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PAISD makes Good Friday mandatory
Concerned parents from Port Arthur Independent School District (PAISD) contacted The Examiner on Wednesday, April 16 regarding the district's decision to make Good Friday, April 18, a mandatory school day for students and faculty.
According to the PAISD Academic Calendar, available for viewing on www.paisd.org, the calendar was revised Feb. 19 to name April 18 and May 26 as bad-weather make-up days.
Good Friday is the Friday before Easter and the day on which Christians annually observe the commemoration of the crucifixion of Jesus.
Several parents of PAISD children made travel plans that included Good Friday, April 18, and although the calendar change was made in February, said one concerned parent, the school district didn't notify students until a couple of weeks ago.
The concerned parent, who asked to remain anonymous, said the school told him that if his child did not attend the mandatory make up day, the child would be counted absent.
Texas Education Agency (TEA) Spokesperson DeEtta Culbertson said that choosing make up days is a local decision, but that there is a provision, according to Texas Education Code (TEC) 25.087, that states, "A school district shall excuse a student from attending school for the purpose of observing religious holy days, including traveling for that purpose," and as long as a parent provides written notice prior to the child's absence and for the reason of observing a religious holy day, the absence shall not be counted against the student nor the district for Foundation School Program (FSP) funding purposes.
"There is a provision in law that allows for a student to be excused for observance of religious holidays," Culbertson said. "It has to be a day observed by generally accepted religious affiliated organizations. In other words, it has to be something like a Good Friday or a Christmas or Rosh Hashana."
Culbertson said the district could ask the parent to provide written notice that the student would be out for religious holiday.
"They require the parent to provide written notice, so the district can keep that in their files because as an excused absence by state law, the district will not lose funding for that purpose," she said
Culbertson said if PAISD does count students absent for Good Friday who have provided written notice of plans to observe the day as a religious holiday, the district could be in violation of TEC law.
Calls to PAISD Superintendent Dr. Mark Porterie were not returned as of press time.
Beaumont ISD will not be holding classes Friday, April 18. For West Orange-Cove CISD and Vidor ISD, Good Friday is an early release day for students, according to district websites.


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Sports Teams Throughout the District
IECC offers a wide variety of athletic activities at our colleges, please visit each colleges site under athletics for details. LTC, OCC, and WVC all have full sports facilities and gymnasiums. LTC and WVC have indoor pools open to the public during certain hours.
Members of the NJCAA
Frontier Community College: Bobcats
Women's Softball | Baseball | Women's Volleyball
Lincoln Trail College: Statesmen
Baseball | Softball | Men's Basketball | Women's Basketball | Golf | Volleyball | Cheer Team | Pool
Olney Central College: Blue Knights
Baseball | Softball| Men's Basketball | Women's Basketball
Wabash Valley College: Warriors
Baseball | Softball | Men's Basketball | Women's Basketball | Cheerleading | Pool

subset: commoncrawl


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The ability to fly has long sparked human curiosity, and envy! In Conquest of the Skies 3D, travel through time and around the world to unravel the 300-million-year story of how animal aviators have evolved into the 100 billion creatures flying through the air today. Explore nature's ingenuity as you soar from a falcon's point of view, see hummingbirds flutter in slow motion, accompany bats in the hunt, meet lizards that glide with the greatest of ease, and find out how clumsy beetles got their wings. Filmed on location in the United Kingdom, Borneo, Spain, Italy, and Ecuador. 40 minutes.
- This event has passed.
Conquest of the Skies 3D
- Friday, June 01, 2018
- 10:00am - 10:40am


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Difference between revisions of "Africa Ledge"
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==='''Mad Dog 22'''===
==='''Mad Dog 22'''===
"Mad Dog" is a direct variation of the ''
"Mad Dog" is a direct variation of the ''Lunch'' second pitch. It is easier as it avoids the pumpy lie back at the top of Lunch but has its moments particularly for the "on-sight" lead.
'''Mad Dog 30m 22:'''
'''Mad Dog 30m 22:'''
Revision as of 18:30, 30 March 2013
Africa Ledge Proper
COCK and Bull Buttress
This area is below and just left of Arrow Final (facing the mountain) . From the Tea Cave, walk back a short way along the path toward India Venster and you will find the buttress on the left.
Matador 25
Start just left of Crank and Pull. Climb the easy crack to the break. Using an undercling in the roof crank onto the steep face and slightly left to a rail. Continue up a steep layback to a wide rail and then fight straight up over the narrow roof onto the smooth face above.
FA: Richard Halsey, 16/02/2012
Local Legend 24
A hard and bouldery route that is serious to lead. It is named in honour of local legend David Davies.
The route is found on Africa Ledge, Table Mountain, and cuts through the zig-zags of Atlantic Crag. A couple of metres to the right of the Oddshouter's Outing tea cave is the Ruminating Crag chimney. Immediately beyond the chimney is a pillar with an ugly brown crack and wall to its right. Local Legend commences a couple of metres further right in the centre of the white wall. Africa Link-Up starts in the same place and goes off to the right.
Pitch 1 30m 19:
Step off the large sloping block onto the centre of the left-facing wall. Ascend the face in the centre (tricky lead). At 15m reach a ledge then directly above ascend the right-facing wall finishing up its left edge to reach Upper Africa Ledge. Cross the ledge and scramble up 3m to stance on a big ledge one level below the overhanging white wall.
Pitch 2 12m 24:
Scramble up on the right to get to the overhanging recess. At this point the Atlantic Crag fourth pitch crack is 3m to the right. To the left is a massive undercut white wall. Ascend the recess trending rightwards, making use of the highest wired nut protection available. Turn the overhanging wall and with difficulty ascend the easier angled rock face above your last protection (crux). Head directly up easy ground to stance on the large ledge. This pitch is a serious lead.
Pitch 3 12m 22:
The face to the right is wildly undercut to start. Step up onto the microwave oven-sized block and clip the old piton. This pitch is an aid pitch on Little Jack Horner and the peg was placed in 1980. Stretch up to reach an edge with the left hand and a flat prong with the right. Crank hard to get up and ascend the difficult face towards the right. On easy ground head up and left and then right to a big ledge. This pitch is a serious lead.
Pitch 4 12m 18:
Head up broken ground to arrive at the big overhang above to the right of the hanging block. Rail out left on the block and then head up a crack to the ledge above. Walk rightwards to the end of the ledge.
Pitch 5 12m 20:
From the stance traverse to the right with hands at the level of the overhang to a bottomless recess. Pull into this recess. So far this is the famous crux of the classic Atlantic Crag. Now rail out wildly to the right to the dark and forbidding bottomless recess. Ascend this for 5m to a ledge. Continue up the steep wall ahead for another 4m to another blocky ledge and stance at the big detached flake.
To abseil off the Africa Corner bolted anchors scramble up easy ground to the left for 25m. To finish at the cableway station scramble up to the right.
First ascent:
Hilton Davies, Neels Havenga and Andy Davies on 26 January 2011.
Flaky Dog 21
Despite the lichen that plasters the second pitch of the climb, this route has the potential to become a classic if it is "climbed into condition". It is a moderate 2 pitch route that involves classic sustained TM climbing on steep rock, with excellent protection.
Start: The route starts just to the right of the Africa Gullet crack on the upper Africa ledge.
Pitch 1 25m 21:
Climb the face just to the right of Gullet's crack to a cruxy section. (One can cheat by straddling across Gullet's crack). Pass this to a good rail. Rail right to steep juggy rock that leads you to a stance. Belay off the abseil bolts.
Pitch 2 30m 21:
Climb the "staggered crack" that diagonals up to the left to a grassy stance. Don't stop here but rail easily left above Odd Shouters crux and then up to a stance. Continue wandering easily to the top back to the abseil anchors.
First ascent: C Edelstein February 2007
Mad Dog 22
"Mad Dog" is a direct variation of the African Lunch second pitch. It is easier as it avoids the pumpy lie back at the top of Lunch but has its moments particularly for the "on-sight" lead.
Mad Dog 30m 22:
30m 22: Climb the overhanging lie back crack of the start of the second pitch of Africa Lunch. At the second peg continue straight up past the next rail to where Africa lunch moves right. Continue straight up using some mentally challenging flakes into the easy groove that leads directly to the fixed peg and nut abseil point.
First Ascent 16 February 2007: Charles Edelstein and Robert Breyer.
Vapour Trail (28)
Upper Africa Ledge, Table Mountain
Located on the right hand side of Upper Africa Ledge almost directly under the Africa Corner abseils. It starts around the corner to the left of, and at the same level as, the crack pitch of Atlantic Crag.
Pitch 1 15m (28):
Start off blocks on the left end of the ledge. Reach up to a jug on the prow at the first rail. Rail right for 5m then up a recess to the left side of the upper roof. Rail right for 5m along the upper rail past the bulge and then pull through the roof using a wedged dinner plate and up to the big ledge above.
Gear: Critical cam (blue, 0.3 Camelot size) in lower rail before ascending the recess.
Pitch 2 20m (23):
On the left side of the ledge, above the recess of pitch 1, is a featured face with a shallow crack system. This is at the same level as, and a bit right of, pitch 1 of Mellow Steady Flow. Climb the crack system tending slightly left at the top to a small ledge. Scramble up and right to the abseil rings and stance there.
Pitch 3 35m (21):
Climbs straight up above the abseil rings. Ascend two short, white faces and a small, dark corner with a friendly layback crack to a ledge. Climb slightly left up the big, white block above to stance below a short, steep, white face.
Pitch 4 10m (22):
Climb easily to a small, blocky roof. Rail 1m right and go up a small corner/crack. Head back left and up on some juggy rails to the ledge with the top abseil rings. Can be combined with pitch 3 but the leader is out of sight of the belayer on the top moves and a long way up so a fall could result in hitting the blocks below. Probably best to split into two pitches.
FA: Mark Seuring and Douw Steyn (2013)
Right Face
Access: To access Prowling and Orion, walk from the upper cable station towards Platteklip Gorge, passing two viewing areas with railings. Continue past the next lookout with a stone wall to the following lookout. From here scramble down to the top of the Africa Ampitheatre cliffs, and walk right (East) for about 50m on a ledge until you get to a drop-off above a gulley. There is an abseil point in situ overlooking the gulley, and a 40m abseil brings you to a ledge (abseiling directly above the prow will leave you hanging in space). Bring some screwgates and two 120cm slings to extend the anchor over edge so rope pulls easily. Walk about 10m back in the direction of the cable station to the base of Prowling and Orion. For Beetle Juice, scramble up and right to a small platform with a large, perched flake on the right. If needed, you can scramble out to the right of all the routes.
Prowling (26)
A long, steep prow near the last pitches of Right Face and clearly visible from Tafelberg Rd near the Platteklip Gorge parking.
- Pitch 1. 40m (26) Start under a short vertical crack and move up to a hand rail. Traverse a few meters left until you can pull up to a platform and walk left to below the prow. Use the crack and sidepulls to gain a good rail. Pull up about 1m to a horizontal slot (medium cam), where you move left across the arete, and continue up on the left to the next ledge. From the right of the block on the halfway ledge, move 2m up and then slightly right to a good sidepull in the steep, grey scoop. Some hard moves straight up lead to a thin rail below a small roof. Use a sloper above the roof to move left and strenuously up to good holds. Continue up easily to the left of the diving board (wobbles). Finish out right over the void using a good rail and side pulls.
FA: R. Halsey, J.Smith & D. Steyn, 9/03/2012
FFA: R. Halsey & J. Möhle, 11/03/2012
Orion (23-25??)
Features a cool 4m roof with great exposure.
- Pitch 1. 25m (21) Start as for Prowling, but climb straight up to the ledge via a wide vertical crack. Now follow a left tending crack, which starts very thin (with good holds on the right) to a good rail. Move ~1.5m right until below a tiny roof. Pull up and right to good holds on the right of the tiny roof. Continue up the right side of a white bulge to stance on a small ledge with a large horn on the left.
- Pitch 2. 20m (23-25???) Head straight up for ~6m to a wide rail. Traverse ~2m left until you can pull up to the good rail in the roof (small/medium cams). Move out on this rail until it terminates, then reach a good hold in the roof. Crank to some good holds over the lip, do some circus moves and pull onto the face above. Stance ~8m up at a huge boulder. Consensus grading needed.
FA: R. Halsey & J. Möhle, 28/01/2013
Beetle Juice (22??)
Tackles a strenuous horizontal rail under a roof.
- Pitch 1. 30m (22??) From the little platform, head straight up and then use the hand jam rail that heads out left under the roof to the lip. Pull up on great holds and continue easily to stance at the top under a convenient overhang formed by a boulder. Consensus grading needed.
FA: R. Halsey & C. Martinengo, 04/03/2013


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General information: You will receive a plan document with full Terms and Conditions through the post or by email after purchasing Furniture Care.
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Alternatively you can call 0345 640 2020.
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Teens today want jobs for many of the same reasons you did when you were their age: money, freedom, responsibility, and a desire to be treated like an adult. Though the number of employment opportunities continues to decline, nearly 80 percent of teens say they want to work, and some 1.9 million 15- to 17-year-olds actually held gigs in 2009. For those lucky (and cunning) enough to find work, it can mean so much more than a paycheck. "Your child will begin to interact with coworkers, and possibly customers, and as a result, gain knowledge about how the workplace operates," says Beverly F. Slomka, author of Teens and the Job Game (iUniverse). "It's important that kids take their first job seriously and understand that it's a stepping stone to bigger things later on." Anticipating the problems that a kid might run into in a new venture—and taking preventive measures to avoid them—will help your young worker get off on the right foot.
The Problem: New Job Jitters
The beginning can be scary—the pressure to perform can turn a laid-back teen into a ball of nerves.
The signs: Your child is quieter than usual and complains of a stomachache or loss of appetite before her first day.
How to help: Assure your teen that it's normal to feel anxious. Remind her that the biggest challenge is already behind her (getting hired), and that she may make a mistake but it won't be the end of the world. "Nobody expects perfection on the first day, or even the first week," says parent coach Susan Epstein. When your teen messes up, encourage her to admit it immediately and to ask her employer how she can avoid making similar mistakes in the future. Her new boss should admire her honesty and be impressed with her desire for self-improvement. Helping teens practice basic skills—like making eye contact and firming up their handshake—will also give them more confidence from the get-go.
When to get involved: If your teen is still nervous after a few weeks, it may be a sign of a deeper issue, like a lousy manager or overwhelming responsibilities. Talk it out until you uncover the real issue.
The Problem: Immaturity
It's easy for teens to let "little things" like personal hygiene or a bad attitude damage their workplace rep. Teaching them to behave professionally sets an example for life.
The signs: They're dressing sloppily, arriving late to work, asking to leave early and relaying anecdotes about goofing off.
How to help: Reiterate the long-term impact of taking employment seriously: Good behavior now means a strong reference later, which can lead to a better, higher-paying job in the future. "Give them a sense of how important first impressions are," advises Karen Hinds, author of A Teenager's Guide to the Workplace (New Books). "They should dress for the job they want, not the one they have."
When to get involved: Angelica L. Kloos, MD, assistant professor of pediatrics at the Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., says that "it is best for teens to experience for themselves the natural consequences of their behaviors," such as answering to a supervisor about why they're late. If your kid is fired as a result, help him process what happened and why, and discuss what he can do in the future to ensure it doesn't happen again. Moreover, resist the urge to give him money while he searches for new work. Warns Dr. Kloos, "If you provide for him what he planned on earning through a job, you may inadvertently take away his motivation to succeed in the workplace." Instead, suggest chores he can do to earn money while hunting for another job. Refusing to pay for extras like a cell phone or the latest video game will also teach him to take that position more seriously.
The Problem: Older Coworkers
As twentysomething workers continue to crowd adolescents out of an ever-tightening market, teens may labor alongside people old enough to smoke, drink, and do plenty of other things that send shivers up your spine.
The signs: Your teen asks to go out frequently after his shift, spends time with people you haven't met, and takes up interests and hobbies you don't approve of.
How to help: Warn your child in advance that he may be exposed to these things but that doesn't mean he has to partake. "Summer jobs can end up making teens feel very lonely, especially if everyone else is over 21 and likes to go out for drinks after work," says Nora E. Coon, author of Teen Dream Jobs (Beyond Words). She suggests making sure your child has at least one free day a week to have fun with friends his own age. Though the pressure to fit in can be overwhelming, remind your kid that he can always rely on school-related excuses like "I need to chip away at my summer reading list" to politely decline an invitation. (This also serves to remind his coworkers just how young he really is.)
When to get involved: When it's obvious your kid has fallen in with a bad older crowd, set a curfew and insist on meeting any colleagues he wants to hang out with. The prospect of introducing them to mom—how humiliating!—may squelch his desire to roll with grown-ups.
The Problem: Unfair Wages
Minimum wage is par for the course in the teen labor market, but parents and teens should be familiar with the rules of their home state.
The signs: Your teen was promised one wage but received another, is being paid off the books, isn't receiving enough in tips to subsidize a sub-minimum-wage income, or seems to be pulling crazy hours with no overtime compensation.
How to help: Outside of taking odd jobs like babysitting or mowing a neighbor's lawn, teens should avoid accepting under-the-table pay. "Any employment opportunity that doesn't follow the law in one area is particularly vulnerable to other workplace abuses," says Coon. When it comes to overtime, the law determines how long a teen can work, especially during the school year; in many cases, hourly workers of any age should be earning one and a half times their regular pay rate for overtime. And teens ages 14 and 15 are not permitted to clock in more than 40 hours during a nonschool week. Kids should also try to stay on top of sub-minimum wage situations like table waiting, which rely heavily on gratuities. "Tips could be pretty hard for a teenager to keep track of," says David Neumark, coauthor of Minimum Wages (The MIT Press). Some states offer a tip credit, which means that tips earned count toward the minimum wage owed; other states, like California, require that an employer pay the full minimum wage, regardless of how much the employee makes in tips. Your teen should know the law for her state, and declare her tips in full. (The IRS could be watching.)
When to get involved: If your kid believes her employer is violating a federal or state law, encourage her to file a complaint through the Department of Labor.
The Problem: Workplace Bullying, Discrimination, or Harassment
Last year the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) took in 99,922 total charges of discrimination. Teens are most likely to encounter it in some form of sexual harassment, but discrimination can manifest itself in other ways too. Whether it's an abusive boss, mean-spirited coworkers, or a jerky customer, Slomka says, "parents need to let teens know that bullying should never be tolerated."
The signs: Your teen is crying a lot, complaining about hostile customers, or panicking when sharing a shift with a particular supervisor or coworker.
How to help: "Although the law doesn't prohibit simple teasing, offhand comments, or isolated incidents that are not very serious, harassment is illegal when it is so frequent or severe it creates a hostile or offensive work environment," explains Justine Lisser, a senior attorney-adviser at the EEOC. Parents should instruct teens on how to react in these situations: Giggling out of nervousness when a supervisor propositions them, for example, could come off as flirting. Rather, they must be firm, first confronting the offender and, if that fails, moving their complaint up the chain of command (and over to the EEOC, if necessary).
When to get involved: "Teens have to be able to deal with these situations on their own or they will forever be the victim," says Jennie Withers, author of Hey, Get a Job! (Caxton). Parents can accompany their child if they need to report an abusive situation to a regional manager or HR department, but they "should let them do most of the talking," says Withers. If there is still no redress, allow your teen to quit the job and file a formal charge (be aware of the statute of limitations—usually 180 to 300 days).
The Problem: Hazardous or Illegal Working Conditions
According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, between 60 and 70 teens die every year from work-related injuries; thousands more end up in the E.R. "It's the employer's responsibility not to ask workers to do illegal or unsafe things," says Carol Runyan, director of the University of North Carolina Injury Prevention Research Center.
The signs: Your child seems stressed or burned-out, spends a lot of time at work unsupervised, or uses dangerous equipment like box crushers or slicers.
How to help: Make sure the employers are following the law, advises Runyan, referring to federal and state child labor rulings that limit how long and how late teens can work, and what types of tasks they may perform. Start by asking your teen if he has received on-the-job safety training, then feel out his day-to-day routine. Teens shouldn't close shops by themselves at night or work alone for any length of time. Lack of proper adult supervision not only can lead to workplace injuries, but may also tempt some teens to misuse company property, invite friends in for "freebies," or even shoplift.
When to get involved: Because teens are trying desperately to fit in at an adult workplace, it's imperative that parents don't attempt to talk to the employer on behalf of their kid. Instead, offer suggestions on what to say and give them permission to leave the job if the situation doesn't improve. "Teens need assurance that they aren't failing or giving up," says Withers. "It's actually the opposite. If they leave a job where they are being taken advantage of, they are demonstrating courage and ensuring their future success and happiness."
Teen Job Websites to Bookmark
Youth@Work (eeoc.gov/youth)
The EEOC's teen initiative outlines the types of discrimination teens may encounter on the job, plus provides info on how to file a complaint if they feel their rights have been violated.
Young Workers (dol.gov)
The U.S. Department of Labor's Youth & Labor section is the mother of all resources, with up-to-the-minute details on federal and state child labor laws, wages, work-hour restrictions, and safety requirements for minors.
YouthRules! (youthrules.dol.gov)
This DOL subsite puts the rules—how long teens can work, how much they should be paid, and the types of jobs they can do—in plain English for parents, teens, educators, and employers.
Teens4Hire (teens4hire.org)
Job seekers will find thousands of full-time, part-time, and seasonal teen jobs advertised here, as well as info on youth employment, work permits, and labor laws.
Best Jobs for Summer 2011
—Camp counselor
—Dog walker
—Grocery bagger or cashier
—Health care assistant
—Receptionist or administrative assistant
—Store clerk
—Ticket taker
Originally published in the May 2011 issue of Family Circle magazine.


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Shipping on domestic USA and International orders is calculated based on weight and destination.
All orders ship from our USA store in Lake Mary, Florida or our USA warehouse.
We dispatch orders in a discreet outer box or polymailer with only an address label visible with return store name and address.
Axami products ship in 1 week or less if shown available in stock. Sizes which are out of stock are available for Special Order. Special Orders will take approximately 10 business days to dispatch. (business days Monday-Friday and excluding holidays).
Sales tax is required for addresses in Florida.
Countries outside of the USA may have customs duties/taxes due upon arrival to customs. It is the buyer's responsibility to pay any duties/taxes due as well as any tax collection fees.
If you order several items with different dispatch times, all items will ship by the last dispatch time or may ship separately.


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| Home | What's New | China with Kids |
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China Travel and Cultural Wonders
... from Our Family to Yours
Whether you will be traveling to China with the children, or just want to learn more about those mighty Chinese Dragons...
We bring China to you in these pages, we hope you enjoy them as much as we have enjoyed putting them together!
What is China Family Adventure? This is a site about China for kids and families all over the world, that share
our same interest and enthusiasm about China and Chinese Culture. The site is possible thanks to our many friends and readers
who have kindly contributed their experiences so we can all enjoy and benefit from them.
About China Travel with Kids
China travel is not only about temples and imperial palaces, Peking Opera and Buddhas... Your China Family Adventure is about climbing watchtowers... exploring narrow alleyways... flying kites... coming face to face with giant Pandas... cruising rivers on bamboo rafts... and so much more!
Planning a trip to China with children takes on a different meaning. It has to be beyond the rich culture and beautiful scenery. It's about making more than five thousand years of history come alive...
China is not regarded as your typical destination for a family vacation with small children. People will tell you it's too crowded, too polluted, all that sightseeing, culture and history will bore the daylights out of them...
Well yes, it will be crowded and the air quality is a real problem, but with a little planning and an open mind, a China travel experience can be such an eye opener, an exploration journey and fabulous adventure for the family!
Ours started when my parents, who are originally from South China, were keen on visiting their homeland and wanted to bring the grandkids along. It was an experience we will treasure forever. We have ever since gone back a few times and each and every time is special and unique, the changes are just mind-boggling.
And so, a China travel experience isn't just history and the past, it's also about the future, about the impressive transformation this land of contrasts is going through... about the progress and the serious challenges.
We rode the fastest train in the world... at 433 km/hr it took all but 5 minutes to get to the airport in Shanghai.
And cruising through the largest hydro development project ever built at the Three Gorges Dam was like a ride out of Starship Enterprise... truly amazing.
About Chinese Culture...We will be learning about Chinese Culture at every turn... Chinese Ghosts, Chinese Lanterns... Good Luck Numbers, Bad Luck Numbers... Lion Dances and mighty dragons... Our favourite Chinese Festivals and how they are celebrated... We take you on that colorful journey as well...
Here are some of our favorite and most popular aspects of Chinese Culture to get you started:
And some China Facts for Kids...
Want to learn more about China? Here are some facts about this fascinating land... Where is China? What are some animals native to China? What is life in China like?...
Whether you are researching a bit about China for a school project or just want to learn more about the land and its people, our China Facts for Kids pages will get you started.
And don't forget to check out our maps, from highlights and main cities, to rivers, mountains and deserts, it's a big country!
We are here to share experiences from our family travels in China as well as from our own cultural heritage, and help you on your way to having your own China Family Adventure!
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Political fallout over the seizure of Crimea has caused the U.S. government to rethink its partnership with Russia on space programs, which has bolstered business prospects for a historic California rocket company.
Engineers at Aerojet Rocketdyne in Canoga Park are designing a new liquid-fuel rocket engine that would directly compete against one built by a Russian company that's currently used on high-profile launches.
If Aerojet Rocketdyne does end up building the replacement engine, it could mean millions of dollars' worth of contracts and years of work for employees in Canoga Park, who have been stung by layoffs and program cancellations for years.
"It's a potential game-changer on many fronts," said Warren M. Boley, Aerojet Rocketdyne president. "It would build on our ongoing legacy."
If the federal government ultimately decides to buy the idea, it would mark a return to the ingenuity of the rocket engine manufacturing business that helped pioneer space exploration. Aerojet Rocketdyne supplied the colossal Saturn V rocket's major engines for the Apollo moon shots. The company also built the shuttle's reusable main engines.
Game-changing new generations of large rocket engines like these have not been developed since
Although many herald the emergence of Hawthorne upstart
"There just hasn't been enough government investment," said Daniel Gouré, national security analyst with the Lexington Institute in Arlington, Va. "A new engine would free us from dependence on Russia. This is an important undertaking from an economic, jobs and national security perspective."
Now, Aerojet Rocketdyne is developing the AR-1, the first engine to be built since Aerojet and Rocketdyne merged last year to become the nation's sole provider of large liquid-fuel rocket engines.
The engine, which would provide 500,000 pounds of thrust, could be installed on a variety of rockets, such as SpaceX's Falcon 9 or
United Launch Alliance is a joint venture of the nation's two largest weapons makers, Boeing Co. and
The RD-180 engine provides the main thrust for the rocket. The arrangement with Russia, though, is showing some strain.
Last month, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin suggested that his nation might halt U.S. access to its launch vehicles and may use the International Space Station without American participation.
In the wake of Russia's seizure of Crimea, the
United Launch Alliance said it was not aware of any restrictions. But even if an embargo on the engines takes effect, the company says, it has stockpiled a two-year supply.
Aerojet Rocketdyne said AR-1 engines wouldn't be ready until 2019, and will probably cost up to $25 million for a pair.
The company said it has already spent about $300 million on research and development of the AR-1. No decision has been made on where the engine will be assembled, but there's a good chance that it will be Canoga Park.
Rocketdyne engineers were at the forefront of developing engines in the days of slide rules and drafting tables, before advanced computers took a central role.
It was here that the biggest engines in NASA's manned spaceflight program were put together: the mighty F-1s on the Saturn V and the dependable Space Shuttle's main engines.
Once swarming with engineers and technicians toiling on various programs, the storied site in Canoga Park is now empty. The scores of massive machines once humming and churning out parts for spacecraft sit dormant.
The remaining workforce of about 1,000 has been moved to a facility a few miles away on DeSoto Avenue.
Twitter: @wjhenn


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The BMW i3 has overcome a host of high-ranking challengers to be crowned the 2014 Wheels Car of the Year in a gala ceremony held in The Carousel in Albert Park, Melbourne last night.
The first ever electric vehicle to claim Australia's most coveted motoring prize, the BMW i3 was recognised for its revolutionary concept, dynamics and construction and further consolidates the marque's reputation as the world's most sustainable automotive manufacturer.
The BMW i3's triumph marks the first time the Bavarian institution has claimed the revered prize.
Wheels Magazine's Editor, Glenn Butler, said the BMW i3 "is a car both courageous and convincing. Other brands surely possess the know-how to have created something equally visionary. BMW had the bravery.
"This innovative and compact electric car combines expressive design, impressive engineering, exceptional efficiency and persuasive practicality with a good deal of driver appeal.
"For its far-sighted clarity of vision and unswerving execution, the i3 is Wheels Car of the Year 2014."
Describing the award as iconic in the industry, BMW Group Australia Managing Director Marc Werner thanked Wheels for recognising the BMW i3 as a game changer.
"The BMW i3 has won some high profile international awards since its launch, but the Wheels Car of the Year prize is clearly at the top of the tree. It stands out for being Australia's top vehicle award, and also the longest continuously running award in the world," Werner said.
"Wheels Car of the Year is renowned for including rigorous and comprehensive testing by Australia's toughest automotive journalists. It's proof of a vehicle's performance against the five selected award criteria – function, technology, efficiency, safety and value.
Werner added: "And because we know just how tough the testing is, we're absolutely thrilled, excited and delighted that the BMW i3 is Wheels' Car of the Year – and the first-ever electric vehicle to claim this coveted award.
"I know that every single member of the BMW family will feel the same, and will join me in thanking the judges, the editor and the publisher."
The world's first purpose-designed premium electric car, the BMW i3 represents the future of urban mobility, placing sustainability, inspiring design and dynamic driving at the forefront of its mission, capable of travelling between 160km and 200km on a single charge.
Defining premium for the next generation, the BMW i3 reaffirms the automaker's place at the vanguard of industry innovation, embodying the brand's holistic approach to sustainability. Developed at BMW AG's carbon neutral Leipzig facility, the BMW i3 is designed to be as sustainable as possible from the factory to the road, encompassing its entire life until disposal.
Heralding the arrival of a new paradigm for the car industry, the BMW i3's carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) passenger cell is a world first for a volume-production vehicle, with the material produced at a US plant drawing upon regenerative hydro-electric power.
While the lightweight technology aids efficiency, the use of carbon fibre reinforced plastic also enables new design possibilities, generating more interior space and complex, aerodynamically optimised forms.
The exclusive use of sustainable materials characterises the BMW i3's interior, harnessing innovative materials, including fibres from the Kenaf plant, naturally tanned leather from south-German cattle hides as well as open-pored eucalyptus wood, 100 per cent certified as the product of responsible forestry.
Boasting an aluminium drive platform, and advanced, efficient BMW eDrive electric powertrain, the BMW i3 delivers excellent driving dynamics and a typical range of between 160 to 200 km on one charge.
About Wheels Magazine Car of the Year
Established in 1953, Wheels is Australia's most revered and authoritative car publication, presenting 164 glossy pages of articles and photography from some of Australia's, and the world's best journalists.
Awarded by a panel of seven automotive experts boasting over 150-years experience in automotive journalism, design and engineering, the Wheels Car of the Year is the world's longest continually running automotive award, and is now in its 52nd year.
All significant new models launched in a calendar year are eligible for the prize, with the best shortlisted for seven days of gruelling testing by the nation's toughest motoring judges, including Wheels editor Glenn Butler.
The BMW Group
With its three brands BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce, the BMW Group is the world's leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services. As a global company, the BMW Group operates 30 production and assembly facilities in 14 countries and has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.
In 2014, the BMW Group sold approximately 2.118 million cars and 123,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax for the financial year 2013 was € 7.91 billion on revenues amounting to approximately € 76.06 billion. As of 31 December 2013, the BMW Group had a workforce of 110,351 employees.
The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore established ecological and social sustainability throughout the value chain, comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy.
Find out more about the BMW i3
Wheels Car of the Year
Wheels Car of the Year finalist video


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With the soreness in Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's shoulder and chest starting to diminish, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin says Roethlisberger could start on Sunday against the Chargers.
"Ben will be given an opportunity to prove whether or not he is healthy," Tomlin said at his press conference today. "Obviously Charlie Batch is our guy game planning right now."
Roethlisberger having an opportunity to prove that he can play is a step in the right direction, although Tomlin's comments sounded less optimistic than a report Tuesday in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, which said the Steelers expect Roethlisberger to play. The Steelers, who have gone 1-2 without Roethlisberger, still control their playoff destiny, although they don't have a lot of room for error with the Bengals chasing them for the final wild card spot in the AFC.
Tomlin also confirmed that cornerback Ike Taylor has a fracture in his right ankle and will miss a couple weeks, and that offensive tackle Mike Adams is out for at least another week.


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The Expedition 39 crew welcomed nearly two and a half tons of supplies and scientific payloads to the International Space Station with the arrival of the third SpaceX Dragon commercial cargo spacecraft Sunday.
With Dragon securely in the grasp of Canadarm2, the robotics officer at Mission Control remotely operated the arm to install the capsule to its port on the Earth-facing side of the Harmony module. Once Dragon was in place, Flight Engineer Rick Mastracchio monitored the Common Berthing Mechanism operations for first and second stage capture of the cargo ship, assuring that the vehicle was securely attached to the station with a hard mate. Second stage capture was completed at 10:06 a.m. EDT as the station flew 260 miles above Brazil.
Dragon was grappled at 7:14 a.m. as it flew within about 32 feet of the complex by Commander Koichi Wakata — with assistance from Mastracchio – as he controlled the 57-foot Canadarm2 from a robotics workstation inside the station's cupola. Flight Engineer Steve Swanson joined his crewmates in the seven-windowed cupola to assist with the capture and help coordinate the activities. At the time of capture, the orbital laboratory was flying around 260 statute miles over Egypt, west of the Nile River.
Afterward, Wakata sent down his kudos to SpaceX and the ground teams as he remarked, "Congratulations to the entire ops team for the successful launch, rendezvous and capture operation. The vehicle, the spacecraft was very solid and very stable. And the Canadarm2 was really solid, and it made it easier for us to capture."
The crew will spend much of the remainder of their workday pressurizing the vestibule between Dragon and the station and setting up power and data cables to prepare for the opening of Dragon's hatch on Monday.
Filled with nearly 5,000 pounds of crew supplies and cargo to support more than 150 scientific investigations planned for Expeditions 39 and 40, Dragon is scheduled to spend four weeks attached to the station. The crew will reload the space freighter with about 3,600 pounds of experiment samples and hardware for return to Earth.
After Dragon's mission at the station is completed, Mission Control Houston will remotely unberth Dragon from Harmony and maneuver it to the to the release point with Canadarm2, The station crew then will release Dragon for its parachute-assisted splashdown and recovery in the Pacific Ocean.
Dragon launched atop a Falcon 9 rocket at 3:25 p.m. Friday from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The SpaceX-3 mission is the company's third cargo delivery flight to the station through a $1.6 billion NASA Commercial Resupply Services contract.


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Happy Halloween – 2012
Oct 31 2012
Halloween is an interesting day that brings up memories from my youth through adulthood. I love that my kids are so excited about it and enjoy trick or treating. My son dressed up as a Jawa and my daughter as a Native American (that's what it said on the package her costume came in). People kept calling her Pocahontas and she kept correcting them saying she was a Native American, not Pocahontas. 🙂
I used to love spreading out the candy I got on the floor of our living room when I was a kid. My favorite sweet things were pixie sticks (pure sugar). As a teenager, I enjoyed dressing up as a belly dancer wearing an army jacket. I had an absolute blast at our company Halloween party on the 25th of October. I dressed up as Uhura from Star Trek and there were many others dressed up as Star Trek characters so we could have easily formed a whole crew. I finally had to buy a new costume because for the past seemingly 10 years, I sometimes dressed up as an Egyptian princess. Anyway, I hope everyone had a safe and fun Halloween.Author: Aruni | Filed under: FYI, holiday | Tags: halloween, jawa, native american, pocahontas | Comments Off on Happy Halloween – 2012


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Elements Shaken not Stirred Makeup Remover
In stock
$18.00 / 4 Fl oz
Easy on the eyes.
Hydrates lashes and leaves skin clean and refreshed
Elements Shaken not Stirred Makeup Remover
Product Overview
This shake-to-activate dual-phased formula is gentle on your precious eye area, hydrates lashes, and leaves skin feeling refreshed and makeup-free.
Ingredients & Technologies
Polynesian Water
Hydrates skin and lashes
Wakame Extract
Known to help soothe and nourish skin
Active Dual-Phase System
Gently dissolves stubborn makeup and mascara
PARABENS / MINERAL OILS / PHTHALATESView all ingredients
How To Apply
Shake well to activate the dual phase formula. Soak a cotton pad and gently apply to eye area. Repeat if necessary with a fresh cotton pad.
All Ingredients
Water/Aqua/Eau, Cyclopentasiloxane, Isohexadecane, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Sea Water/Maris Aqua/Eau De Mer, Copper Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Magnesium Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Glycerin, Dipotassium Phosphate, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Trisodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Yellow 5 (CI 19140)
Write Your Own Review


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Mirus necesitaba un nuevo diseño de página web y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 18 diseños de 7 diseñadores freelance.
Rader Family Farms
We're a small, family owned farm in Central IL. During late summer and early fall, we open the working farm to the public. We offer the sweetest sweet corn in the Midwest and then later on around harvest, we offer pumpkins (both pick your own and pre-picked and washed , gourds, corn mazes, animal petting areas, wagon rides, haybale climbing towers, face painting, and all those other traditional fall harvest festival types of activities.
This site will target the general local public and many of the local schools who bring children out to the farm during the school year. This site is intended to help brand the farm to the community at large. Since this is a seasonal activity, there will be a long period of time each year when the site is not being used and rarely viewed. For that period of time, we create a page just noting when the farm will be open again the following fall.
Basically, we're looking for two page designs.
• One is the homepage, which is going to be used to draw people into the site. We want to be able to include some decent sized photos on the homepage that we'll use flash to rotate. There also needs to be a image or indicator that can be used to funnel school related requests for class trips. There also needs to be an area where we can highlight what's coming up on the next weekend or promote something in particular. The color theme should target earthy fall colors (oranges, yellows, browns, blacks, etc.
• The other page we need is simply a secondary page template with a top and right nav availability. All navigation will be the same on all subsidiary pages. The nav on the homepage may be slightly different that the secondary page, but your task would be to com up with a top header and left nav that all content will fit in.
• Some other pumpkin farm sites that we think are well done include:
• http://www.appleannies.com/
• http://www.tolmachoff-farms.com
• We do have a logo which you can use, but you'll need to add color to it as it's just a B&W eps at this point. It's located at http://www.mirusresearch.com/rff/logo.jpg
• We need the final output in layered PSD file.


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windstoked wrote:The bigger picture here is what does this mean for NorCal access?
We need to be proactive in avoiding a situation like that here.
One of the places I'm concerned about is Dillon.
That's one of the places where the most user variability is concentrated.
Maybe we should come up with launch guidelines there that will minimize the chances of an accident or possibly worse a fight like they they got that started this whole thing at Kanaha.
Mr. Panic as always.
Don't fix it if it aint broken. That place is just fine.


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Transform your photos into one-of-a-kind, hand painted masterpieces!
Dairy by Troy Montemayor - 10" x 8"
Luster Photo Paper
Rolled in a Tube
Assembly Charge
Dairy poster by Troy Montemayor. Our posters are produced on acid-free papers using archival inks to guarantee that they last a lifetime without fading or loss of color. All posters include a 1" white border around the image to allow for future framing and matting, if desired.
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All prints ship in durable cardboard tubes.
Pixels is one of the largest, most-respected giclee printing companies in the world with over 40 years of experience producing museum-quality posters and prints. All of our posters are produced on state-of-the-art, professional-grade Epson printers.
We use acid-free paper with archival inks to guarantee that your posters last a lifetime without fading or loss of color. All posters include a 1" white border around the image to allow for future framing and matting, if desired.
Posters ship within 3 - 4 business days in durable cardboard tubes.
Average Rating (4.93 Stars):
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June 18th, 2019
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June 18th, 2019
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June 18th, 2019
A closed dairy is boarded up in Tracy, California
About me? Well, I enjoy long walks on the beach.... No, I guess that's not what you want to hear. I have been interested in photography for many, many years. I still have my second hand Kodak Brownie camera that I bought when I was six or seven years old. I took a photography class when I was in junior high school, but never really took any other classes or schooling in photography after that. Instead, after learning the basics, I photograph what I find pleasing. I prefer to photograph nature, ghost towns and the unusual. Whenever I can, I head off into the great unknown in search of photographic possibilities. I prefer the deserts of the American Southwest. Until recently, I was reluctant to convert to a digital format....
Our return policy is very simple:
If you're not happy with a purchase that you made on Pixels.com, for any reason, you can return it to us within 30 days of the order date. As soon as it arrives, we'll issue a full refund for the entire purchase price. Please note - Pixels does not reimburse the outgoing or return shipping charges unless the return is due to a defect in quality.
Pixels sells thousands of pieces of artwork each month - all with a 100% money-back guarantee. We take great pride in the fact that hundreds of thousands of artists have chosen Pixels to fulfill their orders, and we look forward to helping you select your next piece!
All posters ship from our production facility within 2 - 3 business days of your order.


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The Hillyard from Mosley Tribes has a retro look and a stylish angular design. These unisex sunglasses sport an acetate frame and the Mosley Tribes l...ogo at the temples. The Hillyard also comes packaged with a cleaning cloth and case.
Size 55mm Temple 143mm Read More
Sneakerhead.com will issue you a FREE return label if you are not completely satisfied with your purchase. Learn more
Create an account today and start earning points you can redeem for discounts, goods & more.
Get the sneakers & goods you want, shipped to your part of the globe. Int'l Shipping details.


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Cambridge Municipal Code, Chapter 8.24 was drafted to help reduce rodent problems, protect public health and ensure cleaner streets.
Citations (fines of $25.00 per violation) will be issued for the following violations:
1. Trash/recycling out before 6:00 p.m. on the day before collection
2. Trash in plastic bags out the night before collection
3. Trash bags used are not heavy-duty bags
4. Trash barrel(s) have no tight-fitting lids
5. Trash in plastic bags or barrels exceeding 50 pounds or 50 gallons
6. Trash/recycling out 2-3 days before pickup
7. Cardboard not flat or larger than 3 feet by 3 feet bundles (changed with Single-stream recycling)
8. Cardboard boxes used as trash receptacles
9. No participation in the recycling program
If you have a disability and would like information regarding exemption for the time that you may place trash and recycling at the curb, contact the Commission for Persons with Disabilities at 617.349.4692. However, trash still must be in the proper receptacles.
For information regarding noncompliance with trash and recycling ordinances, please contact: Tom Riordan, 617.349.4843/ email@example.com or Maryann Wojakowski, 617.349.4816/ email@example.com.
Learn more about Cambridge's Recycling and Trash programs.
Cambridge citizen requests, now online & on the go! Report issues here.
Have a question?Find the answer in our extensiveFrequently Asked Questions
147 Hampshire StCambridge
02139Phone:617.349.4800TDD:617.499.9924Email Us
Monday: 8:30am-8pm
Tuesday-Thursday: 8:30am-5pm
Friday: 8:30am-12pm
See Code of Ordinancesfor Cambridge, MA
Learn more


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We've been there. And it was magical.
We had the most wonderful night at this little amusement park. It had been rented out for a private party that we were invited to and there was free ice cream, free cotton candy, and free drinks and cookout food. My kids were in heaven. I literally would say to them when they were trying to quickly finish their ice cream so that we could get on a ride, "Just throw it away and we'll get a new one when were done riding." It was awesome. All of the rides are smaller and they were the perfect sizes for my two kids. And there were no lines at all, you could just stay on and ride again and again if you wanted. My son went on a roller coaster for the first time and he loved it! Oh, and there was a mini golf course right in the middle of the park. For my little golf obsessed boy it was heaven. They had a train ride that went all the way around the property and even had a little tunnel that went under the road to the entrance of the park. It was so fun riding the train and just being amazed at how this place was literally in the midst of corn fields. The weather was perfect. There were some ominous looking clouds when we first arrived, but they cleared up into a beautiful sunset. I serious couldn't think of a more perfect time. My daughter put it best when we got home and she was climbing into bed..."Mommy, this was the best day of my entire life." Does it get any better than that?
This amusement park is called Stricker's Grove and you can find their website here.


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Havoc: The Hundred Years War is a strategy game for 2-6 players.Game info on BoardGameGeek.com
This form will move this price for this item to a new item. Search for the item you want to move to below, then submit.
You can find a BGG ID for a game by visiting it's game page on BGG's website. Then copy/paste the ID found in the URL. Below is a screenshot of where to find the ID.
Shopping at eBay, Walmart, or Jet.com? Click here to get $10 cashback from Ebates!
A review of CABO, a card game where you can swap and spy to make sure you have the lowest score at the end of the game.
The first look at the new reprint of Dune, the newest game from Snowdale Design, and Plaid Hat announces Aftermath
Board Game Mechanics>
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kvsupply.com > Cats > Cat Food > Item # 495790
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Product Summary:
Fromm Four-Star Chicken A La Veg Dry Cat Food features a wholesome blend of lean chicken, specialty grains and other nutritious components which are never dried or pre-processed.
Chicken, Chicken Meal, Pearled Barley, White Rice, Chicken Broth, Sweet Potato, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Whole Dried Egg, Potato, Pea Protein, Dried Tomato Pomace, Salmon Oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Chicken Liver, Flaxseed, Carrots, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Apples, Lecithin, Chicken Cartilage, DL-Methionine, Potassium Chloride, Cranberries, Blueberries, Salt, Chicory Root Extract, Alfalfa Sprouts, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Folic Acid, Parsley, Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Bifidobacterium Longum, Lactobacillus Plantarum, Enterococcous Faecium, Vitamin A, D3, E, B12 Supplements, Choline Bitartrate, Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Riboflavin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Biotin, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Cobalt Carbonate, Calcium Iodate, Sorbic Acid, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Sodium Selenite.
Guaranteed Analysis
Protein: 32% (min.)
Fat: 19% (min.)
Fiber: 3.5% (max.)
Moisture: 10% (max.)
Ash: 6.5% (max.)
Magnesium: 0.10% (max.)
Taurine: 0.12% (min.)
Omega 6 Fatty Acids: 3.1% (min.)
Omega 3 Fatty Acids: 0.5% (min.)
Lactobacillus Acidophilus: 100,000,000 CFU/lb. (min.)
Bifidobacterium Longum: 100,000,000 CFU/lb. (min.)
Lactobacillus Plantarum: 100,000,000 CFU/lb. (min.)
Enterococcous Faecium: 100,000,000 CFU/lb. (min.)
Daily Feeding Guidelines:
5-10 lb. (2.3-4.5kg): 1/3 - 1/2 cups (35-53g)
10-15 lb. (4.5-6.8kg): 1/2 - 2/3 cups (57-75g)
Fromm 4-Star Grain Free Surf and Turf Dry Cat Food
Now: $21.52
Fromm 4-Star Chicken A La Veg Dry Dog Food
Starting at: $57.88
Cuz Dog Toy
Starting at: $2.45
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Queen Lili'uokalani's legacy continues to inspire
She may have been forced to give up her throne more than a century ago, but Queen Lili'uokalani retains a firm hold on the hearts of many Native Hawaiians — and has captured the imaginations of a growing number of authors and artists. And given the role that Northern California played in the islands' history, it's only appropriate that some of the new explorations of her legacy are originating here.
On Saturday, Oakland kumu hula Mark Keali'i Ho'omalu and performers from his Academy of Hawaiian Arts will present the U.S. premiere of "Kingdom Denied—Between the Lines," a theatrical presentation examining the monarchy's overthrow through the music of the queen, her royal siblings and their supporters. (For more about the show at Chabot College, see the preview in Hawaii Insider.) Among those eagerly anticipating the production: Julia Flynn Siler, Marin resident and author of "Lost Kingdom: Hawaii's Last Queen, the Sugar Kings, and America's First Imperial Adventure" (Atlantic Monthly), which hit regional bestseller lists shortly after its release in January. She'll be one of the keynote speakers of the Distinctive Women In Hawaiian History conference in Honolulu Sept. 15, and will address audiences across school groups and other audiences there before returning to San Francisco for the opening Litquake panel on Oct. 5.
A Native Californian who first visited Hawaii on family vacations, Siler said she had only a "slim grasp" on the history of islands growing up. "Never in my history classes did we study how Hawaii became part of the United States," she noted in an interview yesterday, adding that she was "stunned" after reading the first chapter of former New York Times reporter Stephen Kinser's 2007 "Overthrow: America's Century of Regime Change," which highlighted the role of U.S. mercantile interests in the 1893 takeover and 1898 annexation. "I did not know that it had happened," she said. "Even though he just devoted one chapter to it, he did it very skillfully."
Siler wrote a book proposal for "Lost Kingdom" in 2007-8, intrigued by Kinser's work and the election of a president who came from Hawaii ("The zeitgeist was just there," she observed.) Already a bestselling author for 2007's "The House of Mondavi," detailing the Napa Valley winemaking family's disarray, and a contributing writer for the Wall Street Journal, Siler said she initially she saw the story as "a terrific story of a land grab," but that changed during her research.
"There are so many unanswered questions, and I had a particular way of approaching it from my long experience as a business reporter, looking at the money and the economic transformation of the islands," she explained. "The further I got into it, I realized that it's a painful tragedy, and much deeper than a business story."
Revealing letters
It helped that Siler had access to some 1,800 pages of newly transcribed letters and other documents of Queen Lili'uokalani and the royal family, given to her by renowned bibliographer David Forbes before he presented them to the Hawaii State Archives.
"He spent four years gathering correspondence of all the royals and painstakingly transcribing it … The amount of labor it involved, I can't even begin to tell you," Siler noted. "The result of this was it offered me, a writer who happened to get lucky, the opportunity to understand Lili'u" — one of the queen's birth names — "and her relationship with the rest of the family. … That's one of the reasons I decided to tell the story of Lili'u: I had such a wealth of material and so much insight from it."
Through reading diary entries and letters, for example, Siler learned how many tragedies in the queen's life shaped her response to the businessmen and descendants of American missionaries who challenged her rule, especially when it came to avoiding loss of life.
"The death of her sister [Princess Miriam Likelike] was particularly heartbreaking. I felt incredible admiration for her ability to forgive her enemies and her very difficult decision not to fight back when they came marching through," Siler said. "And once you start looking at the waves of disease that swept through Native Hawaiians, and the amount of deaths and funerals that she went to, you understand that she didn't want to lose a single Hawaiian."
These transcriptions, Siler noted, would not have been available to authors Sarah Vowell, whose 2011 nonfiction bestseller "Unfamiliar Fishes" wryly covers much of the same turbulent period, or novelist James D. Houston, who wrote about the 19th century connections of California and Hawaii, including the death of Kalākaua in San Francisco in 1891, in 2007's "Bird of Another Heaven." The Santa Cruz writer was also working on a novel about Queen Lili'uokalani, according to Siler, when he died in 2009. But even with all the documents, there are still unanswered questions.
"As she took the throne, as her enemies started circling around her and tightening, she became aware that her diaries and letters may have been read, and she became cautious about what she wrote on paper," Siler said. "How fascinating it would have been to sit and talk with her about her feelings."
Exploring royal legacy
For those who want to learn more about Queen Lili'uokalani, Siler recommends touring 'Iolani Palace, where she ruled and was later imprisoned, and Washington Place, where she lived before and after her reign, until her death in 1917.
Built by the family of the queen's husband, John Owen Dominis, Washington Place is now the official residence of the governor of Hawaii, and is available for weekly tours by reservation. "Her bedroom, where she died, was very poignant," said Siler, who noted that the low-income children benefiting from the Queen Lili'uokalani Trust recently had their annual gathering there. The palace, meanwhile, is "a very unsettled place — it's sad, unfinished. It's surprising," she commented. "I can't tell you how many times I've been there I come away with a deeper feeling toward it."
'Iolani is also home to a patchwork quilt the queen and her companions made during her 10-month house arrest there. "Every time I see that quilt, I get chicken skin," Siler said. "It's a physical manifestation of that time, her imprisonment and her legacy. It's very, very moving."
The palace also hosts an annual 'Onipa'a celebration around the queen's birthday (Sept. 2), named for her motto, meaning "steadfast" or "determined" in Hawaiian. It includes living history walking tours, which continue through Sept. 9 this year, that retrace "four pivotal days leading up to and including the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy" (click here to register.)
Parts of the 7.5-acre Lili'uokalani Botanical Garden in Honolulu once belonged to the queen, who enjoyed picnicking there, next to Nu'uanu Stream and waterfalls, and bequeathed it to the city. The park now showcases native Hawaiian plants and is open daily (except Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.)
In addition to Siler's Litquake presentation, she'll speak locally about "Lost Kingdom" Oct. 25 at the San Domenico School Author Luncheon in San Anselmo and Nov. 8 at the Friends of the Fairfax Library Book Club. Siler will also moderate "East Meets West: Riveting History" with prize-winning authors Adam Hochschild and T. J. Stiles Nov. 11 at UC Berkeley. See her Web site for details.
Jeanne Cooper is the former Chronicle Travel Editor and author of SFGate's Hawaii Insider, a blog about Hawaii travel and island culture.


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350 gr. all-purpose flour
340 gr. sugar
250 gr. of unpeeled toasted almonds
3 eggs
1 teaspoon of baking powder
1 sachet of vanillin
grated lemon peel
a pinch of salt
Put sugar, grated lemon peel and eggs into Thermomix bowl: 30 seconds, speed 3 to 8.
Add flour, a pinch of salt and vanillin: 20 seconds, speed 4.
Add baking powder and almonds and mince: few seconds speed 4 - 5.
Work the mixture on a floured surface and form in shapes like in the photos.
Brush them with beaten egg.
Bake in pre-heated oven at 150° C for about 30 minutes, until they turn a rich brown color.
Take them out (without turning off the oven) and cut them diagonally into 2 cm pieces using a well-sharpened knife.
Bake them in oven for 15 minutes more.
Recipe and photos by Lya
Translation by Shad & Tinkerbell exclusively for www.quisquilie.mastertopforum.net
Biscotti best


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Posted by Jacqueline lloyd on October 29, 2003
i feel the need to express my absolute disagreement and anger towards the above phrase. it is so easy to say this 'sticks and stones' s h i t, but it is an entirely different matter applying it. words dont hurt, they KILL!! now please do not be shocked by my boldness but I really do mean what I say. now lets take for instance words that are said to us by our parents or care-givers. if they tell us we are fat or thick, then we believe this s h i t. all our lives we carry these words in our subconsious. forget the lovely words that anyone tells us, it is only the negative we focus on. dont ask me why, I am still trying to figure that one out. so stick your sticks and stones up your arse and get real and sort that one!!! jacquline lloyd [email protected]


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GOLDEN, CO — Fitnessmarker.com announced the launch of its free, online fitness application at www.fitnessmarker.com.
This online resource provides tools that assist fitness trainers, health professionals and fitness novices with exercise testing, interactive program design and dynamic workout tracking benefits.
Use of these tools is free and offers immediate and accurate results to users. Fitness trainers and health professionals have noted immediate and substantial savings in time and cost since the tools track and save results more efficiently than conventional, non-online methods, according to the company.
The company said its Fitness Lab section evaluates the fitness professional's test results and provides automatic assessment of body fat, cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength, endurance and flexibility. Professional and easily readable results are provided for print out, storage for future comparison, and can bear the trainer or fitness professional's ad or message.
Furthermore, the site provides an online "health fair" that has expedited the evaluation process to doubling or even tripling the amount of fitness candidates they can assess, increasing the trainer's services and improving the number of new clients.
"The tools developed for this application empower fitness trainers, their clients and health enthusiasts," says Rich Leach, president and chief executive officer of Fitnessmarker.com. "Trainers and health experts can now reach more potential clients, improve existing client/trainer relationships and cut their costs while offering additional value-added services."


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Garden Of Life Vitamin Code - Womens Multi
The Vitamin Code
Women's Formula
In developing Vitamin Code Women's Formula, Garden of Life® paid special attention to the complex functions of a woman's body. Providing select nutrients to support breast health with added vitamins D and E, the reproductive system with folic acid, calcium, magnesium and zinc, bone strength with appropriate amounts of vitamins A, C, D, calcium, magnesium and zinc*, Vitamin Code Women's Formula is the ultimate formulation for women.
Vitamin Code Women's Formula is a comprehensive multi-vitamin with RAW Food-Created Nutrients™ offering an extreme synergistic blend of vitamins and minerals for extraordinary health and vitality. This specialized formula for women addresses the nutritional needs to support the following areas:
- Breast Health * – Vitamins D and E
- Reproductive System * – Folic Acid, Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc
- Bone Strength * – Vitamins A, C, D, Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc
- Healthy Skin * – Vitamins A, C, Copper, Iron
- Heart Health* – Vitamin B Complex, Vitamins C and E
- Optimal Digestion * – Live Probiotics and Enzymes, Vitamin D
- Uncooked, Untreated, Unadulterated
- Binder Free — No Fructose, Maltodextrin, Magnesium Stearate or Corn Starch
- Live Enzymes & Probiotics
- 100% Active Ingredients
Food-Created Nutrients
- Premium, RAW, Whole Food Ingredients
- Individual Nutrient Creation with RAW Fruits & Vegetables
- Formulated for Easy Digestion
- Nutrient-Specific Peptides for Cellular Delivery
*This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Suggested Use:Adults take 4 capsules daily. Best when taken 2 capsules twice a day. May be taken with or without food. Not intended for children.


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Ask Your Library
Event box
Take a Walk, Read a Book, Have an Adventure! Read the children's book posted along the outside walking path, and enjoy a reading experience in nature! All Ages.
- Date:
- Thursday, November 8, 2018 Show more dates
- Time:
- All Day Event
- Campus:
- Chantilly Regional Library
- Categories:
- Age: All Ages/Families Age: Babies and Toddlers Age: Preschoolers Age: School Age Children


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The Colin McEnroe Show
Weekdays at 1:00 pm and 8:00 pm
We're asking the people who listen to describe what it sounds like to them. Josh Dobbin, our unofficial ombudsman and possibly most prolific commenter, is taking the first crack.
"The sublime and the ridiculous are often so nearly related, that it is difficult to class them separately."
Thomas Paine
The Colin McEnroe Show endeavors to prove Paine correct, every weekday. While the topics are unpredictable from one day to the next (previous show topics include whistling, placebos, politics, the nature of divinity, Barbra Streisand, bedbugs, human hydration, dinosaurs, unreliable narrators, ugliness, and raccoons), what is always assured is that a thoughtful, smart, and interesting exploration and conversation with amazing guests will take place about something.
Colin McEnroe is an author, playwright, professor, columnist, and blogger, who is allergic to penicillin and enjoys photographing his dog wearing hats and publishing those photos to the internet. He heads up a team that includes three inquisitive producers (see below) plus the comedy performer Chion Wolf, who doubles as the show's technical producer.
You can stream us live or subscribe on most podcasting platforms. While we are live, call us at (860) 275-7266. When we're live in our New Haven studios call us at 203-776-9677, or email us anytime at firstname.lastname@example.com. We're also on Twitter @wnprcolin. To reach us in the newsroom when we're not on air, call (860) 275-7272.
Contact producers:
The executive producer is Catie Talarski. The technical producer is Chion Wolf. The digital producer is Carlos Mejia.
Are you looking for our Radio for the Deaf broadcasts? Those are all collected under our very special, and if you don't mind us saying very nice looking RFTD site.


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The good news is that wheat prices tend to bottom out in August. Additional good news is that the odds of wheat prices below $4 are about 20 percent. The bad news is that U.S. wheat ending stocks are projected to be about 200 million bushels higher than when wheat prices averaged about $3.50.
At this writing, the Kansas City Board of Trade July 2010 wheat contract price is $5.55. Using a minus $0.75 basis, the market is predicting a June 2010 price of $4.80. If the 2010/-2011 wheat crop is above average (2.15 billion bushels), the KCBT July 2010 wheat contract price could decline to $4.25, and the June 2010 wheat prices could be near $3.50.
2010 wheat production will depend on how many acres are planted and the weather. For wheat prices to be in the $5 range, 2010 U.S. winter wheat production needs to be less than 1.4 billion bushels, and total wheat production needs to be less than 2.0 billion bushels.
Production may also be reduced by cutting back on fertilizer and other inputs, which could be a big mistake. With excess wheat in the U.S. and the world, flour millers have multiple sources to originate milling quality wheat (U.S. Grade # 2, 12 percent protein or better and max 0.5 percent dockage).
Reports indicate some 2008 low protein, hard red winter wheat that may have to be sold for feed. The problem of low milling quality wheat already exists.
If producers attempt to reduce production by cutting back on nitrogen, the odds are that wheat protein will be low. The current spread between corn and wheat indicates at least a $1 discount for feed quality (low protein) wheat and the discount may be as much as $1.50.
The spread is about $1.75 between Chicago Board of Trade corn contract prices and KCBT wheat contract prices. The spread is for feed corn and milling quality wheat.
Reduced inputs increase the odds of dockage and foreign material (FM). Dockage is non-wheat material that may be easily removed with screens and aspirators. Dockage includes weed seeds, chaff, straw, and like materials. Elevators should use a dockage machine (MCI Kicker or Carter-Day) to measure dockage.
Dockage is not a grade factor. Since many contracts limit dockage to 0.5 percent, elevators remove dockage from weight. Discounts are also applied for dockage over 1.0 percent. Cleaning wheat costs, at a minimum, four cents per bushel.
FM is non-wheat material that is about the same size and weight as wheat. Rye is one example of FM.
FM is a grade factor. Over 0.7 percent FM makes a sample "U.S. #3 wheat." Over 5 percent FM in a sample is "U.S. Sample Grade." If there is more than 10 percent rye in a sample, the load becomes "mixed grain" and can't be sold as wheat.
Low prices are telling producers not to plant marginal acres. Wheat producers around the world responded to the relatively high prices during the 2007-20/08 marketing year. Planted Wheat acres in the U.S. went from 40.5 million in 2006 to 45 million in 2007 and then to 46.3 million in 2008. All wheat acres went from 57.3 million to 63.8 million.
Planted wheat acres did decline to 59.8 million for the 2009 wheat crop. 2010 wheat planted acres need to be about 57 million. Hard red winter wheat acres need to be less than 30 million.
The market is currently projecting about $4.80 for June 2010 wheat prices. The actual price could be anywhere between $3.50 and $6. The actual price will depend on the acres planted and harvested, weather impacts, and production inputs.
Producers need to put a hard pencil to the planting decision. "If you can't show a profit with a pencil in the office, the odds are that you can't produce a profit with a tractor in the field."
The second thing producers can't afford is to produce wheat for a $4.80 market and then face discounts for dockage or low quality wheat.
A good philosophy may be, "Use a pencil to assist in the decision, and if you're going to do it, do it right." "Do not cut corners or reduce quality."


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William "Bill" Friday, who spent more than 30 years as president of the UNC system, passed away Friday
GASTONIA � Friends, state leaders and locals are mourning the death of a higher education giant raised in Dallas, N.C., who worked three decades as president of the University of North Carolina system.
William �Bill� Friday died in his sleep at his Chapel Hill home early Friday, according to his special assistant Virginia Taylor. He was 92.
His appeal transcended generations, hosting the weekly UNC-TV program �North Carolina People� for more than three decades. The station�s longest running program became noted for Friday�s talks with newsmakers in the Tar Heel State including Elizabeth Edwards, Andy Griffith and various governors and members of Congress.
W.C. Friday Middle School in Dallas is named in his honor. N.C. secretary of revenue and former state legislator from Gaston County David Hoyle said he introduced Friday at the ceremony nearly two decades ago when the recognition became official.
�I knew Bill very well. In fact he and I talked on a regular basis. And it�s ironic, I really was supposed to have called him [Thursday] and my secretary was out and I couldn�t find his number,� Hoyle said.
The two men discussed issues affecting the state, particularly in the education sector.
Friday worked from 1948 to 1951 as assistant dean of students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Then, at age 35 while working as assistant to outgoing UNC system President Gordon Gray, Friday was offered the position of interim president of the UNC system.
Friday initially thought he�d keep the job for a few months but made a career at the helm, holding the position until 1986.
He was particularly concerned about the influence of athletics on institutions of higher education. Hoyle said Friday was an athletic supporter but said if anything could tear down the state university system it would be having loose policies so that a college or university could have a good athletic program.
��He told me that many times. He was concerned with the influence that collegiate sports had. He thought it was too much,� Hoyle said. �He said �I�m not anti-sports but if it compromises the academics of the universities,� he said, �I�ve got a real problem with it� and he told me that many times.�
Friday was also an opponent of the North Carolina education lottery when state legislators put it to a vote, Hoyle said.
Gov. Bev Perdue has ordered state flags to be lowered to half-staff at all state facilities in Friday�s honor.
She released a statement hailing him as �a renaissance man� and �a phenomenal educator and human service leader.�
�His dedication and service to North Carolina and monumental impact on our state cannot be overstated,� Perdue said. �There has been no person in North Carolina�s history who more fully exemplified how one individual can, year after year, make a tremendous difference.�
Gaston College President Pat Skinner said Friday was �a very, very knowledgeable, intelligent person� who was well respected in the community.
�It�s such a loss for all of North Carolina�s higher education. He was just a great advocate for higher education. He had such wisdom,� she said.
Friday had visited the Dallas campus numerous times and events were offered where he would speak.
�He was a real hometown boy, if you will. He had good memories of how Gaston College got started,� Skinner said. �He certainly is leaving a legacy not only to Dallas but to the state and to the nation.�
Despite suffering a mild heart attack in 2008 and undergoing open heart surgery the following year, Friday kept hosting �North Carolina People� on UNC-TV. He was hospitalized in May to get a pacemaker.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Ida. She works to promote the arts through work with state organizations. UNC�s continuing education campus is named in their honor.
He served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Naval Reserve from 1942-46 and received a law degree from the law school at UNC Chapel Hill in 1948. Prior to that, he attended Wake Forest College and graduated from N.C. State University with a bachelor�s degree in textile engineering.
In 1997,President Bill Clinton awarded Friday with the National Humanities Medal. The Council of Advancement and Support of Education rated him the nation�s most effective public university president in 1985. The same year, he was given a lifetime achievement award from the American Council on Education.
Gazette reporter Wade Allen can be reached at 704-869-1828; twitter.com/gazettewade.


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In her own words, the job of Chief High Court Judge Justice Helen Winkelmann required her to walk the harder road.
She appears to be making the road harder - and her load heavier - by finding new ways to respond to calls for greater judicial accountability.
In a speech to public notaries last month, Justice Winkelmann railed against the "volatile media environment" with calls for judges to justify their decisions. She warned "relentless criticism undermines public confidence in the judiciary".
It was a rallying cry to those who upheld the rule of law even at personal cost. She said "judges, legal practitioners often have to take the harder road" in a profession with "exacting standards".
These were challenging times in the "increasingly complex world of a judge".
The "volatile" media has been present this year as she has taken on what's expected of the head of bench, tackling the court's tougher cases.
In October, she found Christy Marceau's killer Akshay Anand Chand, 19, not guilty of murder by reason of insanity. Christy's father Brian publicly disagreed with the sentence.
There was controversy around the Kim Dotcom decisions which have upheld ancient search rules in a modern context.
Justice Winkelmann's speech rejected calls for judges to explain their decisions - the reasons were in the judgments, she said. "What we can do, and must do better, is make our reasons more accessible."
There was a role for the head of bench to have a greater public voice, to "provide context that is missing from the reporting".
New Zealand Bar Association president Stephen Mills QC described Justice Winkelmann as an "outstandingly good lawyer and judge", noting her intelligence and lateral thinking. He worked with her on systems to progress High Court caseloads.
Justice Winkelmann was appointed a High Court judge in 2004, becoming head of bench in 2010. She spent much of her working life as a lawyer at Phillips Fox, being made partner in 1988, three years after admission to the bar.
Auckland Women Lawyers' Association president Rachael Reed said Justice Winkelmann was an inspiration to women in the profession, showing support and being generous with time for professional gatherings. "Women need to see women doing the same thing in order to know they can achieve it."
Justice Winkelmann was also a mother, showing it was possible to raise a family and work at the top of her profession.
Law Society president Jonathan Temm said Justice Winkelmann's "frontline" role in leading cases showed she was "without a shadow of doubt doing her job superbly".


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Eastern Wake News
Teacher pay hike unlikely
A month before the legislative session reconvenes, the likelihood that all North Carolina teachers will see a pay raise this year appears to be fading.
Republican leaders are pushing a plan to increase starting salaries for teachers but offering no boost for veteran educators. The latest revenue report forecasts limited growth, so GOP legislative leaders say the state is too cash-strapped for the across-the-board increases demanded by teachers, who rank among the lowest paid in the nation.
The situation is putting renewed scrutiny on a key reason for the state's financial picture: the tax cutting measure authored by Gov. Pat McCrory and Republican legislative leaders.
The measure cuts personal and corporate income taxes, leaving the state with $2.4 billion less in revenue in the next five fiscal years, according to legislative analysts' projections.
"They are sending a message that they don't value public education in North Carolina," said Mark Jewell, the vice president of the N.C. Association of Educators. "They could have given us a pay hike last year, but instead they gave vouchers for private school and tax breaks for millionaires."
The standoff hit a peak Tuesday, as McCrory and lawmakers used Tax Day to laud the new law, which is effective for the 2014 tax year.
"On this day, many of us are looking at every dollar," the Republican governor said. "Basically what we are doing on this April 15 is we're leaving a little extra money in everyone's paycheck."
The day before, a special legislative panel tasked with developing a plan to improve teacher pay reached a dead end, calling for more study of the issue – a conclusion that left teachers and lawmakers on the committee frustrated.
"It's all related," said Rep. Tricia Cotham, a Charlotte Democrat and former high school teacher who served on the panel. "It goes back again to what are your priorities in terms of spending."
Democrats are hammering the issue of education budget cuts and teacher pay, noting the state's No. 46 national ranking for average teacher salaries, and the teachers association is launching what it calls the "We (Heart) Public Schools" campaign to bring both issues to the forefront, all ahead of the 2014 elections.
The potential political implications have Republicans on edge, and some GOP lawmakers were critical of the task force's report.
But Republicans are fighting the suggestion that their tax overhaul – which they call a historic measure – is tied to the fact teachers are looking at another year without a raise. State workers and teachers have seen one salary increase since 2008, years under Democrat and Republican control.
Speaking to reporters after the Tax Day event, McCrory argued that the two are not related.
"The tax bill is not going to be the major factor in our revenues in the future," he said. "The major issues for our revenue projections are going to be a growing economy on the positive end and Medicaid costs on the negative end."
The state is estimating that Medicaid overruns will range between $69 million and $140 million in this budget year.
The governor touted a ranking released Tuesday from the conservative, business-backed American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC, that showed the state's economic potential ranking No. 6 in the nation, moving from No. 22 a year ago.
He said the tax overhaul – which cut personal income tax to a flat 5.8 percent in 2014 and the corporate tax to 6 percent – is helping recruit companies and add jobs. In his 2012 campaign and again last year, McCrory pledged to make the tax plan revenue-neutral, meaning it wouldn't affect state tax collections, but he later changed course.
"I think the tax reform is going to continue to help our growing economy, especially in the long term," he said.
To address the teacher pay situation, McCrory and GOP legislative leaders propose increasing the base teacher salary to $33,000 this year and $35,000 in 2015. The current starting salary is $30,800, making it tough to recruit and retain new teachers. The plan will cost roughly $200 million.
Republican state Sen. Jerry Tillman, a co-chairman of the teacher task force, said he hopes surplus revenues from an improving economy would give lawmakers more money for education.
But state tax collections remain on target through the end of March, with a slight $12 million additional revenue because sales taxes are running ahead of projections. The picture is murky because personal income tax withholdings, slashed by the tax plan, are behind forecasts by $221 million.
Tillman, a Senate GOP leader from Archdale, said increasing teacher pay across the board is a multiple year process and no broad pay hikes are likely in the legislative session that begins May 14.
"Yes, you can go back and say if we didn't cut taxes we would have money for education," he said. "But that money is also going back into the economy and getting people back to work."
Jewell, the teachers association official, called the connection between tax cuts and teacher pay absolute. "It's a direct link because we know our public schools are tax-funded primarily," he said.
He took issue with McCrory's repeated assertion in recent months that cost overruns for Medicaid, the government health insurance program for low-income residents, is to blame for the state's financial restraint.
"It's getting very tiresome to hear," Jewell said. "They keep blaming poor people for the state the state is in. To pit poor people and public schools against each other is not a healthy solution."
Staff writer Lynn Bonner contributed to this report.


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The Neopedia is going to be anything, and everything about Neopets. It is a collection of short stories, poems, articles, and diaries about Neopia, its inhabitants, events, owners and items! We will be writing the articles ourselves and aim to put a few up every week, so why not send us some suggestions?
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We are often asked about the fundamentals of e-commerce: how do you build an online retail store, what do customers need to see, what does Google look for, how can you increase conversion rates?
I have compiled a list of the 12 fundamentals that you can put in place to enhance an existing online store or plan a new one…
• The most important thing online is the user experience. It can be argued that everything else is secondary. Websites that frustrate will not endear your brand to prospective customers. Try to create an online experience where users can easily find and digest the information they need in order to proceed to the checkout.
• Solid 'on-site search' functionality is vital. You need good-quality metadata to make it work properly. One E-consultancy study showed that half of all site searches returned no results even where products were available. Madness. 'Prompted search' is a no-brainer (a la Google Suggest and Become.com). We published a buyer's guide to site search tools.
• Well-defined information architectureand intuitive navigation is essential. Studies have shown that most people are 'cognitive misers'. In plain English: people don't like to think. Keep this in mind when wireframing your site.
• Clearly label categories and pages. Talk in the same language as your users. This language is the language of search. People will type in search queries that make sense to them – you need to mirror these search queries on your website (keywords in titles, body text, internal links, etc). Use keyword suggestion tools to figure out which terms are most-searched for. You should define a keyword strategy very early on – figure out the top 50 keywords/phrases that you want to rank well on.
• Trust and credibility need to be reinforced, particularly in key purchase areas, and especially for new or unknown brands. This means testimonials, customer feedback, press cuttings. It also means highly visible contact details (telephone / email) and online customer support options (FAQ / help / delivery options).
• Prioritise the key information users look for during the purchase decision-making process. Price, features, delivery options and the buy now button all need to be placed above the fold. Above. The. Fold.
• Minimise distractions – keep the user focused on the purchase or conversion goal. This means no flashing ads above the fold, among other things. It means up-selling and cross-sellingat appropriate times, and not too early (to avoid confusing the user before they've fully bought into the purchase decision). Yes to white space and big fonts. No to clutter.
• Good copy. Copywriting is just as important online as it is offline. Be persuasive and add value where you can. Talk to the user as an individual. Think about what you would want to see, in order to proceed to the checkout. Use an active voice, not a passive one. Avoid jargon and marketese.
• Images. Pictures might be very important to your customers, to help them evaluate products. In some sectors, images aren't needed whatsoever. They are absolutely crucial in others. Optimise images for Google when you upload them. And compress them! Keep an eye on page weight – slow loading times can annoy and frustrate users (broadband connections help, but everything is relative…).
• Service the pre-purchase consumer. The e-commerce store is often a place for research (I almost always look at Amazon recommendations when buying any kind of product). Most people research products and services online prior to starting out on their purchase journey (in a separate session). When in pre-purchase mode users look for comparison tools to help them weigh up the options. If your competitors have better feature filtering tools then users may prefer to use their website. 'Watchlists' are a good idea too – encourage users to 'save items to watchlist', to start a relationship with them (a simple register user account may be needed here, but don't ask for much more than an email address at this point).
• No alarms and no surprises. Always let the user know what to expect, especially when they've started to purchase. Go and see how Amazon does it. Transparency is very important (eg, 'step 2 of 4′).
• Highly visible support options. This is worth mentioning again in case you missed it earlier. It means prominently-displayed telephone numbers, emails, online customer service tools, delivery tracking, and so on. This is absolutely vital, especially to first-time customers and non-savvy internet users, who may have a lingering mistrust of the internet.