.com/statistic-country/ethiopia/tobacco+production+ quantity data from the year 1961 until 2013, 2013.
Fekadu, A., Alem, A., and Hanlon C., Alcohol and Drug Abuse in Ethiopia: Past, Present and Future, African Journal of Drug & Alcohol Studies; 6(1):39-53, 2007.
Gibreslassie, M., Psychaoactive Substances use and Associated Factors Among Axum University Students, North Ethiopia, BMC Public Health, 2013.
Graves, K., Risky Sexual Behavior and Alcohol Use among Young Adults, Results from a National Survey. American Journal of Health Promotion; 10, 1995.
Kebede, D., Ketsela, T., Precursors of Atherosclerotic and Hypertensive Disease Among Adolescents in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Bull World Health Organization; 7116: 787-94, 1993.
Kebede, Y., Cigarette smoking and Khat chewing among college students in North West Ethiopia, EJHD; 16(1), April 2013.
Mesfin, K., Sherrif, H., Fissehaya, G. and Teklu, T., Knowledge of Drug use and Associated Factors as Perceived by Health Professionals, Farmers, the Youths and Law Enforcement Agencies in Ethiopia, Ethiopian J Health Dev, 1999.
Odejide , A., Status of drug use/abuse in Africa, Int J Mental Health. 2006; 4:87–102,Google Scholar.
Seyoum, G., Ayalew, G., A Report on the Rapid Assessment of the Situation of Drug and Substance Abuse in Selected Urban Areas in Ethiopia, Prepared for MOH and UNDP, November 1995.
Tadesse, Gm., Practices of Substance Abuse and Risky Sexual Behavior Among Adama Science and Technology University Students, Internal Report, ASTU, 2013.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, The health consequences of smoking—50 years of progress: Available at http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/reports/50-years-of-progress/full-report.pdf, November 2014.
World Health Organization, Ethiopia ratifies WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control: Available at http://www.afro.who.int/en/ethiopia/press-materials/item/6221-ethiopia-ratifies-who-framework-convention-on-tobacco-control.html , January 2010.
Zein, A., Polydrug Abuse among Ethiopian University Students with Particular Reference to Khat (Catha Edulis). American Journal of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene, 91: 1-5, 1988.
Meseret Teshome, Shashi Gupta, "Substance Abuse and its Impacts on Undergraduate Student's Academic Performance (Students of Adama Science and Technology University in Focus)", International Journal of Scientific Research in Computer Science, Engineering and Information Technology (IJSRCSEIT), ISSN : 2456-3307, Volume 2, Issue 3, pp.452-461, May-June-2017.


Try this easy appetizer of Goat Cheese-Stuffed Mushrooms from What Micky Eats...At Home. They are great for your next holiday party as they can be made ahead of time and left at room temperature. Goat's-milk cheeses are typically lower in cholesterol, calories and fat—and higher in calcium—than cow's-milk ones. Here, creamy chèvre is stuffed into antioxidant-rich mushrooms and topped with crispy herbed bread crumbs.
- In a bowl, toss the mushrooms with 3 tablespoons of the oil and the rosemary leaves and season with salt and pepper.
- Transfer the mushrooms to a baking sheet, rounded side up. Roast for about 30 minutes, until tender and browned around the edges. Let cool to room temperature, about 15 minutes.
- In a skillet, heat the remaining 3 tablespoons of oil. Add the rosemary sprig and cook over moderately high heat until the leaves are crisp, 30 seconds.
- Drain on paper towels, then strip off the leaves. Pour off all but 1 teaspoon of the rosemary oil and reserve it for another use.
- Add the bread crumbs to the skillet and toast over moderate heat until golden and crisp, 2 minutes.
- Stir in the fried rosemary leaves and season with salt and pepper.
- Gently press a piece of goat cheese in the center of each mushroom, sprinkle with the bread crumbs and serve.
The goat cheese–filled mushrooms can be refrigerated for up to 1 day. Bring to room temperature and sprinkle with the bread crumbs just before serving. Remember, you can substitute Italian seasoning for the rosemary.


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Tag: Earl Woods Scholar Program
Earl Woods Scholar Program, TGR Foundation, TGR Learning Lab
10th Annual Winter Workshop unites scholars for college and career success
TGR Foundation kicks off each year with Winter Workshop, a signature event of the Earl Woods Scholar Program that unites students, mentors and friends of the foundation at the flagship TGR Learning Lab in Anaheim, CA. A reflection of the program's growth over the last ten years, this year's event saw record attendance Thursday, January […]
Earl Woods Scholar Program, TGR Foundation
Mentor Spotlight: General Trent Edwards shares how mentors learn while leading
From Traip Academy High School in Kittery, Maine to the United States Pentagon in Arlington, VA, General Trent Edwards has had many life experiences. In his latest appointment as an Earl Woods Scholar Mentor he was matched with Julian Smith, a freshman at Clark Atlanta University, and has already begun sharing special moments, learning from his mentee's perspective and helping him develop healthy habits on his road to college and career success.
General Edwards recently took a moment to reflect on his experience thus far, share the value of mentoring and provide tips for building strong relationships as we celebrate National Mentoring Month.
Scholar Voices: How rejection fueled my path to success
Growing up, I always tried to keep a serious face. Not because I wasn't a happy person but because I never liked my smile. No matter how many times I practiced smiling in front of a mirror, when it was time for a picture, I would try my best to avoid it. My insecurities made me extremely timid. However, whenever I was able to do anything science or math-related, I came out of my shell. I did not care where I was or what I looked like. I just wanted to learn because it was fun for me.
Fast forward to my first year of college, I was very excited; I had the chance to study computer science at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). I had nearly perfect grades, and I genuinely loved what I was studying. I felt like I did when I was learning as a child.
Passion Redefined: How Eduardo Muñoz followed his passion, shifted his career path
Earl Woods Scholar Alumnus Eduardo Muñoz has hit a couple of "speed bumps," as he calls them, throughout his personal and professional journey. However, raised in a family that instilled in him and modeled unwavering determination, no obstacle ever took him off course. When his own father faced health issues several years ago, Eduardo took from the situation life lessons that have steered him through his undergraduate days at Allegheny College and onto his now former professional career at Edwards Life Sciences.
Passion Fulfilled: How Vladimir Casseus empowers leaders of tomorrow
Boston native and Earl Woods Scholar alumnus Vladimir Casseus grew up instilled with the mantra that education was the key to success. Alongside his parents, who pushed him to excel academically, Vladimir was guided by teachers, friends, mentors, church members, coaches and the extended family he built at TGR Foundation.
With a master's degree in school psychology from Tufts University, Vladimir has worked as a School Psychologist within Boston Public Schools for more three years. He's committed to motivating students to surpass their potential and overcome all obstacles.
Passion Ignited: How TGR Foundation empowered Yeon Jin "Grace" Lee to pursue her passion for filmmaking
After being accepted into the University of California, Berkeley, the uncertainty Yeon Jin "Grace" Lee felt around her future at the university and in the United States dwindled as she went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in engineering. From UC Berkeley to NASA, her education opened doors to ignite her career and help her reach higher to obtain a Master of Science in software engineering from Carnegie Mellon University. It was through this experience that she gained her green card and security in her place in America.
From South Korea to Southern California, Grace overcame obstacles in her path as an undocumented immigrant and achieved great success. We recently connected at the flagship TGR Learning Lab in Anaheim, CA to reflect on her journey and how she's using her platform and experiences to empower other students like her.
Dr. Katherine Bihr shares the power and purpose of a mentor
Each year TGR Foundation welcomes dozens of students into the Earl Woods Scholar Program providing support beyond financial aid. Each scholar is matched with a dedicated mentor who will support and guide them through their college years and beyond. The mentorship component of the program has proven to be both valuable and memorable for our students, particularly those that leave home for the first time.
How TGR Foundation Empowered Andrés Cuamani's Journey
Andrés Cuamani still remembers his first day at the TGR Learning Lab fondly. A 5thgrader at Dr. Peter Marshall Elementary School, Andrés spent a week at the Anaheim-based learning lab studying forensic science with his classmates. From surveying clues at a mock crime scene to studying fingerprinting techniques, Andrés experienced a different kind of learning. But what he really left with was the realization that there were countless opportunities awaiting him.
From 7th– 12thgrade, Andrés was a regular in the building, taking after-school classes from aerospace engineering to golf, and forging lasting, impactful relationships with the teachers. At the age of 16, Andrés became a volunteer at the learning lab and soon after, he became an official employee, landing his first job as a golf range attendant. When he realized his passion for teaching coupled with a desire to lend support to students like himself, Andrés took on an added role in Academic Support, a job he still has today.
Scholar Voices: Creating social change through the lens of theatre
My love for theatre started when I was three or four years old and my godmother took me to see a musical, in my hometown of Boston, MA. I do not remember the name of the show or really what it was about, but I was fascinated by the colors and music. Something about seeing the performers act, sing and dance gave them this magical glow on the stage. My young and impressionable mind had concluded that to be so talented you had to have super abilities, and I knew I would be a part of that magic one day.
Scholar Voices: Discovering a New Path to Career Success
Ever since I was a little boy, I loved science. Although I come from a rural, mountainous Chinese village called Qian Yang Cun in Fuzhou, I dreamt of becoming a scientist. I always knew I wanted to use science to help people. As a child, I would collect plants and soil from around the mountain and mix them together to create my own "panaceas," ready to cure dying plants and insects along my path.
Scholar Voices: Life as a student, intern and resident in Singapore
"Go chopethat table—it's open lah!" These are words I heard every day this past summer as I entered the Singaporean hawker centers in search of chicken and rice, like every other local during mealtime. Singaporeans flock to these large hawker cafeterias to fill up on delicious foods that cost about $4 a dish. These food […]
Medical Congress solidifies career aspirations for Earl Woods Scholars
Joining top students across the United States with interest in pursuing careers as physicians, medical scientists, engineers or technologists, Earl Woods Scholars Kayla Fisher and Jesenia Vargas recently had a unique opportunity to attend the Congress of Future Medical Leaders at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell.
The Congress is an honors-only program for high school students who have a minimum 3.5 GPA. Through the program, the Congress honors, inspires, motivates and directs students on their journey to success and helps them stay true to their dreams.
Kayla and Jesenia reflected on their experience and its impact on their professional outlook.
Earl Woods Scholar Program hosts Class of 2023 for pre-college retreat
As the newest member of TGR Foundation's Earl Woods Scholar team, I hit the ground running this summer, taking part in one of our hallmark events, Pre-College Retreat. In July, our team welcomed 21 scholars from Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and Orange County to the annual retreat in Southern California. Spanning three days, the Pre-College Retreat is an integral college-access program designed to prepare our scholars, many of whom are the first in their family to attend college, for their first year on campus.
Donor Appreciation, Earl Woods Scholar Program, TGR Foundation
Aptive Environmental partners with TGR Foundation to support Earl Woods Scholars
With a deep-seated commitment toward environmental responsibility, Utah-based Aptive Environmental is expanding its philanthropic reach into the education sector as it turns its generosity toward TGR Foundation and the Earl Woods Scholar Program.
Scholar Voices: Perspectives of fear from Los Angeles to Boston
I was accepted into Boston College on one condition; I would have to complete their summer transition program. I agreed and made my way to Boston during the summer of 2018. During the first week of the program, I experienced an incident that I have still not been able to shake, over a year later.
Earl Woods Scholars attend Global MindED conference, share key takeaways
In early June, Earl Woods Scholars Michelle Bravo and Cristian Carrasco had an exciting opportunity to attend the Global MindED conference in Denver, Colorado. Committed to creating a diverse talent pipeline through cross-collaboration, the conference united hundreds of educators, entrepreneurs, policymakers and first-generation college students, like Michelle and Cristian. Over three days, the scholars attended numerous panels, keynote presentations and workshops, including a discussion on educational equity featuring TGR Foundation's Vice President of Programs and Education, Dr. Katherine Bihr. Michelle, a rising senior at The City University of New York's Lehman College, and Cristian, a rising junior at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) share their takeaways from the conference.
Scholar Voices: 4 Tips for living and thriving with depression
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is one of the most common mental disorders in the United States; around 7% of all U.S. adults have had at least one major depressive episode. Among the most prevalent demographics of MDD diagnoses are college students like Earl Woods Scholars. Individuals between 18-25 are more likely to have depression. Based on my own experiences with depression, I'm hoping that some of these musings alongside tips I've learned along the way might help.
TGR Foundation celebrates class of 2019
As caps fly and tassels turn, students around the world celebrate an academic milestone and enter a new chapter of their lives. At TGR Foundation, we took a moment to celebrate with our high school graduates who will soon be starting their freshman year at universities across the nation. Although many students were unsure of […]
Scholar Voices: My journey to college and career success
Although my academic career at Pitzer College has come to an end, my learning journey will not. Two weeks prior to graduation, the foreseeable future was ironically still abstract and difficult for me to grasp. It brought me a feeling of excitement and nostalgia, encouraging me to reflect on my last four years at Pitzer College and six years as an Earl Woods Scholar.
Earl Woods Scholar Program, TGR Foundation, Tiger Jam
Harvard Scholar to address Tiger Jam guests, highlight Earl Woods Scholar Program impact
For more than 20 years, Tiger Jam has supported TGR Foundation's educational programs and mission to empower students through education. As Tiger Jam guests head to Las Vegas for Memorial Day weekend, Earl Woods Scholar Chiamaka "Chia" Obilo will join Tiger Woods to share how the foundation and Earl Woods Scholar Program helps students like […]


Reston, Va. — Sudden, catastrophic childhood epilepsy is a parent's worst nightmare, especially in the case of fever-induced refractory epileptic encephalopathy in school-age children (FIRES). While not much is known about the condition, new research published in the January issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine shows that positron emission tomography (PET) scans can offer an evaluation of cognitive dysfunction of FIRES, its evolution and further prognosis.
FIRES, a recently named condition, occurs in previously healthy children who, after a brief fever, experience acute seizures that are resistant to medication and last for several weeks. After the seizures stop, children are left with severe cognitive dysfunction, mainly involving language, memory and behavior.
The study, "18F-FDG PET Reveals Frontotemporal Dysfunction in Children with Fever-Induced Refractory Epileptic Encephalopathy," was conducted with eight patients diagnosed with FIRES. The patients were given a neuropsychologic evaluation, a brain MRI and an 18F-FDG PET scan. Severe cognitive dysfunction was noted, and while the MRI tests showed no abnormalities for the patients, the PET scans reported significant cognitive impairment.
Researchers compared the FIRES patients with a pseudo-control group of epilepsy patients with normal MRI and PET scan results. Using statistical parametric mapping, an objective approach to analyzing brain activity, the study exposed that the brain dysfunction was related to the epilepsy in the FIRES patients.
"The fact that the dysfunctional network is superimposed over the epileptic network is a strong argument that FIRES is the cause of cognitive deterioration in these previously normal children. Moreover, localizing such a dysfunction may help to specify the re-adaptation more accurately,"said Catherine Chiron, M.D., Ph.D., pediatric epileptologist and head of the Research Program on Epilepsy at Hospital Necker – Enfants Malades in Paris and one of the authors of the study.
Much remains unknown about FIRES; however, with the further understanding of the condition achieved through this research, physicians can recommend better intervention, ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes.
Authors of the scientific article,"18F-FDG PET Reveals Frontotemporal Dysfunction in Children with Fever-Induced Refractory Epileptic Encephalopathy" include: Michel Mazzuca, Olivier Dulac and Catherine Chiron, Inserm, U663 – University Paris Descartes, and APHP, Neuropediatric Department, Hospital Necker – Enfants Malades, Paris, France; Isabelle Jambaque, Lucie Hertz-Pannier, Viviane Bouilleret, Frederique Archambaud and Sebastian Rodrigo, Inserm, U663 – University Paris Descartes, Paris, France and Verne Caviness, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Mass.
Please visit the SNM Newsroom to view the PDF of the study. To schedule an interview with the researchers, please contact Susan Martonik at (703) 652-6773 or smartonik@snm.org. Current and past issues of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine can be found online at http://jnm.snmjournals.org.


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Twitter Enraged: The Callousness of Esquire to Feature White Teen during Black History Month
[RT | USA News] Esquire magazine has stepped on something of a cultural landmine with its latest feature piece, detailing the life of a young white, middle-class teenage boy. Both the timing and the article's subject have irked many on Twitter.
The piece in question, titled "The Life of an American Boy at 17," covers the trials and tribulations of a 17-year-old High School student named Ryan Morgan from West Bent, Wisconsin. It is just part one of a four-part series called, "Growing Up in America Today."
In the piece Morgan recounts his day-to-day life in similar fashion to the 1992 Susan Orleans piece, "The American Man, Aged 10," upon which it was based, though this time the subject matter is a teenage Trump supporter, surrounded by high schoolers who are predominantly anti-Trump despite Wisconsin being a red state.
"Everyone hates me because I support Trump?" Ryan says in the piece. "I couldn't debate anyone without being shut down and called names. Like, what did I do wrong?"
The online outrage machine quickly kicked into full swing, asking why a white, straight male teenager was chosen, especially during Black History Month.
Esquire editor-in-chief Jay Fielden answered critics in a piece titled, "Why Your Ideological Echo Chamber Isn't Just Bad For You," in which he discusses his own 15-year-old son's difficulties navigating an ever-changing social and political landscape. He also highlights that the series will also cover growing up as young black, LGBTQ, and female in America.
Regardless of explanations, online commentators have directed their ire at the publication for its seemingly glaring insensitivity in publishing a piece on a white male teen during Black History Month.
To continue reading click here
[Editor's Note: This article was originally published at RT USA News. Title changed by P&P.]
To view the source Article Click Here
Please Follow the Author of this Article: Cherie Vandermillen
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June 4, 2013 was Day 2 of a trip across Canada from Comox, BC to Innisfil, Ontario. This Video covers our trip through the Fraser Canyon. We travelled from Hope, BC to Parsons, BC on that day.
2013TripDay2Vimeo from Bob Murrell on Vimeo.
Click on any thumbnail photo below to open the slideshow. Click the "X" in top right corner to stop Slideshow.To step through manually, click on the small slides under the large picture.


text:
Polk County man breeds giant tortoises
WINTER HAVEN (FOX 13) - Did you know a Winter Haven man has been breeding rare Galapagos Islands Tortoises for years?
"They're prehistoric looking they haven't changed a lot," said breeder Wayne Hill.
Native to the Galapagos Islands, these are the largest living tortoises in the world. They are also considered a species vulnerable to extinction. Due to government regulations there are restrictions on his sales.
"I can only sell to people in Florida no interstate commerce on an endangered species," he said.
We met his seven breeder tortoises, and even a few of the babies. They're small now but come with a steep price tag, they run a few thousand dollars! And speaking of running...
"I like the fact that there slow if they break out I can run them down at my age, they don't have a chance," he said.
Watching them lumber around, it is like seeing a small slice of the islands hidden in a backyard in Polk County.
"It is not a job for everyone, but it is one I enjoy," Hill said.
Austin weather: Freezing drizzle and showers expected Tuesday
Austin weather: Winter storm warning continues in Central Texas
Jarrell High School student killed at Austin hookah lounge shooting
Texas oil, gas producers told to prepare for winter weather


Fashion conscious women in Leicester will be able to get "catwalk style looks at value for money prices" when a new store opens in Highcross.
Clothing chain Quiz has signed up to open a store offering a range of womenswear in a unit between Boots and Miss Selfridge, on the upper mall of the Leicester shopping centre.
The announcement follows the news that JD Sports in the centre is increasing the size of its store, Zara is opening a flagship branch there and more units are going to open along the stretch of the centre in High Street which House of Fraser used to occupy.
Quiz describes its offering, which also includes footwear and accessories, as "exciting and innovative".
Jo Tallack, general manager of Highcross, which is owned by Hammerson, said: "We are thrilled to welcome Quiz into Highcross – another great choice in the centre for our shoppers who are keen to keep up with the latest fashion trends.
Quiz launched in Scotland in 1993, and now has more than 250 stores and concessions in the UK, as well as franchises worldwide.
Tarak Ramzan, chief executive officer of Quiz plc, said: "We are excited to be opening our first Leicester store in Highcross.
Numerous other new stores are expected to be announced at Highcross in coming months after Hammerson was granted planning permission to reconfigure a part of the centre. This includes a remodel of the space previously occupied by House of Fraser.


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Ephesians 3:20 Blessings to you today!
My name is Jim Collins and I am the founder of Beyond Positive Thinking Ministries. I am an ordained minister with the IMA (Interdenominational Minister's Association) and the Pastor of Victory in Christ International. My wife Peggy and I make our home in Jupiter, Florida.
The theme of this ministry is Success and Motivation in the Scriptures. Our objective is to filter success principles through biblical truth as we teach people how to tap into the Force that created the universe so they can access God's ability and experience God's Power!
After reading and listening to hundreds of motivational books, tapes and CDs I found that the principles the positive thinking gurus were espousing were simply biblical truths that would work for anyone who applied them. I set out to teach these biblical success principles and the result was the book, Beyond Positive Thinking: Success and Motivation in the Scriptures. You can get a copy here.
Two of the hundreds of motivational books I read were Think and Grow Rich and How to Win Friends and Influence People, and it's been said that every other motivational book has stemmed from these two. The way you tap into the Force that created the universe (the way you access God's ability and experience God's power) is by learning how to live by faith and walk in love. The phrase "Live by Faith" sums up the book Think and Grow Rich. The phrase "Walk in Love" sums up the book How to Win Friends and Influence People. I talk about this in more depth on the Bonus Audio motivational presentation, or you can read about it here.
When you sign up for our Success Scripture of the Week you will receive my eBook entitled You Can Realize Your God-given Dream and a Bonus Audio motivational presentation.
One of the things I enjoy most is conducting motivational and inspirational seminars and workshops for churches, businesses, associations and civic organizations that focus on Success and Motivation in the Scriptures.
Please contact me to schedule a speaking engagement or to host a success seminar. Thanks for your interest!
After reading and listening to hundreds of motivational books, tapes and CDs I found that the principles the positive thinking gurus were espousing were simply biblical truths that would work for anyone who applied them. I set out to teach these success principles and the result was the book, Beyond Positive Thinking: Success and Motivation in the Scriptures. You can get a copy here.


Here at TexasAgRealty Steve Bilicek is prepared to assist you with your valuation needs. My professional opinion of value is based on timely and accurate information that is obtained from reliable sources and tempered with my +25 years of experience of being in the real estate business. I have the market knowledge, seasoned experience, and the attention to detail necessary to provide quality and reliable appraisal services. My knowledge and experience will produce an accurate, detailed opinion of the current market value of your property. Appraisals are prepared under the specific guidelines of the Appraisal Institute and the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practices. It is my goal to present information in a manner that is thorough and yet easy to understand. Please give me a call if you need assistance with valuation services and I welcome the opportunity to discuss your farm or ranch with you.


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Mil Money: Here's how to get your financial resolutions back on track
By Karen Jowers
Some financial resolutions may have fallen by the wayside already in 2019, but it's not too late to restart. (Kristen Wong/DoD)
We're a month into the new year. How are you doing with your financial resolutions?
If you've already abandoned those resolutions or encountered some bumps in the road — such as holiday bills — all is not lost. Why not revisit them and restart? It only takes 21 days to make something a habit.
Consider the current (as of this writing) government shutdown. It doesn't affect the pay of service members or civilians working for the Defense Department. But it does affect Coast Guard members and those working with some other federal agencies, including an unknown number of military spouses, retirees, Guard and Reserve members, and veterans.
Some are seeking assistance for basic needs through military relief societies and other charities. Some are able to get no-interest paycheck advances from some banks and credit unions, but nothing requires financial institutions to do that now, or in the future.
What would happen to you personally if your paycheck — or your spouse's — suddenly stopped? Or what would happen if your spouse is unable to find employment after your next change of station move?
Tally up your bills and debts — car payments, rent or mortgage, credit cards and other consumer loans — that you would still have to pay.
Not everyone is able to scrape up an emergency fund, for a variety of reasons.
For that emergency fund, $500 is a good initial goal, but that doesn't have to happen in a month. Resolve to find $5 or $10 a week to put aside in a savings account for the future.
It's a building block for your finances — and it's also a big step toward your financial peace of mind. Another good goal is plowing as much money as you can into paying down your debt.
This Army family paid off $60K in debt in less than 3 years. Here's how
7 strategies they used to avoid drowning in red ink.
"A goal should be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and timely, [or SMART]," said Andi Wrenn, a military widow who holds an Accredited Financial Counselor certification and has worked with military communities in a management capacity since 2008.
For example, you might have said your goal is to spend less and save more this year, but you didn't lay out at least some SMART aspects, she said.
A SMART example: When eating out for the next two months, order water instead of a drink.
"That one improves your waistline and makes your bank account bigger, as even a soda often costs $2.29 when eating out. I know clients that eat out at least three times a week. That saves a couple over $100 for the eight-week period," she said.
Wrenn said she encourages clients to build in some "fun" money, which can be especially helpful for military couples when one person is on remote assignment or deployed.
A benefit available to service members and their families is access to free, professional financial counseling, through family centers on base, sometimes embedded in units, and also through Military OneSource. These are great resources to help review your finances, and set and meet financial goals that are SMART, Wrenn said.
As a financial counselor, she helps clients make behavioral changes that are needed to make a goal stick, she said. It's helpful to find an "accountability partner," she said, someone to whom you can report your progress, or perhaps call when you're about to stray.
One behavioral change might be steering clear of "friends who drop $100 on a weekend night out drinking and eating out," she said.
Instead, get together with friends who have the same goals, and find creative ways to spend less — such as exploring local attractions that are free or cheap. (Check with your morale, welfare and recreation office for ideas and discounted tickets.)
"When setting up a financial goal or plan, you are bound to have times when you don't reach your goals," Wrenn said. "Just like with a diet, if you make a bad food choice, it doesn't mean you throw out your new way of healthy eating. Same thing with financial goals."
About Karen Jowers
Karen has covered military families, quality of life and consumer issues for Military Times for more than 30 years, and is co-author of a chapter on media coverage of military families in the book "A Battle Plan for Supporting Military Families." She previously worked for newspapers in Guam, Norfolk, Jacksonville, Fla., and Athens, Ga.
More In Pay & Benefits
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Military housing tenants sue their Hawaii landlords over tainted water
Tenants want their rent reimbursed because of the tainted water that forced them out of their homes.
Another 16 million veterans can get Home Depot's new military discount year-round
But be aware of the new rules for the military discount.


text:
package controller

import (
	"reflect"
	"testing"
)

func Test_Request_NewRequest(t *testing.T) {
	testCases := []struct {
		Input    RequestConfig
		Expected Request
	}{
		{
			Input:    RequestConfig{Group: "group", SliceIDs: []string{"1", "2"}},
			Expected: Request{RequestConfig: RequestConfig{Group: "group", SliceIDs: []string{"1", "2"}}, Units: []Unit{}},
		},
		{
			Input:    RequestConfig{Group: "group/", SliceIDs: []string{"1", "2"}},
			Expected: Request{RequestConfig: RequestConfig{Group: "group", SliceIDs: []string{"1", "2"}}, Units: []Unit{}},
		},
		{
			Input:    RequestConfig{Group: "group/", SliceIDs: []string{"1", "2"}},
			Expected: Request{RequestConfig: RequestConfig{Group: "group", SliceIDs: []string{"1", "2"}}, Units: []Unit{}},
		},
		{
			Input:    RequestConfig{Group: "group//", SliceIDs: []string{"1", "2"}},
			Expected: Request{RequestConfig: RequestConfig{Group: "group", SliceIDs: []string{"1", "2"}}, Units: []Unit{}},
		},
		{
			Input:    RequestConfig{Group: "group/////", SliceIDs: []string{"1", "2"}},
			Expected: Request{RequestConfig: RequestConfig{Group: "group", SliceIDs: []string{"1", "2"}}, Units: []Unit{}},
		},
		{
			Input:    RequestConfig{Group: "group/foo////", SliceIDs: []string{"1", "2"}},
			Expected: Request{RequestConfig: RequestConfig{Group: "group/foo", SliceIDs: []string{"1", "2"}}, Units: []Unit{}},
		},
	}

	for i, testCase := range testCases {
		newRequest := NewRequest(testCase.Input)
		if !reflect.DeepEqual(newRequest, testCase.Expected) {
			t.Fatal("case", i, "expected", testCase.Expected, "got", newRequest)
		}
	}
}


text:
Fraudsters steal £500m from UK bank customers during first half of 2018 – UKMALAYALEE
UKMALAYALEE > Category > Fraudsters steal £500m from UK bank customers during first half of 2018
Fraudsters steal £500m from UK bank customers during first half of 2018
Wednesday 26 September 2018 3:31 AM UTC
LONDON Sept 26: Fraudsters have stolen more than £500 million from British bank customers during the first half of 2018.
According to trade body UK Finance, £145 million of that was lost through unauthorised push payment (APP) scams. These scams involve people being tricked into authorising a payment to another bank account.
The remaining £358 million was stolen using unauthorised transactions carried out by a third party and not the account holder.
Most victims of unauthorised fraud receive a full refund however there is no legal protection for those duped by APP scams.
UK Finance said that £30.9 million of the £145 million lost through APP scams this year had been returned to customers.
Almost two thirds of reported APP scams in the first six months of the year were purchase scams. This is where victims pay in advance for a product or service such as a car or holiday rental which is not received or does not exist.
This type of fraud often takes place online, through auction websites or social media.
There were also 3,866 reported cases of impersonation scams, where the criminal claims to be from the police, bank or another organisation in order to trick the victim into transferring money.
The nature of these scams means victims are often persuaded to transfer significant sums of money, with the average loss in police and bank impersonation fraud amounting to £11,402.
Katy Worobec, managing director of economic crime at UK Finance, said the figures showed scams posed a "major threat" to the UK.
"The criminals behind it target their victims indiscriminately and the proceeds go on to fund terrorism, people smuggling and drug trafficking, whether or not the individual is refunded," she said.
She added that the industry was taking action to tackle the problem, by investing in security systems and cyber defences, as well as bringing in new standards to ensure victims get support from their payment providers.
The organisation said financial institutions had prevented two-thirds of unauthorised fraud in the first half of 2018.
But Gareth Shaw, money expert at consumer group Which?, said banks' efforts had been "woefully insufficient".
"It's now two years since our super-complaint highlighted the lack of protection for victims of bank transfer scams, but these shocking figures show just how widespread the problem still is," he said.
"Banks… have not done enough to protect their customers, who continue to lose life-changing sums of money to ever-more sophisticated crooks.
"The Payment Systems Regulator has rightly committed to introducing a reimbursement scheme for victims. It's about time that banks step up and properly compensate customers who have lost money through no fault of their own."


Meaning and origin of the Hebrew baby name Darah. Meaning of Darah. What does Darah mean? Darah origin. Information about Darah.
Meaning of Darah: Wise. Feminine form from the male Dara, a biblical descendant of Judah known for his wisdom.
Meaning of Darah, Information about First Name Darah, Hebrew Origin Names, Choose babynames from thousunds of names data base from various regions and coutries.


I am now moving into the marketing phase of Claws of theGriffin. Time to apply the great marketing secrets I learned with my Penelope Mystery series. Only thing is I don't think there is a secret. Biggest challenge will be to get the book out there in front of people.
To launch Claws of the Griffin I have decided to put it on sale at Amazon for 99 cents. This is for 10 days only. Sales ends on June 18. I'd like to do the same on Smashwords, but changing the price takes a while to ripple through the various outlets so instead I am offering $3.00 off the list price of $3.99 by using coupon code RG22R at Smashwords.
Here are two great ways to read a southern mystery for less than a dollar. Click the links below.