text:
The Independent, May 17, 2007
Forgotten women turn Kabul into widows' capital
There are two million war widows in Afghanistan, 50,000 of them in Kabul, often living in horrific conditions
By Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy in Kabul
Glass lifts carry people up to the second floor of the shopping mall where gold jewellery and Levi's jeans are being sold in bright new stores. A large poster of a woman in a miniskirt hugging a man is plastered outside a shoe store while music blares from the mall's speakers. But outside, just around the corner, women are begging on the streets. They are the hidden face of modern Kabul.
Gulsha, suffering widow, mother of 11-year-old Sanobar who accuses Malom Zafar (district chief) and Commander Mehmood, a local warlord, for kidnapping her daughter who later was raped and exchanged for a dog. (RAWA photo)
Movie Clip of Gulsha ( http://www.rawa.us/movies/gulshad.wmv ) | RAWA report ( http://www.rawa.org/temp/runews/2006/11/05/sanobar-11-years-old-girl-is-abducted-and-raped-by-warlords.html )
Walking the streets of Kabul under a full burqa, the traditional garment that the Taliban insisted that women wear and which many still do, it is possible to gain access to Afghanistan's forgotten women.
There are two million war widows in Afghanistan, and their plight is easy to forget in Hamid Karzai's capital, where Western-style shopping malls, bars and French restaurants are opening up for wealthy foreign aid workers and Afghan expatriates.
Every morning Gul, who was widowed when an American bomb hit her house in 2001, leaves her two daughters to go begging on the streets of Kabul. "If I'm lucky, I'll make about 50 afghanis (80p), enough to buy two pieces of bread," she says.
Kabul, it is said, is the widows' capital of the world. As many as 50,000 women like Gul live in the city, and many make their home in the abandoned buildings that dot the suburbs, often living in horrific conditions. In a nation with a fractured infrastructure and, at £125 a year, one of the lowest per-capita incomes in the world, many widows are left without relatives able to take them in or offer even modest financial support.
Gul's blue burqa at least affords her some dignity. "The men hurl abuse at me, they make indecent gestures and I'm always being harassed, but at least they cannot see me," she says.
There is no social security system in Afghanistan. Widows are not provided pensions or housing so there is no safety net for them to fall back on. In other Muslim countries, getting remarried can resolve the economic problems of widows. But in Afghanistan's that is not so. Most Afghan men do not want to bring up children from a previous marriage.
"They are fiercely protective of their wives and the mere thought of them being married before is an insult to their honour," says Maria Akrami, a social worker who runs a small NGO in Kabul.
Gulsoom is 17-years-old and married. Last year she tried to commit suicide - she failed. She set fire to herself but, against the odds, survived with appalling injuries.
(BBC News, Dec.7, 2006)
On the southern edge of Kabul, among the rubble and bombed-out buildings, Gul and her two daughters, Zeba and Seema, live in a simple one-room flat with no heating or water in a city where winter temperatures can plummet as low as minus 17C.
Inside, Gul's daughters prepare tea for their tired mother. They would like to attend school but do not have money to buy school supplies. "I want to become a teacher," says 14-year-old Zeba, "I wish I could go to school, I am happiest when I am learning," she says.
Sixteen-year-old Seema, meanwhile, is angry at the Afghan government's empty promises. "I don't think our lives will improve," she says. "My mother is a beggar, the government doesn't care about us. They do not offer to help us, nothing has changed for us in this new Afghanistan."
War widows often stand outside government buildings holding frayed photographs of their late husbands, hoping to be noticed. "They should be the government's top priority," says Ms Akrami. "These women are uneducated; they lack basic job skills and cannot fend for themselves. If America invaded us to liberate our women, this is a clear sign that they are failing miserably."
Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy's film, Dispatches: Afghanistan Unveiled, will be shown tonight at 9pm on Channel 4
URL for news «Forgotten women turn Kabul into widows' capital»
http://www.rawa.org/temp/runews/2007/05/17/forgotten-women-turn-kabul-into-widows-capital.html


Last Wednesday saw modern Australian lifestyle brand BEAR journey to Rajasthan, India, the home of wellness, to celebrate its second birthday with an intimate four-day event aptly titled: Leaders of Style III. Held at the luxury property of Aman-i-Khas, a retreat on the border of Ranthambore National Park, the event saw BEAR co-founders Saasha Burns and Sammy Leetham welcome guests Tezza Barton, Inka Williams, Leonie Hanne, We The People Style's Jessie Bush, and Eleonora Carisi, alongside their respective partners.
The Leaders of Style III featured a series of intimate dinners including a relaxed Welcome Dinner by the outdoor fireplace with vegan canapés and Rosewater Martini aperitifs, a traditional Indian barbecue by the pool inspired by the ancient step-wells of Jaipur, and a grand Farewell Dinner held on the lawn under the stars.
The second day saw guests treated to a private NET-A-PORTER X MR PORTER sunrise safari in open-top gypsy jeeps through Ranthambore National Park. Once the hunting ground of the Maharajah, the National Park became a wildlife sanctuary in 1955 and a Project Tiger conservation area in 1973. While on safari, guests were privy to sambar deer, marsh crocodiles, langur monkeys, and a family of Bengal tigers.
When not on safari, the schedule called for some relaxation time with AMAN Raj Ayurvedic spa treatments and a BEAR Wellness Morning with THE UPSIDE where attendees took part in a traditional Acharya yoga session on the rooftop of Ranthambore Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This was followed by a wholesome breakfast with BEAR Adaptogenic Superpowder smoothies on safari day beds.
The Leaders of Style III event follows Leaders of Style I held in the Byron Bay Hinterland, and Leaders of Style II in Palm Springs, California to celebrate BEAR's bespoke range of Essential Daily Vitamins and Essential Daily Superpowders.
See below for a full gallery of images taking you behind-the-scenes of BEAR's third Leaders of Style event.
The AMAN room set-up where each guest was greeted by their own personal butler who was available 24 hours a day.
Each room included BEAR's Essential Daily Vitamins and Essential Daily Superpowders.
Saasha Burns arrives at the welcome drinks.
Tezza Barton and Cole Herrmann enjoy the serenity.
On the private tiger sunrise safari.
We The People Style's Jessie Bush and Eleonora Carisi.
Saasha Burns, Tessa Barton, Inka Williams, We The People Style's Jessie Bush, and Eleonora Carisi.
Saasha Burns and Sammy Leetham.
Saasha Burns, Tezza Barton, Inka Williams, Leonie Hanne, We The People Style's Jessie Bush, and Eleonora Carisi.
BEAR Wellness Morning with THE UPSIDE.
Saasha Burns and Inka Williams doing their traditional Acharya yoga on the rooftop of Ranthambore Fort.
Tezza Barton, Inka Williams, Saasha Burns, We The People Style's Jessie Bush, and Eleonora Carisi.
A wholesome breakfast with BEAR Adaptogenic Superpowder.
Each meal saw tables set with hand-selected ceramics, glassware and linen from local Australian brands including Marloe Marloe, In Bed Store, Gretel Corrie and Mud Australia.
Inka Williams and Kayu Vianna on safari.
Saasha Burns and Sammy Leetham on safari.
We The People Style's Jessie Bush.
Inka Williams and Eleonora Carisi.
Inka Williams and Kayu Vianna.
Sammy Leetham and Saasha Burns.
Saasha Burns, Leonie Hanne, and Tezza Barton.
We The People Style's Jessie Bush, Tezza Barton, Saasha Burns, and Inka Williams.
Leonie Hanne and Alex Galievsky.
Final dinner table setting with BEAR Wonder.
All images supplied by BEAR.


By Steve Holt·	 4/10/2016, 4:30 a.m.
Select West Coast winemakers may have finally gained entrée into the exclusive club monopolized for centuries by their European counterparts. But when it comes to the East Coast, not so much. New England's harsh climate has kept the region's wines from competing for a shot at the top.
But don't tell that to La Garagista's Deirdre Heekin, who believes the Green Mountain State, with its mineral-rich soil, is poised to become the world's next elite grape- growing region. Sound ridiculous? After sampling Heekin's "Damejeanne"—a blend of the little-known grapes Marquette and La Crescent—New York Times wine critic Eric Asimov called La Garagista one of his top labels of 2015.
So how did Heekin, a performance artist turned self-taught sommelier, start producing critically acclaimed wines that are now selling out in Boston, California, and New York?
While working at Osteria Pane e Salute Enoteca—the Woodstock, Vermont, restaurant she runs with her chef husband, Caleb Barber—Heekin fell in love with Italian varietals, eventually traveling abroad to witness the winemaking process firsthand. Afterward, she decided to attempt her own bathtub version with juice and grapes shipped from Boston. Taking her pursuit to the next level, Heekin then planted 100 cool-weather vines at the couple's Barnard farm.
But she got far more than vinegar. And in 2014, the Barnard experiment expanded into two Champlain Valley vineyards, in West Addison and Vergennes, where heartier hybrid grapes—as opposed to more traditional Vitis vinifera such as chardonnay and pinot noir—began to thrive. Output has more than doubled every season, but demand still heavily outpaces supply. The combination of sudden notoriety and limited production means La Garagista is difficult to find at Heekin's restaurant, let alone in Boston. "We don't stock it; we hide it," a manager at Cambridge's Formaggio Kitchen confided.
Heekin credits La Garagista's success to the distinctive terroir of Vermont, one of the world's oldest and most diverse geological landscapes. For example, wines from her Vergennes vineyard showcase notes of Queen Anne's lace, which grows wild there, while several blends from West Addison exhibit the unmistakable essence of the land's mint and purple aster.
What's next for La Garagista? Heekin is eyeing an expansion into locales as far-flung as Chicago, Texas, and Scandinavia, despite the limited yields feasible in Vermont. Growing wine grapes just south of the Great White North will always prove challenging, given the humidity and excessive rain, mildew, pests, and pop-up hail storms, like the one that hit last summer. But sometimes regions with the toughest weather (see: Burgundy, Chablis) end up producing superior wine. Why? Some grapes, as well as their caretakers, just seem to thrive under the most adverse circumstances.
Cold-hardy hybrids of American and European grapes are producing critically acclaimed wines from the rich Vermont soil, including these three stalwarts being used at La Garagista.
Descended from pinot noir, this red varietal drinks more like fruity gamay. Notes: Dark cherry and graphite.
Related to moscato d'Amburgo and reminiscent of Gewürztraminer and Riesling. Notes: Floral, mineral, and with elements of stone fruit.
A relative of moscato d'Alexandria, another spur of Frontenac noir. Notes: Citrus, white flowers, and limestone.


text:
Home/BREAKING NEWS/Why communication blackout in Ethiopia is a very bad idea
Why communication blackout in Ethiopia is a very bad idea
Kristi Pelzel Send an email January 9, 2021
On the surface, it seems like a very convenient idea. Wherever there are protests against the government, the first thing is to silence the people and impose media restrictions or a complete media blackout. In the long run, however, as the case in Ethiopia has shown, it is a very bad idea.
Digital connectedness and fixed-line telephone services are critical components to keeping displaced families connected and international development and aid coordination running smoothly during Ethiopia's conflict. Despite this need, it's one common deficit described repeatedly from the people I've spoken to and throughout media reports on the web. Some people lay out a case for having consistent, open, and accessible communication for peaceful reasons. Others are concerned about disinformation and opposition groups distorting the truth using video, audio, and the web to create more chaos and prolong the conflict.
Ethiopia's Ethio Telecom is cooperating with the federal government restricting services on-demand.
The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre reported on January 8, 2021, that the Ethiopian government began restricting telephone and internet services to the Tigray region, hours after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed ordered a military response to a Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) regime ambush on the national military. These restrictions, slowly being lifted, are still heavily monitored and restricted, and not accessible to the masses.
Access Now, an information rights group, indicating the region had been closed for what was labeled a "six-month State of Emergency." "The government of Ethiopia has again shut down the internet. Mobile network, fixed-line internet, and landline telephony have been cut in Tigray," access Now said.
Human Rights Watch spokespersons reported the conflict in the Tigray region had taken place in a virtual blackout. "A lengthy communications shutdown, and the closure of roads and air access, has meant only a trickle of information has come out. Parties to the conflict have primarily controlled the news and narratives."
Communication blackouts can't be completely blamed on the government's intentional manipulation. Even where they've allowed full communication to return, destroyed infrastructure from the fighting is preventing speedy access.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said this week: "Some damaged communication infrastructure in the region have started working while others were being repaired so that internet communication services can also be restored."
Ethiopians are Watching, Listening, Communicating
The way communities perceive technology as part of a sociotechnical system influences how societies behave in a natural disaster or large-scale crises such as terror attacks or a coup. The public's intense attention and demand for information about the Ethiopian crisis creates competition among information sources and encourage political and social shaping.
When governments block communication infrastructure, people find ways to move messages and work around it more intensely than if it were readily available. Citizens act as witnesses, recalling things that happened days and weeks prior because they couldn't convey information in real-time. These communication outcomes can backfire on withholding methods of communication.
Technology is part of crisis information solutions that shouldn't be ignored. Still, there is a counterbalance of social norms and institutional objectives required to fully understand the influences that restructuring other people's information into single narratives can have on citizens, politics, and economics.
The United Nations is Watching, Listening, but Treading Cautiously
The United Nations Security Council has remained largely mute on the Tigray conflict with no formal statement calling for de-escalation, no dispatch of the secretary-general's envoy for the Horn of Africa, and no signal to others in the region of the potential consequences of further misdeeds.
During a Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General stated on 8 January 2021 that "According to the Southern Tigray mission, life in Alamata, Mehoni and Mekelle is gradually returning to normal, with the resumption of some basic services, including electricity and telecommunications. Infrastructure also needs to be urgently restored as many buildings, including schools, hospitals, and administrative offices, have been looted and damaged. Our colleagues continue to engage with the government for the unrestricted and safe passage of humanitarian personnel and supplies to all parts of the Tigray Province."
The United States of America is Watching, Listening, and Ignoring
We've not heard much from the United States since the onset of the crisis. President-Elect Joseph Biden's team should take note and make a strategic review of the entire Horn of Africa, looking at new social, political, economic and security realities, largely ignored by the Trump Administration, along with the significantly expanded high-level and frequent involvement of foreign competitors in the region.
Facing bureaucratic fault lines head-on will show renewed importance to key African regions and fully realize American interests and opportunities across the continent, such as Ethiopia, the second most populated country in Africa with geographical touchpoints to America's biggest competitors.
China is Watching, Listening, and Planning
China is Ethiopia's largest trading partner, source of investment, and development partner. Therefore China has a large ex-pat population in the country. The South China Morning Post reported that around 600 Chinese citizens evacuated at the onset of the Tigray Region crisis in mid-November.
Ethiopia is described as "China in Africa," heavily invested in Ethiopia's textile, pharmaceutical, construction and manufacturing industries. According to the Ethiopian Investment Commission, by the end of June 2020, Ethiopia approved over 1,500 investment projects from China, amounting to around $2.7 billion, accounting for 25% of Ethiopia's total direct investment projects last year.
One would think China is not interested in seeing a destabilized Ethiopia. China is most likely supporting and recognizing the government under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed as long as it believes he will be a willing and productive partner moving forward.
Communication Brings Transparency, Peace, and Growth
Without a thriving communication system, societies block fully realizing their potential. This is not the first time Ethiopia has turned off the internet, blocked cellular signals, or created intentional blackouts, but it should be the last. To prove transparency to global partners there needs to be open access to information. To have peace people need to communicate. To support and sustain growth in a way that allows citizens to compete in a globally connected world, connectivity is absolutely required.
A strong Ethiopia is a digitally connected Ethiopia.
Kristi Pelzel
Kristi Pelzel is a Senior White House correspondent for Today News Africa in Washington D.C. Kristi also covers the US Department of State and the United Nations. She holds a master's degree from Georgetown University.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Estimated to house 100,000 tombs in a vast land size of about 0.86 square kilometers, Bukit Brown Cemetery has been abandoned since its closure in 1973. It was opened in 1922 by the Municipal Council (Municipal Council oversaw the supplies of water, electricity, gas, maintenance of roads, lighting and other administrative things in Singapore before 1965).
A small portion of Bukit Brown Cemetery is cut off by Pan-Island Expressway (PIE) and Mount Pleasant Road, forming present-day Mount Pleasant Cemetery. Mount Pleasant Road was formerly the place of residence of George Henry Brown (1826-undetermined), a British trader who arrived in Singapore in the 1840s and built his business here. Bukit Brown was therefore named after him, as well as a road called Bukit Brown Road in 1923 which had since been defunct.
The former body of Bukit Brown Cemetery was Seh Ong Cemetery, bought by three rich Hokkien businessmen Ong Kew Ho (undetermined-1889), Ong Ewe Hai (1830-1889) and Ong Chong Chew (undetermined) in 1872 as a burial and farming ground for the Ong clan. Before officially known as Bukit Brown, the area was known as Tai Tuan Shan (太原山) or Xing Wang Shan (新恒山). The hill's more famous name Kopi Sua (咖啡山 Coffee Hill) was due to the nearby coffee plantations at Mount Pleasant.
Lornie Road, developed before 1965, is the major road to cut through Bukit Brown. There is a series of minor roads running in the cemetery itself. Many are nameless except for Sime Road, Kheam Hock Road and Lorong Halwa. Kheam Hock Road was named after the Municipal Commissioner Tan Kheam Hock (1862-1922), who pushed for the site to be expanded as a public burial ground for the early Chinese community.
Many famous Chinese pioneers were buried at Bukit Brown, such as Tan Lark Sye (1897-1975), entrepreneur and co-founder of Nanyang University, Eu Tong Sen's mother Eu Kong (Eu Tong Sen Road was named after him), Lim Chong Pang (Chong Pang village), Chew Joo Chiat (Joo Chiat estate), Gan Eng Seng (Gan Eng Seng School) and Chew Boon Lay (Boon Lay new town).
The oldest grave in Bukit Brown cemetery belonged to a person called Fang Shan, whose death was in 1833, more than 40 years before the land was taken over by the Ong clan. The largest tomb belonged to Ong Sam Leong (1857-1918), businessman, plantation owner and contractor to the mines of Christmas Island. Occupying 600 square meters, about the size of 10 three-roomed HDB flats, Ong Sam Leong's grand tomb was decorated with a 15m-long platform completed with stone statues of deities, lions and 2m-tall sikh guard.
There are currently a number of caretaker shelters in the cemetery. Often vacant, the small structures become places of refuge to several aggressive dogs which visitors need to look out for. The one in the picture below is situated along a small road called Sime Park Hill, off Sime Road. Another one is located at Lorong Halwa.
In September 2011, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced the plan to construct a new road, parallel to Lornie Road, to cut through parts of Bukit Brown. About 5,000 tombs are expected to be affected. Fearing that Bukit Brown will be further developed as a high-end residential estate, Asian Paranormal Investigators (API) is campaigning a "Save Bukit Brown Project" to recuse this century-old place rich in history and heritage.
50 Responses to Bukit Brown Cemetery
I plead every Singaporeans to kindly save it from being demolished. The Bukit Brown cemetery is a place with rich history of Singapore. We had forgo so many historical sites in Singapore, please do not let the government do another irreversible mistake that will cause another regret for years to come.
A country without a place for people to remember their roots is like a country without a soul. In school we were taught to remember the source when drinking the water (饮水思源), now the government is doing otherwise (背道而驶). This is so disappointing.
Lastly, let's show some respect to our ancestors and let them rest in peace.
Remember Singapore says:
well said Christy..
for those who are supportive of "Save Bukit Brown", you can find out more at:
http://www.facebook.com/bukitbrown
http://bukitbrown.org/
Icemoon says:
Hi, a small note here. Lornie Road was already constructed prior to 1965, as part of the outer ring road system.
Have added your blog to my links 😀
Paul Decendent of Ang Seah Im says:
Hi, My name is Paul and I am one of Ang Seah Im's grandsons. Bukit Brown Cemetery is the last resting place of my grandfather who was a prominent Chinese community leader in Telok Blangah in the late 1890's and early 1900. Naturally I am interested in the preservation of Bukit Brown not only due to my grandfather grave site but also because it is the last resting place of many of Singapore's well known pioneers who played a major part in the early development of Singapore. Check out their names. Should we discard and dishonor their memory for an expressway, housing project or in the name of progress. Should we destroy their memorial. I think not. They are founding fathers and we should honor and respect their achievements in playing a major part in shaping Singapore's and its history.
It looks like LTA is going to have their way in any case. Sad that we cannot do anything much 😦
We can at least make some noise and as much publicity as possible and let people know that for the sake of progress, honoring the heritage of our deceased pioneers which may include the decedents of some government officials, seems unimportant. Maybe some of the decedents of those at Bukit Brown may come forward. Until i was sent a photograph of Seah Im's grave site just recently I was totally unaware that he was buried there some 84 years ago.
You are right. Descendants of the pioneers buried in this piece of land should come forward together and appeal to the authority for them to change their plan.
My great-grandmother was buried there since 1938. She came to me through my dreams and have since direct me to search for her tomb in 2008. With help from NEA & NHB, I have finally found her grave. Extremely upset to hear that this historical place going to be destroyed by LTA. If the roots is being destroyed, the soul being displease, the country will not be as prosperous. No matter how many roads need to be constructed, it will never be enough!! Our ancestor is bearing all this mistake that we have made, but once destroyed, we will reap what we have sown.
Hi, can I know where is Mr Tan Lark Sye's tomb located inside Bukit Brown?
I didn't manage to find it either.. It is also not listed on API (Asia Paranormal Investigators) website
However, according to history, after Mr Tan Lark Sye passed away on 11 September 1972, his coffin was covered with Nantah flag and about six to seven thousand people turned up and accompanied his hearse to Bukit Brown cemetery for burial.
Sad truth: the southern part of Bukit Brown will be developed for public housing.
http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC120305-0000095/BG-Tan–Why-we-made-difficult-decision-to-build-road-through-Bt-Brown
Ng Choon Lim says:
Because the ruling Lee Family are from the Hakka clan and they would like to see the Hokkiens, Teochiews and the Cantonese to be destroyed. The Lees has done too much damage to other ethnic groups including the Malays and Indians. This is very unfair for the Lee regime to do what they have done to our ancestors in singapore. It will be a great curse that will befall on the Lee family in time to come. Hope the future leaders would undo many of the wrong things that the ruling govt. has done thus far since 1959.
Loh Yoon Siong says:
Mr Ng, for your information, the Hakka graves were the first to go.
Soon Eng Huat says:
I fully support the preservation of this valuable heritage of our forefarthers.Without thought of our past,we're becoming a souless person that only cares for ourself without the thought of our posterity and the future of our country.Great and irreparable harms have been inflicted by callous and indifferent management of our state that it'll spell doom to our country.
Timid one says:
Please publish a book and all the photos of bukitbrown cemetery before they are all gone,just like the chirstian/Malay cemetery in Aljunie Road.so that our future generations will knows what is a cemetery looks like.now we have decide and give instructions to cremate and dispears our ashes into the sea,cause there's no place for us to bury.very soon mount Vernon is going to built houses there and all the urns store there have to move.this place is very peaceful and calm.I don't take photos on cemetery,incase I offended the 'environment'.so if any publisher who is not superstitions please take as much photos as you can,least all the history will be lost forever,and the 'other's' will bless and thank you
aliogoi says:
Yes really sad that there is no book abt Bidadari, I thought there was a report of 3 British ladies going to write a book about it. Luckily I took many pics of this place before it was demolished.
Singapore HanRen says:
there are books & many informative articles with photographs on Bidadari cemetery, the latest being : SPACES OF THE DEAD, A Case From The Living. published by SINGAPORE HERITAGE SOCIETY , 2011. edited by KEVIN YL TAN
AC Ho says:
Righteous One : My maternal grandfather was buried at the Mount Pleasant site in the '50s. Just visited his tomb stone recently. Understand from the caretaker LKY's grandfather buried in the vicinity.
Krystalle says:
This cemetery has been on my to-visit list for a while now, and I'm glad I've finally scheduled a visit this weekend! As a young 20-year-old Singaporean, I think this cemetery has not gotten enough word about its heritage. I fail to understand why people flock to the equally historic KTM railway tracks to bid their goodbyes, but do not do the same for this beautiful cemetery. Sure, it might not be the best place to have your mug shot taken in front of it, but from what I've already read and seen from photographs and websites, this place just oozes culture and heritage.
Oops sorry I didn't "mug shot" to be police photograph, but as in posing your mug in front of it just like many have done for the railway tracks.
yourahkong says:
First he went for your language , next he went for your culture , follow by your identity and money , lastly he went after your ah kong resting place.
Khoo Le Han says:
u mean LKY (just kidding)
Prof Faridah Abdul Rashid says:
Dear Remember Singapore,
I'm Prof Faridah again, writing from Kelantan, Malaysia. I was born in Malacca and lived next to the Chinese till age 5. Many of my paternal ancestors were Chinese. I don't know where the Chinese graves are but I suppose they are in Bukit China in Malacca. That place is well-kept and a good tourist spot. When I looked at your pictures of the graves in Singapore, I felt a bit upset that they are not well-looked after. I have a keen interest in graves (all types of graves) and I write a lot of history just based on information provided on the headstones. I visit museums or go to libraries to read up. That way history remains alive about the deceased. If the Chinese graves in Singapore are not preserved, then one day, you'll lose much of the Chinese history in Singapore. Even if your govt wants to cut new roads through ancient graves, I think the communities and relatives can always request for transfer to another site or re-construction of a memorial and gather all in one big hall, with video about the old graves, book documentation, etc. There is always room for preservation and I think it will be good to preserve in one way or another. I treasure my Chinese ancestry even though I can't read/write/speak any Chinese. Please look after the graves in Singapore.
Thanks Prof Faridah. There are currently many group petitioning for the conservation of Bukit Brown as a heritage site or a nature reserve, but it seems the authority will get their way no matter what. It seems like this century-old cemetery is destined to follow the footsteps of Bidadari Cemetery and other demolished Teochew cemeteries in other parts of Singapore.
Tan Choon Hong says:
The SG government likes to hide behind the word "pragmatism" when it comes to destroying our heritage places. Graveyards have to go in the interest of growth and development.
When I was a young man, I came face to face with an Egyptian mummy in a glass showcase in the London Museum. Despite separated by several millennia in time, I could sense the humanity of this forlorn figure who once held the power of life and death with a wave of his finger or a twitch of his face.
Similarly, without the tombs, carvings and other artefacts in their unmolested state at Bukit Brown, we can never truly connect with the lives of the pioneers of Singapore, the coolies and the towkays, whose blood, sweat and tears laid the foundation upon which later generations including our own helped build this thriving metropolis.
The living must speak up for the dead who have no voice. Until every square metre of golf course and unused state land is fully developed, let the dead remain in eternal repose. Perhaps Bukit Brown could be spruced up into a cemetery park where the living and dead can share quiescence in harmony with nature.
For too long we have let a powerful few run every aspect of our lives. It is not too late to take control and defend our heritage for ourselves and the generations yet to be born.
Loy Chai Ee says:
I seriously hope the government will think twice about destroying the cemetery(even though the picture looks eerie)as this is also part of our historic monuments,once history is destroyed it cannot be repaired as we want our future generation kids to know that the people who contribute to the society .History is dead but we are alive to tell about it ,i hope the history of Singapore will continue forever.
Say i am extreme i dont care.
it hurts so much to see our heritage and forefathers being destroyed and exhumed bcos of some bull shit reasons like cutting short their driving time and making profit profit profit at the xpense of the people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The last photo – is the structure still there? Didnt see it when I went there a few times. Cheers
The structure is situated along one of the tracks… It's like a small house built over the tomb
Likely to be belonged to a rich and prominent figure
The caretaker wasn't around then
When I walked past it, many dogs appeared out of nowhere and surrounded me, growling in low tones
I knew it's a threatening sound made by the dogs, that I shouldn't venture too near into their territories
So I left quickly
Julius Caesar says:
I hope that Singapore can demolish HDB flats instead of cemeteries, and maximize the use of land. As we all know, foreigners are coming in everyday and our city state is getting overcrowded. We should let Singapore grow by trade and service, instead of selling away precious land to foreigners, so that fewer of our heritage site will get annihilated.
hey you!!! let them demolish NOT HDB flats for when they do, WHERE do the poor live ??? our ancestors were foreigners too! stating this, at least the current oldest Chinese Cemetery (Traditional) ought to be preserved & well-maintained, in Remembrance & for posterity. A COUNTRY WITHOUT ROOTS IS MERELY A TRANSIT.
thanks for your time
Hon says:
Hate to say this but .. karma awaits for those intentionally disrupt the final resting place of ancestors who shed blood, tears and sweat for the development of this country in the name of profit…恶有恶报, 善有善报, 不是不报, 是时辰未到
The latest news 😦
Tender to Construct New Road across Bukit Brown Awarded
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has awarded a tender to Swee Hong Limited for the construction of a new dual four-lane road connecting MacRitchie Viaduct to Adam Flyover via Bukit Brown Cemetery.
Announced in September 2011, the new road, which includes a bridge over existing streams, will alleviate the congestion currently experienced along Lornie Road and the Pan-Island Expressway (PIE) during peak hours as well as cater to expected growth in traffic demand. The tender will be awarded at a contract value of $134.7 million.
With the award of the tender, public exhumation of the graves affected by the road works will begin from 4th Quarter 2013. Since details of the affected graves were published in March 2012, LTA has received a total of 1,263 claims for affected graves.
LTA will be contacting the next-of-kin of affected graves who had registered their claims to make arrangements for exhumation.
Construction of the new road will begin in stages after exhumation of the affected graves is completed. While construction is ongoing, members of the public can continue to enter other parts of Bukit Brown Cemetery that are not affected by the road construction. Details of the access routes will be made available to the public when construction starts. The new road is
planned to be completed by end 2017.
Decided to take another walk round the cemetery last week, enjoying a quiet moment and the nature
A forgotten flight of steps
A small stream that runs through the vicinity
The tombstone of Fang Shan, the first person to be buried at Bukit Brown in the official records.
(Source: http://bukitbrown.com/main/?p=7355. A very well-written article "A Voice for the Unclaimed" from All Things Bukit Brown)
Vikki and Ella says:
We are new to Singapore and have discovered Bukit Brown. We are stunned by its beauty and peace. It is very sad to know that the wonderful memorials and grand trees will be destroyed. Bukit Brown is unique and very special and we love it.
Is there any way you could do an article on Bidadari cemetery? I have fond memories of visiting my grandmother's grave there as a child and also the beautiful gravestones and interesting sculptures that stood there.
Yes, I'm still consolidating the information of the old and former cemeteries in Singapore 🙂
Bukit Brown Cemetery placed on 2014 World Monuments Watch
SINGAPORE: Singapore's Bukit Brown Cemetery has been placed on the 2014 World Monuments Watch, which compiles cultural heritage sites threatened around the world.
The cemetery – which houses the graves of pioneering Chinese immigrants – is one of 67 sites from 41 countries and territories.
Part of the cemetery will make way for the construction of a new dual four-lane road that connects the MacRitchie Viaduct to the Adam Flyover.
Responding to queries, the National Heritage Board (NHB) said the inclusion of the cemetery on the list supports its assessment that it is a heritage site rich in resources and memories.
A spokesman added: "NHB is working with stakeholders in the public sector and the community to document and promote the cemetery's heritage. NHB will also explore how Bukit Brown Cemetery's heritage can be preserved, retold and/or integrated with future developments for the area, while recognising the need to balance Singapore's land use and housing needs with heritage preservation."
A spokesperson for the Urban Redevelopment Authority said the government is aware of the heritage value at Bukit Brown Cemetery and has commissioned the documentation of graves affected by the construction of the new road.
However, Bukit Brown is needed to meet Singapore's longer term housing needs.
She emphasised that the development of the remaining area of the cemetery will not take place so soon.
The spokesperson added: "Singapore has been consciously conserving both built and natural heritage in our urban planning… Elsewhere, we have also been actively conserving buildings, structures and streetscapes that are familiar and endearing to Singaporeans. However, planning for the long term in land-scarce Singapore does require us to make difficult trade-off decisions.
"We will have to continue to ensure that sufficient land is safeguarded island-wide, and find ways to make good use of our limited land in order to meet future demand for uses such as housing, industry and infrastructure."
Other sites on the list include the Karo villages near Indonesia's Lake Toba and Yangon's historic city centre in Myanmar.
Leave some historic sites and do not forget our pioneers. We have today because of these pioneers.
Francis Yau says:
I wonder if anyone remember a Chinese cemetery built around 1902 in Singapore called "正原总坟" at a location called "北山亭" which should be somewhat related to the Xinhai (1911) revolution. If someone happens to know about it, please send me details at fyau49@gmail.com. Thanks.
Tan Boon Shean, Desiree says:
my great great grandfather is Tan Kheam Hock, my name is Tan Boon Shean, my grandfather is Tan Huck Wan, my father is Duke Tan Cheng Yew, I wasn't even informed about the exhumation. Why is this??? Help please!!!!
Tan Boon Shean Desiree says:
Call me +6591155205 regarding the above, thanks!
An aerial view of Bukit Brown in September 2015.
The new road development has already cut a portion of it. Will there be more to come? 😦
(Note: The curvy road on the left is Lornie Road)
(Source: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/)
Singapore's own tomb whisperer
His is not an ordinary passion.
Mr Raymond Goh clears and examines tombstones to piece together information about the historical context of the deceased's lives. Then, he tries to connect the deceased's descendants to their ancestors' burial sites.
Mr Goh, 52, tells The New Paper on Sunday: "I help to uncover Singapore's lost history in our own backyard. Some of our cemeteries are heritage gems that are almost like living museums."
The "tomb whisperer" has been shortlisted as an Outlook Inspiration by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). He made it to the top 15 from an initial list of 50 inspiring people from around the globe. Three people will be picked as the ultimate Outlook Inspirations and results will be announced tomorrow.
Mr Goh, a pharmacist at a multinational company, was nominated for the part that he has played in discovering lost aspects of Singapore's heritage with his finds during his weekly tomb-clearing expeditions.
He looks at details such as names of the deceased, names of descendants, dates and decorative flourishes. And one graveyard site that he has returned to, week after week, is Bukit Brown.
He says: "Of all the graveyards I've been to, the ones in Bukit Brown complex have the most variety and history.
"The tombstones can tell (Singapore's) story all the way from its founding to modern times."
Mr Goh has unearthed fascinating fragments of Singapore's past that would otherwise have remained hidden indefinitely in overgrown, abandoned cemeteries.
The oldest tomb he has found in the Bukit Brown complex of cemeteries, where he focuses his work, dates all the way back to 1826, which he pointed out is "just seven years after Singapore was founded by Sir Stamford Raffles".
Two years ago, Mr Goh stumbled across the final resting places of the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew's maternal great-grandfather, grandfather and grandmother. Before his discovery, he had read a recent "article about Mr Lee that mentioned his ancestors' names", and he remembered them when he read the inscriptions on their tombstones.
He and his brother, Charles, 48, have inspired a community called All Things Bukit Brown – also affectionately called Brownies – whose members are all equally passionate about Bukit Brown.
There are now "over 30 Brownies conducting guided walks", estimates Mr Goh.
More than 17,000 people have gone on such conducted walks through the Bukit Brown cemetery complex since the programme began in 2012. Ms Claire Leow, 49, who co-founded All Things Bukit Brown to preserve Bukit Brown, expresses the community's pride in Mr Goh.
She says: "We are proud of the Goh brothers, and Raymond in particular, for shining a light on our heritage and showing a way for others to… contribute to promoting our history and heritage."
Mr Goh has developed unusual methods of gleaning information from the often dilapidated tombstones.
He demonstrates how he fills the gaps made by inscriptions with flour, which sticks in place and makes it easier to read the engraved letters or characters. But before he can examine the tombstones, he must first find them, he says, with a chuckle. That means climbing through the branches and thick foliage in the less-maintained areas. It also means suffering spider and wasp bites.
He says: "I sometimes get stung by insects, ants, spiders and wasps… These bites are painful (and cause) swelling and itching… and some of my tombkeeper friends have been stung by scorpions."
But this doesn't deter him from the task at hand.
And with the increased publicity he received when the Government announced plans to build an eight-lane road through the cemetery in 2011, Mr Goh found a surge in the number of requests from people wishing to find their ancestors' tombs before they were exhumed.
He says: "Some people have asked me to help with locating their ancestors' graves. Helping them is one of the most satisfying aspects of what I do."
In the wake of his BBC Outlook Inspiration nomination, Mr Goh has found people he hasn't spoken to in years congratulating him, including classmates from school and university. He even took some of his Secondary 4 classmates from Gan Eng Seng school – where they graduated 37 years ago – to visit their school founder's tomb in Bukit Brown.
He says: "We sat around the tombstone and sang the school song, which we hadn't sung for so many years, and I felt a lump in my throat. It was a very heartwarming moment."
http://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore-news/singapores-own-tomb-whisperer
Bukit Brown gets back its 1920s gates
The historic 1920s cast-iron gates of Bukit Brown Cemetery have been carefully reinstalled after six months of conservation and refurbishment work.
The gates, perched on gateposts, now boast a shiny coat of black paint, a far cry from their previous state as badly corroded structures caked in layers of rust. Years of exposure to the elements had resulted in paint deterioration, plant growth and corrosion.
The gates were reinstalled last week following the refurbishment project by a team from Fusion Clad Precision – a contractor hired by the National Heritage Board (NHB).
Fusion Clad Precision's conservation manager Serene Lee said the gates were carefully hoisted onto their old posts at the new location – a new access road near Lorong Halwa.
Ms Lee said other precautions taken included securing the gates with specially designed frames that came with strips of padding before installation.
"The gates were loaded and then off-loaded using an overhead crane vehicle."
The refurbishment was an initiative by a multi-agency work group that the Ministry of National Development chaired. The group includes the NHB, the Land Transport Authority and civic organisations All Things Bukit Brown and the Singapore Heritage Society (SHS).
The heritage community is glad the gates have been reinstated. SHS executive committee member Yeo Kang Shua said the structures were among the few historic public gates still standing.
He said: "Gates and doors demarcate and delineate boundaries both physically and conceptually. This is a symbolic entry way for Bukit Brown Cemetery, which does not have a fence or boundary wall."
All Things Bukit Brown co-founder Catherine Lim said that while the gates' fresh, new look will take some getting used to, reinstating the structure "is the first step in restoring visitors' sense of arrival".
The whole structure is made up of two cast-iron gates through which cars used to pass, two side gates for pedestrians and four free-standing square columns. About 20 per cent of the structure has been replaced to fix damage to its structural integrity and functionality.
The NHB said the original structure was likely prefabricated in Britain and shipped to Singapore, while its square columns were cast on the spot. Bukit Brown Cemetery opened its doors in 1922.
The NHB also uploaded the second video documentary of a three-part series about the refurbishment project on its heritage website Roots.sg on Saturday. The board said the documentary will provide viewers with a behind-the-scenes look at the steps and techniques used at each stage of the refurbishment process.
NHB's assistant chief executive of policy and community, Mr Alvin Tan, said the refurbishment project is part of NHB's ongoing efforts to safeguard and preserve the country's tangible heritage.
Some parts of Bukit Brown have been razed as the LTA constructs a major eight-lane road through the cemetery to connect the MacRitchie Viaduct to the Adam Flyover. This project is expected to be completed by the end of next year.
http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/bt-brown-gets-back-its-1920s-gates
hazwandy says:
nice but hunnted
Hans says:
SAVE BUKIT BROWN
SAVE BUKIT BROWN NOW😠😠😠
Law Ghee Hiong says:
What has happened to the Lee Family now?
Ong Chuan Tian says:
Bukit Brown is definitely an ideal historical site which can be 'developed' into an attractive and educational site for locals as well as tourists.
A relevant Consultant could be engaged to provide the necessary concepts and designing for such an attraction to rejuvenate the site.


Rochdale Locksmiths For a fast and dependable response in Rochdale and the surrounding areas. All locksmith services provided including lock changes, emergency door opening and fresh British Standard locks installed. We provide an emergency call out service. So if you need to gain access to a property or have lost your keys, call us on 01706 396424 any time of the day or night.
When you book in one of our services we will be happy to give you tips and pointers on how to better secure your property.


Southern blue whiting are found off the south Chatham Rise and are only available from August to September. Slender with a moderately rounded body, they form large aggregations near the seabed during the day and rise up through the water column at night to feed on plankton.
They have a delicate texture, moist flesh that flakes easily and low oil content. Delicious crumbed, battered, fried, baked or steamed.


From the earliest periods in the study of the War Scroll (1QM), scholars have noted clear liturgical elements. Subsequent generic discussion has revolved around whether this long and well-preserved text was intended as a liturgical handbook or a manual for an eschatological battle with the enemies of the Qumran Movement. But why must we choose one or the other, even at the level of individual passages? This text not only evinces direct adjuration practices (e.g., curses in column XIII) and non-prophylactic elements such as ritual choreography, it conceived of its ritual space in a way that corresponds with what we find in other rites of affliction from Qumran. This movement already believed that its liturgical life found its performative context in the apocalyptically-defined presence of angels and the divine, so liturgical warfare at their sides should be at least considered. Thus, battling with spiritual and political forces through prayer and liturgy was not merely a future goal and activity, but rather something to be enacted regularly and in a manner that is congruent with the movement's apotropaic practices. Such designation will also help to clarify the means and methods of Qumran apotropaic practice, in other rites of affliction.


text:
Frankie & Benny's
Frankie & Benny's Braehead
12:00 PM - 9:00 PM 12:00 PM - 9:00 PM 12:00 PM - 9:00 PM 12:00 PM - 9:00 PM 12:00 PM - 9:00 PM 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Renfrew PA4 8XQ
View menusBook now Frankie & Benny's Braehead
Bowling Nearby
Cinema Nearby
Fancy a takeaway? Click & Collect or order a delivery
to enjoy at home
Order NowLearn more about Click and collect promotion
Sign up to be the first to get our great offers
About Frankie & Benny's Braehead
Frankie & Benny's is where you'll find the food you really want to eat. A glorious choice of moreish recipes, full of heart, made with care, served with joy – all done with a commitment to doing good things for our planet. Choose from glistening steaks, towering burgers, sticky starters and dreamy desserts. Discover gluten-free favourites and healthy, lighter choices. Dive in to nutritious-but-fun kids' dishes, or can't-believe-it's-vegan victories on a plate. Just sit back, have a drink, and then come back for more…
Nearby Frankie & Benny's
Frankie & Benny's Glasgow Fort
Glasgow Fort Shopping Centre
Glasgow G34 9DY
Get directions to Frankie & Benny's Glasgow Fort
Book Frankie & Benny's Glasgow Fort
Takeaway Frankie & Benny's Glasgow Fort
Menu Frankie & Benny's Glasgow Fort
Frankie & Benny's Falkirk
Central Retail Park
Falkirk FK1 1LW
Get directions to Frankie & Benny's Falkirk
Book Frankie & Benny's Falkirk
Takeaway Frankie & Benny's Falkirk
Menu Frankie & Benny's Falkirk
Frankie & Benny's Livingston
Almondvale South Retail Park
Dedridge North Road
Livingston EH54 6XG
Get directions to Frankie & Benny's Livingston
Book Frankie & Benny's Livingston
Takeaway Frankie & Benny's Livingston
Menu Frankie & Benny's Livingston
Frankie & Benny's Dunfermline
Whimbrel Place
Fife Leisure Park
Dunfermline KY11 8EX
Get directions to Frankie & Benny's Dunfermline
Book Frankie & Benny's Dunfermline
Takeaway Frankie & Benny's Dunfermline
Menu Frankie & Benny's Dunfermline
All Frankie & Benny's Restaurants
Visit us on FacebookVisit us on TwitterVisit us on Instagram
footer dropdown button
Tip policy


text:
Solar Energy International
We've trained over 60000 people from 145 countries. SEI Alumni have designed, installed, commissioned, or maintained over 4500 MW of solar PV. This is having a real impact on climate change. Do you believe in renewable energy education for a sustainable future? You can join us by investing today!
Women racking solar panels
Solar Energy International
EZ Tax Credit
39845 Mathews Lane
Paonia, CO 81428
marla@solarenergy.org
www.solarenergy.org
We believe in a world powered by renewable energy! Solar Energy International is a 501(c)3 non-profit educational institution with a mission to provide industry-leading technical training and expertise in renewable energy to empower people, communities and businesses worldwide.
SEI is headquartered in Paonia, Colorado. Unless you've been here, you may have never heard of this small town of 1,500 people on the Western Slope of Colorado. SEI has chosen our headquarters in this community of ranchers, coal miners, artists, retirees, hippies, and blue and white collar folks. Just down the street from SEI are many acres of organic cherries, apples, pears, and peaches. In fact, Delta County is the largest producer of organic fruit in Colorado. Within walking distance, you'll find farms growing vegetables and ranches of cattle and sheep. Less than ten miles away are three coal mines that once employed over 1,000 people and supplied over 1% of the nation's coal.
Paonia is a community in transition. Two of the coal mines have recently closed and gone are over 700 jobs. As you can imagine this has had a significant impact locally. As a community, we've had to reimagine our future.
Transforming communities and driving economic development is not new to SEI. In 1991, SEI was founded by Johnny Weiss and Ken Olson in Carbondale, another small western Colorado town. At that time there was virtually no PV in town. Johnny, Ken and the staff had a vision and the audacity to believe that renewable energy could change the world, and began working locally. Fast forward to today and solar PV is as ubiquitous in Carbondale as power lines.
As the coal mines began to close and our friends and neighbors began losing their jobs, we realized that we had to play a greater role in re-imagining our community's future. A few years ago, the only renewable energy systems you'd find in Paonia were at SEI and on the homes of staff and friends of SEI. Though rich in natural resources, Delta County is one of the poorest counties in Colorado. With the leadership of our Americorps VISTAs, we started Solarize Delta County. Our efforts have generated over $1.2 million in PV installations, jobs, and economic development. We've educated residences, businesses, farms, and ranches about solar PV and micro hydro.
Though we're pleased with the results of the steps that we've taken, there's something deeper and more profound at work. Our community has always been an energy-producing community and there's an awakening to the incredible potential to be 100% locally and renewably powered through solar PV, coal mine methane generation, and microhydro power from the water literally falling off of the mountains. How much more resilient would we be if our local rural electric cooperative did not have to annually export $42 million out of the community to purchase power from far-away power plants because we could produce our electricity locally?
We see this same kind of vision in the students who come to SEI. They come to Paonia with the same boldness that our founders had and the dream of using renewable energy in their homes, communities businesses, and countries. Though a lot has changed in the solar industry and at SEI, what hasn't changed is our commitment to empowering people through high quality, practical renewable energy training. We want to arm our students with the knowledge and experience to make their dreams a reality.
The journey of a world powered by renewable energy begins with a single step. Take your step. Donate today and help us do more good. We have a lot of work to do! SEI alumni have installed over 4,500 megawatts of solar PV to date. Here's to installing 4,500 megawatts more!
"In 2008 I took a chance, with no previous experience with electricity or power tools, and attended SEI's women's PV Design and Installation Course. Those two weeks of hands-on intense instruction and bonding with my classmates gave me the confidence and knowledge to pursue a career in the industry and changed the course of my life forever. Now, in 2016, I'm proud to say that I designed over 200 MW of PV Powered Solar Farms (covering over 500 acres). - Kyra Moore Holt, SEI Alumni/Solar PV Designer
"I love that I can do work that I believe in, and help others follow their passions as well. The energy and motivation of students and staff at SEI are beyond compare. Especially in an age where corporate culture, monopolies, and greed seem to be the main drivers for 'success', the community of folks that SEI brings together is a treasure to hold onto. Passing along knowledge and experience, and learning from each other is the culture at SEI, and in my opinion that is a much better definition of success! Working together, we will bring about positive changes in the energy industry for a brighter future." Lena Wilensky, SEI Instructor and Colorado Solar Business Owner
"Our company in the Dominican Republic has grown a lot this past year. We have already installed 600 kW and are in the process of installing 300kW, totaling 900kW in the first 7 months of 2016. We have increased our staff, who in August [2017] will begin FVOL101 the first course for our new employees who, in the future will possibly travel to Paonia for the lab course. We are taking full advantage of the training they have received in SEI and we are counting on you to train new employees of our company. We appreciate the quality of the courses and the help you provide us by answering technical questions after the completion of the courses." Juan Pouerié, SEI Alumni/Dominican Republic Solar Business Owner (translated)
"The Solar Ready Colorado effort is imperative to prepare Colorado's workforce for the continued growth of the solar energy industry. By bringing technical training to Colorado residents interested in the solar industry and upskilling Coloradoans already working in solar, our workforce is more able to transition with the industry and the changing economy, keeping our communities and our state going strong." Kathyrn Swartz, SEI Executive Director on SEI's Solar Ready Colorado Initiative


Enjoying complete peace and privacy with an elevated setting in a prestigious pocket, this superb Federation home is a picture of timeless style, offering a wonderful environment for easy family living and executive entertaining. Light-filled interiors are bright, spacious and extremely well-configured, opening on two sides to alfresco areas and providing a choice of indoor living. Set under high ceilings, all rooms are beautifully proportioned, ensuring complete comfort and ample space for the family to grow. Well-presented throughout, it sits on a generous 550sqm block that is an easy stroll to the bus, Old Cremorne Ferry Wharf and foreshore walks, within the Neutral Bay Public School catchment and close to elite private schools.


Topic: Express included in Pro?
Yes, you're right. The Save To command works perfectly well.
After opening a document, I want to run the actions File:Save Copy As… However, the macro stops at 'File'. What am I missing?
Thanks a lot, Adryan. I will what you suggested.


← 1 week to Japan! Yahs!
I've been so caught up in my Japan preparations, I keep forgetting to mention this – this weekend I'm heading down to Princes Park for the "Are You Game" Activities Day. If anyone is interested in meeting up and coming along with me, just leave a comment or drop me an email.
On a different note, I've been around the weight loss internet scene now for quite a while and there are a few weight loss myths that really bug me. You know the kind of thing people say that make you think WTF.
The first one of these is the "starvation zone" – I don't doubt that going on some extreme anorexia-inducing starvation diet is not the best thing for your body, but seriously, I really doubt that if you miss one meal your body is going to freak out.
Yeah, I don't think it's that urgent. If you eat a good, healthy, balanced diet then having a day when you are too sick or busy to eat isn't going to kill you (or make you pork up). Have you seen pictures of people in situation where they CAN'T eat? They aren't exactly obese.
The other "myth" that bugs me is the whole "muscle weighs more than fat" thing. Again, I don't doubt it's true. People wiser than myself claim it's so. What gets me is that every time someone is dieting and they have a slight gain, someone trots out that theory.
I'm going out on a limb here and saying that unless you are doing serious weight training, it's prolly NOT true. If you picked up a couple of tiny pink weights to pump out a few bicep curls maybe, just maybe, the weight gain is due to something else.
Did you forget that tiramisu you ate the other day (because one tiny treat won't hurt) and those few biscuits? Oh yeah and the chips you ate off someone else's plate because they don't have calories that way? Did you really, truly, honestly eat as low calorie as you thought?
Did you exercise as hard and as long as you thought? An hour in the gym DOESN'T burn calories unless you are actually doing something!
Gaining muscle doesn't even make my list because I don't work that hard.
OMG you MUST GET PHOTOS!!!
ha – there's no hope my body is going into Starvation Mode. 'Are u game' looks like good fun.
I'm with LBTEPA on the muslce/fat thing. So many people just don't understand basic physics.
In case I don't make it back here in the next few days – have an absolutely AWESOME trip.
And thanks for the inspiration for my latest post.
I completely agree with you! I love it when someone tells me I haven't lost weight because I haven't eaten enough-morons, my metabolism is still running on the fish and chips I was too scared to put into calorieking.com. BTW- I am eating chocolate pudding right now- but the reason I will not lose weight this week is because I did a couple of sit ups the other day.
Assuming that the Are You Game thing is terribly sexist and women only? But then again, all these fit looking women hanging around Prinny Park might be a good reason to come down anyway!
Agree with you on both Weight Loss counts!
Wow – six days!!! That is awesome. When you started the countdown it seemed so far away and now it is just rocketing along.
LOL at the rant … there's a fitness forum at work and it has me in stitches at times. Today's gems were all about the lemon detox diet. Yesterday there was a sharing of opinions about the causes of asthma.
Enjoy the mechanical bull. It sounds like a lot of fun.
You own the bull Kathryn, you know it!
Alright a mechanical bull! Yee-haa!


text:
Terrifying cults
Dangerous cults
Cults have made headlines around the world for many years and continue to fascinate in documentaries and popular podcasts.
The stories behind these cults' origins, leaders and demises are riveting - and often disturbing.
Warning: Some images in this gallery are graphic in nature.
Credit: AP
School of Prophets: From polygamy to death row
Ron Lafferty was convicted of murdering his brother's wife and her toddler in 1984. Lafferty, a member of a renegade polygamist cult called the "School of Prophets," killed the woman because of her opposition to plural marriage. Lafferty claimed he committed the killing after a revelation from God.
Lafferty was sent to Utah's death row; he died there in November 2019.
Credit: Utah Dept. of Corrections via AP
School of Prophets: Life sentence
Ron Lafferty's brother, Dan Lafferty, seen here in 2003, is serving a life sentence in connection to the murders.
NXIVM: The founder
NXIVM founder Keith Raniere was accused of running an abusive sex cult through his Albany-based seminar company. He denied the charges after his March 2018 arrest, but a judge ordered him held without bail until trial.
Credit: NXIVM
NXIVM: The accusations
In 2017, a New York Times exposé accused NXIVM of fronting a cult called "DOS" or "The Vow." The Times reported that female cult members were branded, used as sex slaves, punished by their "masters" and blackmailed.
Here, attorneys representing Raniere prepare to hold a news briefing after he was arrested on sex trafficking charges in March 2018. He pleaded not guilty.
A jury found Raniere guilty on all counts in June 2019. Sentencing is slated for January 2020.
Credit: Bebeto Matthews/AP
NXIVM: Arrests
"Smallville" actress Allison Mack (seen here) was subsequently accused of recruiting "DOS" slaves by convincing women they were joining a female empowerment group that would help them overcome weaknesses.
Mack was arrested and indicted on federal charges, including sex trafficking. She initially pleaded not guilty.
Credit: Jemal Countess/Getty
NXIVM: A guilty plea
On Monday, April 8, 2019, Allison Mack appeared in a Brooklyn federal court to enter a guilty plea for two racketeering charges in connection with her involvement with the NXIVM cult.
Credit: Mark Lennihan/AP
NXIVM: The end?
A message on the company's website says they have suspended services.
Here, a courtroom sketch shows Raniere at a hearing in April 2018. In March 2019, Raniere faced new charges of exploiting a child and possessing child pornography.
He was found guilty on all counts on June 19, 2019.
Credit: Elizabeth Williams/AP
Rajneeshpuram: The mystic
Indian mystic Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh attracted followers by the thousands in the 1970s. He preached a "religious-less religion" that embraced sexual liberation.
The Netflix documentary "Wild Wild Country" showed followers wearing only red and worshipping the mysteriously wealthy leader, even when he stopped speaking for a prolonged period.
Credit: Jack Smith/AP
Rajneeshpuram: The Oregon compound
In the early 1980s, Rajneesh was having trouble with the Indian government and sent his followers to buy a ranch in Wasco County, Oregon, which they converted into a compound (seen here).
The community attracted American and international followers, some of whom left families and high-paying jobs to meditate at the feet of Rajneesh.
Credit: Dan Bastion/AP
Rajneeshpuram: The collapse
Wasco residents were frustrated by the cult members, known as Rajneeshees, to begin with, but tensions rose when the Rajneeshees attempted to take over the government of the nearby town of Antelope.
The cult collapsed after authorities deported Rajneesh and convicted some of his staff, including secretary Ma Anand Sheela (seen here), of orchestrating a food-poisoning scheme against locals. No one was killed, but at least 700 people were poisoned in an effort to influence a local election.
Credit: Arne Dedert/AP
Rajneeshpuram: Today
Sheela fled to Switzerland, where she served time for her crimes, and later opened nursing homes. In interviews she granted for "Wild Wild Country," she largely spoke kindly of Rajneesh, who died in 1990.
The movement still has followers in India, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.
Heaven's Gate cult: The leaders
In the early 1970s, Marshall Applewhite and Bonnie Nettles renamed themselves Bo and Peep and took a road trip across the U.S., assembling a group they called "the crew."
For the next 20 years, the group lived in various camps in Southern California and took on new followers. The group believed that Earth was about to be wiped clean and the only chance to survive was to leave it.
Heaven's Gate: A turning point
Nettles died of liver cancer in 1985, but Applewhite (seen here) continued to lead the group. About 5 years later, the group isolated themselves from their friends, family and the public, and relied on the internet to recruit new members.
In 1997, Applewhite persuaded 38 followers to kill themselves, telling them that they wouldn't be dying, but leaving their earthly vessels behind.
Heaven's Gate: Mass suicide
The group rented a mansion in Southern California, where members took phenobarbital mixed with applesauce and washed it down with vodka, then put plastic bags over their heads.
Applewhite plus 38 other people between the ages of 26 and 72 died in three groups over three days.
Heaven's Gate: 42 dead
Authorities found the corpses lying in bunk beds, covered by a purple cloths. They were dressed in identical black shirts and sweatpants, new black-and-white Nike sneakers, and armbands reading "Heaven's Gate Away Team."
Three other people connected to Heaven's Gate later committed suicide, bringing the cult's death toll to 42. In this photo, one of their bodies is carried out of a hotel room in Southern California.
Credit: Kent Horner/AP
The Manson Family: Charles Manson
The Manson Family was a commune and cult created by Charles Manson in California in the 1960s.
The Manson Family: Followers
Manson's followers were mostly young women. They believed that he was a reincarnation of Jesus, and he taught that a race war was coming.
Pictured from left, Charles Manson followers Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel and Leslie Van Houten.
Credit: George Brich/AP
The Manson Family: A command to kill
Manson instructed followers to kill people because he believed the murders would provoke the race war.
Credit: Wally Fong/AP
The Manson Family: Multiple killings
In all, nine people were murdered in several separate attacks. Manson was convicted of nine counts of first-degree murder. He was imprisoned until his death in 2017. Other members of the cult are still in prison.
In this photo, the body of one of the victims, actress Sharon Tate, is taken from her house in California in 1969. She was eight months pregnant.
The Peoples Temple: The founder
The Peoples Temple of the Disciples of Christ was founded by Jim Jones in Indiana in 1955.
Jones taught a blend of Christianity, socialism and communism, with an emphasis on racial equality. He eventually attracted several thousand followers.
The Peoples Temple: Jonestown
As U.S. media began to scrutinize the group, they fled to Guyana, where they created a settlement called Jonestown.
By 1978, the population there had swelled to about 900. Around that time, some members warned American media of mass suicide rehearsals at Jonestown.
The Peoples Temple: Mass suicide
Congressman Leo Ryan flew into Jonestown to investigate. He, three journalists and a cult defector were shot to death.
Later, Jones had his followers kill themselves by drinking a cyanide-laced drink. In this photo, bodies are placed on Army trucks after the mass suicide.
The Peoples Temple: Hundreds dead
Jones was later found dead. More than 900 people died at Jonestown.
Aum Shinrikyo cult: The leader
Aum Shinrikyo was a Japanese doomsday cult founded by Shoko Asahara in 1984.
Aum Shinrikyo: Followers
The cult attracted young, elite university students and graduates who believed that the apocalypse was near and that they would be the only ones to survive.
Credit: Toru Yamakaka/Getty
Aum Shinrikyo: Sarin gas attack
In 1995, members carried out a sarin nerve gas attack in the Tokyo subway system, possibly in an attempt to bring about the apocalypse, and possibly to keep authorities from shutting down the group. Thirteen people died, and thousands were injured in the attack.
Thirteen members of the group received death sentences. The first seven, including leader Shoko Asahara, were hanged in early July 2018, and the remaining members were executed later that month.
Credit: Junji Kurokawa/Getty
Aum Shinrikyo: Today
The cult was never banned in Japan, and lives on in offshoots including Aleph and Hikari no Wa, which have an estimated 1,500 followers today.
Credit: Toru Yamanaka/Getty
Matamoros human sacrifice cult: Gruesome find
In 1989, authorities found 12 male bodies on a ranch in Mexico, near the U.S. border. They would later find three more.
Credit: John Hopper/AP
Matamoros cult: Ritual human sacrifices
Five drug smugglers were arrested in connection with the murders.
They told police they thought the human sacrifices would protect their drug smuggling operations.
Matamoros human sacrifice cult: Leader revealed
When the suspects were asked who murdered an American victim, Mark Kilroy, they named Adolfo de Jesus Constanzo, 26, the leader of the cult, and Sara Aldrete, a student at Texas Southmost College, known as "the witch."
Here, members of the cult stand by a table filled with satanic cult items.
Credit: Carlos Castillo/AP
Matamoros human sacrifice cult: The end
Constanzo and Aldrete fled to Mexico City with three cult followers. By the time police tracked him down, they found Constanzo and another follower both fatally shot.
Constanzo had instructed his follower to kill him to avoid arrest. Aldrete and the other follower were arrested on the spot.
Order of the Solar Temple: A leader's notes
The Order of the Solar Temple was formed in 1984 by Joseph Di Mambro and Luc Jouret. The cult, based on New Age spiritualism, drew followers in Switzerland, France, and Canada.
As the cult became more doomsday focused, it got more followers, who brought in more money.
But in the 1990s, authorities in Canada began investigating the group amid accusations of sexual misconduct, and people started to leave.
Credit: Fabrice Coffrini/AP
Order of the Solar Temple: Bodies found
In 1994, a man who spoke against the cult was killed in his home, along with his wife and baby.
Days later, two Solar Temple buildings in Switzerland went up in flames. Investigators found 48 bodies inside. Some were shot, some were found with bags over their heads and some had been injected with tranquilizers.
Joseph Di Mambro's gun was found during the investigation. He and his family were among the dead.
Order of the Solar Temple: Another deadly blaze
Then, in 1995, a Solar Temple building in the Swiss Alps was found burned down with 16 bodies inside.
Credit: Philippie Desmazes/AP
Order of the Solar Temple: Still more deaths
Five more members died in a burned Quebec house in 1997. In all, 74 cult members and former cult members died.
Branch Davidians: Origins
The Branch Davidians originated in 1955 from a schism among the Shepherd's Rod/Davidians, which stemmed from Seventh-Day Adventist teachings.
Credit: Dave Martin/AP
Branch Davidians: The leader
David Koresh began leading the group in 1987, abandoning many of the original teachings and adopting the belief that the end of the world was near.
Branch Davidians: The compound
Koresh's followers took over the Davidian compound in Waco, Texas, also known as Mount Carmel. Koresh kept "spiritual wives," some of whom were underage. The government also had eyes on the group because they believed Koresh was stockpiling weapons.
Credit: Rick Bowmer/AP
Branch Davidians: The blaze
In 1993, the ATF and Texas National Guard raided the Waco compound. The raid led to a shootout that left four agents dead, followed by a 51-day standoff with the FBI.
On April 19, federal agents launched tear gas to try to force people out. Soon after, the compound erupted in a massive blaze. Eighty-two people, including Koresh, died.
Credit: Ron Heflin/AP
Russian doomsday cult: The leader
The Russian doomsday cult was founded by Pyotr Kuznetsov. The group broke off from the Russian Orthodox church.
Russian doomsday cult: The cave
In 2007, about 30 members of the group holed up in a cave in Russia's Penza region. They said they would commit suicide if authorities intervened.
Kuznetsov, who was not with them, had told them to wait there for the end of the world, which he thought was coming in 2008.
Russian doomsday cult: Emerging from the cave
After about six months, 14 members came out of the cave, and nine members came out later. Two cult members died in the cave.
Russian doomsday cult: A suicide attempt
Kuznetsov (pictured here with followers) reportedly attempted suicide when his doomsday prophecy didn't come true. His current whereabouts are unknown.
Children of God: The beginning
The Family International, also known as the Children of God, was founded in Huntington Beach, California, by David Brandt Berg in 1968.
Here, members sing before sitting down for lunch at their Los Angeles headquarters in February 1971.
Children of God: Recruiting with sex
By the 1970s, the group had communes around the country and outposts overseas. Berg encouraged female members to recruit new members through sex - a practice he called "flirty fishing."
Here, women prepare a communal meal in a Children of God mess hall in 1971.
Credit: Ferd Kaufman/AP
Children of God: Allegations of abuse
Berg also encouraged sex with children. He one letter to members, he said, "God created boys and girls able to have children by about 12 years of age."
Several former members have alleged they were sexually assaulted and beaten as children.
Some people who were born into the group later killed themselves, including one of Berg's sons, who first killed his nanny.
Children of God: Now
After Berg's death in 1984, the group tried to distance itself from his endorsement of pedophilia. Now they preach that they are in a war of good versus evil. It's unclear how many members the group still has.
Here, members take part in a 1971 religious study, which was being recorded for distribution in America and Europe.
Credit: Barry Sweet/AP
Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God: The founding
The Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God was a breakaway movement from the Roman Catholic Church founded in Uganda in the 1980s.
Credit: Alexander Joe/Getty
Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God: Beliefs
The group believed that the apocalypse would occur on Dec. 31, 1999, and to avoid damnation, members had to follow the Ten Commandments very strictly.
Leaders even discouraged talking to avoid breaking the Ninth Commandment, "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor."
Sex and soap were also forbidden.
Credit: Brennan Linsley/AP
Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God: The end
As 2000 approached, the group prepared for the end. When the apocalypse didn't come, leaders proposed a new date: March 17, 2000.
The leaders planned a big party at a secluded church. After guests arrived, the venue burst into flames. All 530 in attendance, including dozens of children, were killed. The windows and doors had been boarded up to bar escape.
Here, a soldier views the burned remains.
Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God: Mass murder
After the fire, police found hundreds of other bodies in compounds across Uganda. Many victims had been poisoned. In all, 924 died.
Police initially suspected mass suicide but later determined that the deaths were the result of a mass murder.
Here, locals and relatives of the cult victims wait in a Ugandan church compound during a mass burial in 2000.
Credit: Sayyid Azim/AP


text:
Royal Navy Tests Sea Viper Air-Defense Missile
(Source: UK Ministry of Defence; issued Feb. 11, 2009)
The new Sea Viper air defence missile system demonstrated its ability to protect air, land and sea forces during a second, successful test firing.
The missile system was successfully test-fired from the 12,000 tonne trials barge Longbow, near the Ile du Levant off the French coast.
The Longbow barge has a full replica of the air defence equipment the new Type 45 destroyers will carry, including long-range and missile directing radars, a combat control centre and missiles in their vertical launcher silos.
Sea Viper is a highly sophisticated system that has been designed to allow the new Type 45 Destroyer to protect forces, both at sea and over land, against attack by enemy aircraft, as well as defending the fleet against anti-ship missiles approaching from any direction and at supersonic speeds.
MOD Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) Medium Range Air Defence Weapons Team Leader, David Emly, said:
« This test was much more difficult with the target simulating a low-level anti-ship missile at close range and so I am very pleased with the result as it demonstrates that the Type 45 Destroyer's powerful Anti-Air Warfare capability is on track to be delivered in 2010. »
Integral to the Sea Viper system is the Sampson Multi Function Radar which tracks targets and directs missiles towards them. This element is a bespoke design developed by BAE Systems to meet the Royal Navy's very specific requirements.
This latest success comes hot on the heels of the recent arrival of the first Type 45 destroyer, HMS Daring, into her home port of Portsmouth for the first time in January. Integrating the Sea Viper system is the main focus of the ship's remaining trials before she is declared ready for service.
BACKGROUND NOTES:
Sea Viper came into being on 28 January when Vice Admiral Sir Trevor Soar, Chief of Material Fleet, formally announced the name selected by the Royal Navy for its Principal Anti-Air Missile System (PAAMS).
Sea Viper is a maritime area air defence system composed of the Sampson radar, a Combat Management System, long range radar, the Sylver missile launching system and Aster 15 and Aster 30 missiles.
The Aster missiles are capable of speeds in excess of mach four and are highly agile, using an innovative system called 'Pif Paf'. This combines conventional aerodynamic control with a novel lateral thrust system. The trial comprised the firing of a single Aster 15 missile launched against a Mirach target simulating a low level attack from an anti-ship missile.
The first Type 45 Destroyer HMS Daring was handed over to the MOD on 10 December 2008. She sailed into her home port of Portsmouth for the first time on 28 January 2009. Final MOD controlled sea-trials and integration activity is now underway prior to her entering service with the Royal Navy in 2010.


Login with the leaked adult passwords updated today for WINDY NICKS below.
For more free WINDY NICKS accounts come back in a couple hours. If you don't want to wait – click here to get your own WINDY NICKS discount account. It's a good deal, Don't miss it!
Get Your WINDY NICKS Discount Now!


In a recycling centre, the refurbishment activity is the most important in terms of income and added value.
It is important to carefully clean the pieces of equipment, first to be able to present clean equipment to potential clients, but also to prevent damage while the pieces are being tested. Indeed, when used, transported and stored, the equipment collects dust which must be removed before testing, as it may cause short-circuits or malfunctions possibly resulting in the destruction of components as soon as the equipment is switched on. The entrepreneur will also have to make sure that the plastic cases are cleaned before being shown to clients.
As it is impossible to use a dust cloth because of the numerous slots, pins and corners, it is recommended to resort to compressed air to remove dust. An electrically powered handheld blower generally delivers enough compressed air to blow dust out of circuit boards and other components. It is also highly recommended to set up a station specially devoted to this operation, equipped with a dust extractor. This enables the employee to work in better conditions, and also prevents dust from spreading to the rest of the workshop. This workstation should be closed on its three main sides, and equipped with an air blow gun and an aspirating hood running continuously. To remove stains, glue traces and encrusted dust from the plastic cases, it is possible to use a cloth moistened with water.
When using chemicals, workers must follow safety instructions and wear equipment to protect their hands and respiratory system. The disposal of cleaning products must also be monitored, as they must not be discharged with waste water.
It is highly recommended to isolate the cleaning area from the workshop, so that technicians cannot be bothered by dust, and equipment in the process of being repaired cannot be damaged. It is also recommended not to use solvent during this operation to protect worker health, as water is usually enough to clean properly.
Testing is one of the main stages of the refurbishment activity, as it is at this point that the decision is made whether to reuse the computer as it is, to refurbish it or to dismantle it. Tests are generally focused on the condition of the hard drive, the screen, the motherboard and the RAM.
Before opening the computer and individually testing its parts, the technician must try to switch the computer on. If it starts, the technician will be able to run tests directly on the machine to assess the condition and capacity of the various components. To test components such as the motherboard or the RAM, the technician will often have to use programmes specific to the brand of these components. For this reason, the entrepreneur is advised to provide his company with a programme library, where technicians can quickly find the appropriate software.
If the equipment does not work, it is important to determine if it would be worthwhile repairing it or using it for spare parts. If it is the type of equipment often asked for by clients, its subsets should be tested either to identify the failure or to extract spare parts.
It is recommended to set up a workstation devoted to hard drive testing, equipped with a computer in perfect working order. To assess the condition of hard drives (up to four at the same time), the technician must connect them to the available IDE connectors. Once connected, the technician uses specific software to test hard drives and repair them if need be. Once a hard drive has been tested, it is either sent for dismantling (if it is faulty), or stored to be used later as a spare part.
It is usually recommended to test the RAM modules on their original motherboard, due to important risks of incompatibility between the different models. The module testing process is similar to that implemented for hard drives. It requires the use of a functioning computer, equipped with a motherboard compatible with the modules to be tested. The technician must install these modules in the computer, switch it on and run tests thanks to the appropriate software. If the RAM modules are faulty, they are sent for dismantling. If they are fit for reuse, they are stored once their characteristics have been carefully registered.
Contrary to the other components testings, monitor testing is based only on the tester's own assessment. His job is to evaluate the quality, the brightness and the contrast of the monitors. He must also detect potential problems, such as image distortion. Therefore, the technician in charge of these tests must have a lot of experience. He may use a working computer as a point of reference.
If the monitor is in good working order, it is stored, waiting to be resold. If the case is damaged, it is sent for repair. Finally, if the monitor is out of order, it is sent for dismantling. The technician may sever the cables of faulty monitors, so that they cannot be mixed up with monitors in working order or those waiting to be tested.
Once a piece of equipment has been tested, its track sheet must be updated, indicating its condition, the possible repairs and the name of the technician who carried them out, and lastly its next destination (i.e. the refurbishment workshop, the dismantling workshop or the sales area). If the equipment is broken up into spare parts, it is recommended to create a track sheet for these parts.
When equipment is collected, the owner may want the data which is written on the hard drives to be disposed of. This operation can be carried out either on the collection site or on the recycling site. Even if the owner does not specifically request the data disposal, in numerous countries, the recycling centre is legally obliged to do it, in compliance with regulations on private and intellectual property. The company may communicate about the reliability of its data disposal methods, to reassure the equipment suppliers.
To remove data from a computer, the recycling centre carries out several hard drive formattings, either at the hard drive test bench, or directly on the computer. There are various software programmes on the market enabling the retrieval of data erased from the computer by the user or during the formatting. Therefore, the recycling centre must be equipped with efficient data disposal and formatting tools, and must repeat the operation several times on each hard drive to make sure that no trace of former information remains on the hard drive. There are several data disposal software products available on the market, among which the free software Root Boot, under Linux.
If hard drives are pierced to secure the data disposal, this operation should be carried out under an aspirator, as the smoke resulting from it may contain harmful substances.
Before assembling a computer, the technician must choose the configuration to give to the computer. Once this is done, he can decide which pieces are going to make up the computer so that its performance can be sufficient to run the operating system and the required applications.
The hardware configuration depends on the future use of the computer and on the operating system installed in it. Therefore, the clients' needs should be carefully examined beforehand, in order to identify the appropriate technical configurations for the equipment.
There are two types of configuration: stand-alone computers and thin client. Stand-alone computers require a hard drive big enough to host the operating system and the applications files. They may also include a network interface card, to access the Internet or be connected to the network they are intended to be a part of. Thin client computers have neither hard drives nor operating systems, and require very little RAM. Nevertheless, they include a network interface card, enabling them to be connected to a central server on which the operating system and several software programmes are installed. The thin client configuration allows the use of relatively old equipment that would not have been fit to be refurbished as standalone computers. A network equipped with a powerful central server (2 Ghz) can use about twenty thin clients.
To assemble a central unit, the technician first puts in the motherboard, the processor and the RAM. Then he installs the expansion boards, the drives and the peripherals (e.g. various optical drives). Several guides or websites give more detailed information on this process. It is recommended to start with the original configuration in which defective components are replaced. The risks of incompatibility between brands or versions increase when the computer is made up of spare parts from different origins.
Once the computer has been assembled, a technician must carry out the installation of the operating system and of the drivers enabling the computer to communicate with its peripherals. Then, the technician has to install various software programmes, in order to make the computer fully operational. To save time, the entrepreneur may implement systems enabling these operations to be performed on several computers at a time.
The most popular operating systems are Microsoft Windows and Linux. For both, several versions exist. The installation of Linux is free, whereas the installation of Windows is subject to license fees. However, Microsoft has developed a free licensing programme and a low-cost licensing programme (MAR). This programme applies to computers destined for educational establishments and computers coming from refurbishment centres.
Linux: Debian, Knoppix, Mandriva, Suze, Ubuntu, XUbuntu.
With these specifications, the operating system should run, but probably not as well as it could. For good visual effects and smooth running, it is advisable to improve these configurations.
Recyclers can become members of the MAR community as long as they meet the criteria and conditions listed on Microsoft's website. The MAR programme allows companies to use a wide variety of eligible software applications on computers of eligible beneficiaries. Windows 2000 OS can be installed on all computers participating in the programme. Windows XP is available for computers that were previously configured with Windows.
Throughout the programme, Microsoft provides the authorized refurbishment companies with technical support, specific certificates of authenticity (COA) and agreements with eligible beneficiaries. The MAR programme helps to reduce costs paid by the recycling company to license refurbished computers. It also allows eligible beneficiaries to obtain equipment at an affordable price. This programme enables technicians to install a variety of software applications with certificates of authenticity. For additional information on the MAR programme, see www.microsoft.com/mar.
Drivers are software applications thanks to which the operating system recognises and communicates with hardware components. They are specific to the hardware and depend on the manufacturer, the model and the operating system. They often have to be downloaded, usually from the manufacturer's website. To avoid spending too much time, the entrepreneur must make sure that the company's programme library contains the most frequently used drivers. The older the equipment and the operating system, the harder it is to find the appropriate driver.
The technician can also resort to CD-ROMs and Internet downloads to install software applications.
To save time, the entrepreneur can implement methods of installing several computers simultaneously thanks to imaging software applications. These programmes copy the image of a computer (i.e. its exact contents) into one or several other computers at the same time, via the network or a CD-ROM. This way, the operating system, the drivers and the applications are copied directly into the new pieces of equipment. However, this method has one important limitation: the computers must be identical and equipped with the same components (motherboard, network interface card, video board, CD-ROM drive, floppy disk drive, etc.). This is another reason why the equipment collected must be as homogeneous as possible: it enables the recycling centre to save a lot of time during the installation stage.
When the equipment collected is in good condition and operational, it may be put back directly onto the market. Nevertheless, most pieces of equipment will have been refurbished prior to resale. It is also possible to sell refurbished spare parts.
It is important for the recycling centre to be able to keep track of the equipment until its final destination. This is why a handover certificate must come with the equipment, to certify the transfer of ownership.
The centre may address a certificate to the initial owner, to let him know that the equipment has been refurbished and put back on the market.


Home » Deals & Coupons » Amazon » Amazon: Double Layer Polka Dot Makeup Bag $2.94 (Reg. $8.98) + FREE Shipping!
Amazon: Double Layer Polka Dot Makeup Bag $2.94 (Reg. $8.98) + FREE Shipping!
Keep all your make up and other skin care products in this cute Double Layer Polka Dot Makeup Bag, keep your things organized, this is perfect for traveling!
Double Layer Polka Dot Makeup Bag $2.94 (Reg. $8.98) + FREE Shipping!


There is nothing like being in the presences of passionate people that truly love what they do each and every day! And when you come across a family owned and operated salon that invites you in with huge hearts making you feel at home is one of those many things I am grateful for and say I Love my job! I recently had the pleasure to teach in Chicago and one of my visits was the Taylor Stevens Salon-Spa. Andrea Swanson who opened her salon in 2000 and has become a part of Aveda's Prestige's purfessional (educational) hair color team in 2008 invited me back to inspire her team. I first met Andrea in 2005 when I got a request to come to her salon and teach her staff Aveda hair color we instantly connected and I fell in love with her and the staff, Steve her husband and partner in crime and a beautiful little girl who gave me a hand massage at age nine Taylor. Seven years later that beautiful little girl has become a stunning, intelligent sixteen year old beauty who is the next generation in the family business, she already knows what customer service is all about and working part time in the salon as an assistant, shampooing and doing makeup finishes for their clients and doing it full-hearted with a smile I was impressed.
Andrea and Steve's passion is to teach and help salon owners with their business focusing on hair color as well as colorists to be successful for the long term but above all to ensure in their daughter Taylor that hard work, core values and a giving heart is success and together they can create a legacy of making a difference each and every day. The Taylor Stevens Salon-Spa group are not only doing it right behind their chairs they also give back to their community with several fundraising causes. Hats off to both Andrea and Steve for inspiring and teaching the next generation of a home grown Star.


text:
Australian Embassies
Australian Embassy in Serbia
Australian Citizens and Residents in Serbia who require consular services can contact the Australian Embassy in Serbia through the contact details listed below:
Responsible Mission:
The Department's office in Belgrade manages visa and citizenship services for clients in Serbia, Albania, Bulgaria, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Romania.
The Australian Embassy
Vladimira Popovica 38-40
11070 New Belgrade
381 11 330 3400 (Embassy Switch)
http://www.serbia.embassy.gov.au
immigration.belgrade@dfat.gov.au
8.45 am to 12.30 pm Monday to Friday by appointment only
8.45 am to 11 am Monday to Friday
The content and the source codes contained in the pages of www.travelvisaaustralia.com are copyright © and remain the property of Travel Visa Pty Ltd (ACN: 119 576 706).
Unauthorized reproduction and copying is strictly prohibited. Offenders will be prosecuted to the maximum extent of law.
Our Services provided, and use of this site is subject to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.