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I’m passionate about a lot of things, and creativity is a big part of my life. From writing and producing TV shows, documentary films and interactive websites, to creating and organizing cross-country musical tours, singing on cruise ships and producing a series of animated shorts for kids, there’s never been a dull moment!
2015 was a big year for me! I completed my first novel, Pursuit of the Golden Lily; travelled to Southeast Asia to donate my father’s WWII diary to a war museum in Thailand (his diary inspired the novel); visited the place of my birth, Kuala Lumpur and won a Suncoast Emmy Award for writing and producing WGCU’s Curious Kids segment – What is a watershed?
I’ve been writing, producing and directing WGCU Public Media’s award-winning Curious Kids TV show since 2010. I’m happy to say that I’m currently working on a new Curious Kids show for December 2016. As a singer/songwriter I’ve recorded four children’s CD’s, performed concerts across North America and had my songs featured on television shows and in movies. I am extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to coalesce my creative facets into a professional career that I am proud of. I feel very privileged.
You can check out some of my work by clicking the icons on the right! Thank you for stopping by!


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So you want to lose a few kilograms. You’ve heard the mantra: “Eat right. Work out.”
But when it comes down to it, which one of those things will make a bigger difference in helping you achieve your weight loss goals? Is it really better to hit the gym four times this week or to order a salad instead of chips at lunch?
When asked, Philip Stanforth, a professor of exercise science at the University of Texas and the executive director of the Fitness Institute of Texas, on whether diet or fitness was more important for weight loss, this was his answer.
“Studies tend to show that in terms of weight loss, diet plays a much bigger role than exercise,” said Stanforth.
“You’d have to walk 35 miles (56 kilometres) to burn 3,500 calories. That’s a lot of walking. But if you look at eating, a Snickers bar might have, say, 500 calories. It’s going to be a lot easier to cut the Snickers bar than to do 5 miles (8 kilometres) of walking every day.”
Other studies are saying the same thing.
One large review of 20 studies nvolving more than 3,000 people published in the
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2014 found that high-protein diets and meal replacements (low-calorie substitutes for heavier meals) were linked with better outcomes in terms of helping people keep weight off after a reduced-calorie diet period when compared with exercise.
And a 2011 review looking at the relationship between fat mass and physical activity in kids concluded that being active is likely not the key determinant in unhealthy weight in children.
So if you want to lose weight in 2018, consider adjusting your diet. And if you want to keep it off, get moving (exercise).
This article was originally published by Business Insider .

domain: news


Android 4.1 Jelly Bean may be the talk of the town in the Android universe right now but we know that most devices that can run the new OS will only get it in a few months from now, as both manufacturers and carriers still have a hard time keeping up with Google’s updates.
One such device is the HTC Rezound on Verizon, which is still running Android 2.3 Gingerbread. But the good news is that the handset is upgradeable to Ice Cream Sandwich. And the Rezound will get Android 4.x at some point this month – better late than never, right? HTC confirmed in an email sent by its customer support department that the ICS upgrade for the Rezound is set to be released by the end of July / early August:
The ICS (Android 4.0) update will be released for the Rezound by the end of this month (July) with final pushes in August.
The ICS update for the Rezound has been promised a long time ago, but the Taiwanese company is yet to deliver it. In fact, the handset was confirmed to be upgradeable to ICS even before it launched with Verizon, and I’m certain many buyers expected to receive the update a lot faster.
However, the general ICS roll out has been rather slow, and currently only around 10% of Android devices have received their Android 4.x version, while the vast majority of them still run Android 2.3 Gingerbread.
We have no release dates for the Rezound ICS rollout, but we wouldn’t be surprised if the upgrade gets delayed some more. As for Jelly Bean on the Rezound, well, we’ll cross that bridge when we get there, as HTC is yet to announce which of its Android devices will be getting a taste of Android 4.1.
Like this post? Share it!
how come all these other phones are getting it 4.0.4 now and i have to wait till the end of this month for 4.0.3 this is bull shit im buying nexus phones for now on and its everyones fault for not releasing the finished update not just verizon i hope htc goes out of business they are not getting my money anymore for now on and hello nexus line
Couldn’t agree more. I am done with Verizon.
Ya know them Chinese in tiwan …aren’t they totally supported as communist?
Do they need to deliver or are they subsidised whether they produce or not?
That used to be one powerhouse little island. Is it still?
As far as quick updates…I’d have to stay sticking with a pure Google phone might be a good idea. Unfortunately, at this point, only Samsung has the Nexus. I really wish Google had gone all in with HTC. It would have been a fantastic melding of two strong companies.
But gee, what about that great connectivity they provide? Lol.
Verizon is one big piece of shit.
Well these threads can be put to rest now. ICS on my Rezound and it is running very well.. I am happy with it.


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New park to open on former Gamble estate in Westwood April 1
A park being developed on the former Gamble estate in Westwood will open to pedestrians – and leashed dogs – on Friday, April 1.
Great Parks of Hamilton County is encouraging people to walk or take public transit to the property at 2918 Werk Road, because it has no parking.
Bicycles and vehicles are prohibited for now in the 22-acre park, where Great Parks also plans to build an urban ecology center.
Great Parks will begin working with the community this summer to develop a plan for the park’s use.
“This urban preserve aligns with our master plan priority to expand park access to all users by providing nature-based resources in areas that are currently underserved,” Great Parks CEO Todd Palmeter said in a news release.
Great Parks acquired the park property from the Greenacres Foundation last year at no cost after winning a $637,500 state conservation grant and $212,500 from Greenacres.
Greenacres is a non-profit education, research and preservation group based in Indian Hill.
Gamble house razed in 2013
The park where the historic Gamble house stood has been closed as Great Parks evaluated trees and removed hazards on the grounds.
The house, torn down in 2013, was a Victorian mansion with a section that stood for more than 170 years.
It was once owned by James N. Gamble, son of a founder of Procter & Gamble and the creator of Ivory soap.
The new park is the 22nd in the Great Parks system.
For now, Great Parks will maintain a mowed trail at the park, which will be open dawn to dusk and patrolled by park rangers.
There are no restroom facilities and dogs must remain on a 6-foot-long leash.


text: OSU sophomore guard Asia Doss (20) shoots a free throw during the second half a game against Michigan State in the Big Ten tournament on March 5 in Indianapolis. OSU lost, 82-63. Credit: Kevin Stankiewicz | Oller ReporterThe Ohio State women’s basketball team has returned to central Ohio after its first road trip of the season. Following two wins and a loss in the Gulf Coast Showcase this past weekend in Estero, Florida, the No. 9 Buckeyes’ tough non-conference schedule will continue with a contest against the No. 18 Miami Hurricanes.The Hurricanes will come to Columbus with a 5-1 record on the year. After falling in its season opener to then-No. 19 Kentucky, Miami has rebounded to win its last five. The Hurricanes have an average margin of victory of 23.2 in that span, although all five victories have come against unranked opponents.Miami features four players who are scoring more than 10 points per game. Senior guard Jessica Thomas leads the way with 13 points per game with senior guard Adrienne Motley, sophomore guard Laura Comelius and junior forward/center Erykah Davenport also in double digits. As a team, Miami is shooting 44.8 percent from the field and averaging 74.7 points per game.OSU also has four scorers above 10 points per game, but the Buckeyes’ leader, junior guard Kelsey Mitchell, is seventh in the nation with 23.3 points per game. Redshirt sophomore guard Sierra Calhoun (13.4), redshirt junior forward Stephanie Mavugna (12.0) and senior forward Shayla Cooper (11.4) follow Mitchell. OSU is averaging 86 points per game, shooting 45.1 percent from the field.OSU may have a slight advantage when it comes to offensive abilities, but the Hurricanes may pose some challenges defensively. OSU’s defensive issues have been well documented this season, and it has shown in the form of 73.7 points per game from opponents. Miami has allowed just 58 points per game this season, but it should be noted that OSU has faced three ranked opponents compared to the Hurricanes’ one.The difference in this game might come down to interior play. One of OSU’s biggest advantages this season has been rebounding and the ability to get high-percentage shots. Mavunga is averaging a double-double at 12 points and 10.7 rebounds per game, and Cooper has found success inside as well. Freshman forward Tori McCoy is starting to find her way after early season struggles.But it’s not just the forwards that have seen action around the basket for the Buckeyes. Mitchell and freshman guard Kiara Lewis have a knack for driving to the hoop and converting difficult, well-covered shots.Miami has allowed opponents to grab 34.7 rebounds per game, and the Buckeyes are pulling down 46.6 per game. If the Hurricanes are able to limit OSU’s second-chance opportunities, Miami will have a great chance to leave Columbus with a victory. But if OSU continues to have its way inside, it could be a long night for the Hurricanes.Tipoff between the Buckeyes and Hurricanes is set for 7 p.m. on Dec. 1 at Schottenstein Center.


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One lesson I’ve learnt from the roughly 5 years that I’ve now been doing this Amateur At Play thing is never agree to do a remix on the grounds that someone is “experimenting” with the idea. They won’t release them.
I can say that with absolute confidence. A few years ago, there was a contestant on a reality TV show who subsequently got on with releasing an album. Her record label mentioned that they wanted to “experiment” with remixes. Apparently, it wasn’t something they had done before, but the artist was very keen to get some done.
Call me naive, by all means. Frankly, I was. I contacted them to express an interest and was contacted by a representative from the label. They sent me a free copy of the album, which was terribly nice of them. I chose two tunes I was interested in reworking. They sent the parts for both and I got to work.
Respecting the copyright of the records means I cannot share them with you, but I can vouch that I did a seriously good job on both. It’s frustrating that I can’t name the singer here, because her vocals are absolutely incredible – easily some of the best I’ve ever worked with. This made the job easier. I sent off my premasters to the label.
I never heard anything back. Follow-up emails asking for updates went totally unanswered. As far as I can tell, not one remix of anything from the album has been released. Talk about a waste of time for everyone involved.
Lesson of the day? Make sure you’re getting paid. That way, even if your remix never sees the light of day, st least you have something to show for your time!
I sometimes get asked what the most frustrating aspect of being a music producer is. For me, the answer is pretty easy. It’s the fact there’s loads of other stuff you have to do which stops you from actually making music – a music producer is meant to produce music, are they not?
Running social media can take a lot of time if you’re not careful. I have to plan this quite regimentally, if I’m honest. I tend to write posts on my website in bulk. I can still make time to write something more spontaneous if need be, but that helps ease the pressure on this front. Releases don’t promote themselves and nor does anything else.
I don’t spend much time label shopping for my demos, which saves more of it. Knowing when to finish a post also saves time. So on that note, see you later!
Sorry for the clickbait sort of headline, but it’s how I feel. It’s true, for starters. There’s far too much temptation to aim to get everything perfect these days, especially with all the technology available. I should know – it’s happened to me a few times.
But don’t! I’ve started working recently on 2-step garage records, which you’ll be seeing from me later in the year – I’ll write more about that in another post. One thing I’ve noticed is that trying to make everything sound perfect and correct doesn’t work. It certainly doesn’t work when that regular 4/4 beat is taken away!
You see those vocal chops, for example? Stick them so they come in a little early or a little late. You might end up with a pleasant surprise. You see those hats, snares, shakers and other drum elements? The next time, try to quantize fewer elements or even none at all. Somehow, it all starts to sound more human.
And humans aren’t perfect. So why the heck should music be? You also get things done quicker – stop treating it like rocket science and start treating it like something fun!
So, what’s the story behind this one? Well, I came across this one on a search for remix contests. I rarely bother actually entering any of these, but I do occasionally look around to see if there’s anything decent around. And I really liked this one.
So I downloaded the vocal stems and did my remix. I upped the tempo to 126bpm, as I thought that the original tempo was too slow for what I wanted to do with it. I also decided very quickly that I wasn’t doing one of my dubs here. Labels that are unfamiliar with my work are often not immediately receptive to them – so a vocal mix it was going to be.
The drums came together really quickly. The snares were literally the result of looking through various one shot samples I have, and the rest come from the usual sources too.
Strings with a phaser effect thrown on and the modified electric piano come from the Roland JV-1080. As for the bassline which a few people have asked me about? It’s basically two square wave oscillators modified to hollow out the sound. I don’t remember the finer details, but I’ll get back to you on that one!
Anyway, during 2020, I actually had quite a few times like this. I released music and it just didn’t seem to be hitting the mark in the way it normally did. Had I lost my touch? Was it the big bad Covid’s fault? I don’t know, but something just didn’t seem right to me.
Anyway, I accepted this remix project and I also accepted time was short. My wife was due to go in for a C-section to the hospital and I had to get this done before that. The prospect of trying to get this done afterwards – with two toddlers, a baby and a wife recovering after surgery – was not a pleasant thought!
You can read the full story behind the record here. But the short version is I wasn’t feeling particularly motivated as a result. I wasn’t especially happy with this dub, but dare not have said anything.
When it came out in January, it was extremely well received, much to the surprise of mainly myself. I even got a very kind message from Phie Claire herself telling me that she loved what I’d done with the song. Opinion amongst singers about dubs are mixed, so this was very nice to receive.
And when I checked on Traxsource and saw it was my most popular release….
…I was frankly over the moon. “Good Good Bad” is a track I still have a lot of time for, but I used to wonder if anything would knock it from the top slot. It had been there for around a year.
It’s been a while since I’ve shared this story, and I know it’s not on this site yet. So I thought I’d tell you all about it.
Ultimately, the reason I’m doing is it 95 North. I was interested in production for many years, but I only took the plunge to actually do it in 2015. I spent years being intimidated by the fact I knew next to nothing about it. I knew nothing about DAWs and my knowledge of music theory was virtually zero.
All I had going in my favour was what I’d acquired from years of listening to music. I could usually spot pretty quickly what sounded right and what sounded wrong.
Back in 2015, I started compiling tracks for a 95 North tribute mix. There were several records that I simply couldn’t get hold of, so I reached out to the 95 North page directly to see if they could help. Richard Payton replied and was incredibly helpful. I ended up doing three mixes, including six hours of music.
The experience encouraged me to throw caution to the wind and start. I got a copy of Cockos Reaper, downloaded a couple of very basic VSTs, a few old sample packs with mostly one shot sounds and started trying to work out how to create something. If I got stuck, I watched a YouTube tutorial to help me out.
It’ll be six years of doing it in a few months from now, and I’m still doing it and hope to be for a long time.
On Tuesday night, I revealed what was behind the record “Bring On The Love”, off the forthcoming EP of the same name. Tonight, I shall reveal more about the other side, “I Know Which Category I’m In”.
Some years ago, I started work on an album. The project started well, but soon ran into problems. I won’t bore you with the details here, but the results was the album was never finished. I wasn’t happy with it and decided not to release it.
My track with Richelle Hicks, “Emotions (I Hear Voices)” was one of those records. This is another one. In case you’re wondering about the lyrics, they actually come from a post that I put up on my Facebook page a long time ago. I just lifted the words, put them straight into an online voice synthesiser and put them into the song. That’s literally it.
The bassline comes from the TAL Uno-62 VST, which is what I use for most bass elements on my records. The three chords that make the main chord progression is a simple three chord loop where all the notes have been flipped to play in reverse. There’s not much else to this one.
In a way, I was trying to say that I don’t feel I fit into any categories in more ways than one. I’m not normally one for such grandiose statements, but such was the mood I was in when I originally made this!
My Facebook memories felt the need to remind me of this post from two years ago this morning. I thought I’d stick it up here on the blog, as I think it’s still very relevant today.
This is the photo it showed me.
Let’s get one thing out of the way here. I mean no disrespect towards Point Blank Music School with this. From what I know about them, they do what they do extremely well.
That said, I can’t help but get a distinctly off-putting whiff of snobbery off posts like this. Who the hell cares what someone else’s studio looks like? I know I don’t. I care a damn sight more about whether their music sounds any good. An observation I’ve noticed many times over the years is that studio snobs like this who obsess over everyone else never seem to get anything done.
Worrying about what everyone else is doing never gets you ahead…


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A Caribbean cruise on a small, luxury yacht (Windjammer) is the most intimate way to experience Caribbean tourism. You will have the opportunity to visit different places and immerse yourself in the diverse culture of the different Caribbean islands. 0
Best National Parks In The Usa To Visit In 2023 (bucket List)
Filled with excitement and history in every destination, Asia is a wonderful place for adventure travelers. Explore the ruins, dense forests and historic cities of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, or learn about the rich and enduring cultures of China, Japan, Tibet, Myanmar and Borneo. Cruise and land-based tours available! 0
As wildlife sightings seem to shrink each year around the world, finding raw and untouched nature is becoming increasingly difficult. This wildlife viewing tour takes you into the heart of some of the world’s remaining pristine habitats, where you will come face-to-face with some of the most fascinating and majestic creatures. Go on a game drive in Africa to spot lions,… 0|
Exploring the Rainforest The tropical region is home to the world’s most beautiful natural paradise – the rainforest. It is said that half of all life on Earth lives in the rainforest and 20 percent of our oxygen on Earth comes from the Amazon. We have put together these rainforests that will allow you to get to the heart of this unknown jungle… 0
Whale Watching There is nothing more awe-inspiring than watching a mighty humpback whale break the glassy surface of the ocean and roar back, and this whale watching tour allows you to get up close or close to the boat’s deck. A canoe Our tour operators know where to spot whales and how to spot them,… 0|
Incredible Places To Travel If You Love Wildlife
Snorkeling The crystal turquoise waters of the tropics play host to some of the world’s most beautiful marine life, and tours featuring snorkeling options allow you to immerse yourself in the rainbow of pelagic life that inhabits these vibrant reefs. Whether you’re a seasoned snorkeler with practical gills or a novice swimmer who wants to… 0.
Strap on your scuba gear and prepare to dive into some of the world’s most beautiful marine environments, where you’ll be surrounded by tropical fish, rays, sharks, and a rainbow of coral reefs. Underwater Geological Formations Snorkeling, swimming, and kayaking are great ways to… 0
Trails of Tanzania from $2,875 7 days Spend 7 days exploring the best of Tanzania This small group tour is the perfect introduction to a safari in Tanzania, covering the main highlights of Tanzania’s Northern Circuit and some of the best wildlife sightings in East Africa. pay attention


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Akela Grain Free Complete Wet Cat Food Fish Feast
Fish Feast Recipe for cats - 25% Salmon, 25% Herring, 15% Shrimp, 35% Fruit, Veg and Botanicals and 0% Grains.
Here at Akela we believe in high-quality nutrition, which is why all our food is grain and gluten free. Made with only the best, highly digestible, human-grade ingredients, our Akela range has no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives. In addition, the Akela Grain-Free Complete Wet Cat Food also contains Valerian and Chamomile, which can help calm and soothe, cranberries, which are rich in vitamins and good for urinary health and Glucosamine, Rosehips and Chondroitin, which can aid in joint health and function. Contains 25% Salmon, 25% Herring, 15% Shrimp, 35% Fruit, Veg and Botanicals and 0% Grains.
Suitable for cats and kittens and also suitable for ferrets.
Of course, our complete wet cat food is also vet approved and hypoallergenic - with no added grain, gluten, dairy, soya or pork.
Storage Instructions: Store in a cool, dry place. Once opened keep refrigerated and use within 2 days. See base for best before date.
Ingredients: Freshly Prepared Salmon 25%, Freshly Prepared Herring 25%, Freshly Prepared Prawn/Shrimp 15%, Sweet Potato 5%, Cranberries, Blueberries, Coconut, Asparagus, Carrots, Green Beans, Minerals, Seaweed, Valerian, Camomile, Marjoram, Stinging Nettle, Watercress, Basil, Sage, Dill, Green Tea, Aloe Vera, Rosehips, Borage Oil, Prebiotic FOS, Joint Support [Glucosamine (100mg/Kg), Chondroitin Sulphate (100mg/Kg)].
Nutritional Additives: (per Kg) Vitamin D3 200 I.E, Zinc sulfate monohydrate 15mg, Taurine 1500mg, Manganese II sulfate monohydrate 3mg, Calcium iodite 0.75mg.
Analysis: Crude Protein 10.5%, Crude Oils & Fats 6.2%, Crude Minerals 2.5%, Crude Fibre 0.4%, Crude Moisture 79%, NFE (Theoretical Carbs) 1.4%, Calcium 0.23%, Phosphorus 0.17%

domain: pet


Europe's favourite streaming music provider is now available in Germany, the 13th European country to gain access to the services of the on-demand tune provider.
To celebrate the announcement, Spotify has put together a German-themed playlist, featuring such German classics as 99 Luftballoons by Nena and... quite a few songs by other artists we've not heard of to be honest. And no, Falco was Austrian, before you go there.
Prices for Germany are the same as the EU norm, with Spotify Unlimited costing €4.99 and the Premium option coming in at €9.99. [Spotify]


text: The market is likely to enter the new year without a lot of momentum, experts say, given a weak economic outlook and heightening political tensions in North Korea and Iraq. In the coming week, scheduled economic data will include existing-home sales, the consumer confidence index and monthly auto sales, as well as Midwest and national manufacturing indices. Stocks finished lower last week, amid some of the weakest trading volumes of the year and flare-ups overseas. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 207 points, or 2.4%, to 8303.8, while the Nasdaq dropped 15 points, or 1.1%, to 1348. The S&P 500 lost 20 points, or 2.3%, to 875.4. On Friday, North Korea said it would expel United Nations inspectors from a nuclear plant capable of producing plutonium, raising more anxiety in an already skittish market. Two weeks earlier, North Korea said it was restarting a reactor to produce electricity after the U.S. cut off oil shipments to the country. "The situations in North Korea and Iraq are likely to hang over the market in the next month," said Jay Meagrow, vice president of trading at McDonald. "It has already put a damper on things." For the year, the Dow is down 18%, the Nasdaq is off 32%, and the S&P 500 is behind 24%. Historically, January has been one of the stronger months of the year. "Psychologically, people are turning over a new leaf," said Jeff Hirsch, head of the Hirsch Organization, which publishes the Stock Trader's Almanac. However, few market experts are expecting much of a boost this year. For one thing, evidence of an economic recovery continues to be scant. The most recent durable goods orders report, an important gauge of business investment spending, was far worse than expected. Meanwhile, retail sales growth in November and December was by some measures the lowest it has been since 1970.


Some days it is hard to know whether or not we are making progress in addressing gender-based violence. It often seems that for every step we manage to take forward there is one of at least equal size that moves us backward. A recent bill introduced by the federal Liberal government demonstrates this effectively.
In 2017, then interim leader of the Conservative Party Rona Ambrose introduced a private member’s bill called the Judicial Accountability Through Sexual Assault Law Training Act, which was sponsored by then leader of the NDP Thomas Mulcair. Largely a response to the Robin Camp affair — the judge who made a number of highly inappropriate comments (“Why didn’t you just keep your knees together?” being one of them) before acquitting the accused in an Alberta sexual assault trial — the Bill made its way through the House of Commons very quickly. Once it hit the Senate, it stalled – and has been there ever since.
On February 4th, Justice Minister and Attorney General David Lametti introduced Bill C-5, An Act to Amend the Judges Act and the Criminal Code which, if passed, will do most of what Ambrose’s bill would have done: mandate sexual assault training for newly federally appointed judges, require the Canadian Judicial Council to report on efforts to provide similar training to sitting judges and amend the Criminal Code to require judges to put their reasons on the record in sexual assault cases.
Rona Ambrose, who now works in the private sector, stood with Lametti and Minister of Women and Gender Equality Maryam Monsef, at a media conference announcing the new Bill.
“There are some issues…that really are above politics. Supporting victims of sexual assault…is one of those issues.”
This Bill has the potential to make a positive difference. It is very heartening – especially with a minority government in place – to see cross-party support for such an important initiative. We can only hope that the Bill will pass quickly through the House of Commons and that the Senate will not stall its progress as it did last time
But, it will only ensure education of newly appointed federal judges. Those who are already appointed, some of whom have been around for a very long time, are not required to be educated.
The legislation only applies to federally appointed judges, which means provincially appointed judges in lower courts – where many, many sexual assault trials are heard – are not covered. It is up to the provinces to mandate such education which, at least in Ontario right now, seems unlikely.
Some of the teeth in Ambrose’s original bill have been lost; perhaps most notably, the requirement that sexual assault advocates be involved in the development of the education curriculum.
Even so, criminal defence lawyers are not happy. President of the Criminal Lawyers Association John Struthers questions whether this education might not be a case of the government putting its “finger on the scale of justice” to try to get a certain outcome:
“Education is great, the content of it is going to be suspect. We would want an opportunity to present with respect to the eventual courses that may be given to judges because we want them to be balanced and we want them to understand that there are very much issues of fair play, balance and justice that are involved in making sure that people get a fair trial and are not presumed to be guilty.”
So is it good or bad?
It is too early to say whether this Bill will make the difference it promises. It needs to pass quickly, because minority governments are often short-lived. Its content has made it through the House of Commons once before, only to be sat on by the Senate.
Without similar provincial/territorial legislation to cover provincially/territorially appointed judges, the federal bill will affect relatively few sexual assault trials.
And, without ongoing improvements to police response to sexual assault complaints, reporting rates will remain low. When survivors don’t report, sexual assailants don’t get charged and they continue to sexually assault.
It is time for criminal defence lawyers to stop having an automatic knee-jerk response to any policy initiative that even begins to address the problems in the criminal response to gender-based violence. It is possible to build a criminal system that respects the presumption of innocence and the right of the accused to a fair trial without putting survivors of sexual assault through hell.
Is this bill perfect? Far from it. Do many survivors and advocates support it? Yes, because, despite its shortcomings, it takes one small step in the right direction.
As Rona Ambrose said:
“All we’re asking for really is that judges be educated in the law. If you’re a victim and you go to trial, that’s the least you should expect.”


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Police are questioning a person in relation to a baby who was found dead on the grounds of a Perth private school.
The 11-month-old baby was found at Kingsway Christian College in Darch in Perth’s north, police said late on Wednesday night.
Watch the latest on the investigation in the video above
Watch the latest news on Channel 7 or stream for free on 7plus >>
Authorities well called to the school at around 5.45pm and reportedly focused on a particular classroom.
“Major crime division are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of an 11-month-old infant located in Darch,” police said in a statement.
Police said further information will be provided on Thursday.
The Christian school is attended by students from Kindergarten to Year 12.
Investigators were seen scouring one of the campus’ buildings during the night and taking photographs.
According to The West Australian, a white van that was parked outside has also been examined and towed by police.
The publication reports an after-hours childcare is run from of a demountable classroom during the holiday periods.

domain: law


December 20: Yatri Motorcycles, a new start-up based in Kathmandu, has launched the country’s first brand in the two-wheeler segment.
The start-up company with seven members including six full-time engineers on December 19 launched ‘Project ZERO’, a premium electric motorcycle designed to showcase the benefits of electric power in the urban environment. The company introduced the brand new electric two wheeler in the domestic market after two years of research.
Project ZERO is powered by a 30kW motor with 40hp power which gives a range of 230 kilometers and charges under two hours. Project Zero's on-board charger connects to a standard wall outlet to fully charge the battery in just two hours. Fully charged battery covers a range of 100 km.
“While studying the market we came to know that people think pollution and congestion were the biggest urban problems. We, at Yatri, firmly believe that clean-individual mode of transport is an important piece in solving the problem of the urban landscape,” said Ashim Pandey, founder of the company.
He further said that the motorcycle has been designed ground-up by the in-house team themselves.
Project ZERO motorcycle uses carbon fibre and steel chasis for exceptional strength.


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That’s what everybody says after they have been to the Apollo Civic Theatre in Martinsburg, WV. The Apollo is definitely a miracle. The theatre has stood through two world wars, a depression, an economical boom, and many other major events. The Apollo Civic Theatre represents two things – the beautiful building and the wonderful theatre organization.
During the late Nineteenth and early Twentieth centuries Martinsburg did not have a lot going for it. There was one thing, though, that kept this town going – the theatres. There were a number of motion picture houses and show places including the Strand and Central Opera House. The Central Opera House had been a show place, but by 1910 it had deteriorated badly and was in need of replacement. The Strand was also in bad shape and later torn down.
At about the same time that the Central Opera House was being torn down, Edgar Thorn, the son of Harry Peter Thorn and Mary Elizabeth (Livers) Thorn, died suddenly and most tragically. This brought such sorrow to Mr. Thorn so his wife, Mary, urged him to get involved with a project that would occupy his time and his mind.
The project that he chose was the replacement of the old Central Opera House. The Thorns saw the need for a building in downtown Martinsburg that would meet all the pleasures of the community. This place would present motion pictures, plays, touring shows, such as Vaudeville, music groups, singers and comics, and also provide large rooms suitable for community dances, balls, cotillions, wedding receptions, conventions, styles shows, business meetings, and space for private schools such as dance.
Soon after the Thorns’ decision, Mr. Thorn commissioned Chappie Kent, a local architect, to prepare plans for the new facility. Mr. Kent, in turn, commissioned Mr. Reginald Geare, a Washington D.C. architect, who was an expert on designing theatres. One of the theatres Mr. Geare designed was the grand Knickerbocker Theatre in Washington. Unfortunately, a terrible tragedy was connected with the Knickerbocker Theatre. The roof caved in, killing a number of people. Although it was announced that it was not Mr. Geare’s fault, he still accepted responsibility for and, being unable to overcome his mental anguish, committed suicide.
The building of the theatre started when Mr. Thorn took title to the property on March 9, 1912. The building was on the corner of East Martin and Spring Streets. The theatre was finished in 1913. It has a full basement, which has been used throughout the years for heating and storage. The street level first floor is the main auditorium floor with 509 seats that are used for motion pictures, live performances, conventions, and other meetings. This floor includes a balcony across the rear and down the two sides to the stage area. The second and third floors, also known as the “Roseland” and “Thornwood Hall”, were designed as large rooms for the community’s social and entertainment affairs.
The Apollo Theatre was opened on January 19, 1914 with a gala ceremony. Since 1914, the Apollo has continued as a focal point for community entertainment, and a reflection on the changing history of the community.
The building was designed with a small stage and orchestra pit to be used for live performances. Later, when Mrs. Mary Thorn purchased the land behind the theatre in 1920, the orchestra pit was enlarged, a 35 by 50 ft. stage with a proscenium was added, and a 50 ft. fly loft over the stage with the proper pin rails, cat walks, and an overhead Grid system. Also, offices, dressing rooms, and the stage door located to stage left were the new additions to this building.
With these expanded facilities, which proved to be the largest and best in the Northeastern part of WV, the Apollo increased its live theatre productions. The theatre also increased its social and business uses. During these early years traveling Vaudeville shows regularly played the Apollo with the normal array of comics, show girls, and cowboys. The Apollo was the social and cultural center for the area, and the second and third floors seemed busy all the time. Besides receptions and dances, graduation ceremonies were held there.
The management of the theatre changed hands many times. Throughout the years there have been many live performers who have come into town to introduce their new movies or act in a show. Will Rogers was one of the notables who came to the Apollo to open his new movie “State Fair”. Many cowboys, including Tex Ritter (comedian John Ritter’s father) came to town to entertain the audience before their pictures were shown. Also, classical musicians have been to the Apollo, including the Great Rubinoff. A news item in the local paper tells of Rubinoff arriving late in Martinsburg and having to sleep in the hotel lobby with his Stradivarius nestled under his arm.
In 1937 the front of the theatre received a new addition, a Marquee, complete with flashing lights that hung out over the sidewalk and proved a cover as patrons entered the theatre. Year of wear and fatigue finally took it toil on the structure and it collapsed under the weight of a heavy rain storm in 1987.
Besides changing management many times, the name of the theatre has also changed.
In the 40’s, 50’s 60’s and early 70’s it was a movie house. The name of the theatre was changed to the “Town Cinema”. The two upper floors stopped being used in the late 50’s and came under disrepair.
The community theatre group organization, that now owns and operates the Apollo Theatre, was started in 1936 under the name of “Martinsburg Little Theatre”. Just before World War II, in 1939, the Little Theatre was incorporated and the name changed to the “Berkeley County Civic Theatre” and stayed that way until 1989 when the name was changed to the Apollo Civic Theatre. The group rehearsed in a house on West Race Street and performed at the Martinsburg High School Auditorium. World War II caused the theatre to lose most of its male members. The organization was not very active until a group of the original members reactivated it in 1971 as a reading theatre group. Then, in 1972 during the bi-centennial, a group of community members participated in the “Echoes from the Valley”, which was held at Corbourn Field on June 19th through the 24th in 1972. This provided a catalyst to revitalized the group with new members and a desire to present larger productions.
In May 1973 Live Theatre returned to the stage of the Apollo as the Berkeley County Civic Theatre in corporation with the present building owners, Elwood and Margaret Lane, presented “Oklahoma”.
Mr. and Mrs. Lanes business plans changed as they acquired the Berkeley Plaza with multiple movie screens and they wanted to sell the Thorn Building, which housed the Apollo Theatre. Realizing the importance of preserving the theatre structure, the group purchased the Thorn Building in 1975 from Mr. and Mrs. Elwood Lane and Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Burkhart and has since been involved in an extensive renovation program. In 1979, the BCCT was added to the National Register of Historic Places. In 1987, the theatre was renamed the “Apollo Civic Theatre”. The members of ACT believe that the theatre belongs to the community and can only be successful if the entire community supports and utilizes the facility.
The theatre is a non-profit organization. The expenditures are great and the shows and other activities that go on at the theatre does not generate enough money to sustain the operation so fund raisers are held throughout the year along with a patron and business membership support. At various times, after the theatre group bought the building, many people thought that the theatre may have closed down because it was so low on funds
The Apollo board had to come up with ways to raise money for the bills, and they had to do it fast. The best way to get the funds was to get the community involved. The board started to hold fund-raisers such as Dance-a-Thons and different activities to get the community interested in helping.
Today, the theatre is very active. There are six Apollo produced live performances every year plus other shows that rent the theatre for their use including motion pictures, country singers, children’s theatre, the Miss Berkeley County Scholarship Pageant, an annual Talent Show, a Haunted Theatre along with a showing of the movie cult “Rocky Horror Picture Show” and the Mountain State Apple Harvest Festival. Since 1982, the theatre has also held a Youth Theatre Workshop in the summer for kids in grades 4 through 12.
The theatre was used for a shooting location for Ted Turner’s movie, “God and the Generals”. It was made up to look like two different theatres, on being Ford’s theatre in Washington, D.C. The Discovery Channel and other independent film makers have used the theatre as a set. The theatre also hosted one of the Movie Premiers of the “Gods and the Generals”. The theatre has hosted West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s “Mountain Stage”. The theatre has been a location for political debates, a program honoring Senator Robert C. Byrd, weddings, wedding receptions, high school graduations, Country and Western, Blue Grass, Rock concerts and many more.
Through help from a gift presented to the Arts Centre by the National Conservation Training Center, the theatre now has a Digital Video Projector capable of projecting a picture on the 14’x28’ projector screen. It is the hopes of ACT to present classic films at the theatre.
Work has continued through the years on renovating the theatre. One of the groups that have been a big supporter through the years has been the Martinsburg Rotary Club. Over the years they have donated two Main Stage curtains, a Gold one and the present Royal Blue Curtain along with sponsoring various events and ACT productions.. In 1996, through the help of volunteers, headed up by Norma Sutherland, they raised over $60,000.00 to have the flooring fixed and all the seats refurbished. Additional repairs have been done to the inner and outer lobbies, and to other parts of the theatre. The Roseland Ballroom, still in use today, is used for receptions, dances, rehearsal hall and in the past has even been used to teach ballroom dancing. Thornwood Hall is no longer used for social events but is used for set, costume storage and the Haunted Theatre Maze.
Some of the entertainer that have appeared on the stage of the Apollo over the years is Will Rogers, Tex Ritter, the Great Rubinoff, Little Jimmy Dickens, Garth Brooks, Susan Sullivan, David Shelby, John Berry, Merle Haggard, Jeff Bridges, Robert Duvall, Stephen Lang, Jeff Daniels, and many more.
The theatre is a place where the community can come to relax while watching a favorite play or various activities. It is also a place where people from different walks of life, come together and work on putting together a show and presenting it to the community. Many people have grown up at the Apollo. Some have shared their stories of the dances held in Roseland Ballroom, courting their sweet heart at the movie theatre, or a short lived business college on the third floor’s Throne Hall or just spending their free time at the theatre. The theatre has proved to be one of Martinsburg, Berkeley County and the surrounding area’s most valuable places and with those memories the Apollo will never die.

domain: entertainment


The AR15 platform has long been celebrated for its versatility and modularity, allowing firearm enthusiasts to tailor their weapons to meet specific preferences and performance requirements. One crucial aspect of this customization journey lies in upgrading the AR15 upper receiver—a key component that houses the barrel, bolt carrier group, and handguard. In this exploration of “Customizing Your Firepower: AR15 Upper Upgrades Unveiled,” we delve into the exciting world of enhancements that can elevate your shooting experience.
The heart of any AR15 upper upgrade often begins with the barrel. Whether you’re seeking increased accuracy, improved range, or enhanced durability, selecting the right barrel can make a significant difference. Discover the latest innovations in barrel materials, rifling profiles, and lengths that cater to different shooting styles, from precision marksmanship to close-quarters engagements.
Moving beyond the barrel, attention turns to the bolt carrier group (BCG). This critical component dictates the rifle’s reliability, and advancements in materials and coatings can reduce friction, enhance durability, and ease cleaning. Uncover the secrets of high-performance BCGs that elevate the overall function of your AR15.
Handguards play a dual role in both aesthetics and functionality. Upgrading to a modern handguard not only provides a fresh look but also allows for the attachment of accessories such as lights, grips, and optics. Explore the myriad options available, from lightweight M-LOK and KeyMod designs to robust free-float rails that offer enhanced accuracy.
To complete the upper assembly, optics and sights play a pivotal role in maximizing your AR 15 Upper potential. Unveil the latest in holographic sights, red dot optics, and magnified scopes that cater to various shooting scenarios, ensuring you can acquire targets swiftly and maintain accuracy at different distances.
“Customizing Your Firepower: AR15 Upper Upgrades Unveiled” serves as a comprehensive guide for enthusiasts eager to enhance their AR15’s performance, aesthetics, and overall shooting experience. Whether you’re a seasoned shooter or a newcomer to the AR15 platform, unlocking the full potential of your firearm through strategic upgrades is an exciting journey that promises a personalized and optimized shooting experience.


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Actor Saif Ali Khan who is celebrating his 49th birthday today has surprised his fans on the occasion with the teaser of his upcoming film Laal Kaptaan. After the first poster which was shared in May, the makers have now released the teaser which shows Saif in an intense state, applying ash on his forehead. The film is slated to release on on Dussehra, October 11.
The teaser was shared by Taran Adarsh and had Saif with an intense look as he says, “Har Raam ka apna Raavan, har Raavan ka apna Dussehra.” Have a look:
Saif Ali Khan... First glimpse of #LaalKaptaan... Directed by Navdeep Singh... Eros International and Colour Yellow Productions presentation... 11 Oct 2019 release. #Dussehra pic.twitter.com/9Wz3xO5Vvs— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) August 16, 2019
Previously the poster was captioned as, "Raakh se janmaa, raakh ho jaane ko." Check it out:
Raakh se janmaa... Raakh ho jaane ko #LaalKaptaan #HuntBegins6thSeptember#ErosNow | #SaifAliKhan | @aanandlrai | @nopisingh | @zyhssn | @deepakdobriyal | #ManavVij | @cypplOfficial | @ErosIntlPlc pic.twitter.com/SoIdEK2ptS— Eros Now (@ErosNow) May 20, 2019
Previously some of the pictures of the actor from the sets of the film in Rajasthan got leaked in which he was seen acing Captain Jack Sparrow’s look having thick beard and dreadlocks. A report in Mid Day had the actor saying, “My nephew Kiaan [Karisma Kapoor’s son] and son [Ibrahim] saw the photographs before they had leaked, and said, ‘Hey, that’s Jack Sparrow.’ The resemblance was because of the jacket and dreadlocks. While filming, I never thought about it. If I did, I wouldn’t have done it. But, everything will make sense when you see the film.”
Talking about Saif, Sunil Lulla, Managing Director, Eros International in an interview to PTI said, "Saif is a gifted actor and this script allows him to showcase his talent like never before. Laal Kaptaan boasts of a larger-than-life landscape, dramatic characters and a gripping story that makes it a first of its kind."
The film is directed by Navdeep Singh and also stars Mukkabaaz actor Zoya Hussain and Manav Vij. The film was earlier slated to release on September 6 but got postponed. It happens to be a revenge drama.
For all latest news and updates, stay tuned to our Facebook page

domain: artistic


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Background/aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of intestinal trefoil factor (ITF) on necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) by observing the pathological changes and detecting the protein level differences in Caspase-3, Bax, and Bcl-2 in an NEC neonate rat model. Materials and methods: A Wistar rat model of NEC was established and 30 one-day-old neonate Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups including a normal control (group A), NEC rats treated with 0.2 ml physiological saline through intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection (group B), and NEC rats treated with 0.2 mg ITF by i.p injection (group C). Results: Compared with group B, there were statistically significant differences in Caspase-3, Bax, and Bcl-2 levels in groups A and C (P < 0.05). Moreover, there was a significant difference in the Bcl-2 level between groups A and B (P < 0.05). Conclusion: ITF alleviated injury of the intestinal tract in neonate rats with NEC and this mechanism was possibly related to a reduction in the expression of Caspase-3 and Bax and the increase in Bcl-2 expression.
Intestinal trefoil factor, necrosis, caspase-3, Bax, Bcl-2, neonate rat
YI, XIAOLIAN; CHANG, XIAOJUN; WANG, JIJIE; YAN, CAIXIA; and ZHANG, BINGHONG
"Intestinal trefoil factor increased the Bcl-2 level in a necrotizingenterocolitis neonate rat model,"
Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences: Vol. 46:
3, Article 47.
Available at: https://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/medical/vol46/iss3/47

domain: medical


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Nothing inspires me more than young entrepreneurs. Running a business is difficult at any age, but when teens see a void and take initiative to fill that need, well, that’s something to celebrate. Savannah Johnson is one of those teens. She is a high school junior, golfer, singer, painter, artist and she runs her own clothing line.
Tell us about your company.
My clothing line is full of designs that a person could wear on a daily basis, things that people would actually wear as opposed to more couture designs (though I have dabbled into that some). More importantly, my designs are all modest, making sure they aren’t too revealing or too short. Most of the fabric I use is usually filled with vibrant colors and bubbly prints. My designs range from skirts, flowy tops, vests, dresses, and other ideas in between. Most of my designs are inexpensive compared to other modest designs on the market.
What led you to create your own clothing line?
I attended a church who had different standards than that of my own. It was a priority to dress modestly, and it completely flipped my thinking. I realized that you should dress modestly, and according to the Bible as God would want you to do. So, I looked for new modest clothing, and could only find expensive options. I then decided to make my own skirt, and I wore it to church that evening. A friend told me that they really liked it, so I started there.
What types of clothes are included in your line?
There is a wide variety. I make modest knee-length skirts, flowy tops, long and short vests, tank tops that tie in a bow on the shoulder, modest dresses, and some other things in between.
How hard is it to create modest but fashionable styles for teens?
It is very hard, because you are constantly fighting the urge to fit in. Also, when creating things teens would like, it’s hard to make things long, because in society it is acceptable to wear very short and revealing clothes. When I make longer options, I know that teens probably won’t buy them.
Tell us about Knoxville Fashion Week.
Knoxville Fashion Week takes place in the spring, where I debut my spring and even bubblier designs. It’s an amazing opportunity because I get the chance to minister to not only all of my models, but also everyone who watches them walk the runway. I get to show people that you can look cute, even when modest. Lastly, I get to pick the music I use. I try to make sure the music is uplifting, and if I get the chance to bring specific music, I bring Christian music, so I can reach out even farther to people.
Is this something you plan to do for a career after high school/college or just a fun side business?
I do plan to continue this passion, but at this moment I don’t know where it will take me. I’m just listening and waiting right now. It would be amazing if I could pursue this for the rest of my life as a career, but at this moment I do not know.
What’s the greatest challenge as a teenager running your own business?
School is probably the biggest challenge. It’s difficult to have time for sewing when I’m constantly working on homework. Also, another challenge would be golf. I’ve played since I was in the fourth grade, and when I’m not working on homework, I usually go up to the golf course. Lastly is maintaining a social life, because I constantly want to go do things with my friends and boyfriend, but cannot due to the fact that I have to run my business.
What’s been the response to your fashions?
For the most part the response has been great. I’ve had so many people support me in what I’m doing. I have people rooting for me.
Do you have any role models who inspire you?
Yes, my number one role model is Jesus. I strive to be more like him each day. Another role model is my mom. She shows me just how important things are.
Other role models in their designs would be Kate Spade, Draper James, Betsey Johnson, and so many more.
What are your plans for the future?
My number one priority is to finish high school, and go on to get a four-year degree in college. After that, I hope to pursue my designing, but as I have said, I’m just waiting to see what happens right now.


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Reckless Kelly Will Be Singing The National Anthem At The Ballpark In Arlington On Opening Day!
Friday, April 6, Reckless Kelly will have the honor of singing the National Anthem to open the 2012 Major League Baseball season for the Texas Rangers at The Ballpark in Arlington. The game, which begins at 1:05 pm CT, will be played versus the Chicago White Sox. Check your local listings for availability and be sure to watch the Texas Rangers start the season!
- Ashton Shepherd Performs for Nascar
- Zac Brown Band Sings National Anthem at 2013 BCS Championship Game
- Baseball Season Is Coming and Spring Training is Here!
- Reckless Kelly Announces New Album for 2010
- Reckless Kelly New Album
Find the most current Reckless Kelly tour dates from our partners at Country Music On Tour, your trusted country concert ticket source!


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Education in Cambodia
How can we ensure the next generation of Cambodians are empowered to address and solve the problems within their own families and communities?
When young people access basic quality education, they have the power to lift their families, communities and country out of the grip of poverty. If children aren’t afforded this basic human right, the implications on their future, and their children’s future, is irreversible.
Cambodia’s education system was essentially eradicated during the Khmer Rouge Regime in the 1970s. Books were burnt, teachers were killed, universities were destroyed and an estimated 90 percent of schools were destroyed. Since then, the country has had to work hard to build its education system from the ground up and some extraordinary progress has been made. The number of children enrolled in primary education increased from 82 percent in 1997 to 97 percent in 2018.
Yet, there are still many Cambodian children who don’t have the opportunity to go to school. For those growing up in poverty or orphanages, it can be extremely challenging to access basic quality education.
How Poverty Affects Education
When vulnerable families are struggling to put food on the table, extra money to pay for their children’s education isn’t always available. Although education in Cambodia is meant to be free, children still require school uniforms, shoes, backpacks, textbooks and transport to and from school. On top of this, because public school teachers are underpaid in Cambodia, they often teach a portion of their classes out of school hours. These are considered private classes which the students need to pay to attend. If they don’t, they will usually not pass their exams.
Without an education, vulnerable children are destined to remain trapped in the intergenerational cycle of poverty. CCT’s Village Hive model combats this issue. It brings education into vulnerable communities, ensuring all children are afforded their right to education.
Overcoming Intergenerational Poverty Through Education
Families know that education is vital for breaking the intergenerational cycle of poverty. Over thirteen years working with vulnerable families in Cambodia, we’ve heard time and time again that a lack of access to education is a key driver in families entrusting their children to orphanages.
To build the capacity of vulnerable families, our Village Hive model brings counselling, medical care, financial literacy coaching, income generation services, and access to education into communities. This holistic support strengthens families and empowers them to provide for their children, thereby preventing vulnerable children from falling into the orphanage system.
The first step in helping children access basic quality education involves CCT village-based social workers, who partner with vulnerable families to provide education-related needs and ensure their children attend public school regularly. Social workers equip families with school uniforms, shoes, backpacks, textbooks, school supplies and will assist with transportation to and from school. CCT social workers will also ensure children can attend tutoring classes with their public school teachers, ensuring vulnerable children do not fall behind their peers.
Education for all in Cambodia
While CCT social workers are supporting vulnerable families to work towards financial independence, the parents will often enrol their children into a CCT Youth Centre. Our Youth Centres are there to ensure children can access their basic needs within their own community.
The Youth Centres play a vital role in ensuring the needs of all school-aged students are met until families are financially robust and can cover the costs themselves. The following services are delivered from the Youth Centres:
- Early childhood education, before and after school care and supervision
- Nutrition support through clean drinking water, breakfast and lunch
- Access to showers, toilets, and laundry facilities
- School uniform and study materials
- Access to the community nurse and social workers
- Remedial and homework tutoring
- Independent space within school grounds
We are currently working with local councils in communities across Battambang to embed our Youth Centres within the local primary school systems. Embedding a Youth Centre into a public primary school also ensures that all school-aged children in the community have access to clean water, toilets, hygiene and sanitation facilities – which are not always available in Cambodian public schools.
After children are enrolled in our Youth Centres, CCT staff work to enrol them in public school or public preschool. In Cambodia, many vulnerable children don’t have birth certificates. CCT social workers will often spend a lot of time supporting families to create birth certificates and any other documents that children need to enrol in school.
Some of the children who are enrolled in our Youth Centres have never been to school or are far behind their peers. Teachers from the Youth Centre provide extra tuition classes for the children so they have the educational support they need to catch up to their age-appropriate grade. For the children who decide to leave high school, CCT social workers partner with them to find vocational training in a field they are interested in.
Working to Create Sustainable Education Programs for the Modern World
In 2014, computer literacy was so low in Battambang City that the majority of students were graduating grade 12 without even basic computer literacy, leaving them without the skills necessary to navigate an increasingly digital world.
In 2015, CCT partnered with Grok Learning and the Atlassian Foundation to trial a different approach; we worked together with the public high schools in Battambang City to co-design an ICT education program.
Today this ICT curriculum has been fully incorporated into the public curriculum. It is run entirely by the school’s administration and wholly funded by the Cambodian Ministry of Education.
This project has achieved something remarkable: true sustainability. Read more about the success stories that have come out of this program in the past 5 years.
Thriving through education – Vandy’s Story
2 years ago, Vandy wasn’t attending school and yet today he is one of CCT’s advanced ICT students. Last year he was in the winning team that competed at the Annual STEM festival in Cambodia. His story is an inspiration.
On the path to learning – Kaka’s Story
When Kaka was first enrolled in one of our Battambang Youth Centres, CCT staff quickly realised she was non-verbal. Enrolling Kaka in a regular public school was no longer an option. But the Youth Centre staff had a plan…
Returning to school – Lyhour’s Story
Nine-year-old Lyhour had never missed classes in the past, so when he stopped attending school regularly his teachers contacted CCT’s Village-based social workers. Through practical support and a long-term plan towards self-sufficiency Lyhour’s family can continue to send him and his five cousins to school.
Schools in Cambodia reopen!
When the COVID-19 pandemic swept through the country, the Cambodian government made the decision to close schools down until it was safe for children to congregate again.
During these six months, our Youth Centre teams dedicated themselves to ensuring their students continued to have the same opportunities, delivering hot meals along with homeschooling packs every day. They even offered extra in-home tuition to the students who needed it, ensuring they didn’t fall behind.
Schools have just reopened in Cambodia, so these kids can start going back to the Youth Centre after their school hours to get homework help and access extra educational resources from our teachers whenever they need.
A solid educational foundation is a key factor in overcoming intergenerational poverty. Ensuring children living in poverty are able to access their right to education isn’t as simple as enrolling them into school. It is vital that a holistic approach is taken to empower the whole family, untangling the complex web of poverty and ensuring that there are no barriers to children attending school and thriving in class. When the right support is given to families and the community networks that surround them, a whole world of opportunity opens and children are able to thrive.

domain: economics


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As I mentioned in the Beautiful Earth Bath oil post , the company was kind enough to send me two full sized products to try out too. I feel somehow the picked the perfect products from their range for me to try out. Not a lot of people know this - but I suffer from headaches at least once or twice a week. Especially more in warmer weather. So when a natural (non pill popping) product comes into my life I'm always willing to try it out.
Again - one of the main things (except being Proudly South African) that impresses me from Beautiful Earth products is they are cruelty free and all their products are vegan too.
I carry this little roller in my work bag and around with me at home. This helps amazingly well when I feel a headache starting - I use the roller and gently apply some on my temples and a little over my forehead. I do find when I use this when I feel a headache starting it helps immediately to offer relief. Even with a more intense headache this offers relief - especially when you apply some on the back of your neck too. (Some cooling eye pads helps too !)
Some more info from their website :
Ease tension while helping to relive migraines and headaches. Uplifting and cooling pure Peppermint and soothing natural Lavender oils are blended with plant oils to deliver soothing pain relief. Roll-on to the back of the neck, temples, chest or affected area.
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Oil, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Leaf Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Benzyl Alcohol*, Geraniol*, Limonene*, Linalool* (* Natural component of an essential oil)
This little roller contains 10ml and is even VERY budget friendly - retailing at R48 , 60.
While I won't need a replacement just yet - I can see myself getting one as soon as this one runs out. My mom even tried it out and loves this little headache relief wonder .
How was YOUR weekend ?
This product was sent for me to review - opinions are all my own.

domain: health


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© 2016, Blastr. All rights reserved.
All about Star Wars - uncut footage, behind-the-scene pics and news about Star Wars games - Be up-to-date with Blastr!
Wizard World Comic Con Chicago wrapped up their busy weekend programming schedule on Sunday with the cast of Netflix’s Daredevil series and the always-candid Carrie Fisher.
Have a look at this award-winning Star Wars fan film.
If you’ve ever wanted to visit a real-life version of the Mos Eisley cantina from Star Wars, you should probably book a ticket to Hollywood.
Read this long list of heartfelt goodbyes to one of the sci-fi community's best-loved stars.
Artoo is the Mariano Rivera of the Rebellion: No one is more clutch or has more success in a save situation.
Here's the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy hanging out on the Star Wars VIII set in England.
Walt Disney World is destined for outer space with an upcoming World of Avatar attraction + Star Wars Land
George Lucas might not be running the show anymore, but he did frame the first six installments in the Star Wars saga. But who is actually telling the story?
Star Wars visual effects master Phil Tippett talks about re-creating his Dejarik holochess game for The Force Awakens.
Check out this finely detailed LEGO Star Wars medical frigate from a true Danish-brick master.
Here's the full-size Star Wars bounty hunter to dress up your geek den collection.
Original Star Wars star Peter Mayhew has been revealing pages from an early draft of Star Wars: A New Hope, and it turns out the story changed a whole lot along the way.
Casting reports have been circulating for months about the proposed Star Wars spinoff featuring a young Han Solo, and now a name has finally risen to the top of the list: Alden Ehrenreich.
To get fans pumped for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, a theatrical roadshow is set to ramp up in August to bring the original trilogy back to the big screen.
Along with a whole lot of geeking out, the first trailer of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story also launched a new theory about Rey’s parentage. So, what does Daisy Ridley make of the guess?

domain: hobby


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Prince George's County school officials and the City of Laurel police are investigating what were apparently threatening comments made last week and only brought to the attention of school officials Monday as a result of what happened Friday in Connecticut.
This case involves a male student who attends Laurel High School, but has not been in school for about a week. The situation coming to light about alleged threats off campus.
"We had some students who were threatened," says City of Laurel spokesman Pete Piringer. "They brought it to the attention of a teacher. The teacher concurred with that observation. They notified school's security. School security notified the police and the investigation began, which resulted in a young person being committed to the hospital for psychiatric evaluation."
Piringer says investigators found evidence in the student's locker.
"We had some pretty credible information, some charts and diagrams and lists and things like that that concerned us," Piringer told FOX 5 News. "Obviously the parents were consulted. Information was brought to us that we believe that the student had access to weapons. So it was a very credible threat."
Piringer would not elaborate about the "charts, diagrams and lists."
"We believe that he was going to do harm to others and this was by shooting and killing and things of that nature," says Piringer. "A pretty serious set of circumstances."
Prince George's County school officials say they are cooperating with police, taking the situation seriously and will be sending a letter home with students after classes Wednesday.
"My opinion is if you see something like that or hear something, you need to go report it," says Laurel resident and parent, Donald Wicks. "And everything needs to be taken seriously today."
Police agree and say this was a good example of young people seeing something and then saying something.
Police are not releasing the name or age of the student in question. He is a young man said to be hospitalized and getting a mental health checkup.
WTTG FOX 5 & myfoxdc
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domain: sociology


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Elicit scenes of culture and grandeur with chamber and orchestral works from the master composers of the classical age. These selections are perfect for conveying high stature and sophistication or soothing the listener during any visual or narrative production. Showcasing composers from Bach to Tchaikovsky, Classical Masters gets a standing ovation.
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Beethoven's Ninth Symphony is a classical masterpiece known the world over. The sprightly second movement is presented here.