It would be impossible to write about the period 1963 to 1965 without mentioning the rise of English pop music and particularly Mersey Beat. This time was crucial to Jackie DeShannon’s career and caused it to change direction. The credit for this must go to the Liverpool beat group The Searchers, who first of all picked up on Needles and Pins, then took When You Walk In the Room into the British charts, both versions highly dependent upon the guitar sound originated by Jackie and Jack Nitzsche. From that point onwards, Liverpool groups were falling over themselves to find and record DeShannon compositions, among them the Fourmost, Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas, Ian and the Zodiacs, and solo performer Beryl Marsden. The Liverpudlians were followed by other regional English singers and bands, among them Dave Berry, the Hellions, and the Paramounts. Although the Fab Four themselves never recorded a DeShannon song, they always recognised and credited talent from the USA, and did Jackie the honour of asking her to perform as a support act on their first US tour, in early 1964.
Posterity does not appear to have recorded how well Jackie performed, and it is likely that not a word was heard above the deafening screams of the teenyboppers. Nevertheless, the tour brought Jackie to prominence, and caused the ever opportunistic Liberty Records to throw together an album, Breakin’ It Up On the Beatles Tour, now highly collectable, consisting largely of older recordings, but decent enough for all that. One “first” for Jackie at this time, was her decision to record three Buddy Holly songs in a Beatles-ish style, notably Oh Boy!, possibly the first time Holly’s work had been revived after his death. An amusing footnote to this era is the single of How Do You Do It, recorded by Jackie with girl group The Murmaids on the Chattahoochee label, as the LadyBugs. It’s hard to tell whether the ladies were being entirely serious, but you can see why Gerry and the Pacemakers had the hit.
Making the most of the English connection, Jackie shortly afterwards came across to the UK, to promote her own career, and her songs. She recorded a song in London, arranged by Charles Blackwell, specifically for the British market, and although Don’t Turn You Back On Me did not make the charts, it was much played on the pirate radio ships, and Jackie also performed it live on the trendy TV show Ready Steady Go! This song mixed a certain folksiness with the jangly guitar, which her earlier records had originated, and the energy, which went into this performance, is phenomenal. The guitar player on the session was Jimmy Page. Jackie certainly made the most of her time in England. She made friends with the newly popular Marianne Faithfull, and gave Marianne one of her most commercial compositions, Come and Stay With Me. Faithfull subsequently recorded a number of other DeShannon songs. Jackie also co-wrote some excellent and unusual songs with Jimmy Page, which repay searching out. She also sang on an elusive Fontana single – although credited to Jimmy Page, the voice on Keep Moving is Jackie’s.
As another footnote to this period, we shouldn’t neglect the remarkable series of recordings that Jackie produced for her friend Delaney Bramlett on LA’s GNP-Crescendo label, notable a storming Heartbreak Hotel, a brilliantly commercial version of Dominic Behan’s Liverpool Lou, and Jackie’s own beaty You Have No Choice – all startlingly original and demonstrating previously unknown depth’s to Jackie’s talents, within the confines and structures of the day’s sounds.
BACHARACH, DAVID AND DESHANNON
At this time, Jackie might well have remained in England and become a queen of the mod scene. She didn’t though – always full of surprises, she returned to the States to enjoy her first Top 10 chart hit. Top song-crafters Burt Bacharach and Hal David had swamped the charts with a series of cultured, tuneful ballads mostly sung by Dionne Warwick. Perhaps they felt the need to have a different voice express their material; they chose well, because Jackie DeShannon’s original version of What the World Needs Now Is Love was, and remains, a classic. Bacharach and David produced the recording, with an unforgettable arrangement and warm, husky performance from Jackie. B&D wrote and produced a few more songs for Jackie, notably the dramatic and highly underrated A Lifetime Of Loneliness, one of my own personal Desert Island Discs. What the World Needs Now is Love marked not only a change of image for Jackie, but a change of record label, to Liberty’s newly acquired Imperial Records.
THE IMPERIAL YEARS
Perhaps the next couple of years, up to 1968, mark one of Jackie’s least creative periods. She released a number of pleasant enough singles and albums, containing quality ballads and excursions into Motown-style soul, the latter convincingly enough to have turned one 45, Find Me Love, into a collector’s item among the Northern Soul fanatics. The 1967 album For You was a bold experiment comprising “standards” with orchestral arrangements – an idea borrowed more successfully by Linda Ronstadt fifteen years later. Me About You, released in early 1968, was an excursion into soft rock, with songs by Tim Hardin and John Sebastian. The albums featured a lower than usual proportion of DeShannon compositions, and although the singing was one hundred percent and songs always listenable, there was perhaps less excitement in the air. Jackie was in fact using this time to try to develop her acting skills and, more importantly, was attending art school.
JACKIE IN THE MOVIES
At this point it is worth making a quick detour to look at Jackie’s movie career. She co-starred with Bobby Vinton in 1964’s Surf Party. (“light drama with music…geared to the teenage craze for surfboard riding”), wore a bikini and sang the only known surf gospel song, Glory Wave. Bobby Vee and Eddie Hodges were Jackie’s co-stars in C’mon Let’s Live A Little, a 1967 film about folk singing teenagers at college. This one is fun to watch (especially Jackie in her nightie) although it hardly stretches the brain, and Jackie’s impassioned solo of For Granted is a high spot. Singer Kim Carnes, who many years later would have a smash hit with Jackie’s song Bette Davis Eyes, has a minor role. Jackie’s only other movie role of note was as a hooker (presumably this doesn’t mean a rugby player) in Intimacy, in which she did not sing.
PEACE LOVE AND L.A.
If Jackie’s career had ended here, we would have been celebrating a great singer and influential writer. We would not have reckoned with 1968’s Laurel Canyon, one of Jackie’s great albums and another major change of musical direction. Exit the well-groomed young female entertainer; welcome the blonde hippie chick pictured sumptuously in a series of Sue Cameron photos on the album cover. And the music! Jackie’s band for this record included Mac “Dr. John” Rebennack, Barry White, Russ Titleman and Harold R. Battiste Jr., producing a loose, flowing sound, supporting Jackie’s soulful voice in top form. Many of the songs celebrate Los Angeles and particularly the Laurel Canyon area. Joni Mitchell’s Ladies of the Canyon, released a couple of years later, could not have been written without reference back to Jackie’s sublime Holly Would on this album. Other standout tracks include Jackie’s hit version of The Weight, and her own belated but brilliant recording of Come And Stay With Me. A surviving video of a live performance from this era shows what a great sound this ensemble produced.
Ever one to ring the changes though, Jackie put out an experimental 45 of two Bobby Womack songs, Trust Me/What Is This, also produced by Womack, and then hit gold with another soul combination. Joining forces with soul trouper Jimmy Holiday, a singer with Liberty’s Minit soul label, Jackie turned a tune written by her younger brother, Randy Myers, into her career’s best selling single. Put A Little Love In Your Heart was a Top 5 hit and sold a million copies in the States. In the UK, the song was badly covered by the in-decline Dave Clark Five, and missed out completely. However, Jackie’s version, a sort of celebratory Philadelphia soul-gospel fusion, was exactly right for the times, and gave birth to an album of the same title, with most of the songs written by the DeShannon-Holiday-Myers partnership. Put A Little Love In Your Heart has been recorded by singers from Ella Fitzgerald to Dolly Parton, and has become an industry standard. It is a shame that, compared to the luxurious packaging of the preceding and succeeding albums, this LP should show such obvious sign of having been rushed out.
Unpredictable as ever, DeShannon’s next non-album 45 was a Christmas coupling, one of her most difficult records to find. The turn of the decade saw her last album for Liberty-Imperial, To Be Free. The gatefold album sleeve depicts a purple-clad and winsome Jackie holding flowers, and on the inside, a lovely, naive painting of Jackie and various cuddly and cute animals. All round, it is a superior album to the hasty Put A Little Love In Your Heart, with the reflective Sooner Or Later, the catchy Brighton Hill, and the searingly emotional medley of You Keep Me Hangin’ On/Hurt So Bad as standout tracks. Jackie DeShannon was by now a fine performer and, as a female singer/songwriter, was far ahead of her time. Time perhaps for a change.
(continued next issue)


The launch of Facebook’s new App Center might not sound like a big deal, but it could prove a shrewd move. It demonstrates Facebook’s commitment to the mobile market while challenging other company’s efforts to organize and recommend apps to an ever-growing number of users.
The rollout makes a lot of sense: Facebook says that it directed people to Apple’s App Store 83 million times last month. It also says that in May, seven of the 10 highest-grossing iOS apps and six of the 10 highest-grossing Android apps were integrated with its site. With all these eyeballs, why wouldn’t you want to supply recommendations?
The App Center, which Facebook first announced last month, can be found on its main Web site and is also built into its Android and iOS apps. It offers tailored Web and mobile app suggestions (in my case, for example, it thinks I’d like Words With Friends since it knows I already use Draw Something). It also shows you the top apps that your friends have been playing with.
Initially, the App Center includes just over 600 apps, according to Facebook, which is a drop in the bucket when compared with what’s available through Apple and Google.
Facebook doesn’t currently appear to be selling any of these apps itself. A “send to mobile” feature will let you check out mobile Web apps on your phone, but if you need to download an app you’ll still have to do so through Google Play or Apple’s App Store, Facebook says.
In the future, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Facebook’s recommendations get much better as it takes advantage of the treasure trove of data many of us have built up over years of using the site. The company could also parlay this into recommendations and, subsequently, sales of all sorts of digital items, either by partnering with the likes of Google, Apple, and Amazon or even competing against them in new ways. That would make a lot of sense—and potentially, a lot of money.
A Roomba recorded a woman on the toilet. How did screenshots end up on Facebook?
Robot vacuum companies say your images are safe, but a sprawling global supply chain for data from our devices creates risk.
A startup says it’s begun releasing particles into the atmosphere, in an effort to tweak the climate
Make Sunsets is already attempting to earn revenue for geoengineering, a move likely to provoke widespread criticism.
10 Breakthrough Technologies 2023
The viral AI avatar app Lensa undressed me—without my consent
My avatars were cartoonishly pornified, while my male colleagues got to be astronauts, explorers, and inventors.
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domain: biology


text:
Just in time for the beginning of summer here in Germany, my publisher released my short story The Morning After as a single. It has been previously published in the anthology Connected Hearts, but we thought we’d make it available to readers who don’t want to buy the whole anthology.
The story has about 10,300 words, so it’s not too short.
The cover makes me want a Piña Colada and a loooong vacation at the beach :-)
Here’s a short description of the story:
After a friend sets her up on a blind date from hell, Amanda has enough of dating. A spur-of-the-moment decision to attend an Anti-Valentine’s Day party leads to an unexpected encounter. She wakes up to a hangover and a surprising complication…
I hope you enjoy the story and your weekend!

domain: literature


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domain: geography


text:
Expert Pediatric Infectious Diseases Care—Close To Home
For parents in Contra Costa County and surrounding communities, having a child with a complex medical condition used to mean spending lots of time traveling all over the Bay Area for visits with children’s specialists.
Through our collaboration with Stanford Medicine Children’s Health, we diagnose and treat a wide variety of common and rare infectious diseases for children and teens of all ages—right here, close to home.
In addition to your pediatric infectious disease specialist, your child’s care team may also include nurses and other healthcare providers—all who have advanced training in specifically treating children and teens.
Meet Your Doctors
Samantha Johnston, MD
Pediatric Infectious Diseases
What keeps me going with infectious diseases is that it is constantly changing. It is like being a detective. You are working to solve the mystery of what is causing a problem in a child, or population, and you hope to find a solution!
I love children and working with people. I hope to give the patient and their families the information they need to be empowered to deal with the disease they are facing. For patients who live far away or cannot come to see me regularly, I can also work with primary care physicians to provide a supporting framework and guidance to manage their conditions from a distance.
Talal Seddik, MD
Pediatric Infectious Diseases
I've always wanted to be a pediatrician because it is a way for me to help both children and their families while making a long-lasting impact on their lives. I partner with families and use an evidence-based, scientific approach to develop a plan to treat illnesses that could be caused by infectious agents.
As an infectious diseases specialist, my job is to determine if a child has an infection and, if not, to help guide further steps toward an alternate diagnosis. Most infections are treatable or will resolve on their own without treatment, so patients with infections often get better, which is very rewarding.
What Our Partnership With Stanford Medicine Children’s Health Means For Your Family
Your pediatrician referred you to us, and we want you to know that you’re in good hands. Our collaboration marries the best of two worlds for our patients and their families by bringing Stanford Medicine Children's Health expertise and innovation into a community-based setting that keeps families close to home. Together, our partnership provides:
- Expert Care from Stanford Medicine Children’s Health Doctors: From office visits to hospital procedures and stays at our Walnut Creek Medical Center, you can rest easy knowing that your child will be cared for by some of the nation’s top pediatric specialists—without having to travel to outside of the East Bay.
- Comprehensive Care, Conveniently Close: Any hospital-based services your child may need—ranging from simple blood work and imaging to infusion therapies—can all be conveniently done at our Walnut Creek Medical Center by staff who are highly trained in treating children of all ages, using specialized equipment designed just for children.
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU): If your child requires complex care, you’ll have the added peace of mind that our PICU—staffed 24/7 by Stanford Medicine Children’s Health doctors and John Muir Health nurses and other care providers—is right here at our Walnut Creek Medical Center. Learn more about our PICU.
Learn more about Stanford Medicine Children’s Health and our partnership.

domain: medical


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NEW EXHIBITION AT THE NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM CORNWALL
5 April 2012
The National Maritime Museum Cornwall in Falmouth is set to host a new photographic exhibition which examines the historical ties between Cornish and Breton fishing communities.
Opening on Friday 5 April, the display will feature a series of rare images never exhibited before from a rare collection of photographs taken by Oliver Hill in Newlyn in the early 20th century.
The exhibition will look at the links between the two fishing communities, whilst exploring other aspects of marine life that were prevalent throughout Cornwall.
Milly Newman, Exhibition Development Manager said: “The links between Cornwall and Brittany date back thousands of years and this exhibition reveals how smuggling, fishing, and even clandestine wartime escapes kept the links between these two communities strong during the first half of the 20th century.
Be sure to explore this fascinating exhibit whilst enjoying a stay in some 5 star accommodation in Cornwall, the perfect base for a luxurious relaxing break.
Image courtesy of Tim Green aka atoach


From the January issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases, published by the CDC (and therefore free. Must I keep urging you to read it? Go, already), here’s a roundup of bad news about bad bugs.
In Canada, researchers from that country’s Public Health Agency have found a “strong correlation” between the use of ceftiofur, a third-generation cephalosporin, in chickens; the rates of a resistant strain of Salmonella in chickens; and the appearance of that same strain in humans. The strain is Salmonella enterica serovar Heidelberg, one of the most common salmonella strains in North America, and one which can be nasty: It may cause mild illness, but also causes septicemia and myocarditis and can kill. Quebec created an unplanned natural experiment: Hatcheries there were broadly using ceftiofur until 2004, backed off from its use in 2005 and 2006, and then began using it again in 2007 in response to a growing problem with a particular infection. When the drug was withdrawn, resistant infections in birds and humans plunged; when it was reintroduced, they rose again. (Look at the black and red lines in the graph above left.)
Meanwhile, broiler chickens in Iceland are passing fluoroquinolone-resistant E. coli to humans there. Researchers at the University of Iceland were puzzled by an earlier finding that bacteria resistant to fluoroquinolones (a family that includes the human drug Cipro) were increasing among chickens raised in Iceland, despite strict controls on antibiotic use in food animals and stringent disinfection in chicken batteries after cohorts of birds were sold for slaughter and removed. They have two findings: The source of the resistant bacteria in the birds appears to be feed contaminated with resistant E. coli; and resistant bacteria in Iceland residents are microbiologically indistinguishable from those in the birds. Because E. coli is a very diverse organism, the very close resemblance between the isolates from chickens and the isolates from humans pins chickens as the likely source.
And just to make clear we’re not blaming every microbiological evil on farming: Seagulls in Portugal have been found carrying multi-drug resistant E. coli in their feces. The public health concern here is obvious: Just think back to the last time you were at a beach, or anywhere else seagulls frequent, and envision a seagull perch — and the masses of seagull droppings streaking it. Now imagine those droppings transmitting antibiotic-resistant E. coli into the surrounding environment: the boardwalk, the beach, the towels… Additional problem: Seagulls are migratory birds, so the resistant bacteria easily cross borders and oceans.


Ben Bergquam, the founder of Frontline America, and a leading investigative reporter for Real Americas Voice, smashed Communism on Tuesday by pointing out the Communist grooming for obedience that is happening in US public schools.
It is simple things like this that can really wake people up! What happened here? Check it out!
Bergquam, who knows a whole lot about how the left operates- posted a video that had originally been posted by a poster Dion Cini – OperationFlagDrop@dioncini
In the video is seen a teacher watching school kids running around a rooftop, playing what looks like a typical schoolyard game, but something very weird is going on. Something sinister.
What Cini points out pushed Bergquam to smash Communism!


This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
WAUKEGAN, Ill. (AP) — A former suburban Chicago high school teacher who admitted to having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a male student last fall has been sentenced to 30 months of probation after pleading guilty to one count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.
Thirty-year-old Amber Kraus of Mundelein was ordered to register as a sex offender for the rest of her life as part of a plea deal in which prosecutors agreed to drop a felony charge of criminal sexual assault.
During Thursday's sentencing hearing in Lake County, the former teacher at Grant High School in Fox Lake was told by a judge that while on probation she is forbidden from having any contact with the 16-year-old victim, his family, the high school or any minors under the age of 17.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on Attorney General Jeff Sessions' effort to crack down on leaks of classified information (all times EDT):
The Justice Department's planned crackdown on government leaks isn't getting a warm reception from news media advocates.
Media advocacy organizations condemned the announcement, with Bruce Brown, the executive director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, saying the decision to review existing guidelines was "deeply troubling."
Justice Department officials said they were reviewing guidelines put in place to make it difficult for the government to subpoena journalists about their sources, and would not rule out the possibility that a reporter could be prosecuted.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions is pledging to rein in government leaks that he says undermine American security.
Sessions is taking an aggressive public stand after being called weak on the matter by President Donald Trump.
The nation's top law enforcement official says the number of criminal leak probes has more than tripled in the early months of the Trump administration. Justice Department officials say they are reviewing guidelines put in place to make it difficult for the government to subpoena journalists about their sources, and would not rule out the possibility that a reporter could be prosecuted.
Media advocacy organizations are condemning the announcement. Bruce Brown, the executive director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, says the decision is "deeply troubling."
House Speaker Paul Ryan says leaks of classified information "can often compromise national security," but adds that journalists aren't the problem.
Ryan says the problem lies with "the leaker, not the journalist." He made the remarks Friday after touring a manufacturing plant in suburban Milwaukee.
President Donald Trump has called Sessions weak for not doing more to crack down on leaks, particularly from the White House.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions says the Justice Department is reviewing guidelines related to subpoenas of journalists. His announcement comes amid news reports involving the Trump campaign and the White House that relied on classified information.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions is warning against leaks of classified information that he says can hurt national security.
His Justice Department announcement comes amid news reports involving the Trump campaign and White House that relied on classified information.
And it comes one week after the president called Sessions weak in cracking down on leaks.
Sessions says the department is reviewing guidelines related to subpoenas of journalists.
The Obama Justice Department brought more leaks cases than all its predecessors combined. It was criticized for maneuvers viewed as needlessly aggressive and intrusive.
The department in 2015 revised its guidelines to require additional levels of approval before a journalist could be subpoenaed.
The White House's anger about leaks is growing, and the Trump administration is stepping up efforts to crack down on it.
The attorney general and the national intelligence director are set Friday to discuss what the Justice Department calls "leaks of classified material threatening national security."
A presidential adviser is raising the possibility of lie detector tests for the small number of people in the West Wing and elsewhere with access to transcripts of President Donald Trump's phone calls. The Washington Post has published transcripts of his conversations with the leaders of Mexico and Australia.
Trump counselor Kellyanne Conway tells "Fox & Friends" that "it's easier to figure out who's leaking than the leakers may realize."
And might lie detectors be used? She says: "Well, they may, they may not."
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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04 October 2018 – Banyana Banyana centre-back Bambanani Mbane only got to play on a grass pitch when she was 20 years old.
Prior to that, her feet merely knew the sandlots and gravel pitches of Sterkspruit – a village she grew up in that is located in the Eastern Cape.
Mbane, who traveled with the Banyana Banyana squad that is set to take on Chile in two friendly matches on Saturday 6 October and Tuesday, 9 October 2018, admitted that it took a lot of self-belief to get herself out of an environment that was not conducive to fulfilling her life’s dreams, goals and ambitions.
“If you notice most of my Instagram posts, there is a hash tag I frequently use, which is ‘Nolali’,” Mbane says.
“Nolali simply means ‘village girl’ in Xhosa, and the message which I am trying to get across with that hash tag is: It does not matter where you come from. Anybody can be whatever they want in life. You just have to believe,” said the star.
That mental approach of believing in herself and what she can offer on the pitch for both club and country, is what the now 28-year-old Bloemfontein Celtic Ladies FC centre-back carries with her to this very day.
That is mainly because such an approach has worked wonders for her. After joining Celtic back in 2010, not a season has gone by without her playing a part in helping her mother club scoop the Sasol League provincial title. She has also proved to be a consistent feature in the two Sasol League National Championship finals, which Celtic won back-to-back in 2016 and 2017.
However, it is 2017 in which Mbane states that she felt the most favoured by the footballing gods.
“It was an incredible year for me. I received the Players’ Player of the Tournament and Player of the Tournament titles in the Sasol League National Championships. I also won the COSAFA Women’s Championship with Banyana Banyana, while also being named the Player of the Match in the final against Zimbabwe. It was just an amazing year,” enthused Mbane.
She is hoping to have more blissful experiences in her life, particularly with the South African Senior Women’s National Team. The centre-back’s ultimate goal is to help Banyana Banyana secure a place in their first ever FIFA Women’s World Cup appearance. A top three finish in this year Africa Women’s Cup of Nations in Ghana, which will run from 17 November to 1 December 2018, will see the senior national women’s side achieving that feat.
“Defending this year’s COSAFA Women’s Championships was a step in the right direction for us. We now have two friendly matches against Chile, which I believe will provide us with the challenge required to help us prepare adequately, leading up to this year’s Women’s AFCON tournament. We really want to do well there,” she said.
The player also has overseas ambitions.
“Earning a move abroad is one personal goal I will not let go off. I really want that,” concluded Mbane.

domain: news


text:
How It's Made
Handcrafted with love
Every RaGa Naturals product is carefully handcrafted in small batches while keeping the inherent “Mother’s Way” philosophy -
Basic, minimalist, safe, natural and most importantly made with love.
Made with natural ingredients
We use pure ingredients that contain extraordinary nutrients and benefits for your skin and body. We also use preservatives such as Emulsifying Wax, Propylene Glycol, Diazolidinyl Urea & Lodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Our minimalistic approach
We make an effort to bring transparency to ingredients, scientific blend towards ingredient selection and optimizing the formulation to have highly effective products. Each formula has been meticulously researched and finetuned to include the finest natural ingredients. We only use preservatives which are absolutely necessary for maintaining the quality of our products.
For example, our lotion has 12 ingredients compared to 30+ found in most major brand products.
We formulate without parabens, phthalates, silicones, benzene, trans fats / mineral oil or sulfates.

domain: chemistry


text:
Strengthen Public Schools
- Fight back against the far-right war on public education
- Restore teacher bargaining rights, stop union-busting
- Multinational, multi-gendered unity against bigotry
Indiana established some of the earliest free public schools in the country, and the government has a constitutional duty to “encourage, by all suitable means, moral, intellectual, scientific, and agricultural improvement.” The Indiana Republican Party has waged war on public schools during its supermajority stranglehold on state government, to the detriment of our students and school workforce. A crushing teacher shortage that was looming has only been exacerbated by the pandemic and disastrous anti-school policy written by out-of-state special interest groups for the fascistic purpose of stamping out any semblance of acceptance of Black liberation or LGBTQ students in Indiana schools.
It is time for Hoosiers to loudly reject the old dividing tactics of racism and anti-gay, anti-trans bigotry; to reject the cynical anti-worker rhetoric that overworks and underpays teachers, overloads them with young people who are trying to survive in a crumbling society, and blames them for student failures when they demand better schools.
It is time for Indiana to roll back the decades-old assault on teachers by restoring their rights to bargain over essential factors of school health such as class size, school calendar, prep time, and more; and to support schools by investing in them rather than hoarding a vast surplus while schools close and millions of dollars are redirected to religious and private schools that are unaccountable and use state funds to promote particular faiths. Strong public schools are the bedrock of a democratic society, and Hoosiers need a State Representative who will fight to end the war on schools that has made them businesses.
Expand Childcare, Defend Abortion
- Unite to protect the right of abortion at the state level
- Expand access to free and affordable family healthcare clinics
- Ensure sex education covers all forms of pregnancy, STI prevention
Abortion rights are under unprecedented attack across the nation, with a right-wing, illegitimate Supreme Court that gutted Roe v. Wade. Indiana’s supermajority legislators have indicated their desire to further erode the already dismally weak reproductive rights Hoosiers have at the state level. We cannot rely on institutions or the idea of precedence to secure this right for the people of Indiana. Most Hoosiers agree that abortion is a procedure that we should have the freedom to choose. To help ensure that it is not the first step taken to prevent pregnancy, we should ensure sex education covers prophylactics and other means of proactively preventing pregnancy and sexually-transmitted infections without morally insisting on teaching nothing but abstinence until marriage as “sex ed.”
Reproductive rights extend beyond just the right to abortion, and should be expanded. As with all forms of healthcare, reproductive care should be free to patients. Early childhood care and education, including pre-K programs, must be established and expanded across the state to ensure that no one needing access to these programs is forced to go without.
Address Root Causes of Violent Crime
- Raise Indiana’s criminally minimum wage to a livable standard; guarantee jobs
- Guarantee quality housing for all; cancel all rents and mortgages
- Defund the police and end police brutality; end mass incarceration and cash bail
Ending violent crime is a desire of most Hoosiers, who all deserve to live in peace and safety. The response from the ruling class has been to pour millions of additional dollars into the coffers of police departments across the state, with President Biden explicitly telling local governments to use unspent pandemic relief funds on the police. This heavy investment in police has not led to a reduction in crime, and an investigation of reports from Indianapolis police reveal that fewer than 16% of aggravated assaults, homicides, robberies, and sex offenses were cleared with an arrest in 2019, the last year of public data. Pouring funds into police has not led to a reduction in crime, but has led to a marked increase in incidents of brutality and police killings, especially of Black Hoosiers.
The bulk of violent crimes in Indianapolis occur in the poorest parts of the city: 80% of violent crimes occur in neighborhoods where 60% of the city’s residents live, who are held to the lowest 20% of incomes. By contrast, the wealthiest 20% of neighborhoods hold just 0.1% of the city’s population and only experience 0.02% of the capital’s violent crime. Pouring millions of dollars into police coffers will not address these root economic causes.
We need to invest heavily into Indiana and Hoosiers. The slavery wage that Indiana has kept its minimum wage at since federal law raised it to $7.25 in 2009 must be raised to a livable wage, which in Indianapolis in 2022 would be $25–30 an hour. As out-of-state land speculators turn to housing in Indiana and the rest of the Midwest as investment opportunities while thousands of people are unable to find affordable housing, we should seize vacant and unused properties to create permanent affordable housing, both private and community-owned through land trusts.
Recognize the Miami Nation
- Recognize the Miami Nation of Indians of Indiana at the state level
- Continue the fight for the federal government to reinstate recognition
- Expand education about the history of Indigenous nations in Indiana
Indiana, the so-called “Land of the Indians,” is a land whose state government refuses to recognize any of the Indigenous nations whose lands now comprise the State of Indiana. The Myaamia, known in English as the Miami Nation, and their related nations of Eel River, Wea, and Piankeshaw; the Neshnabé, or Potawatomi; the Lenape, or Delaware; Kiikaapoi, or Kickapoo; and Shawnee, among others, called the lands of what is today understood as Indiana their homes. These nations built resilient and rich multinational confederacies under the leadership of many Indigenous leaders, before narrow-sighted private ownership of land by white settlers dissolved their sovereignty and power, replacing them in Indiana.
These nations did not submit willingly to genocide. The resistance exemplified by these nations and leaders such as Mihšihkinaahkwa, Tecumseh and Tenskwatawa offer us lessons even though their movements had limited success. Those who resisted the genocidal sweep from this place remain. The Miami Nation of Indians of Indiana, in particular, has made multiple petitions for recognition at the federal level after having their recognition illegally stripped in the 1890s, all of which have been denied. This travesty of justice must be reversed. As the fight with the federal government continues, the State of Indiana can and must act to extend state recognition to the Miami Nation of Indians of Indiana.
Stand With Immigrant Hoosiers
- Grant drivers licenses and protection to undocumented Hoosiers
- Close ICE detention facilities across Indiana, cancel planned Indy expansion
- Ensure dignity and respect for all of Indiana’s broadly diverse immigrants
Undocumented Hoosiers have been organizing for years, collecting petition signatures and meeting with sitting state legislators to advance their demand for drivers licenses. Despite mild support from the 2022 session, a bill to accomplish this demand died in committee. In a country and state so single-mindedly developed for navigation by private transportation, denying legal access to private transport to so many of our neighbors is unconscionable.
The expansion of ICE detention facilities in Indiana is contrary to the values of Hoosier hospitality. The detention facility in Brazil should be closed and the planned expansion into Indianapolis must be canceled. Raids against and deportations of our neighbors must end. Schools serving English language learners must be staffed with bilingual educators. The dignity and humanity of all Hoosiers must be respected regardless of nationality.


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ZOE International has now launched in Mexico. Mexico is both a source country for other nations like the USA, and a destination country. In Mexico, victims are trafficked through force, fraud, and coercion. Many Central and South Americans are trafficked into Mexico or trafficked through Mexico to the USA, making it a transit country as well.
Commercial sexual exploitation of children within the tourism industry is a growing problem in areas around northern border cities. Many exploited children are from the United States, Canada, and Western Europe. Labor trafficking for men, women, and children is another problem. Trafficking children and adults are held in “debt bondage” that they cannot pay back.
ZOE is located in Oaxaca, Mexico, which is considered to be a “crossroads” for human trafficking as a source, destination, and transit state for this crime. We are beginning our work with child trafficking prevention. Our goal is to spread awareness about child trafficking to begin with as most Mexican citizens are largely unaware of the child slavery around them. ZOE plans to be involved in assisting with rescue, and restoration of children in future. Follow ZOE’s work in Mexico here.


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Sometimes skill wins. Sometimes you win by luck. This time I can probably proudly say that it was something of an in-between. It's not every day that I get published in one of my favorite magazines and it's even rarer that I come second in a photo contest! So whoop whoop and hey and yippie - I got two in RES summer competition "RES in summer"!! The picture that made it onto the podium is a picture that you may remember from one of my reports from Portugal - Azenhas Do Mar – The white village on the edge of the cliff. The picture depicts two tiny little people by the big waves of the Atlantic. From the top of the cliffs above the beach I got a lovely view of both the sea and the frozen little sunbathers. The Atlantic may be beautiful, but it is far from a swimming magnet. I think I almost see goosebumps on the bathers, however small they may be.
Now you might be wondering what I won? A trip to the Maldives? Not really. :) But a year-long subscription to RES and a publication of my picture in the latest issue of RES is no shame! So take a little extra look at the page with the results of the photo competition in RES when you read the latest issue (because you do, right?) and I'll be a little extra happy!
By the way, I have another news too! I will continue to write about travel as an influencer Refunds for another six months! Working together with such a lovely group with so much energy and ideas is really a real boost of energy! Looking forward to it!
No, now I'm going to go do some practical things at home and then sit under a blanket on the sofa and read the latest RES from cover to cover. Think that after this sunny summer it can actually feel a little cozy to sit inside the sofa and look out at the rain!
Have you been here? What did you think of the destination?
Travel blogger, gastronaut, photographer and family adventurer with over 55 countries in his luggage. Eva loves trips that include beautiful nature, hiking boots and well-cooked food. On the travel blog Rucksack she takes you to all corners of the world with the help of her inspiring pictures and texts.

domain: artistic


92 Samurai idle and running, NOT!
I am new to the Samurai craze. I have a 92 with 1.3 liter TBI and I am having trouble. The engine sometimes runs fantastic, but when it decides to stop it is pure ????. It will not start and idle or take the fuel. If I unplug the vacuum line from the MAP sensor, the engine will start and idle just fine, but will not take the fuel. If, while the engine is idling and the MAP sensor vac line is off, I pull a vacuum on the sensor or just simply touch the sensor vac line to the intake port, the engine will die.
I have cleaned the EGR and made all the common checks suggested in the Hanes manual but I can not determine whether the MAP sensor is bad or not. Do you have any suggestions? Sometimes, the Sammy will start up and run just fine, without any problems.
Also, where does one find parts for the Samurai?


I believe that the hotpoint part number is 1603290, the price in the UK is about £25 (About $35?). the pump is fairly easy to replace as far as I can see (I don't know the exact machine, but I have looked at the part. The pump is held to the chassis by 2 philips screws. pipes in and out of the pump will be held on by either a screw up clamp or a spring clamp, both of which are easy to remove. Power is via a 2 wire plug in connector. If you are a ressonably practical person, you should have no problems.
A few things before you start:
- TURN THE POWER OFF (And this means pull the plug out of the wall!)
- Drain the machine as best as you can.
- Have towels to mop up when you discover your best wasn't good enough.
- Once you have removed the pump, dry up properly before you start work with the replacement
- Always tip the machine BACKWARDS and away from the control panel so leaks don't wreck your electrics and change a $35 repair into a $200 repair.
- Have a look before you buy the part. Decide if you are happy to go ahead and understand what you are doing.
Finally, just consider the question is it actually the pump? If you can hear the pump running, its probably not the pump. If you can see water coming out of the waste pipe when you put it in the sink, its certainly not the pump. Take a look at the information I wrote for someone else about clearing a blocked pump before you go to replace the pump (I have reprinted the whole article below). I would strongly advise you to carry out the checks below anyway, because they may have contributed to the pump's failure if you have got a dead pump. Doing the following will help preserve the new one.
The empty pump cycle is a timed operation, the fact that there is still water in the drum after the time allowed for the pump to drain it has run out means that the water isn't clearing out fast enough.
In order of probability, the problem is usually caused by:
1. A blocked filter
2. An obstruction in the empty pipe or drain
3. A Faulty pump
1 Blocked Filter: Many machines have a small door in the bottom of the chassis. Behind this door (Usually about 5 inches square) is a filter, which will usually unscrew. In this filter you will find fluff, string, coins, the odd small sock and all sorts of nasty stuff if you haven't had the filter out before. If the filter is blocked then the pump is having to draw water through all that gunk and it will run out of time and leave water in the drum. Clean the filter in the sink, pocket the coins you find and make a note to clean it regularly in the future Most manufactures will suggest you check it every 2 months or so, depends how often you are using the machine of course.
Unfortunately, other machines do not have filters so easily accessible. If there is no door or obvious access to the filter, some manufacturers put a trap in the rubber hose that feeds the pump. The pain here is that the access to these traps is gained by dragging the bachine out of its place under the work surface and tipping it on to its back. Track the waste pipe back to locate the pump. On the other side of the pump will be a thicker (usually black rubber) pipe and built into this pipe is usually a little bucket that stuff can fall into before it gets to the pump. You can usually squeeze the pipe and feel if there is stuff in it. If there is, then depending on the machine again, some of these traps will have a plug in the bottom that is held in place by a spring clip (Pliers to compress the spring to get it off) or a screw clip (Unscrew with a screwdriver). Enev if there is no trap as such, squeeze the rubber delivery pipe and feel for obstructions (Often a sock!), if necessary, disconnect the pipe from the pump to gain access to the blockage. WARNING!: Never tip the machine all the way onto its back, you may cause a water leak inside the machine. ALWAYS tip BACKWARDS, to the control panel for the machine is pointing up to avoid water getting to the control panel. I would recommend butting a chair behind the machine as you tip it, so the top back of the machine comes to rest on the seat and the machine is at about 45 degrees. this will give you access to underneath without a leak and make is a lot easier to tip it back on to its feet again afterwards.
2. An obstruction in the empty pipe or drain: Start at the point that the pipe enters the household drain pipe, pull out the empty pipe and check that water will flow freely into the drain (Stuffing the garden hose down there and turning it on (but not TOO FAST) will usually demonstrate if there is a blockage. If this is free, check the pipe that runs from the pump to the drain (This will need the machine tipping as described above, and possibly the pipe removing from the pump to check it.
3. A Faulty Pump:If you have done everything described so far, then you have checked for obstructions in the pipe leading to the pump, the pipe leading away and you have cleaned out any filters or traps... If you still have a problem, you have a faulty pump. This is highly unlikely. These pumps have induction motors (no brushes to fail) and in my experience, they either work, or they don't. They very seldom "work a bit". If SOME water is being pumped (check by putting the empty hose in the sink and watching) then you really need to double check your work before replacing the pump. Good news is, if you do have to they are usually reasonably priced.


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I received a recorded phone call from my local supermarket on Saturday telling me that a shredded package of kosher mozzarella cheese I’d recently purchased had been recalled due to possible contamination with listeria. The offender in my refrigerator was packaged by Miller’s; Haolam also announced a voluntary recall of its kosher shredded cheese products.
Both cheese companies sell their products in Boston and other cities in chain supermarkets as well as kosher grocery stores.
The products were shredded in a Wisconsin plant on the same machine as a third cheese brand sold only in Wisconsin that has been found to be contaminated with listeria, the companies said in separate statements. None of the kosher cheeses tested positive for the bacteria, but the state of Wisconsin asked the companies to pull shredded mozzarella cheese, cheddar cheese, and pizza cheese packages from their shelves as a precaution.
Listeria can cause fever, muscle aches, diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms. In pregnant women, it can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, and premature delivery.
According to World Cheese, manufacturer of Haolam, customers should return the following products to stores for a refund:
-- All 8-ounce and 16-ounce bags of Haolam shredded cheese (Pizza, Mozzarella, Cheddar, Fancy, Muenster, R/F Muenster, R/F Cheddar), with an expiration of June 5, 2012, through Sept 4, 2012.
-- All 32-ounce bags of Haolam shredded Mozzarella and Gourmet Blend with an expiration date of February 6, 2012, through May 7, 2012.
-- All 5-pound bags of Haolam shredded Mozzarella, Cheddar and Muenster with a pack date of September 8, 2011, through Dec 7, 2011.
Miller’s Cheese Corp. emphasized that the recall was only for shredded cheese products, including:
-- All 8-ounce and 16-ounce bags of Miller’s shredded cheese (Pizza, Mozzarella, Cheddar, Fancy, Muenster), with an expiration of June 5, 2012, through Sept 4, 2012.
-- All 32-ounce bags of Miller’s shredded Mozzarella with an expiration date of February 6, 2012, through May 7, 2012.
- All 5-pound bags of Miller’s shredded Mozzarella, Cheddar, Muenster and Monterey Jack with a pack date of September 8, 2011, through Dec 7, 2011.
This news comes on the heels of a Massachusetts health department warning issued Friday concerning the recall of a Canadian-made cheese, Fromagerie Marie Kade -- sold in Norwood and Worcester -- also due to possible contamination with listeria. The products were stamped with the establishment number 1874.
No listeria-related illnesses from cheese have been reported so far in Massachusetts.

domain: food


text:
As a coalition of independent and third sector organisations we very much welcome the Scottish Government’s announcement of a consultation on guidance on the presumption of mainstreaming.
Mainstreaming ensures that all children are educated in mainstream schools, unless exceptional circumstances apply.
Our ambition as a nation must be to ensure that all children and young people be able to reach their full potential, including those with additional support needs (ASN).
However, as highlighted in the Scottish Parliament Education and Skills Committee inquiry into additional support for learning, there are major concerns over the inclusion of children and young people with ASN in mainstream education. The poor experience many of these have in such an environment is clear evidence that more needs to be done if genuine inclusion is to be achieved.
This experience is due, in part, to a lack of resources. It should be noted that despite an over 40 cent increase between 2012 and 2016 in the number of pupils identified with ASN in mainstream primary and secondary schools, the number of ASN teachers has fallen by 16 per cent over the same period, to a new low. In addition, the number of ASN auxiliaries or care assistants has declined by 13 per cent and the number of behaviour support staff by 15 per cent.
We very much support mainstreaming as a central pillar of inclusive education. However, if we are to deliver genuine inclusion and to close the educational attainment gap, a welcome ambition held by the Scottish Government, that means providing the necessary resourcing to do this.
With the upcoming Scottish Government budget, there is the clear opportunity for us to do just that and give those children and young people with ASN the best possible start in life.
The Scottish Children’s Services Coalition:
Tom McGhee, Chairman, Spark of Genius
Duncan Dunlop, Chief Executive, Who Cares? Scotland
Sophie Pilgrim, Director, Kindred Scotland
Stuart Jacob, Director, Falkland House School
Niall Kelly, Managing Director, Young Foundations

domain: sociology


Remarks With Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa After Their Meeting
Secretary of State
FOREIGN MINISTER NATALEGAWA: A very good afternoon, dear colleagues from the media. (In Indonesian.) I would like to begin once again by welcoming and expressing our appreciation to Secretary Clinton, as well as her delegation, for having attended and participated actively in this second Joint Commission meeting between the United States and Indonesia.
I had begun our discussion this morning by expressing one key thought. First, that during the past few days, as you are aware, Secretary Clinton has given Bali to attend the ASEAN-U.S. meeting, the East Asia Summit meeting at the ministerial level, as well as the ASEAN Regional Forum. And during the course of those sets of meetings, Indonesia and the United States worked very closely, all for the purpose of promoting peace, stability, and prosperity for our region.
But I have also suggested the idea that all those endeavors would not be possible without being anchored by strong bilateral relations, as Indonesia and the United States today enjoy. And that is why today's second JMC is extremely strategic and extremely important. As colleagues will be aware, the JMC process was launched last September 2010 for the purpose of injecting momentum and ensuring concrete (inaudible) to the vision of a comprehensive partnership between Indonesia and the United States.
And during the course of that period, since September 2010 until today, we have seen, based on the report that we have just now received from the six working groups -- namely the working groups on democracy and civil society, working group on climate and environment, working group on education, on trade and investment, on security issues, and on energy -- based on the submission from the six working groups, I think both Secretary Clinton and I feel ever more confident that the comprehensive partnership between our two countries are in a good state, and that we are actually further deepening and strengthening our collaboration and partnership.
And more specifically, each of the working groups were able to share with the Secretary and myself the kind of progress they have made in their own respective domain, and lay out the concrete work plan for their year ahead, in order to ensure that the momentum is maintained.
More specifically, as you are aware, come next November, in 2011, we are to have the East Asia Summit here in Bali. And on that occasion, we are anticipating, of course, the first participation by the United States, by President Obama, to that summit. And, at the same time, there will be, no doubt, a bilateral meeting between the two presidents: of Indonesia and President Obama. In other words, the work that we are doing now, today, of the JCM, becomes a useful (inaudible) for us to be able to take stock where we are and where we wish to become next November.
So, all in all, I would say, Secretary, it has been -- and I am sure you would agree with me -- a most productive meeting, and encouraging, as well, because not only have the working groups been extremely diligent and energetic in their work over the past few months, but they continue to be driven by a sense of wanting to achieve better achievement and identifying more potentials for the future.
Of course, besides the issue of bilateral relations, the Secretary and I had the advantage on this occasion to compare notes on various regional and international issues, following on from the discussions that we have been having at the ASEAN Regional Forum, as well as the East Asia Summit at the ministers level.
That is by way of introduction for myself. I should now like to give the floor to Secretary Clinton to also deliver her remarks. Please.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you very much. I want to express my appreciation to the Foreign Minister and the delegation from Indonesia for not only welcoming us today, but preparing the opportunity for such a productive second meeting of our joint commission. As the foreign minister said, we covered a lot of ground. I want to just touch on a few of the highlights.
First, we discussed how to increase trade and investment between our countries. Because while Indonesia is the largest economy in ASEAN, trade between our two countries still lags between others in the region. For example, our trade this year with Indonesia was $20 billion, but our trade with Malaysia was $40 billion. So we want to look at what are the impediments and the potential barriers. How do we reduce tariffs? How do we create more dynamic trade and investment between Indonesia and the United States?
Secondly, we discussed how we can work together more closely to protect the environment and to address the challenge of climate change. I know that is something that the Government of Indonesia and President Yudhoyono has been particularly focused on. I emphasize that, as we enter the final stage of negotiations on a Millennium Challenge Corporation compact that aims to promote low carbon development, we look forward to the quick creation of an accountable national trust fund to implement the compact, and to spur sustainable growth here in Indonesia.
Third, we discussed our shared goal of expanding educational exchanges. And I was so pleased to hear the report from the two chairs of the education working group. We are well on the way to doubling the number of Indonesians who study in the United States, and increasing the number of American students who come to study in Indonesia. We have expanded study abroad initiatives, such as our Fulbright Program, and we are eager to continue to build on that, as we will at a higher education summit to be held in Washington on October 31st.
Finally, we discussed Indonesia's growing role as a regional and global leader, and the important leadership that Indonesia is providing in ASEAN, in the ASEAN Regional Forum, in the East Asia Summit, in APEC, in the G-20, in all the major multilateral fora where the hard problems facing us in the world today are addressed.
This is an exciting time, and I was very impressed by the work that has been done by the working groups. And I think that this comprehensive partnership is, indeed, producing results for both of our people. Because, after all, we have to report to the people of Indonesia, and the people of the United States. And I think they can be reassured that we are not meeting for the sake of meeting; we are meeting to build relationships, to explore potential, and to deliver results for both of our people.
So, again, let me thank the Foreign Minister for his hospitality and his friendship, and to commend you, Marty, on the excellent job done in hosting these important gatherings in the last week.
FOREIGN MINISTER NATALEGAWA: Thank you very much, Hillary. Before opening the floor for questions, may I express a sentiment which I am sure Hillary would want to associate herself to, as well? Once again, to reaffirm and communicate our (inaudible) with regard to the attacks that took place in Norway just recently, the loss of life, of innocent lives lost, and our condemnation for that event, yet, at the same time, our confidence in the strength of the Norwegian nation, of its government, to be able to overcome this particular challenge, and that we, as members of the international community, stand by them in expressing our solidarity and support.
QUESTION: Thank you very much (inaudible). I have a question for you, ma'am, and one question to you, Mr. Marty.
First question, I would like to know what is your opinion on how ASEAN works on problems such as the border disputes (inaudible), issues of human rights (inaudible), and especially South China Seas issue. And do you think that we should always be (inaudible)?
My second question. There has been (inaudible) on the human (inaudible) Indonesia following the statement of Human Rights Watch. How (inaudible) participation of human rights in Indonesia, especially (inaudible).
And to Mr. Marty, (inaudible).
FOREIGN MINISTER NATALEGAWA: Ah, right. Thank you very much.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Let me begin with responding. I want to commend Indonesian leadership of ASEAN this past year. Because of its active role in promoting a resolution to the border disputes between Cambodia and Thailand. Indonesia played that role very effectively, to the point that both countries have asked Indonesia to continue playing such a role, even after its chairmanship of ASEAN expires.
And I think the international court of justice's decision about the disputed territory between two ASEAN members itself highlighted the importance of ASEAN continuing to seek a permanent resolution.
Secondly, with respect to human rights in Burma, we discussed that in our meetings, in the ASEAN Regional Forum, and in the U.S.-ASEAN dialogue. And I think it is very important that we continue to press the new Government of Burma to take action that will demonstrate a break with the past. And again, here I commend Indonesia's leadership, both as chair of ASEAN, in reaching out to the new government, but also, based on your own experience, I think there is much for Indonesia to share, as to how you make a successful peaceful transition to a democracy as vibrant and successful as the one here in Indonesia.
And with respect to the South China Sea, as you know, that took up a great deal of our time in discussions, both prior to and during the meetings. I have to comment Indonesia's leadership again. Because, as chair of ASEAN, Indonesia led the way to the adoption of the declaration of conduct. I think that it is important for all of us to realize what is at stake here. Because, clearly, the South China Sea is absolutely essential to global trade. At least 50 percent of all global trade goes through the South China Sea every single year. And it is important for us to support freedom of navigation, unimpeded commerce, so there is no question as to the rights of every nation for its ships, its goods to pass through the South China Sea. But it is especially important for the region.
And the United States takes no position on any claim made by any party to any disputed area. What we want to see is a resolution process that will be aided by the code of conduct that ASEAN is working toward, based on the Declaration of Conduct, and that the principles of international law will govern, so that there can be peaceful resolution of all the claims. In order to achieve that, every claimant must make their claim publicly and specifically known, so that we know where there is any dispute. And secondly, all claims must be related to territorial characteristics.
So, we think that it was an important first step, but only a first step in adopting the Declaration of Conduct. And we commend, again, Indonesia's leadership in achieving that, and urge that ASEAN move quickly -- I would even add urgently -- to achieve a code of conduct that will avoid any problems in the vital sea lanes and territorial waters of the South China Sea.
With respect to -- you had two questions in there -- with respect to human rights, we have a working group in our Commission on democracy on human rights. We had a very positive discussion about those important issues during the reporting from that working group, and we look forward to continuing to support Indonesia in its important leadership on democracy and human rights, not only in the region, but globally. And, therefore, we look forward to continuing to make progress.
FOREIGN MINISTER NATALEGAWA: If I may just also add to the point that Secretary Clinton has made on the South China Sea, Indonesia is acutely aware of the need to maintain momentum. Of course, the conclusion of the guidelines just now -- a couple of days ago now -- is a very important development. I would not wish to underestimate its importance. But, at the same time, it reminds us of the further work that needs to be done maintaining momentum, maintaining a sense of urgency. And we have a road map at the back of our minds of what needs to happen between now and then, whenever the "then" is. But you can be assured that we have a clear outline and expectations of what needs to happen. And not least, of course, the identifications of elements for Code of Conduct within the process of its eventual conclusion, as well.
On the specific question asked -- addressed to myself, namely Indonesia and the United States with regard to the East Asia Summit, as you are very much aware, of course, the process, the very process of United States participation and addition to the East Asia Summit was, among others, a product of a process that Indonesia and the United States bilaterally (inaudible) about.
I remember my first conversation with you, Hillary, in Singapore, if I am not mistaken, at the sideline of a conference. This was an issue that you raised then. And, therefore, even from the beginning, the United States and Indonesia have been engaged in a very thorough way to discuss, to compare notes of our strategic vision of what the East Asia Summit is all about. And now that the United States is part of the East Asia Summit, it is our task, together with the other members of the EAS to give flesh to this -- to give value to this forum. And I think that the discussion that we had yesterday was extremely instructive -- a couple of days ago now -- among others, to ensure that the East Asia Summit, besides discussing the five priority issues that we have been discussing, also deepen and broaden its engagement or discussion on so-called broad strategic issues.
The East Asia Summit must provide solutions to many of the region's challenges, and opportunities, as well. And I am glad that, with the United States being part of the equation, being part of the architecture, then the chances of having this summit providing that answer is suitably enhanced. Thank you.
QUESTION: I am going to follow up on a couple of human rights issues. Foreign Minister, do you believe that the change that occurred in Myanmar, Burma, this year is sufficient for Burma to take its place, for instance, as head of ASEAN? I don't believe the United States thinks so. I mean you both can comment on that.
And in advance of the Secretary's visit, a number of media groups, a human rights group, issued statements critical of Indonesia's handling of the situation in Kampar, saying that aid groups and journalists were being barred, and that there were reports that -- of a crackdown on the indigenous people. And I was just wondering if you both can comment on those specifics.
FOREIGN MINISTER NATALEGAWA: Thank you. In a way, the questions are somewhat related, as relates to human rights and democratization.
One thing that we have learned in the course of our decade-long now -- nearly -- democratization is that it is a process. It is impossible to have a snapshot of one moment in time and sort of decide, "Are we there yet, or are we not there yet?" And this is most definitely the case with respect to Myanmar. Myanmar is obviously a work in process, in terms of democratization. To put it more -- in a more -- I guess -- yes, I don't want to use -- describe it as a work in progress.
But it is very much related to the issue of chairmanship. As you know, at the moment, the decision has not been made by ASEAN. When we last met as foreign ministers, the decision has been left -- not quite done yet. But we have to see and have a sense of -- comfort level whether Myanmar is actually prepared and ready to assume chairmanship of ASEAN in 2014. I am aware -- we are aware -- of the responsibilities and the expectations that is inherent in a particular country chairing ASEAN, especially on the eve of 2015. So we are well aware of that, and we are going to have plenty more discussions among ASEAN member states to ensure that there is a real comfort level about the issue.
On the issue of human rights situation in Indonesia, the kind of concerns that we have expressed, many -- we hear such comments and expectations on a regular basis. But the only thing is nowadays it is also a concern that is shared by all Indonesians alike. So it doesn't take an external party to suggest to us we need to do this and that, because it is being -- efforts are being made to ensure that our own democratic and human rights expectations are fulfilled, as we expect them to be.
But, you know, as Secretary Clinton has said, we have this working group within this forum on human rights and civil society that has been working not only in promoting bilateral cooperation on human rights issue, but also increasingly now, of cooperation of a multilateral character, as well, a lot of experience sharing that we are disseminating to some other countries in transition, including in the Middle East and North Africa, which shows the potential demonstrative effect that countries like Indonesia, working together with United States, can impact -- impart upon our partners, as well. Thank you.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, we greatly appreciate Indonesia's leadership in promoting progress toward political reconciliation and democracy in Burma. And, as the foreign minister said, Indonesia's own recent history provides an example for transition to civilian rule and building strong democratic institutions.
And we have, in many different settings, expressed our deep concern about the oppressive political environment in Burma. We have called on the newly-elected government to release political prisoners, open a meaningful dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi by utilizing decision-makers who can respond to her legitimate suggestions and concerns, and we will continue to press for the kind of changes that we see benefiting the people of Burma in the future.
With respect to Papua, the United States supports the territorial integrity of Indonesia, which includes the Papua and West Papua provinces. We, of course, believe in open dialogue between Papuan representatives and the Indonesian Government to address grievances and support development. But, as the Foreign Minister said, this is a matter for the Indonesian Government, and they are addressing it. And we hope to see full implementation of the special autonomy law for Papua, which is a commitment on the part of the Indonesian Government to address many of the concerns that have been expressed.
QUESTION: Thank you, Madam Secretary and Mr. Foreign Minister. I want to ask about how far this relation has progressed since you (inaudible), especially about the (inaudible) and security sector.
And then, what will U.S. President Barack Obama of United States bring to the East Asia Summit next November? Thank you.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, I think that there has been a discernable amount of progress in the relationship between the United States and Indonesia under the Obama Administration. President Obama came to office very committed to deepen, broaden, and strengthen the bilateral relationship between our two countries. And, based on the work that I have overseen, and that I have been able to analyze, given the work of the Commission, I am very pleased by the progress that our bilateral relationship is making.
We, on both sides, have more to do. And so, this is a continuing process that we will be focused on. I know President Obama is looking forward both to attending the East Asian Summit and the U.S.-ASEAN Summit, and his bilateral meetings with President Yudhoyono and others. But this is a very important relationship, one that the United States highly values, and that we are deeply invested in. And I think, based on the progress we have made in a very short period of time, there is a tremendous potential for future cooperation.
QUESTION: Hi. I am Anthony Kuhn with NPR, National Public Radio of the U.S., and I would like to hear both from Secretary Clinton and Minister Marty on this.
To go back to the South China Sea, Secretary Clinton, you have asked claimants to back up their claims in international law. This is probably the most -- as China would put it -- core interest, or core matter, the thorniest issue you could raise. It has taken the better part of a decade just to come up with a non-binding resolution that says very little about what to do when there are spats. What about the medium term? What about the short term?
What do you propose to address -- to prevent incidents which you say threaten security? Might you -- although you are both not claimants in this -- for example, engage in diplomacy in, say, to claimants, at least try to get to your different domestic departments in line, reading from the same page on this issue? Thank you.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you very much, Anthony. I think that the progress that we saw this year stands in marked contrast to our meeting last year. The achievement of a declaration, as you point out, had been a long time coming, thanks to the hard work and leadership of the foreign minister and the Indonesian Government as chair of the ASEAN meeting, as well as the ARF. There has been progress on the dialogue between China and ASEAN.
The Declaration is a first step. Nobody claims it is more than that. It is a first step. It needs to be quickly followed up on by the code of conduct. There needs to be a lot of dialogue between ASEAN and China in their already-existing mechanism. And the rest of the world needs to weigh in, because all of us have a stake in ensuring that these disputes don't get out of control. And in fact, the numbers have been increasing. The intimidation actions of (inaudible), of cutting of cables, the kinds of things which will raise the cost of doing business for everyone who travels through the South China Sea, which, as I said earlier, is half of all global commerce.
So, we support a collaborative, diplomatic process by all claimants to resolve all of their disputes. What we do not support, and are strongly against, is the use or threat of force by any nation to advance its claims. Therefore, we think simultaneously there needs to be a very concerted effort to realize a code of conduct, and there needs to be a call by the international community for all parties to clarify their claims, both land and maritime, and to conform them to international law, including as reflected in the UN Convention on Law of the Seas.
This is the way the world is supposed to work. And in the 21st century, this is the way it must work. Because no nation can, on its own, manage everything that needs to happen. And those days are and must be over. And, therefore, we have to have the kind of cooperative, collaborative effort that Indonesia has led.
FOREIGN MINISTER NATALEGAWA: Well, thank you very much for that question. Collaborative and cooperative mindset is an effort -- is certainly exactly the kind of spirit and outcome we are promoting as Indonesia, as ASEAN chair, for our region. Of course, the obvious recent manifestation among others has been on South China Sea, as well as on the Thai-Cambodia situation.
In other words, we are keen to avoid for our region the kind of fault lines and schisms and divisions that may not be -- that would not be to the interest of any countries in this part of the world. And the South China Sea, the guideline itself, the Declaration and its guidelines, when you look at it, it may not seem to suggest much. It may not. However, if you look at the broader picture of what it represents, the fact that after about eight years, finally, this year, after much strong effort, and in contrast to -- like Secretary Clinton said, in contrast to last year's ambience and conditions, we were able to get this done. I think that is a good start. And it is an asset for us to develop on.
The key point here is that we must make sure that this is not the end of the line. This is but the beginning. And I can assure you that Indonesia, as chair of ASEAN, we have a road map -- as I said before in my earlier remarks, we have a clear road map of what needs to happen between now and, say, November. That is the next junction, when we will be having the summit of ASEAN, the East Asia Summit, to ensure a constant sense of progress and momentum. Because we do sincerely and genuinely feel letting things not going anywhere, letting things be state of status quo can be possibly destabilizing, and creating uncertainty and opening up the potentials for miscalculation. And this is what we wish to avoid. Transparency, in terms of intent, in terms of claims, is extremely important.
But all this must be done within the diplomatic process. And I don't mind having very difficult debate -- frank and candid, as we say it in diplomatic parlance -- as long as it is all done in the construct of a conference room, rather than out there at sea. And there has certainly been, as Secretary Clinton said, recent incidents at sea. I am afraid it is a general trend, not only in the South China Sea; the other seas of all parts of the world also have been marked by tensions. The militarization of fishing vessels, for example, that -- how fishing vessels have been protected by the navies of different countries and creating incidences at sea, and these are very serious developments.
That is why, among our initiatives just now, was to have a maritime forum for our region, an East Asia or Asia Pacific ASEAN maritime forum, where all the different assets of maritime ocean issues can be discussed in a cohesive way. Indonesia, you recall, is an archipelago. It is a country that is not small, made up of some 17,000 islands. We used to think of the oceans as a factor that divides us. But, thanks to the foresight of our founding fathers, the oceans, the seas between the islands, becomes an issue that binds us in accordance with this archipelagic outlook.
Now, we would like to think that East Asia and the Asia Pacific, a great deal of which is made up of the seas, can also have a similar integrative outlook, to look at the seas as a potential for cooperation, rather than a source for conflict and tensions. That is certainly the kind of outlook we would like to promote. Thank you very much.


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“It’s a good day to fight the system,” declares Shungudzgo, the Zimbabwean-American philanthropist, singer/songwriter, on her debut album ‘I’m not a mother, but I have children.’ Using words as weapons of love, Shungudzo utilized the time and space of quarantine to put together a body of work entirely on her creative terms.
Given the current state of the world, Shungudzo’s new record is topical and will spark multiple important conversations. Since 18 months old, she’s been reading books that evolved into her love for poetry. Embracing the safety and openness of just herself, she found healing in writing.
Later on, she began dressing her words in melodies, but it wasn’t until she was an adult, she gained the courage to follow her dreams. Around nine years old, Shungudzo’s family moved to America, where she thought inequity, inequality, and injustice didn’t exist. That not being the case; the transition from Zimbabwe to America was even more difficult.
Shungudzo’s debut album ‘I”m not a mother, but I have children’ has the means to lay the foundations for people talking about their differences as a stepping stone towards a conversation. Her talent to produce catchy melodies alongside sociopolitical poetry has been something she’s been exposed to as a teenager.
Currently healing from heartbreak, reminding herself she is a whole person deserving of love, Shungudzo breaks it down – her journey to realising her dreams, the meaning behind her name, and themes behind her music.
How are you doing today?
It’s an honor to be speaking to you today. Thank you for your time. I’m doing okay. I’m healing from a heartbreak and trying to remember that I am a whole person without the love of my (past) life. Trying to remember that I am beautiful and desirable and deserving of love, even if this one didn’t work out. Ultimately, though, I am so grateful to be alive. Grateful that we all beat the statistical odds to be born onto Earth and are here now.
How are you feeling with ‘I’m not a mother, but I have children’ out for everyone to hear?
I am feeling so excited to finally have an album out — and completely on my creative terms. I’m feeling so thankful to anyone who’s taken the time to listen and respond to what I have to say. I’m also feeling an urgent need to make another album, and am working on it now.
What has been the feedback so far?
The feedback has been generally loving unless someone totally disagrees with my perceptions of life and politics. Which was expected, as I know no two humans experience and observe life the same way. Those who aren’t so loving towards my music are at least open enough to share their differences in political opinion with me, which I think is a wonderful stepping stone towards conversation and understanding. A world in which we can’t talk about our differences is one in which discrimination and segregation continue to exist.
Why did you make the promise to yourself you will write a poem a day?
Poetry saved me, as a kid who grew up in a family and community that wasn’t very emotionally open. I used it to explore my emotions, my opinions, my identity, and to activate my healing within the safety and openness of the company of just myself. I chose to write poetry every day because it’s how I was able to learn my own mind and begin the process of understanding how to use it in a positive way.
How did you get into poetry at such a young age?
My mother recently told me that I was reading books by 18 months old. She and my father put a lot of focus on my academic growth when I was younger. I loved reading as a kid and it naturally turned into writing. As a kid, I wrote short stories and bound them together into books. I started out wanting to be a novelist, but eventually settled into poetry. Maybe because it’s more concise and I tend to dry my written ideas up very quickly when I try to write something long. I also love the shape of poetry — the way it sits on a page as if the words are choreographed dancers, and the paper their stage.
How did you discover your passion for music?
I wouldn’t say I found music so much as it found me. I started making songs at a young age — it felt like a natural progression from poetry to begin dressing my words in melodies — but it wasn’t until I was an adult that I gained the courage to follow my dreams and view art as a legitimate career. I hope that, more and more, society will fully legitimize art as a career. There are so many talented artists amongst us who don’t pursue their crafts simply because they’ve been told it’s too risky or nonsensical. I’d argue that all career paths are risky, and that we all may as well just do what we love. Loving your job makes all of its toughest moments easier, and the successes that much more fulfilling. I understand that not all people have the privilege of pursuing the dreams, but what a beautiful world we’d live in if pursuing your dreams weren’t a privilege, but a right and opportunity granted to all!
What did you love about doing gymnastics?
I loved the discipline that gymnastics taught me, which is so much of why I was able to make an album last year. I hated the perfectionism, which I’ve had to spend many years unlearning — allowing myself to be flawed, learning how to treat my flaws gently, and — in many cases — realizing that my greatest flaws are also my greatest strengths.
When and why did you move to America?
I moved back to America with my family when I was 9 or 10. I assume my parents moved us back for the sake of education and opportunity. There are so many facets of living in America that I’m grateful for, but also so many elements of American culture that I have to work hard at unlearning — or not learning at all. For example, the perceived importance of money in American life and the attachment it seems to have to happiness here. Perhaps because life is so expensive here, and most people require more money than they have in order to meet their basic necessities. I suppose that’s the case everywhere, but the inability to feel joy when one’s pockets aren’t full here is real and sad.
How was the transition, from Zimbabwe to America?
The transition from Zimbabwe to America was difficult. I thought I was coming to a place where inequity, inequality and injustice didn’t exist. I assumed that the American government was made of up angels and saints, and that no American could go hungry or be unhappy. The harsh realities I faced when we landed here — and I both observed and experienced them very quickly — were so much the opposite of the dreamland I’d hoped for and, in a sense, been promised.
What did you study at Stanford University? How was it?
I studied Civil Engineering and Sociology. It was amazing to go to school in such a beautiful and innovative place, but it very quickly became obvious to me that what I was studying was not what I wanted to do with my life. I was lucky to have an academic advisor who encouraged me to explore my creativity. That’s when I became serious about music.
What is the meaning behind your moniker?
Shungudzo is my middle name. It was given to me by my aunt in Zimbabwe, on the day of my birth. I was born dead, or almost dead, having not received oxygen to my brain for a very long time. The doctors prepared my mother to lose me. When I survived, they told her that I would be seriously mentally impaired. Instead, and I very much think it’s due to my mother’s and my aunt’s belief in me — divine feminine magic — I was reading at 18 months old and writing not long after. Shungudzo means, “To be determined.” Shungudzo Kuyimba means, “To be determined to sing.”
When did you tell yourself you wanted to start working on your debut album and make it into what it is today? Was it a reaction to what was happening in the world?
I’ve been writing sociopolitical poetry since I was a kid, and I’ve been wanting to make this album, about this subject matter, since I first ventured into music 13 years ago. My life took many twists and turns, to the point that I actually quit music to do something more “responsible” for a while. But I quickly felt how unfulfilled I was, and decided — perhaps for the first time in my life — to do exactly what I knew would make me happy over what I knew would make other people (my family) happy. Many years after that decision was made, I found myself in quarantine with the time and space to finally express myself in the ways I’ve always wanted to, and this album was not conceived, but born.
How did the writing process look like for this album? Did you make a list of what topics you wanted to touch upon? What was the intention with the album?
When I started writing, I knew I was making a body of work, but I didn’t know that it’d be an album. At a certain point, I realized that I couldn’t tell the story I wanted to tell within the context of something as short as an EP. Once I decided I was making an album, I thought about it in terms of emotion and intention. I wanted to express as many of the emotions I’ve felt surrounding my own, and the collective, human experience as I could, and I knew I was finished when I’d covered all of the bases — from bold optimism to sheer frustration.
Were there specific tracks that were extra difficult to write?
“Where are my friends?” was the last song I finished on the album. It was particularly difficult to finish because the drummer, Scara, passed away before I finished arranging his drums. He was a remarkable talent, who lived in Zimbabwe, and still had so much of his life to go and music to share with the world. When I became emotionally blocked making the finishing touches on the song, I called my friend, Shruti Kumar. She is a brilliant engineer, composer, songwriter and producer who came in at the final hour, on the final song, and took the album over the finish line. I’m so grateful to her, and to Scara and Shekinah (who plays electric guitar on the “Where are my friends”), for their contributions.
How did you come up with the concept for the ‘Already Free’ music video?
Budgetary restrictions, haha! I knew I had to make a visual as cheaply as possible that would do justice to what is one my favorite songs on the album. I also have a phenomenal teammate and visual partner, Mark Nesbitt, who always comes through with a camera, enthusiasm and creative suggestions of his own that make everything better!
How did you choose the Zimbabwean musicians you featured on the album?
I recognize how privileged I am to be able to pursue my dreams as a musician, and on a global platform. It’s so important for me to share my privilege, which is why I posted on both Instagram and Twitter, asking for Zimbabwean musicians in Zimbabwe to send me their music. I went through almost 200 people’s messages, and then reached out to those whose sounds I thought would compliment the songs I had almost finished for the album. Countless brilliant people reached out to me, but I was looking for something very specific, and genreless, when it came to who I invited to be part of this project. I look forward to collaborating with so many more musicians from Zimbabwe in the future, and to starting a greater venture to give artists in Africa the opportunity to share their stories and work on a global scale.
What are you planning next?
I’m really excited about playing live, be it my own shows or opening up for an artist I admire. I’m manifesting opening for Michael Kiwanuka and will not stop mentioning him in interviews until it happens! I’m also planning to continue growing as a human in hopes that, someday, I meed my soulmate and I’m ready for them when I do.


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a really good game!!!!!!!!!
this game is really good it made my top 5 favorites and thats saying something because im REALLY picky so 10 thumbs up!!!!!!!!! =)
the best game
The game that started it all if you havent play it you wish you did
A Beat We Can All Walk To
Patapon is by far one of the most amazing games on the PSP. Its unique, it's easy to play, and best of all it's fun. You take the role of the Patapon's god, and it’s up to you to restore them to their former glory. The controls are simple: each of the buttons (circle, x, triangle and square) are a beat, you combine the beats to make the army perform various functions such as attack, move forward, defend, ect. I bought this game expecting maybe a few days of play and ended up enjoying the game to this very day. The only complaint if you could even call it that would be the lack of a pause button, but don’t let that change your mind, Patapon is a must have for any PSP owner.
My brother got this game and he can't stop! the sound is starting to annoy me!
This game is just awesome! the price is very small for this amazing game this game is perfect for anyone who owns a PSP if you don't have this and own a PSP go buy it!! I can literally sit and play this game for hours without getting bored. The beats' that you play are very catchy. I have to admit when I first saw this game I wasn't really interested in it but then I just decided to buy it and when I started playing I was instantly hooked on it! I think that this is the perfect psp game! and I hear Patapon 2 is better! I own Patapon 2 but I haven't played it so I'm going to play it today! So anyway go buy this game right now! P.S cant wait for Patapon 3 ^_^
i havent bought it yet!
I haven't bought patapon yet, but it looks really cool i might get it this weekend, i hope.the mini games look fun too. i hope ill get the game soon.i used to think it was boring, but i saw videos and played the demo and now im so excited to get it. the gameplay looks great and its cool to build up your patapon army and make it stronger. i cant get the game out of my head because it seems really fun. the release date for patapon 2 is in i think may 5, 2009. i think patapon 2 is going to be twice the fun as patapon. i think there should be more levels, too. if there were a patapon 3, i would quickly get it. i hope the game doesn't sell out because i really want it. anyways, i think that this game should be greatest game for the psp ( well maybe).
Better than Puzzle Quest!
Patapon is one of the greatest psp game I had since Puzzle Quest! The game is about this army that has lost their homeland to another ferocious army called the zigotons, an army same as the patapons. But the patapons luck will beging with you and the power of the drums, guiding the patapons to defeat the zigotons and find their earthend and "IT". This is one of the main reasons what they are doing, so its up to you to help guide them to victory! Besides the storyline, there are also other exciting challenges such as hunting, to help feed the patapons, battles, to help your army overcome the zigotons and boss challenges. Boss challenges are also the main part of the game, there are many different bosses, each with unique abilites and strategy, are you up for it? In conlusion, the patapons were once a great army, and now defeated, so its up to the power of the drums and you to help the patapons and search the legendary "IT"!
Patapon. Once I heard the name, I laughed. The name sounded like it was created by a child! I soon decided to check out what this game was even about. I watched some videos and then thought it wasn't so childish after all. It actually looked fun! I didn't have a PSP at the time, so I couldn't actually play it. Luckily, I finally got a PSP for Christmas. The day after, I ran over to Gamestop and bought this amazing game. Immediately, I got sucked in. The cute characters and music had taken me in. I couldn't stop thinking PATA-PATA -PATA-PON! At certain levels I got stuck, but was soon able to pass them with ease after I powered up my Patapon army. The only slight downside was that there was no pause button, so it affects how you play if you need to put down the game for a little while. There are about 30 something levels, which are usually always unique every time. Patapon 2 is coming out soon, with almost double the content. Until then, me and many others shall be enjoying the awesomeness of Patapon.
Wow! Very surprisingly awesome game!
I played the demo for Patapon, and I really didn't think it was that hot. Well, the game grew on me, and I decided to try the full version. I have no regrets getting it. Some other people said the game was 15 hours or so short... it's not. I'm already on 20ish, I still have 3 levels to go, and I'm not even close to having all the weapons/items. It's very fun to build up your army, and while it's childish a bit, it is very challenging. But with the challenge comes great rewards and a great sense of accomplishment when you complete a stage. It's so awesome to see your army and race grow and get bigger. This is a great game, and the way you control is awesome. Using drum beats is a blast (I happen to be a drummer) and it really brings out the best in the already good game. Try it-you'll like it.
Once you start....you can't stop.....
I was searching through some games at Gamestop, when I came across this jewel. Patapon is and addicting game that will hook you after the first level... or sooner. Firstly, the idea to control your units with drum beats is great. It's an easy process that doesn't take much getting used to. The only people that might face a problem, are those that can't keep a rhythm. Once you've got the beat, it's easy. The units are great too. The animation is well done, and the characters are adorable. You can have units ranging from foot soldiers to mounted. You can also make create unique soldiers with a variety of items. The storyline is pretty straightforward, the Patapons are looking for a mysterious "IT", but it gets a little bit annoying when the Patapons keep asking what "IT" is. Another great feature is the sound volume and quality. My volume is at half or lower and I can still hear the game well. The one flaw this game has is the length. It's a little on the short side, but if you beat it... just play it again!

domain: game


The definition of a low budget and a full package phone is the Nokia 206 phone
The Nokia 206 is a great option, is competitively priced and inexpensive. It delivers a nearly full package, for individuals who value stylish mobile devices. This is an excellent choice if you can live without 3G.
Let’s check out what are the specifications of the Nokia 206 phone
- It also has an active toolbar, a still image editor, a full-screen viewfinder, a self-timer, landscape orientation, and automatic and manual white balance. This also has a primary camera with a resolution of 1.3 MP and 4x digital zoom, and all of these features are included.
- It has a 240×320 pixel QVGA portrait LCD panel measuring 2.4 inches.
- This phone comes with 32GB expandable storage and a dual SIM card.
- It works On a 2G network. This also has a 1110mAH battery that provides 20 hours of talk time and 680 hours of standby time.
The Nokia Asha 206 blends the old and the new. It has a conventional keypad incorporated into a contemporary design.
It has a 2.4-inch LCD screen with 65K colors. And also 320 × 240 pixels that run on the S40 OS and the Asha User interface.
Additionally, it has the Nokia Xpress browser offers quick and data-efficient web browsing. This also cuts data usage by 90%. A free subscription to 40 EA games is included with this phone from Nokia.
A 1.3MP camera is included for brisk photography. The innovative Slam feature speeds up file transfers over Bluetooth without requiring device pairing. The Nokia Asha 206 includes Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, and White color phones.