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Welcome to Anticipated Reads, formerly hosted by Books Are My Thing and now hosted here at Reviews In A Pinch (check out our new graphic, courtesy of my friend Kelsey)! The idea is that we showcase 1-3 books releasing each month (I generally can't/won't limit myself), letting you know what new books are coming out that we're really excited about.
It's a monthly meme that will be occurring the first Wednesday of every month! Better yet, if you want to share books you're anticipating coming out, you can link up at the bottom of each month's post in the comments!
So, let's check out what I'm excited about in March below:
Alone by Scott Sigler
- Release Date: March 7, 2017
Overview: "We thought this place was our destiny—not our doom."
Pawns in a millennia-old struggle, the young people known only as the Birthday Children were genetically engineered to survive on the planet Omeyocan—but they were never meant to live there. They were made to be "overwritten," their minds wiped and replaced by the consciousness of the monsters who created them.
Em changed all of that.
She unified her people and led a revolt against their creators. Em and her friends escaped an ancient ghost ship and fled to Omeyocan. They thought they would find an uninhabited paradise. Instead, they found the ruins of a massive city long since swallowed by the jungle. And they weren't alone. The Birthday Children fought for survival against the elements, jungle wildlife, the "Grownups" who created them . . . and, as evil corrupted their numbers, even against themselves.
With these opponents finally defeated, Em and her people realized that more threats were coming, traveling from across the universe to lay claim to their planet. The Birthday Children have prepared as best they can against this alien armada. Now, as the first ships reach orbit around Omeyocan, the final battle for the planet begins.
Hunted by Meagan Spooner
- Release Date: March 14, 2017
Overview: Beauty knows the Beast's forest in her bones—and in her blood. Though she grew up with the city's highest aristocrats, far from her father's old lodge, she knows that the forest holds secrets and that her father is the only hunter who's ever come close to discovering them.
So when her father loses his fortune and moves Yeva and her sisters back to the outskirts of town, Yeva is secretly relieved. Out in the wilderness, there's no pressure to make idle chatter with vapid baronessas…or to submit to marrying a wealthy gentleman. But Yeva's father's misfortune may have cost him his mind, and when he goes missing in the woods, Yeva sets her sights on one prey: the creature he'd been obsessively tracking just before his disappearance.
Deaf to her sisters' protests, Yeva hunts this strange Beast back into his own territory—a cursed valley, a ruined castle, and a world of creatures that Yeva's only heard about in fairy tales. A world that can bring her ruin or salvation. Who will survive: the Beauty, or the Beast?
The End of Oz by Danielle Paige
- Release Date: March 14, 2017
Overview: At the end of Yellow Brick War, Amy had finally defeated Dorothy. Just when she and the rest of the surviving members of the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked thought it was safe to start rebuilding the damaged land of Oz, they realized they've been betrayed—by one of their own. And Dorothy might not have been so easily defeated after all.
In the fourth installment of the New York Times bestselling Dorothy Must Die series, the magical Road of Yellow Brick has come to the rescue, and whisked Amy away—but to where? Does the Road itself know where she needs to go to find the help that she needs?
Welcome to the other side of the rainbow. Here there's danger around every corner, and magic shoes won't be able to save you.
Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
- Release Date: March 28, 2017
Overview: Strange the Dreamer is the story of:
the aftermath of a war between gods and men
a mysterious city stripped of its name
a mythic hero with blood on his hands
a young librarian with a singular dream
a girl every bit as perilous as she is imperiled
alchemy and blood candy, nightmares and godspawn, moths and monsters, friendship and treachery, love and carnage.
Welcome to Weep.
I pre-ordered everything listed above, plus The Queen of Oz by Danielle Paige. What are you looking forward to in March???


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Ron Howard set for Chicago fest award
Director to receive lifetime achievement honor at June eventOscar-winning director Ron Howard will receive a lifetime achievement honor from the 46th Chicago International Film Festival on June 12, during the fest's annual Summer Gala.
Howard will receive the Silver Hugo Career Achievement Award at a presentation at the Museum of Science and Industry to be hosted by journalist Bill Kurtis.
"For the better part of four decades, Ron Howard has maintained a reputation as one of the world's most admired directors," festival founder and artistic director Michael Kutza said. "He has mastered all genres including action spectaculars, moving dramas, chilling thrillers and character-driven comedies. His films 'Splash,' 'Cocoon,' 'Apollo 13,' 'The Da Vinci Code,' 'Frost/Nixon,' 'Parenthood,' 'A Beautiful Mind' and 'Backdraft' have left a significant imprint on film history and have changed the way we look at movies."
Recipients of this award have included Steven Spielberg, Orson Welles, Francois Truffaut, Sigourney Weaver, Nicolas Cage, Jodie Foster, Robin Williams and Clint Eastwood.

subset: commoncrawl


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Your thoughts create your reality, and those who have experienced the power of the human mind and tapped into its potential can vouch for it!
Hypnosis is method by which a person is guided into a state of deep relaxation, similar to a deep meditative trance, to reduce his conscious faculties in order to trigger the body's powerful mental and physical self-healing processes that lie in the subconscious mind.
Certified Training
Private Consultation
Benefits & FAQ's
At Illuminations, we offer a variety of different therapeutic approaches involving hypnotherapy & cognitive behavioral therapy such as the following:
Are you struggling with an addiction such food, smoking, alcohol or even a person as chronic habit that you need to quit? Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Hypnotherapy can provide you with an amazingly effective process to assist you in permanently breaking your addictive patterns and inspire you on a path towards freedom from uncontrollable addictions.
The principle of regression therapy focuses on bringing you back into alignment with your personal power, where you remain in charge of your life based on your current wisdom and personality. This therapy focuses on regressing one back to resolve the core issue where the discomfort first began, with the clear with the intention to release it.
Integrated Holistic Hypnotherapy for life management is based on the integrated approach by bringing our awareness to our Thoughts-Emotions-Energies-Physical Body.
A therapist is able to utilize any of these states as an entry point into the subconscious mind and help with the following:
Success Training is designed for students experiencing anxiety, learning difficulties, lack of concentration, and/or feeling emotionally drained either during or while preparing for examinations. To allow students to develop a positive and confident attitude towards their education, we apply a combined approach of NLP and Hypnosis.
A picture paints a thousand words. Therefore it comes of no surprise that the subconscious mind stores and presents information in the form of visuals. This therapy helps you to decode these visuals in order to reveal the deeper meaning just by drawing these images on paper without even speaking a word!
The experience is different for different people. For most people, however, hypnosis is a pleasant state of deep inner calm and physical relaxation. Deep hypnosis is similar in many ways to the kind of profound trance found in expert yoga or meditation practitioners.
Modern psychological hypnosis was first developed in 1843 by the Scottish physician James Braid. However, it has its origins in an earlier form of trance healing called 'Mesmerism', after the famous Eighteenth century Austrian Franz Anton Mesmer.
Yes. Hypnosis has fascinated psychologists and medical professionals for over a century and has been subject to a great deal of rigorous testing and research. It also has an enviable and long-standing reputation for effectiveness among the general public.**
Absolutely. There are no known records of anyone having been physically or mentally harmed as a direct result of hypnosis itself. **
Hypnotherapy is basically any therapy done in conjunction with hypnotic trance. It is often classed as a form of complementary medicine but is perhaps better viewed as a branch of psychotherapy.
Hypnosis is not an occult or esoteric art, it is a scientifically acknowledged psychological and therapeutic discipline.
When a registered psychotherapist employs hypnosis alongside other forms of psychotherapy this is technically known as 'hypno-psychotherapy'. Hypnotherapists tend to use an integrative approach, which may combine programs of direct verbal suggestion or visualization with 'analytic' psychotherapy techniques such as age regression.
'Hypnotism' is legally acknowledged and defined by the Hypnotism Act 1952, in the UK Book of Statutes.
In their 1892 Hypnotism Report, the British Medical Association (BMA) officially recognize the hypnotic trance: 'The Committee, having completed such investigation of hypnotism as time permitted, have to report that they have satisfied themselves of the genuineness of the hypnotic state.' The Committee also acknowledged that 'as a therapeutic agent hypnotism is frequently effective in relieving pain, procuring sleep, and alleviating many


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|Follow PSU Football:
|Follow @PennStateFball
Forty Former Lions in NFL Training Camps
Former Penn Staters on 25 NFL teams; Six former Lions on NFL coaching staffs
Blue Topples White in Annual Spring Game, 21-10
Hippenhammer grabs two touchdown passes in annual spring scrimmage
Quartet of Nittany Lions Sign Undrafted Free Agent Contracts
Five Nittany Lions have been drafted or signed by NFL teams in 2016
Strong Second Half Leads Blue Past White, 26-0
Stevens hits three different receivers for second-half touchdowns
Duo Invited to 2017 NFL Scouting Combine
Chris Godwin and Garrett Sickels to participate in Combine Feb. 28-March 6 in Indianapolis
Penn State vs. Ohio State
Oct. 22, 2016
Penn State vs. UMass - 9/20/14
Penn State vs. UMass - 9/20/14
Awards: Named to Phil Steele's and the Athlon Sports All-Big Ten third team...Selected All-Big Ten second team by the conference coaches and All-Big Ten third team by the media panel...Earned All-ECAC honorable mention honors...Named to the Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week following his performance vs. No. 2 Ohio State (10/22)...Named to the Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week after his showing at Indiana (11/12)...Named Most Valuable Defensive Player at the annual Nittany Lion Football Banquet.
Season: Appeared in all 14 games with 12 starts.
Final Rankings: No. 12 in the Big Ten in sacks per game (0.43 spg)...No. 15 in the Big Ten in tackles for loss per game (0.89 tlfpg).
Kent State (9/3): Collected six tackles...Tied his career high with 1.0 sack...Combined with Nyeem Wartman-White on a second quarter sack and Antoine White on a fourth quarter sack...Combined with Jordan Smith for a tackle for loss in the third quarter...Penn State's seven sacks were the most since logging seven at Northwestern in 2011. at Pitt (9/10): Logged three solo stops. Temple (9/17): Registered three tackles...Combined with Parker Cothren for a sack of Phillip Walker in the fourth quarter...A part of a front seven that limited Temple to just 38 rushing yards, the fewest since holding Illinois to 37 yards on the ground in 2015. at Michigan (9/24): Made two tackles. Minnesota (10/1): Had one stop...Combined with Kevin Givens on a fourth quarter tackle for loss. Maryland (10/8): Registered a quarterback sack for his lone stop of the game...A part of a defense that allowed a season-low 11 first downs...Helped limit Maryland 14 points - all in the first half - 170 rushing yards and 270 yards of total offense, after the Terps entered averaging 43.2 points, 300.0 rushing and 466.2 yards of total offense per game. Ohio State (10/22): Totaled career highs for tackles (9), tackles for loss (3.5) and sacks (2.5), all coming in the second half...Made two solo takedowns of J.T. Barrett and combined with Evan Schwan for another sack...Added a solo TFL on Curtis Samuel...Helped the defense hold Ohio State scoreless in two quarters for the first time since Michigan State in 2015, which was Ohio State's last loss...Helped the defense to a season-high 11.0 tackles for loss, the most TFLs since posting 11.0 vs. Maryland in 2015...The 11.0 tackles for loss are the most yielded by the Buckeyes since giving up 11.0 vs. Alabama (2015)...The 6.0 sacks given up by Ohio State are the most since yielding 7.0 against Virginia Tech (2014). at Purdue (10/29): Had three tackles...Tallied one tackle for loss...Helped the defense hold Purdue to just 46 yards rushing, the second opponent held under 50 yards rushing in 2016. Iowa (11/5): Added three tackles...Combined with Curtis Cothran for a tackle for loss...Posted a quarterback hurry in the fourth quarter...Helped the defense hold Iowa to just 30 yards rushing, which was 137.9 yards below the Hawkeyes' season average (167.9 ypg)...It was the fewest rushing yards allowed by Penn State since holding Massachusetts to three yards in 2014...It marked the first time Penn State had held two consecutive opponents to 46 yards rushing or fewer since 2007 (Notre Dame, zero yards; FIU, minus-3 yards)...It was the first time since Penn State joined the Big Ten that it held consecutive conference opponents to 50 yards or less of rushing. at Indiana (11/12): Logged three tackles, all behind the line of scrimmage...Totaled 2.0 tackles for loss, including 1.0 sack...Combined with Kevin Givens on a first-quarter takedown of Richard Lagow, before teaming up with Evan Schwan on a second-quarter sack...Helped the Nittany Lion defense generate nine tackles for loss, marking the seventh time in 2016 the unit has posted at least 9.0 TFL in a game. at Rutgers (11/19): Posted a first-quarter tackle for loss for his lone stop in the game...Helped hold Rutgers to just 87 yards of total offense, the fewest given up by Penn State in Big Ten play and the fewest since 2006 vs. Temple (74)...The five first downs allowed are the fewest in B1G play and fewest since 2006 vs. Temple (2)...Aided the Nittany Lions in compiling nine tackles for loss, the eighth time in 2016 they recorded at least 9.0 stops behind the line of scrimmage. Michigan State (11/29): Collected eight tackles...Made a solo tackle for loss in the first quarter...Had a second-quarter quarterback hurry. vs. Wisconsin (12/3): Totaled three stops - two solo. vs. USC (1/2): Made one tackle.
➤ 2015 ➤ Sophomore Season
Season: Started 12 games, missing one due to injury...Forced his first career fumble against San Diego State (9/27)...Had first career fumble recovery against Army...Ranked No. 23 nationally and No. 2 in the Big Ten with two fumble recoveries.
at Temple (9/5): Made a four tackles...Added 1.0 TFL with a stop behind the line of scrimmage in the third quarter...Helped Penn State pile up 15.0 TFL, its most since posting 15.0 vs. Michigan on Sept. 22, 2007. Buffalo (9/12): Combined with Austin Johnson on a third quarter sack for a loss of three yards...Helped the Nittany Lions hold the Bulls to 69 rushing yards, the fewest for an opponent since Illinois (68 yds.) in 2014. Rutgers (9/19): Made one tackle...Part of a defense that held Rutgers to just three points, the fewest in a Big Ten opener since limiting Minnesota to three points in 1994...Helped hold Rutgers to 43 rushing yards, the fewest since giving up just 33 yards to Maryland in 2014. San Diego State (9/26): Forced his first fumble of his career late in the second quarter, which was recovered by Anthony Zettel, to lead to a Penn State touchdown...Made three tackles and added one pass breakup...Had 0.5 sack as part of Penn State's 9.0 TFL effort in the game. Army (10/3): Recorded his first career fumble recovery on Army's first play from scrimmage...Made one tackle. Indiana (10/10): Made five stops...Registered one sack...Helped snap Indiana's string of nine games in which the Hoosiers scored 20-plus points...Part of a defense that held Indiana to 234 yards of total offense, the fewest allowed by PSU since giving up 221 at Indiana in 2014...Played a major role in limiting IU to just 79 rushing yards, the second-straight B1G opponent with less than 80 yards rushing vs. Penn State. at Ohio State (10/17): Had a career-high eight tackles, including 0.5 tackle for loss...Helped the Penn State defense accumulate 10.0 tackles for loss...The 10.0 tackles for loss were the most surrendered by Ohio State in 2015. vs. Maryland (10/24): Made two tackles...Made his second career fumble recovery of the season -- and his career -- in the fourth quarter and returned it 36 yards...Fumble recovery was one of a season-high five turnovers forced by Penn State. Illinois (10/31): Made one tackle...Part of a defense that recorded its first Big Ten shutout since blanking Minnesota in 2009 (20-0)...Helped hold Illinois to just 167 yards (37 rushing, 130 passing), the fewest allowed since holding Minnesota to 138 yards (37 rushing, 101 passing) in 2009...As a unit, the defense forced a punt on 12 of Illinois' 15 possessions, with two ending with a turnover on downs and the other halted by an interception. at Northwestern (11/7): Recorded three tackles...Had 1.0 sack for his only tackle for loss. Michigan (11/21): Recorded two tackles...Helped hold Michigan to less than 100 yards rushing, the fifth Penn State opponent that failed to reach 100 rushing yards (87 on 30 carries). vs. Georgia (1/2): Made four tackles...Made 0.5 tackle for loss, including a combine stop behind the line with Jason Cabinda on fourth-and-2 in the fourth quarter to give Penn State the ball with a chance to tie the game with under two minutes remaining...Added one quarterback hurry.
➤ 2014 ➤ Redshirt Freshman Season
Season: Appeared in all 13 games...Saw time on defense and special teams...Made 11 tackles (seven solo) with three tackles for loss and two sacks (minus-10)...Earned the 2015 Jim O'Hora Award, which is presented to a defensive player for "exemplary conduct, loyalty, interest, attitude and improvement" during spring practice.
UCF (8/30): Made his collegiate debut at the Croke Park Classic in Dublin, Ireland. UMass (9/20): Notched his first career tackle for loss with a sack for a 2-yard loss to end the Minutemen's final drive...Made two tackles...Aided a defense that held the Minutemen to just 3 yards rushing, the lowest total allowed by Penn State since 2007 against Notre Dame (zero rushing yards). Northwestern (9/27): Recorded one tackle. Maryland (11/1): Notched a career-high three stops...Posted two tackles for loss...Notched a third-quarter sack for a loss of 8 yards...Was a part of a defense that limited Maryland to 194 yards of total offense, the fewest total yards allowed against a Big Ten opponent since Minnesota (138, 2009). At Indiana (11/8): Recorded one tackle. Temple (11/15): Logged one special teams tackle. At Illinois (11/22): Made one tackle on special teams. Boston College (12/27): Posted two stops (one solo) in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium.
➤ 2013 ➤ True Freshman Season
Redshirt season.
➤ High School
A three-year letterman for head coach Nick Giglio at Red Bank Regional High School...Selected a U.S. All-America from his defensive end position as a senior...Recorded 194 tackles, 25 sacks, nine forced fumbles and eight blocked kicks in his career...Earned all-state honors as a junior and senior...Garnered All-Shore and all-division accolades during each of his final three prep seasons...Named the Divisional Defensive Player of the Year as a senior...As a senior, boasted 75 tackles, nine sacks and forced three fumbles...Made 76 stops and 10 sacks, adding three forced fumbles, during his junior season...Notched six sacks, three forced fumbles and added 43 tackles as a sophomore...Selected to play in the 2013 U.S. Army All-American game, where he roomed with future Nittany Lion teammate Brendan Mahon...Also invited to play in the Chesapeake Bowl, the New York vs. New Jersey All-Star Game and the All-Shore Game...Rated a four-star recruit by ESPN.com, Rivals.com and Scout.com and was the Rivals.com No. 3 overall prep player in New Jersey...In the classroom, was an Honor Roll student...Was a member of Red Bank's Student-to-Student Peer Leaders organization...Also lettered in lacrosse.
➤ Personal
Full name is Garrett Ross Sickels...Son of Stanley and Donna Sickels...Has two older sisters, Jessica and Samantha...Enjoys lacrosse, fishing and paddle boarding...Plans to major in finance and pursue a career on Wall Street...Born September 24, 1994 in Red Bank, N.J.


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My Latest Video Creation – Make Money Online Animated Short.
Sep 16th
I am very proud of my recent video creation. This animated video was created using motion graphic techniques, using mainly Adobe After Effects, I also built up the layers of music and sound effects using Adobe Soundbooth. The video features a cow character created by Kevin Riley for Plucking Low Hanging Fruits. I had permission from Kevin and took his 2D drawings and built 3D environments around them. With the camera zooming around and the basic story being told of how easy it can be to make money online without a website, product or list. The creation of this video took a very long time because it is animation and it was my first time tackling some thing so long (just under 2 mins – a long time in animation terms). I will be creating more videos like this in the future. Anyway check it out and if you like it please give it a rating, digg, comment, whatever.
Get Your FREE Report and Learn about Plucking Low Hanging Fruit
What an Improvement. Opt-in Page Design Before And After.
Aug 30th
Posted by miltski in Affiliate Tips
If you have web pages where you are wanting people to enter their name and email to join your list, then design and presentation does make a difference and is proven to increase conversions. Whether it be a sales page or a squeeze page or just an opt-in box on your blog it is alway worth giving it a tweak to improve it's performance. For example it has been proven that the human eye is naturally attracted to the top right of a page, so why place your opt-in box at the bottom or on the left?
Good Design = Credibility = Trust = Action = Opt-In = PROFIT!
I have recently been been on a mission to improve some of my websites pages, here is a great example of a much improved page.
This is a page where you can join my list and receive Kevin Riley's Plucking Low Hanging Fruit, A Free Report that shows you how easy it can be to make money online without a website, product or list.
Check out the difference between these two pages :
Before – Click the image to see the actual page
After – Click the image to see the actual page
I achieved this by using these great 'mix and match' squeeze page templates from OptinDesign.com. I am no web designer and struggle with HTML, code and such, so using these beautifully designed fully modifiable templates are just what I need. And it is worth me pointing out that I did have some problems when it came to entering my Aweber code (due to my noviceness), but a quick email to support and it was sorted out . I really, really do like quick responding helpful support. For me that is the cherry on top of the cake. Well done Kidino, what a product !
I have tried many different free squeeze page templates before but have been uncomfortable with them because they look a little tacky or cheesy, these designs are more stylish, crisp and clean. You can get two squeeze pages for free right now, so go have a play.
OptinDesign.com is a new breed of squeeze page templates. Now you don't have to compromise between good design and high opt-in rates. Download your squeeze page templates and give them a try right now. And see your opt-in rates fly through the roof.
The Past, Present and Future of Online Video – An Anthropological Introduction To YouTube
Aug 12th
Posted by miltski in Miltski Money Adventures
If you can find the time to watch this one hour documentary study of YouTube and the internet video community, I highly recommend you watch this excellent video. Grab a cuppa a sit down a enjoy.
If you are like a skim reader, but with video, use the listings below to forward to a point of interest to you. Although again I strongly recommend you watch the full film.
0:00 Introduction, YouTube's Big Numbers
2:00 Numa Numa and the Celebration of Webcams
5:53 The Machine is Us/ing Us and the New Mediascape
12:16 Introducing our Research Team
12:56 Who is on YouTube?
13:25 What's on Youtube? Charlie Bit My Finger, Soulja Boy, etc.
17:04 5% of vids are personal vlogs addressed to the YouTube community, Why?
17:30 YouTube in context. The loss of community and "networked individualism" (Wellman)
18:41 Cultural Inversion: individualism and community
19:15 Understanding new forms of community through Participant Observation
21:18 YouTube as a medium for community
23:00 Our first vlogs
25:00 The webcam: Everybody is watching where nobody is ("context collapse")
26:05 Re-cognition and new forms of self-awareness (McLuhan)
27:58 The Anonymity of Watching YouTube: Haters and Lovers
29:53 Aesthetic Arrest
30:25 Connection without Constraint
32:35 Free Hugs: A hero for our mediated culture
34:02 YouTube Drama: Striving for popularity
34:55 An early star: emokid21ohio
36:55 YouTube's Anthenticity Crisis: the story of LonelyGirl15
39:50 Reflections on Authenticity
41:54 Gaming the system / Exposing the System
43:37 Seriously Playful Participatory Media Culture (featuring Us by blimvisible: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yxHKg…
47:32 Networked Production: The Collab. MadV's "The Message" and the message of YouTube
49:29 Poem: The Little Glass Dot, The Eyes of the World
51:15 Conclusion by bnessel1973
52:50 Dedication and Credits (Our Numa Numa dance)
The Art of Blog Commenting – How do you Comment ?
Jul 30th
Posted by miltski in Affiliate Tips
The Internet today is all about interaction, and leaving feedback by commenting is the most basic way to start getting involved and "have you say". Comments can be left on blogs, videos, social networks and many other places. The part where it starts getting confusing is when you start to look at the different etiquette and types of commenting.
How To Comment Where
For Example if you watched a video on Youtube (or similiar) and you liked it, and leave a quick comment like,
"Great Stuff, Thanks"
On video sites this seems to be ok, but if you were to leave that same comment on some blogs it may be not be enough. You must contribute something or make some sort of point.
Remedy : Try not to just dive in and say whatever. First take the time to read other peoples comments and get a feel for the style of feedback being left.
Including a Link in Your Link.
Different people have different approaches on this, but generally I belive that if you see that other people drop a few links in their comments then as long as you add some thing of value and join the discussion then it is ok. You start becoming recognized as a spammer when you start leaving irrelevant comments like,
"hey, check this out http://www.something.com/ "
Remedy : My as a little extra rule I personally try to follow is that I never leave a link if it is my first time commenting on someone's blog. Second time, and if other people leave links then, ok.
Signing Your Comment.
I always leave my name at the bottom of my comments as if it was a signature. Until a while back when I found this post that spun me out about is it wrong or write to sign your name at the end of a comment. Check this out…
This was what turned out to be a controversial blog post in 2007 by Lorelle who is one of the original wordpress bloggers.
"If You Sign Your Blog Comments, You Are a Dork !"
Comment Signatures – Don't Sign Your Comments
Today's blog comments feature a fairly consistent form. You fill in your name or blog name, email, and website address and then type in your comment. When it appears on the blog, your email should be hidden, but your name becomes a link to the website address you just gave. And most say "Lorelle says:" or "Comment by" and then your comment appears. So don't sign your name and include a link to your blog in your comments. It's redundant. It makes you look like you don't know what you are doing.
A comment isn't a letter.
I'll say it again, just so we're clear about this: A comment is not a letter.
A blog comment does not start with "Dear Lorelle" and end with "Yours sincerely" and name, address, email, phone number, or website address.
These types of comments are usually left by people with little or no experience with blogs, blogging, or commenting.
Actually this was the first blog that I discovered a few years ago when I first tasted wordpress. An excellent Blog, but this particular blog post surprised me. Some comments turning a little nasty .
Do you sign your name on comments? has reading this blog post changed your thoughts on it ?
Commenting Tools
I have been searching for a way to make my commenting eaiser, but just can't seem to find that magic tool to manage my commenting. Commenting on other peoples blogs and managing my occasional received comments on this blog is just one of those areas where I have not yet found a easy solution.
There's lot's of software and websites that push commenting to another level. I've tried IntenseDebate and was not impressed. I am now using Disqus and so far so good.
For Do-Follow commenting I have played with CommentKahuna but the free version is rather limited.
I've tried quite a few but I just can't find the "best" commenting tool or system yet. Any tips or recommendations would be much appreciated.


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By its own measure, brand awareness for the certified financial planner designation is increasing, according to the CFP Board. Meanwhile, the board says the quality of CFP continuing education material is in need of an upgrade.
Results to date for the CFP Boards public awareness campaign have far exceeded initial expectations, Board CEO Kevin Keller said at the organizations business update webinar on Friday.
The campaign has doubled unaided awareness about the CFP designation among its primary target, mass affluent initiators, to 34% this year from 17% in 2011, according to a brand tracking study. Keller defined the target market as both demographic and psychographic cohorts: mass affluent individuals age 35-64 who are also people who trust experts and like to work in teams.
Campaign ads for the past year have featured extreme sports enthusiasts who are shown engaged in risky activities, but say they dont take similar risks when it comes to their finances. In addition to print, ads have also run on radio, television and online.
The most exciting result of the study was that it showed how well the CFP designation stacked up against other professional brands, Keller said. More than two-thirds of the target market agreed that people should insist their financial planner hold the CFP designation, according to the study, compared to 49% for the certified public accountant designation and 34% for the certified financial analyst designation.
Nonetheless, the fact that $145 of a designee's annual $325 recertification fee goes towards the campaign has remained a sour spot for many advisors.
"If I wanted a marketing campaign, I would hire a marketing firm," Mark Walton, a CFP and benefits plan consultant at Alvarez & Marsal told Financial Planning earlier this year. "To me, it doesn't do a lot of good."
Results of the tracking study should be taken with a grain of salt, says April Rudin, founder and president of The Rudin Group, a Fort Lee, N.J.-based financial services marketing firm.
"Branding initiatives are critical today, and the CFP Board should be applauded for its effort," Rudin says. "But it's really difficult to assess the effectiveness of a national campaign on a local level. Yes, you can measure awareness nationally, but does it translate down to new business for advisors locally? This kind of effort requires sustained marketing and sustained outreach. Ideally, advisors have to leverage it with their own local marketing campaign. It takes time, effort and money and won't happen overnight."
This year's campaign will focus more on broadcast spots on cable television, Keller said at the webinar.
The CFP Board will also be focusing on quality improvement of what Richard Rojeck, the 2015 Board of Directors chair, described as crappy continuing education programs.
The multi-year initiative will be phased in next month with new requirements for CE program registration with the CFP Board. There will also be a "Find a CE Program tool on the Boards website and mechanism for CFP professionals to provide feedback on program quality.
The Department of Labors proposed fiduciary rule was also high on the CFP Boards agenda.
Although the proposal was very strong, the Board did have some concerns, Rojeck said.
The proposed disclosure and reporting obligations are too onerous and costly, Rojeck said, and the Board will recommend ways to reduce the requirements without compromising the disclosures needed by retirement investors.
In addition the CFP Board felt the proposed timeline for the rule's implementation in eight-months is not sufficient for advisors and their firms to establish policies and procedures.
The Board plans to recommend a phased-in approach for implementation and enforcement, in a comment letter it will submit as part of the Financial Planning Coalition, also made up of the Financial Planning Association and NAPFA.
The DoL, Rojeck said, is especially interested in industry input on how to operationalize the proposed rule.
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INGLEWOOD, CALIF. — Dick Vitale was once their head coach. Ten years ago, they won 16 games in a season. They had never won a league title, they played in a half-dozen different arenas and you used to get free Pistons tickets in Detroit if you paid your parking tickets on time.
And perhaps late center Reggie Harding symbolized their futility. Harding found himself desperate one day, holding a gun on a grocery store owner and asking for money. Harding was wearing a mask, but there weren`t many 7-footers in his neighborhood, and the man knew it was Harding.


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Do you ever face issues such as turnover, low morale, or business growth? Today's workplace presents all new challenges to supervisors. This unique continuing education program offers a comprehensive blend of theory and experiential learning tools that prepares today's supervisors to succeed! Each unit lasts five weeks. Take these highly interactive classes as a complete unit, or just attend the specific session modules you want! You'll leave each class session with knowledge and skills you can immediately apply on your job!
Click here to see all classes associated with this program and an estimated program cost.
Take all of the following:
Supervisory Unit 4: Managing the Process
Helping employees manage work processes involves setting goals, solving problems, making decisions, creating a plan, and managing the changes that are inevitable in any process. This unit takes a how-to, hands-on approach to managing each of these functions.
- Total Hours: 15.00
- CEUs: 1.50
Use this legend to navigate


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The challenge
This 300 mile, four day route starts through glorious English countryside, to the ferry from Dover to Calais.
We'll then push on through French country lanes and across the rolling hills of northern France before arriving on to the romantic streets of Paris and our finish line under the Eiffel Tower.
The pièce de résistance of this cycling challenge will be the final cycle up the Champs Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe, following in the tyre tracks of some of the greats, before watching them cycle the same route the next day in the finale of the Tour de France!
Don't worry about your luggage, water or food, it's all taken care of - leaving you to just cycle and enjoy the greatest cycling event in the world! For more detailed information, including an itinerary and FAQs please see the event brochure.
Join Team CLIC Sargent
There are two registration options for the London to Paris Tour de France cycle.
The registration fee is £149 and we ask that you pledge to raise a minimum of £1600 in sponsorship.
Payment option B: Self funding
The registration fee is £149 and you self fund £800 for your event. There is no minimum sponsorship required with this option, we just ask that you raise what you can to support young cancer patients.
We're here for you
When you take on a challenge for us, we tailor our fundraising and training support specifically to you. Tell us what you need and we'll get on it. By joining Team CLIC Sargent, you're helping to make a difference for children and young people with cancer. The least we can do is show you how much we appreciate it.
- You'll have free access to our online training zone
- We'll send you a snazzy new design, CLIC Sargent cycling jersey once you raise £100
- We'll shower you with advice, ideas and materials to get the money rolling in, and if you ever need us we're only a phone call away.
Find out more
If you have any questions or simply want to know more about this challenge then get in touch on 0845 602 4770 or email: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Therapy Grand Opening in Downtown Las Vegas
Therapy, located at 518 E. Fremont St. between 6th St. and Las Vegas Blvd, celebrated its grand opening on June 18 with a party and ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring Mayor Carolyn Goodman. Therapy will introduce Downtown Las Vegas to progressive, yet approachable American cuisine and hand-crafted cocktails.
To kick off the night, Therapy co-owners Jared Weiss and Sig Rogich joined Mayor Goodman in toasting to the opening with a celebratory ribbon cutting ceremony. Therapy was also presented with an official proclamation from the office of Congresswoman Dina Titus welcoming the restaurant to the neighborhood.
During the party, hundreds of guests sampled a variety of Therapy's signature small plates prepared by Executive Chef Daniel Ontiveros, including oxtail empanadas, shrimp ceviche, mixed mushroom flatbreads and a selection of cured meats and cheeses. Guests also enjoyed handcrafted cocktails, champagne, wine and beer while taking in music from a live jazz band. Notable guests included Zappos.com CEO Tony Hsieh, filmmaker- producer Nicholas Jarecki, Danny and Amy Tarkanian, among others.
Life Time Athletic Summerlin – grand opening of Alpha Studio November 28, 2017
Grand Opening of Enclave Special Events Facility October 19, 2017
Nevada Dispensary Association legalization of recreational marijuana sales press conference June 29, 2017
Grand Opening of MB Steak at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas June 15, 2017
Motley Brews – Great Vegas Festival of Beer in Downtown Las Vegas April 15, 2017
Unveiling of RH Las Vegas, The Gallery October 27, 2016
Vino Vinyasa and Chocolate at Life Time Athletic Green Valley August 11, 2016
Big Brothers Big Sisters Big Hero Bowl July 23, 2016
Special Olympics Polar Plunge March 5, 2016
Beer Park Grand Opening January 30, 2016


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Albuquerque Parking Systems
Looking for parking systems & parking equipment? In Albuquerque? Parking BOXX sells & services parking systems in this area. Contact us to learn more or call 800-518-1230 today!
(800) 518-1230
Get top quality systems, equipment & service
without paying top dollar.
Albuquerque is located in the Southwestern part of the United States, in the State of New Mexico, in the County of Bernalillo on the banks of the Rio Grande. Rio Grande means "Big River". Native Americans, the Pueblos, were the original inhabitants. Spanish settled the area in 1706 as the Spanish colonial outpost of Villa de Alburquerque. Named after the Spanish Duke of Alburquerque. The first "r" was removed and is now spelled Albuquerque. The Spanish settlers were quite a religious people. Incorporation occurred in 1891. New Mexico became the 47th state in 1912. The population of Albuquerque is just under 600,000 with the MSA comprising of Bernalillo, Rio Rancho, Corrales, Placitas, Los Lunas, Bosque Farms and Belen just over 900,000. Alburquerque has a dry climate. The average annual high temperature is 47°F and the average low is 26°F making the average temperature 37°F. The Sandia mountain range is a mere 45 minute drive from the metro area and affords some wonderful skiing. Amenities include a café, Sports Shop/Rental Shop and a snow sports school. The unique multicultural diverse population is strongly influenced by Native American, Latino, Anglo, Hispanic, Asian, Middle Eastern and African American cultures. Southwestern cuisine and architect abound. Culture is celebrated in various forms such as museums, art fairs, cultural centers, Native American dance and music festivals. Albuquerque was instrumental in the development of the Atomic Age with Kirtland Air Force Base, Sandia Base and Sandia National Laboratories establishing themselves during the years between 1939-1949. The famous Route 66 was established in 1926, rerouted in 1937, first running north and south then to east and west. The Route was decommissioned in 1985. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is an annual event which saw its start in October 1972. The event has attendance of over 500 balloon participants. Albuquerque celebrated it Tercentennial 10 years ago in 2006. Microsoft originated in Albuquerque.
College and University
Central New Mexico Community College, University of New Mexico, Brown Mackie College Albuquerque, University of New Mexico School of Law, Carrington College Albuquerque, Brookline College Albuquerque, Pima Medical Institute.
Sports Teams
Albuquerque Isotopes – Baseball, Albuquerque Soccer League, UNM Lobos – College Sports.
Albuquerque International Sunport Airport, Double Eagle li Airport.
Sights and Sounds
Albuquerque Biological Park, University Stadium, New Mexico Museum of Natural History, Sandia Peak Tramway, Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, Albuquerque Museum of Art and History, National Hispanic cultural Center, ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden, National Museum of Nuclear Science, Explora, Petroglyph National Monument, Cliffs Amusement Park, Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum, Rio Grande Zoo.
Guava Tree Café, The Grove Café & Market, Delish, Marley's Texas BBQ, N'awlins Mardi Gras Café, Pollito Con Papas.


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WCC: 'Unprecedented times of hopelessness' in Holy Land
11 July 2016
by Claus Grue, communication consultant at the World Council of Churches.
For Ramzi Zananiri, executive director of Jerusalem and the West bank at the Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees (DSPR), which is part of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), the current situation in the Holy Land is "heart-breaking", and he says the Palestinians are "hostages" under troublesome realities.Read More
Travel Diary of a Palestinian to World Youth Days in Krakow
POLAND – Nearly 700 young people from the Diocese of Jerusalem left on Monday to take part in the World Youth Days, which will take place this year in Krakow in Poland. In this report, we will show their timetable in Poland, starting as of their outset from Jerusalem to Mass with Pope Francis, through George's diary (an alias).
Summer 2016. George is the fictitious name of a young Palestinian Christian from Jerusalem, who is participating in WYD 2016, together with Pope Francis. He lives his daily enriching experiences, which shape his soul, tired and weary of the superficial life centered on materialistic and egocentric concerns.Read More
Israel's Great Divide
Are Jews of Middle Eastern, North African and Spanish descent discriminated against in Israel?
(Al Jazeera World) July 13, 2016 – Israel is a nation of immigrants, and first-generation Israelis comprise only 32 percent of the population.
Integration into Israeli society has been one of its main political goals and, under the leadership of founding prime minister David Ben-Gurion, Israel was going to be "the great Jewish melting pot", but it has come under severe strain almost since its inception in 1948.
"There's a gap in Israeli society," says Karen Amit, an Israeli of Moroccan origin.Read More
No, Israel isn't being held to 'a different standard'
by Amer Zahr, a Palestinian-American, comedian, writer and adjunct professor at University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. The views expressed are his own.
(CNN) July 13, 2016 – Last month, Jason Greenblatt, a Trump Organization executive vice president and adviser on Israel to presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, told us all that Trump would be the best candidate for Israel.
While this may be true (especially if you are an ardent supporter of Israel's current right-wing government), it seems to be an odd criterion upon which an American citizen might base his or her vote for U.S. president.
Defending Israel's behavior in Jerusalem since 1948, Greenblatt leaves out much context and history. While it is factually true that Jordan committed gross violations during its control of Jerusalem from 1948-1967, Israel was no saint. In the aftermath of the 1948 war, at the same time Jordan was expelling roughly 1,500 Jewish residents from East Jerusalem, Israel forcibly evicted thousands of Muslim and Christian Palestinians from neighborhoods in West Jerusalem. Jewish residents occupy these homes today. Those exiled Palestinians were not given any compensation for their homes or the right to return to them, rights recognized under international law and United Nations resolutions.Read More
Palestine Youth Orchestra goes places to spread a positive message with its music
by Ben East
It is lunchtime on a sunny day in the Scottish city of Glasgow, and the general director of The Edward Said National Conservatory of Music is making a thoughtful observation about the aims of its Palestine Youth Orchestra.
Suddenly, a ping-pong ball bounces across the table. Suhail Khoury barely bats an eyelid.
"Having an orchestra can tell people that young Palestinians are like anyone else, despite their situation," he says. "They like to play music; they like to have fun."
Fun, in this case, means a game of table tennis at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, during a break from rehearsals for the PYO's first tour of the United Kingdom, which begins in Perth today. The moment of levity sums up their approach: incredible passion about their work, but a desire to enjoy themselves as well.
"The atmosphere is like being in a family," says Lamar Elias, a violinist from Bethlehem. "We wait from one year to the next to come together. Of course, an orchestra has to have time to practise, but it's actually easier for us to gather here in Scotland than it is in Palestine itself."
That the PYO exist at all is a triumph. Set up by Khoury in 2004 to showcase and encourage Palestinian talent and carry a message of love, hope and peace, there are constant logistical hurdles to overcome due to the difficulties of living in Israeli-occupied territories. Two musicians, for example, did not receive permits to leave Gaza, let alone board a flight to the UK.Read More
Israeli NGOs decry 'deeply anti-democratic move' as new law approved
By Ruth Eglash and William Booth*
JERUSALEM, July 12 — Internationally known human rights organizations in Israel reacted with indignation Tuesday to a controversial law passed by the Israeli parliament that singles out groups receiving the majority of their funding from foreign governments.
Leaders of the groups, who make up the core of Israel's "peace camp" and are part of the dwindling left wing in Israel, said the law was written by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to muzzle opposition to the almost 50-year military occupation of the West Bank.Read More
Christian Association criticizes the new law on NGOs
Jerusalem (Agenzia Fides) – On July 11th, the Israeli parliament passed a controversial bill requiring non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that receive more than fifty per cent of their funding from foreign governments to declare so publicly.
In light of the ruling William Bell, Christian Aid's Senior Advocacy Advisor for Israel and the occupied Palestinian Territory expressed his criticism. "This bill", said Bell "is a clear attempt to restrict or close down voices that speak out against injustice. The majority of the organisations that this law will apply to are human rights organisations, including Christian Aid's Israeli partners B'Tselem and Breaking the Silence".Read More
Israel's new NGO Bill – what it is and what it means
What is the bill? What does the bill say?
NOTE: This post was updated on January 21, 2016, to reflect changes introduced to the draft bill, as submitted by the cabinet to the Knesset on January 18, 2016. The language of the bill (Hebrew) can be found here.
The bill's official title is "Amendment to Bill on disclosure regarding those supported by a foreign political entity (Increasing transparency for those supported mainly by foreign political entities)." It is also known by its backers as the "Transparency Bill." The bill is an amendment to an existing 2011 law, which determines the disclosure requirements of Israeli non-profit, non-governmental organizations (NGOs or NPOs) that receive funding from "Foreign Political Entities" (foreign governments, the European Union or the United Nations).Read More
What the Holy See has to say about conflict in the Middle East
Vatican City, Jul 15, 2016 / 12:40 am (CNA/EWTN News).- If peace is to be achieved in the Middle East, it will be a joint effort, requiring the cooperation of political authorizes, religious leaders and civilians, said the Holy See's representative at the United Nations.Read More
Peacemaking: Influence of religion
Researchers from the University of Arkansas invite people working as peacemakers around the world to take part in a survey entitled "Successful peacemaking: Effective tactics, peacemaker motivations, and the influence of religion in conflict resolution." The following is a summary of the key findings thus far that was published in the July-August issue of NewsNotes.
Researchers analyzed survey data from 95 international peacemakers considered "high priority" – defined as working in conflict zones or traveling there periodically – on their most effective strategies, greatest successes, motivations, commitment, and views on religion's role in peacemaking. The most prevalent countries of peacemaking in the sample were: Columbia, Afghanistan, South Sudan, Israel, Iraq, Uganda, and Syria. Three key findings emerged:Read More


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(NEW YORK,N.Y./WTIC News) – The $9.6 million incentive package offered to Aetna to move its headquarters from Hartford to Manhattan has been canceled.Crain's New York Business reports The Economic Development Corporation said the incentives were nixed because the relocation is not moving forward.
The incentive package was announced last June and consisted largely of about $35 million in tax breaks over a decade in exchange for Aetna occupying 145,000 square feet on Ninth Avenue.The company was going to bring 250 senior employees to the location and invest 84 million dollars there.
Last month it was announced Aetna was being acquired by CVS.
Crain's reports Aetna would not confirm either the cancelation of the incentive package or future plans for the New York City location or its Hartford headquarters.


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The 4th Quarter is here, it is time to Start Your Advertising Push! The year 2017 has been a turbulent one in the advertising industry. The traffic exchange industry has seen many comings and goings through the first three quarters. This 4th Quarter of advertising is the perfect time to give your ads a big push.
Because of all the developments in the first part of the year, there has never been such a huge opportunity for new or established sites to take a large foot hold in the traffic exchange advertising industry. Many, so called, "Giants" in the industry have disappeared without a trace leaving a hole for others to fill.
Now is the time to act. Don't wait until Black Friday to put your best ads out there. Establish your site now as a leader with Great Deals and Moving Traffic! Make your site the "Go To" place for advertisers looking for traffic to their websites. Establish your site as legitimate traffic delivery system with reasonable prices. Put your best deals out there now so advertisers looking for a big 4th quarter push can grab a bargain and feel good about the traffic they are sending to their web pages.
Now is the time for owners and advertisers to start your advertising push giving everyone a productive and lucrative 4th quarter.
Look for some great login deals at JAC Traffic Products!


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Dedication, Destruction and Hamas
Applying a familiar label or phrase can be a substitute for good analysis, or for any analysis at all. The application activates a set of presumptions associated with the label or phrase while brushing aside any other relevant facts that may contradict those presumptions. The current conflict in Gaza has stimulated a surge in application of such rote phrases to one of the belligerents: Hamas. Besides the familiar label of "terrorist group," which ignores other dimensions of Hamas as well as ignoring who is applying most lethal force against civilians, there also is the catchphrase that Hamas is "dedicated to the destruction of Israel." It is not just the Israeli government that keeps uttering that phrase, or even commentators seeking to justify Israel actions; one sees it in mainstream press in what are supposed to be objectively reported articles.
In assessing the validity of the phrase, let us set aside some related issues that also are very important in assessing what is going on today in the Gaza Strip. One concerns the origin of this conflagration, which began when the Netanyahu government seized upon a kidnapping and murder in the West Bank, blamed it (falsely, we now know) on Hamas, launched large-scale raids and arrests, including detentions that reneged on a previous agreement with Hamas, and applied lethal force both in the West Bank and along the Gaza Strip that killed at least nine Palestinians—all before Hamas fired a single rocket or sent a single fighter through a tunnel in this round of fighting. A second concerns how the slaughter of innocent civilians has reached wholesale proportions far beyond what can be justified by even the most nefarious intentions imputed to the adversary or by excuses about difficulties of targeting in close quarters. A third involves how given the misery that had already been inflicted on Gazans in their open-air prison, it would be astounding if many did not hold intensely hostile attitudes toward Israel; if somehow Hamas could be made to go away it would just open space for groups more radical and unyielding than it.
Hamas does not have anything close to a capability to destroy Israel, and never will. The imbalance of strength is so lopsided as to make any talk of destruction of Israel, which has one of the most able military forces in the world, ludicrous. This is reflected in the results of the current fighting—and especially in the killing of innocent civilians, which is supposedly the chief focus of worries about Hamas. Hamas is probably giving everything it has got to the military effort, but the latest tally of civilians killed is three in Israel and probably more than a thousand in the Gaza Strip.
Moreover, Hamas leaders are certainly smart enough to realize their group will never have anything close to a capability to destroy Israel, even if they wanted to do so. Remember, these are the same leaders who currently are being given much credit for cleverness with regard to use of the tunnels. Hamas is not dedicated to something it knows it could never do anyway.
Most important, Hamas now has a substantial track record that contradicts the catchphrase. A recent article by John Judis reviews some of the relevant history. Hamas has repeatedly made it clear it will accept a long-term (meaning decades) hudna or truce with Israel, and who knows how much can change in decades, especially if there were such an agreed-upon peace. Hamas has repeatedly made it clear it would accept a comprehensive peace accord with Israel if approved by a majority of Palestinians in a referendum. In its recent pact with Fatah (destruction of that pact evidently being the main purpose of the Netanyahu government's aggressive moves leading to the current fighting), Hamas agreed to surrender power to, and to support, a Palestinian government in which Hamas was given no portfolios and which explicitly accepts all the usual Western demands about recognizing Israel, adhering to all previous agreements, and adhering to non-violence. If this is the record of a group dedicated to the destruction of Israel, then the term dedicated has some new and unknown meaning. Hamas certainly does have a longer term goal, more attractive to it; that goal is to wield power over Palestinians in a Palestinian state.
Reference keeps getting made to extreme language in a party's charter (just as it was for years to the PLO's charter) and to Hamas leaders not uttering explicitly some phrase such as "I recognize Israel's right to exist". Why should they, when Israel clearly does not recognize any right of Hamas to exist, and has given no hints that it ever would? Rather than saying Hamas is dedicated to the destruction of Israel, it would be closer to the truth to say that Israel is dedicated to the destruction of Hamas—although even that statement is not entirely true, because the current Israeli government implicitly relies on Hamas to police the Gaza Strip and explicitly relies on it as a bugbear and excuse for not negotiating seriously about Palestinian statehood.


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How low will Amazon's tablets be sold? We're now hearing that Amazon may be expanding its Kindle Fire line of tablets with a new, low-cost version of the 7-inch Kindle Fire HD, according to a report from TechCrunch.
This new tablet will be sold at a price tag of only $99, less than half the price of the current Kindle Fire HD. That would be the beginning of the end for the competition! At a price that low, this new Kindle Fire HD 7-inch would be able to more easily compete at the tail end of the Android-based tablet market, an area today dominated by low-cost tablets out of China.
This new Kindle Fire HD tablet will feature a TI OMAP processor, just like its more expensive stablemates, and a 7-inch display with a 1280 × 600 pixel resolution. It's not clear what will be different with this new lower cost model compared to Amazon's current tablets, or when it will be available for purchase.
If Amazon is able to launch a tablet that can even undercut these low cost competitors, it would give the company yet another advantage in the rapidly growing tablet market, where the kindle fire already account for 7.7 percent of the U.S. tablet market.
Update: An Amazon spokesperson denies the rumor. "We are already at the lowest price points possible for that hardware."Image source: http://www.cnetfrance.fr/i/edit/2013/03/39788461/620×465/amazon-kindle-fire-hd-low-cost.jpg http://cdnl.complex.com/mp/620/400/80/0/bb/1/ffffff/f3e874863c1e3d9fbd5d8cffcd4d4d2e/images_/assets/CHANNEL_IMAGES/TECH/2013/03/kindle.jpg


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Early Exits For WVSU In MEC Tournament
West Virginia State's men's team lost 70-54 at West Virginia Wesleyan in the 1st round of the MEC Tournament. WVSU finishes with a 6-22 record. WVSU's women's team also had an early exit in the MEC Tournament. State lost 84-74 to UVA-Wise at home. West Virginia State lead 39-33 at halftime. WVSU finishes the season 13-16.


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Scuba diving is a fantastic sport, and the accessibility that we have to the underwater world during most Sea|mester voyages is incredible.
Scuba diving is naturally an activity that the majority of our students select to get involved in and, at Sea|mester, it also becomes an important learning tool. Learning about the marine environment while diving the reefs to observe and conduct research adds relevance to our academic studies that's just not possible in the traditional classroom.
Whatever certification level you are, or aspire to become, the second you take the plunge, the ocean turns into another classroom. Once below the surface, we can study the underwater ecosystems, explore the diversity of marine life and its amazing ecological processes, and even practice conservational techniques we learned about topside.
With an inspiring array of locales ranging from vivid Caribbean reefs to the cold, nutrient rich and biologically astounding upwelling of the Galapagos Archipelago; seeing, feeling, and experiencing the marine environment makes our studies tangible.
Based on your experience, we teach these courses…
PADI Open Water Diver
The first big step! In this course you'll learn the fundamentals of scuba diving, including dive equipment and techniques. By obtaining this certification you will be opening an entire new world. You earn this rating by completing five confined water dives and knowledge development sessions and by making four open water dives.
PADI Advanced Open Water Diver
Become an advanced diver and you'll be more experienced, feel more comfortable in the water and simply enjoy diving more because you have a better understanding of the underwater environment. This certification involves five Adventure Dives, including the Deep Adventure Dive, the Underwater Navigator Adventure Dive and Night Adventure Dive.
PADI Rescue Diver
This course is rewarding and fun. The rescue course will expand your knowledge and experience level: Rescue Divers learn to look beyond themselves and consider the safety and well being of other divers. Although this course is serious, it is an enjoyable way to build your confidence. It is a great idea for every diver to take this course at some point. Rescue Diver training will prepare you to prevent problems and, if necessary, manage dive emergencies.
PADI Divemaster
Take the first step in your dive career and become a PADI Divemaster. Working closely with a PADI Instructor, you'll expand your dive knowledge and hone your skills as you become a dive professional. PADI Divemaster training develops your leadership abilities by training you to supervise dive activities and assist instructors with student divers.
PADI Emergency First Response
Emergency First Response training focuses on building confidence in lay rescuers and increasing their willingness to respond when faced with a medical emergency. Course participants learn simple-to-follow steps for emergency care and practice applying skills in a nonstressful learning environment. EFR courses meet the CPR and first aid training requirements for the PADI Rescue Diver course and all professional-level ratings.
We are affiliated with PADI, the Professional Association of Diving Instructors and PADI is the world's leader in scuba training education.
We have been rated as a 5 Star Gold Palm Facility, the highest rating that PADI awards, based on our experience, safety standards and commitment to continuing education.
Scuba diving is fun and easy to learn. PADI courses include both academic knowledge development and in water practical training and all are performance-based rather than time-based.
This means that if you are having difficulty with any particular skill, our instructors work one-on-one with you until the skill is mastered.
Just like our sailing certifications, with PADI there is a clear progression in scuba certifications from the Introductory Open Water Course all the way through to Professional Divemaster Certification. Our team of Instructors can teach them all, yet the certification levels that you'll earn will depend on the length and geographic region of the voyage as well as your previous scuba experience.
"To say Connor had an amazing experience would be a gross understatement. I believe it was life changing."
"The last three months has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life. It is not just all the places we see which are incredible or is it even sailing across the Atlantic, which was an amazing feat. But it is the people, the bonds we forged and all the moments that we shared."
"This was an adventure of a lifetime. Not only did I travel and sail to some of the most beautiful, obscure and amazing places but I have 23 lifelong friends. I can honestly say coming to Argo was one of the best decisions I have ever made."
"This program not only opened my eyes to so much of the world that I have never seen before but it also opened my eyes to see the beauty that lies within us all. The relationships that I have made will be with me for years to come. This trip changed my perspective on the world and made me believe that I am capable of anything. "
Follow the experience
Watch our 3 part series as the student crew crosses the Atlantic from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean
Episode 1 - Sea Legs
Meet the new crew as they join Sea|mester vessel S/Y Argo in Nice, France and embark on their epic journey across the Atlantic Ocean from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean.
Episode 2 - Rite of Passage
Now fully prepared for the journey ahead, follow the crew as they embark on their biggest challenge yet, sailing across the Atlantic Ocean.
Episode 3 - Anchors Down
Having sailed thousands of miles and braved all kinds of weather, Argo and her crew finally make land fall in the Caribbean and reflect on their incredible experience.


text: Can't believe that the semester is ending. HOW FAST! I can still remember the first day of school, seeing all of my classmates, with same interests and dreams. Walking into the studio, being impressed by all those cool works that I saw. That moment, I knew I was in the right pathway, this is what I want to do.


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With Season 3 of "Portlandia" premiering Friday, I asked Fred Armisen to help me with my midseason TV preview by giving him the names of five new series. He then told me what he thought they are about. You can watch him answer in the video above, then read what they are really about below.
The Carrie Diaries
7 p.m. Jan. 14, CW
What Fred said: That's Carrie Brownstein. It's her diaries. I know about this. It was a pilot; they just got her diaries and they turned it into a show.
What it's really about: The "Sex and the City" prequel follows 16-year-old Carrie Bradshaw (AnnaSophia Robb) during high schoole in 1984.


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Would your school like to have their very own Writer in Residence to work with senior pupils to develop their creative writing and love of reading?
Helen MacKinven is the author of two novels and has an MLitt in Creative Writing. Her short stories and flash fiction have appeared in several anthologies and literary journals, such as Gutter magazine. She has a B.Ed in Primary Teaching and is a Literacy Consultant with The Learning Zoo delivering training in the Reflective Reading programme for teachers across Scotland.
Helen was recently the Scottish Book Trust's Writer-in-Residence at Levenmouth Academy in Fife where her remit was to work with senior pupils in a deprived area to enhance their self-esteem through creative writing workshops. Following this highly successful input, she has designed a series of engaging sessions to inspire and motivate pupils as they develop their writing voice.
Creative Writing Workshops
Helen will use her coming-of-age novel, Talk of the Toun* as stimulus for engaging sessions for pupils in S4-S6. The structure of the residency is flexible and can include as many sessions as you wish to cover, all tailored to fit your needs. Creative Workshop Sessions on offer include the exploration of:
• Identity
• Dialect
• Point of View
• Black Comedy
• Relationships
• Dialect
• Point of View
• Black Comedy
• Relationships
During each workshop, Helen will read from her novel and/or other texts, discuss and reflect on the key points and set thought-provoking writing activities for the group. The initial drafts written by pupils can be further developed as a personal or reflective essay or imaginative piece for their N5 or Higher Writing Folio.
Workshops will typically last for 2 periods (approximately 1hour and 40 mins) but should also allow for time to feedback to staff at the end.
The Writer in Residence basic package includes a planning meeting, 3 creative writing workshops of your choice for up to 20 pupils. Further workshop sessions and a celebratory event can be added as optional extras.
*Due to the adult content in this novel, the sessions are only suitable for senior pupils.
** Help towards the cost may be available from the Scottish Book Trust Live Literature Fund
** Help towards the cost may be available from the Scottish Book Trust Live Literature Fund
For more information please call Helen on 01236 897294 or email email@example.com
You may also be interested in Helen's in-service or twilight session for secondary schools on Reflective Reading.


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The Mental Health Stigma Programme Accreditation scheme
provides secondary schools in Northamptonshire with an opportunity to
demonstrate their commitment to:
Schools can achieve Gold, Silver & Bronze Accreditation and will be able to use the Accreditation logo in their own literature and on their website for 3 years after achieving the award. Schools will also featured on the Talk out Loud website.
Click here to see a list of schools who have achieved the accreditation


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A blend of Lilies & Roses is visually appealing. If you wish to amaze your loved ones with all the love and care, then this incredible basket of 2 stem of pink oriental lilies and 12 red roses adorned with beautiful and fresh green leaves is the perfect gift.
Hurray!! Free Delivery
Regular Delivery:- Delivery Charges Rs.
Midnight Delivery:-
Delivery Charges Rs.
Important instructions:- If occasion is on 13th March please select 12 March as desired date of delivery


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After scrolling past several straw totes and one too many leather crossbody bags, we have to admit that we love an unconventional design that just stands out. So, when we spotted artist Andrea Bergart's creative bag, we knew we had to feature it.
Andrea is a New York-based creative who also happens to be an avid basketball player. Andrea is new to the handbag business, but clearly shows a lot of potential. She got her first try at designing purses with a limited edition Lady Dior collection, which then inspired her to create a new line of her own.
Artist and handbag designer Andrea Bergart carrying the "Basketball Purse."
The "Basketball Purse" is a youth-sized ball, lined and fitted with custom leather and gold finish hardware. There are also other options — soccer and football styles for the non-basketball loving clientele. For now, the bags are only available directly through Andrea's studio, with a two-to-three week lead time. Hopefully, we get to see more of this new designer's bag creations in the future.
Andrea's basketball purse, $960 at Andrea Bergart
Credit: Andrea Bergart


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Hi I want to be a big diper lover
What are the most babyish adult diapers and plastic pants and the most popular websites please
Hi I want to be a big diper lover
What are the most babyish adult diapers and plastic pants and the most popular websites please
Do you want cloth or disposable i assume cloth?
For cloth I would say AdultClothDiaper.com or BabyKins.com BabyKins carries the Kins line of big baby diapers and they are very cute. Both of these sites also have great plastic pants.
For disposable I would say Adult Baby Universe at ABuniverse.com or Bambinos. Both have very babyish disposable adult baby diapers.
Well what you need is up to you. Different people want different things. People have different likes for diapers and pacis. Here is something you can try:
That link is for diaper samples. If you like the company buy them.
And here is for reviews:
For pacis try searching online for something called nuk 5. That is a good size for adults.
Turtleman, welcome to Adisc! I suggest you introduce yourself in the introduction area - Greetings / Introductions
In response to your request...I find it kind of odd because a simple google search will yield several good places to buy ABDL-specific diapers...in fact, I'd think it'd be easier to find those than a forum/support site like ADISC. Furthermore, a simple search of this site itself will yield the information you ask for as CutePrincess indicated. We love to provide support and information -- a great deal of it has already been discussed at length. You will do well here to make use of this material before creating new threads
Second, announcing "I want to be a big diper lover" seems unusual to me -- if you take the time to introduce yourself as I've suggested, you run less of a risk of coming across as fake or condescending.


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What Is Search Engine Ranking
What is a search engine ranking or position? This ranking is the result of optimizing the website with the keywords in such a way that the search engines like what they see. Pictures are even optimized so they get the best rank. It can also be used as a basis for planning any online campaign, which will have a substantial effect on the website's visibility within the market. Many companies have always used the idea to be among the best whenever they are offering products and services within the market.
What are the components of search engine position?
The following are the common components that you should know:
· Define your business
· Set the targets for the business campaign
· Translate the business definitions into the search phrases
· Structure the site around personal search phrases
· Design your pages with an aim of attracting the search engine traffic
· Submit a site to the Directories and the Search Engines
· Get a site linked from the other sites
· Monitor the results
In conclusion, you should understand the terms as well as its components when operating within the market. Search engine ranking and position mean about the same thing. You want to rank your website for several different keywords. In many cases you =r site may rank for hundreds of different keywords. This is up to you, your site can focus in on one or two words or have a very broad rank for words.
Here Is An Example Of Keyword Ranking
Using weight loss as an example. You can use the broad term weight loss or narrow it down to weight loss products, weight loss drink or drinks. Making a website about weight loss may and could easily consist of hundreds of pages. On the other hand a site about weight loss drinks many be only 10 to 15 pages long. You can come up with a title like "Top 10 Weight Loss Drinks For 2015" or a very simple "Top Weight Loss Drinks". You can start out with a couple of pages and expand as you find more really good weight loss drinks.
The broader the term the harder I find it to rank a website for. A narrow term like "Best Tasting Chocolate Weight Loss Drinks" would probably be fairly easy to rank for. Not many people are looking for that but when you use the broad term Weight Loss Drinks it gets a little harder to rank the site. "Top Weight Loss Products" would be real hard to get a good 1st or 2nd page ranking in the search engines. The above weight loss drink that is being talked about is the Vibrant Pink Drink. They say just one pink drink a day will help with taking the fat away. Try and see for yourself. By the way this does narrow the site down to its main keyword as the link.
More on search engine ranking in the future.


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Coastal Features
The name "Bullers" has been thought to be derived from the French "Bouillir", meaning "to boil", as the water in the pot appears to boil during stormy weather, but another explanation says that the word is an old Scots word meaning "rushing of water", which sounds more likely - the sound made by the waves crashing in through the archway opening into the pot, perhaps.
It's not the only unusual word used to describe the coastal features hereabouts, as can be seen by the map below.
The Camels's Back
Although not so named on the maps, the promontory between the Bullers bay and Robie's Haven is locally known as "The Camel's Back", for obvious reasons as you can see from the picture.
Unless you have an airplane as above, the Bow is best viewed from the opposite cliff top, towards the "Step of Arthur Fowlie"; see picture left. You can also see Puffins along this cliff top, and from a lot safer position than on the Camel's Back - at least the drop here is only on one side.
I have no idea who Arthur Fowlie was, or what his busks may be. Don't know Robie either.
Map of Coastal Features and Names
Click on the map to see a 19th century Ordnance Survey map of the same area
The Rumblin' Hole ("Hell's Lum")
Further along and just back from the edge, the Rumblin' Hole ("Hell's Lum") is a crack in the top of the cliff; it's sealed by rocks and quite safe, but beneath it there must be another sea cave (a new pot in the making?), for when the sea is rough the sound of waves crashing can be heard from under the ground here, and if the sea is very rough a fine spray can be seen to emerge from the crack.
The Rock of Dunbuy
Further along still, south of the Cave of Raplin and just off the map above, there is a rocky island referred to in the Old Statistical Account as "The rock of Dunbuy, to which the migratory birds resort, and in which there is one of the most magnificent arches upon the coast, is surrounded by the sea, and at no time can be got at, but by a boat". As you're walking along, it almost appears that you should be able to get down onto it, but in fact the cliff ends very precipitately; the Dunbuy is an island.
The flat top of the Dunbuy is a favourite nesting ground for colonies of Herring Gulls, plus a few Greater Black Back Gulls. Some extremely bold Puffins choose burrows on its slopes, but with so many Gulls I would think this a rather hazardous home; Gulls commonly attack Puffins carrying food to their chicks and force them to drop it. But it must work or they wouldn't do it I suppose...
Home | The Cottages | Coastal Features | Literature | Birdlife | Mammals | Links | Gallery


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You may have read or heard this quote before, 'Don't let anyone dull your SPARKLE', for me though this isn't just a quote, but a mantra I now live by.
When I first started my journey to become the best version of me I lost a lot.. I lost friends, I lost confidence, I became riddled with self doubt, I was ridiculed for choosing a healthier way of life, I copped slack for wearing activewear all the time, I was laughed at for drinking green smoothies, I was put down for chasing my dream of being the best version of me I could be. It's a funny thing that when you follow the crowd, that that leads to acceptance amongst society, I mean, what is acceptance anyway if you don't accept yourself? When I chose to begin to change my path, to stop partying every single weekend, to stop surrounding myself with toxic people, to say no more often, to say yes to what made 'me' feel good, to do what made my heart and soul SPARKLE, everything changed. This is when I truly started to become the best version of me, I finally started to become the person I was always meant to be.
I remember when I first started my Instagram account @chloeawilson, I started by posting about all of the above and from there I started to organically grow a beautiful little community who got behind me and what I loved, they got behind 'me', the me who I thought the world didn't like because of the bullying I received that came with my new path. I learnt from my community that no matter how hard it gets you have to stick to what you believe in, you have to keep at it and not give up, ever, that there will always be someone who believes in you, it just won't be everyone, and that's ok. If you really want to become the best version of you that you can be and live a life that 'you' are proud of, you have to let go of what others think of you, this is your journey not theirs.
You know, not once in my life have I ever felt the need to put others down for doing something that doesn't directly affect me whether I agreed with it or not, so it was very hard for me to overcome the demons that kept pushing me down and that kept making it harder for me to get back up each and every time. I can honestly say that I spent countless nights in tears crying myself to sleep asking why people were so cruel to me, what did I ever do to them to deserve this when what I do doesn't affect them. I eventually learnt that you can't change what others think of you, that what others think of you and what you do has nothing to do with you, it is more a reflection of what they lack within themselves and what they are unhappy about within their own journey. I started to believe in myself even more, I let go of the non-believers and the (need I say) haters and left them so far behind that now I honestly can't even remember who they are anymore, because they didn't come with me on my new journey, they weren't meant to be a part of this path I'm on now.
If I had let them win, those who tried so very hard to dull my SPARKLE every time I shined I wouldn't be where I am now. I wouldn't have grown my beautiful little community over on Instagram (@chloeawilson) and my passion project here, SPARKLE on darling. It hurts my heart to even say that if I had let them win that this blog may not even exist. So thank you to those who tried, without you I wouldn't SPARKLE with confidence like I do now. One thing to remember when pursuing something different in amongst a society that tries to make everyone all the same, is that no matter what happens, don't be like 'them', the people who try to dull you, don't be anything like them. Let them try, let them tip out all of your glitter on the ground, but don't be like them and bring them down, do though be better, kneel down, give thanks to your own journey and pick up that damn glitter and continue to throw it all around.
You may be wondering after all of the above how I first came across this mantra I now live by, well, once again from my community (who knew social media could be so powerful). Over the years I have had so many of my beautiful followers personally tell me that I SPARKLE, I SPARKLE and SHINE no matter what life seems to throw at me, and I guess from there it stuck with me, it came from people who believed and still believe in me, it became powerful, it's what I'm known for and it's part of who I am now. And from being known as the soul who sparkles, my 'SPARKLE Jar' was born (dedicated blog post to come about this little jar), and soon after this blog, SPARKLE on darling, because I believe that everybody deserves to SPARKLE, I believe that everybody owes themselves to show the world who they really are.
My original vision for SPARKLE on darling was and still is for it to be a place where one can go to be inspired to be their best selves, to chase your dreams and to learn to not let anyone or anything dull your SPARKLE, because the world needs your SPARKLE. Don't get me wrong though even after I say all of this sometimes it's still hard to keep the demons at bay because they continue to show up throughout the journey, but each time they do I remember what I've been through and how far I've come.
So Darling soul, don't let anyone (or anything) dull your SPARKLE, and if they try, get back up, throw some of your glitter around and promise me that you will never give up (because darling let me tell you – glitter is really hard to get off).
All my love,


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Party polarization "is the historical norm, not the exception," said Pietro Nivola, vice president of the Brookings Institution, a Washington think tank.
Mr. Nivola told a crowd at the National Press Club that today's red-blue divide is nowhere near as intense as, say, that of the mid-19th century. And if we think today's negative attacks are bad, we should be glad we never heard the slurs hurled by Thomas Jefferson at John Adams in 1796, or Andrew Jackson and John Quincy Adams in 1828. Boy, those would "blister the hairs off a dog's back," said Mr. Nivola, channeling an old Bill Clinton quote.
The scholar, who is the co-editor of two volumes of "Red and Blue Nation," laid out his reasons for why 21st century America is so polarized. First, the electorate is separated geographically. Broadly speaking, the awakening of the devout Christian base in the South turned that region more conservatively Republican, while secular folk fled to the Democratic Party concentrated in the North.
Besides their physical isolation, American voters are alienated from one another because, with the advent of new media, people choose to tune into their own partisan, niche political news programs. Finally, Mr. Nivola said, the rise in congressional "safe seats" gives legislators less incentive to work together with opposition party members to win over moderate voters in their districts.
"So, what?" replied panelist William Galston, another Brookings fellow and contributor to "Red and Blue Nation." Polarization has its benefits. When there's greater difference between parties, the electorate is offered clearer choices, and that helps voters feel more knowledgeable about the political process.
Stark contrast between parties lets voters know what they'll be getting when they elect a candidate. Now it's pretty clear that Republicans emphasize low taxes while Democrats are known for pushing domestic programs. But going back to post-World War II America, when party differences were blurriest, there were a lot of voices that didn't get heard because extreme views were suppressed, Mr. Galston said.
That's not to say there's no downside to polarization. Mr. Galston said the main problem is that when you combine a polarized electorate with the same party controlling both the White House and Congress, oversight collapses and government accountability suffers. The judicial selection process breaks down. Polarization makes sustainable foreign and domestic policy hard to install. What's more, Mr. Galston said, intense party polarization creates more mistrust of the government and greatly dismantles civic bonds. When congressmen can't even have bipartisan breakfasts, how can Danny Democrat and Rita Republican be expected to form a supportive local community?
Don't lose heart, Mr. Galston said. He and Mr. Nivola have some ideas for how to depolarize the nation — other than taking a cue from history and just waiting this period out.
Primary elections could be more open, they say, which would allow unregistered moderates to play a role in early candidate selection. States could also take a cue from the Iowa caucus system and have instant run-off elections, where voters can name their second choice candidate. That would create an incentive for campaigns to form coalitions with one another.
With regard to the judicial system, Mr. Galston proposed the idea that bipartisan committees should choose some district and appellate judges, who would be guaranteed a fast-track to confirmation. And he suggested that it take 60 Senate votes to confirm Supreme Court justices, who could serve 15- or 18-year terms.
Even the president should chip in to the depolarization process, particularly by giving twice-monthly news conferences and holding serious "inter-branch conferences" with congressional members that are "more than photo ops." All public television and radio networks should be forced to broadcast those question and answer forums, a shift away from the modern trend to rotate such coverage among networks. Mr. Galston unabashedly admitted this is a "piece of soft paternalism," but it would make relevant news "harder for citizens to avoid."
An audience member at the forum, which was sponsored by the League of Women Voters and Elderhostel, asked if the development of a strong third party could help diffuse some of the country's party tensions. Mr. Galston, who worked for John Anderson's independent 1980 presidential campaign, said wishing for a viable third party is "fanciful." Third parties contribute to the political process by pushing their agenda into that of a Democrat or Republican, or by "killing" another party, like the Republicans did to the Whigs in the 1850s.
When asked about a Michael Bloomberg candidacy, Mr. Galston said it's unlikely because "he's too smart an investor."


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I am not one bit jealous of the spring the Midwest is having. While my friends back home are getting day after day of cold rain and snow, I'm out here enjoying the beauty that spring has to offer.
Birds chirping…flowers blooming…65 degrees with the sun shining down.
As I watch spring unfold around me, I'm particularly inspired by the colors of the magnolia trees blooming outside my office…
Magnolias are beautiful, and I think they're a perfect symbol for this season…this transition period between winter and summer. It's as if the flower's white and beige tones are reminding us of the colorless winter that has passed, while the rosy pink hues hint at the summer ahead.
After moving out east, I've realized that spring is no longer a miserable extension of winter. It's a distinct season. With its own identity and its own beauty. A season to no longer dread.
And for that, its found a new place in my heart.
Sweater: Express (old, similar here) // Top: Express // Skirt: The Limited // Shoes: DSW (last season, but these are amazing) // Bag: Coach (last season, but love this) // Necklace: Banana Republic // Watch: Marc Jacobs


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The Salvation Army Community Center in El Dorado County California provides assistance to low income families. The support is arranged as part of their Family Services Department. Depending on donation and resource levels, the charity may provide clients a free box of food or financial help for living expenses, such as electric bill or rent.
Anyone can apply for assistance. There is no discrimination based on age, race, or religion. In fact, senior citizens from communities such as Placerville or single moms with a child (and that have a source of income) may be given support. There are also programs for single adults, migrant farm workers or immigrants among others.
The Salvation Army in Placerville will receive grants from the federal government as well as they raise money from services such as Red Kettle or the sale of goods at the thrift store. This will mean that the assistance provided will vary and often change throughout the year. So financial aid for paying bills or vouchers for buying medications may not always be available. But some examples of the Family Services from the El Dorado County Salvation Army are below.
There are shelters for the homeless in the community. The centers can support clients in both El Dorado California and across regions such as the "Grass Valley". There is short term, safe housing for the homeless, children, and vulnerable such as veterans. What may be provided to them is as follows.
-Hot meals and food.-Budgeting as well as case management.-Income enhancing programs ranging from tutoring to job placement in El Dorado County.-Relocation into Transitional Living Centers in the area.-Eventual placement into permanent housing, including funds to pay for some of the security deposit or first months rent.
El Dorado County Salvation Army food and basic need programs – In a crisis, a pantry may offer free groceries for a few days. This will allow the family to cook their own meals, or maybe the canned goods can be used for food as well. However the shelves at the pantry may not always be filled, so what is given will depend on donations.
For even more immediate relief, a soup kitchen can feed families living in poverty. There may be hot meals, drinks, food for infants, and more. In addition, special holiday meals will be served, and can include everything from a turkey dinner at Thanksgiving to meats, toppings, and all of the sides for Christmas. All of these food and meal programs are for short term relief, and for long term support, a case worker from the Salvation Army will help the client apply for CalFresh food stamps.
Not only may a holiday meal be served, but the other seasonal programs can help families or single parents with young children. The Salvation Army will try to provide school supplies during the summer or fall months. Then during the all so important Christmas season, programs such as Angel Tree as well as Adopt a Family will give out free toys, clothing, and winter attire to the needy. So these seasonal programs will help parents free up their income for other bills they have.
Other basic needs can be met. In Placerville California is a thrift store/clothing closet. This center will allow the person to shop for clothing, household furniture, or school supplies as well. The thrift store will sell the goods for a low price, but the Salvation Army clothing closet will pass out free goods, or a voucher.
There are some other financial aid programs or resources that provide direct relief. These are very limited and often have a waiting list. However, when possible, the Salvation Army may offer a small amount of utility or rental assistance. Or there may be hygiene items (such as soap or household supplies) or applications to summer camps in northern California. Patients in a medical emergency may be given the medications they need, or maybe a bus pass or gasoline to make it to a critical doctor appointment.
Case workers from the Community Center will also arrange counseling. This is used to fight poverty in El Dorado County. Or it helps clients such as immigrants or transient farm workers get established in the home. These counseling services range from bible study to help with child-parent disputes or assistance in overcoming unemployment.
The programs are always in high demand. For more information, referrals, and support, dial (530) 672-3147 for intake.
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HAZLETON -- Cusat's Cafe in Hazleton was packed with fans Tuesday night, watching Game 1 of the World Series, cheering on the Cubs and hometown favorite Joe Maddon, the Cubs manager.
Among those in the crowd were Maddon's mom and his sister.
"This is fabulous. It's something we've been dreaming of, and it's come true, and we're just very excited," said Carmine Parlatore, Joe Maddon's sister.
Joe Maddon's mother says he is absolutely capable of helping the Cubs beat the 108-year curse.
"Oh my God, yeah. If anyone could do it, he could," said Albina Maddon.
Hazleton is nearly 700 miles away from Chicago, a 10 and a half hour drive, but now, the area is a Cubs' community.
"Everybody is so excited. The city of Hazleton has historically been split between Phillies fans, Yankees fans, and a few Red Sox fans thrown in there. But right now, it's all Cubby blue, wall to wall, coast to coast," said Bob Curry of the Hazleton Integration Project.
Joe Maddon is a Hazleton native and local folks are proud of him. A Hazleton Area school ballfield is named for him. With others, he started the Hazleton Integration Project and opened the Hazleton One Community Center.
He visits each year and fundraises to pay for classes and sports and more.
Earlier this year, some kids from the community center went to Philly to watch the Phillies play the Cubs.
"He's nice, and yes, he's tall for me," said Alvin Hernandez of Hazleton.
"I think he's very good at being a manager. I think he's going to maybe help them win," said Daniela Jorge of Drums.
"He's just very nice and I just want them to win this game," said George Gab of Hazleton.
Joe Maddon and the Cubs have a huge task: break the 108-year curse and bring home a World Series Championship.
Family members say Maddon is not nervous and they couldn't be more proud of him.
"He's really a kind, decent, smart man and he really hasn't changed a whole lot from when we grew up together," said Maddon's cousin Elaine Maddon Curry.
Maddon's family members, including cousins, brother, and mom plan to head to Chicago for the games on Friday, Saturday and perhaps Sunday.


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Not-for profit partnerships creating a safer environment for girls, mothers and women through culture change, better healthcare systems and policies.
The Motherhood Collective Impact Programme represents an overarching strategy that encompasses three interlinked sub-programmes:
Core MCIP projects and workstreams
A world where all women have equitable access to high quality maternal healthcare
Networking and Marketplace for Maternal Health Activists and Professionals
Map and categorize existing maternal health initiatives, resources and actors on a global level within one platform, with the goal of creating an interactive and rich directory of people and projects that will facilitate exciting new collaborations and reduce duplication of effort.
Maternal Health Policy Landscape Analysis
A legal analysis of the rights of women to receive maternal (pre-pregnancy, prenatal, and postnatal) healthcare within the European Union ("EU"), and the corresponding requirements imposed on Member States to provide maternal healthcare, resulting from EU law and the European Convention on Human Rights ("ECHR").