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In this tutorial I'll show you where to download Notepad++ and how to use, header, paragraph, link, and image tags.
Put this in your text editor:

As you can notice, the tags are all lowercase; right now it don't matter if you do uppercase or lowercase for in my next tutorial I'll introduce you to
<!DOCTYPE>. All the elements that you want the visitor of your website to see will be in the
Header tags go from

. You may not think these are important, but when we make a WordPress theme they will be . Here is the code I used in the video:

Hello Youtube

Hello Youtube

Hello Youtube

When you display that in your web browser you should notice that the text is bold and the font is huge; you should also notice how the font size decrease as the header number increases. You can now assume that

is the smallest.

defines a paragraph. There is a lot of styling you can do with paragraphs that I will show you when I start the CSS tutorial series. Here is the code I used in the video:

This is an example of a paragraph.

There really isn't much to explain about the paragraph right now.
When we begin creating full fledged websites we will be using links to create magnificent navigation bars. Links may be a little tricky to remember because they don't have one letter or one number for the syntax. Here is the code that I used in the video:
YouTube
When you deploy that in your web browser you will notice that the font color is blue, it's underlined blue, and that if you click on it you will be at YouTube. Then if you go back to the file the text and underline will probably be purple. This looks rather ugly, but we shall make it look beautiful when we finish CSS.
Images are very similar to the links. I try to use a photo from Newegg, which I fail to do. lol. Here is the code I used in the video for images:

You begin by declaring an image. You then declare the source of the image and give the URL. You then declare the height and width of the image. It's in pixels.
I hope you liked my tutorial. If you have any suggestions or questions leave a comment!


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I grew up in Bloomington, Indiana, and Bobby Knight has been a small part of my life for as long as I can remember. I don't think about the guy much any more, but every now and then, the red-sweatered shouter turns up in an unexpected place. That said, he has perhaps never turned up somewhere this unexpected.
I spent much of the last weekend playing the Japanese visual-novel-style mystery game Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc. (I liked the game quite a bit.) In Danganronpa, a group of high school students are sequestered in a nightmarish high school and forced into a deadly killing game where only those who murder other students will be allowed to leave.
The cast is a colourful bunch, and each student has an "ultimate" specialty: There's a kid who's the ultimate affluent bloodline, one who's the ultimate martial artist, another who's the ultimate motorcycle gang leader. And then there's Aoi Asahina, the ultimate swimming pro.
Aoi's not the most cunning student at Hope's Peak Academy, but she's endearingly enthusiastic and I share her love of doughnuts. (Also, fun fact: Aoi is voiced by Cassandra Lee Morris, the same actor who voices the feisty swashbuckler Edea in Bravely Default.)
I went to talk to Aoi one morning and…
Ha! Well said, Hina.
Goes to show, even all these years since he left IU, Coach Knight's influence has spread to the farthest fictional worlds. I'm surprised none of the students in Danganronpa tried to kill one of their classmates with a chair.

subset: commoncrawl


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A lot has been said about last week's tragedy in Santa Barbara. Particularly, speculation about the shooter– and what drove him to act in such a horrific manner as to claim the lives of six other people, injuring over a dozen others.
If you pay too much attention to the media, you'll learn that: Guns are to blame. The gun lobby is to blame. Parents are to blame. Politicians are to blame. And my favorite, I keep hearing feminists claim that a so-called 'men's right movement' is also to blame. Katie Mcdonough over at Salon (yeah, ew) says about as much, going after both guns and misogyny but waving away the factor of mental illness as a "blanket term."
It's hard to say what any of this actually tells us. Maybe nothing. I won't pretend to know. What role did Rodger's misogyny play in this tragedy? And what about his apparent struggle with mental illness — that big, blanket term we never talk about except to throw it around as if it explains why someone would murder six people? And what about guns?
When social justice 'warriors' and other various leftists project their personal agenda onto the situation in Santa Barbara, they're pushing just as much misinformation as run-of-the-mill gun grabbers. Everyone is in a hurry to project their political or personal agenda onto tragedy. The shooter used a gun to kill people; true. The shooter was a misogynist; true. He was driven to misogyny, malevolence, and murder by mental illness– not institutional 'patriarchy'. Yes, it is a broad term, because mental illness is a broad spectrum of disorders. Some mental disabilities cause more harm than others. Unsuccessful treatment of mental illness brought about tragedy. It's 2014, folks should act like it– a good first step would be to stop emotionally collectivizing people based on their race and their sexual biology.
'The Patriarchy' didn't pull the Trigger. The trigger didn't pull the trigger. Elliot Rodgers killed those human beings, no one else.


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Allergies are an overreaction of the body's natural defense system that helps fight infections (immune system). The immune system normally protects the body from viruses and bacteria by producing antibodies to fight them. In an allergic reaction, the immune system starts fighting substances that are usually harmless (such as dust mites, pollen, or a medicine) as though these substances were trying to attack the body. This overreaction can cause a rash, itchy eyes, a runny nose, trouble breathing, nausea, and diarrhea.
An allergic reaction may not occur the first time you are exposed to an allergy-producing substance (allergen). For example, the first time you are stung by a bee, you may have only pain and redness from the sting. If you are stung again, you may have hives or trouble breathing. This is caused by the response of the immune system.
Many people will have some problem with allergies or allergic reactions at some point in their lives. Allergic reactions can range from mild and annoying to sudden and life-threatening. Most allergic reactions are mild, and home treatment can relieve many of the symptoms. An allergic reaction is more serious when severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) occurs, when allergies cause other problems (such as nosebleeds, ear problems, wheezing, or coughing), or when home treatment doesn't help.
Allergies often occur along with other diseases, such as asthma, ear infections, sinusitis, and sleep apnea. For more information, see the topic Allergic Rhinitis.
There are many types of allergies. Some of the more common ones include:
- Food allergies, which are more common in children than adults. Food allergies are most common in people who have an inherited tendency to develop allergic conditions. These people are more likely to have asthma and other allergies.
- Medicine allergies. Many prescription and nonprescription medicines can cause an allergic reaction. Allergic reactions are common and unpredictable. The seriousness of the allergic reaction caused by a certain medicine will vary.
- Allergies to insect venom. When you are stung by an insect, poisons and other toxins in the insect's venom enter your skin. It is normal to have some swelling, redness, pain, and itching at the site of a sting. An allergic reaction to the sting occurs when your body's immune system overreacts to the venom of stinging insects. For more information, see the topic Allergies to Insect Stings.
- Allergies to animals, which are more likely to cause breathing problems than skin problems. You may be allergic to your pet's dead skin (dander), urine, dried saliva, or hair.
- Allergies to natural rubber (latex). Some people develop allergic reactions after repeated contact with latex, especially latex gloves.
- Allergies that develop from exposure to a particular inhaled substance in the workplace. These are called occupational asthma.
- Allergies to cosmetics, such as artificial nails, hair extensions, and henna tattoos.


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OVIEDO, Fla. – Seminole County deputies arrested a 58-year-old man early Monday morning on allegations that he stabbed his 67-year-old ex-wife inside her Oviedo home.
Thomas Price was arrested on charges of attempted murder in the stabbing, which occurred around 9 p.m. Sunday in the 3900 block of Sabal Drive, a retirement community.
Lt. Carey Manuel said Maria Coschiginano was stabbed once in the chest by a butcher's knife in her living room. After the stabbing, deputies say Price ran away, but he was found walking about two blocks from the home.
According to the police report, Price flagged down a neighbor and said "you need to hold me here, I just killed someone."
Deputies said Coschiginano and Price were married for 12 years and remained friends. Price moved in with Coschiginano in August, and the couple's roommate said that Coschiginano wanted Price to move out because he was depression and drank alcohol.
On Sunday, Price had several alcoholic drinks and when Coschiginano came home, they had a fight about him drinking and him not wanting to move to a motel, according to the report. Deputies believe the fight sparked the stabbing.
"Who would be in there to stab her, except her husband? That's all I know," said Jim Williams, who lives nearby and has done work for the victim in her home.
Seminole County deputies said no other people were inside the house at the time of the stabbing.
An investigation is ongoing.
Price, who's being held on no bond, will have his first court appearance at 1:30 p.m. Monday.
Watch Local 6 News and stay with ClickOrlando.com for more on this story.


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The money shot or banknote face featured previously was a nice diversion from the more serious portraits of this blog. If you tried to make your own money shot at home, you probably encountered some difficulty because of the small size of the bill. Not so with Sleevefaces or LP Portraits. If you happen to have any old vinyl record covers, simply put them up to your face, pose appropriately, and click the shutter. You now have yourself a sleeveface, the instant portrait within a portrait.
A sleeveface, otherwise known as a vinyl portrait or LP portrait, is a hybrid photographic portrait wherein the subject holds up a vinyl cover to his face, with the cover design's outline matching that of the subject's body. The resulting photograph should give the impression that the sleeve's face is really the subject's face. Hence the name sleeveface.
The current fad began around 2007 when a sleeveface was uploaded to Facebook, but it's not unreasonable to believe that the idea to put up a vinyl cover to one's face and take a picture must have existed long before the Internet.
The beauty of vinyl record covers as alternate real-life faces is that they're large enough to carry life-sized images on them. All you need to do is put your face up to a cover and take a picture. This in contrast to moneyfaces wherein you have to carefully adjust the distance between the banknote, your face and the camera. With the right lighting and angle, sleevefaces can create a satisfyingly good illusion.
The style of the past decades in which vinyl records were still popular also presents a unique twist to creating sleevefaces. Many cover design can be over-the-top, but even the more somber ones can present photographic challenges. Remember, the cover only takes up the area of your face, so you're free to pose the rest of the set as you will. In most cases, what's happening outside of the cover is what's actually most interesting.
Looking to find more portraits within portraits? There are a number of websites that cater to sleeve faces, the most popular by far is SleeveFace.com. There's also SleeveFaced.com and SleeveMyFace.com. Don't forget about the Facebook Group and Flickr Group. Finally, if you find yourself online, flip through the pages of the book Sleeveface: Be the Vinyl which is 192 pages of album cover fun.


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(poem for a dying mall. (southwest plaza))
everything i've ever known
says i should dismiss you
as a silly capitalistic hub
but i can't do that
i have known you for far too long
when i was a kid
we would visit you
there's a strange fondness i feel
for the days i would spend hours suffering
beneath the toxic bright lights of the limited too
while my mom and sister shuffled endlessly
through the mass-produced neon clothes
there's a strange fondness i feel
for pacing around the mall
with my pink-haired freshman girlfriend
eating a cherry-dipped dairy queen cone
and watching the kiosk employee
flying his plastic helicopter
by remote control
in the atrium of the mall
there's a certain fondness i feel
about sneaking into spencer's gift with friends
and pretending we weren't just going
to laugh at the sex toys
you are not that impressive
and you never have been
but i have heard the muzak dying
i have watched
as stores with pulses
became white walls
you cannot lie to me
i can hear the heartbeat behind the plaster
i cannot watch anymore
as economic cancer eats away at your insides
commercial ebola mashes your insides
into one million parasitic cellphone case stores
your gold chandeliers have fallen
my sweet, sweet grandmother of a mall
we used to visit more often
but now we've just thrown you into a nursing home
and watched you suffer from a ghost town complex
there's a strange fondness i feel
for the foreign workers at the sunglass stands
their cheeseball slicked back hair
and their desperation to sell you
overpriced sunglasses
you infected them with that desperation
it is never easy
to watch the past
slowly implode on itself
there's a strange fondness i feel
to know that my father
a shoe salesman
paced daily so many times
by my mom's work
before he had the courage
to ask her on a date
within you
the love that made me
the love that raised me
was born inside of you
some things don't go slowly
and sentiment is a strange bird
that lands on whatever perch it cares to
you're dying before my eyes
and i'm learning now
that you cannot mourn
what you've yet to lose
02.2013 is a twenty-eight day project chronicling my february of 2013 through poetry. to read the entries from the beginning CLICK HERE


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- Detached.
- 4
- 2
- 2
- Garage
- Area 111.4 sq.m (1199 sq.ft)
The Dunham offers the perfect balance of space and practicality for your modern family lifestyle.
Light floods The Dunham's contemporary open-plan kitchen/dining room from both the skylight windows and French doors, creating brightness throughout. A separate living room with feature bay window offers the space you need to unwind and relax. The practical necessities have also been considered with a downstairs WC, utility room and a single garage. On the first floor are three good-sized bedrooms and a family bathroom with separate shower cubicle, while on the second floor you'll find the master bedroom complete with its own feature skylight windows and en-suite.
Ground Floor
Kitchen/Dining Room
5.34m x 4.02m (17'5" x 13'2")
Living Room
3.08m x 4.52m (10'1" x 14'8")
First Floor
Bedroom 2
2.73m x 3.28m (9' x 10'8")
Bedroom 3
2.73m x 3.17m (9' x 10'4")
Bedroom 4/Office
2.53m x 1.93m (8'3" x 6'3")
Second Floor
Private Master Bedroom
4.04m x 3.54m (13'3" x 11'6")
Some plots may be subject to additional gable and bay windows. Garage position may vary. All gable and bay windows are plot specific and subject to change. The external elevations, architectural detailing and floor plans of individual housetypes may vary from those illustrated. All room sizes are approximate with maximum dimensions. Please ask our Sales Consultant for detailed information. While every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained on this page is correct, it is designed specifically as a guide and Countryside Properties Northern Ltd. reserve the right to amend the specifications as necessary and without notice. This does not constitute or form any part of contract or sale. Images are indicative only. Countryside Properties 2019.


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Home >> Course Descriptions >> College of Arts and Sciences
Painting I.
Three semester hours.
An introduction to basic oil painting skills. Emphasis of this course will be on rendering and basic techniques including wet-into-wet painting, underpainting, and glazing. First semester will cover basic shapes, still life, composition, value structure, light logic, perspective, safety, and materials. This class meets five hours a week. It is suggested that students take ARTS 1311, 1316 and 1317 before taking this course.
Home - General Information - Student Services -
Academic Undergraduate Regulations -
Undergraduate Degrees - Academic Graduate Regulations -
Graduate Degrees - Course Descriptions - Faculty -
Appendix A - Appendix B - Appendix C - Appendix D


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Church happenings
MEN�S DAY services at 7:30 and 11:15 a.m. Sept. 15 at First Baptist Church, Broadhurst Road, with the Rev. William McCoy and Men�s Day Choir. Meals served. Call 910-347-4211.
NATIONAL Back to Church Sunday at 11 a.m. Sept. 15 at Bethel Word Church, 1675 Halltown Road. Call 910-938-3855.
HOUSE OF Praise and Bible Academy hosts guest speaker the Rev. Lauren Brown at 11 a.m. Sept. 15. Call 910-333-1042.
TRIUNE Holiness Church, Maysville, presents the Maready Family Singers in concert at 6 p.m. Sept. 15.
WASHINGTON Chapel MB Church will install the Rev. Hue W. Walston as pastor at 3 p.m. Sept. 15 with guest congregation Union MB Church.
PRE-PASTOR Appreciation service honoring Johnson Hooper at 5 p.m. Sept. 15 at Faith Outreach Church of God in Christ with guest speaker Tonya Harris. Call 910-938-3696.
FALL REVIVAL at Freedom Way FWB Church, Hubert at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Sept. 15 and at 7 p.m. nightly Sept. 16-18 with speaker David Crowe. Visit freedomwaybaptistchurch.org.
CABIN Original FWB Church, Beulaville, celebrates its 75th Homecoming at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 15 with covered dish lunch following in the fellowship hall.
MARSHALL Chapel MB Church�s Male Choir celebrates its 6th anniversary at 3 p.m. Sept. 15 featuring various choirs. Call 910-353-8300.
BUILDING fund service at 11 a.m. Sept. 15 at Mount Sinai Christian Church, Richlands, with dinner fundraiser following at 2 p.m. Plates $6. Call 910-358-0745.
BIBLICAL World Conference �Creation Today� held Sept. 15-18 at First Free Will Baptist Church, 919 Gum Branch Road with various speakers. Free. Call 910-347-2358.
LIGHTHOUSE Baptist Church, U.S. 258, will hold a yard sale fundraiser at 7 a.m. Sept. 14 with proceeds to benefit youth group activities.
MANHOLLOW MB Church, Hampstead, will hold a cancer survivors celebration of life service at 9:30 a.m. Oct. 12 with light breakfast served. Call 910-347-4996.
HAPPENINGS DEADLINE: Churches, clubs, civic groups and other nonprofit organizations can publicize their activities free in the Area Happenings and Church Happenings columns. All announcements must be submitted in writing, e-mail or fax. Notices may be mailed to The Daily News at P.O. Box 196, Jacksonville, NC 28541-0196, e-mailed to email@example.com, fax to 910-353-7316 or hand-delivered to the newsroom at The Daily News, 724 Bell Fork Road. Information is due by noon at least three days before the event.


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Uni at City Hall
The event series Uni at City Hall, hosted by the city and university, is open to all citizens of Aachen: Current topics and controversial issues are discussed by well-known experts in science and society. This takes place in the form of a panel discussion moderated by WDR journalist Jens Tervooren.
Feel free to ask questions, take a stand and join in the discussion!
In Review: The CRISPR Gene Revolution
Copyright: Heike Lachmann
Uni im Rathaus
A Selection of Past Events
- The CRISPR Gene Revolution – Curse or Blessing?
- Universal Basic Income – Dream of an Independent Life?
- Zero Waste – Is it Possible to Live Without Waste?
- Science for Peace – Why Researchers Create – and Need – Peace
- US Election – Trump or Clinton?
- Violence and Terror – What Is Our Society Drifting Towards?


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Here we are in the tail end of the fourth quarter with questionable stats in the Western economies and very good growth in the emerging markets of China, India, Russia, Brazil, and a handful of other countries. With Power Systems revenue on the decline year-on-year – and against a pretty easy compare, mind you – you'd expect that IBM would be out there wheeling and dealing to crank up Power Systems sales.
But you'd be wrong. Big Blue is behaving as if it thinks it has its pricing right – or perhaps even as if it has been a bit too aggressive on the pricing of this year's Power7 iron.
You heard that right.
IBM is tweaking things here and there in some deals to make me believe this. In announcement letter 310-288, IBM has added the Power 795 to a long-running trade-in deal for Power 595 machines that was last updated in November 2009 when we all knew Power7 machines were on the horizon. At that time it became apparent that IBM was not going to get its high-end Power 795 into the field until the summer or fall of this year, and that left the company trying to give trade-in credits to customers buying Power6-based Power 595 iron.
The November 2009 deal (in announcement letter 309-576) gave customers who were trading-in older IBM Power iron as well as competitive Unix and proprietary boxes from HP, Fujitsu, and Oracle trade-in credits that ranged from $25,000 to $200,000 on Power 595 machines using 4.2GHz Power6 chips, and from $30,000 to $240,000 on machines using 5GHz chips. The trade-in varies depending on how many cores you activate – the more you buy, the larger the trade-in.
With the latest iteration of the trade-in deal, the Power 795 is added to the mix alongside older Power 595 gear, and the trade-ins are a lot less generous for both new and old iron. For the Power 595 machines in this deal, the 4.2GHz boxes only get trade-ins that range from $7,000 to $37,000, and the 5GHz boxes only get from $10,000 to $100,000.
Interestingly, the trade-in credits for customers who go for 4GHz Power7 processors range from a low of $5,000 on a machine with between six to 31 cores activated, to $120,000 for a machine with all 256 cores activated in a maxed-out machine. IBM had been roughly holding the price of a high-end Power System machine steady while doubling performance in the move from Power6 to Power7 machines, but the trade-in offers only half as much dough per core.
That would seem to indicate that IBM regrets setting Power7 system prices at the high end as aggressively as it did. But then again, for such big systems these trade-in deals are the start of a conversation, not the final discount a customer can get. Particularly if it is a takeout deal that involves converting an HP, Fujitsu, or Oracle shop to IBM Power Systems.
To take part in the deal, IBM assigns what it considers a fair market value plus an additional monetary incentive to the box you're getting rid of. These takeouts look pretty stingy to me, considering what these machines cost, but there is not as vibrant a market for second-hand equipment today as there was a decade ago – so it is hard to say exactly how stingy.
One other thing, and I have complained about this before: on this revised IBM Power 595 and 795 Server Trade-In Program, prior generations of System i and Power Systems iron running i5/OS or IBM i operating systems are not included – which is perfectly asinine, and shops using older i boxes should behave like they are part of the deal.
We are all one big, happy Power Systems family, after all, right?
On a second deal that was modified recently in announcement letter 310-290, older AS/400, iSeries, and System i servers are included as takeout machines alongside gear from Unix and proprietary HP, Fujitsu, and Oracle gear. The long-running deal is now called the Power Express Server Trade-In Program, and now includes the entry Power 710, 720, 730, and 740 Express servers as well as the Power 750 Express machines that were added to this deal back in June.
In this case, the trade-in credits did not change on prior-generation Power 520, 550, and 560 machines, and the Power 750s announced in the spring. Credits range from $1,000 to $1,750 on Power 520s, from $2,000 to $9,000 on Power 550s, and from $3,000 to $10,000 on Power 560s. That didn't change, and IBM didn't knock off the Power 5XX entry and midrange boxes from this deal just like it didn't kill off the Power 595 in the above-mentioned deal. (This likely means there is some Power6+ gear in the barn at Big Blue and its reseller channel partners that the company is trying to move.)
The interesting bit to me is how stingy the trade-ins are on the entry Power7-based machines that were added to this second deal.
On the Power 710 Express setup, IBM is giving a trade-in credit that ranges from $500 to $1,200, depending on the system configuration, and from $200 to $1,500 on Power 720 Express. The Power 730 Express machines you might buy have a trade-in credit ranging from $1,300 to $3,000. These entry servers with two processor cards have faster and more-expensive Power7 chips, hence the better trade-in credits.
The Power 740 machine, also a two-card box sporting faster chips, has a trade-in credit that ranges from $500 to $3,500. Generally speaking, on a performance-for-performance basis, the trade-in credits on the newer entry Power7 machines are less generous than the credits being given on older Power 520, 550, and 560 iron.
This seems contrary to me, unless IBM is regretting setting its prices so aggressively against some pretty compelling Xeon and Opteron servers down there in the entry and midrange part of the field.
To raise prices would cause an uproar as well as causing it to redistribute its literature, but to be a little less generous on trade-ins for newer gear (which people will want) is one way of goosing Power Systems revenue a bit. In theory, at least.
Practice out there in the midrange is a whole lot more messy than theory up in Somers, New York, where these decisions are made. ®


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Alex Crompton from Entrepreneur First (EF) joined us to discuss the progress of their startup incubator in Singapore and Hong Kong and how they are helping entrepreneurs to build their startup companies by employing a talent first approach. We dived deep into the vision, mission and backstory behind EF and how it operates across the region, and discussed interesting topics from how EF facilitates the interaction between entrepreneurs and steer them towards building companies, and whether the trend of too much incubators create an elitist atmosphere for startup founders out there.
James Crabtree, associate professor in practice at the Lee Kuan Yee School of Public Policy joined us in a conversation to discuss his new book "The Billionaire Raj: A Journey through India's New Gilded Age" and what it means for where India will move in the next decade. We discussed the major themes of the book and the intrinsic links between the political and business ecosystem across the country. As we progressed our conversation from the interesting Ambani family and Reliance Group, we shift our conversation to the current technology ecosystem in India where it is an open economy that are at the crossroads with US & China technology giants. Last but not least, James offered his perspectives to where India is heading for the future.
Episodes manquant?
Magnus Grimeland, founder and CEO of Antler, joined us in a conversation to discuss the new startup incubator focusing on helping founders in building and scaling their own businesses. Magnus shared his early career story in special forces with the military and how his experience to deal with extreme situations of life and death becomes vital with his stints as an entrepreneur in Zalora and Global Fashion Group. We also discussed Antler, the mission and vision and what it means to succeed and differentiate themselves as a startup generator globally.
Matthew Brennan from China Channel and co-host of China Tech Talk joined us to discuss the mobile app Douyin aka Tik Tok (for the rest of the world) by Bytedance and why they are poised to be one of the new leading social media platform not just for China but for the rest of the world. We discussed the mechanics in how Douyin work for content creators and consumers and the monetisation model for the app, and how Douyin are now navigating the regulatory environment in China with their user generated content. Last but not least, we also discussed their ongoing feud with Tencent.
Tim Culpan from Bloomberg joined us in a conversation on the two technology giants from Taiwan: Foxconn and TSMC and how they have evolved for the past three years since 2015. First, Tim started the discussion with Foxconn and the major milestones in the past three years from the acquisition of Sharp to the recent listing of FIH Mobile and Foxconn's efforts on automation and robotics in manufacturing. Next, Tim discussed the recent leadership transition in TSMC and where they are heading in the next few years.
Matthew Brennan, co-founder of China Channel and host of China Tech Talk, joined us to discuss Pinduoduo, the three year old social ecommerce company backed by Tencent slated for an IPO this year. We discussed the origins of Pinduoduo and why they labelled themselves as the amalgamation of Costco and Disney, their products and services on the mobile app and the business model that powered their rise. We also discussed the backers of the company together with the upcoming IPO of Pinduoduo in NASDAQ.
Tim Culpan, columnist at Bloomberg joined us to discuss the recent Xiaomi IPO and what it means for Chinese technology companies going public. Tim offered his analyses on Xiaomi and break down their media narrative versus what they are really are and where their core businesses and revenue models are structured. Last but not least, Tim discussed how the Chinese companies such as Xiaomi, Baidu and Alibaba might move with the Chinese government's scheme of Chinese depositary receipts (CDRs).
Liza Lin from Wall Street Journal joined us to discuss one of the upstart Internet giants from China: Meituan Dianping with their upcoming IPO and described her recent interview with their charismatic founder, Wang Xing and where the company is heading. We discussed the backstory of the company, Meituan till its merger with Dianping, their focus as the "Amazon of Services" in China, their recent foray into ride-hailing taking on Didi and their shifting alliances from Alibaba to Tencent.
Rui Ma, founder of Transformative Technology Academy and host of TechBuzz China podcast joined us in a discussion on the recent crisis of the Chinese technology company, ZTE and its implications on the ongoing trade war between US and China. We discussed the major lessons learnt by the Chinese companies from the ZTE fallout in a time where Chinese technology companies are now in the midst of challenging Silicon Valley for dominance in technology and regional expansion across Asia Pacific.
Turochas "T" Fuad, managing director of WeWork, Southeast Asia joined us for a conversation on his journey as a serial entrepreneur and his current role to expand WeWork across Southeast Asia. We started from his early career with Yahoo! and Skype and subsequently with the acquisition of Spacemob to WeWork. We discussed WeWork, their products and services offered to different customers from startups to multi-national corporations and their geographical expansion across Southeast Asia. Last but not least, he also shared his thoughts on how the co-working spaces are evolving across Southeast Asia.
Greg Armshaw, head of sales from Brightcove Asia joined us to discuss the advertising and video landscape across Asia Pacific. We discussed his current work and role in Brightcove within the region and his thoughts on how the digital in Asia Pacific is shifting against US and Europe. Last but not least, he discussed his thoughts on how Facebook and Tencent will contest Southeast Asia and how the outcome will be decided.
Ben Bajarin from Creative Strategies joined us in a conversation to discuss what happened in the recent Google I/O and Apple WWDC 2018 and its implications on the development of artificial intelligence, voice assistants and the separation of state between tablets and personal computers. We also discussed the recent happenings in Intel and his brief thoughts on the semiconductor industry in Asia.
John Artman, editor in chief from Technode and host of China Tech Talk joined us to discuss why blockchain is now hot again in China despite the ban on ICOs and cryptocurrency exchanges. We discussed the Chinese government's recent enthusiasm in promoting development of blockchain technologies, and the major applications that will emerge. Last but not least, we discuss how China's development in blockchain might spur Chinese technology companies to go global.
Chirayu Wadke, partner from Seedplus joined us in a two part conversation to discuss the most important trends in smartphone, internet of things (IoT) and mobility landscape and why the recent Broadcom acquisition of Qualcomm failed. In the second part, we discussed why the recent Broadcom and Qualcomm deal fell apart and its implications to Asia Pacific companies making acquisitions in the US market.
Chirayu Wadke, partner from Seedplus joined us in a two part conversation to discuss the most important trends in smartphone, internet of things (IoT) and mobility landscape and why the recent Broadcom acquisition of Qualcomm failed. In the first part, we discussed his current role and coverage as a venture capitalist with Seedplus and his central investment thesis and branched into a deeper conversation on smartphone, IoT and mobility (autonomous vehicles) landscape and how it shifts the calculus of putting investments into those emerging technologies.
Jon Russell, from TechCrunch joined us in a two episode arc to discuss the major acquisitions that are shaking the Asia landscape from Southeast Asia to China. In the second part of our conversation, we discussed the recent major acquisitions by China technology giants in China. From the acquisition of Mobike by Meituan-Dianping to Ele.me by Alibaba Group, we evaluate their impact to Southeast Asia and India and examine why Amazon is not likely to buy Flipkart in India.
Jon Russell, from TechCrunch joined us in a two episode arc to discuss the major acquisitions that are shaking the Asia landscape from Southeast Asia to China. In the first part of our conversation, we discussed the recent acquisition of Uber Southeast Asia by Grab and its impact to the different stakeholders from investors, employees, consumers and governments. We also explore how their competitors Go-Jek and Ola are affected within the Asian landscape.
Charles Anderson from Charles Reed Anderson and Associates, joined us in a two part conversation discussing the global state of IoT and the evolution of low power wide area networks (LPWANs) in Asia. In the second part, we discusse the state of low power wide area networks and the path for the three major vendors: NB-IoT, LoRA and SigFox across Asia Pacific and how the different telco players are leveraging them to enable IoT for different use cases.
Charles Anderson from Charles Reed Anderson and Associates, joined us in a two part conversation discussing the global state of IoT and the evolution of low power wide area networks (LPWANs) in Asia. In the first part, we discussed why most IoT initiatives fail and how many companies can avert the points of failure in their digital transformation programs. Last but not least, Charles discussed the interesting case of Taipei's smart city initiative and what they have gotten right in their implementation with a private-public partnership.
Andreas Ehn, current partner of Approach and former CTO of Spotify, joined us in a conversation on technology and where we are heading in four major areas: artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain and cryptocurrency, autonomous vehicles and virtual & augmented reality.
- Montre plus


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Stories about "fund-raising drive"
Amandla! sponsors fund-raising drive for hurricane victims in the Caribbean and Sudanese refugees
Wednesday, October 6, 2004 1:47 pm
Amandla!, a Bates College organization addressing issues of people of black heritage, has launched a fund-raising drive to assist citizens of the Caribbean islands devastated by recent hurricanes and Sudanese refugees. All proceeds will go directly to the International Red Cross Emergency Relief Fund and Doctors Without Borders. For further information, e-mail Melisa March at email@example.com or call 207-795-5118.


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Red Wings hand Canucks fourth straight loss, 2-0
Vancouver Canucks left wing Chris Higgins (20), defended by Detroit Red Wings defenceman Jonathan Ericsson (52) of Sweden, shoots the puck at goalie Jonas Gustavsson (50) of Sweden.
Photograph by: Carlos Osorio , AP
DETROIT — John Tortorella delivered his post-game comments to the media, but it felt like his words were directed, at least in part, at Vancouver Canucks general manager Mike Gillis.
One game into his return as head coach following a 15-day suspension, Tortorella watched the Canucks lose again, this time 2-0 to the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena.
After the game, Tortorella not so subtly hinted that changes need to be made and more than just the pre-game deal that sent winger Dale Weise to the Montreal Canadiens for defenceman Raphael Diaz.
"We need to change the complexion of our hockey club, either with our play or with different people because we looked like a slow hockey team tonight," Tortorella said. "We are going to keep banging away to try and get better, but I tell you it is very frustrating to see the same looks. It worries me, I'll leave it that. It really worries me."
Over to you, Mike Gillis.
The Canucks not only got their coach back Monday night, but their captain as well. Henrik Sedin returned after missing six games with a rib injury. But not even his return could spark the Canucks, who have now lost 13 of their last 17 games.
Even the normally optimistic Canuck captain was at a loss to explain the team's offensive struggles.
"We have to score goals, that is No. 1," Sedin said. "You are not going to win games if you're not scoring goals. We have been scoring goals lately but we haven't had the defensive effort. Tonight it was the other way around. We played well enough defensively to win the game, but again the power play has to come through and we have to score another one five-on-five."
The Canucks trailed 1-0 heading into the third period but generated absolutely nothing for most of the period. They didn't get their first shot until the 14:24 mark of the third on a long-range backhand by Daniel Sedin.
Tortorella was at a loss to explain his team's weak performance in the third.
"It was set up for us to push back and we didn't," he said. "We didn't get enough big plays from big people right on through our lineup. We have to crawl out of this hole somehow. So we'll keep on working at it."
It will be interesting to see how Gillis reacts to Tortorella's comments. Most GMs don't take kindly to being challenged publicly by their head coach. The problem Gillis faces is that 10 of the Canucks -- and they're pretty much most of the players who would yield something in a trade -- have no-trade clauses in their contracts. However, some of them are of the more limited variety where a player can deliver a list of teams he would accept being traded to.
The Canucks wasted another solid effort by goalie Eddie Lack, who must have felt a little like a Major League Baseball starter who tosses a one-hitter and loses 1-0. Lack, who has now dropped eight of his last nine starts, is getting very little goal support from his teammates.
"The way he is keeping us in games you want to give him that," winger Jannik Hansen said of Lack. "It's sad to see."
Lack probably would have liked a second chance on Justin Abdelkader's shot at 1:08 of the second period that sailed over his left shoulder. But he was brilliant the rest of the game and was a big part of the Canucks killing a two-minute 5-on-3 Detroit power play midway through the second.
"You play hockey to get wins," Lack said. "I can't really seem to even buy a win right now. I just have to keep battling out there and give my team a chance. Hopefully, this is going to turn around."
Three minutes after Abdelkader's goal, Canucks winger David Booth had a chance to tie the game. He was awarded a penalty shot after being hooked from behind on a breakaway by Detroit defenceman Jakub Kindl. Booth tried to low-blocker on goalie Jimmy Howard but ended up firing the puck into the crest on Howard's jersey.
"I remember watching the Winter Classic and him getting beat on a low blocker," Booth said. "That was the last thing going through my mind so I kind of had what I was going to do before I shot."
Tortorella paid a back-handed compliment of sorts to Booth after the game.
"I thought our best forward was David Booth, which is good for him," he said. "That's not good for our team, to have him as our best forward."
The Canuck power play could have been the difference, but once again failed to deliver. It was 0-for-5 on the night.
"We need to find a way to come up with some goals," Hansen said. "The third period has been one of our strengths in previous years. This year it has turned around on us a little bit."
Abdelkader scored his second of the night into an empty net with 16 seconds remaining in the third and Lack on the bench for an extra skater.
Justin Abdelkader got the only goal the Red Wings would need at 1:08 of the second period. He added an empty-netter with 16 seconds remaining in the third period as the Wings handed the Canucks their fourth straight loss. Down 1-0 to start the third, the Canucks did not manage a shot on goal until the 14:24 mark of the period. The Canuck power play once again could have been the difference, but went 0-for-5 on the night.
Defenceman Yann Sauve, called up from Utica, logged 12:14 of ice time in his first NHL game in three years. . .Defenceman Alex Edler led all players with 25:25 of ice time. . .The Canucks had a 33-31 edge in the faceoff circle, thanks mainly to Ryan Kesler, who won 17 of 29 draws. . . The Wings had a 30-24 edge in shots on goal. Jonas Gustavsson and Jimmy Howard shared the shutout. Gustavsson left the game after the first period with what the team described as dizziness.
Detroit coach Mike Babcock on the Wings trying to rebuild on the fly: "We haven't been the same team since '09. There are a number of options in the league. You can be bad for 10 years and get a whole bunch of first-round picks and re-do it that way or you can just try to do it on the fly. That is what we are trying to do. . .We have a lot of kids playing in our lineup right now and they have played well for us. We just think we need time for them to make progress."
The Canucks were scheduled to charter post-game to Boston, where they meet the Bruins on Tuesday night in the third stop of their five-game pre-Olympic trip. Newly acquired defenceman Raphael Diaz is expected to make his Canucks debut in that game. Vancouver's five-game trip concludes with games Thursday night in Montreal and Saturday night in Toronto.


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Microsoft Touts Halo 3 Sales Dominance Over Combined PS3 Exclusive Sales, Sony Shrugs
Just in from research team (NPD): Halo 3 has outsold Resistance 1 + 2, Uncharted 1+2, Killzone 2 and God of War III COMBINED....wow
It's worth noting that Halo 3's release predated all of the Sony exclusives it reportedly outsold, with the exception of Resistance: Fall of Man. Even Uncharted: Among Thieves didn't hit the streets until two months after the final chapter in Master Chief's trilogy. However, neither of those factors makes Greenberg's claim any less impressive.
Sony Computer Entertainment UK boss Ray Maguire quickly responded, telling Edge:
Well I'm really happy with them because as I said, we're selling more than we ever have done before. Secondly, I'm not too fussed about the competitive bits or people's comments because at the end of the day, I've only got my focus, and that is giving consumers a great experience and great content and I don't care what anybody else does.
If we are doing that and if we are measured by the enjoyment and the engagement that we have with our consumers and we can have a successful business then that's what it will be. Our DNA is about innovation and giving people technology that they didn't even realise they needed at the time and about pushing the envelope.


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I began this exchange in the midst of another thread, but as it was developing into its own discourse, I decided it should be moved to its own thread. If you'd like to see the comments that lead up to this reply by my friend Glen Rosenberg, they are here.
"John, you just want an argument. OKAY
Your hard core [moral relativism] excuses any and all acts of violence, depredation and all of the awful -isms. INTOLERABLE. You manage to arrive at the same place as a fundamentalist (absolute moral standards) in accepting the very worst of human behavior. Furthermore, liberals who have been persuaded by moral relativism are more apt to accept religious and cultural actions (muslims in Scandinavia) which are inferior to their own standards. ENABLERS.
Atheists do not require 100 % overlapping of moral standards to understand that some things are just plain wrong. (most of the faith-based morals-women are shit, slavery is cool, infidels ought to be murdered etc.) I have told Catholics that their failure to accept all of the teachings means that they are not catholics and that in a different age they would have been excommunicated or worse. Nevertheless your analogy does not stand. Break a law and you are still a citizen. You have not broken the covenant.
In matters of true cultural variations such as the boundaries of sex and friendship there are pockets of relative morals which are truly elastic and the judger can say that one is no better than another. Other aspects of sex and friendship are to be judged as wrong in any culture."
And here's my new reply:
I like an analysis more than an argument. My intention is not to be combative, but to find a common ground between all peoples. To reconcile differences, we must first become aware of them, and it is my position that morality is one of the differences between us all. I see a potential for great harm in any attempt to paint over this situation with the broad stroke of a universal or societal moral code.
People's individual tendencies will not be swayed by a legal document or a divine decree, they will only be supressed. Things like guilt, shame, and threats of force or imprisonment can get us to change our behaviors, but not our motivators. Instead of adressing the underlying causes of our thoughts and actions, such supression will merely squeeze that motivation through alternative openings, the outcome of which may be unforseeable (look what happens when priests take a vow of celebacy - lot's of people suffer because the rule does not quell the urge, only the ability to express it honestly). Yet, we embrace those unknowns rather than face the real issue we know is there: that we all are individuals who are entitled to our own concept of right and wrong.
What's wrong to me is what harms me, and what's good to me is what helps me (along with any thing or other that I define as part of "me"). But if I try to project those values of right and wrong onto you, I may inadvertantly harm you by thinking that we are similar. One man's trash is another man's treasure; one man's pain, another's pleasure. There is not a single issue on which you could get everyone to agree. Not death, not rape, not torture...not anything.
Although a particular concept may seem starkly harmful or helpful to a great many of us, we cannot know that a person won't come along whose experience of it is opposite. Indeed history teaches us to expect exactly that. And what right does the majority have to impose their values on that minority? The argument ad populum is a text-book logical fallacy. 'Greatest good for the greatest number' is the embodiment of that fallacious thinking. Even a minority of one can be correct, but a shared moral code supresses the individual for the benefit of the collective.
I think we try so hard to find universal morality because we are weak and insecure as individuals. The affirmation of the collective is a seductive offer; one that makes us feel powerful, accepted and safe. I arrived at moral relativism because I was trying to find that security and power myself. I wanted sure footing by which to stake my claim to righteousness and never have to suffer the humiliation of being considered wrong, or the loss of backing down. I sought to force my will on others by basing my thoughts and actions on unquestionable absolutes. Such is the allure of moral absolutism; a danger more potentially catastrophic than any individual with abberant morals could ever be. I am glad now that I was never able to find that secure footing.
Relativism does allow me to justify any and all of my behaviors, but it leaves room for disagreement because it only justifies them to me - always allowing that others may differ. It does not condemn difference the way moral absolutism does. With relativism, we can agree to disagree, but with absolutism one of us is evil and must be supressed. And the only way to tell which of us is evil is by how many others stand on our side, or by who has the holier book, or by whose legal document is backed up by a more capable military - all very fickle systems of measurement, and all based on logical fallacies.
Views: 376
I can agree with that. Here's hopin for scientific progress.
Not sure why I misspelled virtual as "vertual" down there. Those keys aren't even close to each other, so I have no excuse, lol.
I think science and reason will show the way.
I agree that the human condition lends itself to suffering but it is greatly augmented because of ideology which reflects the flight of reason.
Okay...but the alternative your proposing requires someone to actually come up with a core that cannot be misinterpretted or disagreed with. That would be ideal, but no one has ever been able to do it, and not for lack of trying. Buddhism (real buddhism, not its mystical offspring) isn't about religion or politics, to name a prominent example, but it still hasn't unified the world under a morally absolute core. How would we even go about doing something like you describe?
I don't think I can quite agree that politics and religion are the root of suffering. I the human lack of invulnerability and immortality is the source of that woe. We are actually coming up with ways to alleviate both maladies, but they will take some time yet (I'm refering to research in cellular senescence which seems to imply that humans could become immortal, and the development of vertual realities which would allow us to filter our experiences from each other to the degree that one of us can no longer harm the others.)
I dont think you have understood my thinking here. You are supporting it. Yes, endless examples of religious and military ideology sold to the sheep in absolutist format. Supporting moral relativism enables it to flourish. Faith is the key to absolute morals because reason would require rejection.
Again individuals need to embrace a very limited core of moral absolutes springing not from its selfish leaders, instead from their rational self-interest. At this point you are prepared to tell me one man's rational self-interest is another woman's dreaded polar opposite. Once human's shed their thinking of the root cause of human suffering from without, political ideology and religion, we will be free to embrace a core of absolutes.
This leaves a wide panoply of noncore relative morality which lies outside of the core.
If conquerors and bullies already do their thing, how is relativism the thing that's going to give them license to keep doing it? Absolutist positions have existed since before recorded history. It's a little late to say we're on the right track, and that relativism with throw us off. Many dictators and thugs can be heard spouting the doctrines of one or another morally "absolute" position: Khadafi was a muslim, Jong Il was the figurehead of his own religion, Stalin was a utilitarian atheist, and you know I could go on and until I ran out of characters listing people whose devotion to a particular moral system gave them license for supression. You may insist that their interpretation was flawed and that the doctrine itself is not predicated on such tyranny, but I would reply that all people are stuck with their own flawed interpretation of any doctrine to which they ascribe. Everyone's perspective is relative. Me saying there is no such thing as moral absolutism will not grant or take away anyone's self-granted license to do as they please. It only illegitemizes my labeling any of it "right" or "wrong."
Biology can indeed give clues to defining harm. And retarded people are not out of the loop. Rocks and icicles are fair game. Use the rock to crush the icicle and see if anyone cares.
Conquerors and bullies do there thing now, indeed. You want to give them license to continue. I do not. I largely agree with your idea regarding laws and morals as convenient labels. It is no mistake that history offers up opposing sides in war demonizing and dehumanizing the enemy.
In my estimation only a modest core of universal morality derived of rational self-interest can help to cure the world's ills. And it is purely fantasy as long as religion and hero worship political ideology prevail.
Then you have to froce everyone's body to react the same way to the same stimuli. I don't think rationality has anything to do with harm. By that definition, only sentient, intelligent creatures feel harm. Is there no harm in beating up the mentally retarded now?
Bro, the conquerors already do annihilate the pacifists, and the bullies already do take advantage of the passive. That's the world we live in, even while the majority of the world ascribes to absolutist principals (or claims to). We live in a 'might makes right' world. Laws and morals are just dressing that allows us to label our barbarism "civilized." To me, that's worse than just owning up to being a barbarian. We each seek our own self-interrest. We avoid what hurts us, and seek what pleases us, regardless of the law, or any book. People come up with all manner of excuses for breaking the "universal" codes they claim to ascribe to, but quite simply breaking them means we don't really ascribe to them. We say we do so that we have the authority of the majority of other people making the same claim behind us, but it's a pale facade.
That wont work either. We need objective definition of harm. Harm is defined by rational self-interest free of ideological considerations. And segregating the moral equivalents only facilitates trampling on others safety and well-being. The conquerors will annihilate the pacificsts. The bullies will take advantage of the passive. Relativism is barbaric.
Harm would be defined by what individuals said was harming them. Actually, there are projects in the works that are devloping pain detection, which would make categorization of subjective harms quite simple. A database could be compiled and kept current based on everyone's current receptivity to pain and pleasure, rather than a blanket approach that tries to dictate pain and pleasure to people. If you think about it, that's what absolutism does; it says 'this harms you, therefore it is wrong, and this helps you, therefore it is right.' But it does this without consulting individuals, as if everyone feels pain and pleasure from the same things, and to the same degree. It's barbaric.
John, look at your penultimate sentence. How do you even define harm when you operate from the perspective of relativism? Be explicit. Shit aint complicated. Join the core. The core, rational for sure, bereft of ideological spin is the moral way to win.
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Gucci Mane Aint A Top 10 Hottest Rapper? Bruce Bruce Of BET's Comic View On MTV's 10 Hottest MC List!
Jenny TV reports "Jenny Boom Boom and DJ Kg from Hot 93.7 interview comedian Bruce Bruce! Bruce Bruce shares his thoughts on MTV's 10 Hottest MC's In The Game list, "Gucci Mane shouldn've been on that list", he also talks about his tv show debuting this fall"
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
Comments will only be displayed by verified emails. No Spamming or Racism.


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National fast casual concept becomes supporting partner and sets to raise $100,000 to fund type 1 diabetes research
AUSTIN, Texas, July 9, 2012 – Schlotzsky's, home of The Original® round toasted sandwich and famous Fresh-from-Scratch® buns, today announced a national partnership with Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), to raise $100,000 toward the organization's efforts to cure, treat, and prevent type 1 diabetes (T1D) and its complications.
"We were extremely selective when identifying a national charitable cause that our brand could support system wide. Our organization is happy to be working with JDRF to fund essential research toward type 1 diabetes," said Kelly Roddy, president of Schlotzsky's "This decision was more than an act of corporate philanthropy; this was the alignment of two organizations that are passionate about helping those with this disease. As a supporting partner, our goal is to raise $100,000 that will help efforts in finding better treatments and a cure for type 1 diabetes."
Throughout the year, Schlotzsky's will have numerous opportunities to raise funds for JDRF both on a national and local level through in-store fundraisers, diabetes walks, galas, sneaker programs, and much more. As part of becoming a major partner in the initiative to fight diabetes, Schlotzsky's joins an exclusive group of corporate partners.
"We are thrilled to partner with a company whose values are aligned with the mission of our organization," said Mania Boyder, JDRF's executive vice president, development. "We look forward to growing our relationship with Schlotzsky's in the fight against type 1 diabetes."
Founded in 1970, JDRF is the world's largest charitable funder ofT1D research, having raised more than $1.6 billion in research funds since its inception. JDRF is focused on improving the lives of all people with T1D, at all ages and at all stages of the disease. As many as three million Americans may have T1D, and 85 percent of those living with the disease are adults. Each year, more than 15,000 children and 15,000 adults—approximately 80 people per day—are diagnosed with the disease in the United States.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that can strike at any age, and can be fatal. Until a cure is found, people with type 1 diabetes have to test their blood sugar and give themselves insulin injections multiple times or use a pump – each day, every day of their lives. People with diabetes must carefully balance their food intake and exercise to regulate blood sugar levels, which is why having options when dining out is so important.
For more information or to find the nearest Schlotzsky's location, visit www.schlotzskys.com.
Filed under: National News | Tagged: "FOCUS Brands", "Kelly Roddy", "Lotz Better", charity, diabetes, diabetes research foundation, health, JDRF, juvenile diabetes research, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, research, Schlotzsky's, science, T1D, type 1 | Leave a comment »


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The perfect accessory for your pStyle.
A carrying case makes it easier to have the pStyle with you when you need it.
pCases are handmade by the amazing team in Tennessee. They are constructed from breathable organic cotton and have a secure velcro closure.
Each case comes with a carabiner that can be attached to the ribbon loop and clipped to clothing or bags.
Technical Specs
- Size: 22.8 x 8.8 cm
- Weight: 28 grams
- Material: Organic cotton
- Reviews
- Shipping
Shipping during Covid 19 Alert Level 2 lockdown, from Thursday 14th May...
🌟 BUCHAN ST STORE IS OPEN 🌟 from May 14th.
You will need to register for contact tracing in store, no exceptions sorry. If you do not wish to do this, we are still offering online orders and curbside store pick up.
SHIPPING STILL AVAILABLE: You can collect or we can ship ALL Items.
PICK UP/CLICK & COLLECT: We also offer an in-store pick up service. This is contactless, please order online and choose Pick-Up. You will be notified when your order is ready for collection. Please visit the shop side door on Lawson St, the main door will be closed.
COURIER TIMES: Please note due to couriers being very busy during this time, and delays are expected. This is out of our control, sorry! You can track and trace your order using the link emailed to you, or via the chatbot Bruce, on our website.
WHERE IS MY ORDER: Once your order has been shipped you will receive a Shipment Order Email. This will have a link to your tracking details, you can use this link to find the location of your parcel and contact the courier company to see how far away it is. You can also use our online chatbot 'Bruce', to track your 'order status'. 🐻
THANK YOU: We are fully committed to working with the process of the lockdown, and the majority our team will continue to work from home, thanks for understanding!
Being a small business however, we are so grateful that you are choosing us for your outdoor adventure needs 😍
By choosing small you are keeping local families in jobs, and a community alive. You are the best! You rock!!
Keep up the good work team, We CAN do this! 😊
Love the Further Faster Team! x
NEW ZEALAND DELIVERY (excluding boats)...
- For all NZ orders we use Post Haste Couriers
- All local orders over NZD $100 are shipped free using a standard service
- All local orders under NZD $100 are charged a flat fee of NZD $6 and ship using a standard service
- Standard delivery time for South Island is next business Day. North Island is 2 business days. Rural Address and PO box numbers add 2 days.
- Once your item has been dispatched you will receive an email with tracking information
- Once it has left the store it is at the mercy of the couriers. Please check your tracking information and contact the couriers if it has not arrived when expected.
- All Australian orders are charged a flat fee of NZD $10 and are shipped using a standard service (not including boats).
- All North American orders are charged a flat fee of NZD $50 and are shipped using a standard service (not including boats).
- Standard delivery times for international orders are 5 business days
- Once your item has been dispatched you will receive an email with tracking information.
- Please do not buy products with eggs or bacon, as international customs do not like this and your order may be confiscated at your own cost (no one wants wasted bacon and eggs!)
- A limited number of Montane items are shipped from the UK warehouse and delivery can take up to 14 business days from order placement
- All Ruffwear is shipped from our Christchurch store and usually leaves the same or next day. If for some reason we don't have the item you ordered we will notify you the day you order and let you know when you can expect delivery. Special order for non stocked items are usually 2 weeks.
- Shipping for white water boats starts at $99. Shipping can be arranged for all other boats, kayaks and canoes. Please contact the store for details.
QUESTIONS?If you'd like to know availability and delivery times for a specific item please contact us and we will get back to you the same day.


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Liberty News
Expanded workout facility begins to take shape
Construction is progressing on a 67,000-square-foot addition to Liberty University's primary workout facility, the LaHaye Student Union. Structural steel and roofing is taking shape, giving character to the new façade. Work will continue through the spring and summer, and the facility is on track to open by the Fall 2014 semester.
"The expansion of the LaHaye Student Union allows our staff to provide even more wellness offerings to the Liberty family," said Chris Misiano, senior director of Campus Recreation. "I am excited for the expansion to be complete so that we can expand our programming and services. The LaHaye Student Union will continue to be the hub on campus for those who pursue a healthy lifestyle."
As well as the additions to the Student Union, 19,000 square feet of existing recreational space is undergoing renovations.
When completed, the expanded facility will include nearly triple the current cardio and strength training offerings, with more locker room space and a new 38-foot rock climbing wall. The addition also includes a mezzanine level where guests can workout while enjoying a stunning panoramic view of Liberty Mountain.
The current space will be transformed as well, with an above-ground track circling the basketball courts, six new multipurpose rooms in place of the current cardio/strength area, racquetball courts, and a new event space for Student Activities. The new entrance will have streamlined accessibility.
"The entire student population and our faculty and staff should be thrilled to have expanded wellness and fitness offerings that are going to be able to accommodate all fitness levels and all walks of life," said Jamie Swyers, associate director of fitness.
Swyers added that there will soon be more classes offered during the busiest hours, as well as more space and less wait times during those peak times.
The expansion is designed to accommodate Liberty's growing population well into the future.


text: If you've ever bought a ceramic knife, it probably came with instructions, in the package, to return it to the manufacturer for resharpening instead of trying to do it yourself. This video is kind of a giant Kyocera commercial, but it does include some cool footage of what this process actually looks like, in case you've ever wondered. Turns out it looks somewhat like regular knife sharpening, though I imagine the specific abrasive media in use are different. The good stuff starts around 0:44. And yes, for the safety conscious: as a general rule, in any operation involving a sharp edge, you should probably put it down before adjusting your facemask.


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"Personal and profound, an epic remembrance of his parents' honky-tonk romance, delivered with the same hallmarks of Crowell's best songwriting: expert pacing, gritty detail, and humor by the bottle." —Austin Powell, The Austin Chronicle
"Thoroughly readable, unblinkingly frank, laugh-out-loud funny and as profane as any Ship Channel longshoreman, it's a literary triumph that will rank along with Mary Karr's The Liar's Club as one of the finest pieces of Gulf Coast nonfiction." —William Michael Smith, Houston Press
"[Crowell's] childhood memories of Jacinto City outside of Houston vary from uproarious to heartwarming, all told with a sharp wit and a Lone Star flair [and] brought to life in a manner that's simple, eloquent, and endlessly entertaining." —Jim Caligiuri, The Austin Chronicle
"A loving, affectionate tribute…Crowell's parents remain his heroes not in spite of their flaws, but because of them, and because of their son's proud refusal to sugarcoat the truth. Instead, this honest, forgiving, and self-assured memoir brings all the skeletons out of the closet and invites them to dance." —Gina Webb, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"Mysterious and wonderful…a rare and unaccountable instance of transcendence." —Barbara Fisher, The Boston Globe
"A great read." —Billy Heller, New York Post
"Humid, heavily atmospheric and often raucous…both horrific and hilarious [with] some of the most tender passages I have ever read." —Chet Flippo, CMT
"Rodney Crowell's memoir of his boyhood in southeast Texas is a wonder: wistful and profane, heartbreaking and hilarious, loving and angry, proud and self-lacerating. Best known as a composer and performer of country and folk music, he emerges here as a prose stylist of energy and distinctiveness, a gifted storyteller who has, as it happens, an uncommonly interesting and deeply American story to tell….It's a measure of the subtlety that Crowell brings to his portrait of his parents that he simultaneously is appalled by them and deeply loves them….Love, in the end, is what Chinaberry Sidewalks is really about [but] there is much more to it, much of it uproarious or moving in different ways: boisterous small-town boys making mischief, Tom Sawyers and Huck Finns with cuss words added; seeing and hearing Hank Williams two weeks before his death; a spectacular show by Jerry Lee Lewis, followed immediately by an unforgettable one by Johnny Cash, who 'spoke the language of common people with uncommon eloquence.' That, of course, is exactly what Rodney Crowell has done in this splendid book." —Jonathan Yardley, The Washington Post
"This tribute to enduring love [is] rip-snorting…eloquent, movingly spiritual….[Crowell's] hyperbole segues beautifully into the high-intensity details and events with which the book is studded, and the enthusiasm with which they are described." —Janet Maslin, The New York Times
"Crowell's upbringing in Texas had all the prerequisite elements of a hardscrabble country music story…but [his] storytelling abilities and narrative flair elevate this book far above the average music memoir." —Publishers Weekly, starred review
"With this heartfelt memoir [Crowell] can now be called a writer of the first order…Unsparingly honest…Exceptional." —Booklist, starred review
"[A] touching, sometimes rough, and vivid chronicle of mid-20th-century Southern life…highly recommended." —Library Journal, starred review
"This is a wonderful memoir. Full of humor, honesty and true humility, and so well written I had to immediately re-read it to see if it was as good as I thought it was. It is. It is stunningly good. Maybe the best I ever read." —Kris Kristofferson
"That Rodney Crowell survived his childhood—the poverty, the beatings, the hurricanes, the loaded .22 in the bedroom closet—is a miracle. That he can recall it with such gentle humor, that he can evoke his volatile mother and father with so much love and forgiveness, makes his memoir a powerful lesson in grace." —J.R. Moehringer
"Some people can just flat write, and other people have a great story to tell, and every now and then it's the same lucky fool. Rodney Crowell proves one fried chicken gizzard, one Jax beer, and one awful heartache at a time that you can live with a crazy mama and a damaged daddy and love them both." —Rick Bragg
"Long known as a poet among songwriters, Rodney Crowell brings his considerable lyric gifts and his innate Texas storytelling talent to the page. This childhood is not one you'd sign up for—hardscrabble, alcohol-sodden, violent enough to jar your eye teeth. Yet Crowell's love for his family finds humor and redemption in every riveting scene. By turns wild and tender, it kept me up all night in a straight-through read." —Mary Karr


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First Allied Holdings said Wednesday that it is buying the Legend Group from Waddell & Reed (WDR). The transaction should close in January, according to Waddell & Reed.
Joel Marks, chairman of First Allied Securities, says the combined entity will include about 1,500 independent advisors with some $30 billion in assets under administration. First Allied now includes about 1,000 independent financial advisors, while Legend has roughly 450 reps, who focus on the 403(b) retirement marketplace.
"This transaction is about rapid growth and revenue creation," said Marks (left) in an interview with AdvisorOne.
"For First Allied advisors, we can add the Legend opportunities to the retirement space at a more sophisticated, competitive level to increase business," Marks said. "And for Legend advisors, they have clients with assets that they can now try and capture more of through access to our products and services."
"For decades, we have prided ourselves on providing premium services and support, and we believe this transaction will further enhance our ability to deliver premier solutions to our advisors and their clients," said Legend CEO Mark Spinello, in a statement. "Joining First Allied aligns us with a partner company that shares our independent roots and our business goals."
The purchase price was not disclosed. However, Waddell & Reed—in its third-quarter earnings release on Wednesday—said it agreed to sell Legend on Monday and is taking a noncash charge in the current quarter of $42.4 million related to a write-down of Legend as a result of the sale.
In 2000, certain Legend Group assets were bought for a maximum price of $75 million, according to SEC documents filed at the time by Waddell & Reed. (Waddell & Reed said the 2000 purchase price included a one-time payment of close to $58 million plus up to $14 million over a three-year period.)
"The sale of Legend reflects our desire to emphasize our core business," said Hank Herrmann, chairman and CEO of Waddell & Reed, in a the press release issued by First Allied. "We appreciate the efforts of the Legend team over the past 12 years and wish them continued success in their new alliance with First Allied."
Waddell & Reed also shared this statement with AdvisorOne on Thursday: "Waddell & Reed Financial acquired Legend in 2000, and our partnership with them has been productive. However, at this time, we believe our strategies and resources are better focused on our core advisors, wholesale and institutional businesses. We believe this transaction is in the best interest of all parties."
More Deals to Come
This type of transaction is essential for First Allied and for other independent firms of its size, according to the company chairman.
"We look to combine the best of both worlds," Marks said. "Margin compression in this business is getting bigger, so you have to grow. It is not an option … We can help our advisors and theirs grow their respective businesses and fuel same-store sales growth on both sides, too."


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i couldnt find much information on "Respect" and "Like" stat mechanics so ill test my own
Jacob Like started at 70%, i was late picking him up and it dropped 5% to 65% once he was inside the car, before the 'date'
attending strip club didnt affect stat during date. bumping into jacob gets negative audio response, but not stat change during date.
Variables to be tested: ignoring a call. declining a date. (reported to hurt % accepting date then calling to cancel (reported to have no affect on %) stat update time: at incedent, or at date conclusion only? bumping/punching/crashing/killing/etc effects being on time/lateness activity preferences planned activity vs unplanned prefered activity (when jacob asks to go to strip club, but u take him to pool instead) visit frequency attending location (reported that repeat visits to same location lower date enjoyment by 5% and other similar locations by 1%) time since last visit total time of date/relation to bedtime continuing activites after request to go home
--Arkbg 21:36, 18 August 2008 (UTC)
interesting result... after 3rd event on date, jacob walked home on his own, total Like Stat raised 20% for all of the date. possibly 10% for each of the 3 enjoyable events, and -10% for not being taken home in time.
after successfully completely 1 delivery mission after the date, jacob Like stat raise +1%
just noticed Jacob Respect stat up to 100% from 90%, i think it just happened after the successful delivery.
--Arkbg 22:19, 18 August 2008 (UTC)
You know,I don't quite think the Friendship thing is going to exist in the next games.Especially GTA LaD.-User:HuangLee
The Lost and Damned
Are there friends in TLAD? Biggest GTA Fan EverTalk 09:08, 11 March 2009 (UTC)
Methabuser (talk) 22:14, August 6, 2018 (UTC)Yes,Jim,Clay and Terry.Methabuser (talk) 22:14, August 6, 2018 (UTC)
Question regarding 100%
Do you need to each activity one at a time with everyone, or can you do four activities in one go and do the rest during a second go?
Adding Friend Info
I'm willing to add some friend info to each of these guys, if i'm allowed, stuff like times they'll pick up the phone, and etc, if thats alright? like "Friend Stats" or something like that Zachariah Zuan 00:49, August 24, 2010 (UTC)


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Clue: X Games fixture
We have 1 answer for the clue X Games fixture. See the results below.
Possible Answers:
Related Clues:
- Van adjunct
- Freeway exit
- Airplane exit
- Highway entrance
- Expressway access
- Right for the disabled
- Garage feature
- Water-skier's apparatus
- Airport feature
- Highway exit
Last Seen In:
- New York Times - September 08, 2013
Found an answer for the clue X Games fixture that we don't have? Then please submit it to us so we can make the clue database even better!


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I think the pyjama look is my favourite trend this season. It's so relaxed and easy to wear. And, while I haven't worn my Marni for H&M pyjama outfit from top-to-toe yet, the shorts have become a regular fixture in my working wardrobe.
This week, they've been particular good for the warm weather we've been having, although I admit I haven't dared bare my legs.
This is what I wore on Tuesday:
Gap T-shirt
Gap T-shirt
If you like my silk Marni for H&M shorts, they're still available in hot pink. Plus, they're reduced to just £14.99. Click here to shop.
Yes, you did hear me right. Marni for H&M is a) still available and b) even cheaper. You'll have to hunt them down on the H&M website though as they're no longer grouped together, nor are they listed under sale items.
Instead, you'll have to do the laborious task of searching under each category. This is where an encyclopedic knowledge of the Marni for H&M collection pays off (tip: for a quick spot, they're usually the still-life pieces rather than the model shots).
Pieces I've seen include the blue spotty jacket for £29.99 (was £69.99) and the silver leather sandals and black leather sandals, which are £14.99 apiece (were £29.99). Note, sizes left vary (these are returned items, after all) and may sell out, so shop while you can! And check out the Marni for H&M menswear, too.
Meanwhile, for more summer-inspired workwear, check out this week's What ELLE Wears blog at ELLEuk.com.


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Of all the cities in southern Sweden, the grandest is the western port of Gothenburg. Designed by the Dutch in 1621, the country's second largest city boasts splendid Neoclassical architecture, masses of sculpture-strewn parkland and a welcoming and relaxed spirit. The cityscape of broad avenues, elegant squares, trams and canals is not only one of the prettiest in Sweden, but also the backdrop to Scandinavia's biggest seaport, making the city a truly cosmopolitan destination. There is a certain resentment on the west coast that Stockholm wins out in the national glory stakes, but Gothenburg's easier-going atmosphere and its closer proximity to western Europe makes it first choice as a place to live for many Swedes. Talk to any Gothenburger and they will soon disparage the more frenetic lives of the "08-ers", 08 being the telephone code for Stockholm.
Founded on its present site in the seventeenth century by Gustav II Adolf, Gothenburg was the Swedes' fifth attempt to create a centre free from Danish influence. The Danes had enjoyed control of Sweden's west coast since the Middle Ages, and extracted extortionate tolls from all vessels entering the country. Sweden's medieval centre of trade had been 40km further up the Göta River than present-day Gothenburg, but to avoid the tolls it was moved to a site north of the present location. It wasn't until Karl XI chose the island of Hisingen, today the site of the city's northern suburbs, as the location for Sweden's trading nucleus that the settlement was first called Gothenburg.
Over the ensuing centuries, the British, Dutch and German traders who settled here during left a rich architectural and cultural legacy. The city is graced with terraces of grand merchants' houses featuring carved stone, stucco and painted tiles. The influence of the Orient was also strong, reflecting the all-important trade links between Sweden and the Far East, and is still visible in the chinoiserie detail on many buildings. This trade was monopolized for over eighty years during the nineteenth century by the hugely successful Swedish East India Company, whose Gothenburg auction house, selling exotic spices, teas and fine cloths, attracted merchants from all over the world.
At the heart of the city is the historic old town: this is the best place to start your sightseeing, although Gothenburg's attractions are by no means restricted to this area. Tucked between the Göta River to the north and the zigzagging Rosenlundkanalen to the south, the old town's tightly gridded streets are lined with impressive facades, interesting food markets and a couple of worthwhile museums, most notably the Stadsmuseum and, up by the harbour, the Maritiman, a repository of all things nautical. Just across the canal that skirts the southern edges of the old town is Trädgårdsföreningen park, in summer full of colourful flowers and picnicking city dwellers.
Heading further south into the modern centre, Avenyn is Gothenburg's showcase boulevard, alive with flashy restaurants and bars. However, it's the roads off Avenyn that are the area's most interesting, with alternative-style café-bars and some of Gothenburg's best museums, including the Konstmuseum (Art Museum) further south in Götaplatsen. For family entertainment day or night, the classic Liseberg Amusement Park, just to the southeast of the Avenyn district, has been a meeting place for Gothenburgers since the 1920s.
In Vasastan, a small district to the west of Avenyn, crammed with intricately decorated late nineteenth-century apartment buildings and peppered with appealing little cafés, you'll find the Röhsska Museum of applied arts. Vasastan stretches west to Haga, the old working-class district, now a haven for the trendy and moneyed. Haga Nygatan, the main thoroughfare, leads on to Linnégatan, the arterial road through Linné. Fast establishing itself as the most vibrant part of the city, it's home to the most interesting evening haunts, with new cafés, bars and restaurants opening up alongside long-established antique emporiums and sex shops. Further out, the rolling Slottskogsparken park holds the Naturhistoriska Museet (Natural History Museum), as well as being an alluringly pretty place to sunbathe.


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In the tropical forests of southern Mexico, demand for and growth of farmland and pasture for cattle ranching is driving deforestation.
Keeping forests alive is crucial to preventing climate change, because cutting and burning trees is a huge contributor to global warming pollution; as EDF's Mexico program coordinator, I've recently moved to the southernmost state of Chiapas to work with local organizations on reducing deforestation and benefiting local communities that own forests.
As I mentioned in my post yesterday, a lot can be done to improve the area's sustainable management of forests and develop better productive practices.
EDF has partnered with a local group in Mexico called AMBIO to support forest protection that can help reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation sufficiently — and in time — to avoid dangerous consequences of climate change.
EDF partners with AMBIO to help curb deforestation drivers
AMBIO has been working for 15 years with a growing number of rural communities on diverse projects to aid in rural development and curb climate change emissions.
Last year, we began partnering with the organization to support its pilot internship program, which placed students from the University of Chapingo, a top agriculture university near Mexico City, in a rural community for a few months to conduct projects to address the local drivers of deforestation.
I first met one of AMBIO's interns, Maria Albina, when she gave an impressive presentation on the results of her internship project last spring, just when EDF had began its partnership with AMBIO.
AMBIO intern helps rural livestock producers
Maria is a young woman who grew up in a rural indigenous community in Chiapas, where she enjoyed helping her dad raise cows and sheep. She later attended the University of Chapingo, and secured her spot in AMBIO's pilot internship program last year when she was completing her engineering degree in agronomy (the science of soil management and crop production) with a specialty in animal husbandry.
AMBIO assigned her to work with the rural community of La Corona, which has been converting its forests to pasture lands to raise a small number of cattle. The environmental impact of cattle grazing can be significant, but improvements in the efficiency and production on smaller parcels of land that has already been deforested can help dramatically.
For the nearly four months, Maria lived in La Corona, she worked with ranchers to improve their cattle management techniques to allow for healthier and more productive cattle to graze in the existing pasture and reduce the need to further deforest to expand the pasture areas.
The AMBIO internship, Maria says, provided the opportunity she was looking for to determine she could transfer some of the knowledge and skills she had gained in college to rural, small-scale livestock producers in Chiapas.
Maria had been the only woman in the AMBIO pilot program, but this year already promises to be different, with more female than male students applying to the program and being placed in communities.
Last week I caught up with Maria in San Cristobal de las Casas, a beautiful colonial city in Chiapas where she now lives and is working with AMBIO on a climate adaptation project that is focused in improving pasture and forest management in a region with a harsh dry season.
Below is a translated selection of our conversation about Maria's work with rural, indigenous Chiapas communities, her experience at La Corona and her new AMBIO project.
Read more about out work with AMBIO in our post Mexico organization partners with EDF to address deforestation, climate change and rural development.
Interview with former AMBIO intern and University of Chapingo graduate Maria Albina:
EDF's Danae Azuara Santiago, Mexico program coordinator: What led you to choose AMBIO's internship and working with communities instead of the more traditional option of going to a commercial ranch?
Maria Albina, former AMBIO intern: There were different options to consider.
I knew in a ranch I would get more experience in mastering different techniques, since they have a lot of animals.
But since I grew up in a small Zoque community with lots of needs, I wanted to go back to work with rural and indigenous communities.
I wanted to test myself to see if I have what it takes to connect with people.
In rural areas you need to talk to cattle producers in a different way; I wanted to measure my abilities to transfer my knowledge.
EDF: What was your experience in college – is livestock husbandry a field with mostly male students?
Maria: Within animal husbandry, it is quite even now in relation to numbers of men and women when we start; a few years ago it was almost only men. In my cohort of 80, about 30 graduates were women. It is still seen as a profession for men, but in school there are no differences. We are treated the same, though in the work environment there are mostly men.
EDF: Tell us about the project you were working on. What were the challenges in the community were before you arrived?
Maria: People from AMBIO noticed that some cattle were underweight and eating too much tree bark, and that shows that there might be some deficiencies in their nutrition.
People in that region have a lot of areas for pasture, few cattle, and they keep taking down forest to have more areas for pasture.
So the idea was for me to help them with their pasture management.
I thought I would be able to teach them how to rotate pasture areas, but there is a lot of work to do — first, to raise awareness and provide a lot of information, so they can then learn how to have more animals in less space.
This was a first effort to generate interest with them.
EDF: Is cattle raising a good source of income in the region?
Maria: That's how they see it; the rancher that has most cattle has 25 to 30 cows, so he produces at most 30 calves per year. For a family, that can be a lot. Even with the poor management they give their animals, it still provides them income.
EDF: What goals were you, AMBIO and the community hoping you would accomplish?
Maria: Basically to strengthen capacity for cattle management, and since AMBIO has an environmental focus, the goal is to attack causes of deforestation in the region. We need to improve [from an environmental perspective] what is the major source of income for some of these families. I wanted them to be better capable of managing their grasslands, and for them to provide better nutrition to their cattle.
EDF: What did you do?
Maria: I carried out workshops and field practices; I would accompany people in their daily activities in their production systems, and helped them out in their needs. I vaccinated chickens and cows, helped them herd their livestock, bathed them to take ticks off, all sorts of things. I offered to support people in what they needed.
EDF: You worked specifically with livestock – how did that fit into reducing drivers of deforestation, and what made that work "environmental"?
Maria: The type of livestock management that is practiced in Marques de Comillas, and generally in Chiapas, is extensive. The animals roam around in large areas; there are few animals in very large enclosures.
So, if we improve the management of grasslands and the cattle's nutrition through simple techniques, there will be less need to cut down more forest to keep raising cattle, and I think we could even reduce the area of pastures, increase production of livestock and let some pastures recover as forests.
If people are economically stable and have no pressing needs, it will be easier for them to also work on conserving forests.
In their community territorial-use plans, they already have planned to increase their areas of pasture, but there is no need to cut down more forest to increase their production of cattle, meat and milk.
EDF: How good of a learning experience was it? What did you get out of it? What kind of impact do you think you had in the community?
Maria: It was the experience I wanted, being in a rural community, to see if I could communicate with local producers. It's not how I imagined things – I thought people would have more interest in what I could teach them. They do want to learn more, but they want to see things in practice, not just theory, and that takes time and more resources. This experience did meet my personal goal, and I hope future internships in the area keep building this capacity.
EDF: What challenges did you face being a woman working in rural communities?
Maria: There were diverse challenges. With some people I had a great connection, maybe because I was a woman; with others, not. I offered to help anyone who wanted it, but many times they would not call me. I think women are seen as weaker, more fragile for hard work. …
There was this man who had problems with one of his cows during delivery, and he did not call me. He cut the cow open and saved the calf, but the cow died.
I could have helped him with both. I think maybe there is lack of knowledge of what an agronomist specialized in husbandry can do; maybe if I had been a vet he would have called me. Maybe it was because I'm a woman; I felt some people doubted my capacities so "why take the risk."
It takes longer to build trust when you are a woman.
Also, people don't see men staying home to help out in other things, but they expect that from a woman. If I had been out all the time talking to ranchers and offering to help them, I might be perceived as a "pata de perro" (dog's leg) — always out of the home instead of helping the other women. ….
I got to meet almost everyone at the community. Some would call me the "little engineer." People knew an intern was coming, and they thought it a bit strange when they found out it was me, a small woman (under 5 feet tall). When they take you to the field, they treat you as though you are delicate, they question if you will be able to keep up with them walking, the sun, carrying out your stuff, and they assume there is a lot you don't know.
EDF: Beside the capacities you helped build with cattle management, do you think you left more to the community by being there, being a woman?
Maria: Sometimes I felt like a psychologist, providing counsel to young people, many who had dropped their studies. Youngsters trusted me to talk with them, and I made a lot of friendships. I'm still in touch with people there after almost a year. …
I would tell some that there are a lot of things they could do with their lives, to go out of the community, about so many options, find happiness in further development. I told some of the women there's no need to depend on their parents, that they could do it on their own.
EDF: Were there women in representation or leadership roles?
Maria: Yes. Not as authorities for the community, but for other things, for the school and the health center.
EDF: What are you doing now with AMBIO?
Maria: After I finished my internship, I went back to Chapingo, graduated, finished my thesis and I did my dissertation exam last October.
AMBIO got funding for three small projects from Proac (Climate Change Adaptation Program) and they needed someone to help them with grassland management under a "forest grazing scheme", and they thought of me. And now, here I am again working in this project for a few months.
We are promoting the use of grasses that are cut, kept in silos and conserved to feed the cattle during the dry season. We are also planting trees with high protein content for livestock. This will allow communities to improve sustainable cattle management practices and to maintain a better level of production during dry seasons. Right now it can get really bad some times, months when it's even hard for the cattle to survive, let alone produce milk. We are also promoting better management to reduce the extension of grazing areas.
People in the communities we are working with already had a lot of knowledge, they just need some help to putting it into practice, and some support with initial investment for equipment. They are very willing to work hard with us to make this happen because it's in their best interest.
Now I know I like working with communities and I'm getting better at doing it. I'm thinking about getting registered as a service provider and work on my own projects to benefit communities in Chiapas. I'm also still considering getting a masters degree in rural development, maybe in one or two years.
EDF: Thank you Maria for sharing your life and experience working with communities in Chiapas with us. I'm personally very grateful. You brought me back to ten years ago, when I first came to do my thesis field work and fell in love with the people and the Lacandona region, and why I've returned here to join others in their efforts to conserve forest and bring social benefits.
Read more about EDF's work in Mexico and with AMBIO.