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National Geographic is popularly regarded as an important scientific magazine that carries out research all over the planet and shares the results with its readers. The magazine is a major source of information in a great number of important areas, yet few readers are aware of the extent to which it passes this information through an ideological 'filter' before handing it on to its readers, and sometimes even twists the data according to the demands of this ideology and builds-up completely imaginary stories.
The ideology in question in National Geographic is a blend of philosophical naturalism and the current brand of evolutionism, known as Neo-Darwinism. In the name of defending that theory, it generally presents prejudiced views of discoveries, and even opens the door to scientific falsehoods. For example, there was the falsehood of the Archaeoraptor fossil, which was presented by National Geographic in 1998 as an infallible evidence that birds evolved from dinosaurs, but which later proved to have been 'hand made.'
Even scientists who support the theory criticize the magazine for the blind propaganda it carries. According Dr. Storrs Olson, the Curator of Birds at the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, "National Geographic has reached an all-time low for engaging in sensationalistic, unsubstantiated, tabloid journalism." (1)
One instance of National Geographic's 'sensational, unsubstantiated and tabloid' evolutionist propaganda was its 'Evolution of Whales' article carried in the issue of November, 2001. The article maintained that a string of fossil discoveries had proved the evolution of whales thesis, and even quoted paleontologist Hans Thewissen as arguing that whales were one of the best examples of evolution. The pictures, reconstructions and diagrams plastered all over the 14-page article were intended to visually reinforce the same claim in readers' minds.
However, the 'evolution of whales' scenario, so fiercely defended by National Geographic, was-and is-nothing but a fairy tale, devoid of any scientific evidence.
The parade of reconstructions on pages 66-69 in National Geographic's November 2001 issue were meant to sum up the magazine's claim regarding the origin of whales. A whole string of creatures were lined up one after the other and described as transitional forms in the evolution of the whale. According to the magazine, the order of these creatures, according to the geological periods they lived in, was as follows:
National Geographic's list continued, but included known categories of dolphins and whales.
There are very misleading features in this list. Let us consider the most fundamental of these. According to National Geographic, the first two creatures in the list, Pakicetus and Ambulocetus , were both 'walking whales,' yet the claim that these two terrestrial creatures were 'whales' is totally fictitious, even ridiculous.
Fossil remains of the extinct mammal Pakicetus inachus, to give it its proper name, first came onto the agenda in 1983. P. D. Gingerich and his assistants, who found the fossil, had no hesitation in immediately claiming that it was a 'primitive whale,' even though they actually only found a skull.
Yet the fossil has absolutely no connection with the whale. Its skeleton turned out to be a four-footed structure, similar to that of common wolves. It was found in a region full of iron ore, and containing fossils of such terrestrial creatures as snails, tortoises or crocodiles. In other words, it was part of a land stratum, not an aquatic one.
So, why was a quadrupedal land dweller announced to be a 'primitive whale' and why is it still presented as such by National Geographic? The magazine gives the following reply:
In other words, based on some details in its teeth and ear bones, National Geographic felt able to describe this quadrupedal, wolf-like land dweller as a 'walking whale.' Just one look at the reconstruction of Pakicetus by the evolutionist illustrator Carl Buell will reveal the absurdity in terming it a 'walking whale.'
The features of the details discussed by National Geographic, "the arrangement of cups on the molar teeth, a folding in a bone of the middle ear, and the positioning of the ear bones within the skull" are no compelling evidence on which to base a link between Pakicetus and the whale:
As National Geographic also indirectly stated while writing "subtle clues in combination", some of these features are actually found terrestrial animals as well.
None of the features in question are any evidence of an evolutionary relationship. Even evolutionists admit that most of the theoretical relationships built on the basis of anatomical similarities between animals are completely untrustworthy. If the marsupial Tasmanian wolf and the common placental wolf had both been extinct for a long time, then it is no doubt that evolutionists would picture them in the same taxon and define them as very close relatives. However, we know that these two different animals, although strikingly similar in their anatomy, are very far from each other in the supposed evolutionary tree of life. (In fact their similarity indicates common design-not common descent.) Pakicetus , which National Geographic declared to be a 'walking whale,' was a unique species harboring different features in its body. In fact, Carroll, an authority on vertebrate paleontology, describes the Mesonychid family, of which Pakicetus should be a member, as "exhibiting an odd combination of characters." (3) Such prominent evolutionists as Gould accept that 'mosaic creatures' of this type cannot be considered as transitional forms.
In short, describing Pakicetus , which is clearly a land dweller, as 'walking whale' simply on the structural features in its ear bones and molars, is nothing but another example of National Geographic's tradition of 'sensational, unsubstantiated, tabloid journalism.' In his article 'The Overselling of Whale Evolution,' the creationist writer Ashby L. Camp reveals the total invalidity of the claim that the Mesonychid class, which should include land mammals such as Pakicetus , could have been the ancestors of Archaeocetea , or extinct whales, in these words:
Ambulocetus natans: A False Whale with 'Webbed' Claws
The second fossil creature after Pakicetus in National Geographic's imaginary sequence is Ambulocetus natans. This fossil was first brought to the world's attention in 1984 in an article in Science magazine. It is actually a land creature that evolutionists have insisted on 'turning into a whale.'
The name Ambulocetus natans comes from the Latin words 'ambulare' (to walk), 'cetus' (whale) and 'natans' (swimming), and means 'a walking and swimming whale.' It is obvious the animal used to walk because it had four legs, like all other mammals, and even wide claws on its feet and hooves on its hind legs. Apart from evolutionists' prejudice however, there is absolutely no basis for the claim that it swam in water, or that it lived on land and in water (like an amphibian).
In order to see the border between science and wishful imagination on this subject, let us have a look at National Geographic's reconstruction of Ambulocetus . This is how it is portrayed in the magazine:
National Geographic's little manipulations: Imaginary webs added to claws, and rear legs made to look like fins.
If you look at it carefully you can easily see the two little visual manipulations that have been employed to 'turn the land-dwelling Ambulocetus into a whale:
The animal's rear legs are shown not with feet that would help it to walk, but as fins that would assist it to swim. However, Carroll, who examines the animal's leg bones, says that it possessed the ability to move powerfully on land. (5)
In order to present an impression of adaptation for water, webbing has been drawn on its front feet. Yet it is impossible to draw any such conclusion from a study of Ambulocetus fossils. In the fossil record it is next to impossible to find soft tissues such as these. So reconstructions based on features beyond those of the skeleton are always speculative. That offers evolutionists a wide-ranging empty space of speculation to use their propaganda tools.
With the same kind of evolutionists touching up that has been applied to the Ambulocetus drawing, it is possible to make any animal look like any other. You could even take a monkey skeleton, draw fins on its back and webbing between its fingers and present it as the 'primate ancestor of whales.'
The invalidity of the deception carried out on the basis of the Ambulocetus fossil can be seen from the drawing below, based on real paleontological data:
The real Ambulocetus : The legs are real legs, not 'fins,' and there are no imaginary webs between its toes such as National Geographic had added. (Picture from Carroll, Patterns and Process of Vertebrate Evolution, p. 335)
In publishing the picture of the animal's skeleton, National Geographic had to take a step back from the retouching it had carried out to the reconstruction picture which made it seem more like a whale. As the skeleton clearly shows, the animal's feet were designed to carry it on land. There was no sign of the imaginary webs.
The Myth of the Walking Whale
In fact, there is no evidence that Pakicetus and Ambulocetus are ancestors of whales. They are merely described as 'possible ancestors' by evolutionists keen to find a terrestrial ancestor for marine mammals in the light of their theory. There is no evidence linking these creatures with the marine mammals that emerge in the fossil record at a very similar geological time.
After Pakicetus and Ambulocetus , the National Geographic plan moves on to so-called sea mammals and sets out (extinct whale) species such as Procetus , Rodhocetus and Archaeocetea . The animals in question were mammals that lived in the sea and which are now extinct. (We shall be touching on this matter later). However, there are considerable anatomical differences between these and Pakicetus and Ambulocetus . No matter how much National Geographic tried to reduce these to a minimum by slight touches of the brush, when we look at the fossils it is clear they are not 'transitional forms' linking each other:
Other scientists accept that the animals that evolutionist publications such as National Geographic try to portray as 'walking whales' actually have nothing to do with true whales, but are a separate living group. Although he is an evolutionist, the famous Russian whale expert G. A. Mchedlidze does not support the description of Pakicetus , Ambulocetus natans and similar four-legged creatures as 'possible ancestors of the whale,' and describes them instead as a completely isolated group. (8)
Problems With National Geographic's Superficial Sequences
Visual effects (plans and drawings) play a major role in the imposition of Darwinism on society. Yet these are sometimes completely unscientific, and at other are scientific discoveries interpreted in a biased manner. National Geographic's time scale diagram (pages 64-77) of mammals that become increasingly more 'whale-like' through time is an example of these deceptive tools.
We have so far been considering small, but misleading adjustments to the reconstructions of the animals in the diagram. Alongside this, the dates ascribed to them by National Geographic have been selected in line with Darwinist prejudices. The animals are shown as following each other in a geological line, whereas these are questionable. Ashby L. Camp clarifies the situation, based on paleontological data:
In brief, there are two different views of when the animals that National Geographic chronologically sets out one after the other really lived. If the second view is accepted, then Pakicetus and Ambulocetus , which National Geographic portrays as 'the walking whale,' are of the same age as, or even younger than true whales. In other words, no 'evolutionary line' is possible. National Geographic has totally ignored the problem and has only used views that correspond to its own thesis. This is a method of propaganda, not of science.
Tales About Ears and Noses
Any evolutionary scenario between land and sea mammals has to explain the different ear and nose structures between the two groups. By means of the showy graphics it used, National Geographic has tried to give the impression that the question has been resolved. Yet that impression is a false one.
Let us first consider the ear structure. Like us, land mammals trap sounds in the outside world in the outer ear, amplify them with the bones in the middle ear, and turn them into signals in the inner ear. Marine mammals have no outer ear. They hear sounds by means of vibration-sensitive receptors in their lower jaws.
National Geographic claims that the second system evolved from the first. This is made clear on Page 71 in the diagram headed 'hearing aids.' This diagram has been drawn in such a way as to give the reader the impression that hearing organs evolved in stages. However, there is no evolution by stages here. A look at the text used by National Geographic will suffice to make this clear:
" Pakicetus ... This walking whale lacked the fat pad extending to the middle ear that modern ceteans have, a clue that it had kept terrestrial attributes. In later whales, the jawbone, with the fat pad, adapted to receive sounds."
We have already seen that Pakicetus was a typical land mammal, and that it is ridiculous to call it a 'walking whale.' The logic employed by National Geographic is no less ridiculous: It first describes the land-dwelling Pakicetus as a 'walking whale' and then says that the animal kept terrestrial attributes. That is like calling the cow a 'walking bat' and then saying, 'It has no wings, it keeps its terrestrial attributes.'
That is one aspect of the matter. The aspect that concerns us here is the clear difference between Pakicetus and whale ears. After the National Geographic extract above, we must naturally look to see if there is a transitional form between the two. After Pakicetus in the family tree comes Ambulocetus , which evolutionists call a 'walking-swimming whale' but which was actually a land mammal. National Geographic uses the following words about Ambulocetus : "Though more aquatic than Pakicetus , Ambulocetus still heard directly through its ear."
In other words, there is no evolution towards a whale ear in Ambulocetus .
When we come to the third animal in the National Geographic list, we suddenly meet an enormous change. The above extract continues: Sounds were transmitted to the middle ears of Basilosaurus as vibrations from the lower jaw.
In other words, Basilosaurus possesses a typical whale ear. It was a creature that perceived sounds around it not through an outer ear but by vibrations reaching its jaw. And there is no transitional form between Basilosaurus ' ear and that of Pakicetus and Ambulocetus , which National Geographic put before it in its scheme.
When the subject is examined theoretically, it can be seen that in any case such a transitional form would have no chance of surviving. Any evolution by stages between one perfect aural system to a completely different one is impossible. The transitional phases would not be advantageous. An animal that slowly loses its ability to hear with its ears, but has still not developed the ability to hear through its jaw is at a disadvantage.
The question of how such a 'development' could come about is an insoluble dilemma for evolutionists. The mechanisms evolutionists put forward are mutations and these have never been seen to add unequivocally new and meaningful information to animals' genetic information. It is unreasonable to suggest that the complex hearing system in sea mammals could have emerged as the result of mutations.
A similar situation applies to National Geographic's account of the 'sliding nose.' The magazine set out three skulls from Pakicetus , Rodhocetus and a Grey Whale from our own time above one another and claimed that these represented an evolutionary process. Whereas the three fossils' nasal structures, especially those of Rodhocetus and the Grey Whale are so different that it is impossible to accept them as transitional forms in the same series.
Furthermore, the movement of the nostrils to the forehead would require a 'new design' in the anatomy of the animals in question, and believing that this could happen as the result of mutations is nothing but fantasy.
National Geographic's Lamarckian Tales
Actually, National Geographic's writers and most of the evolutionist community share a basic superstition about the origin of living things, and that is the real problem. This superstition is the magical 'natural force' that allows living things to acquire the organs, biological changes or anatomical features that they need. Let us have a look at a few interesting passages from National Geographic's article 'Evolution of Whales:'
On close inspection, in this whole account the evolutionist mentality says that living things feel changing needs according to the changing environment they live in, and this need is perceived as an 'evolutionary mechanism.' According to this logic, less needed organs disappear, and needed organs appear of their own accord!
Anyone with the slightest knowledge of biology will know that our needs do not shape our organs. Ever since Lamarck's theory of the transfer of acquired characteristics to subsequent generations was disproved, in other words for a century or so, that has been a known fact. Yet when one looks at evolutionist publications, they still seem to be thinking along Lamarckian lines. If you object, they will say: 'No, we do not believe in Lamarck. What we say is that natural conditions put evolutionary pressure on living things, and that as a result of this, appropriate traits are selected, and in this way species evolve.' Yet here lies the critical point: What evolutionists call 'evolutionary pressure' cannot lead to living things acquiring new characteristics according to their needs. That is because the two so-called evolutionary mechanisms that supposedly respond to this pressure, natural selection and mutation, cannot provide new organs for animals:
Natural selection can only select characteristics that already exist, it cannot create new ones.
Mutations cannot add to the genetic information, they can only destroy the existing one. No mutation that adds unequivocally new, meaningful information to the genome (and which thus forms a new organ or new biochemical structure) has ever been observed.
If we look at the myth of National Geographic's awkwardly moving whales one more time in the light of this fact, we see that they are actually engaging in a rather primitive Lamarckism. On close inspection, National Geographic writer Douglas H. Chadwick "visualizes" that "Each whale in the sequence was a little more streamlined than earlier models." How could a morphological change happen in a species over generations in one particular direction? In order for that to happen, representatives of that species in every "sequence" would have to undergo mutations to shorten their legs, that mutation would have to cause the animals no harm, those thus mutants would have to enjoy an advantage over normal ones, the next generations, by a great coincidence, would have to undergo the same mutation at the same point in its genes, this would have to carry on unchanged for many generations, and all of the above would have to happen by coincidence and quite flawlessly.
If the National Geographic writers believe that, then they will also believe someone who says: 'My family enjoys flying. My son underwent a mutation and a few structures like bird feathers developed under his arms. My grandson will undergo the same mutation and the feathers will increase. This will go on for generations, and eventually my descendants will have wings and be able to fly.' Both stories are equally ridiculous.
As we mentioned at the beginning, evolutionists display the superstition that living things' needs can be met by a magical force in nature. Ascribing consciousness to nature, a belief encountered in animist cultures, is interestingly rising up before our eyes in the 21st century under a 'scientific' cloak. The well-known French biologist Paul Pierre Grassé, the former president of the French Academy of Sciences and a foremost critic of Darwinism, has once made it clear that this faith is just daydreaming:
More recently, Henry Gee, the science editor for the Nature magazine and an undisputedly prominent evolutionist, pointed to the same fact and admitted that explaining the origin of an organ by its necessity is like saying;
Another scenario which National Geographic is trying to impose, without too much discussion, concerns the body surface of the animals in question. Like other mammals, Pakicetus and Ambulocetus , which are accepted as land mammals, are generally agreed to have had fur-covered bodies. And they are both shown as covered in thick fur in National Geographic. Yet when we move on to later animals (true marine mammals), all the fur disappears. The evolutionist explanation of this is no different from the fantastical Lamarckian-type scenarios we have seen above. The truth of the matter is that all the animals in question were designed in the most appropriate manner for their environments. It is irrational to try to account for this design by means of mutation or facile Lamarck-type stories. Like all design in life, the design in these creatures is evidence for creation.
The Marine Mammal Scenario Itself
We have so far examined the evolutionist scenario that marine mammals evolved from terrestrial ones. Scientific evidence show no relationship between the two terrestrial mammals ( Pakicetus and Ambulocetus ) that National Geographic put at the beginning of the story. So what about the rest of the scenario? The theory of evolution is again in a great difficulty here. The theory tries to establish a phylogenetic link between Archaeocetea (archaic whales), sea mammals known to be extinct, and living whales and dolphins. National Geographic set the claim out in a very simplified form (Pages 156-159). However, many experts think rather differently. The evolutionary paleontologist Barbara J. Stahl writes: "The serpentine form of the body and the peculiar serrated cheek teeth make it plain that these archaeocetes could not possibly have been ancestral to any of the modern whales." (13)
The evolutionist account of the origin of marine mammals faces a huge impasse in the form of discoveries in the field of molecular biology. The classical evolutionist scenario assumes that they two major whale groups, the toothed whale (Odontoceti) and the baleen whale (Mysticeti), evolved from a common ancestor. Yet Michel Milinkovitch of the University of Brussels has opposed this view with a new theory. He stresses that this assumption, based on anatomical similarities, is disproved by molecular discoveries:
In short, marine mammals defy the evolutionary scenarios for which they are being forced to be subjects.
Contrary to the claims of the paleontologist Hans Thewissen, who assumes a major role in evolutionist propaganda on the subject of the origin of marine mammals, and is one of National Geographic's most important sources of information, we are dealing not with an evolutionary process backed up by empirical evidence, but by evidence coerced to fit a presupposed evolutionary family tree, despite the many contradictions between the two.
What emerges, if the evidence is looked at more objectively, is that different living groups emerged independently of each other in the past. This is compelling empirical evidence for accepting that God created all of these creatures.
Loud evolutionist propaganda about marine mammals, however, resembles the 'horse series' that was once put forward in the same way, but which evolutionists then admitted was invalid. A number of extinct mammals that lived at different times were lined up behind one another, and the evolutionists of the time tried to impose this as 'firm evidence.' Yet the truth emerged over time, and it was realized that these animals could not be each others' ancestors, that they had emerged in different periods, and that they were actually independent extinct species. Dr. Niles Eldredge, a curator at the American Museum in New York, , where "evolution of the horse" diagrams were on public display at that time on the ground floor of the museum, said the following about the exhibition:
The evolution of whales fairy story, so fiercely defended by National Geographic, is another of these fantasies of natural history. Like its predecessors, it too will soon find itself in the waste bin of science.
(1) Open Letter to National Geographic by Storrs L. Olson, Curator of Birds, National Museum of Natural History Smithsonian Institution
(2) National Geographic, "Evolution of Whales", November 2001, p. 68
(3) Robert L. Carroll, Patterns and Process of Vertebrate Evolution, Cambridge University Press, 1998, p.329
(4) Ashby L. Camp, "The Overselling of Whale Evolution", Creation Matters, a newsletter published by the Creation Research Society, May/June 1998
(5) Robert L. Carroll, Patterns and Process of Vertebrate Evolution, Cambridge University Press, 1998, p.333
(6) National Geographic, "Evolution of Whales", November 2001, p. 73
(7) Robert L. Carroll, Patterns and Processes of Vertebrate Evolution, Cambridge University Press, 1998, 329
(8) G. A. Mchedlidze, General Features of the Paleobiological Evolution of Cetacea, trans. from Russian (Rotterdam: A. A. Balkema, 1986), 91.
(9) Ashby L. Camp, "The Overselling of Whale Evolution", Creation Matters, a newsletter published by the Creation Research Society, May/June 1998
(10) National Geographic, "Evolution of Whales", November 2001, p. 69
(11) Pierre-P Grassé, Evolution of Living Organisms, New York: Academic Press, 1977, p. 103
(12) Henry Gee, In Search Of Deep Time: Beyond The Fossil Record To A New Hýstory Of Life, The Free Press, A Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc., 1999, p. 103
(13) B.J. Stahl, Vertebrate History: Problems in Evolution, Dover Publications, Inc., 1985, p. 489.
(14) Michel C. Milinkovitch, "Molecular phylogeny of cetaceans prompts revision of morphological transformations," Trends in Ecology and Evolution 10 (August 1995): 328-334.
(15) Niles Eldgridge, quoted in Darwin's Enigma by Luther D. Sunderland (Santee, CA, Master Books, 1988), page 78.)


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Norma,Thank you conducting the latest set of Sukie experiments and for posting your results. It sounds like you had a busy day today, but a very productive one.Now that you have made several Sukie pizzas, can you give us an overall assessment of the pros and cons of the pizzas made from the various mixes and "goody bags"?With respect to your email exchange with Tim Huff, I think he may have misspoken on the fat content of the various mixes. Both the Bisquick Original Pancake and Baking Mix and the Bisquick Buttermilk biscuit mix contain partially hydrogenated soybean and/or cottonseed oil. It is the Bisquick Garlic Cheese biscuit mix that has the different fat composition. That mix has both partially hydrogenated soybean and/or cottonseed oil and other oils, including palm oil. Yet, that mix also turned out pretty well when used with one of the "goody bags".Peter
Norma,When you have a spare moment, would you mind posting the items, including the Betty Crocker muffin mix and the "goody bag" ingredients, that went into the latest dessert pizza? That way, members will have everything in one place. You also mentioned that you had to add a bit more flour to overcome some stickiness of the dough. Would you reduce the amount of water the next time instead?Peter
Norma,I know that the Stretch-Out product that you have been testing out in the thread at http://www.pizzamaking.com/forum/index.php/topic,13820.0.html is almost ice cream-like in texture but, out of curiosity, were the Betty Crocker Pizza Crust Mix and the various Bisquick mixes that you used to make your Sukie and other pizzas fine textured or did they have small lumps of fat dispersed through them? In this vein, I recalled trying to sift a Jiffy Pizza Mix product, which uses lard or similar fats, and I couldn't get everything through the screen. I know that some mixes that the larger pizza chains use, like Godfather's, have sprayed forms of fat in the mixes. I also spoke with a representative of another company today that makes a pizza crust mix and was told that the shortening in the mix is a sprayed form of shortening. Peter
Norma,As you can see from the photo below, the Bisquick Cheese-Garlic biscuit mix has so many different ingredients that it is hard to say which of them is visible in the dough and the finished pizza.I am beginning to think that GM is using a dried form of partially hydrogenated soybean and/or cottonseed oils. What would be interesting is to know how a wet form compares with a dry form, both quantitatively and qualitatively.Peter
Norma,I have never heard of freeze dried shortening either. When I did a Google search on "freeze dried shortening", I got four hits. So, that terminology cannot be right. I have heard of shortening powders and spray dried shortening. I believe that shortening powders and spray dried shortening may be the same thing. For example, if you look at the Godfather's Pizza mix as set forth at http://vegan.fm/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Ingredient-Statement.pdf, the "spray dried shortening" comprises partially hydrogenated soybean oil, corn syrup solids and sodium caseinate. If you look at a typical shortening powder sold as a "shortening powder", for example, at http://beprepared.com/product.asp?pn=FS%20D145&bhcd2=1222514654, you will find a very similar ingredients list. What I found interesting is that most of the places that sell shortening powders seem to address mainly emergency or survivalist or camping markets. I am sure that there are commercial sources of powdered shortenings that serve baking and similar applications. Peter

subset: commoncrawl


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From all over the place, raising totem in Alert Bay
- 25-02-11-a037792
- Pièce
- [196-?]
Fait partie de Anthony Carter fonds
Image of a totem pole in Alert Bay, BC, at the grave of the Kwakiutl Chief Mungo Martin. The pole was carved to honor the Chief. This image shows the pole right after it has been raised, with the ropes used to raise it still attached. Additional information and images of this pole are featured on pages 28-33 of Carter's book "From History's Locker."
Anthony Carter


text: Job Discussion Forums :: View topic - UAE salaries Get TEFL Certified & Start Your Adventure Today! Job Discussion Forums"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!" FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Register Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in UAE salaries Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> United Arab Emirates View previous topic :: View next topic Author Message PushokJoined: 27 Jan 2003Posts: 49 Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2003 4:33 pm Post subject: UAE salaries Sorry for the apparent mercenary question, but can anyone give a breakdown of typical salaries and packages in the UAE? The only one I can find info. on is the MLI who offer $35,000 - $40,000 + all inclusive accomodation etc. What about UAE Uni, Zayed Uni + more? Anyone know? Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> United Arab Emirates All times are GMT Page 1 of 1 Jump to: Select a forum Where to Begin----------------General DiscussionNewbie ForumCurrent Events ForumTechnology ForumOnline Teaching Forum Africa Forums----------------General Africa Forum Asia Forums----------------CambodiaChina (Job-related Posts Only)China (Off-Topic)Hong KongIndiaIndonesiaJapanMalaysiaPhilippinesSingaporeTaiwanThailandGeneral Asia ForumVietnam Caribbean Forums----------------General Caribbean Forum Europe Forums----------------Czech RepublicFranceGermanyGreeceItalyMacedonia and the BalkansPolandRomaniaRussia & C.I.S.SpainTurkeyUkraineUnited KingdomGeneral Europe Forum Latin America Forums----------------ArgentinaBrazilChileColombiaCosta RicaMexicoMexico (off-topic)PeruGeneral Latin America Forum The Middle East Forums----------------BahrainEgyptIsraelKuwaitOmanQatarSaudi ArabiaUnited Arab EmiratesGeneral Middle East Forum North America Forums----------------General North America Forum Oceania----------------Australia/New Zealand You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forum This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling. Contact Dave's ESL Cafe Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved. Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group Teaching Jobs in China


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August 01, 2013
By Cora Jackson-Fossett
LAWT Religion Editor
Leader, visionary and humanitarian aptly describe the ministry of service rendered by Helene Winona Brookins throughout her earthly existence. Her assistance to others came to a close on July 16 when she passed away in Las Vegas, NV.
A retired Episcopal Supervisor in the A.M.E. Church and former wife of Bishop H. Hartford Brookins, Helene's life was distinctly marked by dedicated spirituality and ongoing charitable work.
"Helene was passionate about helping people. That was her major thing. She often put her own welfare aside in consideration for others," said retired Supervisor Ernestine Henning, a long-time friend.
Retired Supervisor Vivienne Anderson noted, "Helene deserves her crown in glory."
A celebration of life will be held at First A.M.E. Church on Saturday, August 3, at 11 a.m., 2270 South Harvard Boulevard in Los Angeles. Bishop T. Larry Kirkland will preside and the Rev. J. Edgar Boyd is the host pastor.
Helene's long life began on April 27, 1927 in Sterling, KS, where she was born to Charles and Juanita Bland Howard. Accepting Christ at an early age, she moved with her family to Pasadena in 1940. After high school, Helene attended Pasadena College and soon developed a love for art, fashion, and interior design.
"She could often be heard saying, 'Now, that's sharp!' when something caught her eye," recalled her granddaughter, Marina Brookins.
While visiting a church in Topeka, KS, Helene met her future husband, H.H Brookins. They soon married and became the parents of Steven Hartford Brookins in 1956.
Helene smoothly balanced motherhood with her duties as first lady at Brown Chapel A.M.E. in Topeka, KS; St. Luke A.M.E. in Lawrence, KS; and St. Paul A.M.E. in Wichita, KS, where she worked hard with her husband to erect a new edifice that still stands today.
A new phase of life began for Helene when the family moved to Los Angeles, said her son, Steven. "During her time, from 1959 to 1973, the membership of First A.M.E. grew and reached achievements that have enriched lives and souls across the city and nation.
"Again, she was by my father's side when the congregation moved from the historic location at 8th and Towne to the present-day edifice in the West Adams District."
God's next assignment for Helene was as Episcopal Supervisor in the 17th Episcopal District in Southern Africa where she joined human rights and humanitarian efforts during Zimbabwe's struggle for independence.
"Her time spent living in Southern Africa was the highlight of her life. She was dedicated to the people and they absolutely loved her. They continue to ask about her to this day even though she served there from 1976 to 1980," shared Supervisor Henning.
During her tenure, Helene could be seen farming and collecting food, clothing and medical supplies to support the local churches and freedom fighters.
"Africa, she said, brought her personal and spiritual happiness and was forever the motivation behind her life's work with children and the socially disadvantaged," remembered Steven.
Returning to Los Angeles in 1980, Helene served as Episcopal Supervisor of the Fifth Episcopal District and led the efforts of the Women's Missionary Society. In addition, she was active in the Lullaby Guild, joining in 1964 and serving as president from 1983 to 1985.
"She believed in the Lullaby Guild's mission of supporting the Children's Home Society of California. She enjoyed supporting affairs like the Ebony Fashion Fair that was sponsored in Los Angeles by the Lullaby Guild," said Steven, who added that Helene was featured in Jet magazine presenting a check from the fundraiser to the Children's Home Society of California.
Her other affiliations included the Top Ladies of Distinction, Los Angeles Community Service and the Youth Intervention Program where she served 10 years as a social worker.
Helene's philanthropy led to honors by the National Council of Negro Women, Richard Allen Foundation and Lorre Entertainment Incorporated. On July 12, 2003, Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn and the City Council proclaimed 'Helene Brookins Day' in recognition of her life of community service.
She was preceded in death by her father, Charles Howard; mother, Juanita Bland Howard; dear sister; Billie Howard; and former husband, Bishop H. Hartford Brookins.
Rejoicing in her wonderful life and legacy are son, Steven H. Brookins; granddaughter, Marina Brookins; sisters, Pollyanna Moore and Charlotte Smith; brother, Jim Howard; nephews, Kevin Brookins, Jeffrey Brookins, Kenneth Dunbar and Christopher Dunbar; along with a host of additional nieces, nephews, cousins and many beloved friends.


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Keith R. Holdaway, Oil and Gas Domain Expert in the SAS Global Energy Practice, joined SAS in 1997 after nearly 20 years at Shell, BP and two geophysical services companies, including a decade in the Middle East.
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I absolutely adore this Guess purse. It's perfect for me. It's by the line Bellissima. The eyelet detail, the bow ribbon, the heart Guess logo, the heart lining.. ahhh! Not only is it perfect for me, but it's on sale for $114.00! Unfortunately, I need to purchase a new phone, so that's what my bank account is saving for. Yes, iPhone is dying on me, and I need to purchase another. :(
But hey, a girl can look, and dream right?!
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Longing for Guess Bellissima Satchel
I absolutely adore this Guess purse. It's perfect for me. It's by the line Bellissima. The eyelet detail, the bow ribbon, the heart Guess logo, the heart lining.. ahhh! Not only is it perfect for me, but it's on sale for $114.00! Unfortunately, I need to purchase a new phone, so that's what my bank account is saving for. Yes, iPhone is dying on me, and I need to purchase another. :(
Monday, May 16, 2011
My Vanity Stand & Makeup Storage
My pride and joy is my vanity stand. I use it everyday, sometimes twice a day. It's a must to keep it organized and cute. hehe. I was literally lost without my makeup storage at school. How do you know what you're going to use everyday? I opted for a tiny Sterlite bin to store all my makeup and face products. It was so sad to depart from all my makeup, and facial products. Now that I'm home for the summer, I get to enjoy all my makeup. :D So today I cleaned up my vanity set, and put all my makeup back in it's rightful places. They're home. :)
I thought I'd show where I do all my makeup, and how I store my makeup. It's not much, but it is all mine, and I love it.
First, an awful before photo. It's so hard to keep up on two rooms when you're going back and forth on the weekends, so my makeup stand got a little messy.
The pretty cleaned up vanity stand.
To the left is where I store the makeup. All it is in a simple 3 drawer Sterilite bin from Walmart.
My beloved Conair makeup mirror, I don't know what I'd do without.
My makeup brushes that I use daily are stored in a ice cream glass my fiance bought me, that I added pink gem stones too. My facial products that I use daily are stored in a cupcake container I got from Target for $1.00. The pink cupcake is where I store all of my tweezers, tiny scissors and pencil sharpener.
Flowers to be decorative. The other cupcake is from Atlantic City from one of those shops on the boardwalk and I store all my cotton balls in that.
This is a cupcake stand I purchased from The Christmas Tree Shoppe for $12.99. Unfortunately I don't use it for cupcakes, right now I use it to put my rings in, and some cute bobby pins. Things I grab on a daily basis, as I'm getting ready.
In the big Sterilite container I have little containers which I bought from the dollar store, 3 for $1.00. And they come in all different sizes, and that's how I separate all my makeup. The top drawer is where more of high end make up is stored.
Second drawer is where all my drugstore eyeshadows are stored, separated by brand.
The bottom drawer has "pencil containers" where I store my primers, eyeliners, mascara's, and some lipsticks. I also store my blush on the bottom, and more facial products.
*The smaller Sterilite bin is where I store my contacts, prescriptions, etc. I figured I wouldn't show that. Also the vanity is from Big Lots, thanks to my parents for my 18th birthday. (I know soooo long ago) But it works for me, and I love it.
And that's my makeup stand.
I hope this was helpful, and maybe gives you ideas on how to store your makeup. Have a goodnight everyone!
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Wedding Post: Candy Scoopers!
Did a little shopping at the craft stores today. I went with my coupons. :) I pretty much have all the jars I need to put all the candy in for the favors, now I need to work on getting the supplies for the candy jars, like the boxes, ribbon, and the scoopers. :P
So I seen these at Michaels for $5.99 each, but I had a coupon for 40% off of them, so I got them for $3.49. There's two in a box, so now I need to pick up a few more of them. Surprisingly Michaels always runs out of these, so since they have them in stock, the fiance and I are heading up tomorrow to pick up a few more, with our coupons of course. :)
I like the size of these too, they're not too big, and not to little, and I love the heart at the end of them. I might even tie ribbon on the handles as well.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Happy Mothers Day!
Happy Mothers Day!!
I don't have much to post about, but I had to wish all those mom's out there a Happy Mother's Day. :) I spent my day working, and afterwards I met up with my family for dinner at Logans. I had a delicious Grilled Chicken Salad. I definitely would get that again, it was SO good! :) Anyway, hope everyone had a great day, and great weekend.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Wedding Post: First Meeting With The Priest & Official Date!!!
My fiance and I officially have set a date for our wedding!
♥ ♥ June 16, 2012 ♥ ♥
We had our first meeting with the priest who will marry us. I literally wanted to cry while I was in there, I couldn't believe that it was actually happening. My fiance was super nervous because he's not Catholic so he didn't know what to expect, and well, neither did I. It wasn't as bad as I thought, basically all it was was paper work, and he separated us, asked us a few simple questions, and that was basically it. He gave us a little pamphlet with readings and the gospel we can choose from. My favorite part of the whole session was that he had a little "pep" talk. He told us that this is our day, no body else's. That everyone is going to have their own advice and just smile and say, "Thank you." That we don't have to take any one's advice, that it's our day. That we shouldn't let the wedding planning ruin our relationship. He even gave out his personal e-mail, and his personal cell phone number (Not sure if priests normally do this) to contact him if we're having a hard time with the wedding planning. haha. He said he basically wanted to help with anything he can.
We also need to schedule an appointment for the "marriage classes", and also for an organist and a singer. But all of this makes me excited because atleast I'm finally doing it! :D Anyway, I wanted to share this exciting news, and also the outfit I wore to meet the priest. I wanted to keep it nice and clean and appropriate, of course.
The pamphlet to choose our readings and Gospel from.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Charlotte Russe Haul
Stopped into Charlotte Russe a few days wanting to purchase some new work pants. I'm heading back to work this weekend. I'm actually really excited, I missed so many people from there!! Can't wait to see my favorite girls. :) Anyway, so I never tried pants from Charlotte Russe before and when I discovered they had longs I was super excited and they were on sale!
Sale for $14.99
I love the backs to these pants!
Front of pants
Just a regular pair of grey pants. $19.99
Adorable linen skirt for a whopping $14.99. It's worth it just for the belt!
Satin bow belt.
This last item is my absolute favorite item! The cut, the length, the fit, everything is perfect for me. I haven't decided if I wanted to wear this to a friends wedding I have coming up at the end of May, or if I wanted to save this for my own Rehearsal Dinner (haha yes, I'm thinking that much in advance). I can definitely see myself wearing this to our rehearsal dinner, it would be perfect. I don't know, we'll see. But the dress was only $29.99
The bust is a sweetheart shape, kind of like a bow shape as well.
The sides scrunch in.
The bottom of the dress.
Exposed zipper back, my favorite. :)
So, that's my little haul from Charlotte Russe. I'm really impressed with their work pants. If you pay full retail it's kind of expensive, but to get them on a sale, it's great! I would definitely purchase more, especially since I know they come in longs. :)
Anyway, I better get back to studying for my finals that are tomorrow! haha. I have 2 finals tomorrow, one at 8AM, and one at 8PM. Ahhh!
Monday, May 2, 2011
Weekend Shopping: Forever 21
Tomorrow I'm heading back to school to start my finals. Boo. Luckily for me I only have finals Tuesday & Wednesday, so I'll be out of their on Thursday! :D It's going to be a very hectic two days for me though. I have to finish packing everything up at our apartment to bring home. Over the past 3 or 4 weekends I've been bringing things home to lighten our load. But this will be our last and final trip home. The fiance and I are keeping our kitchen & bathroom things there because we'll be transferred to a new apartment in the fall, and plus we have the apartment there until the end of July. No need to haul everything home.
I have a little bit of a wedding update! My father and I spoke to the priest this past Sunday about requesting him to do our ceremony, and I made an appointment to meet with the priest this Friday. My father even suggested it!! And no, my family and I never had another talk with my family about the wedding, just this. But thought I would update. Ahhh, what to wear, what to wear. I'm also kind of nervous to talk to the priest, I'm not really quite sure how this works.
Anyway, the fiance & his brother went to the outlets near where I live and I wanted to check out the new Forever 21, and unfortunately it's not an actual outlet it's just a regular store. I didn't have much time to shop, so I just picked up 2 things from there. We actually went down there because we had to stop by the Movado store because my fiance's Movado watch's clasp wasn't working properly. He also looked at Movado watches to buy for his Groomsmen.
Forever 21
$5.50 PJ Shorts.
I've been looking for the perfect Spring floral scarf, and I think I finally found it! $8.80
It's pretty wide too, I like wide scarfs, they looks fuller.
The fiance and I also looked around at houses today. Sometimes we do that, just randomly look at developments in our area to get a good idea of what kind of house we'd like and where we'd like to live. Does anyone else do this?! lol. When we were driving around the development we spotted all these deer! One even stopped dead by our car so I had to snap a picture. haha.
Anyway, wish me luck, finals tomorrow!! Have a good week everyone!


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This creative BIRDS AND BEES BABY SHOWER was submitted by Anne-Marie Johnson of El'uccellino Designs.
The Birds and Bees party ideas and elements I like most in this baby shower are:
- The backdrop reading "The Mommy to Bee is Nesting" which summarizes the theme perfectly
- The beehive shaped cake pops
- The banner made from cardstock paper onesies
- The birdcage cake pops
- The bird and bee cookies
- The beehive diaper cake and the bird nest diaper cake
- The party activity of writing notes for the "mommy to bee" on hanging paper birds
- and MORE!
Cake Pops- KM cake pops
Party Printables- PrintedInk
Cake and cookies- Dania's cakes
Photography- Alyson Sivek Photography
Oreo's- Sugar Mama's Chocolates
Honey Sticks for favors- Honeyrun Farm
Honey Bee Scratch Off Cards- Inklings Paperie
Items used in this birds and bees baby shower available in Kara's Party Ideas Shop:
Anne-Marie said this about the party
– "For quite some time I have wanted to do a bee themed event. so when I was asked by a client to event decorate for her best friends baby shower who is also a client, I figured out a way to incorporate the bees: Life begins with the Birds and the Bees!
Life begins with the Birds and the Bees; therefore how apropos to have a birds and the bees baby shower for a first time mommy! It's a theme I haven't seen created using both the birds and bees in this way. I loved the challenge of brainstorming how to be innovative in an artistic, soft, yet masculine to welcome a precious baby boy. The inspiration for this event came from the infamous lyrics, "Lets talk about the birds and the bees and the flowers and the trees, and the moon and the stars… " I remember hearing it in my fathers car on his 60's radio station as a little girl…quite nostalgic! From there I started my research and to my delight came across this stitching. This photo was the initial inspiration for the invitation and backdrop. We tweaked it to its final design by incorporating all the elements from the classic song. Rachael from printed Ink was incredible in collaborating with me to create this one of a kind design!
In effort to create harmony between both elements on the table scape, I decided to focus the left half of the table on the birds and the right on the bees. The decor, desserts, onesie banner, and the backdrop were designed to mirror this concept as well.
It was a tedious task finding bee skeps;however, on an errand to buy dog food at the local pet store, I inadvertently found these in the cat aisle. Who'd a thought?! And they were a fraction of the online prices. Score!! I cut out a circle using felt attached the bees from Michaels and there we have a bee hive.
The cake pops were created by KM Cake Pops. She truly is talented in her artistry! What an amazing job matching the decor and I displayed them in a way that complimented the flow of the table. They sat on ceramic bird stands that once again tied the elements in. Notice the stars and moon on the bird cage cake pop.
Sugarmama's Chocolates made the Honeycomb pattern Oreo's which sat on the grass with a bee sugar lay. I couldn't have been happier with the color and technique.
Dania's Cake baked the adorable coordinating cookies and cake as I had requested. She mirrored the image of the invite for the cake. The favor tags for the birds read "About to Hatch" and the bee tags read, "Mommy to Bee." Once again, you'll see the moon and stars in the design on tags.
Unless I'm pressed for time, I like DIY projects. I created the 2 diaper cakes one bee themed and one bird themed to coordinate with decor. I also created the the onesie banner which focused on the birds on the left side of the banner and bees on the right side. I also tied in the moon and the stars on a couple of the onesies. The baby boy flag banner on the ABC album activity was in a honeycomb shape and honeycomb card stock backdrop. I made these 3-D to give it some texture. On a whim, I made the pacifiers that sat on the napkins by utilizing lifesavers, icing, jelly beans, and ribbon from a tutorial I found online. I thought it was a nice accent to incorporate the baby theme. For the BOY letters, I used honeycomb card stock and then used my Cricut for the cutouts. I placed them in a fence with moss and flowers for the outdoor feel.
There were two activities and 1 game that I created for the baby shower. The first activity was to make a wish for ba-Bee. I cut out birds and attached ribbon to hang from the stand. I love heartfelt messages and thought this was a nice sentiment for baby to read one day. Activity number two was creating an ABC album for baby that served as a guest book. The guests were to pick a letter and draw something that matches the letter of the alphabet. This activity was the highlight of the party. The guests took this very seriously and traced out images before coloring them in. It was great to hear that they immersed themselves in the activity. I stumbled upon The Honey Bee Scratch Off Cards and thought that it couldn't fit better into this theme. The winning card revealed a sleeping baby bee.
Honeyrun farm is notorious for their delicious raw honey; therefore, it was fitting to have pure raw honey sticks as gifts for the winners of the games. One bag read About to Hatch and the other Mommy to Bee."
Items used in this birds and bees baby shower available in Kara's Party Ideas Shop:
Love Kara's Party Ideas? Keep up with the latest party ideas, FREE party printables, tutorials, recipes and more by following Kara's Party Ideas on Pinterest!


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Psyches must heal before housing makes a comeback.
For a couple of years now, I have been telling our clients that we will see a recovery in the housing market only when housing prices stop falling. Housing starts drive most other forms of new construction, and new construction drives concrete volumes.
Well, this economic downturn has apparently had a significant impact not only on home prices, but also on the
sentiment of the home-owning public. The impact is so severe, we have to go back almost 65 years, all the way to the end of the Great Depression and World War II, to find a comparable attitude. Not surprisingly, they are strikingly similar.
A survey of more than 1000 homeowners nationwide finds the old expression "safe as houses" has become an oxymoron. Fully 37% of homeowners said buying a home is a "risky investment," while 86% believe that home prices in their area will either stagnate or fall over the coming year.
That is a striking contrast to much of the past few decades, when many Americans, intoxicated by the housing bubble, believed that the value of their house inevitably appreciated 10% per year.
This is similar to homeowner sentiment after the Great Depression. If history is any guide, Americans might turn even more sour on real estate before they finally become optimistic again, and it could take many years of recovering home prices to restore confidence. In early 1948, the Federal Reserve found that 58% of American households "gave reasons against holding real estate."
One in five households who were opposed to buying their home said at that time that real estate was "not safe" or a "gamble." More than half of those who were against real estate ownership said that prices were "too high" or that buyers would incur a "capital loss." Remember, this was 1948, not 2011.
Bottoming out
The negative outlook of so many Americans then was probably shaped by the similar pounding that home prices took during that era. The average home was worth 44% less in 1940 than in 1920. We may see the same value contraction by the time home prices bottom out before turning upward again.
Another Fed survey years later asked for opinions regarding investment options. Even then, the memories of the crash in real estate still stung. Only 12% of households said real estate should be their first choice for investing surplus cash, versus the 26% who favored savings bonds, and the 10% who would put the money in stocks.
But then World War II ended, and the returning troops wanted homes for their new families. So the 1950s and '60s witnessed a housing boom amidst the emergence of suburbs and a strong recovery in home ownership.
Today, we have the upward pressure of immigration, population growth, and new household formation. And in a recovering economy, we can expect to be back to the normal formation rate of around 1 million new households we were experiencing for many years before the downturn.
But the current mood suggests that the current growth in rental housing construction may fill portions of that need for the foreseeable future. Potential homebuyers have been so negatively impacted by falling home values that their psyches have a lot more healing to do before the idea of home ownership can fully recover.
Our wishes for the new year should include improved housing starts in 2012 and beyond.
Pierre Villere is President and Managing Partner of Allen-Villere Partners. Contact Pierre Villere at firstname.lastname@example.com or telephone 985-727-4310.
© 2012 Hanley Wood, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Republication or dissemination of "Housing: How bad for how Long?" (The Concrete Producer, January 2012) is expressly prohibited without the written permission of Hanley Wood, LLC. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Allen-Villere is publishing "Housing: How bad for how Long?" under license from Hanley Wood,


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Today we are excited to announce the Adobe Pass authentication service, which enables pay TV subscribers to easily access premium content across the web from virtually any Internet-connected device.
"TV Everywhere" is the Industry term that refers to Pay TV subscribers being able to access the same content they subscribe to through their traditional TV provider, online allowing customers to access premium TV content in web browsers, smartphones, tablets or IPTV's. The biggest problem to date with TV Everywhere is having a system that is transparent and easy to use for customers, conforms to all of the different parties business rules, and mostly importantly – is secure. Adobe Pass solves these problems for all parties- consumers, programmers and pay TV providers alike.
Adobe has worked hard over the past year to integrate Adobe Pass with major Pay TV providers and content programmers. By providing a secure, hosted solution, Adobe ensures that both the providers and the programmers have minimal integration work to perform as they pull together their many different online viewing options.
Adobe Pass leverages the Flash Platform for a seamless high-quality experience along with Adobe Flash Access® for enhanced security. Adobe Pass also utilizes HTML5 for devices where Adobe Flash technology is not yet available.
Adobe Pass is now live on several sites. Any Comcast, Verizon, Dish or Cox customer can try out the Turner TV everywhere sites, just click on the orange key to unlock more content by entering your pay TV username and password (typically the same information you would use to view your bill) at: www.tnt.tv/tveverywhere. What's more, as you move to another site like www.tbs.com/tveverywhere, the premium contents come alive without a 2nd login. Verizon FiOS customers can also check out www.mtv.com/tve and again, the authentication will persist.
Adobe Pass is a great opportunity for Adobe to promote the Flash Platform across the entire media and entertainment industry, and to generate consistent, recurring revenue by solving a key business problem. Keep up with the latest information on Adobe Pass on our product page at www.adobe.com/go/adobepass.


text: Car benefit Check your car and fuel benefitCalculate the tax on your company car and car fuel benefit. Contact us to discuss how this can be reduced. Please note: the results page will show the cost of the benefit assuming the vehicle is available and used throughout the tax year.About the car List price of car (£): * Capital contribution made by employee (£): (Maximum reduction allowed to list price is £5,000). Fuel type: PetrolDieselNot capable of producing emissions Car registration date: 1.1.98 or later31.12.97 or earlier Payments made by employee towards private use of car (£): Employer pays for private fuel? (tick if yes) CO2 emissionsThis information is in your registration certificate or use this search facility. CO2 emissions figure in g/km per registration document (g/km): For cars registered between 1.1.98 and 28.2.01 see carfueldata.direct.gov.uk or www.smmt.co.uk). If no CO2 emissions figure exists use engine capacity: 1400cc or less1401cc to 2000ccOver 2000cc or other Van benefitThe chargeable benefits have been increased for 2019/20. To find out the cost of the benefit of a van please refer to this table: Standard rate (20%)Benefit (tax cost) Higher rate (40%)Benefit (tax cost) Additional rate (45%)Benefit (tax cost) Van only - benefit £3,430 £686.00 £1,372.00 £1,543.50 Van with zero emissions - benefit £2,058 £411.60 £823.20 £926.10 Van and fuel for private use - benefit £4,085.00 £817.00 £634.00 £838.25 Employer's class 1A NICs: Van £473.34 Van with zero emissions £284.00 Fuel £90.39 Please note: That there is no van fuel benefit if the employee pays for private fuel. If the van is unavailable for part of the year the van benefit is reduced proportionately. There is no van benefit where the van is incapable of producing CO2 emmisions in use.


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In their driveways, or their backyards, or their neighborhood parks, it was always Game 7. The final second ticked down, the crowd rose as one and the announcer's voice leaped ever higher. Somehow, some way, little boys from all over North America became heroes of their own daydreams.
"Of course it's Game 7," Kings forward Justin Williams said. "It's usually the Stanley Cup Final, too. It's the same thing in any other sport. It's the last seconds of the game and the buzzer's coming down. It's the ninth inning and two outs. It's football and it's the fourth quarter.
"It's everything. It's you or them and that's what you relish as a kid, coming out on top."
Reality is somewhat different, however.
Game 7s can be fraught with peril in real life.
A misplay, a bad bounce or a lapse in judgment can lead to disappointment and defeat. One tiny thing can mean the difference between winning and losing, between joy and sorrow. There will be no do-overs when the Kings and Ducks play Game 7 Friday night at the Honda Center.
The winner advances to face the Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference finals.
Game 1 is Sunday.
There's no margin for error Friday night because there's been no margin between the teams.
Not an inch of space separates two teams separated by 30 miles of asphalt.
The Kings have won three games and scored 13 goals.
The Ducks have won three games and scored 13 goals.
The Kings have been living on the edge for most of the postseason, however. They've gone the distance twice in two rounds. They erased a 3-0 series deficit to defeat the San Jose Sharks in the first round and then have rallied from a 3-2 hole to force the Ducks to a Game 7 in the second.
Kings center Jarret Stoll, like his teammates, has battled for every centimeter of ice during the first six games of the series. He's barked at the Ducks, who've woofed right back at him. He's checked them and they've checked him. He's won faceoffs from them and lost them, too.
It's been a thrill ride so far and the best is yet to come.
"They're fun, yeah," Stoll said of Game 7s. "There's always a little bit of nerves, but I think for every game there should be a little bit of excitement. Game 7s are fun. They're fun for everybody — players, coaches, fans, the media. You guys.
"It's what it's all about. Playing one game, win a series, win a championship, go on to the next round or whatever. When you have a best-of-7 or a best-of-5, that's one thing, but when it comes down to one single game, that's pretty exciting. Best-of-1, yeah."
As Ducks defenseman Ben Lovejoy said simply, "This is exciting."
Both teams expect emotions to be highFriday night.
Why should anything have changed from Game 1?
One thing is different, however.
This could be Teemu Selanne's final game. The future Hall of Fame right wing plans to retire at season's end. The Ducks want to make sure the end comes for the franchise's greatest and most beloved player on his terms rather than on someone else's.
Selanne, 43, didn't talk to reporters Thursday, but others spoke about the possibility of the added motivation of winning one more, and not just for the "Finnish Flash," but for everyone in Duckdom. It is, after all, not a one-man show. The Ducks, like the Kings, are only as strong as their weakest link.
"Teemu is incredibly important to this organization," Lovejoy said. "The Samuelis (Henry and Susan) own the team, but Teemu has been the team. Forever. But (Friday night), this is bigger than Teemu. This is for our season. We need to be ready to go for everybody. For all 20 guys. For the hundreds of people that work for this team. This is, obviously, an incredibly important game."


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With the economic climate the way that it is today it may seem that the only way to be sure of your job security is to run your own business. After all, if you are your own boss then you cannot get fired. However, the big problem with this is that this is becoming a common ethos for thousands of Brits to live by which means that there is an ever increasing competition in all legs of the world of business.
Nevertheless, if you have the prior knowledge of the business world required to set yourself apart from your competitors then there is still a good chance that you can go from strength to strength and thrive in this economic situation that Britain currently finds itself in.
Keep up with the times
One of the most integral things to the success of any business is to make sure that you keep up with the times. Technologies and services are forever changing and for your business to have any chance of maintaining any sort of positive development then it is vital that you utilise these adaptations for the benefit of your business.
The latest decision that many businesses are facing at the moment is whether or not to make the most of wireless technology to bring your business into the 21st century. This is a very big step to make and a decision that could eventually make or break your company. The first thing that you need to consider is whether you can afford to invest what it will take to install the required technology in the first place. It is no secret that wireless technology does not come cheap but the potential savings and profits that it will set you up for, for the future cannot be denied.
It is obvious that wireless technology will increase your mobility but it is easy to underestimate how much difference this can make. It means that any workforce that you have will have more time to work and will no longer have the excuse of not having access to the company's communications.
Greater access to information
Wireless technology means that access to vital information for your business is no longer restricted to wired ports. This means that productivity will improve dramatically no matter what your business is. It means that whether you work in a large office or have a warehouse stocking your products you will be able to keep communication at its peak or you will be able to keep on top of orders and inventories wherever you may be at that particular moment.
The key to good business is great customer service, no matter who your customers are. Whether you are directly customer facing in sales or services or whether you supply to those who directly face the public the key is to keep them happy and to never keep them waiting. Wireless technology means that you can provide your customers and your clients with the exact information that they need with no waiting. It is easy to believe that your business is going strong as it is but if you invest in wireless technology the likelihood is you will never look back.
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Guest post contributed by Simon Hardman, Simon is an avid techy by night, and business consultant by day. Simon understands how business life is changing, both politically and technologically and blogs regularly to help people understand it further. Simon regularly works closely with BT Shop to help business understand the more technological side of business.


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We are all familiar with the chef-as-rock-star designation but what about the lesser-known people that get the liquor all right at our favorite restaurants and establishments? Sommeliers and beverage directors are really the heartbeats of everyone feeling copasetic, right? They are there to help lubricate your meal just so, and are very often wildly funny with academic brains and big personalities to match their chef counterparts.
In this three-part series, meet a few good men doing great work across the country, including Josh Nadel, beverage director at NYC hot spot The Dutch, David Lynch, wine director at Quince and Cotogna in San Fran, and Chris McFall, sommelier at Austin's Paggi House.
When and how did you pursue the sommelier calling (or did this line of work choose you)?
I came to this somewhat by accident, after collaborating with Joe Bastianich on "Vino Italiano: The Regional Wines of Italy" (Clarkson-Potter; 2002). Joe and Mario [Batali] were still in the early days of their empire-building, and took a chance on a magazine writer with no restaurant experience (me) to take over the wine program at Babbo in NYC. The list was (and is) all-Italian, and I had just come off this full-immersion, year-long wine tour in Italy researching the book, so I just walked in there and started spewing out all this information I had just gathered. Other than being a good communicator I was completely unqualified for the job and certainly couldn't have gotten a job as a wine director at a French or American restaurant. Babbo was a unique situation, and it was pretty bold of those guys to let me step in there and kind of find my way. And I'm still finding my way.
Being a sommelier/wine director seems like one of the most fun jobs in the world, but there is a decidedly academic dimension to this line of work. What do you find most fun about the job personally? And, what do you find the most challenging?
Well, I have no "official" sommelier accreditation, but I do enjoy the academic side of the job–I love maps most of all. Then again, I also like the physical stuff: unpacking cases, organizing the cellar.
Obviously the most fun part of the job is picking out cool wines, sharing them with people, and having them agree with you. The most challenging part of the job is when they don't agree. I remember one night at Babbo a while back when a certain female rock singer/compulsive tweeter/train wreck looked at me petulantly and told me that the wine I had chosen for her was "common." She actually used that word, "common." I had little choice but to slink away and retreat to the cellar to bellow profanities in private. Service may ultimately be a noble calling, but sometimes you're just a servant.
Tell us a little about how you see your interaction with a chef. What's your favorite dance with the godhead who cooks?
"Dance" is a good word. It's like asking a girl to dance for the first time. You first have to get up the nerve, and then when the music starts you actually have to dance. Obviously it depends on the chef, but most of them are very prickly and sensitive about their creations, so I tread lightly. I'm happy to be the bassist or the drummer, not the lead singer–that's how it should be. Batali didn't have much use for my wine-geek musings, but Mike Tusk [Quince/Cotogna] really enjoys the process. He was doing a risotto with sea urchin and passion fruit and we tasted a bunch of wines with it, very scientific. We got to a dry Austrian Riesling from the Kremstal and it was like one of those moments in the movies where eyes lock and "Dream Weaver" starts playing in the background. It was a great bonding moment, proving my chops to the chef.
Tell us something that would surprise our viewers and readers.
Champagne is the best cheese wine there is (maybe that's not so surprising, sorry).
Can you give us a recommendation of a wine or spirit you are in love with for this holiday season?
Vermouth, specifically the artisanal stuff such as Carpano Antica Formula or Cocchi Vermouth di Torino. These are traditional "sweet" vermouths but have a bitter, botanical edge. They smell like liquid spice cake and they have nice bite to them without actually being very alcoholic. Antica Formula on the rocks with a big orange peel is basically grog without the hangover.
What booze do you think is a fail-safe, inexpensive buy every time?
Beer: Negra Modelo
Spirit: Maker's Mark Bourbon
Wine: Barbera d'Alba/Asti (Producers: Vietti, Brovia, Vajra, Braida)
What's the best advice for your restaurant patrons vis-à-vis interacting with a sommelier?
Pretend you're really interested in what we have to say. Most of us are hopelessly insecure.
If I weren't a sommelier, I would be a _________.
guy with some kind of real job.
What is your favorite late-night bite?
Steak frites
What is your favorite pairing?
Barolo and white truffle risotto
What is your favorite thing between two buns?
Look for David's new restaurant St. Vincent, to open in the Mission in early 2012.
Hankering for a glass of wine now? Meet the youngest master sommelier Laura Maniec and join her at her new wine studio in New York City [New York Post]. Corkbuzz Wine Studio 13 E. 13th St / 646-873-6071
Sitting Down With the Sommelier: Meet David Lynch of San Fran's Quince, Cotogna
We are all familiar with the chef-as-rock-star designation but what about the lesser-known people that get the liquor all right at our favorite restaurants and establishments? Sommeliers and beverage directors are really the heartbeats of everyone feeling copasetic, right? They are there to help lubricate your meal just so, and are very often wildly funny with academic brains and big personalities to match their chef counterparts.


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Univerisity of Texas Board takes no action on Major Applewhite; launches policy review
- The Texas Board of Regents met to discuss an inappropriate incident involving Major Applewhite
- Applewhite admitted publicly Friday he had an affair with a student during the 2009 Fiesta Bowl
- A potential lawsuit is behind the timing of the Applewhite revelations
The University of Texas System's Board of Regents met for a little more than two hours by conference call Sunday, discussing recent revelations of inappropriate behavior by coaches with students, but took no action.
The special meeting was called Friday, after the regents were informed that Texas assistant coach Major Applewhite was disciplined for an affair with a student trainer four years ago. Last month, women's track and field coach Bev Kearney was forced to resign after admitting to an having an affair with a track athlete in 2002.
The meeting was conducted in closed session. They adjourned without taking action. Afterward UT system chancellor Francisco Cigarroa declined comment to the Associated Press. but later he and board chair Gene Powell released a statement announcing a review of policies regarding faculty and staff relationships with students.
A person with knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports that a potential lawsuit by Kearney – claiming other coaches, professors and administrators at Texas were not punished as harshly for similar misconduct – prompted Texas officials to inform the regents of Applewhite's indiscretion, which occurred during the Longhorns' trip to play in the 2009 Fiesta Bowl. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.
The agenda for the board of regents meeting included discussions of legal issues related to "individual athletics personnel" and "inappropriate relationships between employees and students." According to a statement released Friday night by Texas, Applewhite engaged in "inappropriate, consensual behavior with an adult student" while at the Fiesta Bowl.
According to the statement, Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds investigated the incident in January 2009, then issued a letter of reprimand to Applewhite. Obtained by USA TODAY Sports, the letter dated Feb. 5, 2009, stipulated Applewhite's salary would be frozen until Jan. 1, 2010 and required him to seek counseling. He made $260,000 in 2009 as running backs coach; his guaranteed compensation in 2012 as co-offensive coordinator was $575,000.
Like all of the Longhorns' assistant football coaches, the 34-year-old Applewhite works without a contract. Applewhite, a former Texas quarterback, is now the Longhorns' co-offensive coordinator with Darrell Wyatt.
The university's policy for faculty and staff strongly discourages but does not prohibit consensual relationships between staff and students or subordinates. The policy requires the staff member to disclose the relationship to a supervisor and "cooperate in making alternative arrangements for the supervision, evaluation, teaching, grading or advising of the employee, student and/or student employee."
Kearney, 55, who won six national championships during 20 years at Texas, was put on paid leave last November, then resigned last month in lieu of being fired after admitting to the inappropriate relationship. The AP reported in November that before Kearney was placed on leave, she had been recommended for a raise from a base salary of $270,000 to $397,000.
The following is the statement from Powell and Cigarroa:
As leaders of The University of Texas System, our chief concern is and always will be the safety and welfare of the students at our 15 institutions. The No. 1 priority of all UT administrative leaders, faculty, staff and athletic personnel should be protecting our students and ensuring that their experience at any UT institution is a positive and safe one.
Today, we are announcing that Paul Foster, First Vice Chairman of the Board of Regents, will lead a dedicated and focused effort to review and study all policies in place concerning relationships between UT employees and students at all 15 UT institutions. The review will include policies concerning disciplinary actions and procedures as well as compliance with policies for immediate notification of institution administration and the Board of Regents whenever and wherever policies are violated. (Current UT System Rule 178 which went into effect November 1, 2012 covers these policies and requirements, but the rule will be reviewed for possible strengthening.)
We will reach out to national experts to assist in this review and will provide a timeline and announce more details over the next several days.
Our goal is to be both timely and thorough in building a model that can be used nationwide as an example of best practices in dealing with these critically important issues of student protection and student safety.


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Beyond Resilience – Personal Morality
by Maxwell Bach
Originally posted December 6, 2010
In a recent posting James Howard Kunstler spoke about the failure of many in the environmental community to really grasp the challenge of a post-carbon future. He talked about their "techno-rapture" over cars that run on fuels other than gasoline but lamented their inability to envisage walkable communities or effective public transit systems.
I often feel this same disappointment reading some of the commentary on this site [Chris Martenson.com] (not so much Chris's official posts) where the conversations are very focused on preparing for the material impacts of peak-everything. I've posted some commentary here previously suggesting that material preparedness may in fact be the smaller part of a much larger story. The challenge confronting us isn't to make it through any transition to a post-carbon future with as many material comforts as possible, but rather to make it through with our integrity intact.
I worry about the kind of people we might become if we construe the task in front of us as merely a logistical challenge, rather than a spiritual one. When faced with novel and significant ethical choices, doing the right thing at the right time for the right reasons is no easy task. Virtue, like any form of expertise, requires cultivation and experience. The first step toward this goal is correctly diagnosing your situation. I suggest that being materially prepared and having a reliable reference group (community) is essential but not sufficient.
I believe that the ordeals facing our society and our Government's response to them will test our core values, our courage and our moral integrity much more than our material resilience. Of course we're never going to rise to the moral challenge ahead of us if we're short on the most basic material provisions but once we have these covered its important that we appreciate and prepare for the ethical predicament ahead of us.
I'm always amused by archival footage from the US Atomic Energy Commission which includes such pearls as "Duck & Cover". Less well known but still just as amusing is the AEC's advice on backyard nuclear bunkers. Such bunkers were an item of serious discussion in America during the darkest days of the cold war but interestingly not many were ever constructed.
At the time there were debates about whether a nation of shelter-owners would be more or less likely to stumble into nuclear war. People questioned whether a post-nuclear world would be worth surviving at all and the RAND Corporation ran scenarios on the moral dilemmas of locking the shelter door on family, friends and strangers. The threat of a nuclear holocaust and the possibility of surviving it in a bunker forced people to contemplate questions about the meaning of life, mortality, charity and personal morality. Their answer, aided no doubt by the high costs and dubious practicality of such shelters, was more or less; "let's just forget about it". This time, we won't be so lucky. The questions will demand an answer.
The advent of peak-everything will force each of us to address at a very real and personal level some of the central questions of life, e.g:
• What constitutes a good life and how should I live mine?
• If the norms of my current civilized society no longer apply, what moral framework will I live by?
• What will be my moral boundaries?
It's important to answer these questions for yourself sooner rather than later. Egregious moral lapses usually occur in unfamiliar situations where the normal moorings which regulate our moral reasoning and conduct are absent. This situation could arise for many of us if there is a sudden and serious energy or financial crisis. What concerns me most is the behavior of our governments during such a crisis.
What will you do if your government starts to enact laws and policies which you find morally objectionable? Would you stand up and risk their censure or would you pretend not to notice programs or incidents which didn't directly affect you? Think of the rise of Nazism in Germany in the 1930's. The Nazis were democratically elected in the midst of a crisis. They enacted viable solutions to some of Germany's most pressing economic problems which gave them some initial legitimacy but the scope and ferocity of their racial agenda took everyone by surprise.
Whilst very few people were directly involved in the worst of their atrocities, many knew of them and simply "looked away" perhaps out of fear, impotence, or nonchalance. Years later the complicity associated with passivity came back to haunt a lot of people both publicly and privately. Quite a few prominent individuals including Kurt Waldheim, the former Austrian President and UN Secretary General, found themselves exposed to an unforgiving retrospective moral revaluation.
If the comforts and conveniences of our everyday life are suddenly suspended because of an energy crisis or second financial meltdown it would help to be mentally, morally and spiritually prepared for the worst. In this case the worst could be the further reaches of what we might to do to one another – or rather allow our governments to do – out of fear, self-interest or indifference.
The blogosphere is alive with allegations of government conspiracies, plots, coups and connivances. If just one of these many contentions turns out to have a grain of truth, it would be incumbent upon us to take a stand against it and risk the Government's wrath. Looking away would mean complicity. I think government incompetence rather than malfeasance is the greater danger in any crisis but even incompetence demands we take a stand against it; especially if its burden falls on the most vulnerable in our society.
Those of us who are better informed and equipped from the outset are likely to endure any crisis more successfully than those who are not. This places certain moral obligations upon us. Rather than retreating into locally privileged (patrolled) communities of like-minded and prepared families and ignoring the plight of people outside our community, it will be incumbent upon us to think and act on a larger scale. Like Mohandas Gandhi, this may involve us risking or even sacrificing many of the privileges we've worked so assiduously to accrue.
There are many people in our broader community who have insufficient resources to meet their immediate needs, much less prepare for an uncertain future. What we and our governments do – or don't do – for these people in a crisis will be the measure of our morality. So far, the prognosis for such people is not looking good. The possibility of localized apartheid developing between prepared & unprepared communities is high. Such differences are likely to be exacerbated by any government response. Limiting our moral boundaries to our own local homogeneous community is unethical.
We all condemned the citizens of Johannesburg in the 1980's when Soweto lay smoldering on their doorstep but we'll need to be vigilant less we fall into the same trap ourselves. As noted elsewhere on this site, we can't help the disadvantaged by joining them so somehow we'll have to strike a balance. What that balance point will be for you & your family will be something you'll have to work out for yourselves, depending on your own unique situation.
Having well considered responses to the Socratic questions listed above may help you keep your perspective while others about you are loosing theirs. This is what moral leadership is all about. Once things settle down it would be satisfying indeed to look back on your conduct over this period with pride rather than equivocation or a cringing sense of guilt.


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Boe asked about
Where do in-text references go after a bullet-point list? Do they tack onto the end of the last point or on a new line below the list?
1 answer
41456 views
Hi Boe,
I would tend to think you could put the in text reference at the end of the bullet point list unless points from the list come from different sources. If there are different points attributed to different sources in text reference at the end of the individual bullet point.
Hope this helps,