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This article was co-authored by Claudia Carberry, RD, MS. Claudia Carberry is a Registered Dietitian specializing in kidney transplants and counseling patients for weight loss at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. She is a member of the Arkansas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Claudia received her MS in Nutrition from the University of Tennessee Knoxville in 2010.
There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 22,308 times.
When it's hot and humid outside, you may crave cooling foods and meals. Foods like beef stew, meatloaf and mashed potatoes, or chicken noodle soup are probably something you're not in the mood for during a heat wave. Luckily, there are plenty of foods and cooking methods that can actually help you stay and feel more cool during the summer. Plan your meals and snacks around hydrating foods that require little to no preparation so that you can survive the heat of the summer.
Part 1
Part 1 of 3:Incorporating Hydrating Foods
1Go for cucumbers. Focusing on hydrating foods during the summer can help you stay hydrated during those hot days. Cucumbers in particular are a great vegetable that contain a lot of water to help you stay cool.[1] X Research source
- Cucumbers are about 95% water. Just one cup of sliced cucumbers will give you as much water as an 8 oz glass of water. Remember that water from food counts toward your overall daily fluid intake.
- Keep cucumbers raw during the summer. Once you cook cucumbers (or any vegetable), a lot of the moisture and water seeps out.
- You can use cucumbers in a variety of ways during the summer. You can slice cucumbers to make infused water, eat them raw with your favorite dip, make a creamy cucumber salad or even make chilled cucumber soup.
2Mix in mint. Mint is an herb that can also help provide some refreshing coolness during the summer heat. Although this leafy plant doesn't provide a lot of moisture, it does give you a sense of coolness when you eat it.[2] X Research source
- Eating mint tricks our brains into feeling a cold sensation (even when the mint isn't actually cold). Methanol is the compound in mint responsible for attaching to nerve receptors in our mouth that sense coldness.
- Mint also helps satiate thirst. Together with a cold beverage (like chilled cucumber-infused water), mint can help ease thirst and satisfy your thirst much faster than room temperature water. A great tip for summer.
- Since you may not want to eat mint plain, try mixing it with other foods. You can add mint to infused waters, toss chopped mint with fruit salad, or mix chopped mint into a cold bean and beet salad.
3Try dark greens. Like cucumbers, dark greens and lettuce are also extremely hydrating as they have a high water content.[3] X Research source In addition, these crunchy greens need little or no cooking and can be eaten raw which is perfect for a hot summer day.
- Any type of lettuce (like iceberg or cabbage) or dark green (like spinach or kale) will have a high water content. In general, greens are about 93% (and sometimes more) water.
- If you're going for some lettuce, try to pick some of the darker greens. These are high in nutrients like Vitamin C, Vitamin K and Vitamin A compared to those lighter greens like iceberg lettuce.
- Lettuce and dark greens go perfectly into a summer salad. However, you can also use lettuce as a sandwich wrap instead of bread or a tortilla. Toss greens like spinach or kale into a frozen smoothie.
4Crunch on celery. It's not surprising that spicy chicken wings are served with celery. This stalk is super high in water and can help cool down your mouth quickly. It's also a great vegetable to help tame acid reflux.[4] X Research source
- When you bite into celery, you might notice how juicy this vegetable is. That's because celery is over 95% water.
- Celery has gotten a reputation over the years that it doesn't contain many nutrients. However, this crunchy veggie actually has a decent amount of fiber, folate, vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin K.
- Serve sliced and cleaned celery stalks with sliced cucumbers and your favorite dip for a super hydrating snack. You can also make a raw celery salad or make a celery salsa to serve with chips.
5Eat yogurt. You might only think of vegetables and fruits as a source of hydrating fluids; however dairy products like yogurt (and even milk) are an unlikely but great source of water.[5] X Research source
- Whether you choose greek or regular yogurt, this creamy dairy treat contains about 85% water.
- In addition, yogurt is a great source of protein, electrolytes, calcium and Vitamin D. It's also a great summer food because it's eaten cold straight from the refrigerator.
- Besides eating yogurt plain right from the container, you can try topping it with frozen fruit (for an extra cold hit), pureeing it with frozen fruit and freezing into popsicles, or making frozen yogurt.
Part 2
Part 2 of 3:Planning Meals in the Summer
1Take advantage of summer fruits. Summer is a time when there are a ton of fruits in season. You can avoid buying canned or frozen fruit and purchase fresh and local fruit (sometimes at a cheaper price).
- Fruits are not only a healthy and nutritious food group (they're known to be high in fiber, vitamins and antioxidants), but many fruits are also very hydrating and contain a higher water content.[6] X Trustworthy Source USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion U.S. agency responsible for promoting good nutrition based on scientific research Go to source
- Fruits like watermelon, grapefruit, peaches and berries are all known to be high in water and can help cool you down and keep you hydrated during the hot summer months.[7] X Research source
- Incorporate one to two servings of hydrating summer fruits each day. Measure out about 1/2 cup or one small piece per serving.
- Eat fruit raw or sliced into fruit salads, toss sliced berries into a spinach salad or puree into a breakfast smoothie or homemade sorbet.
2Include a variety of summer vegetables. Like fruit, summer offers a whole host of in season vegetables. Whether it's lettuce, tomatoes or cucumbers, summer's vegetable harvest provides easy foods to incorporate into your diet to beat the summer heat.
- The great thing about summer vegetables are that they're a little cheaper in price and you don't always need to cook them for long periods of time. Many are great raw or only lightly or quickly cooked.
- Incorporate summer vegetables into your barbecues. You can put vegetables like sliced zucchini, asparagus, peppers, mushrooms right onto a hot grill and serve them up as a delicious, nutritious side. Or you can toss the vegetables in a little olive oil and seal them in an aluminum foil packet and roast them on the grill.
- Eat three to four servings of hydrating summer vegetables daily. Aim for 1 cup of vegetables and 2 cups of salad greens per serving.[8] X Trustworthy Source USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion U.S. agency responsible for promoting good nutrition based on scientific research Go to source Try recipes like: a raw tomato, cucumber and onion salad, a caprese salad with sliced raw tomatoes, mozzarella and basil or a cold pasta salad tossed with onions, black olives, peppers and cucumbers.
3Plan a spicy meal. You might not think that eating spicy food would be ideal on a hot summer day; however, many scientist say that eating spicy food is actually the perfect thing for a hot summer day.
- Studies have shown that when you eat hot or spicy foods, initially it makes you feel hot; however, after a few minutes you begin to sweat around the top the of your head, ears, neck and face. This is called gustatory sweating. [9] X Research source
- Sweating is the way your body cools itself down naturally. So even though initially you may feel like your mouth is hot, it'll eventually cool you down quite nicely. This is especially true if you're in front of a fan or out in a breeze as you feel particularly cool once air blows on your damp skin.
- Spicy foods that are perfect for a hot summer day include: chips and salsa, spicy chilled gazpacho or a spicy cucumber salad.
4Drink adequate fluids. Although there are many different types of foods and combinations of foods that can help you beat the summer heat and cool you down, it's also important to focus on the fluid you're drinking during hot days.
- Most people need a minimum of eight glasses of hydrating fluids each day; however, during the hot summer months, you may need 13 glasses or more depending on how much you're sweating.[10] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
- Drinking continuously throughout the day in addition to eating hydrating fruits and vegetables is the best way to keep yourself hydrated and your thirst satiated during those hot summer days.
- Go for fluids that hydrate you with little or no calories as these are the most nutritious as well. Go for plain or infused water, sparkling water, flavored water, decaf iced tea or coffee. You may even want to try milk as this dairy food also has a high water content.
- Skip the alcohol. Although summer margaritas or beers are tasty, alcohol dehydrates you very quickly. Keep your consumption in check during those super hot days.
- You should also limit your consumption of sweetened beverages, such as lemonade, juice, soda, fruit punch, cold specialty coffee drinks, and sweet tea. The sugar in these drinks makes them high in calories, and if you're gulping them down when you're hot, you may be racking up your calorie count without even realizing it.
5Plan the right time of day to eat. Although summers can be overly hot and humid, there are certain times of the day when things cool off . You might want to schedule bigger meals or meals with hot, cooked food during those times.
- Many times you may not feel like eating a big meal when you're hot. Think about other times during the day that are cooler that would make eating more enjoyable.
- Usually it's significantly cooler in the morning. Consider eating a bigger breakfast so you can stick with small, light lunches during the heat of the day.
- Evenings are also cooler. You may be able to eat more and feel more comfortable eating when the sun has already set.
- You may also find it easier to have smaller meals or snacks during the day. Sometimes when you have a large meal, you'll feel overheated. Instead, go for four to six small meals during the day.
Part 3
Part 3 of 3:Cooking During the Summer Heat
1Heat up the outdoor grill. Grilling is a common summer cooking method. The weather is nice, the sun is out and you can enjoy eating your foods outside as well.
- Although grilling is a very high-heat method of cooking, if you're using an outdoor grill, the heat can dissipate into the air around you.
- Indoor grill pans or grill tops may heat up your whole kitchen, making your home much warmer. These still require you to heat up your stove top to a high heat level in order to cook foods thoroughly.
- Grilling allows you to cook just about every type of dish or food that you'd want without having to turn on your oven. You can do a whole chicken, make burgers, grill vegetables, make baked potatoes or even make sweet desserts like baked apples — all without turning on the stove or oven.
2Use the stove top. If you don't have the luxury of an outside grill, you'll still need to use your stove to cook foods indoors. Skip the oven and only use your stove top to make any cooked foods.
- You may notice a slight increase in your kitchen temperature when using the stove top, but it will be significantly less than if you turned on the oven and decided to roast a whole chicken or bake potatoes.
- Avoid baking or roasting foods. These cooking methods require your oven to heat up and stay hot for extended periods of time. This can make your house or apartment warm and more difficult to cool down.
- To speed up cooking time on the stove top so you can minimize how much you heat up the kitchen, try: slicing foods into smaller pieces, using thinner or smaller cuts of meat or poultry, and covering your pan or pot to trap the heat inside.
3Go for chilled foods and those that don't require any cooking. If you can, try to focus on foods and meals that are served cold or don't require any cooking (or very little cooking). This can help keep you and your home cooler during the hot summer months.
- Try sticking to foods and recipes that don't require you to turn on the oven or only need a quick cooking session on the stove top. This can help reduce the heat dissipated into your kitchen.
- Chilled foods can include: cold salads (tuna salad, chicken salad); green salads; cold vegetable salads (three bean salad, beet salad); chilled soups; and yogurt/cottage cheese with berries.
- Also try to make meals that require little to no cooking. You can make sandwiches, scrambled eggs on toast, grilled chicken or steak over a salad, chilled soba noodle salad with raw vegetables, cheese and crackers with deli meat, or a poached egg over a spinach salad.
4Keep your kitchen cool. Try to figure out a good method of keeping your kitchen cool in the summer as well. This will help you prepare meals during those hot summer months without getting too hot.
- If you have windows in your kitchen, keep them open for ventilation. You might want to try to opening windows on opposite sides of the kitchen or house to get a cross draft.
- Try using a portable fan to keep hot air moving through the kitchen. You can align it so it points toward a window or pushes hot air out of the kitchen area.
- Also, if you do need to use the oven to bake or roast something, try doing it early in the morning when the temperature is the most cool. This will help prevent heating up the kitchen in the middle of a hot day.[11] X Research source
Expert Q&A
Although the summer is hot, take advantage of all the fresh fruits and vegetables that are available. These usually need very little cooking.
Regardless of what types of foods you're craving during the summer, always make sure you are drinking adequate fluids.
Save cooking for the outside grill or fire pit. This will help your house stay cool during the summer.
- ↑ http://www.eatingwell.com/nutrition_health/nutrition_news_information/7_refreshing_foods_to_help_you_stay_hydrated?page=2
- ↑ http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2014/12/19/371462345/how-peppermint-tricks-us-into-feeling-deliciously-cold
- ↑ http://www.healthline.com/health-slideshow/hydrating-foods#7
- ↑ http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20709014_4,00.html
- ↑ http://www.womenshealthmag.com/food/foods-that-keep-you-hydrated
- ↑ http://www.choosemyplate.gov/fruit
- ↑ http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20709014,00.html
- ↑ http://www.choosemyplate.gov/vegetables
- ↑ http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=9270
About This Article
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Wheely 5: Armageddon
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Wheely 5: Armageddon
Play a new point and click adventure game featuring a red car Wheely – Wheely 5: Armageddon. This time Wheely is a family man, so one of his duty is to mow the lawn of his house, but his lawn mower suddenly broke down after hitting a large meteorite.
Now Wheely need your help to fix his lawn mower and save the world. Enjoy on 9FishGames.com
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subset: commoncrawl


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A Nebraska Wesleyan political science professor has been honored with the university's top teaching award.
Kelly Clancy, assistant professor of political science, has been awarded the Margaret J. Prouty Faculty Teaching Award. The award recognizes and rewards faculty for the pursuit of excellence in teaching and who has made a distinct difference in the intellectual lives of students.
"Kelly Clancy is truly an exemplary teacher and an outstanding professor," said a student nominator. "The most crucial part of teaching is putting the needs of the student before your own. Kelly feels with her students. She is able to relate and can emotionally connect herself with our situation yet maintain our professional relationship."
Clancy came to NWU in fall 2015. Her research focuses on questions of social justice and the politics of protest. She teaches classes in minority politics, politics of Europe, democratization, global politics among others.
In her nearly four years at Nebraska Wesleyan, Clancy has been awarded the Advocate for Diversity Award for restructuring her minority politics class into a discourse instructive class to include cultural conversations and issue dialogues. She has accompanied students to Montgomery, Ala., for a justice summit held in conjunction with the opening of the National Memorial for Peace and Justice. She's participated in student-faculty collaborative research that has taken students to Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
In May, Clancy was selected as one of 10 faculty in the country to be named a Nancy Weiss Malkiel Scholar. The award, funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, is given to junior faculty whose research focuses on American history, politics, culture and society, and who are committed to the creation of an inclusive campus community for underrepresented students and scholars.
"She is as wise as she is kind, and she is what makes Nebraska Wesleyan shine," said a nominator. "She is what makes me strive as a student, and she deserves the award."
Previous winners of the Prouty Teaching Award include:
- Jonathan Redding, religion, 2017-18
- John Spilker, music, 2016-2017
- Tamra Llewellyn, health and human performance, 2015-2016
- Angela McKinney, biology, 2014-2015
- David Gracie, art, 2013-2014


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Sevyn Streeter Sings National Anthem Wearing 'We Matter' Jersey
Sevyn Streeter had a "full circle moment" on Friday (Dec. 16), when she performed the national anthem for the Philadelphia 76ers.
Nearly two months after her performance was canceled after she attempted to wear a "We Matter" jersey, Sevyn returned with the jersey on to deliver "The Star-Spangled Banner."
With images of the flag waving above her, Sevyn belted out the song before the 6ers took on the Los Angeles Lakers. L.A. would win the match-up 100-89. But prior to the performance, Sevyn reflected on the moment and what it meant.
"I'm really excited," she said. "I'm feeling great. I'm happy that we were able to turn an unfortunate situation into something positive. I'm singing the anthem tonight. I'm wearing my 'We Matter' jersey. I was just able to play with kids from the Boys & Girls Club…I feel awesome."
Sevyn also explained why her jersey and nod to the Black Lives Matter movement shouldn't have been controversial in the first place. "I think that me saying 'We Matter' and me singing the anthem, there's no conflict in the two for me," said Streeter. "I love my country. When you love something so much, you just want it to be better."
On Instagram, Sevyn shared a video of the performance, calling it a "Full Circle Moment."
Back in October, Streeter revealed disappointment with the way she was treated by the 76ers. "I'd say two minutes before we were about to walk out … the organization told me that I could not wear my shirt while singing the national anthem at their game," she said. "I was never given any kind of dress code. I was never asked beforehand to show my wardrobe."
The organization would later apologize for the move. "We are sorry that this happened," the team said in a statement. "After receiving feedback from our players, basketball operations staff and ownership group, we believe that the wrong decision was made, and Sevyn should have been welcomed to sing. We apologize to her."


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The Woman Who Lost Her Head
"This woman is the national nightmare. At the first scent of victory she walks out on her war job, walks into the shops. She buys by the dozen, yawns at inflation, thinks she's pretty coony to stock up while the going is good.
Multiplied by the thousands, she is draining the shops, cornering merchandise needed by others, shooting up prices, paving the way for postwar breadlines. She is the disgrace, the despair of America - this hit and run shopper, this selfish, complacent little woman who has lost her head."
The Woman Who Lost Her Head
Photogrphy: Herbert Matter
Harper's Bazaar September 1943


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The Latest: Police: 3 in custody in pregnant woman's slaying
CHICAGO (AP) — The Latest on (all times local):
8:55 a.m.
A Chicago police spokesman says a baby isn't expected to survive after being ripped from his mother's womb after she was strangled.
Anthony Guglielmi says three people are in custody and charges including murder are pending.
Authorities say the woman, 19-year-old Marlen Ochoa-Uriostegui, had gone to a Chicago home in response to a Facebook offer of free clothes.
The nine-months-pregnant Ochoa-Uriostegui was last seen leaving a high school on April 23. That was the same day paramedics were called to the home on the Southwest Side about a newborn with problems breathing.
Guglielmi is calling it an "unspeakable act of violence."
This story has been corrected to reflect the baby as a boy.
6:40 p.m.
A body found behind a home on Chicago's Southwest Side has been identified as that of a 19-year-old pregnant woman who disappeared last month.
The Cook County medical examiner's office says the body of Marlen Ochoa-Uriostegui was discovered after several people were taken into custody at the home. No charges against those in custody have been announced.
The medical examiner announced Wednesday Ochoa-Uriostegui died of ligature strangulation, and her death is considered a homicide.
Ochoa-Uriostegui was nine months pregnant when she disappeared April 23 after leaving her high school. Authorities haven't said a body of an infant has been found.
However, Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Merritt tells the Chicago Tribune paramedics were called to the home for a newborn with problems breathing on the same day the woman disappeared.


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- St Michael's College's cast of The Laramie Project
Vermonters who attend performances of The Laramie Project at St. Michael's College will likely be horrified anew by this dramatization of the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard, a young gay man. But even in what Director Peter Harrigan calls "little lefty Vermont," the play raises disconcerting questions about local homophobia and its potential consequences.
"You might go to the show thinking it's an indictment of Wyoming, but you might come away with the realization that hate is present in every community — that it just escalated in Laramie," Harrigan says.
Shepard was a 22-year-old student at the University of Wyoming in Laramie when he was severely beaten by two men, allegedly because of his sexual orientation. He was left tied to a fence until discovered by a passerby 18 hours later. Shepard died of head injuries on October 12, 1998, and his two assailants were subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder.
Moisés Kaufman, the son of a Holocaust survivor, wrote The Laramie Project with other members of his New York-based Tectonic Theater Project. It's presented in a documentary style based on news reports and interviews conducted by the troupe in Wyoming. The play premiered in 2000 and has since been performed in theaters and schools all over the country; Kaufman wrote a book, also called The Laramie Project, detailing the interviewers' experiences in Wyoming. HBO commissioned a video version of the play in 2002. (Kaufman was nominated for a Tony Award for his directing debut, of I Am My Own Wife, in 2004.)
Harrigan, a theater professor at St. Michael's, says the current staging of The Laramie Project grew out of his interest in "plays that tell stories about divisive issues." For the students involved in the production, he suggests, the play "can go beyond being a line on a resume and become an experience that can shape their entire lives."
The show may have special resonance for the half-dozen or so actors who are also gay. The full cast consists of 16 student performers in a total of 32 roles.
"It's very empowering for me," says Kyle McElheney, a sophomore who plays four characters in The Laramie Project. "I also feel completely drained after a rehearsal because the show has so much emotional power and personal meaning."
The murder of Matthew Shepard has even more immediacy for cast member Josh Bardier. He transferred to St. Michael's this year from Providence College after being beaten by three men who called him "a fag who deserves to die," he recounts. Bardier was hospitalized with jaw injuries following this attack, which occurred in downtown Providence as he was walking back to his dorm.
To Bardier, a particular strength of The Laramie Project is that "it shows something like this can happen anywhere at any time. I never thought I'd be the one it happened to," he says, "but it only takes a single person acting on hate."
Burlington itself is hardly free of homophobic hatred, Harrigan notes. Two weeks ago, the entrance to the Hunt Middle School in the New North End was spray-painted with antigay slurs and a swastika. And R.U.1.2?, Burlington's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community center, has been the target of several acts of vandalism this year, Harrigan points out. He warns that bias of this kind could metastasize and take on even more aggressive forms in the coming months as the Vermont Legislature addresses the issue of gay marriage.
Harrigan has direct experience with Vermonters' attitudes on such matters. He and his partner, Stan Baker, were among the three same-sex couples who initiated the 1997 lawsuit that culminated in the legalization of civil unions. Vermont was the first state in the country to extend that right to gays and lesbians.
Harrigan recalls those events with a mixture of pride and dismay. The debate revealed deep-rooted and widespread prejudices that continue to fester, he says, though Vermont's tradition of tolerance ultimately prevailed — in the Statehouse, at least.
Harrigan believes that ethic of acceptance makes it less likely that a Matthew Shepard-like murder would happen here. But the odds against such an occurrence would be even greater, he says, if well-intentioned Vermonters learn from The Laramie Project that more must be done to combat antigay sentiment in the state. The play may inspire audience members to ask, "Are they writing letters to the editor, voting in every election, donating time and money to organizations that need help in this area?" Harrigan posits.
Tracey Tsugawa, a civil-rights investigator for the Vermont Human Rights Commission, emphasizes the importance of outspoken advocacy. Antigay epithets are common in schools around the state and must not be left unchallenged, she says.
"Remaining silent when something like that happens will give permission for the small minority to ratchet it up to the next level. If you don't intervene in time," Tsugawa adds, "you do get to a situation that can lead to a Matthew Shepard murder."
Seeing The Laramie Project at the McCarthy Arts Center could make a decisive difference for some audience members. "The 18-year-olds here probably wouldn't have been watching the news in 1998," Harrigan notes. "It's particularly important to tell the Matthew Shepard story to them."
The play is sure to spark "communication and conversation, which are always good things," Bardier says. "Maybe it will make some people think what they're saying when they call someone a homo or a dyke, or when they say, 'Oh, that's so gay.'"
As an institution, St. Michael's takes a strong stand against homophobic bias, Harrigan notes. Even though the Catholic Church regards homosexual acts as sinful, administrators at this Catholic college — including members of its founding Edmundite order — "have on a number of occasions expressed support for gay and lesbian professors and staff," he says. And while The Laramie Project does depict religion "in a harsh light," Harrigan adds, "one of the most compassionate characters is a Catholic priest."
McElheney, 19, agrees that St. Michael's practices what it teaches regarding tolerance. He notes that the student government was "110 percent supportive" of his effort earlier this year to strengthen the gay-straight group on campus, formerly known as Ally. Now called Common Ground, the organization has added several active members, McElheney says.
Describing himself as a practicing Catholic, McElheney says he has little trouble integrating his religious beliefs and his sexual orientation. "Homosexuality isn't an everyday topic in the Church," he says. "It's not like you're going to Mass and they're saying that gays are going to hell."
Although Bardier says he no longer considers himself a Catholic, he offers a similar perspective. "A loving God is one who accepts all his children," he says. His two months at St. Michael's, Bardier adds, represent "the first time in my life I've felt truly at home."
Broadening the scope, Harrigan says that "straight America" generally seems more accepting of lesbians and gays today than at the time of Shepard's murder. "Certainly you can see this in the entertainment media," he says.
Additional evidence includes passage this year by both the U.S. House and Senate of a bill extending federal prosecutions for hate crimes to include acts based on a victim's actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or disability. Known as the Matthew Shepard Act, the bill may not become law, however: President George W. Bush has threatened a veto on the grounds that the legislation is "unnecessary."


text: Associated Press Writer A suspicious fire broke out in a three-story house early Sunday as a college student's 21st birthday party was breaking up, killing five students and injuring three others, authorities said. One of the injured, a 20-year-old man, was in critical condition with burns and smoke inhalation, officials said. Arson and homicide investigators were at the student-rented house near Ohio State University, and police were investigating reports that a fight had started before the fast-moving fire ignited, said police Sgt. Dana Norman. "The cause has been ruled suspicious," Fire Department spokeswoman Kelly McGuire said. Party guest Richie Delmont, an Ohio State junior, said the argument started after another guest tried to lift a refrigerator on a dare and one of the residents told him to stop. He said the confrontation did not get physical. The house is about a block from campus in a neighborhood of older homes popular with students. About 80 people had been at the party, and 10 to 20 were still inside when the fire started around 4 a.m. in the front of the house, Norman said. Firefighters found two men and three women dead inside; the women were Ohio University students and the men attended Ohio State, police said. It appeared some had been sleeping when the fire began, Norman said. Drinking could have been a factor in the deaths and injuries, Norman said. "The smoke and gases from the fire are extremely deadly and when you're drunk or have been drinking that also contributes to slowing down your reaction time," he said. Autopsies were planned Monday, but Franklin County coroner Dr. Brad Lewis said the victims appeared to have died from smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning. He did not release their names Sunday evening pending notification of relatives. University President Karen Holbrook spoke with investigators outside the house after a private briefing with fire and police officials earlier in the day. "We are clearly a community in mourning," Holbrook said. Of the 12 Ohio State students who lived in the house, 10 had been located alive, said one of the residents, Zack Randol, 21, a sophomore from New York who said he wasn't home at the time of the fire. He said the party was to celebrate the 21st birthday of one of his roommates. "This is the worst thing that could happen," Randol said. Jennifer Lehren said she and her boyfriend had been asleep in his bedroom at the back of the house on the second floor, and she woke up while firefighters were carrying the two of them to safety. "I didn't know what was going on until I was outside," said Lehren, 20. "I remember screaming that it was so hot and that my hair was on fire." Lehren was treated for burns on her hands and released. Her boyfriend, Josh Patterson, 20, was in critical condition with minor burns and smoke inhalation. About a dozen students who said they knew the men who lived in the house gathered on a nearby street corner Sunday afternoon. "They're not wild. They don't have people over who would do this. They don't have enemies. They're not those kind of guys," said Tomomi Ono, 19. She said there were four kegs and at least a dozen cases of beer at the party.


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Marketing Jobs
This is the first week we've seen the new jobs listing come out at Howard University. A very nice group of marketing jobs available to Howard students, as well as other qualified marketing individuals. Howard students interested in marketing jobs should register with CPD. Others interested in these jobs should contact the company directly.
Looks like social media marketing is still a powerful need among companies. If you'd like to learn more about social media marketing, please sign up for our email newsletter.
Internships & Part Time Jobs
Corporate Relations Intern
Digital Media Intern
Development & MarketingIntern
Customer Business Development (Sales) 2013 Summer Internship
Associate, Relationship Management Team
Business Development Intern
Jane Carter Solution On Campus Brand Ambassador
Retail Account Management Intern
PBS Fall Internship
Facebook Public Policy Externship
Sales Summer Associate
Video/Audio/ Writing/Social Media @
Marketing Associate
Communication and Training Internship
Full-Time Marketing Job Opportunities
Senior Public Relations Assistant
Marketing Specialist
Social Media Intern
Associate Business Development Consultant
Marketing Retail Management Program
Gap Inc.Deadline: 9/19/2012


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Zeus Slot Game Review
Zeus slot game is one of the free slot machine games that you have available by just a click. It was developed by WMS, a wonderful slot developer that has been around for some years and knows how to create great games. You have incredible things to expect from this slot. The rules are very simple, and you will understand how to play it simply.
You have a lot of symbols on this slot, the ones that depict Zeus and also other Gods. You have Zeus and Pegasus, a harp, a shield, a wreath and many others. You have to match 3 to 5 symbols to make a winning combination and win some money. The wild symbol will replace other symbols, which can create even more winning combinations and reward you with a better payout. Then you have the scatter symbols, which is also the free spins one. That is the Zeus one, with a thunderbolt on his hand. When 3 or more of the feature symbols are on the reels, then the free spins are triggered, and they can't be triggered after that, which is something that many players don't like.
There is the possibility of winning up to 100 free spins on the Zeus slot game because you're able to trigger these when you only have 3 scatters on the reels. Playing free spins is something that can make a difference on the payout since you can be rewarded even a higher payout. Getting 3 scatters on the reels reward you with 10 free spins, 4 with 25 free spins and 5 give you 100 of these free spins. Of course, getting 100 free spins isn't easy as it may sound. You can be rewarded with, at least, 25 free spins.
You can play Zeus game slot on your mobile smartphone or tablet, which is an incredible advantage, something that gives you an advantage over others slots that are available on casinos, especially free slot machine games. This is very important because many players travel a lot and it's great to be able to have this slot available for mobile devices, whether they are iOS or Android, it doesn't matter. You can enjoy the Zeus game slot without the need to play with real money, which is perfect for those people who don't have a lot of money or just don't want to spend any.


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Everyone is Losing Their Sh*t Over Poor Ahmed the Clock Kid
It's official, everyone has lost their shit over poor Ahmed Mohamed — the 14-year-old child who was arrested after a homemade clock he brought to school was mistaken for a hoax bomb.
The prize for the worst reaction to Ahmed's arrest predictably came from the right. Here was Mama Grizzly Sarah Palin's nuanced thoughts on Ahmed's clock:
Friends, consider the kids disciplined and/or kicked out of school for bringing squirt guns to school or taking bites out of a pop tart until it resembled (to some politically correct yahoo) a gun. Or the student out deer hunting with his dad early one morning who forgot he had a box of ammo in his truck when he parked in the school's lot later that day. Kids humiliated and intimidated for innocent actions like those real examples are often marked the rest of their lives and made to feel really rotten. Whereas Ahmed Muhammad, an evidently obstinate-answering student bringing in a homemade "clock" that obviously could be seen by conscientious teachers as a dangerous wired-up bomb-looking contraption (teachers who are told "if you see something, say something!") gets invited to the White House....believing that's a clock in a school pencil box is like believing Barack Obama is ruling over the most transparent administration in history. Right. That's a clock, and I'm the Queen of England.
Firstly, if anyone can enlighten the public as to what an 'obstinate-answering student' is, please accept a cash prize from us. Palin's limited grasp of the English language aside, her inference that the clock Ahmed brought into school wasn't actually a clock can be translated into an accusation of actual terrorism. Palin labeled Ahmed's reported evasiveness when being questioned as 'suspicious' - a weighty allegation based on absolutely nothing whatsoever. Ahmed is a 14 year-old science nerd who was excited about bringing his invention to school. Being interrogated by staff and the police on threats of terrorism would inevitably create a degree of nervousness and defensiveness. Again, Ahmed is 14 years old - a fact Palin is ignoring in light of his funny sounding name and dark colored skin (and yes, this is a direct accusation of xenophobia and racism).
Equally as comical was Gawker's Sam Biddle's reaction to the clock fiasco. As is oft the case with the snarling libertarian left, every news topic presents an opportunity to insert unbridled outrage about drones, the NSA and Ed Snowden. In response to Obama inviting Ahmed to the White House, Biddle wrote in an article titled "Obama's Drone Program Probably Would Have Killed Ahmed the Clock Kid":
Obama's state-of-the-art, hyper-secret robotic killing machine exercises even less judgment than the most bigoted schoolteacher or Texas cop, and has killed kids like Ahmed across the world. Signature strikes are the ne plus ultra of modern guilt presumption, permitting the assassination of people based on the supposition that they've done something bad, or will do something bad, or the mere appearance of suspicious behavior and association. When your job is to stare down from 10,000 feet with a missile trigger, the entire world looks suspicious. Obama is absolutely right when he tweets "We should inspire more kids like you to like science" because "it's what makes America great." But for the president to oppose baseless profiling at home while commanding the most brazen extrajudicial, evidence-free assassination squad in history should make your head hurt. We should also aspire to kill fewer kids like Ahmed. It would make America greater.
One doesn't have to support drone strikes to see that this has absolutely nothing to do with Obama's support of Ahmed in the face of overt discrimination. It's fine to oppose Obama's drone policy in the Middle East, but what the fuck does it have to do with Ahmed's clock?
Richard Dawkins also jumped in on the controversy with the sensitivity of a leprosy ridden elephant, tweeting out the following attack on poor Ahmed:
Then, there was Bill Maher who attempted to defend Ahmed's profiling because young Muslim men "blow shit up all over the world."
For the love of God, Ahmed is 14 fucking years old. Can everyone just leave him alone?


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stif'-nekt (qesheh `oreph, literally, "hard of neck"): As it is figuratively used, both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament, the word means "stubborn," "untractable," "not to be led." The derivation of the idea was entirely familiar to the Jews, with whom the ox was the most useful and common of domestic animals. It was especially used for such agricultural purposes as harrowing and plowing (Jg 14:18; 1Co 9:9).
⇒See a list of verses on STIFF-NECKED in the Bible.
The plow was usually drawn by two oxen. As the plowman required but one hand to guide the plow, he carried in the other an "ox-goad." This was a light pole, shod with an iron spike. With this he would prick the oxen upon the hind legs to increase their speed, and upon the neck to turn, or to keep a straight course when deviating. If an ox was hard to control or stubborn, it was "hard of neck," or stiff-necked. Hence, the figure was used in the Scriptures to express the stubborn, untractable spirit of a people not responsive to the guiding of their God (Ex 32:9; 33:3; De 9:6; 2Ch 36:13; Jer 17:23, etc.). See also the New Testament where sklerotrachelos, is so translated (Ac 7:51), "Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Spirit.". Compare Baruch 2:30,33.
Arthur Walwyn Evans


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About this paper
Pharma firms have resisted technology-driven predictive marketing mix analysis even though those systems are being used successfully by their peers in other industries. But why? SAS and Pharmaceutical Executive commissioned Strategic Market Research to conduct confidential telephone depth interviews with senior pharma marketing executives to find out why there is a gap between the perceived need for marketing mix predictive analytics and use of the latest technology available to do that kind of analysis.
About SAS
SAS is the leader in analytics. Through innovative software and services, SAS empowers and inspires customers around the world to transform data into intelligence. SAS gives you THE POWER TO KNOW®.
Έχετε προφίλ SAS; Για να ολοκληρώσετε τη φόρμα αυτόματα Σύνδεση
Καλώς Ήρθες, . Επεξεργασία Προφίλ Αποσύνδεση


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Murray Edwards College is celebrating receiving a Three Star Campus Rating for the third time, following an in-depth audit of the standard of en suite accommodation it provides for conference delegates and B&B guests.
The College was awarded the accolade from VisitEngland, the country's national tourist board, for the facilities and services on offer in its bedrooms and bathrooms, as well as public areas such as Reception and the Dining Room.
The audit included assessment of a wide range of different aspects of the accommodation – from decorative order through to the choice of refreshments on offer.
This year's Quality in Tourism report highlighted the College's quiet location yet with excellent transport links to the city centre, its well-tended gardens with sculptures and the on-site parking which was considered a significant benefit given the high parking charges in Cambridge.
The assessor also mentioned positive first impressions created by unusual potted plants at the main front entrance, clear signage to the Porters' Lodge reception and the new Pocket Guide, given to guests on arrival, which provides helpful College information as well as details of local attractions to see during your stay.
The resident New Hall Art Collection – the second largest collection of works by female artists in the world – continues to be a unique and impressive feature which guests have also identified as adding 'significant value' to their stay.
Freya Vaughan, Marketing & Events Officer said: "We were so pleased to receive our Three Star Campus Rating once again this year which is an important official endorsement of the high standard of our accommodation.
"Our repeated success reflects a number of enhancements we have made to our facilities since the last audit, including co-ordinated throws and cushions in our rooms and the addition of large New Hall Art Collection Posters featuring a selection of the artworks to create a more welcoming feel.
"One thing the assessor made clear was that cleanliness is the most crucial element of any audit and our excellent housekeeping department ensured we scored very highly here, with words such as 'pristine' and 'immaculate' used in the report."
Quality in Tourism is the assessment service for VisitEngland. Its Campus Accreditation is specifically for university or college accommodation and ratings are awarded on a scale of One to Five Stars.
Celebrating success at Murray Edwards College, left Chris Pope, General Manager Conferences, Catering and Residences with Freya Vaughan, Marketing & Events Officer.


text: Hi, folks. As has probably been obvious to most of you, I've been really busy with my O'Reilly day job and haven't had time to attend to Perl 6 and Parrot business. With no prompting, Allison Randal stepped forward and has been taking on more and more of the day-to-day running of the show. I'm so impressed with how she's been doing that I'm officially stepping down and handing the reins to her. Best of luck to all! NatThread Next


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http://mmajunkie.com A lightweight bout between George Sotiropoulos (13-2 MMA, 6-0 UFC) and Joe Lauzon (19-5 MMA, 6-2 UFC) has been verbally agreed to by both fighters for UFC 123, MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) has learned from sources close to the event.
Although not officially announced by the organization, UFC 123 takes place Nov. 20 at the The Palace of Auburn Hills in the Detroit suburb of Auburn Hills, Mich.
A source told MMAjunkie.com a victory could earn Sotiropoulos a title shot.
Sotiropoulos vs. Lauzon will be part of the night's pay-per-view main card.
Sotiropoulos, a cast member on "The Ultimate Fighter 6" who recently defeated Kurt Pellegrino, carries a six-fight UFC win streak (and overall seven-fight win streak) into UFC 123. And though multiple sources told MMAjunkie.com that the UFC tentatively is planning a February return to Sotiropoulos' home country of Australia, a potential title shot may not come there.
Current champ Frankie Edgar next fights Gray Maynard, and the bout could take place Jan. 1 at UFC 125 in Las Vegas. That'd give the winner a little more than a month to heal and prepare for the Australia event, which makes a title fight there unlikely.
Besides, getting past Lauzon is going to be no easy feat for Sotiropoulos. The "TUF 5" cast member has dealt with injuries in recent years but recently came into a UFC 118 bout with Gabe Ruediger in good health. And it made a difference; Lauzon simply overwhelmed and battered Ruediger for a dominating and eventual first-round submission victory. It marked the "TUF 5" cast member's third win in his past four fights, which included stoppage victories over Jeremy Stephens and Kyle Bradley.
If victorious, Lauzon would move to 4-1 since late 2008 and could be close to a title shot of his own.
For additional coverage of UFC 123, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.
(Pictured: George Sotiropoulos)


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Watchmakers' price cuts are a sign of the times
As record-breaking years go, 2013 was a somewhat downbeat one for Switzerland's watchmakers. Although exports hit an all-time high, at SFr21.8bn ($24.8bn), they were just 1.9 per cent above the level achieved in 2012.
For an industry used to double-digit growth, the slowdown was something of a shock.
So it is no surprise that as members of the industry gather in Switzerland at the annual Baselworld trade fair, which opens in the city on the French-German border on Thursday, there is more than a little caution in the air.
"I think it will be a difficult year," says Michele Sofisti, who doubles as head of Gucci's watches division and chief executive of Sowind Group, the Swiss haute horlogerie company that owns the Girard Perregaux and JeanRichard brands.
"Of course, things can improve; it depends on the world economy. But I'm not sure when the turnround will come. I think there is quite a lot of inventory out there."
Analysts agree. "Market expectations for Baselworld will be prudent this year," says Thomas Chauvet, luxury goods analyst at Citigroup. "The mood is unlikely to be bullish after a disappointing 2013 performance for the Swiss watch industry."
A sign of this caution is that a number of brands are considering cutting prices in 2014 – a noteworthy change of direction in an industry that has seemed able to raise them almost at will in recent years.
"There has been a change," comments Jean-Frédéric Dufour, chief executive of Zenith, one of LVMH's stable of brands.
"Lots of watchmakers are pulling prices down a bit to make sure they are competitive. This trend was already there [at SIHH] in Geneva, and I can imagine that Baselworld will confirm it."
Mr Sofisti takes a similar line. "I think this will be a year in which everyone pays very close attention to price, to ensure that customers are getting very good quality for their money. The years when you could put any price on a product are over," he says.
Even watchmakers that are not overtly cutting prices are reviewing the balance in their collections between more and less expensive watches.
"We are changing our mix," concedes Stéphane Linder, who took over as chief executive at TAG Heuer, another LVMH brand, last summer.
"For example, if we have a collection of watches with prices ranging from €1,000 up to €6,000, we might now have more watches close to the lower end than we had in the past."
This mood of caution is also likely to be reflected in the types of timepieces that shimmer behind Basel's plate glass cases, reckons Jon Cox, head of Swiss equities at Kepler Cheuvreux, a Europe-wide financial services company.
"In terms of new collections, I expect the there to be fewer glitzy and showy watches, reflecting the zeitgeist," he says.
Mr Linder agrees. "I think there will be a return to simplicity, and a focus on timeless and classical watches.
"The industry goes in waves and, for the past five to six years, there has been a focus on extreme products, over-design, oversize. I think there will now be a shift back to more simple and understated watches," he says.
"In these lukewarm [economic] situations, people are less keen to show off. They want a watch that they can wear on any occasion."
Despite the caution on display among executives, however, most analysts are still predicting the industry will grow at between 6 and 8 per cent this year, more or less in line with its long-run average.
As ever, though, much depends on China.
Last year, exports to the country – which following a decade of roaring growth is now the third largest market for Swiss watches – fell 12.5 per cent, according to the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry.
This was partly the result of a slight economic slowdown. But by far the biggest cause was a crackdown by the Chinese leadership on the practice of giving luxury gifts, such as watches, to win political or economic favours.
Combined with a 5.6 per cent decline in Hong Kong, the largest market for Swiss watches, the Chinese drop was the main reason for the slowdown in overall Swiss watch exports. So even a tailing off of this decline would be enough to give the industry's figures a healthier glow in 2014.
Some improvement seems likely. But how quickly it will come is open to question. "There has been so much conflicting information," says Mr Cox.
"One issue is the crackdown on gifting; another is the crackdown on undeclared watches at the Hong Kong-China border. But clearly, over the medium term, with the middle class continuing to expand, growth will come back."
Mr Dufour is also confident of China's long-term attractiveness.
In the short term, however, he says Chinese customers have switched away from expensive gold watches towards more modestly priced steel ones, now that they are buying for themselves rather than to impress people with whom they have political or business relationships.
"The bad news is that they are buying less; the good news is that they still love watches," he says.
The changing dynamics among Chinese consumers are also likely to play a big role in how fast the European market grows this year. This is because sales in the region have been buoyed in recent years by the shopping sprees of Asian tourists.
In other parts of the world, the outlook is sunnier, with the US, in particular, catching the attention of both executives and analysts.
"I think the US should be quite strong this year," says René Weber, an analyst at Bank Vontobel in Zurich. "[The US market] is still below the peak it reached in 2008, whereas in all the other markets we are ahead of 2008 levels."
Beyond the vagaries of different geographical markets, two issues are likely to figure in conversations around the stands in Basel's exhibition centre.
One is the advent of smartwatches. Last year, Samsung launched its Galaxy Gear, and other tech groups – including Apple – are developing models.
Some analysts have suggested that smartwatches could pose a threat to more traditional watchmakers. However, for the moment, watch executives are relatively relaxed about the phenomenon, although they are following developments with interest.
"I had my technicians buy some smartwatches to see what they were like, but the interface is not yet that good, and you need to have your phone nearby. And the idea of having to charge luxury watches kills the dream a bit," says Mr Linder. "At the moment, it seems like a lot of hassle for little benefit."
The second, more immediate, challenge is the Swiss competition commission's decision last October to allow Swatch Group to cut back on the number of movements – the mechanical heart of a watch – that it supplies to its rivals.
Big groups have been able to invest in their own manufacturing facilities to cushion the impact of this change, but for some smaller brands 2014 could be the year in which they start to feel the pinch.
"There is a trend towards consolidation going on already in the industry, and it will accelerate," says Mr Weber. "You need a lot of money to be independent, and some brands don't have much money to spare."


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Travel with a purpose and join Sisters Traveling Solo for our 1st Cultural Experience in Kenya! Our cultural experiences are designed to be less touristy and focus more on understanding the culture, people and history of each Country we visit.
During our time in Kenya you a better understanding of the Kenyan people, their history and food. In Nairobi we will watch a live performance at the Bomas of Kenya (traditional Museum), visit a school for a giving experience (details below), visit a faculty that provides singles mothers with employment via bead making, visit the Maasai People, and partake in a culinary lesson.
You must be a member of Sisters Traveling Solo Facebook group or a member of our membership program to book this trip. To join our membership program click here. Entry into the program takes at least 2 weeks so apply early if you want to book this trip. You must be a confirmed member before submitting your deposit.
— Dates
Trip Dates: September 18 - 27, 2020 (10 days, 9 nights)
*Nairobi for 6 nights & Mombasa for 3 nights
Important: This trip starts in Nairobi and will end in Nairobi. The trip itinerary below is a tentative itinerary that is subject to change slightly. A final trip itinerary will be provided at least 3 weeks before trip departure.
— Cost
$3,295* per person - Shared Double Room (2 people per room) - 4 star accommodations
$3,995* per person - Single Room (1 person per room) - 4 star accommodations
Includes: 4 Star Accommodations, Tour Cost, Meals* (as mentioned below), Airport Transfers, Local Transfers (public transportation will be our main source of travel when not on a tour), round trip flight from Nairobi to Mombasa, and tour entry cost.
— Non-Refundable Deposit
Double Occupancy - $375 per person for shared room; (2 people per room) (2) two twin beds*
Single Occupancy - $475 per person for single room; (1 person per room) (1) one full sized bed
*Note: Twin beds maybe in close approximately to one another, but there will be two separate beds
— Payments - Non Refundable - Trip payments will start on October 15th.
1st trip payment will be due on October 15, 2019. Non refundable payments due on the 15th of each month. Monthly payments are due on the 15th regardless of when the deposit is made.
Payment details can be found on trip registration from once trip opens.
— Maximum Trip Size
The maximum number of Sisters on this trip; 20*
Our trips are Members Only; 21 years of age or up at the time of trip departure date
— Trip Host - Important
At least (1) one of our Sisters Traveling Solo team member will be attendance
— Roommates
Anyone without a roommate will be paired with another member on the trip. If you have a roommate, you will be asked for your roommate information 2 months before the trip departure date. Please avoid emailing us your request after booking.
— Why book with Sisters Traveling Solo?
Our trips are not only affordable, but they are FUN! The trip cost won't change or increase. And no extra fees are charged to those who prefer to use our trip payment options.
All your travel needs will be handled from the moment you land. We handle airport transfers, local transportation, accommodation needs, and connect you with other Sisters who share the same passion as you! Your only responsibility is booking your flight and enjoying!
— Tentative Itinerary
DAY 1 - September 18, 2020 - Arrival Day in Nairobi, Kenya
Arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya. You will be met by one of our drivers, and transferred to your hotel. After check-in, take the rest of the afternoon at leisure rewinding from the long flight.
In the evening, we will all get together for a welcome dinner where we will get to know each other.
Meals Included: Dinner
DAY 2 - September 19, 2020 - Wildlife + History in Nairobi, Kenya
Today after breakfast, we will start our day with a tour of Nairobi, Kenya. Once our city tour is complete we will head over to the Giraffe center where we will get to interact with some of natures most beautiful animals.....the Giraffe!
After some fun in the sun with the giraffes, we will head to a Swahili family-style lunch at the Bomas of Kenya! The Bomas of Kenya: This is a village museum in Nairobi celebrating the traditional lifestyles and customs of Kenyan tribes. Bomas displays traditional villages belonging to the several Kenyan tribes. It is home to one of the largest auditorium in Africa.
After lunch, we will get to enjoy a live performance at the museum.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 3 - September 20, 2020 - Giving + Community in Nairobi, Kenya
This day is all about giving and community! After lunch, we will head over to a local school and participate in a giving experience. Details about that school and that giving experience will be shared with trip attendees only.
Once or giving experience is over at the school we will head to a Beads facility that was started in 1975 to support single mothers by providing them with employment opportunities.
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 4 - September 21, 2020 - Maasai Village Cultural Experience - Nairobi, Kenya
Today after breakfast we will take a 2 hour (one way) road trip to Maasai Village. Our visit to the village will allow us to experience their culture, traditions, and lifestyle.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch On the Go
DAY 5 - September 22, 2020 - Nairobi, Kenya
Meals Included: Breakfast
DAY 6 - September 23, 2020 - Flight to Mombasa, Kenya
On day 6 we will depart Kenya and head to Mombasa! Mombasa is a coastal city of Kenya along the Indian Ocean. It is the country's oldest (circa 900 AD) and second-largest city (after the capital Nairobi). The round trip flight that we will take from Nairobi to Mombasa is included in the cost of your trip!
After we check into our hotel the evening is yours to rest or explore.
Meals Included: Breakfast
DAY 7- September 24, 2020 - Historical Tour - Mombasa, Kenya
Today after breakfast, we will start our day with a tour of Mombasa, Kenya. Once our city tour is complete we will partake in a local Kenyan culinary experience. During the experience, you will be able to test your culinary skills, learn some local recipes and enjoy local foods.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch (cooking class)
DAY 8- September 25, 2020 - Diani Beach - Mombasa, Kenya
Free Day to enjoy Diani Beach!
Meals included: Breakfast
DAY 9- September 26, 2020 - Flight back to - Nairobi, Kenya
After we enjoy breakfast we will pack up and head to the airport for our flight back to Nairobi. Once we land and check into our hotel the afternoon will be yours to rest, or do some additional shopping.
Later this evening we will enjoy our final dinner as a group.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 10 - September 27, 2020 - Nairobi, Kenya
After breakfast, we will begin to make our back home.
Meals Included: Breakfast
— Included in the Cost
Airport Transfers – STS will arrange arrival transfers only. Transfers will be arranged based on group travel times. All guest will be transported as a group based on the closest arrival times. Airport arrival transfers will begin at 5:00 AM local time in Rome. Airport transfers will be arranged for the trip start and end date only.
Inter-Country Flight – Round trip flight from Nairobi to Mombasa
*Does not include baggage fees
Local Transportation - All ground transportation to and from our activities.
Accommodations - 10 days, 9 nights at two 4-star hotels in both Nairobi and Mombasa. Rooms will consist of one full or two twin beds based on occupancy.
Hotel Amenities Include: Air-conditioning, wireless internet, in-room safe, a satellite TV, minibar and tea/coffee making facilities. Twin beds may be in close approximately to one another, but there will be two separate twin beds.
A detailed daily itinerary will be emailed within uploaded to the customer portal after 10 weeks of booking.
STS Apparel – Each guest will be provided with (1) Sisters In South Africa T-shirt, (1) STS bag, and wrist band
— Payment Terms - Section contains updates to Terms as of 9/5/19
Full Payment Special - $100 off total cost if full payment is made by 12/15/19. Cannot be used in conjunction with $75 off membership discount.
A $75 late charge will be applied to all payments made after the 3-day grace period. The trip will be automatically canceled after ONE missed payment. No refund of deposit or payments will be provided to a trip cancelled due to missed payments.
— Invoices
Payments will be made via an invoice. The invoice can be paid via Visa, Mastercard, AMEX or Discover card. Invoices are sent to the email address that members provide. It is guest responsibility to sign up to the client portal to make payments for each trip each month. (1) invoice is sent to all clients each month, invoices are sent to clients at least 10 days before they are due.
— Refund Policy
24- hour cancellation.
The deposit will be refunded upon request 24-hours after the trip has been booked. After 24-hours of booking, no refunds of deposits will be given.
Non-refundable deposit and payments. After 24-hours of booking, no refunds of deposits or payments will be given.
Deposit or Payment Transfer to Future Trips - Trip deposit nor payments made towards the trip can be applied to another trip.
Trip Transfer of Deposit, Payments, or Total Trip to Another Guest - Guest cannot transfer trip deposit, payments or their trip to any other guest.
We highly encourage you to purchase travel insurance in case you have to cancel your trip so that if you have to cancel, your travel insurance policy can reimburse you.
— Not Included in the Cost
Flights - International flights to or from Kenya
Local Transport – Outside of the organized activities.
Meals – Lunches, or dinners not included above. No alcoholic beverages or desserts are included in any of the meals.
Insurance – Neither travel or health insurance are included, but all members are REQUIRED to show proof of travel insurance (1) one month before the trip departure date. Minimum travel coverage required is $250,000.
Souvenirs - Cost of souvenirs.
Luggage Check-in Cost - Cost to check your luggage during inter-country flights or ferries.
Travel Visa - Any Visa required for the trip.
Gratuity - for Tour guides, Drivers, Hotel Staff, or Waiters.
Tours/Excursions - Outside of the organized tours
Additional Hotel Cost – Outside of what has already been arranged by Sisters Traveling Solo (STS).
Hotel Deposits - Members will be asked to put down a card credit for room incidentals. This hold will be removed upon check out if not room incidentals were changed. If you are in a double room, you and roommate should discuss who will put down their credit card beforehand. Noting that the 1st one to arrive at the hotel cannot check-in without putting down a credit card. STS will not put down deposits for any room.
— Booking opens September 15, 2019 (11:59M EST)
You must be a member of Sisters Traveling Solo to book this trip. Membership will be verified upon receipt of your deposit. Non-members at the time of booking will be refunded.
If you are not a member join us www.sisterstravelingsolo.com/membershipsignup
— Required After Deposit Is Paid
Signed Liability Form
Travel Insurance - Travel Insurance is not provided but is REQUIRED to attend this trip. You will be asked to show proof of travel insurance before we depart. A minimum of $250,000 in travel insurance is REQUIRED; coverage in total must cover (medical & evacuation).
Sisters Traveling Solo will not travel with or include anyone in trip activities who don't present the required travel insurance documentation at least 6 weeks before the trip departure date. STS will alert you when and how to provide travel insurance information, please avoid emailing us any information. When requested travel insurance information to include the requested coverage amounts and the dates that cover the span of our trip.
— Questions?
If you have any questions, please contact us at firstname.lastname@example.com
We will be happy to answer all your questions regarding this trip.


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Lent is coming! Are you feeling hype? You should be. Lent has always been my favorite part of the liturgical year – which sounds crazy because I know that Lent is supposed to make you miserable. (Source of this knowledge: two parents who are proud products of 17 years of Catholic schooling.) Still, I like Lent for a number of reasons.
When I was a small child in Catholic school, I liked the inherently competitive nature of Lent. "What are you giving up?" We would ask each other, all the while sizing up our fellow competitors classmates' piety. When I got older and switched to a rabidly evangelical Protestant international school in Korea, I liked to camaraderie of knowing "who my people were" based on whether or not they got a burger on Fridays.
These days, I've taken a more balanced approach to Lenten suffering. Instead of going with the old hat "Yo, I'm totally giving up snacks for Lent this year" approach, I'm using the season to focus on ways to improve my life. I'm choosing to look at it as another set of New Year's Resolutions almost. After all, you want to go into Easter being your best possible self, right? Right! (For those who want to read more from someone who's a lot smarter than me, I really like Catholic All Year's approach to taking things away or adding new things and seeing if your life is improved.)
So What Am I Giving Up? Or Adding?
I feel like there are a lot of ways that my life can be improved this go around, so I've come up with a few categories to focus on as we prepare for Easter.
1. Financial Wellbeing and Preparedness.
-I'm going on a "spending fast" to eliminate the slow bleed-out of my savings account. There are a few "frivolous" expenditures that I already have planned during Lent (Girls' Trip to Pittsburgh) and I need a new pair of black flats (weird shoe size means the hunt for shoes is a long one). Beyond that, I'm going to stop spending money on things that are food, rent, utilities or other essentials.
-My husband and I are going get our wills and trusts written and formalized.
-I am going to work as much overtime as I possibly can so that we will be able to plan ahead for our future instead of just reacting to what happens to us.
2. Media Consumption.
-I am going to stop using the TV as background noise during my workday. (Exception for my morning news fix.)
-When I do watch TV, I want to intentionally watch it. This means that I'm going to stop messing around on my phone when "watching" a program that I like. I'll certainly get more out of the show and I hope that I'll feel less overstimulated all the time.
-I want to read good stuff – not just trashy romance novels and constantly updating gossip sites.
3. Health and Wellness.
-Find new activities that my husband and I can do together. He doesn't get the same joy that I get out of solitude on the elliptical but I know that he would like to be more active.
-Drink more water. Because woman doesn't live on coffee alone.
-I'm giving up paper towels for anything other than the toilets and the rabbit cage, because I care about the world's health, too.
4. Relationship with God.
-I am going to stop wondering what the dude who combs his hair during the second reading uses for shine. Really, I am. Also, I may as well stop wondering all sorts of things about my fellow parishioners. I am going to focus.
-I will pray the rosary at least once a week.
-I will do at least one service activity with the young adults group.
5. Relationship with My Family.
-I will stop asking my husband to bring me stuff to my office downstairs. I have legs and refusing to use them shows him that I do not value the hard work that he is doing to find a job as much as I value my own. That's not fair.
-I will actually call my grandmother once a week instead of just thinking about it.
-I will send a card to the members of my family that I know are hurting.
So, what are you giving up?


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It's been awhile since I participated in Kim Klassen's Texture Tuesday. Once I started to do a quick edit this image, I ended up playing around with it for a long time. And then suddenly it wasn't Tuesday, but Wednesday. Although I didn't turn into a pumpkin at midnight, I will wither soon if I don't get some shuteye. But, before I go, here's an image I shot a few weeks ago. Love how these beautiful flowers just seem to spring forth everywhere around here. Driving down any street and seeing these in the ditches and beside the shoulder of the road, especially where they have not been planted — and they are planted in many, many gardens — makes me smile. The little rebels!
Textured with the following textures by Kim Klassen: July_2, Elevate, and Chalkmagic. Added — and subtracted in parts — two color fill layers, one brown for background, one yellow for the flower to bring back some color lost with the textures. As I went to post this, I saw that Kim had made 3 new textures available. What could I do but use one of them — Culligan_scripted — to frame the shot.


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Sorry, this deal has expired. Here are some other Holidays deals:
Black Friday 2018: Lowe's Ad Scan
- Expired
- Sold By:
- More Lowes Deals
Black Friday sale is coming soon. Here is a sneak peek at the hottest deals at Lowes.
- Online Sale Starts: Thursday 11/22/2018 12:01AM ET
- Stores Open Friday 6AM
- Free Shipping on most items
We analyzed the Ad: Best Lowe's Black Friday 2018 Deals.
Swipe to Browse Ad - Click to visit Store
Swipe to Browse Ad - Click to visit Lowes
- Sale Expires: 11/28/2018
- While Supplies Last, Quantities Limited
- Posted by: The Chief
- Share Deal:
- Sales tax in: Most States Number of Likes: 29
- Report Error


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This post can also be found above on the Culinary page.
Tuesday, October 10, 2017
MORTARandPETAL - Mortar and Petal - Purveyor of Pristine Plant Products
Cyn is creating with botanicals in Apple Valley, Utah. Add some new flavors to your day with one of her blends! You can see more by using this link to her store: MORTARandPETAL
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If you haven't already picked up on this, I love weeds! Often I'm asked, "What weed is your favorite weed?"
Although a difficult question to answer, it's hard to pass up the lovely plantain weed (Plantago major or Plantago lanceolata).
Nope – this is not a banana! I'm talking about the green weed that you've seen everywhere but may not have recognized. It is quite simply one of the most prolific weeds on the planet. Native Americans actually referred to it as "white man's footprint" because it seemed to spring up everywhere the white man went.
I first became acquainted with plantain as a beekeeper. It is my favorite "drawing" herb. Since it is found almost anywhere you go on the planet, it's a fair bet that you will find it at your feet when you need it. Getting stung as often as beekeepers do, we need a reliable plant remedy. It's easy to create a quick poultice from fresh leaves to pull out the toxins from a bee or wasp sting. For the first couple seconds it hurts a bit more as it precipitates the proteins in our cell walls and causes constriction and tightening. But as the cells tighten, they expel the venom. This even works if we let the sting go untreated for a few days and the area has gotten hot, red, and itchy.
So What is a Poultice anyway?
A poultice is made of fresh or dried plant material. A simple example would be a plantain leaf poultice. Just chew up a bit of a leaf and stick the pulpy mass on the affected area. Be sure to remove the old and add a new one every once in a while. The toxins will pull into your poultice and you don't want to continue to irritate your skin.
What Are Some Other Ways to Use Plantain?
Once I became friends with this amazing plant I began to find more ways to use it. Here are some of my favorites:
- On the farm I use plantain powder (find it here) as the poultice component of a kit I make to pull the oils of a poison ivy rash or the toxin of a mosquito bite out of the skin.
- Instead of digging around with tweezers when one of my kids gets a splinter, I chew up a plantain leaf and cover it with a bandaid. In no time at all that splinter is sitting on the skin surface ready to pick up.
- When a cut gets out of control and there is deep infection, a poultice of plantain will pull out dirt and germs so the wound can heal.
- Spider and mosquito bites can be nasty. My father was bitten by something particularly nasty last year and was hugely swollen. In the case of venomous bites and stings it is helpful to apply a poultice while also drinking a plantain tea.
Surprisingly, plantain is also nutritious and delicious! Plantain contains beta carotene (the precursor to Vitamin A), calcium, monoterpene alkaloids, glycosides, sugars, triterpenes, fixed oil, linoleic acid and tannins. Its seeds are high in mucilage which, when eaten, makes them effective as an aid to reducing LDL cholesterol levels and triglycerides. This mucilage also makes a great bulk laxative. In fact, the plantain we find here in the Midwest is a relative to the European variety that is used in Metamucil. Using the leaves in food or medicine can be helpful for sore throat, gastritis, diarrhea, bronchitis, fevers and general inflammation. It is a mild diuretic so it is helpful in kidney and bladder disorders. It is considered an alternative as it helps the liver to filter our blood and it is also one of my favorite herbs to help clean an overburdened lymphatic system.
This weed is best in salads and casseroles when the leaves are young and small in the spring. Chewing these tender fresh leaves puts one in mind of a delicate mushroom flavor. As we drift into summer the leaves will get more woody and tough and it is appropriate at that time to dry for winter soup and tea use.
If you would like to harvest plantain you'll find it's easy! The leaves can be picked just about anytime, though they'll be the best in early spring or just as the flowers begin to form. Make sure that wherever you harvest is free from chemical spray or contamination.
Can't find any plantain in your area for harvesting? DIY Natural recommends getting organic plantain leaf here.
Have you ever used plantain for anything?
Share your experience in the comments section below!


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I can't believe I am even writing this post! I can NOT believe that summer is winding down and Back to School will be here before we know it. In fact in some places they are already back to school. My grandson who lives in GA started school today. YIKES! I am so not ready. Because I can't run from reality I have created some fun 2016 First Day of School Printables for you to cherish your memories years down the road.
I created 2 different styles Pre-school thru 12th Grade. You can choose the grades that you need. You just need to download them, print them on card stock and then enjoy your photo shoot. I've picked 4 grades to show you what they look like. You will find the download link below.
You can download the FREE 2016 First Day of School Printables HERE
Please check out The Ultimate Back to School Resources post. There is lots and lots and lots of excellent information to help you get your school year off to a fabulous start.
If you like what you read, I'd love to have you follow along. You can subscribe to my RSS Feed or sign up to receive daily Emails delivered to your inbox . You can also follow along via Facebook, Google + or Twitter.


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By Cynthia Woolbright
A follow up to Part 1 of Best Practices for On-Boarding New Trustees
Bringing new trustees on board offers great and unique opportunities to inspire and engage them in your work.
New members should meet individually with the President and senior officers as a part of the on-boarding process. You might arrange a group meeting, with individual officers meeting with the trustees to follow. For example, the CFO can spend time at the 30,000 feet view of finances. Campus tours, with a student admission representative, is very important as well. Depending upon the new trustee schedule and their number, these visits can be done with each trustee individually. Of course, some accommodation may be necessary to engage trustees in this on-boarding, given their own schedules as well as the President and his/her team.
Prior to the first board meeting, the trustee and their mentor should review the board meeting agenda with the mentor providing background on the topics and what might be expected at the upcoming meeting. Following the trustees' meeting, mentee and mentor should reconnect and review, clarify, and discuss the trustee meeting. This is a grand opportunity for the new member to share, from his/her perspective, their view of the meeting - what made sense and what didn't, learning about back stories that might provide insights into the dynamics experienced in the meeting, etc. These pre and post sessions with the mentor and new trustee should continue for future meetings in the new trustee's first year.
As new trustees are assigned to board committees, it will be valuable for them to learn more about that committee. The committee chair or another trustee on the committee should meet the new member to provide an overview, strategic direction, priorities of the committee's work for the year and what is expected to be accomplished. Basically, a "mini on-boarding process" at the committee level.
Consider having the President invite new members to athletic games, lectures, and other events that will help the trustee to learn more about the organization and the culture while deepening relationships with the President, administrative members and staff.
Mid-year consider having a member of the Governance Committee meet with new trustees to assess progress, learn their perspectives and what might be improved. This valuable feedback will assist the committee in their continued cultivation and stewardship of new trustees, as well as their on-boarding. At the end of the year, this interview process should be repeated. The Governance Committee should then analyze the mid-year to year-end perspectives for opportunities for further engagement, areas for improvement, and feedback from the new trustees. All interviews should be kept confidential.
Over the timespan from selection of the trustee to the end of their first year, digital options for on-boarding should be readily available. For example, informational videos about enrollment strategies, trends, setting tuition, etc. Though some of these aspects may have been presented before, it is an opportunity for a trustee to return to the content for deeper understanding.
Through a significant identification of potential trustees to their cultivation to their on-boarding process, this first year can be quite valuable for a trustee to engage more fully, to build and deepen relationships with members, to gain an understanding your mission and vision and to get to know the President, fellow trustees and staff.
By establishing a thoughtful and intentional process of engagement, the new trustee is better served and able to contribute more effectively and contribute to the overall well-being and vitality of their work that furthers the vision and priorities of the campus or institution.


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I was very excited to see my Roadside Guides print used as binding! I will definitely be using this print to bind my own Fleet & Flourish quilt projects!
As someone who really loves quilt photography, the photos Chris took of his work inspired me just as much as the work itself! There's so much more to see on his blog, HERE, so be sure to hop on over!
I continue to be amazed and inspired by my friends Fleet & Flourish projects, I hope you are too! Below is the list of participants, I hope you take the time to check them all out!
Feb 22nd ~ Amy Friend : During Quiet Time { Blog & Instagram }


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Salzburg's highest-situated restaurant at 3.029 m
Dine at the highest level at the Gipfel Restaurant of the Kitzsteinhorn in 3.029 metres above sea level. And you couldn't go any higher because here you enjoy regional delicacies and international classics at the highest-situated restaurant in Salzburger Land.
Take a seat in front of the large panorama windows in the self-service area or the "Schmittenblick" restaurant (table-service in winter) and enjoy being treated to culinary delights in a stylish ambience in front of the stunning scenery of the surrounding three thousand metres high mountains.
The modern facility in alpine style harmonically reflects the elements snow, ice and blue sky. As awarding-winning establishment of the "Via Culinaria - Genussweg für Hüttenhocker" in Salzburger Land, the Gipfel Restaurant puts great emphasis on top quality. Refining regional products and turning them into a culinary highlight, the kitchen team creates a new special "Via Culinaria" dish every year.
For more information & reservation:
in the summit station in 3.029 m
Opening hours:
All year
In summer, self-service area only
Menu service restaurant Menu self service restaurant
Are you looking for an event location for your convention, workshop or company dinner? We will be delighted to send you an individual offer. Please send your enquiry to firstname.lastname@example.com.


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In the latest photos from the Eglinton Crosstown light rail transit project, we have an inside look at Keelesdale, as well as structural advances at Caledonia and Kennedy stations. Come this way to check it out.
We have new images that show large concrete and structural steel work on the Eglinton Crosstown light rail transit (LRT) route. But it's a picture from inside Keelesdale Station, showing just a row of glass panes that really focused our attention.
It's the glass railings inside the main entrance, and while only a glimpse, it gives an insider view of what Toronto customers will see every day, while using this stop long the 19-kilometre light rail corridor.
As well, at Caledonia Station, here's a recent image of formwork going up in preparation for pours of concrete which will form interior walls.
Then onto Kennedy, you can see installation of structural steel which will form the new entrance building has now been completed.
It's all progress on a big scale. But it's in the glass that we saw the reflection of journeys to come.


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Issue 21
29 May 2018
Volume: 52 Issue: 21
- Measles outbreaks in Europe – update
- Information for travellers to Saudi Arabia for Hajj pilgrimage in 2018
- Guidance from ECDC & EMCDDA on active case finding of communicable diseases in prisons
- Ebola outbreak (DRC): ECDC risk assessment update and WHO news page
- Climate Change Bill
- Scotland's bathing waters continue to meet strict environmental standards
HPS Weekly Report
29 May 2018
Volume 52 No. 21
Measles outbreaks in Europe – update
On 18 May 2018, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reported that transmission of measles continues across Europe.
Within the European Union:
- Austria has reported 43 cases from 1 January to 4 May 2018
- Bulgaria has reported four cases, up to 13 May 2018
- the Czech Republic has reported 103 cases between 1 January and 30 March 2018. The majority of cases were reported in Prague and more than half of the cases were not vaccinated
- France reported 2,173 cases from 1 January to 13 May 2018. Nearly half of the case total has been reported from the Nouvelle Aquitaine region. Highest incidence is in the very young and most are unvaccinated
- Finland has reported three cases, up to 17 May 2018
- Germany has reported 176 cases from 1 January to 21 April 2018
- Greece has reported 1,948 cases (including two deaths) from 1 January to 17 May 2018. Most cases are in southern Greece among Roma children and young Greek adults. An increase of cases in northern Greece has also been observed
- Hungary has reported 16 cases, as of 6 May 2018
- Ireland has reported 72 cases from 1 January to 12 May 2018
- Italy has reported 805 cases (including two deaths) between 1 January and 31 March 2018. Among the cases there were 38 healthcare professionals. More than 87% of cases were from Sicily, Lazio, Campania, Calabria and Lombardy. Most cases were unvaccinated (92%) or had received only one vaccine (2%)
- Poland has reported 44 cases from 1 January to 30 April 2018
- Portugal has reported 111 cases from 1 January to 8 April 2018, nearly all in the north of the country. All but one case are adults and 79 of them are healthcare professionals
- Romania has reported 2,712 cases (including 15 deaths) from 1 January to 11 May 2018
- the UK has reported 440 cases from 1 January to 9 May, 2018. Fifty-four percent of cases are aged over 15 years
Neighbouring countries outside the European Union:
- According to media reports, Albania has reported over 600 cases up to 25 April 2018
- Belarus has reported 67 cases from 1 January to 25 March 2018
- Georgia has reported 517 cases from 1 January to 19 April 2018
- Russia has reported 843 cases from 1 January to 31 March 2018
- Serbia has reported 5,167 cases (including 15 deaths) from October 2017 to 10 May 2018
- According to media reports, Turkey has reported 44 cases up to 30 March 2018
- Ukraine has reported 15,261 cases (including eight deaths) from 1 January to 15 May 2018. Sixty percent of cases are adults. The majority of cases have been reported in Chenivetsk, Ivano-Frakivsk, Zakarpatie, Lviv and Odessa regions.
Advice for healthcare professionals
Travel may increase an individual's risk of exposure to measles virus, and facilitate the spread of disease to unvaccinated and susceptible populations. The travel consultation provides healthcare practitioners with a valuable opportunity to ensure individuals are protected against the measles virus. Consider vaccinating:
- all travellers who have not previously had two doses of a measles containing vaccine or prior measles infection
- children and those who will be living or working closely with the local population at their destination, in countries with high endemnicity or recent outbreaks
Further information and advice for clinicians advising travellers can be accessed on TRAVAX.
Advice for travellers
It should be confirmed that children have received their recommended doses of MMR at 12-13 months of age and again pre-school around three years four months. Consider vaccinating all unimmunised adults who have not had the disease themselves, particularly if they are going to be at higher risk. Two doses of MMR vaccine, at least one month apart, are required to give adequate protection.
Information for travellers to Saudi Arabia for Hajj pilgrimage in 2018
The Saudi Ministry of Health (MoH) have issued their requirements and recommendations for entry visas for the Hajj and Umrah in 2018. These are updated annually.
In addition, the Saudi MoH website includes useful health information and resources for pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi MoH strongly recommends that the following people postpone their Hajj and Umrah in 2018, for their own safety:
- the elderly (above 65 years of age)
- those with chronic diseases (e.g. heart disease, kidney disease, respiratory disease, diabetes)
- immune deficiency (congenital and acquired)
- those with malignant disease
- those who are terminally ill
- pregnant women
- children (under 12 years)
It is strongly recommended that all pilgrims obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance (including repatriation) before travel.
Meningococcal meningitis vaccine
Visitors arriving for Umrah, Hajj or for seasonal work in Hajj zones, are required to submit a valid vaccination certificate with a Quadrivalent (ACWY) meningococcal vaccine administered no less than 10 days prior to arrival to Saudi Arabia.
Vaccination with one of the following vaccines is acceptable:
- Quadrivalent (ACWY) polysaccharide vaccine within the last three years
- Quadrivalent (ACWY) conjugate vaccine within the last five years
If the vaccine type is not indicated in the certificate, the certificate will be valid for three years.
Vaccination with Quadrivalent (ACWY) conjugate vaccine is also required for:
- domestic pilgrims
- residents of the two holy cities (Mecca and Medina)
- any person who may be in contact with pilgrims including personnel in healthcare settings
The Saudi MoH may opt to administer prophylactic antibiotics to some travellers at the points of entry if deemed necessary.
Other vaccines
There are certain other vaccinations which may be recommended for personal protection, including hepatitis A, influenza and measles. In addition, the Saudi MoH has compulsory vaccination requirements for Hajj pilgrims entering from certain countries other than the UK, for example yellow fever and poliomyelitis.
Full details on recommended vaccines and malaria advice for travellers from the UK are on the TRAVAX Saudi Arabia country page.
Further details on Hajj requirements 2018 can be found on the TRAVAX (for health professionals) and fitfortravel (for the general public) websites.
Guidance from ECDC & EMCDDA on active case finding of communicable diseases in prisons
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) have published guidance on active case finding of communicable diseases among people in prison. This guidance advises offering testing for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV to all people in prison and to conduct universal testing for tuberculosis on entry to prison.
Compared to the general public, people in prison have a higher rate of communicable diseases such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV, syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia and tuberculosis. This constitutes a health risk for those living and working in prison settings as well as for the general population, given that the majority of people in prisons return to their communities after a short period of incarceration (median length of detention in Europe is less than nine months).
The ECDC–EMCDDA Guidance is based on consultations with a panel of prison experts, and identifies the most cost-effective approaches with the aim to interrupt transmission in, and between, prison settings as well as the community, by first testing and then offering treatment to those infected.
Source: ECDC, 23 May 2018
Ebola outbreak (DRC): ECDC risk assessment update and WHO news page
An update to the current ECDC risk assessment on the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), was published on 25 May 2018. This is due to cases in urban areas in the Equateur province in DRC which may increase the risk of spread to neighbouring countries. The risk to the EU remains very low.
In addition the updated risk assessment has also states that:
- there is a very low risk for EU travellers/residents in DRC areas not known to have cases
- there is a low risk for travellers entering the affected area (the Equateur province)
Source: ECDC, 25 May 2018
A news page covering the Ebola outbreak in DRC has been established by the World Health Organisation (WHO), and is being updated regularly. The page includes news on efforts by the DRC Ministry of Health and WHO to control the outbreak as well as an overview of the situation and information on the vaccination programme.
For more information on the current Ebola outbreak in the DRC, see current note 52/1905.
Climate Change Bill
The Scottish Government has introduced the Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Bill. The new Bill will immediately set a target of a 90% reduction by 2050 but the draft Bill sets out that the Scottish Government intends to go further still and achieve a 100% reduction in emissions, known as net-zero, as soon as possible.
Ministers will be legally required to keep the net-zero target date under review by seeking expert advice on the issue every five years. The target date will become legally-binding, subject to the consent of the Scottish Parliament, as soon as there is sufficient evidence to demonstrate the date is credible and achievable.
As well as increasing long term ambition, the new Bill also includes the most ambitious interim targets in the world, as well as stretching annual targets for every year between now and 2050. This means action will need to increase immediately, across every sector of the Scottish economy. It will also require action by individuals, communities and businesses – as well as government.
Scotland's existing targets are for a 42% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 and an 80% reduction by 2050. The new interim targets will be 56% by 2020, 66% by 2030, and 78% by 2040 and are set out on a dedicated website.
Scotland's bathing waters continue to meet strict environmental standards
Ahead of the new season, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has revealed that 75 of the country's 86 designated bathing waters (87%) meet strict environmental standards for water quality.
The report highlighted:
- 87% of Scotland's designated bathing waters meet strict environmental water quality standards
- water quality data available by 10.00 am every day during the season for 31 bathing water locations on the bathing water website, SEPA's website, via Beachline and live electronic beach signage
- partnership projects underway to improve bathing waters including 11 rated as 'poor'
- Nairn bathing waters achieve the sufficient EU classification for the first time after two years of poor rating
Source: SEPA, 25 May 2018


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Tottenham Hotspur will look to seal their place in the Top 3 when they take on Huddersfield Town at Wembley. West Bromwich Albion will also play their heart out as they will be fighting to escape the relegation zone as they take on Watford.
King Salah as known by all will also like to continue his awesome form in front of goal when Newcastle United comes to town, Rafael Benitez will also like to make a statement against his former club by gingering his boys to try and upset the Reds at Anfield.
Below is the full fixture for the EPL games this Saturday...
Burnley - Everton [13:30]
Leicester City - AFC Bournemouth [16:00]
Southampton - Stoke City [16:00]
Swansea City - West Ham United [16:00]
Tottenham Hotspur - Huddersfield Town [16:00]
Watford - West Bromwich Albion [16:00]
Liverpool - Newcastle United [18:30]
Predict the correct line of three matches and stand a chance to win big
Predict below...


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I love Machu Picchu!!!
I really enjoyed the experience. The guides were great and helped me achieve my dream of experiencing the inca trail and visiting Machu Picchu.
Both Miguel and Marco were very knowledgeable and patient. They handled our group very well even though everybody was very different paces. They were very great in caring for anyone and making sure nobody ... Continue Reading