text:
I would just remind the member for Malpeque to not let anger get in the way of using the third person.
House of Commons Hansard #38 of the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was crime.
House of Commons Hansard #38 of the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was crime.
Criminal CodeGovernment Orders
1:45 p.m.
The Deputy Speaker NDP Bill Blaikie
I would just remind the member for Malpeque to not let anger get in the way of using the third person.
Criminal CodeGovernment Orders
1:45 p.m.
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Surely there is some obligation for hon. members to stay away from complete fabrications and untruths. Is there nowhere in the rules or Standing Orders that one has to tell the truth from to time? Is there nothing barring somebody like him from standing and making an insultingly, completely--
Criminal CodeGovernment Orders
1:45 p.m.
The Deputy Speaker NDP Bill Blaikie
It sounds to me more like a point of debate.
The hon. member for Scarborough—Rouge River.
Criminal CodeGovernment Orders
1:45 p.m.
Derek Lee Liberal Scarborough—Rouge River, ON
Mr. Speaker, I am going to resist getting into that pushing and shoving match which we just witnessed. I want to get to the issue of sentencing, as we debate Bill C-10.
As we all know, Bill C-10 bulks up the number of mandatory minimum sentences that would be in the Criminal Code. While there is room in every Criminal Code for some mandatory minimums, the easiest one is the sentence for first degree murder, which has a mandatory minimum sentence of life, at least in our country. Other countries have other penalties.
We are not really debating whether there should be a mandatory minimum sentence in place for any particular crime. We are debating the extent of those mandatory minimum sentences.
I used the term that the current bill bulks up. It really does bulk up or materially increases the number of mandatory minimum sentences that would be in the Criminal Code, if the bill passes, with particular reference to firearms offences. At the end of the last Parliament, an attempt was made to increase, by a small margin, the number of mandatory minimum sentences associated with the criminal use of firearms. In fact, the House passed a bill only within the last few years which did precisely that.
When I looked at the data, I came across what I thought was an interesting perspective on crime statistics. It has to do with how we look at crime statistics across the country. Although I have had many occasions to look at statistics over the years, I had not noticed any of this before. Members may or may not relate to this.
I represent a Toronto area riding. When I looked at the crime statistics for the Toronto area, the census metropolitan area called the CMA, the Toronto CMA was number 26 on a list of 27 Canadian metropolitan areas for crime. That means there are 25 other municipalities in Canada that have crime rates in excess of that in Toronto for the timeframe that ended with the year 2004. I thought that was peculiar. I would have thought the big cities would have had the highest crime rates. It turns out I am wrong.
Toronto was 26 on a list of 30 for criminal statistics kept by police forces across the country. Those are reliable statistics, too, but vary slightly from Statistics Canada. I will mention some of the places that were near the top of the list. This is not for the purpose of maligning these communities. A problem with crime in Canada is a problem for all Canadians as well as the communities involved. All five of the communities with the higher overall crime rates, Regina, Saskatoon, Abbotsford, Winnipeg and Vancouver, were all cities removed from the eastern part of Canada.
If I were an MP coming one of those communities, I would be telling the House that there is a relatively high crime rate in my community and that we have to do something about it. If I come from a community with a lower crime rate, I will say that there is a crime problem but we have to look at it in perspective. I had always been curious as to why there was a difference in perspectives among members of the House when it came to the current data.
Perhaps that is part of the explanation for communities that have higher crime rates. I am not talking marginally higher, I am talking double and triple the rates in some of the other eastern Canadian cities. If I were to be representing a high crime community, I would be pulling the chain a lot more firmly in terms of getting an appropriate response to dealing with those crime levels.
I want to point out that the sentencing regime, the sentencing used for both the cities with the lower crime rates and the cities with the higher crime rates is the same. Therefore, I do not think we can say it is the sentencing that is responsible for the higher crime rate.
We might also want to say that it is not the sentencing which is responsible for the lower crime rate. However, we are talking about material differences in crime rates, but the same sentencing regime.
We ought to look at the real crime data. I will ask members to look back 15 years or more to a report of a committee of the House, the justice committee. It was chaired by Dr. Bob Horner. At that time we looked at the crime rates in the United States of America. It had the highest imprisonment rate of all the countries where there was data on incarceration.
Looking back at our report, we said that if locking up all those who violated the law contributed to safer societies, then the United States should be the safest country in the world, which it was not. The U.S. Senate judiciary committee agreed. Using 1990 data, it said that the United States was a world leader in reported murder, rape and robbery rates. Yet it had the highest incarceration rate. The higher incarceration rates did not noticeably improve, in any way, the risk and crime rate levels in the United States.
At about the same time, it is true that the crime rates in Canada were relatively high. They had gone up, the prior 10 years leading up to 1991. Starting in 1991, the crime rates began to drop, and they have been dropping ever since in Canada, not because of the Horner report and not because of what Parliament did or did not do. Looking back, it probably had a lot to do with the sociological factors that caused crime.
I would love an opportunity to go into those today. I will not have a chance. I will simply make two or three points.
First, I believe enforcement is a major component of reducing crime. I think that has been proved in the community I come from. It is being proved now as police and prosecutors are learning how to do better enforce.
Second, crime prevention initiatives have payoffs, but it involves the long run. Factors that give rise to crime are poverty, physical and sexual abuse, illiteracy, low self esteem, inadequate housing, school failure, unemployment, inequality and dysfunctional families. These have all been identified as the root causes of crime. Increasing mandatory sentencing does not address any one of those at all.
That is with regret. That is why I am having difficulty with a wholesale entry in mandatory minimum penalties. I could accept that there would be a few serious crimes where society had an interest in increasing, the denunciation factor, the desire of Canadians to say that this offence is so serious that we have to attach a mandatory sentence, a one-off. However, the bill does not do that. It takes a whole file, a whole truckload of offences and creates mandatory minimums. I suggest that is not the way to go.
I encourage us to continue the debate here or at committee. Let us look at the sentencing principles contained in the Criminal Code. They are well enunciated. They were established by the House approximately 12 years ago. They are very good and they speak conceptually against the concept of mandatory minimums.
Criminal CodeGovernment Orders
1:55 p.m.
Blaine Calkins Conservative Wetaskiwin, AB
Mr. Speaker, I have a simple question to ask the member opposite based on what I have heard.
Everyone who commits a crime in Canada is a product of some exclusion of society. Therefore, it is justified that they are able to commit these crimes and we should all feel sorry for them.
If someone were to commit a sexual offence, aggravated sexual assault with a firearm, be convicted under the change in law and not able to commit another offence for five years, would the member feel good about telling the parents of a young daughter from his constituency that the individual was locked up for five years and not on the street able to do it again? That would be five years for an offence like that where victims would have some feeling of retribution and a sense of justice for the crime committed against them.
Criminal CodeGovernment Orders
1:55 p.m.
Derek Lee Liberal Scarborough—Rouge River, ON
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member takes the slam the cell door closed and throw away the key approach. I think every sentencing decision is based on its own merits and we rely on judges to do that with the general direction of appeal courts.
However, as a parent I would be concerned about any crime, but let me put this back to the member as a scenario. With the proposed mandatory minimum sentencing, what if a very well intentioned Crown prosecutor decides he or she wants to take a guilty plea to a lesser included offence? Instead of getting the mandatory minimum which the member would like to see, we end up taking a summary conviction plea or another lesser included offence and we end up without the mandatory minimum at all.
By imposing mandatory minimums across the board, defence counsel and Crown attorneys across the country will attempt to both use the higher penalty to induce plea bargaining and an attempt to avoid incarceration rates that will come with that.
As sure as night follows day and day follows night that will be a consequence of ratcheting up the mandatory minimums. I do not mind if the person culpable of the offence outlined by the hon. member is put in jail for five years or ten years provided that is a fair sentence determined by a court after a fair trial determined by a judge. I am happy to see the person put away for a long time, but not just on this chart of lock'em up and throw away the key approach that seems to be contained in the bill.
LeucanStatements By Members
1:55 p.m.
Jacques Gourde Conservative Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC
Mr. Speaker, on Sunday, June 11, the head office of Leucan in Montreal and nine regional committees simultaneously held the third provincial head shaving challenge. The event was an unprecedented success. In total, 4,700 people had their heads shaved, raising a record $2,200,000.
All the money raised thanks to the generosity of Quebeckers and the involvement of numerous partners, personalities and participants will go to the organization, to promote healing and well-being among children with cancer and provide support for their families.
I would like to thank my special advisor, Norm Vocino, for his involvement and the Conservative caucus and staff for their generosity.
JusticeStatements By Members
June 12th, 2006 / 2 p.m.
Tom Wappel Liberal Scarborough Southwest, ON
Mr. Speaker, Toronto newspapers recently reported on the case of Leslie Hoogland, a former Toronto high school teacher, who was convicted of possession of over 2,000 pornographic pictures of Toronto area under-age boys. He had also hired child prostitutes in the Toronto area.
For these heinous crimes against children, Madame Justice Faye McWatt gave him a two year conditional sentence, including one year of house arrest. How does a sentence like this send a message of denunciation and deterrence? It does not.
It is sentences like this, for crimes against children, which cry out for reform of conditional sentencing. Bill C-9 would address these irresponsible sentences imposed by judges since we cannot count on them to self-regulate their use of conditional sentences. Passage of Bill C-9 cannot come soon enough for the exploited children of Canada and the world.
Baha'i CommunityStatements By Members
2 p.m.
Louise Thibault Bloc Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights guarantees all people freedom of religious expression.
The people in the Baha'i community in my riding and elsewhere in Quebec and Canada are very concerned about the persecutions of members of the Baha'i faith living in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
In addition to being persecuted, they are being deprived of the most basic rights, such as the right to higher education for young people and the right to own property.
Baha'is seek only the unity of humankind, the equality of men and women, the reduction of the gap between rich and poor and the elimination of racial, religious and social conflict. For this they are tortured, raped, killed and stripped of their property.
I ask the Government of Canada to take the necessary steps so that the international community condemns this intolerable situation.
Rural CommunitiesStatements By Members
2 p.m.
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Mr. Speaker, in the process of the renewal of northwestern British Columbia, we are learning important lessons on how diverse groups can come together with common interests to achieve incredible things. The good news is we are turning a corner in northwestern British Columbia.
Here are a few examples. First, the expansion of the Prince Rupert container port could only have happened because government, workers, community groups and investors took the time to work together for a common purpose.
A few months ago, the sinking of the Queen of the North, a tragedy on all accounts, also delivered incredible results with a unifying spirit from the people of Hartley Bay and Prince Rupert who went out to save all those passengers.
Most recently, there was the phenomenon called Hockeyville in which my community placed in the top five across this nation. It brought together groups that never sat together at tables before. I would like to offer my congratulations on behalf of the people of Smithers to Salmon River, Nova Scotia for being named Hockeyville Canada.
We all know that rural communities contribute in a vital way to Canada. It seems that we also have a lot to teach our urban cousins on how to get things done.
Mick HertzStatements By Members
2 p.m.
Lynne Yelich Conservative Blackstrap, SK
Mr. Speaker, while the sacrifices of a career are not the greatest an individual can make, they are sacrifices nonetheless. For many, a career requires absence from the special occasions at home.
Today, I join with my community in mourning the passing of a local hero, Mick Hertz, a mentor and teacher at Kenaston School. His commitment to education and deep faith made him a beloved member of our community. He will be greatly missed, especially by his wife Paddy, his children Mike Jr., Regan, their families, and youngest son Nathan.
Today my youngest daughter Ivana turns 17. As an MP since 2000, this is not the only special occasion in her life I would rather have been there more. From afar, I simply say Happy Birthday Ivana Melissa Ann. I thank Ivana, her sister Elaina, her fiance Brian and my husband. Though I know I was needed there, my family has given me their unwavering and unconditional support and understanding.
Happy Birthday Ivana and God Bless. I know that God is with our community today.
ProstitutionStatements By Members
2 p.m.
Brian Murphy Liberal Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, NB
Mr. Speaker, as Canadians we have a lot to be proud of, but we must take responsibility for the not so great. It is shameful that with all we know that the continued abuse and victimization of women and children exists in our society.
The sex trade creates many victims. Some people from my town see this every day. People are fed up with seeing drug and prostitution paraphernalia littered through their neighbourhoods and have taken matters into their own hands by creating a group called Residents Against Street Solicitation.
It is known as RASS, Residents against Street Prostitution and Solicitation.
I call on the government to stand up for women and children, and provide more resources and social programs to women in need.
Prostitution is a problem that illustrates the social inequalities between the sexes. The government wants to protect men with guns, but is doing very little to assist women and their families. If it is not right for our daughters, mothers or our wives, it is not right for any woman.
EducationStatements By Members
2:05 p.m.
Ron Cannan Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to acknowledge the many outstanding graduates in my constituency of Kelowna—Lake Country.
This has been a milestone month for education as we are celebrating the first ever graduating classes of two new post-secondary institutions. On June 3 Okanagan College held its first ever spring convocation: 209 students graduated with diplomas, while 142 students were given degrees.
On June 9 the University of British Columbia welcomed over 450 new alumni, as graduating students participated in the first graduation ceremony at UBC Okanagan.
In addition, over 1,357 grade 12 students will have high school diplomas conferred upon them. While I would like to congratulate all the local high school students for reaching this great accomplishment, I would also like to send special congratulations to my wonderful daughter, Ashley, who graduated on Saturday from Kelowna Secondary School. Enjoy your prom tonight, dear.
On behalf of the constituents of Kelowna—Lake Country, we applaud all the recent graduates and wish them much success in all their future endeavours.
Mistissini ReserveStatements By Members
2:05 p.m.
Yvon Lévesque Bloc Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC
Mr. Speaker, last week, 3,200 residents of the Mistissini reserve had to leave their homes when forest fires were engulfing the area.
During my visit there on June 8, I could see that the residents of Mistissini handled this situation with great patience and calm.
I want to commend the Red Cross teams and all the volunteers from Chibougamau and Mistissini who received the people of the Mistissini community and offered them food, lodging and support.
I applaud the tremendous effort by the municipal emergency preparedness organization for their coordination and hospitality during the evacuation. I also want to thank the forest rangers for their work, which allowed the Mistissini residents to go home with complete peace of mind.
I am very proud of the people of my riding for supporting one another.
AgricultureStatements By Members
2:05 p.m.
Barry Devolin Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON
Mr. Speaker, over the past few months I have been asked many times why I focus so much on farmers and foods. That is a good question and here is my answer.
First, farming is a primary industry. As such, farmers create new wealth that is recycled many times throughout the economy. In other words, every farm that survives and prospers helps to support many other businesses and jobs in our rural communities.
Second, I recognize that it is farmers who produce the food that our families eat. In fact, every meal we have ever eaten originally came from a farm somewhere. After 60 years of plentiful food in Canada, I guess it is easy to forget that simple fact.
Third, Canadian farmers desperately need more advocates right now. It would take 10 minutes just to list all the challenges they face, let alone describe them.
One of the things I have learned in life is that we must focus to be successful. I know that there are many worthy causes in social, economic and foreign policy before Parliament. However, the place where I want to play a leading role is standing up for Canadian farmers and food.
CartiervilleStatements By Members
2:05 p.m.
Stéphane Dion Liberal Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC
Mr. Speaker, I rise to draw the attention of the House and all Canadians to the 100th anniversary of Cartierville, which I have had the honour of representing with great pride for 10 years now—one tenth of its existence.
Cartierville was named not in honour of Jacques Cartier—although that is not much of a stretch since Cartierville is on the St. Lawrence seaway, which was discovered by Jacques Cartier—but in honour of Georges Étienne Cartier, one of the fathers of Confederation. In 1906, Cartierville became a village. In 1912, Cartierville became a town.
In 2002 the borough of Ahuntsic Cartierville was created.
Cartierville has maintained its rural roots despite the railroad and urbanization. We can go canoeing there, or fishing—although I do not recommend eating the fish too often—or go for a hike in the woods. The Rimbaud and Belmont parks are there, as are the Saguenay woods.
Cartierville also has a multicultural population that is very active. I would suggest that the government look very closely at the sports centre project that would be very good for the population of Cartierville.
Foreign AffairsStatements By Members
2:10 p.m.
Peter Van Loan Conservative York—Simcoe, ON
Mr. Speaker, this government places the protection and the promotion of freedom, human rights, democracy and the rule of law as central to our international agenda. We are greatly concerned with the recent deterioration of human rights in Syria and Egypt.
In Syria, voluntary association and community activists, intellectuals and other citizens are being arrested as they promote human rights and seek to build the democratic opposition. We expect Syria to respect international human rights law and to move forward with democratic reforms.
In Egypt, we are concerned that disciplinary measures have been taken against two judges, that excessive force has been used against protesters, and that the opposition leader, Mr. Ayman Nour, remains incarcerated. Our embassy has led international efforts to visit and support Mr. Nour and will continue to do so. We are also disappointed by the decision to renew the state of emergency for a further two years despite earlier promises to bring it to an end.
We call upon other countries to stand up for freedom, human rights, democracy and the rule of law as fundamental values that can no longer be trampled upon.
Northern EnergyStatements By Members
2:10 p.m.
Dennis Bevington NDP Western Arctic, NT
Mr. Speaker, northern Canadians face the highest energy costs in this country. One of the ways these costs can be reduced is to replace imported fossil fuels with renewable energy.
For example, the community of Wha Ti is developing a run of the river mini hydro project which, when completed, will eliminate the need for diesel-powered generators. This will reduce the energy costs to this community significantly, and for generations ahead.
NWT's diamond mines would benefit from the surplus electricity from the Talston River hydroelectric project, replacing polluting diesel fuel transported on ice roads.
In addition to small scale hydro, other forms of renewable energy being considered by northerners are wind, solar, biomass and wood pellets.
However, to realize these initiatives, northerners need the federal government to support them. That will allow these developments to occur. Such support will help northern residents reduce energy costs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build long term self-sufficiency.
Patrick FortinStatements By Members
2:10 p.m.
Anthony Rota Liberal Nipissing—Timiskaming, ON
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Patrick Fortin. Patrick was born on June 26, 1978, a severe hemophiliac. To manage his bleeding disorder, Patrick required biweekly infusions. As a result of contaminated blood, Patrick was diagnosed HIV positive in February 1986 at the age of seven.
A talented athlete and gifted musician, Patrick enjoyed life to the fullest. His positive outlook, courage and determination in the face of adversity inspired everyone he met. At every birthday and each full moon, Patrick had only one wish: a cure for AIDS. Unfortunately, Patrick passed away before that cure was found.
Yesterday the inaugural Run Walk 4 Patrick took place in North Bay, attracting over 500 participants. Patrick would be proud that through his enduring spirit we continue to raise HIV-AIDS awareness and funds for a cure.
On behalf of all hon. members, I would like to congratulate Patrick's parents, Christine and Christian, his family and all organizers for hosting such a worthwhile event.
Patrick was with us for only a short time, but for those of us who knew him, our lives are forever changed.
World Day Against Child LabourStatements By Members
2:10 p.m.
Pierre Paquette Bloc Joliette, QC
Mr. Speaker, today we are commemorating the fifth World Day Against Child Labour. This year's theme is "Together we can do it!"
As we speak, children are being forcefully recruited to take part in armed conflicts; others are being killed, tortured or sexually exploited.
Globalization has aggravated poverty significantly in some developing countries, where children are left to fend for themselves and forced to work full days often in dangerous conditions.
In 2004, the International Labour Organization estimated that there were 218 million children between the ages of 5 and 14 working. In 2002, the International Labour Office estimated that 8.4 million children were victims of illicit activities.
Thanks to the francophone section of Amnesty International and to Children's Care International, we are tabling today a petition with over 12,000 signatures calling on Canada to promote the convention to ban the worst forms of child exploitation.
Through a sense of solidarity and humanity, the Bloc Québécois is denouncing injustice committed against children worldwide.
Canadian Wheat BoardStatements By Members
2:10 p.m.
Anita Neville Liberal Winnipeg South Centre, MB
Mr. Speaker, I recently had the opportunity to meet with representatives of the Canadian Wheat Board to learn at first hand the challenges facing Canadian wheat and barley growers as they market their products to the world.
It is important for government to remember what a farmer controlled Wheat Board means and not attempt to intervene in the decision of its future. A survey conducted last March showed that almost nine out of 10 farmers say that any decision to end the Canadian Wheat Board single-desk marketing system should be made by farmers, not by the federal government.
To disempower farmers is to undermine a longstanding relationship of trust and cooperation. "Farmer controlled" means that the farmers decide the future. To dismantle the Wheat Board is to seriously undermine the economy of downtown Winnipeg.
All parties must move thoughtfully, understanding the full implications of the decisions made.
Liberal Party of CanadaStatements By Members
2:15 p.m.
James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake, MB
Mr. Speaker, this weekend 11 wannabes gathered for the first Liberal leadership debate. After such a boring and visionless showing, let us call them Waffley, Blurry, Burny, Shakey, Lefty, Yappy, Five-Hole, Who, American Nomad, Shouty, and Doc. Let us discover some of their real identities.
Waffley is the ethically challenged member from Kings-Hants, who cannot decide what position he has on policies like Kyoto. Blurry, the member from Vaughan, objected to debating health care, and no one knows where he stands.
People are still wondering if Burny, the member from Vancouver Centre, is still seeing burning crosses in Prince George. We also have Shakey, the member from Eglinton—Lawrence, who denied he was shaking down elementary kids for $5,400 campaign donations.
Five-Hole is the member from York Centre, who is about as comfortable in this leadership race as he is out of net. American Nomad, from parts unknown, the member from Etobicoke—Lakeshore, bragged about his ignorance of the equalization formula.
If this is the best the Liberals have to offer, Canadians can expect the Liberal Party to be in opposition for a long, long time.
Softwood LumberOral Questions
2:15 p.m.
Ralph Goodale Liberal Wascana, SK
Mr. Speaker, in Canada-U.S. relations, Canadians want their government to show the skill and the will to stand up for Canada. We want to be good neighbours, but not sycophants.
The softwood lumber deal now being rammed down our throats is a classic case of the Conservatives trying to appease their Republican idols and getting a bad deal in return. Why did the Prime Minister let the U.S. off the hook on its NAFTA obligations and why did he settle for what in real terms is just more than 50% of the illegal American duties?
Softwood LumberOral Questions
2:15 p.m.
Calgary Southwest Alberta
Stephen Harper ConservativePrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, the accusations of the member of the opposition are ridiculous, of course. This is a good deal for our softwood industry and a good deal for Canada. That is why the vast majority of the industry supports it. It is why the provinces support it.
We will wait and see what the position of the Liberal Party will be when we bring the final text to the House of Commons.
Softwood LumberOral Questions
2:15 p.m.
Ralph Goodale Liberal Wascana, SK
Mr. Speaker, the government clearly believes that any deal is better than no deal. At every turn, the Conservatives want to please their Republican idols. They want us to live our lives just like them, but that is not what Canadians want. Canadians want to stand up for Canada.
The Prime Minister once said that he would not agree to anything short of a 100% rebate of the softwood duties taken from Canadians illegally. What changed his mind and why did he give up?


text:
LAKE CITY, Fla. – One man was arrested and another is sought in connection with a robbery in Lake City last month that left the store owner dead.
James Leonard Johnson was arrested Saturday in Jacksonville.
Johnson, 23, is charged with felony murder in the first-degree and robbery.
Lake City police identified the second suspect as Ernest Larry Grandison. Grandison, 42, is considered armed and dangerous.
Upon his arrest, Grandison will be charged with first-degree murder and robbery.
The two are wanted in connection with an April 27th robbery that ended with the death of A&M Discount Beverage owner Rajni Patel. His wife, Daxa Patel, was not harmed during the robbery.
An award of $10,000 is being offered for information on Grandison's whereabouts.
If you have any information on this case, call the Lake City Police Department at 386-719-2068.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
This Crocodile Bout That Life: Moves In On A Pack Of Lions Trying To Jack Their Kill But Leaves Hungry!
'Lion and Crocodile fight over an impala kill at Zungulila Bushcamp, South Luangwa, Zambia" - Bushcampcompany
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.


text:
100% organic handcrafted shea butter bath and beauty products for everyone! Experience true beauty from nature.
Below are the answer to questions we are usually asked. We hope you find this information useful, however if we have left something out please feel free to contact us .
Please note that vouchers are valid for a single purchase and cannot be reused. That's it! Do not hesitate to reach out on Facebook or Twitter if you have any issues. Thank you!
We deliver our packages internationally using DHL. Using DHL, we are able to ship and track packages to any country for a reasonable cost. However, please note that there isn't a fixed shipping cost per country because the shipping estimate is calculated based on the dimensions and weight of the package.
We accept various payment options through ExpressPay. Customers can use their bank cards such as VISA, MasterCard, American Express or use mobile money to pay for their orders with these two options.


text:
H2H 11 cat.
Brandon Knight
Greivis Vaquez
Raymond Felton
Rank these point guards...
Who to start, who to bench. Grab that WW guy?
2 posts • Page 1 of 1
- Posts: 53
- Joined: Mon Mar 04, 2013 6:19 pm
Re: Rank these point guards...
I still like Felton first, then Vazquez Knight. I loved Knight heading into the year, but his hamstrings can't stay unstrained.
2 posts • Page 1 of 1
Return to "Basketball - Lineups, Waivers, Keepers"
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


text:
Despite the destruction of the late summer hurricanes that swept across the Southeastern United States, Geoff Dyer insists his company was fortunate. As president and CEO of Florida-based Lifestyle Family Fitness, he knows that the damage from hurricanes Charley, Frances and Ivan could have been worse.
As is, only one of his 20 clubs was destroyed by the hurricanes (As of press time, we were unable to reach Dyer about any damage that Hurricane Jeanne may have caused to his clubs). Hurricane Charley dealt the fatal blow to that one club, which was a 28,000-square-foot, $2 million facility in Winter Park, FL near Orlando. It blew out the club's windows and peeled back the roof to expose the interior of the building to the downpour that followed. The rain filled the club like a bucket and destroyed everything inside.
Other facilities in the Florida area were affected by the hurricanes — either from damage to the structures or lost business due to evacuations and people staying home waiting for the hurricanes to arrive. The total cost to the fitness facility industry in that area (due to lost ancillary revenue) is difficult to calculate. However, Dyer has said that the destruction of his club cost him about $1.5 million to $2 million including lost members (his membership is month to month with a 30-day cancellation notice). Numbers on how many members had cancelled their membership at the destroyed club were not available at press time.
"We lost business in the first six days of September," said Dyer. "That's 20 percent of our calendar days for that month."
However, the loss for the whole company is minimal, he said. "We have a lot to be thankful for," he added.
Ken Reinig, president and owner of Association Insurance Group (which insures 385 clubs in Florida), estimated that his company will pay out $2 million-$3 million to his clubs for all four hurricanes. He estimates that for all insurance companies that cover health clubs in the area, the pay out will be an estimated $30 million.
"To give perspective, we collected about $500,000 in property insurance premiums this year, and we will pay out an estimated $3 million, which is six times the premium collected," said Reinig.
Reinig said that half his clubs don't carry wind or flood protection because the cost to add that coverage often is more than the insurance premum. In addition, the deductibles on that coverage are based on a percentage of the building value so a $500,000 building with a 2 percent wind deductible would mean a $10,000 deductible. Flood insurance is generally provided by a national flood insurance program, he said.
"Because costs and deductibles are so high, most business owners elect to self-insure anyway," Reinig said. "It's a lot cheaper to buy strong plywood than pay for insurance."
Clubs constructed within the past 10 years tended to weather the hurricanes better than those in older buildings, he said. Unfortunately, the premiums for coverage on older buildings is higher, which means club owners in older stip malls and shopping centers often are underinsured.
"We recommend to our clients that you insure a minimum of four months of gross revenue," says Reinig. "Our reasoning is that clubs will need a month of clean up, two months to reconstruct depending on the building size, a month to get back up to speed and recontract members."
However, Reinig said that often it is not the physical damage that hurts a health club as much as the economic damage from mandatory evacuations and electricity outages that cause loss of business income.
Bruce Carter, consultant and owner of Optimal Fitness Systems International, which is based in Weston, FL, agreed, saying that the biggest impact of the hurricanes was fear. "It just kept people from getting out of their homes; it kept them from acting," he said. The TV news coverage was so intense that those who didn't evacuate just stayed put and didn't bother to venture to the gym.
Carter said that business at clubs catering to the unfit had been affected more by the hurricanes than at clubs that cater to the fit.
Carter's club, GetCyced Fitness, has a lot of fit people as members, he said. He went into the club on the Monday after Hurricane Charley hit and found the club was packed with people.
"That was the fit coming in saying, 'I missed a workout and I've got to get back in.' For those [that cater to] the unfit, they fall out because they haven't fallen into [an exercise routine] yet."
Dyer, who was insured for the physical damage to his facility, knew that the faster he could open a facility, the less likely that members and staff would leave the club for another one that wasn't damaged. Within six days of Charley, Dyer had managed with the help of staff and his equipment supplier to open a 3,100-square-foot club near the destroyed facility. Seven days later, Dyer opened a 12,000-square-foot club just two miles away. By doing so, he was able to retain all his staff and many of his members. Dyer has already started working on plans to rebuild a permanent facility in the same spot as the original facility.
Other fitness facilities are glad that the damage from the hurricanes wasn't worse for them. The Gainesville Health & Fitness Center in Gainesville, FL didn't see much of Hurricane Charley, but Hurricane Frances caused flooding in the area. However, the only damage that the club sustained was some fallen trees that blocked streets and parking lots, according to Debbie Lee, marketing director at the club. Staff that could make it to the club the following day helped cut up the trees so they could be hauled away and the club could reopen after being closed for two days.
Tony Hopkin's Gold's Gym in Melbourne, FL weathered Frances with little damage other than part of the first "G" in its Gold's Gym sign blowing away. (The extent of damage to his club from Hurricane Jeanne 20 days later was unknown since calls to Hopkin's facility as of press time did not go through because of downed phone lines.)
Little damage was done to the University of Florida's athletic and fitness facilities. On campus in Gainesville the only damage reported was debris, fallen trees and flooding to the golf course. The stadium was in good condition except for the missing air conditioning unit that had been on its roof.
Because the stadium was the safest of all of the University of Florida's facilities, it was open to athletes needing a protected place during the hurricane, according to Natalie A. Gonzalez, staff assistant of auxiliary services/operations at the University Athletic Association.
People also took shelter in some of the fitness facilities. The Melbourne Gold's Gym was open during Hurricane Frances for those who needed shelter. About 15 people took refuge there.
While the Lifestyle Family Fitness centers were not open as shelters during the hurricanes, Dyer has plans to open them as shelters during future hurricanes.
"I think people would feel comfortable in our clubs because they are well built and they feel better protected than in their mobile homes," he said.
After the hurricanes moved out of the area, many of the facilities opened their doors to the community. The university provided ice and water to those in need and has plans to donate money to local residents.
"We did the same thing for Hurricane Charley that hit three weeks before," Gonzalez said after Hurricane Frances struck. "We sent a truckload of water to Southeast Florida to help with that."
She also said that for the next few football games 25 cents would be added to the sale of concessions and that extra money would go towards relief efforts.
Dyer's clubs opened their showers to members and people in the community who were displaced by Charley. The Gainesville club did the same after Hurricane Frances and had 70 community members come in to use the showers on the first day it reopened. Club members also started pouring in once they found out that the club was open. On the first day the Gainesville club reopened (Tues., Sept. 7), 2,251 members came in to workout, said Lee. That number is a little light for the 24-hour club, which normally averages about 3,000 visits on a Tuesday.
"What I've heard most commonly is, 'I really needed this,'" Lee said. "We were trapped in our houses for days. We have curfews at night so people aren't out. It means we're all sitting in our houses with cabin fever."
The Gainesville Health & Fitness Center also allowed those who came in to get online to e-mail family and friends that they were okay since many of them were without electricity or phone service. The Gainesville club never lost electricity or phone service, said Lee.
The Melbourne Gold's Gym opened just a few days after Hurricane Frances passed, and members were happy the club was open with full power and water, said Customer Service Representative Cathy Peluso. Some members got back to their workouts right away and others just came in to shower. Some community residents paid a day fee to come in, workout and shower.
Hopkins also offered food, water and whatever else the gym could give to those in need.
"We're doing great," Peluso said. "We're just going to pull together and get through this."
From adversity, lessons often are learned. For Lifestyle's Dyer, that lesson was that a club must have an emergency plan in place and the ability to communicate with all staff. His club had an emergency phone number for staff and members to call about the club's opening or closing. Much of the staff also communicated through cell phones and Blackberries. "The ability to communicate through e-mails on Blackberries was great," Dyer said. "Communication was one of our strengths through this crisis."
He also learned that family comes first. "It is difficult to staff in times of panic, and we shouldn't expect staff to come in to take care of members when they are concerned about their family," said Dyer.
For Lee, the lesson learned was one she already knew. "What we do with every storm is that we get together and realize how awesome our staff is," Lee said. "You just drop everything to get done what needs to get done whether to help the club or help another staff member…It's reinforcement of how critical a great staff is when something like this happens."
Hurricane Timeline
Aug. 13 - Hurricane Charley blew into southwest Florida at 145 mph causing 27 deaths and $6.8 billion in damage.
Sept. 5 - Hurricane Frances made its barreled onto the state's eastern coast, causing 16 deaths, flooding and an $4.4 billion in damage.
Sept. 16 - Hurricane Ivan hit the coast of Alabama and the panhandle of Florida with 130 mph winds, killing more than 12 people and causing an estimated $3 billion to $6 billion in damage.
Sept. 25 - Hurricane Jeanne hits near Stuart, FL, causing an estimated $4 billion to $9 billion in losses.


text:
When comparing ImageOptim vs IntelliJ IDEA, the Slant community recommends ImageOptim for most people. In the question"What are the best power user tools for macOS?" ImageOptim is ranked 8th while IntelliJ IDEA is ranked 34th. The most important reason people chose ImageOptim is:
Great for compressing images for web usage or saving harddrive space.
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pro Losslessly compresses PNG, GIF, and JPEG images
Great for compressing images for web usage or saving harddrive space.
Pro Fast & Simple
Pro Simple drag'n' drop interface
Simply drag images (or folders) into the window.
Pro Tries several different image optimizers before picking the best one
Pro Edits files in place
It does edit files in place, overwriting the original. This is exactly what I want, so I love it, but it's good to know beforehand.
Pro Can handle PNG, GIF, and JPEG images
Great for compressing images for web usage or saving harddrive space.
Pro Android support, JavaEE support, etc
A very complete development environment support.
Pro Fast and smart contextual assistance
Uses a fast indexing technique to provide contextual hints (auto-completion, available object members, import suggestions).
On-the-fly code analysis to detect errors and propose refactorization.
Pro Support for many languages
IntelliJ supports many languages besides Java, some of these are: golang, Scala, Clojure, Groovy, Bash, etc.
Pro Smart refactorings
IDEA places an emphasis in safe refactoring, offering a variety of features to make this possible for a variety of languages.
These features include safe delete, type migration and replacing method code duplicates.
Pro Intuitive and slick UI
IDEA has a clean, intuitive interface with some customization available (such as the Darcula theme).
Pro Lots of plugins
Many plugins are available for almost any task a developer may need to cover. Plugins are developed by Jetbrains themselves or by 3rd parties through the SDK available for writing them.
Pro Stable and robust
IntelliJ IDEA hardly ever crashes or has any issues that plague other Java IDEs like file corruption or slowness.
Pro Free version available
There is a free community edition (open source) and an ultimate edition, which you can compare here.
The ultimate edition is available for free for one year for students but must be registered through an .edu e-mail account.
Pro Many convenient features
These simplify the daily work, e.g. copy/cut a whole line without the need to select it.
Pro Clear and detailed documentation
The documentation is exhaustive, easy to navigate, and clearly worded.
Pro Very powerful debugger
With ability to step into a certain part of a large method invocation (Shift+F7), drop frame, executing code snippets, showing method return values, etc.
Pro Gradle support
Pro Built-in Git support
Pro Prices are not bad
I pay $24 a month and i have access to all jetbrain peoducts , so i use their many tools , i tried many others like netbeans , eclipse , etc , they re good but intelij is on the space and the sky is the limit . Been using it for 5 years and i cant tell i got frustrated using .it
Pro Embedded database support
Creating an embedded database, running SQL script in a dedicated terminal, viewing tables and their contents, and creating a connection to an in-memory or embedded database is fully supported.
Con Compression algorithm not as good as counterparts
Con Cannot abort an optimization
Optimization can run for a long time. Sometimes it reaches 20% quickly and then spend a long time to attain 21.2%. But you cannot interrupt the process.
Con Does not work on SVG yet
Con Somewhat expensive
IntelliJ IDEA is fairly expensive, with a pricetag of $149/year.
However there is a free community edition available.
Con Slow startup
Startup can be slow depending on system configuration.
Con Uses a lot of RAM
Con Standard hotkeys behave differently
Seems like hotkeys assignment in Idea has no logical consistency.
Like «F3» is usually next match, «Ctrl+W» - close tab, etc — they map to some different action by default.
There is a good effort in making the IDE friendly for immigrants from other products: there are options to use hotkeys from Eclipse, and even emacs. But these mappings are very incomplete. And help pages do not take this remapping into account, rather mentioning the standard hotkeys.
So, people coming from other IDEs/editors are doomed to using mouse and context menus (which are rather big and complex).
Con Bugs are not solved as often as they should
They are more interested in adding new features or issuing new versions than solving bugs.
Con Built with closed source components
The version with full features is not opensource. Parts of the code are under apache licence though.
IntelliJ supports a very small amount of plugins. Although these are 'quality approved', many features are missing and can't be implemented because of that.


text:
I've used an arrow like this:
...in lots of programs - on the web in WordPress, in MSWord, even TextEdit.
But when I paste the arrow into an inDesign document, it's not recognised.
Is this arrow character not usable in inDesign?
How do I get an arrow character in an inDesign doc?


text:
I said I didn't want to be a lawyer. I didn't say I didn't want to practice law. you can practice jaw without being a lawyer.
It is the education I want... not the career. (snip)Seriously?? Who in their right mind would torture themselves just to add another degree to resume? seems odd.


text:
by John Jackson Miller
those lists, plus Comichron's estimates, can be found here.
As mentioned in the initial analysis, the unit sales figures for 41 DC returnable titles have been understated by Diamond in the tables to the tune of 10%. This reflects copies that may be reported in as unsold by the end of the year, and thus not paid for by retailers. The final totals published at year end will reflect more accurate numbers; it is likely, from reports, that the return percentage will be smaller than 10%.
So the numbers we have are a likely a minimum — and at 7.27 million copies of the Top 300 comics sold, comic book unit sales were higher than they've been in any month since December 2008, which is before the general recession really took hold in the direct market. Six titles topped the 100,000-copy mark, even with the reduction; this is the most since July 2009.
Batman #1 (or Batman Vol. 2, #1, as many collectors are likely to refer to it) led the charts with more than 188,000 copies ordered. Orders for second-place Action Comics #1 were more than 182,000 copies; interestingly, this is right around the number of copies sold for its namesake issue, Action #1 from 1938. Again, remember the caveats given with the Justice League numbers: the 182,000-copy figure is only what Diamond shipped in the calendar month to the North American market. Diamond UK copies are part of the same print run, adding around 10% to the total; that, plus copies that shipped after September 30, explains the 200k+ print run figure reported by DC.
The aggregate totals:
TOP 300 COMICS UNIT SALESSeptember 2011: 7.27 million copies
Versus 1 year ago this month: +20%
Versus 5 years ago this month: +10%
Versus 10 years ago this month: +24%
Versus 15 years ago this month: -36%
3rd Quarter 2011: 19.36 million copies, +11% vs. 3Q 2010
YEAR TO DATE: 51.37 million copies, -2% vs. 2010, -16% vs. 2006, +6% vs. 2001
September 2011 versus one year ago this month: +14.42%
3rd Quarter 2011 vs. 3rd Quarter 2010: +10.34%
TOP 300 COMICS DOLLAR SALESSeptember 2011: $24.41 million
Versus 1 year ago this month: +13%
Versus 5 years ago this month:+19%
Versus 10 years ago this month: +49%
Versus 15 years ago this month: -8%
3rd Quarter 2011: $66.25 million, +6% vs. 3Q 2010
YEAR TO DATE: $177.49 million, -4% vs. 2010, -5% vs. 2006, +33% vs. 2001
July 2011 versus one year ago this month: +8.37%
3rd Quarter 2011 vs. 3rd Quarter 2010: +6.18%
TOP 300 TRADE PAPERBACK DOLLAR SALESSeptember 2011: $6.38 million
Versus 1 year ago this month: -9%
Versus 5 years ago this month, just the Top 100 vs. the Top 100: +7%
Versus 10 years ago this month, just the Top 25 vs. the Top 25: +58%
3rd Quarter 2011: $18.67 million, -6% vs. 3Q 2010
YEAR TO DATE: $51.06 million, -8% vs. 2010
July 2011 versus one year ago this month: -18.44%
3rd Quarter 2011 vs. 3rd Quarter 2010: -1.75%
TOP 300 COMICS + TOP 300 TRADE PAPERBACK DOLLAR SALESSeptember 2011: $30.79 million
Versus 1 year ago this month: +7%
Versus 5 years ago this month, counting just the Top 100 TPBs: +18%
Versus 10 years ago this month, counting just the Top 25 TPBs: +46%
3rd Quarter 2011: $84.92 million, +3% vs. 3Q 2010
YEAR TO DATE: $228.55 million, -5% vs. 2010
July 2011 versus one year ago this month: -1.01%
3rd Quarter 2011 vs. 3rd Quarter 2010: +3.55%
OVERALL DIAMOND SALES (including all comics, trades, and magazines)September 2011: approximately $39.6 million (subject to revision)
Versus 1 year ago this month: -1%
Versus 5 years ago this month: -29%
3rd Quarter 2011: $109.92 million, +2 vs. 3Q 2010
YEAR TO DATE: $298.6 million, -4% vs. 2010
One of the first things we see from the aggregate totals for Top 300s is that the Direct Market's performance in just the Top 300s is much better than its performance once the "long tail" is added in. The Top 300 comics are actually up 20% in orders against last September, versus 14.42% when titles after 300th place are included; in trade paperbacks and graphic novels, the effect is even more pronounced. The Top 300 trades were off 9% in dollars versus last September, but when the rest of the "long tail" is added, the shortfall doubles to 18.44%. There is about $9 million in combined sales of comics and trades that its not captured by the Top 300s.
This suggests a shifting of dollars toward frontlist in this month, and clearly comics fared better than trade paperbacks. But another interesting factor affecting the charts is that the number of DC offerings greatly declined from August. DC took 94 slots in the August Top 300; in September, that figure declined to 68, its lowest item count since October 2002. The count also included reorders and reprints for Justice League #1; the addition of 46,650 copies to the August count brings the total to nearly 233,000 copies. That puts it at 19th place on the record list for the 21st century, just below Batman #618; the book is, of course, not done selling yet.
The economic appeal of DC's move to replace a large number of titles with a small number of better-selling ones is obvious, and it has in fact gained in the bargain. But one impact on the charts can be seen in the 300th place title, a common bellwether. The sales for titles at this level dropped, and in fact, the 300th place book this month is the same as it was three months earlier, Stan Lee's Starborn for Boom. With a couple dozen fewer DC titles in the charts, titles that had slid off the charts slipped back on — with the upshot being that in one month, sales at 300th place went from more than 4,500 copies three months ago to just over 3,300 in September. The 150th place title also dropped by more than 1,000 copies from August.
So there is at least one impact in the DC reboot on the shape of the market: the center of gravity for unit sales volume shifted toward the top of the Top 300. I've noted the changing shape of the comics tables for several years, here, most recently the trend toward fragmentation of consumer interests, with volume shifting from the top to the bottom of the list. DC's move, for at least one month, increased the number of overall units while reducing the level of that fragmentation.
September 1996 was the first month in which I reported sales charts fusing the Exclusivity Wars-era numbers from Diamond and Marvel's then-exclusive distributor, Heroes World; it is also the first month of another Jim Lee-driven reboot, Marvel's "Heroes Reborn." Note that the comparisons are imperfect, in that the numbers back then were preorders only, and included books that never actually came out; today's numbers include every copy that Diamond sold of the books in the Top 300. The 1996 figures are also reflective of a market with more than twice as many retail outlets as we have in the direct market today.
In those days, I was able to take the top unit sales rankings out past 300th place — the last item on the list in September 1996 was a reoffering of Image's Maxx #5, with reorders of approximately 2,646 copies. (In those days, Diamond would relist items in the catalog as "offered again" months or years after they had come out — that was the only way reorders made the lists.) Coincidentally, Diamond provided some rankings for comics which came in below 300th place this month, and the 354th place item was Archie Double Digest #222 with final orders of 1,812 copies.
All the extra titles Diamond reported on this month can be found on the September 2011 page — as always, only the Top 300 titles count toward the Top 300 aggregates.


text:
Online Learning And Development At Mississippi College
It is important to utilize technology to further strengthen and support course content and pedagogy. To that end, MC encourages the use of the course management system Moodle for all course delivery types. Below is a description of such types offered. All courses are provided a counterpart on the institution's LMS and instructors are encouraged to pursue training on online development through the Distance Learning Center.
Traditional Programs
Offered fully on campus. "Brick-and-mortar" courses will utilize MCMoodle to deliver handouts and syllabus, communicate through forums for updates and reminders.
Hybrid Courses/Programs
Combination of traditional face-to-face courses with some significant portions online as well. These courses offer varying components of online, such as forums, assignments, video viewing, and the like.
Online Courses/Programs
Fully online, with no face-to-face component. All online courses are offered asynchronous, meaning they do not have a "live" component such as web-conferencing with faculty and students. Faculty communicate with students, and students to faculty, via email, Moodle messaging and forums.
MCMoodle is integrated with Banner (Student Information System). As a result, all course and course enrollment information is uploaded into MCMoodle from Banner. Faculty do not have to be concerned about enrolling students into their MCMoodle course home page (for traditional) or courses (for hybrid and online). The current semester's course registration information is always present in MCMoodle. This streamlines communication between faculty members and students as student e-mail information is also uploaded into MCMoodle from Banner.
Benefits of Use
- Online Discussion Boards for outside class participation
- Online Assignment submission that links to the online grade book and enforces deadlines
- Faculty create course assignments, students complete the work and upload when completed
- Automatically generated e-mail distribution lists within a course
- Accessible anytime, anywhere


text:
The Compliance Store v. Greenpoint Mortgage Funding, — F.3d —, 2010 WL 4056112 (5th Cir. October 18, 2010)
A federal court in Texas has decided a case that could have notable implications for both providers and users of software. The court took a narrow view of the rights that licensees of software have to authorize third parties (i.e., independent contractors) to use software on behalf of the licensee.
Plaintiff software provider sued its customer for breach of the software license agreement after plaintiff learned that the customer allowed its attorneys to input data using the software. Plaintiff claimed that the use was not permitted by the terms of the license agreement.
Customer moved for summary judgment on the breach of software license claim and the district court granted the motion. Plaintiff software provider sought review with the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. On appeal, the court reversed.
The appellate court held that the license agreement should not be read to permit use of the software by a third party not expressly provided for in the agreement, even though such third party's use of the software was on behalf of or for the benefit of the licensee.
The district court had relied on two earlier Fifth Circuit cases — Geoscan v. Geotrace Technologies and Hogan Systems v. Cybresource International — to look beyond the express language of the license agreement and hold that use of the software by defendant's attorneys was permitted. The district court found such use to be permitted because it was done on behalf of or for the benefit of defendant.
But the appellate court distinguished Geoscan and Hogan Systems, finding that neither case stands for such an expansive proposition. Unlike the agreements in those cases, the license in this case contained no provision that permitted use by third parties on behalf of the licensee. Moreover, among other things, defendant was expressly prohibited from transferring or sublicensing the technology and was prohibited from assigning its rights under the license agreement. The software license agreement also contained a provision that served to excluse all third party beneficiaries to the agreement.
Photo courtesy Flickr user coiax under this Creative Commons license.


text:
Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): She Is by The Fray
We haven't had an interview on here yet, and hey, I figured, why not open the floodgates with someone big? Like, bigger than big? Here now, in the virtual flesh, is Stephanie Meyer talking about her non-vampire, sci-fi story, The Host, which has been out for exactly one year this week, and has been on the NYT Bestseller list for almost as long. O_0
This is my favorite of her stories so far, not only because I am a speculative fiction nerd in the extreme (I'm really just discovering this. I don't know how I didn't pick up on it with all the sci-fi movies I watched as a kid). And it certainly isn't because I have a first edition copy, signed by her, and I got to meet her a year ago ^_^ (no, it really isn't). No, I love this book because I really feel she came into her own in this book. Her characters are real and complex, and I love what she did with the girl characters in particular. I would love to see more of Wanderer and Melanie (Ian rocks my world in that regard). So, kudos to Mrs. Meyer, and here's a salute to (in my opinion) your best work being on the bestseller list for a year. Congratulations! And everyone else, I hope you enjoy the interview, and have the most fantabulous weekend ever!
Feature Fun Friday - Stephanie Meyer The Host Interview
Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): She Is by The Fray
6 comments:
- Unknown said...
*so jealous*
I'm behind the bandwagon--I've just ordered my copy of the Host and am picking it up at the bookstore tomorrow. Argh! I wish I had it now!!!
- May 8, 2009 at 11:23 AM
- PJ Hoover said...
I really enjoyed The Host though it was a bit on the (unnecessarily) long side. And i totally agree - it crossed the lines just like the Twilight series!
Thanks for posting this!
I'm thinking I want Dante's Inferno though I don't know what version. I'm thinking if Beth is reading this comment she can make a suggestion!
- May 8, 2009 at 11:55 AM
- Heather Zundel said...
Oh, this is just too perfect. I actually did a MASS comparison of the translated versions of Dante's Inferno on my old blog. It was so much fun. Here is the link, so you can decide for yourself. My sister isn't much of a classics reader, but she loved - The Inferno of Dante: A New Verse Translation translated by Michael Mazur. Hope that helps! :)
- May 8, 2009 at 7:35 PM
- Heather Zundel said...
And Beth - tell me if you like it! I really did like this one quite a bit. Since you're writing a YA SF, this is right up your alley ;)
- May 8, 2009 at 7:45 PM
- Alysa Stewart said...
You must've gone to one of the Host signings. Or both, I guess! I was at the one put on by TKE. Rock on!
- May 15, 2009 at 8:24 AM
- Heather Zundel said...
Alysa - Ha! I was TOTALLY there! Hee. We were totally in the same place together. Were you one of the sets of screaming girls? My friend and I had a really fun game of counting exactly HOW many guys were there (8 - and that included staff and one reporter who came to film the insanity of it all). And then we figured out the ratio of boys to girls. It was hilarious.
- May 23, 2009 at 8:44 PM


text:
SCENT-FILLED SUMMER: California happens to be home to a few wine-growing regions -- you might have heard that, once or twice -- but wine-growing regions aren't simply, well, wine-growing regions. They're olive-growing regions, too, and sometimes they sport a citrus grove here and there, or purveyors of excellent and bespoke honey. And in the flowering plant department? For sure, one purple-pretty, oh-so-fragrant celebrity can dominate a vineyard-filled landscape. We speak of lavender, of course, that good-in-every-soap, wonderful-in-essential-oils addition. Visit Temecula or Ojai or Sonoma or Napa and you're bound to find lavender growing, in small or large plots. And, if not, you'll come across many products for sale in winery gift shops and such. (Seriously, is one permitted to depart a wine country vacation without a few lavender sachets tucked inside one's luggage? There must be a rule?)
BUT WHERE TO REVEL IN IT? There are a few spots that crop up, and events, too, when the weather growings toastier. June is one of lavender's big months, meaning that places like Paso Robles'll host the Central Coast Lavender Festival on Saturday, July 12 -- hellooooo, dipping sauces and lavender ice cream -- and the Ojai Lavender Festival purples up Libby Park on Saturday, June 28 (it's free and over 100 vendors'll be lavendering-up flower fans' lives). Say you just want a tour? Lots of lavender farms have them, either on the schedule or by appointment. Ring the Temecula Lavender Co. if you want a look-see around. Or is a "smell-sniff" more appropriate? And can anything be compared to the scent of lavender? We know, other wine country products, including wine itself, you smell really nice. But, c'mon. Lavender. The big Lav. The best, and so nice to celebrate come early summer.


text:
- Licensed and fully insured
- Top-quality Services
- Certified by Recycling Association
- Available within 24 hours
We will make sure you understand exactly what to anticipate
You will need to be knowledgeable on the subject of Backyard Ponds in Greencastle, IN. We will make sure you know exactly what can be expected. You won't confront any sort of surprises whenever you work with Backyard Pond Guys. Begin by contacting 800-372-6460 to go over your work. With this phone call, you get your concerns responded to, and we are going to establish a time to commence services. We work together with you all through the whole process, and our company can show up promptly and organized.
Backyard Pond Guys is the company to consider for your Backyard Ponds in Greencastle, Wyoming requirements
Plenty of reasons exist to pick Backyard Pond Guys for Backyard Ponds in Greencastle, IN. Our products are of the highest quality, our money saving strategies are realistic and effective, and our customer satisfaction scores won't be beat. We are aware of your preferences and intentions, and we're there to assist you using our practical experience. Whenever you need Backyard Ponds in Greencastle, choose Backyard Pond Guys at 800-372-6460, and we'll be beyond pleased to help.


text:
v2.3.8 - Show latest stable - 0 notes - Class: ActiveRecord::ConnectionAdapters::AbstractAdapter
prefetch_primary_key?(table_name = nil)
Should primary key values be selected from their corresponding sequence before the insert statement? If true, next_sequence_value is called before each insert to set the record's primary key. This is false for all adapters but Firebird.
Show source
# File activerecord/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract_adapter.rb, line 89 def prefetch_primary_key?(table_name = nil) false end


text:
The Other Talk: EHRs and Advance Medical Directives
Note: This was originally posted on: EMRandEHR.com
The Other Talk: EHRs and Advance Medical Directives
Most of us who have adult children can remember that awkward talk we had about life's origins. We thought, whew, that's done. Alas, there's yet another talk. This time it's with those adult children and it's about you.
This one's covered in Tim Prosch's and AARP's book, The Other Talk. The talk, or more accurately the process is how you want to spend the rest of your life. It's about your money, where and how you'll live and your medical preferences. It's just as hard, if not harder, than the old talk because:
It's hard to admit that you won't be around forever and your independence may start to ebb away.
- You don't want to put your kids on the spot with difficult decisions.
- Your children may be parents coping with their own problems. You don't want to add to their burdens.
- You've been a source of strength, often financial as well as emotional. That's hard to give up.
Prosch and AARP want to make it easier on everyone to deal with these issues. He covers many topics, but for those of us who live in the EHR world one is of significant importance: Medical directives.
Prosch explains directives and simply says you should give them to your doctor. Easier said, etc. Today, that means not only your PCP, but also making sure that hospitalists etc., know what you want. While the Meaningful Use program helps a bit. It's still going to take some doing.
Medical Directives and EHRs
EHR MU1 recognizes directives' importance requiring that they be accounted for:
More than 50% of all unique patients 65 years old or older admitted to the eligible hospital's or CAH's inpatient department have an indication of an advance directive status recorded.
This means that the EHR has to have the directives. However, MU 1 only goes halfway to what's needed. It's what the EHR does with directives that's unsaid.
If the EHR treats a directive as a miscellaneous document, odds are it won't be known, let alone followed when needed.
To be used effectively, an EHR needs a specific place for directives and they should be readily available. For example, PracticeFusion recently added an advance directives function. That's not always the case.
Googling for Directives
To see how about twenty popular EHRs treat directives, I did a Google site search, on the term directive. I got hits for a directives function only from four EHRs:
- Athenahealthcare
- Cerner
- Meditech
- PracticeFusion
All the others, Allscripts, Amazing Charts, eClinicalWorks, eMDs, McKesson, etc., were no shows. Some listed the MU1 requirement, but didn't show any particular implementation.
Directives: More Honored in the Breech
This quick Google search shows that the EHR industry, with a few exceptions, doesn't treat directives with the care they deserve. It should also serve as a personal warning.
If you already have directives or do have that talk with your family, you'll need to give the directives to your PCP. However, you should also give your family copies and ask them to go over them with your caregivers.
Some day, EHRs may handle medical directives with care, but that day is still far off. Until then, a bit of old school is advisable.


text:
crush (something) out of (someone or something)(redirected from crush out of them)
crush (something) out of (someone or something)
To squeeze something so that it releases something else. This hat is too tight—it's crushing the brains out of me! I had to crush the toothpaste out of the tube because it was almost empty.
crush something out of someone or somethingand crush something out
to press or squeeze something from someone or something. He crushed the juice out of the grapes. He thought that the weight of the lumber would crush the life out of him. Robert crushed out the juice.


text:
Injured veteran getting new home in Uniontown
Marine Cpl. Brandon Rumbaugh lost legs in Afghanistan
Marine Cpl. Brandon Rumbaugh lost both legs when an IED exploded in Afghanistan. Now, hundreds of volunteers are doing what they can to make sure he has a home that he can move around in.
There was a groundbreaking ceremony Saturday on Paul Court in Uniontown, Fayette County. The nonprofit Homes For Our Troops builds adaptive homes for veterans severely injured in combat since the Sept. 11 attacks.
"It is our privilege and honor to take care of these great veterans who deserve so much for all their service and sacrifice," said Tim McHale, the president and CEO of Homes For Our Troops.
Rumbaugh was surprised and touched by the 200 volunteers who came to help build his home.
"It's just great to know that I have a lot of supporters in the area, and Homes For Our Troops does a lot of great things," said Rumbaugh.
The process of providing Rumbaugh with a new adapted home is not over. The nonprofit must raise money to complete the construction.
Homes For Our Troops is building 41 homes for veterans in 38 states. For more information, go to www.homesforourtroops.org.
Rumbaugh received two Purple Hearts and a Combat Action Ribbon after his tour of duty in Afghanistan.


text:
We use cookies on this site to enhance your user experience. If you click continue without changing your settings, we will assume you are happy to receive all cookies on the Kookaburra website. You can find out more about how we use cookies and how you can change your settings in our Privacy Policy.
Kookaburra proudly introduce a new and improved Teamwear Range. Designed with Kookaburra's Stay-System Technology, our Teamwear boasts a variety of colours and embellishment options that can be tailored to your club. Please use the Contact form to get in touch with us.
The Kookaburra Training Polo is an athletic fit hockey polo, incorporating stretch fabric for ease of movement and integrated StayCool technology. Custom embellishments such as team logos, sponsors and numbers can be applied upon request.
Athletic Fit
Stay Cool
Not too tight, not too loose. Delivers better mobility by eliminating excess fabric.
Moisture-wicking technology to help keep you cool.


text:
The Battle of Stones River (Murfreesboro)
After Gen. Braxton Bragg's defeat at Perryville, Kentucky, October 8, 1862, he and his Confederate Army of the Mississippi retreated, reorganized, and were redesignated as the Army of Tennessee. They then advanced to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and prepared to go into winter quarters. Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans's Union Army of the Cumberland followed Bragg from Kentucky to Nashville. Rosecrans left Nashville on December 26, with about 45,000 men, to defeat Bragg's army. He found Bragg's army on December 29 and went into camp that night, within hearing distance of the Rebels. At dawn on the 31st, Bragg's men attacked the Union right flank. The Confederates had driven the Union line back to the Nashville Pike by 10:00 am but there it held. Union reinforcements arrived from Rosecrans's left in the late forenoon to bolster the stand and before fighting stopped that day, the Federals had established a new, strong line. On New Years Day, both armies marked time. Bragg surmised that Rosecrans would now withdraw, but the next morning he was still in position. In late afternoon, Bragg hurled a division at a Union division that, on January 1, had crossed Stones River and had taken up a strong position on the bluff east of the river. The Confederates drove most of the Federals back across McFadden's Ford, but with the assistance of artillery, the Federals repulsed the attack, compelling the Rebels to retire to their original position. Bragg left the field on the January 4-5, retreating to Shelbyville and Tullahoma, Tennessee. Rosecrans did not pursue, but as the Confederates retired, he claimed the victory. Stones River boosted Union morale. The Confederates had been thrown back in the east, west, and in the Trans-Mississippi.
|Battle Description
|A more detailed description of the battle than provided above plus a map.
|The Battle of Stone's River
|Article by G. C. Kniffin, Lieut. Colonel, U. S. V., Of General Crittenden's Staff. It has a Union slant and was taken from Battles and Leaders of the Civil War.
|The Battle of Stone's River (Union View)
|Another Union view by Henry M. Cist, Brevet Brigadier-General U. S. V, from his book, The Army of the Cumberland.
|The Advance to Murfreesboro
|Still another chapter from Cist's "The Army of Cumberland."
|The Battle of Murfreesboro (Confederate View)
|Now a little something from the Confederate view. A chapter taken from the Tennessee volume of the Confederate Military History.
From the Official Records
|Summary of Principal Events
|Taken from the Official Records, provides a summary of the events from Dec. 26, '62 - Jan. 5, '63.
|Order of Battle (Union)
|Organization of the Fourteenth Army Corps or the Army of the Cumberland
|Order of Battle (Confederate)
|Organization of the Army of Tennessee
Official Reports
Union Reports
Col. William P. Carlin
Brig. Gen. Jefferson C. Davis
Col. Joseph B. Dodge
Maj. Gen. Alexander McD. McCook
Col. P. Sidney Post
Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans
Col. William E. Woodruff
Confederate Reports


text:
Scab DesignScab Design | Contemporary Garden Furniture | Modern Outdoor Furniture ( For inquiries on the items shown below, please contact us, providing your address and contact details for an individual quotation. )
Scab Design
SCAB design is an Italian furniture brand specialising in furnishing for the home and garden, that was established in 1957. They focus on creative and detailed designs which were inherited from a long tradition of quality Italian production. Scab also research relentlessly, seeking the perfection of matter, which has granted them to receive exclusive recognition by Bayer Material Science. They offer quality and style for home design and for both the indoor and outdoor contract sector. They also believe that they give creations a unique touch, to transform the ideal into material. All Scab design products are easily and 100% recyclable. Every plastic element has the identification mark according to ISO11469:2001, and gives simple steps in order to recycle the product successfully. As well as supporting an eco-sustainable future, they also contribute to it by maintaining special attention to a dynamic, productive and waste-free system or distribution.
SCAB design offer products such as: chairs, bar stools and tables. These products are 100% Italian-made and based upon modern Italian design and lifestyle.
As a pioneer in the processing of thermoplastic materials, in the 70s SCAB explored its functional and expressive potential. A symbol of this initiative is "Patty", the folding armchair in the ABS, forerunner of a series of products that redefined the aesthetic standards of that time. After over 50 years of success, SCAB expanded its range in 2010 with the innovative collection and use of polymers and engineering plastics to produce a complete line of chairs, tables and stools for households or public places; whether to portray a practical, comfortable, durable or contemporary setting.
Special Offers (15)


text:
23-year-old batsman commits to county until end of 2016 season.
England batsman Joe Root has committed his future to Yorkshire CCC by signing a two-year contract extension that keeps him at the White Rose county until at least December 2016.
The Sheffield-born right-hander is regarded by many as one of England's best batsmen and is now an established member of the national side in all three formats.
Since making his Test debut in December 2012, the 23-year-old has played 15 matches scoring 955 runs including a top score of 180 against Australia at Lord's last summer.
For Yorkshire, Root has played 34 First Class matches where he averages over 43 with bat scoring 2,188 runs from 57 innings. His highest score of 236 came last season in a match-winning performance against Derbyshire at Headingley.
"We are delighted that Joe has committed his long-term future to the Club," said Yorkshire's Director of Cricket, Martyn Moxon.
"He is one of the brightest talents in the game and will be part of Yorkshire and England's plans for many years to come. His desire to be the best that he can is a perfect example to our young players that if you work hard on your skills and have total commitment, you can achieve almost anything in your profession.
"He is only 18 months into his England career and is already an established member of the national side. I'm looking forward to seeing Joe continue his progression as a Yorkshire and England cricketer."
Root is expected to return to action from a fractured thumb at the end of April, when Yorkshire take on Middlesex at Lord's in the LV= County Championship, starting on Sunday April 27. He sustained the fracture during England's tour of the West Indies in March and missed the recent ICC T20 World Cup because of the injury.